Chapter 002: Chen Ying

"Oh, oh!"
Wang Xiaoyun’s cheeks flushed a deep red from embarrassment. She buried her head in the grass, her face burning with shame.
Zhao Feng rubbed his nose and shook his head.
Ignoring everything else, Zhao Feng began to manipulate the silver needles.
A soft, breathless moan escaped Wang Xiaoyun’s lips.
A black line appeared on Zhao Feng’s forehead.
He shook his head again and focused on dispelling the poison.
In truth, for Zhao Feng, this minor toxin was a trifling matter, easily dealt with. And yet, his heart was filled with longing for those years gone by—for the Sect of Ultimate Medicine, and for that extraordinary senior sister, mysterious as a legendary woman.
He sighed softly.
Suddenly, a cloud of black vapor welled up from the skin on Wang Xiaoyun’s lower back, startling Zhao Feng.
A pained sound escaped Wang Xiaoyun. "Xiaofeng, what’s happening?"
Zhao Feng quickly composed himself and deftly twisted the silver needles. "It’s a spirit poison! Luckily, you met me. If it were anyone else, you wouldn’t have survived."
Wang Xiaoyun blinked. "Spirit poison? What’s that?"
"Spirit poison," Zhao Feng explained patiently, "as the name suggests, it’s the toxin of a spirit beast."
"Spirit beast? And what’s that?"
Zhao Feng chuckled. "Those are things that exist only in the immortal world. You wouldn’t understand."
"Oh," she replied.
Zhao Feng smiled but said nothing more, turning inward to his thoughts. So the snake from earlier was a first-tier spirit beast! Who would have thought such a creature could be found near Little River Village?
Drawing out the silver needles, Zhao Feng stroked his chin. If the chance arises, I should capture that little snake. There are no spirit beasts in the mundane world; perhaps it will be useful one day.
"Xiaofeng? Xiaofeng?"
"Huh?"
Zhao Feng returned to himself and saw Wang Xiaoyun had already sat up, looking at him.
He rubbed his nose again, as he’d inadvertently caught sight of a sliver of snowy white skin.
He smiled. "Sister Xiaoyun, you’re all better now. Let’s head back."
Wang Xiaoyun nodded and stood.
She cast a furtive glance at Zhao Feng—his bare shoulders, tall frame, and the clear definition of his muscles exuded a quiet beauty.
Zhao Feng kept his eyes straight ahead as he walked; Wang Xiaoyun had to jog to keep up.
They were still five hundred meters from Little River Village when three figures and a black Santana sedan came into view.
There were two men and one woman.
The woman’s name was Chen Ying, sharp-featured and spirited, her hair tied in a ponytail, giving her a look of brisk competence.
The two men were hulking brutes, their exposed arms covered in tattoos.
One of them, with especially garish tattoos, had both arms inked with bright, bold designs.
"Heh heh heh," they snickered as they closed in on Chen Ying.

"Heh heh, spicy little thing, from the city? Are you a college student?" asked the tattooed brute.
Chen Ying eyed them warily.
"What do you want?" she demanded.
The tattooed man clasped his fists together, feigning elegance. "Heh heh, my name is Liu Dahua. May I ask your name?"
"Hmph! That’s none of your business," Chen Ying retorted.
"Oho, the little chili’s got some fire," said the other man.
With a snort, Chen Ying turned and walked away.
But Liu Dahua, the tattooed brute, leapt to block her path.
He sneered nastily, "Come with your big brother to the county and have a little fun."
Chen Ying’s expression turned to disgust, a look Liu Dahua caught instantly, his face darkening.
"You look down on me?" he said, his words venomous.
"Step aside," Chen Ying replied, frowning. "I don’t want trouble."
Liu Dahua let out a harsh laugh.
The other brute, Liu Er, joined in.
"You probably don’t know who we are, little chili," he jeered.
Chen Ying spared them a glance. "I don’t know who you are. I only know—"
"Only know what?" Liu Dahua asked, blinking.
A sneer curled Chen Ying’s lips. "I only know that you two are nothing but scum."
A furious roar erupted from both men, their faces twisted with rage.
"You’ve got a death wish!" Liu Dahua growled, stepping forward.
Chen Ying frowned, not fully realizing the gravity of the situation.
With a sudden motion, Liu Dahua drew a dagger from behind his waist, advancing on Chen Ying step by step, his expression cold and sinister.
"Originally, I just wanted to play with you a bit and leave you a few thousand yuan. Didn’t think you’d be so ungrateful."
Liu Er snorted, "That’s right! Sometimes, the dead are more interesting company."
Chen Ying sized them up and decided they were nothing but idiots, so she turned to leave.
To be fair, one couldn’t really blame her; she’d been raised in a prominent family. While not exactly pampered, she’d never witnessed the true dangers of the world.
Liu Dahua’s fury mounted as he saw her disregard him.
"Stop right there!" he roared.
Startled, Chen Ying turned. "Why are you shouting?"

"Hmph!"
Liu Dahua’s tone was icy. "I’ll say this one last time—come with me, or bear the consequences."
Chen Ying curled her lip in disdain and strode off.
Liu Dahua’s face was livid.
With a flash, he swung the dagger at Chen Ying’s back.
But the expected splash of blood never came.
Chen Ying twisted aside with uncanny agility, as if she had eyes in the back of her head, handily dodging Liu Dahua’s strike.
Liu Dahua was momentarily stunned, but then snorted coldly. "Well, well! You’ve got a few tricks. But that’s all you’ve got!"
He lunged, aiming a powerful kick at her.
Chen Ying responded with a palm strike to his ankle, but Liu Dahua’s strength was overwhelming. Her slender arm was no match for his muscular leg.
His kick landed squarely in her abdomen.
A pained gasp escaped her as she clutched her stomach, forcing herself not to collapse.
Liu Dahua grinned wickedly, tossing his dagger from hand to hand as he closed in.
Only now did Chen Ying sense real danger, but she did not lose her nerve.
Secretly, she scooped up a handful of dirt and lifted her chin. "Tell me, how much money do you want?"
Liu Dahua scoffed. "Money? You think I’m short on cash?"
Chen Ying slowly stood straight. "Then what do you want?"
Liu Dahua and Liu Er exchanged a glance and broke into laughter.
Liu Dahua stroked his chin. "We want you."
But before he could finish, Chen Ying flung the dirt in his face.
Instantly, a cloud of dust erupted before the two brutes.
"Ugh!"
"Cough, cough!"
Both men were blinded, flailing about in confusion.
Chen Ying turned and fled.
But Liu Dahua charged out of the dust, dagger raised, and lunged at her.