SQUEAK—CREAK—
In the afterglow of the setting sun, a huge beast with a thorn-covered back dragged a crude wooden prison cart, slowly heading towards the snow-capped mountains.
Its pace wasn't slow, but compared to the giant wolves that moved like the wind, it certainly wasn't fast.
Inside the prison cart, the two women and one man looked sullen, each sitting cross-legged. The man and woman closer to each other kept whispering. Meanwhile, the young woman in the corner simply closed her eyes and concentrated, her eyelashes fluttering occasionally.
The woman in the corner was named Lin Suqing; her Taoist name was also Suqing. When she became his disciple, her master thought the name was quite good, so he just used it. It was remarkably casual.
Just moments before, they had thought they were being rescued.
Lin Suqing had barely uttered the word "Many" from her phrase "Many thanks for your righteous intervention" when sharp blades were already at their necks.
The men of the Northern Wilderness acted incomparably faster than the three of them could cast their spells.
After being subdued, they were thrown into this prison cart. The 'Young Master' who had just shaken their convictions had already departed.
That Young Master was clearly just a teenager, definitely no more than fifteen years old. With the human race's average lifespan being over three hundred years, this person was, by any measure, just a child. Even in the Cultivation Sects of the Human Domain, youngsters this age were only just beginning their cultivation.
How could he… Such a powerful Praying Star Technique.
Lin Suqing had heard that humans who had strayed from the Human Domain competed for survival among the Hundred Races. In doing so, they had also learned many profound techniques from these races. The Praying Star Technique was learned from the people of the Northern Wilderness. It was somewhat similar to the Five Elements Spells in the Human Domain. However, even if it was powerful, it shouldn't be *this* dominant. Otherwise, the esteemed seniors in the Human Domain would have surely promoted the Northern Wilderness's Praying Star Technique long ago.
It should be said that the young man himself was incredibly strong.
Lin Suqing bit her lip gently; her impression of this young man was quite profound.
When they were first brought to the cart, the Young Master was sitting askew on a throne. He held a sheepskin scroll, his indifferent gaze and slightly weary eyes observing them as if they were three…
Objects.
And the only thing this 'Young Master' said to them was when a bear standing beside him asked how to deal with them. The 'Young Master' said, "Bring them back first. I'll make the arrangements."
The feeling of one's life and death being in someone else's hands was truly unbearable.
Lin Suqing knew all too clearly that even if they died in the Northern Wilderness, no one would risk attempting a rescue. Moreover, the Northern Wilderness was so vast that a heavy rain could destroy most traces. Even if elders from their Sect came searching, they would likely find it difficult to pick up on any sign of them.
A thread of Spiritual Sense transmission entered her ear, "Senior Sister, we can't really let them take us back. Otherwise, our lives and deaths will be decided by that young man's whim. He's already gone. Perhaps we could try this…"
Lin Suqing immediately opened her eyes, her gaze clear as autumn pools, looking towards the male cultivator beside her.
When she saw her junior brother and junior sister practically arm in arm, the corner of her mouth tightened slightly, and her gaze quickly shifted away.
And to think, she was the one who had been by his side first…
Unbeknownst to them, on a Frost Wolf cart far away, Wu Wang gazed into the Crystal Ball before him. The Crystal Ball shimmered with flowing light, revealing the situation inside the prison cart. Wu Wang keenly caught the changes in Lin Suqing's expressions and the lip movements of the other man and woman.
Quite interesting.
Of course, Wu Wang knew that most cultivators possessed the technique of Spiritual Sense voice transmission. This was a minor skill that even novice cultivators could master. Its drawback was that it was easily overheard by those with powerful Spiritual Senses or those who had cultivated Divine Consciousness.
Wu Wang lifted his hand slightly. A giant wolf rider immediately approached, swiftly received his orders, and departed.
「A moment later」
Inside the prison cart, the three seated figures exchanged glances. From their serious expressions and vigilant eyes, one could tell that a fierce 'cart-breaking' battle was imminent.
The male cultivator's voice entered the ears of his Senior Sister and junior sister, "Prepare! When I count to ten, we strike the sixth pillar together! One, two… five…"
AWOO!
Suddenly, a howl from a huge wolf sounded nearby. The three involuntarily looked over to see several robust men on wolfback, hefting crossbows that glimmered with a bronze metallic light.
Another burly man, several tens of zhang away, threw a head-sized boulder into the air.
CLICK! CLACK!
Several wolf riders pulled their triggers simultaneously. The intense sound of bolts cutting through the air was like the piercing shriek of a ferocious beast. The boulder instantly exploded in mid-air. The surrounding wolf riders cheered, waving their weapons.
