Chapter 84: The Adorably Fierce Spirit Crane

This low-grade storage pouch wasn’t spacious inside—perhaps two meters by two at most. He felt as though, with his robes billowing, he looked like some elder carrying a cloth sack.

This haul would suffice for his cultivation needs for a long time, though he regretted not achieving his main objective. It was exhilarating to sweep up treasures for nothing, but the secret soul techniques remained elusive.

He no longer intended to rely on the Heavenly Scent Spirit Cat to guide him, but planned to try his own luck wandering about. By now, he had ventured roughly a hundred li into the western city district. Picking a direction at random, he sat atop a cloud of yellow mist, skimming low along the ground.

The Cloud Riding Technique was perfect for travel—low energy consumption, decent speed, truly indispensable for journeys.

But just as he began his exploration, an angry shout rang out from afar.

“Wanling Crane, you treacherous mutt, don’t run!”

“Only a fool wouldn’t run—bunch of dogs,” retorted a second voice, this one clear and melodious, unmistakably female and not far from him.

Cao Chengyu had little desire to meddle, but as the woman rushed toward him, she caught his eye. Twin ponytails, delicate features, charming and winsome, with a figure that was nothing short of arresting—he had never seen the like in two lifetimes.

What truly seized his attention was her outfit: white silk stockings paired with a scandalously revealing, tight-fitting ensemble, three gold-edged yellow panels hanging from her hips and embroidered with lotus blossoms. Her sprint left much of her backside exposed, reminiscent of a modern city girl—he almost wanted to echo a certain great author: “You’re so outrageous.”

How odd, he mused, to find white silk stockings in this world.

But on second thought, while conservative attire might be the prevailing fashion, it wasn’t impossible for a few to favor “exotic” clothing—after all, even in modern times some men liked cross-dressing.

As he stood there dazed, the fierce and adorable young woman—Wanling Crane—rushed up to him. Her eyes sparkled with unshed tears as she pleaded softly, “Big brother, please help me! Those people are so fierce!”

“So fierce... Yes, rather fierce indeed...” he replied, following her gaze.

Wanling Crane’s expression darkened, a pink light flaring in her eyes. “Big brother, will you help me?”

A wave of beguiling soul force surged toward him, but Cao Chengyu, whose soul had been tempered by countless Heavenly Demon Pills, was nearly unmatched among Dao Body cultivators—his strength comparable to those of the Purple Mansion. This petty charm technique had no effect at all.

He only smiled indifferently and, seizing the opportunity, ran his hand along her silken-clad thigh.

“Leave it to me,” he said.

Wanling Crane sidled closer, her eyes flickering with annoyance. Cao Chengyu turned his gaze to the pursuers—six in total, led by a rugged yet imposing middle-aged man, exuding the aura of a late-stage Dao Body cultivator.

Seeing the hunted woman take refuge with a pretty-faced stranger, the man halted not far away and called out, “Friend, don’t let Wanling Crane beguile you. She’s a traitor to our Wan family. I have no wish to harm the innocent.”

So, they were from the Wan family?

They seemed decent enough.

Cao Chengyu replied loudly, “I am an inner disciple of the Five Elements Sect. Might I ask what enmity lies between you and this woman? If it can be resolved, all the better.”

The middle-aged man hesitated, evidently wary of the Five Elements Sect’s presence in the area, then answered honestly, “So you’re a disciple of the Five Elements Sect. To be frank, Wanling Crane was once part of our team. But while exploring a palace, she suddenly attacked, killed her companion, and made off with all the spoils.”

“Our Wan family has stood for a hundred years and never produced such a turncoat. I hope you won’t hinder our pursuit of justice.”

This seemed reasonable to Cao Chengyu. Truth be told, he wanted to protect Wanling Crane—partly for her beauty, partly because he suspected she possessed secret soul arts, and thirdly, he was curious about her silk stockings...

He was, after all, a man of appetites, and such thoughts were hardly surprising. Not knowing much about weaving, he wondered if Wanling Crane had the talent or knew someone who did.

Such knowledge could make his future more pleasurable—uniforms, special outfits... well, a man must plan for his future happiness.

Besides, certain garments could be useful when courting special targets.

He’d once wanted to make such outfits for Lin Yunjiao, but though he had agile magic and materials like spiritual silkworm thread, he had no idea how to proceed. Materials without equipment were useless; meeting someone like Wanling Crane, his heart inevitably stirred.

The middle-aged man, Wan Yi, was still waiting for his response.

His companions, however, were growing impatient. One whispered, “Brother Yi, Wanling Crane made off with the Longevity Apricot. Whatever happens, we must bring it back for the patriarch.”

“I know,” Wan Yi replied with a wave of irritation.

“That boy’s from Five Elements Sect—I recognize the robes. Years ago, the Yin-Yang Daoist visited Phoenix Ancient City and befriended our patriarch. The black-and-white robes mark him as a direct disciple.”

“We’ll give him a chance. If he doesn’t know what’s good for him, we’ll kill him.”

“Understood, Brother Yi.”

At this, Cao Chengyu also felt conflicted. Driving these people off would go against his principles—after all, they hadn’t attacked him outright, but instead spoke reasonably and gave him face. Refusing now would be ungrateful.

Moreover, this was a family affair. He sighed wryly, making no attempt to hide his immunity to her charm, and said directly to Wanling Crane, “Return what doesn’t belong to you, and I’ll guarantee your life.”

Wanling Crane started, leaping away from his yellow cloud in shock. “You weren’t enchanted?”

“Of course not. Such a petty technique is nothing to me.”

“Give back what you took. With only early Dao Body cultivation, you’ll never outrun the Wan family.”

Wanling Crane’s expression turned sullen. “What do you know? They’re all bastards. I won’t give it back.”

Cao Chengyu frowned, at a loss for how to proceed.

Wan Yi could wait no longer and asked, “Will you stand aside? What she took is crucial to us.”

Before he finished, Wanling Crane suddenly bolted, darting past Cao Chengyu and sprinting away, a second-grade fleetness talisman in hand, moving like the wind.

She was fast, but not beyond reason. If Wan Yi gave chase, he’d catch her in no more than ten minutes.

This had all started because of him—he couldn’t let her escape.

In a flash, before Wan Yi and his men could react, Cao Chengyu dissolved into a wisp of yellow smoke, reappearing instantly in Wanling Crane’s path.

His right hand formed a claw, unleashing five blue fire dragons—the high-grade Fivefold Fire Wheel technique—whose draconic flames not only seared but also bound their target.

The surge of magical force was already at the peak of Dao Body strength.

Wanling Crane, of course, had no intention of surrendering without a fight.