Chapter 102 – Leaving the Mountain

The vast wolf pack charged deep into the mountains and vanished from sight.

The surroundings gradually quieted. Leng Yi’an and the others were rescued in a daze when several figures arrived by leaping from branches—the instructors who had searched most of the mountain and finally found the right place.

Lin Wu asked, “What happened? Are any of you injured?”

Cheng Zhigao, supporting Xiao Shaobai, said urgently, “He needs immediate help.”

Lin Wu had an instructor carry Xiao Shaobai out quickly, then listened as Leng Yi’an recounted the entire sequence of events.

Hearing the final part, Lin Wu pondered for a moment and glanced toward the mountains. “Strange things often happen deep in the mountains. Don’t delve into it.”

Thus, the teachers and students left the mountain.

But Lin Wu was mistaken about one thing this time—it wasn’t something strange at all, but a very real human affair.

The bizarre, monster-like shadows the group had seen were Zhan Changfeng.

The wolf pack’s onslaught was too ferocious to be resolved peacefully. After breaking away from the fight, Zhan Changfeng had stealthily returned to the stream, hoisted the gray wolf onto her shoulder, and let out a howl to lure the wolf pack.

Since the wolf pack had been drawn by the gray wolf, it should be led away by it as well.

So Zhan Changfeng carried the gray wolf and led the wolf pack deeper in. The Wolf King was extremely fast, closing in with each stride.

The sound of water in her ears grew louder—the stream connected to a roaring white ribbon of water.

Zhan Changfeng tossed the gray wolf down and looked at the Wolf King with a faint, mocking smile. The Wolf King straightened up, its fur shedding to reveal the form of a grown man.

Beasts cultivate for a hundred years to gain intelligence, and a thousand years to take human form—at least at the Foundation Establishment level.

The Wolf King roared, “Taoist, you’re in cahoots with them.”

Zhan Changfeng’s eyes slowly turned blood-red, her aura soaring. The Wolf King felt a hint of wariness and hesitated, not advancing.

“I’ve stabilized its soul, giving it half a moment before it dissipates, but only if you can defeat me with your most powerful strength.”

The Wolf King had no time to ponder this human’s logic. Seeing the gray wolf’s belly still rising and falling on the ground, it attacked Zhan Changfeng blocking the way without another word, its energy roaring into the shape of a wolf!

In that moment, Zhan Changfeng felt unprecedented pressure. This was Foundation Establishment!

She instantly activated her Penetrating Vision, not dodging but instead channeling all her soul power to see the Wolf King’s energy channels and inner core.

Just a bit more.

As she was sent flying, Zhan Changfeng drained her last ounce of strength to penetrate its soul.

Bang!

She tumbled headfirst down and disappeared from sight.

Damn, this was the upstream part of the waterfall!

The Wolf King circled the shore a few times before finally giving up on pursuing her and returned to the gray wolf’s side.

This waterfall was at the southernmost tip of Bijia Mountain, with a valley below connecting to Qingbai Mountain where the Community School was located.

The waterfall cascaded like a soaring swan from a thousand-foot cliff, creating a majestic torrent. The valley echoed with the roaring sound.

Zhan Changfeng was swept into the pool’s depths by the current. The icy water jolted her slightly awake, but her body was so weak it wanted to sink into sleep.

Using her last bit of strength, she sealed her senses and heart meridian, letting herself sink as her consciousness faded.

A white figure swam over, scooped up the person sinking to the bottom of the pool, and the flame at its forehead flickered silently.

Before dawn, the students hadn’t yet ascended the mountain, but one person was already strolling along the mountain path, chanting with the wind, occasionally plucking a zither string in harmony with the birds and insects.

In the dim light of approaching dawn, his figure moved gracefully, light robes fluttering as he descended the stone steps. The closer he got to the Dragon’s Confinement Pool, the more his hand involuntarily stroked the zither strings. The fierce music nearly clashed with the majestic aura that had lingered in the valley for countless ages.

But today, the Dragon’s Confinement Pool seemed different. Gong Qixian pressed his fingertip down, and the zither music abruptly stopped as he gazed lightly toward the water’s edge.

He hurried over and indeed saw someone lying there, soaked through, breathing weakly, with the cloth strip on their wrist undone and bloodstains spreading.

Seeing she wasn’t wearing Community School clothes and looked like she’d just emerged from the water, Gong Qixian felt puzzled but didn’t hesitate. He set down the zither in his arms and reached out to help.

