Chapter 58: I

Zhu San Niang came in the morning to change Zhao Xingyue's bandage, kindly checked on Wang Wu for a while, and then left.

At noon, Wu Er Niang came over to deliver a meal to Wang Wu. She had originally prepared a portion for Zhao Xingyue, but after Wang Wu reminded her, she realized Zhao Xingyue couldn't eat.

So the food naturally went to Wang Wu.

Wu Er Niang's cooking has progressed by leaps and bounds over the past month, already far surpassing her culinary skill back home.

Although Wang Wu is with his parents, he sometimes has to cook for himself, especially when his parents go traveling, he must make his own meals.

Ordering takeout is fine, but sometimes after watching a cooking video he thinks he can do it, tries it once, and nearly ends up in the hospital.

Of course, some simple dishes he makes himself are still edible and not some terrible cuisine.

After delivering the meal to Wang Wu, Wu Er Niang stayed for a while, then had a session of Wushan cloud‑rain; feeling refreshed, she went home.

As for Shu Niang, she didn't come; her strength is too weak and the road unsafe, so she only ate the morning meal today.

Wu Er Niang had planned to come at night, but Wang Wu declined, because there wouldn't be enough time for her to return, and although she was a bit disappointed, she obediently accepted.

In the afternoon, Wang Wu sat cross‑legged, continuing to absorb Demon Qi, while his body constantly circulated the Diamond‑Unbreakable Wheel Technique.

Unlike the inner‑energy cultivations in traditional wuxia that require diligent practice, the Diamond‑Unbreakable Wheel Technique from the high‑tech martial world needs no deliberate cultivation; as the ads he often saw in his past life claimed, "Just idle and you'll get stronger, fully automatic, no effort required."

Since mastering the Heavenly Demon Diamond Body, Wang Wu's progress with other Extreme Heaven Diamond Sect techniques has naturally accelerated considerably. With a Demon Pill as aid, his cultivation speed has risen another notch.

All day long Zhao Xingyue remained conscious; lying in bed she occasionally turned her head to glance at Wang Wu, but aside from checking her condition and injecting Yin‑pole True Qi for minor adjustments, Wang Wu had no other interaction with her.

She would occasionally recall her teasing reply to Wang Wu that morning, but Wang Wu seemed not to have heard it, which let her sigh in relief and feel a bit ashamed of herself.

Time passed quickly like this, all the way to evening.

When the sun finally slipped below the sky, Wang Wu snapped his fingers, and a sphere of light materialized from his hand, illuminating the hut.

There was still no ceiling overhead, but Zhao Xingyue had already gotten used to it.

Tonight Wang Wu doesn't plan to absorb a Demon Pill, nor does he need to continuously inhale Demon Qi all day. Inhaling too much won't cause any harm, since this is a modern technique with few taboos. However, the manual also says there's no need to rush; moderation is best.

So Wang Wu naturally stopped hurrying.

As for training punches, palm techniques, and sword methods, real combat is better than striking wooden posts. Thus Wang Wu didn't go outside to hit posts during the day—progress would be too slow—preferring to hunt a few demons at night instead.

Those spooky things usually emerge at midnight. He checked his phone; it was only five in the afternoon, yet night was already falling earlier.

Having nothing else to do, Wang Wu rose from the floor, went to Zhao Xingyue's side, checked her again, found no issues, then sat on the floor leaning against her bed and pulled out a novel to read.

He bought many books in He Dong Xian, and his cultural lessons over the past month have paid off; he can now recognize many characters.

Ten minutes later.

Wang Wu turned his head to glance at Zhao Xingyue, as if wanting to say something, but feeling shy, he turned his head back.

A moment later, he turned his head again toward Zhao Xingyue, repeating the same motion.

Third time, fourth time, fifth time.

Finally, on the seventh attempt, the ever‑timid Zhao Xingyue could no longer hold back and spoke up:

"Wang, Lord Wang Wu, is there something…?"

"Um, this, this, this‑this…" Wang Wu's response was equally awkward; seeing her expression, Zhao Xingyue's heart couldn't help but race.

"Um, this, what's the pronunciation of this character?"

Wang Wu took out the "Chronicles of Great Zhou's Oddities" he was reading, pointed to a character on the page, and asked.

He only bought two dictionaries, one from Zhu San Niang and one from Wu Er Niang.

As for himself, Wang Wu has always been confident, thinking that as a teacher he could pick up other‑worldly scripts with ease; besides, most of the language here is still related to his native tongue.

