Chapter 5

* * *

Yihua and Shemu Guang arrived at the Anhui region at a rapid pace. Since Yihua would be unable to use lightness skills after expelling her inner energy, they decided to move to the vicinity of Hefei first and then practice breathing techniques.

The place where they stopped was a valley on the eastern side of Anhui Province, near Mount Huang. Shemu Guang led Yihua to the entrance of a cave.

"This is the place where I have been practicing. There are no paths, making it hard to navigate, and the dense undergrowth makes it difficult for anyone to find. There's no better place than this!"

Yihua looked around. Indeed, it was a place that met all the conditions she was looking for. There were no animal tracks nearby, suggesting that even animals did not approach.

"Alright, kid. It's time to be reborn."

Yihua looked up at him. Over the past few days, she had come to realize that Shemu Guang was more meticulous than she had expected. He cared about whether she was comfortable, if she was in pain, and if she was having a hard time. Although he often grumbled, he always took care of her, and he would hunt animals and cook them for her every time.

He knew the shortest route to Anhui, so Yihua arrived there faster and more comfortably than she had expected.

"Thank you."

Yihua expressed her sincere gratitude. Shemu Guang seemed to sense her sincerity, as his eyes widened. He chuckled and patted her head.

"Don't die, kid. It won't be easy, but focus on your breathing."

Yihua nodded. Shemu Guang stared at her intently.

"Do you need help?"

Yihua shook her head.

"I can do it alone."

Shemu Guang shrugged and lowered his hand.

"Alright. I think you can handle it, but..."

Despite his words, his gaze was still filled with worry. Sighing at the sight of the child who remained calm even in the face of a potentially deadly situation, he sat down on a nearby rock.

"Try to soften your tone when you're reborn. You look like a thirteen-year-old, but you don't sound cute at all."

He plucked a blade of grass and stuck it between his teeth, continuing, "When you return home, won't your parents be worried if their long-lost child acts so stiff?"

Shemu Guang was right. Due to her sudden return to the body of a child at the age of thirty, the words she spoke without thinking were not those of a thirteen-year-old.

'It's better to change it, or they might think it's strange.'

Yihua nodded and replied.

"Yes, I understand."

Shemu Guang smiled in satisfaction.

"Alright. Let's see if you can make it, kid."

Yihua bowed politely to him, who was chewing on the grass and swinging his legs, and then stepped into the cave. When her figure was half-hidden in the darkness, he called out.

"Do you have a favorite food?"

After a moment of silence, her lips, hidden in the shadows, parted.

"...Tanghulu."

Though her voice was small, Shemu Guang heard it clearly. He waved his hand as if to say, "Go on."

Yihua's figure soon disappeared completely into the shadows of the cave.

As soon as the child's presence faded away, Shemu Guang's smiling face turned cold. Behind him, figures dressed in black martial robes with blue headbands appeared. They were the hidden force of the Nangong family, the Bifeng Sword Team.

"Have you taken care of all the rats?"

"Yes, Chief."

He handed Shemu Guang a torn headband with a red crow embroidered on it.

"Take this back and inform the head of the family that the child has arrived in Anhui."

"Understood!"

Just as the man was about to use his lightness skills, Shemu Guang added,

"Oh, and bring back some Tanghulu on your way back."

"...Tanghulu?"

"Yes."

Shemu Guang's face lit up with a smile again.

"While you're at it, bring back all the different types from the market."

* * *

Inside the cave, a mat large enough for one person to sit on was laid out. It seemed that Shemu Guang's claim that he often practiced his inner energy here was not a lie.

Yihua sat cross-legged on the mat. When she opened the pouch she had taken from her clothes, a powerful aura burst out, almost making her gasp.

It felt as if a brilliant golden light was shooting out.

'This... is the Great Rebirth Pill.'

A legendary elixir that could instantly heal even fatal wounds and grant immense inner energy. It was so precious that it was rarely used in Shaolin Temple except in special cases.

Although the influence of the Blood Demon, who was moving in the shadows, might have played a role in her obtaining such a pill, she decided to think about that later.

Thump.

Yihua swallowed the Great Rebirth Pill in one go. The pill dissolved in her mouth almost instantly, leaving no trace.

Whoosh—

A vast, boundless power, like a massive sea or an endless wind, surged into her.

It felt as if she had glimpsed a part of the next life just by putting it in her mouth.

'Focus...'

If she was swept away by the power of the Great Rebirth Pill, there would be no turning back. Even the best medicine can become poison at the wrong time.

Given Shemu Guang's warning, it was especially important for Yihua to stay focused. She closed her eyes and slowly began to feel the power taking over her body.

The pure power of the Great Rebirth Pill flowed through her meridians, spreading throughout her body without any barriers.

Yihua's body twitched. The qi flowing through her meridians, sensing the sudden influx of power, began to stir.

