What Is Going On Here

With her trusty hidden weapons, she dashed through the forest, escaping with only a few scrapes and bruises. Overall, it was a pretty smooth getaway.

But now, her strength was completely spent.

The exit was right ahead. Behind her, corpses littered the ground and there were no more pursuers. She hugged a big pine tree, catching her breath.

"Good thing Morgan Jewel gave me those hidden weapons—he saved me again." Grace pictured grown-up Morgan in her mind, then remembered the tiny Morgan she saw at the blacksmith shop last time, and couldn’t help but smile.

The one-month deadline was almost up—she’d have to go take over the blacksmith shop soon.

Once her breathing steadied, Grace headed toward the mouth of the valley.

Suddenly, the ground at the valley’s entrance collapsed without warning.

Grace stopped in shock and suspicion, only to see a mountain-sized Earthwyrm burst out from underground—its whole body was covered in translucent, blubbery white flesh, and when it opened its giant mouth, rows of steel fangs gleamed inside.

An Earthwyrm this massive had to be at least sixth-tier!

Just as that thought flashed through her mind, it suddenly blasted a huge wave of fire at her!

Grace darted to the side, fleeing as fast as she could.

Even so, her clothes and hair caught fire, and it took a lot of effort to put it out.

But she’d cornered herself—when it blasted another wave of fire, Grace cursed, squeezed past its body, then popped into her Sanctum to grab a bottle of insecticide.

The Earthwyrm opened its mouth wide again, ready to breathe fire.

Grace suddenly tossed the whole bottle of insecticide pills straight into its mouth.

The Earthwyrm froze, then its whole body started shaking before it began rolling and thrashing around.

Finally, it burrowed back into its hole and disappeared in an instant.

Grace sprinted out as fast as she could.

The moment she got out, she just stood there, stunned.

Outside was a beautiful stretch of grassland.

A little stream flowed in from the east, wildflowers bloomed everywhere, bees and butterflies danced, and distant mountains looked like blue ink.

There was also a person and a horse.

The horse was a Silver Dragon Horse.

The person... was a top-tier handsome man.

He was still wearing the exquisite black robe Grace saw at Taoxi Manor, his long hair fluttering in the wind, smiling at her.

He looked just like a charming young man waiting for his lover at a date.

Grace shot forward, grabbed his collar, and asked, word by word: "What—is—going—on—here?"

Evan Xiao looked down at her—her face was red and black, her clothes torn, her body covered in wounds.

But every move she made during the fight was a killing blow—ruthless and precise.

Just like a master who’d trained for twenty or thirty years.

Definitely not a newbie who just awakened her Spirit Root.

So what was going on here?

She really was hiding a lot of secrets...

......

"Taking you out for a few days of fun," Evan Xiao said with a light smile. "Was it fun?"

"Did you put me in that valley? Were you trying to get me killed?"

"Don’t be so dramatic," Evan Xiao said. "I just saw the girls from the Four Great Houses training day and night, while you spend all your time worrying about your aunt. So, I wanted to test your skills."

Grace glared at him, saying nothing.

"You’re pretty impressive. I’m satisfied," Evan Xiao said with a smile, taking her hand. "Looks like I was worrying for nothing."

He looked so gentle and sincere, Grace felt like she’d punched a pillow—no force at all.

She yanked her hand free, still fuming: "There were a bunch of fourth- and fifth-tier spirit beasts in there! Weren’t you afraid they’d eat me?"

Evan Xiao smiled, his voice soft and teasing: "No one but me gets to eat you."

Grace opened her mouth, her face suddenly flushing—she had no idea how to respond.

After a long pause, she asked, "Where is this place?"