C18 A False Alarm

Yunqing's single remark jolted Ye Bufan out of his deep focus on the sword intent, causing him to break out in a cold sweat. As he turned, he caught Yunqing's odd gaze fixed on him from behind. "Has she figured out that I spied on her last night? I thought I didn't give anything away..."

Ye Bufan's effortless dispatch of the Wind Lightning Leopard might have seemed nonchalant, but that was only because he had seized control of the battle's pace right from the start, a tactic he had honed after his fight with Lin Feiyang. Without that control, the outcome of the battle—and the leopard's fate—would have been uncertain.

Against Yunqing, however, Ye Bufan knew he wouldn't stand a chance for more than five moves, especially after witnessing her casual strike the previous night. The gulf in their strength wasn't something he could bridge with mere sword speed.

With his heart in disarray and the thrill of his victory over the Wind Lightning Leopard gone, Ye Bufan asked anxiously, "What do you mean by that?"

Yunqing's displeasure was evident as she frowned at Ye Bufan's reaction. "Are you still trying to keep secrets from me at this point?"

Ye Bufan's heart skipped a beat. "This is bad, she's onto me. What now?" While he was still grappling with his thoughts, Yunqing inquired, "Did you run into some thieves yesterday?"

With a puzzled look, Ye Bufan replied, "Yes, what about it?"

"Did you kill them all?" Yunqing pressed on.

Damn, is she some kind of secret agent? But at this juncture, Ye Bufan couldn't afford to lie and simply nodded reluctantly.

Yunqing's mood lifted instantly. "I knew it! When I saw those thieves slain by a single sword strike, each with such a narrow wound, I was puzzled. How could a large sword inflict such wounds? It wasn't until I saw you take down the Wind Lightning Leopard that I realized it was you!"

So that's what she was getting at? Startled into a sweat, Ye Bufan exclaimed, "You're referring to that?"

Without missing a beat, Yunqing probed further, "Is there anything else you're hiding from me?"

Ye Bufan quickly shook his head, "No, we've only just met; how could I be hiding anything from you? Besides, you flew over here so quickly just now!"

Yunqing, recalling her own swift flight in a burst of excitement, swiftly steered the conversation elsewhere. "That explains why your sword felt so familiar to me yesterday. You even fibbed about it. Next time you try to pull one over on me, watch out—I might not let you off so easily!"

As the pair bantered, it took a good while for the two young men nearby to recover from the shock of Ye Bufan slaying the Wind Lightning Leopard in less time than it takes to steep tea. Approaching Ye Bufan, they bowed deeply with fists clasped. "I'm Faang Mingjie, and this is Fang Mingqiang. We owe you our lives—thank you!"

Ye Bufan gestured for them to rise, "No need for formalities. Let's check on your friend's injuries."

Since the leopard's defeat, Mengjie had been tending to her brother, her eyes brimming with tears, uncertain of what to do next.

Ye Bufan knelt down, his hand resting on Mengtian's wrist, assessing the injuries. Known as the Alchemy Saint in his past life, he was adept at diagnosing with a mere touch, thanks to his expertise in crafting superior pills.

Mengtian had sustained severe internal damage from the impact, with his liver the most critically affected, teetering on the brink of rupture.

The four onlookers were baffled by Ye Bufan's actions, not grasping the significance of his grip on Mengtian's wrist. Had it not been for Ye Bufan's solo takedown of the leopard, Mengjie would have likely shoved him aside by now.

The liver, corresponding to the wood element, was in peril. From his robe, Ye Bufan produced a jade bottle and tipped out the sole Wood Spirit Pill he possessed.

"Wood Spirit Pill?" Yunqing was the first to identify the pill in Ye Bufan's hand, a mix of admiration and annoyance stirring within her. His odd sword, his exceptional speed, and now, he was offering a rare Wood Spirit Pill to a stranger. To him, it seemed, the pill was of little consequence.

Upon hearing Yunqing's words, Mengjie's heart skipped a beat! The Wood Spirit Pill was a top-tier healing elixir, exceedingly rare and valuable. Even if her entire family were to liquidate their assets, they wouldn't have enough to purchase a single pill. As Ye Bufan prepared to administer the pill to his brother, she was reluctant to accept such a generous gift. She attempted to refuse, but the sight of her brother's blood-soaked garment silenced her objections before they could be voiced.

For Ye Bufan, the Wood Spirit Pill was merely a high-quality concoction. With the right ingredients and fire control, he could easily craft a pill of even higher caliber. He offered the Wood Spirit Pill recognizing their deep sense of loyalty. Despite his previous life in the detached Cultivation World, he held a genuine appreciation for such heartfelt connections.

After Mengtian swallowed the Wood Spirit Pill, Mengjie breathed a sigh of relief. If this couldn't save her brother, then it was simply his destiny to face such an end.

Mengjie attempted to kneel in gratitude, but Ye Bufan swiftly supported her, saying, "There's no need for such formalities, Miss Mengjie."

Tears in her eyes, Mengjie profusely thanked Ye Bufan. Faang Mingjie and Fang Mingqiang, with fists clasped, pledged to Ye Bufan, "Brother, your noble deed binds us to you. We will follow you through fire and sword without hesitation!"

Ye Bufan hadn't anticipated that a spontaneous gesture would earn him such devotion. He marveled at the purity of the people in this world and quickly responded, "You're both too kind. If it's all the same to you, let's just be friends. My name is Ye Feng, and this is my friend Yunqing."

Of course, Ye Bufan was unaware of the Wood Spirit Pill's true worth in this realm; had he known, he would have understood the brothers' profound reaction.

Yunqing, upon seeing Ye Bufan introduce her, immediately boasted with pride, "Right, you should thank me too! He had no intention of stepping in when you faced off against the Wind Lightning Leopard. It was me who called him over to lend a hand!"

This kid is too blunt... Should he really say that in front of everyone? Ye Bufan almost wished he could kick Yunqing clear across the mountain, but knowing Yunqing's strength, he had to squash the impulse, managing only a tight-lipped smile instead.

Faang Mingjie and his brother were fundamentally kind-hearted. Regardless of Ye Bufan's reasons for intervening, he had slain the Wind Lightning Leopard and rescued them, even offering the precious Wood Spirit Pill to save Mengtian. Such acts of heroism were worth a lifetime of gratitude.

"We're deeply grateful for your lifesaving help!" Having witnessed Yunqing's entrance, it was clear to the trio that her prowess was on par with Ye Bufan's.

Yunqing nodded with glee, as if she had been the savior, while Ye Bufan was merely an onlooker.

In the midst of this, Mengtian, who had been unconscious, let out a muffled cough, expelling a mouthful of congealed blood, and came to with a start. Barely grasping his surroundings, he cried out, "Sister, run for it!"

Mengjie, touched by her brother's immediate concern for her safety upon awakening, felt a surge of warmth and tears streamed down her face as she reassured him, "The Wind Lightning Leopard is dead. We're safe now."

Hearing this, Mengtian's face broke into a relieved smile before he passed out once more, prompting everyone to turn their attention back to Ye Bufan. With patience, Ye Bufan explained, "His internal injuries are severe. The pill's effect has expelled the blood clots, but recovery will take time. Given the serious damage to his liver, we should avoid jostling him too much." Yunqing, impressed, remarked to Ye Bufan, "You're quite knowledgeable, aren't you?" Ye Bufan just shrugged and headed into the woods, where he swiftly cut down two small trees, stripped the branches, and intertwined some sturdy vines. As the onlookers watched in bewilderment, he crafted a simple stretcher. After testing its strength, Ye Bufan directed, "Let's place Mengtian on top and carry him."