Star Martial Soaring Cloud

Wang Xiao, still carrying the corpse on his shoulder, froze on the spot like a nail, his pupils shrinking as he stared intently at the figure that suddenly appeared in front of the bamboo house.

The wind at the valley entrance carried the coolness of the green bamboo, sweeping across the back of Wang Xiao's neck, making the hairs on his body stand on end—not from the cold, but from a bone-chilling terror.

During his time on the island, he had always hoped to encounter some cultivators from Kyushu, but when that hope came true, it only made him feel terrified.

The warning traps at the valley entrance were intact. Neither the vine-woven warning net, nor the pit filled with bamboo spikes, nor the trigger-type stone mechanism showed any signs of being touched.

And so she stood silently in front of her bamboo house.

How did they manage to do that? Was the trap too simple, or were their methods too bizarre?

Wang Xiao's heart was in turmoil. His fingers, gripping the broken leg, tightened slightly. He subconsciously circulated his internal energy, and an invisible water curtain quietly appeared around his body, ready to deal with any unexpected situation.

Just as his nerves were on edge, the woman in front of the bamboo house waved to him with a smile on her face.

The movements were gentle and natural, without the slightest hostility. Instead, they carried an indescribable familiarity, like the relief of an old mother who knew in advance when her son would return, eagerly waiting at the village entrance; or like the unconcealed joy and tenderness of a wife who suddenly saw her husband return from a long journey.

"You're finally back!" The woman's voice was clear and melodious, like a mountain spring in the forest, with a hint of joy. "My name is Lin Yueyao. I come from the Southern Frontier. I came across this elegant bamboo house while traveling, so I waited here and asked to stay the night with you."

As she spoke, she walked briskly towards Wang Xiao, her steps light and her face always bearing a warm, spring-like smile. Her gaze fell on the carcass on Wang Xiao's shoulder, a genuine surprise flashing in her eyes: "Good heavens, such a huge prey! Don't worry, you won't be staying for nothing; I'll treat you to a feast tonight!"

Before she finished speaking, she reached out to help Wang Xiao with the weight on his shoulders: "Let me lend a hand, this thing looks really heavy."

The other party not only had her eye on her bamboo house, but also on the food on her shoulder. Strangely, Wang Xiaosheng felt no malice in her sincere smile and frank tone. Instead, he felt an indescribable warmth, like a ray of sunshine in the cold winter, which dispelled his fear.

"Lu Yang, a cultivator from Zhongzhou." Wang Xiao subconsciously stepped aside, not out of defensiveness, but simply because the other party was a woman.

His gaze fell on her outstretched hands, which were extremely rough. Her palms were covered with calluses, and there were several small, unhealed wounds on her knuckles. Some dirt that was difficult to wash off remained under her fingernails.

It was simply unbelievable that this was the hand of a fish-leaping cultivator, let alone a woman's hand.

Lin Yueyao's appearance is not outstanding; she is inconspicuous in a crowd. Apart from her pair of bright and sincere eyes, there is little about her that makes her memorable.

Her attire was extremely simple, a faded coarse cloth dress with several worn marks on the hem, and an old cloth bag tied around her waist. She didn't look like a cultivator at all, but rather like an ordinary woman traveling in the mountains.

"Brother Lu Yang, it's an honor to meet you!" Lin Yueyao didn't care about his wariness at all, and still smiled. "You rest first, I'll take care of the game. Roasted meat is the most delicious."

Upon reaching the stream, Lin Yueyao pulled a short knife from a cloth pouch at her waist. The knife had an antique design, but its blade was exceptionally sharp, clearly the result of years of use and sharpening.

Lin Yueyao squatted down, and with a slight twist of her wrist, the short knife danced in her hand like a nimble snake.

She first precisely cut the skin, then skillfully peeled off the entire animal hide, her movements clean and efficient, without the slightest hesitation.

Next, she used a short knife to cut open the abdomen of the thug, carefully removed the internal organs, drained the blood into the ditch beside it, and then carefully washed the thug's flesh with the stream water, cleaning even the impurities in the crevices of the bones.

