Plop—
The vine snapped back with lightning speed. The broken end instantly fell into the black cloud of evil intent, turning to ash.
"What happened?" Yao Ranran froze for a moment.
The vine had actually broken.
Xiao Rong froze, scratching his head. "It seems it hit something sharp and snapped. I'll throw another one over!"
With that, he swung a vine thicker than the previous one, tugged on it, and said cheerfully, "Boss, you go first!"
Tang Xiangyin leaned over to look down at the cliff and felt a wave of hesitation. "Fairy Ranran, I'll go last!"
Yao Ranran quickly scanned Lu Ziqian and nodded. "Fine."
She clenched the vine tightly. Several thin, tender sprouts intertwined around her body, forming a secure harness.
Turning her back to them, Yao Ranran said lightly, "I do not like others kneeling to me. A man's knees are golden, a woman's knees are inlaid with gold and jade."
Lu Ziqian shivered and straightened up.
After she spoke, Xiao Rong pulled the vine. Feeling the breeze by her ear, Yao Ranran looked at the dilapidated Taoist temple on the opposite mountain peak, her face relaxed and content.
"Better a humble nest at home than a gilded cage!"
She spread her arms to embrace nature. Suddenly, a shadow passed overhead—a bird with a sharp beak and black plumage, a species long absent from this mountain sky.
With a plop, the bird fell vertically, its sharp beak hitting Xiao Rong's vine. Snap! The vine broke.
Yao Ranran felt the world spin. Losing her balance, she fell into the black cloud of evil intent, hitting the rocks. Bones cracked audibly.
Xiao Rong's face went pale. "Boss, are you okay?!"
"I'm fine…"
Just a few broken bones, nothing more.
Yao Ranran pushed herself up with her limbs in a bizarre manner, leaning on the Demon Staff and limping out of the black cloud.
Tang Xiangyin's face drained of color.
If it had been her, she would have died instantly, reduced to ashes without a trace.
Lu Ziqian ran to Xiao Rong's side and only relaxed when he heard Yao Ranran respond.
The fairy's power was boundless. Ordinary black clouds could not harm her!
Xiao Rong looked at Tang Xiangyin, slowly retreating, and explained. "Xiao Tang, don't be scared. It was just a foolish bird that broke my vine. That's why the boss fell. If you go now, you won't have the misfortune to meet such a bird again."
Tang Xiangyin bit her lip lightly, her clear eyes full of worry.
Why did Fairy Ranran live in such a dangerous place? Every trip home seemed like a life-or-death challenge.
Xiao Rong urged, "Xiao Tang, hurry up! I'm already hungry~"
Tang Xiangyin's lashes trembled. She moved slowly. "Xiao Rong, make this one sturdy. If I fall, I could die…"
Xiao Rong patted his chest. "Leave it to me!"
Three vines twisted together in the air, forming a strong rope that securely bound Tang Xiangyin.
"Good now?" Xiao Rong asked confidently.
Tang Xiangyin nodded with delight. "Yes, this is great. Xiao Rong, you're really capable!"
"Yay, let's go!" Xiao Rong grinned from ear to ear.
Lu Ziqian could not help but sigh. "If I could serve the fairy even for one day, even if I were torn to pieces, it would be worth it!"
The moment Xiao Rong applied force, Tang Xiangyin had just moved a second when suddenly a meteor fell from the eastern sky. Sparks flew as it surged down. Xiao Rong's eyes widened. The meteor missed Lu Ziqian and struck Xiao Rong directly.
Tang Xiangyin had just relaxed, her face bright with a smile, when the vine lost strength. She turned slightly. Xiao Rong, who should have been on the unnamed peak, was now crushed by a massive meteor, hurtling toward her.
Tang Xiangyin's smile vanished instantly.
Bang!
They collided in midair.
The huge sound reached Yao Ranran's ears. Squinting and leaning on her waist, she looked up, puzzled. "Why is a meteor falling on Gu Ling Mountain? Could this be a gift from Heaven?"
Even with her fragile bones aching, Yao Ranran ignored her injuries and climbed the mountain, holding the Demon Staff firmly.
"Xiao Rong, Xiao Tang, Fairy Ranran!!!" Lu Ziqian shouted, hoping she could hear him.
Yao Ranran misinterpreted, shaking her head silently. "Why so dramatic? I'm just going home. It's not like I'm leaving for another planet forever!"
"Xiao Tang, Xiao Rong, Fairy Ranran!!!" Lu Ziqian's voice echoed through the valley.
Yao Ranran pushed herself with her last ounce of strength, climbing to where the meteor had fallen.
The meteor landed halfway down the mountain, half untouched by the evil energy.
"Bo…ss…help…" Xiao Rong fell asleep as the last vine gave way.
Tang Xiangyin beside him was already unconscious.
"Cough, cough… A meteor from the sky, a heavenly opportunity!" Yao Ranran's whole body felt alive, her bones singing.
She threw aside the Demon Staff, invigorated, her eyes sparkling. "I didn't expect Heaven to care for me one day!"
She leaped onto the top of the meteor. Beneath her, Tang Xiangyin and Xiao Rong were pressed by its weight, crying out in pain.
"Ah!"
Yao Ranran's feet twitched. "What is that sound?"
She crawled to look down. Beneath the meteor lay Xiao Rong and Tang Xiangyin.
"Xiao Rong, Xiangyin, what happened???"
…
Half-injured, Yao Ranran dragged the fully incapacitated pair back to the Taoist temple.
By now, it was nearly evening.
Lu Ziqian watched the three figures enter the temple from across the way, frowning deeply.
"The mortal world is full of hardships. Cultivation is not easy. Without tasting its bitterness, how can one understand its meaning? Fairy Ranran climbs Gu Ling Mountain repeatedly, without using spiritual power, taking companions home as a mortal, until evening. Such determination and endurance… is she trying to tell me that without resolve, one should not attempt cultivation?
I understand, Fairy Ranran!"
As if struck by lightning, Lu Ziqian's mind opened. Resolutely, he turned back to the hut.
"Fairy Ranran dislikes my kneeling, but she did not say I cannot act! Time must not be wasted. I excel at writing and poetry. I must play to my strengths and record my determination to become her disciple!"
By lamplight, Lu Ziqian immediately buried himself in writing, furiously composing.
…
"Being this injured, we can't avoid medical cultivators. Tomorrow I'll see if I can find an affordable one. The poor cannot afford treatment. Medications cost too much. I'll also figure out how much the meteor halfway up the mountain is worth."
Yao Ranran muttered to the unconscious pair. "I am exhausted too. My bones rebel and ache. Let me rest first, wake up, and then move…
But looking at your condition, I'm no better off. At this point, it is almost the same as being shattered…"
The unnamed peak glowed with candlelight. Gu Ling Mountain was shrouded in darkness as they fell into deep sleep.