GULP.
The male cultivator's voice quavered, subconsciously changing the count, "Six, five, four…"
Lin Suqing silently turned her head away, unable to resist raising a hand to her forehead.
Hmm, her junior brother wasn't being cowardly, just particularly fond of life; such savvy truly befitted a young talent.
At dusk, the setting sun looked like spilled blood. The sky over the Great Wilderness was vast and profound. The dazzling starry sky couldn't wait to shimmer against the still not completely darkened firmament. Two intertwined Milky Ways sparked the imagination and inspiration of countless creatures in the Great Wilderness.
Lin Suqing felt a bit dazed. When she came to her senses, the prison cart was already traveling on a flat road. Tents and stone houses began to appear sporadically on both sides of the road.
The destination of the prison cart was a gentle slope. The slope was covered with stone houses and yurts. At the very top stood several enormous yurts, like palaces, each bearing a flag depicting a gray bear rearing and roaring.
The wolf riders withdrew in an orderly fashion. A group clad in pitch-black armor, even more powerfully built and exuding a palpable murderous aura, took over the prison cart, escorting the three of them towards the top of the slope.
"Are these the Human Domain cultivators the Young Master captured?" someone called out from the roadside. Lin Suqing and her companions immediately attracted a great deal of attention.
Some rather crude comments followed, mostly from strapping women in animal-skin attire who pointed and gossiped about them.
"Humans from the Human Domain sure are different from our kind. Look how skinny this little gal is. She looks like she has no strength."
"This young fellow is really handsome! Can't compare to the big brutes in our tribe."
"What's the use of being handsome? Look at his build—he's probably all show and no go."
The male cultivator glared at the woman who had made the comment. Although he had spent many years cultivating in the mountains, he knew this was not a compliment.
In his peripheral vision, a burly woman raised a copper hammer and brutally smashed a frozen, oversized Beast of Chu into pieces.
Hmph! That woman's got a sharp eye! Last year, he was still of a body of pure Yang!
A woman asked curiously, "Why did the Young Master capture them? To feed the wolf pups?"
It was this question that successfully stirred unease within Lin Suqing and her two companions.
...
When Lin Suqing saw this 'Young Master' again, it was in a brightly lit, large yurt.
The several finely crafted artifact lamps providing ample light within the yurt took Lin Suqing by surprise. At a glance, she knew they were crafted by Human Domain cultivators and were quite valuable.
Then, looking at the Young Master, she saw he was seated in an animal-skin chair. Lin Suqing couldn't help but take a few more glances at the powerful youth.
He had changed into plain clothes: a comfortable hemp short shirt and trousers, his long hair tied simply behind his head. His well-defined, handsome face, though refined, lacked any hint of effeminacy. Instead, it exuded an inexplicable warmth.
Wu Wang lifted his hand slightly. A guard brought over three animal-skin chairs, placing them on the edge of the carpet, about thirty feet away from him.
"Sit," Wu Wang said indifferently. "Since I went to the effort of saving you, I won't kill you now."
The three of them visibly relaxed, exchanging glances.
Lin Suqing was the first to step forward and sit on the leftmost animal-skin chair, setting an example for her junior brother and sister.
She spoke softly, "This… Young Master, thank you for saving our lives."
Wu Wang ignored her. "The main cultivation paths in the Human Domain are spiritual cultivation and body cultivation. Your vital energy and blood are not vigorous, so you must practice spiritual cultivation. Spirit Gathering, Qi Gathering, Returning Origin Realm, and Solidifying Pill are the first four realms preceding the Golden Core path in spiritual cultivation within the Human Domain. Since you are not yet able to fly through the air, it's clear your strength is below the Golden Core stage. Solidifying Pill Realm?"
The three cultivators each showed a look of embarrassment.
Lin Suqing replied, "Among us three, I am the Senior Sister. My cultivation is only at the mid-stage of the Returning Origin Realm. We've made a poor showing."
Wu Wang curled the corner of his mouth. "So weak."
Lin Suqing pursed her lips. The image of the ice mountain conjured from thin air flashed through her mind again. Silently, she lowered her head with a soft sigh.
Wu Wang asked, "With your own strength, you probably couldn't leave the Human Domain. Why did you come to the Northern Wilderness, and how did you get here?"
Lin Suqing answered, "We boarded a large trading ship heading north off the coast of the East Sea. We drifted for three and a half years and finally arrived in the Northern Wilderness. We came here to find the legendary Spiritual Bird Bai Ze, to obtain its Beast Elixir to refine a Spirit Pill, to cure an illness afflicting an elder of our Sect."