Skinning, removing internal organs, cleaning blood, and cutting meat into pieces—the series of movements were fluid and skillful, leaving Wang Xiao speechless.

He had cultivated in Seven Star Mountain since childhood, and his survival skills in the mountains were not bad, but compared to Lin Yueyao, he seemed a bit clumsy.

Lin Yueyao seemed to have a natural talent for handling prey. Every cut was just right, preserving the maximum amount of meat while easily removing excess fascia.

"Brother Lu, could you please find me a few thick bamboo branches and some dry firewood, the drier the better?" Lin Yueyao said without looking up, her short knife still cutting the meat rapidly.

Afterwards, Lin Yueyao found a few thick green bamboo branches next to the bamboo house. With a slight movement of her fingertips, she quickly cut off the branches and polished them smooth, then evenly strung the cut pieces of meat onto the bamboo branches.

After doing all that, she dug a shallow pit in the open space, filled it with dry branches and leaves, took out a tinderbox, and gently blew on it, causing the flames to leap up. Then she surrounded the fire with stones, set up several sturdy wooden racks, placed the skewered pieces of meat on the racks, and began to roast them. The whole process was completed in one go, without the slightest delay.

Wang Xiao had lived in Qixing Mountain for ten years and thought he was quite skilled at handling wild prey. However, watching Lin Yueyao's actions, he found himself completely unable to help. Her movements were not only practiced but also carried a composure born from long-term interaction with nature, as if these skills were ingrained in her very being.

"Miss Lin, your technique is quite skillful." Wang Xiao asked tentatively as he added firewood to the fire, trying to get some information out of her.

"Back in my hometown, I often had to process game, so I got the hang of it over time," Lin Yueyao replied with a smile as she turned the meat on the grill. Her tone was relaxed and natural. "Brother Lu, you've built this bamboo house really well. It's sturdy and well-hidden. You must know your stuff. If it weren't for this exquisite bamboo house, I wouldn't dare to linger here."

"I only know a little bit about wilderness survival skills; I can't compare to Miss Lin," Wang Xiao replied casually, his gaze falling on the cloth bag in her hand. He asked curiously, "Did Miss Lin also come to Demon Island for the Immortal Epiphyllum Flower?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yueyao gently shook her head, flipped the pieces of meat on the grill, and said with a smile, "No, I'm not interested in the Immortal Ephemeral Flower right now, nor have I thought about breaking through to the Dragon Gate Divine Realm."

"Huh?" Wang Xiao was taken aback, his eyes full of doubt. The Demon Island was fraught with danger, and few cultivators would dare to venture in unless they were looking for a great opportunity. He really couldn't figure out why the woman in front of him had come to the island.

"I came here for the Frost Lotus." Lin Yueyao's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable firmness. "I live on the southern border, a place shrouded in miasma year-round. Our tribe has spent our entire lives fighting against miasma. I've heard that the Frost Lotus can dispel miasma, and it grows in the Jade Lake on Demon Island."

Wang Xiao's heart skipped a beat. He had never heard of the "Mysterious Frost Green Lotus," nor was there any record of it in the Classic of Mountains and Seas. His brows furrowed slightly: "Mysterious Frost Green Lotus? Does such a thing truly exist on the Demon Island?"

Lin Yueyao smiled somewhat embarrassedly and scratched her head: "Actually, I don't know much about Demon Island. I only found out the location of Xuan Yu Lake from a tattered ancient book. The book only recorded that Xuan Shuang Qing Lian grows there and mentioned that it can dispel miasma. But this is the hope for the tribe to continue its lineage. For my family, for the tribe, even if there is only a sliver of a possibility, I have to try."

Just then, Lin Yueyao seemed to remember something and started rummaging through the cloth bag at her waist.

Her cloth bag didn't look big, but inside it was like a treasure chest. She pulled out several items one after another. "Look at this, this is a Danxia fruit I brought from the Southern Frontier. Crush it and spread it on the meat to enhance its flavor and aroma." Lin Yueyao picked up a bright red fruit and introduced it to Wang Xiao. Then she used a short knife to crush the fruit and spread it evenly on the meat.

