Longevity Martial Arts: Grinding Experience in the Chaotic World Chapter 1460 - 753: I Said There’s No Need

"My injuries have mostly recovered; I don’t need to rely on external help."

Xie Qingxuan felt as though a bucket of cold water had been poured over her head; her eyes suddenly grew hot.

She bit down hard on her lower lip, refusing to let herself lose composure.

"Pack up, we’re setting off."

Gu Sheng turned and walked toward the cave entrance; his voice came from a distance.

"I’ll send you back to Great Wilderness City first."

Xie Qingxuan stood there in a daze, the Token in her hand icy cold to the point of piercing bone.

She couldn’t understand why she felt so upset. Clearly... clearly they were only chance acquaintances.

"I... I don’t want this."

She suddenly spoke, her voice slightly trembling.

Gu Sheng looked back, his brows faintly furrowed.

"Why?"

"I..."

Xie Qingxuan lifted her head, a stubborn light in her eyes.

"I don’t want to owe you a favor. You saved me, and I helped you too. We... are even."

Gu Sheng gazed at her quietly, his eyes so deep it seemed they could see through the human heart.

After a long moment, he nodded.

"As you wish."

The mountain breeze brushed lightly past, leaves rustling in the forest.

Gu Sheng stood on a jutting rock and took from his robe a completely jade-green Token. On the front were carved the two characters "Linlang," and on the back was an exquisite lotus pattern.

"Miss Xie, take this."

Gu Sheng turned and held the Token out to Xie Qingxuan, who stood behind him.

Xie Qingxuan was slightly stunned, a trace of astonishment in those clear spring-like eyes.

"This... this is a Linyin Pavilion token? It’s too valuable; I can’t accept it."

She instinctively stepped half a pace back, her slender fingers twisting together.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps between the leaves onto her fair face, casting a faint blush.

Gu Sheng’s lips curved slightly, a firm refusal-to-be-refused resolve in his eyes.

"Take it. If you encounter trouble, you can use this to seek help from Linyin Pavilion."

He paused, and his tone suddenly turned relaxed.

"I don’t want to go through what happened two days ago again."

Xie Qingxuan’s face flushed in an instant all the way to the tips of her ears; unbidden, that rainy night surfaced in her mind—Gu Sheng holding her in his arms as they hid from their pursuers.

She lowered her gaze, her long lashes casting fine shadows across her face.

"I... I’ve already troubled you too much."

Her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.

Gu Sheng withdrew his smile and spoke solemnly.

"Those two Sects won’t give up easily. I’m worried they’ll implicate the Xie Family. With Linyin Pavilion backing you, at least it can keep you all safe."

The mountain wind suddenly quickened, blowing the loose strands of hair across Xie Qingxuan’s forehead into disarray.

She hesitated for a moment, then finally stretched out her slightly trembling hand and took the Token that still carried Gu Sheng’s warmth.

"Thank you..."

She clenched the Token tightly in her palm, as if holding the most precious Treasure in the world.

Seeing how carefully she treated it, Gu Sheng’s heart softened for no reason.

"Let’s go, I’ll see you out of the mountains."

The two of them walked on in silence, passing through the dense forest.

From time to time a few Low-level Demon Beasts sprang out; with a casual wave of his hand and Sword Qi sweeping out, Gu Sheng cut them down.

Xie Qingxuan followed behind, her gaze fixed all along on Gu Sheng’s straight, upright back.

"We’re here."

Gu Sheng stopped, and the view ahead suddenly opened up.

Xie Qingxuan looked up and saw a towering city rising from the plains. The city walls soared high, and the three large characters "Green Lotus City" above the gate shone brilliantly under the sunlight.

"Green Lotus City?"

Her eyes widened in surprise.

"Weren’t we in the Spirit Flame Mountain Range? How did we end up thousands of miles away in Green Lotus City?"

Gu Sheng’s brows knit slightly; he was just as puzzled.

At this moment, the Innate Spirit Embryo in his Dantian suddenly sent him a voice transmission.

"Heh heh, brat, if this lord hadn’t overdrawn Spiritual Energy to carry you flying this far, you two would have been caught by those two Sects long ago!"

"It was you?"

Gu Sheng looked inward at his Dantian, only to see that clump of spiritual light a shade dimmer than usual.

"Of course! This lord nearly worked himself to death..."

The Innate Spirit Embryo suddenly changed the subject, its tone turning mischievous.

"Speaking of which, the way that little girl looks at you is a bit off, tsk tsk..."

Gu Sheng’s face darkened.

"Shut up."

"Oh? Embarrassed, are we? This lord has lived so many years; there’s nothing I haven’t seen..."

"Say one more word and I’ll seal you in the Dantian for a month."

Gu Sheng said coldly.

The Innate Spirit Embryo immediately fell silent, obediently curling into a ball.

Seeing Gu Sheng suddenly go quiet, Xie Qingxuan asked in concern,

"Young Master Gu, what’s wrong?"

"It’s nothing."

Gu Sheng came back to himself and pointed toward the city gate.

"Let’s go in. You need to return to Great Wilderness City as soon as possible."

Inside Green Lotus City, the streets were bustling and lined with shops.

Gu Sheng led Xie Qingxuan straight to the Transmission Array at the city’s center.

The platform was built of Qingyu stone, covered in intricate runes, and several Array Masters in matching uniforms were maintaining its operation.

"Where are you two headed?"

One Array Master stepped forward to ask.

"Great Wilderness City."

As he spoke, Gu Sheng took two Mid-grade Spirit Stones from his Storage Ring and handed them over.

Xie Qingxuan hurriedly tugged at his sleeve.

"Young Master Gu, that’s too much; I can..."

"It’s fine."

Gu Sheng cut her off and passed the Spirit Stones to the Array Master.

"Take it as payment for you helping me find that Spiritual Medicine."

The Array Master accepted the Spirit Stones, his eyes lighting up.

"All right! Please, both of you, stand in the center of the platform."

Xie Qingxuan stood within the Transmission Array, both hands tightly gripping that Linyin Pavilion Token, her eyes full of reluctance to part.

"Young Master Gu... will we meet again?"

Sunlight fell through the crystal dome above the Transmission Array, casting mottled light and shadow across her face.

Looking at the expectation in her eyes, Gu Sheng’s lips curved slightly.

"When I return from my trials, if I have the time, I will surely come to see you."

He paused for a moment, then added,

"Remember, if you run into trouble, go to Linyin Pavilion."