The girl lay slumped against the tree trunk, her body trembling. Haotian's chi pressed into her meridians, golden light flashing as he circulated energy to purge the serpent's venom.
The corrosive toxins were gone. He could see that clearly — the blackened veins had cleared, her breathing had steadied. Yet the fever in her body only worsened. Her skin burned like fire beneath his hand, her face flushed deep crimson.
Haotian's brows drew tight. "Impossible… the volatile property has already been expelled. Then why—"
His Eyes of the Universe opened. Golden pupils traced through her meridians, seeing deeper than flesh. His heart sank.
"The aphrodisiac remains," he muttered. "But it isn't poison anymore… it's fused into her chi. There's nothing to push out. It's like the venom isn't even there."
The girl's body shook, her lips parting as broken sounds escaped her throat. But they were not screams of pain. They were soft, breathless cries, each one trembling with a rising pitch of pleasure.
Her hands gripped Haotian's robes, her voice cracking as she gasped, "S-senior brother… please… please don't let me die…"
Haotian froze, his chest tightening. Tears welled in her eyes, her body trembling as though caught between life and a fever dream.
He clenched his jaw, forcing down his hesitation. A life is a life. Whatever this poison has done, I can't let her burn out here.
But his chi cycles only dulled the edge of her fever; they could not cure it. The cries kept rising, echoing through the forest, high and unrestrained.
The silence of the night was broken. The beasts of the forest fled from the clearing, unsettled by the strange, haunting chorus of a maiden's voice echoing among the trees.
Haotian's fists tightened. He cast a cold glare at the serpent's massive corpse, its five-colored scales glimmering faintly in the moonlight.
"…What a vile creature," he muttered. "Once this is done, I'll chop you up and make snake soup."
The girl whimpered, her body trembling as her chi spiraled wildly out of control. Haotian bent lower, his hands steady despite the turmoil in his chest.
Somehow… I have to find a way to stabilize her before morning.
And so, through the night, the forest echoed not with pain, but with the poisoned cries of pleasure the serpent's venom had cruelly forced upon its victim — until the first light of dawn broke through the canopy.
The first light of dawn filtered through the canopy, bathing the ruined clearing in pale gold. The once-terrifying corpse of the serpent lay silent, its five-colored scales dulled.
The young woman stirred. Her eyelashes fluttered, her breath catching as she opened her eyes. Warmth enveloped her, steady and comforting. She shifted slightly — and realized she was resting against a firm chest.
Her eyes widened. Slowly, she lifted her head.
Haotian lay beside her, eyes closed, his breathing even. A simple blanket had been draped over her body, shielding her from the night chill. For a moment, she froze, then memory struck like lightning — the serpent, the poison, her body burning with uncontrollable fever… and the man who had stayed with her through the night, pouring his strength into hers until the storm subsided.
Her face flushed scarlet. I… I survived because of him… because he—
She pulled the blanket tighter around herself and turned away, hiding her face in her hands. Her heart raced in confusion and shame, yet beneath it was a quiet gratitude she could not ignore.
Curiosity betrayed her, and she peeked back at him. Haotian's face in sleep was calm, framed by the faint morning glow. His features were sharp, his body honed and strong — not at all like the ordinary disciples she had known. The more she looked, the hotter her cheeks burned.
"I can't… I can't stay here," she whispered to herself, trying to muster her composure.
She carefully shifted, slipping free of the blanket, her body still weak but steady enough to stand. Kneeling by the remnants of her storage bag, she found her folded inner garments. With trembling hands, she began dressing, tugging at the straps with flustered haste.
But the sound of fabric rustling stirred Haotian from his rest. His eyes opened slowly, golden light flickering faintly as he turned his head.
Still groggy, his voice was calm and casual. "Oh… good morning."
The girl froze. She had just bent down, her hair falling across her flushed face, half-dressed as she pulled on her lingerie.
Her heart leapt into her throat. She gasped, spun around, and shrieked.
"AHHHH!"
Haotian blinked, bewildered, still sitting upright. "What—"
But she was already clutching the blanket to herself again, her entire face red as she glared at him, torn between mortification and gratitude.
The scream echoed through the forest, scattering birds from the treetops.
Haotian sat up fully now, rubbing the back of his neck, his expression unruffled. "You don't need to shout. I wasn't watching."
The girl's face burned. She tightened the blanket around herself, glaring despite the tremor in her hands. "Y-you—! You were right there!"
Haotian gave a small sigh and lifted a hand in mild surrender. "Then let me apologize. It wasn't my intent to embarrass you. My focus last night was keeping you alive. Nothing more."
Her breath hitched at his words. The memory of fire burning through her veins, the cruel cries her body had been forced into, and his steady presence holding her back from the brink flooded her all at once. Her anger wilted into shame.
