Li Feng and the Ge siblings headed toward Black Wind Forest. Li Feng didn’t know its exact location, but Ge Feng and Ge Ying did. With them leading the way, Li Feng was spared much trouble.
Along the way, they encountered several ferocious beasts, most of which were handled by Ge Feng and Ge Ying. Unless a beast was too strong, Li Feng generally didn’t intervene.
Despite her innocent and cheerful nature, Ge Ying’s strength was impressive. Li Feng had initially thought she might shy away from ferocious beasts, but she killed them with no less skill than Ge Feng. Later, he learned this was due to their training. In trials, survival demanded real strength; hesitation or mercy could cost one’s life. This was a necessary path for a martial artist’s growth.
Learning this, Li Feng admired the Ge family. Martial artists thrived on strength. Being soft-hearted or weak would lead nowhere in the martial path.
“Li Feng, before we head to Black Wind Forest, how about we visit another place first?” Ge Feng suddenly stopped and said.
“Another place? Where?” Li Feng asked curiously.
“There’s a cave under the waterfall ahead, with a rare fruit called Sky Heart Fruit at its entrance. But there’s a ferocious beast in the cave. I tried six months ago and couldn’t defeat it. Now that you’re here, why don’t we give it a try?” Ge Feng said.
“Alright.” Li Feng nodded without hesitation. Sky Heart Fruit was a rare natural treasure that enhanced blood flow and strengthened meridians, greatly benefiting cultivation by making true qi flow more smoothly. It was highly valuable.
After practicing the Mysterious Sky Body Refining Technique, Li Feng’s blood qi was vigorous, his breath steady, and his meridians broad and resilient, so he had no need for Sky Heart Fruit. However, possessing it would be like holding a small fortune.
Moreover, he had the Black Eagle Team and Hu Yuanyuan cultivating. Sky Heart Fruit could potentially aid them.
Led by Ge Feng, the trio reached a mountain peak. Looking at the waterfall below, Li Feng asked, “Ge Feng, where’s the cave you mentioned?”
“Right down there.” Ge Feng pointed to the waterfall cave below.
Following Ge Feng’s gesture, Li Feng saw what seemed to be a cave hidden beneath dense vines, about twenty to thirty meters from the pool below.
“It’s really there,” Li Feng said, surprised. Without close inspection, it would be impossible to spot.
“Yeah, I found it by chance,” Ge Feng nodded. “But the beast in the cave is very strong. I couldn’t handle it alone. With you here, we might have a chance.”
Li Feng glanced at the well-hidden cave below and said, “Let’s go down and try, but…” He looked at Ge Ying and continued, “Ge Ying, you should stay here. It’s too dangerous to go down.”
“That’s what I was thinking,” Ge Feng agreed. He hadn’t brought Ge Ying here during their time in the Hundred Thousand Mountains because it was too risky and he didn’t want her in danger. Li Feng’s suggestion aligned perfectly with his thoughts.
“No way! Why should I stay here?” Ge Ying said, displeased. “If you’re going down, I’m going too.”
“Sister, it’s too dangerous down there,” Ge Feng said.
“Is it not dangerous here? If you go down and a beast comes, what if I can’t handle it?” Ge Ying pouted, retorting.
“…” Ge Feng was speechless. This was the Hundred Thousand Mountains; who could claim it was safe?
“Besides, it’s not just the one-eyed man’s group chasing us. If their allies find me while you’re down there, what then? Would falling into their hands be better than a beast’s?” Ge Ying pressed.
“Plus, we came to the Hundred Thousand Mountains for training. You’re protecting me this time, but what about next time?”
Li Feng looked at Ge Ying, surprised. He hadn’t expected her to be so eloquent.
“Fine, we’ll all go down,” Ge Feng said helplessly. He knew she was right. As martial artists, they had to face challenges head-on.
“Li Feng, sister, to reach the cave, we have to climb down these vines. They’re slippery from years of waterfall spray, so one wrong move could be trouble,” Ge Feng warned.
Li Feng nodded, but Ge Ying had already grabbed a vine and started descending.
“Sister, be careful!” Ge Feng called, grabbing a vine and following.
Li Feng didn’t hesitate. He gripped a vine and climbed down, glancing below. Ge Ying was fast, only seven or eight meters from the cave, with Ge Feng close behind, about a meter above her.
Li Feng admired their skill. The Ge siblings were true martial artists. Regular soldiers might manage this, but not with their clean efficiency.
He wondered if he should bring the Black Eagle Team to train in the Hundred Thousand Mountains someday. It could boost their combat skills.
