novelraw Chapter 22 : Stealing the Flameburn Grass（1 / 3）
Chapter 22 : Stealing the Flameburn Grass（1 / 3）
Chapter 22: Stealing the Flameburn Grass
After leaving the cave where they had taken shelter from the rain, about half an hour later, the two arrived at a uniquely shaped area halfway up the mountain.
It was a massive crescent-shaped depression in the mountain, surrounded on three sides by steep rock walls.
The interior terrain was flat. At the center lay a patch of crystallized ground, upon which grew a strange plant.
It stood about a foot tall, its entire body a blazing crimson, its main stalk resembling coral, topped with a fist-sized “crown.”
The crown was not made of physical petals, but of orange-red flames.
Moreover, surrounding its roots were seven or eight seed-like objects the size of fingernails, each flickering with faint flames.
“S-So this is the Flameburn Grass?”
Zhang Fan lowered his voice, his eyes full of amazement. “Such intense fire power! Even the ground has been scorched into a glassy state! And there are ‘bean flames’ growing around it. Its age is definitely not low—probably over two hundred years!”
Just as his words fell, a voice sounded in his mind—Yun Yazi’s.
“This Flameburn Grass is not quite right.”
Zhang Fan’s expression turned serious.
Yun Yazi continued, “Ordinary Flameburn Grass, even at three hundred years, should not have flames this solid and stable, nor should it be capable of scorching the surrounding rock to this extent.
Where this grass has taken root, there must be a branch of an underground fire vein, providing an endless supply of fire energy.
And… look at its growth location. It lies at the center of this crescent-shaped depression. Though the terrain is dangerous, some areas are unusually orderly. The surrounding rocks show signs of artificial modification, guiding the flow of earth energy.
Judging by this method, it should be the work of the three great families of Luoyang City.
They treat the ‘bean flames’ that grow alongside the Flameburn Grass as a renewable resource, setting up arrangements to harvest them periodically.
If you want to take it, you’ll need to put in some thought.”
Hearing this, Zhang Fan immediately understood and quickly relayed his master’s analysis to Lin Xiaowan in a low voice.
Lin Xiaowan nodded slightly. “Let’s get closer and take a look.”
The two lowered their bodies, using the shade of trees to circle around to the other side. What came into view was shocking: crisscrossing sword marks, scorched black ground, and bloodstained scraps of clothing scattered everywhere…
“The battle here was quite intense…” Lin Xiaowan’s gaze sharpened. “Let’s change position.”
After moving stealthily once more and slipping into a well-hidden corner, the two finally caught sight of the cultivators confronting each other.
On the right were three cultivators dressed in fitted blue attire, each holding a longsword, their expressions stern.
At the front stood a person Lin Xiaowan had seen before—the Lin Family’s prodigy, Lin Li.
Opposite them were three cultivators dressed in earth-yellow robes.
Leading them was a pale, gloomy young man—who else could it be but Li Sui of the Li Family, known for his sinister methods?
The aura between both sides fluctuated. It was clear they had already fought, and both sides had suffered considerable injuries.
Lin Li stepped forward, his voice cold as iron. “Li Sui, this fire spirit garden belongs to the Lin Family. You barged in, injured our people, and now want to seize the spiritual herbs? Leave immediately, or don’t blame my sword for showing no mercy!”
A sinister smile appeared on Li Sui’s pale face, his voice hoarse. “What a joke. Since when did Luoxia Valley become your Lin Family’s private property? Aren’t the rules of the Medicine King Gathering that whoever gets it keeps it? The Flameburn Grass is right here—call out to it and see if it answers you.”
A glint of dark light flashed in his eyes. “You want me to leave? That depends on whether you’re strong enough.”
The tension between the two sides reached a breaking point.
“So it’s Lin Li and Li Sui…” Zhang Fan’s heart sank. He was determined to obtain the Flameburn Grass, but the current situation was tricky—he had to think of a solution quickly.
Meanwhile, Lin Xiaowan’s gaze swept over the six cultivators as if assessing prey.
Two at the third layer of Qi Refinement… If she could drain their vital yang, it would be equivalent to months of bitter cultivation.
Unfortunately, the other side had superior numbers, and she also had to consider Yun Yazi’s presence. She forcibly suppressed the tempting thought.
Just as both of them were calculating—
Footsteps suddenly sounded from the forest behind them!
Lin Xiaowan’s spiritual sense was the sharpest. She instantly detected it and turned back abruptly. “Watch behind!”
Before her words finished, two figures pushed aside the bushes and revealed themselves. Their faces were covered with masks, and their clothing was a mix of different styles, making it impossible to identify any faction—likely rogue cultivators mixed into the valley.
However, one of them, taller and carrying a ring-handled broadsword on his back, froze the moment his gaze fell upon Zhang Fan. The eyes beneath his mask erupted with killing intent!
