Chapter 132 Just an Empty Reputation, Keep It Low-Key, Keep It Low-Key

In the days that followed, life within the Spirit Void was relatively peaceful.

Having an extra helper meant an increase in strength, especially when that helper was a Tier 5 master. No one dared to act rashly.

Yet, occasionally, furtive shadows would linger around their perimeter—eager to make a move, yet lacking the courage.

On this particular day, when Xiang Nan came out to cultivate, he caught two of those dark figures red-handed.

"Zhang Xing, Du Ning, how much longer do you two intend to skulk around and follow me?"

From behind a stack of hay, Zhang Xing and Du Ning sheepishly stepped out. "Young Master, so you knew we were here all along. And here we were, hiding high and low."

Zhang Xing and Du Ning were among the top five masters of the Eagle Alliance, and their cultivation was by no means inferior to that of Xu Qingshan.

Naturally, they were not young anymore, being more than a decade older than Xiang Nan.

Despite this, Xiang Nan’s presence before them was hardly weak; every gesture of his carried the imposing aura of a superior.

Seeing their posture, Xiang Nan rolled his eyes. "Uncle Xu must have sent you in, didn't he? Since you came, why resort to hiding and sneaking around?"

Zhang Xing was Xu Qingshan’s trusted right-hand man, always exceptionally earnest. He stepped forward with a serious expression and replied, "Master Xu was merely concerned for the Young Master's safety. However, this is an exploration of the Spirit Void, and everyone operates in small squads. It wouldn't do for us to blatantly follow the Young Master, so we had no choice but to be discreet. Actually, this is for the better. Protecting you from the shadows is much more convenient than doing so out in the open."

Xiang Nan cast a seemingly casual glance around their surroundings. "Protecting me from the shadows? Then have you noticed that someone is already keeping an eye on us from the shadows right now?"

"Ah?" Du Ning instantly turned tense, looking around blankly, yet he could detect no movement whatsoever.

Zhang Xing, too, gazed about in all directions, his expression grave. "To move with such utter stealth... it seems a true master has arrived."

The corner of Xiang Nan’s mouth curved upward. "Whether they are a master or not, we’ll know as soon as we call them out."

With that, Xiang Nan raised his voice and called out toward a patch of dark undergrowth to the north, "Now that you're here, why not come out and have a chat?"

Zhang Xing and Du Ning hastily assumed combat-ready stances, facing the direction Xiang Nan had called toward.

At the same time, doubt and alarm gripped their hearts. Was there really someone over there?

Surely the Young Master wasn't just playing a prank on them. They had been observing from the shadows for so long, yet they hadn't sensed a single thing!

While their cultivation might not match transcendent figures like Daoist San-Tong, it was certainly superior to Xiang Nan's Tier 2 realm, right?

There was no way they could be outdone by him!

Yet, the very next instant, a dark shadow flickered within the thicket.

A figure shot out with a whoosh. Without any discernible movement, the silhouette seemed to teleport to a spot less than ten meters away from them.

A hidden master, indeed!

Startled, Zhang Xing and Du Ning exchanged a look, both of their faces etched with shock.

Wasn't their Young Master only at Tier 2 cultivation? How was it that he was completely aware of an enemy presence that they themselves hadn't even detected? It was utterly miraculous.

No wonder everyone called him God Nan!

Seeing the dark figure materialize, Xiang Nan smiled faintly. "If I'm not mistaken, you must be Yoshino of the Shadow Alliance?"

The figure ten meters away paused slightly. "Correct! Since you know my name, you should also know the purpose of my coming."

Xiang Nan shrugged. "Your purpose matters not at all to me, because you simply cannot accomplish it."

Seeing him act with such arrogance, Yoshino flicked his wrist and drew a sharp blade. "There has never been a mission that I, Yoshino, could not complete."

With that, he lunged forward, charging fiercely toward Xiang Nan.

His movements were ghost-like, his approach appearing as a series of instantaneous teleportations.