Next, she took out a handful of green herbs: "This is a fragrant herb. It can not only remove the fishy smell of meat, but also clear heat and detoxify. In our southern Xinjiang, we use it every time we roast meat." After that, she took out several different kinds of herbs and fruits, some of which could remove the fishy smell, some of which could enhance the flavor, and some of which could nourish vital energy.

As she explained, she skillfully added the seasonings to the pieces of meat on the grill, her movements methodical and efficient.

Lin Yueyao knew the usage and dosage of each ingredient like the back of her hand, obviously due to years of use.

As various seasonings are added, a rich aroma gradually spreads, unlike the charred aroma of ordinary roasted meat. Instead, it carries the sweetness of Danxia fruit, the fragrance of fresh herbs, and the mellowness of the roasted meat itself, making one's appetite whetted.

"Alright, it's almost ready to eat!" Lin Yueyao skillfully turned the grill, and when the pork was grilled to a golden brown and glistening with an enticing aroma, she used a short knife to cut off the largest piece of pork thigh and handed it to Wang Xiao. "Brother Lu Yang, you try it first and see how it tastes."

Wang Xiao took the braised meat; it was warm to the touch, and a rich aroma wafted up. He took a big bite; the meat was tender and juicy, melting in his mouth, without any of the gamey smell of the exotic beast, but instead carrying a faint fragrance—the taste was excellent. He couldn't help but nod: "Delicious! Miss Lin, your cooking skills are truly superb."

"I'm glad you like it!" Lin Yueyao smiled brightly when she saw him eating happily. She also cut off a small piece of meat and ate it slowly.

While eating the barbecue, Wang Xiao continued chatting with Lin Yueyao and gradually learned more about her.

"Is the miasma in southern Xinjiang really that terrible?" Wang Xiao asked curiously.

When the miasma was mentioned, Lin Yueyao's smile gradually faded, and her eyes became more serious and resolute.

She paused for a moment, her fingertips unconsciously tightening around the bamboo skewer of roasted meat, and slowly began to speak: "The Southern Frontier is primitive, sparsely populated and vast. Our tribe wandered for many years before finally finding a habitable place, but we have to constantly face the threat of miasma. The miasma is extremely poisonous; ordinary people will die if they inhale too much, and even cultivators find it difficult to survive in it; some miasma can even take human form, and their cultivation is unfathomable."

"For the tribe to grow stronger and for its people to survive, the struggle against the miasma has never ceased. Since my grandfather's generation, the tribe's ancestors have been searching for spiritual plants that can purify the miasma. My father was the chieftain and the tribe's strongest cultivator, and my two older brothers were also very powerful, guarding the border and fighting year-round. But the miasma grew thicker and stronger... Three years ago, my father was severely injured by a giant python formed from the miasma and couldn't hold on; a year ago, my eldest brother died after his meridians were corroded by the miasma while protecting the tribe's children; half a year ago, my second brother went to find a elixir that could cure the miasma and never returned."

At this point, Lin Yueyao's voice choked slightly, and her eyes reddened, but she quickly took a deep breath, blinked hard, and forced back her tears. Her gaze became even more determined: "Now, it's my turn. I must find the Xuan Shuang Qing Lian. It is the hope of the tribe, and it is my promise to my ancestors and my people."

Wang Xiao was shocked. Looking at the seemingly frail girl before him, an indescribable sense of admiration welled up within him. He found it hard to imagine what kind of people in the miasma-filled southern borderlands would resolutely face death, just for a little peace after their deaths; and how this girl had taken on the heavy burden of her family and embarked on this perilous and unpredictable road alone.

The stories of Yu Gong moving mountains and Jingwei filling the sea are no more impressive than this!

He finally understood why Lin Yueyao was able to bypass all his traps so quietly.

Because she grew up in the primeval forests of southern Xinjiang, fighting against miasma and monsters, such a person was already capable of supporting herself on her own.

