Chapter 49

Our Discord Server: https://discord.gg/PazjBDkTmW

Chapter 49: My Fate Is in My Hands

In the two days before the grand feast, Wen Yun and Ye Shubai enjoyed themselves freely.

For example, after successfully moving into the luxurious suite with a large courtyard, Ye Shubai woke up before the sunrise the next day to practice swordplay, satisfying his basic need as a sword cultivator.

Another example is Wen Yun, after a long journey, finally lying down on the soft and luxurious bed, rolling back and forth a few times before adjusting her sleeping position. She covered herself with a blanket, listening to the rhythmic sound of wooden swords outside, getting ready to sleep for the whole day.

Unfortunately, things did not go as planned.

Just as she had finished covering herself with the blanket, the sound of sword practice in the courtyard outside stopped.

Despite Wen Yun’s quick reaction, before she could even finish rolling up the blanket pretending to be asleep, that cold and clear voice appeared again –

"Wen Yun, it’s getting late."

Half a moment later, Wen Yun, with sleepy eyes, was urged by Ye Shubai to get up. She reluctantly threw on the fur coat and rode the large grey wolf outside.

Ye Shubai walked ahead, somehow having worn a large hat similar to Wen Yun’s, covering most of his striking face, attracting less attention on the road.

However, Wen Yun was very unhappy.

In the past, she used to be able to calm her restlessness by seeing Ye Shubai’s face after being forced to wake up early. But now, all she could see at a glance was a big wild wolf, how could she calm down?

Even though Ye Shubai was not good at reading people’s minds, after spending so much time with Wen Yun, he could tell that she was feeling a bit down at the moment.

"I heard that there is a fighting arena in the west of the city, where demon cultivators compete in duels every day."

Demon cultivators are aggressive, and without saying a word, they might resort to violence. Since prevention is better than cure, there are fighting arenas everywhere in the Demon Realm, where anyone can challenge someone they are unhappy with.

As he walked forward while leading the wolf, he explained to the girl riding the wolf, "It’s not that I don’t want you to rest, but the current situation is urgent. We are in enemy territory, and since you don’t know much about demon cultivators, encountering a strong enemy could be dangerous. It’s better to observe early on."

Wen Yun yawned and said, "I know you mean well for me, that’s why I’m willing to come out with you."

Although she sometimes appeared lazy, she was always diligent in important matters, so even though she reluctantly said so, she obediently got out of bed and followed him.

Ye Shubai’s voice was gentle, like the cool morning air, yet it was also comforting.

"I’ve been watching, your magic is very powerful, but it has a fatal flaw. If enemies attack too quickly or approach suddenly, you won’t be able to cope in time."

He pointed out the magician’s weakness with just a few words.

"Demon cultivators are skilled at close combat. Go take a look, you might gain some insights."

As they talked, the two of them entered a bustling street area, where demon cultivators in different clothes walked by, occasionally feathers or a handful of fur floating in the air.

Wen Yun watched with excitement, then suddenly she saw someone ahead wearing clothes that looked very familiar. Other demon cultivators passing by him silently made way, showing his exceptional status.

Taking a closer look, she realized that person was wearing Zhu Erchong’s old clothes she had sold!

She got excited and instinctively reached out to grab the sleeve of the person in front, "Hey, quick, isn’t that…"

However, the hand that usually grasped accurately every time came up empty this time.

Ye Shubai, who had been right in front of her, had disappeared without a trace!

Wen Yun suddenly woke up and found herself reaching for a Magic Stone in a space bag hidden under her big furry coat.

There is very little spirit energy here, Ye Shubai might have been kidnapped by a powerful old demon!

This is the territory of demon cultivators. Even though Ye Shubai has never been here before, his legend has been passed down for five hundred years. Could it be that some ancient demon has discovered him?

The manager of that auction house looks suspicious, could he be involved?

In just a moment, she had countless thoughts running through her mind, and the Magic Stone in her hand started to glow.

Just then, a green leaf came towards her.

Inside the leaf was a fried pastry sprinkled with brown sugar, giving off a delicious aroma.

