Shikai, still up in the tree, kept his eyes on them. Seeing that the time was almost right, he quietly gave them subtle directions. Strangely enough, they had no idea why, but simply followed their instincts, walking on. The fog gradually thinned, and soon they could see the road ahead. Joy welled up among them, and they quickened their pace, hurrying toward the clearer patch of mist.
After two hours of "effort," they finally returned to the very entrance they had reached two days earlier. Everyone screamed in excitement and hugged each other. At last—they were out. They could see the blue sky and white clouds again. They could finally go home.
Once the initial excitement faded, they quickly checked their communication devices. Everything was working again. They immediately called the police for help, and before long, the Shennongjia rescue team arrived to bring them back.
Before leaving, Dongfang Qing glanced back at the mist-shrouded, mysterious forest. She knew she would never forget the "wild man" who had once saved her life.
Upon returning to the rescue station, they rushed Dongfang Qing to the hospital for treatment. The doctor's diagnosis shocked everyone except Dongfang Qing herself:
"She was bitten by a white snake," the doctor explained. "This species is extremely venomous and very fast. Without prompt treatment, the victim would not survive. Fortunately, you treated her in time and even found the right antidote herb. So there's basically nothing to worry about now—just remember to disinfect the wound regularly, and she'll heal faster."
Everyone was stunned. When had Dongfang Qing learned to treat poison with herbs? And how did she even know which plant would work for the venom?
Dongfang Qing paid no attention to the doctor's words. In her heart, she trusted the "wild man" completely. Nor did her companions' astonished looks affect her in the slightest—because to her, everything that had happened was inevitable.
Back at school, the group finally breathed a sigh of relief. The ordeal was over, and they could at last enjoy a hot shower and a good night's sleep. The adventure had left a deep mark on everyone's heart—one they hoped never to recall again.
All except Dongfang Qing. She thought about that mysterious journey in Shennongjia constantly. Once her foot healed, she carefully kept the torn strip of cloth that had been wrapped around her wound. To her, it was the most beautiful memory of her life. She knew she might never see that man again.
"Have you sent them all out?" the master asked, drinking his wine.
"They're all gone," Shikai replied.
"There are always people who aren't afraid of death, wanting to come in and take a look," the master sighed. "Too much curiosity can be a dangerous thing."
And so, Shikai continued to train under his master's guidance.
"You're not a kid anymore," the master said with deep affection. "Tomorrow, I'll teach you my most powerful killing technique—to take you to the next level."
"Yes, Master," Shikai answered, regarding him as a father figure. After seven years of his master's guidance, he had learned many truths—chief among them the saying: A gentleman's revenge is never too late, even after ten years. He understood that only by constantly improving himself could he protect his life and one day defeat his strongest enemies.
The next day, his master used the same old challenge: "Today, try to touch me—let me see your skill. Use any method you like. As long as you can touch me, you win."
After seven years of bitter training, Shikai was brimming with confidence. Before the master even finished speaking, he shot forward like an arrow from a bow. The master's lips curved into a faint smile, and he nodded slightly.
"Not bad. With this speed, you'd easily handle most skilled fighters. But the opponents you'll face in the future may be far stronger."
Just as Shikai's hand reached out, a triumphant grin spread across his face. I touched him—finally, I touched him! he thought to himself.
"Ah!"
A single drop of wine struck him squarely on the forehead. Shikai fell to the ground and realized, to his dismay, that what he had touched wasn't his master at all.
"I'm over here. What are you doing over there, groping at nothing like an idiot?" His master sat leisurely atop a tree branch, drinking wine. "Your biggest flaw is overconfidence. Did you see that smug look you had just now? Made me want to smack you."
"But, Master, I really did touch you—" Shikai rubbed his sore forehead. No matter how skilled he became, he could never avoid the wine drops his master flicked from his fingers. After so many years, he had grown used to it.
