Chapter 393: The Hunter and His Wife, The Pretentious Orange Cat, Riding the Clouds!

Li Yanchu frowned. “If you’ve never left this mountain, how do you know what kind of creature that demon is?”

Even though the orange cat was gravely injured, pride still burned in her eyes. “My clan possesses the gift of

‘Shunfeng'er

[1]

’

,” she said haughtily. “Even without descending the mountain, we can hear much of what happens beyond it.”

That powerful, huh?

Li Yanchu gave her a doubtful look.

The orange cat bristled instantly. “Don’t think that just because you can beat me, you have the right to doubt me!”

Li Yanchu couldn’t help but laugh.

After being beaten half to death, she could

still

act this

pretentious

[2], this orange cat truly was something else.

The cat lifted her chin proudly, eyes blazing with defiance. “If you’re going to kill me, then do it! I won’t say another word!”

Li Yanchu hesitated for a moment, then said quietly, “I believe you.”

He took a few steps back, turned, and started down the mountain.

𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

He needed to find someone who could tell him where Mount Hong was. If this lion spirit truly was one of the White Marsh Demon Kingdom’s fiends, then he’d end it here and now to earn some merit.

Well, no, to protect the common people.

The orange cat watched his departing back silently, her gaze deep and unreadable.

Li Yanchu didn’t use his Cloud-Riding Immortal Art; instead, he descended the mountain on foot, using movement technique.

Activating his Qi Sight, he soon spotted a small household nestled in the forest. There, he asked about the direction of Mount Hong.

The burly hunter he spoke to warned gravely, “Daoist Master, there’s a man-eating demon on Mount Hong. That place is a death trap, you mustn’t go!”

Li Yanchu cupped his hands. “Thank you for the warning, sir. I know what I’m doing.”

The hunter’s face changed, and he said urgently, “The lands within a hundred li of Mount Hong are deserted. Even great monks and immortal masters dare not go near it. You’re still young, Daoist Master, don’t be reckless.”

At that moment, a faint coughing sound came from inside the house. A weary but graceful woman lifted the curtain and stepped out. Her voice was weak, but her tone was sincere. “He is right. Mount Hong is perilous. Daoist Master, you’d best stay away.”

Li Yanchu bowed once more, then looked closely at the woman.

“Forgive my bluntness, ma’am,” he said, “but your illness is severe, dark qi clouds your aura. If it isn’t treated soon, your life may be in danger.”

The hunter’s face paled. “Daoist Master, you have medical skills?”

Li Yanchu nodded slightly. “My medical skills are nothing special, but your wife’s ailment, I am confident I can cure.”

The hunter’s eyes lit up with desperate hope. “If you can heal her, Daoist Master, you’ll be our family’s greatest benefactor!”

Li Yanchu smiled. “You flatter me, sir.”

As he spoke, he swiftly drew out a yellow talisman and pressed it to the woman’s forehead.

Zzzzt!

A faint stream of white smoke rose from her skin, but at the same time, a warm, life-giving energy flowed through her body, bringing an indescribable sense of relief and lightness. It was a true Exorcising Talisman, a genuine charm with miraculous power to dispel evil qi.

That’s right.

The woman wasn’t truly

ill

, she was afflicted by yin qi that had invaded her body, weakening her internal organs. If the corruption continued to spread, she would surely die within three months, with her organs failing one after another.

Earlier, when Li Yanchu used his Qi Sight, he saw that this couple carried no resentment or malice in their aura, and both seemed kind and sincere, so he decided to help.

In moments, the woman’s pallor faded, and color returned to her cheeks. The yin qi within her was dispelled, and her long-standing sickness vanished completely.

The hunter hurried forward, overjoyed to see his wife looking healthy again, a wide smile breaking across his weathered face.

“Your wife was troubled by yin qi,” Li Yanchu said calmly. “I’m not sure where you’ve been, but I know a bit about exorcising spirits. If I can trace the source, it’ll prevent the same affliction from returning.”

The hunter’s face twitched, as if recalling something, before forcing a smile. “Many thanks, Daoist Master. It must have been the damp winds among the old trees in the mountains. Thank you for your trouble.”

Li Yanchu could tell the man was hiding something, so he didn’t press further. Still, his eyes flashed faintly as he used Qi Sight once more to scan the area, but he discovered no traces of evil qi.

“In that case, I’ll take my leave,” Li Yanchu said, cupping his hands.

The hunter tried to offer him silver as thanks, but Li Yanchu politely refused, turning and walking away down the path.

