Chapter Fifty-Four: The Tear of the Angel

After Steward Wang left, Tu Tianxiong muttered to himself, “This fellow really is interesting. But let’s see how you plan to play this game with me. After all, sects ultimately rely on power, connections, and family influence. A boy with nothing to his name dares to cultivate his own forces.”

Dao Sansheng, feeling a pang of regret at the expense, sent out two transmission talismans—these cost money, and he needed to be frugal for now. With his new faction just established, he had to be careful with resources.

Wang Xiaohong and Chao Xiong received Dao Sansheng’s message, but neither replied. They were both rather poor at the moment and couldn’t afford to waste money on such things. Receiving the message was enough; as long as they showed up at the agreed time and place, that would suffice.

Three days later, at the entrance to Forge Heaven Valley, three young people gathered. It was Wang Xiaohong’s first time traveling far from home, and Chao Xiong’s first time leaving this place. Having grown up at the foot of the mountain, he had not left since joining the sect.

Dao Sansheng had once been to Kunling County, though he had been forced to go. Still, he had gained much from the experience. Now, the three of them set off together for Autumn Pool City in Fangtian County. This time, Dao Sansheng intended to fly the entire way, partly to hone his skills and partly because he was eager to try out the flight techniques he had just learned.

The three rose slowly into the sky. Dao Sansheng took out a map, determined the direction, and led the others eastward. The journey was a long one; it would take three months to reach their destination.

At first, all three were excited, trying out different poses as they soared through the sky. But after a week, the novelty wore off, and they simply pressed onward.

“Are we there yet? How much farther?” Wang Xiaohong asked.

“I’ve told you a hundred times already,” Dao Sansheng replied irritably. “The whole journey is three months. It’s still early. Stop being impatient.”

He was close to losing his temper. Ever since the third day of travel, Wang Xiaohong had kept asking how much farther it was—over and over again. Indeed, women could be troublesome.

“Let’s go down and find something to eat,” Chao Xiong suggested, seeing the two about to argue.

“Great! I haven’t eaten in ages,” Wang Xiaohong’s eyes sparkled at the mention of food. Before they left, Dao Sansheng had purchased some fasting pills from the sect, planning to rely on them during the journey to save time. Thus, they hadn’t eaten any real food.

Now that the others were set on eating, Dao Sansheng could only go along.

In the distance, a town appeared. Wang Xiaohong flew straight toward it, with the others following. Before long, they landed and walked down the main street.

The town was desolate, with only a few children playing and another group splashing around in the river. There were no adults in sight. From above, it had looked like a town, but on the ground, it was clear this was merely a large village.

There was no tavern, no place to eat. The three were just about to leave when shouts erupted from the riverbank.

“Quick, save Da Zhuang! Get the adults—!” The shouts blended into chaos.

Wang Xiaohong ran straight for the river, with Dao Sansheng and Chao Xiong following. From a distance, they could see a child struggling in the water. The river surged, great waves crashing onto the shore.

Without hesitation, Wang Xiaohong jumped in. Suddenly, the child broke free—a huge fish flipped in the water. The fish was five meters long, its appearance strange and otherworldly. As it landed, a wall of waves crashed over Wang Xiaohong, sweeping her under.

She tried to swim back, but the fish flipped again, sending another surge that knocked her down. In the river, her struggles grew weaker, and soon it seemed she would become the creature’s meal.

Flames ignited in Dao Sansheng’s hand. As the fish crested the water once more, he hurled a fireball at it, then tossed an ice crystal into the river. The fish, scorched by the flames, tried to retreat into the water, but the moment it landed, the river surface froze solid. The fish crashed heavily onto the ice, still aflame, its protective spiritual aura already burned away.

Chao Xiong hurried to pull Wang Xiaohong from the ice. Exhausted, she collapsed on the sandy bank.

Dao Sansheng intensified the fire and the freezing, and soon the fish began to give off a savory aroma. Seeing that the fish was nearly dead and his own spiritual energy nearly spent, he stopped.

By now, the riverbank was crowded—people three and four deep, all shouting and milling about. Chao Xiong and Wang Xiaohong made their way to Dao Sansheng, who sat on the ground.

“Wang Xiaohong, have you recovered your strength? You two carry this fish away before the ice melts,” he instructed.

Catching this fish was pure luck. Dao Sansheng surveyed the river with his cultivator’s detection lens, and data appeared before his eyes:

Name: Bladefin Fish
Ability: Wave Attack
Level: Second-Tier Spirit Beast
Habitat: Aquatic, dwells in rivers
Weakness: Loses spiritual power when out of water

Assessing the situation, he made a snap decision, and the results had indeed been good.

Before the two could respond, a woman from the crowd fell to her knees, kowtowing deeply.

“You saved my Da Zhuang, I cannot thank you enough,” she said, trying to make the rescued boy kneel as well.

“Everyone, help carry the spoils!” an old man called out, directing the villagers to help with the great fish.

“I’m the chief of Longevity Village—call me Chief Xu,” he said.

At his command, the villagers hurried to help move the dying fish.

Dao Sansheng stopped the old woman. “The child has just had a fright; take him home to rest. There’s no need to kneel. My companion risked her life to save your boy. If you wish to thank us, thank her—just make her a good meal.”

The woman agreed at once, taking her grandson home to cook.

Chief Xu stopped her, pointing at the fish. “Let’s make a feast of this fish for our benefactors. Our usual fare is too plain for honored guests.”

The woman nodded, realizing he was right, and looked toward Dao Sansheng and the others.

“Very well, let’s all eat together. The more, the merrier,” Dao Sansheng replied.

The three followed the old woman home to rest. She bustled about, serving tea and water.

Before long, she brought out a wooden box, opening it slowly in front of them. Inside was a pendant set with a sky-blue gem, which she presented to Dao Sansheng.

“Honored guests, this was left by an ancestor who was a cultivator. It is said to protect its bearer in danger. Today, your companion saved my grandson—she saved his life, so I wish to give this to her.”

The blue gemstone sparkled brilliantly in the sunlight, its silver chain exquisitely crafted—a true work of art.

Wang Xiaohong glanced at Dao Sansheng, who nodded for her to accept it. This would fulfill the old woman’s wish, and in the way of cultivation, such karmic cycles were the way of heaven.

Out of habit, Dao Sansheng scanned the pendant with his detection lens. Data appeared:

Name: Angel’s Tear
Level: None
Effect: Negates one fatal attack
Activation: Automatically triggered by an attack

A simple description, but this was a life-saving treasure. Dao Sansheng could not help but feel envious.