Tian Luo: “…”
Were sword cultivators really this wild when it came to making money?
Not that it was impossible, but seriously—Senior Brother Su wasn’t even worth a hundred spirit stones!
She turned to look at Su Miantang and was shocked to find him wearing an expression of deep contemplation, as though he were genuinely considering whether he should marry or not. Afraid that he would become the world’s biggest sucker, she quickly explained that she was Tian Luo, the outer sect disciple who had obtained the Bixi Jade Token today.
Wuyinzi looked at Tian Luo with a face that practically screamed what a pity you’re not marrying my precious son, then said, “Child, with your identity, entering the Bixi Secret Realm is practically seeking death.”
Tian Luo froze for a moment before blinking.
“As long as a person has courage, a path to survival will naturally open beneath their feet!”
People had to rely on themselves, after all!
Hadn’t she survived these past two weeks since transmigrating into the novel by trembling her way through everything? Now she was getting closer and closer to her goal.
Tian Luo bowed deeply to Wuyinzi.
“Thank you, Sect Master.”
What she was thanking him for was the fact that he had seen through her identity as a ginseng spirit, yet had shown no intention of harming her.
Wuyinzi smiled cheerfully and added, “Don’t worry. No one else will recognize you.”
Tian Luo looked up at him, her eyes clearly asking, Then how did you know?
Wuyinzi blinked.
“I don’t know. I’m just good at reading faces.”
Old men who lived a long time were also very good at deceiving young girls!
Tian Luo didn’t ask any further questions.
What mattered now was obtaining the Nine-Qilin Armor as soon as possible and learning some proper self-defense skills. She knew that if she successfully returned from the Bixi Secret Realm this time, she would have a chance to become an inner sect disciple.
“Sleepy, sleepy! Hurry and get some rest! You two can squeeze into one room tonight. Tomorrow I still have to send you to the Bixi Secret Realm. This old bag of bones is exhausted!”
As Wuyinzi spoke, he stood up, yawning as he headed toward the bamboo house.
Tian Luo and Su Miantang exchanged a glance.
Before Senior Brother Su could say anything, Tian Luo boldly pulled out ten spirit stones from her mustard seed pouch.
“The bed is mine tonight.”
Su Miantang’s eyes instantly became three degrees warmer.
“Deal!”
Taking the spirit stones, he opened a concealed pit outside the house, climbed in with practiced ease, and lay down inside.
“Please cover me with the grass mat, Junior Sister.”
Tian Luo: “…”
Were sword cultivators rabbits with three burrows or something?
As she lay in bed, Tian Luo couldn’t help wondering why the completely ordinary Su Miantang lived on Tenth Peak with Wuyinzi.
After all, he was only the second senior disciple of this generation. His talent wasn’t even as high as that of the eldest senior disciple, the novel’s male lead, Tian Yue!
Sword cultivators were truly impossible to understand.
…
A hundred li away from Zixu Sword Sect lay Qingyin City.
Although it was already deep into the night, the city remained dazzlingly prosperous and brightly illuminated.
This was an industry under Tianyan Sect—a sleepless city for cultivators stretching ten thousand li. Mortals and cultivators alike gathered here. Goods from all over the world passed through this city, and even the world-famous Tianbao Pavilion and Tianji Pavilion had branch stores here.
Inside Hongxiu Tower, Heavenly Character Room Number One.
With his back to Huang Qi, Guo Lin finally couldn’t resist any longer.
Lowering his head, he licked his finger.
Though the bloodstain upon it had already dried, the sweetness and pure spiritual energy that flooded his mouth the instant it touched his tongue made him draw a deep breath. The exhilarating sensation surged all the way to the top of his head, causing his body to tremble slightly.
Huang Qi fed Huang Ren a medicinal pill.
Thinking of this disgraceful collateral descendant, his expression remained ugly.
The pills of Tianyan Sect were naturally of the highest quality. After only a few breaths, Huang Ren—whose face had been beaten black and blue by Tian Luo—twitched his eyelashes and woke up.
The injuries on his face had also faded considerably.
The moment Huang Ren regained consciousness, he remembered everything Tian Luo had done to him. Anger instantly exploded within him, and his face darkened.