Ye Shubai handed it to her, got on a wolf without looking back, and said, "Eat it while it’s hot, there’s more after this."

Wen Yun realized that Ye Shubai was holding many hot freshly baked treats in his arms.

His calm and aloof expression softened under the influence of the white steam, making him appear gentle and kind, like a regular person rather than a lofty Sword Immortal.

She was surprised, "You disappeared just now. Did you go to buy food?!"

"Yes."

This response left Wen Yun speechless for a moment. She didn’t expect that Ye Shubai, who usually planned things carefully, would do such a thing, causing her unnecessary alarm.

However, she didn’t like to blame her companions. She nibbled on the snacks he brought while thinking about how to educate him tactfully without hurting his pride.

Before she could speak, Ye Shubai spoke first, "All of these are for you."

Wen Yun’s mouth movements slowed as she silently looked at the colorful Demon Realm snacks he brought. She hesitated and said, "You might have overestimated my appetite."

Ye Shubai rode ahead on the magic wolf, concealing his expression and actions, leaving only his tall figure. She couldn’t catch a glimpse of his emotions, except for his cold voice leaking out a hint of emotion−

"I noticed you haven’t been talking much since we left." His voice paused, sounding slightly hesitant, "I’m worried that you might be upset with me calling you."

When it came to this point in the story, Ye Shubai pressed his lips together, unsure of what to say next.

He didn’t know why he found himself in the crowd buying these snacks. Maybe because he remembered that she hadn’t eaten before leaving, or maybe because he suddenly realized she didn’t like the Inedia Pill that he was used to.

Perhaps he didn’t want her to be upset with him, and tried to use the comforting techniques his teachers used on him when he was a child with this young apprentice, after all she was just a teenager now.

In any case, his thoughts were jumbled, but he had already gone to buy a bunch of things.

Wen Yun felt a bit embarrassed, Ye Shubai’s words made her feel immature, like a child throwing a tantrum in front of an adult.

She swallowed her food and said with deep meaning, "I’m just not fully awake yet, that’s why I’m quiet. I’m not upset, and as a good host, I won’t be angry with my own sword spirit. I’ll cooperate with whatever you want to do."

Ye Shubai, "…"

Suddenly, he didn’t feel like giving her the food in his arms.

Wen Yun patted the wolf head on the seat, urging it to ride alongside Ye Shubai’s horse.

She reached out and naturally took a piece of cake from his arms, casually adding a remark.

"But if we’re going to watch the demon cultivator’s fighting skills together, then we should also buy food together, or else I’ll worry and really get angry."

The girl’s voice, clear and bright, drifted into his ears.

She said, "Remember, next time you do anything, you have to take me with you."

Ye Shubai paused for a moment, then solemnly nodded, "Alright."

After saying that, he couldn’t help but wonder if Wen Yun hadn’t eaten enough and wanted to buy more, so he handed all the food over to her side, saying, "If it’s not enough, I’ll go buy more."

Dealing with a straight guy was just too helpless.

Wen Yun took a big bite of the cake, exclaiming, "Enough, enough!"

*

As a result, by the time Wen Yun reached the bustling arena, the food had gone cold and she hadn’t finished eating it.

It was clear that Ye Shubai valued her appetite.

Riding was not allowed here, so Wen Yun tied her two large wolves at the designated spot. Already inside were a black tiger and two large wild boars. As soon as the new wolves arrived, the animals snorted and growled to intimidate them.

The two wolves appeared weak and innocent before them, their tails tucked tightly and whimpering as they looked at Wen Yun, refusing to go inside.

Ye Shubai approached, patting the wolves on their heads, then took two snacks from Wen Yun’s arms to feed them, coaxing them to go inside.

Wen Yun fell silent for a moment, feeling that his actions of feeding the wolves resembled how he fed her things.

But seeing Ye Shubai’s natural demeanor, she could only suppress her doubts and focus on the competition in the arena.

At this sight, Wen Yun sighed, "Truly a warrior nation, so many people have gathered here early in the morning."

