Chapter Fifty-Six: Returning Wounded

“Look, Zhen, Ma You is about your age, yet his skills are so impressive. You really should learn from him. By the way, Bi Xuan, tell me, what family do you think Ma You comes from? Normally, for someone so young to be so remarkable, he should be a dazzling new star. Yet, I've never heard of a particularly outstanding family with the surname Ma; otherwise, how could they nurture a youth like Ma You?”

Bi Xuan was silent for a long time before he replied, “I can't discern his origins, but I noticed a violet light flashing when he made his moves. I've never heard of a family cultivating violet battle energy. Besides, Ma You's energy isn’t purely violet; it only appears occasionally. Perhaps even his surname is just an alias. Still, whether his name is real or not, we can associate with him—he’s someone worth befriending. The use of an alias is merely a warrior’s caution when traveling; it’s nothing serious.”

Yu Rou smiled, “He truly is a mysterious youth. Out here alone, boasting that he'll reach the mountain summit—how interesting, don’t you think?”

“Interesting, yes, but we’ll have to withdraw early. The world is vast; perhaps someday, we'll meet this extraordinary youth again.” Bi Xuan smiled bitterly, unable to suppress a couple of coughs, his face pale.

“It’s really bad, but fortunately the period of weakness only lasts a day. Otherwise, we’d be doomed in these mountains.” Yu Rou shook her head helplessly. Seeing Bi Xuan's frail appearance, she gently comforted him, “Tomorrow—let’s see if things improve tomorrow. Our luck can’t stay this lousy forever; we even ran into a rare spiritual rhinobeast.”

“Yes, thankfully we have the family’s life-saving measures, so we’re not in danger.”

“Zhen, train hard and strive to achieve a good ranking by the end of the year, understood?”

Yu Zhen nodded gloomily, “I know, big sister, you’re so naggy.”

Yu Rou and Bi Xuan exchanged bitter smiles, shaking their heads in resignation. Clearly, Yu Zhen hadn’t absorbed a word.

As dusk fell and Yun Yufeng still hadn’t returned, night began to descend and the dense mist, for reasons unknown, gradually thinned.

“Do you think Ma You might have run into trouble?” Bi Xuan hesitated. “That… shouldn't be the case, right?” His words lacked certainty; with Ma You still absent, even he couldn't convince himself.

“Look, is that Ma You?” Yu Rou pointed into the thick mist, surprised by a faint silhouette emerging.

Bi Xuan leapt from the tree and hurried toward the figure. Coming closer, it was indeed Ma You, but now his clothes were tattered, his body covered in blood, and a deep wound exposed the bone. Though the bleeding had stopped, the wound was still writhing as it tried to heal, but recovery would take time.

“Ma You, what happened? Why didn’t you call us for help? The family’s secret treasures aren’t just for show.”

Yun Yufeng forced a crooked smile, “I was confident I could survive. Besides, if I don’t walk the edge of life and death, how can I break through my own limitations and seek that long-desired realm?”

“Limitations? The realm you desire? What do you mean?”

“To transcend the void, to let the spirit wander beyond.”

Bi Xuan drew a sharp breath, staring at Yun Yufeng as if he were a monster, and smiled bitterly, “You’re really something. Our family leader has strived for a century—he’s nearly two hundred now and still hasn’t made that last step. It’s hard to imagine how difficult it must be.”

Yun Yufeng chuckled, “I’m still young. Nothing is impossible for those with true determination. Without special advantages or guidance from great powers, we can only rely on ourselves.”

Bi Xuan shook his head, laughing at himself, “I wonder if those so-called geniuses would feel ashamed hearing this.”

Yun Yufeng replied gently, “More likely, they’d want to hit me.”

“I have healing pills here. If you trust me, take one; it’ll speed your recovery.”

“Thank you!” Yun Yufeng accepted the pill. Its rich fragrance spread through his body as soon as he inhaled. He swallowed it in one gulp, and his dantian furnace surged with purple energy and blazing flames. The medicine’s power coursed through his meridians, purified by his internal furnace, leaving only the essence to nourish his wounds. Fresh flesh grew rapidly.

Bi Xuan opened his mouth, but ultimately didn’t ask. He noticed Yun Yufeng’s wounds healed quickly, but still slower than his own, which seemed odd. He didn’t know that Yun Yufeng had purified the medicine, greatly reducing its quantity. Purification doesn’t increase efficacy; it merely removes impurities to prevent poisoning.

Everyone knows that the more pills one takes, the more toxins accumulate, diminishing their effectiveness and even impeding martial progress. Thus, reckless pill consumption is inadvisable—otherwise, great clans could simply rely on medicine to cultivate legions of powerful warriors.

Similarly, cultivators with a dantian furnace can take pills without limit, but their utilization is low. After purification, only the purest essence remains, and the quantity is reduced, since the furnace’s refinement consumes a portion of the medicine.

Without strong backing, who could afford such pill consumption? Most martial artists progress step by step until they reach their own peak.

