Stranger Danger

Strangely, the inferno was strictly limited to the Sun Swamp. The flames never spread beyond a certain range, burning not even the dry grass at the periphery.

Inside the Sun Swamp, the flames scorched the sky, and the yin wind howled like a ghost. But outside the Sun Swamp, the forest was as cool as any other. It was miraculous and astounding to say the least.

“It is time. Please guard me, Joyless.”

At the center of the Sun Swamp, there was a safe zone about one-third of a meter that was completely untouched by the flames. Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou were currently standing in it.

“Got it. Be careful, Qingyou.”

Ye Qing nodded and stepped out of the safe zone, stopping only when he was ten meters away from her. As for Feng Qingyou, she was sitting crosslegged while the five extraordinary items—Finger Ring Metal, Lightning Struck Wood, Endlessly Durable Water, Thousand Frost Fire, and Dustless Earth—flew out of her sleeves and floated around her.

Each item occupied one corner of the small circle. The Finger Ring Metal occupied the west as the west was Metal, the Lightning Struck Wood occupied the east as the east was Wood, the Endlessly Durable Water occupied the north as the north was Water, the Thousand Frost Fire occupied the south as the north was Fire, and the Dustless Earth occupied the center as the center was Earth.

A few breaths later, the five extraordinary items shone brightly and exuded the color white, green, black, red, and yellow each. They mingled into one and shot into the sky.

Slowly, gradually, the five colorful lights transformed into black and white. The two colors swam in circles and chased after each other’s tail like a pair of fishes. When the Five Phases merged into one, yin and yang existed in harmony and became like one.

The Five Phases turned into black and white, yin and yang mingled and became one.

As yin and yang circulated, the two colors swam around in circles. Yin qi began rising from the ground until it looked as voluminous as a river. Yang qi descended from above until it looked as vast as the sea.

Attracted by the power of yin and yang, the river of yin qi and sea of yang qi flowed into the two colors. It looked like it would never end.

Yin and yang turned into a millstone, and the form of the Great Way was illuminated.

Alas, nothing lasted forever. Eventually, not a shred of yin qi could be seen in the Sun Swamp, nor was there a lick of flames anywhere. All that was left behind… was the remnants of eternal Dao intent.

About an hour later, the yin and yang, black and white, Dao intent and air of Dao slowly condensed into a small pellet the size of a fingernail.

The pellet was black-and-white in color and overflowing with Dao intent. It was as if a mini world was contained within its smooth surface.

A pill could be split into black and white, heaven’s intent may exist within an inch of space. So it was.

……

“Hehe… I thought a treasure was being born or something, but it’s just someone practicing their martial arts!”

There was a man standing at the edge of the Sun Swamp. He had a simple and honest-looking face, and he was dressed in tattered goat wool. A flock of goats were grazing grass behind him. He asked while staring at the phenomenon taking place inside the Sun Swamp, “Do you think we should get involved, honey?”

That was what he said, but he was alone. Who was he talking to, exactly?

“Of course we should.”

The crisp, melodious voice of a woman rang behind his head. “We are a few beasts of burden short of achieving our goal, remember?”

“Whoever is inside the Sun Swamp, they are creating a pill of heaven and earth using the Five Phases as the foundation, and yin and yang as the way. Such a person can only be extraordinary. Don’t you think it’s too risky?” The man sounded hesitant.

“Riches and honor can only be found in danger. And just in case you’ve forgotten, high quality beasts of burden are exactly what we need to complete our objective!” The woman responded without hesitation.

“But—”

The man still sounded hesitant, but the woman did not allow him to finish. She started cussing him out at the top of her lungs, “Stop being such a wuss, you chickenshit! Seriously, whatever possessed me to court a useless man like you back then?”

“Did you even check out our current batch of beasts of burden? They’re all a bunch of worthless trash who do not meet the requirement! At this rate, you and I would have to drink the northwest wind[1]!”

“I get it, I get it…” The man muttered in embarrassment.

“I get it, I get it! That’s all you know how to say, you useless git! For once in your life, stop giving empty promises and actually get it done like a man, will you?!” The woman vented with frustration.

“I ge—no, I mean, sure,” The man replied meekly. “It’s just… you know I hesitate because I want us to be safe, right? Didn’t the jianghu say ‘caution drives a ten-thousand-year-old boat’[2]?”

“In fact, that is why you married me back then, remember?”

“Bullshit! I was just blind and stupid and possessed back then!” The woman attacked him relentlessly.

“You may insult me, honey, but you must never insult yourself.” the man chuckled.

“Hmph! You think I won’t? You’re a coward! That’s why you’re always too scared to do anything!” The woman scolded him. “Didn’t you notice the warrior’s aura? They are strong, but their aura also fluctuated from time to time during their refinement. It is clear that they are injured and are focused on recovering themselves right now. If now isn’t the best time to attack them, then when? There’s nothing to be scared of!”

“Hehe, I guess you’re right, honey.” The man paid her a compliment, “You’re the smartest girl in the entire world.”

“Hmph! Isn’t that obvious? If not for my brains, you and I would have starved to death ages ago!”

The woman harrumphed, though it was clear that the man’s flattery hit her right on the spot. “Well, what else are we waiting for? Let’s go already!”

“Calm down, honey.” The man explained smilingly, “We should wait until they consume the pill and become completely absorbed in the work. If we attack then, then they would not be able to defend themselves at all.”

“Hmph! You and your dilly-dallying. You really don’t act like a man,” the woman complained, though she did not refute him. It was clear that she acknowledged the wisdom of his words.

The man scratched his head and gave her an honest smile. Suddenly, he turned around and whipped a black goat.

“Meh!!!”

The whip did not leave even a scratch on the goat’s body, and yet it collapsed on the ground and writhed like it was the most painful blow in the world. The rest of the goats also cowered in place and shivered as if they were sentient.

“Be good and stay where you are. Otherwise, you will regret it. Understand?”

The man whipped the air, and the resulting crack caused every goat to tremble with fearful eyes.

Meanwhile, Feng Qingyou had finally consumed the pill. The second it entered her stomach, her aura abruptly turned indecipherable and profound. Wavy, dreamlike ripples began washing out of the Sun Swamp.

“It’s time.”

The man outside the Sun Swamp perked up, and he raised his foot to step inside. He was just halfway through the motions when suddenly, he froze in place. It was because a hand was grabbing his shoulder.

“Where do you think you’re going, friend?” An indifferent voice rang beside his ears.

The man was stunned, but he did not dare to move a muscle. After all, he never noticed how the stranger had suddenly appeared behind his back, not to mention that the hand grabbing his shoulder felt as immovable as a mountain.

“N-nowhere? I was just passing through the area, senior. I saw that something strange was happening and just wanted to indulge in my curiosity.” The man let out an obsequious chuckle. “It’s all an unfortunate misunderstanding, senior. I just wanted to take a look. I mean, I’m just a goatherd. What can I possibly do?”

1. meaning going cold and hungry. ☜

2. Meaning better to be safe than sorry. ☜