The Chief Was Captured?

The woman in red was genuinely stumped by that question.

She studied Chun Xiaobai before her. Those shifty eyes were plainly full of fear, yet he insisted on holding his head high instead of begging for mercy. He did have a little courage.

She raised an eyebrow with interest and asked,

"This third path... what sort of path do you want?"

"What sort of path?" Chun Xiaobai froze, inwardly grumbling, Weren't you the one who told me to choose? Why are you asking me now?

His mind raced.

This woman looked perfectly respectable, but she talked like a ruthless villain.

Perhaps some scumbag had seduced and abandoned her, twisting her mind beyond recognition. Otherwise, why would the first option out of her mouth be "death," followed by something as perverse as "human slave"?

Choosing this path wouldn't be easy.

If he spouted some bullshit about his value, like "I'm extraordinarily gifted, killing me would be a waste," or "Spare me so I can safeguard world peace someday," he'd probably die even faster.

I've got it!

Chun Xiaobai's eyes darted, and he hurriedly spoke.

"Um... immortal sister, I'm just a mortal too weak to truss a chicken. Killing me would dirty your hands, and I'd make a pretty low-class human slave."

"How about this? Once I embark on the immortal path and master a few things, I'll catch some handsome immortals for you to keep as human slaves. What do you say?"

As he spoke, Chun Xiaobai reflexively swept out a hand. "That's a deal with a killing to be made! You absolutely can't lose!"

The woman in red was taken aback by his pitch.

She had assumed this fellow would be just like all the departed souls she had killed.

He would kneel and beg for mercy, perhaps even volunteer to slaughter all the bandits outside who had gathered to gawk at her, appeasing her anger in exchange for his life.

But this brat... was actually crunching numbers with her.

"You mean you want to cultivate immortality first?"

As the woman in red said this, a trace of curiosity shone in her eyes that she couldn't quite conceal.

But that curiosity wasn't about "cultivating immortality" itself. It was about the person before her.

A mortal with the "breath of the Martial God" flowing through his blood, yet utterly ignorant of his own origins, single-mindedly intent on stepping onto another, completely opposing Dao Path...

Interesting...

"Very well. This path... is quite good."

The woman in red nodded in satisfaction, a chilling curve lifting the corners of her mouth.

Then let me see just how someone bearing a 'Martial Vein' steps onto the immortal path!

Yet to Chun Xiaobai, her satisfied expression was no different from the King of Hell smiling at him.

He knew this woman definitely had no good intentions!

Still, as long as he could walk out that door alive and find an opportunity, the sky would be wide enough for birds to fly, the sea vast enough for fish to leap!

Once this Great King makes his escape, you think you'll find me again?

Try in your next life!

"Wait outside," the woman in red said flatly.

"Right away!" Chun Xiaobai let out a long breath.

My little life is finally safe!

He dashed to the entrance, pulled the doors open, and even remembered to turn back and thoughtfully close them again.

The woman in red slowly rose, her brows creasing slightly. Instinctively, she reached up to touch the back of her head, where she felt a faint, dull ache.

But her severe injuries had flared up earlier, so she hadn't paid much attention to what had caused it.

Still... that didn't seem to be the only place that hurt.

She reached back to touch her shapely buttocks. The pain there was even more distinct than at the back of her head, making her delicate brows draw tighter. For the moment, she couldn't work out what had happened.

Casting aside those scattered thoughts, she beckoned with one hand, and a pill shimmering with radiant colors appeared out of thin air in her palm.

The pill dissolved the instant it entered her mouth.

Immediately afterward, a visible halo of five-colored light rippled out from her body, bathing the entire hall in dazzling hues like an immortal paradise.

Outside the doors.

"Great King! Great King! How did it go?"

"Did that girl become our stronghold's lady?"

The gathered leaders immediately crowded around Chun Xiaobai as he emerged, clamoring with questions.

"Your sister became our lady!"

Chun Xiaobai snapped, hurriedly wiping the cold sweat from his forehead before lowering his voice.

"Stop standing around! Hurry to my room and bring out the three big chests of treasure beneath my bed!"

