Chapter 88: Calm Confrontation

Normally, Li Xiaoman was pure and refined, unfazed by events, always composed and calm. Yet, at this moment, she displayed a look of astonishment. This piqued the curiosity of the young men and women nearby, and one of them couldn't help but ask again, "Junior Sister, do you know this little beggar?"

Li Xiaoman quickly regained her composure, nodded, and replied, "Yes, I do."

"Junior Sister Li, how do you know him?" One of the women asked, full of confusion. Ye Fan, in his tattered clothes and looking gaunt both physically and mentally, appeared to be someone from the lowest strata of society, completely alien to their world.

"We come from the same place. We used to be... neighbors, I suppose," Li Xiaoman said with a tranquil expression.

Hearing her use the word "neighbors," Ye Fan smiled faintly. He simply said, "Hello," and nothing more.

"So, you're old acquaintances. Your little neighbor is quite clumsy; he bumped into me even though the street is so wide. Elder Brother Yang even thought he was trying to steal something just now."

"Still, the boy is truly pitiable, to have become a beggar at such a young age."

"These days, beggars often beg and steal simultaneously. Junior Sister Li, you really should warn him not to go astray."

Cultivators and mortals lived in two different worlds, especially the lowest of the mortals—beggars. It was rare for them to have any interaction. The young men and women spoke freely, completely unconcerned about Ye Fan's presence.

"Elder Brothers and Sisters, do you have any money on you? Could I borrow some?" Li Xiaoman took some coins from the young men and women, then offered them to Ye Fan. "Go get some new clothes. Don't be a beggar. I believe you can support yourself."

"Junior Sister Li is so kind."

"Indeed, Junior Sister Li is truly compassionate. He's just a neighbor, yet she gave him so much money."

"Little beggar, you must walk the right path from now on. Don't steal, or you'll disappoint Junior Sister Li."

The young men and women beside them chimed in one after another.

Ye Fan's eyes were clear. He looked quietly at Li Xiaoman, not reaching out for the money. "Thank you for your kindness, but I don't need these."

A young man nearby immediately frowned. "What's wrong with you, little beggar? Junior Sister Li is giving you clean money, and you refuse it? Do you really intend to live by stealing?"

Li Xiaoman's expression remained serene, her gaze as calm as still lake water, without a ripple. She placed the coins in Ye Fan's hand. "Take it. Live a good life as an ordinary person."

Ye Fan ignored the others and pushed the coins back again. "Don't worry, I can survive. I wish you smooth sailing and continued progress on your path of cultivation."

"This little beggar is truly 'dying for face and suffering alive.' He's fallen to begging, yet he's still so aloof."

"Let's hope he doesn't act high and mighty now only to turn around and start stealing."

The young men and women nearby were all quite displeased.

Li Xiaoman gazed at Ye Fan, her voice steady and unruffled. "These will help you now, so don't refuse. Please take them quickly. Do you truly intend to live by begging?"

Ye Fan still didn't take the coins. "Congratulations on regaining your youth." He perceived that Li Xiaoman was only in the Bitter Sea realm, incomparable to him, but he didn't know how she had recovered her vitality.

"Thank you, it was just luck," Li Xiaoman replied, no longer insisting, and took the coins back.

One of the young women in the group smiled. "This little beggar certainly knows a lot, even about Junior Sister Li having lost her vitality. It seems you really are old acquaintances."

"He and I were just neighbors. I don't know him that well. Perhaps after more than ten years, it would be hard to recognize each other if we met again..." Li Xiaoman remained calm throughout, speaking casually, as if discussing something unrelated to herself.

Although Ye Fan's face was stained with dirt, his smile was still bright, revealing a mouthful of pearly white teeth. "Indeed, memories always fade. Some people and events eventually recede into the mists of time."

"This little beggar is young, but he has quite a personality," one of the women remarked, looking at Ye Fan, then at Li Xiaoman. "It's a pity, Junior Sister, that you don't know him very well. Otherwise, you could bring him back to Purple Sun Cavern Heaven and let him do odd jobs at the mountain gate. That would be much better than him begging on the streets and going astray."

A man nodded upon hearing this. "Our sect's selection process is very strict; we must know someone's background thoroughly."

Li Xiaoman remained unperturbed, her expression utterly calm. To Ye Fan, she said, "Don't go astray. Live a good life as an ordinary person; that might also be a kind of happiness."

Ye Fan smiled, said nothing, waved his hand, and then strode away.

"This little beggar gives off a very unique feeling..." The young men and women nearby all agreed.

Ye Fan strode away, blending into the bustling crowd. Half an hour later, he appeared in an antique shop, haggling with the owner.

"What? Only fifty copper coins? You should be more honest; don't be so greedy!"

"Young man, don't ask for such an exorbitant price. It's just a wooden box; how could it be worth ten gold coins?"

"This is a red sandalwood box. If you don't want it, I'll go to another shop..." With that, Ye Fan turned to leave.

"Don't rush! The price is negotiable," the antique shop owner quickly stopped Ye Fan.

In the end, Ye Fan left, satisfied, with ten gold coins.

It was already noon, and he was starving. Unwilling to dine and dash, he ultimately sold the red sandalwood box that held the "Source" and stored the "Source" in another ordinary wooden box worth only one copper coin.

"Jiang Family Knights!" Ye Fan looked up at the sky and was startled. A strange beast was circling above the large city, and soon it flew into the distance. He felt puzzled, unable to understand why they always managed to find his trail.

Ye Fan entered a restaurant, ordered a table full of dishes, and ate heartily. After days of fleeing, he hadn't had a single hot meal, so he naturally devoured the food.

It was half an hour later before he stood up, satisfied. The shop assistant, who had been waiting for a long time, saw his tattered clothes, like a beggar's, and feared he might slip away after eating.

Ye Fan, of course, didn't argue with him. He tossed down the money for the meal and turned to go downstairs. Just as he reached the street, he was startled: the Jiang Family Knights had entered the city, disappearing around a street corner on their strange beast.

"What's going on? Why can they always track me down? Even if they can't pinpoint my exact location, they seem to be able to trace my general direction!" Ye Fan showed a hint of worry. He had a bad feeling and knew he couldn't stay in this city, or something bad would surely happen. He barely paused, immediately left the city, then ran off, plunging into the distant mountains.

"They're truly like lingering ghosts! How can I ever completely get rid of them?" Ye Fan crossed mountains and traversed endless ranges, only stopping when dusk settled.

Just then, Ye Fan felt the spiritual energy in the depths of the mountain range was dense, seemingly many times richer than in other areas. After traveling dozens more *li*, he revealed a surprised expression. He saw a large bluestone with four ancient characters carved on it: "Purple Sun Cavern Heaven."

"How did I end up here...?"

Ye Fan realized he had come to Purple Sun Cavern Heaven, the very sect Li Xiaoman belonged to. This blessed land was not very far from the city he had just left.