The girl walked gracefully toward the glowing herbs growing from the cracks in the rocky wall. Each Mystic Fire Herb emitted a gentle reddish flame, flickering softly in the air, yet giving off no heat—only intense spiritual energy.
She crouched down, her movements precise and practiced. With a delicate touch, she plucked the three Mystic Fire Herbs, making sure not to damage the roots.
Then, without a word, she turned back to Gao Tian and extended her slender hand toward him, holding the herbs.
"Here."
Gao Tian blinked for a moment, a little surprised at how easily she handed them over.
"Thanks."
He took the herbs gently from her hand, his fingers brushing against hers for the briefest second. She didn't flinch, nor did her expression change.
Gao Tian smiled awkwardly, then lifted his other hand. A flash of light shimmered as a small black spiritual ring appeared on his finger. With a soft pulse of spiritual energy, he stored the herbs safely inside.
"Alright. That's one thing taken care of," he said, patting the ring.
The girl looked at him for a moment, then asked calmly,
"You said you'd help me once, right?"
Gao Tian paused, then smiled with slight wariness.
"Yeah, I did. You're calling in that favor already?"
She nodded.
"Tomorrow."
"Tomorrow what?"
"You'll find out." She turned around without another word and started walking out of the cave.
Gao Tian scratched his head.
"This girl is mysterious and cold… but she's also kind of fun."
He followed her out, the glow of the Mystic Fire Herbs fading behind them as the cave darkened again.
Gao Tian and the girl exited the cave just as the sun began to dip behind the mountains, casting a soft golden hue over the land. The air outside was calm, with the occasional breeze rustling through the trees. A small flat clearing sat near the cave entrance—perfect for rest.
The girl wordlessly sat down under a tree, her red hair gently swaying in the wind, eyes closed as if meditating. Gao Tian glanced at her, then picked a spot not far away and lay on the grass with his hands behind his head.
"Hah… what a day," he mumbled, gazing at the stars that slowly began to appear above.
"At least I got the herbs. And this girl… still a mystery."
Soon, exhaustion took over, and he drifted into sleep.
---
The next morning…
Sunlight poured over the mountain peaks, birds chirping in the distance. Gao Tian blinked his eyes open, stretching with a yawn.
But then he froze.
He looked around.
She was gone.
He sat up immediately.
"Eh? Where did she go?"
He quickly closed his eyes and tried to sense spiritual fluctuations in the surroundings. Within moments, a faint yet familiar energy signature reached him—delicate, calm, yet powerful.
"Found you."
He stood and followed the trail, weaving through trees and climbing a gentle slope. A few minutes later, he emerged from the forest and stood at the edge of a large cliff.
And there she was.
Sitting at the very edge.
Her legs were dangling off the cliffside, the wind blowing her red hair behind her like a dancing flame. She looked peaceful, gazing at the endless horizon where the sun was slowly rising. The red light reflected in her crimson eyes, giving her a quiet beauty that felt distant… unreachable.
Gao Tian stepped closer but didn't make a sound.
He watched her for a moment.
Then softly said,
"Hey... you always sit on cliffs without telling anyone?"
She didn't turn around.
"You woke up late."
"You left without saying anything."
Still not looking at him, she replied,
"You found me anyway."
He chuckled and walked up beside her, standing just behind where she sat.
"What are you doing here?"
She was silent for a moment. Then she replied in a low voice,
"Thinking."
"About?"
She finally turned her head slightly, her expression unreadable as always.
"The favor I'll ask from you."
Gao Tian blinked.
"…You're dramatic, you know that?" he said with a grin.
She looked back out at the view.
"Sit. It's peaceful here."
He hesitated… then sat beside her.
Both stared out at the golden sunrise, silence hanging gently between them.
"You have to protect me."
Gao Tian was still sitting on the cliff, processing the sudden request.
"You have to protect me for one year at any cost."
Her voice echoed in his ears like a decree.
"What kind of favor is this?" he blurted, eyes wide. "I'm only in Qi Refining! You… you're clearly stronger than me. Shouldn't I be the one asking for protection?"
The girl turned her head toward him. Her crimson eyes shimmered faintly, beginning to glow with a blood-red hue. For the first time, Gao Tian felt a chill despite the morning sun.
She stared at him coldly.
"You agreed. Doesn't matter how."
He raised his hands quickly, awkwardly smiling.
"Okay, okay! I'll protect you. One year. No backing out."
