Bewitching Soul

Morning.

Jiang Yan and his group woke up early. After breakfast, they prepared to leave.

The patrol team left behind by Yuyang Village could only provide basic security. If any powerful monsters appeared, they would be short-handed.

The monsters in Qingshan Village had already been eliminated. Although there were still many things to deal with afterward, they were no longer their concern.

Halfway, Jiang Yan asked Ren Yuan about obtaining external cultivation techniques.

He wanted to see what avenues Ren Yuan knew.

"Boss, I'm looking for an external cultivation technique. Do you know how to get one?"

Ren Yuan stared at Jiang Yan. "Practicing external cultivation techniques is purely a matter of getting half the results with twice the effort. With that time and resources, you might as well cultivate inner qi and improve your martial arts realm."

He shook his head and continued, "Sect contribution points can actually be exchanged for external cultivation techniques, but I advise you not to do that. It's best to save them for exchanging for Body Refining Realm techniques later."

"Actually, if you want external cultivation techniques, you can consider the villagers of Yuyang Village."

"These villagers come from all over. Those who managed to survive and reach the mining area are all somewhat capable. Many of them have some family martial arts."

"You get a good monthly allowance, but you don't have many opportunities to spend it. You can consider using money to exchange for some things."

Uh... the path is so clear. It seems he's done this before.

However, with Ren Yuan's words, Jiang Yan's perspective instantly broadened.

"If some villagers have martial arts cultivation methods, does that include external cultivation, martial skills, and... techniques?"

On the Talisman Path.

The group moved forward quickly, with Jiang Yan covering the rear.

Shan Renhu was in front of him.

At this moment, Shan Renhu looked quite battered. His right arm was wrapped in thick bandages, and there was a scratch on his face, making him look somewhat ferocious.

But Old Shan didn't seem discouraged. In his own words, being alive was all that mattered; nothing else was important.

"Brother Shan... Brother Shan, have some water."

Meng Neng, carrying a large water flask on his chest, took it off, unscrewed the lid, and offered it to Shan Renhu.

"Get lost."

Shan Renhu's face was cold. "I'm not drinking."

Jiang Yan watched their interaction without any change in expression. Truth be told, Old Shan's injuries were really due to Meng Sheng's recklessness.

"Just take a sip, Brother Shan."

"Just one sip."

Meng Sheng's eager approach was met with a cold shoulder, but he wasn't annoyed and continued to persuade Shan Renhu.

Last night, he was ambushed by a monster and reacted too slowly. If Shan Renhu hadn't saved him at the risk of his own life, he would have been dead by now.

"Hmph!"

Shan Renhu extended his left hand, gripped the iron flask firmly, and tilted his head back. "Gulp, gulp, gulp..."

"Brother Shan, when we get back, I'll buy something good to give to... Sister-in-law."

"Pfft! I don't want..."

Huh?

"Fine." Shan Renhu's words trailed off, his tongue twisting. "Remember to buy more... You don't have anywhere to spend money anyway."

Pfft!

Jiang Yan couldn't help but chuckle. Just as he was about to speak, the grass on the left side of the Talisman Path suddenly rustled.

Huh?

What was that?

Swish!

Clang, clang, clang...

The ground cracked, and dirt and stones flew.

Without any warning, Jiang Yan drew his sword, stepped forward, and with a flash of sword light, grass fragments flew.

Whoosh!

His eyes fixed on a black shadow, and he flicked his long sword.

A cold light flashed and disappeared, a chilling killing intent locking on.

Ah?

A scream.

Huh? A person, a woman.

He stopped, grass clippings swirling, dirt exploding, a small pit forming under Jiang Yan's feet.

The sword light veered, slicing past the woman's head. Her hood fell, and countless strands of her black hair were severed by the sword's edge.

If she had cried out a moment later, Jiang Yan would have mistakenly killed her.

"Who are you, and why are you spying on me?"

With the sword tip at the woman's neck, Jiang Yan asked coldly.

"I..."

The woman was very ordinary-looking. She appeared frail and terrified, but her eyes darted around.

"Tell me the truth," Jiang Yan stared intently at her features. "I only listen to the truth."

At the same time, a killing intent locked onto her. "I... am not joking with you."

"I... I..." The woman was trying to concoct a story to get by, but she hadn't expected Jiang Yan to be so stern.

She looked up, her black eyes like those of a deep-sea abyss, with swirling whirlpools. She stared at Jiang Yan, her voice soft but carrying a hazy quality.

Secret Technique: Bewilderment

"Brother, could you please lower your sword?"

Her spiritual blood had not yet formed, and her martial cultivation was still Martial Apprentice. She was genuinely afraid this young man might impulsively kill her.

