CHAPTER 73: FIRST GATHERING OF THE FOUR-MAN SQUAD

Nantian Yijian felt the energy radiating in Lu Chen's hand and instinctively turned away, a faint unwillingness stirring in him as he saw the gap between them had widened once again.

Nevertheless, he walked over to Nantian Wan'er and attempted to strike up a conversation.

Scratching his head, he said, "Hello, miss. It's been so long, yet I still don't know your name. May I ask where you're from?"

Nantian Wan'er was caught off guard by his question and grew nervous. She quickly hid behind Lu Chen and clutched his sleeve. "Lu-gege..."

Noticing her discomfort, Lu Chen gently patted the back of her hand to calm her. "Wan'er, don't be afraid. They're all good brothers of mine."

Lu Chen then turned to Nantian Yijian and explained, "Wan'er saved me back in the secret realm. Her grandpa had to leave suddenly and left her in my care."

Hearing this, Nantian Yijian looked at her and said, "Wan'er? That's a lovely name. How about you join our Horse-Hunting Squad? That way, our Four-Man Squad will finally be complete."

Still a bit uneasy, Nantian Wan'er raised her head toward Lu Chen. "Lu-gege... should I join?"

"Yes. Join them. They'll look after you."

With his approval, she gave Nantian Yijian a slight nod.

Nantian Yijian cheered, leaping into the air. "Great! Our Four-Man Squad is finally complete, and I'm no longer the youngest."

Then, he frowned, "But... Why does Wan'er look so scared?"

Lu Chen explained, "She's lived deep in the mountains most of her life and has never seen so many people before. That's why she's nervous."

Noticing her mood had improved, he added, "By the way, Little Jian, Wan'er is also from the Nantian Region, and she happens to share the same surname as you. You two might even be connected."

At the mention of her name, Nantian Yijian instinctively stepped back several steps, his voice turning unnatural as if he were trying hard to hide something. "Nantian? No, no, I don't know her. We have no connection."

Nantian Wan'er glanced at him and saw nothing unusual in his response. "Lu-gege, the Nantian Region is vast. I didn't grow up in a sect, so it's not surprising we haven't met."

Nantian Yijian hastily echoed her words, "Yes, yes, the Nantian Region is huge. It's normal not to have met."

He secretly let out a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat from his palms.

Lu Chen nodded. "True. The world is vast. It's perfectly normal not to have met."

Jun Laoye fixed his gaze on Nantian Wan'er's face and murmured, "Nantian Wan'er... could you be from the Nantian Sect?

"No, that's not right. The Nantian Sect has always revered the Dragon Ascent Sword, and even branch disciples undergo training that emphasizes strength and ferocity. So how is it that your constitution is so cold and yin?"

Jun Laoye continued to question her. Pressed by his persistent inquiries, Nantian Wan'er didn't know how to respond. She hid behind Lu Chen again, trembling slightly, afraid to speak. "Lu-gege..."

Sensing her distress, Lu Chen immediately led her toward the ship's cabin. "Wan'er has suffered from cold poison since childhood, which is why her constitution is like that, rich in yin energy. Her injuries have only just recovered, so she can't stay in the wind for too long. Let's head inside first."

Seeing them leave, Jun Laoye pulled Nantian Yijian along and quickly followed.

***

The first deck of the cabin was a hall nearly two hundred zhang wide. In its center stood a twenty-zhang-wide arena, surrounded by over two hundred seats. Off to the side, cultivators bustled about, each occupied with their tasks.

Lu Chen walked ahead with Nantian Wan'er. He observed the surroundings and greeted every passing cultivator. "Are they getting ready for a celebration banquet? And an arena match?"

Jun Laoye replied excitedly, "Yes. There's a celebration banquet and arena matches tonight. Second Uncle also asked me to remind you to come early. If not for the herbs you used to suppress the Spidercrab, this trip might have been for nothing. He's arranged the banquet in advance so you can be the center of attention tonight."

In the distance, Lu Chen spotted Jun Wudi at a desk, working through documents. He cupped his hands in greeting.

By now, he had already figured out what the banquet was truly for.

He turned to Jun Laoye and said, "Alright. I'll be there early tonight."

"Good," Jun Laoye noticed that Nantian Wan'er still seemed uneasy and said to Lu Chen, "It's a bit noisy here. Let me take you down to the resting quarters."

He led the way and guided them toward the stairs to the next deck.

"This vessel has three levels. Our quarters are on the second floor. Below that is the control room."

As soon as Lu Chen stepped onto the second deck, a wave of abundant spiritual qi washed over him.

From the outside, the deck appeared small, yet its interior stretched far and wide. Rows of rooms lined the corridor, and Jun Laoye introduced them one by one.

The place bustled with activity, offering every form of entertainment—from gambling houses and sparring arenas to teahouses and taverns. Dozens of formations gleamed along the walls, constantly adjusting the environment to keep the rooms as comfortable as possible.

