A Fated Encounter in the Rain

The moment Qin Yan’s intention stirred, it was the hunter who was first seized by an unexpected astonishment.

“No, this is terrible. The Mountain Lord is in peril…”

The hunter mumbled a single phrase, and in an instant, her entire form dissolved into a wisp of green smoke, slipping out through the cracks of the dilapidated temple.

This sight not only left Qin Yan utterly dumbfounded; despite his mental preparations, it marked the very first time he had ever witnessed a tangible ghost.

The caravan members who witnessed this spectacle were plunged into even greater disarray, most of them instantly seized by a terrifying dread. After all, a hunter with whom they had just been conversing had simply vanished before their very eyes.

“Senior Sister, we must go!”

Qin Yan, having swiftly regained his composure, addressed Yu Qingxuan, who stood beside him.

Yu Qingxuan offered a soft nod in response.

The two of them pursued outside the dilapidated temple, dashing rapidly in the direction from which the sounds of battle emanated. In mere moments, approximately five hundred meters from the temple, they spotted the two clashing figures.

A young woman, clad in a black dress, wielded a peculiar weapon – one that seemed neither blade nor staff – as she engaged in a fierce struggle with a ferocious tiger!

“You mere human junior, not even having reached Foundation Establishment, dare to interfere in this Grandfather Tiger’s business!”

Astonishingly, the fierce tiger spoke in human tongue, its gaze fixed upon the young woman before it.

The young woman remained silent, her black dress appearing somewhat tattered, a clear indication of injuries sustained during her recent clash with the tiger. She held her breath, focusing her mind, and responded with unwavering composure.

From a distance, Qin Yan observed the scene, finding the young woman strikingly familiar. Even through the torrential downpour, he could discern her identity with absolute clarity: it was undoubtedly Xiao Miao.

What brought Xiao Miao to this place, and why was she locked in battle with this tiger demon?

However, this was clearly not the moment for questions. The hunter from earlier was now concealed in the distance, observing the intense struggle between the human and the tiger, and had produced a bow and arrow, apparently intending to launch a surprise attack.

Upon witnessing this, Qin Yan wasted no further words. He drew forth his long spear, channeled his cultivation technique, and in an instant, a burst of flames illuminated the entire area.

Both the human and the tiger clearly noticed Qin Yan, who now stood in the pitch-black night, radiating light like a miniature sun. Yet, Qin Yan afforded the tiger demon no time whatsoever to react. Just as ancient humans might have hunted a mammoth, the long spear shot forth from Qin Yan’s hand, piercing the air with a swift “whoosh.”

All of this transpired within a single breath.

The fierce tiger, caught entirely off guard by the ambush, naturally had no time to evade. The long spear directly impaled its entire body, then ruthlessly pinned it to the earth. The flames coiling around the weapon not only incinerated its fur but consumed its very internal organs.

“No, I cannot perish here! No, my Lord, save me!!!”

The chilling specter of death permeated the fierce tiger’s mind, yet the strength within its body was rapidly diminishing, slowly rendering it immobile.

As the fierce tiger succumbed to death, the hunter also let out a shriek of terror. The entire ‘woman’ seemed to be undergoing some horrific transformation, much like snow melting instantly under the sun’s rays, dissolving and vanishing into the vast expanse of the world.

The sky continued to weep with a gentle drizzle, gradually dousing the flames that clung to Qin Yan’s spear. Following this, Qin Yan cautiously approached the fallen tiger.

Only after ascertaining that the tiger demon was unequivocally deceased did he retrieve his long spear from its body. Gripping the weapon, he maintained an air of unwavering vigilance, as if wary of another demonic creature suddenly emerging from the enveloping darkness.

After all, just before its demise, the tiger demon had cried out for a “Lord.”

Yu Qingxuan, too, gracefully drifted to Qin Yan’s side. Gazing at the now-deceased tiger demon, she acknowledged that her Master’s mission had been flawlessly executed, and her junior brother had acted with such decisive efficiency, slaying this Foundation Establishment stage tiger demon in a single, powerful strike.