But after less than ten minutes of reading the novel, a problem arose.

Asking others for help made him feel even more humiliated.

Looking at the page handed to him and the character pointed out, Zhao Xingyue opened her mouth and stared blankly for a while.

"What's wrong, you don't know it either?"

After waiting half a minute with no answer, seeing Zhao Xingyue's expression, Wang Wu's mood instantly steadied. Even a human doesn't know it? Seems he still isn't that…

"This character is pronounced 'wu', meaning 'dance'." Once the pronunciation and meaning were spoken, the flimsy cover Wang Wu had built was ripped away.

"So you actually know it?" Wang Wu said.

"Yes." Zhao Xingyue nodded, her face flat with a hint of numbness.

'Self‑indulgent.' The phrase popped into her mind, and she shook her head, flashing a self‑deprecating smile.

But to others, that smile wouldn't be taken in that way.

"Why were you staring for so long?" Wang Wu, seeing the brief smile on the woman's face, suddenly felt she wasn't as honest as she had seemed.

"What's the matter? I'm a demon; of course there are characters I don't recognize. I wasn't born in your human town; why should I know every character? Isn't that perfectly normal?"

Listening to Wang Wu's rapid‑fire words and his hurried, king‑like expression, Zhao Xingyue's mouth twitched again, this time not out of self‑mockery but because she couldn't help laughing.

"I—I didn't mean that, didn't mean…." She began to explain, but Wang Wu cut her off:

"You're still laughing! Damn it, do you think I didn't see you!?"

Wang Wu grew even more agitated, swearing and his neck flushed red.

"Fine, fine, I won't argue. I know your human race looks down on us demons, and I'm used to it anyway." After a moment of agitation, Wang Wu realized his behavior was a bit unbecoming, turned his head, and gave a very gracious wave.

Another ten minutes passed, and Wang Wu, with a smug face, turned his head again.

"Um, this, this character…"

Wang Wu, holding the book and pointing at the character, wore a look of shame. This time, Zhao Xingyue could no longer hold back and burst into laughter.

In the following days, Wang Wu's daily routine stayed much the same: checking Zhao Xingyue's condition and injecting Yin‑pole True Energy for rapid recovery; absorbing Demon‑refining Pills, eating meals, and sparring with several female demons outside the cabin, then engaging in Wushan Cloud‑Rain, Cloud‑Rain High Hall, Grasping Rain and Carrying Clouds, clouds…

At first, Zhao Xingyue would blush at such matters, but later she grew accustomed. She still blushed, because she's human, not a demon; her upbringing and education differed from demons.

Wang Wu would occasionally ask her about characters he didn't know or passages he didn't understand. After a few days together, she found Wang Wu actually quite interesting.

Gradually, beyond Wang Wu initiating conversation, she also began to speak up, sharing human world observations and common knowledge, and sometimes offering extra explanations for parts of the book Wang Wu found puzzling.

A series of ramblings gave Wang Wu a deeper understanding of the human world.

Today is the fourth day Zhao Xingyue has been lying on this bed, and it is also the Mid-Autumn Festival. We also celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival here, and its meaning is much the same as the one in Wang Wu's hometown.

Admire the moon, eat mooncakes, a family reunion.

"You probably won't be able to eat anything until the day after tomorrow." While eating mooncakes, Wang Wu said to Zhao Xingyue on the bed.

"I don't eat." Zhao Xingyue gave Wang Wu a sideways glance and said, "Your mooncake doesn't look tasty either, is it filled with green dates?"

"Yes." Wang Wu nodded and, puzzled by Zhao Xingyue's remark, replied, "It's quite delicious, why do you say it's not?"

Zhao Xingyue gave no answer, only a disgusted expression.

"Speaking of which…" Wang Wu didn't mind her reaction; after all, everyone has their own preferences, which is normal. However, he thought of something else and asked,

"I'm actually quite curious. Didn't you say before that in your human sect there are zones where dispatched cultivators operate, and a way to sense their life or death, a … life …"

"Life Stone," Zhao Xingyue said.

"Right, Life Stone." Wang Wu nodded repeatedly and continued, "Isn't there such a Life Stone that can locate, track, and discern safety or even life and death?"

"You're not dead yet; why doesn't your sect look for you based on the direction given by that Life Stone?" Wang Wu asked curiously.

"Because they no longer give this to disciples now," Zhao Xingyue explained. "In the past, many sects indeed issued a Life Stone to each disciple."

