Chapter 196: Freedom!!

Chapter 196: Freedom!!

In a desolate and uncharted region of the Western Continent, deep within one of its untamed jungles, lay a cave shrouded in moss and dampness. The humid air clung heavily, and the ancient stones seemed to exhale with the weight of centuries. Tonight, the full moon hung brighter than ever, casting its silver glow across the jungle unimpeded by even the faintest cloud. Its radiance pierced the dense canopy, bathing the cave entrance in a pale, otherworldly light.

Inside the cave, a young woman sat alone. Her skin, once smooth and unblemished, now bore the scars of battle, the most jarring being the hollow void where her left eye had once been. The empty socket was a stark, haunting contrast to the rest of her face. The faint moonlight highlighted her features, deepening the shadows around her body. At the same time, her remaining eye gleamed with a quiet, determined resolve.

Four stars...

Five stars...

Six stars...

Ye An could feel her cultivation surging as the moon's light reached her, even in the cave's depths. The cold Yin energy permeating the cave seeped into her. Still, the Yang energy within her swiftly consumed the Yin, transforming it into nourishment.

It had been over a week since she had consumed the Yang fruit, yet the searing Yang energy within her had barely diminished. Anyone else would have endured immense pain, struggling to prevent their body from being torn apart by the rampant energy. But for Ye An, it was like bathing in cool spring water on a hot day, the sensation soothing and pleasurable.

The process was nearly enjoyable, except for the occasional hunger and thirst pangs from not having eaten for days. But these were minor distractions compared to the intoxicating sensation of power coursing through her.

As she gradually acclimated to the raging energy, Ye An opened her lone eye wider and exhaled in relief. Unlike her usual cold breath, this one came out in a steamy rush, so hot it nearly scorched her lips.

Rising to her feet, she reached for a white medical eye patch and carefully fitted it over her empty socket. Her movements were deliberate, though her trembling fingers betrayed her excitement as she struggled to loop the string over her ear.

Her gaze drifted to the far corner of the cave, where a mangled, naked corpse lay in a twisted heap. "Corpse" seemed almost too generous a term—it was more like a grotesque pile of mutilated flesh. The limbs had been savagely ripped from the torso, lying in scattered pieces, and the decapitated head rested ominously at her feet. A gaping, ragged hole in the chest where the heart once beat was now teeming with writhing maggots, their pale bodies squirming as they feasted on rotten flesh.

The cave reeked of death and decay.

She crouched down, her fingers tangling in the severed head's matted, crimson-stained hair. With a casual flick of her wrist, she rolled the head in her hand like it was nothing more than a ball. The face was barely human now—a grotesque, mutilated mask. The eyes had been gouged out, leaving hollow, bloodied sockets, and the teeth were jagged, most of them torn away from the gums. The tongue, too, had been severed, leaving only a ragged stump behind.

Ye An sent the head hurtling through the air with a swift, brutal kick. It struck the cave wall with a sickening crunch, exploding in a burst of blood and decayed tissue. The red smear oozed down the wall, mingling with the putrid remains of the brains and flesh, like a rotten fruit smashed to pieces.

It was a shame, Ye An mused, that despite all the butchering she had done to Hu Jin’s corpse, most of the injuries had been inflicted after his death. She had vented all her pent-up frustrations on his corpse. However, she’d taken care to inflict as much pain as possible during the surprisingly long half-hour he remained alive.

His vitality had been unnaturally strong, and she could only hope he had been conscious through the worst of it. Perhaps he survived so long due to the Yang Fruit he had stolen from her. That would be a nice revenge.

In the past, the mere thought of Hu Jin taking the Yang Fruit from her would have ignited her fury. But now, after desecrating his corpse, she felt only calm—almost a fondness toward the situation.

Was it because she had ultimately consumed the Yang Fruit, or simply that the target of her rage was dead? Ye An couldn’t say, but the relief she felt was undeniable, like a bird freed from its cage.

With a casual swipe of her hand, the remaining pieces of the corpse froze instantly. Then, with a clenched fist, she reduced the frozen body to fine snow mixed with crimson and shards of bone. Even his clothes were torn to shreds.

Curiously, amid the destruction, the only thing left behind was a bronze coin. It looked so dull and worn that it could have been mistaken for a mere rock at first glance.

With autumn slowly creeping in, the once vibrant, lush forests outside the Sect had begun to lose their vitality. The leaves, tinged with the first signs of decay, no longer danced as freely in the wind. A faint chill clung to the air, and the season’s dampness seeped into the earth, turning the once solid paths into slick, muddy trails. Each step squelched underfoot. The world had grown quieter as if nature itself was preparing for the long sleep ahead.

As I walked, I couldn’t help but compare the Blazing Sun Sect to Goldwatch City. Sure, the Sect didn’t need roads much—most cultivators came and went on flying swords. But it was hard to ignore that Goldwatch City had better infrastructure for travelers and clearly a larger budget to splurge on such luxuries.

When I left the Sect, I chose to forgo using a flying sword once I was out of sight. Flying swords were far too conspicuous, and anyone who spotted me could easily report which direction I had gone.

Of course, the big-ass jade platform with Speedy on it was also quite the spectacle. Still, I was sticking to the uninhabited parts of the forest. For now, Speedy would have to stay behind. My footprints could blend in with the many outer disciples traveling in and out of the Sect on missions, but Speedy’s giant prints were a different story. Even with the rain and mud, those tracks would take a while to disappear.

For a moment, I considered leaving Speedy temporarily in the forest and visiting Greengrass Town, which was close to the Blazing Sun Sect. Maybe I could meet up with Mao Zhi, an old friend of mine and a guard there. But I quickly dismissed the thought. It would only expose him to any assassins Song Song’s granny might have sent after me.

Despite the less-than-ideal situation, I felt oddly okay with it. For the first time, I was truly free to do as I pleased. I had plenty of books stored in my ring, enough to last me months.

I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with the crisp morning air.

The question of the day was: where should I go first? Obviously, I wasn’t planning to visit most of the places I had mentioned to the Sect as excuses. For instance, if I didn’t use a flying sword, visiting my fiancée would take around six months.

I didn’t hate Fu Yating, but... it wasn’t like I was madly in love with her either. Aside from the fact that she was a schemer, I hardly knew her at all.

After mulling it over, I still couldn’t decide on a specific destination, so I shrugged.

Whatever. I’d just pick a direction and see where the road led me. There were plenty of places to explore—the Flaming Sea, Haunted Forest, Sleeping Dragon Mountains, and many more!

With excitement bubbling in my chest, I walked along, humming the tune to Jingle Bells.

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End of Book 3