C15 A Feast for the Eyes

As twilight descended on a secluded path north of Cloud Peak City, the setting sun's rays struggled to illuminate the towering trees lining the path, their strength seemingly sapped by the dense foliage. A deep shadow stretched across the path, offering a welcome respite from the summer heat.

Curiously, the thick woods were silent, devoid of any birdsong...

The only sound was the urgent pounding of horse hooves approaching from a distance. A young man in white galloped wildly, a long, unusually narrow sword slung across his horse's back—a stark contrast to the broadswords typically favored in this world.

Ye Bufan, with his father's letter, the pure jun sword, and two thousand gold coins entrusted to him, mounted his steed and embarked on a journey for aid.

He had been riding hard since morning, and now, as dusk approached, the thought of stopping for food never crossed his mind. Time was of the essence—time equated to the lives of his family...

With a sharp neigh, his horse reared up, startled by a large tree that suddenly toppled, blocking Ye Bufan's way.

From the shadows of the branches, more than a dozen figures emerged, each wielding a heavy sword and glaring menacingly at Ye Bufan.

A middle-aged man stepped forward, nonchalantly resting a heavy sword on his shoulder. He began with a cliché, "This mountain is mine, this tree..." but before he could finish, he was abruptly kicked, stumbling forward.

"Kong Er, how many times must I tell you to drop those stale lines?" bellowed a man with an eye patch over his left eye from behind.

Kong Er quickly offered a sheepish grin, "Yes, yes, my mistake, Second Boss!"

The Second Boss, bare-chested with a heavy sword across his chest, declared smugly, "We live off the land, we live off the water. Today, we're here to rob, and you're not allowed to refuse. Anyone who resists will meet their maker."

His words were met with raucous cheers from his cohorts.

Observing the Second Boss's bulging muscles, Ye Bufan surmised his strength was likely no higher than the sixth level of the Power Stage. Anxious to save time, Ye Bufan had no desire for a drawn-out confrontation and asked tersely, "Are you finished?"

The simmering rage that the Situ family had ignited within Ye Bufan found no outlet for release, and now this mob had the audacity to block his way and waste his time. His voice was tinged with an icy edge.

"Well, well... This kid's got some nerve. Hand over anything of value, and I might just spare your life!" Kong Second taunted Ye Bufan, all the while casting sycophantic glances at the Second-in-Command.

With a resounding clang, Chun Jun, the sword, was drawn! "The only thing of value I have is this sword. Who dares to claim it?" Ye Bufan challenged.

"Son of a—, you really won't cry until you're staring death in the face!" Kong Second spat out an insult as he charged at Ye Bufan.

Ye Bufan appeared no older than fifteen or sixteen, with delicate, youthful features that belied his formidable strength. Kong Second certainly wasn't about to pass up such a prime opportunity for glory and reward.

The others, witnessing how Kong Second, spurred on by a kick, had become the one closest to Ye Bufan and thus the first to engage, sighed with a mix of envy and regret, wishing they had been in his place.

"I'll slaughter you..." Kong Second bellowed, sword raised high, but his threat was cut short as he collapsed, a gaping wound in his throat from which blood poured freely.

"Anyone else care to try for my sword?" Ye Bufan called out sharply, not sparing a glance for Kong Second's lifeless body on the ground.

Such speed! The Second-in-Command was convinced he had never seen a sword move faster in his life. In fact, he hadn't truly seen it at all; before he could even register the movement, Kong Second was already dead.

"Let's go, all of us! Avenge Kong Second!" The Second-in-Command's voice was thick with sorrow and fury. He brandished his great sword, and the thieves surged forward toward Ye Bufan like a wave.

Yet, in that moment, the Second-in-Command turned tail and fled. Ye Bufan's swift strike had made it clear that this youth was far beyond their league. Prioritizing his own survival, he chose to flee, sacrificing the lives of his men to buy precious seconds for his escape.

The band of thieves, lacking the Second-in-Command's insight, were undeterred by Ye Bufan's sudden onslaught. Though taken aback, they were emboldened by their numbers and, spurred on by their leader's incitement, they descended upon Ye Bufan with frenzied aggression.

A flicker of disdain crossed Ye Bufan's lips as his blade shimmered silver. Within moments, the thieves lay scattered on the ground, lifeless. Only four, quick to seize the chance to flee the fray, escaped the same fate as Kong Er—each met their end with a single, fatal sword strike to the throat.

The survivors, witnessing the swift justice dealt by Ye Bufan, wasted no time. They bolted in four separate directions, lamenting their misfortune of not having more legs to carry them faster...

Ye Bufan observed their synchronized escape amidst the crisis and deduced they were no strangers to such situations. Shaking his head, he spurred his horse and departed.

Taking a life weighed nothing on Ye Bufan's conscience. In his past life within the Cultivation World, he didn't regard human life as worthless, but he wouldn't hesitate to snuff it out if crossed.

