’He must have caused her a lot of suffering.’

The more he thought about it, the more dissatisfied he became.

"I understand your feelings," Zhu Shan said. "But I refuse."

Ye Chen’s expression changed immediately.

"Why?"

Her voice carried a hint of urgency.

Zhu Shan shook his head.

"Not everyone can cultivate," he said. "It depends on talent. And more importantly, I have to follow the sect’s rules. I cannot teach cultivation to outsiders."

Ye Chen didn’t give up.

"I can join your sect," she said quickly.

Zhu Shan looked at her again.

This time, his tone turned more serious.

"Joining the sect is not that simple," he said. "You would have to leave the secular world behind. Until you reach a certain level, you won’t be allowed to return."

He paused slightly before continuing.

"Family. Friends. And everything you have."

"Can you give all of that up?" His question was direct. Which also probed her attitude.

He expected hesitation.

Most people would hesitate when they are asked to leave behind their comfortable lifestyle and social life.

But Ye Chen didn’t.

"I’m an orphan," she said calmly. "I don’t have anyone to leave behind."

Zhu Shan fell silent.

For a moment, he didn’t speak.

Then he nodded slowly.

"I can take you back to the sect," he said. "But if you don’t have talent, there’s nothing I can do."

"That’s enough," Ye Chen replied immediately. "I won’t disappoint you."

Her eyes carried a clear determination. Because this was the only path forward she could see at the moment.

Zhu Shan observed her for a moment, then smiled slightly.

"Good."

At least in his eyes, this girl had resolve.

A gunman approached at that moment.

"Mr Zhu, the drone team hasn’t found any trace of Ye Chen."

Zhu Shan nodded.

"As expected," he said calmly. "That brat is slippery."

He glanced back once toward the valley.

Then withdrew his gaze.

For now, there was no point continuing the search.

Zhu Shan didn’t delay.

As soon as they moved out of the valley and separated from the gunman’s team, he took out his phone and made a call.

The line connected quickly.

"Liming, the target escaped," Zhu Shan said in a calm tone.

There was a brief silence on the other end before Gu Liming’s voice came through, carrying clear disbelief.

["Lord Zhu Shan... how is that possible? Even you couldn’t catch him?"]

Zhu Shan’s expression didn’t change much, but there was a faint trace of annoyance in his eyes.

"I know it sounds unlikely," he replied. "But that’s the truth. That brat’s luck is unusually good."

He didn’t like admitting it, but the result was already in front of him. Ye Chen had slipped away more than once. It wasn’t about strength but timing, and an unreasonable amount of luck.

Zhu Shan exhaled lightly and shifted the topic.

"Anyway, I have urgent matters at the sect. I’ll be returning immediately."

His tone remained steady, but his decision was already made.

"Have your people continue the search. If there’s any trace of Ye Chen, contact my disciples directly."

This matter wasn’t over.

Not because of Gu Liming’s request alone.

Zhu Shan still remembered what Lu Shixun had said.

A treasure that could grant extraordinary power.

If that was true, then Ye Chen had taken something valuable enough to matter even to someone like him.

On the other end. Gu Liming responded without hesitation.

["Understood, Lord Zhu Shan. The Gu family is grateful for your help."]

Zhu Shan gave a faint smile.

"Don’t be so formal," he said. "Next time we meet, we’ll have a proper drink."

There was a brief pause, then a light chuckle came from the other side.

["Of course."]

The call ended.

Zhu Shan lowered his phone and slipped it back into his pocket. His expression returned to its usual calm, but his thoughts were still moving.

Nor did he like loose ends.

Beside him, Ye Chen remained quiet.

Her expression looked calm, but inside, her thoughts were chaotic.

Gu family...

The moment she heard Gu Liming’s voice, a sharp killing intent surged in her chest.

She forced it down immediately.

Zhu Shan stood right next to her.

His perception was sharp. If she let even a trace slip, it would be noticed. She can’t let that happen.

Not now.

After all, she still needs to follow him.

Only by entering that sect could she understand this so-called extraordinary world, and possibly find a way to fix her current condition.

Zhu Shan glanced at her briefly, then spoke in a lighter tone.

"Let’s go, Little Ling."

He looked ahead as he continued.

"Soon, you’ll witness the true side of this world."

There was a faint smile on his face.

For him, this was nothing special.

But for an ordinary person like her, it would be a turning point. It could only be said that it was her fate to meet him.

Ye Chen looked forward to it as well.

Her expression carried a hint of anticipation.

But beneath it, her heart was filled with quiet determination.

The road of destiny had already changed with this encounter.

What would be Ye Chen’s fate next? It was still a mystery.

***

A while later.

Two falcons cut through the sky and descended rapidly toward the Ghost Valley of the Stone Spring Mountains. Their wings folded sharply as they dropped, landing with controlled precision near the tomb entrance.

The moment their claws touched the ground, their forms shifted.

Feathers dissolved. Wings retracted.

In their place, two figures stood. Su Mo and Yang Qingxi.

Su Mo didn’t waste a single second. The moment he returned to human form, his expression turned cold.

His spiritual sense spread outward instantly, covering the valley and extending into the depths of the tomb.

He searched carefully—trees, rocks, every corner, all the way deep into the passage.

But there was nothing.

No familiar aura or any trace of Ye Chen.

Su Mo’s brows tightened.

"...Gone?"

His expression darkened further.