My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 750 - 475: The Ushioni Bird (Two-in-One)_2

Amid a dazzling display of fireworks, faint echoes of firecrackers could still be heard in the mountain winds from afar.

Yin Tingxue glanced around; the faces of the beings inside the temple were faintly illuminated. The unspoken warmth rippled outward.

All beings quietly admired the distant celebrations, sipping their drinks alongside the view.

When the fireworks dimmed and the sky grew silent,

The mountain wind swept through the forest, stirring waves among the sea of trees, rustling softly.

"It seems I can still hear the sound of firecrackers," the old Mountain God muttered, his head drooping, murmuring:

"In the sound of firecrackers, another year slips away…"

The old year had passed.

...…

The night came to an end, and so did the mountain feast.

Chen Yi and Yin Tingxue stayed the night in the temple, and when they woke, all the demons had left for their respective abodes. The Mountain God Temple grew quiet and serene, its corners overgrown with moss.

Chen Yi clasped his hands together in a bow and thanked, "Thank you for the Mountain God's hospitality."

"It's nothing, truly. Don't mention it, don't mention it."

The old Mountain God seemed weary and sat slowly on his chair.

Yin Tingxue turned her head and glanced at the incense burner; the incense from last night had already burned out.

Chen Yi reached into his robe and took out three sticks of incense, handing them over to Yin Tingxue.

She quickly ran to the altar, lit the incense, and added them to the burner.

The Mountain God took a long inhalation, his expression improving as he beamed and said cheerfully:

"Come again if you have the chance. This old one receives few worshippers; over time, I've been forgotten…"

"If fate allows," Yin Tingxue replied.

Though she said so, who could tell if they would pass by Fengqing Mountain again after heading south? Everything remained uncertain.

The feast had dispersed, the new year had arrived, and the old one had passed.

"We won't trouble you further."

The two were prepared to leave the mountain.

The old Mountain God supported himself on a cane and saw them off, asking, "I forgot to inquire last night. Where are you two heading?"

"To Yaoshui Town," they replied. They were planning to board the water route there.

The Mountain God pinched his fingers together and squinted, pondering for a moment, then said, "Descend from this side of the mountain, continue southeastward, and when you see many boats, that'll be Yaoshui Town."

"There's no need for the Mountain God to see us off further; we can manage ourselves."

The pair departed the Mountain God Temple, Chen Yi pulling Yin Tingxue along as they traversed the path outside the gates. On both sides, the vegetation grew dense, narrowing the path—further on, the plant roots became even more tangled.

Yin Tingxue knew this place had long been untouched.

As they left, the old Mountain God sat lonely in his temple.

She frequently glanced back,

And there he was, waving at them vigorously from afar,

"Farewell…"

......

The two descended the narrow mountain trail.

Yin Tingxue's thoughts drifted as she recalled the conversation between the old Mountain God and the mountain rat.

A… Great Demon?

But how great could it truly be? Surely not as terrifying as imagined.

Chen Yi turned his gaze back to her because he sensed the gentle movements of her small hand in his palm. He understood—she was definitely lost in thought.

"What's on your mind?" Chen Yi asked.

Yin Tingxue gave him a hesitant glance but ultimately chose not to say it outright.

They walked for quite a while in silence.

"Chen Yi..." Yin Tingxue asked softly, almost like a whisper, "Could you teach me swordsmanship?"

Back in Yin Sword Mountain on Cangwu Peak, though her cultivation progressed swiftly, her mind was entirely focused on cultivation, leaving her Sword Dao and Taoist Skills lacking.

"No."

Yin Tingxue had expected Chen Yi to refuse, and promptly asked, "Why not? I promise I'll study diligently."

"It has nothing to do with your diligence. I simply have no desire to teach," Chen Yi replied indifferently.

As astute as Chen Yi was, he easily understood Yin Tingxue's intentions. Clearly, she wanted to learn swordsmanship to embark on a path of chivalry and justice. Matters she couldn't resolve now could perhaps be addressed later with skill; in the future, if faced with injustice, she'd undoubtedly be the first to rush to act—knife or sword in hand. 𝑓𝓇𝘦ℯ𝘸𝘦𝑏𝓃𝑜𝘷ℯ𝑙.𝑐𝑜𝓂

Chen Yi smirked mischievously, "What if a little fox who learns swordsmanship gains wings and, in a fit of rage one day, actually strikes me down? After all the teasing I've done to you, wouldn't that count as a deep grudge?"

Yin Tingxue's face flushed red.