She lowered her gaze, biting her lip. "…If not for you… I'd be dead with the rest of my squad."
Her voice quavered, but she forced herself to meet his eyes. "Thank you, Senior Brother. I don't… I don't know how to repay this."
Haotian's gaze softened. "No need. Life is its own repayment."
The girl hesitated, clutching the blanket tighter. But gratitude gnawed at her, refusing to be silenced. After a long pause, she whispered, "At least… at least tell me your name. I need to know who it is that saved me."
Haotian studied her for a moment, then inclined his head. "Haotian."
Her eyes widened slightly. She had heard the name whispered before, like rumor carried on the wind. A young man moving between sects, strength beyond comprehension, golden eyes that shattered beasts in a single blow.
"…Haotian," she repeated, almost reverently. Her fingers trembled against the blanket. "You're not… you're not like any cultivator I've ever met. Not even the Sovereigns of our sect feel like you do."
Haotian didn't respond, only stood, brushing off his robes as though the night's ordeal were nothing more than dust on his sleeve. His golden pupils flickered toward the massive corpse of the five-colored serpent.
"You survived. That's what matters. As for who I am… in time, you'll understand."
The girl swallowed hard, her heart pounding, torn between awe and flustered embarrassment. She looked at him one last time, then lowered her head.
"…Thank you, Haotian. I'll never forget this."
The five-colored serpent's carcass lay sprawled across the clearing, its scales dulled by death, its venom sacs glistening faintly. Haotian approached it with deliberate calm, his golden pupils narrowing.
"I said I'd make you into soup," he muttered under his breath. "And I keep my word."
With a flick of his hand, space itself rippled. His fingers moved like blades, severing hide and bone with precision. He avoided the venom sacs, the fangs, and the glands where the aphrodisiac poison had been concentrated. All of it he incinerated on the spot with a pulse of golden chi, reducing the remnants to harmless ash.
What remained — the flesh, thick and rich with chi — he carved cleanly, setting the cuts in a neat pile.
Moments later, a small cooking formation glowed faintly at his feet, heating a conjured cauldron of water. The scent of fresh serpent meat soon filled the air, mingling with herbs he pulled from his sleeve. The bitter tang of venom was gone, replaced with the savory steam of nourishing broth.
Behind him, the girl stirred again, still flushed with embarrassment from earlier. She pulled her outer robe tighter around her shoulders and glanced up — only to freeze at the sight of Haotian calmly cooking breakfast over the corpse of the beast that had destroyed her squad.
"You… you really…" she whispered.
Haotian ladled soup into a bowl, his expression calm, almost amused. He handed it to her. "I don't make empty threats. Eat. You'll need strength."
She accepted the bowl hesitantly, staring down into the steaming broth. The warmth spread into her palms, her stomach clenching with sudden hunger she hadn't realized she carried. Slowly, she took a sip. Her eyes widened.
"It's… good."
Haotian smirked faintly. "Better than wasting it."
They ate in silence for a time, the only sounds the crackle of the fire formation and the occasional soft sip.
At last, Haotian glanced at her. "What's your name? And your sect?"
She lowered her bowl slightly, swallowing before she answered. "Feng Yueru. Senior sister of the Azure Tempest Hall. Our sect master is… a Sovereign Realm cultivator."
Haotian's brows rose, interest flashing in his golden pupils. "A Sovereign, hm? Then your sect is not insignificant."
Yueru studied him curiously, then asked, "And you, Senior Brother? What sect claims someone like you?"
Haotian's lips curved faintly, though his voice remained steady. "None. I'm a rogue cultivator."
Her eyes widened slightly, disbelief and awe warring across her face. A rogue cultivator with power beyond Sovereigns? It made no sense — but the evidence sat right beside her, calmly drinking soup as though nothing in the world could shake him.
The two fell back into silence, bowls in hand, the dawn sun creeping higher as they shared a quiet breakfast amid the ruins of the battle.
For Feng Yueru, every sip was heavy with gratitude. For Haotian, it was just another morning — another step along his endless path.
The morning air was crisp, carrying the faint metallic tang of the slain serpent's blood. Haotian brushed the dust from his robes, his gaze lingering on the massive corpse sprawled across the clearing.
"Keep what's left of it," he said evenly. "Your sect can use the remains — the core, the scales, the meat. Don't waste it."
Feng Yueru blinked, still holding the blanket close as she sat. "You're… leaving already?"
"I've delayed enough," Haotian replied, turning as though ready to soar into the sky.
But her voice stopped him, unsteady and small. "Wait."
Haotian paused, his golden eyes narrowing as she rose shakily to her feet. Her face flushed with embarrassment, but beneath it was raw vulnerability. "I… I don't know where I am anymore. When the serpent attacked, we scattered. My team is gone, and I don't know how to get back to my sect."
