Chapter 24: A Narrow Escape

As Zhao Yu muttered to himself, Tie Shi suddenly cupped his hands, his expression serious. "Brother Zhao, I shall forever remember this favor of yours!"

"Isn't that a bit too serious?" Zhao Yu was taken aback.

Wasn't the suggestion for them to move nearby just so he could conveniently scrounge for some poultry and meat? How did it escalate to this?

Tie Shi shook his head slightly without responding. Instead, he cupped his hands again. "Brother Zhao, it is not that I doubt you, but could you please describe the location of your immortal dwelling? Once I know the exact coordinates, I can discuss the migration route with the rest of the tribe."

While the tribe had many powerful individuals, the vast majority were ordinary mortals.

Zhao Yu pointed into the distance. "Just over there."

Tie Shi observed for a moment and realized the distance was not particularly far... at least, not for a cultivator like him.

Tie Shi then ventured, "Brother Zhao, could we perhaps go take a look first?"

They had to see it for themselves to determine the best placement for the tribe's new settlement and formulate a plan.

Zhao Yu agreed casually. "Sure, you can fly anyway, so the trip back won't be much trouble."

If he had to rely on himself... without any shortcuts, the journey would be truly arduous.

"Brother Zhao, we have come this far, why must you continue to say such things?" Tie Shi wore a bitter smile.

Claiming to be a mere mortal? Was that really appropriate?

However, Tie Shi did not want to dwell on these trivial matters. He channeled his inner energy, conjuring a gust of wind that enveloped Zhao Yu as they skimmed low over the ground.

With so many evil spirits lurking about, flying too high was a sure way to meet an untimely death.

At home, black mist would periodically rise from various corners of the courtyard.

Xiao Wanzi sat alone at the entrance of the wing room, swinging her feet in boredom. Behind her, a beautiful, tentacled shadow stared greedily into the distance.

Suddenly, Xiao Wanzi seemed to spot something. The numerous tentacles abruptly retracted and vanished, and the black mist in the yard dissipated. The entire courtyard instantly became mundane, and Xiao Wanzi returned to the image of a simple, innocent little girl.

A few breaths later, as a breeze swept by, Tie Shi and Zhao Yu landed at the gate.

Tie Shi looked at the courtyard, a flicker of astonishment crossing his face. "Brother Zhao, you live so close."

It was indeed not far from the tribe, only about five hundred miles in a straight line.

At such a short distance, he and the other experts of the tribe had never noticed it... After a moment of thought, realization dawned on him. Of course, given Zhao Yu's cultivation, who could possibly discover him if he did not wish to be found?

With that thought in mind, Tie Shi bowed to Xiao Wanzi. "Greetings, young lady." He remembered this girl; she was very prone to trusting others.

"Brother-in-law, did you bring back ingredients?" Xiao Wanzi stood up and licked her lips.

Zhao Yu’s expression shifted instantly. "Oh no, I forgot..."

That was right; his visit to Tie Shi was primarily to secure some poultry and meat. But because of Tie Shi's request for help, he had been distracted and completely forgotten.

Tie Shi, however, was baffled. "Brother Zhao, what is this about?"

Given the girl's unfathomable cultivation—which left him completely unable to sense her presence—the phrase "bringing ingredients home" was incomprehensible to him.

Hungry? With her level of cultivation, surely she didn't need to eat? Even if she did, she could simply hunt wild game in the mountains.

Zhao Yu waved his hands hurriedly. "Brother Tie, you misunderstand. Xiao Wanzi must be hungry... Never mind that, I’ll go start a fire and cook."

The Youxiong tribe was so far away that it had taken him over a day to arrive; his family hadn't eaten for an entire day, so he couldn't blame Xiao Wanzi for asking about food. He had feasted at the Youxiong tribe, but his family had been left starving! It was inexcusable.

Filled with self-reproach, Zhao Yu trotted toward the kitchen.

Xiao Wanzi swallowed, then flickered and appeared before Tie Shi.

Tie Shi, now standing in the courtyard, felt deeply uncomfortable under her gaze and quickly spoke up. "How should I address you, young lady?"

"I'm hungry... so hungry..." Xiao Wanzi’s eyes glimmered with a faint red hue.

Tie Shi forced a laugh. "I don't have any food on me. Perhaps I should go to the kitchen and lend Brother Zhao a hand?"

Deep down, he was increasingly perplexed. Zhao Yu’s family did not seem as simple as he had first thought... For example, why would this girl be hungry? And her current demeanor was rather unsettling. If he weren't certain that Zhao Yu was human—and thus his family must be as well—he might have mistaken Xiao Wanzi for some kind of evil spirit.

Xiao Wanzi grinned. "Boil it? That works too."

Tie Shi forced another laugh. This girl, who should have been "innocent, naive, and trusting," was starting to feel more and more bizarre. Shuddering, he instinctively walked toward the kitchen.

Inside the kitchen, Tie Shi felt even more confused. This place was truly just a kitchen, and Zhao Yu had already begun to light the fire.

What was going on? Had his preconceived notions blinded him to the truth?

No, he had to test it again.

Tie Shi stepped quickly to the stove and helped Zhao Yu stuff firewood into the hearth. He probed, "Brother Zhao, I am not sure if I should say this."

"Go ahead," Zhao Yu replied casually, pouring water into the pot.

Tie Shi softened his tone as much as possible. "Your sister... your sister Xiao Wanzi seems... there seems to be something wrong with her." He remained on guard, ready to flee or strike at the slightest sign of danger.

Zhao Yu stiffened. Tie Shi’s heart tightened. The atmosphere grew subtly tense.

Just as Tie Shi was about to act, Zhao Yu sighed softly. "Since you've noticed, Brother Tie, I won't hide it from you. To be honest, my sister-in-law is ill. She is perfectly fine when she isn't having an episode; she is the most innocent and lovely girl. I’ve never seen anyone more pure-hearted." (As for the fact that he had only ever known his wife and Xiao Wanzi in his life... that was beside the point.)

With a pained expression, Zhao Yu continued, "But when she has an episode, she often screams about killing people and lets out chilling laughter... Sigh, I’ve been worried sick for years trying to find a cure."

Having finished, Zhao Yu wiped away a tear.

Tie Shi suddenly understood. "So that’s it."

So Xiao Wanzi was sick... and he understood this "sickness" to be a mishap in her cultivation. Therefore, their "mortal" lifestyle was Zhao Yu’s way of using the influence of the mundane world to suppress the evil energy within her, trying to help her recover?

The fact that someone corrupted by evil could be suppressed this way meant Zhao Yu’s cultivation was even more unfathomable than he had imagined.

He continued to help with the fire. Soon, the water was about to boil.

Tie Shi shook his head unconsciously... Strange, why did he suddenly feel so drowsy? Was it because he had been exhausted from worrying about the tribe's migration and the evil spirits? That must be it.

Zhao Yu, however, gripped by his reluctance to host others for dinner, ventured, "That, Brother Tie, why don't you head back to the tribe and prepare for the move?"