Volume One: The Dragon Rises from the Wild Chapter Seventy-Four: Paving the Way for You

Morning.

The rising sun flooded the world with light.

Mist curled above the lake’s surface, where the water shimmered with faint reflections.

Inside a vast cavern, two young people sat quietly by the lakeshore.

Yu Ye had changed into a blue robe, his hair neatly tied, his appearance clean and refreshed, though his face showed traces of exhaustion. He hugged his knees, chin resting atop them, and stared silently at the boundless lake.

Beside him sat Bai Zhi. Protected by her inner energy, she was untouched—her clothes weren’t even damp. At that moment, she propped her chin on one hand, idly twirling a lock of hair with the other, just as silent, her eyes reflecting the hazy luster of the waves.

No matter how heated their arguments, their predicament remained unchanged.

Now that dawn had arrived, there was still no sign of Bu Yi. Perhaps he had abandoned the pursuit, or perhaps he was even now on their trail. As for where this cavern and lake truly lay, or what dangers might lurk here, they knew nothing.

Worse, Yu Ye had exhausted all his strength. The talisman that once saved his life was gone. He was now no match for any cultivator, nor had the energy to swim across the great lake.

“You should go,” Yu Ye broke the silence at last, his voice low.

“Why not come with me?” Bai Zhi asked softly.

“I don’t want to be a burden,” Yu Ye replied with a faint smile.

He disliked being anyone’s encumbrance, and feared even more falling under someone’s control.

A hand reached out, gently patting his arm as if in comfort, but then—quick as lightning—clamped down on his wrist, searching his pulse.

Yu Ye arched an eyebrow and looked up.

A beautiful face was close to his, her eyes fixed intently on him. He remained perfectly still, neither dodging nor resisting, his expression calm and unruffled. He still seemed that guileless youth—simple, harmless, unsuspecting—save for the faint, ominous shadow between his brows, a trace of darkness that could chill the heart.

Bai Zhi hesitated for a moment, then released her grip.

With a sigh of relief, she said, “Ah, I thought you were lying. I didn’t expect you’d truly burned through all your strength!”

Just now, if she’d wished, she believed she could have easily killed Yu Ye or seen through every secret of his meridians and inner sea. But in the end, she let go, not even allowing her spirit sense to trespass further.

“To be honest, before she died, my master left me three protective talismans—one treasured sword sigil and two Black Tortoise talismans. Now, I have only one left. I can barely protect myself, let alone face Bu Yi. So…”

Bai Zhi’s expression was conflicted, her words more cautious than usual. After some thought, she continued, “Let me scout a way out. I’ll be back in three days, five at most. If I don’t return by then, go to the woods outside Spirit Jiao Valley to retrieve your mount, then wait for me seven days at the Flying Dragon Inn in Spirit Jiao Town, Room B under the Heaven designation. If I still don’t show up, don’t wait any longer—I’ve likely met disaster.”

Yu Ye nodded.

It was the first time he’d heard the eldest Miss Bai speak with such patience, explaining every detail so thoroughly.

Bai Zhi clapped her hands and stood.

Yu Ye rose as well, now holding a bundle.

Bai Zhi took it, surprised. “You picked up my bundle?”

In their earlier flight, she’d tossed it aside. Getting it back now was an unexpected delight.

Yu Ye then produced a storage ring and a flying sword.

“A gift for me?”

Bai Zhi’s eyes sparkled as she snatched the ring and sword, her joy unconcealed. “A flying sword, a jade slip of cultivation arts, a Fire Talisman, a Dragon-Subduing Talisman, and three spirit stones…”

“You helped me defeat the expert from Qizhou. According to the rules of the martial world, spoils are split evenly!” Yu Ye explained, though he added ruefully, “Last night the wild wolves were ferocious, the danger dire. I did kill someone, but got nothing for it.”

Bai Zhi burst out laughing, her beauty all the more radiant for it. Still smiling, she feigned annoyance: “You’re insatiable, aren’t you? Don’t you know how rare spirit stones are? With these three, I can advance another level!”

She toyed with the flying sword for a moment, then put it and the bundle into the storage ring, slipping the ring onto her finger, her delight plain on her face.

Perhaps it was her true nature showing; she seemed more real in that moment.

Yu Ye teased lightly, “As a direct disciple of Mount Xuanhuang, didn’t your master give you a storage ring too?”

“Mm, perhaps you’re right,” Bai Zhi replied with a sweet, ambiguous smile. She stepped back a few paces, waving. “Be careful here. I’ll scout ahead and return for you!”

She turned gracefully, dove into the lake, and slipped away like a fish, vanishing into the mist-shrouded waters.

Yu Ye stood alone on the shore.

The misty light and veiled lake mirrored his own uncertain, clouded thoughts.

He could not forget each of their quarrels, nor her gentle smile as she left.

Nor could he forget the look in her eyes when she seized his wrist. For a moment, he was back in the cliffside cave on Mount Xuanhuang—she, the inscrutable, cold-hearted sect disciple; he, the naive youth, at the mercy of others.

