NOVEL NEXT Chapter 26: Cai'er's Story
"Hmmm… so you're saying he doesn't have his memories?" Cai'er asked incredulously. The story her father and Guo had just told her was astonishing.
It was a well-known fact that the powers of immortal cultivators far outweighed those of martial artists—even on the same level.
And now she was hearing that this unknown stranger possibly battled with an immortal and escaped alive this far into the mortal lands. That was an incredible feat.
Her father and Guo didn't really know much about cultivators, but she did, and she was clear on the fact that in order to inflict wounds that would never heal, one had to at least be able to wield the power of laws.
Meaning one had to be of the Tribulation Realm!
'Or it could also be a Spirit Master of the Void Travel Realm. Either way, to survive such beings despite the overwhelming power disparity… this man must be an unparalleled expert!' Cai'er marveled.
'He might also be lying about losing his memories,' she pondered.
Seeing his daughter's interest in Spark, his eyes brightened as he thought of something. "Cai'er, since the immortals refused to accept you, it can only be considered their loss. But regardless, we need to deal with your condition before it gets worse…
Do you think he can help retrieve it?"
By "he," the elder naturally meant Spark.
But Cai'er didn't reply and only smiled mysteriously.
You see, Cai'er had a rare condition called "glass bones, brittle skin"—a condition where the body is made into a very brittle and fragile state. This was an incurable terminal condition suffered by those who possess the Extreme Yin body.
With all his wealth and connections, Old Wei had searched fruitlessly for years for a cure, but he was always met with disappointment. Fortunately, he had found a way to suppress this condition of hers.
And that was by using a rare spirit elixir called the Vermilion Fruit. This was the only known solution in the mortal lands to his daughter's dire situation. Though a temporary method, it was indeed very effective.
But the problem was the fruit supply was limited—and the cost was high.
The only secure source was a disgusting noble called Viscount Ji. The fatty had fallen in love with Cai'er at first sight and decided he must have her no matter the cost. At first, he started with gifts, sending them large batches of Vermilion Fruit for free. But when he saw no progress, he changed tactics…
Remembering the shamelessness of the bastard, Old Wei couldn't help but curse internally. 'That bastard is nothing but a disgusting toad lusting for a swan. He will never have Cai'er—not in this lifetime and not in the next! I'll have to be a corpse before that happens!'
The fatty was indeed shrewd. On seeing that the soft approach didn't work, he changed his strategy. He started buying all Vermilion Fruits around the empire and even from neighboring empires. He made sure that he was the only source of the fruit—and he refused to sell.
He only put forth one condition: marriage, if they wanted a chance at the fruit.
Just when they thought all hope was lost, they received information—one that seemed to promise not only curing Old Wei's daughter but also a chance for her to rise and become an immortal.
It turned out Cai'er's Extreme Yin body was a rare constitution that suited a great sect called The Winter Gate.
And according to their sources, holders of the Extreme Yin body were one-in-a-million geniuses, destined to tread the heavens.
The elder sighed once more in disappointment as he recalled what his daughter had told him earlier. 'Ha… the heavens seem to have turned their sight from us…'
Cai'er had set out a few days ago to the immortal lands in hopes of joining the Winter Gate Sect. When she arrived, it was indeed confirmed that she had the Extreme Yin physique—but she had no spirit root…
Normally, for such a rare genius, the sect wouldn't mind suffering some losses to craft one for her. But unfortunately, she was too late.
It was said the sect had found another maiden who had a greater constitution and higher aptitude. And in order to craft her a spirit root and dantian seed, they had exhausted many resources—and they weren't willing to go further for Cai'er.
'I can only hope on him… Slade can wait for now,' Old Wei mused.
'I can only hope on that method now hopefully he is string enough to help get it back…' Cai'er thought.
"Father, after I take care of some business, I would like to meet this man tomorrow," she quickly requested, glancing at her father eagerly.
Old Wei quickly nodded. "Of course! Of course. First thing tomorrow, Guo will lead you to the inn he resides in."
A smile illuminated her face—one that made even the fierce-faced Guo's heart flutter. "You're the best father. Let me take my leave then," she said, quickly leaving, her words echoing on her departure.
The moment she left, the doting expression on Old Wei's face hardened. Glancing at Guo, he instructed, "Spark, was it? Make sure to pay attention to him. The moment he tries anything funny, get Cai'er out of there."
Thinking a bit, Old Wei shook his head. "I have a bad feeling about this… hopefully I'm wrong."
…
Later that night, in the western district, in an alley…
"Hey! Hey you—I'm talking to you! How dare you ignore me!" a coarse voice barked fiercely. It was a bald man with a robust figure. In his hand was a half-finished liquor bottle. He waddled forward, trying to catch up with a lady a few feet away from him.
"Please, I don't have any money. I only went to get some drugs for my child. I really have nothing…" the lady pleaded the moment the man put his hand on her shoulder.
Pulling her fiercely, the lady fell backward. The baldy's eyes glinted as he glanced at her now-revealed tender shoulder skin. He licked his lips. "Hehehehe! You can pay with something else…"
The lady shuddered in fear. "N-no… stay away!"
Her pleas fell on deaf ears as the man moved slowly forward, a lecherous smile stretching across his lips as he rubbed his hands together in expectation.
On the roof of the building, a figure stood spectating this event, with the duo beneath none the wiser. One could notice, by the limbs revealing from his clothes, a bandage that seemed to encompass his entire body…
The figure's sapphire blue eyes morphed into a sanguine, demonic shade as an eerie smile bloomed on his face. "Indeed… no matter where, scums pollute the lands. This is going to be delightful."