But when he looked up and saw Huang Qi, his expression froze before immediately transforming into that of a meek little sheep.
Struggling to his feet, he bowed deeply.
“Huang Ren greets Great-Uncle.”
Huang Qi snorted and ignored the greeting. Turning to Guo Lin, he said,
“Sect Master, he’s awake.”
Guo Lin had already turned around to look at Huang Ren.
Though he was trying his best to suppress his excitement, Huang Qi was, after all, a Spirit Transformation cultivator. He still noticed traces of emotion leaking through.
It felt strange.
Daojun Guo Lin was not normally someone who revealed his emotions so openly.
“This sword of yours—who did it injure today?”
While Huang Qi was still thinking about it, Guo Lin had already walked over and asked.
Huang Ren froze.
His heart skipped a beat, and fear immediately rose within him.
What was going on?
Had he injured someone he absolutely shouldn’t have offended?
The only person he had injured today was that damned Tian Luo.
Could Tian Luo possibly be a relative of this terrifying Daojun?
Huang Qi had called him Sect Master.
Could this really be Daojun Guo Lin, the Sect Master of Xingluo Sect?
This was terrible!
Thinking carefully, Tian Luo’s appearance was extraordinary. Her behavior was strange. She possessed a powerful divine artifact.
That artifact could release incredibly pure spiritual energy…
That’s right!
That divine artifact must have been given to her by Daojun Guo Lin for protection. She was probably a disciple of the Guo family sent out for experience. She might even be Guo Lin’s great-granddaughter or something.
Damn it!
He had offended someone he absolutely shouldn’t have!
The more Huang Ren thought about it, the paler his face became.
Seeing his pale complexion and trembling legs, Guo Lin looked down on him even more.
Still, he maintained a gentle, benevolent tone.
“Did you injure a young woman today?”
Huang Ren: It’s over! It’s over! Daojun Guo Lin even knows she’s a woman! That damned Tian Luo must be extremely close to him! I’m doomed today! No, I absolutely cannot admit it. If I do, even the Huang Family will be implicated! Our collateral branch will be finished!
With tremendous effort, Huang Ren kept his expression calm.
“Reporting to Daojun, I did not injure any young woman today.”
Guo Lin: “…”
When Huang Qi saw Guo Lin’s expression darken, he was astonished by how openly he was displaying his emotions.
He knew Guo Lin was angry.
“You think you can hide the truth from me and the Sect Master?” Huang Qi shouted. “Answer whatever the Sect Master asks!”
Huang Ren’s face turned deathly pale.
He dropped to his knees with a thud, becoming even more convinced that he absolutely could not reveal the truth.
“I really didn’t injure—”
Guo Lin had already lost patience.
He raised his hand and pressed his palm against Huang Ren’s forehead, forcibly thrusting his divine sense into Huang Ren’s consciousness.
As a Void Refinement cultivator, forcibly invading the consciousness of a mere Foundation Establishment disciple like this would inevitably destroy the disciple’s spiritual consciousness afterward.
Even if he survived, his intelligence would be permanently ruined.
Closing his eyes, Guo Lin saw the scene at the foot of the outer mountain.
In the darkness, Huang Ren’s sword injured a girl wrapped up from head to toe and wearing a bear-head hat.
He heard Huang Ren call her “Junior Sister Tian.”
He saw her swindle ten thousand high-grade spirit stones from him.
Useless trash!
He couldn’t even see her face clearly!
Guo Lin withdrew his hand.
Yet his excitement only intensified.
He was now certain.
That was the Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng Spirit he had searched for all these years.
She had already transformed into human form and was currently within Zixu Sword Sect.
Earlier this evening, she had fought Huang Ren and obtained a Bixi Secret Realm jade token.
Tomorrow, she would enter the Bixi Secret Realm.
He could hardly wait.
Taking a step, he vanished from the room and headed directly toward Zixu Sword Sect.
However, upon reaching the foot of the inner mountain, he was forced three meters backward by the sect’s protective formation.
His face darkened as he glanced at the sleeve that had been sliced apart by the formation because he had not been paying attention.
He could only wait until chen hour tomorrow.
…
Tian Luo had not expected herself to be so lacking in vigilance.
