Chapter 9 : What, Ye Xuan Didn’t Run Away?
“….” As Yu Ling’er watched the scene unfold before her, memories of that day came flooding back. She had been teaching Ye Xuan swordsmanship. Although he couldn’t cultivate Qi due to his lack of spiritual roots, Ye Xuan showed exceptional talent in swordsmanship. Combined with his diligent practice, his skills had improved significantly.
The two were sparring in the snow-covered land of Qingyan Peak, Taihua Mountain. Yu Ling’er’s movements were steady and precise, while Ye Xuan gradually started to show signs of fatigue. The gap between a mortal and a cultivator was vast, after all. No matter how skilled one’s swordsmanship, without the necessary strength and speed, it amounts to little more than a display.
Yu Ling’er’s gaze fixed on the unfolding events in the scene.
“Little junior brother, your swordsmanship is really good…” After finishing their sparring, Yu Ling’er praised Ye Xuan. She knew that without spiritual roots, Ye Xuan’s chances of achieving significant progress in cultivation were slim.
However, with his dedication to training, he could become a renowned swordsman in the outside world. She had always been diligent in guiding him and was careful to never bring up the sensitive topic of spiritual roots.
“Well,” Ye Xuan replied shyly with a smile, “It’s all thanks to senior sister’s excellent teaching.”
“Hehe, naturally, as they say, a good teacher produces outstanding students,” Yu Ling’er replied proudly, her head held high.
At that moment…
Thud, thud, thud!
From the snow-covered ground came heavy footsteps. A figure emerged, standing on two legs like a human but towering over two men in height, with thick limbs covered in patterned fur and a massive tiger head with blood-red eyes.
“No good, it’s a tiger demon! How did it escape?!” Yu Ling’er immediately shielded Ye Xuan, telling him, “Junior brother, run and get help!”
“I can’t, senior sister, I don’t know how to fly with a sword… I wouldn’t get far even if I tried to run. Let’s fight it together,” Ye Xuan insisted, shaking his head.
“Alright!” Yu Ling’er agreed, knowing that Ye Xuan couldn’t fly and that Taihua Mountain’s icy terrain was treacherous for him. “I’ll take the lead; if there’s a chance, you join in.”
“Okay,” Ye Xuan replied, gripping his sword. “Senior sister, if anything happens, I’ll fight to my last breath to protect you.”
“…”
‘If only you had done that later,’ Yu Ling’er thought bitterly as she watched the scene. She would have preferred if Ye Xuan had run away right from the start, sparing her any false hopes.
“Roar!” The tiger demon’s roar shook the snow off the surrounding plants, scattering snow crystals all around. Its blood-red eyes fixated on the two human figures, and it lunged forward without a word. Hunger required no speech.
“Evil beast!” Yu Ling’er, wielding her sword, charged at the tiger demon. Surrounded by swirling sword Qi and shimmering like stars, she fought bravely despite the challenge. Battling a blood-eyed tiger demon was tough even for a cultivator at the Object Manipulation realm.
Yu Ling’er, though young, faced the creature without fear. A scratch from the tiger’s razor-sharp claws could tear flesh, and even Yu Ling’er was at risk of severe injury. Meanwhile, her sword strokes, swift and shining, pierced the demon repeatedly.
In the midst of the battle, the real Ye Xuan, holding the script, watched Yu Ling’er’s reactions and spoke with a smile, “Don’t worry, this time I won’t run. Not only will I not flee, but I will also fight desperately to save you. I am the scriptwriter, and what happens in the script is up to me.”
As the tiger demon bled profusely, its ferocity only intensified. Ye Xuan could only watch from a distance, stunned by the dangerous battle unfolding before him. Qi circulated around Yu Ling’er as she darted between the tiger’s swipes, her sword striking forcefully, drawing more blood from the beast. The tiger’s merciless claws struck Yu Ling’er, causing her to bleed profusely.
Sword cultivators are divided into spiritual sword and physical sword wielders. Qingyan Elder practiced physical swordsmanship, engaging in close combat with demons. High-level cultivators can slay a demon with a single sword strike. However, Yu Ling’er’s limited cultivation made close combat with the tiger demon perilously dangerous.
“Take this!” Yu Ling’er leapt up, her sword splitting into several shadows, aiming a mighty slash at the demon. Her blade, however, got stuck in the demon’s tough body just before it could split the beast in half.
“Damn girl, die!” roared the tiger demon, swiping at Yu Ling’er. She couldn’t dodge in time and was sent flying, crashing into an ice wall.
“Senior sister, are you okay?!” Ye Xuan rushed to her side, concerned.
“I… I’ve exhausted my Qi… it’s up to you now… I’ve wounded the demon’s inner core, even you can kill it…” gasping for breath, Yu Ling’er conveyed the demon’s condition to Ye Xuan before passing out.
The blood-eyed tiger demon slowly approached, its massive frame causing the ground to tremble with each step.
“I can’t believe I once thought Ye Xuan would fight to protect me to the point of depleting his Qi…” Yu Ling’er laughed bitterly, watching the demon advance. She then looked forward with anticipation to the scene where Ye Xuan supposedly ran away in fear, and Qin, her senior brother, came to her rescue.
Yu Ling’er remembered that she was unconscious at that time and was curious about how her senior brother saved her. Compared to Ye Xuan, Qin seemed like a true hero.
In the scene:
Thud, thud, thud! The tiger demon slowly approached Ye Xuan. “Boy, this girl is done for. You, a mere mortal, think you can stop me? I’m not interested in human flesh. Get out of my way!” The tiger demon’s voice boomed, causing pain in the ears.
Any mortal would have been terrified by the sight of a blood-covered, two-men-tall demon with a huge tiger head. But Ye Xuan stood his ground. “Dare to harm my senior sister? I’ll fight to my last breath to slay you!” He charged at the demon with his sword.
“Bold! Let me tear you apart!” The tiger demon swiped at Ye Xuan, who deftly dodged and slashed the demon’s arm, causing a wound. “As I thought… your inner core is broken, you’ve lost your demonic power!” Ye Xuan realized with heightened battle spirit. The weakened tiger demon, with its diminished strength and injuries, was no longer a match for him.
“What?! No way!” Yu Ling’er was shocked to see Ye Xuan not fleeing, but bravely battling the tiger demon. This was contrary to her memory. If Ye Xuan didn’t run away, then why did Senior Brother Qin come to her rescue?
Ye Xuan, watching Yu Ling’er’s stunned expression, couldn’t help but smirk secretly. “Surprised now? Just wait, there’s more to come. Watch as I clear my villainous name and tarnish your shining hero’s reputation. When my life’s on the line, I won’t show mercy.”