C3 I Met a Robber

"Consider this a form of repayment for using your body."

Ye Rong shook his head, closed his eyes, and while his soul felt lifeless, his instincts remained intact. He could sense that the body's original owner was quite fond of this girl.

Shadows danced among the trees, and the water's surface rippled gently. A wave of fresh air filled his nostrils and seeped into his pores.

Ye Rong was in the process of healing.

"Just as I thought, even though my physical cultivation is utterly ruined, my soul hasn't been reduced to that of an ordinary person. It's much diminished, yet it remains focused and lucid!"

If the body were like the cosmos, then the soul would be the sun, charting the course for a galaxy. If the body were the ocean, then the soul would be the beacon, guiding ships on their way.

"Inner vision, activate!" Possessing a formidable soul, Ye Rong effortlessly entered a state of inner vision to observe the inner workings of his body.

"This is quite dire..." Despite anticipating the condition, actually seeing it made Ye Rong break out in a sweat. His bodily functions were severely impaired, barely operational, lacking any sense of rhythm or harmony. This wasn't just due to injury; it was clearly the result of long-term malnutrition.

He centered himself, breathing deeply, allowing his soul to take control of his body's functions. He started by focusing on the wounds to foster healing, then diligently worked to recalibrate his body, seeking to establish a sense of rhythm and harmony. Ultimately, he guided his functions with an unusual, rhythmic pattern.

This process continued for two full days.

Day turned to night and back again as people came and went in Sunhaven Park. Occasionally, someone would glance his way, but he remained undisturbed.

Two evenings later, Ye Rong finally opened his eyes and exhaled deeply. By then, his wounds had completely healed, and his skin even appeared a shade fairer than before.

"Having the body operate in harmony for a while has indeed made a significant difference," Ye Rong observed, examining himself and nodding in approval. But this was merely the start; the journey ahead was long and arduous. Long-term malnutrition wasn't something that could be remedied in just two days. As he stood up, his body still felt uncoordinated, albeit slightly improved.

"I never imagined that the only legendary ancient tome I ever received would one day prove useful," Ye Rong sighed. In the world of cultivation, there were endless mines and treasures, and cultivators often set out in search of them. But as a lone cultivator without any sect affiliation, advancing my realm was already a challenge, and treasures were even rarer. This legendary ancient tome was something I stumbled upon in an abandoned Immortal Abode. It contained only basic cultivation methods, and the descriptions were quite general. It was a basic body-refining technique, and since I had already passed that stage, to start over, I would have to destroy all my cultivation. That was a risk I couldn't afford to take, so I never practiced it. Yet, life is full of surprises, and such a day has indeed come.

"The legendary ancient tome does seem to have better effects, but so far, I haven't found any special features," Ye Rong mumbled to himself. He observed the trees, grass, water, and the distant flickering lights, finally confirming that he had indeed ended up somewhere else. Over the past two days, he had not only been recuperating and cultivating but also reviewing some of the memories of the body's original owner. When the soul dissipates, memories become like dust-covered scrolls. A new soul, if it searches diligently, can peruse them, but it doesn't directly inherit them.

Based on these memories, I should be on a small blue planet, far removed from my original world. The inhabitants here are primarily natives of this planet. With the scarcity of spiritual energy and a different developmental path, there are no cultivators here. Instead, they've developed their civilization along an entirely different trajectory. It seems they've done quite well for themselves, thriving without cultivation and discovering the true nature of their planet through other means. But... Earth?

Ye Rong chuckled. These people were certainly full of themselves. Any random continent in my world is many times larger than this place, and none would dare claim the title of 'continent' so boldly.

From what I remember, I'm supposed to be a college student from a rural area who came to Ineron for education. I usually keep to myself and don't cause trouble. The beating I took yesterday was simply because I became an outlet for someone else's frustration. Han Xiaotian took his anger out on me after his failed attempt at a confession. Now that I've figured this out, I feel a lot more at ease. The legal system here is strict; murder is met with severe punishment. I may be willing to fight for my life, but he probably wouldn't dare to risk his own. What's the point in making such a low-threat enemy?

His stomach growled with hunger. After two days of focused cultivation, Ye Rong's spirit had greatly improved, but his stomach was now fiercely empty, crying out for sustenance.

Guided by his memories, Ye Rong made his way to the south gate of Sunhaven Park. There, tucked away in an unassuming corner just past the gate, was a cluster of snack stalls. These vendors, Ye Rong recalled, had been herded into this nook by a formidable organization known as the Town Security. Any vendor caught operating outside risked being either chased off or having their stall demolished.

Ye Rong mused that these Town Security members must be among the strongest on the planet. He would have to be cautious to avoid them in the future, remembering the phrase "Three Thousand Town Security pacify the land" from his past life's memories.

