Chapter Four: Encountering a Demon

Outside Li Family Village stretched a dense forest, its trees towering with thick, leafy canopies. Liu Lingshuang let out a sigh. “Ah, it seems we’ll have to sleep in the woods tonight.” Ye Sansi scratched his head in self-reproach. “Lingshuang, this is my fault…”

Seeing Ye Sansi’s remorseful face, Liu Lingshuang quickly patted his shoulder and smiled. “Hey, wild boy, where’s that fierce spirit you had just now?” She made a funny face to comfort him. “It’s not all your fault. The people in that village are really odd. I even said I’d pay them, but they’re so unreasonable.”

Ye Sansi grinned. “You’re still the nicest to me, Lingshuang. Hehe.”

Liu Lingshuang waved her hand, a little embarrassed. “Enough with the mushy talk, hurry up and make a fire. The forest won’t be safe at night.”

“What’s unsafe? The woods are great—I can hunt for meat.” Ye Sansi was truly starving; he hadn’t eaten since coming down from the mountain.

“Hunt? This isn’t your Nameless Peak. The beasts here roam in packs—be careful they don’t hunt you instead.” Liu Lingshuang raised her hands like claws, pretending to be a tiger to scare him.

As she spoke, Liu Lingshuang gathered some wood and squatted to start a fire, grumbling, “Ugh, what’s wrong today? Everything’s going wrong, even the fire won’t start.”

Ye Sansi came closer and bent down. “Lingshuang, you picked the wrong wood—these pieces are damp, see? They’re hard to light, and even if you do, there’ll be too much smoke.” He searched under a nearby tree and brought back some dry wood, placing it before her. “These should work.”

Liu Lingshuang tried them and, sure enough, the fire flared up quickly. She glanced at Ye Sansi, secretly a bit impressed by this wild boy. “I didn’t expect you to be so good at this.” Ye Sansi scratched his head, embarrassed at the praise.

They sat side by side by the fire.

“So hungry…” Ye Sansi clutched his stomach, groaning in discomfort.

“Hey, hey, still complaining about hunger? I even gave you my rations. I’m not whining, but you can’t stop.” Liu Lingshuang pouted and shook her head helplessly. Ye Sansi grumbled, “That hard, dry stuff tastes awful—I couldn’t eat a bite.”

“Rations are just to fill your belly, stop fussing.” Liu Lingshuang jumped up and pointed at him. “What? You didn’t eat any? Where are they? Don’t tell me you threw them away.”

“I did. They tasted terrible.” Ye Sansi scratched his head and complained.

“Hmph, I’m done with you. I’m going to sleep.” With that, Liu Lingshuang lay down, turning her back to him.

Ye Sansi thought to himself, How strange, Lingshuang gets angry so easily. I should just sleep—if I’m asleep, I won’t be hungry. “Sansisi Sword, you keep watch for us, alright? If any wild beasts come, wake me up. Thanks.”

Sansisi Sword spun in a circle in response.

Two hours later, deep into the night.

Ye Sansi tossed and turned, unable to sleep. “No good, I’m starving, I’ll die at this rate.” He sat up, glanced at Liu Lingshuang still asleep, and thought, Lingshuang hasn’t eaten either—she must be hungry, too. Why not hunt a wild boar? Hehe, if she sees it, maybe she’ll forgive me.

He stood up, took Sansisi Sword, and headed deeper into the woods.

After a hundred or so paces, he heard faint sounds of a creature moving. He crouched down, crept closer, and saw a strange beast with six legs, the head of a tiger, and the body of a monkey. (What is this? I’ve never seen such a thing. Haha, maybe it’s another treasure like that red-tailed, white-bodied beast.)

Ye Sansi gripped his sword tightly. The beast continued to stroll leisurely. In a flash, Ye Sansi lunged, but the beast sensed him and dodged aside—his sword swing missed. The beast’s paw struck his chest, sending him flying several yards with a whoosh of force. “This creature is strong,” he muttered, clutching his chest.

The beast was about to pursue him when Sansisi Sword suddenly shimmered with cold light, vibrating fiercely. The beast recoiled several steps in fear.

“Sansisi Sword, so the beast fears you! Let’s go!” Taking advantage of its hesitation, Ye Sansi swung his sword. The air howled, blue light filling the sky. The beast, now terrified, only retreated, no longer resisting. Sansisi Sword lifted Ye Sansi into the air, where he slashed down—a surge of sword energy instantly became a massive ice dragon.

The ice dragon struck the beast’s chest, tearing its flesh apart like a flood unleashed.

As the blue light faded, the beast lay split in two on the ground. “Wow! Haha! Sansisi Sword, you’re amazing!” Ye Sansi praised his sword, though it no longer responded as before, simply lying quietly in his hand.

He scratched his head. Maybe it’s tired. “Rest well, Sansisi Sword.” He walked over, grabbed half the beast, and chuckled. “This should be enough for both Lingshuang and me. She’ll be so happy.”

“Ye Sansi, where are you?” called a voice from the woods.

