What happened to the mine afterward had nothing to do with Chu Xingchen, who had already fled far away.
Traveling day and night, Chu Xingchen had now brought his disciples back to the dilapidated temple.
Inside the temple, Ning Qianqian, hearing the commotion, hurried out and saw the four of them, especially noticing the man being carried on Li Xingtian's back.
Though Ning Kun was dressed in tattered clothes and had grown much thinner, Ning Qianqian recognized her long-lost father at first sight.
She immediately knelt and kowtowed to Chu Xingchen, tears streaming down her face as she cried,
"Thank you, Great Immortal... Thank you, Great Immortal..."
Li Xingtian gently placed the man he was carrying in front of Ning Qianqian.
Ning Kun was currently unconscious, having been deliberately knocked out by Chu Xingchen during their escape, as there was no time for explanations.
Chu Xingchen raised his hand and cast a spell to wake Ning Kun.
With a light cough, Ning Kun slowly opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw was his daughter's tear-streaked face.
Seeing Ning Kun awake, Chu Xingchen quickly spoke up,
"I don’t have time to listen to your heartfelt reunion right now."
His words instantly silenced the many things Ning Qianqian and Ning Kun wanted to say, and they both turned their gazes to Chu Xingchen.
"I don’t expect you to repay me. Consider this a good deed on my part. Just make sure that if you’re ever caught by the Qingfeng Sect in the future, you don’t sell me out."
As he spoke, Chu Xingchen took out a water flask, some food, and a handful of silver coins from his spatial ring:
"You’re at the second level of Qi Refining. Head east from here, and you’ll find people. This food and water should be enough to get you there. Use the silver to start a new life, but the farther you go, the safer you’ll be."
"Consider this the end of my help. No need to say anything more. Take these things and leave now. You can talk on the way."
Ning Qianqian understood Chu Xingchen’s meaning. Once the dust settled, the Qingfeng Sect’s retaliation would surely follow.
Chu Xingchen couldn’t protect her and her father forever, but the fact that he had rescued her father filled Ning Qianqian with immense gratitude.
She kowtowed three times to Chu Xingchen, then helped her still-confused father to his feet:
"Benefactor, rest assured. Even if I die, I will never betray you."
Chu Xingchen turned his back, not responding to her words, effectively dismissing them.
"Father... let’s go," Ning Qianqian said softly. "We’ll talk on the way."
Ning Kun opened his mouth as if to say something but stopped himself. He then kowtowed to Chu Xingchen before standing up and leaving with Ning Qianqian.
As Ning Qianqian and Ning Kun disappeared into the distance, Chu Xingchen suddenly turned to his two disciples:
"Let’s go! We need to move quickly! This place isn’t safe anymore!"
Li Yingling wasn’t entirely surprised by her master’s command.
In truth, from the moment she saw Chu Xingchen bring Ning Qianqian back, she knew that once the task was done, her master would relocate the entire sect.
There was an advantage to having a small sect—three people with their belongings on their backs constituted the entire sect.
They could go anywhere, to the ends of the earth.
She glanced wistfully at the small wooden hut she had just finished building and the foundation pit she had dug for the formation.
One was now useless, and the other a wasted effort.
Sighing softly, Li Yingling headed into the hut to pack up her belongings.
Li Xingtian, on the other hand, stood still.
He didn’t have much to take, having brought little with him in the first place.
Chu Xingchen shot him an annoyed look and said,
"If you don’t have anything to pack, go help your master! Don’t leave anything behind in the temple—especially the pots and pans! I spent a lot of money on those."
"Yes..."
Li Xingtian obediently entered the temple and began gathering the pots and pans.
Meanwhile, Chu Xingchen quickly began laying false trails around the area.
He had originally stayed here to lay low after offending a high-ranking official in the Xuanwu Kingdom.
Now, that official was no longer a threat, as he couldn’t possibly call upon a Nascent Soul-level expert for help.
And below the Nascent Soul level, Chu Xingchen, with Li Yingling’s hard-earned divine abilities and his flawless Golden Core, could confidently claim to be invincible.
The real threat now was the Qingfeng Sect, especially their Nascent Soul ancestor, who might come hunting for them.
While Chu Xingchen was confident he could escape the Qingfeng Sect’s pursuit, he couldn’t guarantee the safety of his disciples.
It was better to be prepared and not take unnecessary risks.
From the moment he decided to take on this mission, Chu Xingchen had planned to flee afterward.
He had also grown tired of the dilapidated temple.
Its location was poor, with dwindling spiritual energy, and Chu Xingchen had never intended to make it a permanent base for his sect.
It was merely a temporary hideout. Finding Li Xingtian here had been a stroke of luck, but he couldn’t stay and wait for another blind rabbit to stumble in.
So, when he brought Ning Qianqian back to the temple, he had already made up his mind to leave.
After all, he had fabricated the information about his sect being from the Central Continent. Even if Ning Qianqian were captured and spilled everything, the Qingfeng Sect might not dare to pursue the matter further, fearing the influence of a Central Continent sect.
Trading a rundown temple for a hefty sum of spirit stones was a deal worth making.
Li Yingling didn’t have much to carry and soon emerged with a small bundle on her back.
"Master, where are we going this time?"
After finishing his false trails, Chu Xingchen looked at Li Yingling and asked, "Where do you want to go?"
Li Yingling suggested, "How about somewhere with beautiful mountains and clear waters?"
"Good idea. I’ll keep it in mind," Chu Xingchen replied dismissively.
Li Yingling could tell from her master’s tone that her suggestion had been rejected.
Li Xingtian soon came out carrying a large bundle:
"Master, I’ve packed all the valuable items. The cheaper stuff would be too cumbersome to carry."
Since Chu Xingchen’s spatial ring was already filled with the blood-tinged spirit stones, the rest of their belongings had to be carried by his disciples.
So leaving a few things behind wasn’t a big deal.
Chu Xingchen glanced at his two disciples.
Both were looking at him with anticipation.
He couldn’t help but smile. Chu Xingchen had fled many times before, as tricking young talents into joining his sect often required taking some risks.
In the past, he had always fled alone.
But now, his entire sect was running with him. Chu Xingchen shouted,
"Good disciples! Let’s go! We’re on the run!"
Li Xingtian couldn’t hide his grin. "Yes, Master!"
Li Yingling’s face was full of excitement. "Time to flee~"
---
Yuzhou City.
"Sir, this house is perfect. It’s right by the Chuanyu River. In a few days, it’ll be the Lantern Festival. The lanterns will float down the river, passing right by here. You’ll be able to see the beautiful lanterns from your doorstep."
A middle-aged property agent introduced the wide river nearby as he opened the gate to a courtyard house.
He glanced at the three people looking to rent the property.
The first was an exceptionally handsome man, though his clothes were somewhat shabby. He had been the one making decisions along the way, and the other two seemed to follow his lead, indicating his high status.
The second was a strikingly beautiful young woman, dressed in an elegant silk gown and carrying a small yellow bundle. She looked around with curiosity, like a noble lady who had never left her family’s estate.
The third was less attractive in appearance and had remained silent throughout the journey. There was an air of menace about him, and he carried a large bundle that seemed to contain pots and pans.
The agent quickly deduced that this was a young master from a wealthy family, traveling with his sister and a powerful bodyguard for protection.
The agent was eager to please, as this was a prime location with beautiful scenery and a bustling street nearby.
It was also a frequent patrol area for the city guards, making it safe and secure. The only downside was the high price.
If he could secure this deal, the commission would equal a month’s hard-earned income.