Haotian frowned. "You don't know how to return to your own sect?"
She bit her lip, looking down. "I was leading the squad… but I just ran. I didn't think. All I know is that Azure Tempest Hall is somewhere east, in the tempest peaks where the storms never end. If I could see the lightning fields again, I'd know."
Haotian exhaled slowly, rubbing at his temple. This girl… a senior sister of a Sovereign-backed sect, but she wanders like a lost child.
"Fine," he said at last. "Flying blind here will only get you killed again. I'll take you east until you recognize your territory."
Yueru's eyes widened, relief and gratitude flooding her expression. "You… you'll really escort me back?"
"Until you know where you're going," Haotian replied flatly. "Don't mistake this for charity. I'd rather not waste my effort saving you twice."
Her lips curved into a small, genuine smile despite his blunt tone. She bowed her head. "…Thank you, Senior Brother."
With a flick of his hand, Haotian lifted her gently with chi, positioning her at his side. Golden light surged around them, and together they rose above the trees, the forest shrinking away beneath them as dawn stretched across the horizon.
Far ahead, hidden beyond the clouds, stormlight pulsed faintly — the first sign of the tempest peaks.
The forest was damp from last night's mist, every step crunching against fallen leaves. Haotian moved forward with calm, unhurried strides, golden eyes fixed eastward. Beside him, Feng Yueru trailed just a little too close, tugging her outer robe tighter as she tried to match his pace.
After a long stretch of silence, she cleared her throat. "So… Senior Brother Haotian, do you always appear out of nowhere to punch giant beasts in the skull?"
Haotian gave her a sidelong glance, then looked forward again. "…When necessary."
She pouted, kicking a stone along the path. "That's not much of an answer. You're supposed to say something heroic, like 'I wander the world saving damsels in distress'."
"Mm." His tone was flat, unbothered.
Yueru huffed. "You're no fun."
They walked on.
The quiet stretched again, until Yueru suddenly brightened. "Then what about cooking? You made soup from a serpent like it was nothing! Do you just… carry herbs and cauldrons around everywhere?"
Haotian's lips quirked faintly. "…It's efficient."
She blinked. "Efficient? That's it? Do you know how rare it is for a cultivator to cook instead of just swallowing dried rations like a barbarian? My sect sisters would faint if they tasted that soup."
Haotian didn't answer.
Yueru leaned closer, peering up at his face as if trying to crack his composure. "You really are strange, you know that? Stronger than a Sovereign, skilled at cooking, saving lives like it's nothing, and yet you walk around like you're bored."
"I prefer quiet," Haotian said simply.
She smirked. "Then I'll just talk more to make up for it."
Haotian sighed under his breath but said nothing.
Hours passed like that, her chatter filling the silence of the forest. She told him about Azure Tempest Hall's stormy cultivation grounds, the lightning fields she trained in as a child, the endless competitions between disciples. Her voice carried a warmth that contrasted Haotian's reserved silence, painting pictures of her world with every word.
Finally, as the sun dipped low, the trees began to thin.
Far ahead, the horizon split with stormlight. Dark peaks rose into the sky, shrouded in rolling thunderclouds. Bolts of lightning lanced across the heavens, striking jagged ridges that glowed with radiant power.
Yueru stopped, her eyes widening, her face softening with relief. "The tempest peaks…" she whispered.
Haotian paused beside her, his golden gaze steady on the storm-wreathed mountains. "So this is where your sect calls home."
Yueru nodded, awe and pride mixing in her voice. "Yes. Azure Tempest Hall."
For the first time since the forest, she fell quiet, the sight of home overwhelming her need to chatter. Haotian simply stood with her, watching the storm's fury dance across the peaks, his expression unreadable.
The closer they came, the louder the world seemed to grow. Thunder rolled endlessly across the tempest peaks, lightning splitting the heavens in jagged arcs that scorched the stone ridges. The air itself hummed with charged energy, every breath tinged with wind and ozone.
At last, the great storm-forged gates of Azure Tempest Hall loomed before them. Carved from mountain stone and streaked with lightning veins that pulsed faintly, the gates were a declaration of the sect's power.
As they approached, a group of patrolling disciples spotted Yueru.
"Senior Sister Yueru?!" one cried, eyes widening.
"Impossible—she—she was reported dead with the others!" another stammered.
The patrol scrambled, rushing toward her. Relief and disbelief warred on their faces as they gathered around, voices overlapping.
"Senior Sister, you're alive—""Where is your squad? Did anyone else—""By the heavens, we thought you'd been lost to the serpent!"
Yueru smiled faintly, though her eyes dimmed at the memory. "I was the only one. The serpent… devoured them all."
