30 - A Farewell to Mr. Luo

Thus, the thief reluctantly accepted the name "Er Chun." The sun shone brightly in the sky. Bai Fan conjured a small cloud using her Raincloud Technique, letting it float above her head to stay cool. She gnawed on a small cucumber, humming a tune. Seeing the thief sitting there foolishly without seeking shade, she scolded, "Are you stupid, sitting under the sun? Spring has already passed." The thief, face covered and dressed in black, looked like a tightly wrapped rice dumpling. "Boss, what’s going on?" Seeing his condition, Bai Fan eventually picked up a cucumber and tossed it to him. "Come under my cloud to avoid the sun." As she spoke, Bai Fan expanded the cloud a bit. She hadn’t thought much about the practical uses of this spell; if it rained heavily, she didn’t have the power for it. It was sufficient for a bath or providing some shade. The thief didn't want to sunbathe either, but after learning that Bai Fan was a snake demon, he was terrified she'd devour him if she ever got hungry. He fumbled to catch the cucumber, bit into it, and chewed, though he avoided sharing the shade with Bai Fan. It wasn’t far to the mortal city now, and Bai Fan planned to go in and enjoy herself. After over half a year of wilderness living, she had forgotten the comfort of a bed. Initially happy as they set off to enter the city, they were stopped at the gate by a soldier pointing at the thief. "You, take off your mask." Since being burned, the thief had been terrified of revealing his face—afraid of scaring others, and dreading comments on his ugliness. Though he wasn’t attractive before, he hadn’t been as disfigured as he was now. Bai Fan got angry, her little hands perched on her hips as she stood in front of the thief. "Why does he have to take off his mask? He has burn scars that he can’t show people." "Recently, there have been frequent murders in the city. We need to prevent any suspicious individuals from entering. Please cooperate." Hearing this, Bai Fan dropped her hands, glanced at the thief, who then reluctantly removed his mask, revealing a face twisted and ghastly. The inspecting soldier shivered at the sight and hastily persuaded, "Just go, go." Bai Fan uttered a couple of dismissive hums and led the thief into the city. The thief put his mask back on and followed Bai Fan, his mood dark. But as soon as he saw the bustling streets, his professional thievery instincts kicked in, making his heart race with excitement. Walking ahead, Bai Fan drooled at the street food on display. Thanks to the gold given by Liansheng before she left, she had plenty to spend. Now that she was at the Foundation Establishment stage, she didn’t need to eat to fill her belly—just for taste. Ignoring whether the thief followed her or not, she bought a pile of food and walked while eating, her mouth stuffed full with dragon-beard candy. As she walked through the crowd, a fleeting green figure caught her eye—a familiar back she had seen last year. The figure moved too quickly for Bai Fan to follow. "Er Chun!" Bai Fan called out for the thief, only to find he had disappeared again. She wondered where he had gone, suspecting he might be off stealing again. Worry crept in, thinking of the trouble they could get into like last time when he stole from sect disciples, leading to her being chased and beaten. Leaving aside the thief, Bai Fan prepared to enter a large restaurant for a hearty meal. Upon entering the restaurant, she called out, "Waiter, bring me your best dishes and fill the table!" The waiter, who was wiping down tables, heard this and immediately recognized a valuable customer. He hurried forward to serve her, "Come, come, this way, my esteemed guest. I’ll prepare your food right away. Have some tea while you wait." Bai Fan was enthusiastically led to a table. Tea was poured, the table wiped, all in a swift, smooth motion. Sipping the tea, Bai Fan almost spit it out—it was nothing like the refreshing spiritual spring water from Qingxu Sect. She uttered, "Terrible tea," and refused to drink any more mortal tea. While waiting for the dishes, she listened to the conversations around her. "Have you heard? There’s been a serial killer in our city recently." "Yes, yes, everyone in the streets and alleys knows." "Can you let me finish?" The interrupter received a sharp glare. After a sip of tea, the speaker continued, "It’s said that the killer sucks out people’s essence like a demon, disappearing without a trace. No one knows what it looks like, only that it nails