Black Triangle Mountain, Strange Illness

Le Tian smiled like the Maitreya Buddha.

Lu Yuan took the wooden plaque, examined it, then casually tucked it into his robes and cupped his hands. "Thank you for your kindness. I have matters to attend to today, so I'll take my leave first."

With that, he pulled You Tai along and turned to leave the third floor of Sandalwood Palace.

Watching the two men's departing backs, Le Tian folded his fan, rubbed his chin, and fell into thought.

After resting for a night.

Early the next morning.

Chen Wang led more than a dozen disciples, including Su Yu and Lin Ruoxue, into the Azure Cloud Mountain Range ten kilometers away.

The Azure Cloud Mountain Range stretched for thousands of kilometers, spanning several provinces.

The section under Withered Wood Fist Hall's jurisdiction was known among local martial artists as Black Triangle Mountain.

After traveling ten kilometers, they had merely reached the outermost edge of Black Triangle Mountain.

Along the way.

They encountered only ordinary beasts such as wild boars, jackals, and wolves. There was not a trace of any demonic beast.

However, they often came across mercenary martial artists or Rogue Cultivators in groups of twos and threes within the forest, all seeking opportunities here and hunting demonic beasts.

"There weren't nearly this many martial artists on Black Triangle Mountain before!"

"You must all be more careful. Sometimes, people are more terrifying than demonic beasts."

Chen Wang gave them a reminder.

Recently, the imperial court had issued a bounty proclamation. Killing demonic beasts would earn official rewards.

Furthermore, if mercenary martial artists accepted missions from Sandalwood Palace or other employers, it was equivalent to receiving double the bounty.

Under a heavy reward, brave men would surely emerge. As a result, far more martial artists than usual had come to Black Triangle Mountain to try their luck.

After fully entering the outer forest of Black Triangle Mountain.

Chen Wang stopped walking.

"This place is already within the range of demonic beast activity. Be careful, be careful."

Chen Wang muttered.

He then decided to advance in a Wild Goose Formation.

"The so-called Wild Goose Formation resembles wild geese flying south. I will personally hold the center formation and provide support to both sides at any time. The positions of the wings require two teams to spread out and search."

"Who will take charge of the two wings?"

Chen Wang's gaze swept across everyone.

Su Yu cupped his hands. "Master, Junior Sister Ruoxue and I have been here before and are familiar with the area. The two of us can form a team and take one wing."

You Tai immediately spoke up as well. "I'll take the other wing."

"I'll team up with Senior Brother."

Lu Yuan quickly stated his position upon hearing that.

Originally, he had thought the group would advance together.

But this Wild Goose Formation suited his wishes perfectly.

When killing demonic beasts, it was inevitable that he would need to use certain methods.

Revealing too much would be unwise.

Nor would it be convenient to unleash his full strength in front of everyone.

"No!"

Chen Wang rejected their suggestion.

"Su Yu and Lin Ruoxue have been here before and are familiar with the terrain. But Lu Yuan and You Tai are visiting for the first time, so they must be accompanied by someone familiar with the place."

Chen Wang gave his reasoning.

"Lu Yuan, you will be paired with Lin Ruoxue. You Tai, you will be paired with Su Yu."

Su Yu's expression immediately turned somewhat unpleasant.

A trace of reluctance flashed through his eyes as well.

However, his master's reasoning was sound.

He could not say much more.

Yet Lu Yuan objected. "Master, this arrangement is not quite appropriate. Let me team up with Senior Brother! The two of us know each other better and can coordinate somewhat."

Regarding Lu Yuan's protest.

Chen Wang frowned and said, "Nonsense. We are killing demonic beasts, not playing a child's game. We'll do as I say."

Afterward, Chen Wang took several round objects from his robes.

"These are smoke signal bombs. If you encounter a demonic beast you cannot handle, fire one immediately."

"Once the smoke rises, I will bring people over at once."

"Let me stress this one more time. Demonic beasts are vicious. Do not act on your own. Preserving your lives comes first in all things."