"Strange, isn't it? That's exactly what I'm teaching you today. What you touched just now was only my afterimage. The moment I started speaking to you, I was already up in the tree." The master leapt down lightly.
"Afterimage…" Shikai's eyes widened in realization. "So fast… so fast that only a fleeting shadow remains."
"This is the art of Shifting Form and Shadow," the master said. "You've reached a bottleneck in your training. To advance further, you need a special method." He took several items from the leather pouch slung over his back and tossed them to the ground. "These are made especially for you. Wear them on your hands, feet, and neck. Understand?"
Shikai picked them up and examined them. "Master, what are these?"
"They're ankle rings, wrist rings, and a neck ring, all forged from Western Region cold iron—two hundred jin in total. The weight itself won't be too much for you, but if you train with them day after day without fail, I guarantee that in three years you'll master Shifting Form and Shadow." The master smiled faintly.
Shikai hurried to put them on, walking a few steps to test them. The weight didn't seem heavy at first, but he knew that wearing them for long hours during training would be grueling.
"Also, you must refine your hand-blade technique even further. In the future, you should be able to pluck a flower or a leaf and use it to injure your opponent," the master continued.
"Master… is that wine drop you flicked at me based on the same principle?" Shikai asked eagerly, hoping to learn that move.
The master gave no answer—only a mysterious smile—before walking away.
From that day on, Shikai trained every day with the cold iron rings. His progress was rapid.
Three years later, under his master's guidance, his hand-blade technique had reached an extraordinary level. Not only could he "use qi as a blade," but even flowers and grass could become weapons in his hands. Still, the wine-flicking technique remained beyond his grasp.
His Shifting Form and Shadow technique, after relentless practice, had reached minor mastery. Without the cold iron rings, he could instantly shift three meters—a small range, but one that greatly enhanced the power of his other killing skills.
That year, Shikai was twenty-two years old, having spent a full decade in Shennongjia. He had grown several inches taller in the past three years, now standing at 1.88 meters. His body was a masterpiece of strength—combining masculine vigor with a raw, primal beauty that could captivate anyone.
His master, after ten years, looked exactly the same as when they'd first met, something that puzzled Shikai greatly.
That day, the master removed all of Shikai's cold iron rings. "Ten years—you've completely grown up. I still remember ten years ago, when you were just a little brat. Now, you possess half of my power. From here on, if you want to advance further, it will depend on your own perseverance."
"All of this is thanks to your teaching, Master," Shikai said, sincere gratitude in his heart.
"Enough of that nonsense," the master waved him off.
A playful smile crept onto Shikai's face. "Master, your disciple wants to ask you something… something I probably shouldn't ask."
"If you've got something to say, spit it out," the master said, glancing at Shikai.
"Yes, Master." Shikai cleared his throat, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. "Master, I want to know… just how old you really are."
"Oh?" The master twitched slightly at the question, his expression turning awkward. "Why are you asking that? I don't remember."
"Don't remember… or just don't want to say?" Shikai's grin turned even more roguish. "At least give me an estimate. Let me know what sort of mysterious figure my master really is."
"An estimate, huh… let me think." The master looked up at the sky, pretending to ponder. "If I recall correctly, when I was about your age, it was the tenth year of the Guangxu Emperor's reign."
The answer sent Shikai's mind reeling. He counted on his fingers, his face going pale, and finally blurted out, "Master, are you even human? I've counted through all ten fingers and still come up short—you're over a hundred and forty years old!"
"Am I? I don't feel that way. I still feel quite young," the master replied with a strange smile. Outwardly, he looked no more than fifty.
Shikai's heart lurched. A hundred and forty years old—and still looking like he's in his fifties? That's terrifying. No wonder people said that even when my grandfather called him "uncle," he was being modest. It seemed to be true—he really was an old monster.
Shikai knew his master would never lie to him, and he could only sigh inwardly in wonder.
Suddenly, the master's expression grew serious. "Brat, we're going to do something together. After we finish, you'll go down the mountain to take your revenge—and while you're at it, help me clean up a few of society's scum."
