Chapter 233
Chapter 233: The Big Madman and the Little Madman
The one swallowed along with Wang Jie was unexpectedly Wu Yan.
[How did this guy get swallowed in too?]
Wu Yan was gloomy. He had rotten luck. With his dagger bearer technique, he’d crept close to Wang Jie unnoticed by anyone else. Just as he was about to succeed, who could’ve guessed that woman, Su Su, would blast them with her zither melody? Wang Jie wasn’t the only one suppressed—Wu Yan couldn’t escape either.
As a result, even he was swallowed by the Polar Earthworm.
Wang Jie eyed Wu Yan warily and said, “You’re not still thinking of killing me, right? We’re both trapped inside this creature’s stomach now.”
Wu Yan sneered, his pale face twisting viciously as he replied, “It doesn’t matter. Once I kill you, I’ll just cut open its stomach and leave.”
Indeed, with the Polar Earthworm’s defense, it was no match for an expert like Wu Yan.
Wang Jie frowned, unsure how to intimidate him. Heavenly thunder flickered across his body as he watched Wu Yan cautiously.
Wu Yan’s tone suddenly softened slightly as he added, “But rest assured, I don’t plan on killing you right away.” Saying that, he stabbed his pitch-black dagger fiercely into the worm’s body, causing it to writhe violently.
It was truly unfortunate for this earthworm to swallow Wu Yan.
Its outer skin couldn’t even withstand Wu Yan’s attacks, let alone its insides.
It would’ve been easy for Wu Yan to kill the Polar Earthworm from the start. If not for Su Su’s zither melody suppressing him, he wouldn’t have ended up here.
Wu Yan ripped through the earthworm’s body while staring fiercely at Wang Jie. “If you dare run another step, I’ll kill you first.”
Without hesitation, Wang Jie turned and fled, launching himself with a swift Sword Step. Wu Yan’s eyes widened, and he thrust his dark dagger deeply into the worm, tearing violently outward. Bright, blinding white frost-light from the frozen land instantly poured in.
The earthworm howled miserably, writhing as death overtook it.
Wang Jie, thrown by the worm’s rolling movements, didn’t get far. Wu Yan flashed forward, dagger plunging toward Wang Jie. The thunder patterns around Wang Jie shattered instantly as the blade pierced through. Heavenly thunder exploded, tearing the worm’s body into pieces. Both men fell out simultaneously.
Wang Jie fixed his eyes on the approaching dagger, swiftly raising his left arm.
Clang!
The dagger struck his wristguard, unable to pierce through.
Wu Yan froze momentarily in surprise, readying another strike, when suddenly he halted, overwhelmed by an inexplicable dread—as if he’d fallen into the sight of some terrifying being. Wang Jie was also staring upward blankly, as though seeing something utterly unimaginable.
Wu Yan peered into Wang Jie’s eyes, realizing he’d noticed something. Turning his head, he looked toward the sky.
Above the stark white frozen ground, high among the stars, hung a golden crescent moon wrapped in branches and blooming flowers. Beside it was a softly glowing lantern. Underneath the lantern sat a young girl, gently swaying her pale legs as she observed them with a playful smile.
Her features were delicate and lovely, resembling a fairy.
Her clear, sparkling eyes showed no impurities; her pupils were like twin black gems reflecting the endless depths of the night sky.
At that moment, Wu Yan and Wang Jie were in rather awkward positions.
Wang Jie lay sprawled on the ground, with Wu Yan nearly on top of him, dagger still poised with killing intent.
[How can anyone be here?]
They’d already traveled far from the battlefield. Not even the faintest sounds could reach this place. The Polar Earthworm’s speed underground had carried them a great distance in no time at all.
Yet here, in this isolated spot, a young girl had appeared, making the scene indescribably eerie.
“You two disturbed me.” The crescent moon slowly descended, small enough for just one person. The girl looked down at them with a sweet smile, though a faint trace of displeasure flickered in her eyes.