But this journey she was undertaking was perilous indeed…

Yu Ye shook his head and turned away.

The cavern echoed with the rush of waterfalls, the roar of waves, the churn of water, and rising mist. Standing in such emptiness and tumult, he could scarcely find peace.

The crisis remained, his fate uncertain. He could not simply wait for Bu Yi to catch up.

But where else could he hide?

Some ten yards away, the lake met the cave wall. Beneath the rock, there seemed to be an opening, its destination unknown.

Yu Ye stripped off his robe and boots, stowing them in his iron storage ring, then dove naked into the water. Holding his breath, he swam toward the opening—ten yards, then more, and still no end in sight. He was about to turn back when a faint light appeared ahead. He hurried on, finally breaking the surface.

He shook his head, flinging away water.

It was an enclosed cavern, the entrance below the waterline and connected to the outer cave—making it nearly invisible and well hidden.

Yu Ye climbed up onto the rocks inside.

The chamber was a few yards across, the floor uneven. From a crack in the ceiling, a shaft of daylight slanted down.

He found a flat spot, dressed, and sat cross-legged. At last, his anxious mind began to settle.

If Bu Yi could find him here, that would be cruel fate. He truly had nowhere else to hide; this was his only refuge. Blessing or disaster, it would come regardless. Until then, he might as well seize the chance to cultivate, restore his strength, and prepare for whatever might come.

With a wave of his hand, a spirit stone, a jade slip, and a talisman appeared before him.

Always on the move, he had to snatch time to cultivate—often absorbing spirit stones while studying manuals. Over time, he’d grown used to splitting his focus.

The jade slip contained Qiu Bo’s “Heaven-Sealing Art.” The talisman was a Dragon-Subduing Talisman. He’d obtained two of these the other day, giving one to Bai Zhi—he’d kept nothing back from her, knowing how hard her journey was alone. The remaining talisman he kept for further study.

The Dragon-Subduing Talisman’s power made him wary, its binding art reminiscent of the “Heaven-Sealing Art.” If he could glean even a hint of its secrets, it would surely aid his own cultivation.

Yu Ye calmed himself, palmed the spirit stone, and drew its pure energy into his body, guiding it through his meridians and into his limbs and dantian. He reached for the jade slip and closed his eyes.

Crack.

The spirit stone shattered softly in his hand.

When life is gone, decay follows; so it is with all living things. This spent spirit stone, drained of energy, crumbled to dust, its luster lost forever.

Yu Ye opened his eyes from meditation and slowly exhaled a cloud of turbid air.

His energy was replenished—his strength restored to its peak.

How many days had passed?

It had taken five days to absorb one spirit stone before; so he’d been cultivating here for five days. Bu Yi hadn’t found him—could it be he’d escaped that calamity?

Yu Ye dropped the shattered fragments from his left hand and looked at the jade slip in his right.

Five days pondering the “Heaven-Sealing Art” had yielded nothing. Its seven methods—Binding, Sealing, Bewildering, Spirit, Ghost, Refinement, and Slaying—were all too profound. Without bitter effort or fate’s favor, their mysteries would remain out of reach.

Unconsciously, five days had passed. If Bai Zhi returned to find him gone, she would surely worry.

Yu Ye glanced up.

A shaft of daylight fell on a nearby pool, its water clear and still.

Wasting no time, he packed away the jade slip and talisman, and leapt into the lake.

As he entered the water, a blue aura shrouded his body. His limbs sliced through the water with the grace of a dragon poised to soar.

In a flash, he retraced his path.

The cavern was unchanged. There was no sign of Bu Yi, nor of Bai Zhi.

Had she returned, found him missing, and gone elsewhere?

Yu Ye paced the shore.

He remembered Bai Zhi’s words: three days at the shortest, five at most. Now it had been five days, and she hadn’t appeared. Perhaps she was delayed—should he wait another half day?

He wanted to leave, but feared she might return for him.

So he simply sat by the lakeshore and continued to wait. As he waited, he pondered the “Heaven-Sealing Art.” Immersed in study, he lost track of time. When he returned to himself from the labyrinth of obscure incantations and thousands of sigil arrays, dusk had already cloaked the cavern and the vast, misty lake.

Another night would pass, another day.

Bai Zhi had said, if she went overdue, to meet at the inn in Spirit Jiao Town. As long as she was safe, all would be well. But if disaster had befallen her, his conscience would never know peace.

Yu Ye couldn’t help but worry.

He went to the lake and dove in, swimming hard. The water parted in his wake. With inner energy to protect him, he sped swiftly across the surface, covering a hundred yards in moments.

Looking back, the sky was dim, peaks rose all around, the lake steamed, and waves rolled.

Those distant mountains must be the heart of Spirit Jiao Valley. The other direction would surely lead away from it.

Yu Ye turned and swam into the unknown depths.