The sky darkened as a black crow perched on a branch, its dark eyes fixed intently on the figure below. A biting wind carried a chilling air of hostility.
Yuan Ji walked slowly along the path, the sound of crushed twigs beneath his feet the only noise in the stillness.
“Yuan Ji, the wind’s picking up. Let’s finish collecting the trash and head back soon.”
A’Tong nervously glanced around before huddling closer to Yuan Ji, attempting—despite its lack of a physical body—to shield him from the wind.
Yuan Ji gave a slight nod, watching as A’Tong kept peering left and right. After a moment, he asked thoughtfully, “What’s wrong?”
“Yuan Ji, something feels off.”
A’Tong lowered its voice, a hint of fear creeping in. “The map shows a bunch of green dots, but I don’t see anyone around. Oh no… don’t tell me we’ve run into… ghosts?!”
A’Tong shuddered, pressing even closer to Yuan Ji. Earlier, while Yuan Ji had been setting up an array, it had wandered around the River God Temple out of boredom. By chance, a storybook had slipped out of Ye Wenshu’s robes.
Unable to resist, it had taken a peek.
Now, everywhere looked like it was hiding terrifying spirits. So scary!
Yuan Ji cast a long, silent look at A’Tong, which had buried its face in its hands, and found himself at a loss for words.
Between a system and a ghost, the one who should be screaming for help was definitely the latter.
“Green dots mean people,” Yuan Ji sighed, scanning the surroundings before his gaze settled behind a tree. “They’re using concealment talismans.”
A’Tong didn’t fully understand but felt slightly reassured. Watching as Yuan Ji turned and walked unhurriedly toward the Forgotten River, it couldn’t help but ask, “Yuan Ji, aren’t we going to check it out?”
“No,” Yuan Ji replied bluntly, utterly indifferent. “Too much trouble.”
A’Tong: …Oh.
As the two gradually disappeared into the distance, the figures hiding behind the trees quietly exhaled in relief and lowered their weapons.
“Mute, why didn’t we act just now?” Eleven stared at Yuan Ji’s retreating figure, puzzled. “What if that little girl ruins our plans? Shouldn’t we just…”
A murderous glint flashed in Eleven’s eyes as he made a throat-slitting gesture.
The one he called “Mute”—Song Qingyang—shot him an impatient look and signed in response: He’s not my target.
“Right, what harm could a powerless girl do anyway?”
Eleven spat in disdain, hugging his weapon as he leaned against the tree trunk and yawned. “Where is he? Is your intel reliable? After waiting this long, I’d hate for someone else to catch him first.”
Song Qingyang remained silent, fingers brushing over the hilt of his sword.
The next moment, a thick scent of blood wafted through the wind.
The two instantly stood, exchanged a glance, and vanished—leaving only the crow on the branch staring at the spot where they had been.
…..
A cold mist clung to the Forgotten River, its surface thinly veiled in ice.
With a sharp crack, a streak of white light flashed. The still waters split open as a mud-caked longsword shot out from the depths, dangling three or four strands of waterweed in midair.
At first glance, it almost looked like the sword had cloned itself.
“Ew.” A’Tong pinched its nose, waving a hand in disgust. “Yuan Ji, once we deal with this, we can go back.”
No sooner had it spoken than a dark figure came flying out of nowhere, slamming into the trash Yuan Ji had just fished out and sending it plunging back into the water with a loud splash.
“AHHH! A GHOST!” A’Tong shrieked, immediately ducking behind Yuan Ji, too terrified to look at the figure now sprawled on the ground.
Yuan Ji blinked at the now-empty trash pile, then at the massive axe that had landed beside it, and finally at the disheveled young man coughing up blood nearby. He licked his teeth and let out a cold laugh.
Oh, wonderful.
…..
“Tch. You’re a stubborn one.”
A hulking brute, easily nine feet tall and thick with muscle, emerged from the shadows. His massive frame rippled with every step, an intimidating sight that sent chills down the spine.
“Xuan Changsheng, hand it over quietly, and maybe I’ll make your death quick. Otherwise…” The brute hefted his twin axes, the cold glint of steel flashing ominously. “Don’t blame me for being ruthless.”
He leered down at the injured Xuan Changsheng, arrogance dripping from his voice. “If you cooperate, I might even be merciful enough to reunite you with your precious Xuan family in the afterlife. Hah!”
Those words struck a nerve. Xuan Changsheng slowly raised his head, bloodshot eyes brimming with tears of rage.
His voice was hoarse, each word dripping with hatred. “In. Your. Dreams.”
The brute sneered. “You really still think you’re the young master of the Xuan family? The Xuan clan is gone. You’re nothing but a stray dog now.”
“Running for years, and your cultivation hasn’t improved one bit. Useless.” He clicked his tongue mockingly. “Back when Xuan Chengren was alive, the Xuan family meant something. Now? They’re a joke.”
Song Qingyang’s expression darkened instantly. His grip on his sword tightened, ready to strike.
“Mute, wait!” Eleven hurriedly stopped him. “Xuan Changsheng might still cough up what we need. Let’s hold off.”
Song Qingyang shot him a sharp look, jaw clenched so tight a vein bulged in his temple. With a heavy exhale, he forced his sword down and glared at the brute.
