"Shameless!" Ling Yue's body stiffened entirely as the man's intoxicating scent filled her nose.
Just when she thought something terrible was about to happen—namely, her first kiss—her hands were suddenly freed as the man stepped back. In his grasp, a tiny figure was struggling wildly.
Held like a toy, Little Squeak flailed his four tiny limbs in a desperate attempt to break free.
So he only wanted to steal Little Squeak? The realization made Ling Yue's cheeks flush scarlet.
"To think a member of the ancient beast race would be reduced to forming a spirit contract with a human," the man teased as he glanced from Ling Yue to the squirming Little Squeak in his hand.
Being insulted was one thing, but being humiliated—unforgivable!
"Squeak!!" Furious now, Little Squeak raised his front paw and swiped at the man.
"Eh?" The man grunted coldly, his chilling eyes filled the air with suffocating pressure.
Sensing the terrifying aura, Little Squeak froze mid-swipe, his tiny paws suspended in the air. Suddenly, tears welled up in his blue eyes and streamed down.
"Give him back to me." Ling Yue snatched Little Squeak away and gently stroked his trembling body. This was probably the first time Little Squeak had encountered someone so frightening since leaving the Grand Mist Sky.
"Squeak" Once nestled back in Ling Yue's arms, Little Squeak immediately relaxed. He licked her repeatedly, his affection overflowing. His eyes practically turned into heart shapes—indeed, nothing compared to the safety of Mistress's bosom.
"He's male. Don't stuff him in your dress anymore," the man commanded in a domineering tone.
Ling Yue glared fiercely. Who did he think he was?
Frightened by the man's threat, Little Squeak, who had been about to wriggle back into her dress, froze. Hesitating, he instead climbed up to Ling Yue's shoulder and curled into a small, obedient ball.
Fuming with rage, Ling Yue turned to assess their surroundings, only to find that the way out had been blocked by debris from the man's sword aura.
There was no turning back. The only way now was deeper inside—the monster's lair, possibly crawling with more creatures.
From the looks of it, if she wanted to make it out alive, she'd have to rely on this man.
The golden-masked man, calm and aloof, didn't spare her another glance and simply walked ahead.
Ling Yue looked at the dead monster behind her, then at the man's retreating figure, and could only stomp in frustration before following him.
The man was tall, with long strides. Every step of his took three or four of hers to match. Luckily, he wasn't walking quickly, so she managed to keep up.
The deeper they went, the hotter it became. Finally, they reached the bottom of the cave—and what she saw stunned her.
At the base of Seven Star Mountain was an underground volcanic vent. No wonder the monster could breathe fire.
The man stopped. His eyes were locked on a spirit plant bearing a golden berry, growing at the center of the lava pit. A strong, pleasant fragrance wafted through the air, and the area around the plant shimmered with a reddish glow like flame.
Red Yang Ginseng?
Ever since inheriting the teachings of Immortal Red Mist and Lady Jade Poison Hand, Ling Yue had become intimately familiar with mainland spirit herbs.
Wild Red Yang Ginseng—rank five spirit grass—only grew in places with intense Yang energy. Aside from curing numerous ailments, it could strengthen one's meridians and extend a martialist's life by three years if consumed whole. It might even significantly boost one's Yuan energy reserves, depending on their constitution.
Naturally, something so precious wouldn't be unguarded. Given that snake-like monster from earlier, it had likely been protecting this Red Yang Ginseng.
The berry at the top of the plant was turning red—almost ripe.
Without saying a word, the golden-masked man moved to the side and leaned casually against the wall. Occasionally, his eyes would drift toward Ling Yue.
Ling Yue remained on alert, uneasy around the man but unwilling to stray too far in case more monsters appeared.
Luckily, she had some dry rations and water. The man, however, seemed completely unbothered by the sweltering heat.
In this sunless cave, time blurred. Ling Yue had no idea how long they had been trapped inside.
Finally, when the Red Yang Ginseng ripened, the golden-masked man's eyes snapped open. With a leap, he flew several meters into the air, unfazed by the scorching lava below.
In a single motion, he snatched the ginseng from its perch.
But midair, the berry suddenly released a cloud of mist, enveloping his face.
Toxin!
It might not be deadly for others, but for the man in his current state—
As he inhaled the fumes, his strength rapidly drained, and he began plummeting toward the lava.
Ling Yue, alarmed, instinctively raised her hand and activated the Jade Flower Hand technique.
Using spirit force, she pulled the falling man from midair.
Catching the momentum, the man flipped backward and landed heavily on the ground. The ginseng slipped from his fingers and rolled onto the floor.
Seeing it within reach, Ling Yue didn't hesitate and lunged for it.
But the man was fast too. Leaping at her, the two of them tumbled across the ground, locked together.
Fury burned in his eyes as he pinned her hand down.
"Woman, you dare steal from me?"
"Steal? It's an ownerless herb! Who wouldn't go for it?" Ling Yue snapped. The man's bloodshot eyes and heavy panting told her everything—the ginseng's toxins were getting to him.
"Then let me turn you into a corpse," he growled coldly. His hand clamped around her throat.
No one steals from me and lives.
He was always ruthless. Yet something about this stubborn woman beneath him stirred a strange feeling within.
Suddenly, he let out a muffled grunt—he had been caught off guard.
In a desperate struggle, Ling Yue had bitten him hard. Blood immediately flowed from his lower lip.
"Woman, let go of my mouth or I'll get rough!" he snarled. But her faint fragrance only agitated the toxin in his blood, sending it surging like waves.