Fateful Encounter with the Spirit Beast

Tianxiang’s mind raced as he processed the current situation and contemplated the strategies and adjustments required. As the village houses came into view, a bold plan slowly took shape in his mind.

Upon arriving in the village, the sound of rummaging echoed everywhere. The villagers were gathered in an open area, while the village chief lay weakly on the ground, unsure of his fate. The young adults wore angry yet helpless expressions, while the children cried with red eyes from fear. The women, looking sorrowful, continuously comforted the children, while several thieves outside brandished gleaming knives, keeping watch over them.

After calling Youni to hide within himself, Tianxiang instructed Xiao Da to find a hidden place to conceal himself, then he walked into the village alone. To his surprise, the Fourth-in-command, as described by Xiao Da, was also alone, quietly observing everything from a conspicuous spot in the village. He appeared to be around twenty years old, tall, with an attractive yet slightly weary face. A fleeting look of compassion crossed his expression, which quickly turned into one of resignation.

Upon noticing Tianxiang, the Fourth-in-command’s face showed surprise, while the thieves, who had been robbing everywhere, suddenly became alert, looking around. When they realized it was only Tianxiang, their weapons lowered, and they returned to their unfinished robbery. Meanwhile, the villagers were puzzled why Tianxiang had decided to come back alone.

Two thieves, having split off from watching the villagers, blocked Tianxiang’s path. Seeing that Tianxiang looked like a mere child, with only his eyes visible under his hood and no weapons on him, they shouted, “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

Tianxiang calmly replied, “I am Tianxiang, a doctor. I am here to practice medicine, of course.”

Upon hearing that Tianxiang seemed unafraid, the thief became even more aggressive and asked, “Don’t you see that this is a robbery? Soon, there will be only corpses, not patients.”

Tianxiang remained calm and said, “As long as there are people, they will fall ill; you will not be an exception.”

One thief, infuriated by this statement, raised his fist, ready to strike Tianxiang, when suddenly a voice shouted from behind, “Stop! Let him come over!”

Another thief immediately restrained the angry one and walked away in frustration. Unbothered, Tianxiang approached the Fourth-in-command. As their eyes met, an inexplicable feeling suddenly spread between them, and they found a sense of familiarity in each other.

The Fourth-in-command sensed Tianxiang’s presence and his first instinct told him that after enduring for so long, he had finally found someone who could help him. However, looking at Tianxiang’s stature and eyes, he was still just a child. How much help could he possibly provide? From surprise to familiarity and finally to doubt, even though Tianxiang could not fully understand the thoughts running through the Fourth-in-command’s mind, he felt certain that his plan would be easier to realize.

Just as the two were contemplating their own thoughts, two strong and menacing presences suddenly emerged, locking onto Tianxiang. Unlike the others, Tianxiang’s Six Spiritual Senses noticed these presences earlier. He stepped forward casually and grasped the Fourth-in-command’s hand, purposefully speaking up, “Hello, I’m Tianxiang, a doctor!”

The Fourth-in-command quickly understood Tianxiang’s intention and looked at him with an approving gaze. Eagerly, he replied, “I am Xuanyuan Yingzhai, the Fourth-in-command of the Hurricane Band of Thieves.” Just then, he caught sight of two figures and said, “Tianxiang, let me introduce you to two elders I respect.”

Tianxiang could tell that Xuanyuan Yingzhai was not as straightforward as he appeared, so he went along with the plan. As they turned around, Xuanyuan Yingzhai exclaimed in surprise, “Uncles, what brings you here? I was just about to take my new friend to visit you!”

The two elderly men, nearing their sixties, presented quite a contrast. One had a large head and a round face, always wearing a friendly smile, dressed in flashy clothing that dazzled the eye; the other had a plain appearance and wore simple attire, but his sharp, piercing gaze suddenly locked onto Tianxiang. Startled, Tianxiang instinctively took a few steps back, feigning an inability to bear the intensity. Seeing this, Xuanyuan Yingzhai shouted, “Uncle!”

The elderly man retracted his probing and intimidating gaze and turned to leave alone.

Xuanyuan Yingzhai turned to Tianxiang and said, “I hope you don’t mind; my uncle just has that kind of temper!”

Seeing Tianxiang shake his head, Xuanyuan Yingzhai said, “This is my uncle, Lan Xuan, and we all call him Old Lan. The one who just left is my second uncle, Fei Pin, known as Old Fei!”

Lan Xuan smiled and asked, “Your name is Tianxiang, right? Where are you from? What brings you here?” If it weren’t for Xuanyuan Yingzhai’s introduction, one might easily mistake him for a merchant.