'Inner energy from different roots cannot merge.'

The blood-based qi is incredibly greedy, devouring other forms of energy to grow stronger.

However, this only happens when the devoured energy is weaker or at least equal.

Rumble—

The blood-based qi, which had occupied her meridians, began to be pushed back, unable to resist the overwhelming power of the Great Rebirth Pill.

'The blood-based qi is like a stream, while the pure power of the Great Rebirth Pill is like an ocean.'

So powerful that it could easily overwhelm and wash away the blood-based qi.

But simply letting it flow wouldn't be enough.

Yihua's goal was to return her blood vessels and body to a pure state, as if she had never learned the blood-based technique. To do this, she needed to remove all traces of the blood-based qi that had clung to her meridians.

'Move faster and more forcefully. Like a storm, without hesitation...!'

As Yihua manipulated the power of the Great Rebirth Pill more roughly, the power that had been gradually expanding its territory began to surge through her meridians.

Sweat formed on her forehead and trickled down her temples.

Huff, boom, boom, boom—!

Like a massive storm, the power surged and enveloped her body.

The residues of the blood-based qi, which had clung to her meridians, began to be washed away by the overwhelming power of the Great Rebirth Pill.

As the saying goes, a cornered rat might bite a cat.

Twitch!

The blood-based qi, which had gathered in her dantian, began to wildly fluctuate as if trying to break it.

The resistance of the blood-based qi grew stronger.

'Suck...!'

Yihua suddenly drew a deep breath. A thin, dark red stream of blood trickled from her mouth.

The offensive power of the Great Rebirth Pill and the defensive power of the blood-based qi clashed fiercely, causing her dantian to dangerously fluctuate, as if it might break at any moment.

If she wasn't careful, her dantian could be destroyed, or she could fall into the state of demonic transformation.

'Absolutely... I won't lose...!'

Yihua clenched her fist tightly.

* * *

It was a dark night. In front of the cave entrance, on a rock, Shemu Guang stood with his arms crossed, his eyes closed.

Despite his calm and relaxed appearance, he was constantly swinging his leg.

'It's time for her to come out.'

Surely, nothing went wrong, right?

Like her meridians suddenly twisting while practicing her inner energy, or failing to withstand the power of the Great Rebirth Pill and falling into demonic transformation?

The more he thought about it, the faster his leg swung.

Suddenly, Shemu Guang's eyebrows twitched, and he opened his eyes. Staring into the dark cave, he let out a low laugh.

"Truly an amazing kid."

Shemu Guang leaped off the rock and approached the cave entrance. In his hand, he held a paper bag filled with a child's clothes and Tanghulu.

"Feeling good to be alive, kid?"

With a soft thud, a small figure emerged from the darkness of the cave. Shemu Guang raised an eyebrow at the sight.

A pure, different aura emanated from her body.

'Hmm? Not only did she expel the dirty energy, but she also built up her inner energy.'

Although it was only at a second-class level, it was a remarkable achievement considering her age.

He had thought it would be fortunate if she didn't fall into demonic transformation, but she had managed to make the remaining inner energy her own.

"Good job."

Shemu Guang handed her the clothes and Tanghulu. Yihua looked up at him, the silver moonlight reflecting clearly in her black eyes.

Her eyes had become clear as she expelled the impurities from her body.

"Thank you."

"It's me who should thank you."

For not dying.

Yihua tilted her head, not understanding his words, and Shemu Guang patted her head.

"Let's go. You haven't bathed for three days, so let's soak in warm water first. You stink."

During the process of using her inner energy, the toxins in Yihua's body had been expelled, and a black, sticky liquid had oozed out, emitting a terrible odor.

"Three days?"

"Yes. You've been in the cave for three days. Didn't you know?"

Yihua nodded. She had been so focused on the flow of energy that she hadn't noticed the passage of time.

Three days, though.

'He guarded me for three days?'

It wouldn't have been easy to stay still in this desolate place for three days.

She owed Shemu Guang a debt.

A small rumble came from Yihua's stomach. Seeing her rub her belly, Shemu Guang burst into laughter.

"Of course you're hungry! Since you've returned home after a long time, I'll introduce you to Hefei's specialties!"

Shemu Guang suddenly scooped Yihua into his arms. Her body, which had not eaten or slept for three days, was as light as a feather.

"..."

Yihua, suddenly in his arms, looked at him with wide eyes.

"Hold on tight, kid. I won't be responsible if you fall."

With a chuckle, Shemu Guang used his lightness skills and moved quickly. Yihua, in his arms, felt the cool wind and looked at the Yangtze River, which flowed strongly under the moonlight. Beyond it, the city lights twinkled as if welcoming her.

'Finally... Hefei.'

It was a night when the sweet scent of Tanghulu tickled her nose.