Volume Two, Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Beast!

Having once dealt with a monster before, Yu Mu knew that although the monster’s inner core was of little use, the three horns on this creature’s head appeared to be exceptionally tough. Yet, since he hadn’t slain the beast himself, he felt it improper to take them. What puzzled him was why someone of Ye Yu’s noble background would even be interested in the remains of such a lowly creature.

The three continued on their journey. Three days later, Yan Xiaosan had fully recovered, but unexpectedly, he showed no intention of leaving. Yu Mu and Ye Yu pretended not to notice, allowing him to stay. Both had witnessed Yan Xiaosan’s terrifying abilities; having him around greatly increased their safety. Over those three days, they were attacked more than a dozen times, but Ye Yu handled every threat single-handedly, leaving Yu Mu without even a chance to step in. Even when they rested, they could sleep soundly, for no beast could break through the poison barrier Ye Yu laid down. Only then did Yu Mu realize how formidable she truly was—if not for his own resistance to toxins, she would be nearly invincible.

Traveling together day and night, the three gradually learned more about one another. Ye Yu had never practiced martial arts of the fire path; her lifelong obsession was with medicine and poison. Her combat prowess was weak, but her mastery of the medicinal and toxic arts was unrivaled—even, in some respects, surpassing her own father, Ye Wentian.

Yu Mu, through subtle questioning, uncovered an answer to what he had been worrying about: Ye Yu had not met Ye Yun, because she’d been in hiding to heal her wounds, and thus remained unaware of the enmity between them. However, she had encountered Qingtian, who emerged from the Sacred King’s Tomb, and only then learned of Yu Mu’s one-year pact. Out of gratitude, she waited outside the tomb to repay her debt.

As for Yan Xiaosan, he remained tight-lipped. All they knew was that he was an orphan from an assassin’s organization.

After more than ten days, their journey was no longer as easy as before. The further they went, the stronger the monsters became, and Ye Yu’s poisons started to lose their former efficacy. Several times, it was only by Yu Mu delaying the beasts that the poison had a chance to take effect.

One evening, after a long day’s travel, they made camp under a large tree. For Yu Mu, the day’s journey was nothing, but the other two, being human, were far less resilient. For this reason, they traveled by day and rested at night, conserving their strength—especially since the jungle was even more dangerous after dark.

They shared their rations and, after a simple meal, each went to rest. As long as he wasn’t utterly exhausted, Yu Mu had no need for sleep. As always, he sat down in meditation beneath the tree, quietly sending his roots into the earth to absorb nutrients.

Ye Yu’s way of resting was unique. The black gauze she wore was actually a magical artifact—a spirit item. It could be used as a tent and had protective properties, allowing Ye Yu to truly rest without worry.

No one knew exactly how Yan Xiaosan rested; he disappeared every night without a trace. Yet the other two were certain he didn’t go far—at the slightest disturbance, he would appear instantly.

They set no night watch, so confident were they in Ye Yu’s poison barrier.

As night deepened, the forest grew still, the sky heavy with low-hanging clouds. The atmosphere was stifling. Yu Mu basked in the nurturing embrace of nature, the air thick with the essence of wood. Only in this boundless forest did he feel utterly at ease, truly comfortable. His roots entwined with those of the tree he leaned against, sensing the vitality in its branches and the gentle caress of the wind.

The wind began to pick up, growing ever stronger. A muffled thunderclap boomed overhead, and suddenly the wind howled, raging through the dense forest, turning the canopy into a surging emerald ocean. Yet Ye Yu’s gauze tent remained perfectly still, not even stirring. Yu Mu envied the treasure, and envied even more Ye Yu’s peaceful sleep. Under such howling winds, he could no longer quiet his heart.

Within nature, he was both favored and most susceptible to its moods. Unable to calm his mind for cultivation, he surrendered instead to the rhythm of the wind weaving through the trees—a display of pure, raw power.

