While guiding his True Qi back to its origin with the Mental Method of the Celestial Intent Four Symbols Technique, Fang Shuwen was also quickly grasping the essence of this Martial Art.

The beauty of this technique lay in the harmony between the internal and external.

It used the internal to influence the external, borrowing the power of heaven, earth, and nature to manifest all sorts of wondrous abilities. Its power was truly limitless.

With two Divine Techniques, the Muscle Strengthening Scripture and the North Nether Divine Technique, already under his belt, performing Qi Guiding and Returning to the Origin for the Great Perfection Level Celestial Intent Four Symbols Technique was hardly a challenge for Fang Shuwen.

After all, although these three Divine Techniques were diametrically opposed, they were not without their similarities.

Many of his meridians were already open, so he completed the process of Qi Guiding and Returning to the Origin in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

With a mere thought, using the nameless Mental Method derived from the system, he could easily convert the True Qi in his body.

One moment it was the Divine Technique of the Muscle Strengthening Scripture, the next it was the North Nether Divine Technique. With another shift in his thoughts, a faint wind began to stir, attempting to coalesce behind Fang Shuwen.

He opened his eyes, and the wind dissipated, the qi returning to its source.

He stood up, lightly dusted off his robes, and then returned to the side of the bonfire.

Mo Beidou had said something that was making all the Escort Masters and Porters present roar with laughter.

Lu Guiyan sat off to one side by herself, also smiling softly.

Fang Shuwen thought for a moment before walking over and sitting down beside her.

"What are you thinking about, Young Chief of the Escort?"

Lu Guiyan looked over at Fang Shuwen, her expression filled with an unprecedented sense of ease.

"Nothing, really. It just feels like this whole trip has been like a tumble on the Yellow Springs Road...

"If Darts Leader Mo hadn’t happened to run into you in Guangning City, I’m afraid we wouldn’t have even made it out of the city."

Fang Shuwen thought for a moment before speaking.

"Then why do you think Wang Shouyan gave this job to your Lu’an Escort Agency?"

Lu Guiyan thought for a moment and replied.

"At first, when I found out this matter involved Flying Snow City and Jinghua Pavilion, I thought Wang Shouyan wanted to use my Lu’an Escort Agency as a tool he could exploit.

"But in the end, if it weren’t for you, we would have died countless times over.

"Ultimately, I overestimated myself. The Lu’an Escort Agency doesn’t even qualify to be used as a tool. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

"Later, I considered that perhaps it was precisely because the Lu’an Escort Agency is small and insignificant that no one would have thought Jinghua Pavilion would use us to escort those two doctors.

"A brilliant move to deceive everyone.

"I thought that way right up until we reached Flying Snow City.

"But..."

She paused for a moment at this point before continuing.

"Those two people... their reaction just now was too strange.

"Logically speaking, they had no reason to reveal their identities to the public.

"After all, Flying Snow City is a quagmire right now. They’re already in deep, facing countless dangers. Announcing their identities like that is practically a death wish.

"Brother Fang, you saw it just now. Even the Book Immortal, Murong Qingchen, is there for the so-called Seven-String Ancient Chapter, not to mention Xiao Yanyu of the Golden Bell Tower.

"That man surnamed Gu and that Great Monk are by no means easy to deal with. Even that young man, Chen Yan, who was being made a fool of by his own donkey, is nowhere near as simple as he seems.

"I’m afraid the gazes of all these people are now fixed on those two.

"So... so now I suspect that Jinghua Pavilion might be creating a diversion to hide their true intentions.

"The ones who can truly save Wu Lingxiao’s life are probably someone else entirely."

Fang Shuwen looked at Lu Guiyan and chuckled softly.

"The Young Chief of the Escort is truly extraordinary."

"...Brother Fang, please don’t mock me. I’m just an armchair general after the fact."

Lu Guiyan sighed.

"Besides, what good is a little cleverness?

"This world is filled with countless talented experts. The Seven Great Sects of the Eastern Domain may be lofty and powerful, but how many hidden figures are lurking in the shadows, stirring up trouble and ensuring the Jianghu never knows a moment of peace?"

Fang Shuwen nodded as well.

His gaze drifted toward Flying Snow City, and a few thoughts surfaced in his mind.

He had considered all the possibilities Lu Guiyan mentioned.

But right now, he was thinking of another possibility, one beyond those she had raised.

Still, they were now far from the storm. Whatever the truth was, it no longer had anything to do with them.

But just as Fang Shuwen was thinking this, his brows suddenly furrowed slightly.

He broke off a wooden twig and tossed it into the fire.

He watched as a gust of wind caught the flames, causing the steady blaze to ripple suddenly.

He then watched that same gust spread into the distance, rustling the branches and making them sway restlessly.

He couldn’t help but chuckle.

"When you’re in the Jianghu, sometimes, you truly aren’t in control of your own fate."

Lu Guiyan froze. Just as she was wondering why Fang Shuwen had made such a sudden remark, a look of horror appeared in her eyes.

From the darkness, figures emerged one after another without a sound.

It wasn’t until their silhouettes appeared in the firelight that Lu Guiyan even noticed their presence.

She leaped to her feet and scanned her surroundings, realizing with a start that they had been completely surrounded.

This group wore red clothes, and even their face masks were fiery red, embroidered with a pattern of fire clouds. In the cold season, they looked like clusters of raging flames.

But these flames sparked no warmth in her heart; instead, they sent a chill down her spine, leaving her hands and feet ice-cold.

The expressions on Mo Beidou and the others also changed drastically. They each got up and gathered together, warily watching these uninvited guests.

A figure completely wrapped in a red robe walked over to the bonfire, sat down, and held out his hands to warm them by the firelight.

The fire blazed brightly. He moved extremely close, so close that the tongues of flame could already lick at his hands, yet he seemed completely oblivious.

Lu Guiyan noticed that his hands were not harmed in the slightest from being so close to the fire.

This discovery made Lu Guiyan’s pupils contract even more.

The red-robed man spoke slowly.

"A month ago, was it you who killed a group from the Black Death Sect in the front hall of Zhuji Pavilion?"

Fang Shuwen nodded.

"It was me."

"Very honest."

The red-robed man nodded, a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Then did you happen to see the Divine Fire Seal?"

Fang Shuwen thought carefully for a moment.

"No, but there was one person whose body was engulfed in flames before he exploded into a shower of fireworks."

"That was the Divine Fire Seal."

The red-robed man sighed.

"You know, you didn’t have to die so soon."

"Oh?"

Fang Shuwen was a little surprised.

"When did you originally plan to get your revenge on me?"

"At least not until after we had obtained the Seven-String Ancient Chapter... After all, whoever kills our people will be hunted to the ends of the earth."

The red-robed man said with an air of resignation.

"But who would have thought that you would head to Flying Snow City right after coming down from Jiuning Mountain.

"Such a rare opportunity... naturally, we couldn’t let it pass."

Fang Shuwen was surprised.

"You’re also here for the Seven-String Ancient Chapter?

"What exactly is that thing used for?"