Hearing that he could finally leave the mountain, Shikai felt a mix of joy and sadness. Joy, because he could finally fulfill the wish he had carried for so many years; sadness, because he hated to part with his master.
The master patted his head comfortingly. "Remember what I've told you before. I'll be waiting for you to come back. Don't be sad."
"Master, what exactly are we doing tomorrow?" Shikai asked, conflicted.
"We're going to catch the deep-pool monster alive. You remember what I told you about the water monster in the deep pool near Stone Village? Once you leave, I'll be bored, so I need to find a little new amusement."
Shikai nodded heavily.
In the deep pool near Stone Village in Shennongjia, there had long been such a legend—mysterious like the tales of the Shennongjia wild man. Local villagers had claimed to see the monster hundreds of times.
Shikai and his master set out early, taking up a concealed position near the pool, waiting for the right moment to strike. By then, the villagers had already gone out to work in the fields, and the monster had yet to appear. The two of them remained crouched high in the trees, silently watching.
After a full day's wait, night began to fall.
"Master," Shikai asked nervously, "what if it doesn't show up today?"
"It will—absolutely," the master whispered, his eyes locked on the water's surface. "I've been watching for years. This is the time of year when it surfaces most often."
"Is it dangerous?" Shikai asked in a low voice.
"If my guess is right, the water monster is on the same level as the Scorpion King," the master said, excitement creeping into his tone. "There are three of them in that pool. We'll capture one alive so I can study it. Remember—alive."
"Understood." Shikai clicked his tongue in surprise. "Three of them? No wonder even you couldn't handle it alone."
"In a moment, we'll lure one out. And remember—don't alarm the nearby villagers. You'll act as bait and draw it back to our place. Move fast. If things get dangerous, release the Scorpion King." The master's voice was grave.
It was the first time Shikai had ever seen his master speak with such seriousness. Clearly, this water monster was no ordinary creature.
The master and disciple waited in silence until around three in the morning, when ripples of bubbles began to rise from the once-still surface of the deep pool. The bubbles grew larger and larger.
"Master, it's here!" Shikai whispered excitedly.
"Shh—keep your voice down. Don't startle it, or it will dive back underwater," the master warned, raising a hand for silence.
"So what should I do?" Shikai whispered back.
"There are three of these creatures in the pool—they take turns surfacing. Its body may be poisonous, so be careful. When it comes up to breathe and is most relaxed, jump onto its head and tap it with your foot to provoke it. A divine beast like this will definitely get angry and give chase. Once you lure it out of the water, I'll handle the rest. But remember—don't let anyone see, and move quickly."
Shikai nodded.
At his master's signal, he sprang forward like an arrow loosed from the bow, landing lightly on the monster's head for a split-second before leaping back to the shore and making a deliberately taunting gesture.
The water monster, enjoying a comfortable breath, was instantly enraged at the intrusion. Seeing Shikai's provocative signs from the bank, it burst from the water in a mighty leap, lunging straight at him.
Shikai, seeing its fierce momentum, immediately used Shifting Form and Shadow to retreat three meters, causing the monster to land on empty ground. Now on land, the beast glared at Shikai, white vapor curling from its mouth.
It was Shikai's first time seeing the legendary creature, and it perfectly matched his master's description: grayish-white skin, shaped like a toad but dozens of times larger. Its round eyes bulged, its mouth was enormous, and its powerful forelimbs ended in five thick, long toes. Webbing connected each toe, and sharp claws lay hidden at their tips. A massive crocodile-like tail trailed behind it.
Snapping back to his senses, Shikai remembered his master's instructions. He pulled another face at the beast, then bolted. Enraged, the monster sprang after him with frog-like leaps, its powerful hind legs propelling it forward at incredible speed.
Glancing back, Shikai shouted, "Good grief—it jumps that far? It's almost on me!" He pushed himself into a full sprint, mixing in bursts of Shifting Form and Shadow to keep ahead.
