Chapter 371: Chuan Chuan

He could hardly believe his ears.

Such a small child, sent to the front lines?

Setting aside the beast tide at the front lines, the Giant Sect currently gathered people from all corners, a mixed bag of good and bad, and public order was deteriorating. Wasn't she worried about the child encountering danger there?

Wen Hongyao was speechless. What was wrong with the front lines? Which beast king was so blind as to provoke her?

"Just take her to the Giant Sect city and leave her there; you don't need to worry about anything else," Wen Hongyao said.

Jiang Fan's brows furrowed. "Where are her parents? I need to ask them first." Elder Wen was truly joking.

"Her parents... passed away many years ago," Wen Hongyao stammered. When she became Qin Wangchuan's disciple, both of her parents were already gone. It had been at least sixty years since then, right?

Jiang Fan's expression shifted slightly, and he felt a pang of pity. So she was an orphan with no parents. He sighed softly and asked, "Is Elder Wen sending her to the Giant Sect city because she has relatives there?" Besides this, Jiang Fan couldn't think of any other reason.

Wen Hongyao rubbed her nose and nodded. "You'll know what to do once you get there, anyway." "Alright, she's in your care!" With that, she quickly turned and walked back, her expression one of utter relief, as if she had been completely unburdened.

Looking at the little girl who had just been left with him, Jiang Fan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Elder Wen really isn't afraid to entrust you to me."

The little girl, with her hands behind her back, snorted softly. "She's just eager for me to leave!" "Stop blabbering and let's go."

Jiang Fan chuckled. He picked her up and lifted her onto the carriage.

"Hey! I'm warning you! Show me some respect! The consequences will be dire if I get angry!" She waved a small fist in protest while suspended in the air.

Jiang Fan chuckled as he hopped onto the carriage. As he set off, he asked, "Since Elder Wen has entrusted you to me, you'll have to be obedient along the way." "I'll do my best to ensure your safe arrival."

The little girl pouted. "It's more like I'll be protecting you!"

Jiang Fan burst out laughing. This little girl had nothing else to her name, but she certainly had a sharp tongue. She had to retort to everything.

"What's your name?""Qin Wangchuan.""That's too old-fashioned. I'll call you Chuan Chuan.""You're asking for trouble!""Chuan Chuan, how old are you?""Don't call me that! I'm getting angry!""Chuan Chuan, do you have any relatives in Giant City?""Chuan Chuan, why aren't you talking anymore?""Chuan Chuan, why are you clenching your fists? And why are you gritting your teeth?"

Qin Wangchuan was on the verge of breaking down. Her age was enough to be Jiang Fan's grandmother, yet she was being called "Chuan Chuan" repeatedly. Who could understand this maddening feeling? To make matters worse, Jiang Fan was a treasure in the eyes of several Grand Elders. Her purpose for this trip was twofold: first, she had business to attend to at the Giant Sect, and second, she was accompanying him as an escort, as suggested by the Grand Elders. So, she couldn't hit him, nor could she scold him. Furious, she could only bare her teeth and seethe silently back in the carriage.

The horses' hooves beat a light rhythm, and the beautiful scenery of mountains and rivers flowed by. Eight days passed in a flash.

"Chuan Chuan, that's the boundary between the Grand Supreme Sect and the Giant Sect ahead." Jiang Fan stood on horseback, gazing at the majestic, undulating mountain ranges on the horizon. One of the mountains shimmered with a seven-colored glow under the sunlight, truly beautiful. That place was the Seven-Colored Mine, a source of precious seven-colored stones.

Qin Wangchuan poked her head out, then indifferently pulled it back, saying expressionlessly, "Walk another hundred li, and you'll see the outpost my Azure Cloud Sect established here." "If you want to inquire about the whereabouts of the Seven-Colored Profound Ice, just ask the deacon at the outpost."

Jiang Fan was surprised. "How do you know all this? It's as if you've been here before."

To his surprise, after driving a hundred li, he truly saw clusters of temporary wooden houses at the foot of the mountain. In front of one of the wooden houses, the five characters "Azure Cloud Sect Outpost" were prominently displayed.

"Chuan Chuan, you really have been here!" Jiang Fan asked.

Qin Wangchuan rolled her eyes. Not just 'been here'? When the Seven-Colored Mine was first discovered, powerful cultivators from the Nine Sects fought over mining territories. She had been at the forefront, engaging in a major battle with many powerful individuals to secure a good mining plot. These wooden houses were also built under her command.

"Stop blabbering, get to business!"

Jiang Fan had already gotten used to her small stature but big attitude, just as she had gotten used to being called "Chuan Chuan."

Jiang Fan chuckled softly as he drove the carriage to the front of the wooden house. He saw a middle-aged man, around forty, wearing an old Azure Cloud Sect robe, directing several disciples who were sorting through chunks of dark, grimy stones.

Seeing Jiang Fan's carriage arrive, the middle-aged man looked him over. "Who are you?"

Jiang Fan dismounted from the carriage and took out his identity token. "This disciple, Jiang Fan, from the Sovereign Peak, greets this deacon." The middle-aged man before him was likely the person in charge of the outpost, a disciple of deacon rank.

Hearing this, the middle-aged man's eyes remained calm. He showed no warmth towards a visitor from the sect; on the contrary, he seemed somewhat resistant to Jiang Fan. He nodded slightly. "I am Lin Fan, the deacon of this outpost." "Are you here on official business?"

The implication was clear: if he wasn't sent by the sect, he should leave quickly. Such a cold attitude made Jiang Fan pause slightly, but he quickly understood. As deacons, those who remained within the sect had easy tasks, could easily acquire the best spirit pills, rare materials, cultivation techniques, and guidance from elders, among other resources. Meanwhile, those assigned to the Seven-Colored Mine were in a desolate place, lacking everything. How could they not harbor resentment?

Jiang Fan smiled faintly and took out some leftover scraps from his refining of Foundation Establishment Pills. "This disciple happened to pass by the Seven-Colored Mine and thought to visit the deacon and a few senior brothers." "I didn't prepare any gifts, so please accept these materials I have on hand."

The disciples who were working immediately lit up when they saw the valuable materials. They put down their tasks and came forward, cupping their hands in thanks. "This junior brother is too generous." In this harsh and desolate place, they rarely saw anything good throughout the year. These materials for Foundation Establishment Pills were considered rare and valuable here.

Lin Fan's indifferent expression softened slightly. Although the items weren't particularly valuable, Jiang Fan wasn't as arrogant as previous sect envoys. Instead, he showed the deacon due respect.

"You've traveled a long way; come in and have some tea to rest," Lin Fan invited.

Jiang Fan had intended to do just that. However, he couldn't simply leave Chuan Chuan in the carriage. He turned to the carriage and carefully carried her down. "Deacon Lin, it's not safe for this child to be alone in the carriage." "May she accompany me into the outpost?"

Lin Fan frowned. A child? Jiang Fan himself was only eighteen years old. And he was traveling around with a child! He really didn't understand the dangers of the world! He nodded. "Bring her in, just make sure she doesn't run around."

As he spoke, he casually glanced at the little girl. But it wasn't a problem until he looked. At first sight, he was almost scared out of his wits.