“Can you endure hardship?”
The question caught Yang Xiyan off guard.
Accustomed to a pampered life, how could she possibly endure hardship? Moreover, her constitution was inherently weak. Even if she trained now, she would never reach the combat level of others.
Becoming a true mage wasn’t something easily achieved. But if she didn’t become one, how could she protect herself? After this incident, she finally realized how terrifying it was to have freedom without control.
Destiny must be held in her own hands.
Were there professions exclusively for mages? If such existed, she could still strive for them.
As for enduring hardship? She certainly couldn’t handle the intense training of a mage. She hated physical exertion and couldn’t bear that kind of suffering. But if it was the hardship of studying, she could manage that.
Anything that wasn’t manual labor, she could do.
No matter what, once she returned, she would research professions of that nature.
Having made up her mind, the three of them, after their heartfelt conversation, returned to their original campsite. The gloom dissipated, and it seemed as though they had returned to their usual dynamic.
Peace was restored quickly.
From a distance, Tuoba Yichen watched the three of them happily reunited. After a moment of silence, he packed his belongings and left. From now on, he would no longer be Yang Xiyan’s fiancé—he had his own freedom.
He had wronged her. He shouldn’t have let her chase after an impossible dream. Apologies were meaningless now. He could only hope she would find a better partner.
Even so, he knew one thing: if she didn’t choose him, Yang Xiyan’s future would be painted in nothing but darkness.
All he could do was try to compensate her as much as possible.
……
And so, a week passed in the blink of an eye. The dark clouds still lingered, and the drizzling rain refused to cease. The entire beast forest was damp and difficult to traverse, with gusts of wind howling through. The summer beast island was uncharacteristically cold.
“La-la-la-la-la, a butterfly flutters by, beautiful flowers bloom in the rain, summer showers please stop soon, the lonely child smiles with glee.” A melodious song suddenly echoed through the mountains, startling the slumbering creatures.
A massive tiger, as large as an elephant yet agile as a cat, swiftly navigated the dense undergrowth. Despite the challenging terrain, it moved effortlessly, causing nearby beasts to scatter in avoidance.
On the tiger’s furry back lay a woman dressed in ordinary camouflage gear, singing cheerfully. The rain didn’t touch her, but the wind tousled her long hair.
Suddenly, the tiger halted, its gaze fixed ahead.
Liu Ying, who had been warming herself on the tiger’s back, stopped singing in confusion. “What’s wrong?”
“Master, there’s a peach orchard ahead.”
“Peach orchard?” Liu Ying sat up to look. Beyond the forest, a mountain was blanketed in blooming peach blossoms, their beauty magnified by the misty drizzle.
“What a shame. If it were sunny, this place would be breathtaking. Yang Xiyan would probably stop to sketch the scenery if she passed by.”
“I think the peach orchard in the rain has its own charm. It’s lovely.” The tiger padded forward leisurely, still untouched by the rain. The cold wind lifted Liu Ying’s jet-black hair, revealing her delicate face.
“Let’s find a place to rest. There’s steam over there—must be something good.” Liu Ying stretched lazily before lying back down. “Peach blossoms in June? Quite the unique charm.”
Liu Ying had been in high spirits these past few days. It had been a week since she parted ways with Yang Xiyan, and during that time, she had been clearing anomalies in the vicinity—both paving the way for Yang Xiyan and resolving local issues. Now, she was thoroughly enjoying her newfound leisure.
All the troubles had been dealt with.
Tigress darted toward the peach orchard but voiced her concern, “Why is Master so happy? We’ve been moving so fast—I’m not sure if those girls can keep up.”
“Of course, I’m happy! We’re getting closer and closer to the safe zone—how could I not be?” Liu Ying laughed. “Even though I didn’t find the source of my injury on this journey, I’ve still gained a lot.”
“Yang Xiyan is out of danger, Chen Tianjing’s schemes have been exposed, and that ridiculous ‘cooked rice’ plan of his is completely ruined. Though Yang Xiyan might face some trouble when she returns, as long as her family helps behind the scenes, it won’t be a problem. And now we’ve even resolved the anomalies on Monster Island—everything’s just falling into place. How could I not be in a good mood?”
Liu Ying’s smile was radiant. Though the process had been troublesome, at least she had settled a major concern in her heart. Indeed, the future could be changed.
Fine raindrops pierced the barrier, landing on Tigress’s face. Her tiger features twisted into a human-like expression of disappointment. She couldn’t share her master’s joy. That girl had brought Liu Ying such peace—why did they have to part like this?
Tigress thought highly of that girl. Though fragile, she was gentle and kind, and by her master’s standards, quite beautiful too. She was even Liu Ying’s fan. If only she knew her true identity, all their troubles would vanish.
Yet, Liu Ying seemed uninterested, even though her eyes had lingered on the girl. It was beyond Tigress’s understanding.
Tigress sped ahead but suddenly halted, staring at a sign in confusion. “Master, this mountain seems sealed off. Could there be danger inside?”
Liu Ying sat up from Tigress’s back and noticed banners and a barrier at the foot of the mountain, though they looked rather worn. She quickly dismounted and examined them closely.
Peach Mountain was surrounded by a fragile barrier and various warning signs. One plaque read:
Mount Affection
Area: 45 square kilometers
Features: Gentle Stream Hot Springs and Affectionate Peach Blossoms
Danger Level: SS
Entry strictly prohibited for non-SS rank individuals.
