A sharp, terrified scream pierced the quiet woods.
Lin Yun's calm vanished in an instant.
His golden eyes narrowed.
"Something's wrong."
He moved—fast and silent—toward the source of the cry.
Madam Li hurried after him, heart pounding.
They reached the edge of a small clearing and crouched low in the thick bushes.
In the center of the glade stood a young woman—beautiful, sharp-featured, hair tied in a high ponytail. She wielded a slender sword, its blade flashing with faint qi light.
Before her lay a large white snake, scales gleaming like fresh snow under moonlight. Its single tail was severed near the tip, blood staining the grass crimson. The snake coiled protectively around a single glowing herb, body trembling with exhaustion, yet its crimson eyes burned with unyielding defiance.
The woman struck again—quick and precise. Another shallow cut opened along the snake's side.
The white snake hissed in pain, voice low and rasping.
"Humans… truly despicable. Always sneaking, always striking from the shadows. If I were in my prime, the story would be very different."
The woman laughed coldly.
"Cultivation is always against the heavens. Beasts like you are never on equal footing with me. Now… just rest."
She lunged once more.
The white snake, with a final burst of strength, released a powerful spiritual wave—its injured tail lashed out, coiling around the woman's legs and slamming her into the ground.
She grunted, rolling to her feet, using her sword for support. Blood trickled from her lip, but her eyes remained sharp.
"Two of you!" she shouted suddenly, voice carrying through the trees. "Come out! I am a disciple of Jade River Pavilion! Help me kill this beast and I will reward you generously!"
Lin Yun sighed softly.
He stepped out from the bushes, face showing clear dissatisfaction—brows faintly furrowed, mouth set in a thin line.
The woman blinked.
"It's only one? Where is the other?"
"There's no need for you to know," Lin Yun said quietly.
(Behind him, he had already signaled Madam Li to stay hidden.)
The white snake lay exhausted, tail stump bleeding, body trembling. It looked at Lin Yun with tear-filled eyes and hissed weakly in curse.
The woman smirked.
"Good timing. Kill this beast. Its bones are excellent material for artifact refining. I'll give you a fair share."
Lin Yun's gaze shifted to the snake, then back to the woman.
He asked, tone serious and low:
"Is this necessary?"
She frowned. "What?"
Lin Yun repeated slowly, voice steady.
"I'm asking… is it necessary to kill someone innocent?"
The woman stared at him like he had lost his mind.
"Are you stupid? This is a beast. I am human. It can only be my servant… or dead. That's how the world works."
Lin Yun looked at the glowing herb the snake had been guarding.
"You only need this herb, correct? Take it and leave. There's no need for more killing."
The woman's face twisted in disbelief.
"You really don't understand, do you? This is a Fifth Level Qi Refining white snake. Its bones, scales, venom—everything is valuable. Why waste it?"
Lin Yun stepped forward, bent down, and gently pulled the herb free from the snake's weakened coils.
He tossed it toward the woman.
She caught it automatically.
"Now you have your herb," he said flatly. "Leave."
The woman opened her mouth to argue—
Lin Yun released a sliver of his aura.
The air became heavy. Oppressive. The woman's knees buckled slightly. Even the wounded white snake shivered.
"I won't say it again," Lin Yun said softly. "Leave. Now."
Fear flashed in her eyes.
She swallowed hard, nodded quickly, and backed away, disappearing into the trees without another word.
Silence returned.
The white snake stared at Lin Yun in shock, tears still glistening in its crimson eyes.
It hissed weakly.
"Human… why?"
Lin Yun knelt beside it without hesitation. He placed one hand on the severed tail stump.
Warm, green vitality flowed from his palm—pure energy from the Blessed Land.
The snake tensed in fear, expecting betrayal.
But the wound shimmered.
Flesh knit. Bone reconnected. Scales regrew—pure white, gleaming like new snow.
In moments, the tail was whole again.
The white snake stared at its restored body in disbelief.
It lifted its head slowly.
"Thank you… human. But I have a question."
Lin Yun stood.
"Ask."
"You clearly had the strength to kill us both and take everything. Why didn't you?"
Lin Yun's voice was calm, almost detached.
"Because I am human."
The snake tilted its head.
"But she was also human."
Lin Yun's golden eyes met the snake's.
"I mean… I am human in my heart and soul. Not a monster wearing human skin."
The white snake fell silent for a moment.
"Then… why give her the herb?"
Lin Yun glanced toward the path the woman had fled.
She belongs to a sect. If I had taken it and left her with nothing, she would have remembered me as an enemy. Her sect would have hunted me down eventually. I just don't want unnecessary trouble.
He didn't voice the thought aloud.
Instead, he said simply:
"It's not important."
The snake lowered its head slightly.
"I will repay this kindness in the future."
Lin Yun shook his head once.
"I don't want repayment."
The snake blinked in confusion.
"But—"
Lin Yun's tone turned firm.
"Now leave. Quickly."
After seeing how human sects treat beasts… how could I let you stay near me? It would only put your life in danger.
Again, the words stayed inside his head.
The white snake stared at him for a long moment.
Then it bowed its head deeply.
"Thank you… again."
It slithered away into the undergrowth, vanishing silently.
Lin Yun exhaled once, expression returning to its usual calm.
He turned back toward the bushes.
Madam Li stepped out slowly, eyes wide.
"Why did you say such harsh words to it?" she asked quietly. "People might think you're heartless… or strange."
Lin Yun looked at her, face impassive.
"Haha. You think so? But it's better this way—for both of us. If it really returns in the future and a cultivator sees it with me… it will die. I don't want that."
He stepped closer to her.
"I would do the same for you," he said softly. "If it was for your good… don't hate me for it."
Madam Li's breath caught.
Her eyes softened, touched by the quiet weight behind his words.
She looked past him toward the horizon.
"Look," she said gently. "That's Stoneheart City. Our first real destination."
Lin Yun glanced at the distant walls rising against the sunset.
He gave the smallest of smiles.
"Haha… the adventure has only just begun.