Chapter 42: Parting Ways

  Inside Shilin, beside a huge rock.

  Mo Chao Ge, Ba Na De and Ming Yue Shi, three people with a calm expression, as if waiting for some news.

  Before long, a dark and mysterious figure emerged from the distant stone path and walked straight towards this place.

  This dark star messenger came over and bowed his head towards Mingyue, saying: "Sir, there is still no sign of the other party."

  Mingyue nodded and waved his hand: "Continue to stare at those few checkpoints, don't relax!"

  "Yes!"

  The dark star messenger in charge of exploring the news quietly retreated, his figure flashing among the rocks, and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

  An hour later.

  Duan Bi's robust figure also emerged from a stone path. He walked over and bowed to Mo Chou Ge, saying: "I haven't seen anyone."

  "Hmm." Mo Zhao nodded and ordered: "Continue to guard, I don't believe they won't come out."

  "Third Master, won't they be killed by the demonic beasts in the dark forest?" Strongson hesitated for a moment before saying: "I heard that after we left, the demonic beasts in that area became even more frenzied. Many warriors who were active in that area have sent out news of their deaths. Those few haven't come out yet, it's possible they were killed by the demonic beasts long ago."

  "It's possible."

  Unexpectedly, Mo Chao Ge didn't refute him. He nodded first before saying: "However, if they weren't killed by the demonic beasts and instead snuck into the Merchant Alliance while we're not paying attention, then we'll regret it later! You... understand what I mean?"

  "Understood! I'll go and continue keeping an eye on it!" Jenson's expression turned stern, and he hastily turned around to leave.

  Mo Chao Ge furrowed his brow and instructed Ming Yue beside him, "Let's wait another month. If they still don't come out, it's possible that they really died inside. What do you think?"

  "En, I have no opinion." Mingyue nodded in agreement and pondered for a moment before saying: "I received news that Yao Wang Gan Xiao and Lei Yi Silver Wolf are still battling in the Dark Forest. However, there are too many dark creatures in the forest, and it seems like Gan Xiao has already begun to retreat. The dark creatures of the Dark Forest have all gathered around Lei Yi Silver Wolf and are still chasing after Yao Wang Gan Xiao and his followers. That area was actually relatively safe."

  "Are you saying... they might still be alive?" Mo Zhao Ge asked.

  "The possibility of survival is extremely high." Mingyue said, "In that area, many warriors were killed, and those who weren't killed were also scared out early. As long as they aren't too unlucky, they should be able to survive and come out of the Dark Forest alive."

  "I hope they're alive!" Bernhard of the Fangs mercenary group said coldly, his eyes full of venom: "I'll make them regret coming to this world."

  Mingyue's eyes flashed with a cold light as she said faintly, "I'm taking that Mu person away."

  "That skinny kid has to hand it over to me first, he stole something from our Mo family, I need to get the thing back first, then you can do whatever you want." Mo Zhaoge glanced at Barnard with a lukewarm expression.

  Barnard remained silent and didn't respond, with unknown thoughts in his mind.

  ……

  Shi Yan walked cautiously among the jagged rocks, never daring to relax for a moment.

  Mù Yǔ Dié and Díyà Lán were in front, talking in low voices, don't know what they were saying.

  "Ding Yan." Suddenly, Mu Yuxiang stopped and turned around to look at him.

  "Huh?" Shi Yan's face was shocked, and he slightly relaxed his guard, "What's up?"

  "Are you a member of the Chamber of Commerce?" Mu Yu Die hesitated for a moment before asking casually.

  "Uh-huh."

  "Are you practicing alone?"

  "Uh-huh."

  "On this journey, you've helped me a lot. I'd like to introduce someone to you. If you can gain his recognition, it will be greatly beneficial for your future cultivation. What do you say?" Mu Yu Die's expression was solemn, her bright eyes shining intensely as she looked at him.

  Shi Yan was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head and said calmly, "I appreciate Miss Mu's kindness, but I don't like to be restricted by others."

  He realized that Mu Yutian was going to recommend him to some powerful person or a major force.

  In this world, there are also warriors who travel alone, but most of them have high attainments and do not need to rely on any power to do as they please.

  The vast majority of martial artists will choose to join some major forces or a large family.

  Because these great powers and large families have a wealth of cultivation resources, perfect martial skills and cultivation materials, as well as guidance from masters, these things can allow a warrior to break through bottlenecks more quickly and enter a higher realm.

  However, some truly powerful forces and strong families generally rarely recruit people with unknown backgrounds. Without a referral, it is extremely difficult to enter those major powers for cultivation.

  Mù Yǔ Dié is obviously an important figure in a certain powerful force, and she has the heart to sell Shí Yán's personal feelings.

  "It's troublesome to cultivate alone." Mu Yudie was somewhat surprised at Shi Yan's refusal and didn't quite understand, "Only by relying on a large power can one quickly make progress. When tempering oneself in some regions, there will also be someone to rely on. A lone martial artist cultivating in an unfamiliar region is easily targeted for attack, do you understand?"