She had actually been woken up by Su Miantang.
She spent quite a while feeling depressed about it and secretly swore that she could never let this happen again.
How could she sleep so soundly?
Stepping outside, she looked at the sky.
The rosy clouds of dawn were rising in the distance. It appeared to be only mao hour, not yet chen hour.
Turning her head toward the courtyard, she could only admit that sword cultivators were truly insane.
Senior Brother Su had already been practicing swordsmanship for who knew how long and was drenched in sweat.
His expression was serious and focused as his sword flashed rapidly through the air.
Several steaming dishes had been placed on the stone table.
Wuyinzi sat there devouring them enthusiastically.
When he saw Tian Luo emerge, he immediately waved at her.
“Come quickly and eat! Goudan waited in line for half an hour early this morning just to get breakfast!”
Tian Luo: “……”
Are sword cultivators really this wild when money is involved?
Well, it wasn’t impossible, but seriously—Senior Brother Su wasn’t even worth a hundred spirit stones!
She turned to look at Su Miantang and was shocked to find him actually wearing a thoughtful expression, as if he were genuinely considering whether he should marry or not. Afraid that she would end up being taken advantage of, she quickly explained that she was Tian Luo, the outer sect disciple who had only obtained the Bixi Jade Token today.
Wuyinzi looked at Tian Luo with a face full of “What a pity you won’t marry my precious son,” then said, “Child, with your status, entering the Bixi Secret Realm is practically seeking death.”
Tian Luo froze for a moment, then blinked.
“As long as a person has courage, a path to survival will naturally open beneath their feet!”
People had to rely on themselves!
Hadn’t she already survived half a month in this novel while trembling with fear every day? Now she was getting closer and closer to her goal.
Tian Luo bowed deeply to Wuyinzi again.
“Thank you, Sect Master.”
What she was thanking him for was that he had recognized she was a ginseng spirit, yet had no intention of harming her.
Wuyinzi smiled and said, “Don’t worry. Other people won’t recognize you.”
Tian Luo looked up at him, her eyes clearly asking, Then how did you know?
Wuyinzi blinked.
“I don’t know. I just happen to know a little physiognomy.”
Old men who lived a long time really were experts at deceiving young girls!
Tian Luo didn’t ask further. What mattered now was obtaining the Nine-Qilin Armor as soon as possible and learning some means of self-defense. She knew that if she successfully returned from the Bixi Secret Realm this time, she would have a chance to become an inner sect disciple.
“I’m sleepy, I’m sleepy. Hurry up and sleep! You two squeeze into one room for tonight. Tomorrow I still have to take you to the Bixi Secret Realm. This old skeleton of mine is exhausted!”
While speaking, Wuyinzi stood up, yawned, and walked toward the bamboo house.
Tian Luo and Su Miantang exchanged a glance.
Before Senior Brother Su could speak, she boldly pulled out ten spirit stones from her mustard-seed pouch.
“The bed is mine tonight.”
Su Miantang’s eyes instantly grew three points warmer.
“Deal!”
He took the spirit stones, opened a pit outside the house, and skillfully lay down inside it.
With a serious expression, he said to Tian Luo, “Please cover me with the turf, Junior Sister.”
Tian Luo: “……”
Are sword cultivators rabbits with three burrows?
Lying in bed, Tian Luo couldn’t help wondering why the utterly ordinary Su Miantang lived on Tenth Peak with Wuyinzi.
Moreover, he was only the second senior disciple of this generation, and his talent wasn’t even as high as the male lead Tian Yue’s.
Sword cultivators really were impossible to understand!
…
A hundred li away from Zixu Sword Sect lay Qingyin City.
Although it was already deep into the night, the city remained brilliantly illuminated and bustling with activity.
This was an industry owned by Tianyan Sect—a sleepless city for cultivators stretching ten thousand li. Both mortals and cultivators lived here, and goods from all over the world flowed through it. Even the famous Tianbao Pavilion and Tianji Pavilion maintained branches here.
Hongxiu Tower.
Heaven-Class Room Number One.
With his back facing Huang Qi, Guo Lin finally could not resist anymore.
Lowering his head, he licked his finger.