After nodding in greeting, Tianxiang replied, “I’m from Purple Moon Village, which is within the Kingdom of Saint Kai. I’m currently traveling and practicing medicine to broaden my knowledge.”

Lan Xuan responded, “We’re in the middle of a robbery. Aren’t you afraid? You didn’t have to step into this mess. Why come into the village?”

Tianxiang explained, “I’m a doctor, and my priority is to treat the sick. Besides, I’ve recently treated the villagers here. I came back to gather some medicinal herbs, which led me to encounter you.”

Lan Xuan looked at Tianxiang with newfound interest and asked, “Why are you wearing a turban? Can you take it off?”

Without hesitation, Tianxiang removed his turban, revealing a handsome face that stunned everyone around. The villagers gasped in admiration, while some thieves exchanged jealous murmurs. Tianxiang then asked, “Is that better?”

Hearing the whispers among the villagers, Lan Xuan no longer doubted Tianxiang’s identity and allowed him to cover his head again.

With his eyes now visible, Tianxiang asked, “Can I go treat the villagers now?”

Xuanyuan Yingzhai replied, “That should be fine. After all, we don’t intend to harm them.”

As Tianxiang walked away, Xuanyuan Yingzhai said, “I want to see how Tianxiang treats the villagers. If his medical skills are exceptional, I’d like him to stay with us for a while. After all, my brothers have been running around for some time and are bound to have some injuries.”

Lan Xuan remarked, “It’s rare for you to care so much about your brothers. Then go ahead! If Tianxiang proves to be talented, let’s keep him!”

Xuanyuan Yingzhai joyfully thanked him, saying, “Thank you, Uncle.” However, as Xuanyuan Yingzhai left, Lan Xuan’s smile suddenly faded, replaced by a mocking and sinister expression.

Tianxiang approached the village chief, carefully applying medicine to his wounds. The surrounding villagers gathered close, each chattering away, asking questions like, “Why did you come back, Tianxiang?” and “Is the village chief okay?” It wasn’t until the unconscious chief woke up that the murmurs quieted down. Tianxiang swiftly interrupted any attempt by the village chief to speak, saying, “Chief, you need to rest well. Material possessions come into this world with us and leave without us; what belongs to you will return to you in time. But first, we have to ensure that you’re alright.”

The village chief seemed to pick up on the underlying meaning of Tianxiang’s words. He smiled in relief but then suddenly spotted the Fourth-in-command outside the crowd and couldn’t help but show a look of disdain, immediately closing his eyes and turning his head away.

Tianxiang moved past the villagers and approached Xuanyuan Yingzhai, who remarked, “Your medical skills are impressive. Let’s find a place to have a proper conversation!”

In the Demon Beast Forest.

Feng Xuewu lay partially reclined against the Wolf King, watching Yue Lianxuan treat the injuries of the others with fatigue. The Wolf King obediently rested on the ground, enjoying his role as her pillow. The lightly injured Yingdie approached and asked, “Xiao Xue, why did you decide to enter into a contract with the Wolf King?”

Feng Xuewu gently patted the Wolf King’s head and replied, “Honestly, I’m not sure. Perhaps it’s because I admire his fighting spirit, or maybe I can’t bear to see him disappear in the sunlight. Regardless, I will take good care of the Wolf King!”

Yue Lianxuan chimed in, “You can’t just keep calling him the Wolf King, can you? Shouldn’t we give him a name?”

After pondering for a moment, Feng Xuewu suggested, “He has always lived in the darkness, but now, thanks to this turn of events, he can finally bask in the sunlight. So, let’s call him Ye Tong! This symbolizes that his dark days are over, and bright new days are on the horizon!” Looking at the Wolf King, she said, “From now on, your name will be Ye Tong, alright?” Ye Tong gave a gentle howl in response and affectionately licked Feng Xuewu’s hand.

Yue Lianxuan smiled and gently stroked Ye Tong, saying, “Ye Tong, welcome to our group.”

Liu Feng and Atta stepped aside, and Atta said, “Xiao Xue, considering the time needed for the return journey and medical care, we can only stay here for about ten days before we need to report back to the Academy!”

Liu Feng reminded them, “Actually, I’m more worried about the Flower Moon Alliance than the time aspect.”

Feng Xuewu turned to Yue Lianxuan and asked, “What do you think we should do about it?”

Yue Lianxuan replied, “We can leave the Demon Beast Forest early and change our route to confuse the Flower Moon Alliance members.”

