Watching the Mountain

Ye Qingxue gripped the hilt of her sword, slowly backing away.

But it was too late.

A low roar echoed from deep within the forest.

Immediately after, a massive dark shadow burst out.

It was an Iron-Backed Bear of the Purple Mansion Stage. It was twice the size of an ordinary bear, its back covered in thick Iron Armor, its eyes as red as blood.

It stared at Ye Qingxue, a low growl rumbling in its throat.

Ye Qingxue’s heart sank.

’A Purple Mansion Stage Demon Beast... I can’t handle this.’

She turned and fled, her steps as swift as the wind.

But the Iron-Backed Bear was faster.

Its massive body crashed recklessly through the mountain forest, sending trees toppling in all directions. In the blink of an eye, it was right behind her.

Ye Qingxue gritted her teeth, spun around, and thrust her sword forward.

The tip of the sword struck the Iron-Backed Bear’s back, producing the sound of clashing metal.

It didn’t even leave a white mark.

The Iron-Backed Bear swiped a paw at her, the powerful gust of wind it generated stinging her cheeks.

She dodged to the side, twisted her blade, and aimed for its eyes.

The Iron-Backed Bear closed its eyes, the scales on its eyelids blocking the strike.

Enraged, it roared and clapped its paws together.

The force sent Ye Qingxue flying backward. She slammed into a tree, a sweet taste rising in her throat as she spat out a mouthful of blood.

She used her sword to pull herself up, her heart turning to ice as she watched the Iron-Backed Bear close in step by step.

’I can’t beat it.’

’I really can’t beat it.’

She had used every trick she had: Swordsmanship, Arrays, and Talismans.

But to this Purple Mansion Stage Demon Beast, it was like she was just tickling it.

The Iron-Backed Bear walked up to her and looked down, its crimson eyes filled with mockery.

It raised its paw, preparing to strike.

Ye Qingxue closed her eyes.

Images flashed through her mind.

The day her master, Nine Profound True Monarch, brought her back to the Sect, he had crouched down, looked into her eyes, and said, "From now on, this is our home."

When her master taught her how to cultivate, he would always say gently, "Slow and steady."

And then there was Ye Shan.

The way he grinned, the focused look on his face when he practiced his swordsmanship, the matter-of-fact expression he wore when he was bragging.

The last image settled on that day at the Martial Arts Arena. As the sun set, he had walked through the crowd to stand before her, his eyes startlingly bright, and told her, "Hurry and call me Senior Brother."

She had.

That "Senior Brother," as light as the wind, had set off a tidal wave in her heart.

’I’m sorry, Master.’

’I’m sorry, Senior Brother.’

’I’m going to die.’

Ye Qingxue said silently in her heart.

Then she heard a voice.

A voice so familiar it couldn’t be more so.

"You dare harm Ye Shan’s junior sister?"

The voice was cold, as cold as wintry ice.

Ye Qingxue’s eyes snapped open.

She saw a figure in green standing in front of her.

It was Ye Shan.

His back was to her. He held an ordinary Iron Sword, its blade shimmering with a faint green light.

When the Iron-Backed Bear saw him, it roared and lunged.

Ye Shan didn’t move.

Only when the Iron-Backed Bear was right in front of him did he raise his hand and slash down with his sword.

There was no dazzling flash of sword light, no surging Spiritual Power.

It was just an ordinary strike.

But as the sword fell, the Iron-Backed Bear’s massive body suddenly froze.

Then, it split down the middle, cleaving neatly in two.

Fresh blood gushed out, staining the ground red.

But Ye Shan’s sword hadn’t stopped.

Sword Qi crisscrossed through the air, shredding the Iron-Backed Bear’s corpse to pieces. It became a mist of blood that was then swept up by the Sword Qi and dissipated completely.

Not even a speck remained.

Only after all this did Ye Shan turn around.

He looked at Ye Qingxue, his eyes still startlingly bright.

"Are you all right?" he asked.

Ye Qingxue shook her head. She wanted to speak, but no sound came out.

She looked at Ye Shan, at the hand that held the sword, steady as a mountain. She looked at his face, at that usual, matter-of-fact expression he always wore.

She knew he was angry.

He didn’t show it, but she could feel it.

An anger simmering beneath the calm was more terrifying than anything.

Seeing she was all right, Ye Shan walked over and crouched down in front of her.

"Can you walk?" he asked.

Ye Qingxue nodded and tried to stand, but her legs gave out and she sat back down.

Ye Shan frowned, then reached out and lifted her into his arms.

It was a single, fluid motion.

Yet Ye Qingxue froze.

Resting in his embrace, she could smell the faint scent of fresh grass on him.

His heartbeat was steady, a THUMP-THUMP-THUMP against her eardrums.

Her own heart was also racing.

So fast it felt like it would burst from her chest.

She lifted her head and looked at Ye Shan’s profile.

The light of the setting sun fell on his face, casting a warm golden layer over his sharp features.

His eyelashes were long, casting small shadows on his lower eyelids.

His lips were pressed tightly together, as if he were suppressing something.

As Ye Qingxue watched him, a sudden impulse rose in her heart.

An impulse she had suppressed for a long time but could no longer hold back.

She opened her mouth, her voice as light as the wind.

"Senior Brother."

"Hm?"

"Be my Dao Companion."

The moment the words left her mouth, she herself was stunned.

Ye Shan was stunned, too.

He looked down at her, his eyes wide, as if he had heard something unbelievable.

After two seconds, he subconsciously replied, "Okay."

Then he snapped back to his senses, his hands loosened, and he dropped Ye Qingxue onto the ground.

"Wait, Junior Sister, what did you just say?" he asked frantically, his voice cracking.

Sitting on the ground, Ye Qingxue looked at his flustered state and suddenly laughed.

Her eyes curved into crescents, the corners of her mouth lifted, and her whole face lit up.

This was the first time she had ever seen her Senior Brother so scared.

This Senior Brother of hers, who was always bragging, always thinking he was the best in the world, always saying infuriating things, was now standing before her at a complete loss, like a child who had done something wrong.