The Villain Marked the Protagonist's Fiancée (Through the Book) - Chapter 21

Before the Azure Bull Beast could approach, Yun Xiao unleashed Thunderous Fury.

However, the sword strike landed on the beast like a mere tickle. The bull’s eyes, gazing down at her, were filled with contempt.

Undeterred, Yun Xiao smirked, taunting, “Don’t get ahead of yourself. This is just an appetizer. The main course is coming next.”

Before the words had even left her lips, she launched Thunderous Spread at the Azure Bull Beast. To maximize its effectiveness, she layered a Rain-Summoning Talisman onto the attack.

A’Luo had said these low-tier talismans were useless to her, but Yun Xiao had kept a few on hand anyway. They weren’t expensive, and who knew when they might come in handy?

Seeing the Rain-Summoning Talisman amplify Thunderous Spread’s power, she immediately hurled five more, channeling even more Thunder Spiritual Power into the attack.

No matter how tough the Azure Bull Beast’s hide was, it couldn’t withstand repeated strikes of thunder and lightning.

After this barrage, bl00d began to seep from the beast’s wounds.

This gave Yun Xiao an idea. She layered Rain-Summoning and Iron Wall Talismans onto Thunderous Roar.

Water and iron both conduct electricity. With her doubled output of Thunder Spiritual Power, the attack’s potency far surpassed its previous level.

Fifty miles away, Fang Zhiluo watched the lightning and thunder crackling above the dense forest, her brow furrowed in concern.

Even at this distance, she could feel the lingering shockwaves of the battle. It was clear this Demonic Beast was formidable indeed.

Remembering how several Heavenly Evolution Sect disciples had perished in the battle’s aftermath, she immediately ordered, “Withdraw immediately!”

“But Senior Yun—” Chu Hui began.

Fang Zhiluo cut her off. “A Tenth-Tier Demonic Beast? Even if I went, I couldn’t help.”

Against a Ninth-Tier Vajra Monkey, her chances of victory were slim. Against a Tenth-Tier Demonic Beast, they were nonexistent.

If she intervened, she’d only burden Yun Xiao.

It was better to retreat early, allowing Yun Xiao to fight without distractions.

Meanwhile, the Yun Xiao Fang Zhiluo spoke of was gulping down another mouthful of Spirit Spring.

High-Grade Spirit Spring lived up to its reputation. In mere moments, it replenished her depleted Spiritual Power, functioning like a health potion in a game.

Growing bolder with each clash, she tossed Spring Return Pills into her mouth whenever wounded and drank Spirit Spring whenever her Spiritual Energy waned.

The Azure Bull Beast, lacking both Spring Return Pills and Spirit Spring, had endured over two hundred rounds of combat. Its hide was torn and bleeding, and its internal Spiritual Energy was rapidly dwindling.

Yun Xiao blocked the Azure Bull Beast’s path and laid down her terms: “You want to leave? Pay the toll.”

The Azure Bull Beast snorted a cloud of foul breath at her.

Yun Xiao pinched her nose in disgust, refusing to budge. “Then we’ll keep fighting. If I can’t kill you outright, I’ll exhaust you to death.”

The Azure Bull Beast glared at Yun Xiao with eyes larger than fists, its gaze promising to tear her apart.

Yun Xiao wasn’t afraid of the Azure Bull Beast and took a step back. “Alright, here’s the deal: we take whatever we find in this forest without interference. What we find is our business. If you try to stop us, we’ll just keep fighting. After all, I still have plenty of Spirit Spring.”

This brazen attitude infuriated the Azure Bull Beast, but it was powerless against Yun Xiao. With an endless supply of Spirit Spring, Yun Xiao’s Spiritual Power was inexhaustible, and the beast would ultimately be the one to suffer.

The Azure Bull Beast spoke in human language, “I will trade you Spirit Spring.”

As a Tenth-Tier Demonic Beast, its intelligence rivaled that of humans, making its ability to speak human language unsurprising.

Yun Xiao’s eyes darted around. She retrieved a Spirit Spring, dangled it before the Azure Bull Beast, then swiftly withdrew it into her Inner Space. “Deal. But you’ll need to offer something of equal or greater value. Otherwise, forget it.”

She added, “To prevent you from using my Spirit Spring to prolong this fight, the trade can only be completed right before we leave.”

She wasn’t foolish enough to misunderstand the Azure Bull Beast’s intentions.

Thwarted in its scheme, the Azure Bull Beast reluctantly agreed to Yun Xiao’s terms, though its anger simmered.

