Although the woman spoke little, he managed to grasp the earlier robbery incident.

In the forest they just passed, robberies were common, with a few or even just one or two people working together, targeting the weak or those alone!

They were quite sharp-eyed, generally avoiding anyone with a background!

So at the sight of this woman earlier, they fled without hesitation!

Moreover, they were few in number, and their abilities weren't particularly strong. After all, who would choose such a high-risk job as robbery if they were powerful!

So they usually just robbed without killing, and even when encountering women, they wouldn't commit acts driven by lust!

After all, if they misjudged and the person was affiliated with some power, wouldn't they be courting death?

If it's just robbing some items, oftentimes, even if the victim has connections, they will let it go.

After all, hunting these people down is quite troublesome, so in this way, it's much safer for them!

Su Chen shook his head speechlessly after hearing this. It seems the situation is quite similar everywhere!

The only difference is that they are Martial Artists with not insignificant cultivation!

Come to think of it, these people do have a sort of professional ethics!

...

"By the way, I still don't know your name?"

Su Chen asked casually while walking.

Upon hearing this, the woman hesitated for a few seconds but then spoke up:

"Yao Zhiqing."

"Zhiqing?"

Su Chen murmured it twice and then said with a smile:

"Nice name!"

The woman didn't show any reaction to Su Chen's compliment and continued walking forward.

"By the way, which friend are you going to find at the Ji Family?"

After a while, the woman suddenly asked.

"Zhou Ying, do you know her?"

Su Chen replied offhandedly.

"I don't know her."

The woman thought for a moment, shook her head, and said.

Su Chen wasn't surprised by this, as Zhou Ying seemed to be just a servant in the Ji Family, while this woman's status was obviously unusual, far beyond a mere servant like Zhou Ying.

Different status, not knowing each other was quite normal.

After half a day, the two walked a considerable distance and finally saw a seemingly endless mountain range composed of several peaks, with buildings faintly visible atop some of the peaks!

Of course, not every peak had buildings; there were intervals of several mountains in between!

Although those building clusters appeared close, the distance was actually quite far, as in the old Huaxia saying, "Seeing the mountain exhausts the horse."

"That's the Jade Mountain Range, home to Spirit Veins, and one of the four major Spirit Veins in the Ruin Realm."

At this point, Yao Zhiqing took the initiative to introduce a couple of sentences to Su Chen:

"The buildings on the mountains are either sects' or families'. The deeper you go, the stronger the sect, and the more abundant the Yuan Qi there!"

Upon hearing this, Su Chen nodded and continued to walk forward with her, both quickening their pace.

After walking for several more hours, they finally entered the extended network of mountains; it was already evening by then!

After walking for about another hour, Yao Zhiqing extended a graceful hand, pointing to a group of buildings, and said:

"That's the Ji Family. We part ways here; I have to continue onward."

"Thank you!"

Su Chen once again cupped his hands and said with a smile.

"You're welcome."

Yao Zhiqing said lightly, and then she left.

At this time, Su Chen also walked towards the nearby building cluster. This distance was nothing to him, and he arrived quickly.

At this point, he happened to see an elderly man walking towards him. The man glanced at Su Chen's attire and couldn't help but give him a once-over, then asked:

"Young man, what are you here for?"

"Elder, I'm here to find someone."

Su Chen replied with a smile.

"Looking for someone? Who?"

The elderly man asked while looking at him, a puzzled expression on his face.

Su Chen didn't mind this and continued to reply with a smile:

"Zhou Ying, does she live here?"

Upon hearing Su Chen say this, the elderly man's cloudy eyes suddenly lit up!

"Who are you to her?"

The elderly man's gaze suddenly became scrutinizing.

Su Chen was a bit at a loss due to the old man's gaze, but honestly answered:

"I'm her friend. She told me she lives here."

Upon hearing this, the elderly man started scrutinizing Su Chen up and down, then said:

"Come with me."

With that, the old man turned and walked towards that group of buildings, with Su Chen naturally following him.

"Elder, why are we going to the back?"

Su Chen asked as he saw the elderly man walking around the wall to the back.

"The front and the middle are where the masters reside; only the back is where we servants live."

The old man explained.

Su Chen was a bit surprised, as in the Secular World or the Ancient Martial World, the masters usually lived at the back.

It seemed the Ji Family was different, although it was unclear if this was common in the Ruin Realm or just specific to the Ji Family.

Not long after, Su Chen followed the old man through a small back door, arriving at a small courtyard.

The courtyard was small, located in a corner near the wall, with a few rooms inside.

"Dad, didn't you just go out? How come you're back so soon?"

As soon as the elderly man walked in, a pleasant voice sounded.

"A young man is looking for you, claiming to be your friend, so I brought him over."

The old man said, glancing at his daughter.

At this time, Su Chen also stood out from behind the old man, smiling:

"Long time no see."

"Su Chen, you really came!"

As soon as Zhou Ying saw Su Chen, a look of surprise immediately appeared on her face!

Su Chen had mentioned that when he came to the Ruin Realm, he would come to find her, and she hadn't expected that he really came to the Ruin Realm and actually came to see her!

"I said I would come to find you if I came to the Ruin Realm. Since I promised, of course, I have to keep my word."

Su Chen replied with a grin.

He was quite surprised to know that the old man he met earlier was Zhou Ying's father, no wonder he looked at him that way!

"Xiao Ying, who came to make you so happy."

At this time, a woman in her fifties came out of the house with a smile.

Soon, her gaze also fell on Su Chen as she looked him over.

"Dad, Mom, this is a friend I met the last time I went out, his name is Su Chen."

At this point, Zhou Ying joyfully introduced Su Chen to her parents, her face filled with happiness!

So he's from the outside world, no wonder his clothes are so strange!

Silently, Zhou Ying's parents thought.

However, seeing their daughter's current joyous state, they wondered if their daughter liked him?

They had this suspicion mainly because Zhou Ying hadn't told them about how Su Chen had saved her last time.

"Greetings, Uncle and Aunt."

Su Chen also greeted with a smile.

"Hello, hello, welcome!"

Zhou's mother immediately replied with a smile upon hearing him.

Although she had some doubts, now wasn't the time to ask. It was best to find a private moment to inquire later.

Zhou's father had initially planned to go out for some errands, but since there were guests, he could attend to those matters tomorrow.

"Xiao Ying, clean up a room for your friend to stay in."

At this point, Zhou's mother suggested with a smile.