NOVPUB
Chapter 68: Ch-68: Women are terryfing
The marsh settled back into uneasy quiet once the corrupted lizard-serpent fell, its body dissolving in a swirl of ichor and dissipating Qi.
The three cultivators—Tian Shen, Feng Yin, and Lan Yueru—stood panting in the muddied water, the glow of their recent clash still hanging in the damp air.
Little Mei, perched on a sunken log whose surface was slick with moss, let out a triumphant "Kyuuu~!"
Her crimson fur shone in the dim marsh light as she twirled a wet tail.
Tian Shen wiped ichor from his fist and glanced at Lan Yueru.
"You never cease to amaze me, Ice Princess."
Lan Yueru gave him a thin smile, though her eyes betrayed relief.
"Control was slipping. If you hadn’t stepped in..."
He shrugged.
"Teamwork, you know. Teamwork."
Feng Yin sheathed her sword with a soft sigh.
"Whatever it was, it was feeding off the marsh’s Qi. That vortex nearly took us all."
Lan Yueru nodded. "We need to find its source—whatever is poisoning this place."
---
They pressed on, deeper into the Duskwind Marsh. The path narrowed further, forcing them to pick their way across half-submerged roots and sinking patches of mud.
The oppressive fog swirled around them, occasionally parting to reveal the skeletal limbs of drowned trees.
Tian Shen’s perception flickered as he scanned for Qi disturbances.
He slowly intoned.
"Something’s up this path—ancient Qi, corroded."
Feng Yin crouched and traced troubled lines in the muck. n𝚘𝚟𝚙𝚞𝚋.𝚌o𝚖
"Not just corrupted—twisted. This signature resembles the Blood Serpent’s, but older."
Lan Yueru’s brows furrowed.
"Older than the Blood Serpent? Impossible—unless...."
She drew a chalky talisman from her sash and pressed it to the air, illuminating hidden markers on the trees—runes half-erased by time.
"This is a sealing formation," she said. "4-star, Designed to lock something away."
"Meaning," Tian Shen murmured, "whatever we fought was only an echo—an echo of something greater."
...
They came upon a broken stone archway, submerged knee-deep.
Moss and vines draped its battered lintel, the carving of a coiling serpent barely visible. Broken columns lay around it like fallen sentinels.
"Temple of the First Vein," Lan Yueru whispered, reading ancient script along the arch’s base. "Legend says someone sealed a primordial guardian here to protect the land’s Qi veins."
Feng Yin crouched at the water’s edge, eyes narrowed.
"The guardian must have been corrupted—by something invading the land."
Tian Shen nodded.
"Let’s go in."
He plunged through the water toward a moss-covered stairway. The three followed, Little Mei bounding beside them, her paws splashing in the fetid water.
...
The chamber beyond the arch opened into a vast, dim grotto. Stalactites dripped from above, and the walls were carved with images of a grand serpent coiled around a mountain.
In the center lay a shattered crystal dais, fragments scattered like fallen stars.
A low hum filled the air. From deep within the grotto, a pale, sickly light pulsed.
Tian Shen approached the dais. Tendrils of corrupted Qi writhed among the shards, anchoring them to the ground.
He knelt and placed his hand on a large splinter of crystal.
Feng Yin stood guard.
"Dark Qi is interlaced with the crystal’s essence. We need to purge it."
Lan Yueru unslung her sword, its blade humming.
"Work together. I’ll hold the corruption at bay."
...
Tian Shen closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Golden Qi coalesced around his palms as he drew upon his inner reserves, weaving a gentle purification wave.
The light spread across the shards, dissolving twisted tendrils of darkness.
Mei surged at his side, her small form glowing with warm red light. She placed a paw on a shard.
The crystal responded, pulsing brighter, but with a ragged rhythm.
Suddenly, a violent surge of corrupted Qi burst from the heart of the chamber. The walls rattled, stones crumbled, and the air turned rancid.
Lan Yueru’s sword flared with silver light, intercepting the attack. Sheets of pixie-spark lightning arced along the walls, stabilizing the chamber just enough.
"Now!"
She called.
Tian Shen and Little Mei redoubled their efforts. Their overlapping Qi formed a prism of warmth and clarity.
The central shard trembled, then shattered in a dazzling eruption that banished the darkness.
For a heartbeat, silence reigned. Then the shards across the dais glowed with pure light, and a wave of serene Qi rippled outward, gently restoring the chamber’s balance.
Feng Yin exhaled.
"It’s done."
Tian Shen lowered his hands, breathing heavily. The air had lost its rancor and tasted like clean rainwater.
Lan Yueru sheathed her sword.
"You did well."
...
Together, they gathered a single, intact crystal fragment—glowing with untainted Qi. It was smooth to the touch and warm, like a dropped sun.
Tian Shen said reverently.
"I guess we should deliver it to Elder Su."
Feng Yin nodded.
"And report that the seal has been restored."
Yueru’s gaze softened for the first time.
"All well that ends well, I guess."
Tian Shen grinned.
"It’s not the end."
Little Mei hopped onto his shoulder, purring. The blood fox’s tails swayed, reflecting the restored glow.
