That night.

Li An did not wait in the maple grove of South Mountain, but casually waited outside the gate of the Zhao family, watching from afar.

Until evening, when Wang Dazhu's carriage came out again, Li An immediately followed.

Wang Dazhu still headed to Mianhong Residence but got off at the alley entrance, leaving the carriage waiting there.

He walked inside, slipped out of the alley from a deserted spot, and then headed towards the maple grove.

...

An hour later.

"Brother An, is that you?"

Under the high-hanging moonlight, Wang Dazhu called out loudly in the flaming maple forest, startling the birds resting for the night.

No response.

Wang Dazhu was a bit perplexed, moving around to search, but found no traces.

"Could it be that he's not here?"

He simply sat down and waited for a long time.

Until the moon was about to set, he got up to leave.

"Dazhu,"

In a section of the maple grove, Li An suddenly emerged and said with a smile, "Long time no see."

Wang Dazhu hurriedly turned around, seeing Li An, his eyes instantly lit up with joy, and he walked briskly over, saying, "Brother An, is it really you?"

"That's wonderful, that's wonderful!"

He was so excited, he hugged Li An tightly, "I looked everywhere for you and couldn't find you. I thought you died in the Qingyang market during that battle, but you're still alive, that's wonderful!"

"Why are you only now looking for me, Brother An…"

The two immediately caught up with each other in the maple forest.

It turned out that when Wang Dazhu received Li An's letter years ago, he just happened to have a task requiring him to leave the sect for a bit. So, after completing the task, he stayed at the spiritual ore location for half a month, helping Li An collect Vein Cleansing Sand along the way.

This half a month allowed him to avoid the great disaster at Profound Yang Sect.

Upon learning that something happened to the main sect, Wang Dazhu was at his wit's end, so he fled outwards. However, he had a simple mind and did not think of going to the Liuyang River market, instead, he returned to his old hometown village, staying there for half a year.

Later, learning that Zhao Xian's Story was still alive and had returned to the family, Wang Dazhu then went to rely on them.

He had high aptitude for artifact refining, which made Zhao Xian's Story value him greatly.

Today, he has reached the ninth level of Qi Cultivation, the same realm as Li An, and is planning for Foundation Establishment.

"Brother An, thank you. If it weren't for you, I would have already died back then…"

Wang Dazhu's eyes were filled with gratitude.

"It was just a coincidence."

Li An smiled slightly.

"Brother An, you don't have to fool me. I know it wasn't a coincidence… Later on, we had a gathering, Tan Qingxue was also there, she asked me if you were still alive, and told me that you saved me."

"You saved me, and saved her… She said that she and I were the closest people to you in the sect, as long as we were alive, you must be safe too!"

Wang Dazhu spoke excitedly, his eyes even slightly moist: "Brother An, all these years, you were the only one truly kind to me…"

He spoke sincerely.

"Dazhu, Zhao Xian's Story treats you well too. I heard he even wants to marry his aunt and sister to you?" Li An teased.

"He does treat me well, but his aunt and sister, I don't want to marry."

"Brother An, I want to leave, leave the Zhao family!"

Wang Dazhu spoke directly.

Li An said, "Why? Is Zhao Xian's Story making you unhappy?"

"No, he's been taking good care of me these years, but I just want to leave." Wang Dazhu clearly had concerns, but didn't voice them.

Li An said, "If you want to leave, think it through carefully, make a prudent decision, and do not reveal this intention before you decide."

Wang Dazhu nodded, "By the way, Brother An, is there anything important you came here for this time?"

Li An said, "I want to ask you for a favor."

"Brother An, just say it, as long as I can do it, I will spare no effort!"

"This item, can it be made into a Tier Two Magical Artifact?" Li An took out the turtle shell of the Primordial Soul Beast and handed it to Wang Dazhu.

Wang Dazhu took it and examined it closely, somewhat surprised, "Such good material… Certainly!"

"Give me seven days!"

He agreed immediately!

Li An said, "Good, but I have some matters to attend to, I'll have to leave for a while, a month later, I'll come here to find you again, still here!"

"Dazhu, please do not tell anyone about me coming here… including Xian's Story."

The two parted ways there.

Li An did not leave, instead, he stayed quietly around the Zhao family, consciously sensing, to see if any demon cultivators appeared.

A month passed, and nothing happened.

Meeting again, Wang Dazhu was ready, but Li An once again asked him to wait for another month.

In the third month, Li An finally felt at ease, which is when he gave both the turtle shell and turtle horn to Wang Dazhu.

Li An had actually thought about taking Wang Dazhu away with him, which would be the safest option.

However, Wang Dazhu's ability to refine Tier Two Magical Artifacts, besides his own talent, also relied on a source of Earth Fire in the Zhao family!

The Earth Fire can increase the success rate and quality of artifact refining, which is especially crucial for Wang Dazhu before Foundation Establishment.

...

A month's time passed.

Li An closely monitored the situation around the Zhao family, even expanding his scope, checking several nearby towns to ensure no demon cultivators appeared.

On this day, Wang Dazhu's carriage came out of the Zhao family, but Li An frowned, noticing that this time it wasn't just Wang Dazhu alone!

Through the carriage window, he saw another acquaintance—Zhao Xian's Story!

Moreover, Wang Dazhu didn't first go to Mianhong Residence before getting off; the carriage headed straight out of town, towards the maple forest.

He cautiously scouted, ensuring that it was only Zhao Xian's Story and Wang Dazhu who came, with no one else following.

"Brother An, I'm here, Brother Xian's Story is here as well—"

Upon entering the maple forest, Wang Dazhu immediately called out.

Zhao Xian's Story also spoke in a loud voice, "Brother Li, long time no see, I've missed you dearly, come quickly so we can meet!"

Li An pondered in the dark for a long while, finally revealing himself.

"Brother Zhao, long time no see."

He smiled slightly.

"Brother Li, you've truly made it hard for me to find you!"

Zhao Xian's Story approached, giving Li An a friendly punch on the chest, "All these years, and you haven't come to visit your brothers!"

"Now that you're here, you only notified Dazhu, Brother Li, you've done me wrong!"

"If it weren't for me noticing Dazhu's recent good mood and questioning repeatedly, I wouldn't have known you came!"

After eight years, Zhao Xian's Story had gained the grace of a higher position; being in charge of the family for many years had transformed him.

Li An smiled, glancing at Wang Dazhu, only to see his eyes filled with guilt and helplessness, "Brother An, both items have been refined, but I didn't bring them…"

"Hmm?" Li An looked at Zhao Xian's Story calmly.

"I didn't allow Dazhu to bring them,"

Zhao Xian's Story smiled and said, "Brother Li, after not seeing you for so many years, you have to come back with me, stay for a few days, rest assured, your two treasures, I'm nurturing them with Earth Fire, they'll be of better quality then!"

Li An smiled and said, "Alright…"

"Please, Brother Li!"

Zhao Xian's Story immediately gestured with his hand, making a welcoming gesture—

The three boarded the carriage, heading towards the Zhao family.

...

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