SWORD OF FLAME

The Essence of the Pure Body 1

Fang Yun wasn’t disturbed or even interested in the fierce battle unfolding before his eyes. Even as he passed through the middle of it, he strolled along casually, unaffected.

His demeanor puzzled everyone involved in the fight. They were surprised that this young man showed no fear whatsoever, instead walking calmly past them as if nothing unusual was happening.

Fang Yun’s eyes shifted to the old man and the little girl he had met earlier at the tavern.

“Grandfather? Why are you here? And who are those people fighting?”

Feng Chen looked at Fang Yun with a mix of surprise and admiration. Despite the intensity of the battle happening right next to them, there wasn’t even a trace of fear in the young man’s eyes.

As Feng Chen remained silent, Fang Yun pressed on, “Earlier, you said you were taking Zhen Ni to her parents. So why are you still here? Ah… I get it. Do you need someone to escort her with you? It just so happens I don’t have any particular destination. My name is Fang Yun,” he offered quickly.

Sensing no ill intent from Fang Yun, the old man—Feng Chen—finally answered.

“They are martial artists from the black sects, Fang Yun. And they want Zhen Ni.”

Fang Yun furrowed his brow. “Why would black sect members fight each other over Zhen Ni, Grandpa?”

“They desire her pure body,” Feng Chen replied.

Fang Yun scratched his head, confused. “Pure body?”

Feng Chen nodded. “In short, Zhen Ni possesses something special in her body that can greatly enhance their martial abilities.”

Still puzzled by the explanation, Fang Yun asked, “So what are they going to do with her? Train together?”

Feng Chen slapped his forehead at Fang Yun’s innocence. He leaned in and whispered into the young man’s ear, “They intend to eat her flesh and extract her marrow to make elixirs.”

“WHAT?!” Fang Yun gasped, covering his mouth after realizing he had shouted too loudly.

“Sickening! If that’s what they plan to do, they’re not even human.”

Feng Chen nodded solemnly.

Fang Yun turned to look at the ongoing battle.

“Alright then. Let’s leave now while they’re busy fighting.”

Feng Chen looked hesitant. If they just fled like that, they would almost certainly be spotted by the black sect warriors.

“We won’t be able to get away that easily, Fang Yun. They’ll notice for sure.”

Fang Yun scratched his head again, pretending to think. “Qiang Mo, do you think I can carry both of them?”

“You’re strong enough. The real issue is the chest on your back. How will you carry both of them with that in the way?”

Fang Yun paused to think deeply for a moment before a wide grin appeared on his face.

“Grandpa, please carry this chest for me!” he said cheerfully, unstrapping the chest and handing it over. He fastened the heavy bundle to Feng Chen’s back, who looked confused by the sudden turn of events.

Then Fang Yun scooped up Zhen Ni in his arms and motioned for Feng Chen to climb onto his back as well.

The black sect warriors didn’t pay much attention to Fang Yun’s presence. They dismissed him as an ordinary youth who posed no threat to their affairs.

But Li Xue was shocked when she realized the little girl and the two others had vanished from the scene. Just moments ago, she had seen Feng Chen talking with the young man they met at the tavern.

“Stop…!!! They’ve escaped! Feng Chen tricked us!” Li Xue shouted.

The fighting ceased immediately. Swearing and curses—along with the names of various zoo animals—burst out from their mouths in a chorus of frustration.

“This is what happens when we let our ambition get the better of us! We should work together to hunt them down. Once we catch the girl, we’ll divide the benefits of her body equally. How about that?” suggested Su Ji.

The other black sect warriors finally agreed to Su Ji’s plan. Using their lightness skill, they shot off in pursuit. Meanwhile, the three underlings of the Twisted Elder, lacking the internal energy of the others, fell far behind.

Meanwhile...

Meanwhile, Fang Yun, empowered by the Quiet Wind incantation and aided slightly by the internal force of the Fire Deity, dashed forward at full speed—despite the heavy burden he carried.

“You're unusually clever today, Fang Yun. What did you eat back at the tavern?” teased Qiang Mo.

“Steamed ant brains and cockroach satay!” Fang Yun replied offhandedly while continuing to run.

“Your brain works right one moment and completely derails the next! I give you a compliment and you throw that nonsense back at me,” Qiang Mo grumbled.

Fang Yun didn’t respond to Qiang Mo’s complaints. He just chuckled quietly and focused on running.

Feng Chen, who hadn’t expected that the young man carrying him was a martial artist as well, finally smiled in relief. At least, there was still hope of saving Zhen Ni.

Spotting a nearby village, Fang Yun decided to find an inn for the three of them. But before entering the village, he glanced behind to make sure they were safe.

Fang Yun set Feng Chen and the girl down just outside the village, then invited them to follow him in with a light jog.

Moments later, the four black sect warriors who had been chasing them arrived at the village.

“They fled quickly. We’d better search this village first,” suggested the Twisted Elder.

The four of them entered the large village, scanning every alley and corner they passed.

Fang Yun, Feng Chen, and Zhen Ni had already made their way to a room in an inn. They planned to stay hidden until the situation was safe enough for the little girl.

Once she had fallen asleep, Fang Yun finally mustered the courage to ask about her.

“So, what exactly happened? Why is this girl being hunted like that, Grandpa?”

“Zhen Ni is a child foretold in prophecy, Fang Yun,” Feng Chen began. “Once every hundred years, a child with a pure body is born. The one with such a body bears two signs: she cannot speak, and her left foot emits light.”

Feng Chen gently lifted the pant leg covering Zhen Ni’s left foot. A soft violet-white glow immediately illuminated the room. He quickly covered it again.

“Ohh… That explains why she hasn’t spoken at all and why the fabric on her left leg is thicker than the right!” Fang Yun said while nodding in realization.

“Where did you find her, Grandpa? And where are you taking her?”

Feng Chen looked at Fang Yun’s face carefully, trying to determine whether this young man posed any danger to the girl.

After a short sigh, he began his explanation.

He said that he had received a vision from the Heavenly Ones instructing him to search for a child destined to bring calamity to the world. He was then told to bring her to an ancient temple atop Mount Tianmen. The elders of that temple would perform a ritual to remove the special gift from the child described in the prophecy.

Feng Chen also revealed that the black sect warriors had somehow caught wind of the prophecy. He wasn’t sure how they learned about it, but one thing was clear—they would stop at nothing to seize Zhen Ni.