C5 Nie Yurou!

Chapter Five: Nie Yurou

"I hit the jackpot! I hit the jackpot!"

Nie Yurou's face was a picture of disbelief. The Iron Ape, a creature she herself had struggled to defeat, had been vanquished by a youth at the fifth stage of Spirit Cultivation. Impossible!

Then, before her eyes, the young man's presence surged dramatically, reaching the sixth level of Spirit Cultivation in the blink of an eye!

Had advancing one's cultivation level become so simple?

Exhausted and confirming the Iron Ape's demise, Nie Yurou promptly passed out.

Lin Xuan snapped out of his jubilant state after a quick check of the area. Noticing Nie Yurou unconscious, he ran over with a mix of skepticism and concern, gently patting her face.

"Hey, miss, can you hear me?"

"She's really out cold," Lin Xuan murmured to himself. He took a moment to appreciate Nie Yurou's appearance. Despite being covered in grime, her striking figure and ethereal beauty shone through.

"Guess I'll see this act of kindness through to the end," Lin Xuan decided, shaking his head as he quelled any untoward thoughts. He carried Nie Yurou into a cave, then skillfully processed the Iron Ape's carcass, fashioning a blanket from its hide and preparing its meat for a meal.

Above all, Lin Xuan was intrigued by the divine power he had witnessed—Strength!

This was no mere spirit skill harnessing spiritual energy for force; this divine power had the potential to connect with the Dao itself!

Over the following days, Lin Xuan hunted Demon Beasts nearby. With the Iron Ape gone, encounters with such creatures dwindled, and his progress in mastering the divine Strength slowed, leaving him somewhat frustrated. He couldn't just leave a girl alone in these wilds, could he?

Despite his otherworldly journey, Lin Xuan's commitment to the noble principles of socialism remained intact.

When Nie Yurou came to, the tantalizing scent of roasted meat filled her senses. Having slept for an indeterminate time, she was immediately overcome by intense hunger.

"You're awake?"

Lin Xuan, seeing Nie Yurou's eyes flutter open, asked with genuine concern.

Nie Yurou's instincts immediately kicked in, and she demanded, "Who are you?" She quickly scanned her body for injuries but found none.

"Hey, hey, hey, I'm the one who saved you. Is this how you treat your benefactor?" Lin Xuan was visibly irked. Did being beautiful give someone the right to do as they pleased? After all, he was her lifesaver!

"Was it you who killed the Iron Ape?" Nie Yurou suddenly pieced it together. It was this young man who had wielded a black flame and an unfamiliar spiritual skill to slay the Iron Ape.

"What else? You think I'd wait for it to have an epiphany and off itself?" Lin Xuan couldn't help but feel exasperated. Was the question even necessary? Did one's intelligence diminish with greater cultivation?

Nie Yurou's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, Lin Xuan's blunt words catching her off guard. She wasn't accustomed to anyone speaking to her in such a manner. Then, something clicked in her mind, and she urgently inquired, "Where's the Iron Ape's body?"

With a gesture towards the outside using the skewer of roasted meat in his hand, Lin Xuan responded, "It's out there. We've nearly finished eating it. Care to try some?"

"What?! You ate it?" A surge of fury rose within Nie Yurou. She dashed outside, only to find the Giant Strength Iron Ape's carcass nearly picked clean.

Without regard for the gore, Nie Yurou frantically searched through the remains until she triumphantly retrieved a Beast Pill, breathing a sigh of relief. "Now, Grandfather's illness can finally be addressed."

"That thing's bitter, not at all tasty. Come have some meat instead." Lin Xuan watched Nie Yurou with a hint of sympathy, feeling slightly let down. How could such a lovely girl have a taste for such things?

At Lin Xuan's comment, Nie Yurou felt a warm rush of gratitude mixed with defiance. "What do you know! The Giant Strength Iron Ape's gall is a lifesaver!"

She caught herself, realizing her tone had been a bit harsh. He was, after all, her rescuer. With that thought, Nie Yurou's face reddened once more, and she murmured an apology.

If any member of the Nie Family were to witness this scene, they'd be so astonished their jaws might just drop. The young mistress of the Nie Family, the foremost among Sky Star City's four great families, behaving humbly? That was unheard of.

Lin Xuan, however, was unfazed. Seeing that Nie Yurou was famished and struggling to hold on, he nonchalantly offered her a piece of roasted meat.

"What's your name?" Nie Yurou asked tentatively as she accepted the meat. She was accustomed to the meticulously prepared cuisine of her family's chef and had never experienced such simple fare. Yet, to her surprise, it tasted quite good.

"I'm Lin Xuan," he answered between bites.

Nie Yurou paused, a look of recognition flashing across her face. "You're that Lin Xuan? The 'trash' of the Lin family?"

"That's me," Lin Xuan replied with a wry smile, his reputation preceding him.

Realizing her blunder, Nie Yurou's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She quickly apologized, though inwardly she questioned, "Wasn't Lin Xuan of the Lin family said to be incapable of cultivation? But he's nothing like the rumors. Could the Lin family be involved?"

Lin Xuan found her reaction curious. Did she have some condition that made her blush so easily?

"You've been unconscious for five days. Now that you're awake, I should head back," Lin Xuan said, cleaning his hands and standing to leave.

Having finished the roast meat and feeling much better, Nie Yurou expressed her gratitude. "I'm Nie Yurou, from Sky Star City's Nie Family. If you ever need anything, you're welcome to seek me out at the Nie residence."

The Nie family? From the four great families of Sky Star City?

Lin Xuan mulled over this briefly but didn't dwell on it. After bidding Nie Yurou farewell, he made his way back to Sky Star City.

...

"You wretched servant!"

Lin Tong flung Qing Tan aside, her teeth having left a crimson imprint on his hand.

"The young master won't let you off for this!" Qing Tan glared at Lin Tong, seething.

"Your pathetic young master met his end in the Abyssal Forest. He's not coming back!"

The darkness in Lin Tong's heart swelled with each passing moment. The mere thought of Lin Xuan's ability to cultivate sent waves of discomfort and even fear through him. He was determined to make Lin Xuan's existence unbearable. With a dismissive gesture, he commanded, "Bring her to me!"

By the time Lin Xuan returned to his room, it was deserted, the chaos within bearing silent witness to a struggle. Realization dawned on him, igniting a fierce rage.

"Lin Tong! You're digging your own grave!"

Qing Tan was carelessly flung onto the bed by Lin Tong, his eyes glinting with avarice and cruelty. As he shed his clothes, he sneered, "I'll show Lin Xuan that his cultivation means nothing. His woman is nothing but a toy for my amusement. It's me who deserves the Lin family's recognition! Once I've broken him, he'll watch helplessly as I play with his woman. I'll make his life a living hell."

With those words, Lin Tong viciously ripped the robe from Qing Tan's body. Despite her frantic struggles, she couldn't break free from Lin Tong's vile grasp, her cries for help echoing with despair.

Suddenly, the door burst open with a thunderous crash. Caught off guard, Lin Tong was sent flying with a swift kick.