Chapter 3: The Girl in the Cave

“All we need to do is wait, and we’ll reap the rewards like a fisherman catching both the snipe and the clam, ha ha.” The master of the Hundred Venoms Sect spoke with excitement, as if the Peony Fairy had already been captured and ravaged to death by their four hands, and the Hundred Venoms Sect was poised to claim the spoils as the hidden beneficiary.

“Master, your wisdom is unmatched.” The other three, though unable to envision such distant prospects, responded in unison.

As the saying goes, flattery never goes amiss.

The Sect Master, accustomed to the sycophancy of his subordinates, felt an even greater sense of delight when praised by his three late-stage Golden Core cultivators. Yet, his cautious nature compelled him to reiterate his instructions, “When we arrive at the place where the Peony Fairy is secluded, the North and South Envoys will take the lead. You two will first use the Bewitching Powder of Blossoms. Elder Jin, you and I will act according to circumstances. Time is short; let us proceed swiftly.”

The North and South Envoys, clad in grey robes different from those of Elder Jin and the Sect Master, with their appearances hidden, responded promptly, “We obey.”

As their words faded, the four figures vanished from midair above the hillside, not even leaving a trace of the sound that usually accompanies such a swift movement. In the darkness of night, it was as if they had never been there. Only by gazing in the direction they departed could one vaguely discern four fleeting shadows.

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About forty li from the hillside where the four had stood, there was a spring waterfall.

The term “spring waterfall” was a mundane one—essentially, a waterfall flanked by gardens and artificial rocks, with a stream emerging, hence its name.

The waterfall hung like a curtain from the sheer cliff—not wide, less than ten meters, but about seven or eight stories tall. Water cascaded down, surrounded by blooming flowers, and even at night, the air was filled with a fragrance so intoxicating it stirred the soul.

Behind the waterfall curtain on the cliff was a cave, roughly ten meters above ground. The cave itself measured about nine meters long, six meters wide, and three meters high, its shape perfectly square yet seemingly naturally formed. However, should a geologist visit, they would surely say this cave was the product of human or mechanical effort.

To carve such a cavern on a cliff, even with machines, would be a formidable task. Thus, its existence only heightened curiosity about its inhabitant. With the water curtain covering the entrance, the cave below was nearly impossible to spot without careful observation.

By day, the surroundings brimmed with birdsong and floral scents—a perfect place for spring outings. Even now, deep in the night, the flowers radiated their enchanting fragrance.

Inside the cave, aside from a few modern appliances, the bed, tables, and chairs were all made of stone. The space was unusually spacious, suggesting the owner preferred a larger cave.

......

Despite the late hour, the cave was as bright as day, thanks to thirty-six pale blue night pearls, each the size of a fist, embedded in the ceiling. Arranged in the pattern of the thirty-six stars of the celestial formation, they illuminated the entire cave as if it were daylight. Any one of these pearls would be worth a fortune in the mundane world, yet here, they served as mere light bulbs for the cave’s mistress—a true extravagance in the eyes of outsiders.

The air was thick with the fragrance of blooming peonies, and tendrils of spiritual energy drifted throughout.

Upon the stone bed sat a young maiden, appearing to be around eighteen. Her legs were crossed, eyes half-closed, her demeanor serene and relaxed, yet her exquisite features were in no way diminished.

Her hair was styled in a bun, two strands framing her cheeks and falling to her shoulders, revealing skin as lustrous as white jade. She wore a white gauze robe, giving her an air of refined elegance and nobility. There was a lightness to her, ethereal as a fairy; any who saw her would be captivated, feeling unworthy, not daring to desecrate her beauty.

She was truly the embodiment of a beauty capable of toppling kingdoms.

Unaware of the four plotting against her, she meditated in tranquility like an old monk in deep contemplation.

Her slender fingers traced a gesture in the air, and where her fingers moved, the space rippled. Threads of spiritual energy formed and flowed before her, and many intricate spells from the cultivation world were, in her hands, executed with ease.

Each time she completed a gesture, the thirty-six night pearls above sent forth a thin blue thread toward her. The threads wrapped around her body, coursing through her until they gradually seeped inside. With each thread absorbed, her body seemed to radiate a crystalline glow.

Her lips curled upward into a satisfied smile, clearly delighted by her gains. It was evident these thirty-six night pearls were no ordinary ones, but priceless treasures aiding her cultivation.

After dozens of gestures, the spiritual energy within the cave suddenly became chaotic for a tenth of a second, then immediately stabilized.

She frowned, opening her eyes—clear as a mountain stream. Yet her pupils were red, filled with a depth and weariness that belied her youthful appearance. Her soft lips parted, and she exhaled a breath fragrant with peony.

Her pupils contracted, then returned to their normal black color. With a wave of her graceful arm, her figure floated effortlessly above the stone bed.

She flew toward the waterfall curtain at the cave’s entrance, encased in an invisible shield that kept her dry.

She had sensed, while meditating, that four individuals were approaching, prompting her to end her session.

She wondered, these four were not ordinary folk, but cultivators—and their intentions could not be clearer.

A flicker of anger arose in her heart.

Nine hundred years—since her birth, countless people had coveted her extremely yin physique. Were it not for her acceptance into Blossom Valley, her life would have been far less peaceful.

Now, she had reached the early Nascent Soul stage and was one of the five great elders of Blossom Valley. In the cultivation world, she was a figure of considerable influence; members of all sects treated her with utmost respect.

Yet, extraordinary treasures always incite contention. The cultivation world was never short of desperadoes willing to risk everything.

With these thoughts, she let out a cold snort in her heart. Let them come!