Chapter 36: Trouble’s Brewing
Chen Yin was slightly disappointed.
He hadn’t heard what he wanted to hear from Shen Shuanglian.
But he didn’t dwell on it. Instead, he turned to her and said, “It’s getting late. Are you hungry? I’ll find us something to eat.”
“No.” Shen Shuanglian struggled to get up. “You’re injured. Let me—”
Chen Yin gently pushed her back down and asked:
“Can you cook?”
Shen Shuanglian shook her head blankly.
“Do you know which fruits are edible and which aren’t?”
Another shake of the head.
“Can you catch anything other than a rabbit?”
Still, a shake of the head.
“Just stay put. You’re in no better shape than I am.”
Chen Yin got up and looked towards the cave entrance. “I won’t be long. If I’m not back within an hour, don’t look for me. Just run.”
Before Shen Shuanglian could protest, Chen Yin had already left the cave.
The cave was plunged back into darkness and silence, a chilling loneliness settling over the space.
Shen Shuanglian wrapped herself tightly in Chen Yin’s robe, curled up on the ground, and stared at the flickering candle flame.
She couldn’t help but bring the robe closer and inhale its scent.
“You lied to him,” the System’s voice suddenly said. “You don’t have any medicinal pills. And you don’t have enough points to exchange for any from the System Shop.”
Shen Shuanglian simply stared at the firelight, saying nothing.
“If this continues, his injuries will heal soon, but yours will only worsen.”
“I don’t care.” Shen Shuanglian shook her head. “I won’t die.”
“If your foundation is damaged and your cultivation is hindered, how will you fight that girl in five years?”
“Injuries can be healed, and cultivation can be restored. If all else fails, I can always perish together with her.”
Seeing that she was determined, the System sighed helplessly.
Shen Shuanglian hesitated for a moment, then whispered, “…I’m sorry.”
“My willfulness might drag you down too, right?”
“…It’s fine.”
The System’s voice softened. “We’re different from you humans. The concepts of life and death hold no meaning for us.”
“If you truly don’t want to follow the plot and live this kind of life, then do whatever makes you happy.”
“We’ll just consider this a chance encounter, with no connection after five years.”
Shen Shuanglian stared out of the cave for a long time, lost in thought.
After a moment, her eyes hardened with determination.
“…I’ll do as you said.”
“Even if I give up, other Chosen Ones might not.”
“I won’t be at ease until I’m sure he’s safe.”
The System fell silent. The cave was once again enveloped in silence.
***
After leaving the cave, Chen Yin walked for a long distance.
Despite its reputation as the most dangerous place in the cultivation world, the Heavenly Path Perilous Domain seemed surprisingly peaceful. The scenery was beautiful, with lush greenery, fragrant flowers, and a variety of birds singing. It was like a paradise untouched by human hands.
Not only that, but Chen Yin also encountered countless rare herbs and spirit plants mentioned in ancient texts, as well as several exotic beasts. Most of them were docile and simply fled upon seeing him.
…This is nothing like the Heavenly Path Perilous Domain. They should rename it the Heavenly Path Paradise. Chen Yin couldn’t help but think to himself.
To be honest, many of the materials he found here would be worth a fortune in the outside world. He couldn’t help but drool at the sight of those herbs, imagining them as piles of spirit stones.
Unfortunately, most of these immortal herbs required special containers to preserve their spiritual energy. Even if he collected them all, they would be useless by the time he got them out of here.
Recalling the ancient texts he had read as a child when he sneaked into his Master’s treasure vault, Chen Yin gathered some herbs that could improve circulation and a few edible fruits.
He vaguely remembered reading that a combination of certain herbs could help repair damaged meridians, but he wasn’t sure about the specific recipe. So he just gathered a large amount of everything.
Finally, it was time to find some meat to replenish their strength.
Chen Yin set his sights on a deer leisurely grazing nearby.
…Sorry, little buddy. He apologized silently in his heart.
His pale white Eternal Light sword shot through the air in an instant. The poor deer didn’t even realize what was happening before it lost its life.
Chen Yin walked over and skillfully harvested the deer antlers, then slung the entire deer over his shoulder, humming a tune as he started to head back.
But after taking a few steps, he suddenly stopped.
He heard a fierce tiger roar.
He turned to see a large tiger with purple and gold stripes, its aura menacing, staring at him from a nearby ravine.
Chen Yin looked down at the deer he was carrying, then at the tiger.
…He understood. He had probably stolen the tiger’s prey.
Although the tiger looked similar in size to an ordinary tiger, Chen Yin could sense a terrifying aura emanating from its body. It was clearly no ordinary beast.
A spirit beast? Judging by its size, it was still a cub. But based on its aura, it was probably at the Entering Gate Realm.
