Chapter 134: The Black Beetle
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The female cultivators of Hundred Flowers Valley were so enthusiastic that Yu Zhao found it hard to cope. She had no choice but to use the excuse of searching for the Heavenly Fairy Herb to tactfully decline their invitations.
Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Mo Ci and her companions exchanged amused glances, their smiles widening.
“Daoist Yu, it seems fate has truly brought us together—we know where to find the Heavenly Fairy Herb.”
Yu Zhao was pleasantly surprised. “Really? I would greatly appreciate it if Daoist Mo could share this information.”
Mo Ci explained with a smile, “Daoist Yu, you might not know this, but it’s a tradition in Hundred Flowers Valley to collect Yin Flower Honey for brewing wine. As a result, disciples often visit the Marsh Forest every year. A few years ago, one of my senior sisters discovered a Heavenly Fairy Herb in the Marsh Forest and marked its location, advising us to steer clear of it. However, due to sect rules, we can’t simply hand you the map. But we can personally guide you to harvest it.”
Having said this, Mo Ci and her sisters all looked at Yu Zhao with anticipation.
The warm enthusiasm, coupled with the lure of the Heavenly Fairy Herb, was irresistible. Yu Zhao eventually agreed to join them.
What was once a two-person team consisting of Yu Zhao and Ji Han Zhou now expanded into a group of six. Yu Zhao walked in the middle, flanked on both sides by the women of Hundred Flowers Valley, while Ji Han Zhou trailed at the end of the line.
Ji Han Zhou wore a despondent expression, his typically spirited eyes drooping with sorrow as he cast a resentful glance at Yu Zhao.
“Yu Senior Sister, you must visit Hundred Flowers Valley when you have the time. I’ll treat you to my homemade Hundred Flowers Wine.”
“Yu Elder Sister, what do you usually do at the Five Elements Dao Sect? I have a few cultivation questions—could you please help me out? Pretty please?”
“Daoist Yu—”
Listening to the cheerful chatter ahead, Ji Han Zhou felt even more bitter. The joys of others didn’t resonate with his sadness.
“Junior Brother Ji, keep up.”
“Coming!”
Ji Han Zhou perked up instantly, his eyes regaining their usual vigor.
On the way to find the Heavenly Fairy Herb, Mo Ci and her companions also collected some Yin Flower Honey. Their experience was evident. Upon locating a beehive, they immediately lit a specially crafted incense to drive away the giant bees that fed on Yin Flowers. They then extracted half of the honey before swiftly retreating. The entire process took less than the time it takes for half a stick of incense to burn.
“Senior Sister Mo, Senior Sister Yu, have you noticed a black beetle that seems to be following us?”
Suddenly, Yang Xi stopped and uncertainly voiced her observation.
“A black beetle?” Mo Ci turned and looked behind them in confusion.
Yu Zhao also scanned the area with her divine sense, and indeed, a fist-sized black beetle was perched on a tree trunk in the distance.
Although she had little impression of it—since the Marsh Forest was teeming with snakes, insects, rats, and other pests—seeing this black beetle triggered an inexplicable wave of intense aversion within her. The sensation came on so suddenly and powerfully that Yu Zhao couldn’t ignore it.
With a flick of her fingers, a radiant beam of spiritual energy coalesced at her fingertips and shot toward the beetle. As the beam flew, it grew larger and brighter.
The black beetle seemed to sense the incoming threat. Its hardened front wings rose like a shield, while its rear wings flapped rapidly, propelling it several meters away in an instant.
However, no matter how fast it was, the beam of spiritual energy was faster.
Boom!
The light burst into a dazzling explosion, and the ensuing surge of spiritual energy engulfed the area. The black beetle appeared to have been obliterated in the blast, leaving no trace behind.
Although Mo Ci and the others didn’t understand why Yu Zhao reacted so strongly to a mere beetle, they refrained from asking. Without further mention of the incident, the six of them resumed their journey.
…
“Are all Alchemy Practitioners as resilient as you?” Yao Wu Ji looked down at the pale-faced Cui Jue, clicking her tongue in fascination. Her eyes gleamed with the excitement of a child discovering a new toy.
Cui Jue lay rigid on the ground, his chest barely rising, appearing more corpse than man. It was his fifth day as Yao Wu Ji’s poison test subject. His lower body was completely numb, his vision blurry, and his hearing dulled. Though not dead, he was enduring a fate worse than death.
“Alright, you’ve been so obedient. I’ll make an effort to keep you alive a bit longer,” Yao Wu Ji said, shifting her gaze to Fang Cheng Lang, who was nearby. She nudged him with her foot. “Your junior brother can’t move his legs anymore. From now on, you’ll carry him.”
Fang Cheng Lang’s face darkened, and his gaze burned with fury. He glared at Yao Wu Ji as if he could tear her apart.
She chuckled lightly. “Why are you looking at me like that? Your junior brother willingly made this deal with me to save you. If anything, you should be thanking me for sparing your life.”
Fang Cheng Lang clenched his jaw so tightly he nearly shattered his teeth. Only after regaining consciousness had he learned that Cui Jue had volunteered as Yao Wu Ji’s test subject to save him. To make matters worse, the antidote she’d given him left traces of poison in his body. If his spiritual energy circulated too quickly, the latent toxins would activate, ensuring his death within three breaths.
In short, both their lives were now firmly in this woman’s hands.
The esteemed Sword Gentleman, known for his uprightness, had never suffered such humiliation. If not for Cui Jue’s safety, he would have rather self-destructed than endure this torment.
“Move it! Carry him!” Yao Wu Ji barked, kicking him again.
With gritted teeth, Fang Cheng Lang rose and lifted Cui Jue onto his back.
“Senior Brother, it hurts…” Cui Jue’s voice was barely audible, yet to Fang Cheng Lang, it sounded like a thunderclap.
Tears welled up in Fang Cheng Lang’s eyes. “Ah Jue, don’t be afraid. Senior Brother is here.”
He vowed to bring Cui Jue home safely.
Yao Wu Ji watched their heartfelt moment with irritation and clicked her tongue. Just as she was about to urge them onward, a pillar of light burst into the sky in the distance, illuminating half the Marsh Forest with its gentle glow.
She froze momentarily before a look of ecstasy crossed her face. “A spiritual herb has emerged!”
Without hesitation, she used her spiritual energy to form a rope, binding Fang Cheng Lang and Cui Jue, and sped toward the light.
Simultaneously, nearly every cultivator in the Marsh Forest noticed the massive light pillar piercing the darkness. All began racing toward its source.
Yu Zhao and her group of six were no exception.
Mo Ci’s face lit up with joy. “Senior Sister Yu, we’re so lucky! It’s been ages since a spiritual herb appeared in the Marsh Forest—not since a century ago, I think!”
The Hundred Flowers Valley cultivators were well-acquainted with the area’s peculiarities. Yu Zhao shared her excitement. Even if the spiritual herb ultimately didn’t fall into her hands, witnessing such a rare event was still worth the journey.
Still, she remained vigilant and reminded Mo Ci and Ji Han Zhou to stay wary of unfamiliar cultivators nearby. While some lacked the strength to compete for the herb, they wouldn’t hesitate to exploit the chaos to ambush others.
Yu Zhao could already envision the fierce battle that was about to erupt—a clash so intense she wasn’t confident she could emerge unscathed. Yet, what did it matter? She no longer feared death, only dying as insignificant as a blade of grass.