Chapter Twenty-One: I Was Struck by Love at First Sight!

The little princess was on the verge of a breakdown. As she ran desperately, she could faintly hear the tragic screams of Lu Feng and the other guards behind her. Huge boulders, dislodged by the attacks of the Bloodscale Python, kept hurtling toward her back, and the overwhelming surge of spiritual energy relentlessly assaulted her nerves.

“Master, save me!” the little princess shouted back at the elderly Shangguan, her voice already choked with tears.

But when she saw her master forced into a retreat by the giant serpent’s attacks, her last glimmer of hope was extinguished.

Yet, in this moment, whether driven by a desperate will to survive or some hidden potential awakened, she suddenly grew calm in her terror. Gritting her teeth, she sprinted with all her might, her peripheral vision fixed on the chaos behind her.

Once more, the Bloodscale Python let out a furious roar and lunged at the three who stood in its way, smashing down with a force that instantly enveloped them in its massive shadow.

The three unleashed their strongest attacks in a desperate bid to block the serpent, but their efforts were like pebbles tossed into a raging sea—instantly swallowed up, leaving no trace.

This time, only Lu Feng was flung aside by the blow; the other two were devoured in an instant.

“Guard Lu… If I survive this, I swear I’ll avenge you!” the little princess vowed silently, but she dared not pause for a second.

Still, her determination and will to live were no match for the vast difference in strength. After crushing the three, the serpent shifted its colossal form and lunged straight for her.

In her panic, the little princess barely managed to pull out the teleportation talisman her master had given her. She activated it, only to move a scant dozen yards before the python’s terrifying shockwave sent her hurtling through the air.

Suspended above the ground, she saw the Bloodscale Python, having missed her once, coil and leap again. With nowhere left to escape, despair filled her eyes, and tears of regret finally streamed down her cheeks.

“Father, Master, forgive me…”

Elsewhere, the elderly Shangguan watched helplessly as his disciple was about to be swallowed, his eyes bloodshot with rage and sorrow. He fought with all his strength to break free from the python entangling him, but the serpent, sensing his intent, refused to let him go.

He could only watch as the Bloodscale Python moved to devour the little princess.

At that desperate moment, just as the python was about to strike, a blade of deep blue light, several yards long, flashed from the forest ahead and shot straight for the serpent’s vital spot!

The Bloodscale Python, caught off guard by the sudden appearance of another, and unable to evade the impossibly swift sword light, took the blow head-on.

A miserable screech escaped the serpent as it was sent flying, dozens of its crystalline scales shattered at the vital spot, leaving a gaping wound that instantly gushed blood.

The little princess, still in shock, barely registered what had happened before a handsome man in a blue robe leapt from the woods, caught her slender waist, and swept her out of the serpent’s jaws to safety.

Cradled suddenly in his arms, the usually headstrong princess felt a wave of security she had never known before. The hope that flared in her heart after such despair made her see a halo around her rescuer, and the more she looked at him, the more she found him dazzlingly handsome.

Though the man never once glanced at her—his gaze fixed intently on the Bloodscale Python—and even let her fall unceremoniously to the ground as he set her down, she could not help but be captivated.

The newcomer was, of course, Mo Bufan. The moment he decided to act, he dashed to the rescue. Although he lacked the speed of the serpent and could only watch as it devoured two people, he managed, thankfully, to activate his spirit sword talisman just in time to save the princess.

He had no idea that by saving her, he had unwittingly become a paragon of heroic grace in her eyes, stirring the heartstrings of this little princess without meaning to.

After saving the princess, Mo Bufan cast a glance at the elderly Shangguan, who was still locked in fierce battle with another Bloodscale Python, then at the injured serpent he had just struck. Finally, he rushed over to the gravely wounded Lu Feng.

Lu Feng was utterly stunned to see Mo Bufan. He doubted his own senses—how could the man they had been sent to capture suddenly appear here to save him? In the brutal cultivation world, such a thing would be laughed off as nonsense.

Mo Bufan had no time for explanations. He simply scooped up Lu Feng and carried him to the princess’s side, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

At that moment, he felt an intense gaze upon him. Turning, he found the delicate princess looking up at him, her eyes aglow with admiration. The look in her eyes sent a shiver down his spine.

“Thank you for your timely help, friend,” called the elderly Shangguan, still engaged in battle. “If you would assist me in subduing these two Bloodscale Pythons, I promise you a great reward!”

Having seen his disciple saved, the old man fought with renewed ferocity, quickly regaining the upper hand.

Mo Bufan frowned. He wanted to help, but had no wish to cross swords with these two monstrous pythons, which would be a costly endeavor.

Besides, the serpents only attacked because these people had provoked them. To be blunt, he cared little for the old man’s promised reward.

