Chapter 133: Female Disciples of the Hundred Flowers Valley
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
Cui Jue was taken aback at first, his eyes widening in surprise before he quickly stepped back, a look of disgust spreading across his face.
The mysterious woman before him let out a soft, melodic laugh that seemed to hang in the air. “Little cultivator, did you really think I was interested in you?” she teased, her voice smooth and alluring. “I was talking about the medicinal scent on you. You’re an alchemist, aren’t you?”
Cui Jue didn’t respond immediately, his face remaining impassive as he tried to gauge her intentions.
“They say that medicine and alchemy are intertwined,” she continued, her eyes gleaming with a strange light. “As an alchemist, you should understand how different herbs interact, right?”
At her words, Cui Jue’s pupils contracted slightly. He was beginning to piece together what this woman wanted from him.
“I can make sure your senior brother doesn’t die,” she said confidently, her tone leaving no room for doubt, “but in exchange, you’ll have to be my poison tester.”
Her words were so sure, so absolute, that it seemed she didn’t even consider the possibility of Cui Jue refusing.
Cui Jue glanced over at his senior brother, who lay pale and motionless, his life hanging by a thread. After a brief moment of hesitation, he nodded in agreement. “Fine,” he said, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at his insides. “But you must help my senior brother first.”
“Don’t worry,” she replied, her lips curling into an amused smile. “This poison won’t kill him for another three to five days. You, on the other hand, can start testing for me right now.”
Before Cui Jue could react, a tiny red insect, no bigger than a thumb, flew out from the woman’s sleeve and landed on his fingertip. He fought the overwhelming urge to flick the creature away, knowing that any sudden movement could be fatal. A heartbeat later, a searing pain shot through his fingertip, spreading rapidly throughout his entire body.
“Ah!”
Cui Jue clenched his fist so tightly his knuckles turned white, and he collapsed to one knee. His usually calm and composed expression was contorted in pain, sweat beading on his forehead and streaming down his face.
The woman watched with sadistic pleasure, her giggles filling the air. “This poison is called the Red Heartbreak,” she explained, her voice lilting as if discussing the weather. “Right now, it must feel like your insides are being torn apart and set on fire, doesn’t it?”
Cui Jue barely registered her words. The pain was all-consuming, blotting out everything else. He could feel himself slipping away, the world growing darker around him. Using the last of his strength, he gently laid his senior brother on the ground before collapsing beside him, his head striking the earth with a dull thud. He convulsed violently, blood-tinged foam bubbling from his mouth as the agony tore through him.
Just before the darkness claimed him, a single thought flashed through his mind: Was this the kind of pain Yu Zhao endured when she swallowed the Bone-Corroding Pill?
…
A massive black serpent, over ten feet long, let out a final, piercing hiss as its head plummeted from the treetops, crashing to the ground with a dull thud. Leaves scattered in all directions from the impact. Ji Han Zhou leaped down from the tree, racing toward the serpent’s lifeless body.
In serpentine beasts like this one, the most valuable parts were the gallbladder and core. The gallbladder, in particular, was highly prized for its detoxifying properties and was especially useful for cultivators nearing a breakthrough.
With practiced ease, Ji Han Zhou drew his dagger and began dissecting the serpent at its weakest point, intent on retrieving the precious organs.
Suddenly, a strange sound echoed through the forest.
Ji Han Zhou didn’t even glance up, staying focused on his task. However, the three people standing a short distance away exchanged uneasy looks.
After a brief, silent exchange, the oldest among them cautiously stepped forward.
Whoosh!
A gust of wind swept past, and a single leaf shot down, pinning itself to the ground just an inch from the man’s foot. The three of them immediately froze, their faces paling as they spotted a figure perched high in the trees. It was a woman, her features obscured by shadows, casually squatting on a thick branch. She leaned against the trunk, one leg stretched out while the other dangled lazily.