Shock rippled through the group.
"And then…" she turned, gesturing toward Haotian, who stood a step behind her, calm and silent, golden eyes watching the storm-filled sky. "He appeared. He killed the serpent. If not for him, I would have perished too."
The disciples' gazes snapped to Haotian, their awe immediate and overwhelming. They bowed deeply. "Senior Brother, we thank you for saving our Senior Sister!"
Haotian waved a hand dismissively. "There's no need."
Just then, a rush of wind heralded the arrival of an elder in azure robes, his hair streaked silver, his presence steady with the weight of Sovereign cultivation. His sharp gaze swept over Yueru, then settled firmly on Haotian.
"So it is true," the elder said gravely. "Feng Yueru returns alive, and by the hand of an unknown cultivator who slew the five-colored serpent."
Yueru bowed quickly. "Elder, it's as I said—without him, I wouldn't have survived."
The elder's expression softened slightly. He turned to Haotian and clasped his fists in formal salute. "Honored one, your deed has spared our sect from mourning its heir. Azure Tempest Hall does not forget such debts. If you would accept, I invite you to enter as a guest of the Hall. The Sect Master herself will wish to hear of this."
Haotian inclined his head slightly, his voice calm. "That won't be necessary. I was passing through."
But the elder's gaze was firm. "For saving the daughter of our Sect Master, it is not a mere formality. It is duty. Please."
Haotian blinked once, faintly startled. Daughter…
His golden eyes slid briefly to Yueru, who flushed under his gaze and quickly looked away.
Haotian exhaled softly. So that's who she really is.
The storm rumbled overhead as the gates of Azure Tempest Hall began to open.
The storm-forged gates opened with a groan, arcs of lightning crawling over the carved stone as though alive. Within, the sect revealed itself in full majesty — sprawling peaks connected by bridges of light, waterfalls turned into streams of thunder, disciples training under the constant crack of lightning bolts that fell from the heavens into specially marked fields.
The elder guided them swiftly up the main path. Disciples they passed froze at the sight of Yueru, gasping, whispering, bowing low. Their eyes followed Haotian as well, suspicion and awe mingling — none failed to notice the golden-eyed stranger walking calmly beside their heir.
At last, they reached the sect's central peak, where the great Hall of Tempest Thrones loomed. Its roof was etched with storm runes, lightning striking its spires as though bowing to its authority.
Inside, the air was heavy with Sovereign presence.
Seated upon twin thrones at the head of the hall were two figures — a man and a woman, both exuding the vast, oppressive weight of Sovereign cultivation.
The man, robed in deep indigo, radiated thunderous power with every breath, his eyes sharp as lightning spears. His aura shook the hall itself, each heartbeat like a distant storm. This was Sect Master Feng Tianzhao, Sovereign of the Tempest Dao.
Beside him sat a woman clad in flowing azure silks that shimmered like a night sky before a storm. Her aura was no less fearsome, but where Tianzhao's was oppressive, hers was suffocatingly precise — like the cutting edge of a gale that could shear through mountain stone. This was Sect Mistress Yun Xiran, Sovereign of the Wind Dao.
Together, they ruled Azure Tempest Hall — twin Sovereigns, their unity the sect's foundation.
As Haotian entered, Yueru stepped forward and bowed low. "Father, Mother. I return."
The air in the hall shifted. Tianzhao leaned forward, his eyes narrowing, the storm behind him crackling louder. "Yueru… we thought you lost. Your squad was found scattered, none alive. And yet here you stand."
Yun Xiran's gaze softened, though her voice was sharp. "Your aura is scorched with poison. What happened?"
Yueru glanced back, gesturing toward Haotian. "The serpent attacked us. My squad was destroyed. I… would not have returned if not for Senior Brother Haotian."
Both Sovereigns turned their eyes upon him.
Haotian clasped his hands and bowed slightly, his expression steady. "I encountered your daughter by chance. The serpent was slain. That is all."
The hall grew tense, disciples and elders lining the sides whispering in disbelief. A five-colored serpent — slain by a man who looked barely past his youth.
Tianzhao's eyes narrowed further. "Slain… by you alone?"
Haotian's golden pupils flickered. "It was necessary."
The Sovereign's gaze sharpened, lightning crackling in the corners of the hall. But before he could press, Yun Xiran raised a hand.
"Regardless of method, he saved Yueru's life." She stood gracefully, her wind-carved aura flowing like silk. "Azure Tempest Hall owes a debt. Stranger, will you accept our hospitality, as guest of the Sect?"
All eyes turned to Haotian.
He hesitated for a heartbeat, then inclined his head. "Very well."
The storm rumbled outside, as though the heavens themselves acknowledged his step into the world of Sovereigns.