Chen Yi grinned slyly but wasn't genuinely afraid of Yin Tingxue achieving mastery in swordsmanship one day. Regardless of her future skills or level, the methods he taught her would come with pitfalls. If the little fox truly dared to raise a sword against her husband, he'd have been prepared—letting her falter was inevitable. By then, even if she tried to advance to greatness, she'd find herself settling back into mediocrity, becoming as harmless as a docile bride.

His reason for refusing wasn't fear of what she might become, but because he felt protective toward her. Yin Tingxue lacked the traits of a fearless heroine. He'd rather she learned to avoid trouble than to rush headlong into it. He wanted her to witness more of life's intricacies, to temper her character. When the time felt right, he might teach her a thing or two.

Still unsatisfied, Yin Tingxue asked again, "Husband… you really won't teach me?"

Chen Yi hesitated slightly before teasing her, "If you were a true prodigy in Sword Dao—able to pick up a blade and master its essence on your own, sparring in dreams, wielding your sword flawlessly in a decade, and even ascending the ranks of the Sword Immortal list in a century… then yes, I might."

Yin Tingxue knew he was simply deflecting her question and said no more, quietly moving closer to him.

"Still trying to use the gentle approach? Hope to sway me day by day, softly but persistently?" Chen Yi quipped, hardly gentle himself: his arm wrapped around the flushed little fox's delicate face.

As they walked further, Yin Tingxue quietly pulled away, realizing Chen Yi had no intention of really teaching her swordsmanship.

Always being embraced like this—how unseemly.

Despite this, Chen Yi didn't mock her tenacity. After all, it was only natural.

After walking on for a while, faint rustling sounds emerged from amidst the shadows of the trees.

The pair paused, looking down to find a mountain rat darting into sight, followed closely by a marten, a skylark, and a black bear.

The group of demons bowed their heads, their bodies firmly blocking the mountain path without moving an inch.

"What's this about?" Chen Yi asked calmly.

The mountain rat stepped forward with a slight bow of its hands and requested:

"Master Taoist, to the south lies a Great Demon that drives away or kills the lesser creatures of that area. It even took one of our own. The Mountain God has grown weak, and we fear Fengqing Mountain may face disaster any day. So, we beseech the Taoist Master to slay the demon…"

As it spoke, the other creatures behind it nodded earnestly.

Chen Yi lowered his gaze slightly, while Yin Tingxue felt her heartbeat quicken.

The reason she'd asked Chen Yi about learning swordsmanship was linked to her curiosity—whether he'd willingly act as a chivalrous figure.

Seeing Chen Yi delay his response, the demons' faces began to pale. They exchanged silent, forlorn glances, while the mountain rat, with resignation dulling its gaze, offered another bow and said, "If the Taoist Master is unwilling to help, consider this a friendly warning from us…"

"Do not fret."

Chen Yi lightly tapped his sword scabbard and smiled faintly,

"If this Taoist should encounter the demon on my path, I will deal with it accordingly."

...…

Heading southward.

After hearing Chen Yi's promising response, Yin Tingxue's mood brightened significantly. She not only became more accommodating but also leaned close to him several times along the way.

Her closeness stirred Chen Yi's heart enough that he found a shaded area and stole a few kisses from her before they continued.

As they passed through a town en route, the pair only lingered briefly—grabbing a quick lunch and inquiring about the Great Demon, the guhuoniao.

"You must be talking about the trouble in Tai County. Folks there don't even dare to hang out children's clothes anymore," someone mentioned.

They said the guhuoniao was capable of divination. Families with ill fortunes would find drops of blood on their children's clothing hung out to dry. At night, the demon would abduct the children, plunging them deeper into despair.

After their meal, they traveled for nearly a full day, arriving just about ten miles away from the county. Having entered the county, they first sought an inn and rented a room before making further plans.

In the room, Chen Yi let down his hair, the ends accidentally brushing against Yin Tingxue's face.

"Your hair is too long," Yin Tingxue remarked, touching her cheek where his locks had grazed, eyeing the hair trailing down to his lower back.

Chen Yi summoned an attendant to call for a craftsman, trimmed his hair slightly, then asked Yin Tingxue to arrange it properly.

After tidying up their appearances, Chen Yi took Yin Tingxue out for a stroll. The county was small, yielding little to explore. The only notable sight was the City God Temple; the town had no other temples or Daoist shrines. Outside the inn on the street, Chen Yi bought the little fox a rabbit-shaped sugar figurine, which she bit into instantly, decapitating the bunny.

As dusk fell, Chen Yi inquired further with the inn's staff while Yin Tingxue remained outside, eating and scanning the streets for any suspicious signs.

At the entrance of an alley, she spotted a grief-stricken woman clutching a blood-stained garment as she turned the corner…