“It’s you?! You little bastard! Didn’t expect to run into you here! Truly a narrow road for enemies!” The broadsword-wielding rogue cultivator spoke in a coarse voice filled with deep hatred. Before he even finished speaking, he drew his gleaming blade with a sharp “clang”!
His slightly shorter companion, wielding dual blades, also immediately revealed his weapons, locking onto Zhang Fan and Lin Xiaowan.
“What’s the situation with these two?” Lin Xiaowan tilted her head slightly and asked.
“They’re from the Black Wind Stronghold!” Zhang Fan’s expression changed as he recognized them. “I had a conflict with them in the northern part of the city. Didn’t expect to run into them here! Truly a narrow road for enemies!”
Before he could finish speaking, the two bandits charged forward ferociously!
“Today is your death day!”
The broadsword-wielding man roared as he slashed toward Zhang Fan’s head, his momentum fierce—his cultivation was at the peak of the first layer of Qi Refinement!
The dual-blade bandit bypassed the front, his blades flashing cold light as he charged straight toward Lin Xiaowan.
The battle erupted instantly!
Seeing Lin Xiaowan about to be attacked, Zhang Fan grew anxious and wanted to help.
“Still thinking of saving someone? Worry about yourself first!” The broadsword-wielding man laughed grimly, entangling Zhang Fan tightly.
On the other side, Lin Xiaowan sensed the rapid approach of the dual blades. She narrowly avoided them, her expression cold. With a light step, instead of advancing, she retreated swiftly into the dense forest behind her!
“Trying to run? Not so easy!” The dual-blade bandit snorted, assuming she was afraid, and immediately gave chase!
Lin Xiaowan weaved through the forest. Though she appeared panicked, her mind was extremely calm.
She could clearly feel the pursuer drawing closer, along with the undisguised killing intent.
“Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!”
The sound of air being torn apart came from behind as several green wooden spikes shot toward her back like venomous snakes!
Lin Xiaowan fully activated her spiritual sense. As if she had eyes on the back of her head, she shifted her body at the critical moment, avoiding most of the spikes.
Two were unavoidable. She changed her footing and slipped into the bushes. With two dull “thuds,” the spikes embedded deeply into the trunk of an ancient tree beside her!
The pursuing bandit arrived, only to find the dense forest ahead—he had lost track of Lin Xiaowan.
“Ran that fast?”
He stopped, sheathing his blade, his sharp gaze sweeping over every possible hiding spot.
Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a shadow darting toward the direction where faint sounds of flowing water could be heard.
“There!”
Without hesitation, he leapt after it, sneering inwardly: As expected, just an inexperienced fledgling. Panicking and running toward a stream? The terrain there is more open—let’s see where you’ll hide then!
The bandit was extremely fast, closing the distance in just a few leaps.
Through the sparse bushes ahead, he could vaguely see the reflected light of the stream and a dark figure by the bank that seemed to have stopped due to exhaustion.
“Hmph, not running anymore? Just die obediently—I’ll give you a quick end!”
Feeling smug, the bandit gathered spiritual power while taunting, trying to disrupt her focus.
However, just as he finished speaking, a faint blue flicker seemed to flash in his vision—so fast he almost thought it was an illusion.
He paid it no mind, assuming it was just light filtering through the trees.
“Die!”
With a low roar, he burst out of the bushes and landed on the open pebble shore by the stream.
Spiritual power surged around him as seven or eight thicker, sharper wooden spikes condensed in the air, circling his body, ready to strike!
Just as his spiritual sense locked onto the dark figure ahead and he was about to unleash the spikes—
Several pale blue, twisting infant-like tendrils shot forward at even greater speed, targeting his vital points!
“What?!”
The bandit was horrified. The opponent’s technique was so fast—if she had such strength, why run?
In haste, he tried to draw his blades to block.
But what terrified him even more—
The twin blades in their sheaths were gone!
By the time he tried to retreat, it was already too late. The pale blue tendrils had already reached him!
“Pff! Pff! Pff!”
With a miserable scream, he was blasted off the ground, crashing onto the slippery pebbles by the stream.
“M-My blades… why are they in her hands…”
Stars filled his vision. His internal organs felt displaced as blood surged up his throat, and his consciousness plunged into darkness.
Soon, unbearable pain dragged him back.
“Ugh—!”
His vision shifted from darkness to blurred light. Then, even more intense, soul-crushing pain erupted from his arm!
In terror, he looked down.
The black-clothed girl was using his own blade, clumsily trying to sever the tendons in his left wrist!
“N-No… stop! Stop!! Ah—!!!” he screamed miserably, his body convulsing violently, trying to struggle—but after the heavy blow earlier, he had no strength left.
“Be quiet.”
Lin Xiaowan frowned slightly, pulled his arm out a bit, stood up, raised the blade with both hands, and brought it down fiercely!
