“Brother Mad Dog! It’s been what, seven or eight years since we last t? You haven’t changed a bit—still as sharp as ever! And breaking through to the mid-stage of the Foundation Establishnt realm—truly impressive! I’m delighted for you, hahaha!”
Dressed in a black robe, Wu Laoda (乌老大, Wū Lǎodà) stood before him. His left eye socket was hollow, the flesh around it shriveled, lending his face an eerie, grotesque appearance.
[Wu Laoda (乌老大, Wū Lǎodà): The na combines 乌 (wū, “black”) and 老大 (lǎodà, “eldest” or “boss”), a common nickna for leaders of unsavory groups.]
“Please don’t flatter like this, Senior. If there’s anything you need, just say the word. I’ll follow your orders without hesitation,” Mad Dog Daoist (疯狗道人, Fēng Gǒu Dàoren) replied, bowing in submission.
[疯狗 (Fēng Gǒu): “Mad Dog.” “疯” ans crazy or mad, and “狗” ans dog. Together, it conveys soone wild, aggressive, or uncontrollable. 道士 (Dào Shì): “Daoist priest.” A practitioner of Daoism (Taoism), typically associated with spiritual practices, rituals, or martial arts in fictional or historical contexts.]
The cultivation world was rciless—only the strong survived. As a re Foundation Establishnt cultivator, Mad Dog had no choice but to grovel before a powerful figure like Wu Laoda.
“Ah, Brother Mad Dog, always so straightforward. I won’t beat around the bush, then,” Wu Laoda said, his tone darkening. “You know I have a blood feud with Tianyong City’s Hansu Zhenren (涵素真人, Hánsù Zhēnrén). That old bastard blinded in this eye.”
[Tianyong City (天墉城, Tiānyōng Chéng): A fictional sect in the story. The na translates to “Sky Wall City,”]
[寒 (Hán): ans “cold” or “chilly,” often used taphorically to represent austerity, simplicity, or hardship. 素 (Sù): ans “plain,” “simple,” or “unadorned,” often associated with purity, modesty, or a lack of materialism. 真人 (Zhēn Rén): Literally “True Person,” a title in Daoism (Taoism) referring to an enlightened or highly accomplished Daoist practitioner. It denotes soone who has attained spiritual or mystical enlightennt, similar to a “sage” or “immortal.”]
Wu Laoda touched his hollow eye socket, his face grim.
“I’ve summoned you here because I plan to ambush two disciples of Tianyong City: the eldest disciple, Xiao Yu (萧羽, Xiāo Yǔ), and Hansu Zhenren’s daughter, Fu Qu (芙蕖, Fú Qú).”
[Xiao Yu (萧羽, Xiāo Yǔ): Xiao (萧) ans “desolate” or “elegant,” and Yu (羽) ans “feather,” symbolizing lightness or aspiration. Fu Qu (芙蕖, Fú Qú): Fu (芙) refers to the lotus, a symbol of purity, and Qu (蕖) ans lotus blossom, highlighting her delicate and radiant personality.]
Mad Dog Daoist looked puzzled. “Two insignificant juniors? With your strength, Senior, you could crush them with a flick of your finger. Why the elaborate setup?”
“Ah, you don’t understand, Brother Mad Dog,” Wu Laoda said, a sinister smile spreading across his face. “Those Foundation Establishnt brats are beneath my notice. But the girl—she has a treasure in her possession, one that counters my Blood Demon Eye. To neutralize it, I need your help.”
In truth, Wu Laoda could have overpowered Fu Qu with brute force, but he didn’t want to expend his cultivation. Hence, he sought Mad Dog’s assistance.
“If Senior trusts , consider it done!” Mad Dog Daoist thumped his chest in assurance.
“This Tianyao Gorge is their only route. I’ve heard that girl is as beautiful as a flower. I’ll gouge out her eyes and send them back to Tianyong City. Just imagine Hansu Zhenren’s face when he sees them—priceless! Hahaha!” Wu Laoda laughed, his one eye narrowing with a vengeful gleam.
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The sun hung high over Qinghe Mountain.
Two streaks of rainbow light descended from the sky, landing gracefully on a hillside. As the light dissipated, a young man and woman erged.
“Junior Sister, we’ve flown quite a distance without pause. Your spiritual energy must be running low. Let’s rest here for a while,” said the young man, Xiao Yu. At eighteen, Xiao Yu beca Tianyong City’s eldest disciple and a late-stage Foundation Establishnt cultivator.
Five days ago, their master had tasked him with delivering a ssage to Mount Shu. Now that the mission was complete, he and Fu Qu were on their way back, tired from the journey.
“Alright, Senior Brother, I’ll listen to you,” Fu Qu replied cheerfully.
Fu Qu was the cherished daughter of Hansu Zhenren, Tianyong City’s leader. At sixteen, she was the picture of youthful vitality, dressed in an elegant purple robe. Her eyes sparkled like autumn water, and her brows arched like distant mountains. With her radiant beauty and spirited deanor, she could captivate anyone who looked her way.
“Junior Sister, are you enjoying the journey?” Xiao Yu asked with a smile.
“Of course I am! This is the first ti I’ve traveled so far from ho. The best part? We’re thousands of miles away from Tianyong City, and I don’t have to listen to Father nagging anymore!” Fu Qu giggled, revealing pearly white teeth.
“Master’s strictness is for your own good. You may not understand now, but you will in ti,” Xiao Yu said solemnly. “I’ve heard that demonic cultivators have been active lately. We must stay vigilant.”
Xiao Yu felt responsible for Fu Qu’s safety. Though she was lively and innocent, the cultivation world was rife with danger—conflicts between immortals and demons were bloody and relentless. Death and destruction were ever-present.
“Those scoundrels are nothing to fear! With Father’s magical treasure protecting , I’d love to show them what I’m made of!” Fu Qu said, her hand brushed over the pendant on her chest.
The pendant, shaped like a leaf, shimred with a jade-like brilliance. Strung on a delicate bead chain, it glowed faintly, radiating imnse spiritual power.
“One Leaf Obscures the Eye may be a top-tier magical artifact, but if we encounter a Golden Core cultivator or soone with a countering artifact, its effectiveness will be greatly reduced. We must remain cautious,” Xiao Yu advised.
[One Leaf Obscures the Eye (一叶障目, Yī Yè Zhàng Mù): A magical artifact in the story, its na cos from a Chinese idiom aning “blinded by a single leaf,”]
At twenty-one, Xiao Yu was more composed and mature than his junior sister. This was precisely why Hansu Zhenren had entrusted him with Fu Qu’s care.
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