He harbored suspicion in his heart but did not show it on his face, merely speaking indifferently.
"Taking money to solve people’s woes. Since Miss Xie has paid me, I, of course, will ensure your safety."
Xie He listened on the side, gritting his teeth, and couldn’t help but interrupt.
"Miss, our Xie Family is also of some renown in Great Wilderness City, why must we..."
"Oh, isn’t this the great Miss Xie?"
A sharp female voice suddenly interrupted Xie He’s words.
Everyone turned their heads, only to see a woman wearing a pink gauze dress, with heavy makeup, leading more than ten Martial Artists over.
She held a round fan half-covering her face, her eyes full of mockery.
"I heard all your servants ran away last night? Truly pitiful, not even having someone to command."
Xie Qingxuan’s face turned cold.
"Liu Qingyun, was it you causing mischief in the dark?"
"Ah, such words wrong a person."
Liu Qingyun widened her eyes in feigned surprise.
"Do you have evidence? Without evidence, you shouldn’t speak recklessly."
Xie He glared angrily, his hand already on the sword hilt.
"Little wench of the Liu family, you..."
"Qingyun, how can you speak to Miss Xie like this?"
A lazy male voice came.
The crowd automatically parted, revealing a young man in luxurious attire walking over slowly.
He had a handsome face, yet carried a hint of malevolence, with a gemstone-adorned Longsword hanging from his waist.
Liu Qingyun immediately changed her expression, leaning tenderly closer.
"Young Master Meng, I was only concerned about Sister Xie..."
Meng Xiao wrapped an arm around Liu Qingyun’s slender waist, but his gaze greedily swept over Xie Qingxuan.
"Miss Xie, I heard you plan to enter the Spirit Flame Mountain Range? That place is perilous, why not join me for a drink, and I’ll send some men to escort you into the mountains?"
Liu Qingyun’s face slightly changed.
"Young Master Meng, she..."
"Shut up."
Meng Xiao glared at her coldly, and Liu Qingyun immediately fell silent, like a cicada in winter.
Xie Qingxuan looked icy.
"Many thanks for your kind offer, Young Master Meng, but I have made prior arrangements with this Young Master Gu."
Only then did Meng Xiao notice Gu Sheng standing aside, and after sizing him up, sneered contemptuously.
"Him? With cultivation only in the Early Stage of the Xuanwu Realm, he dares to take on this task?"
He waved his hand, and more than a dozen Martial Artists behind him released their auras, all experts beyond the Third Level of the Xuanwu Realm.
"See?"
Meng Xiao boasted proudly.
"Any one of my subordinates can wander freely through the Spirit Flame Mountain Range. Miss Xie, opportunities like these are rare indeed."
Xie Qingxuan didn’t even glance at those Martial Artists, speaking calmly.
"Your subordinates are indeed talented, Young Master Meng, but I, Xie Qingxuan, am not one to break my word."
She turned to Gu Sheng.
"Young Master Gu, shall we set off?"
Gu Sheng watched the scene with interest, ignoring Meng Xiao’s provocative gaze, merely nodding lightly.
"Please."
An hour later, on the outskirts of the Spirit Flame Mountain Range.

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