"You two have known each other for how long?"
"Seven days."
"Seven days and it’s already come to this?!"
"Because the bond is deep."
"What? You already have a child together?!!"
"……"
Shen Yu punched the burly man. "Brother, stop spouting nonsense. This is our junior brother!"
"Junior brother?"
Han immediately recognized the man’s identity—the second disciple from earlier that day, Shen Yu’s older brother, and one of the only two practitioners at the organ-level: Shen Long.
"Hello, Senior Brother."
Shen Long’s expression softened a bit. Since Han was a junior brother, he wasn’t an outsider. But still, no way he was going to let Han get too close to his sister!
"Since Master accepted you as a disciple, your talent must be remarkable," Shen Long said as he scrutinized Han. Han was older than he expected, but he didn’t comment on it.
"But talent alone is not enough. Once we get back, we should spar."
"If you’re lacking, I’ll train you well!"
How could someone from the organ-level say something like that?
"Brother, stop joking around. Junior brother has only been practicing for seven days!" Shen Yu gave her brother another punch.
"Junior brother, don’t take my brother’s words too seriously. He’s like this—always picking fights."
Han gave a forced smile. I think he enjoys picking fights with me.
"Are you hunting water beasts?" Shen Long asked, glancing at the two beast corpses on the ground.
"Quite daring to stir up trouble at the bottom of the river."
At that, Shen Yu grew animated, excitedly telling Shen Long about Han’s incredible abilities.
"He has such talent?" Shen Long was astonished. This junior brother was truly impressive.
"Brother, are you heading back to Black Cloud Town?"
"Yeah."
"Then let’s go together. You can help keep Junior Brother’s trophies safe."
Shen Long pulled a small bag from his waist and opened it. To Han’s surprise, the two beast corpses were sucked right into it.
Han’s eyes lit up. Is this space equipment?
"Junior brother, amazing, right?" Shen Yu said with a grin.
"This is a space pouch, but we call it the Taibai bag. It’s small, very cute, right?"
"It has quite a bit of storage space and can be used to carry items. It’s very handy."
"This was a reward for my brother when he broke through to the organ-level. We’ll all have one someday!"
Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.
"Impressive," Han nodded. While he had heard about space equipment before, seeing it in person was a different experience altogether. He hoped the great Qiankun Tree would drop one for him soon.
The Water Protection Pearl shard had cooled down, so diving again would just be serving the water beasts a meal. The trio decided to leave.
"Seven days to reach this level? To be that strong already?!"
After hearing about Han’s feats from his sister, Shen Long was shocked.
"Impressive, truly impressive," Shen Long slapped Han’s shoulder, then his eyes sparked with excitement.
"No way. Junior Brother, we definitely have to spar. I need to experience the power of a genius like you."
"What? That little punk Yang Xing dared to lay a hand on Junior Brother? And that scoundrel Long Yun dares to cause trouble?"
Shen Long’s anger flared. "Once I get back, I’ll go to the Tenglong Martial Arts Hall and teach Long Yun a lesson. No one messes with the people of Taibai Martial Arts!"
Along the way, Shen Long kept on about his plans for confrontation. Han was starting to understand what his second senior brother was like—stubborn, hot-headed, and in short, a pure martial artist.
No wonder Senior Brother Zhang Yuan Tao was usually the one handling the affairs at the Taibai Martial Arts Hall.
Back at the hall, Shen Long took out many beast corpses from his Taibai bag. There were even some from the first three realms of martial arts, which would be used as food for Han and the others. Some rare parts could be made into weapons, making them quite valuable.
He also handed several spirit herbs to Bai Ruoyue for distribution, as he no longer needed them—being at the organ-level, they didn’t help him much anymore.
"Second Brother, looks like you had quite the harvest after spending half a month in Black Mountain," Zhang Yuan Tao commented with a smile.
"Not bad," Shen Long replied, his tone slightly disappointed. "I found some really good stuff, but I couldn’t get to it."
"What did you find?" Bai Ruoyue asked.
"A Bone Grinding Flower. It already has fruit."
"B-Bone Grinding Flower?" Bai Ruoyue’s eyes lit up.
"Yeah, it's a treasure," Shen Long sighed. "But there were two fierce tigers guarding it, beasts comparable to the Bone Refining realm. I didn’t have a chance to get near."
"The Bone Grinding Flower is a spirit herb that helps martial artists refine their bones," Shen Yu quietly explained to Han.
"Both Master Sister and my brother are in the organ realm, and the next step for them is bone refinement. The Bone Grinding Flower is incredibly useful for them."
"Even the fruit is one of the best medicines for refining tendons and veins."
Han understood. It was related to cultivation after the organ realm.
"With my strength, I can easily handle a Bone Refining beast," Bai Ruoyue mused. She clearly wanted that Bone Grinding Flower.
"Of course, my brother can have his share too," she added.
"Master, please intervene. It’s dangerous to enter Black Mountain now," Shen Long said.
"My father went into Black Mountain a few days ago. I don’t know when he’ll be back."
"Your father went into Black Mountain too?" Shen Long frowned. "Then we can’t go for now."
"What's going on inside?"
"Chaos. Complete chaos. Many of the beasts that should be staying in their lairs have come out to roam. There are also strange creatures, even ghosts. Many martial artists have died."
Shen Long seemed to shudder at the memory. "I ran into a demon once. Just a glance was enough to terrify me. I ran without daring to look back."
"I wasn’t planning to leave, but the situation in Black Mountain is too risky."
"Demon?"
Han had heard Bai Ruoyue mention them before.
They were like beasts, but unlike the wild and chaotic water beasts, demons were intelligent and extremely cunning. Some could even take human form.
The fox and the white snake from the stories—those were demons.
After hearing Shen Long's tale, Bai Ruoyue also decided against going to Black Mountain.
Han, however, felt uneasy. He had gone to Black Mountain during the day, and now it was in chaos. Could something have happened to Master?
"Senior Sister, after half a month in Black Mountain, I feel like I’ve improved!"
"Come on, let’s have a spar!"
Shen Long smoothly shifted the topic, looking at Bai Ruoyue with intense fighting spirit.
Bai Ruoyue rolled her eyes slightly.
"Suddenly remembered I have things to deal with at the martial arts hall. I’ll leave first," Zhang Yuan Tao disappeared without another word.
Su Chang’an didn’t say anything and just slipped away.
"I need to check on the apprentices." He Feng tugged on Han before leaving.
"Junior Brother, should we go together?"
"Huh? Sure, sure."
Soon, everyone had left, leaving only the Shen siblings and Bai Ruoyue behind.
"Fifth Senior Brother, you really think Second Senior Brother has a chance against Master Sister?"
Bai Ruoyue was recognized as the strongest of the younger generation in Black Cloud Town. Shen Long was a few years older than her, but still considered part of the same generation.
"Of course not," He Feng laughed helplessly. "But Second Brother is just like that."
"If we don’t leave now, after he’s done with Master Sister, he’ll want to spar with us too."
"If Master were here, he’d be next."
"…"
Sounds just like Second Senior Brother!