Chen Wang spoke with a grave expression.

"Yes!"

Everyone answered in unison.

Then the two wing teams spread out separately.

According to Chen Wang's arrangements, the two wings were roughly five li from the central force.

This both expanded their search range for demonic beasts and allowed them to support one another at any time should danger arise.

Deep within the dense forest, the light was dim, and fallen leaves gave off faint rustling sounds beneath their feet.

Lu Yuan gripped the hilt of his blade and warily observed his surroundings.

Lin Ruoxue, following half a step behind him at his side, kept glancing at him from the corner of her eye. Her cool gaze carried a hint of confusion.

"Senior Brother Lu, you seem so resistant to teaming up with me. Do you have some objection to me?"

After walking for a while.

Lin Ruoxue could no longer resist asking.

Quite a few male disciples in the fist hall wanted to team up with her.

Yet the feeling Lu Yuan gave her.

Was that he seemed to be avoiding her as though she were a plague.

"Junior Sister Lin, you jest..."

Lu Yuan paused upon hearing this.

He had never wanted to team up with a woman in the first place. He found it troublesome, especially someone like Lin Ruoxue, a heavenly favored daughter who drew everyone's attention, possessed stunning beauty, and had extraordinary talent.

If he got too close to her, who knew how much trouble would come creeping out of the shadows.

He only wanted to quietly kill demonic beasts and farm experience. He had no interest in playing out some beauty-and-confidante drama.

"Really?"

"Or do you think I'm troublesome?"

It seemed Lu Yuan's answer had failed to satisfy Lin Ruoxue.

She pressed him further.

This gave Lu Yuan a headache.

He knew he could not put it too bluntly.

If he directly told Lin Ruoxue that he found her troublesome.

Then when they hunted demonic beasts afterward, if this woman held a grudge and refused to cooperate with him.

Or even stabbed him in the back or held him back at a critical moment, that would be a real disaster.

"Junior Sister Lin, you misunderstand. With your martial talent, it would be more accurate to say that you find me troublesome."

As his thoughts raced, Lu Yuan revealed a bitter smile.

"To be honest, I've suffered from a strange illness since childhood. If I make physical contact with a woman, my entire body starts trembling."

"If anything more intimate happens, I lose control and start convulsing."

Lu Yuan spouted nonsense with a perfectly serious expression.

"Ah?"

Lin Ruoxue froze, and a trace of astonishment flashed across her cool face.

"That's why!"

"I'm afraid that when we join forces to kill demonic beasts later, the battle will grow intense."

"And I might accidentally touch you, causing my strange illness to flare up."

"If I end up convulsing all over and delay the demon slaying, that would be a minor matter. But if I drag Senior Sister Lin down with me and cause you to be injured, that would be my fault."

Lu Yuan's tone was incomparably sincere.

"I've read quite a few medical books and heard many strange tales, yet I've never heard of such a... such a strange illness."

Lin Ruoxue's delicate brows furrowed slightly.

"The world is vast, and there is nothing under heaven too strange. Otherwise, why would it be called a strange illness?"

Lu Yuan's expression did not change, nor did his heart skip a beat.

"You aren't lying to me, are you?"

Lin Ruoxue stared into Lu Yuan's eyes, trying to find a flaw.

"I swear I'm not lying to you."

"The two of us are in the same team now, working together to slay demonic beasts."

"Am I not informing you, Junior Sister, of some potential hidden dangers?"

Lu Yuan spoke with absolute conviction.

Hearing Lu Yuan say this.

Lin Ruoxue nodded and did not continue questioning him.

However, the way she looked at Lu Yuan still carried a mixture of belief and doubt.

"There's a smell of blood ahead."

Just then, Lu Yuan abruptly stopped, his nostrils twitching slightly.

His gaze instantly sharpened.

His hand gripped the hilt of his blade as well.

Hearing this, Lin Ruoxue immediately put aside her thoughts and drew the flexible sword at her waist.