NOVPUB
Chapter 67: Ch-67: A Harem trip?
The morning after their return from Eaststone Ridge, the Feilun Sect buzzed with hushed whispers and sidelong glances.
Word traveled fast—two outer disciples had not only resolved a disruption at a spiritual mine, with almost no big of a commotion at that.
Such tales rarely stayed quiet.
In the outer disciple courtyard, Tian Shen lounged atop the tiled roof of his residence, a skewer of grilled spirit chicken in one hand, courtesy of a very smug Little Mei who lay curled at his feet, nibbling on a spicy thigh bone.
"Feels good to be appreciated."
He murmured, tossing her another piece.
"Kyuu~, Kyuuu~!"
’And fed me! Don’t forget I need to be fed!’
A sudden flicker of spiritual pressure approached. Tian Shen’s eyes half-opened just as Feng Yin landed beside him with casual grace.
"You do realize the Inner Elders are asking about us now."
Feng Yin said, arms folded.
"Even here, you’re becoming a bit of a celebrity."
Tian Shen smirked.
"That fast? I’m flattered. Should I prepare a signature move and a smug laugh?"
Feng Yin gave him a long-suffering look.
"Be serious for once. Elder Su of the Mission Hall is personally requesting our presence. Apparently, there’s a more ’sensitive’ task that requires discretion."
Tian Shen’s expression sharpened at that.
"Sounds important."
"Or dangerous," Feng Yin added. "Either way, we’ve made an impression."
...
The Mission Hall was more solemn than usual when they entered. Elder Su, a valiant women with long blonde hair and flowing cyan robes, stood alone before the jade mission wall. Her back was straight as a blade, her aura calm yet undeniably sharp.
"You’ve returned safely from Eaststone Ridge."
She began, eyes flicking to both Tian Shen and Feng Yin.
"And dealt with more than was asked of you. That’s commendable."
Tian Shen inclined his head respectfully.
"We simply handled what appeared."
Elder Su nodded.
"Indeed. However, the corruption you encountered was not isolated. Reports from other areas suggest similar taints—old beasts, forgotten ruins, and tampered Qi flows. The elders suspect a wider contamination, possibly orchestrated."
Feng Yin’s gaze darkened.
"You believe someone is targeting resource nodes?"
"Possibly," Elder Su replied. "We’ve traced some fluctuations to the Duskwind Marsh. It’s outside sect borders—remote, shrouded in fog and home to lost cultivation paths."
Tian Shen tilted his head.
"What’s the task?"
"Investigate. Retrieve any records, relics, or signs of human interference. If the corruption there aligns with the Blood Serpent’s, we may be facing a larger scheme."
A brief pause, then Elder Su added, "You’ll be joined by another disciple—Lan Yueru. She’s from the inner sect. Experienced. Try not to get on her bad side."
Tian Shen gave Feng Yin a look.
"Guess the solo fun is over."
"Try not to flirt with her."
Feng Yin muttered.
"No promises on my part."
...
Later that evening, at the edge of the Whispering Brook, Tian Shen sat with his feet in the water. A crisp wind blew across the surface, and distant frogs croaked softly.
He felt someone approach before he saw her.
Lan Yueru.
She wore deep violet robes and carried a slender sword at her waist. Her presence was like moonlight on steel—cool, poised, beautiful but distant.
"You?"
She asked, surprised seeing Tian Shen.
He looked up, smiling lazily.
"Didn’t expect me now, did you?"
She narrowed her eyes, clearly unimpressed.
"Don’t try to flirt with one when you have another woman companion beside you."
Tian Shen’s grin widened.
"Wouldn’t dream of it. Though I warn you... I tend to leave an impression."
She turned without a word and began walking.
Little Mei peeked from Tian Shen’s robes, watching her retreating figure.
"Kyuu~"
’She smells like frost and peaches.’
Tian Shen chuckled.
"Frosty on the outside, but I bet she melts with time."
Feng Yin arrived then, arms crossed.
"This is a mission. Not a harem trip."
Tian Shen laughed.
"That’s the thing about fate, My wife. It rarely follows mission briefings."
The journey to Duskwind Marsh was about to begin, and both Tian Shen and Feng Yin prepared for a trip that would push them further from the safe walls of the sect and deeper into the mysteries that were beginning to unravel across the land.
...
Duskwind Marsh
The journey to Duskwind Marsh took them several days, traveling beyond the familiar trails of Feilun Sect territory.