The woman gazed after his retreating figure with a sigh. “Liu Yu, why didn’t you tell the Daoist what’s really happening in the manor? Perhaps he could help.”

The hunter’s real name was Liu Yu. He shook his head gravely. “The risk is too great. Even Master Kongzhu, a powerful monk, couldn’t defeat that demon. This Daoist is still young, if he goes there, he’ll only throw his life away.”

The woman’s eyes dimmed with sorrow. “My sickness is gone now, and I truly wish I could spend the rest of my life with you, Liu Yu... but I fear we still won’t escape the demon’s grasp.”

Hearing her words, Liu Yu had a dark look on his face.

***

As Li Yanchu walked along the mountain road, an orange cat suddenly appeared ahead, blocking his way. Its steps were graceful, and its gaze was haughty, though its body was covered in scars, looking rather pitiful.

Li Yanchu’s eyes sharpened like blades. “What are you doing here? Want another round?”

The orange cat lifted her chin proudly. “I’ve been thinking, your skills are decent, but that lion spirit’s powers are terrifying. You’re probably not his match. That lion and I have... a bit of a feud...”

“You want to come with me?” Li Yanchu said flatly, cutting her off.

“Of course not!” the cat blurted out, bristling. “I’ve just been on this mountain for too long. I need to stretch my legs, and I happen to need a servant. You look decent and seem obedient, so I’m giving you the

opportunity

.”

At the word

servant

, Li Yanchu’s eyebrow twitched upward. “I see I didn’t hit you hard enough last time.”

His face turned cold as his hand slowly rested on the Jiaoslayer at his waist.

On the shadowy, winding mountain path, one man and one cat stood facing each other, the tension between them sharp enough to cut the air.

The air grew tense as the orange cat stubbornly hissed, “Don’t think I’m afraid of you! If I weren’t injured, I could flatten you, young Daoist, with a single blow!”

She kept babbling on and on, but Li Yanchu’s expression gradually softened. He couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You can come with me,” he said. “But stop calling me your servant.”

The orange cat lifted her chin at a perfect forty-five-degree angle, pride written all over her face. “You really don’t know how to appreciate a good opportunity... Fine, have it your way.”

Seeing the look in Li Yanchu’s eyes darken, her tone eased a little.

From Mount Xiaofeng to Mount Hong wasn’t far. Li Yanchu thought for a moment, then simply grabbed the orange cat by the scruff and rode a cloud into the sky.

The cat’s eyes went wide in shock. “Hey, hey! What are you doing!?”

Li Yanchu ignored her and kept flying, holding her aloft by one paw.

The wind roared past their ears, and the cat’s shrill voice warped in the gale, “Waaahhhhhh!!!”

The gusts stuffed her mouth full of air.

Hearing this, Li Yanchu smiled to himself and sped up.

By the time they reached Mount Hong, the orange cat’s fur was standing completely on end, each hair bristling like needles. She was still trembling from the flight, eyes wide with shock.

She raised her paw, clearly wanting to give the infuriating young Daoist a combo attack, a full set of her Wangba punches. But then she remembered: she was already injured, had been beaten up by him once, and now was utterly exhausted after the wild flight.

After a long moment of silent fuming, she simply gave a cold “hmph!” and turned her head away.

Mount Hong itself was not hard to find, as it was a solitary peak rising in the middle of nowhere. Within five hundred li, there was no other mountain like it.

From afar, killing intent and demonic qi surged skyward, a sure sign that the mountain was crawling with murderous demons and evil spirits.

1. Shunfeng’er refers to two main concepts. In Chinese mythology, it is the name of a celestial deity capable of hearing sounds from far away, often appearing alongside the deity Qianliyan, who can see great distances. Here is an

image

for your reference. In modern Chinese, the term is also used metaphorically to describe someone with sharp hearing or a person who is very well-informed. ☜

2. The Chinese term 傲娇 (àojiāo) describes a personality type that combines pride or aloofness with hidden affection or softness. Someone who is 傲娇 often behaves in a cold, dismissive, or even slightly hostile manner toward others, but this exterior hides a more gentle, caring, or shy side. The term (tsundere) is frequently used in anime, manga, and pop culture to describe characters, often female, who act tough or indifferent, yet reveal vulnerability or warmth under certain circumstances.

傲娇 behavior usually involves teasing, reluctance to admit feelings, or acting stubborn, creating a dynamic where their true emotions are gradually revealed. Over time, the term has been adopted more broadly in everyday language to playfully describe anyone who shows this mix of pride and hidden charm. ☜