  "Yes, there are many drawbacks to practicing alone. Xiaodie is also well-intentioned, why don't you wait until you see that person and then decide whether or not to refuse?" Diyalan also advised.

  "No need, I have something to do, don't want to be a slave of some family." Shi Yan shook his head firmly.

  "Suit yourself then." Mu Yuxian's eyebrows furrowed slightly, thinking that Shi Yan was being a bit unappreciative, and didn't continue to insist.

  Diya Lan let out a sigh, and her heart felt a faint sense of loss.

  She was supposed to be with Mu Yu Die, but now Shi Yan has refused Mu Yu Die's invitation, which means she will have to part ways with Shi Yan, and who knows when they'll meet again.

  These days, she has deeply imprinted Shi Yan's shadow in her heart. Whenever she thinks about parting ways, it doesn't feel right.

  "Ding Yan, I'm going with Xiao Die, you..."

  After a good while, Diya Lan finally couldn't help but speak up. She looked at Shi Yan with eyes that had some pleading meaning to them.

  "You can come with me too." Shi Yan was taken aback for a moment before adding, "If you're willing to."

  "I..."

  Diya Lan's face was filled with bitterness, and she said in a low voice: "The power behind Xiao Die can not only protect her from harm, but also allow my realm to continue to rise. Moreover, Xiao Die promised me that I will not only get rich cultivation materials there, but also obtain a Xuan-level weapon, and even have the opportunity to cultivate Ling-level martial skills in the future..."

  "Never mind!"

  Shi Yan was blunt and cold, saying: "You have your pursuit, I have my goal. What you want...I can't give it to you. When we arrive at You Jing Town, let's go our separate ways."

  It's clear that Diya Lan thinks the power behind Mu Yuxi is more helpful for her future prospects, and the conditions offered by the other party are also extremely enticing, she really has no reason to refuse.

  "Ding Yan..." Diya Lan's heart felt sour and she muttered: "Sorry."

  "You don't have to say sorry." Shi Yan shook his head and said calmly, "Beforehand, we were mutually willing, afterwards, a clap of thunder and then scattered, neither of us owes the other anything."

  "Ah!" Diya Lan's face changed slightly, with a hint of resentment in her eyes as she gazed at him. Her high chest heaved slightly, but ultimately let out a soft sigh and muttered: "Do what you want, I have my own plans... You're still young, you won't understand..."

  Shi Yan curled his lip, his expression cold and detached, with a hint of disdain in his eyes, but he didn't say anything.

  "You don't know how to appreciate kindness." Mu Yu Die coldly snorted.

  "We don't see eye to eye, so let's not waste words." Shi Yan shook his head and lazily ignored her, not even giving her a glance. He walked towards another fork in the road, with his back to the two women, and coldly said, "We'll never meet again."

  "Ding Yan!" Diya Lan exclaimed, "Didn't we agree to part ways at Youji Town?"

  "Miss Mu is in the Threefold Heaven Realm, and there are stronger cultivators waiting for her in the Stone Forest. You can rest assured, I won't get involved." Shi Yan's voice gradually faded away, and his figure disappeared from sight.

  "This arrogant guy will definitely lose out in the future." Mu Yuxiang shook her head and said, "In this world, sometimes you have to learn to yield. If not, it's hard to live for a long time, especially for us cultivators who practice martial arts."

  Diya felt a great sense of loss in her heart. "I'm really worried about him, why did he refuse to follow us? Isn't it better for him?"

  "Never mind, don't think too much about it. Anyway, we're all in the business alliance, and who knows, maybe there will be another chance to meet again." Mu Yu Die comforted her: "Lan sister, we are women, and we both bear the mission of revitalizing our families, and we also want to avenge Lord Luo and others, so we must rely on powerful forces, rely on powerful people. Only in this way can we achieve our wishes."

  Mu Yu Die's beautiful eyes also revealed complex emotions, and she too thought of the bits and pieces of her time with Shi Yan, including his domineering kiss in the cave...

  But she finally shook her head hard, as if to remove the shadow of Shi Yan from her mind, and murmured: "As for him, let's just consider him a beautiful memory in our lives."

  This sentence of hers seemed like it was meant for her own ears.

  "He's not bad either, almost reaching the level of a human... and he's still so young..." Diya Lan muttered.

  "He wants to enter the realm of Bai Jie, Di Wei, it will take more than a decade. To step into the realm of Nie Pan, Tian Wei, who knows how many years it will take? We can't wait that long. Besides, he is just one person, and there is no powerful force backing him..."

  "Ah, well, I hope our decision is correct."

  "I am absolutely right!"

  ……

  PS: Today is Sunday, I went to the hospital in the afternoon and came back late, sorry about that. The new book didn't have a draft stored, so this chapter was written on the spot. Hope everyone can forgive me. Please vote for tomorrow's recommendation ticket and member click, thank you in advance.