You Are the One I Want to Embrace Even When I'm Wielding My Sword (Reborn in a Book) - 005

“Gurgle, gurgle!”

Fu Yan listened to the sound of water in her ears, almost reflexively flailing. In both her lives, she had been like a duck out of water. Swimming was something utterly foreign to her. Yet no matter how hard she struggled, she couldn’t float to the surface. Instead, she felt her body growing heavier, as if something was drilling into her.

“Ugh…”

Fu Yan felt like she couldn’t hold her breath any longer. Just as she was about to open her mouth to breathe, she realized she didn’t feel suffocated. Wondering why the assailant would throw her into this mysterious pool, Fu Yan suddenly felt a wave of intense pain throughout her body. It was as if thousands of ants were gnawing at her bones and flesh, rendering her unable to concentrate on anything but the excruciating pain. She struggled in the pool, but the pain only intensified. Her bones felt like they were about to be ground into powder, the despairing pain threatening to make her pass out. Yet Fu Yan remained painfully aware, forced to endure layer upon layer of agony. She couldn’t even scream.

As time passed, she couldn’t tell how long it had been. Finally, Fu Yan opened her eyes in the refining pool, instinctively leaping out of the water.

“Huff… Huff!”

Though she didn’t feel suffocated, Fu Yan couldn’t help but gasp for air as she emerged, not caring that she was soaked through, slowly crawling to the side. After lying on the ground for who knows how long, Fu Yan finally felt like she had come back to life. Glancing around, she saw the empty cave. The person who had brought her here seemed to have long departed. Or perhaps, that person wasn’t a flower thief.

Fu Yan wasn’t stupid; she could probably guess that the person last night wasn’t the same flower thief who had been chasing her before. Otherwise, she would likely have met a worse fate. But who was that person? And why did they save her?

Of course, Fu Yan couldn’t find answers to these questions. Unable to comprehend, she decided not to dwell on it further. Being alive was the greatest stroke of luck. However…

Recalling the bone-crushing pain she endured in the pool last night, Fu Yan couldn’t help but furrow her brow slightly.

She remembered that last night, the pool was milky white, but now it had turned into clear spring water. After inspecting it, she found nothing unusual.

“Hmm?” Fu Yan, puzzled, stood up and suddenly seemed to notice something, prompting her to try moving. Sensing something amiss, Fu Yan carefully examined her body, murmuring to herself, “Why do I feel so relaxed all over, and my movements seem much more powerful and agile than before?”

But soon, Fu Yan reached a conclusion: “This must be a refining pool!”

The refining pool had been mentioned in books, a mystical spring that could refine a cultivator’s physique. Considering the changes she had undergone, Fu Yan naturally connected the dots.

With this in mind, Fu Yan couldn’t help but think of the person from last night, filled with questions: “Who is that person? Saving my life and granting me such a great opportunity.”

“Whatever, maybe they’re just a kind-hearted cultivator.”

The other party hadn’t revealed any personal information, and Fu Yan couldn’t figure it out either. The original owner was just an ordinary orphan who wouldn’t have known any important figures. So, she could only shrug helplessly.

Taking out a new set of clothes from her spatial ring, Fu Yan quickly changed and tidied herself up before leaving the cave empty-handed.

“My only weapon, the fine iron sword, was lost at the Lin residence. I should hurry back to the sect.” Fu Yan pondered for a moment, then made up her mind. Her cultivation was still too low; she needed to return to the sect to cultivate and break through the Qi Sea realm. When she emerged from the refining pool, she already felt signs of a breakthrough. After experiencing last night’s narrow escape, Fu Yan deeply realized the importance of strength in this fantastical cultivation world. Soon, Fu Yan headed towards the outskirts of the Red Black Mountain Range.

Meanwhile, deep within the Red Black Mountain Range. A pair of figures swiftly maneuvered through the forest, seemingly being chased by something. They raced forward desperately, not daring to stop for a moment. And as they sped past, they saw a bloodthirsty ice wolf, its body covered in gray fur, chasing closely behind. It seemed enraged, its sharp teeth ready to tear them apart. It was a terrifying sight.

While fleeing for their lives, Liu Chuanhan couldn’t help but glance back at the bloodthirsty ice wolf behind them, feeling infuriated. He then turned to his junior sister beside him and demanded, “Yan, what did you do just now? Why did this bloodthirsty ice wolf suddenly become so aggressive?”

Liu Chuanhan and Xu Yan were both inner disciples of the Purple Lan Sect. Xu Yan had recently broken through to the Qi Sea realm, so he brought her to the Red Black Mountain Range for training. However, they never expected to provoke this bloodthirsty ice wolf. An adult bloodthirsty ice wolf was among the top-tier second-grade demonic beasts. Even Liu Chuanhan, who had reached the mid-stage of the Qi Sea realm, dared not confront it.

“I… I…” Xu Yan seemed frightened by the situation, unable to gather her thoughts. Seeing her gentle and usually compliant senior brother suddenly showing signs of anger, she became even more flustered.

Seeing Xu Yan, whom he had always treated kindly and gently, suddenly being questioned in a somewhat angry tone, Liu Chuanhan couldn’t help but feel exasperated. He didn’t have time to think too much about it, so he asked again, “Think carefully, did you do anything just now?” Even in this dire situation, Xu Yan reluctantly took out an “Ice Spirit Three-Leaf Flower” from her storage ring and said intermittently, “I… I just… picked… picked this…”

Seeing the Ice Spirit Three-Leaf Flower in Xu Yan’s hand, Liu Chuanhan suddenly realized. He immediately exclaimed, “This bloodthirsty ice wolf has probably guarded this Ice Spirit Three-Leaf Flower for a long time. You suddenly snatched its treasure. How could it not be furious with us?”

