In the height of summer, the blazing sun hung overhead, yet the edge of the grasslands remained cool. The wind swept past, bending the green grass like flowing silk.
A figure came running from afar, her skirts fluttering as if she were a celestial maiden descending to the mortal world. As she drew near, she slowed, revealing a face of exquisite beauty. She looked to be around twenty, brimming with youthful vigor. Her features were refined yet dignified, and her lotus-colored dress was simple and unadorned, fresh and natural. Every movement she made seemed to harmonize with heaven and earth. She appeared ordinary at first glance, yet was anything but.
She circled a hill, making sure no one was following, then flashed between two boulders, brushed aside the weeds, and slipped into a hidden cave.
Two people sat cross-legged inside. One was a mature-looking man in his thirties or forties, his hair disheveled and face pale, with blood still at the corner of his mouth. White mist curled above his head, while wisps of black aura seeped from his body. He was clearly forcing out poison and treating his wounds. The other wore brocade and a jade belt. He was only a little older than the young woman, with regular features but a somewhat unsettled air.
Seeing the young woman return, the young man in brocade hurried to his feet and went to meet her. A smile appeared on his face almost without his realizing it. "Miss Yun Le, did you find anything?"
The young woman addressed as Miss Yun Le glanced at the man treating his wounds and lowered her voice. "Just a few bandits. They weren't tracking us."
She spoke with composure, yet carried a spirited, imposing presence—the confidence built up through victory after victory, success after success.