Chapter 2 - Shui Yunyao

The autumn wind was bleak, and the bright moon above cast a pure light, filtering through the leaves and shedding some brightness into the dark forest.

Crack! A foot crushed a dry branch, and in the silent night, it snapped sharply, “Damn it! Where did that stinky kid run off to?” A burly man, stepping on the broken branches, swung his sword and cut a hanging poisonous snake into two, cursing angrily.

A middle-aged man with a full beard, dressed in gray cloth and looking very alert, followed behind. “Wang Er, stop your grumbling. This Leng Yan is Red Leaf’s top assassin. Now that he’s here in the forest, and it’s so dark around, don’t take him lightly and fall into his trap.”

“Hmph! Qian Tong, both of us are masters of the Innate Realm. Even the emperor of Jin Kingdom treats us with great respect.”

And now we have to catch a thief from the divine valor realm in the wild! Damn, it’s frustrating.

If we were in the city, by now I’d probably be cuddling up with a beauty. Haha! Wang Er cursed loudly, clearly dissatisfied with the mission, and his eyes gleamed lewdly when he mentioned the beauty, laughing heartily.

Qian Tong, who had known Wang Er for many years and was well aware of his character, didn’t argue but shook his head with a bitter smile, feeling quite helpless.

Up ahead, on a poplar tree, Leng Yan stood motionless on a branch fork, listening to their conversation, and thought to himself, “Unexpected! The Fang family still has people in the Innate Realm. It seems I’ve underestimated them. Luckily, I’ve also broken through to the Innate Realm, otherwise today would be more bad than good.”

But these two are not to be underestimated! I can’t make a rash move.

Watching the two men approach, Leng Yan practiced the Turtle Breathing Technique, making his breath seem to disappear, holding a pitch-black dagger that seemed to merge with the night, making him virtually undetectable.

His feet hooked onto the branch fork, his body hung downwards like a bat, dagger in a reverse grip, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

“Qian Tong, keep watch for me. I need to take a shit,” Wang Er suddenly said, stopping.

Qian Tong’s expression soured, “Go on then! Make it quick. You know the elder’s temper and the consequences.”

Wang Er, also looking displeased, responded, “Got it, I’ll be right back.”

Watching Wang Er grumbling towards his spot, Leng Yan smirked coldly. Wasn’t this walking right into a trap?

As Wang Er arrived under the tree where Leng Yan was perched, he was over ten meters away from Qian Tong, which meant he was outside the sensory range of the Innate Realm, making Leng Yan’s assassination task much easier.

Wang Er pulled down his pants and squatted, and immediately a foul smell wafted through the air. Leng Yan couldn’t help but frown deeply, cursing Wang Er in his mind.

From a distance, Qian Tong glanced in Wang Er’s direction, cursed under his breath, and walked even further away. It seemed that Wang Er’s “destructive power” had a quite extensive range.

Watching Qian Tong move away again, Leng Yan activated his Gecko Technique, crawling down the tree silently like a gecko.

“Ah! That feels good!” Wang Er said comfortably, holding a piece of grass paper¹ to his nose.

By then, Leng Yan was right above Wang Er. Suddenly, a murderous intent flashed in his eyes. His left hand quickly covered Wang Er’s mouth, while at the same time his right hand’s dagger slit Wang Er’s throat, blood gushing out. The stench of blood was almost negligible compared to the overpowering smell of Wang Er’s excrement.

Wang Er’s eyes widened, as if trying to see clearly who his assailant was, but his vision gradually blurred, losing its luster.

Leng Yan gently laid Wang Er down, took his silk pouch, and swiftly disappeared into the distance…

Clear Water River lay at the border between Jin Kingdom and Water Kingdom, running past the forest where Leng Yan was located.

On the banks of Clear Water River, Leng Yan, with a disgusted expression, continually washed his hands, swearing, “Damn, that’s truly disgusting.”

It turned out that after killing Wang Er and casually taking his silk pouch, Leng Yan hadn’t expected the pouch to have landed in feces as Wang Er fell. The moment Leng Yan touched it, he felt the filth stick to his hand, causing him continuous disgust.

Having washed his hands countless times, Leng Yan still felt a nauseating smell lingered, “Damn my luck, I hope there’s something good in this pouch, otherwise I curse your ancestors.” Wrapping his hands with cloth, he cautiously opened the silk pouch, and instantly, a white light flashed, “Wow! A hundred primordial spirit elixirs, the servants of great families really are extraordinary.” Leng Yan laughed as he transferred the elixirs into his own pouch, clearly having forgotten the disgusting incident just moments before.

Actually, Leng Yan couldn’t help but be overjoyed. The Primordial Spirit Elixir was essential for those cultivating dao, and even those in the Physical Body Realm could use it to purge impurities from their bodies and enhance their physical constitution.

He and Leng Yu had completed countless missions just to obtain a few dozen of these elixirs. Now, to effortlessly acquire a hundred was a reason for joy indeed.

Suddenly, a rustling sound reached his ears. Leng Yan swiftly tucked the silk pouch away and, with a fluid motion, drew the long sword from his back. The blade gleamed with a cold, silver light.

