Chapter Fifteen: The Fairy Among the Flowers

Today, Yang Nan’s mood was utterly different from more than three years ago. A year ago, he had fled to the foot of Mount Kunlun like a stray dog, lost and desperate. Now, three years later, under the protection of the Kunlun Sect and having stepped into the ranks of master-level cultivators, his ability to defend himself was incomparable to before.

The small courtyard he had purchased remained tranquil and serene. With a gentle turn of his spiritual power, Yang Nan quietly leapt over the wall. In the radiant, brocade-like rear garden, a lovely maiden with iridescent wings flitted joyfully among the flowers, watering them as she hummed a mountain tune.

The cheerful, melodious song drifted into Yang Nan’s ears, and he couldn’t help but reveal a gentle, sun-warmed smile. After more than three years apart, Dieyi was just as innocent and pure as ever. Her colorful wings shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight, and paired with her delicate, ethereal beauty, she seemed nothing less than a fairy descended to the mortal world.

Dieyi danced freely among the flowers, her carefree and contented demeanor laid bare for all to see.

Dancing among the blooms, she seemed a fairy untouched by worldly dust.

Indeed, Dieyi was a true flower spirit untainted by the smoke of the mortal realm.

Lost in reverie behind the tree, Yang Nan was suddenly interrupted by a mischievous voice beside him, “Young Master, isn’t Dieyi beautiful?”

“Yes, she is very beautiful,” Yang Nan replied unconsciously. The dazzling blossoms and Dieyi’s unearthly grace were a feast for the eyes.

“Do you like her?” the voice teased, clearly laced with playful intent.

Startled, Yang Nan turned to look for the speaker, but saw no one—only a pristine white lotus blooming in the breeze. Upon closer inspection, nestled in the lotus pod sat a tiny figure dressed in white, her lovely face lifted in a sly smile.

The girl’s face was full of cunning mischief, yet her large, limpid eyes overflowed with affection—it was none other than Baiyi, the white-robed lotus spirit. The white lotus swayed gracefully, its pod half-open, but her beautiful visage was just as he remembered.

“Young Master, who would have thought that after three years away, not only have you grown, but your heart has matured too…” Baiyi grinned impishly, “You even sneak glances at Dieyi now! Hee hee!”

Yang Nan chuckled, “You little imp, so cheeky now after three years—daring to make fun of me! See if I don’t catch you.”

He reached out to grab her, but Baiyi giggled, darting nimbly away from his fingers. She flew from the lotus pod and called loudly toward the garden, “Dieyi, Young Master is peeking at you! Why don’t you come over and let him have a good look?”

Hearing Baiyi call, Dieyi’s cheeks flushed as she flew out from the flowers. When she saw Yang Nan, her face lit up with delight, “Young Master, you’re back?”

Yang Nan noticed Dieyi’s tender neck was tinged with red, and knew from her sharp ears that she had heard Baiyi’s teasing. He cleared his throat and asked, “Hm… Where is Brother Chiyang?”

Dieyi, face still pink, replied softly, “Young Master, Brother Chiyang is waiting for you in the main hall.”

Yang Nan was surprised, “You all knew I was coming back?”

He had intended to sneak in and surprise them, but it seemed Chiyang and Baiyi were already aware. His words made Dieyi blush even deeper—wasn’t this an admission she’d heard him praise her beauty?

Seeing her bashful, endearing look, Yang Nan was quietly moved. Baiyi, however, giggled and said, “Young Master, we knew the moment you jumped over the wall. If we couldn’t sense that, how would we defend against real enemies?”

Yang Nan suddenly understood—there were quite a few hidden guards in this courtyard. He laughed, “Since everyone’s here, why hide? Come out!”

As soon as he spoke, monsters leapt out from the pond, the woods, and among the flowers. Old Crab and the Golden-scaled King were among them. Old Crab grumbled, “It’s all that Baiyi’s fault for having a big mouth. If not, Young Master might have gone up for a hug…”

Before he could finish, a quick-witted little demon tugged his armor. Old Crab immediately caught on and laughed, “Young Master, I saw nothing, heard nothing… ha ha!”

His awkward words made Dieyi so embarrassed that her delicate form trembled. With a flutter of her wings, she hid among the flowers. Yang Nan could only smile wryly. He understood the girls’ feelings somewhat, but having devoted himself to the Dao in this life, he had no thoughts of family. He didn’t expose them, merely saying, “Come inside, all of you. I’ve something to discuss.”

He headed for the main hall. Old Crab, worried, muttered, “Did I say anything wrong?” Having long known his young master’s inscrutable temperament, he fretted.

After three years together, the goldfish spirit had become friendly with him and gloated, “You didn’t say anything wrong, but you shouldn’t have said anything at all. If you’d kept quiet, it’d be fine; but now it’s serious.”

Old Crab instantly understood, slapping his forehead, “Oh no! I’ve offended Young Master—who knows what tricks he’ll use to punish me!” The young master’s methods made all the monsters wary. The Crab General was filled with regret; if only he’d held his tongue.

All the other monsters shrugged in unison, “We don’t know anything. We didn’t say a word.”

Old Crab’s dark face grew even darker. He snapped, “You lot rush to watch the fun, but when trouble comes, you leave me to face it alone. If Young Master punishes me, I’ll deal with you first!”

But the other monsters just laughed and joked, refusing to believe him.

Meanwhile, Yang Nan sat in the main hall with Chiyang, recounting his recent journey to the Demon Valley. He held nothing back from Chiyang, explaining the predicament in detail.

Chiyang, having refined the Fire Yuan Sword into its essence and thus advanced to the eighth level of Weapon Master, was far stronger than before. Hearing Yang Nan’s words, his face grew grave. “The seven demon kings of the Seventy-Two Valleys are no trifling matter. If we face them head on, we stand no chance.”

Yang Nan sighed, “Brother, I know it too—but I have no choice. Still, I doubt those demon kings would dare openly oppose Kunlun Mountain. It’s their underhanded tricks I fear.”

If not for old ties, any one or two true disciples could wipe out the Demon Valley. However strong those demon kings, could they truly go against the Kunlun Sect? Yet monsters were wild and unruly by nature, hating restraint. If handled well, perhaps peace could be achieved.

Chiyang understood this too. He thought for a moment and said, “Then let’s gather the demon soldiers and go together—it will bolster our momentum.”

Yang Nan nodded. “Let’s put that aside for now. I acquired a fire-element cultivation technique from the Kunlun Sect this time. If you practice it, your strength will increase greatly, which will help in the Demon Valley.”

With that, he condensed the Demonic Inferno Scripture from his divine sense and sent it into Chiyang’s mind.

Chiyang’s soul was shaken as countless symbols of the technique lit up in his mind, every word a supreme secret. Overjoyed, he said nothing more and began practicing the Demonic Inferno Scripture right in the hall.

Peerless techniques lead to immortality and sainthood; first-class techniques grant veneration and holiness; second-class techniques create grandmasters; third-class techniques bestow the pinnacle of mastery.

Though this Demonic Inferno Scripture was only a third-class technique from the Kunlun Hidden Arts Pavilion, at best allowing one to reach the peak of mastery and not sainthood, to Chiyang it was countless times superior to his previous Fire Sword Art. He had only ever hoped to reach the pinnacle of master rank, never the grandmaster level. But now, with this scripture, his natal fire could be cultivated to grandmastery!

Moreover, the divine abilities attached to the Demonic Inferno Scripture made Chiyang far more formidable than before.