Chapter 8: The Deer of Decay

                             

Yun Wan carefully observed the surrounding terrain. Judging from the trees and grasses on both sides, they should still be within Jing Mountain. However, Yun Wan was not worried about Yu Wuya finding them. Jing Mountain, as one of the five sacred peaks, was vast and boundless; even if he possessed abilities that reached the heavens, he would not be able to locate them here.

Thinking of this, Yun Wan hunted with confidence.

The mountains and forests abounded with wild fruits and animals. Rabbits ran swiftly and were not easy to catch, so Yun Wan did not consider them. Fish were plentiful, but their nutrition was insufficient. What she wanted was something to nourish Xie Tingyun’s body—deer, perhaps. Just as she was thinking, a wild deer leisurely stepped into her sight.

Sunlight filtered through the shadows of the trees, and the grass lay lazily beneath.

The small deer chewed slowly on the grass, sometimes glancing left and right, sometimes flicking its ears. The scene was vivid and pure.

Yun Wan only stared for a few seconds, but her attention was already fixed upon its antlers.

Very good. Public prey.

The question was—how to catch it?

Yun Wan rummaged through her storage bag and found a bottle of drug amidst the clutter. She mixed the drug into wild fruit, put everything away, and carefully approached the deer.

The deer noticed something and turned its head to look.

Its eyes were beautiful, faint emerald green, pure and flawless. For a moment Yun Wan felt reluctant, but that reluctance did not last long, for it was shattered by a sharp roar.

Her eardrums numbed from the shock, Yun Wan came back to her senses and realized the sound was made by the deer itself.

There were thousands of mouthparts within its mouth, densely packed together. When it roared, those mouthparts trembled, and countless small tongues protruded.

In the next instant, antlers sprouted from its nose and struck upward.

Yun Wan had never seen such a sight. She hastily rolled twice on the ground to avoid it. Even with the spirit seal protecting her, her physique remained delicate; she rolled directly onto flesh and bone, pain shooting through her body.

Seeing the deer preparing for a second charge, Yun Wan did not hesitate. She threw the drugged fruit into its mouth and decisively climbed a tree.

Even such simple movements left her breathless and exhausted.

She did not know if the deer would climb after her, nor was she certain the drug would take effect, so she waited quietly above.

A quarter of an hour later, the deer’s limbs grew unstable. It staggered and collapsed with a heavy thud.

Yun Wan threw another fruit. No response. She waited patiently, then slowly descended once she was sure it was safe.

She kicked it. No movement. Probably fainted.

Yun Wan rolled up her sleeves. Just as she gripped her dagger, the deer suddenly opened its eyes and struggled to rise.

Yun Wan froze. Fear surged, nearly overwhelming reason. Reflexively, she punched.

The deer stopped moving. Yun Wan’s heart nearly stopped as well.

It’s over. I’m going to die.

Save… help…

She dared not make a sound, her heart frantically crying for rescue.

After being struck, the deer staggered two steps and fell heavily to the ground, not waking again.

Yun Wan was stunned. Just… that’s it? That’s all?

She regained her composure, sneered softly, and skillfully disemboweled it with her dagger. Yet when the internal organs were revealed, disgust rose in her chest. Aside from the fur, the inside was entirely composed of mouthparts. Because the body was dead, the little tongues of those mouthparts all protruded. Even Yun Wan, who was not afraid of secrets, felt a forced dread. Fortunately, one key part remained normal.

Half an hour later, she returned to the cave with a bowl.

Xie Tingyun was meditating with eyes closed. Hearing her movement, his eyelids lifted halfway.

“Give.” Yun Wan handed him the soup.

The soup smelled faintly fishy, a thin layer of oil floating on its surface.

His eyes flickered. “This is?”

Yun Wan said, “I know you worked hard last night, so I hunted to replenish your body.”

Last night was hard. Nourish the body.

These two sentences carried subtle meaning.

Xie Tingyun had not lost his memory with traditional medicine. Everything from last night was etched deeply in his mind—every voice, every breath, every movement. He had thought Yun Wan, as a young woman, would be shy. Yet she not only wiped his body in the morning, she also went hunting to nourish him.

His thoughts grew complicated. Finally, he swallowed his refusal and accepted the wooden bowl.

The bowl was chipped, bearing traces of use.

Yun Wan explained, “I didn’t bring dishes or chopsticks, so I used pots and bowls that had fallen in the cave. I cleaned them before using, so you need not worry.”

Xie Tingyun said nothing. He blew gently on the soup and took a sip.

The fishy taste lingered long on his tongue. His Adam’s apple rolled as he swallowed back the urge to vomit.

“What kind of soup is this?”

Yun Wan replied honestly, “Deer.”

“What kind of deer?”

Yun Wan scratched her ears and cheeks, unable to find words. She picked up a stone and sketched the deer’s image on the ground—mouthparts included.

After a long silence, Xie Tingyun said, “This beast is called a Loss of Decay. Its organs are made of teeth, with only one soft flesh inside. Which part did you use for the soup?”

Yun Wan pondered, then answered innocently, “Deer… deer whip?”

…

“What you eat to make up for it…”

…

It was over. She had made another mistake.

If only she had caught a rabbit!

