Yifan and Yun Xi halted when a figure emerged from the veil of mist. At a glance, both of them were momentarily taken aback—it was a woman.
Yifan's brows furrowed slightly, not because he was captivated by her beauty, but by something far subtler. A faint, familiar aura lingered around her, like a memory half-forgotten yet impossible to dismiss. So delicate that any ordinary cultivator would have missed it—yet his honed instincts could not be deceived. Could this woman be connected to the one they were searching for?
The woman was clad in a crimson robe that fluttered gently in the wind. Even from afar, her presence exuded a rare, icy allure. The slit in her robe revealed fleeting glimpses of skin as pale as white jade. The garment was tailored to accentuate the graceful curves of her body, emphasizing her elegance down to the long, slender lines of her legs.
Yun Xi's brows knitted together, a subtle spark of hostility flashing in her eyes, as if she were facing an unexpected rival. Yet when she glanced at Yifan, her breath eased slightly. The young man remained calm, unshaken, as though no worldly charm could disturb the stillness of his heart. That was Yifan—upright, restrained, a man who never allowed himself to falter.
The crimson-robed woman fixed her gaze on the two of them. She herself was startled by Yifan's appearance—an unfamiliar man with a face almost too perfect to belong to this mortal world. A ripple of fascination stirred within her; it was rare for her to feel this way. What made her cautious, however, was her inability to sense their aura. Silence—like an ocean without waves. Were they above her in cultivation? Her instincts whispered: Do not provoke these two!
"Sir, Miss… forgive me if I have blocked your path," she said softly, her voice calm but edged with calculation.
"My name is Xue Yao."
She bowed slightly, her movements deliberately slow, as though each gesture had been crafted to display her natural allure.
Yun Xi's eyes narrowed. This display of courtesy felt off, even suspicious. To her, that bow was less a gesture of respect and more a veiled declaration of war.
A slight tightness bloomed in Yun Xi's chest, like a small flame flickering to life. She disliked the way Xue Yao paraded her charm, as though silently challenging her. A fleeting pang of jealousy surfaced before she pressed it down, her face remaining calm.
"Are you not the infamous demonic cultivator from the Western Region?" Yun Xi asked.
Her voice was steady, but her eyes blazed. She folded her arms across her chest, her stance radiating quiet authority.
"Yes," Xue Yao replied lightly, not bothering to deny it. She had not expected Yifan and Yun Xi to recognize her.
"I did kill many people there. Then, I came to the Northern Region to escape the pursuit of several old monsters." Her tone remained composed, as though she were not the very demonic cultivator spoken of in rumors.
"Since Miss Xue Yao bears no ill will toward us," Yifan finally spoke, his voice tranquil, "I will not make an issue of it."
He stepped forward, his stride unhurried, and Yun Xi followed. Together, they walked past Xue Yao.
'He's ignoring me?' she thought bitterly.
The crimson-robed woman bit her lip, a faint trace of irritation crossing her face. She did not even know their names. Just as she was about to call out, Yifan's voice drifted back to her.
"My name is Yifan, and this is Yun Xi. Farewell, Miss Xue Yao."
Xue Yao froze. How had Yifan answered the question she had not even spoken aloud? Was he a seer? She watched their retreating figures until they faded from view.
'Yifan… Yun Xi… where did you come from?' she wondered.
A glimmer of curiosity lit her eyes. Those two were anything but ordinary—her instincts screamed it. If they crossed paths again, she would uncover the truth. Perhaps… she might even seek to befriend them. With that thought, she turned and left.
Far enough from where they had met Xue Yao, Yun Xi spoke softly, "Young Master, will we meet her again?"
"Of course," Yifan replied with an easy calm. "And perhaps, when that time comes, we will lend her a hand."
Yun Xi only nodded. She knew that behind those few words, Yifan was already plotting something.
Without a sound, the two of them vanished. No trace of aura remained, no hint of presence. Not even the keen eyes of an expert could detect them. They departed as though gods had drawn a curtain across the sky behind them.
From a distance, an old man watched. He sat alone by the roadside, his brows furrowed as he witnessed the pair disappear without a trace. No aura lingered on them. He wore a tattered brown robe, looking every bit like an ordinary mortal.
'Who are these two?' he thought, a chill creeping up his spine.
"Could they be… peak experts of the Tianxian Continent?"
---
In a grand pavilion, a middle-aged man stood motionless. He wore a blue linen robe adorned with unique star patterns. His right hand stroked his beard slowly, his sharp eyes fixed on something far in the distance.
Beside him stood a woman clad in yellow. She looked to be around the age of an aunt, yet time had failed to diminish her beauty. Her skin was smooth, her figure graceful, as though sculpted by divine hands that refused to let the seasons claim her. From up close, a delicate, alluring fragrance lingered around her.
"Hehe… demonic woman… I've found you at last!" the man said, a faint yet burning smile curling on his lips.
"Elder Xing Mu, you've located her?" the yellow-robed woman asked, her voice calm, though her eyes narrowed slightly.
The middle-aged man was Xing Mu, one of the elders of the Xing Family in the Western Region. His long journey to the Northern Region had only one purpose—to hunt down the demonic cultivator known as Xue Yao. She had been pursued by many experts before she was forced to flee north.
"She's not far ahead," he said coldly, each word carrying a chill.
"She slaughtered members of my Xing Family that day—her sin is unforgivable! That demonic woman was fortunate to escape the siege of so many experts."
The yellow-robed woman only looked at him, a faint smile tugging at her lips. She knew all too well the greed of cultivators. Often, vengeance was merely a convenient mask for ambition.
"Pavilion Mistress Yao Yue," Xing Mu said, inclining his head slightly,
"My Xing Family is grateful for your hospitality these past few days."
Without waiting for a reply, his figure shot forward like an arrow, leaving behind a gust of wind that made Yao Yue's hair ripple.
This yellow-robed woman was Yao Yue, the mistress of the Liuyao Pavilion, a middle-tier force that held considerable influence in the Northern Region.
The town where she currently resided was Liuyao Town, named after the very pavilion she ruled. Hosting Xing Mu had never been her preference, yet the Xing Family was not a force one could afford to slight. Though not a upper force, the Xing Family stood on equal footing with the Liuyao Pavilion. To refuse a guest without good reason could bring needless friction.
At first, Xing Mu had inquired about Xue Yao's whereabouts, but there had been no news. He had thus remained in the pavilion. It was only when ominous clouds suddenly gathered above the town that he realized his target was near.
"How intriguing… Are you merely hunting a demonic cultivator? Or is it something more precious you seek?" Yao Yue murmured, a glint of curiosity in her gaze.
With a light step, her figure shot forth, gliding like a streak of golden light through the air. She had no intention of interfering—only to observe. Just who was this demonic cultivator who dared to slaughter so many in the Western Region? And… what exactly did Xing Mu desire?