Feng Xuewu smiled and said, “Xuan’er’s suggestion aligns with what I was thinking. Plus, we now have Ye Tong with us.”

Liu Feng suggested, “Then once we’ve recovered from our injuries, we should head straight back to the Academy. As for the route, we can discuss that further.”

Yingdie suddenly asked, “Why is the Flower Moon Alliance after us? Who is targeting us specifically?”

Feng Xuewu replied, “It’s not hard to deduce. The ones with the financial resources and connections who are aware of our arrival in the Demon Beast Forest are truly few and far between.” Liu Feng and the others exchanged knowing glances, and a particular person’s image surfaced in their minds.

Outside a village near the City of Exile.

Tianxiang comfortably leaned against a tree trunk while Xuanyuan Yingzhai sat cross-legged across from him. Despite their age difference, the unspoken understanding they had just shared created a sense of camaraderie between them.

Xuanyuan Yingzhai said sincerely, “I don’t know why, but when I first saw you, I felt you were someone I could trust!”

Tianxiang replied, “I feel the same way.”

Xuanyuan Yingzhai continued, “Now is the time for us to lay our cards on the table. Tianxiang, what exactly are your intentions?”

Tianxiang stated, “To eliminate the Hurricane Band of Thieves and rescue the Dawu Tribe!”

Xuanyuan Yingzhai showed a look of realization and said, “That’s pretty close to what I was guessing. But you lack martial arts skills-how do you plan to achieve this?”

Tianxiang pointed to his head and then to Xuanyuan Yingzhai, saying, “Originally, I intended to infiltrate your group and slowly look for opportunities, but now, I’m relying on just these two.”

After Xuanyuan Yingzhai gave a consenting smile, he asked with a hint of confusion, “How can you afford to be so honest? Aren’t you afraid that I might speak out or even kill you?”

Confidently, Tianxiang responded, “Your heart has betrayed you; so have your secrets and the poison in your body.”

Xuanyuan Yingzhai gave a bitter smile and said, “You even know about the poison in my body; this proves I was not wrong about you. We really can work well together.”

Tianxiang continued, “Now it’s your turn to lay everything out and then we need to discuss our plans moving forward.”

Through Xuanyuan Yingzhai’s account, Tianxiang came to understand that there were significant internal issues within the Hurricane Band of Thieves.

It turns out that Xuanyuan Yingzhai is the adopted son of Xuanyuan Zhan, the Captain of the Hurricane Band of Thieves. Xuanyuan Zhan did not die at the hands of the Mysterious Divine Dragon, Yuwen Yun; rather, he accepted a challenge to duel Yuwen Yun alone for the safety of the brothers in the Hurricane Band of Thieves. During that decisive battle, only Xuanyuan Yingzhai was present to watch, and as a result, Xuanyuan Zhan was defeated in one move and severely injured.

Afterward, to fulfill his promise, Xuanyuan Zhan resolutely decided to disband the Hurricane Band of Thieves and distribute the precious treasures they had pillaged over the years among all the brothers. However, unexpected trouble arose when Old Lan, Old Fei, the Second-in-Command, and the Third-in-Command conspired among themselves, each harboring ulterior motives and refusing to share the treasure with the other factions.

Seeing former allies-who had once called each other brothers-turn against one another over treasure, Xuanyuan Zhan was heartbroken. In an attempt to prevent a tragic conflict, he divided the treasure map into three pieces, allowing each faction to keep one. He insisted that they agree to meet in the City of Exile three years later to determine the rightful owner of the treasure map.

Furthermore, he did not disclose the treasure’s location to Xuanyuan Yingzhai, fearing it would bring him calamity. However, Old Lan and Old Fei did not believe that he was unaware of the treasure’s location, so they used poison to control him and manipulated him to rally the old subordinates who were loyal to Xuanyuan Zhan.

The day after the treasure map was divided, Xuanyuan Zhan was discovered on his sickbed, eyes wide and mouth agape in disbelief. A discerning onlooker could tell he had been murdered. However, under the tacit understanding of the Second-in-Command and others, it was publicly announced that Xuanyuan Zhan had been killed by the Mysterious Divine Dragon, Yuwen Yun. Enraged, the brothers of the Hurricane Band of Thieves, misled by these claims, vowed to take revenge on the Kingdom of Haifis. Thus, they split into three factions to harass villages and tire out the Haifis army.

Upon hearing this, Xuanyuan Yingzhai clenched the grass on the ground tightly, furiously stating, “For the death of my adoptive father, I’ve held my tongue and pretended to be deaf and mute among them. More than two years have passed, yet my hatred has not faded. Every time I see those two beasts, I hate myself for not taking their lives, just to comfort my adoptive father’s spirit in heaven.”

