Chapter Seventy-Six: Human Affection

Within the world inside the River Pearl of the Crocodile Dragon Mountain, after Chu Youcai slew Lei Yinyang, the sun rose alongside the snow-capped peaks, causing his cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds in a single day, and his blade technique to reach new heights. Not only did his saber become as swift as a shadow, but it began to exude a palpable blade aura.

With every sweep of his weapon, murderous intent spilled forth. As Chu Youcai charged forward, facing thousands of locusts, he remained calm and unperturbed, saber flashing as he carved a circular arc of blade light, blocking the swarm. With each strike, he pierced the locusts’ vulnerable underbellies; his blade aura was fierce, yet he wielded his technique to its utmost.

With every step he took, the locusts before him fell in droves, slain as he carved a bloody path. He did not resort to the Crocodile Dragon’s curse techniques, but single-handedly fought as if commanding an army, unstoppable and mighty.

One man was enough.

At that moment, Erniang and Yan Yunfei, observing from afar, felt a surge of joy. Shangguan Wanru’s gaze was filled with astonishment; previously, she had witnessed Chu Youcai’s blade exude a grand aura, but now, in such a short time, his technique had transformed as if he had cultivated for years, achieving unity of man and blade. How had Chu Youcai accomplished this?

Within a few breaths, the locust corpses at his feet piled up, those behind collided with those ahead, eventually forming a ring of corpses.

The golden-armored locusts erupted in fury, hundreds charging together, breaking through the barricade to lunge at Chu Youcai.

Chu Youcai’s gaze sharpened; without hesitation, he concentrated the Crocodile Dragon technique within him. Like a hidden dragon emerging, he unleashed the Crocodile Dragon curse, his lifespan reduced from five to four years, and the Fish Scale Saber summoned the power of heaven and earth, roaring forth.

The sky seemed to darken, with only Chu Youcai’s Fish Scale Saber shimmering within.

Amidst the countless locusts, Chu Youcai appeared regal, his blade light flickering like a phantom, as if shrouding the heavens. Within the surrounding circle, he was the sole master.

With a thunderous blow, hundreds of golden-armored locusts were cleaved apart, corpses littering the ground.

Following the circle, over ten thousand locusts were annihilated; even those aboard the locust ship were struck by the aftershock, most perishing.

The Fish Scale Saber Chu Youcai wielded was a bronze-tier cursed treasure, stronger than those of Erniang and Yan Yunfei, its power unmatched.

But what set Chu Youcai apart this time was the aura of a king, a commanding presence that shook heaven and earth.

The remaining locusts were seized by fear, scattering in panic.

These locusts, always arrogant and destructive wherever they went, now quaked before Chu Youcai’s presence—a rarity indeed.

Watching this, Wen Ji was entranced, never imagining the one she adored could possess such spirit and courage, her heart stirred to its depths.

From afar, Yun Cui Xian and the others watched Chu Youcai carve a bloody path through the swarm. At first, their hearts raced with terror, but as he annihilated the locusts like a demon god, they relaxed, eager to rush forward and see if he was injured.

In that moment, Chu Youcai experienced enlightenment.

His attack, infused with the power of the rising sun and snow-capped peaks, allowed him to sense the rhythm of all things as his Fish Scale Saber struck—a profound connection with the world.

Though he had sacrificed a year of his yang lifespan, his energy remained undiminished, growing stronger with battle until his vigor peaked.

Moreover, his blade technique had reached a new realm, as if the Fish Scale Saber in his hand breathed alongside him.

Chu Youcai called out loudly to Yan Yunfei, “Hero Yan, let us pursue and slay the locust demon together!”

“Agreed!” Yan Yunfei replied, brimming with heroic spirit, parting the waters to join Chu Youcai. “Let’s turn the world upside down!” He turned to shout toward the locust ship, “Yang Ridan, Shangguan Wanru—guard everyone, do not scatter!”

Chu Youcai cast a warm glance toward Yun Cui Xian.

Erniang summoned hundreds of paper cranes, using her Flying Crane Needle to carry Chu Youcai and Yan Yunfei across the lake.

The three crossed the water, discovering a vast marshland, and on the other side stood Guiyuan Temple. Erniang invoked her Daoist arts again, flying them over the marsh.

Upon entering Guiyuan Temple, they found a hardy wintersweet tree before the gates, two zhangs tall, with a trunk so thick several people could barely encircle it. Nearby grew countless peonies, each a zhang high, dazzling as a tapestry.

But as they stepped forward, the temple seemed to recede into the distance.

A few more steps, and the world spun; they became lost among the peonies, unable to find their way.

“This is bad! It’s a formation, and a formidable one at that,” Erniang said gravely.

She sent paper cranes toward the peonies, but as soon as they touched the flowers, the cranes vanished, as if swallowed whole.

Erniang’s brow furrowed deeper.

At that moment, the three heard the locust demon’s sinister laughter from afar, followed by a muffled sound of someone coughing blood, and then the heavy thud of a body hitting the ground.

“Not good! Liu Shen is in danger!” Yan Yunfei shouted, rushing forward as his Dragon Snake Sword slashed at the peonies.

Erniang cried, “Hero Yan, stop! The peonies are illusions, luring you into the formation’s death gate!” She hurried to grab his sleeve.

But in that instant, Yan Yunfei vanished without a trace, followed closely by Erniang. No matter how Chu Youcai called out, there was no answer.

Chu Youcai’s heart clenched. If both had entered the death gate, it would be perilous.

But he quickly regained his composure.

The more critical the moment, the more he must remain clear-headed.

He observed his surroundings closely.

Looking at the wintersweet tree and the peonies, Chu Youcai recalled Liu Shen once mentioning two young female demons at Guiyuan Temple, and vaguely recognized the scene.

“Wintersweet? Peonies? Two female demons?”

Yet no matter how he tried, he could not recall the exact circumstances.

Just then, Chu Youcai heard someone calling his name from behind.

Turning abruptly, he saw Wen Ji.

Chu Youcai was taken aback, suspecting a hallucination, but upon closer inspection, realized it was truly Wen Ji. “How did you get here?” he exclaimed.

Wen Ji’s exquisite clothes and boots, woven of the finest five-colored brocade reserved for the palace, were now caked in mud.

Wen Ji smiled brightly, “I wanted to see you, so I came.”

She gestured to her attire, “Such a pity—this was my first time wearing these, but you didn’t see me at my most beautiful.”

Hearing this, Chu Youcai’s heart warmed. A woman dresses for whom she loves; having someone waiting for him was a blessing beyond measure.

He smiled gently, “Clothes and boots stained with mud are, in fact, the most beautiful.”

Wen Ji’s hands were still smeared with earth, but his words brought her peace and clarity.

Is this what human affection means?

It does not require eternity, nor a romantic flight in the night, nor the union of brilliant minds and beauty—only that, in hardship, someone cherishes and cares for you, and that is enough.

Wen Ji responded with a firm “Mm.”

Her gaze became resolute. “Master Chu, I possess illusionary arts that can alter my appearance, confuse the senses, and perhaps be of assistance.”

Chu Youcai nodded.

He then attempted to walk around the formation, but found that he and Wen Ji were trapped among the peonies, unable to discern direction.

His brows knitted in frustration.

Every moment lost here increased the danger for Liu Shen.

Then Wen Ji whispered, “Master Chu, have you noticed that all the peonies here are white?”

Peonies are renowned for their eight colors—luminous white, jade blue, fiery red, and more—yet here, all were white.

Hearing this, Chu Youcai suddenly recalled something and cried out, “Could it be that they are—?”