“It’s the Longarm Demon Ape!” No one knew which disciple shouted first. At the foot of the peak, Boundless Peak’s crowd scattered like frightened sparrows before a storm. Faces blanched like paper. “Run!”

Roar—

Savage demonic miasma tore through the air like a typhoon ripping sails. One bellow from the Longarm Demon Ape, and every disciple under Foundation Establishment, sixth stage, went chalk-white, blood beading at the lips like red dew. Even those at peak Foundation staggered, heads ringing, Spirit Energy blown apart like ash on the wind.

A Nascent Soul, third stage beast was, to them, a god of slaughter walking out of thunderclouds.

“Wasn’t it chasing Du Fei Yu? How’d it turn back so fast?”

Sword in hand, Zhao Zhan faced that tidal pressure with a face like shifting stormlight. Before he could choose to stand or flee, Nana Toki had already streaked off toward the Longarm Demon Ape like a swallow cutting across rain.

“Azure An!” So it was that woman’s trick again! He watched Nana Toki’s group strut past the beast like a parade under a tiger’s nose, yet not draw a flicker of hate. Heat flared up his spine like fire up a fuse. That woman really was his bane.

Boom!

A boulder fell out of the sky like a fallen star. Disciples fleeing beneath were pulped into a smear, blood and mud mixing into foul swamp. The mountain path howled like a ghost market; in panic, many flared the strongest Spirit Energy of their lives and bolted like startled deer.

But how could they outrun a Nascent Soul beast? Wherever the Longarm Demon Ape passed, blood fell like rain. In a breath, the little peak was dyed red, a mortal hell seen from afar.

“Peak Lord Zhao, save me!” A Boundless Peak disciple, one who used to trade favors with Zhao Zhan, felt the beast’s breath at his back and cried out to the man sprinting ahead. Fear thudded in Zhao Zhan’s chest like a drum; he didn’t even spare a glance. In his mind, one thought hammered like iron: get out of this damned place.

Screams rose and fell like surf. Those at the front wished for a few more legs, like millipedes scrambling out of a fire.

...

By the time Nana Toki led four Gu Zhen Sect disciples back to the earlier cave, Du Fei Yu had been waiting like a pine in winter—quiet and unshaken. Nana Toki had barely stepped in, hadn’t even said hello, when Blue Magpie, who’d been squatting with the System scratching at the dirt with a twig, scampered over and wrapped around her like a clingy cat.

“Yoshi yoshi, good girl.” Like stroking a pet beneath warm lamplight, Nana Toki gave Blue Magpie a gentle head pat. She liked this version of Nesting Phoenix—obedient and clingy, like soft fur against the palm.

She didn’t always like dealing with idiots, but if it was Nesting Phoenix, even brain-dead was fine—like a broken teacup she still kept on the shelf.

System: “...” Why did that sound weird, like a note gone sour on a zither?

Anyway, leaving that aside.

“Peak Lord Du, it’s been a while. Your strength has climbed again.” Sensing Du Fei Yu’s Golden Core, sixth stage, Nana Toki smiled like a moon through clouds. “You found a nice opportunity in the Wasteland.”

“Mhm. It’s a good place to temper one’s blade.” Du Fei Yu didn’t deny it, but he didn’t nod either. He switched currents like a boatman changing oars. “As for earlier... thank you for lending a hand, Peak Lord Lan. I, Du Fei Yu, owe you a favor.”

“Earlier?” Nana Toki’s gaze curved, playful as a fox in snow. “What do you mean?”

“...”

A strange chill drifted through the cave like mist. The four Gu Zhen disciples glanced at each other, lost as birds in fog, not catching a word between these two.

Du Fei Yu felt this woman was still as uncanny as ever, like a shadow that never fell where you expected. Since she wouldn’t admit it, he stopped asking. About the Longarm Demon Ape, both of them knew the water’s depth.

“By the way, Peak Lord Lan, these four are...?” He noticed the four at her side looked unfamiliar, garb not of the Heavenly Ascent Sect.

“They’re disciples of the Gu Zhen Sect. They were just being robbed by Boundless Peak.” Nana Toki drifted a few steps toward the System, opening space for Wang Zhu and the others like drawing back a curtain. “I made a deal and got them out.”

“Gu Zhen Sect? Aren’t they our Heavenly Ascent Sect’s brother sect?” Du Fei Yu’s brows knit like tightened bowstrings. “Boundless Peak ate bear heart and leopard gall? Robbing our own?”