But the vines were covered in moss. Lost in thought, Li Feng’s hand slipped, and he slid downward. Unfazed, he flipped his palm, grabbed the vine again, and stopped his fall.
“Hee hee, Li Feng, be careful, or you’ll end up a soaked chicken!” Ge Ying giggled.
“Ge Ying, you watch yourself,” Li Feng smiled. He wasn’t worried about himself; even if he fell, he’d be fine.
Crack, crack, crack…
A sound came, startling Li Feng. His face changed, and he shouted, “Ge Feng, Ge Ying, watch out! The vine’s breaking!”
“What?” Ge Feng didn’t react in time.
“Ah!” Ge Ying screamed as her vine snapped, and she plummeted.
“Sister, careful!” Ge Feng’s face paled. He tried to save her, but his vine snapped with a crack.
Ge Feng reacted quickly, grabbing another vine to avoid falling, but it was too late to save Ge Ying.
At that moment, a massive snake head emerged from the pool below, its gaping maw open.
“Help!” Ge Ying, seeing the giant snake head, screamed in terror, her face pale.
Li Feng saw the snake head at the same time and heard Ge Ying’s cry. Without thinking, he let go of his vine and slid down.
Just as Ge Ying neared the snake’s jaws, Li Feng reached her. He grabbed a vine with one hand and wrapped his other arm around her waist.
Ge Ying, seeing the snake’s mouth draw closer, felt despair. Was she going to die today?
As she closed her eyes in hopelessness, a strong arm encircled her waist.
“You’re safe now,” Li Feng’s voice sounded in her ear. Ge Ying opened her eyes, seeing Li Feng’s face so close, and said in shock, “Li Feng, you saved me?”
“With me here, you’ll be fine,” Li Feng nodded. About to say more, a loud splashing sound came from below.
Looking down, Li Feng’s heart skipped a beat. A giant snake, over ten meters long and a meter thick, was charging at them.
Li Feng didn’t hesitate. He kicked off the cliff wall, spun with Ge Ying in his arms, and moved from their spot.
Just then, the giant snake’s head appeared where they had been. If Li Feng hadn’t reacted quickly, they might have been its meal.
“Li Feng, sister?” Ge Feng’s anxious voice came from above.
“Ge Feng, don’t come down. I can handle it,” Li Feng called. With Ge Feng’s strength, he’d be no help and might even need protecting.
As Li Feng spoke, a crack sounded, and his vine broke. He and Ge Ying splashed into the pool, truly becoming soaked chickens.
The giant snake also fell into the pool, turning its head toward them.
Li Feng’s expression shifted. He quickly said to Ge Ying, “Ge Ying, hold onto me tightly, now.”
Ge Ying blushed. At just over twenty, she was a maiden who had never been so close to a man, let alone asked to embrace one. But she hesitated only briefly before hugging Li Feng.
She knew that if she didn’t, both she and Li Feng could end up as the snake’s meal.
As Ge Ying held him, Li Feng released her waist, grabbed a vine, and climbed upward.
Ge Ying, clinging to Li Feng and hearing his strong heartbeat, blushed deeply. It was her first time being so close to a man, especially one she’d known for less than a day.
Tension, unease… various emotions swirled in her mind.
Yet, holding Li Feng like this, she felt an odd sense of security.
Splash!
The giant snake lunged from the water, charging at Li Feng.
His face changed, and he quickened his climb, reaching the cave entrance. The cave was twenty to thirty meters above the pool, too high for the snake to reach, even at full stretch.
“Phew…” Li Feng let out a long breath. That had been far too close.
“Li Feng, sister, are you okay?” Ge Feng, already at the cave entrance, asked urgently as they climbed up.
“We’re fine,” Ge Ying said, releasing Li Feng, her face flushed.
“Good, you scared me to death,” Ge Feng said, relieved. If anything had happened to Ge Ying, he wouldn’t know how to face their parents.
Li Feng noticed a strange plant at the cave entrance bearing over a dozen fruits: the Sky Heart Fruits.
“Li Feng, you saved my sister. Take these Sky Heart Fruits,” Ge Feng said, picking them all and offering them to Li Feng.
Li Feng shook his head. “There are fifteen Sky Heart Fruits. We’ll split them three ways.”
“But…” Ge Feng hesitated.
“No arguments. It’s settled,” Li Feng said, stepping forward to take five fruits and placing them in a jade box.
Ge Feng, seeing this, took the remaining fruits. In his heart, he valued Li Feng more. Such a person was worth befriending.
Soaked from the pool, Li Feng circulated the Nine Heavens Heart Sutra to dry his clothes, then looked into the dim cave.