“Lingshuang, I’m here!” Ye Sansi shouted back. Soon, Liu Lingshuang arrived, following his voice.

“Why’d you run off? What if I’d been eaten while you were gone?” she scolded.

Ye Sansi proudly waved his prize in front of her. “Lingshuang, we have meat now!”

“What kind of beast is this? I’ve never seen one.” She eyed the monstrous half with suspicion.

“Look, this is half of it. If you’re not full, there’s still the other half over there.” Ye Sansi pointed to the creature’s other part, lying in a pool of blood.

Liu Lingshuang backed away fearfully. “Ye Sansi, what did you kill? Could it be a demon?”

“Don’t worry, Lingshuang. Whatever it was, it’s dead now. Let’s roast it.” Ye Sansi skewered the beast on a long stick.

“You’re not seriously going to roast and eat a demon, are you? That’s disgusting!” Liu Lingshuang covered her mouth, feeling sick.

Ye Sansi ignored her protest and set up the fire and spit for roasting. He thought, You may say you don’t want any now, but once the aroma fills the air, you’ll be drooling.

Liu Lingshuang couldn’t bear to watch, curling up under a tree in horror. This wild man is crazy—he even dares eat demons! So disgusting! No, once he’s done roasting, I’ll tie him up with the Universe Lock—there’s no way I’ll let him eat it.

“Lingshuang, where should we go next?” Ye Sansi asked as he roasted the meat. “Where’s that immortal sect you mentioned? I want to learn immortal arts as soon as possible and go back to Nameless Peak. People down here are too strange.”

Liu Lingshuang came over, sat down, and gestured. “I said an immortal sect. There are many these days, but the top three are Immortal Island of the Southern Sea, Divine Sword Manor east of Cloud-stepping Mountain, and Heavenly Luo Mountain to the west.”

“So many sects? I don’t understand—which one should we go to?” Ye Sansi looked at her in confusion.

“We? Who said I’m going with you? I have important matters to attend to.” She brushed the dirt from her clothes and stood. “Once we’re out of the woods, there’s a ferry. That’s where we part ways. I need to go home. If you want to cultivate immortality, take the boat east to Clearwind City. Pass through Six Kings Mountain and you’ll reach Divine Sword Manor. Go west to Bosian Town for Heavenly Luo Mountain—there’ll be disciples waiting to take you up the mountain. If you want Immortal Island, head south, but it’s a long journey. Decide for yourself.”

“Lingshuang, I don’t want to leave you. You’re my only friend. People outside the mountain are so odd—only you treat me well.” Ye Sansi looked at her, reluctant to part.

“Oh, you big softy.” Liu Lingshuang thought for a moment. “You’re a wild boy with no kin—if you get into trouble again, it’ll be difficult. Why don’t you come home with me first? Then I’ll take you to the immortal sect. How about that?”

“Great, great!” Ye Sansi leaped up with joy. “Thank you, Lingshuang! Haha!”

Rustle, rustle.

“Lingshuang, did you hear that? What’s that sound?” Ye Sansi tensed up immediately.

“Don’t scare yourself—it’s probably your stomach growling.”

Suddenly, a chill wind swept through, followed by the roaring of tigers all around.

“Tigers? No way…” Liu Lingshuang grew nervous. “It sounds like at least four… Is this the end for us?”

“Lingshuang, hide behind me. I’ll protect you.” Ye Sansi raised Sansisi Sword, spreading his arms to shield her.

“There are sounds coming from every side—we’re surrounded. What good is you protecting me? We need to break out!” Liu Lingshuang drew her twin swords, ready to fight to the death.

As they spoke, five six-legged, tiger-headed, monkey-bodied demon beasts surrounded them. These were twice the size of the one Ye Sansi had slain, each baring its fangs and roaring with fury.

“Ye Sansi! You must have killed one of their kin—they’re here for revenge. I thought we might escape a few wild beasts, but five demons? We’re doomed.”

The five demons stopped their roaring. One stepped forward and spoke: “Mortals! You killed my child! Prepare to die.”

Ye Sansi stood in front of Liu Lingshuang. “I killed it. She had nothing to do with it.”

The demon sneered. “I didn’t expect you to be so loyal. Girl, step aside. Vengeance has a head—debts have an owner. I only want his life.”

“No need. I, young lady, don’t need pity from a demon.” With that, she moved to stand before Ye Sansi. “Wild boy, I know immortal arts. Find a chance to escape—I’ll hold them off.”

“No, Lingshuang, I won’t leave you behind. If anyone dies, it’ll be me first.”

“Hahaha, foolish mortals, not knowing your place. Today, I’ll claim both your lives.” As the lead demon spoke, it lashed out at Ye Sansi. He and Liu Lingshuang leapt together, hoping to break out of the encirclement.

But these five demon beasts were battle-hardened. Four of them fanned out to the four directions, then began circling in unison. Instantly, a purple demonic formation rose around Ye Sansi and Liu Lingshuang, trapping them in place. It seemed they were truly doomed this time…