its victims to walls—utterly ruthless." The listeners shuddered in fright. Bai Fan thought this didn’t sound like human behavior. Draining essence was typical of demons, but demons usually stayed in deep forests, avoiding humans, unless, like her, they had a deep affection for humans. Hearing this stirred Bai Fan's latent heroic tendencies, making her stretch her ears for more information. "Last night, a young man was found dead in the west of the city. He went out at night and was killed by the serial killer," one said, mimicking a throat-slitting gesture. At that point, her food arrived, and Bai Fan lost interest in the conversation, focusing entirely on the delicious meal. The table was laden with plump chicken, spicy fried fish, bone marrow broth, glutinous rice-steamed pork, and three-flavored soup. Bai Fan immersed herself in the feast. When Bai Fan finished eating, the table was left with nothing but bare bones and empty plates. "Waiter, the bill." The waiter was wide-eyed with horror as Bai Fan left the restaurant. She hadn't walked far when she caught the scent of the thief. Following the smell, she spotted him in action, stealing from a fat bully who was bullying an old street vendor. With righteous indignation, Bai Fan charged over, shouting, "You fat scoundrel, what are you doing?" The bully turned, laughing lecherously, seeing only a little girl. "Oh, where did this little girl come from, daring to lecture me? Do you know who I am?" His arrogance was palpable, swaggering as he walked. Bai Fan picked up a large corn cob and hurled it at the bully, hitting his head with a thunk, knocking him out cold. "You filthy maggot, dare to harass me? Believe it or not, I’ll kick you to death." Having secured his theft, the thief sidled up to Bai Fan, feigning nonchalance, and muttered, "Boss." "Let's go." Bai Fan, still fuming, kicked the fallen bully a few times before feeling satisfied. She couldn’t believe the first catcall she ever received was from such a disgusting fat bully. At night, Bai Fan dozed by the window. Under the cover of night, she saw a shadowy figure flitting through the city, nimble as a cat. Initially half-asleep, Bai Fan’s eyes snapped open at the sight, turning blood-red—a predatory signal. With her superior physique, Bai Fan leaped from the inn, landing on a rooftop, and chased the shadow, moving with the agility of one practicing lightness skills. Her pale feet lightly touched the tiles as she flew, quickly catching up to the shadow that entered a large mansion, where one room’s light remained on. Observing from the courtyard wall, Bai Fan was startled to see in the lit room, the bully from earlier groping a beautiful woman. Her desire to save the woman vanished, replaced by curiosity. The shadow stuck to the wall, slipping into the room through a crack without opening the door. Witnessing this, Bai Fan was amazed. Such skill surpassed even a Foundation Establishment cultivator. The shadow crept silently towards the bed. The woman’s eyes, initially filled with desire, widened in horror as the bully laughed, saying, "What’s wrong, my beauty? Haven’t I satisfied you?" "Ah!" A piercing scream shattered the night, the woman shrieking in terror as the shadow extended a crimson snake-like tongue from its mouth. It punctured the bully’s neck and began to suck, savoring the feast. The once balloon-like fat man shriveled into a mere human skin within moments, causing the woman to faint in fright. The scream quickly awakened the residents of the mansion, who rushed out with torches, casting light into the courtyard. The shadow, slipping out the window, came face to face with Bai Fan, who was perched on the courtyard wall. Her eyes turned crimson, and an aura of bestial fierceness enveloped her. The shadow fled like a startled black cat, but Bai Fan wasn’t about to let it escape so easily. Killing without reason was a crime that demanded retribution. She had heard about this creature during the day and unexpectedly encountered it that night. To make matters worse, it drained human essence, snuffing out a life in an instant. Such an entity wasn’t tolerated in either the cultivation world or among mortals; it was an abomination that had to be destroyed. For the first time, murderous intent gleamed in Bai Fan’s eyes. She drew a long sword from her storage bag—the one given by the thief—and pursued the shadow with determination. The shadow specialized in sneaking through narrow, hidden paths, frequently leading Bai Fan into dead ends before slipping through