Wang Jie turned his gaze back to Wu Yan, shocked to see his face deathly pale, his eyes wide with unmistakable fear.
He clearly recognized this girl.
Wu Yan stiffly stood up, facing the girl. He swallowed nervously and stammered, “S-sorry. We didn’t know you were here.”
The young girl rolled her eyes playfully.
Wang Jie also rose slowly, deeply puzzled. [Who exactly is this girl? Wu Yan looks like he’d willingly throw himself on the ground.]
Who could frighten Wu Yan this badly?
Even masters like Six Dao Wanderer and Su Su couldn’t possibly scare him like this. Wu Yan was ruthless enough to dare assassination attempts against Central Elders.
Moreover, the girl truly seemed young—not like those ancient beings who retained youthful appearances, for her gaze held no hint of age or weariness.
The girl spoke softly, “From this moment, neither speak nor move.”
Her voice carried no threat, yet neither Wu Yan nor Wang Jie dared to speak or move a muscle.
Wang Jie wasn’t foolish. Seeing Wu Yan terrified to this extent, he knew he was even less qualified to act recklessly. [I’ll just follow Wu Yan’s example.]
An icy, bone-chilling wind swept past.
In the distance, another Polar Earthworm approached, then fled swiftly.
No sounds reached them, only the fierce howling of the wind and their own heartbeats.
Wang Jie now heard nothing but his pounding heart.
He was intensely curious about what the young girl was doing, longing to sneak a glance. But after seeing that Wu Yan didn’t even twitch, he remained perfectly still too.
Several days passed in a flash.
A fruit pit dropped to the ground before him, bits of uneaten pulp still clinging to it.
[She’s eating fruit up there?]
Suddenly, a terrifying thought struck Wang Jie. [Wait! What about my exercises?]
His cultivation technique compelled him to move periodically, beyond his control.
Sweat dripped down his face at the realization.
As the time to exercise drew near, Wang Jie could no longer hold back, cautiously raising a trembling hand.
Above, noticing his movement, the young girl snorted softly, “I told you not to move. Are you provoking me?”
Wu Yan’s eyes flicked aside, filled with contempt. [This kid’s hopelessly stupid. Even I don’t dare twitch, yet he seeks death.]
Wang Jie carefully bowed slightly and lifted his hand again respectfully.
Interested, the girl tilted her head and asked, “What? Speak.”
Relieved slightly, Wang Jie softly replied, “The cultivation technique I practice compels me to move uncontrollably at intervals. I don’t wish to disturb you intentionally, but…”
“No.”
“I truly can’t control it.”
“Then die,” the girl said simply. Instantly, a faint crack flashed by Wang Jie’s ear, unseen yet deadly. Had it aimed at his head, he would already be dead.
He couldn’t sense her cultivation at all; when the crack appeared, the surrounding air hadn’t even stirred.
This young girl’s power was frighteningly beyond comprehension.
Seeing the young girl’s unreasonable manner, he didn’t know what to do at all.
“Unless,” leaning against the crescent moon, the young girl revealed a proud smile: “you can offer a gift that truly moves me.”
“You only get one chance.”
Wang Jie’s thoughts spun quickly. Facing this young girl, running away held no meaning. And stopping his exercises was impossible. [If she really wants to kill me, what can I do?]
[A gift, a gift, a gift…]
Suddenly, he remembered something. Taking a deep breath, he reluctantly took it out.
Though he didn’t want to part with it, saving his own life left him no other choice.
It was a sword, entirely white, exquisitely crafted. It was clearly Zhong Yi’s sword—a Five Tribulations Star Artifact.
“This is the best gift I can offer,” he said.
Seeing the sword, the young girl’s eyes brightened, and she waved her hand.
The sword floated toward her.
Taking it in her hand, she laughed softly, “A Five Tribulations Star Artifact. How surprising—a hopeless fellow who cultivates both Lock Force and Qi actually possesses something like this.”
Wang Jie’s heart skipped a beat. [She noticed that I practice Qi cultivation.]