What was even more thrilling was that there were several demon cultivators missing arms and legs lying below the arena, some even missing half their heads. Despite this grim scene, it couldn’t deter the enthusiasm of the crowd, with countless people still cheering below.

"Miss Sweet Rain, hurry up with your attacks! I’m waiting to come up and teach these brats a lesson!"

The demon cultivator fighting on stage shouted back, "Dare you hurry your old man? Come up and face me!"

So the demon cultivator immediately came up to fight the other person, who retorted, "What, do I need your help? Get lost!"

Wen Yun, "…"

The unexpected three-way fight that broke out was really exciting. Do all you demon cultivators play like this?

As the battle raged on stage, Ye Shubai was calmly teaching Wen Yun, "About ninety percent of demon cultivators awaken their physical talents in childhood. After awakening, a part of their body gets enhanced. For example, the leg of that leopard tribe demon cultivator on the left is several times stronger than a normal person’s, so he mainly attacks with his legs."

"When facing them in battle, remember to aim your sword at their awakened body parts to break their defenses."

Wen Yun made a mental note of this knowledge, but her gaze couldn’t help but be drawn to the new demon cultivator who stepped onto the stage. He looked frail and pale compared to the other cultivators, almost like a weak chicken.

She couldn’t understand why, but this person gave her a slightly dangerous and… familiar feeling?

It turned out that Wen Yun’s feelings were right.

When the weak chicken went up on stage, the three people who were originally enthusiastic about fighting ignored him and continued to fight wildly.

He carefully circled around the back of the stage, chanting something quickly under his breath, his eyes fixed on the three people in front of him.

Suddenly, the three people in the fight were shocked as if struck by lightning, their expressions becoming confused and dazed. Finally, they all fell heavily down towards the audience below!

Someone in the crowd recognized the weak chicken and exclaimed, "He has awakened his soul talent!"

Demon cultivators who awaken their soul talent are rare, and most of them come from major tribes. Because their close combat skills are weak, they usually have a group of guards around them. It was unexpected to see one on the stage today!

Others demon cultivators were angry, "Darn, you soul talent folks always like to be sneaky!"

"I knew there was something fishy about him sneaking onto the stage, and sure enough, he launched a sneak attack!"

"Come on, let’s have a fair fight!"

After defeating the three people, Weak Chicken didn’t say anything, didn’t accept the challenges from other demon cultivators below, quickly got off the stage after taking the winner’s magic crystal, and sat still in a corner.

The demon cultivators grumbled but couldn’t do anything. This was in Cold Abyss City. Since others refused to fight, they couldn’t fight recklessly again. If they started a fight, they might be caught by the City Master’s guards.

And a new round of fighting started on the stage, their insults now directed at a new demon.

Wen Yun kept staring at the demon cultivator, her eyebrows furrowing tighter.

Ye Shubai leaned towards her and asked softly, "Is something wrong?"

"Do you see his posture? Isn’t it a bit strange?" Wen Yun whispered, "Actually, it’s similar to the meditation movements of us magicians…"

Magicians use their mental power to control magic elements for casting spells, but mental power is limited. Once depleted, they would become weak and even weaker than ordinary people.

The best way to restore mental power is to get a good night’s sleep. This is also why Wen Yun sometimes struggles to wake up in the morning, as she often practices magic late at night, leaving her with insufficient mental power.

She confidently told Ye Shubai, "So I’m not lazy in the morning, I’m just replenishing my mental power!"

Ye Shubai also replied cautiously, "Okay, I won’t disturb you in the morning to recover your energy."

After saying that, he remembered something else and hesitantly added, "But you went to bed right after eating last night, without practicing any magic…"

Wen Yun pretended nothing happened, feeling a slight sting on her face from the prankster, she quickly changed the subject.

"But sleeping takes time, so the quickest way is to recharge by absorbing energy from the Magic Stone. However, Magic Stones are very precious, not everyone can afford them. That’s why most people choose meditation to recover their energy."

As she mentioned this, she subtly glanced over at the weakling nearby, "Doesn’t his current state resemble how I looked when I was exhausted before?"

Looking frail and unsteady, with a pale face and sweating profusely.