Although the bloodstain on it had already dried, the instant it touched his tongue, the sweetness and pure spiritual energy made him draw a deep breath.
The numb ecstasy that shot straight to the crown of his head caused his body to tremble slightly.
Huang Qi fed Huang Ren a medicinal pill. Thinking of this disgraceful collateral descendant, his expression remained ugly.
Tianyan Sect’s pills were naturally excellent.
Within only a few breaths, Huang Ren, whose face had been beaten black and blue by Tian Luo, twitched his eyelashes and woke up.
Even the swelling on his face had subsided somewhat.
The moment Huang Ren awoke, he remembered everything Tian Luo had done to him.
Anger surged through him.
His expression darkened.
But as soon as he looked up and saw Huang Qi, his face froze before immediately transforming into that of an obedient little lamb.
Struggling to get up, he bowed deeply.
“Huang Ren greets Great-Uncle.”
Huang Qi snorted and ignored the greeting.
Turning toward Guo Lin, he said, “Sect Master, he’s awake.”
Guo Lin had already turned around to look at Huang Ren.
Although he was doing his best to suppress his excitement, Huang Qi was also a Spirit Transformation cultivator and still noticed a trace of emotion leaking out.
He found it strange.
Daojun Guo Lin was normally not someone who revealed his feelings so openly.
“This sword of yours—who did it injure today?”
While Huang Qi was still thinking, Guo Lin had already walked over and begun questioning Huang Ren.
Huang Ren froze.
His heart immediately jumped in alarm.
Could it be that he had injured someone he absolutely shouldn’t have?
The only person he had injured today was that damned Tian Luo.
Could Tian Luo be a relative of this overwhelmingly powerful Daojun?
Great-Uncle had called him Sect Master.
Could this be Daojun Guo Lin, Sect Master of Xingluo Sect?
That was terrible!
Thinking carefully, Tian Luo really was extraordinary-looking. Her behavior was strange, and she possessed a powerful divine artifact.
That divine artifact could release pure spiritual energy…
That was it!
The artifact must have been given to her by Daojun Guo Lin for protection.
She was probably a disciple of the Guo Family undergoing training, perhaps even Daojun Guo Lin’s great-granddaughter or something.
Damn it!
He had offended someone he absolutely shouldn’t have offended!
The more Huang Ren thought about it, the paler his face became.
Seeing his pale complexion and trembling legs, Guo Lin looked down on him even more.
Still, he asked in a gentle and benevolent tone:
“Did you injure a young woman today?”
Huang Ren thought:
It’s over, it’s over! Daojun Guo Lin even knows the other party is a woman. That damned Tian Luo must be closely related to him! Today I’m doomed! No, I absolutely cannot admit it. Otherwise the Huang Family will suffer too. Our collateral branch will be finished!
Maintaining a calm expression with great effort, he replied,
“Reporting to Daojun, I did not injure any woman today.”
Guo Lin: “……”
Seeing Guo Lin’s face darken, Huang Qi was shocked by how openly his emotions were showing.
Knowing he was angry, Huang Qi immediately shouted:
“Do you think you can hide anything from me and the Sect Master? Answer whatever the Sect Master asks!”
Huang Ren’s face turned deathly white.
With a thump, he knelt on the ground.
This only strengthened his conviction that he could not reveal the truth.
Gritting his teeth, he insisted,
“I truly didn’t injure any—”
Guo Lin had already lost patience.
Raising a hand, he pressed his palm against Huang Ren’s forehead and forcibly sent his divine sense inside.
As a Void Refinement cultivator, forcing his divine sense into the consciousness of a mere Foundation Establishment disciple in such a tyrannical manner would inevitably destroy the disciple’s consciousness afterward.
Even if Huang Ren survived, his intelligence would be ruined.
Guo Lin closed his eyes.
He saw Huang Ren attacking a girl wrapped from head to toe and wearing a bear-head hat beneath the outer mountain gate in the night.
He heard him call her “Junior Sister Tian.”
He saw her swindle ten thousand high-grade spirit stones from him.
Useless trash!
He couldn’t even clearly see her face!
Guo Lin withdrew his hand, but his emotions still surged violently.
He was now certain.
That girl was the Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng Spirit he had searched for over so many years.