The two leapt back into the tree. Yu Rou approached, concerned, “Ma You, how did you get all these wounds?”

Yun Yufeng changed clothes and bandaged himself while replying casually, “I ran into a mutated thousand-armed phantom monkey. It could use magic, and I was careless—got scratched twice.”

“A thousand-armed phantom monkey at the early fifth rank? If mutated, isn’t that a near sixth-rank magical beast?” the two exclaimed in unison.

“Fortunately, physical strength wasn’t its forte, or I’d be finished.”

Seeing Yun Yufeng return, everyone relaxed. Teasing him, they said, “You look pretty finished already—must be dozens of claw marks. I’m curious, is your body really tougher than magical beasts of the same rank?”

Yun Yufeng laughed sheepishly, “It’s average, really.”

“Ha, judging by your collection of badges, you must still be a beginner with your life-force battle skills—otherwise, you wouldn’t have scars.”

Yun Yufeng gave a thumbs-up, “Smart, but no reward. You’d better sit farther away, or you’ll uncover all my secrets.”

But Bi Xuan paid no heed, sitting even closer and rolling his eyes, “Digging for your secrets? If we can actually uncover them, it’ll be worth the trip. Tomorrow, I’ll head home—you can have this whole forest to yourself.”

Yun Yufeng grinned at Bi Xuan, making him shiver.

“Ma—Ma You, what are you planning? I’m a man…”

Yun Yufeng withdrew his gaze and said calmly, “Are you saying you want to eat this forest? Tomorrow, I’ll witness how Bi Xuan the hero devours it, maybe even a spiritual rhinobeast as well?”

“That’s my goal, and I’ll achieve it. I’m generous enough to give my dreams to you.” Bi Xuan’s face darkened, but he became assertive, patting Yun Yufeng’s shoulder.

Yu Rou giggled, while Yu Zhen looked depressed. She had hoped for a peer to bond with, but found a weirdo instead. She couldn’t even join the conversation, deeply frustrated, realizing that only the strong thrive anywhere.

“Enough, take your hand off me—my shoulder’s wrapped in bandages. Trying to murder me?”

Bi Xuan scoffed at Yun Yufeng, “Come on, everyone knows about your monstrous recovery. The scabs must have fallen off by now.”

“Heh, got anything to eat? I’m starving after that injury.”

“Here, just roasted, still hot.” Yu Rou took a small beast’s hind leg from her spatial pouch, saved specially for Yun Yufeng.

Yun Yufeng took it and bit in without hesitation, juices dripping everywhere. The little greedy wolf poked its head out from his arms and sniffed, its eyes fixed on Yun Yufeng’s spatial pouch. Yun Yufeng tossed a kernel and a magic crystal to it, “So picky—one day, if I don’t have time, what will you eat?”

The three stared in shock—a wolf eating magic crystals? They couldn’t quite process it: who’s raising whom here? People swallow magic crystals to advance, but never as food.

“Ma You, not only are you a freak, but your pet is too!”

Yun Yufeng stroked the little greedy wolf’s silver fur, speaking softly, “It’s my companion.”

His voice was gentle. Yun Yufeng vividly remembered how the tiny greedy wolf had braved a third-rank magical beast in Black Wind Mountains when Yun Yufeng was gravely wounded. Together, they slew the beast, both nearly dying. Recently, when Yun Yufeng was too injured to pursue an enemy, the greedy wolf ignored the difference in rank and chased down the foe, eliminating a threat but returning with serious wounds. Such incidents were countless. Yun Yufeng was grateful for its loyalty—without the greedy wolf, there would be no Yun Yufeng today.

The greedy wolf whimpered softly and curled up in Yun Yufeng’s arms to sleep.

“It saved my life. Though just a fourth-rank beast, it’s rescued me more than once. It’s my companion, and I look forward to its growth,” Yun Yufeng said, his tone as tender as one would use for a lover.

Yu Rou’s heart skipped a beat, as if a soft place had been touched. She was moved. Raised in a noble family, she had everything yet nothing. Such a life-and-death companion stirred envy deep within her.

“I really envy you, but I haven’t seen its contract mark?” Bi Xuan asked curiously.

Yun Yufeng’s gaze turned cold, “As I said, we are companions. It belongs to itself.”

Bi Xuan nodded, “Still, I should warn you—such a rare magical beast is bound to attract covetous eyes. You may not care about threats, but sometimes intent can catch you unawares. You must be vigilant.”

Yun Yufeng grew solemn, “Thank you for your warning. I’ll remember.”

He tossed the bone away, dusted his hands, and gazed at the night sky. Stars were sparse, the moon bright, and the mist had faded, revealing the true face of the forest.

“Rest well. There will be plenty of battles tomorrow,” Yu Rou instructed.

Atop the tree, they had erected simple platforms—one for Yun Yufeng, one for Bi Xuan, and Yu Rou shared one with Yu Zhen.

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