It’s too similar.

At this point, Ye Shubai also realized the issue Wen Yun had brought up, "Are you suggesting…?"

"I always feel that these awakened soul talent demon cultivators are quite similar to a type of magician."

The evil sorcerer, hiding in the darkest corner of the magical land, was said to wander in graveyards, digging up bodies and turning them into puppets or creating undead guardians like skeleton warriors, terrifying presence in the whole magical land.

Unfortunately, even though Wen Yun had never done anything as unethical as grave-robbing, she was falsely accused of being the "dark sorcerer" by The Church of Light.

In desperation, she later had her little fire dragon sneak into the God of Darkness’s temple to steal a few magic books while escaping for her life, briefly studying dark magic.

However, due to her aversion to grave digging, she only briefly studied it, never actually practicing it.

"That person seems to be from the Black Snake Tribe," Wen Yun said quietly, squinting her eyes.

The emblem of their tribe seemed to be tattooed on their wrist; when he raised his hand before, she caught a glimpse of a small black snake tail.

"The techniques used by the young master of the Black Snake in the Dark Heaven Secret Realm are very similar to those of the dark sorcerer…"

Wen Yun’s mind raced as she tried to recall the black magic books she had skimmed through in her past life, memories being stirred from the corners.

She whispered quietly the words on the first page of a certain magic book.

"Believe in our god, offer your soul as a sacrifice to our lord. Followers abandon their physical bodies, their souls will live forever and never die."

Forever and never die.

"Abandoning their physical bodies, souls live forever and never die…"

Wen Yun repeated this sentence, looking up at Ye Shubai who had a serious expression.

"Possession," Ye Shubai answered.

This discovery immediately sent shivers down one’s spine.

Wen Yun’s heart was pounding fast, her mind a jumble of thoughts.

"No, could it be that someone before me successfully created a Time Space Spell to come to the cultivation world? And spread dark magic here?"

She stumbled upon this place by accident, could there be another villager here?

Not correct…

The meditation techniques used by these people are very simple, and their use of mental power is as crude as an apprentice in magic. If a Master of Magic really arrived in this world, they would never teach such low-level techniques!

Could it be that magic once flourished in this land, and then disappeared?

Wen Yun pursed her lips, her gaze falling once again on the black feathered serpent totem in the hands of that demon cultivator.

"If I remember correctly, I heard someone say yesterday that the direct descendants of the Black Snake Tribe all seem to have awakened a divine soul talent?"

"Yes."

Wen Yun stopped thinking any further and made a decision, "Let’s attend the grand banquet. We need to find a way to capture the young master of the Black Snake Tribe. I really want to interrogate him about his ancestors."

After some thought, she added, "Of course, the most important thing is to rescue Martial Brother Shen. I heard that the demon cultivator brought back a righteous cultivator, who must be Martial Brother Shen without a doubt!"

Phew, thankfully I didn’t forget about Martial Brother Shen this time.

*

On the beach outside Yimin Village, an old piece of rotten wood floated from the sea and was washed ashore by the waves.

A pale-faced young man in white clothes slowly opened his eyes, panic-stricken. He reached out his hand and felt relieved only when he touched his sword.

He looked around, furrowing his brows, his eyes showing signs of alertness.

The sword cultivator trembled as he pulled out his sword, struggling to stand up. He tried to control the sword, but the sword thrown into the air fell straight down instead of flying up.

"Ha," he picked up the sword, his pale lips parted, and he said hoarsely, "Even if fate wants to destroy me, I won’t comply!"

After saying this, he limped slowly towards the jungle from the beach.

How slow? Even the little turtle next to him surpassed him.

After a moment, there was suddenly a sound of something heavy falling in the jungle.

Then a child’s cry came, "Caught another wild boar!"

A burst of golden light in front of the person at the bottom of the pit, unable to see or hear anything clearly, feeling like falling apart.

No, we cultivators can only die in battle, such a humiliating death is unacceptable!

Until he passed out, his mind kept echoing a sentence…

"My fate is in my own hands…"

Not ruled by fate…