Chapter Seventy-Two: The Second Green

Erqing and Xiaoqing brought Wang Yuanfeng to the Serpent’s Cave and placed him upon a jade bed beneath a stalactite. Erqing examined Wang Yuanfeng’s injuries and realized they had grown more severe—he seemed on the verge of death. The main cause was the sword energy radiating from his lungs, which had left them in utter ruin. Fortunately, with his cultivation at the Human Immortal realm, he could switch to internal breathing—fetal respiration—rather than relying on mouth and nose. Otherwise, the damaged lungs would have suffocated him.

Although Erqing sensed a trace of innate qi working to repair Wang Yuanfeng’s wounds, after observing for a long while, she saw no improvement; if anything, his condition seemed to be worsening. Therefore, Erqing decided to use her own vital energy to suppress the sword energy, preventing it from further destroying the meridians in his lungs, and would wait for that faint strand of innate qi in his lungs to gradually heal his injuries.

So long as she could restrain the sword energy for a time, he would recover on his own. Having made her decision, Erqing asked Xiaoqing to stand guard. Though mischievous by nature, Xiaoqing was kindhearted and understood the gravity of saving a life. She sat to the side, set up a barrier, and stood vigilant against any intruders.

Erqing wasted no time—her mouth opened, and a demon core as bright as the moon flew out. At that moment, Wang Yuanfeng’s sword beside him quivered, but sensing no threat, soon stilled. The demon core hovered above Wang Yuanfeng and sent a stream of vital energy into his body, swirling within his lungs. The sword energy, confronted by this foreign force, rallied and focused all its power to expel Erqing’s vital energy. The flying sword, left uncontrolled, remained within Wang Yuanfeng’s lungs, contending only with Erqing’s energy.

Thus, all the sword energy within his lungs was concentrated on resisting Erqing’s vital energy, while the flying sword continued to absorb innate qi. Gradually, the wounds in Wang Yuanfeng’s lungs began to heal—not just around the sword, but throughout the organ—repairing the damage and rebuilding the meridians.

Erqing watched as Wang Yuanfeng’s lungs neared restoration. Suddenly, the flying sword flickered; the sword energy surged and overwhelmed the vital energy, destroying most of it. Erqing’s complexion paled instantly; she hastily withdrew the remaining energy and recalled the demon core into her body.

A cough escaped her lips, and a thread of blood dripped from her mouth.

“Second Sister, what’s wrong?” Xiaoqing asked anxiously. Though she’d been guarding the entrance, her attention had never wavered from Erqing as she healed Wang Yuanfeng.

Xiaoqing had sensed something was amiss the moment Erqing’s face turned pale—her second sister was clearly in great pain. Sure enough, when Erqing retrieved her demon core, she coughed up blood, a sure sign of depleted vital energy.

Erqing quickly calmed her demon core. Thankfully, her essence was unharmed; only some vital energy was lost, which could be replenished with ten days or half a month of cultivation. Still, the sword energy at the end had been deeply unsettling—it carried a sense of mortal peril, as if contact with it would bring death. After circulating her energy through several cycles and finding herself largely unharmed, she slowly opened her eyes. Seeing Xiaoqing’s worried gaze as she kept watch, Erqing felt a warmth in her heart and said,

“It’s nothing, I’ve merely lost some vital energy. A few days of cultivation will restore it.”

Hearing this, Xiaoqing glanced at Wang Yuanfeng lying on the jade bed and muttered, “It’s lucky you’re all right, Second Sister. Otherwise, I’d have made him pay.”

Erqing shook her head with a gentle laugh. “He can hardly be blamed. He’s unconscious, and he may have been drawn into conflict with the Roe Demon because of us. If anything, we owe him thanks.”

“What does it have to do with us? He brought this on himself by wandering into the mountains. Not throwing him out is kindness enough—why thank him? He even caused you harm, Second Sister,” Xiaoqing grumbled.

Seeing her like this, Erqing explained patiently,

“Big Brother said that things have been unsettled lately in Blade and Axe Mountain—the Roe Demon is likely plotting something and warned us to be cautious. If not for the conflict between him and the Roe Demon, we wouldn’t have known the Roe Demon had come this way. Now we can prepare in advance, and whatever the Roe Demon’s plot, we’ll be ready.”

Xiaoqing tilted her head in thought. “That does make sense.”

Erqing glanced at Wang Yuanfeng. His face had regained color, his breathing was steady and had shifted to external breathing, and his brows had relaxed—the worst of his injuries had passed. She looked him over: sword-like brows and bright eyes, an air of youthful dignity and latent authority. A masculine aura hung about him, accentuated by his elegant attire and the sword at his waist. He was more radiant than any man she had ever seen, exuding a pure yang energy. Erqing felt her cheeks flush.