Aware of the Azure Bull Beast’s cunning, Yun Xiao dared not turn her back to signal Fang Zhiluo. Instead, she channeled Thunder Spiritual Power into the air, writing three characters: “Peace, come quickly.”

Clapping her hands, she remarked casually, “As a guest, shouldn’t you invite me to your Cave Abode for a visit?”

The Azure Bull Beast glared at her warily.

“Don’t worry,” Yun Xiao said, her tone shifting. “I always keep my word. If I said I’m searching for treasures in this forest, then I’m searching for treasures in this forest. But I need to keep an eye on you at all times.”

After a tense moment, the Azure Bull Beast relented, shrinking to a smaller size and leading the way.

Yun Xiao, ever opportunistic, leaped onto the beast’s back and settled in, complaining, “You hit too hard. I need to rest.”

With that, she leaned forward and offered the Azure Bull Beast a Spring Return Pill. “Don’t say I’m stingy. This is your compensation for the trouble.”

The beast used magic to take the pill but didn’t consume it.

Unfazed, Yun Xiao tossed a Spring Return Pill into her own mouth and sat cross-legged on the Azure Bull Beast’s back.

Before leaving, she left a note for Fang Zhiluo, explaining her deal with the Azure Bull Beast.

As for what Heavenly Treasures Fang Zhiluo and the others might find, that was none of her concern.

Of course, she wouldn’t neglect her own interests.

Having lived in this forest for so long, the Azure Bull Beast’s Cave Abode must be filled with treasures. Once she demonstrated her Pill Refinement skills, the beast would surely offer treasures in exchange.

The physical strength of Demonic Beasts rivaled or even surpassed that of Demon Cultivators. While they could directly absorb the medicinal properties of Spirit Herbs, not all herbs were suitable for direct consumption.

The higher the rank of a Spirit Herb, the longer it takes to refine, and there’s always the risk of Spiritual Energy backlash during the process. Pills, on the other hand, are gentler and can be refined more quickly.

Any Azure Bull Beast with half a brain wouldn’t refuse her.

Fang Zhiluo received Yun Xiao’s signal and, after careful consideration, led the Azure Cloud Sect disciples to the dense forest at full speed.

She retrieved the letter Yun Xiao had left for her, her expression astonished. Yun Xiao had actually persuaded a Tenth-Rank Azure Bull Beast!

Though she didn’t know how Yun Xiao had managed it, this was a rare opportunity. She immediately turned to the group and said, “We’ll split into two teams. Remember, act cautiously and avoid prolonged engagements with Demonic Beasts stronger than yourselves.”

The dense forest was vast, and while the letter stated that the Azure Bull Beast wouldn’t interfere with their gains, they couldn’t afford to be complacent. After all, the forest was home to more than just one Demonic Beast.

Fang Zhiluo’s team reaped a bountiful harvest, and Yun Xiao, through a combination of coaxing and trickery, managed to extract considerable treasures from the Azure Bull Beast.

Their greatest prize was the small Enlightenment Tea plant the Azure Bull Beast gifted her—a legendary herb as rare as it was precious.

Legend had it that drinking this tea could deepen one’s understanding of the Dao.

A month passed in the blink of an eye. Even Yun Xiao, with her notoriously thick skin, felt it was time to stop freeloading.

Accompanied by the Azure Bull Beast, Yun Xiao successfully rejoined Fang Zhiluo and the others.

Restrained by the Azure Bull Beast’s presence, Yun Xiao couldn’t speak freely with Fang Zhiluo. The group spent five days traversing the dense forest.

She exchanged a glance with Fang Zhiluo, who immediately led his disciples onward.

Once Fang Zhiluo and his group were sufficiently far away, Yun Xiao fulfilled her promise, handing over fifty bottles of Spirit Spring to the Azure Bull Beast.

The Azure Bull Beast accepted the Spirit Spring with a cold snort. “Other beasts aren’t as easy to deal with as I am.”

Before Yun Xiao could press further, the beast expanded to its full size and vanished from her sight in an instant.

Yun Xiao stood frozen in place, bewildered. What did the bull mean?

Were there more Tenth-Rank Demonic Beasts ahead, or were there other Tenth-Rank Demonic Beasts hidden within the Secret Realm?

She had already exhausted all her resources fighting one Tenth-Rank Demonic Beast. How could she possibly face multiple, let alone a horde of them?

Never mind. I need to find A’Luo first.

She had been stifling herself for days.

As she approached, Yun Xiao spotted a familiar face twisted with disdain. Unable to contain herself, she mocked, “Isn’t that the arrogant and conceited Fellow Daoist Xie? Oh, look, it seems your countless evil deeds have finally caught up with you.”