As the forest gave way to thick swamps and stagnant waters, the air grew heavier, laden with moisture and the unsettling scent of decay.
The marsh was as silent as it was vast. Long stretches of murky water shimmered with a dull, sickly glow.
Lanterns hung from nearby trees, their glow feeble against the oppressive dark that was slowly swallowing the path ahead.
"Do you always travel so leisurely?"
Lan Yueru asked, her voice cutting through the quiet like a shard of ice.
"You seem more... at ease than most."
Tian Shen smirked, glancing over his shoulder at the tall woman trailing just behind.
"You’ll find that I’m very adaptable."
His eyes twinkled with mischief, but his tone softened.
"Though this place is unnerving."
She did not respond immediately. Her sharp eyes took in every detail of the surroundings, watching for any sign of trouble.
"I agree," she finally said, her gaze fixed ahead. "The energy here is wrong. The sooner we find out what’s causing it, the better."
Tian Shen nodded.
"Right. Let’s keep moving then."
They ventured deeper into the marsh, passing pools of dark water where the surface shifted unnaturally, as though something was lurking beneath.
The trees above twisted and contorted, their branches heavy with moss, the sound of their leaves swaying eerily in the wind.
As they passed deeper into the marsh, they encountered their first obstacle: a small cluster of glowing mushrooms nestled at the edge of a dark pool.
At first glance, they looked like harmless flora, but something about them made Tian Shen’s skin prickle.
"Don’t touch them," Lan Yueru warned, stepping forward and unsheathing her sword.
"Those mushrooms release spores that cloud your mind. If you inhale them, you may lose track of time, direction, and even your identity."
Tian Shen muttered.
"Wouldn’t be the first time I’ve encountered a trap like this."
Lan Yueru raised an eyebrow but didn’t comment further. Instead, she moved forward with measured steps, her gaze focused on the ground, ever vigilant.
Tian Shen, meanwhile, glanced at Little Mei, who had emerged from his robes to sniff the air.
"Kyuuu~"
’Something’s moving.’
His senses sharpened, and he looked to Feng Yin, who was just behind him, scanning their surroundings.
"Something’s close," Tian Shen murmured.
Before Feng Yin could respond, the sound of rustling came from the water ahead of them. A strange, muffled hiss followed, like something dragging itself through the muck.
"Here we go," Tian Shen muttered, cracking his knuckles. "Stay alert."
Lan Yueru’s eyes flicked toward the noise, her hand tightening on her sword’s hilt.
"Whatever it is, stay sharp. We don’t know what it can do."
With a sudden burst of movement, a shadowy form surged from the murky waters—a massive, lizard-like creature with glowing red eyes, thick scales that shimmered with dark energy, and a row of jagged spines along its back.
The creature hissed again, its body coiling like a serpent as it lunged toward them.
Lan Yueru moved first.
Her blade flashed, swift and precise, slashing a crescent of silver light that struck the beast across its snout.
The creature reeled back, its hiss turning into a guttural screech as it twisted mid-air, landing with a splash that sent a wave of foul water in all directions.
"Circle it—don’t let it retreat!"
She called out.
Feng Yin leapt to the side, her palm surging with condensed wind energy. She slammed it toward the marshy ground beneath the beast, forcing its footing to slip.
Tian Shen didn’t hesitate. Golden light flared at his fists as he activated a Qi technique, sprinting in low.
With a pivot and a burst of strength, he slammed his palm into the creature’s exposed underbelly.
Boom!
The beast was hurled backward, crashing into a half-submerged tree with enough force to crack its trunk. It screeched again, but this time with pain.
"It’s drawing in Qi!" Feng Yin warned.
True enough, a vortex of miasma began swirling around the beast’s form, its red eyes glowing brighter. The air grew thick with hostility.
"Disrupt its focus!" Lan Yueru shouted.
Tian Shen vanished from his spot, reappearing atop the monster’s head in a flash of golden steps. With a sharp jab to its eye, he plunged a short dagger—wreathed in his pure spiritual essence—directly into the socket.
The beast howled in agony, thrashing violently. But it was too late.
Lan Yueru’s sword danced like starlight.
"Moon Severing Petals—Fourth Form!"
With a single graceful arc, her blade unleashed a cascade of cutting waves, slicing through the creature’s body in shimmering layers.
When the light faded, only silence remained. The beast collapsed in a pool of dark ichor, unmoving.
Tian Shen exhaled.
"Not bad, Ice Princess."
Lan Yueru sheathed her sword.
"Hmph. Try to keep up next time."