A voice, as if from the depths of her soul, echoed, "Brother, could you please lower your sword?"

"Lower the sword?"

"Lower it!"

The voice contained a potent bewitching power, seemingly irresistible, yet also strangely not unwelcome.

"Hah... no way."

Jiang Yan's eyes blurred for a moment before clearing.

He stared at the woman before him, his cold killing intent instantly boiling over.

He had deeply felt that power just now. If he hadn't lived two lives and possessed a strong spirit, he would have fallen for it.

Ou Yanling suppressed her astonishment. She knew that the Bewilderment Secret Technique had its limits, but she hadn't expected to encounter it in such a situation.

Rustle, rustle!

Someone was approaching rapidly.

"Ou Yanling, why are you taking so long to relieve yourself? Women are so troublesome."

An impatient voice came first, and a powerfully built man entered his sight.

Huh?

The man looked at the scene before him, blinked, and chuckled, "I wondered why you were so slow. So you've found a lover."

Xia Fengshe didn't care about Ou Yanling's life or death, watching the scene with amusement.

The moment the man's gaze fell upon him, Jiang Yan's heart leaped violently, as if being stared at by a Fierce Beasts at the top of the food chain.

But he wasn't flustered at all, because...

Swish, swish, swish!

Led by Ren Yuan, the people of Yuyang Village had reacted. They were now leaving the Talisman Path, subtly shielding Jiang Yan.

At the same time, they drew their weapons, pointing them at the burly man from a distance.

Seeing the attire of these people, Xia Fengshe's brows twitched, and a savage glint appeared in his eyes. "Dahe Gang?"

"Sir?"

Ren Yuan seemed to sense that this man was difficult to deal with, his Inner Qi surging.

Seeing this, Ou Yanling felt anxious. She glanced at Jiang Yan from the corner of her eye and saw that his muscles were tensed. She figured that if Xia Fengshe made a move, he would immediately slit her throat.

Danger, extreme danger. At this moment, a strong survival instinct erupted.

She quickly glanced at Xia Fengshe, her eyes filled with endless emotions: helplessness and sorrow.

Deep within her eyes, the whirlpools spun rapidly.

Xia Fengshe was stunned, his ferocity instantly dissipating.

He looked at the two groups confronting each other, swords drawn, tension high. For some reason, he felt like killing a few Dahe Gang members to vent his anger, but a stronger conviction suddenly emerged in his heart.

He had to protect Ou Yanling. This feeling had surfaced many times on their journey, and he had even been injured because of it.

During their rest at night, he had even thought he was in love with the woman. Otherwise, why would he have such a fervent heart and conviction to protect her?

But during the day, seeing Ou Yanling's appearance, he felt he couldn't be impulsive. He couldn't abandon the whole forest for a single crooked tree.

He forced a smile. "Gentlemen, my sister was merely seeking privacy to relieve herself and inadvertently offended you. I apologize on her behalf. Please let my little sister go."

He cupped his fists in greeting, very courteous to everyone.

"This man, don't insult our intelligence. Anyone could feel that naked killing intent he just displayed."

"Is this insulting my intelligence?"

Many people had this thought.

Jiang Yan watched all this clearly. He gave the woman a deep look, then reached out and grabbed her neck.

A slight squeeze would be enough to crush it.

"Miss, I apologize if I disturbed you earlier without knowing you were occupied."

"However, seeing this brother's attitude, I'll have to invite you to our village as a guest."

The woman's ability seemed to greatly affect that man. Judging by the strong man's previous intention, he was clearly about to attack, completely disregarding the woman's life.

But once the woman used this ability, it had a significant impact on the strong man.

Therefore, this woman couldn't be let go. If she was released, they might immediately turn on each other.

The woman seemed to have considered all this, her expression calm, devoid of any surprise.

Ren Yuan seemed to have figured out the situation and relaxed a bit. He called out to Xia Fengshe, "Sir, would you be willing to visit our village? As long as you have no ill intentions and the misunderstanding is cleared up, we will certainly let you leave."

Visit your village?

Have no ill intentions?

Heh, Xia Fengshe grinned. Trying to fool me? You want to stall me so you can call in Body Refining Realm and Blood Refining Realm experts to surround me.

At this moment, the monstrous emotion had faded. Xia Fengshe no longer looked at Ou Yanling. His mind was clear, so he chuckled, his face bruised and swollen, and turned to leave.

My poison hasn't been cured yet, I don't have time to play with you. What if Dahe Gang experts arrive? More importantly, my injuries from yesterday haven't healed, and that Body Refining martial artist opposite me... I might not be able to beat him.

Once my poison is cured, I'll go straight back to Youshan City. I don't want Ou Yanling's reward anymore.

This trip was a complete loss!

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