Chapter 37: Monster Hunter, Long Xiwei

Upon seeing the woman’s ethereal and peerless features, Lu Jin was undeniably stunned. He had never imagined that the person Chu Tianxiong wanted him to travel with would be such a young woman. In the midst of his daze, he intended to offer a polite greeting, but the voice of Empress Qinglian suddenly echoed in his mind.

“She is quite easy on the eyes, isn’t she?”

Lu Jin’s brow furrowed at the remark. He replied inwardly: “Has the Lord Empress finished refining the Soul-Breaking Fruit? Are you so bored that you have time for such comments?”

Empress Qinglian did not answer; her voice vanished once more. Lu Jin curled his lip in response.

The woman in white noticed his expression and frowned with confusion, though she quickly broke into a radiant smile. Her lips parted as she spoke: “Young Master, I presume you are the one looking for me?”

Lu Jin immediately recovered. “I am Lu Jin. Please forgive my lack of manners.”

The woman let out a soft laugh. “There is no need for such formality, Young Master Lu. Since you possess the Hall Master’s transmission talisman, you are clearly someone he values. The Hall Master’s orders are absolute: I would follow them even if it meant ten thousand deaths!”

This directness and attitude left Lu Jin slightly surprised. “May I ask for your honorable name?”

The woman smiled. She struck the jade tablet in Lu Jin’s hand with a flash of light from her palm. The runes on the tablet flickered briefly before a message materialized on its surface.

“Long Xiwei; Monster Hunter; specialist in Beast Speech; Apostle of the Holy Tabernacle; serial number 05.”

Lu Jin’s eyes widened at the information. “You are a Monster Hunter? I have been disrespectful!”

Long Xiwei gave a bright smile. “We are companions on the same path. There is no need for such distance.”

Lu Jin nodded and then asked: “Miss Long, about this number…”

“When the Hall Master first established the Holy Tabernacle, the first thirty members underwent combat potential testing,” Long Xiwei explained. “I was fortunate enough to be ranked fifth; that is all.”

Lu Jin nodded secretly. To be ranked fifth among the Apostles proved that Long Xiwei possessed extraordinary capabilities. He did not rudely probe her cultivation level; since Chu Tianxiong had recommended her, she would surely be a great help on Xianwu Island.

“Young Master Lu, what is the mission this time?” she asked.

“I need to travel to Xianwu Island to find the Huangque Pharmacist. I require him to refine a detoxifying pill.”

Long Xiwei’s brow knit slightly, but she said nothing and nodded. “Young Master Lu, please come up.”

She gestured for him to join her on the green bird. Lu Jin hesitated for a moment before flying up to join her.

Xianwu Island was located in a sea of mist to the east of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect. The island was perpetually shrouded in ethereal fog. It looked like a land of immortals, yet it inspired dread in many cultivators. Because the sea surrounding the mainland was filled with clusters of islands inhabited by a vast variety of demonic beasts, trying to survive there without specialized methods was nothing more than a fool’s dream.

Lu Jin exchanged a few simple words with Long Xiwei as the green bird sped through the air, yet neither learned much about the other’s true background. Apostles shared a common purpose: as long as the ultimate goal was aligned, they worked together. The details were secondary. By the time they reached the Misty Sea, Lu Jin and Long Xiwei were still essentially strangers.

In fact, she didn’t even know that his mission was meant to save Chu Tianxiong himself. However, with the Hall Master’s jade tablet in his possession, Lu Jin didn’t have to worry about her commitment.

As far as the eye could see, there was only hazy mist and the churning seawater below. Lu Jin frowned at the salty, fishy scent in the air. He was entirely unfamiliar with Xianwu Island; if he were to rely on instinct alone, he would be as inefficient as a headless fly.

Seeming to read his mind, Long Xiwei smiled. “Young Master Lu, do not worry. While I am not intimately familiar with every corner of this island, I know where the cultivators congregate. Wherever there are people, we can find information.”

“That makes sense,” Lu Jin agreed. “I will rely on you to lead the way.”

Long Xiwei nodded and guided the bird toward a massive island ahead. Just as the bird flew over the open sea, a sharp avian cry pierced the void. High above from the flank, a massive bird of prey dove through the mist. Its large eyes radiated a blood-red light!

“Not good! It is a Silver-scaled Sea Owl!”

Long Xiwei’s expression turned tense. Lu Jin’s gaze also shifted as he saw the creature.

Such powerful demonic Qi! This is comparable to a seventh-grade Jindan cultivator!

He wasn’t worried about himself; such a realm could no longer threaten him. However, Long Xiwei’s expression and the trembling of her green bird suggested they were quite wary.

“Hold on tight, Young Master Lu. This might get a bit tricky!”

Just as Lu Jin was about to strike, Long Xiwei spoke. As she did, a blue light shot out from her hand. A strange scent instantly diffused through the air. Lu Jin looked up to see the blue light transform into a colossal phantom of a bird of prey. It was ten times larger than the incoming sea owl!

The phantom radiated a massive aura and let out a long cry toward the sky. The resulting shockwave sent waves crashing several yards high in the sea below!

The owl’s blood-red eyes contracted. The sight filled it with intense terror. The diving predator frantically flapped its wings to brake; it swerved instantly and fled toward the distant horizon!

Despite the victory, the terrifying aura had scared the green bird into a low-altitude dive. It nearly crashed into the rising waves. Once the sea owl was gone, the bird regained its composure and soared back up.

“Do not be afraid… Xiao Qing is the bravest of all! Here is your reward!”

Long Xiwei pulled a pill from her ring. The green bird swallowed it in one gulp, its wings flapping with renewed joy.

“A masterfully executed move, Miss Long!” Lu Jin praised her sincerely as the phantom faded.

Long Xiwei shook her head with a smile. “To be honest, I only used that trick because I couldn’t beat it in a fair fight!” She stroked the bird’s smooth feathers. “It just scared Xiao Qing quite badly. I hope this little fellow can grow up quickly.”

“How old is this bird?” Lu Jin asked.

“It is only five months old.”

Lu Jin was stunned. He knew little of such creatures. “It has reached such a size in only five months? Impressive!”

“I found it,” Long Xiwei said softly. “I hope I can stay with it until it grows up safely.” She then looked toward the horizon. “We are here!”

Lu Jin turned to see a massive island below. It was almost entirely covered in dense forest. The roars of various beasts echoed into the sky; it was a thrilling and chilling sound.

Whoosh!

The green bird dove and soon landed on the island. Standing upon its soil, one could feel a pervasive sense of slaughter in the air.

“Xiao Qing, come inside!” Long Xiwei said. A halo of light appeared in her palm, several yards high. The bird hopped into the light and vanished.

Lu Jin smiled. “An impressive method indeed.”

“It is nothing,” she replied. “Let us go. There are merchants ahead; let’s go buy some information!”

Lu Jin’s brow furrowed at those words.