Under the might of heaven, Yu Mu’s inner core began to stir. He was on the verge of a breakthrough these past few days, but had been suppressing it, unwilling to let that moment arrive. He couldn’t afford to reveal his true form to the others—their trust hadn’t reached that level, especially with Ye Yu. The less she knew of his secret, the better.

All Yu Mu wanted now was to return to Falcon City, part ways with her as soon as possible, and find a secluded place to complete his advancement.

Tonight, it seemed, would not be a tranquil one.

The wind intensified, uprooting massive trees, sending splinters and sand swirling through the air. Without a sound, a shadowy figure silently appeared before Yu Mu—it was Yan Xiaosan, though where he’d come from, Yu Mu couldn’t say. He’d grown accustomed to his sudden arrivals.

The fierce wind made the slight Yan Xiaosan sway as though he’d be blown away at any moment.

“Xiaosan, come in out of the wind!” called a gentle voice.

They looked to see Ye Yu, half-emerged from her gauze tent, beckoning to Yan Xiaosan. But for Yu Mu, there was no such invitation—she gave no sign of letting him in.

Yu Mu could only rub his nose awkwardly, feigning indifference.

Blushing, Yan Xiaosan hesitated, his youthful shyness plain to see. Yu Mu gave him a push, breaking his indecision.

“Go on! The wind’s too strong—you’re just recovering; you can’t take this cold.”

Yan Xiaosan shot Yu Mu a grateful glance, then headed for the tent.

Yu Mu couldn’t help but smile at the boy’s innocence. Just then, he sensed something land atop the tree canopy—a faint feeling, almost imperceptible.

“Was it just my imagination?” he wondered.

No. It moved—so subtle as to be almost undetectable, but something was indeed moving towards the base of the tree, and at a startling speed.

“Be careful!” he shouted, springing to his feet, staff in hand.

Yan Xiaosan was about to crawl into the gauze tent when the warning came. In a flash, he vanished.

At the same moment, Ye Yu darted out, the gauze tent transforming into a robe around her.

“What’s happening?” she asked, frowning at the raging wind.

Before she could finish, a black shadow, riding the whirlwind, hurtled toward Yu Mu.

In the pitch-black night, with the wind howling, Yu Mu couldn’t make out what was attacking—his senses perceived only a fleeting blur, so fast was the thing.

A sharp cry split the air as the wind sliced past, and Yu Mu let out a pained shout. Five bloody gashes had been raked across his face.

Clutching his wound, Yu Mu scanned the area, but the culprit had already vanished.

Ye Yu moved to check his injuries, but Yu Mu raised a hand to stop her. “Don’t come over. It’s coming again.”

Sure enough, before he finished speaking, the wind rose once more, and a fresh set of marks was added to his face.

He felt both relief and concern—relief that the creature’s attacks hadn’t yet breached his formidable defenses; concern that it was so fast, it was nearly impossible to track.

The assailant darted between the trees and Yu Mu, slashing his face again and again. When the little monkey saw it couldn’t truly harm Yu Mu, it shifted its attacks to his eyes.

This move nearly succeeded—the first strike almost gouged Yu Mu’s eyes out. Forced to keep his eyes tightly shut, Yu Mu relied on his heightened senses to spar with the creature.

In truth, he couldn’t see it with open eyes either; closing them, he could just barely sense its movements.

After several failed attacks, the assailant let out a series of sharp screeches, its speed finally slowing.

Now, even Ye Yu could clearly see their attacker—a small, lean monkey, its fur pitch-black and glossy without a single stray hair. Most striking was the tuft standing upright on its head, like a little queue.

The monkey leaped agilely, its eyes fixed in furious rage on Yu Mu’s face, which was as tough and thick as a city wall. Baring its fangs, it let out an angry roar, and from its palm, five wind-shaped spikes materialized.

“A magic beast!” Ye Yu gasped in alarm.

“A magic beast?” Yu Mu exclaimed. “How could there be a magic beast here?”