If you want to follow, just follow.

Zhong Qing nodded slightly: "We'll see."

The two chatted casually for a few more moments when Ming Suxin suddenly asked,

"Everything you said earlier, it's all true, isn't it?"

"It seems my Mirror Heart Lake has truly encountered Vicious Beasts and suffered heavy losses."

Zhong Qing nodded, saying nothing.

Even though she had anticipated it, upon receiving Zhong Qing's confirmation again, Ming Suxin's eyes couldn't help but dim: "Since that's the case, no wonder Revered Master ordered the Disciples to retreat."

"However, the Baifeng Secret Realm is rarely opened, and now that the six fragments are gathered, it's a once-in-a-lifetime Opportunity."

"If we miss this chance, my Mirror Heart Lake might never have another Opportunity with the Secret Realm."

"If possible, I still want to go to the Secret Realm."

"Even if I don't get an Opportunity in the end, at least I'll have tried and won't regret it."

Zhong Qing said indifferently: "If you want to go, then go; you don't need to tell me."

Ming Suxin bit her red lip, finding it somewhat difficult to speak, but after a moment of hesitation, she still opened her mouth.

"Can I follow you? This place is full of dangers, and with just my own strength, I'm not confident I can reach the Secret Realm."

As soon as she said this, Ming Suxin's heart immediately tightened.

She looked at Zhong Qing somewhat nervously.

Although she had followed Zhong Qing before, she had done so on her own initiative and had not received his consent.

In the world of Cultivators, mutual caution is the norm, and not everyone is willing to interact with others.

Zhong Qing, at this moment, unhurriedly finished his second pastry and brushed the crumbs from his hands.

"If you can keep up, then follow."

Ming Suxin's eyes lit up, and she felt a surge of joy in her heart.

Although Zhong Qing hadn't explicitly agreed, his reaction clearly showed no rejection.

"Thank you."

Zhong Qing didn't reply but turned his head to look outside.

He saw that the storm had subsided without them noticing.

It seemed it was just a temporary Formation fluctuation caused by the giant turtle's earlier attack, so it didn't last too long.

Zhong Qing got up and walked out of the room.

"Let's go. It's still very far from the Secret Realm. I'll speed up, and if you can't keep up, that's your own problem."

Ming Suxin's pretty face showed a hint of determination, she nodded, and quickly followed.

Not long after, the two had just exited the ruins.

Suddenly, Ming Suxin's gaze shifted.

"Someone is approaching."

Zhong Qing did not respond or react.

He had clearly anticipated it.

A moment later, a slightly mocking voice came from the side.

"Well, well, if it isn't the Saintess of Mirror Heart Lake."

"Why do you look so disheveled?"

The two turned their heads to look, only to see two figures rapidly approaching. One was a young man with handsome features, a proud air between his brows, and a somewhat arrogant demeanor.

The other was a tall, stern-faced Elder with sharp eyes.

Both of them carried sword cases on their backs.

Upon seeing the two, Zhong Qing immediately found them somewhat familiar. After a moment, he remembered that these two were from the Frost Sword Sect's team earlier.

"Han An'yan."

Seeing the newcomers, Ming Suxin's gaze darkened, but she immediately returned to her usual cold and aloof demeanor: "What are you doing here?"

At the same time, she transmitted a message to Zhong Qing: "He is the current Sword Son of the Frost Sword Sect, his strength is not below mine. The one next to him is the Third Elder of the Frost Sword Sect, a Peak Tianxuan Realm Cultivator. Be careful."

"Be careful?" Zhong Qing glanced at her: "Be careful of what?"

Ming Suxin was stunned for a moment, then she reacted.

The one in front of her was a terrifyingly strong Cultivator who could almost kill a Sanyin Realm Vicious Beast with a single slap.

When would he ever need to be careful of two Tianxuan Realm Cultivators?

Her previous mindset hadn't had time to shift, and Zhong Qing's face was always too young, making her momentarily forget this point.

At this moment, Han An'yan and the other man had also approached.

"Heh heh, Ming Suxin, what you said is truly strange."

"This is the White Wind Plains, not your Mirror Heart Lake. Does this Sword Son need anyone's permission to come here?"

As he spoke, Han An'yan's gaze swept around. After the giant turtle's awakening and being sent flying by Zhong Qing's slap, the ground within a hundred li radius was a mess, as if it had just experienced a volcanic eruption.

"What just happened here?"

Apparently, the two had also been attracted by the previous commotion; otherwise, if they had seen that Sanyin Realm giant turtle, they probably wouldn't have dared to approach even with ten times the courage.

"None of your business." Ming Suxin seemed to have a strong dislike for Han An'yan, she merely replied indifferently, then spoke to Zhong Qing: "Let's go."

"Wait."

With a glance from Han An'yan, the Frost Sword Sect's Third Elder suddenly took a step, blocking their path.

"I haven't said you can leave yet."

Ming Suxin's gaze turned cold.

"When did I ever need your permission to leave?"

Han An'yan smiled slightly, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

"You can go, but he can't."

Han An'yan looked at Zhong Qing and said indifferently: "This kid is the one who had two Secret Realm iron fragments on him before, right?"

"Sect Leader Lan Tianhe of Zhan Yue Sect at the Mountain Pass protected him, allowing him to escape once."

"Make him hand over the iron fragments."

He then looked at Ming Suxin, his gaze becoming somewhat ambiguous.

"You and I are of equal status, with equal talent, Ming Suxin, don't you think you and I are on the same Dao, that we are more suited to be together, rather than with this trash?"

"Make him hand over the iron fragments, and I can promise not to hold him accountable for offending my Frost Sword Sect earlier."

"I can give you one of his two iron fragments. Then we can explore the Secret Realm together, wouldn't that be wonderful?"

As the Sword Son of the Frost Sword Sect, Han An'yan had always been arrogant.

In his eyes, ordinary women were not worthy of him; only true favored daughters of heaven, peerless beauties, had such qualifications.

And Ming Suxin perfectly met his standards.

Especially Ming Suxin's consistently cold, elegant, and unapproachable demeanor, which further ignited his desire for conquest.

Only by subduing such a woman could he feel a sense of accomplishment.

And now was a very good Opportunity.

With him and the Third Elder present, Ming Suxin would not refuse if she was sensible.

As for Zhong Qing, he was directly ignored.

He didn't think this person could pose any threat to them.