Chapter Thirteen: Preparing to Venture Out

Around noon, Yu Shi pushed open the door and walked in, seeing Su Xue'er trembling by the bedside, tears streaming down her face. He halted in his tracks.

"Xue'er, what's wrong?" Yu Shi asked with concern, his voice extremely gentle.

Upon hearing this, Su Xue'er turned to look at him, glaring at him fiercely. "How could you do this?" Her voice was extremely weak. She couldn't believe that it wasn't Yu Shi's doing. She couldn't believe...

"Xue'er, let me explain..." Before Yu Shi could finish, Su Xue'er grabbed the pillow next to her and threw it at him, hitting Yu Shi's head heavily. She hysterically shouted, "Get out, I don't want to see you."

Yu Shi didn't leave. He slowly walked over and sat by Su Xue'er's bedside. Su Xue'er looked up at him, wanting to kick Yu Shi off the bed. But halfway through, she was caught by Yu Shi, who gently placed her back on the bed and covered her with a blanket.

Seeing this, Su Xue'er turned her head slightly and said, "Speak, what do you want to explain?" Her voice was extremely hoarse, making Yu Shi's heart ache.

"Someone set us up," Yu Shi said calmly, but Su Xue'er scoffed, "The famous Yu Shi fell into a trap? Do you think I'll believe that?"

Yu Shi looked at Su Xue'er with a guilty expression. "Xue'er, do you trust me?"

"What do you think?" Su Xue'er sneered.

"I know you don't believe me, but I had no reason to do such a thing to you. Besides, I've detected what drug I was drugged with," Yu Shi said calmly. Su Xue'er looked at him, "But you're in the Spiritual God Realm. Didn't you notice when you were poisoned?"

Yu Shi lowered his head and smiled bitterly, "Perhaps I was too arrogant."

Seeing Yu Shi's self-mockery, Su Xue'er said coldly, "I felt it yesterday, but I couldn't rule out whether it was you or someone else."

"Then how can you believe me?" Yu Shi's voice became magnetic.

Su Xue'er didn't speak, and Yu Shi waited quietly for Su Xue'er's answer.

So, the two of them remained silent until evening. Su Xue'er looked at Yu Shi sitting beside her without moving and finally spoke, "Since the incident has occurred, and I don't want to investigate who did it, I want to know, when are we getting married? Let's stop pretending and make it real." Su Xue'er's voice was extremely cold, sending shivers down one's spine.

Yu Shi was taken aback for a moment. "Alright... alright, but I'll give you an explanation. I'm currently planning something, and after it's done, if I'm still alive, I'll marry you myself." Yu Shi's tone was gentle, but the last few words were somewhat humble.

Su Xue'er understood something and smiled faintly. She spoke to Yu Shi, "Yu Shi, let's postpone this marriage for now. I remember there's a place called the Fallen God Valley to the north of Qingyun City. It's said to be extremely mysterious, and I want to go there for some experience."

Yu Shi, hearing this, became anxious. "Xue'er, although the valley is rich in spiritual energy and abundant resources, it's extremely dangerous. Even I would lose some skin if I went in, let alone you."

"It's not like I don't know the dangers inside. It's just that the ring on my finger is guiding me to that place." Su Xue'er lowered her head and touched the special ring she had been wearing from beginning to end.

"I dreamt about this ring guiding me yesterday, and it was the first time I had such a feeling, very familiar." Yu Shi turned away, his voice somewhat cold. "But that's not allowed. I won't let you go no matter what."

Su Xue'er had nothing to say.

"However, not far from the northwest of Qingyun City, within the territory of the Western Cloud Empire, there's a canyon where people often explore, hunt spirit beasts, and seize spiritual herbs. Some strong individuals have fallen there before. Maybe there are some adventures. If you want to go, you can."

Upon hearing Yu Shi's words, Su Xue'er looked at him and said, "Alright, help me prepare a half-face mask and some food..."

Watching Su Xue'er chatter, Yu Shi felt very fortunate, hoping she wouldn't be troubled by yesterday's events.

The next day, snow fell heavily outside, and Su Xue'er sat by the window, wrapped in a cloak, staring blankly at the snowflakes drifting down outside.

As a snowflake gently landed on Su Xue'er's pretty face, she absentmindedly touched it, her expression softening. "I wish I could live my life as peacefully as a snowflake, quietly and simply."

Seven days later, Su Xue'er changed into a clean white dress, ready to set off. She didn't wear the seductive attire she wore before, fearing attention from others.

At the entrance of the Spiritualist Guild, Su Xue'er looked at Yu Shi beside her and made a gesture, putting the ring from her middle finger onto her ring finger.

Seeing this, Yu Shi walked over immediately and hugged Su Xue'er. "Xue'er, be careful on the road."

"Yes, I will. I hope when I come back from this journey, you'll get to know me again," Su Xue'er replied.

With that, Su Xue'er donned her mask and rode her horse towards the city gate.

After Su Xue'er left, Yu Shi's expression immediately turned serious. "Yu Ke, send a covert guard of a Spiritual Emperor to protect Su Xue'er."

...

Su Xue'er left Qingyun City and headed straight for the canyon. This canyon, called the Treasure Gathering Valley, was an especially vast forest canyon located in the northeast of the Western Cloud Empire. The empire was vast, with only one city in the entire northern region, and most of the land consisted of mountains and forests. The Treasure Gathering Valley was situated within, containing numerous treasures and spiritual herbs, making it the most concentrated area of spiritual resources on the continent.

Because there were high-level spiritual beasts inside, with cultivation levels reaching up to a hundred thousand years, Spiritual Emperors and above dared not enter, fearing being detected and killed by these beasts. Since Spiritualists below the level of Spiritual Emperor had weak spiritual power, they were difficult to detect. Therefore, individuals from various empires and sects sent Spiritualists below the level of Spiritual Emperor to search for treasures there.

Half a month later...

Su Xue'er arrived at the entrance of the canyon and saw many people gathered there, apparently planning something.

Su Xue'er approached to take a look and saw three types of people.

One group wore yellow clothes, seemingly disciples of a certain sect. Another group wore blue and white clothes, also disciples of a certain sect. There was also a group of individuals in various attire, most likely independent cultivators.

Su Xue'er paid no attention to them and walked straight ahead.

At this moment, someone from the group wearing yellow clothes walked over and shouted loudly, "Hey, don't you know this is the territory of our Heavenly Prophecy Sect?"

"Yeah, if you want to enter, you have to pay," another chimed in.

Seeing Su Xue'er's attire, which was not typical, they became interested in wealth.

Su Xue'er ignored them but was stopped after just a few steps.

"How dare you ignore me?"

Before this person could make a move, they were stopped.

"Stop."

It was the leader of the group in blue and white.

The leader politely asked, "Miss, are you alone?"

"Just me," Su Xue'er replied lightly.

After exchanging glances with his subordinates, the leader said, "In that case, why don't you join us? We could..."

Before he could finish, Su Xue'er interrupted.

"Not interested," Su Xue'er said, about to leave but was blocked by his subordinates.

"That won't do. If you don't leave, you'll have to leave your life behind," the leader smirked devilishly.

Su Xue'er thought to herself, indeed they were looking for trouble.

"A mere Spiritual Guide, at such an age, should go home and farm!" Su Xue'er taunted.

After hearing this, the leader couldn't bear it and angrily shouted, "Bold! Get her, kill her."

"Haha, bold move, bullying a woman in broad daylight, do you not have me in your eyes?"

This familiar voice echoed among the group in blue and white, causing each of them to tremble with fear, staggering and looking around.