When a sword cultivator attacks, their eyes are the last thing you focus on. Any cultivator with a sword will be worth his salt. Li Muchen’s lesson replayed in Kexin’s head. There is a technique called Thousand Yard Stare that every cultivator learns to get an edge in the fight, however, given you are only starting that is an advanced territory. So, I’ll teach you all the One Yard Stare instead.

That lesson was a weird one even if it came from Li Muchen. The Thousand Yard Stare as he explained took in all information about the opponent and the surroundings through sight, however, the One Yard stare only focused on the opponent’s movements, a single part of the picture. That being the movement of their shoulders and hips to figure out where they would attack. But that wasn’t all he taught them about one-on-one situations.

The initial rush of the woman was aimed towards Wang Yang. Kexin pushed him to disrupt that, thus the woman turned towards her. The sharp turn limited the number of strikes she could do. Kexin confirmed the sword raised towards the right shoulder, the options were a simple downwards slash or a diagonal slash to the lower left from the top right.

Given the speed of the woman, Kexin didn’t have enough time to take her sword out. Dodging being her only option. She moved to her left rather than stepping back to remove the first option.

Crimson shell, Activate. The bracelet around her left arm shone with a red hue. It created a shell in front, shielding her torso and head.

This was her trump card. An artifact her master bestowed upon his disciples before they left the sect.

The sword’s tip scratched against the crimson barrier like nails on a board. The sparks died down in an instant. The momentum carried the sword and the wielder down left. Her back now exposed to Kexin.

A swordsman is most vulnerable after their swing. So, taking advantage Kexin thrust the sword that finally came into her hand.

The thrust aimed for the opponent’s neck. A clean and straight attack that she had practiced over thousands of times. Given that and the woman facing away, the attack should land without problem.

However, the woman moved backward. No, it would be clear to say that she started to move the moment Kexin thrust her sword. As if she had eyes on her back. Without missing a beat her sword moved at an angle to target Kexin’s sword hand.

To avoid losing her fingers, Kexin let go of the sword and pulled her hand back. A cut on her palm burning with intensity. She jumped back to gain some distance.

The purple-haired woman kicked the airborne sword back at its wielder. The sword struck the barrier giving birth to sparks. Kexin’s hair stood on end when the sparks covered her vision. By the time she noticed the woman had arrived in front of her. Her sword already descending from above.

It's no problem, this shield can block the attacks of Formation Realm cultivat—! Kexin’s vision sank before she could finish her thought. A dull pain rising from her legs.

In the moment her eyes latched on the sword above, the woman swept her legs. With a thud, Kexin back struck the pressed dirt road. Her head spun and the shield vanished with her focus breaking.

“Guh!” She grunted as the woman’s foot landed on her shoulder.

The woman’s sharp eyes glinted with the promise to break crush Kexin’s shoulder if she so much as took a long breath.

Looking down on Kexin, with the sword pointed at her neck. For the first time, her lips parted.

“A quality work made with ore of equally rare quality.” A bell-like voice, clear and concise just like her attacks. “Given your skill, I suppose I have to believe it now.”

“What are you talking about?” Kexin’s words were measured as the woman stepped away from her.

“No need to be so tense, I won’t attack you anymore. Especially after confirming that.” The woman’s light purple eyes landed on the white token in Kexin’s hand.

“Master’s token?” Wang Yang muttered, confused but still gripped the sword handle while helping Kexin up.

“Yes, there isn’t anyone in the Orthodox Sect that would intentionally attack his disciples.” The woman’s sheathed her sword, a sense of pride and coldness in her. “Unless they are foolish enough to oppose the Demon in White.”

“But you still attacked us.” Wang Yang looked at the blood dripping from Kexin’s palm and the back of her head.

“I had to make sure that you weren’t impersonators. I’ve had the misfortune to run into them recently.” The woman retrieved the black sword and returned it to the owner.

