In the tavern, Lu Fan was drinking. The tavern instantly fell silent as a woman stepped in, dressed in a white dress, carrying an exquisite sword at her side, accompanied by a group of attendants.
As she arrived, the patrons of the tavern remained silent. These individuals were all preparing to join the North Sea Academy and were usually quite arrogant. The fact that they were so wary of this newcomer suggested she was no ordinary person.
"Miss, the North Sea Academy doesn't begin enrollment for another month!" an old man said. "It seems we've arrived too early!"
"Not too early. It's just right to explore North Sea City!"
Chu Ting chuckled, "It's not often I get to come out. I can't be confined!"
"This is North Sea City, after all. Miss, you should still be cautious!" Uncle Wu advised. "After all, most people in North Sea City are not ordinary."
"Within Yunzhou, the most powerful academy is the North Sea Academy. And in Yunzhou, the Chu family is one of the three great families. Who would dare to offend us!" Chu Ting said with a light laugh. "I think you're being too serious, Uncle Wu!"
Upon hearing this, Uncle Wu couldn't help but smile wryly. Just as Chu Ting said, the Chu family held immense influence in Yunzhou, so there was no need to be overly cautious of others.
As they conversed, the people around them also began to whisper amongst themselves, showing considerable deference to Chu Ting.
"I never expected that even the eldest daughter of the Chu family, one of the three great families of Yunzhou, would come to the North Sea Academy!"
"Who would have thought! To be one of the three great families of Yunzhou, they are no ordinary power!"
"That goes without saying. The three great families can dominate Yunzhou because they have cultivators at the Spirit King realm. Those are truly terrifying existences!"
The crowd murmured in hushed tones, their expressions filled with reverence.
Lu Fan sat nearby, hearing everything clearly. He hadn't expected the Chu family to have such influence. It seemed he would need to keep a low profile after entering the North Sea Academy, lest he stir up trouble.
"Chu Ting, I didn't expect you to be a step ahead of me!"
A man walked in, also accompanied by numerous guards, appearing quite solicitous.
"Li Ziming?"
Chu Ting frowned slightly. "Why are you here in North Sea City?"
"We were supposed to get married, yet you ran off to North Sea City alone. As your fiancé, how could I not follow!"
Li Ziming said earnestly, "I won't force you if you don't want to get married, but I hope you'll let me stay by your side!"
"I have no feelings for you, so please stop bothering me!" Chu Ting rolled her eyes. "I left home precisely to escape your Li family. Why do you still pester me?"
"Chu Ting, you know this is something both families approve of. If we join forces, our two families will be allied, and then the entire Yunzhou will be under the dominion of our two families!" Li Ziming spoke again.
"So, in your eyes, we are all just pawns?"
Chu Ting said impatiently, "If that's the case, I think it's best to forget it! We are completely incompatible, and you don't understand me at all!"
"Don't say that. How can we be pawns!" Li Ziming smiled. "Actually, I love you too. Otherwise, why would I be so persistent!"
At his words, Chu Ting smiled faintly. "You only care about the Li family. You've gone to great lengths to deal with the Han family, but I will never be a sacrifice!"
"Miss Chu, this is the will of both families. Do you intend to defy them?"
An old man spoke up. "If that's the case, I doubt the Chu family would agree."
"Who do you think you are, to speak to me like that?"
Chu Ting's expression was cold, tinged with considerable displeasure. As the eldest daughter of the Chu family, she would not tolerate such presumption.
"I misspoke!"
The white-haired elder bowed slightly, his expression solemn. He was well aware of Chu Ting's volatile temper and, as a member of the Li family, naturally dared not offend her.
After all, the Li family was the weaker of the three great families in Yunzhou and sought an alliance with the Chu family. If he were to ruin this matter, he would be held accountable.
Chu Ting's face remained cold, but she said no more, still harboring deep dissatisfaction towards Li Ziming.
"Uncle Wu, we've eaten enough. Let's leave,"
Chu Ting said with displeasure, "There's someone here I dislike, so I can't eat any further."
Uncle Wu nodded slightly and quickly accompanied Chu Ting as she left, feeling somewhat helpless.
This was the young master of the Li family, one of the three great families of Yunzhou, yet Chu Ting treated him this way. If things went awry, it could lead to a rupture between the two families.
However, Chu Ting had come out this time to escape the marriage. Now that the young master of the Li family had tracked her here, it was indeed problematic.
As Chu Ting departed, Li Ziming hurried to follow. He knew very well that the alliance between the two families was the most stable period. If he didn't stop them, the Li family would inevitably face threats. As a descendant of the Li family, how could he allow such a thing to happen?
As night fell, Lu Fan stayed in the tavern. After dinner, he sat cross-legged, his expression becoming solemn.
He was already at the peak of the Spirit Master realm. With just a slight opportunity, he could break through to the Great Spirit Master realm, gaining the ability to protect himself.
Wuuu...
As he was cultivating, Lu Fan's brow furrowed. A crying sound disturbed him. He went to the window of the tavern but saw no one.
Helpless, Lu Fan returned to his room to continue cultivating. However, the sound came again, causing him great annoyance and confusion. How could there be wailing sounds in North Sea City?
He went downstairs in the tavern, preparing to go out for a stroll. The proprietor at the counter quickly said, "Young man, it's so late. Don't go out casually. North Sea City is not peaceful at night!"
"What do you mean?"
Lu Fan asked with slight surprise. "Are there ghosts or something?"
"Something like that, something like that!"
The innkeeper said hurriedly, "Every night there are wailing sounds, but no one knows where they come from. And people often disappear inexplicably. Young man, you must not go out carelessly!"
"I am a spirit cultivator, I'm not afraid of that!"
Lu Fan shrugged and stepped out of the tavern.
The innkeeper looked on with worry, unsure what to do. He hadn't expected Lu Fan to be so direct, not even listening to his advice.
On the street, it was completely deserted. Not a single figure could be seen.
"Little Fan, let's go back,"
Lin Ke said. "This is too eerie!"
"I don't believe in ghosts or spirits!"
Lu Fan waved his hand and sat down by the side of the street. He wanted to see where this sound was coming from.
After a long while, Lu Fan finally determined that the sound was not coming from within North Sea City, but from outside it.
With this in mind, Lu Fan did not hesitate and immediately followed the sound.