Chapter Five: The Young Taiyi

"Ye Sansi, what should we do? I can't move at all," Liu Lingshuang struggled with all her might, but it was in vain.

"Lingshuang, I'm sorry. I've caused trouble once again."

"Enough, since I decided to stay, I don't blame you. If we end up in the Ghost Realm, you can make it up to me there," Liu Lingshuang gritted her teeth, doing her best to cast a spell to escape, but her cultivation was too shallow compared to these demon beasts. Even if she used the 'Heaven and Earth Lock,' she might not be able to subdue them.

The leading demon beast approached the formation and sneered, "Don't waste your strength. This is our clan's secret technique. Any mortal caught in this array will be at our mercy, hahahaha."

As it spoke, it brought its four claws together before its chest, and dark clouds gathered overhead. The beast conjured a purple energy sphere, which it hurled at Ye Sansi and Liu Lingshuang.

"Heh, I'll block it!" A slender youth dressed in blue with a white cap jumped into the array, intercepting the attack.

The demon beast was stunned. "What? Who are you? Why interfere?"

The youth stood up and said, "Heh, I like to meddle. What will you do, kill me?"

"Ha, just another mortal. You've entered my array—you're delivering yourself to certain death," the beast laughed scornfully.

The youth pursed his lips, half smiling. "Is that so?"

He lifted his foot and stomped. Instantly, the four demon beasts forming the array were sent flying, and the formation vanished.

Flexing his fingers, the youth walked slowly toward the leading demon beast, grinning. "Is that all?"

Ye Sansi and Liu Lingshuang found themselves able to move again. Picking up their weapons, they followed.

Liu Lingshuang addressed the youth, "Thank you, little brother, for saving us."

"No need," the youth waved his hand, then turned to the demon beast. "You lot are unlucky to run into me today. I heard there were monsters in the woods by the village. Before I could hunt you down, you came out yourselves, hahahaha."

With that, he drew his sword and tossed it skyward. "Transform, fivefold." His sword split into five glittering blades. The youth closed his eyes, making a gesture with his fingers, and the five swords sped towards the five demon beasts. Sensing danger, the beasts tried to flee, but the swords were much faster. In an instant, five sharp sounds pierced the night, and the five beasts fell dead.

Ye Sansi, amazed by the youth's swordsmanship, cheered, "Wow, that's incredible! I want to learn too!"

Liu Lingshuang patted Ye Sansi's shoulder and whispered, "This little brother might be a disciple of the immortals. Go ask him—he might take you to his sect."

Ye Sansi walked up to the youth. "Brother, may I ask if you are a sword immortal?"

The youth quickly waved his hand. "No, I wouldn't dare call myself that. Nor 'brother.' My surname is Li, given name Taiyi."

Ye Sansi bowed deeply. "Senior Taiyi, my name is Ye Sansi. Could you take me as an apprentice to cultivate immortality?"

Li Taiyi quickly lifted Ye Sansi. "Don't, don't! I'm only fifteen. Calling me 'senior' is too much. I'm not an immortal cultivator—immortals wouldn't accept someone like me, haha."

Liu Lingshuang approached, smiling. "Looks like you'll have to call us brother and sister, then!"

Li Taiyi laughed, "Why are you two wandering in the demon woods at night? It's far too dangerous."

"It's all because of those unreasonable villagers from Li Village—they drove us out," Liu Lingshuang complained, her anger rising at the thought.

"Miss, it's dangerous to be alone outside. How about I accompany you and ensure your safety?" Li Taiyi smiled at Liu Lingshuang.

She was delighted to have company. "Great! And don't call me 'Miss'—it sounds odd. Just call me Lingshuang. It's wonderful to have you join us, but don't you need to return to your sect?"

Li Taiyi replied, "I'm a lone youth, without sect or clan, free and unbound."

"No sect? Then how is your sword technique so powerful?" Liu Lingshuang gestured in disbelief.

Li Taiyi patted his chest and gave a thumbs-up. "It's a family secret technique—impressive, right? Hahaha."

Ye Sansi said excitedly, "Family secrets must be amazing! Can you teach me?"

Liu Lingshuang wiped the cold sweat from her brow (This wild boy... asking him to teach, even though it's a family secret).

"Sure," Li Taiyi agreed readily.

"What? You can agree to that?" Liu Lingshuang looked at him in confusion.

Ye Sansi leapt for joy. "Wonderful! Haha, I can become a sword immortal!"

Li Taiyi laughed, "It's nothing. My father never said I couldn't teach others. I don't know about becoming a sword immortal, but you can definitely subdue demons and banish evil."

"Alright, enough talk. We're all hungry, aren't we? I'll fetch that half beast—should be roasted just right," Ye Sansi slung the Sansi Sword over his back and walked toward the fire.

Li Taiyi asked Liu Lingshuang, "What beast?"

She waved her hand. "Nothing much—just the offspring of those demon beasts from earlier."

"Brother Sansi is impressive—facing demon beasts without fear," Li Taiyi admired Ye Sansi's back.