Kexin understood the situation, her aggression dying down. This woman didn’t need them to lower their guards with conversation. She had enough strength and skill to kill them right there. The impersonator checking also made sense, she had faced them in the caravan attack.

“Wang Yang, it is fine. She isn’t an enemy.” She said bandaging her wound, it wasn’t deep because of the woman’s mercy.

“…I’ll keep it out just in case.” His answer almost made her chuckle. But Kexin turned her attention to the woman.

“Is there a reason you are here? We will be reporting this to our Master, so it would help in being out of each other’s way.” With the cat out of the bag, Kexin decided to start the next step, which was intimidating the other person now that she knew of the connection.

“Fear not, I am not here for the same reason you are. I am only using this village as a rest stop.” Cultivators going for the same treasure always bred disputes, thus she tried to make her reasons clear.

“Are your companions from the Purple Cloud Sect in the house there?” However, Kexin’s question caused the woman’s expression to turn fierce.

“How do you know that?” She had already redrawn her sword, ready to attack.

“Calm down. Even if you are dressed like a villager your storage ring is the one only Purple Cloud Sect’s disciples can use.” Kexin spoke even faster to avoid confrontation.

Li Muchen had taught them ways of identifying cultivators from the major factions, the easiest way was to look at the details on the storage ring. For the Purple Cloud Sect, it would be a black ring with a purple cloud, which the girl had forgotten to camouflage.

“And you have only came out when we approached the house. It is almost like you are defending your companions. Which could mean that they are either asleep or incapacitated.” Kexin said.

“T…That’s correct.” The woman faltered, realizing her mistake.

“So, is there something we can help you with?” Kexin smiled. Trying her best to be friendly, unlike Wang Yang.

The woman opened her mouth for a moment but closed it again to stop the words from coming out. Kexin notices the woman clench her fist before she decides to speak.

“If possible… I would like ask for your Master’s help.” The power behind her voice dropped for a moment.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“Alright, I’ll contact Master and ask him about it.” The matter looked severe so Kexin didn’t waste time.

“Too late, I am already here.” But Li Muchen’s voice came from behind her before the transmission connected.

“Master, please stop appearing behind me.” Wang Yang would’ve swung the sword if Li Muchen didn’t hold his shoulder to stop him.

“How long have you been here?” Kexin noticed the shock on the woman’s face too, none of them noticed his presence.

“From the moment you entered the formation.” He said.

“Then why didn’t you help us?” Wang Yang asked.

“Since you two have been doing well in practice, I wanted to see you in action where it really matters. And that kid wouldn’t hurt you badly after noticing the Disciple Tokens, even if she suspected them to be fakes.” Muchen already knew of the woman and her companion’s arrival in the village.

He waited for the disciples to encounter them and see the result. Which was why he didn’t make contact with the other cultivator and kept his disciples in the dark.

“Master… that habit of yours… no never mind.” Kexin stopped herself as her Master should’ve already accounted for everything. That’s how he was.

“It is good to see that you are doing well, kid. This makes it the second time we’ve met, right? Is Gu Yue doing good?” Muchen moved to the woman who had finally gotten out of her shock.

“Indeed. My Master is healthy as always, but busy. She had greatly regretted not attending the last East Martial Meet.” With cupped hands, she did a martial bow towards him.

“Tell her not to worry. That matter was been smoothed over.” Giving a small smile, Muchen turned to his disciples. “This is Gu Yingyue from the Purple Cloud Sect, and she is the only disciple of the Second Abode’s Matriarch.”

“My name is Gu Yingyue. Although the situation isn’t ideal, it is a pleasure to meet you two.” Yingyue gave a short bow to the two even when she was the senior.

“We understand, my name is Wu Kexin and this is Wang Yang.” Kexin said with a martial salute, giving her proper respect.

Wang Yang followed without a word and finally put his sword away.

Seeing them finish their introductions, Li Muchen turns to Yingyue for the main topic.

“So, what do you need my help on?”

