Volume Two, Chapter Eighty-One: The Bandits

Their gazes were finally drawn back to the item in Yu Mu’s hand. “Wow~ it’s a wind-element magic crystal, and such a pure one at that.”

Hearing this, Yu Mu looked more closely. On this crystal shard, no larger than a lens, there was an image resembling a wind drill, like the tuft of hair atop a little monkey’s head.

“This is a superb material for forging artifacts,” Yan Xiaosan said, his eyes filled with fascination as he gazed at the magic crystal.

Yu Mu had also heard before that the greatest difference between demons and cultivators lay in the source of their power.

The form of a cultivator’s inner core would change depending on their realm, while demons always retained a magic crystal like this, which, over time, would solidify. Thus, the energy within a magic crystal was exceptionally pure, making it highly suitable for artifact forging or pill refining, and greatly coveted by cultivators.

There were many cultivators who specialized in hunting demons.

Yu Mu suddenly said to Ye Yu, “I’d like to give this magic crystal to Xiaosan. Do you mind?”

Ye Yu was taken aback at first, then immediately answered, “No, of course not. You killed the magical beast, so it’s your decision.”

Yu Mu smiled faintly. “Without you, I’d have been lucky if it didn’t kill me—how could I have possibly slain it? Naturally, I should have your consent.”

“Brother Yu, how can this be? You suffered so much to slay it, so this magic crystal should rightfully be yours. I did nothing—how could I...” Now that Yan Xiaosan had opened his heart, he seemed to have changed completely, regaining the true nature of a youth.

“This is a wind-element magic crystal. If not you, then who should I give it to? Take it.” Without giving him a chance to object, Yu Mu firmly pressed the magic crystal into his hand.

“Heh heh heh... I think it’s better if you hand that magic crystal over to me!” Suddenly, a cold laugh echoed from the depths of the forest.

Yu Mu looked up in alarm to see a group of seven or eight people emerge slowly from the dense woods, already forming a circle around them.

The speaker was a pale-faced man in his thirties.

“Eh? Where did that kid go?” the pale-faced man cried in surprise. Yu Mu glanced back and saw that Yan Xiaosan had already vanished without a trace.

What incredible reflexes, what astonishing speed!

“Little brat, you sure can run. You lot, open your eyes wide and don’t let these two escape as well!” The pale-faced man barked angrily at his subordinates.

Ye Yu’s gaze turned icy cold when she looked at him. “A Nascent Soul stage expert!”

“Ah!” Yu Mu gasped softly.

Against an expert of this level, he had no hope, not to mention the man’s henchmen.

“If you know what’s good for you, hand over everything of value on you, and perhaps I’ll let you live out of the kindness of my heart.” As he spoke, a woman came up behind him and whispered something in his ear.

Delight flashed across the pale-faced man’s face as he turned his lascivious gaze to Ye Yu’s chest. “So, you’re a woman after all. Haha, looks like today I’ll get both treasure and beauty.”

Ye Yu’s eyes grew even colder, regarding him as if he were already a corpse. Yu Mu had seen that look before; it was unforgettable.

Yu Mu knew—this man was finished.

“Who are you people? Do you really dare to rob and kill in broad daylight?” Yu Mu’s words drew a burst of raucous laughter.

“Hahaha, little brat, you really are naïve! Let me guess—you must be those coddled disciples from one of those so-called prestigious sects, raised at your master’s wife’s knee. You get a rush of blood and run out for some ridiculous ‘training.’ What a bunch of fools courting death!”

The last words were aimed at his men, drawing another round of laughter.

“I just love tormenting pampered fools like you, so you can taste the harshness of the world and learn that reality isn’t as soft as your mother’s embrace.” The pale-faced man’s lips twisted into a cruel smile.

Hearing that these men took them for inexperienced scions, Yu Mu was secretly pleased. The more their enemies underestimated them, the better their chances.

And it was no wonder. Among the three, a pair of young man and woman accompanied by a child—anyone with experience would know that’s an absurd formation for venturing out. Moreover, Ye Yu’s attire clearly marked her as someone from a wealthy family.