Chen Yin looked around but didn’t see its parents or siblings. So, he put down the deer and grinned at the tiger menacingly.
“Hey, little tiger, are you angry that I stole your prey?”
The purple-striped tiger growled, its whiskers twitching slightly.
“Are you really angry? Want to beat me up?”
He then turned his head provocatively. “Come and bite me~ If you bite me, I’ll give you back your prey~”
The tiger couldn’t take it anymore. It roared and lunged at Chen Yin, its claws swiping through the air.
But as it leaped, Chen Yin swiftly swung his sword, severing a nearby tree. The trunk crashed down on the tiger in mid-air.
“Ouch…”
With a whimper, the tiger was pinned under the tree trunk, unable to move. It could only growl and whimper weakly.
“Hehe, still too young.”
Chen Yin swaggered over and said smugly, “Next time, don’t be so impulsive. Assess the situation before attacking, or you’ll get tricked again, understand?”
“This time, you’re unlucky to have run into me. My friend is injured, and I need your demon core.”
“But don’t worry, it’s just one demon core. You can cultivate for a few hundred years and grow another one.”
The tiger seemed to understand what he was planning to do. Its eyes, surprisingly human-like, flashed with fear, and it let out a desperate growl.
Chen Yin ignored it, his face twisted into a villainous grin as he approached the tiger with his sword.
***
By the time he returned to the cave, the sun was already high in the sky.
Seeing Chen Yin return, Shen Shuanglian’s worried expression eased, replaced by a slight frown and a hint of reproach in her voice.
“Didn’t we agree on one hour… I was almost about to go look for you.”
“Sorry, I found something interesting and lost track of time.”
Chen Yin threw the deer onto the ground and skillfully started a fire.
Shen Shuanglian couldn’t help and could only watch silently from the side.
“…Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For taking care of me. It should be me taking care of you.”
“Didn’t you also take care of me when I was injured?”
“I… that’s different.”
“There’s no difference.”
Chen Yin divided the deer meat and placed it over the fire, saying calmly, “I’m grateful that Senior Sister saved me.”
“But a debt is a debt. That’s all.”
Shen Shuanglian hugged her knees, her expression downcast.
“Is there… no other reason?”
“What other reason do you want to hear, Senior Sister? I can make something up.”
Hearing this, Shen Shuanglian pouted unhappily.
“Are you good at making up sweet words to please girls?”
“Naturally. One needs some skills to pick up girls when traveling.”
“But I’ve never heard you say anything sweet to me.” Shen Shuanglian looked into his eyes. “Is it because I’m not considered a girl?”
“If you want to hear it, I can tell you now. But before that—”
Chen Yin handed her a stone bowl filled with medicinal soup.
“Drink this first.”
Shen Shuanglian looked at the medicine, a look of fear crossing her beautiful face for the first time. She shrank back slightly.
“Is this medicine… bitter?”
“All medicine is bitter.”
“C-can I not drink it?”
“No.” Chen Yin held the bowl out to her, his expression firm.
Shen Shuanglian struggled for a long time, then finally took the bowl, gritted her teeth, closed her eyes, and drank it all in one gulp.
The next moment, she scrunched up her face, stuck out her tongue, and looked like she was about to cry.
“This… this is too bitter.” Her voice became soft and almost sounded like a whine.
Chen Yin chuckled at her pained expression.
“I finished it.”
“Good girl.”
“Your turn,” she said, staring at him intently.
“What?”
“Say something nice to me, make the bitterness go away. Don’t go back on your word.”
Seeing Shen Shuanglian acting like a sulking child, Chen Yin couldn’t help but tease her, “I know a remedy for bitterness.”
“What is it?”
“Find someone to kiss. Share the bitterness with them.”
Shen Shuanglian was speechless with embarrassment.
Chen Yin burst into laughter. This Senior Sister was even cuter than he had imagined. Unlike Xiang’er, who was easily flustered and shy, Senior Sister, usually cold and aloof, would become speechless with embarrassment when faced with a romantic topic, wanting to disappear into thin air. It was quite amusing.
It made him want to tease her even more.
Just as he was about to comfort his easily embarrassed Senior Sister, a deafening tiger roar suddenly echoed from outside the cave.
Shen Shuanglian’s expression changed instantly, and she struggled to stand up.
“That aura… a Purple-Whiskered Thunder Mane Tiger!”
“Be careful, an adult Purple-Whiskered Thunder Mane Tiger is at least at the Supreme Clarity Realm! Quick, hide!”
She stumbled towards the entrance, drawing her sword.
Chen Yin looked at the demon core in the pot, his expression awkward.
…Crap.
The parents are probably here to avenge their child.
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