Amidst the myriad lights of homes around the world, someone wields a sword and goes against the tide;

At home, words of affection are few but words of heartfelt sentiment are abundant; outside, heavy responsibilities are shouldered.

With such a cultivator, the Southern Frontier is fortunate; the Nine Provinces are honored.

This is how cultivators in this world should be.

"Did you enter Demon Island as a rogue cultivator?" Wang Xiao asked. He knew that most of the spots on Demon Island were monopolized by major forces, and it was extremely difficult for rogue cultivators to obtain a spot. Mentioning this might make her a little happier.

"Yes." Lin Yueyao nodded, a hint of pride on her face. "Nine out of ten spots on the Demon Island in the Southern Frontier were taken by people from the Rainbow Robe Immortal Palace. They are the only major cultivation family in the Southern Frontier, and their power is immense. This time, they had ten spots, and after going through countless hardships, I passed the competition they held, squeezed out a disciple from the Rainbow Robe Immortal Palace, and snatched one of the spots. When I go back this time, I will still have a chance to become a disciple of the Rainbow Robe Immortal Palace."

"Congratulations, you can definitely do it!" Wang Xiao felt a little regretful; she shouldn't have asked about the miasma.

"That's why the people of the Rainbow Palace don't like me much," Lin Yueyao said with a wry smile. "Since I came to the Demon Island, I've always been alone, with no one to accompany me. I know that the Demon Island is full of dangers, and it's dangerous to be alone, but I really have no choice. I must obtain the Frost Lotus."

Looking at her, Wang Xiao felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

He could imagine how lonely and helpless she must have felt, adrift alone on the island, facing all sorts of dangers and the unknown.

The reason she was waiting in front of her bamboo house must be that she was truly exhausted and could not hold on any longer.

If she hadn't been desperate, given her personality, she would never have rashly asked a stranger for lodging.

After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "Miss Lin, I was just about to explore the central region of the Demon Island. The central region is shrouded in miasma. Since the Frost Lotus is so miraculous, I wonder if you could take me with you to the Jade Lake?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yueyao's eyes flashed with surprise at first, but then she understood the reason and solemnly shook her head: "Brother Lu Yang, I appreciate your intentions, but the search for the Xuan Shuang Qing Lian is fraught with unknown dangers, and I do not wish to involve you in it or burden you. This is my mission, and I should complete it myself."

"Miss Lin, you flatter me." Wang Xiao smiled gently. "I originally wanted to learn more about the Demon Island. Traveling with you would also allow me to see the Xuan Frost Green Lotus and broaden my horizons. It wouldn't be a burden for me."

After saying that, Wang Xiao didn't wait for Lin Yueyao to refuse again, and said, "You can stay in the bamboo house tonight. I'll make some preparations outside and we'll travel together tomorrow."

Lin Yueyao quickly waved her hand: "This is unacceptable! I have already troubled you. How can it be that the host rests outside while the guest stays inside? I am used to sleeping outdoors. I can just find a place outside to spend the night."

"Aren't you even going to give me a chance to make friends?" Since Lin Yueyao refused with the courtesy due to a guest, Wang Xiao tried to break it up with the sentiment of friendship.

Lin Yueyao was taken aback by this kind persistence. Looking into Wang Xiao's sincere eyes, a warm feeling welled up in her heart. She solemnly extended her hand and said, "My name is Lin Yueyao. It's a pleasure to meet a friend like you."

As night deepened and the moonlight shone brightly, the only sounds in the valley were the babbling of the stream and the rustling of the wind through the bamboo leaves.

Wang Xiaojing sat outside, but he was not sleepy at all. He could clearly hear the faint snoring coming from inside the bamboo house from time to time. The snoring was soft and even, indicating that the person was sleeping very soundly.

"My friend is really exhausted."

A breeze rustled through the bamboo grove, bringing a refreshing coolness. The crackling campfire illuminated his face. Though they had just met, she had completely let down her guard, as if they were old friends.

As soon as Jinfeng Yulu met, they won but countless on earth.

Nothing in this world is more beautiful than this.