Chapter 10: Bai Xiaoyue

Yan the Crimson Hero could not help but pit himself against the towering peak that blocked his view, determined to stand atop the highest summit of Mount Zhongnan and gaze into the distance. Thus, he employed his mastery of the Qi Traversing Technique and pressed bravely onward… It took him crossing over a dozen peaks before he finally reached the mountain's supreme crest.

Standing at the summit, sword in hand, Yan the Crimson Hero surveyed the landscape with vigor. The mountains undulated like waves, the maple forests blazed red as fire, and a flock of wild geese flew across the sky, their resonant cries echoing above the clouds, filling him with exhilaration.

As Yan the Crimson Hero was absorbed in the boundless grandeur before him, a piercing, grating voice suddenly shattered the serenity:

"Little beast, where do you think you’re running?! Stop right there—!"

"Oh?" Yan the Crimson Hero was startled, hastily searching for the source. He saw, at the base of the mountain ahead, two figures—one clad in black, the other in white—racing through the forest.

The white figure fled desperately, while the black one pursued relentlessly.

Curious and perplexed, Yan the Crimson Hero wished to uncover the truth of the matter. He quickly deployed his Qi Traversing Technique to give chase.

Soon, he silently approached the two figures. Upon closer inspection, he saw that the white figure was a young woman in white, while her pursuer was a monstrous creature with the body of a man and the head of a scorpion. As it chased, the creature spat out words:

"Little beast, stop right there! If you know what’s good for you, surrender quietly… That way, I’ll give you a swift death—"

"You wish!" the woman in white retorted crisply as she fled through the woods. "Venomous Scorpion, my life is not yours to take. By what right do you seek to rob me?"

"Heh heh…" the Venomous Scorpion sneered. "By what right? Little beast, how naive you are! The law of the jungle—survival of the fittest! Do you not understand?"

"I do not!" the woman shot back. "Venomous Scorpion, this vast Mount Zhongnan is big enough for both of us. Why must you prey upon me?"

"Because I must cultivate to become human!" the Venomous Scorpion roared. "To do so, I must absorb human blood… Only then can my cultivation accelerate—"

As he spoke, the Venomous Scorpion drew close behind the woman, suddenly reaching out with a deadly swipe at her back. With a tearing sound, her white robe was ripped open. She cried out in alarm, drew a gleaming short sword, spun around, and thrust it at the creature’s chest—

The Venomous Scorpion dodged the blade, growling, "Well done!" With a shake of his arms, his hands transformed into two razor-sharp pincers, which he wielded with ferocious intent against the woman.

She met him with her sword; the blade struck the pincers with a metallic clang! Shocked, she nearly lost her grip on the sword, but quickly shifted position and aimed a thrust at the creature’s flank…

The Venomous Scorpion sneered. His two pincers came down like lightning, snatching the flashing sword and flinging it to the ground. Then, faster than thought, he lunged at the woman’s chest—

Sensing danger, she turned and tried to flee.

"Little beast, give me your life!" the Venomous Scorpion bellowed, leaping ahead to block her path. He struck from behind; with a resounding thud, his iron-hard pincers hit her vital point. She screamed in agony, sent flying dozens of steps, landing like a broken kite.

Yan the Crimson Hero, witnessing this, was filled with righteous fury.

"Outrageous!" he shouted in anger. Seeing the Venomous Scorpion about to pounce on the fallen woman, he darted forward, leaping behind the creature, and cried out:

"Venomous Scorpion, taste my blade!"

He drew the Crimson Hero Sword and thrust it fiercely at the creature’s back.

The Venomous Scorpion twisted aside, dodging the forceful strike. Upon seeing Yan the Crimson Hero—barely fourteen or fifteen years old—he burst into wild laughter:

"Ha ha ha… What a day! I haven’t even tasted this little beast’s blood, and now another ‘donor’ arrives… Excellent, simply excellent!"

Even as he spoke, Yan's second sword thrust came at him. The Venomous Scorpion swung his pincers, striking at the Crimson Hero Sword.

Yan knew the power of those pincers and avoided a direct clash. He spun around, and with a flying kick—an overhead strike called "Purple Crown Kick"—aimed for the creature’s head. The Venomous Scorpion, caught off guard, took the blow squarely on its head. By chance, this was its weak spot; Yan’s true strength poured into the kick, delivering a devastating blow. The Venomous Scorpion howled in pain, its pincers protecting its head, its body trembling violently…

Seizing the moment, Yan reversed his sword, plunging it into the creature’s chest, then followed with another kick, sending the Venomous Scorpion flying.

With a wretched scream, the Venomous Scorpion flew back, landing with a heavy crash. After a few spasms, it lay motionless.

Yan the Crimson Hero saw the creature fall, and breathed a deep sigh of relief:

"Master was right—this Crimson Hero Sword is no mere ornament!"

His first battle victorious, Yan’s heart brimmed with joy.

Sheathing his sword, he hurried to the woman in white. She appeared to be seventeen or eighteen, with long black hair and a fair, delicate face; her features were refined, her eyes closed beneath long lashes, lying motionless on the ground. Was she alive or dead?

Yan the Crimson Hero quickly knelt beside her, calling loudly:

"Sister, sister, please wake up!"

After several calls, the woman stirred, slowly opened her eyes, and looked at him in astonishment:

"Who… are you?"

"I am Yan the Crimson Hero, also known as Danzi," he replied. "Sister, I have slain the Venomous Scorpion!"

"Truly?" she exclaimed with joyful surprise, pushing herself up. "Yan the Crimson Hero, you saved me… I will never forget your kindness!"

Yan waved his hand. "No need for thanks, sister—it was my duty. What is your name?"

"I am Bai Xiaoyue."

"Bai Xiaoyue? What a lovely name! Sister Xiaoyue, your injuries are severe—you must be treated at once. Where do you live? Let me escort you home."

"Home?" Bai Xiaoyue hesitated. "Yan the Crimson Hero, I… have no home."

"No home? How can that be?" Yan asked, puzzled.

Bai Xiaoyue paused, then said, "Yan the Crimson Hero, you are my savior, so I must not conceal the truth from you… In truth, I was once a little white rabbit of Mount Zhongnan. After five hundred years of arduous cultivation, I finally transformed into human form!"

"What?" Yan the Crimson Hero was stunned. "Sister Xiaoyue, you mean you are a rabbit who became human?"