The Bloodscale Python he had wounded now raised its head again, but as it looked at Mo Bufan, there was wariness in its eyes. If that sword strike had been any stronger, it would be dead. As a creature of considerable intelligence, it knew caution was wise.

Mo Bufan, after a brief consideration, unshouldered his basket and handed it to the princess and Lu Feng. “Watch over this for me. I’ll be right back.”

He took a few steps forward, then turned back as if remembering something, “Don’t harm it. Otherwise, don’t blame me if I’m not so polite next time…” He shot a glance at the fiery-tempered Fire Lynx, whose eyes were bloodshot with rage. “Quiet down. Don’t cause trouble.”

At his words, the Fire Lynx lowered its head and ceased glaring at Lu Feng.

Lu Feng looked at the Fire Lynx, then at Mo Bufan, and nodded rapidly.

Mo Bufan advanced at a leisurely pace, spirit sword talisman in hand, pondering how best to resolve the situation without wasting his precious treasures.

His calm demeanor only pleased the elderly Shangguan further and made the two Bloodscale Pythons all the more uneasy.

“Princess… there’s something I don’t know whether I should say,” Lu Feng ventured as Mo Bufan walked away, noting the princess’s unwavering gaze.

“Yes? Go on…” The princess only glanced at him, then fixed her eyes once more on Mo Bufan.

“Ahem…” Lu Feng cleared his throat. “It’s just… this is the man who stopped us from capturing the Fire Lynx. You see, the Fire Lynx is still with him. Looks like he intends to adopt the mother and her cub.”

He worried that the headstrong princess might do something to upset Mo Bufan, sparking further conflict.

“Is that so?” To Lu Feng’s utter surprise, the princess’s eyes sparkled with delight. “That means we’re fated, aren’t we? He even wants to care for the Fire Lynx and her cub—how compassionate…”

She murmured the last part to herself, her eyes shining even brighter.

Lu Feng was left dumbfounded. Had the princess lost her mind from fright?

Mo Bufan strode onto the battlefield, noticing the faint hesitation in the Bloodscale Python’s stance—a welcome sign.

“Shall we call a truce, gentlemen?” Mo Bufan said with feigned profundity as he looked at the battling parties.

Though surprised, neither side paused their attacks; the other python, however, was already bracing itself defensively.

Mo Bufan sighed and continued, “I’m merely a passerby, not particularly interested in your affairs. I just don’t wish to see needless bloodshed…”

The Bloodscale Python cursed him inwardly for his shamelessness, “If you didn’t want bloodshed, why did you nearly kill me just now? Human cultivators are full of trickery—never to be trusted.”

“If you refuse my advice, are you hoping I’ll walk away? Or would you rather force me to slay the Bloodscale Python? Whoever persists, I’ll be forced to act against them.” Mo Bufan pressed.

Though the python mistrusted him and the old man found his behavior absurd—who would pass up such an opportunity to slay a beast and seize its treasures?—his words nonetheless had an effect. Both sides immediately ceased fighting.

“What is it you propose, friend?” the elderly Shangguan asked.

Both pythons looked at him as well.

Standing at the center of their attention, Mo Bufan coughed lightly, then suddenly changed demeanor, grinning, “Why not let it go? Return to your homes, seek out your mothers—peace is a blessing, after all.”

“Is this man a fool?” Deep in the forest, Long Ling’er, who had been observing and tailing Mo Bufan, could no longer hold back.

“No, on the contrary, I think he might be a master of considerable power,” responded Long Ao, ever ready to contradict, but with reasoning to support his view.

“How do you mean, big brother?” Long Tian asked curiously.

Long Ling’er curled her lip, “He’s a fool. They came to trouble him, he helps them instead. If it was for treasure, that would make sense, but he wants to let everyone go and talks about going home and finding their mothers. What kind of normal person does that?”

“No, if he’s a true master, it’s not so hard to explain. Humans are hypocrites—when their cultivation is high, they speak of responsibility and the revival of their kind. Maybe helping those three was just his sense of duty, like our quest for the Dragon Pearl.”

“As for not killing the Bloodscale Python, perhaps such a beast simply doesn’t interest him,” Long Ao analyzed methodically.

“Big brother makes sense,” Long Tian agreed, and continued, “So maybe he’s here for some secret purpose.”

“Indeed!” Long Ao nodded gravely. “He’s been heading toward the Dragon Ancestor’s place of demise. There must be something amiss. We must keep a close eye on him.”

Long Ling’er watched her brothers. Although their reasoning was sound, she couldn’t shake the intuition—perhaps a woman’s sixth sense—that this man was just a bit simple, a bit naive.

“All right, let’s not argue. Just keep watching,” she said, cutting off further debate. The three dragons set their sights once more on the scene unfolding before them.