At that moment, Wang Yuanfeng sensed his injuries gradually healing and his lungs adapting to the sword energy. He extended his senses and opened his eyes, just as the younger girl said, “Second Sister, what’s wrong? Your face is red—are you badly hurt?”

Wang Yuanfeng awoke to find himself lying in a vast cavern, stalactites of many shapes hanging above. Not far away, a massive stalactite protruded, beneath which was a hollowed stone, seemingly for catching the dripping water. A green-clad girl stood there, her face bright red, staring at him in a daze.

He coughed lightly twice. He could easily tell she was merely shy—young women unaccustomed to men often reacted this way at close quarters; it was only natural, a fleeting impulse, and so he pretended not to notice.

“It’s nothing, I’m not hurt,” Erqing replied to Xiaoqing’s question with slight fluster, then turned to Wang Yuanfeng, who had just awakened. “Sir, you’re awake. How do you feel?”

Wang Yuanfeng checked himself. Barring strenuous activity, his foundation was unharmed, his spirit lively, and his mind clear—he could still manage simple spells. He slowly sat up.

Erqing hurried to support him. “Sir, your injuries have barely healed. Please don’t get up yet.”

He shook his head, insisting, “Thank you for your concern, miss. My injuries are no longer serious.”

“You may be well now, but just now my second sister was hurt saving you!” Xiaoqing said angrily.

Hearing this, Wang Yuanfeng quickly asked, “Are you all right? Were your injuries severe?”

Erqing replied with a bow, “Thank you for your concern, sir. I am unharmed.”

He nodded, straightened, and with a solemn expression, addressed them both. “I am Wang Yuanfeng of Sacred Capital. Thank you both for saving my life. May I know your names, so that I might repay your kindness?”

Before Erqing could reply, Xiaoqing interjected, “At least you have some conscience,” and pointed at Erqing. “She is my second sister, Erqing, and I am Xiaoqing.”

Wang Yuanfeng thought to himself that these names were easy to remember. He looked around the cave, thick with yin energy, the ground crawling with countless snakes—most of them greenish-blue and faintly demonic. It seemed clear these two girls were likely spirits who had attained enlightenment as serpents.

He did not dwell on it, but bowed deeply. “Wang Yuanfeng thanks you both for saving my life.”

After the two returned the gesture and addressed him as “Young Master Wang,” Erqing turned to him and asked, “May I ask why you came to Blade and Axe Yin Mountain, and how you came to clash with the Roe Demon?”

Wang Yuanfeng answered honestly, “I was traveling to the Southern Continent and took a shortcut through Blade and Axe Mountain. As for the Roe Demon, I first saw him in Yinhua County, where a hunter had bound him with ropes. I looked a few times, and later, a wealthy young lord bought him to set him free. Unexpectedly, I encountered him again here, blocking my path and insisting I stay at his home for several days before he’d let me go. I was in a hurry, so I refused, and we fought.”

“I see,” Erqing replied. She shot Xiaoqing a glance as she seemed about to speak; Xiaoqing, understanding the situation, lowered her head and said no more—their acquaintance with Wang Yuanfeng was too new to be unguarded.

Combining what Wang Yuanfeng said with information from her elder brother, Erqing felt sure there was something suspicious about the Roe Demon. Why had he left Blade and Axe Yang Mountain for this Yin Mountain, and allowed himself to be captured as prey? For a demon at the Human Immortal Great Pill Forming realm to be bound with ropes seemed impossible.

Considering the legend of yin and yang combining to form the golden core, the most likely target was their own home—the Serpent’s Cave.

Blade and Axe Mountain had been split by the Great Emperor of the East with a single stroke, dividing it into two halves, one yang and one yin. The south teemed with tigers and leopards, while the north was home to insects and snakes. For centuries, the southern half was ruled by a tiger, while the northern belonged to the serpent clan—indeed, Erqing and her siblings all hailed from this very cave.

Seeing Erqing lost in thought, Wang Yuanfeng guessed she was piecing together the plot. As the cave’s true master, she surely knew more than he did. He decided to share what he knew, saying, “The man who bought the Roe Demon was named An Youyu. Using my qi-gazing art, I observed his fortune: a blue aura rising straight from his crown, forming a vast canopy, and growing ever larger.”

Upon hearing this, and recalling tales of the mountain’s dragon vein, Erqing suspected a connection, but was not versed in such matters. Since Wang Yuanfeng brought it up, she decided to ask openly. “Forgive me, Young Master Wang, for concealing this before. Though I know An Youyu’s involvement with the Roe Demon, I am unskilled in this art. May I ask for your insight? The Serpent’s Cave would be deeply grateful.”

“Please, there’s no need for such formality. Thanks to your kindness, I survived. It is my honor to help relieve your worries,” Wang Yuanfeng replied. After a moment’s thought, he added, “The more I know of the situation here and the Roe Demon, the more precise my analysis can be. If you would, please introduce Blade and Axe Mountain and the Roe Demon in detail, so that I might be of service.”