“Hmm, quite beautiful. Very well, you may move—but only in your current spot, and no making noise,” the young girl agreed casually.
Wang Jie bowed again, feeling bitter.
[Just like that, my Five Tribulations Star Artifact is gone. Such treasures aren’t easy to come by. Even Star Refining Realm cultivators don’t always have suitable weapons.]
Even though the sword didn’t match his own style, it was still a Five Tribulations Star Artifact.
“Begin your exercises now.”
Wang Jie started his strange routine.
Wu Yan was shocked. He never imagined Wang Jie could offer a Five Tribulations Star Artifact—even he didn’t have such an artifact. He had thought this kid was doomed. What a pity.
The young girl watched curiously. [He can’t control himself? This is not a simple technique. How did this guy learn it?] But she quickly lost interest. With her status and experience, what kind of skills or techniques hadn’t she already seen?
She continued to play with the sword.
[Not bad at all, it suits me perfectly. Hehe.]
After finishing his exercise, Wang Jie stood still again.
Another ten or so days passed. Wu Yan’s body was already covered with a layer of ice, but Wang Jie remained clear. Because he exercised every few days, ice couldn’t form on him. Meanwhile, fruit pits piled up all around them.
[What poor manners,] he thought.
Another month quickly passed.
Wang Jie stood silently in place. Each time he exercised, he worried the young girl might notice something, but she never paid him any attention.
Fruit pits occasionally fell on his head, deliberately thrown by the young girl. She had taken to using them as targets for her amusement.
[She truly has no manners.]
One day, a hazy glow fell in front of them.
Wang Jie and Wu Yan were both startled—it was the young girl descending, bathed in the moon-lamp’s soft glow.
From far away came a faint sound. [Laughter? Who is laughing?]
The young girl’s expression turned solemn. She hovered just above Wang Jie and Wu Yan, staring intently into the distance.
Gradually, the laughter grew clearer. Someone was approaching, and faint voices echoed.
Wang Jie peered forward, trying to see clearly.
Suddenly, the young girl slapped both Wang Jie and Wu Yan, forcing them to turn around, their backs now facing the approaching figure. They could no longer see what was happening.
The young girl stepped past them and waited quietly.
“Hahahaha… Hahaha…”
The laughter was indeed real, ancient and deep. [It must be the elder.]
“Hahaha, guardianship… guardianship! Hahaha!”
From afar, a wild-haired figure appeared. His presence caused the air itself to ripple like water, blurring everything around him. Reality seemed distorted.
As Wang Jie gazed at the familiar frozen land, it suddenly filled with images of starry skies. Ripples spread, carrying countless scenes of ancient battlefields. [What is happening?]
It was as though this person’s mere presence altered the space around them.
Behind them, the young girl leaped down from the crescent moon, quickly chasing after the wild-haired figure. Whatever movements he made, she copied precisely. It was extremely bizarre.
The figure ran wildly, waving arms and legs, completely free. The young girl gritted her teeth, face slightly flushed, copying every embarrassing action—but not before blocking Wang Jie and Wu Yan’s eyes.
Wang Jie was speechless. [Now, I can’t even watch?]
“Guardianship! Hahaha!”
Occasionally, the wild-haired elder did backflips, and the young girl followed suit, entirely losing her elegant demeanor.
Then, he suddenly dove forward, sliding dozens of meters across the frozen ground.
The young girl dove right after, matching his movement exactly.
When the elder scratched his backside, she did as well.
Their movements matched exactly—like a big madman leading a smaller one.
The young girl began to regret keeping Wang Jie and Wu Yan here. [I should’ve driven these two away sooner. If they saw this clearly, my reputation would be ruined. Even silencing them wouldn’t erase this humiliation.]
The elder ran faster and faster, circling around madly.
The young girl chased after him, scratching her head in frustration.
Suddenly, the young girl’s heart jumped. [Not good!]
The mad elder accidentally crashed into Wang Jie, knocking him directly to the ground.