On a mist-covered treetop in the distance stood a youth—no, it was a monk.
He was dressed in simple moon-white monk robes, the hems of which were subtly embroidered with golden-bordered lotuses. His robes fluttered gently in the breeze, carrying with them a detached, ethereal sense of Zen.
The monk’s face featured sword-like eyebrows that extended toward his temples, and his eyes were like deep, cold pools—clear, bright, and untouched by the dust of the world, hiding boundless wisdom and compassion. His nose was finely chiseled, and between his clean brows sat a single cinnabar mole, like a star in the night sky or a mark of enlightenment from the Buddha himself, adding an aura of mystery and holiness.
This guy is actually quite handsome.
Yao Dai looked up at him, a strange, sudden throb in her heart as she stared at him without blinking.
How strange. Why do I feel…?
Seeing that she remained silent and was clearly heavily injured, Sami pursed his lips and held his prayer beads still. He immediately flew down, stopping ten meters away from Yao Dai, and performed a Buddhist salute with one hand before him.
“Benefactor, do you require assistance?”
The youth’s voice was clean and clear, possessing the cold tranquility of a Tianshan snow lotus.
Yao Dai’s pupils wavered. Why did she feel like her heart was beating out of control? This man…
At this moment, Yao Dai felt her head become inexplicably muddled. Everything felt blurry and indistinct; she could only stare blankly at the little monk before her.
No, it shouldn't be like this. There was something important she had to do.
What was it?
She shouldn't be staring blankly at this shaven-headed brute.
What was it?
Yao Dai lowered her eyes, her mind struggling as she tried to think. She shook her head slightly, attempting to clear it. Strange, why was her head so disorganized right now?
“Benefactor.”
Seeing that something was wrong, Sami frowned slightly. He didn't want to overstep by getting too close to her, yet he was worried about the danger a wounded woman might face in this wilderness. He could only stand in place and wait for her to react.
While trying to suppress that strange sensation, Yao Dai lowered her gaze and caught sight of the Blood Vine Whip at her waist. Its sharp thorns were carefully piercing her skin, attempting to wake her up. Her gaze suddenly froze.
What is this?
Wait, this is the Blood Vine Whip! It’s the opportunity and magical artifact Master exchanged by sleeping for ten years to recover from her injuries!
That’s right, Master!
I have to find Master!
I haven't completed the task Master gave me yet, and Old Six was captured by Qi Mei’er.
I am the Eldest Disciple at the top of the Aptitude Ranking! I am Wen Li’s disciple!
I am Yao Dai, a pill cultivator who is going to the Western Province for revenge and to the Central Province to establish myself and make a name for the sect!
The mist in Yao Dai’s mind suddenly vanished as if a bolt of lightning had struck her awake. Her wavering eyes instantly became clear and cold, and the throbbing she felt toward Sami settled down.
She looked up at the monk in front of her, her face betraying nothing while her heart was on high alert.
“Who are you?”
This dead shaven-headed brute. The moment she saw him, everything went wrong. There’s something wrong with him! Could he be the demon monk Master mentioned, who can bewitch people’s minds?
Sami, seeing that she had regained her senses, spoke warmly, “I am a disciple of the Buddhist Order, Sami.”
“What do you want?”
Yao Dai placed her right hand on her Blood Vine Whip. To prevent herself from being bewitched by this shaven-headed brute again, she didn't hesitate to tighten her grip on the thorns on the whip’s surface. The blood and intense pain stimulated her brain, and a hint of killing intent flickered in the depths of her eyes.
This monk is very strange. If his cultivation isn't high, I’ll kill him to eliminate any future trouble.
“I saw that you were injured and wished to ask if you required assistance.”
Yao Dai actually wanted to say she did, just to lure him over and test his background so she could kill him. However, since she was currently injured and couldn't exert her full power, she could only smile politely and decline to avoid being ambushed by him.
“Thank you, but I don't need any.”
“Very well.”
Seeing her refusal, Sami didn't press further and nodded slightly.
“Then I shall take my leave. Please take care of yourself.”
He turned and walked away, leaving as gracefully as he had arrived.
Yao Dai watched him disappear. She stayed in place for fifteen minutes and, after confirming he wouldn't reappear, finally set off. She held various poisons in her hand for defense, muttering curses as she traveled.
