northernbook Chapter 272 Autumn Hunting
Chapter 272 Autumn Hunting
Ye Jingchu's eyes seemed to flash with cold stars, his gaze sharp as lightning. He roared, "You will not stop me!" His voice was like a booming bell, shaking the surrounding snow and causing it to fall in a flurry. With that, he shot out like an arrow, instantly engaging the man in black in a breathtaking and fierce battle.
He moved with agility and grace, like a cheetah leaping through the forest. His moves were fierce and powerful; each punch created a whistling sound, and each kick seemed capable of shattering the void. He moved freely among the men in black, as if they were nothing. Wherever he went, the men in black were overwhelmed by his aura and found themselves struggling to defend themselves. However, the men in black were numerous, surging forward like waves, their coordination impeccable, as if they were telepathically connected, their attacks and defenses flowing smoothly. As time passed, Ye Jingchu gradually felt his stamina waning, his movements no longer as agile as before, and a sense of powerlessness began to creep into his heart.
At this critical moment, Ye Jingchu's sharp eyes spotted a weakness in the men in black. The weakness was fleeting, like a shooting star streaking across the night sky. But Ye Jingchu wouldn't miss this golden opportunity. He took a deep breath, gathering all his strength in his legs and arms, like an engine with full fuel, exploding into action. He roared, unleashing a powerful surge of energy, his palms striking out like a tidal wave, repelling several men in black. Taking advantage of this brief opening, he chose a direction and fled without hesitation into the distance.
Seeing Ye Jingchu escape, the men in black were not about to give up. They pursued him relentlessly, their footsteps creating a noisy crunch on the snow. Relying on his careful observation and memory of the icy terrain, Ye Jingchu dodged and weaved through this silvery world. Sometimes he hid behind huge blocks of ice, sometimes he used the valley's terrain to maneuver, trying to shake off his pursuers.
But human strength is finite, and the prolonged escape and battle gradually pushed Ye Jingchu's body to its limit. He tripped over a stone hidden under the snow, falling forward and crashing heavily to the ground. The fall made him see stars, and his limbs felt like they were about to fall apart. Seeing this, the men in black instantly swarmed him like wolves, trapping him in the middle. The leader wore a smug smile, a smile that looked particularly sinister in the cold air. He sneered, "Let's see where you can run now!"
Ye Jingchu gritted his teeth, enduring the excruciating pain in his body, and slowly stood up. His legs were trembling slightly, but his eyes remained as firm as a rock. He said, word by word, "Even if I die, I will not let you succeed!" At this moment, he was like a lone warrior, facing numerous difficulties without flinching.
Just then, a shout rang out from afar: "Stop!" The voice grew louder as it approached; it was Wan'er arriving with reinforcements. Wan'er was frantic, her face flushed red, as she led her men at breakneck speed. Seeing the situation was dire, the men in black considered retreating. But Ye Jingchu wouldn't let this golden opportunity slip by. He rallied his forces and, together with his reinforcements, launched a swift counterattack. Working together seamlessly, attacking and defending with perfect coordination, they subdued all the men in black.
"I'm so glad you're alright." Wan'er ignored the snow under her feet and ran to Ye Jingchu's side, her eyes full of concern and worry. Her gaze was like a warm spring that could melt away all the ice and snow in the world.
Ye Jingchu looked at Wan'er and smiled slightly, a smile that was tired but also relieved: "With you here, I'll be fine."
Carrying the Spirit Heart Grass they had painstakingly found and the subdued man in black, the two embarked on their journey home. However, they both knew in their hearts that this was only a small beginning in unraveling numerous mysteries. Like a calm sea concealing turbulent undercurrents, greater dangers awaited them, and the road ahead remained full of unknowns and challenges.
The night was deep, the sky as black as ink, shrouding the world in darkness. After hurriedly returning to their residence with Wan'er, Ye Jingchu, without a moment's rest, immediately immersed himself in researching the uses of the Spirit Heart Grass. Inside, the candlelight flickered, casting shifting shadows on the walls, his face appearing exceptionally focused in the interplay of light and shadow. He knew this Spirit Heart Grass was hard-won; each leaf seemed to carry countless secrets and hopes, and the earth-shattering secret hidden behind them might be unlocked through this very herb.
Wan'er quietly helped tidy up the messy medicinal herbs, her movements gentle and skillful, occasionally handing Ye Jingchu the tools he needed. Her gaze, as if drawn by a magnet, remained fixed on Ye Jingchu's focused profile. In the candlelight, the contours of that profile appeared resolute and profound, revealing an indomitable spirit of exploration towards the unknown mysteries.
Time slipped by silently. Soon after, Ye Jingchu's brow furrowed slightly. He discovered that while the Spirit Heart Grass possessed medicinal properties, its effects were less than satisfactory when used alone. After repeated contemplation and deduction, he concluded that it must be paired with an extremely cold ingredient to unleash the true medicinal power of the Spirit Heart Grass and uncover the key information hidden within it. However, this extremely cold ingredient was extremely rare. According to ancient records, it only grew in ice caves atop towering, cloud-piercing, and rarely visited snow-capped mountains. It was a place sealed by ice and snow, full of mystery and danger; ordinary people would not even dare to set foot there, let alone be filled with fear just by hearing about it.
Just as they were grappling with this problem, one of the black-clad men, who had remained silent after being subdued, suddenly let out a cold laugh. The laughter pierced the quiet room, filled with mockery and disdain: "What do you think you can do just because you have the Spirit Heart Grass? Without that extremely cold substance, the Spirit Heart Grass is nothing but ordinary weeds. Besides, that ice cave is surrounded by traps and mechanisms; it's a carefully constructed defense by our sect. You can't get in at all." The black-clad man finished speaking, a smug expression on his face, seemingly waiting to see Ye Jingchu and Wan'er give up.
Upon hearing the man in black's words, Ye Jingchu and Wan'er exchanged a glance. Their eyes held no fear or hesitation, but rather a resolute determination. Ye Jingchu slowly clenched his fist, his knuckles turning white from the force. His voice was deep and powerful: "No matter how difficult it is, we must find that extremely cold object. Now that we know the direction, there's no reason to give up. We've overcome countless hardships along the way; how can we be deterred by this mere difficulty?" Wan'er nodded firmly beside him, her eyes shining with fearless light, a light like a blazing torch illuminating the path forward in the dimly lit room and warming Ye Jingchu's heart.