"But a few hundred years ago, a rogue discovered a fatal flaw in the Life Stone and used it to sacrifice all the younger disciples of a certain great sect, turning them into a world‑shaking evil demon. After that, the major sects stopped using it."

"Don't you have one?" Wang Wu asked.

"That one is shared between me and my senior brother; with this Life Stone we can instantly sense when the other is in trouble and rush over…" Zhao Xingyue didn't finish, because she noticed Wang Wu staring at her.

"Since your senior brother has your Life Stone, why doesn't he come to save you?" Wang Wu asked.

Without Wang Wu even saying it, Zhao Xingyue knew what he was going to ask. As soon as the words left her mouth, she seemed triggered and loudly began to explain on behalf of her senior brother:

"My senior brother must have been entangled in something! So, he couldn't arrive in time. My senior brother and I have sworn an oath of eternal fidelity; if he could have come then, he would definitely be…"

"But he still hasn't come now?" Wang Wu asked again. "Looks like this will take quite a while."

"Yes, indeed!"

Wang Wu wasn't actually putting Zhao Xingyue on a lower step, but Zhao Xingyue seemed to treat it as such, so she seized the opportunity and continued:

"My senior brother must have encountered trouble greater than mine, which is why he couldn't come to rescue me."

Speaking, she looked at Wang Wu, "Fortunately I have Brother Wang to save me; this kindness my senior brother and I will never forget in this life, and we will certainly repay you in the future!"

"Uh, whatever. I'm not interested in your personal matters; let's move on." Seeing her like that, Wang Wu didn't intend to linger on the issue. He rose from the floor, tucked the novel into his ring, and stretched lazily.

Outside the Demon-Subduing Circle, some things have already gathered; it's time to go hunting.

The Vajra Demon-Subduing Circle's avoidance rating is actually very high; even demons far stronger than Wang Wu cannot enter it.

However, its killing power is rather poor and is tied to Wang Wu's current level, so while it can evade, it cannot kill.

He stepped out, his figure disappearing into the darkness; soon, eerie howls and cries, along with dazzling golden light, came from outside.

After staring out the door for a long while, Zhao Xingyue finally withdrew her gaze and looked again at the night sky above. Since the third junior disciple appeared on the first night, no other skulking figures have shown up there.

"Alas."

Lying on the bed, Zhao Xingyue sighed, closed her eyes, and resumed refining demon pills to accelerate recovery.

Time kept passing—half a watch, one watch, two watches. By then, Zhao Xingyue suddenly sensed something was wrong.

Because Wang Wu still hadn't returned.

The light sphere above still illuminated the room, but its glow was no longer as bright as before. It grew dim and began to flicker, seeming that it would vanish completely soon.

"Wang, brother Wang?"

She called out toward the doorway, but received no response.

Outside the log cabin, although the battle had long ended, the night was not as silently still as the previous days; there was no sound at all.

Faintly, she seemed to hear someone's whisper, a voice that sounded both far away and as if right before her eyes.

Sss, sss

Immediately, scratching sounds came from the cabin's walls.

"Brother Wang!?"

Zhao Xingyue shouted again, her voice drifting into the distance, echoing through the forest, yet still receiving no reply.

Her heart sank instantly, not for herself but for Wang Wu's safety.

If it weren't for Wang Wu, she would have died long ago. She had saved her own life, and if she had to give her life to repay him, she would not hesitate a moment.

If Wang Wu suffered any mishap because he helped her…

Just thinking of that possibility made Zhao Xingyue feel as if her heart were being squeezed by a hand, suffocating her.

"Brother Wang!!!"

She shouted once more, her voice booming. After this call, the light sphere in the cabin vanished, and the world was instantly swallowed by endless darkness.

Although today is the Mid-Autumn Festival and a bright full moon hangs in the sky, looking up from within the deep forest the moon appears a blood‑red hue.

"Wang, brother Wang…?"

After a long while, another call echoed from the darkness, its voice tinged with sorrow and despair.

"What's the matter?"

But immediately, Wang Wu's voice rang out.

"You're acting like a funeral, making it seem I'm dead." With his words came a sharp finger snap, and the cabin was illuminated again.

Wang, brother Wang!??

The moment she heard Wang Wu's voice, a sudden surge of power erupted within Zhao Xingyue, allowing her to lift her head.

Looking at Wang Wu, her tone was filled with reclaimed joy and relief, "You, you're okay, right!??"

"I'm fine." Wang Wu picked his nose and said, "I just ran into an acquaintance outside and chatted with her for a while."

(End of chapter)