Just as his fingertip touched her clothes, a sudden change occurred. A hand clamped onto his wrist like an iron vise, while a knee drove upward. Gong Qixian instinctively channeled his energy to break free but found he couldn’t shake the grip no matter how hard he tried. He took the blow squarely, and almost simultaneously, was flipped over and slammed onto the gravel-strewn ground. His hand was pinned above his head, and another knee struck the same spot on his abdomen.

Gong Qixian curled up in pain, then gasped as a sense of suffocation overwhelmed him. He clawed at the hand gripping his neck like an eagle’s talon, unable to speak, only staring up at the person pinning him down with shock and fury.

That handsome face was pale with weakness, lips bloodless. A pair of deep, beautiful eyes, like dark gray glass, seemed to hold an entire cold yet life-filled universe—gentle, yet devoid of any emotion.

An indescribable chill spread from his heart. Gong Qixian almost didn’t dare resist.

But that person released him, stood up, and walked silently toward the pool. Her fingers twitched, and she pulled out a pouch from thin air containing a seed named “Eternity.”

Her brow furrowed slightly, carrying a weight like an impending storm. Then, she tossed the seed into the pool.

A sigh seemed to drain all her strength. She collapsed and lay still.

Gong Qixian staggered back several meters, not bothering to check his bruises, keeping a wary eye on the person on the ground, afraid she might rise again.

After a long while, Gong Qixian cautiously approached. The person’s aura seemed a bit stronger.

Hesitantly, he took her wrist. The earlier scene didn’t repeat. He unconsciously sighed in relief but grew even more puzzled. Not only was the pulse normal, but this person’s true energy was so weak!

How could someone so weak have overpowered him without a chance to fight back?

Zhan Changfeng woke up, sensed no danger, rolled over, and went back to sleep. The girl who had just raised her hand to wipe her face fell silent, calling out uncertainly, “Are you awake?”

“Sleepy.”

“…Then rest well.” The door closed.

When Zhan Changfeng got up, she saw the sunset, its golden-orange light warmly enveloping the kaffir lily on the windowsill.

She drifted into a daze, though upon closer thought, she didn’t know what she was recalling. Someone stood at the door. “Awake?”

“Mm.” Zhan Changfeng turned to look at Yu Sheng. “Did you pull me out?”

It seemed she was truly awake now. Yu Sheng, assured she was fine, replied, “No, I heard Gong Qixian brought you to the Hall of Classical Studies. The instructors recognized you and asked me to help look after you.”

“Did you run into some trouble?” Yu Sheng asked with concern, remembering how this person had looked utterly drenched and covered in blood.

“It’s nothing.” Zhan Changfeng stretched. “Just accidentally fell into the pool under the waterfall.”

Yu Sheng didn’t press further, though she felt a slight annoyance at how indifferent Zhan Changfeng seemed. Who treated their own life so lightly? Yet she had no standing to be annoyed, so she said, “You haven’t eaten all day. Come have something first.”

Indeed, the aroma of food wafted in from the doorway. Zhan Changfeng observed the simple yet elegant furnishings in the room. “Is this your home?”

“Mm.”

“Thank you.”

“You should say that to Gong Qixian.” Remembering Zhan Changfeng didn’t know who that was, Yu Sheng added, “The one who brought you back, the zither fanatic from the Bamboo Inquiry Tower.”

“I’ll thank him naturally, but that doesn’t conflict with thanking you.”

Yu Sheng smiled, then looked up to see her getting off the bed and starting to remove the quilt cover. She couldn’t help but tease, “I kindly look after you, and you turn around and start taking apart my family’s quilt?”

“I’ve used it; it’s not clean. I’ll wash it for you.”

Yu Sheng was momentarily speechless. “Put it down. What guest stays at a host’s home and helps wash the quilt?”

Without turning her head, Zhan Changfeng said, “Habit.”

What did that mean?

Yu Sheng felt something was off but couldn’t pinpoint what, so she simply didn’t stop her. “Eat first. Do you even have the strength to wash a quilt cover?”

Zhan Changfeng remembered her Fasting Pills were gone and she currently had no spirit stones to buy more, so she had to return to the routine of eating meals.

She neatly folded the removed quilt cover, set it aside, and followed Yu Sheng out.

Extra update tonight, and by the way, asking for a wave of favorites and recommendation votes~

(End of Chapter)