“A top assassin of Red Leaf indeed, to attempt an assassination right before me and on Wang Er no less! But what surprises me even more is that someone as young as you has already entered the Innate Realm! Truly remarkable!” Qian Tong emerged from the dark forest, a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“Is it customary for you masters to start with compliments before a duel? I’m not quite used to this format!” Leng Yan said coldly, his gaze sharp as he stared at Qian Tong.

“Good! I like your straightforwardness, young man! Then, let the battle begin.” No sooner had he spoken, Qian Tong produced a long sword, its entire body radiating azure light, clearly no ordinary weapon.

Seeing the sword, Leng Yan’s eyes narrowed. He hadn’t expected it to be a magical weapon, an introductory weapon of the dao sect, no longer of the mortal realm. In comparison, his own sword, though sharp, was as different as a wooden stick is to a greatsword.

Leng Yan knew he was no match for his opponent, not just in terms of weaponry.

Having just stepped into the Innate Realm, while his adversary was at its peak, the gap in their inner power was vast.

Channeling his inner power, the blade of his sword burst into intense cold light. Leng Yan swung his sword fiercely, sending riverbank sand and stones flying, obstructing his opponent’s view. In that moment, he turned and leaped into the water, vanishing from sight.

As the dust settled, Qian Tong cursed, “Damn it! That sly kid. Next time we meet, no more niceties, just straight to the fight.”

In the water, a glimmer caught Leng Yan’s eye, leading him to suspect a treasure. He quickly surfaced for air, then dove back down.

As Leng Yan dove deeper, his vision cleared, and to his astonishment, the source of the light was a woman. She was dressed in a white robe, her skin creamy and smooth, her eyebrows like willow leaves, her eyes like fiery phoenixes, seemingly a celestial maiden descended to earth.

Though Leng Yan, who had always mingled in the marketplace, was no gentleman, and often let his imagination wander upon seeing attractive women, this time he felt almost breathless, his heart pounding as if a deer were leaping inside it. The “beauties” of his past now seemed vulgar and unbearable.

In a moment of panic, Leng Yan quickened his descent, praying fervently that it was not a “corpse.” As he embraced her waist with one hand, a soft feeling transmitted to his brain, as if he were holding fine jade to his chest, his mind rippling with emotion.

Gazing at her beautiful face, Leng Yan steadied his heart and swam towards the surface.

Once ashore, Leng Yan reluctantly placed the beauty on the bank. Her white robe, soaked by the water, clung tightly to her bronze body, highlighting her voluptuous breasts, flat abdomen, slender waist, and beautiful face, all exuding an alluring aura.

Whew! Leng Yan took a deep breath and placed his hand near the woman’s nose, “Good, there’s still breath. Damn it! Leng Yan, you may not be a perfect gentleman, but you’re certainly not a villain who takes advantage of others. You must control yourself.” Leng Yan suppressed the excitement in his heart and silently admonished himself not to make a mistake.

“Since she’s not dead, a single primordial spirit elixir should be enough to revive her.” Leng Yan took out an elixir, pinched the woman’s cheeks, and said in surprise, “How can this be… With my strength from the Innate Realm, I still can’t pry her mouth open.”

“Well, I’ll have to inconvenience myself then, this is about saving a life, not harboring ill intentions!” Placing the primordial spirit elixir in his mouth, it transformed into spiritual energy. Leng Yan slightly closed his eyes, reminding himself that he was saving a life. He gently pressed his lips against the woman’s thin lips, soft and fragrant, the instantaneous sensation felt like an electric current flowing through his body.

The woman seemed to sense something too, her lips parting slightly, and Leng Yan took the opportunity to breathe spiritual power into her mouth.

As their lips parted, Leng Yan’s eyes were dreamy, he murmured, “Is this what kissing feels like? No! This is saving someone! Not kissing!”

“What’s going on? Why hasn’t she woken up? Let’s try again!” Leng Yan nervously glanced at the woman, noting she hadn’t awakened yet, and suddenly thought, “Leng Yan! Leng Yan, don’t continue down this path, curiosity killed the cat!”

Just as this thought arose, another voice in his heart spoke, “Don’t hesitate, saving her is what matters.”

After a second of intense mental debate, Leng Yan decided to try again, “saving someone” was paramount.

With a righteous determination, Leng Yan once again “transferred” a breath of spiritual power to the beautiful woman.

After this attempt, the woman’s complexion turned much rosier, indicating she was no longer in danger. Leng Yan had no “reason” to “save” her again, but for safety’s sake, he carried the beautiful woman on his back, navigating through the jungle, searching for a safe place. The softness pressing against his back from her chest fueled Leng Yan’s drive to keep running.

Footnote:

1. Grass Paper(草纸): “Grass paper, known as ‘caozhi’ in Chinese, refers to a type of paper made from plant fibers such as straw or other grasses. Historically, it was commonly used for writing or packaging. This kind of paper is known for being relatively coarse and inexpensive, making it accessible for everyday use.”