She stood up and dusted her clothes.
"Good. Then your job starts now."
Suddenly, the wind shifted.
Gao Tian sensed it too.
The air grew tense, as if something was pressing down on them.
They're here.
In a flash, four figures appeared behind them, standing on nearby boulders and tree branches. They all wore black-and-blue robes, and full white masks that glinted ominously under the sunlight. The only features on the masks were red numbers painted on the forehead.
Two masks had the number 15.
Two others had 14.
Gao Tian's gaze sharpened. He instinctively analyzed their aura.
"Qi Refining Ninth Layer... and Foundation Establishment First Layer?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"Who the hell are these guys?"
The masked cultivators didn't speak. They moved like shadows, their presence cold and efficient. Clearly trained assassins.
The girl turned her head slightly and spoke with the same calm tone as always.
"They're here for me."
Gao Tian's face darkened.
"Why didn't you tell me you were being hunted?"
"I just did. That was the favor."
The cultivators stepped closer, forming a semicircle.
One of the number 14 masks stepped forward and pointed at the girl.
"Target located. Prepare to extract."
The number 15 mask beside him added,
"Anyone protecting her will be eliminated."
Gao Tian clicked his tongue.
"Tch. Guess I don't have a choice."
He stepped in front of her and raised his hands into a fighting stance, purple energy beginning to glow around his fists.
"You four want her? Then you'll have to go through me."
The assassins didn't respond. Instead, the two Number 15 cultivators leapt forward like wolves.
The fight had begun.
The two cultivators with 15 on their masks shot forward, their bodies flickering as they closed the distance with astonishing speed.
"Qi Refining – Ninth Layer… they're fast!"
Gao Tian narrowed his eyes, focusing his spiritual energy.
Boom!
One of the masked attackers swung a blade imbued with spiritual force. Gao Tian leaned back, dodging it by a hair's breadth, and countered with his Radiant Fist, his right hand cloaked in deep violet energy.
BAM!
His punch collided with the attacker's chest, sending him skidding backward a few meters—but he didn't fall.
"Tch, tough guy..."
The second 15-mask cultivator circled around and launched a spiritual needle technique toward Gao Tian's back.
The girl, still standing on the cliff, suddenly lifted her hand.
Shing—!
A red spiritual barrier flashed behind Gao Tian, blocking the attack.
He glanced back in surprise.
"Didn't you say I'm the one protecting you!?"
She replied flatly,
"I'm not deadweight. I just won't interfere unless you need it."
Before he could respond, one of the 14-mask Foundation Establishment cultivators jumped into the fray.
A spiritual aura erupted from him, and he swung down a sword, sending a sharp spiritual arc hurtling toward Gao Tian.
Gao Tian's eyes flashed gold.
"Demon-God Body... activate!"
The left side of his body burst with red demonic energy, and the right side with golden divine light. Behind him, the faint illusion of the Demon-God figure appeared—one red-eyed, horned, with a red mask; the other golden, serene, with a white mask.
Boom—!!
He clashed directly with the spiritual arc, smashing through it with his fists. The sheer force sent cracks through the ground beneath him.
The second 14-mask cultivator frowned behind his mask.
"That body… it's not normal."
"Enough," the first 14-mask said. "Kill him. Capture her."
All four surged toward Gao Tian.
Gao Tian gritted his teeth.
"This'll be close… but I've got no choice."
He dashed forward to meet them head-on.
He ducked one sword swipe, slid under another attacker, and delivered a spinning radiant kick that knocked a 15-mask away.
The other Foundation Establishment enemy raised his hand to finish him with a deadly spiritual blast.
Just then—
Boom!
A massive red explosion erupted behind Gao Tian.
The girl had moved.
She stood now, her red hair flowing in the wind, her eyes glowing like rubies.
A fiery aura burned around her, and her cold voice rang out.
"One year or not, if you die now, you can't fulfill your promise."
She raised her hand again, flames forming into a spear of pure spiritual fire.
She hurled it toward the nearest masked cultivator.
"Flame Spear – Sky Rend."
Boom!
The spear pierced the chest of a 15-mask cultivator, blasting him off the cliffside.
Gao Tian, panting, smirked.
"So you do have emotions."
She glanced at him, still expressionless.
"I just hate weaklings breaking promises."
Only three enemies remained—and they now looked hesitant.
Gao Tian raised both fists, golden and red energy flaring.
"Now... let's finish this."