None of the three appeared formidable, and Yu Mu himself was only at the Core Formation stage—a realm that meant certain death in a place like this.

Trying to buy time, Yu Mu feigned surprise. “How did you know? What do you want from us? We’re disciples of the Grand Feather Sword Sect, a renowned and upright school. You should consider the consequences of your actions.”

At the mention of the sect, the gang seemed a bit apprehensive. Little did they know Yu Mu was merely bluffing, borrowing the sect’s reputation to intimidate them.

Apart from the three great powers, Grand Feather Sword Sect was the only one Yu Mu knew, so in his haste he used it to bolster their image.

“Grand Feather Sword Sect?” The pale-faced man’s eyes narrowed as he sized them up, sneering. “Then where are your swords? Don’t tell me as disciples of the Grand Feather Sword Sect you don’t know how to use a sword?”

“Uh...” Yu Mu was at a loss—he hadn’t expected such an obvious oversight.

“Hahaha...” The pale-faced man roared with laughter. “Trying to fool me, are you? You’re still too green! Even if you are from the Grand Feather Sword Sect, don’t expect to leave alive today. Ha—uh—pffft—”

He hadn’t finished his sentence when he suddenly clutched his chest and spat a mouthful of black blood. Looking at him now, his face had gone pitch black, even the whites of his eyes had turned.

“You... who are you people, to use... poison in secret...” Even as he spoke, his tongue had already gone stiff.

What a terrifying poison!

This was the grade of spiritual medicine!

The toxin was even fiercer than any Ye Yu had ever used, showing just how deep her hatred ran for this man.

The woman who had whispered to the pale-faced man cried out in alarm when she saw his state. “It’s Fire Poison Sect’s toxin! They’re from the Fire Poison Sect!”

At her words, the others’ faces changed drastically. One after another, they retreated in terror, none daring to come within ten meters of Ye Yu and Yu Mu.

The poison had already reached the pale-faced man’s brain; his eyes were glazed, his mind rapidly fading. Yet this villain was not one to die easily. In his fury, he bit through his tongue, spat another mouthful of black blood, swallowed several pills in quick succession, and roared, “Kill them!”

With that, he lunged at Ye Yu, striking with his palm—a blow that sealed off all of Ye Yu’s escape routes, clearly intent on killing her.

Ye Yu, never adept at direct confrontation, had no hope of withstanding the full force of a Nascent Soul expert’s attack.

Yu Mu was even less of a match; if it came to a direct fight, he wouldn’t even have the chance to strike.

Yet he didn’t hesitate—transforming into his bear form, he lunged forward, pulling Ye Yu into his arms.

Smack!

The blow landed squarely on Yu Mu’s back. He jerked his head up and spat out a mouthful of blood—within which a cloud of fine powder was hidden, spraying directly into the pale-faced man’s face.

A wretched, inhuman scream tore from the man’s throat. His eyes burned red, breath snorting like a bull, he tore at his own clothes in a frenzy, already losing all reason.

At that moment, a shadow flickered past. Silent as a ghost, a bloody hole appeared in the back of the pale-faced man’s head.

The mighty Nascent Soul expert hadn’t even had time for his soul to escape before he fell dead on the spot.

With their leader slain, the rest, who were preparing to close in, scattered like birds and beasts, not one daring to face the three.

They had been utterly terrorized—by Ye Yu’s dreadful poisons and Yan Xiaosan’s ghostly assassination skills.

Yu Mu understood their fear all too well—when he had first faced these two, he had fared no better.

Yan Xiaosan had no time to hunt down the fleeing foes. He darted to Yu Mu’s side, calling anxiously, “Brother Yu, are you all right?”

In Ye Yu’s arms, Yu Mu’s face was ashen, his breath faint—he had long since fallen unconscious.

“Ye Yu, you’re a master of elixirs! Please, save him!” Yan Xiaosan cried, tears already streaming down his cheeks.

Ye Yu’s eyes too brimmed with sorrow. Yu Mu had been grievously wounded to save her—how could her heart not ache for him?

Choking back her grief, Ye Yu whispered, “Don’t worry. I will save him—I promise.”