Azure Scale Beast

A few days later...

Xia Ruoxue wore a black martial outfit, tailored to fit her figure snugly and properly.

Red patterns embroidered on the outfit served as decoration.

A curved saber hung at her waist, its blade inlaid with blue jade and shimmering with a deep blue light.

Xia Ruoxue sat alone aboard a small floating boat, drifting gently along the Flowing Cloud River.

She sat quietly by the gunwale, a breeze brushing her hair and fluttering her sleeves.

She elegantly poured wine into a cup. Its color seemed to match the river, and it was as clear as crystal.

She raised the cup, took a small sip, then closed her eyes and savored it for a long while...

A slender flute rested in her hand. She gently brought it to her lips.

As she breathed into it, beautiful notes drifted from the flute, lilting and mournful. The melody she played echoed over the Flowing Cloud River, filling the air with a tranquil, mysterious atmosphere.

Xia Ruoxue's gaze was deep and resolute. Her solitary figure against the river's still waters was a perfect picture of those four words: "alone, with only her shadow for company."

Suddenly...

Xia Ruoxue turned to look. A splendid little boat was slowly approaching, with two strangers in brocade robes standing on its deck. One of them fixed her with a sharp gaze and asked, "Are you Xia Ruoxue?"

Xia Ruoxue nodded.

"The young master is waiting for you," one of the strangers said.

Xia Ruoxue stood up, glanced at the placid water beneath her, then leaped aboard the other boat.

The Flowing Cloud River lay inland within Black Mountain. Inland, there were only small rivers, and only little boats could sail on them.

Although this boat was considerably larger than Xia Ruoxue's skiff, it could still only be considered a small boat.

"Miss Xia, please!" The man in brocade robes drew aside the curtain aboard the boat.

The curtain lifted...

A familiar face appeared before her. Xia Ruoxue wore a thoughtful expression. Though only four months had passed, they seemed as distant as strangers.

"It's been a long time." Xia Ruoxue managed a polite smile.

When Lin Yunzhi saw Xia Ruoxue, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but he quickly put on a warm smile again. He eagerly stepped forward, reaching out to touch her.

Xia Ruoxue took a small step back, avoiding Lin Yunzhi's touch. Her gaze was cold and distant, and she couldn't help frowning.

"Master Lin, I am already married. Whatever we had is over. Please observe proper etiquette and know when to stop." Xia Ruoxue's voice carried a clear note of distance.

At her words, Lin Yunzhi's gaze darkened. An indescribable mix of anguish and anger welled up inside him.

"Xia, you were stolen away! How could you fall for a bandit? You two can't possibly have real feelings for each other. I'm the one who truly loves you." Lin Yunzhi thumped his chest as he spoke.

Xia Ruoxue warily stepped back, her hand already on the curved saber at her waist.

Thirteen Fallen Phoenix Saber Strikes!

It was the only Martial Art she relied on as she roamed the martial world.

Lin Yunzhi paid no attention whatsoever to Xia Ruoxue's skills, but her guarded manner stung him even more.

"Xia, did that man cast a spell on you? Were you poisoned? You must have been deceived! Could ten years of love between us really mean less than some bandit?" Lin Yunzhi was worked up.

"That's right, you're not wrong! He is a bandit! But what about you? You're a liar! What was the Blood Demon White Bone Technique all about? And the plague in that fishing village ten years ago—did your Lin family cause it!?" Xia Ruoxue suddenly roared like a madwoman.

"How do you know about the Blood Demon White Bone Technique?" Lin Yunzhi's voice turned cold and threatening. He stared at Xia Ruoxue, trying to find an answer.

Xia Ruoxue said nothing. She only watched Lin Yunzhi warily.

"Who told you?" Lin Yunzhi asked again.

"Did my uncle tell you? Why? Why would he betray the Lin family?" Lin Yunzhi's voice brimmed with anger and confusion. He couldn't accept it.

Then a crazed smile spread across Lin Yunzhi's face. "So be it! Since you know, don't even think about escaping. Once I refine you into a White Bone Blood Slave, we can be together forever!"

Xia Ruoxue drew her saber, while Lin Yunzhi drew the long sword hanging at his waist.

The lovers of the past now finally faced each other with saber and sword.

The final fate of lovers in this world was either to love each other or to kill each other.

"Zhiner, be careful!" the boatman cried out.

Splurt!

Just as Lin Yunzhi had drawn his sword, another blade thrust up from beneath the water, piercing the boat and stabbing through his foot.

He grunted and dropped to one knee, bracing himself with his sword against the deck. Blood seeped from his foot. On top of that, he was dizzy and lightheaded; he had clearly been poisoned.

Li Shuidao had been in the river all along. After landing his strike, he immediately slipped away and attacked the other man.

The elderly boatman was an expert, at least at the mid stage of the Spirit Channeling Realm.

The current beneath the boat began to behave strangely.

The old boatman hefted his giant oar and slammed it hard into the water.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

He smashed the spring-green waters to pieces, churning them into a restless frenzy...

Suddenly.

A figure dressed in black leaped from the water, sword in hand, and struck at the boatman's back.

The boatman's eyes narrowed. A patch of green scales instantly grew across his back. This was Azure Scale hide, a Divine Ability of the Azure Scale Hall.

The Lin family of Cangzhou was affiliated with the Azure Scale Hall, a cultivation sect, so it was only natural that Lin family cultivators practiced the Azure Scale Hall's cultivation arts.

Clang, clang, clang...

Silver sword light struck the green scales, showering sparks and ringing like metal on metal.

"Little whippersnapper, you dare challenge me?"

The boatman roared. The muscles in his arms bulged like twisted steel cables, and with a twist of his body, he pounced at Li Shuidao.

Boom!

His fist came roaring in with a gale, its force exploding with a deafening rumble.

Thump!

Li Shuidao didn't dodge. He took the punch head-on.

After all, he had painstakingly trained in the Jade Toad Qi Cultivation Art and the Golden Toad Qi Locking Method, and he had confidence in his body.

The two collided with a thunderous crash.

Unable to push off against anything in midair, Li Shuidao was sent flying. He plunged back into the river, splashing water everywhere.

The instant he hit the water, a green crocodile over ten feet long swam toward him. Its powerful body glided effortlessly through the water, its whole form shimmering with green light.

This was an Azure Scale Beast, the overlord of Cangzhou's waters and the Spirit Companion of Azure Scale Hall cultivators.

The boatman, Lin Yuanren, was also the sole surviving elder of the Lin family—and Lin Yunzhi's greatest trump card.

Capturing Xia Ruoxue was crucial to the family's revival, and there could be no mistakes. Naturally, Lin Yunzhi had brought along the family's only surviving elder to ensure everything went smoothly.

After knocking Li Shuidao into the water, Lin Yuanren focused his thoughts. The Azure Scale Beast hidden in the river instantly burst from the water and lunged at Li Shuidao!

A cruel smile appeared on Lin Yuanren's face. He seemed to see Li Shuidao being torn to pieces...

Water Surge Stealth Technique!

Li Shuidao vanished into thin air...

The Azure Scale Beast lifted its head above the river and looked around. Its once-ferocious eyes now made it look like a complete dunce.

Where... had he gone?

Lin Yuanren frowned in thought. Suddenly, his eyes narrowed as sharp pain shot through the sole of his foot. He looked down to see a blade piercing through it, with only half the sword visible.

With Lin Yuanren's cultivation, his Azure Scale Armor couldn't cover his entire body.