...
The journey back felt lighter. The fog thinned, and the marsh’s oppressive weight lifted.
Birds began to sing again, and the path out of Duskwind Marsh was gilded by the returning sun.
As they walked, Yueru fell into step beside Tian Shen.
"You know," she said quietly, "I judged you unfairly at first."
He glanced at her.
"Oh?"
She smiled, a genuine curve of her lips.
"You’re brash and arrogant, yes—but also brave and kind. A rare combination."
Tian Shen laughed softly.
"I’ll take that as a compliment."
Feng Yin walked behind, arms wrapped beneath her bosom, She caught his eye and Smirked dangerously.
"What do you have to say, Hero-sama?"
Tian Shen swallowed nervously as he waved his hands hurriedly.
"Y-you know, l-let’s eat some pork. S-shall we?"
Feng Yin just kept her smirk, saying nothing.
’Mission failed regrettably.’
He inwardly sighed.
...
They arrived at the sect gates in the late afternoon. Elder Su waited, her expression one of proud approval.
"You’ve succeeded," she said, examining the crystal fragment. "This will heal the corrupted Qi veins across three sectors. The elders will be pleased."
Tian Shen bowed. "Glad to help."
Yueru bowed as well, then turned to leave. But before she stepped away, she paused.
"Tian Shen," she said softly. "If you ever need assistance again... I’ll be there."
He smiled wryly, still traumatized.
"L-likewise, Lan Yueru."
Lan felt weird, as she thought.
’What happened to his Oh So Confidence? Well, seeing him like this is a delight in itself.’
Lan Yueru chuckled lightly, shaking her head, she broke away.
With that, she melted into the crowd, leaving Tian Shen, Feng Yin, and Little Mei standing beneath the golden gates.
Little Mei yawned and snuffled at a stray blossom petal.
Tian Shen glanced at Feng Yin, flattering.
"Why not some celebration?"
Feng Yin rolled her eyes affectionately.
"Not a chance."
As the crowd of disciples bustled past them, the sun casting long shadows over the courtyard, Tian Shen stole a glance at Feng Yin.
She was unusually quiet, now and even before.
Her arms remained crossed, and though her expression was neutral, a faint pout tugged at her lips. Her gaze lingered on the path Lan Yueru had taken.
Tian Shen tilted his head, playfully squinting.
"You alright, Feng’er?"
"Hmph."
She looked away, her tone cool. "Fine."
Little Mei twitched her ears on his shoulder and narrowed her crimson eyes suspiciously, as if sensing the emotional shift in the air.
"...You’re not still thinking about that, are you?"
Tian Shen joked half-heartedly.
Feng Yin didn’t laugh. Instead, she let out a sigh of pure melodrama.
"So dramatic, Dear wife," Tian Shen said, using the cutesiest voice he could manage. "Could it be that you’re... jealous?"
Feng Yin turned her head slowly, deliberately.
"Jealous?"
She echoed, eyes gleaming with dangerous amusement.
"Of the Ice Princess or her frosty smiles?"
"Er... n-no," Tian Shen replied quickly, backpedaling. "I meant jealous of... uh, Little Mei. Because she gets all the shoulder rides!"
Little Mei perked up at the mention of her name and let out a proud kyuu~, pressing her tiny paw to her chest like royalty.
Feng Yin blinked.
Then smirked.
"Shoulder rides, huh? That’s your defense?"
She stepped forward, lips curled.
"You did seem awfully impressed with Lan Yueru back there. ’Ice Princess this, Ice Princess that’... maybe I should freeze your face next time, see if it melts your affections."
Tian Shen raised his hands in surrender, eyes wide.
"H-hey! I was just giving credit where credit’s due! It’s not my fault she’s all sword-light and dramatic exits. Honestly, you’re way scarier—uh, I mean, cooler—than her!"
"Scarier?" she asked, one eyebrow rising.
"Did I say that out loud?"
He winced.
"I meant—uh—you’re irreplaceable!"
Feng Yin slowly tapped her finger to her chin.
"Irreplaceable, huh..."
Tian Shen panicked. "Yes! Absolutely! You’re my number one wife! The darling of my heart! My sun in the marsh, the moon of my cultivation nights! I mean—"
She cut him off with a loud snort, finally laughing.
Tian Shen blinked in confusion as she leaned in close, eyes narrowed teasingly.
"You’re such a terrible liar," she said, lips quirking. "But I guess... it’s kinda cute."
"W-wait, was all of that an act?"
He asked, bewildered.
She gave him a smug nod.
"Maybe. Maybe not. But your flustered face was worth every second."
Tian Shen groaned and rubbed his forehead.
"Women are terrifying," he muttered under his breath.
"Say that louder, I dare you," Feng Yin said sweetly, placing a hand near her sword.
Tian Shen immediately straightened.
"I said... wonderful! Women are wonderful!"
Feng Yin finally relaxed her stance and gave him a small, genuine smile.
"Come on, Hero-sama. Let’s go get that pork. My treat."
He blinked.
"R-really?"
"Don’t make me change my mind."