tiny gaps. However, the creature didn’t realize that Bai Fan tracked prey by scent, not sight. The foul stench emanating from the monster was unmistakable, detectable from hundreds of meters away. The midnight chase unfolded dramatically through the city, leaving Bai Fan increasingly furious. The creature slithered like an eel, constantly evading her, until Bai Fan’s rage brought out her more fearsome self. Her venomous fangs emerged as she sprinted even faster, swinging her sword to cut it down. Cornering the monster in a bare, inescapable nook, Bai Fan harnessed her power. She conjured a blast of wind that blocked the creature’s escape route. She thrust her sword forward, the blade sparking against the wall. A sound like ripping cloth followed, and the shadow let out a silent shriek before dissolving into a puddle of black sludge, emitting an even more repulsive odor. Bai Fan quickly withdrew her sword, covering her nose and retreating hundreds of meters, cursed by her heightened sense of smell. Just then, a familiar voice spoke. "This creature is a Gui Demon, nurtured using Gui Water. It thrives on human blood and bones." Bai Fan turned to see the hem of an aqua-green skirt and a green flute hanging from the waist. Recognizing an acquaintance, Bai Fan was taken aback. The person recognized her first. "So, it’s you." Feeling slightly embarrassed, Bai Fan held her long sword. She had thought she was alone in chasing the monster and wasn’t expecting anyone else around. She cleaned the filth off her sword tip and returned it to her storage bag. He Yi Man walked over to the black sludge, ignited it, and burned it clean. The flames turned green, looking peculiar. "This is the color of the demon when burned with dantian fire." He Yi Man seemed aware of whatever Bai Fan was thinking, an unnerving talent. A fresh breeze cleared the disgusting smell, and Bai Fan finally felt comfortable again. After cleaning up the mess, He Yi Man and Bai Fan exchanged smiles and left together. Bai Fan breathed a sigh of relief when He Yi Man departed, feeling guilty for her past misdeeds and getting nervous whenever they met. In a hidden cave, a deranged figure roared, "Who dared kill my Gui Demon?" The man rushed to a basin of green water, chanting incantations. Drawing a knife, he cut himself, letting a drop of blood fall into the green water. As the blood dispersed, the final moments of the Gui Demon appeared on the water's surface, showing Bai Fan piercing it with her sword. "I’ll turn that girl into my next Gui Demon," he muttered, his demeanor eerie as he organized his belongings with a clink and clatter. Back at the inn, Bai Fan was distracted, playing with a red flute she had picked up long ago. She pondered how to return it—stealthily or directly. Remembering the painful kick she once received, Bai Fan decided against returning it and put the flute back in her storage bag, valuing her life more. The next morning, Bai Fan prepared to leave. The thief followed, counting his newly acquired coins, looking content. "Er Chun, where exactly is the Wildlands?" she asked. "I don’t know." "Can’t you stop counting those coins? The owner of that purse died last night." "What?" The thief looked at Bai Fan with curiosity. "Nothing, keep counting." Feeling frustrated, Bai Fan opened her map, examining the red marks. She took out the red crystal she had found last time and noticed the rich fire essence it contained, wondering what it was. She thought of consulting her master and activated her communication conch. "What is it? I’m taking a hot bath," a voice grumbled from the other end. Suppressing her irritation, Bai Fan asked, "Master, I found a stone near the volcano last time." "Hmm, and?" "It’s red." "Hmm." "It contains a lot of fire essence." "It’s likely a fire elemental stone," the Fire Qilin answered nonchalantly. "But it’s as big as a fist and very hard. It even injured my foot." The voice on the other end hesitated before continuing, "It’s a fire elemental stone. Absorb the essence. It’ll speed up your cultivation exponentially." "But, master..." Bai Fan compared the stone with other spiritual stones and felt something was off. "No 'buts.' Trust my judgment," he said confidently. "And the Wildlands…" "Don’t ask me about the Wildlands. I don’t know." The communication was cut off abruptly, leaving Bai Fan staring at the red crystal. The idea of cultivating multiple times faster was tempting. Contemplating the shortcut, she sent the thief away before locking herself in her room—cultivating