“What kind of decent person appears alone on a desolate mountain in the middle of the night to ask a female cultivator if she needs help? He didn't even leave when I didn't answer. To show such unprompted kindness, he must be either a lecher or a thief. He was probably waiting for some drug to take effect so he could ruin a decent girl. Hmph, shameless.”
“He must have been carrying some Stupefying Drug or a Love-Enchanting Gu; otherwise, why would I lose my clarity for several seconds? For a cultivator, that is a fatal mistake. To hell with being a Buddhist monk, he’s just a demon monk, a lowly lecher!”
“Next time I see him, I’ll definitely castrate him!”
Yao Dai narrowed her fox-like eyes, her black pupils filled with cold killing intent.
Once she reached a safe place, she immediately took out her communication device to report her safety to Xie Tinglan and Wen Li. Then, she set up a barrier and sat down to regulate her breathing.
...
Ding! +15. Yao Dai’s Salvation Progress Bar: 60%.
Wen Li, who was currently meeting up with Hua Cishu, had just stepped out of the Teleportation Pavilion. After listening to Yao Dai’s report about Qi Mei’er’s location and the safety of the two disciples, she took out her communication device.
She instructed Hua Cishu to meet her at the entrance of the Teleportation Pavilion so they could head to the Dragon lands.
Then, she walked to an old locust tree, her expression indifferent.
Host! Yao Dai actually encountered Sami ahead of schedule! According to the plot, they were supposed to meet in the Central Province after the Qingyun Gathering. This is eight years early! Guess what happened?
The screeching voice of the system was so loud it made Wen Li’s eyes turn cold, but her eyebrows twitched upon hearing the news.
After thinking for three seconds, she spoke plainly.
My good disciple probably lost her mind for a moment upon seeing Sami before snapping back to her senses. Now, she likely has no favorable feelings for him, only killing intent.
...Uh, how did you know?
The system, which had wanted to show off, was stunned. If it hadn't been certain that Wen Li was a human and not a system, it would have suspected she was using a god’s-eye view.
Wen Li replied, Since the progress bar increased, it means Yao Dai must not have the slightest favorable impression of Sami. She successfully resisted the original plot. But for it to increase this much... In the eyes of my dear disciple, someone she has no favor for is as good as dead. She’s already like a bird startled by the mere twang of a bowstring after being injured by Qi Mei’er. Meeting the male lead of providence would naturally make her incredibly wary. As a disciple of the Buddhist Order, Sami wouldn't strike a wounded female cultivator, so he wouldn't have triggered her killing intent that way. He likely tried to help her.
Logically, if he offered help, it’s normal for Yao Dai to be wary because she’s injured. Having some killing intent makes sense too. But for the progress bar to rise this much, that killing intent wasn't just a little bit; something must have seriously threatened her life. Since Sami wouldn't have physically harmed her...
Wen Li leaned against the tree with her arms crossed, looking at the streets where members of the Fox clan were clearly more numerous.
Perhaps Sami tried to approach her to help, which triggered the plot and affected Yao Dai. Once she regained her senses, she must have been convinced he had malicious intentions. That intensified her killing intent and pushed her progress bar directly to sixty percent.
The interference of the damn plot wasn't a rare occurrence; even she had almost been affected back then.
Otherwise, why would she have gone to such lengths to specifically train Yao Dai and Xie Tinglan, who were both destined to lose themselves and become romance-brains in the original plot? It was so that one day, the two of them would remember that life and death were far more important than any bullshit romance.
Only the threat to one’s life can truly make a person clear-headed. Aside from life and death, everything else is trivial. To still be thinking about love when you're about to die is simply as stupid as a pig.
Yao Dai and Xie Tinglan’s plot paths were different from Zongzheng Huangyue, Gu Linshu, Hua Cishu, and Xin Jiuxian. The former two fell because of love, while the latter four fell because of survival, power, or family. For the latter group, Wen Li could provide everything they needed. But for the former two, matters of the heart were the most complicated. If a romance-brain set their heart on something, even ten oxen couldn't pull them back. Thus, the only way was to occupy their minds with life and death—things far more important than romance—so they would have no heart for it.
If they still fell in love, it simply meant the pressure of death wasn't high enough. Wen Li would naturally increase that pressure for them, just as she had intentionally set the trap at the Taixuan Sect in the Western Province to have their ancestor destroy Yao Dai’s spiritual roots. Looking at it now, the results were excellent. Now, she just had to see how things would go for Xie Tinglan in the future.
Rate on N.U.