“…I think it would be better if you saw it in person.” With that, she led the way.

The three followed her inside the mud house, they passed through the sparsely furnished first floor. The family of four having their dinner didn’t notice them at all.

“Is it because of the Formation?” Kexin asked as they took the stairs to the second floor.

“Yes, the concealment formation is a helpful one. I also used it so that no one in the vicinity noticed the battle, so you can continue your interactions with them as normal.” Yingyue said.

“So, you knew about us from the start, huh.” Kexin almost let out a dry laugh. This woman deliberately attacked from the front to sound them out and confirm their identities.

“Yes, but I still failed to confirm Senior Li’s arrival.” She said.

“That shows your lack of practice, otherwise you’d have a little more chance of catching me.” He said in a droll tone.

“Only a little chance, is it?” Yingyue shook her head as they arrived on the second floor.

Rather than a floor, it was a single room with no windows. A better description would be an attic with a bed. A woman with bluish hair lay on that single bed under the illumination of the oil lamp, asleep but restless. Beads of sweat slid down the fair face and pained grunts left her pink lips.

“She’s…” Kexin couldn’t help but notice the reddening hands of the woman.

“She is the third elder of the Second Abode, Zhi Rou. She got poisoned while protecting me from the Demonic cultivators.” Yingyue stood next to the bed, her eyes flashing with anger at her helplessness. “It has been four days and her condition keeps worsening. Now, she can’t even walk so I carried her to this village. We’ve been unable to receive any help because of the recent chaos. And no matter how many times I administer the antidote it just doesn’t work.”

Li Muchen stared at the Peach blossom mark marring Zhi Rou’s forehead. It was about 3 centimeters in diameter with five petals slightly overlapping each other to form the flower. However, unlike the usual lush and light pink flowers, this Peach blossom was pitch black, save for one petal that was halfway there.

Li Muchen checked Zhi Rou’s vitals and took her temperature. Next, he used a needle to draw a drop of her blood and added it to a glass tube filled with a clear liquid. The blood drop immersed in the liquid morphed into darker shades of purple with pinkish spots.

“This is a variation of Black Blossom Poison the Dark Petal House uses. The normal antidote wouldn’t work. It has progressed towards the last stages, but worry not I can make the antidote given a few hours.” A poison that enhanced one’s base desires and drove them mad. It was a poison that claimed many lives and destroyed many more.

“You have my endless gratitude.” Yingyue’s tense face eased a little.

However, she couldn’t relax because of Li Muchen’s dry tone as he continued.

“If you want to preserve her image in your eyes, you better leave the formation.” That wasn’t a request, but an order.

“…Ok.” With a slight hesitation, Yingyue chose to leave.

It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Li Muchen, but she was unable to leave the suffering woman alone even for a moment.

“We’ll be going too.” Kexin and Wang Yang followed her out evacuating the family below, leaving only Li Muchen in the house with Zhi Rou.

“You can open your eyes.” He said causing the woman to stop shaking.

The Black Blossom Poison was a troublesome one, there were many variations of it used as it was a go-to for the Demonic Cultivators. The one used on Zhi Rou was specifically made to corrupt captured cultivators and humans. However, for the first time, someone had resisted the poison for so long thus worsening the effects.

“You… look so good…. Ah~!” A thick haze of desires covered Zhi Rou’s green eyes. But before she spoke, she tackled Li Muchen to the floor her face clouded with her primal desire.

This variation of Black Blossom multiplied the person’s desires several times making them act in ways they wouldn’t normally. A dirty method Demonic Cultivators liked to use, it made controlling the targets and extracting information easier.

There were two scenarios where the poison would work even better when lust was involved.

First, the poisoned is faced with someone they like.

Second, the poisoned is faced with a person of extraordinary looks.

Zhi Rou was too intense for it to be only one of the scenarios.

“Senior Li… I’ve always… always…” Gasping, she closed the distance between their faces.

This is going to be troublesome.