Tianxiang placed a comforting hand on Xuanyuan Yingzhai’s shoulder and took out one third of the treasure map from a space pocket, saying, “Don’t get too worked up; they will pay the price! In fact, I’ve already avenged one third of your grievances. Take a look.”

As Xuanyuan Yingzhai saw one third of the treasure map, tears of joy filled his eyes, and he suddenly burst into laughter, saying, “My adoptive father, your revenge has been avenged one third! Tianxiang, was this the Second-in-Command or the Third-in-Command?”

Tianxiang replied, “It’s the Third-in-Command!”

Xuanyuan Yingzhai, puzzled, remarked, “But how did you manage to kill the Third-in-Command when your martial arts skills are gone? And besides, he had Parker, a co-conspirator, by his side!”

As Tianxiang handed one third of the treasure map to Xuanyuan Yingzhai, he said, “About my martial arts situation, it’s a long story, so let’s just skip it! This treasure map is your adoptive father’s legacy, so make sure to keep it safe.”

Initially reluctant to accept, Xuanyuan Yingzhai had no choice but to take it upon hearing those words, saying, “Now, let’s formulate a plan!”

Tianxiang responded, “First, we need to help you counteract the poison and get in touch with the Dawu Tribe.”

Xuanyuan Yingzhai said, “But Old Lan routinely checks for the poison within me. If the poison is neutralized, it’ll be exposed.”

Tianxiang replied, “I understand. Once we figure out the nature of the poison in your system, I’m confident I can make it appear as if you’re still poisoned while ensuring your body remains unaffected!”

Xuanyuan Yingzhai exclaimed, “That would be fantastic!”

Tianxiang suddenly asked, “Where exactly are they meeting? And how many of your brothers are still loyal to you? Also, what’s the Second-in-Command like? How many capable assistants does he have?”

Xuanyuan Yingzhai explained, “They agreed to meet outside the City of Exile at a place called Gourd Valley. Among my brothers, aside from the Dawu Tribe members, about two-thirds-around one hundred-are my adoptive father’s loyal subordinates from his lifetime, so that’s not a problem! The remaining fifty or so are the minions of Old Lan and Old Fei! As for the Second-in-Command, he is headstrong and overly ambitious, surrounded by a bunch of hotheaded individuals. The only one who can truly think critically is Ming Ge!”

Tianxiang pondered for a moment and, after quickly considering a few possible thoughts, asked seriously, “Do you think Old Lan and Old Fei have seen through your intentions?”

Xuanyuan Yingzhai thought for a while before responding, “I can’t be entirely sure. Fei Pin probably doesn’t know, but Lan Xuan is difficult to gauge.”

Tianxiang continued, “As you mentioned, your adoptive father’s death is apparent to anyone with clear eyes. So why aren’t they afraid of your revenge? Aside from using poison to threaten you, they must be taking precautions against you. We can boldly speculate that some of your so-called loyal subordinates have likely been bribed, if not the majority of them.”

Xuanyuan Yingzhai exclaimed suddenly, “That’s impossible! They are my adoptive father’s sworn brothers. You can’t tarnish their character like that!”

Tianxiang fixed Xuanyuan Yingzhai with a serious gaze and calmly said, “Don’t get too worked up. Regardless of whether they choose you or another side, my principle is to make the best preparations while planning for the worst. We must ensure that your brothers are truly loyal; otherwise, they won’t be resources we can rely on. If we rely too heavily on feelings, not only will we accomplish nothing, but we may also fail to escape disaster.”

As Xuanyuan Yingzhai looked at Tianxiang’s expression, he too calmed down. The words Tianxiang had just uttered echoed in his mind, and he couldn’t help but agree. There could be no room for error. Over the past two years, countless individuals had been swayed by Old Lan and Old Fei; he truly didn’t have complete confidence in these old subordinates. The thought of even one or two traitors put everything into jeopardy. He couldn’t help but say, “So what you mean is? It’s just us two, plus the Dawu Tribe!”

Tianxiang shook his head, saying, “We still need to leverage the strength of those brothers of yours!”

Xuanyuan Yingzhai asked, puzzled, “What do you mean by that?”

After laying out his full plan, Xuanyuan Yingzhai immediately burst into applause and howled in delight, as if envisioning the traitors being brought to justice at his own hands. He then patted Tianxiang on the shoulder, saying, “I can’t believe you’re only in your teens! This is a brilliant plan. I really don’t know where you learned these tactics!”

