The burly man behind the girl immediately understood.
"Was it the sword energy seal you set up at Wanling Mountain?"
The girl gave a slight nod and issued a cold order.
"Continue monitoring this place."
After speaking, her figure vanished into thin air.
The burly man let out a bitter chuckle to himself. Even though he was at the Feather Transformation Realm, he had not sensed even the slightest trace of spiritual energy when she used her movement technique.
The Wanling Mountains were located 150 kilometers north of the Xiaohanshan Sect. This region was the largest gathering place of demonic beasts within a thousand miles of Yulin City, and also a land rich with rare spiritual herbs.
Lin Che was currently searching carefully across a vast open plain for a plant called Hidden Spirit Grass. This was a task assigned to him by Lin Tianran, and he had to collect it almost every month.
This herb was most effective when harvested on a full moon night.
Lin Tianran never explained its purpose, and Lin Che never asked. In his heart, he trusted his teacher completely.
After collecting the herbs, Lin Che placed each stalk into a prepared jade box and stored it in his spatial ring.
Just as he finished and prepared to leave, he raised his head—and froze.
A girl in white stood right in front of him.
She wore a plain white dress with no decoration. Her black hair flowed over her shoulders, held slightly by a jade hairpin.
Her temperament was cold and proud, like the clear moon in the sky or the lingering snow of early spring. Her beauty was breathtaking, like peach blossoms in bloom or the first light after snowfall. Her eyes were like bright pearls reflecting autumn water.
Lin Che, who had lived in Yulin for over a decade, had never seen a woman like her.
At that moment, he could only describe her in eight words:
Unyielding spirit and frosty beauty, unmatched in the world.
The two of them stared at each other in silence.
Lin Che was momentarily stunned by her beauty and felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if he had seen her somewhere before.
The girl was even more surprised than him. She stared into his eyes, feeling an unusual sense of closeness rise within her. His gaze reminded her of someone—someone who had once changed her fate.
But she quickly dismissed the thought. That person's cultivation was far beyond this boy, and far stronger as well.
"Young lady, this is Wanling Mountain. Although the outer region has few beasts, it is still dangerous for someone like you to be here at night."
Lin Che spoke calmly. He was certain she had no cultivation. This was a wilderness, not a place for an ordinary girl.
The girl in white was slightly startled, then nodded faintly. Her gaze fell on the jade box containing the Hidden Spirit Grass, as if she was about to ask something.
At that moment, Lin Che's expression suddenly changed.
"Something's wrong!"
His senses were extremely sharp. He could feel a massive surge of demonic beasts rushing toward them.
"Run!"
Lin Che grabbed her hand and immediately pulled her away.
The girl frowned slightly. Anyone else would have died instantly under such treatment, yet for some reason, this boy gave her a strange sense of goodwill. He genuinely thought she was powerless and was trying to protect her.
Lin Che held her hand tightly as they ran. Her hand was cold like ancient jade, yet surprisingly soft.
Soon after, a wave of demonic beasts appeared behind them. Their individual strength was not high, but their sheer numbers were overwhelming.
Lin Che felt helpless. He had unknowingly fled deeper into the Wanling Mountains—a forbidden zone where even stronger beasts roamed.
But there was no choice but to run.
He glanced at the girl beside him. Despite having no visible cultivation, she showed no fear and did not even appear out of breath.
Before he could think further, the beast tide drew closer.
Not far ahead, he spotted a cave.
Without hesitation, he pulled her inside and quickly covered the entrance with nearby grass.
He then lit a small flame, illuminating the cave with a faint glow.
"Don't be afraid. We'll hide here for now. I'll take you out once the beast tide passes."
For some reason, he felt an instinctive desire to protect her.
The girl's eyes were calm like a spring pond. The firelight reflected in them, revealing a faint unfamiliar yet strangely familiar warmth.
"What is your name?" she asked coldly.
"Lin Che. And you?"
"Yu Shiqian."
She answered without hesitation. Even she was slightly surprised that she had revealed her name so easily to this "ant."
"Why are you here so late?" Lin Che asked.
Although she had no spiritual fluctuations, her composure was far beyond that of an ordinary person.
The girl did not answer. Instead, she asked in return:
"Who are you collecting the Spirit-Concealing Grass for?"
Lin Che froze slightly.
Before he could respond, a terrifying roar echoed from outside the cave.
A powerful aura shook the entire cave.
"A fourth-tier demonic beast!"
Lin Che's expression changed dramatically.
A fourth-tier beast was equivalent to a Spirit Vein Realm cultivator—on the same level as the sect master of Xiaohanshan Sect.
A massive striped tiger stepped into view, its fangs gleaming as it locked onto Lin Che as prey.
It completely ignored Yu Shiqian, sensing no spiritual energy from her at all.
Lin Che raised his sword and activated the Crimson Moon Divine Descent Technique. Moonlight spiritual energy flickered weakly in his hands—like a candle against a storm.
Yu Shiqian calmly watched him face death. Yet strangely, his eyes reminded her again of "that person."
Lin Che glanced at her.
At a time like this, she still showed no cultivation fluctuations.
He sighed.
"So that's it… I really might die here."
Then he smiled wryly.
"I don't know why I feel this strange attachment to you. While it's busy eating me, try to escape."
Yu Shiqian suddenly smiled at his words.
A breathtaking smile.
Lin Che looked at it quietly, as if memorizing it in his final moment.
Then she turned her head and looked at the tiger.
Everything that happened next shattered Lin Che's understanding of the world.
No spiritual energy fluctuation.
No sound.
Only a flash of sword light.
The fourth-tier demonic beast disappeared completely.
Not even blood remained, as if it had never existed.
Lin Che stood frozen.
He stared at Yu Shiqian in disbelief.
Her expression was still calm and cold.
Then she repeated softly:
"Who are you collecting the Spirit-Concealing Grass for?"
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