After tidying up in her room, Fairy Xiaoling changed into a layered silk skirt, pink on the inside and purple on the outside, and pondered which servant to bring along.
Fairy Xiaoling found many unsuitable options and finally chose Mingzhitian, a fellow who was perpetually indifferent and unsmiling.
She glanced at Mingzhitian, thinking he had grown stronger? Yet his cultivation was still insignificant, so she paid him no mind.
Fairy Xiaoling emerged from her immortal abode, and Immortal Lord Luofan greeted her with a beaming smile, "You are too beautiful!"
But the next moment, he saw the servant Mingzhitian and immediately grew displeased, "No... Xiaoling, I thought this would be a romantic getaway for just the two of us. Why are you bringing a servant? Is it really necessary?"
Fairy Xiaoling retorted, "What? Do you have an opinion? Then are we still going?"
Seizing the rare opportunity, Immortal Lord Luofan quickly said, "Of course, we're going! Heh heh, which lake shall we visit?"
Fairy Xiaoling thought for a moment, "Illusion Heart Lake."
"Alright," Immortal Lord Luofan agreed casually, "Whatever you say."
Illusion Heart Lake...
Spring waves rippled, the lake's surface was warm year-round, shrouded in a faint mist, yet the water remained crystal clear, hence its name, Illusion Heart.
A small boat floated on the water. Mingzhitian acted as the oarsman, using a long bamboo pole to gently paddle the lake, propelling the boat forward.
The lake water shimmered, transparent to the bottom, like a giant emerald. Lush willows and blooming flowers lined the banks, and the impossibly long aerial roots of the great banyan tree cascaded down like a night waterfall.
Divine fish darted flexibly in the lake, leaping to the surface, then to the middle, then to the side of the boat, playing merrily.
A few reeds grew sparsely under the cracks of the rocks, suggesting they had been transplanted from elsewhere.
Fairy Xiaoling sat by the boat meditating throughout. Immortal Lord Luofan would occasionally point things out to her, "Wow! Xiaoling, look at the lake water... shimmering. Look at that great banyan tree, so wide and huge. Xiaoling, look at the divine fish in the lake, so lively!"
But Fairy Xiaoling paid him no attention, her eyes still closed. Immortal Lord Luofan felt bored, "Xiaoling, this isn't fair. You said you'd spend the day with me, why are you like this? You're not talking to me."
Fairy Xiaoling finally spoke, "I said I would spend the day with you. I didn't promise to chat or do anything else."
"..." Immortal Lord Luofan slumped onto the boat, realizing he had her presence but not her heart.
With her body present but her mind absent, what enjoyment was there in this outing? However, Immortal Lord Luofan quickly came to terms with it. It was a rare chance to be close to Fairy Xiaoling, and even just sitting there in silence brought him contentment.
Mingzhitian secretly glanced at them and continued paddling. As the small boat reached the center of the lake and stopped, Mingzhitian suddenly sensed something was wrong.
Immortal Lord Luofan and Fairy Xiaoling had already noticed, "Who's there? Hiding your head and showing your tail, a shrinking turtle?"
Suddenly, four cloaked figures in black leaped out from the lake, two from the left and two from the right!
Then two more appeared from above! Without a word, the six of them drew their swords and attacked!
Mingzhitian and the other two instantly dodged!
The small boat exploded under the barrage of swords, torn to shreds.
Immortal Lord Luofan and Fairy Xiaoling stood firm in mid-air. Mingzhitian narrowly avoided being hit by the sword strikes and took shelter behind them.
Immortal Lord Luofan scanned them, "Are you Capturers? One at the first level of the Great Wheel King realm, and five at the tenth level of the Supreme Emperor realm?"
The leader said, "One at the first level of the Great Wheel King realm, and one at the second level of the Great Wheel King realm. Capture them if possible, if not, kill them. Everyone, go all out, don't hold back!"
He then swung his sword first, "Lao Yi Sword Art!"