She had already taken human form.
She was inside Zixu Sword Sect.
At dusk today, she had fought Huang Ren and obtained a Bixi Jade Token.
Tomorrow, she would enter the Bixi Secret Realm.
He could hardly wait.
Taking a step, he disappeared from the room and rushed toward Zixu Sword Sect.
But when he reached the foot of the inner mountain, the Sword Sect’s defensive formation forced him back three meters.
His face darkened.
Looking down, he noticed that a section of his sleeve had been sliced apart by the formation.
He could only wait until Chen Hour tomorrow.
…
Tian Luo never expected that she would be so lacking in vigilance.
She had actually been awakened by Su Miantang this morning.
She sulked over it for a long while and secretly swore never to let it happen again.
How could she sleep so deeply?
Stepping outside, she looked at the sky.
The clouds in the distance were only beginning to glow with dawn.
It appeared to be around Mao Hour, not yet Chen Hour.
Turning her head toward the courtyard—
Well, sword cultivators truly were insane.
Senior Brother Su was already practicing swordsmanship, drenched in sweat.
His expression was serious and focused, his sword moving fast and densely through the air.
Several steaming breakfast dishes sat on the stone table.
Wuyinzi was currently devouring them with great enthusiasm.
Seeing Tian Luo emerge, he immediately waved at her.
“Hurry over and eat! Goudan lined up for half an hour before dawn to get breakfast!”
Tian Luo quickly walked over.
She had heard about it before.
The inner sect cafeteria was famous for its abundant food, but sword cultivators were ridiculously competitive. They got up at three or four in the morning just to queue.
If you arrived late, you could only eat Bigu Pills.
Those things were unbelievably disgusting.
They tasted like the vomit of someone who had eaten Sichuan hotpot and then chugged a bottle of baijiu!
After trying one once, she would rather die than eat another.
“Hurry and eat. Once we’re done, I’ll take you to the Bixi Secret Realm. There’s only enough time left for one stick of incense!”
Wuyinzi’s mouth was stuffed with meat buns as he urged her.
Tian Luo was stunned.
“Wasn’t it supposed to be Chen Hour?”
Wuyinzi turned around and gave her a look that clearly said, Little girl, you’re too naive!
“Of course that was a lie!”
Tian Luo: So evil!
They definitely lied specifically to outer sect disciples.
The inner sect disciples must have known all along!
Fortunately, she was smart and capable. She had climbed the mountain overnight and shamelessly stayed here for a night.
Tian Luo lowered her head and stuffed herself with food.
She needed to be full before working later!
After breakfast, Tian Luo stood on Su Miantang’s sword and followed behind Wuyinzi to the Sword Sect Hall—the tallest and most magnificent hall in the entire sect.
Outside the hall was a huge plaza.
At this moment, the plaza was already packed with people.
Tian Luo: Confirmed. The inner sect disciples really did know.
The uniforms of Zixu Sword Sect’s inner disciples were all green.
When Tian Luo landed and looked up, all she saw were handsome and beautiful sword cultivators.
Then she looked at herself.
She really was just a fat bear.
It was obvious she had come from the outer sect.
“You must be the little junior sister from the outer sect. I saw the post on the Immortal Forum yesterday. I heard you knocked Huang Ren flat with a single strike. Very impressive!”
A beautiful and gentle female cultivator walked over and patted Tian Luo’s bear-head hat.
Her tone was warm and friendly.
“I’m Nan Rong, your Eldest Senior Sister. Once we enter the secret realm, stay with me. I’ll protect you.”
As she spoke, her eyes curved like crescent moons, filled with gentleness and kindness.
“Yes, Senior Sister! My name is Tian Luo!”
Tian Luo nodded obediently.
Stars practically sparkled in her eyes.
Oh my god, is this gentle big sister the female lead?!
I like her so much!
Then where was the male lead…
Her peripheral vision swept around like a radar and instantly landed on a young man standing in the distance with his eyes closed and a sword in his arms.
His long hair was tied into a high ponytail.
His handsome face carried almost no expression.
Even an ordinary green robe seemed to radiate icy indifference when worn by him.
The black sword he carried emitted an equally cold aura.
That was right.