Nantian Yijian peeked through the doorway, eyes widening. "It's huge! Did they fit an entire small town in here?"

Jun Laoye tugged him along. "We've still got a few days before we arrive. No rush if you want to play. Let's check out the rooms first."

Nantian Yijian cast a wistful glance at the lively halls. "Alright... I'll come back later then."

With that, he followed the trio onward.

***

Ten minutes later, Lu Chen and his companions stood in the middle of a residential area.

The neighborhood consisted of several hundred courtyard-style houses.

Jun Laoye pointed toward three greyish-brown houses. "These three were initially prepared for the three of us. Now that Sister Wan'er is here, it's going to be a bit tricky to divide them."

After a brief pause, he gestured to his quarters. "How about I let Wan'er stay in mine for now? That way, if anything happens at night, you can respond quickly."

With a grin, Jun Laoye playfully waggled his eyebrows at Nantian Yijian. "Besides, I'll be on night duty for the next few days. During the day, I can just squeeze in with Little Jian."

The two had always been like-minded. After going through life-and-death situations together these past few days, their bond had grown even deeper.

Nantian Yijian caught Jun Laoye's hint and quickly chimed in, "That's right, Little Lu. There are plenty of rooms here anyway, so it's fine if we stay together. Since Wan'er's injuries have only just healed, she should get plenty of rest."

Lu Chen was about to agree when Nantian Wan'er lightly tugged at the hem of his robe from behind.

He turned and saw her shaking her head repeatedly. At the same time, her voice sounded in his mind, "Lu-gege, I'm scared... Let's stay in the same house."

Lu Chen gently patted her head. Then he turned back to Jun Laoye. "Forget it. I still need to focus on absorbing my insights over the next two days and can't afford any distractions. Wan'er is unfamiliar with this place, so she should stay in the same house as me."

Jun Laoye frowned, hesitant. "But... wouldn't that be inconvenient?"

"It's fine. Her safety comes first. I'll take her inside to rest for a bit and come out later tonight."

Without waiting for a response, Lu Chen took Nantian Wan'er toward the door. He was eager to get her settled somewhere safe so she could rest, while he took the chance to process the insights in his mind.

Seeing that Nantian Wan'er did not object, Jun Laoye didn't push further. "Alright then, see you tonight."

He turned to Nantian Yijian and gave a mischievous smile. "Little Jian, we've still got four hours until tonight. How about we have a few drinks? I'll show you something good."

Catching the gleam of mischief in Jun Laoye's smile, Nantian Yijian instantly perked up. "Something good? Let's go! I already wanted to head over there earlier."

The two hooked arms and made their way toward the entertainment district.

Watching them leave, Lu Chen shook his head with a smile and called after them, "Be careful, and don't be late for the celebration banquet tonight!"

"Got it, Boss!"

Nantian Yijian turned back with a wide grin. "Boss, make sure you rest up and come join us soon! We'll be waiting for you!"

Lu Chen waved them off. "I know, go on!"

He then led Nantian Wan'er into the house.

Once they were alone, Nantian Wan'er quietly took his hand and smiled. "Lu-gege, this is the first time I've seen you so happy."

"Haha, maybe so. Aside from Little Pup, they're the best friends I have."

Lu Chen scratched his head with a sheepish grin and said, "Come on, let's look around. You should also get some rest."

He pushed open the second set of doors, and a refreshing coolness swept over them.

The house was divided into three sections. The north side held a small bedroom for the owner, while the other two areas were meant for training and refining pills.

"Spirit Gathering Formation? Breeze Formation, Ice Formation... Hmm, even an illusion realm. I didn't expect such a small residence to have so many formations."

Lu Chen pointed at the lotus pond at the center and said to Nantian Wan'er, "This should be the core of the building's formations. Let's wash up first, then take a proper look around."

Once they had freshened up, Lu Chen changed into a set of black clothes prepared in the room, while Nantian Wan'er donned a light pink dress. They then began exploring the house together.

At every spot they visited, Lu Chen could instantly identify the formations in place. The two hundred years spent in the trial had broadened his knowledge considerably, though only in theory. To truly master these techniques, he would still need to digest the insights he had gained during his trial.

Lu Chen explained to Wan'er with a sigh. "I may have broadened my knowledge, but without fully absorbing those insights, my strength will still fall behind."

With no outsiders around, Wan'er's mood gradually relaxed. She smiled as she followed him from room to room.

While listening to his explanations, she asked, "Lu-gege, how's Eggy now? Why don't you try the Tower of Time again? It should help you absorb those insights much faster."

Lu Chen's eyes lit up at her words. "How could I have forgotten about that? Let's try it right now."

He circulated his spirit qi and vanished from the room together with Nantian Wan'er.