The Filial Daughter’s Journey and a Treacherous Feast

With that, the red-clad woman plopped down onto a stone beside the spring.

With the misunderstanding resolved, Qin Yan and Xiao Miao approached the spring.

As they drew near, a torrent of spiritual energy, murmuring like a gentle stream, washed over them, a sensation so profound it seized their very souls.

Observing the spring, they found its waters crystal clear, revealing the bottom.

It was merely a small spiritual spring, unremarkable in any other way.

While they scrutinized the spring, the red-clad woman’s gaze remained fixed on Qin Yan.

Beautiful things invariably draw lingering glances, and a beautiful person was no exception.

Xiao Miao’s eyes, too, drifted from the spiritual spring, settling upon the red-clad woman.

Only last night, she and Qin Yan had been discussing this very woman.

To encounter her in the mountains today felt like a true stroke of fate.

Recalling the red-clad woman’s righteous intervention during their first meeting, Xiao Miao spoke, offering a kind warning:

“This mountain range is exceedingly perilous. Might I ask, what has brought our heroine to this place?”

The red-clad woman, ever uninhibited, seemed not to dwell on Xiao Miao’s earlier perceived offense.

Naturally, those who traverse the jianghu cultivate such vigilance.

“My name is Lin Yao,” she began.

“I’ve heard this is a spiritual mountain, a place where one might find the spiritual herbs and immortal grasses cultivators desire.

Due to some family matters, which I don’t fear might amuse you cultivators, my mother offended a cultivator.

That cultivator then cast a curse, leaving my father in a state worse than death.

Thus, I embarked on this journey, hoping to find something a cultivator needs, so that one might save my father.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Miao felt a ripple of surprise.

This was indeed a remarkably filial young woman.

For a mortal, to venture alone into this perilous spiritual mountain in search of spiritual herbs to save her father, was truly a gamble with death, a ‘nine deaths, one life’ endeavor.

After all, her competitors were all cultivators.

Moreover, despite her father being harmed by a cultivator, and knowing that Qin Yan and she were also cultivators, Lin Yao maintained such a dignified and unyielding demeanor—a truly rare quality.

Lin Yao gazed at the two before her, her lips parting as if to speak, yet in the end, no words emerged.

Instead, she turned, cupped the crisp spring water in her hands, and took a sip.

“I perceive both of you cultivators to be righteous individuals.

Even if I hadn’t intervened with that little beggar yesterday, I believe you would have,” the red-clad woman said, flicking water droplets from her hands.

“If all cultivators in the world were as benevolent as you, the jianghu (TL Note: A term referring to the martial arts world or wanderers’ society.) would surely know far greater peace.

It is by fate that we meet again today.

Should you, in your travels through these mountains, stumble upon my remains, I only ask that you grant me a proper resting place.

With that, I bid you farewell.”

Having spoken, she cupped her hands in a respectful salute, then turned and departed, without a trace of hesitation or regret.

Qin Yan watched her go, having initially presumed the red-clad woman would plead for their intervention, begging them to save her father.

He had never imagined she would prove to be such a resolute and unyielding spirit.

“Wait…”

Just then, Xiao Miao spoke, her expression touched with emotion.

Such a chivalrous spirit commanded profound respect.

“Navigating these mountains alone will be exceedingly difficult for you. Why not join us?

Should we find the spiritual herbs, the credit would be shared amongst us all.”

Qin Yan listened silently to Xiao Miao’s words.

She intended to bring this mortal into their fold, a move that would undoubtedly impede their progress.

Yet, he harbored no objections to the idea.

Lin Yao turned, facing Xiao Miao, and inquired, “Are you pitying me? Sympathizing with me?”

“This…”

Xiao Miao found herself speechless.

Judging by Lin Yao’s actions, she was undeniably a woman of fierce integrity.

Had she sought pity or sympathy, she would surely have appealed to them earlier.

“Yes,” Qin Yan responded without hesitation.

Xiao Miao looked at Qin Yan beside her, a flicker of surprise in her eyes.

She hadn’t expected him to admit it so readily; wasn’t he concerned Lin Yao might take offense?

Lin Yao regarded Qin Yan, and far from showing anger at his admission, she burst into laughter.

“You, cultivator, are far more candid than your companion here,” she declared.

“Otherwise, why would you bother inviting me, a potential burden, to join you?”

Xiao Miao felt a peculiar blush creep over her, yet she swiftly composed herself.

“My name is Xiao Miao,” she stated.

Lin Yao cupped her hands in a salute, then turned her gaze to Qin Yan.

“I am Qin Yan,” he offered.

****

By evening, the trio had found a cave to spend the night.

Lin Yao gathered some firewood and ignited a bonfire within the cave.

She then deftly skinned and gutted a wild rabbit, placing it over the flames to roast.

Before long, the rich aroma of cooking meat permeated the entire cavern.

This particular wild rabbit had been caught by Lin Yao during their journey earlier that day.

“You two cultivators are truly approachable, unlike the arrogant ones I’ve encountered before,” Lin Yao remarked, tending to the roasting rabbit.

After an afternoon spent together, the three had grown considerably more familiar.

Lin Yao herself was strikingly beautiful, with crimson lips, pearly teeth, and a graceful figure, her red dress serving as a vibrant accent to her charm.

“Cultivators are not all alike,” Xiao Miao responded, shaking her head at Lin Yao’s comment.

She elaborated, explaining that in ancient times, cultivators and mortals lived side-by-side, but now, the chasm between them had widened to become as vast as the sky and earth.

“That’s true,” Lin Yao conceded.

Lin Yao finished roasting the rabbit and presented it to them.

“Though I’ve heard cultivators typically abstain from earthly grains, this wild rabbit is at least a delicacy from the mountains. I hope you’ll both have a taste.”

Qin Yan and Xiao Miao, naturally, found it awkward to refuse.

The sight of the golden-brown roasted rabbit, moreover, stirred a hint of appetite within them.

Xiao Miao, without ceremony, tore off a rabbit leg and savored it.

Qin Yan followed suit, and seeing them eat, Lin Yao herself heartily devoured the rest of the rabbit.

Xiao Li crouched nearby, watching the scene unfold and meowing frantically, almost wishing she could speak to demand her share.

However, Qin Yan had given prior instructions to prevent the calico cat from speaking aloud, lest it startle Lin Yao.

In short order, the sizeable wild rabbit vanished into their stomachs.

“Now that we’re full, it’s time for the real business,” Lin Yao declared, patting her stomach.

“What real business?” Xiao Miao asked, her face etched with curiosity.

However, the very next moment, she sensed an anomaly within herself: her spiritual energy surged wildly, causing her to cry out:

“No! The rabbit meat is poisoned!”

Then she looked at Lin Yao, whose aura was now surging dramatically, her cultivation instantly reaching the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm.

Clearly, Lin Yao was no mere martial artist from the jianghu, but a cultivator at the pinnacle of Foundation Establishment.

This sudden transformation caught both Qin Yan and Xiao Miao completely off guard.

Xiao Li, too, was startled, shrinking into a corner and trembling as she stared at the terrifyingly smiling Lin Yao.