Yun Wan scratched her ears and cheeks, then pulled out a high‑level spirit stone from her storage bag. “Forget it. Eat this instead.”

Xie Tingyun glanced at it. “Wasn’t the storage bag Yu Wuya’s? Why is it still with you?”

Yun Wan laughed awkwardly. “The one I lost was given by the demons. When I saw them panicking, I divided the spoils into two parts. In the rush, I only packed high‑level spirit stones and protective talismans here. Unfortunately, I didn’t take the money bag. Thinking of that bag of copper coins, I sighed heavily.”

Xie Tingyun’s lips curled faintly. Under Yun Wan’s gaze, he drank the entire bowl of deer whip soup in two or three gulps, wiped his mouth, raised his chin lightly, and signaled, “Eat the spirit stone yourself.”

Yun Wan was stunned.

He said, “Replenish the body.”

Her face flushed hot.

Xie Tingyun rested his cheek on one hand, fingertips pointing toward her. His tone was calm, but his eyes narrowed. “Headcatchers will be injured. Where do you intend to go?”

She looked down. The blue shirt she had changed into that morning was now gray, blood stains faintly visible on her wrists. Though not obvious, the bruises and scratches stood out. Even with the spirit seal altering her skin, the traces could not be hidden. It was clear he had gone too far.

Yun Wan couldn’t help but glance at him. He realized something, deliberately avoided her gaze, leaving only her reddened earlobes.

“This could be exchanged for much money. Giving it to me as food is wasteful. If you don’t want it, I’ll keep it.”

Yun Wan was about to put the stone away when Xie Tingyun said, “Aren’t you going to Kunlun Sect to seek a teacher?”

She nodded.

“The Kunlun Sect is strict. Even outer disciples require mid‑stage qi refinement. With your current ability, you may not pass even the first round.”

His words were true.

As the foremost of the four great sects, Kunlun attracted countless aspirants. Yun Wan, who could barely fight a deer, would struggle with their harsh assessments.

She did not hesitate further. Lowering her head, she drew the spirit stone’s energy into her body.

It was her first time absorbing a spirit stone since entering the cultivation world. The cool breath coursed through her meridians, bringing clarity. Yet soon it seeped out from all twelve veins, floating into the air like mist.

Yun Wan was embarrassed. “It seems… I leaked…”

Gan!

The original tale had only said the original owner leaked during dual cultivation, not that food would leak too! This was unreasonable!

Xie Tingyun frowned. He pressed his palm to her lower abdomen. She was about to dodge, but his cold voice ordered, “Don’t move.”

Yun Wan froze.

Xie Tingyun had noticed as early as last night that Yun Wan’s physique was extraordinary, but when he truly touched her now, he could not hide his surprise. He concealed his emotions as though nothing had happened, and slowly guided a trace of true qi into Yun Wan’s dantian.

For cultivators at the tribulation stage, a single thread of true qi could equal a hundred years of low cultivation. Xie Tingyun, being the purest and most yang among men, could casually impart enough energy to push a qi‑refining novice into foundation building.

Yet the trace of true qi he sent into Yun Wan had no effect. It entered, and then slipped out again.

In other words… Yun Wan was not suited for immortal cultivation.

She was a natural cauldron, destined only to serve as a vessel for others.

Xie Tingyun’s heart sank. He withdrew his hand and suddenly asked, “Can you trust your fate?”

Yun Wan shook her head firmly. “I don’t believe it.”

“Good,” Xie Tingyun said. “The six realms of heaven and earth are governed by qi. Only when spirit aligns with qi, and qi aligns with true nature, can all things be unified. To ascend the Dao, the first step is refining qi. For most monks, qi refining is the easiest beginning—or the most difficult. They must draw qi into their bodies, merge with the energy of heaven and earth, and only then reach foundation building. Some are born masters of qi, achieving unity effortlessly. Others struggle for centuries without progress.”

He looked at her intently. “How did you fight the Yan Gui that day?”

Yun Wan blinked, then answered honestly, “I hit with my fists. How else could I fight?”

Xie Tingyun’s gaze sharpened. “Yan Gui is no ordinary being. What strength do you think you had to wound her?”

“I was angry, so I…” Yun Wan trailed off, realization dawning. “Wait—angry?”

Xie Tingyun nodded. “Not bad. Others lead qi into their bodies. You lead qi into your body through anger. Qi aligns with your flesh, protects it, and no one can approach you.”

Yun Wan’s eyes widened. “Can that work? Can I ascend like this?”

“Why not?” Xie Tingyun’s lashes lifted lazily, his tone calm yet resolute. “If the way of heaven refuses to let you become immortal, then smash the immortal gate with your fists and see who dares to stop you.”

Physical training.

Yun Wan was stunned. After thinking carefully, she realized there was truth in his words. Her body was delicate, her constitution poor, but her resilience was unmatched. She and Xie Tingyun had endured two days together, yet after one night’s rest she recovered fully, walking with ease. She knew this was the furnace‑cauldron physique monks prized.

But viewed another way, it was also the perfect seedling for martial cultivation.

Her lips curved faintly. Perhaps she could return to her old path.

Yes—causes must yield results. The next king of fighters would be her.

She wanted to forge a body of steel.

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