Her gaze then shifted to the young woman in the black dress who was approaching, and her eyes gradually widened with a hint of surprise.

‘This… could one call it a fated encounter?’

‘To encounter her junior brother’s former fiancée in this very spot—what utterly bad luck.’

“Qin Yan…”

Xiao Miao was the first to offer a greeting, her gaze tinged with a complex mix of emotions. She had never anticipated encountering Qin Xianzi in this remote location, let alone having her life saved by him.

“This is hardly the place for discussion. Let us first seek shelter from the rain.”

Qin Yan offered a slight nod, his gaze falling upon the somewhat disheveled Xiao Miao, before he responded.

It was at this very moment that Xiao Miao suddenly perceived the words of her Master.

[Little Miaozi, you and this Qin Xianzi truly have an endlessly tangled fate. And that one beside him is his Senior Sister, correct? It feels as though her gaze is intent on devouring you whole.]

Listening to her Master’s rather flippant remarks, a wry smile involuntarily touched Xiao Miao’s lips.

[Oh, right, this tiger demon has already reached the Foundation Establishment stage, so it’s highly probable it possesses a demonic core. That would be immensely beneficial for your alchemy skills… ]

Xiao Miao’s Master’s instructions were straightforward: she was to retrieve the demonic core.

Yet, Xiao Miao’s movements were nowhere near as swift as Yu Qingxuan’s. In that very instant, Yu Qingxuan, having already drawn her long sword, reached out and sliced open the tiger demon’s belly, extracting a palm-sized, spherical yellow pellet from within.

“Haha, this tiger demon indeed possessed a demonic core within!”

Yu Qingxuan appeared utterly delighted with her acquisition, yet she had not forgotten who had dealt with the tiger demon. Thus, she promptly offered the demonic core to Qin Yan, presenting it as one might a precious treasure.

“Junior Brother, please accept this. It is your rightful spoils of war.”

“Thank you, Senior Sister.”

Qin Yan did not refuse, effortlessly tucking the demonic core into his storage ring. However, he was surprised to catch Xiao Miao’s longing gaze.

****

The three of them returned to the dilapidated temple.

Unbeknownst to them, the caravan members from earlier had vanished without a trace. Judging by the scattered footprints on the ground, it seemed they had sensed that something was amiss and had departed the dilapidated temple, braving the stormy night.

Qin Yan, however, found himself unable to concern himself much with such matters.

His gaze fell upon the thoroughly drenched Xiao Miao before him, and he recalled their previous encounter, which had also taken place on a rainy day. This time, however, Xiao Miao appeared far more disheveled, yet a subtle shift had occurred in her eyes, hinting at a newfound and considerable confidence.

Xiao Miao, too, became aware of Qin Yan’s gaze, and a shiver involuntarily ran through her body from the biting cold.

“Qin Xianzi, we… meet again.”

She spoke, her voice carrying a hint of resignation.

“Indeed, Xiao Miao. What brings you to this place?” Qin Yan inquired with genuine curiosity, his gaze noting the exposed white skin on the young woman before him, which bore faint traces of blood.

“Since our last farewell, Qin Xianzi, I miraculously regained my cultivation, and now I stand at the peak of the Qi Refining stage.” As Xiao Miao spoke these words, her eyes sparkled with renewed vigor. “Of course, had it not been for the elixir you bestowed upon me, Qin Xianzi, I would never have recovered with such speed. Afterward, I departed from my family and journeyed throughout the Qin Kingdom, eventually hearing rumors of a demonic creature in this very area…”

Xiao Miao’s explanation brought a clear understanding to Qin Yan, who then responded, “I, too, heard from my Master that a demonic creature resided here, and thus I descended the mountain to eradicate it.”

These words made Xiao Miao’s eyes gleam with admiration. Listen to such a declaration—how profoundly righteous! In this era, which cultivator isn’t driven by self-interest? Righteous cultivators like Qin Xianzi must surely have become extinct within the cultivation world by now. It was truly a rare and precious find.

Even her own journey here this time had been largely motivated by the pursuit of that very demonic core.