The Soaring Young Man and the Girl Enjoying Rice Noodles

Gurgle, gurgle.

Red oil bubbled furiously in the small copper pot, sending up steaming clouds and filling the entire cavern with a rich, fragrant aroma.

A woman, her long hair loosely tied, sat by the pot with a large bowl in hand, slurping noodles in hearty mouthfuls. Just at that moment, a silver streak of lightning darted in from outside, prompting her to look up with wide eyes.

Astonishment.

When Chu Liang entered, this was the scene before him.

This stone cave was not particularly large, but though it was hidden behind a waterfall, it was surprisingly dry. The walls were studded with glowing, misty jade, and numerous vents allowed in light and air, making the space bright and airy.

There was little else in the cave: a single table set to one side, upon which rested a copper hotpot, a tiny wine cup—quite a pleasant arrangement. Beside it stood a white stone bed, covered with soft mats.

The woman, strikingly beautiful, had one foot on the ground and the other curled on the couch. Her left arm hugged her knee to her chest as she held her bowl, while her right hand used chopsticks to lift a large bite of noodles to her mouth. When Chu Liang entered, she froze in surprise, the noodles still hanging in midair.

It was reminiscent of the waterfall outside.

Her hair was simply tied at the back, with loose strands brushing her ears, her profile as refined as if painted with ink. Her brows and eyes were perfectly balanced, her skin glowing with a soft radiance. Perhaps the food was too spicy, for her cheeks were flushed.

Judging by the swing of her long leg, she was tall, but her figure was gracefully proportioned, dressed in a plain, light outfit that revealed not an ounce of excess. Her silhouette rose and fell like undulating mountains and rivers.

A beauty beyond the mundane, even now—with her casual posture, noodles between her lips, and a slightly vacant gaze—she was utterly stunning.

Having taken in the scene, Chu Liang was still midair, leaping alongside the young Bai Ze beast.

The airborne youth and the noodle-eating maiden exchanged their first glance.

Then—

Bang.

The Bai Ze cub landed, seemingly thrilled, carrying Chu Liang straight to the woman’s side and bouncing around her in delight.

She finally came to her senses and hurriedly slurped a huge mouthful, “Sluuurp—”

Having finished her bite, she wiped her mouth and turned her head back.

In that time, Chu Liang had also patted the Bai Ze cub’s neck to calm it, then dismounted and stood straight.

When their eyes met, both felt a tinge of awkwardness.

Only the Bai Ze cub, oblivious to human embarrassment, continued to circle joyfully.

“Sorry…” Chu Liang was the first to speak. “The Bai Ze suddenly let me ride it—I had no idea it would bring me here and disturb you.”

He truly had interrupted; surely no young lady would wish to be seen slurping noodles so heartily.

“It’s nothing…” The woman was caught off guard, but seeing Chu Liang’s courtesy, she felt obliged to respond in kind. Yet, when her gaze shifted to the Bai Ze cub, her eyes clearly flashed with annoyance and chagrin.

At her glare, the bouncing Bai Ze cub froze, stiffening in place with a guilty expression. Its eyes darted, as if pondering what it had done wrong.

Chu Liang looked at the woman and suddenly asked, “Senior Sister, are you Jiang…”

On Mount Shu, mention of exquisite beauty inevitably brought to mind one name—the so-called Fairy Jiang, Jiang Yuebai.

Chu Liang had once glimpsed Jiang Yuebai from afar on Tongtian Peak; her figure and features were identical to the woman before him.

However, Jiang Yuebai’s bearing then had been icy and ethereal, quite different from the noodle-slurping maiden before him. It took him a few moments to make the connection.

“No!” the woman immediately denied, raising her brows.

Chu Liang blinked. But I didn’t even say who yet…

…

“How can this be?” “Why?” “This makes no sense!”

In the shrubbery, Shang Ziliang and his two lackeys huddled together, their faces full of confusion.

Though many days had passed, they still remembered the painful thrashing they’d received from the Bai Ze cub.

They had merely taken a few steps atop Pagoda Peak when a silver flash had burst out, flipping them over and stomping them mercilessly—over and over—until all three were left howling on the ground. Only then had the Bai Ze cub, with a flick of its horns, sent them flying high out of the peak.

Yet they bore no grudge. After all, this was the legendary guardian beast of the sect, a descendant of the Mountain Protector itself! It was destined to grow into the pillar of the Mount Shu Sect.

But still—

It was fine if the beast targeted them, but wasn’t it a bit much to single them out?

After all their effort to lure Chu Liang here, and now… just look at how docile it was!

Did it still resemble the fierce guardian beast it was supposed to be?

When they saw the Bai Ze cub pounce on Chu Liang, they’d expected a show. But then, to their dismay, it started nuzzling and licking him. With every lick, Shang Ziliang felt as though his own face was being trampled again.

And then—

It actually let Chu Liang ride it?

This was a divine beast!

For such a creature, to allow someone to ride it was no small gesture. It signified not just a mount, but in some ways, the very destiny of Mount Shu itself.

Of course, as a mere cub, the implications weren’t quite so grand.

Still, it was hard to accept.

“Sigh…” Shang Ziliang heaved a long sigh. “Why is that?”

After a long silence, Lackey One muttered, “Boss, do you think… maybe it’s because he’s more handsome?”

Try as he might, it was the only explanation he could find.

Smack.

Shang Ziliang cuffed him. “You saying I’m not as handsome as him?”

“Of course not, it’s just…” Lackey One clutched his face, “Maybe Bai Ze just doesn’t like your type…”

With a huff, Shang Ziliang turned to Lackey Two. “What do you think?”

Lackey Two scratched his head. “I’m hungry.”

“Get lost.” Shang Ziliang sent him sprawling with a kick.

While the three puzzled over the matter, a shadow suddenly fell over them—a massive black cloud blotted out the sky above.

“Hm?” Shang Ziliang looked up to see a menacing, scaly darkness descending.

It seemed a gigantic monster was about to land.

“Pagoda Peak carries the aura of the Demon-Suppressing Tower—no beast has ever dared set foot here. What’s going on?” Shang Ziliang muttered.

“Boss, maybe we should stop thinking about that for now?” Lackey One said, craning his head to watch the approaching cloud.

“And do what?” Shang Ziliang asked.

“Hide, just in case it lands on us,” Lackey One replied.

“Hmph, ask it if it dares,” Shang Ziliang sneered. “In all of Mount Shu, whose mount would dare land on my—”

Boom!

The forest collapsed, the earth shook.

A monstrous lizard, seven or eight fathoms long and towering more than two high, crashed down. Two rugged horns jutted from its forehead, and a pair of narrow wings arched from its back. Its scales were thick and dark, marked with strange patterns.

It landed heavily, then, moving with a surprising swiftness that belied its bulk, skimmed low across the ground and vanished in an instant.

All that remained was a flattened pit, strewn with debris—and within it, the vague outlines of three human forms.

One, two, three…