"They hold everything our stronghold has saved over the years. Give one chest to the villagers below the mountain, and have them take it and leave Black Wind Stronghold's territory."

"Take the other two chests down and divide them among the brothers."

"Then take that money, leave the mountain, and each find somewhere to live a decent life!"

"What?!"

At his words, all eight leaders present jolted in unison.

The second-in-command, One-Eyed Dragon, widened his lone eye and asked in disbelief, "Chief... are you really going to cultivate immortality?"

"Keep your fucking voices down!"

Chun Xiaobai glanced warily back at the tightly shut doors, then hurriedly dragged them into a corner and whispered.

"I'm telling you, that woman inside is a she-devil who kills without blinking!"

"Ah-!"

"A... a devil?"

The reluctance on the leaders' faces was instantly replaced by bone-deep terror.

Though they had never seen a real devil, they had grown up hearing folk tales of demons and monsters drinking human blood and refining human souls!

"What are you still standing around for? Right now, this instant! Take the money, divide it up, and run as fucking far as you can!"

Chun Xiaobai urged them anxiously.

"Then... what about you, Great King?" The sixth-in-command, his face thick with brutish flesh, grabbed Chun Xiaobai's arm and asked urgently.

Chun Xiaobai fell silent for a few seconds before speaking.

"I'm the devil's target. I can't leave now!"

"If I leave, she'll definitely get angry. With an immortal's flying speed, she'll catch us in a few breaths. Then there'll only be one outcome-we'll all be wiped out in one sweep!"

"No!" Scarface, the third-in-command, growled, his eyes red. "Great King! We share hardship and fortune alike! Let's fight her to the death!"

"That's right! Let's fight her!"

"Very well."

An icy voice rang out, as though it had come from the deepest depths of hell.

Hearing that voice, everyone whipped around. A fiery-red figure had appeared in midair without their noticing, and she was gazing coldly down at them with utterly emotionless eyes.

Just one glance.

The leaders felt as though steel needles had stabbed viciously into their eyes. Clutching their faces, they let out agonized screams and rolled across the ground.

"Ah! My eyes!"

"Aaaah!"

"Wait! Immortal sister! Don't be angry! Please don't be angry!"

Chun Xiaobai hurriedly stepped forward and spread his arms to shield the others, forcing a smile as he explained.

"They're just uncouth fellows who haven't seen the world. They're talking nonsense! You're magnanimous, so please don't stoop to their level!"

"Hmph!"

The woman in red glanced coldly at Chun Xiaobai, remained silent for two seconds, then slowly averted her gaze.

Only then did the bandits stop screaming. They lay sprawled on the ground, gasping for breath.

They do have a little spirit.

The woman in red thought to herself.

It was precisely that spirit, something rarely seen anymore in the cultivation world's ruthless struggle where the weak were meat for the strong, that made her temporarily set aside her murderous intent.

With a wave of her fair hand, Chun Xiaobai felt a powerful force lift him. Helplessly, he flew to her side and hung suspended in the air as well.

Then the two of them became a streak of light and shot straight into the heavens!

"Fuck! Can't you at least let me leave a few last words before we go?!"

"Great King-!"

The eight leaders on the ground struggled to their feet, then dropped to their knees together.

They watched that red streak recede into the distance. Though their bodies shook with terror, genuine grief still flowed from their eyes.

"Great King, we'll work hard to earn money and find a way to hire an immortal..."

The wind roared beside Chun Xiaobai's ears, drowning out their words. He could only shout at the top of his lungs.

"Listen up! If I come back someday and find any of you bastards still squatting on this mountain, I'll make sure you get a taste of this Great King's might!"

The shouting in the sky grew fainter and fainter until it vanished completely.

He had also wanted to remind them about the treasure dropped along the road, but now he had no chance.

Chun Xiaobai stared at the rapidly shrinking ground and the mountains and rivers rushing backward beneath his feet. His legs trembled uncontrollably.

He had never imagined that his first experience of riding the wind through the sky would come with someone hauling him along like a little chick.

"Immortal sister, where are you taking me?"