Meanwhile, Xuan Changsheng felt his blood boil. Rampant spiritual energy tore through his meridians like countless needles, the pain so intense his entire body broke out in cold sweat.
His robes clung to him, drenched. He tried desperately to gather even a wisp of energy, but it slipped through his fingers like sand.
The brute laughed at his struggle, the sound booming through the air.
Xuan Changsheng’s vision blurred with fury, grief and rage surging in his chest.
No. He would never beg.
Gasping for breath, he locked eyes with the brute, memorizing every detail of his face. His voice was ragged but resolute.
“Thirty years east of the river, thirty years—”
SPLASH!
A massive orb of water, along with a shower of spiritual artifacts, came crashing down from above.
THUD!
Xuan Changsheng, mid-sentence, was smacked squarely in the head by a high-grade artifact. He collapsed, clutching his forehead, staring in disbelief at the weapon—something that would spark a frenzy if it appeared in the outside world.
His hands trembled.
Had the heavens heard his plea? Was this his chance?
The brute’s laughter died abruptly. He touched his throbbing head, fingers coming away bloody. His face twisted in rage.
“WHO DARES AMBUSH ME?!”
“Tch.”
An annoyed click of the tongue. Yuan Ji stepped out from the mist, walking toward him with unhurried steps.
Eleven’s eyes nearly bulged out of his skull. “Th-that’s the—”
“Little girl, you’ve got a death wish.”
The brute’s grip on his axe tightened, his aura turning murderous—though the effect was slightly ruined by his sopping-wet clothes and the stinking riverweed draped over his shoulder.
“You’re noisy.”
Yuan Ji’s almond-shaped eyes lifted slightly. She stood there, calm and unreadable, yet her gaze alone sent a chill down the brute’s spine.
His arm hairs stood on end. For a second, doubt flickered in his mind—but then he remembered: This girl has no cultivation. What’s there to fear?
“Die!” The axe swung high.
“Look out!” Xuan Changsheng shouted.
Yuan Ji lowered her head slightly, her expression unchanging. After a pause, she glanced at Xuan Changsheng, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
“A’Tong, do I have face blindness? He looks familiar.”
A’Tong: …?
NOW’S NOT THE TIME FOR THAT! THE AXE IS LITERALLY INCHES FROM YOUR FACE!
Internally, A’Tong was screaming, its data streams twisting into knots. It wiped its face and hurriedly explained, “That’s Xuan Changsheng, Xuan Chengren’s grandson. Also the protagonist of this world’s fate.”
“YUAN JI, THE AXE—”
“Oh.” Yuan Ji nodded in understanding. No wonder he looked familiar.
Just as A’Tong, Xuan Changsheng, and the brute watched in shock—Yuan Ji lazily raised a hand.
CRACK!
The massive axe froze mid-air.
Then, before everyone’s horrified eyes, it disintegrated into dust, vanishing without a trace.
A’Tong slumped over Yuan Ji’s shoulder in relief.
Xuan Changsheng’s pupils shrank. His breathing turned ragged as he stared at Yuan Ji, a decision solidifying in his mind.
“I said, you’re noisy.”
Yuan Ji turned back to the now-terrified brute, her dark eyes glinting with displeasure.
A drop of cold sweat rolled down the brute’s face. He didn’t dare mourn his weapon. Heart pounding, he forced a shaky smile. “E-Elder, this is all a misunderstanding!”
He took a step back—
THWACK!
A spiritual artifact shot past his forehead, embedding itself into the cliff behind him. Cracks spiderwebbed across the rock face.
Eleven gulped at the sight. “Mute, you saved my life. When we get back, I’ll let your dog marry my cat. Consider the marriage alliance approved.”
Song Qingyang: “…”
Yuan Ji’s gaze flickered toward their hiding spot. She leaned down slightly and asked, voice sweetly innocent, “Was it you who littered earlier?”
“E-Elder, what—?” The brute stammered, trembling like a leaf, all his earlier bravado gone.
Yuan Ji crooked a finger.
WHOOSH!
An axe flew from the distance and lodged itself between the brute’s legs.
“Would you like to go retrieve the trash for me?”
The brute nearly wet himself. “Y-YES!”
Yuan Ji nodded, satisfied.
Just as the brute thought he’d been spared—
SPLASH!
An invisible force yanked him off his feet and hurled him straight into the Forgotten River.
The waters churned briefly before stilling once more.
A’Tong looked from the river to Yuan Ji, conflicted. “Yuan Ji… isn’t throwing trash into the Forgotten River a bit…?”
Yuan Ji dusted off her hands, unfazed. “Hm?”
“He’s a kind soul.”
“Willing to help me fish out trash. What’s wrong with that?”
A’Tong opened its mouth, then closed it. It had no rebuttal.
Having vented most of her irritation, Yuan Ji sensed the approaching auras from earlier. She was about to leave when Xuan Changsheng struggled to his knees and kowtowed before her, voice thick with gratitude.
“Elder, thank you for saving me. I pledge my life to your service.”
Yuan Ji: “…?”
“You… also want to help me pick up trash?”
A’Tong: “!!”
