A Fateful Encounter in Kui Tong Mountains

Qin Yan accepted the iron piece without ceremony, taking it from Xiao Miao’s hand and placing it into his storage ring.

He gazed at the young woman before him. It was striking how, in the brief time they had interacted, such an immense opportunity had fallen into his hands. The young woman truly was a child of destiny, without a doubt.

A quietude settled over the air between them, and Xiao Miao struggled to find a topic of conversation.

“Qin Yan, that red-dressed woman this evening truly left a lasting impression.”

“She exacts swift revenge, punishing evil and upholding justice. To think she would dare to kill three men in the street for the sake of a mere beggar child,” Qin Yan replied, “However, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss.”

“Oh?”

Upon hearing this, curiosity sparked in Xiao Miao’s eyes.

“Perhaps I am overthinking it.”

After a moment, Qin Yan shook his head and responded, deciding he shouldn’t speculate about such a chivalrous person; otherwise, it would truly feel like judging a noble person with the mindset of a petty one.

Xiao Miao nodded thoughtfully, then seemed to notice the room growing increasingly dim, suggesting that the hour was already late.

“Well then, Qin Yan, get some rest. We’ll enter the mountains together tomorrow.”

She rose, cupping her hands in a respectful salute toward Qin Yan. The intimacy of their shared space was becoming increasingly palpable; while the private room earlier had been tolerable, now they were alone in one. Late at night, it felt rather awkward.

“Safe travels, Xiao Miao.”

Qin Yan spoke, rising to see her off. Though the young woman lived right next door, he maintained all due courtesy.

Such behavior made Xiao Miao feel as if she were basking in a spring breeze, and she left the room with a smile. She couldn’t help but sigh, marveling at how vast the disparity was between disciples of great sects. Some, relying on their sect’s backing, were lawless and unrestrained, while others used their sect’s influence to punish evil and uphold justice.

If everyone in the world were like the latter, then this world would truly be a scene of profound peace.

****

The very next morning, Qin Yan and Xiao Miao ventured into the Kui Tong Mountains.

This journey was visibly arduous. Xiao Miao secretly glanced at Qin Yan beside her as they walked along a narrow path, their feet sinking into mud and tangled weeds.

Even for her, a female cultivator, navigating the mountains felt exceptionally difficult, let alone for a male cultivator from a great sect.

Illusory mists and venomous insects grew more terrifying the deeper they delved into the mountains. Even some experienced cultivators could inadvertently fall victim and meet their demise.

For now, they were still in the outer mountains, where a small path offered passage. However, the deeper they ventured into the forest, the more rugged and treacherous the path would become.

While Qin Yan and Xiao Miao possessed flying magical artifacts, having already entered the mountains, they naturally needed to conserve their spiritual energy. Should they encounter danger, a depletion of spiritual energy would leave them in a dire predicament.

Qin Yan had learned this lesson the hard way once before. After his first meeting with Xiao Miao, he had used a flying artifact to rush back to his sect, only to encounter mountain bandits halfway. It was truly a case of learning from experience.

“Speaking of which,” Qin Yan began, just as he noticed Xiao Miao turning her head to look at him. Seemingly caught, she quickly averted her gaze, and a smile touched Qin Yan’s lips as he continued, “Xiao Miao, if we simply wander aimlessly into these vast mountains, can we truly expect to find the spirit plant you mentioned purely by chance?”

“Of course not, Qin Yan, look.”

As Xiao Miao spoke, she retrieved a compass-like object from her storage ring. “This magical artifact can detect areas where spiritual energy is dense. Places where immortal herbs and spirit plants grow are undoubtedly far richer in spiritual energy than elsewhere. With this artifact, at least we won’t be scrambling about like headless flies.”

Qin Yan nodded slightly. In essence, Xiao Miao was still just hoping to try her luck in these mountains.

Yet, in the path of cultivation, the word ‘luck’ accounts for at least seventy percent of one’s journey. Three parts diligence, seven parts fate. When luck arrives, even a mortal has the potential to become a Celestial Venerable.

However, those three parts of diligence were undeniably crucial.

Just as Xiao Miao wished to find a spirit plant, if she didn’t come here and enter the mountains, it would be a hundred percent impossible to find one. But one couldn’t be so absolute, so it was a matter of doing one’s best and leaving the rest to fate.

Xiao Miao began to manipulate the compass in her hand. They continued forward, sometimes heading east, sometimes west. Possessing cultivation, their speed was remarkably swift.

“There’s a place ahead where the spiritual energy is denser than elsewhere.”

Xiao Miao spoke, her eyes brightening.

“Let’s go!”

Qin Yan wasted no words. The two exchanged a glance and hastened toward the area of dense spiritual energy Xiao Miao had indicated.

Approximately the time it takes for a stick of incense to burn, they arrived at the slightly denser spiritual energy spot. At first glance, it was a spring, and beside it stood a strikingly conspicuous figure.

It was… a woman dressed in red, with a long sword at her waist.

Qin Yan and Xiao Miao exchanged a glance within the treeline, both seeing a hint of surprise in the other’s eyes. Just then, a sharp cry echoed in their ears.

“Who’s there?! What kind of decent person hides and sneaks around!”

The red-dressed woman looked in their direction, her hand gripping the long sword at her side.

Neither Qin Yan nor Xiao Miao were surprised to be discovered, as they hadn’t deliberately concealed their auras. They then stepped out from the trees and approached the red-dressed woman.

“It’s you?!”

The red-dressed woman looked astonished, and her hand relaxed its grip on the long sword.

“Why are you here?”

Xiao Miao asked, stepping forward and subtly shielding Qin Yan behind her. After all, this entire situation seemed far too coincidental.

“Why am I here?” The red-dressed woman frowned slightly at her words. “I was about to ask you why you suddenly appeared behind me.”

The red-dressed woman’s personality was indeed unyielding, which was consistent with what they had witnessed yesterday.

Noticing the tension in the air, Qin Yan, wanting to avoid conflict over mere words, spoke, “We two entered these mountains in search of a spirit plant. To encounter you here, Miss, after arriving at this spot, naturally feels a bit peculiar.”

Because Qin Yan had been wearing his bamboo hat the entire time, the red-dressed woman showed a hint of surprise on her face when she heard him speak.

After saying this, Qin Yan removed his bamboo hat. The red-dressed woman’s eyes lit up as she looked at his face: ‘What a strikingly handsome young man.’

“My purpose in entering the mountains is quite similar to yours.”

The red-dressed woman spoke, her voice noticeably softer. She continued, “I presume you two are cultivators. I merely possess some martial arts skills, which are incomparable to yours, so there’s no need to be so wary of me.”

Having said this, a slightly self-deprecating smile appeared on her face. To think that these two immortal cultivators, searching for spirit plants, would be wary of a mere mortal like her—she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.