“Clang—”
The blade struck stone with sparks flying, and his left hand was severed cleanly at the wrist!
“Mm—!!!”
His scream was choked off, turning into a muffled wail.
Blood spurted from the severed wrist. Lin Xiaowan bent down, picked up the severed hand, and without hesitation stuffed it into his wide-open mouth, blocking all further screams.
“Didn’t I tell you to be quiet?” Her tone was flat, devoid of emotion. “It’ll be over soon. Once I cut the tendons in your limbs, I’ll stop the bleeding.”
She crouched beside him, raised a bloodstained finger to her lips, and made a “shh” gesture.
The bandit’s eyes bulged, filled with pain and terror of death. The world seemed to spin and darken.
Lin Xiaowan ignored him and focused on her “task.”
She crudely severed the tendons of his other hand, then his legs.
Her movements were clumsy, each attempt leaving blood everywhere before she found the right spot.
When the last tendon was cut, the bandit almost felt relief. He was on the verge of fainting, drenched in sweat and blood, unable even to groan.
Lin Xiaowan wiped her face, inevitably splattered with blood.
She took out a jade bottle, poured out a pale green pill emitting a faint fragrance.
“This is a Hemostasis Pill. If you don’t want to die, eat it.”
She removed the severed hand, forced open his jaw, stuffed the pill inside, and struck his throat to make him swallow.
The effect was immediate. The bleeding slowed rapidly, the wounds visibly clotting.
Lin Xiaowan nodded slightly, scanning the surroundings and memorizing the location.
—She planned to return later and use him for Dual Cultivation.
She gently patted his face. “Hold on. Don’t die. I’ll come back for you later.”
After saying that, she stuffed the severed hand back into his mouth again, pressing it deeper to ensure he couldn’t make a sound.
Then she stood up, didn’t spare him another glance, and left.
……
Meanwhile, Zhang Fan’s battle with the broadsword-wielding man was intense.
Zhang Fan’s 《True Art of Departing Fire》 was fierce and blazing, flames swirling around him. However, his opponent’s blade techniques were ruthless and experienced, and his cultivation slightly higher. Zhang Fan gradually fell into a disadvantage, sustaining several wounds, his clothes torn, looking rather battered.
The prolonged fight made the bandit impatient, his attacks becoming even more aggressive.
At that moment, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a shadow approaching through the forest.
Overjoyed, he shouted, “Come quickly! Help me kill this brat! He’s too troublesome!”
Before his words even finished, he suddenly felt the heavy broadsword in his hand become weightless—
No, not lighter. The blade… was gone!?
In that instant of shock—
Zhang Fan’s eyes flashed sharply.
“Departing Fire Palm!”
With a low roar, he fully activated the 《True Art of Departing Fire》.
Like lightning, he closed in and struck, seizing the opening. His palm, carrying all his strength, slammed squarely into the bandit’s face!
“Boom—!”
Blazing white flames erupted, engulfing the man’s upper body.
His scream lasted only half a moment before stopping. When the flames faded, only a charred, curled corpse remained.
After delivering the strike, Zhang Fan staggered back two steps, panting heavily. The battle had been extremely dangerous.
He looked warily toward the shadow in the forest. Upon recognizing Lin Xiaowan, he finally relaxed.
“Miss Xu! Are you alright? Are you injured?!”
Ignoring his own condition, he hurried forward, his voice full of concern as he scanned her body.
Lin Xiaowan shook her head.
Zhang Fan let out a breath of relief. “It’s good that you’re fine.”
“This is all his blood. He underestimated me.” Lin Xiaowan crossed her arms, slightly displeased. “What kind of grudge do those bandits have against you? They tried to kill you on sight.”
“Nothing much. They provoked me first, so I tricked them out of some treasures and got them chased all over the city by the Li Family,” Zhang Fan scratched his head.
Lin Xiaowan fell silent. She had seen this kind of situation countless times and couldn’t be bothered to dwell on it.
“Boom—”
Both of them turned toward the crescent opening.
Their side had just ended, but over there, battle had erupted again!
Li Sui’s poison mist was sinister, Lin Li’s swordsmanship sharp—the two were locked in a fierce struggle.
Their subordinates also fought in pairs, weapons clashing and shouts filling the air.
Lin Xiaowan observed the battlefield, her eyes flickering. “We’re going over there.”
She pointed to a position closer to the battlefield, beneath the crescent opening, hidden by a protruding rock.
“Miss Xu, do you have a way to obtain the Flameburn Grass?” Zhang Fan asked eagerly.
Lin Xiaowan didn’t answer directly. She glanced at him and moved first. “Stop talking. Follow me.”
Zhang Fan suppressed his doubts and followed.
As they moved, Lin Xiaowan continuously gathered vines, even asking Zhang Fan to help—clearly forming a plan.
……