"Senior Sister!" the male cultivator frowned and said, "Don't say so much…"
"Your Senior Sister is very smart," Wu Wang calmly interrupted the male cultivator, "at least smarter than you."
The male cultivator's face turned red, but he merely snorted coldly, puffed out his chest, and sat there rigidly.
Wu Wang tapped his fingers on the armrest of the animal-skin chair, his gaze shifting among the three of them. After a while, he finally spoke slowly, "Have you obtained the Beast Elixir of the Bai Ze?"
"No…"
"I have many here. I can give you one." Wu Wang continued, "But I saved you and am giving you what you need, not without asking for something in return. I need one of you three to stay and serve me. You only need to stay with me for a full six years. The other two can take the Spirit Pill and leave. I will also provide enough travel expenses for those who depart and have people escort you to a place where you can board a ship heading south."
The three cultivators were stunned.
Wu Wang said no more, sitting there and fiddling with the sheepskin scrolls before him.
Lin Suqing turned to look at the male cultivator, only to find that her beloved junior brother's lips were slightly pale, his fists clenching and unclenching. He was clearly conflicted.
She sighed inwardly. After all, she was the Senior Sister…
"I will stay!" the male cultivator declared firmly, his voice slightly quivering. "I will stay! Senior Sister Lin, Junior Sister Cha, you take the Spirit Pill and go back!"
"No, I will stay," Lin Suqing's eyes were filled with resolve as she stepped forward two paces, looking directly at Wu Wang. "I will stay here and serve you for six years, as repayment for your kindness. Please let my junior brother and sister leave safely."
"Is it decided?" Wu Wang raised his chin toward the male cultivator. "As a man, aren't you going to insist?"
"Senior Sister, I think you…"
"Senior Brother!" the female cultivator, who had been silent until now, called out softly, exchanging a glance with the male cultivator.
Lin Suqing turned her head and saw their hands clasped together…
The male cultivator couldn't meet Lin Suqing's gaze and looked down. "Senior Sister, thank… thank you."
Lin Suqing's body trembled slightly. She just nodded mutely and stood there with her head bowed, silent.
So, the clown was me all along.
...
The meaning of the word 'serve' was vaguely clear to Lin Suqing. She just hadn't expected that this elegant-looking young man would be… so hasty.
Almost as soon as they had decided she would stay, this 'Young Master' had someone send her junior brother and sister away and then ordered guards to stand watch on either side of the large yurt.
This… This young man was pleasant to look at, and she didn't seem to be at too much of a disadvantage.
Lin Suqing bit her lower lip forcefully, her cheeks burning as if they would bleed.
So be it. For the safe departure of her junior brother and sister, and because she truly owed this young man a great debt of gratitude. She would just consider this repaying his kindness.
Lin Suqing sighed softly. Her delicate hands untied her damaged waistband. She then raised a hand to remove the jade hairpin, and her river of black hair cascaded down like a waterfall.
Although she was unsure of the specific steps to follow, in the stories she had read in the Human Domain, a mere mention of 'undressing' would lead to a scene change.
But since she chose to stay, she was prepared to make any sacrifice!
…What a pity, she has a nice figure. If only he were normal and didn't have that strange affliction. thought Wu Wang.
"Are you perhaps thinking of taking advantage of me, your Young Master?" Wu Wang shook his head with a smile. "Put your clothes back on. Even if I wanted you to serve me in *that* way, we would at least need to cultivate some feelings first."
"Hm?" Lin Suqing was utterly confused and fumbled to tie her waistband back on.
Shortly after, several burly, knife-wielding men entered, standing in front of and behind Wu Wang, their eyes sharply fixed on Lin Suqing.
"Come forward." Wu Wang squeezed his left hand through a narrow gap between two of his guard uncles, struggling to reach out. "Touch my fingertip with yours."
Lin Suqing was completely bewildered, suspecting this was some mysterious tribal ritual. Dubiously, she lifted her finger and aimed for Wu Wang's fingertip.
The guards all widened their eyes, their vital energy surging around them, nearly injuring Lin Suqing.
Wu Wang also held his breath.
Could it be broken? The women of the Human Domain were perhaps different from the women of his homeland; they certainly seemed much softer. His chance… could it truly lie with someone from the Human Domain?
You could hear a pin drop in the large yurt.
TAP.
Their fingertips gently touched. Lin Suqing felt nothing. But then she heard a muffled groan. The young man before her suddenly rolled his eyes back and slumped backward, his body twitching uncontrollably a few times.
"Young Master! Young Master!"
"Don't you come over here!"
The stalwart, imposing uncles shouted in alarm, but Lin Suqing was completely stunned where she stood.
What on earth was happening?