The monster covered more than ten meters with each leap, its speed nearly matching that of the Scorpion King. Shikai ran with all his strength. Without tree branches to rebound off, he couldn't shake it completely; his only hope was to draw it to an uninhabited area where his master could deal with it.
So man and beast charged deeper into the primeval forest. By the time they neared the dwelling place, Shikai was drenched in sweat—not from fear, but because the monster was pressing him so closely.
Once home, Shikai stopped running, standing coldly in wait for his pursuer. The monster landed in front of him with a mighty leap, the white vapor from its mouth growing thicker.
Remembering his master's warning about its possible venom, Shikai chose not to engage head-on. Instead, he released the Scorpion King, which instantly grew into a massive, dark-red scorpion twelve meters long and sixty centimeters wide.
The Scorpion King raised its twin pincers, brandishing them in challenge. The water monster, howe
In perfect sync with Shikai's intent, the Scorpion King struck first. Raising its massive pincers, it swung hard at the water monster. But the beast wasn't hit head-on—it was sent flying, crashing into a nearby tree with such force that the trunk snapped clean in two.
The moment it hit the ground, the water monster leapt up again, slamming down heavily on the Scorpion King's body. In an instant, it drove the scorpion deep into the earth, then sprang toward Shikai, its front claws slashing for him.
Shikai's reflexes were quick—he used Shifting Form and Shadow to leap up into the trees, leaving only an afterimage for the monster's claws to shred.
The Scorpion King burst up from the ground and charged the water monster, its tail whipping out to coil around the beast's body. With a violent heave, it slammed the monster into the ground—crack!—leaving it on its back. But the water monster's crocodile-like tail lashed out in return, knocking the Scorpion King sprawling.
From his perch above, Shikai thought to himself, It seems they're evenly matched… true equals on the battlefield.
Just then, his master appeared from nowhere, standing directly before the water monster. Seeing a new opponent, the beast grew agitated, flicking out a frog-like tongue in an attempt to snare him.
The master, the moment the monster opened its mouth, flicked the wine gourd in his hand straight down its throat, then used Shifting Form and Shadow to step lightly back out of range.
A muffled rumble came from the monster's belly. The Scorpion King seized the moment, swinging a pincer in a mighty blow that sent the creature hurtling more than ten meters away. Slowly, it staggered upright, opened its mouth… gave a single hiccup—and collapsed.
Before their eyes, the fallen water monster instantly shrank in size, just like the Scorpion King could. Moments later, only a small gray toad lay on the ground.
Shikai dropped from the tree, baffled. "What happened? Why did it just collapse like that?"
His master burst into hearty laughter. "It got drunk on my wine—hahaha!"
"Drunk?!" Shikai said, dumbfounded.
"That's right. Remember when you were twelve and drank my wine? One sip and you were out cold. This time I tossed an entire gourd straight into its belly. Honestly, I was only trying it on a whim—but I didn't expect it to actually work." Still chuckling, the master crouched down to examine the little toad.
"Master, is this really a divine creature?" Shikai asked, shrinking the Scorpion King back into its pendant form and slipping it around his neck.
"Indeed," the master replied. "It's a survivor from tens of thousands—even hundreds of millions—of years ago. In adapting to new environments, it evolved into what you see now." Using a leaf, he wrapped the small toad and headed toward the house. "Looks like I've got myself a new toy. After you leave, I'll make sure to fully unravel the secrets of its power… heh heh."
Shikai wiped the cold sweat from his brow, thinking, My master truly is an old monster—always obsessed with these bizarre things.
Shaking his head, he followed his master back inside.
ver, was not intimidated. It stood firm, exhaling a thick plume of white vapor.
Shikai's heart pounded. This is the first creature I've seen that doesn't flee from the Scorpion King—and even dares to face it head-on. Master was right… this must be a divine beast of the same rank. The thought sent a thrill of excitement through him.