Chapter 89 - 80: A 1000-Year Demon Pill, the Prefecture City Maiden’s Defeat, Gaining a Bow and a Maid, a Bumper Harvest

Chapter 89: Chapter 80: A 1000-Year Demon Pill, the Prefecture City Maiden’s Defeat, Gaining a Bow and a Maid, a Bumper Harvest

"Sir, what... what are you doing?"

Of course, Cai Ling’Er had no idea that the sharply dressed young man slowly pacing before her, gripping a large bow, possessed a pair of eyes that could seek out rare and wondrous treasures.

As she watched Ji Xiu slowly approach, she clutched her chest and shook her head frantically.

"Sir, we’ve never met before. Even if... even if..."

"shouldn’t you at least tell me your name?"

Cai Ling’Er, collapsed on the ground, lowered her head slightly. She listened to the CLACK CLACK of his footsteps as her wide sleeves drooped.

She put on a helpless expression, her delicate shoulders trembling slightly.

Meanwhile, unbeknownst to him...

...her right hand, adorned with a Jade Bracelet and hidden beneath a wide sleeve, had already quietly drawn a row of nine fine needles.

’That other guy, the one who was pulling out the arrows one by one... his Qi and Blood is boiling like a cauldron. It’s terrifying. His Flesh, Bone, Skin, and Membrane are like gold and jade, and he’s even covered in Outer Gang. I’m no match for him at all...’

’But this kid is just at the Bone Tempering realm, far weaker than me.’

’If these two mean me harm, my only way out is to capture this one first and use him as leverage...’

Her slender, beautiful eyes held a helpless expression.

But deep within them, a sharp glint flashed. As Ji Xiu closed to within ten feet, she suddenly whipped her brocade sleeve!

SWISH SWISH SWISH!

In that instant, a Martial Stance that seemed to be the very embodiment of Wind-Carrying Qi erupted from her. Nine needles shot out with it, faster than a clap of thunder, aimed at Ji Xiu’s brow, torso, and feet...

Then, with an agile leap, the woman shot to her feet. The once meek and innocent little bunny instantly transformed into a ferocious she-dragon. She let out a sharp snort.

"Listen, kid. Your big sister here has run roughshod over the Prefecture City and roamed every County, digging up ancestral graves and pilfering coffins, and I’ve never once taken a fall!"

"I thought this was a classic ’hero saves the damsel’ situation and was even planning to play coy with you for a bit. Who would’ve thought... you’d be so shamelessly greedy."

"So, you’re going to behave for me!"

Cai Ling’Er’s skin took on a golden sheen. She arched her body, connecting her vital points in a single breath. Her five jade-like fingers, though stained with dirt, remained slender and translucent. In an instant, they pierced through the air, her palm striking for Ji Xiu’s shoulder blade!

The nine needles arrived first, carrying a Martial Stance.

That was followed by a palm strike from one who had reached Golden Muscle and Jade Veins, a strike infused with a Force that could penetrate to the very marrow!

’Even an ordinary expert at Bone Tempering Perfection would be caught off guard and subdued by this,’ Cai Ling’Er thought. ’He’ll be the perfect hostage to hold against that Power Barrier master and secure my escape.’

’My Celestial Net Nine Needles and Sun and Moon Wheel Hand are as swift as the wind. The core of their Martial Stance is one thing: speed!’

’I don’t know where this kid came from, but what kind of expert could possibly pop out of some backwater country town...’

She saw Ji Xiu put away his bow and place a hand on the hilt of his saber, but Cai Ling’Er still snorted inwardly, unconcerned.

However, an invisible Sword Stance, like a scorching heatwave, suddenly coalesced around him.

Hearing the HUMMMM by her ear, Cai Ling’Er’s expression changed in a flash.

’Damn it, I misjudged him! This kid’s Martial Arts attainments are no less than my own. He’s been using Nourishing Stance and Concealing Martial Arts!’

CLANG CLANG CLANG!

Scorching sparks seemed to ignite in the air. A brilliant flash of light from his blade grazed past the afterimages, severing all nine fine needles and sending them clattering to the ground!

Then... like a blooming fire lotus, the blade arced toward her, radiating killing intent. In that hair’s breadth of a moment—

—a shudder ran through Cai Ling’Er. A sudden stroke of genius—or perhaps survival instinct—hit her, and she abruptly pulled back.

Her body went limp. She dropped to her knees, using her forward momentum to slide with a SHIIIIING across the fallen leaves and black soil. The next moment...

...her palms were pressed together, and she was bowing at Ji Xiu’s waist, shouting:

"Sir, please spare me!"

SHING!

The slender blade sliced through a few strands of her hair flying past her head.

Cai Ling’Er gulped.

The moment he drew his blade, she knew her surprise attack was useless against this cunning fox who had been on his guard the whole time.

’If I get bogged down in a fight, that Power Barrier expert over there will definitely intervene. Blades don’t have eyes, and it would be a toss-up whether I’d even survive!’

’That being the case, it’s better to be decisive. He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day!’

As the blade moved down from above her head and stopped, pointed at her chest, Cai Ling’Er’s face filled with aggrieved frustration.

’Am I, this young lady, to suffer such a great humiliation today...?’

However, in the next moment, the young man retracted the tip of his blade. Using the pommel, he flicked something from her heaving chest... a Red Pill inscribed with two Blood Patterns!

He then snatched it out of the air and held it up to a patch of light filtering through the canopy, examining it closely.

As for Cai Ling’Er, whose disheveled clothes offered a tantalizing glimpse of her cleavage... he didn’t even spare her a single glance.

Cai Ling’Er stared, slightly stunned.

"Why are you kneeling? Who said anything about killing you?"

"I wasn’t going to draw my blade, but since you’re so jumpy and tried to get the drop on me..."

"...I had to collect a little ’interest’."

The young man shot her a glance, raising an eyebrow with a strange expression. He then held up the Demon Pill, the one with two Blood Patterns etched onto it.

This snapped Cai Ling’Er back to her senses. She was instantly furious, her face a mask of indignation.

"That’s mine!"

’Damn it, I’ve run into a real-life bandit!’

’What kind of interest is worth as much as a Qi Dao Demon Pill!?’

’It’s been buried for so long that it’s lost its Qi Charm...’

’...but it’s still incredibly useful for Quenching Flesh, Bone, Skin, and Membrane! If used in alchemy, it could be the main ingredient for a Secret Pill or Secret Medicine at the Peak of Seventh Grade!’

’My Cai Family’s Jade Shop doesn’t even charge interest as ruthlessly as you do!’

"Hey, kid, why are you bullying a girl... Huh? Wait a second."

"*Hiss*... A Demon Pill branded with two Blood Patterns! That’s a Thousand-Year Demon Pill, a gift left behind by a Great Demon equivalent to a Qi Dao Grandmaster!"