Chapter 384 - Peers (1/2)

Su Lianyue was stunned but swiftly recovered with a sweet smile. “Surely you jest, Young Master. How will I fare when even a powerful person of you is injured? I’d have to hope for you have mercy and lend me a hand then…”

Xiao Chen ended their conversation and walked up to the front of the forest. The two of them walked shoulder-to-shoulder, passing by many secluded places like deep valleys and brooks along the way. Birdsong filled their ears. In the south where the Ghost-wailing Hill was located, all they could see was fog. It seemed that they were close and yet try as they might, they couldn’t reach their destination. Like chasing the sun, no matter how far one walked, the sun always seemed to be moving westward at the same time.

Before long, rain began falling again. Su Lianyue held up her oil-paper umbrella and stood to Xiao Chen’s right. The umbrella was small but enough to partially shield them from the rain. He turned his head to look at her and she did the same with a bright smile.

He ignored her smile but slowed down nonetheless. They strolled under the rain, listening to the pitter-pattering of raindrops on the umbrella. Even the rain seemed to have become gentle. He took a deep breath and a wave of sadness enveloped him. If only Weiyang was here to share his feelings and scenery.

They walked for a while longer before Su Lianyue started kneading her left shoulder, tired from holding up the umbrella. She looked at Xiao Chen. “Young Master, aren’t you going to help hold the umbrella?”

Xiao Chen replied indifferently, “Pure-heart Greenish-blue Umbrella, created by an eccentric Devil’s sect member called Grandma Zu a thousand years ago. Capable of blocking the attack of any Orthodox weapon. A high-ranking weapon even among Devil sects’ magic treasures. Aren’t you worried that I’d steal it?”

Su Lianyue giggled behind her hand. “If you want it, I don’t mind giving it to you,” she said, her charming eyes looking as soft as silk. She looked at him tenderly as if she was gazing into the eyes of her lover.

Xiao Chen was stunned, having not expected such a reply. He snorted and continued walking. Su Lianyue smiled sweetly and added, “All I hope for is that you won’t forget my act of friendship in gifting you the umbrella when you reach the Immortal King realm one day.”

“All I hope for is that you don’t forget me when you reach the Immortal King realm one day, Senior Brother…”

The rain ceased all of a sudden. Xiao Chen stopped walking. The cold wind flitted across his shirt, causing ripples through his sea of memories. Su Lianyue turned around. “What’s wrong, Young Master?”

“I just thought of an old friend, that’s all,” Xiao Chen replied indifferently and began walking again. “That person must be in the Immortal King realm now.” He clenched his fingers so hard that it was as if he wanted to drive his nails into his palms.

Su Lianyue chortled, laughing so hard that her body shuddered. “You really know how to joke, Young Master. If your old friend is in the Immortal King realm, then doesn’t that make you…”

“Someone from thousands of years ago?” Su Lianyue’s smile gradually vanished as she stared hard at Xiao Chen’s face like she was trying to find any change in emotion. Xiao Chen’s face remained unchanged as he looked at her.

They held each other’s gaze. For a split second, it was as if a strange mood had enveloped them both. However, the mood swiftly dissipated. Su Lianyue’s quiet voice shattered the silence. “Young Master, the rain has stopped.”

The ceasing of the rain brought on red clouds in the sky. It was almost dusk. Su Lianyue gently put away her umbrella and flashed him a smile. Xiao Chen frowned. This woman was really meticulous, he thought. He must be careful with his words and actions in the future.

The two of them traveled for another five miles or so until they arrived in front of a creek with clear waters and heard the sudden croaking of frogs. When they went close, a loud and incessant thumping resounded. What they saw were numerous frogs larger than the size of their palms leaping into the water.

Xiao Chen walked up to the upper reaches of the creek, found a spot without frogs, and squatted down on the shore. He cupped some water and began washing his face. He also drank several mouthfuls of the cool and refreshing water. Though he wanted to jump into the water for a bath, he decided against it as Su Lianyue was behind him. It would be rather graceless, after all. He drank some more water before walking back to her.

“Young Master, aren’t you afraid of someone poisoning the water?”

“When it comes to poison, who’s a match for Fort Raksasa’s Ice Jade Fairy? With a wave of your hand, I fear not even a blade of grass within ten miles will survive.”

Su Lianyue chuckled and walked to the shore. She, too, cupped some water and drank it with a graceful and gentle movement. Several droplets of water left on the corner of her mouth and chin glistened. She turned around and caught Xiao Chen staring at her. She smiled. “What’s wrong, Young Master?”

Xiao Chen scoffed and looked away. Su Lianyue chuckled. “Twilight is upon us. There’s a cave on the other shore. Why don’t we rest there for the night before continuing?”

Xiao Chen didn’t reply. He jumped and flew across the creek. When they entered the cave, they found that it was several tens of feet square wide. It was neither spacious nor narrow. Thanks to the foliage outside, it was hard for people to detect them here. Xiao Chen sat cross-legged at the cave entrance and began ushering his energy in meditation. After a while, the rumbling of a stomach shattered the silence. It wasn’t clear from whom the sound came from.

Xiao Chen kept his eyes closed and continued to meditate. It had been a few days since he last ate. Though he was peckish, he could still stand his hunger. Su Lianyue paced back and forth inside the cave, her beautiful brows furrowed. Soon, she walked out of the cave and returned with a pair of large, skinned frogs skewered on twigs.

“Here. Help me roast them.”

Xiao Chen opened his eyes and cast her a sidelong glance. His attention then fell on the frogs. These frogs were much larger than ordinary ones and looked plump and tasty. He stood up and took the skewered frogs from Su Lianyue’s hands. He looked at them before tossing them outside.

“Wh-What are you doing?”

“Feel free to eat them if you want to die.”

Su Lianyue was stunned. “What do you mean?” Xiao Chen replied, “These frogs are harmless but the moment they die, they’ll produce a potent toxin that is colorless and tasteless. Whoever eats it will have their six organs wrecked before dying a madman. Fairy, you’re a master of poisons. Don’t tell me you can’t tell.” He looked at her.

A look of astonishment crossed her face. The sky began to darken 30 minutes later. Xiao Chen continued to sit cross-legged at the cave entrance while Su Lianyue sat on a slab of stone, staring at him with her hands propping her cheeks. Her gaze seemed rather resentful.