Chapter 6: A Hero Rescuing the Beauty?
In his quest to master Skin Transmutation, Lin Yi had all but cut off contact with others—save for eating, brewing herbs, and the occasional post-cultivation bath. Now that his transmutation had reached perfection, he planned to head downhill in search of opponents, eager to test his newfound strength.
With Skin Transmutation perfected, his Iron Sand Palm had grown *nine times* stronger than before.
Thrilled by this surge in power, Lin Yi itched for a fight, desperate to gauge just how far he'd come.
Slip into fresh robes, he set off downhill.
"Little Lin! Haven't clapped eyes on you in ages. What've you been up to?" A middle-aged cultivator materialized before him, grinning.
"Oh! Elder Deacon Zhang!" Lin Yi's eyes flickered. He instantly guessed the deacon was after a free meal—otherwise, why seek him out?
This was Zhang Wanshan, one of the outer sect deacons: a burly man with a bushy beard, built like a black bear.
"Looking for me? What's the hurry?" Zhang Wanshan blinked, thrown off.
"Nothin' much—just wanted to buy you a drink, and soak up some of your wisdom," Lin Yi said, bowing slightly, as if truly hungering for guidance.
"Haha! Ambition in a young pup—good, good. Swing by my place tonight—I'll have the kitchen whip up extra dishes," Zhang Wanshan boomed.
"Will do!" Lin Yi chirped.
Exchanging a few more pleasantries, he hurried on, steps quickening.
…
Lin Yi's pace was far swifter now.
In less than an hour, the market hove into view. At this clip, he'd reach it in the time it took to burn a stick of incense.
Suddenly—
"Hm?" He skidded to a halt, frowning, then pricked up his ears, tilting toward one direction. "Sounds like a ruckus over there. Heh, might as well mosey over and take a gander."
Before his transmutation, Lin Yi would've slunk away from such commotion. But power breeds boldness; with strength coursing through him, he had fewer qualms—even toyed with the idea of butting in.
The closer he drew, the clearer the racket grew: a woman's sharp scolds, men's snarls and lewd cackles, and the *boom-crack* of clashing spells.
"A woman's voice? Could this be my chance to play hero and rescue a beauty? Looks like luck's smilin' on me," Lin Yi's heart did a backflip, fantasies swirling.
To avoid spooking them, he softened his tread, feet padding *sush-sush* through the undergrowth. Soon, he ducked behind a gnarled tree, peering through a screen of leaves and vines to make out figures some fifty zhang away.
Four men had a stunning woman cornered. She was bloodied, her white robes stained crimson, but still fought like a wildcat.
Lin Yi's blood simmered at the sight. He itched to burst in, scoop up the fairy-like beauty, and cradle her close. *How could they lay hands on such a vision?* It felt like his heart was twisting. Fists clenched *crack*, he glared at the four men, seeing them as no better than slobbering beasts.
He wanted to skin 'em alive.
Yet he held back, staying hidden to watch and wait for his moment.
"Fairy Yu, you're at the end of your rope," a bearded man in blue drawled, voice low as gravel. "Hand over the trinket before we kill you and pry it from your cold fingers. Don't be stupid."
"Heh, this little filly's got skin like silk. Wonder what she'd feel like squirming under me?" A shorter man rubbed his chin, leering at her with eyes gone green, chuckling obscenely.
"Dammit, you ugly toad! Daring to eye a goddess like her. I'll carve you into mincemeat later," Lin Yi seethed silently, hackles rising.
"Ha! Old Mo, she's a spitfire—doubt she'll roll over for a runt like you," laughed a man in green, opposite the short brute. His greed for Fairy Yu was as plain as day.
Fairy Yu's face was frosty as a winter lake. She tapped her storage bag, and a jade slip appeared in her hand with a *shimmer*. "If I die, you'll never get this."
*What's so precious about that slip?* Lin Yi wondered, fixated.
The bearded man—apparently named Chu Tianhu—paled, as if recalling something. "Wait! Fairy Yu, think. Your life, or the slip? Without breath in your lungs, the slip's just a hunk of jade. Surrender it, and I swear on my Dao to let you waltz away unharmed."
*Don't trust him!* Lin Yi prayed silently, toes curling. *That fox's words are worth less than dirt!*
"Empty promises. Why should I believe the likes of Chu Tianhu?" Fairy Yu wavered—a flicker Chu Tianhu pounced on, quick as a snake.
"I, Chu Tianhu, swear by the Dao: I'll not lay a finger on you, and let you leave scot-free," he vowed, urgency edging his tone. *Get the slip first—details later.*
Fairy Yu hesitated, chewing her lip. Chu Tianhu waited, patient as a spider.
A Dao oath was a cultivator's most sacred vow; breaking it meant forever stalling in their cultivation. Her resolve wavered, tipping toward surrender.
After a long, tense pause—
"Fine," she gritted out, trusting his vow, and nodded.
"Dammit, you fool! He swore *he* wouldn't hurt you, but the other three didn't! How could you be this thick?" Lin Yi groaned inwardly.
"Who's there?"
Suddenly, the silent, cold-faced man spun around, eyes sharp as daggers, locking onto Lin Yi's hiding spot. Before Lin Yi could blink, the man blurred forward, seizing his neck in a vice-like grip and flinging him fifty zhang—*whoosh*—right into the clearing, where he landed with a *thud*.
"So strong!"
Those were Lin Yi's only thoughts before he hit the dirt. Thanks to his perfected transmutation and deep inner strength, he only grunted, barely bruised.
The distraction made Fairy Yu pause, jade slip still clutched tight.
"Uh, sirs, elders! I just stumbled by, didn't see squat! Sorry to crash the party—I'll skedaddle now!" Lin Yi babbled, bowing rapidly, inching backward, ready to bolt. *That cold guy alone could squash me like a bug. No way I'm sticking my neck out. Better save my own hide.*
He snuck a glance at Fairy Yu, who was staring at him, wide-eyed. *Beauty, quit lookin' at me like that. I wanna rescue you, but I'm outgunned.*
His heart wailed—cursing his puny cultivation, leaving a beauty to fend for herself while he cowered.
"Showed your face, now you wanna split?" Chu Tianhu sneered.
"What d'you want?" Lin Yi yelped. "Know where you are? Dianxuan Sect turf! I'm one of their disciples—bump me off, and you'll regret it. The sect won't let it slide." He invoked the Dianxuan name, clinging to a thread of hope. He didn't truly believe they'd avenge a no-name outer disciple, but prayed the name might give 'em pause.
"You? A Qi Refining Stage 1 runt, a Dianxuan disciple? Heh, kid, I wasn't born yesterday," Old Mo scoffed, snorting.
"I really am!" Lin Yi wanted to bang his head against a tree. *Why's no one buyin' the truth?*
"Hmph. Even if you are, Dianxuan won't lose sleep over a Stage 1 nobody. And they'll never trace your death back to us," Chu Tianhu huffed. He turned to Fairy Yu. "Ain't that right, Fairy Yu?"
Fairy Yu gave Lin Yi a quick, pitying look, then masked it with a stony stare and nodded. "It is."
"Wow, beauty! Must you be so cold? I came to save you! Can't you at least pretend to care?" Lin Yi whined, putting on a wounded act—like a kicked puppy.
"Haha! *You*? Rescue the beauty? Boy, you got a death wish?" The green-robed man howled, doubling over.
Old Mo joined in, cackling, while Chu Tianhu just sneered. The cold man's face stayed frozen, as if laughter was a foreign language.
Fairy Yu's expression hardened at Lin Yi's words, grouping him with Old Mo's sleaze. Her gaze turned icy, as if he were already a corpse.