“Probably saw treasure and grew crooked thoughts.” Nana Toki shrugged, helpless as a willow in wind. “Since you say they’re a brother sect, I’ll leave these fellows to your care.”

Du Fei Yu: “...” You’re Heavenly Ascent too. Why don’t you care for them yourself?

“I’m already hauling a whole caravan. Peak Lord Du, lend a hand. Call it paying back that favor.” Nana Toki’s tone was light, like tossing a pebble into a pond.

Du Fei Yu snorted. “As if Giant Spirit Peak’s disciples don’t need care.”

So be it. He knew nothing good ever came easy around this woman. After a moment’s thought that felt like grinding a whetstone, he nodded, reluctantly but firmly. “Fine. If these Gu Zhen brothers don’t mind, follow me for a while. We’ll watch each other’s backs.”

His Giant Spirit Peak disciples were training along the Wildbeast Wasteland’s outer ring. Maybe they could help the Gu Zhen brothers find their own team, like lanterns finding lanterns in night.

“How about it? Follow him and you’ll be fine.” Nana Toki tipped the four a look. “He looks like a blockhead, but he’s decent—like a rock that doesn’t crack in rain.”

“This...” The four from the Gu Zhen Sect exchanged looks, doubt flickering like wind in grass. Boundless Peak had robbed them first; trusting another batch from the Heavenly Ascent Sect felt like stepping onto thin ice.

“In that case, I, Du, swear upon my heart-demons.” Du Fei Yu’s voice was steady, like iron struck true. “If I harbor ill intent toward you on the road, let heaven strike me with thunder. Let my cultivation be ruined.”

In the cultivation world, a heart-demon oath was a venomous vow, like tying one’s fate to a lightning rod. Break it, and Heavenly Dao thunder falls.

The four, Wang Zhu included, blinked, stunned that Du Fei Yu’s nature was this straightforward, like a blade without burrs.

“In that case, the four of us from the Gu Zhen Sect thank Brother Du.” Wang Zhu came to himself first, stepped forward, and cupped his fists like bowing to a mountain. “When this Wasteland trial ends, I’ll find a chance to repay you.”

“Brother Wang, you’re too polite. We’re brothers; what’s with all the thanks?” Du Fei Yu grinned, easy as sun on stone. “Then come with me back to camp. Peak Lord Lan, we’ll take our leave.”

He turned north with the four in tow, then paused mid-step and looked back, as if remembering a lantern left behind. “Friendly tip, Peak Lord Lan. I heard there’s a natural Body-Tempering Pool near the Longarm Demon Ape’s lair. It’s perfect for body cultivators. If you want to try your luck, here’s a map.”

He tossed the map like a falling leaf, then left without a backward glance, leading the four away.

“...”

“You’ve got the Body-Tempering Pool’s location. Why the long face, like clouds pressing a ridge?” Only after Du Fei Yu and the others vanished beyond sight did the Heavenswallow Serpent slither out from the shadows, movements small and careful, and ask.

“This Wasteland opens once a century. It’s Du Fei Yu’s first time here. Where did he get a map like that?” Nana Toki’s voice was calm as still water, which made it colder. “Even as coincidence, it’s too neat. First Tianqi Yu vanishes. Then Du Fei Yu shows up with timely help and news of a pool beside the ape’s nest. It feels arranged, like chess pieces laid before we stepped on the board.”

“You suspect someone’s pushing from the dark, weaving the net and baiting the hook?”

“...” She didn’t say the word, but her expression admitted it like frost on grass.

“Leave that aside. What about you? Du Fei Yu’s group hasn’t seen you. Why keep hiding like mist in the ravine?”

“They haven’t seen me. But people in the Immortal Realm have seen my human form.” The Heavenswallow Serpent’s worry coiled tight, like a snake around itself. “If they’re captured, or someone rips through their divine sense, our trail gets exposed. If I can hide our tracks, I will. I want a few more quiet days.”

You could see it: that endless hunted life was a winter with no spring.

Nana Toki didn’t answer. She lifted her eyes to the cave mouth, gaze drifting like a leaf on still water.

Lately, she kept slipping into this state. She didn’t know why. Before, it had never happened.

“Host, your mental state seems off.” The System sat beside her with the little twig, voice small as falling ash. “I keep receiving feedback from your mind. Did something happen?”

Nana Toki didn’t respond. Her black eyes went unfocused, still as a statue carved into the cave.

The System didn’t get angry. It kept speaking, like a stream talking to stones. “I tried parsing your mental waves. Mostly cold. But I can faintly feel anxiety, like wind under ice. Host, what are you worried about?”