Shortly after Ye Bufan's departure, a young girl in green attire appeared on the narrow path.

Fourteen or fifteen, she donned a water-colored, form-fitting robe with light green thread edging the collar and cuffs. Her feet were adorned with green silk shoes, embroidered with delicate pink lotuses, adding a touch of elegance to her demeanor.

A grimace crossed her face as she detected the heavy stench of blood. Her gaze fell upon the corpses strewn about, and with a graceful leap, she soared over them. Mid-flight, confusion flickered in her eyes. She deftly tapped her left foot atop her right in mid-air, executing a turn, and descended beside the body of a thief.

Examining the wounds on the thieves' throats, her brow furrowed in curiosity at the peculiar combat technique. The narrowness of Ye Bufan's sword tip made it difficult for her to associate the injuries with a longsword.

Once she had a clear view of the wounds, the girl took off again, her speed surpassing that of any Power Stage warrior.

For Ye Bufan, the encounter with the thieves was but a minor blip on his journey, quickly cast aside as he pressed on.

The world's development was clearly lacking, with the real estate industry still in its infancy. After galloping through the afternoon until the sky brimmed with stars, Ye Bufan had yet to come across even a small mountain village.

Along the journey, the forest was unrelenting, with only a narrow trail for riding at first. But soon, even that path vanished amidst the tangled woods, forcing Ye Bufan to reduce his pace.

Despite the hardship, Ye Bufan, who had been tirelessly riding for the better part of the day, was utterly spent. He dismounted, secured his horse to a sturdy tree, and began to nibble on some dry rations. Estimating his progress, he reckoned that at this rate, he would arrive at the Northern Duke's Palace in roughly twelve days.

Having finished his meager meal and quenched his thirst with fresh water, he felt somewhat revived. Yet the day's relentless gallop had left him drenched in sweat, which now made him decidedly uncomfortable.

As he listened intently, the faint sound of a stream in the distance excited him. He sprang to his feet and raced toward the source of the sound.

The water's murmur grew louder as Ye Bufan dashed eagerly toward it. Abruptly, he heard a splash as if something had plunged into the water, sending ripples across the surface. Ye Bufan halted in his tracks and, using the trees for cover, stealthily approached the source of the disturbance from the shadows.

A serene pool mirrored the luminous moon above, its surface as smooth as glass. Save for the occasional ripple from fish darting below, the water lay undisturbed.

Had he been mistaken? Just as doubt crept into Ye Bufan's mind, the lake's surface rippled once more, and a figure emerged from the depths.

Ye Bufan stilled his breath and concealed himself behind a large tree, peering out with a sly eye.

Bathed in the soft moonlight, he could see her clearly—the woman in the water with jet-black hair cascading to her shoulders, her eyes a vibrant green, and her skin a flawless porcelain. She was a vision of beauty, gliding through the water...

In a moment of playful abandon, the enchanting swimmer kicked up, briefly revealing her upper body before disappearing beneath the surface once again.

Moonlight, emerald waves, a captivating presence...

A surge of poetic inspiration welled up in Ye Bufan's heart.

Whoever you may be...

No matter where you hail from,

The world is filled with forests aplenty,

And within those woods, countless lakes lie hidden.

You arrived neither too early nor too late,

But just in time for our paths to cross here.

I realize now, you are a sight for sore eyes!

Bravo! What a poem! Ye Bufan, basking in his moment of pride, gazed dreamily at the lovely reflection in the water, wishing she would perform another somersault. Yet, he lost himself in the moment and neglected his breathing...

The lady in the water's brow furrowed slightly. "Who's there!" she exclaimed in anger, pressing her right hand against the lake's surface. The water surged toward Ye Bufan's hiding spot like a shower of blossoms.

Upon seeing the beauty's furrowed brow, a sense of dread washed over Ye Bufan. The lake water, like a volley of sharp arrows, came rushing at him, leaving him utterly astonished by the sheer force of the attack.

With a swift rotation of Chun Jun in his hand, a shield-like apparition materialized before him, and the lake's assault clinked against it.

Ye Bufan retreated several steps to counter the formidable power transmitted through Chun Jun, his arm growing numb. He nearly dropped his sword, barely averting the fall. The mere flick of his adversary's wrist wielded such might that Ye Bufan dared not linger. Without looking back, he vanished into the thicket like a crafty hare.

Back at his earlier resting spot, Ye Bufan quickly released the horse's tether and gave a hefty slap to its hindquarters with the sword sheath. The steed, spurred by the sting, let out a piercing neigh and galloped away.

In a flurry, Ye Bufan leaped onto a tree branch and settled down to rest. He calmed his emotions and steadied his breath until it was utterly tranquil. Aside from the palpitations he could sense, at that moment, Ye Bufan appeared to be sound asleep.