required absolute focus. Cross-legged, Bai Fan grasped the red crystal and began absorption. Typically, spiritual stone essence was non-sentient and easily manipulated. However, the red energy acted differently, rampaging like an unruly child through her meridians. After absorbing the entire crystal, Bai Fan felt like she was boiling alive, sweat pouring off her body. The red crystal wasn’t an ordinary spiritual stone but a fire essence left by the self-destruction of an Earth Dragon, containing unimaginably high heat. The fiery energy, like molten lava, crashed through her veins. Fortunately, her meridians had toughened considerably after surviving the Heavenly Lightning, or they’d have burned to ashes. Her blood boiled, evaporating repeatedly—a process that would ultimately leave her bloodless and dead. "Damn you, Fire Qilin! You’re no longer my master. This stone isn’t a fire elemental stone!" Trying to expel the fiery energy, Bai Fan inadvertently sent it directly into her bloodstream, evaporating it entirely. This mishap caused her to faint from blood loss. With her blood completely evaporated, her body’s functions were rapidly deteriorating. At the brink of death, her inner Jiao Pill activated, suppressing the fire energy, blending the latent Dragon Qi within her with the fire energy. In a miraculous transformation, the fire energy softened, circulating through her body like molten gold, replacing her blood and keeping her alive. Upon awakening, Bai Fan felt utterly feeble, recalling the recent ordeal she had experienced. She began examining her body, puzzled to find her dantian Jiao Pill and the missing fire essence. Could the Jiao Pill have expelled the fire essence? She thought it unlikely since her blood had seemingly been incinerated, but now, inexplicably, her blood was restored. Could her bone marrow have miraculously generated an entire body’s worth of blood? Unbeknownst to Bai Fan, the combined effect of the dragon aura from her Jiao Pill and the fire essence had inadvertently fulfilled the final condition of her Jiao Transformation technique. Without a proper bloodline, her transformation would result in a wild dragon at most. However, the merging of dragon aura and fire essence had surprisingly laid the groundwork for the emergence of dragon blood. Now, her blood was transforming her bone marrow to produce blood compatible with her evolving physiology. Only with compatible bone marrow and future blood production would Bai Fan truly achieve her potential, otherwise, losing her blood could still be fatal. Wiping away nervous sweat, Bai Fan recognized her recklessness, nearly costing her life. As her body recovered, the Jiao Pill returned to its original place, leaving Bai Fan somewhat disheartened. When the Jiao Pill resided within her, she could observe it at will, and it served as a limitless reservoir for spiritual energy, practically making it a treasure. Gathering her belongings, she opened the door, having learned a valuable lesson about not using herself as a test subject recklessly. "Er Chun, let’s go." The thief was still counting his silver, seemingly losing track of how many people he had stolen from, engrossed in his newfound wealth. "Ah, boss, you're out of seclusion?" Having observed Bai Fan’s frequent meditative states, the thief had come to understand it as seclusion practice. He often kept watch outside her door, ensuring her safety. "Yes, I’m done. Let’s go. I think we can head to the Southern Continent this time." "Boss, where is the Southern Continent? Didn’t you say we were going south last time?" "The Southern Continent is in the south, don’t you get it? We need a destination, can’t just wander aimlessly." "Oh." Bai Fan pulled out a map and pointed out their destination to the thief. "See? It's here, marked as an immortal city." "Immortal city?" "Probably similar to Ascension Valley. We’ll know when we get there." The thief was uninterested in the immortal city, as long as there were people to pickpocket, any place was the same for him. As Bai Fan and the thief passed a notice board, a beggar in tattered rags staggered nearby. His matted hair tangled into dreadlocks, covering his eyes, exposing only a filthy, stubble-covered mouth. "I must find you and turn you into a Gui Demon," he muttered, laughing maniacally while stumbling through the city as if he couldn’t see the path. Hearing the commotion behind them, Bai Fan and the thief turned to look. Seeing nothing amiss amidst the bustling crowd, they continued on their way.