This wooden idiot who had made her nearly cough up blood several times was the male lead, Tian Yue.
Nan Rong froze briefly after hearing Tian Luo’s name.
Then she softly murmured,
“So Junior Sister’s surname is Tian as well.”
The look she gave Tian Luo became even gentler.
Tian Luo didn’t know how far the relationship between the male and female leads had progressed.
After all, in the original novel, the Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng Spirit only appeared as a minor side quest after suffering torture for ten years.
At this point, she was basically a hidden NPC with no storyline at all.
Holding Tian Luo’s hand, Nan Rong said again,
“Your bear-head hat is very cute, Junior Sister.”
Tian Luo felt a little embarrassed.
“If Senior Sister likes it, I’ll make one for you next time. It’s really warm!”
Nan Rong blinked and couldn’t help pinching Tian Luo’s cheek.
As expected, it felt soft and smooth.
“Alright.”
Tian Luo happily leaned her face closer and let Nan Rong pinch her a few more times.
Seeing this, Nan Rong laughed.
Her brows and eyes softened warmly.
The other disciples also gathered around, curiously chatting with Tian Luo.
One Senior Sister said, “Is Junior Sister especially afraid of the cold? I have a Fire Spirit Stone here. Wear it.”
One Senior Brother said, “You have to stay close to us, Junior Sister. The Bixi Secret Realm is still a bit dangerous for outer sect disciples!”
Another Senior Brother said, “Junior Sister, was it you who paid a hundred low-grade spirit stones yesterday to have someone fly you up the mountain? You’re so rich. Please take care of this poor Senior Brother!”
Upon hearing this, Su Miantang, standing behind the crowd, immediately stepped forward.
His wealthy benefactor was about to be stolen away!
With a serious face, he declared,
“Don’t do that! Junior Sister has already hired me as her bodyguard!”
Nestled beside Nan Rong, Tian Luo felt warmth spread through her heart.
Yet her nose suddenly grew sour.
For the first time since transmigrating into this novel half a month ago, her drifting heart finally seemed to have found a place to belong.
She no longer had to live every day in constant fear.
The entrance to the Bixi Secret Realm lay beneath a valley on Zixu Mountain’s Eleventh Peak.
Zixu Sword Sect possessed ten peaks in total.
The First through Tenth Peaks each had a Peak Master, and every peak specialized in a different sword path.
The Eleventh Peak, however, stood empty.
At the bottom of its valley was a forbidden lake.
Anyone who approached it under normal circumstances would be turned into a hedgehog by the sword formation barrier.
The Bixi Secret Realm lay within that sword formation.
Wuyinzi opened the formation barrier.
Ahead of them, ripples like water suddenly appeared.
He waved.
“Hurry in.”
Clutching her small sword, Tian Luo’s heart pounded rapidly.
Her eyes shone with excitement.
Holding Nan Rong’s hand, she stepped into the Bixi Secret Realm while recalling the original novel’s description of it.
The Bixi Secret Realm opened once every fifty years.
According to the novel, it had once been a battlefield wasteland centuries ago.
Countless treasures left behind by ancient cultivators were hidden within.
Because different cultivators had cultivated different spiritual energies, the realm was divided into multiple regions.
In summary, it contained four seasonal zones—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—corresponding to four directions.
Each had different climates, temperatures, dangers, and treasures.
For example, there was a spirit herb called Fire Spirit Grass, an excellent treatment for burns.
It grew only in the Summer Region, where temperatures were extremely high and flames burned year-round.
Another example was the Youhan Sword.
In the novel, Tian Yue eventually obtained it.
That sword was buried in the Winter Region, representing extreme cold.
As for the Nine-Qilin Armor she sought, it was located in the Spring Region.
That area was the warmest and most beautiful place in the entire Bixi Secret Realm—a landscape of flowers, grasses, and secluded pools filled with spirit herbs.
Once she entered, she would—
The instant Tian Luo entered, she felt herself violently pulled forward.
The immense spiritual energy within her body seemed to be seized by an invisible hand.
Almost immediately, her hand separated from Nan Rong’s.
Help!!!
The novel never mentioned this!
In the book, Wuyinzi simply opened the realm, everyone entered, and after closing and opening their eyes, they were already inside the Bixi Secret Realm!