Looking at Xu Yan’s submissive appearance, Liu Chuanhan couldn’t help but feel both angry and anxious. He had been good to her before, only because she looked good. Now he realized how foolish she truly was.

“Well… Senior Brother Liu, what should we do now?” Xu Yan was truly frightened. She could feel that if they were in real danger later, Liu Chuanhan would definitely abandon her. She had just broken through to the Qi Sea realm, and her true energy was not enough for her to sustain herself for long after running for so long.

Hearing this, Liu Chuanhan couldn’t help but curse inwardly. He couldn’t just abandon her unless it was absolutely necessary. But just then, he seemed to notice something, and a smile crept onto his lips.

“Junior Sister, give me the Ice Spirit Three-Leaf Flower.” Liu Chuanhan didn’t hesitate and directly turned to Xu Yan.

“Eh?” Xu Yan seemed a little slow to react.

Liu Chuanhan didn’t have time to explain; he snatched the Ice Spirit Three-Leaf Flower from Xu Yan’s hand and threw it in the direction not far to their right. The whole process happened in a flash. When Xu Yan came back to her senses, she found that Liu Chuanhan had thrown her Ice Spirit Three-Leaf Flower away. Moreover, there was a figure in that direction.

“Liu Senior Brother, why… why did you throw away my Ice Spirit Three-Leaf Flower?” Xu Yan was starting to get anxious; that flower was something she had obtained with great difficulty, so naturally, she felt heartbroken.

With a tone that betrayed his frustration, Liu Chuanhan almost gritted his teeth as he said, “Not throw it away? Do you want us to be torn into pieces by the bloodthirsty ice wolf behind us?”

“But…” Seeing Liu Chuanhan’s angry demeanor, Xu Yan ultimately didn’t dare to speak her mind.

“Provoking that bloodthirsty ice wolf wasn’t as simple as snatching back the Ice Spirit Three-Leaf Flower. Without venting its anger, how could it relent?” Liu Chuanhan carefully observed the situation behind them while speaking slowly.

Xu Yan, noticing the figure from earlier, suddenly understood, “I think I saw her attire; she should be a disciple of the Water Plume Sect. Senior Brother, by doing this, won’t you…”

“What does it matter if she’s from the Water Plume Sect? She’s just a Foundation Establishment trash. Daring to venture into the depths of the Red Black Mountain Range, it’s impossible for her to leave alive. If we can use her, it would be considered her greatest fortune.” Liu Chuanhan had long since recognized the person’s identity. However, he didn’t care in the slightest.

After all, nobody would care about a dead person.

After emerging from the cave, Fu Yan realized she was deep within the Red Black Mountain Range, a place where second-grade demonic beasts often roamed. With her cultivation level, she could barely contend with a first-grade demonic beast.

If she encountered a second-grade demonic beast, her only option would be to run.

Therefore, from the moment she started moving, Fu Yan had been cautiously observing her surroundings. Only after confirming that there was no danger did she dare to move quietly towards the outskirts of the Red Black Mountain Range.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Fu Yan suddenly heard rapid sounds coming from her left. She paused slightly, instinctively turning to look.

This glance inadvertently revealed a sight she hadn’t expected to see: an adult bloodthirsty ice wolf, furiously chasing after two figures ahead of it.

Though she didn’t know what had happened, Fu Yan knew she couldn’t participate in such a battle. So, without hesitation, she prepared to make a quick escape.

However, the man fleeing suddenly glanced in her direction.

The next moment, Fu Yan saw a blue-green flower flying straight towards her. Before she could react, the flower landed firmly in her arms due to its incredible speed.

Fu Yan: “…”

“Ice Spirit Three-Leaf Flower?” Fu Yan was somewhat surprised, but she quickly recognized the strange flower in her hand.

The Ice Spirit Three-Leaf Flower, an ice-attributed spirit flower, was devoid of any warmth. Although it looked similar to an ordinary flower, it felt as cold as ice to the touch.

For cultivators with ice-attributed constitutions or those studying ice-attributed techniques, the Ice Spirit Three-Leaf Flower was an invaluable treasure.

Given the preciousness of this item, Fu Yan naturally didn’t believe that the two people just now would kindly give it to her.

Sure enough, as soon as she realized this, Fu Yan saw the bloodthirsty ice wolf that had been chasing the others suddenly rushing towards her.

“They actually used me as bait!” Fu Yan considered herself to have a fairly good temper, but at this moment, she felt an urge to curse loudly. However, she had no time left; the bloodthirsty ice wolf was about to catch up to her.

Without much thought, Fu Yan realized that even if she threw the Ice Spirit Three-Leaf Flower away now, the bloodthirsty ice wolf wouldn’t spare her. She could only turn around and run as fast as she could.

Just yesterday, she had barely escaped a life-or-death situation, and now she was facing another one so soon. Fu Yan felt that nobody could be more unlucky than her.

Since Liu Chuanhan and the others could recognize Fu Yan as a disciple of the Water Plume Sect, Fu Yan naturally recognized them as members of the Purple Lan Sect.

Today’s account was far from settled.