Despite its small size, the power of the Town Security was enough to maintain order in Fiuqoa, a testament to their might.

As he approached the corner, Ye Rong noticed something amiss; the lamp that should have been illuminating the area was now shrouded in darkness.

Rounding the corner, he was met with an ominous scene: two men menacingly cornered a woman, brandishing gleaming blades as they advanced on her.

The corner's seclusion, adjacent to the park, did little to hide the details in the dim light. Ye Rong's enhanced perception, a byproduct of his strong soul, allowed him to see the scene with clarity. The woman, dressed in flashy attire with a small bag slung over her shoulder and high heels, had a delicate beauty and flawless skin. While she might not rival the saintesses of the cultivation realms, she certainly possessed a charm unique to this world.

After a brief observation, Ye Rong realized the alley no longer housed the snack vendors he remembered. He turned to leave.

"Hey! Hey! You there! You've been staring at me for quite a while, and now you're just going to walk away? Do you find me so unattractive that I'm not worth saving?" The woman's voice rang out indignantly just as Ye Rong had taken a few steps.

The two men with knives snapped their attention to Ye Rong at the sound of her shout.

"???" Ye Rong turned, giving the woman a look that bordered on incredulous disbelief.

Isn't it normal to stay out of other people's fights? Why should I get involved in your squabble? Sure, if it were those noble disciples who enjoy playing the hero, that would be one thing. But look at me, all covered in grime—do I look the part? Do I even have any idea how to help her?

"You know, you're actually quite attractive."

Ye Rong pondered before speaking. The girl might have seemed ridiculous, but people can't help but feel a bit of sympathy for someone who seems a bit slow.

"If you think I'm pretty, why aren't you rescuing me?"

"Is there some necessary connection between the two?"

"Don't you even understand the concept of a hero saving a damsel in distress?"

"I don't," Ye Rong said, genuinely perplexed and speaking honestly.

"You... Men these days are nothing but oafs!" The girl erupted in anger! And that wasn't the end of it; she actually took off one of her shoes and hurled it at Ye Rong!

Attacking over a simple disagreement?

This woman was daring. Didn't she realize that by making an enemy of me, she risked having me join forces with those two against her?

This girl... No, it might not be too bad to tease her a bit. Ye Rong stroked his chin, considering. She was dressed in fine clothes; she must have some valuable items on her.

"What are you staring at? Go catch him! If he gets to the police, we'll be out of time!" Before Ye Rong could decide on his next move, the two knife-wielding men made the first move against him.

So, he was dragged into the fray after all.

Ye Rong sighed, yet he didn't run. The man charging at him was about one and a half times his size, but it was all flab. Ye Rong could tell by the way his blood flowed.

"Thick blood, slow circulation, irregular heartbeat without rhythm, prone to dizziness, weakness throughout the body, and trouble exerting strength when urinating—does that sound about right?"

"Yes... Yes..."

The man, taken aback, involuntarily slowed his approach. What was happening? Wasn't he supposed to be capturing Ye Rong? How did the conversation suddenly turn to his health issues—and how was Ye Rong so accurate in his assessment?

"So... what should I do?" the man asked, genuinely interested in addressing his ailments, especially the one that made even the simplest tasks uncomfortable.

"Oh! Take a moment to catch your breath and clear your head." Ye Rong pulled out a pair of high heels he had somehow picked up from behind him and struck the man's head at the acupressure point. The man immediately collapsed to the ground, seeing stars.

And the high heels? They were surprisingly sturdy and undamaged!

"Analyzing your weaknesses and then asking me for advice?" Ye Rong couldn't help but feel a pang of pity for the guy. He had never encountered such a fool in his previous world.

Originally, it was just two men, and now with one down, their fighting strength had halved. The remaining man, brandishing a knife, grew anxious. His partner might have been a bit dim, but to be knocked out with a high heel in one strike was bizarre! Despite appearing frail, this was a grave miscalculation!

"Don't come any closer, or I swear, I'll stab her!"

In a panic, the man pressed the knife against the girl's neck.

"Are you an idiot? Didn't you hear him? He doesn't even understand the concept of a hero saving a damsel in distress. What good does it do to threaten me with a knife to my neck? Do you really think a brute like him would be intimidated?" The girl was frantic.

She had assumed the boy hadn't saved her because he lacked the ability! But to realize he had the capability and still chose not to act, he must be either gay or heartlessly indifferent! Why would such a person care about her well-being? She was truly innocent! Was she destined to meet her end this way? She refused to die without being acknowledged!

To her surprise, the boy actually stopped. More than that, he stroked his chin and looked at the girl, seemingly contemplating something. Then he instructed, “You, just like this, use your elbow to strike his spleen. He won't be able to stand, and you'll be able to get away.”

While explaining, he demonstrated with his own elbow, showing her the motions as if teaching her.

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