Volume Two, Chapter Sixteen: A Misunderstanding of Indecency

Yu Mu shot through the air like a meteor, sent flying by the force of the blows. The two punches were devastating, their tremendous impact carrying him through two large trees before he finally came to a stop. It was only because Yu Mu was so resilient that he survived; anyone else would likely have been beaten to death.

His whole body felt as if it had been torn apart, and his eyes, in particular, burned with pain. Forcing his swollen, peach-like eyes open, he managed to make out two pale figures through his blurred vision.

Though the sight was indistinct, he could just discern that they were both women. The clear, telltale handprints left on their chests left no doubt as to why he had been beaten so savagely.

But matters were far from over. The two women made a series of gestures, and two storage pouches flew to them from the riverbank. They caught the bags and, with a turn, were suddenly dressed once more.

Now that they were clothed, their striking figures became all the more evident: one voluptuous, the other slender, each exuding her own unique charm.

At the same time, two musical instruments appeared in the women's hands, and they rose into the air. Only then did Yu Mu realize that disaster was upon him.

These two young women—could they be formidable experts already at the Unity Stage? Their manners did not suggest so, yet how could they fly unaided by magical artifacts?

At last, Yu Mu noticed the unusual boots on their feet, faintly radiating energy. So, the boots were their flight instruments.

This realization only deepened his fear. Even with his shallow knowledge of cultivation, Yu Mu knew that anyone capable of wielding such flight artifacts was no ordinary person.

“Lecherous scoundrel! You destroyed my barrier and sullied my innocence. If I do not slay you today, I am no longer human. Die!” The more voluptuous woman raised her instrument. Though she was as beautiful as a fairy, her attack was merciless.

Her weapon was peculiar—a guqin with dozens of strings. Without being plucked, the instrument rang out on its own, each note a razor-sharp blade that carved dozens of wounds into Yu Mu’s body and sent waves of agony through his head.

Physical and mental torment assaulted him at once—how fearsome!

While this woman attacked, the other did not remain idle. She was petite and even more beautiful, holding a flute riddled with an astonishing number of holes—more than there were strings on the guqin.

The sound of her flute inflicted piercing wounds, and its seductive melodies conjured hallucinations that threatened to overwhelm Yu Mu’s mind.

This woman was even more formidable!

Thankfully, she seemed to be holding back, avoiding his vital points. Otherwise, a single attack might have finished him.

The two women’s relentless assault, and the four deadly glares they cast his way, made it clear to Yu Mu that if he did not flee at once, he would surely die.

Without hesitation, knowing there was no time to explain, Yu Mu scrambled to his feet and ran.

As he stood, however, the women’s anger and embarrassment only grew. Since taking on human form, Yu Mu had not managed to find any clothing; he remained utterly naked.

His short, stout body was no match for their flight. What’s more, ever since he transformed into a tree, Yu Mu felt especially heavy and sluggish.

He had barely staggered a few steps before his back was slashed by dozens more wounds. At this rate, death was certain. Luckily, though his new form had cost him his agility, it had made his body incredibly tough and bestowed him with powerful regeneration, so his life was not yet in immediate danger.

The two women, frustrated that their attacks were ineffective, grew more and more incensed, yet also puzzled. The scoundrel before them seemed entirely without cultivation—why was he so hard to kill?

They did not know that Yu Mu was already at the end of his strength. Massive blood loss and blinding pain left him barely conscious. The hallucinations were even more severe, threatening to make him pass out at any moment.

Staggering forward, Yu Mu’s heart filled with despair. After surviving countless hardships, was he truly to die at the hands of these two delicate maidens?

He felt ever more exhausted, weaker with every step. A voice seemed to whisper in his ear, “You’re tired. You’re sleepy. Go to sleep. Once you sleep, all pain will be gone.”

His vision grew hazy; his will to struggle faded. Just as he was about to succumb, the sound of rushing water began to echo in his ears.

The noise snapped Yu Mu back to clarity.

“Damn, how could I forget that river? Better to drown than be beaten to death by these girls!”

Bolstered by this thought, he rushed toward the sound. The roar grew louder until it became a thunderous crash. Bursting from the forest, Yu Mu beheld a wide river—far broader than it appeared from the sky.

At the river’s end rose a cliff, down which a waterfall thundered. The deafening roar was the water plunging below.

The two women in hot pursuit quickly saw what Yu Mu intended.

The voluptuous woman’s brows arched, her eyes widened with fury, and her hand poised on the strings, ready to unleash a devastating attack.

By now, Yu Mu had reached the cliff’s edge, preparing to leap. The woman’s fingers danced across the strings, gathering waves of sound that coalesced into a massive, growing blade of light.

Yu Mu saw the terrifying blade and thought, “It’s over. This time I’m done for.”

In his desperation, instinct took over. Yu Mu suddenly spat out a cloud of pink powder.

Meanwhile, the petite woman gently placed her slender hand atop the guqin’s strings and pleaded softly, “Senior Sister Xiaomei, spare his life, please.”

Her voice was as melodious as an oriole’s song echoing from a valley.

But it was too late; the pink mist Yu Mu expelled rapidly expanded, enveloping both women in a rosy haze.

“Scoundrel, you dare launch a sneak attack! Take this!” With a sharp cry, the half-formed blade of light flashed forth, striking Yu Mu as he leapt. He screamed in agony and tumbled from the cliff.

Xiaomei swept her sleeve to disperse the powder. “Shuer, what’s wrong with you? That lecher deserves a thousand deaths! How can you feel compassion for him? Quick, let’s see if he’s truly dead.”

Shuer hesitated. “Senior Sister Xiaomei, let’s just leave it. That last blow should have finished him. Even if not, he’s learned his lesson—let him live.”

“Shuer, you’re being foolish. Have you forgotten what he just did to us? If word of this spreads, how will we ever show our faces again? What will our fellow disciples say—what will the sect think? Don’t forget, the selection for the Tomb Exploration is in a few days. With our abilities, we’re sure to have a place. We can’t risk any scandal now.”

“But, Senior Sister…”

“No buts. He must die today. Come with me—we need his body, dead or alive. Let’s go—”

She was about to pursue when suddenly she cried, “Wait—why is it so hot?”

“Senior Sister, I feel hot too. It’s unbearable…”

At this, Xiaomei’s heart filled with dread. She turned to see Shuer’s face flushed, her breath quickened, her eyes glazed with desire.

Xiaomei cried out, “No! That scoundrel poisoned us with an aphrodisiac!”

She herself felt even worse, her mind slipping. In a panic, she struck her guqin, releasing a piercing note. The sound brought them both back to their senses—somewhat.

“Shuer, quick! Play the Calming Melody—resist the drug’s effects…”