Without a second thought, the trio turned and fled, running several hundred feet before they dared to slow down. Only then did they allow themselves to breathe, their hearts still pounding in their chests.
“That was way too close,” one of them muttered, his voice shaking with relief.
Meanwhile, Ji Han Zhou calmly finished extracting the serpent’s gallbladder and core, placing them carefully in a separate storage pouch. This pouch held all the treasures they had collected during their time in the swampy forest, and he intended to distribute them only after they had safely left the area.
“Senior Sister Yu Zhao, everything is ready,” he called out as Yu Zhao landed gracefully in front of him. She was about to suggest they leave when the sound of approaching footsteps made them both turn.
Four women, all of them strikingly beautiful and elegant, emerged from the dense underbrush. The gloomy forest seemed to brighten with their arrival, the oppressive atmosphere lifting as they stepped into view.
The four women’s eyes lit up as they spotted Yu Zhao.
Among them, one was in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, another in the early stage, while the remaining two were in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, just like Ji Han Zhou.
The woman in the lead, the mid-Golden Core cultivator, stepped forward, offering Yu Zhao a warm smile as she bowed slightly. “Greetings, fellow cultivator. We are disciples of the Hundred Flowers Valley. Seeing your dignified appearance and noble temperament, we couldn’t help but be drawn to you and wish to make your acquaintance. We hope you won’t find our approach too forward.”
The moment Yu Zhao saw them, she had a strong suspicion about their identity. When she heard them introduce themselves, her thoughts were confirmed: Just as I expected.
The Hundred Flowers Valley was one of the most renowned sects in the cultivation world, distinguished by being the only major sect entirely led by women. Their disciples possessed a unique confidence—not the kind that came from status or sect affiliation, but a deep, innate self-assurance.
To these women, there were only two types of people in the world: women and useful men. From the way they had completely ignored Ji Han Zhou, Yu Zhao could immediately tell who they were dealing with.
Yu Zhao smiled in return, nodding politely. “Yu Zhao of the Five Elements Sect. This is Ji Han Zhou from the Heavenly Sword Sect.”
At the mention of the Five Elements Sect, the women’s faces brightened even more, entirely dismissing the latter part of her introduction.
“Yu Zhao, my name is Mo Ci. These are my fellow disciples: Sister Jing Nan, Sister Wang Sheng Xue, and Sister Yang Xi,” the leader introduced them warmly.
Yu Zhao greeted each of them in turn, and the atmosphere quickly became friendly and lively.
Ji Han Zhou, however, found himself completely sidelined. He attempted to interject, to remind them of his presence, but quickly realized it was futile. The women of the Hundred Flowers Valley were subtly, yet deliberately, excluding him from the conversation.
At first, he wondered if he was imagining things, but after several failed attempts to join in, he was sure of it—they were definitely shutting him out!
He couldn’t believe it.
His mother, the Nine Swords Sovereign of the Heavenly Sword Sect, had always told him that the women of Hundred Flowers Valley were gentle, considerate, and kind.
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
Why wasn’t he experiencing any of that?
“Yu Zhao, are you also here in the swamp forest for training? If so, why don’t we join forces? It would be safer if we watch each other’s backs,” Mo Ci suggested with a sweet smile.
“Yu Zhao, the moment I saw you, I felt a sisterly bond between us. It’s like you’re the elder sister I never had. Please, won’t you travel with us?” added another, her tone pleading.
“Senior Sister Yu Zhao, please say yes! The swamp forest is so dangerous, and I’m really scared!” another chimed in, her voice trembling as if on the verge of tears.
Their soft, sweet voices grated on Ji Han Zhou’s nerves. He watched in disbelief as Yu Zhao was surrounded by the four women, showered with attention and affection.
A sudden realization struck him like a bolt of lightning.
Could it be that his mother had been treated just like this in her youth, constantly adored and praised? Was that why she had such an unrealistic view of the world?
He’d been fooled!
lmao
Yet, his mother wasn’t against men, so, in that aspect, she was unique it seems.