Zhang Xing and Du Ning, standing to the side, wanted to rush forward and intercept Yoshino, but they simply could not keep up with his speed.

That blinding speed left Zhang Xing and Du Ning dumbfounded. In their anxiety, they could only cry out in alarm, "Young Master, watch out!"

"What a formidable ninja!" muttered Xiang Nan, yet he did not budge an inch.

Seeing the chilling blade descending toward Xiang Nan, Zhang Xing and Du Ning felt their hearts skip a beat, their gazes fixed on him in extreme tension.

Yet, the next moment.

The shadow's blade did not strike downward at Xiang Nan. Instead, as it drew close to him, the momentum vanished abruptly, as if the attacker had no wish to harm him at all.

As the possessor of the supreme artifact—and the only one capable of bringing it forth—his life could not be squandered.

Yoshino had clearly come for the artifact, leaving Xiang Nan completely unconcerned.

Of course, what gave him even greater peace of mind was his prior awareness that Daoist San-Tong had already positioned himself close by.

Sure enough, the very next second.

A white shadow darted out from the darkness, clashing with Yoshino with the swiftness of lightning.

The Vajra Umbrella and the samurai blade struck each other with the force of metal and stone, sending sparks flying in all directions that looked exceptionally dazzling in the dark of night.

It had to be admitted that Yoshino’s ninjutsu was truly superb; he actually managed to fight to a standstill against Daoist San-Tong, who possessed Tier 5 cultivation.

The two exchanged over a hundred moves, yet neither could gain the upper hand.

Watching the battle from the side, Xiang Nan let out a yawn. "Zhang Xing, Du Ning, let's head back to the camp first. Judging by their performance, they won't be finishing this fight anytime soon."

Zhang Xing and Du Ning had been contemplating whether or not to step in and help. But they had hesitated continuously; after all, both combatants possessed such terrifying cultivation levels that if tier-three fighters like themselves rushed in, they might well be knocked out in a single blow.

Hearing Xiang Nan’s call provided them with a timely excuse to avoid losing face.

"Young Master, we're leaving just like this? Shouldn't we help out?" Zhang Xing still felt a lingering sense of unease.

Xiang Nan pouted. "If you want to go, feel free. I, for one, am not going. I'm sleepy, so I'm heading back to sleep."

Du Ning possessed a bit more situational awareness and immediately chimed in, "If the Young Master is so unconcerned, then there surely is no problem. Why should we worry ourselves needlessly? Following the Young Master and ensuring his safety is our true responsibility."

Xiang Nan smiled faintly. "Stop calling me Young Master at every turn; every time I hear it, I feel like I've time-traveled into a historical drama."

"This..." That put Zhang Xing and Du Ning in a difficult position. They couldn't very well address him as Brother Nan like those younger folks did, considering they weren't young themselves.

"Then we'll call you Boss. After all, everyone within the Eagle Alliance has long since regarded the Young Master as our alliance leader. You are our boss," Du Ning said with a flattering smile.

Xiang Nan waved his hand indifferently. "Whatever you like."

The three of them walked back toward the camp without once looking back.

True to expectation, less than ten minutes later, Daoist San-Tong hurried back.

"Has Yoshino been seen off?" Xiang Nan asked calmly, seemingly having anticipated this outcome all along.

"He's been seen off for now, but this fellow's ninjutsu is unfathomable. Even I almost fell victim to his tricks. Having someone like that lurking around you day in and day out in the Spirit Void is simply too dangerous," Daoist San-Tong said with genuine sincerity.

"What danger could there be? Aren't you here to protect me at a moment's notice? I can sleep easy and worry about nothing," Xiang Nan replied dismissively.

"It's rare for you to trust me this much," Daoist San-Tong chuckled, his eyes rolling slightly as he continued, "Still, one must always be on guard against others. I can't possibly stand guard over you twenty-four hours a day, wouldn't you find that annoying?"

Xiang Nan glanced at Daoist San-Tong's broad face. "Mmm, it is a little annoying."