Chapter 388 - 161: Xu Lei’s Cover Blown

The four wives and concubines at home were getting on in years.

The children had grown up; some had even become government officials, while others had found success in the world of business.

Back home, there was nothing that really required Xu Lei’s help. They got along just fine without him.

This time, Bai Ling said she wanted to head to the Desert Border, because she had previously discovered some Spirit Monsters there.

Although Bai Ling had her Creepy Spirits to investigate, even their search had to be done step by step.

They were not omnipotent; if the Spirit Monsters were well-disguised, even they couldn’t detect them.

So Bai Ling never claimed she could find every Spirit Monster; her detection abilities were simply stronger than those of an ordinary Cultivator.

「Half a month later.」

Xu Lei and Bai Ling had arrived at the border outpost.

Here, armored soldiers routinely patrolled the city’s streets and alleys.

Although they had not yet left the city to enter the desert, wind and sand were already swirling through the streets.

A gust of wind blew, sending dust and sand flying.

The scenery was completely different.

It was Xu Lei’s first time here.

He found it quite novel.

But they hadn’t even started hunting demons yet.

Unexpectedly, Bai Ling ran into someone she knew—a middle-aged Daoist.

He was quite infatuated with Bai Ling. Although he hadn’t confessed directly, he immediately latched onto her enthusiastically, shamelessly fawning over her.

After so many years, Bai Ling had grown into a woman in her early twenties.

Her figure was even more curvaceous and slender than before, and coupled with her great beauty, she naturally had suitors.

Though the man looked middle-aged while Bai Ling was still in her early twenties, if this were Earth, she would be the age of a college student, just a year or two into her studies and nowhere near graduation.

It was like an older man from the working world hitting on a college girl.

But Cultivators of this era were just like that.

After all, not everyone was as talented as Bai Ling, able to reach a level of Cultivation where they could find a Dao Companion so early.

This middle-aged Daoist had only reached the stage where he could seek a Dao Companion a few years prior. In mortal terms, he had just come of age.

Although the middle-aged Daoist was still quite handsome, Bai Ling rejected him bluntly.

And it seemed this wasn’t the first time Bai Ling had rejected him.

"I already have a Dao Companion. His name is Hui Chi."

At this moment, Xu Lei heard Bai Ling say directly to the middle-aged Daoist, "You really need to stop this. If you keep this up, we can’t even be ordinary friends."

Xu Lei hadn’t wanted to say anything. After all, when it came to the matter of Bai Ling finding a Dao Companion, he was in no position to speak.

But unexpectedly, the middle-aged Daoist shot Xu Lei a hostile look—the kind one gives a love rival. After all, Xu Lei was quite handsome and young, and was even eating meat, a clear sign that he possessed the Cultivation to seek a Dao Companion.

"Don’t look at me. Bai Ling and I don’t have that kind of relationship."

Xu Lei immediately added, "I have other Dao Companions."

The middle-aged Daoist was stunned.

Xu Lei then walked off to the side.

"Ling’er, please don’t lie to me, okay? Zen Master Hui Chi... isn’t he a senior of the Buddhist Sect?"

Just then, Xu Lei heard the middle-aged Daoist say again, "Don’t think I haven’t heard of him! The story of how he went on a rampage in the Eastern Wilderness Marsh has been passed down! He’s been dead for ages! How could he possibly be your Dao Companion?"

"He is dead. But I will bring him back. He is my Dao Companion. When I bring him back, then I will be his Dao Companion."

But Bai Ling just said coolly, "I’m not lying to you. Enough said. Stop following me."

Then she turned, walked over to Xu Lei, and left with him.

Leaving only the middle-aged Daoist, watching from behind with a dejected look on his face.

Xu Lei didn’t say anything either.

"Those Demon Spirits are no longer in the city! They’ve fled back into the desert!"

Bai Ling then said, "Let’s leave the city and head straight into the desert!"

Of course, Xu Lei didn’t object and nodded.

After that, the two of them left the border outpost and headed deep into the desert.

However, the few Demon Spirits were hiding deep beneath the desert sands.

So Xu Lei and Bai Ling couldn’t capture them directly. They could only wait for an opportunity, for the Demon Spirits to reveal themselves, before making a move.

Thus, the two of them silently laid in wait in the desert.

Yellow sand filled the sky. Gusts of wind sent fine grains dancing.

The yellow of the sand made Bai Ling’s skin appear even fairer and more tender, her pretty face even more beautiful.

At this moment, looking at Bai Ling’s delicate and pretty face and thinking about her earlier conversation with the middle-aged Daoist, Xu Lei felt a stir of emotions.

’I can’t believe Bai Ling is still so dead set on this. She’s determined to live a lonely life of bitter Cultivation, insisting on saving her master from her past life. After all these years, she really hasn’t found a Dao Companion!’

"That middle-aged Daoist from before... I think he’s not bad looking, and he seems very attentive to you. He remembers all your likes and dislikes. I could tell when he was fawning over you."

After a moment of thought, Xu Lei spoke again, "Maybe you could try giving him a chance? Bai Ling, you don’t have to be like this for the sake of that master of yours.

You say your master was the only one who was genuinely good to you, but have you ever considered that he might have only been good to you back then to use you?

Does anyone in this world ever treat someone well for no reason at all? Think about it. When your master was good to you back then, wasn’t he also plotting to get something from you?

I’m not telling you this because I want something to happen between us. I just can’t bear to see you keep on like this, shackling yourself and treating yourself so harshly."