The sensation of weightlessness made her dizzy and nauseated.
She desperately reached out, wanting to grab onto something.
But there was nothing.
Until she slammed heavily into the ground.
Newton’s laws clearly didn’t apply in the cultivation world.
If this had happened in her previous life, she would have died or at least been paralyzed.
Now, her back merely hurt a little.
Opening her eyes, she found herself surrounded by dim darkness.
Not a trace of daylight could be seen.
A foul, bloody stench filled the air.
Cold winds blew from every direction, chilling her bones.
Was this the Winter Region?
But that couldn’t be right.
The area she had categorized as Winter should have been covered in snow year-round.
This place…
Everything around her was scorched black and dark, as if consumed by fire.
It didn’t resemble a snowy land at all.
Tian Luo stood up.
Countless black iron chains lay piled in the corners.
This place…
Looked like a cave.
A cave that made every hair on her body stand on end.
Water dripped steadily in the darkness.
The droplets became the only sound in the cave, creating an atmosphere of eerie danger.
Suddenly, from deeper within the cave came the scraping sound of chains dragging across stone.
Heavy.
Terrifying.
And the source of the noise was the cave’s only passage.
Tremble tremble tremble tremble.
Tian Luo’s entire body stiffened.
Her back unconsciously pressed against the wall behind her.
The sound of chains grew closer.
Louder.
The slow pace tortured her nerves.
Come out already! What the hell are you? I’m a Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng Spirit! I’m not afraid of anything!
Tian Luo drew her sword and glared forward with the fiercest expression she could manage.
Then she saw a pair of golden eyes in the darkness.
Sinister.
Violent.
The surrounding shadows made them appear strangely enchanting and dangerous.
What kind of ferocious beast was this?
Eyes positioned that high up—how huge must it be?
Or was this some kind of caveman?
Tian Luo clenched her teeth and forced her trembling legs to stop shaking.
She continuously encouraged herself.
The golden eyes came closer.
A pale, eerie face gradually emerged.
A person.
Thank goodness.
Tian Luo wiped the sweat from her forehead.
People could negotiate.
Beasts didn’t reason.
Holding her sword tightly, she continued watching the figure approach.
Then her pupils suddenly contracted.
Th-this…
Was this really a person?
He was unbelievably beautiful.
His skin was as white as snow.
His lips were as red as fresh blood.
Not a single thread covered his body.
His long black hair reached his ankles, partially concealing a horrifying sight.
A red-hot iron spike had been driven through his chest.
The metal remained blazing hot, continuously burning his flesh and bones.
Blood flowed from the wound.
Bright red blood.
Dark, dried blood.
The muscles of his abdomen were strikingly beautiful.
Yet a chain pierced directly through his waist bone, creating a shocking sight.
Tian Luo’s gaze moved lower.
When she noticed a certain area, her eyelids twitched violently and she immediately looked away.
Lowering her eyes, she saw that he was barefoot.
Thin black anklets encircled both ankles, making his already pale skin appear even whiter.
He was staring at her.
Evaluating her.
His gaze was cold and emotionless.
Although he had not attacked, the dangerous aura radiating from him filled Tian Luo with alarm.
This was definitely not someone like Huang Ren.
Still, chains bound his hands and feet.
He probably couldn’t crush her to death in an instant.
That was good.
Tian Luo decided to take the initiative.
“Hello. Let’s introduce ourselves. My name is Tian Luo. I’m—”
“A Ten-Thousand-Year Ginseng Spirit.”
The man’s lips never moved.
Yet Tian Luo clearly heard a voice filled with hostility.
The next second, her body lost control.
She was abruptly pulled toward him until they were pressed together at zero distance.
The man’s icy breath drifted along her neck.
It seemed as though he was considering where to take his first bite.
Holding her breath, Tian Luo suddenly grabbed his hand.
With utmost sincerity and warmth, she said:
“Don’t be in such a hurry. Once we get out of here, there’ll be plenty of time for whatever you want. I know lots of tricks. I’m especially good at binding play. So? You’ve guessed it already, haven’t you?”
“Yes, you guessed correctly.”
“I’m here to save you.”