Liu Lingshuang stammered, "Hey, you—you can't really admire him, can you? Go stop him. I don't want to travel with someone who has eaten monsters. It's terrifying."

Hearing this, Li Taiyi hurried over to Ye Sansi. "Brother Sansi, are you sure you want to eat demon beast meat?"

"Of course! It's roasted and ready. Why not try it? Let me taste it," Ye Sansi nodded, sniffed, tore off a piece, and prepared to eat.

Li Taiyi quickly snatched it away, laughing. "Brother Sansi, you don't know—the meat of demon beasts is exceedingly bitter. Eat it, and you'll be unable to stomach food for seven days."

"Ah?" Ye Sansi, fooled by Li Taiyi's nonsense, put down the stick and bowed. "Thank you, senior, for your guidance."

"No 'senior'—you're older than me. Just call me Taiyi," Li Taiyi wiped his sword. Seeing Liu Lingshuang walk over, he asked, "What are your plans now?"

Liu Lingshuang answered, "I plan to visit my family first, then escort Ye Sansi to begin his cultivation. That's all for now."

"Miss Lingshuang, where is your home?"

"My home is in Liu Fortress of Lingzhou City," she replied. Li Taiyi then asked Ye Sansi, "Brother Sansi, what about you? Where do you live?"

Liu Lingshuang interrupted, "He? He's quite something—lived on Stepcloud Mountain behind Li Village for sixteen years, and now he's thinking of descending to cultivate immortality."

Li Taiyi paused, thinking (Stepcloud Mountain, surname Ye, sixteen years—could he be the one my father mentioned?), and grew excited. "Brother Sansi, when you return from cultivation, can I visit your mountain?"

"Of course! When you're on my turf, I'll hunt wild boar for you," Ye Sansi was thrilled to find someone who liked mountain life as much as he did.

Liu Lingshuang stomped her foot. "Hey, stop it! Mention wild boar to this wild boy and he'll never stop talking."

Li Taiyi and Liu Lingshuang both laughed, and Ye Sansi joined in, scratching his head shyly. Then Ye Sansi's stomach growled, breaking the laughter.

He rubbed his belly, embarrassed. Li Taiyi said, "Brother Sansi, you're hungry, aren't you? I have some flatbreads—eat some to fill up." He handed Ye Sansi a bundle.

Ye Sansi opened it, took a flatbread, hesitated (Will this taste good? Not as bad as Lingshuang's cold, dry stuff, I hope. Well, I'll eat it first—better than starving), then stuffed the bread into his mouth. After chewing, he said, "Wow, this is delicious! Much better than Lingshuang's cold fare." He devoured the flatbreads, and soon the entire bundle was gone.

"Burp~~" Ye Sansi rubbed his belly contentedly. "Taiyi, thank you. It was tasty, but too little—I haven't eaten enough."

Li Taiyi laughed, "Brother Sansi, if you're still hungry, keep eating. I brought enough for three days—plenty for you."

"Ye Sansi, give me one," Liu Lingshuang held out her hand.

"Uh, there's none left," Ye Sansi scratched his head. Liu Lingshuang jumped up and shouted, "None left? I haven't eaten yet, and you finished them all? That was Taiyi's three days' rations!"

Li Taiyi quickly stopped her. "Miss Lingshuang, it's alright. Dawn is near. Let's take the ferry to nearby Tianhai Village, stock up on provisions, have a good meal, and then set out for Lingzhou City. What do you think?"

Liu Lingshuang thought it over and nodded. "Fine, it's been days since I've had anything delicious. Taiyi, you must treat us!"

"Haha, alright! If I have nothing else, at least I'm rich," Li Taiyi patted his money pouch.

As Liu Lingshuang and Li Taiyi chatted, Ye Sansi, after a long silence, interrupted, "Taiyi, I have no money to give you."

"Brother Sansi, what money?" Li Taiyi asked, puzzled.

Ye Sansi scratched his head. "I was driven out of Li Village because I killed a pig and didn't pay. Just now I ate your food, but I have no money—are you going to be angry with me, too?"

At this, Liu Lingshuang and Li Taiyi burst out laughing. Liu Lingshuang explained between giggles, "People in the world below the mountain—when they eat, drink, or take anything from others, they pay. The villagers are 'others,' so we pay them. But Taiyi is different; he's our friend. When we eat his food, we don't need to pay."

"That's right, Brother Sansi. Miss Lingshuang is correct. We're friends. As long as you're eating with me, you never need to pay."

"Alright, then! I'll eat with you every day!" Ye Sansi was delighted to have made a friend like Li Taiyi. In this world, he now had someone besides Uncle Tree and Liu Lingshuang who treated him kindly. Suddenly, life below the mountain no longer seemed so dull.

Liu Lingshuang made a funny face and laughed, "You really are an honest wild boy, haha."

And so, beneath the moonlight, Ye Sansi, Li Taiyi, and Liu Lingshuang talked and laughed, and time slipped away unnoticed.