“Gentle Stream Hot Springs and Affectionate Peach Blossoms? How peculiar.” Liu Ying was surprised. She had never heard of such a combination. The barrier and signs appeared to have been set up by the Magic Bureau, though they had clearly been there for years. She’d have to report this later—someone might wander in by mistake otherwise.
As she spoke, Liu Ying pulled a shovel from her spatial storage and reinforced the warning signs. Then, dusting off her hands, she stepped forward.
Tigress trailed behind anxiously. “Master, are we really going up?”
“Of course. If something this dangerous has been left unchecked for years, who knows what’s lurking inside? We’ll check it out first, then file a report with the Magic Bureau. It’ll save them trouble and risk.” Liu Ying shook her head and pressed onward.
She was a mage. As a qualified mage, it was her duty to contribute to society. After all, the reason ordinary people admired mages wasn’t just their strength—it was their fearless dedication.
Even a seemingly frail mage like Yang Xiyan bravely stepped forward to calm everyone when the tour bus had an accident, despite being terrified herself.
Of course, the law doesn’t require mages to make such contributions.
“Master, wait for me!” Seeing Liu Ying already walking ahead, Hu Niu hurriedly scrambled after her. But due to her large size and the soft mud, several rocks tumbled down in her wake.
“Stop, stop, stop!” Liu Ying’s lips twitched. “Hu Niu, shrink down and hop onto my shoulder. The terrain here is tricky—try not to disturb too much.”
“Rawr!” Hu Niu obediently responded, leaping onto her shoulder in one swift motion. Liu Ying glanced back at the commotion, ensuring nothing was amiss before continuing up the mountain.
A hot spring at the summit—just the thought was thrilling. In this weather, nothing was more comforting than soaking in a hot spring, especially one as rare as the Gentle Water Spring.
The Gentle Water Spring, also known as the Hundred Flowers’ Sacred Jade Spring, was one of the legendary Six Rare Springs—a treasure so precious it was said to be found only by fate. According to ancient texts, bathing in its waters could cleanse the marrow, strengthen the Elemental Sea, and turn an ordinary person into a prodigious mage.
Since Liu Ying was already a supreme genius, the spring’s effects mattered little to her. What she cared about was its other benefit—beautifying and whitening the skin.
With that in mind, Liu Ying quickened her pace. Unbeknownst to her, as the rain intensified, the ground Hu Niu had stepped on suddenly collapsed, burying the warning sign beneath the mud.
Admiring the ever-blooming Peach Blossoms of Devotion along the way and dispatching a few threatening magical beasts, Liu Ying soon reached the heart of the mountain. There, she discovered a warm stream. Following it upstream led her to a crystal-clear hot spring pool.
Surrounded by rocks and flanked by peach blossoms, the pool lay beneath a small cave—no, more accurately, beneath a sloping cliff and an ancient tree. The overhang kept the rain out, leaving the area beneath dry, with only weathered rocks and gnarled roots.
“What a miraculous place!” Liu Ying couldn’t help but marvel. Gazing at the misty drizzle drifting through the sky, the delicate peach blossoms appeared ethereal, exuding a serene beauty.
She loosened her long hair, letting it cascade over her shoulders, and leisurely undressed, sighing at the sight of the blossoms. “So breathtaking, yet untouchable by humans.” As she mused, Hu Niu had already set up a rain barrier and plunged into the spring.
Indeed, the Gentle Water Spring and the Peach Blossoms of Devotion were intertwined. While the spring was wondrous, it came with a potent love-inducing effect—far more terrifying than the Love Grass from the Yang family’s lands. Worse still, the entire Peach Blossom Mountain was shrouded in mist, making escape nearly impossible once inside.
Liu Ying sank into the water with a satisfied sigh, stretching lazily to reveal her flawless curves. “Though dangerous for most mages, it has no effect on me,” she mused with a smile. “It’s as if the heavens crafted this treasure just for me.”
Hu Niu floated on the surface, her fur dampened by the rising steam, paddling happily. “Doesn’t work on me either! But soaking here is amazing!”
“If only ordinary people could enjoy this spring, it’d be perfect.” Liu Ying reveled in the warmth, feeling every cell in her body invigorated. This was the gift of the Gentle Water Spring—beauty and radiance.
Liu Ying gazed at her fair skin. Though it was already quite lovely, she felt it was still far from perfect—it could become even softer and snowier. Today, encountering the gentle hot springs, she naturally couldn’t let the opportunity pass. After meeting Yang Xiyan, she finally understood just how flawless a person’s skin could be, not to mention how strikingly beautiful one could look.
Of course, she wanted to become even more beautiful too.
As she soaked, Liu Ying’s delicate cheeks gradually flushed pink, her heart pounding wildly. Whenever she thought about it, she couldn’t help but recall the scene of secretly watching Yang Xiyan bathe that day. Even now, the memory was so breathtakingly beautiful that she couldn’t tear herself away from it. If only she had been closer back then…
Yang Xiyan shook her head to steady her thoughts, the blush on her face slowly fading. Staring at the rain-soaked peach blossoms, she twitched her lips and muttered, “Truly, the blossoms of love and loyalty—even I can be affected.”
Liu Ying quickly regained her composure. Only when she felt completely refreshed did she step out of the spring. Examining her skin, she found it indeed even fairer and more supple than before. The gentle hot springs truly lived up to their reputation.
A pity, though—they had little effect on her actual strength.
Satisfied, Liu Ying stretched lazily and glanced at the darkening sky before taking Hu Niu into the spatial realm to sleep.