After speaking, Yun Xi gripped the Nine Nether Dragon Umbrella and leapt from the towering tree. She landed lightly, her movements graceful, before heading straight toward the place where the stone hammer man and his companions had set their traps.
The stone hammer man was huddled with his companions, discussing their next move. With the trap disabled, he was debating whether to relocate and set a new one when a sharp bird cry suddenly pierced the air. He whipped his head around, staring into the depths of the forest.
The others also turned sharply, their eyes filled with vigilance. A familiar figure emerged into the stone hammer man's line of sight.
Yun Xi still wore her male disguise. She had changed into a black robe embroidered with dark golden patterns, her Nine Nether Dragon Umbrella had shifted into a deep black, and her matching boots deliberately crunched over a fallen branch, creating a sound to draw their attention.
When the stone hammer man saw it was Yun Xi, his tense shoulders eased slightly, but he remained on guard, gripping his hammer tightly and keeping his eyes fixed on her.
Yun Xi stopped five steps away from them. She gestured at the little red fox nestled in one man's arms, then with a sweep of her sleeve placed some of the beast meat she had harvested the night before onto the ground. Once more, she pointed to the fox, clearly stating her intent to trade.
The stone hammer man's eyes lit up. Things were playing out exactly as their Ancestor had predicted. He cautiously stepped forward, inspecting the fresh meat. His mouth nearly watered, but he restrained himself, setting his hammer aside. Then he traced a larger circle around the pile of meat, asking for more.
Yun Xi's eyes narrowed. She understood perfectly. He was bargaining, trying to raise the price. Her expression remained unchanged as she flicked her sleeve and added the meat of a rhinoceros beast, signaling that this was her final offer.
The stone hammer man's face brightened. He seemed satisfied but still grew greedy, drawing an even bigger circle to demand more.
This time Yun Xi was unmoved. With another wave of her sleeve, she reclaimed all the meat and turned on her heel to leave. Her movement was swift. The instant she pivoted, she was already ten meters away, leaving them barely any time to react.
She was no stranger to haggling and even respected it as a way of survival. But bargaining only worked when the other party truly had no choice. Helping this demon fox was not her obligation. She had only offered because it cost her little and because she had hoped to pry out some useful information in return.
So the moment he tried to press further, she abandoned the deal without hesitation.
The stone hammer man shouted after her, as though trying to salvage something, but Yun Xi did not even glance back. At that moment, a figure flashed before her, blocking her path.
Her gaze flicked over the newcomer. It was one of the stone hammer man's companions. This one was clearly faster—he had actually managed to intercept her. Just now, as he stepped forward, she had caught a glimmer of light flashing along his legs.
Yun Xi halted, coolly meeting the gaze of the dark-skinned man who barred her way, waiting to see what he intended.
Under her calm, piercing stare, the man swallowed nervously. His tone was stiff, his words halting as he said: "Ancestor… said… invite… you… to be… our guest!"
This time Yun Xi understood. He was speaking the common tongue of the cultivation world. That confirmed it: cultivators had indeed once been here, and these people might even be their descendants.
But they had been trapped here for a thousand years, unable to leave. Their growth was clearly stunted. Otherwise, they would never have fallen to such a primitive state.
Regardless, Yun Xi's priority was to understand the rules of this place. She curved her lips into a faint smile and nodded her agreement without hesitation.
The man seemed surprised by how easily she accepted, but quickly motioned for her to follow. Yun Xi inclined her head and walked behind him.
Before long, the two of them rejoined the others. The stone hammer man still looked regretful. When he saw them return, he grabbed the swift-footed man and babbled a string of words, clearly trying to persuade him to speak with Yun Xi. She guessed he still wanted to trade the little red fox for meat. But she gave no opening, keeping her expression blank as though she understood nothing, simply following the group as they set out on their return.
Even so, the stone hammer man was unwilling to give up. He deliberately fell into step beside Yun Xi, whispering in words only he could understand, still trying to strike a deal. This time Yun Xi merely smiled faintly and gave no reply. She knew too well that business could not be forced.
An hour later, they reached the cliffside where their tribe dwelled. Yun Xi noticed they had taken a deliberately roundabout path, clearly trying to confuse her sense of direction. She showed no reaction, walking calmly into their primitive settlement.
Their return drew immediate attention. The stone hammer man had come back earlier than usual, and the other tribesmen shouted questions. He gave only brief answers, then Yun Xi was escorted to a two-story stone house.
The old woman with white hair stood waiting, leaning on her staff. She pushed aside the hide curtain and, seeing Yun Xi, showed no surprise. Her voice was calm as she said:
"Outsider, welcome to our tribe. Please, come in."
Her speech was far smoother than the man's earlier attempt. Yun Xi found it much easier to understand. She nodded and stepped inside.
The hide curtain remained lifted, allowing light to spill in and reveal the modest interior. On a stone bed lay the man she had saved yesterday. His breathing was steady now, though he had not yet woken.
The old woman gestured for Yun Xi to sit, then spoke again:
"Outsider, thank you for saving one of our tribe yesterday."
Yun Xi sat upon a polished stone stool, replying politely: "I was paid, so naturally I did my best to bring him back alive."
The old woman's wrinkled face was unreadable. She continued:
"Outsider, if you can guarantee that more of our people survive, I will tell you how to leave this place."
At that, Yun Xi's lips curved slightly. She liked those who spoke directly. She asked with a faint smile: "How can I be sure you speak the truth? That you are showing me a way to live, and not a path to death?"
The old woman stilled, her fingers pausing as they rubbed her staff. Then she said:
"This is an independent space. Our ancestors carved out this territory to keep us alive. But as time passed, the beasts grew stronger, and our safe ground shrank piece by piece. Our living space was pressed smaller and smaller. Many of our people have died or been maimed. Much knowledge has been lost.
From time to time, outsiders like you appear here. Some are kind and trade with us. But others are greedy, wanting to take everything we have. In the end, not one of them left this secret realm alive.
It is thanks to the things we gained in trade that our tribe has survived until now. But it has been far too long since the last outsider came. So long that our people have dwindled to fewer than a hundred. We stand on the brink of extinction.
I have lived long enough. Death would be a release. But before I go, I must find a way for my people to endure."
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My 2 project already finished the book vetting and it can be found on my profile: The Villainess isStealing the Male Lead's Script! and The Cube Queen's Apocalypse Feast
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Jing Shu has seen the end of the world, and it's literally a storm of epic proportions, and she's been given the ultimate do-over: a ten-year rewind. Thrown back in time to just two months before everything goes to hell, she has one mission: to make her apocalypse as comfortable as possible.
Forget just surviving. While others are scrambling for canned beans, Jing Shu is building a fortified sanctuary, raising soon-to-be-extinct poultry for gourmet meals, and cultivating a garden of forgotten veggies. Armed with a mysterious evolving rubik cube that grants her a private pocket dimension and a magical spirit spring water, she's set to ride out the disaster in style.
But what's the point of living like a queen if you can't enjoy a little revenge? The apocalypse is about to get a serious upgrade in style, and Jing Shu can't wait for her enemies to see what they're missing. Let them hear the sizzle of her steak and smell the aroma of her barbecue. Their despair is just the seasoning she needs.
In a world where humanity itself is changing, mutating into powerful "New Humans" fused with the chaos, Jing Shu is ready to evolve right along with them. She's got her cube, her spring, and a plan. The storm is coming, and she has a front-row seat.