Xie Yunfan, already severely injured, seethed with fury at Yun Xiao’s taunts.

He glared at her, his eyes burning with rage. “Defeated wretch! What right do you have to swagger before me?”

Yun Xiao laughed, turning to face Fang Zhiluo. “A’Luo, you were there that day. Tell Fellow Daoist Xie, whose mind seems a bit addled, who truly won?”

“Speaking of which, I was just as badly injured as Fellow Daoist Xie back then. This isn’t Market City, so we don’t have to worry about being dragged to the City Lord’s Manor. How about we settle this right here, right now?”

Fang Zhiluo sighed helplessly. “Yun Xiao,” she called out, then turned to Xie Yunfan, her expression serious. “That day, neither of you emerged victorious. And you showed no mercy despite Yun Xiao’s injuries.”

Hearing this, the Azure Cloud Sect disciples, who were already more inclined to side with Yun Xiao, couldn’t help but glance at Xie Yunfan with disdain.

Attacking someone who was severely injured went against the principles of righteous sect disciples. If it had been them, they would have likely already attacked Xie Yunfan.

Xie Yunfan’s face turned ashen. “Don’t forget you’re my fiancée,” he snarled. “Now that this damned b1tch has humiliated me, instead of standing by my side, you’re throwing dirt on me too.”

He turned away, his voice dripping with disgust. “I have no fiancée like you.”

Yun Xiao clenched her fists at her sides. She kicked Xie Yunfan to the ground with a vicious kick. “You think you’re someone important, calling me a b1tch and pointing fingers at A’Luo? I’ll kill you right here and now.”

Before the words had even left her mouth, she charged forward again.

Fang Zhiluo reached out and grabbed Yun Xiao, shaking her head.

“Stop acting so sanctimonious! Don’t think I don’t know you’re in league with this b1tch,” Xie Yunfan roared, shoving away Bai Mofeng, who had tried to help him up. He forced himself into a sitting position, wiped the bl00d from the corner of his mouth, and sneered, “Come on, do you dare kill me? Do you dare make an enemy of the entire Heavenly Evolution Sect?”

Yun Xiao had no intention of letting Xie Yunfan off so easily. She sidestepped Fang Zhiluo and charged forward, slapping Xie Yunfan across the face with both hands. “What bullshit ‘Heaven’s Chosen’? You’re just a useless piece of trash! You can’t even win a fight without running back to your Master or your Sect. Go ahead, run back now! Run!”

In the blink of an eye, Xie Yunfan’s face was swollen beyond recognition.

Fang Zhiluo quickly pulled Yun Xiao away, urging, “Enough, you’ve vented your anger. He’s paid the price for his foul mouth.”

Frowning, she glared coldly at Xie Yunfan, who was still glaring back. “I’ve recorded everything with a shadow stone. I trust Cloud Splendor Sword Sovereign and your Sect Leader are not the kind to ignore right and wrong.”

Xie Yunfan’s constant use of the word “b1tch” was enough to provoke even a clay figure to anger. Yun Xiao’s beating was well-deserved.

The Azure Cloud Sect disciples who witnessed the scene wore complex expressions. None of them felt Yun Xiao had done wrong. If they had been falsely accused and then verbally humiliated, they would have beaten him even worse.

Hearing Fang Zhiluo speak up for her, Yun Xiao’s anger immediately dissipated by more than half. Mimicking Fang Zhiluo, she rummaged through her Storage Pouch and pulled out a recording stone, aiming it at Xie Yunfan’s pig-like face. “Go on, keep cursing. Once we leave the Secret Realm, I’ll broadcast your ugly, vile face to the entire Heavenly Origin Realm.”

Giving Xie Yunfan no chance to retort, she continued, “You hypocritical piece of trash! You attacked me while I was severely injured, yet you swore I was your defeated opponent, even though I never lost the upper hand. When your lies were exposed, you flew into a rage and called me a ‘slut.’ Others may indulge you, but I won’t.”

Pointing a finger at Xie Yunfan’s twisted face, she added, “You should be grateful A’Luo stopped me today, or I would have definitely killed you. And don’t even mention your backing—who doesn’t have someone supporting them these days?”

She retrieved a Spring Return Pill from her Storage Pouch and flicked it into Xie Yunfan’s mouth. “No need to thank me,” she said magnanimously. “I’m not as petty or shameless as you. Otherwise, you’d already be dead here, and you wouldn’t have the chance to run back and complain.”

She spoke at length partly to clarify the entire situation and partly to absolve the Azure Cloud Sect disciples from any involvement. She also wanted to make it clear that she wasn’t some nameless nobody—she had powerful backing of her own.