"How on earth am I supposed to come up with a betrothal gift?"
Chen Changsheng sat atop a mountain peak, frowning in deep thought.
Ever since learning that the princess of the Nocturnal Moon Kingdom was seeking a husband, he had been pondering how to win the heart of the fair wolf-maiden.
But after much deliberation, Chen Changsheng realized that apart from his handsome appearance and vast knowledge, he possessed little else of obvious value.
Just as he was feeling utterly stumped, a cry for help suddenly rang out in the distance.
Hearing it, Chen Changsheng focused his gaze and saw two Golden Core realm demon tribesmen chasing a Foundation Establishment realm young woman.
As Chen Changsheng observed the commotion, the pursued woman abruptly changed direction and flew straight towards him.
"Senior, save me! They're trying to kill me!"
Hearing the woman's plea, Chen Changsheng didn't hesitate. He immediately channeled all his cultivation power...
And then shot off like a streak of smoke in the opposite direction.
The Woman: "..."
Wait, shouldn't you be playing the hero saving the beauty in this situation?
How could you just run away like that? Don't you have even a shred of curiosity?
The woman's silent resentment from afar did nothing to slow Chen Changsheng's escape speed.
Seeing Chen Changsheng getting further away and her pursuers closing in, the woman gritted her silver teeth and pulled out a jade talisman, crushing it instantly.
As the talisman shattered, a beam of golden light shot out, firmly connecting her to Chen Changsheng.
Immediately after, she teleported directly behind Chen Changsheng, her speed now perfectly synchronized with his.
Chen Changsheng: ???
Faced with this sticky-tactic, Chen Changsheng was utterly exasperated.
"Hey, why are you latching onto me?"
"Senior, those two are trying to kill me. I beg you, please help me!" the woman said, cupping her hands in plea once more.
"Pah!" Chen Changsheng retorted. "Stop trying to fool me with such clumsy acting. They aren't here to kill you."
"Since when do people who want to kill someone only chase without ever attacking?"
"Besides, look at you! You're covered in magical artifacts. Is it reasonable for a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator to have so many treasures?"
"You're definitely some young lady from a powerful family who ran away from home, and they're here to bring you back."
The woman had only uttered a single sentence, yet Chen Changsheng immediately launched into a rapid-fire analysis that was almost entirely accurate.
His deduction left the woman stunned. She was certain she had never met this man before, and he clearly didn't know who she was either. Yet, just from a single distant glance, he had managed to figure out so much. How exactly was his brain wired?
Seeing her lie exposed, the woman simply dropped the act. "Since you saw through it, I'll stop pretending."
"You're right, they are here to take me back. If I'm caught, the worst I'll get is a scolding and some time in confinement."
"But for you, it's different. If you don't help me escape them, I'll tell everyone it was you who lured me away from home."
"So, how do you think my family will deal with you then?"
Chen Changsheng ignored her threats and instead focused all his energy on comprehending the talisman binding them together.
The woman noticed his efforts but wasn't worried in the slightest.
"Don't waste your energy. This 'Shadow-Following Talisman' was crafted by a Nascent Soul stage expert. A mere Golden Core cultivator like you could never break it."
"Instead of wasting time, you'd be better off running faster."
"Those two chasing us are at the late Golden Core stage. We're about to be caught, you know!"
Hearing this, Chen Changsheng glanced back and saw the two late Golden Core demon cultivators gradually closing the distance.
Seeing the situation becoming increasingly critical, a spark of anger ignited within Chen Changsheng.
"Miss, I don't want to be involved in your family affairs, and I certainly don't want any entanglement with you."
"I'm willing to let what just happened slide. Please, just stop pestering me, alright?"
In response to Chen Changsheng's words, the woman casually summoned a pearl that hovered protectively above her head.
"I'll do as I please. What can you do about it?"
"If you have the skill, try breaking through my protective barrier!"
"Since you refuse to see reason, don't blame me for what happens next."
With a cold remark, Chen Changsheng immediately began forming a series of hand seals.
At first, the woman paid him no mind. A mere Golden Core cultivator wasn't worth her attention. If she hadn't nearly exhausted her spiritual energy, she wouldn't have bothered hitching a ride with this stranger.
But soon, she realized something was wrong.
"This is the Shangqing Temple's Blood Escape Technique! You're human!"
Seeing the woman's shocked expression, Chen Changsheng grinned. "Congratulations, you guessed right! But no prize!"
Hearing this, the woman immediately tried to sever the Shadow-Following Talisman connecting them.
But Chen Changsheng had already completed the Blood Escape Technique. It was too late for anything now.
Pfft!
Chen Changsheng spat out a mouthful of heart's blood and instantly transformed into a crimson streak of light, vanishing over the horizon.
The two demon cultivators chasing them were dumbfounded. It had never occurred to them that a mid Golden Core cultivator could execute such an advanced escape technique.
Furthermore, what was an unidentified human doing deep within the heart of the Nocturnal Moon Kingdom?
"Big brother, what do we do now?" one of the Golden Core cultivators blurted out.
Smack!
His companion responded by slapping him hard across the face.
"What do you mean 'what do we do'? Go after them, now!"
"If something happens to the Princess after she was taken by a human, our entire clan will be wiped out!"
With that, the two immediately began burning their vital essence to pursue Chen Changsheng.
But two ordinary Golden Core cultivators stood no chance of catching up.
During his many years at Shangqing Temple, Chen Changsheng hadn't learned much about fighting, but his escape techniques were perfected to an exceptional degree. Not even two late Golden Core cultivators—or even some ordinary Nascent Soul experts—could necessarily catch him.
...
Three hundred li away.
Whoosh!
Two figures, one male and one female, appeared in a silent valley.
It was Chen Changsheng and the mysterious woman, after the Blood Escape ended.
The moment the technique concluded, Chen Changsheng didn't hesitate. He immediately threw out several array flags, planting them around the area.
Then, his hands moved through a series of profound hand seals with a practiced fluency that spoke of countless repetitions.
"Array, arise!"
A curtain of light instantly enveloped Chen Changsheng and the mysterious woman.
Wary of his actions, the woman cautiously drew an ancient-looking dagger.
"What are you trying to do?"
"Let me warn you, if anything happens to me, your fate will be worse than death."
Hearing her threat, Chen Changsheng, now finished setting up the array, clicked his tongue.
"I never wanted any trouble."
"But since you threw yourself at me, you can't blame anyone but yourself."