C17 Because of a Person's Beauty, He Kidnapped This Person..

"Senior, I've told you everything I know. Please, I'm begging you, spare my life."

The burly man pleaded with Ye Tian, desperation in his voice.

At that moment, he couldn't be bothered with Ye Tian's odd questions. His sole focus was on saving his own skin.

"Scram!"

Ye Tian responded with an indifferent smile. His foot pressed down harder, crushing the burly man's Dantian, and with a light flick, he sent him flying out the door.

"You've destroyed my Dantian?" The burly man clutched at his abdomen, realizing that the Qi he had worked so hard to cultivate was fading away. He glared at Ye Tian with a vicious look, his voice piercing.

What defines a Mountaineer?

Those who have harnessed the Qi of the Dantian are known as Mountaineers. They dwell on high, gazing down upon all life.

But now, with his Dantian ruined, he was cast down from the heights, relegated to the ranks of the overlooked.

"Scram!" Ye Tian barked, his tone icy.

This was mercy, by his standards.

Had he not been concerned about avoiding complications and the hassle of disposing of a body, the man would have met his end long ago, given the way things were handled in the Square Inch Spirit Domain.

The burly man, sensing the lethal chill in Ye Tian's gaze, clutched his wounded Dantian and staggered away into the night, knowing that lingering might cost him his life.

Ye Tian stood there, his expression serene as he closed the gate, untouched by the encounter. He was well aware that his dealings with the Mountaineers were only just beginning.

And that suited him just fine.

Without the resources or the opportunity to cultivate, he had no chance of finding Ning Yao. But that was about to change.

The treasure Qin Xuanming had hidden?

Ye Tian's curiosity was piqued as he surveyed the night-shrouded courtyard and house. He had inspected the place thoroughly before moving in and found nothing. Yet, he had this nagging feeling that the treasure pilfered from the Eagle Claw Sect was still somewhere within these walls.

Once he advanced to the second level of the Cavern Stage and his Divine Sense awakened, he'd be able to search more thoroughly. Then, no matter where Qin Xuanming had concealed it, he'd uncover it.

But just as Ye Tian was about to head inside, a knock at the door broke the silence.

Who could it be now?

With a slight frown, Ye Tian opened the door, only to be greeted with a familiar face and a smile crept onto his face.

It was Qing Fumei.

The commotion from his earlier scuffle with the burly man must have disturbed the mother and daughter, prompting her to investigate.

"Big brother, I was asking my mom if haunted houses have ghosts at night, and she told me to come see for myself. You're not mad that I came over, are you?" She was still cracking melon seeds between her teeth, casually looking around the yard as she spoke.

"Didn't I tell you? With me here, no evil can touch this place. Human or ghost, they all fear me," Ye Tian said warmly, ruffling the little girl's hair with a reassuring smile.

He couldn't help but wonder, the burly man had barely left when Qing Fumei appeared. Could the item Qin Xuanming hid in this house be connected to Qing Fumei?

Despite the little girl's mysterious arrival, she bore no malice, so Ye Tian refrained from pressing her for answers.

"Big brother, you're so brave. You're not scared of anything," the thin little girl said, insincerely offering Ye Tian a thumbs-up before grinning. "Since there are no ghosts, I'll tell Mom she doesn't have to worry anymore."

Ye Tian smiled, nodding in response as he watched her depart.

"Big brother, if ghosts do scare you, you could always move somewhere else," the little girl called out, turning back halfway with a cheeky smile.

"I like it here; I don't want to move. Tell your mom I've come into some money. When she's free, I'll take you both out for a meal," Ye Tian replied, his eyes twinkling with a hint of amusement.

"I love eating yummy food!"

Beaming with delight, the little girl munched on her melon seeds and hummed a tune, bouncing away into the night.

Qing Fumei certainly added an element of intrigue!

Ye Tian stroked his chin, his gaze lingering in the direction the little girl had gone. He was eager to meet this 'mom' she kept mentioning, curious about what Qing Fumei's mother would be like.

Shortly after, Ye Tian shut the door and retreated to his room, facing his palm upward as he resumed his cultivation practice.

Meanwhile, on a distant street corner, the burly man aimlessly wandered before his expression twisted in resolve. He dialed a number with determination.

"Master, I've located Qin Xuanming in the South Sea! He's dead, though, and the item he stole from the Sect Leader seems to have ended up with a young man. Should you come to check it out?" he whispered into the phone.

"Okay, I'll be waiting," he said, after receiving an affirmative response.

A ghastly grin spread across the burly man's face, his eyes gleaming with the vision of Ye Tian's gruesome demise within the Red Blood Courtyard.

You dare to destroy my cultivation? I'll ensure you die without a place to rest!

I may not be your match, but I refuse to believe that the old, cruel devil won't be able to defeat you.

The next morning arrived swiftly, the dawn breaking with a hint of pale light. Ye Tian stepped out of his yard, hailed a taxi, and sped off toward Zhexiu Peak.

He had checked his schedule upon returning the previous night and realized he had no classes today. It was the perfect opportunity to search for the Celestial Heart Grass that had poisoned the children. He planned to detoxify the grass and concoct several Essence Restoring Pills.

Ye Tian was aware that the burly man wouldn't let things lie and would surely call upon his seniors for retribution.

While he wasn't intimidated by those ruffians, advancing to the second level of the Cavern Stage before they arrived would leave him better prepared. It was a welcome prospect.

An hour later, Ye Tian reached the base of Zhexiu Peak.

He inquired with the locals about the children's picnic spot from the day before and set out, tracing their path.

The mountainous terrain was challenging, but for Ye Tian, it might as well have been a level path. In just half an hour, he reached the site of the children's picnic.

Upon his arrival, Ye Tian instantly detected faint ripples of spiritual energy.

Back in the Square Inch Spirit Domain, his expertise as a Pill Monarch made him adept at harvesting spiritual medicines. He could even spot those elusive ones that had developed a nascent spiritual sense and could conceal themselves. And yet, these were merely the lowest-tier Celestial Heart Grass, which he could easily locate.

In just a few attempts, Ye Tian discovered five stalks of Celestial Heart Grass nestled within a clump of grass.

One stalk, notably, was snapped in half—likely the handiwork of the children from the day before.

With these five stalks of Celestial Heart Grass and a selection of other herbs, he could produce five Essence Restoring Pills upon successful refinement. That would be sufficient to advance his cultivation to the second level of the Cavern Stage!

Suppressing the surge of excitement within, Ye Tian meticulously unearthed the Celestial Heart Grass, carefully preserving the roots with the local soil.

Celestial Heart Grass was known for its solitary nature; removed from its native soil, it would wilt and its medicinal potency would diminish.

Having harvested the Celestial Heart Grass and ensuring no other spiritual medicines were present, Ye Tian contentedly made his way down the mountain.

Mid-descent, a red high heel caught his eye on the rugged path below. The adjacent woods rustled with activity.

Ye Tian was no stranger to the ways of the world and quickly surmised that someone was engaged in a passionate escapade on the mountain. With an amused shake of his head, he prepared to leave, not wishing to intrude on their outdoor tryst.

However, before he could step away, a sharp cry pierced the air from the woods, followed by the sound of a resounding slap and then subdued sobs.

Could it be an assault?

With a furrowed brow, Ye Tian made his way toward the woods.

His approach went unnoticed. Within moments, he reached the source of the commotion.

A quick glance revealed a young woman in a torn dress, her collar ripped, exposing her fair skin as if it were jade. Two burly men had her pinned to the ground, while she desperately struggled and wept.