Tianxiang said calmly, “The plan must be executed to be considered perfect. Otherwise, it’s just empty talk.”

Holding the treasure map tightly, Xuanyuan Yingzhai replied, “We’ll follow your plan. We need to make the best use of this treasure map.”

After reassuring the villagers, Tianxiang followed Xuanyuan Yingzhai to their temporary stronghold. While they awaited the arrival of the Second-in-Command, Xuanyuan Yingzhai began to secretly meet with those who had previously followed his adoptive father to test their loyalty. As Tianxiang had anticipated, more than half of them were showing vague and ambiguous attitudes.

On the other hand, Tianxiang took on the role of a diligent doctor. For every thief and member of the Dawu Tribe who came seeking treatment, their injuries showed significant improvement. However, he had to covertly control the recovery speed of the Hurricane Band of Thieves to mask his actual medical skills. Behind the scenes of his healing work, Tianxiang also had to handle communication with the Dawu Tribe. Fortunately, using their secret language helped him gain the trust of the Dawu people, providing him with an additional group of hidden allies. Besides treating injuries, Tianxiang also spent two hours each day searching for medicinal herbs nearby, yet no one knew his true destination or the purpose of his outings.

As Tianxiang and Xuanyuan Yingzhai’s plans progressed rapidly, Old Lan and Old Fei, under the pretense of meeting with the Second-in-Command and Third-in-Command, summoned many people to discuss arrangements and preparations. Their goal was to draw manpower away from Xuanyuan Yingzhai to fully focus on dealing with the Second-in-Command and Third-in-Command.

One day, while they were in a meeting, a scout rushed in and said, “Old Lan, the Second-in-Command has arrived at Gourd Valley. However, the Third-in-Command hasn’t shown up yet.”

Old Lan smiled and replied, “Got it; you can go now!” He then turned to the others and said, “As everyone knows, before the Boss died, he recorded all the hard work we put in on a treasure map, dividing it into three parts. Now is the time to settle this!” Just as Old Lan was about to continue speaking, another scout from the thieves hurried in, declaring, “Not good! The Second-in-Command has taken out the Third-in-Command. They’re now drinking and celebrating!”

Upon hearing this news, everyone displayed expressions of disbelief, exclaiming in unison, “That’s impossible!”

Old Lan suppressed his smile and asked, “What’s the situation with the Second-in-Command’s people right now?”

The thief reflected for a moment before responding, “It seems like no one was injured, and their numbers are about the same as ours.”

The once-smiling expression on Old Lan’s face suddenly darkened as he said, “I need you to make a trip. Go and see if what he said is true.” After Fei Pin left, the atmosphere of the meeting dropped, and Old Lan sat there, his face turning pale.

Meanwhile, Tianxiang and Xuanyuan Yingzhai were watching the situation unfold together. Xuanyuan Yingzhai said, “Tianxiang! Well done! I really don’t know how you gained the trust of the Second-in-Command, but the first step in tricking the tiger has been a success; the tiger has taken the bait. However, I’m curious why Ming Ge would want the Second-in-Command to boast about obtaining the Third-in-Command’s treasure map.”

Tianxiang replied, “It’s not surprising. Encouraged by a group of warmongers, the Second-in-Command would definitely seize the opportunity to go after that final third.”

Xuanyuan Yingzhai remarked, “So, you’re saying Ming Ge is setting a trap to lure the enemy into attacking?”

Tianxiang nodded and said, “But Old Lan shouldn’t be easily fooled. I think the Second-in-Command must have some additional backing.”

Xuanyuan Yingzhai questioned, “But with the Second-in-Command’s current influence, what kind of outside support could he possibly enlist?”

Tianxiang responded, “The Second-in-Command might not, but with Ming Ge’s eloquence and the allure of treasure, it’s certainly a possibility!”

Xuanyuan Yingzhai exclaimed in surprise, “Are you saying that all of this is the work of Ming Ge?”

Tianxiang stated, “It seems so. However, Old Lan shouldn’t be underestimated. Furthermore, we’re not far from the City of Exile, where, in a haven for criminals, there are plenty of examples of people who have died for wealth.”

Xuanyuan Yingzhai had gradually grown accustomed to Tianxiang’s astonishing remarks and, no longer surprised, asked, “So what do we do now?”

Tianxiang replied calmly, “We endure! We wait! Even those who dive deep must eventually come up for air. Besides, I am waiting for my outside support!” After finishing, a confident smile appeared on his face as if he looked down upon the world, giving Xuanyuan Yingzhai the feeling that everything was firmly under Tianxiang’s control…