Her injuries were severe, and the situation was precarious. She could not rush her recovery. Struggling to her feet, she spotted someone by the stream. She walked over and saw him seated on a rock, barefoot, fishing rod in hand, basking in the sunlight.
Though outraged that he had touched her body, she understood he had done so to save her. Suppressing her anger, she said:— Thank you for saving me, fellow cultivator. I am Li Derong. May I know your name?
Wang Hao had noticed her approach but was waiting for her to speak first. He set aside his fishing rod, stood, and turned to her.— Lady Li, you're awake?
— It's you? — she exclaimed.
— Yes, it's me! — he confirmed.
— Heh, I should have known. It could only be you, — Li Derong pressed her lips together, speaking in anger. The first two times they'd met, she'd thought him improved—but now she saw his nature had not changed. Remembering how her junior niece's clothes had been burned and torn by him during the Wang Village competition, and hearing his reputation in the market, Li Derong could not help but suspect he had taken advantage while treating her wounds.
Sensing her tone, Wang Hao frowned and quickly explained:— Lady Li, you misunderstand me. I was only treating your injuries back then, not…
Li Derong wouldn't listen and interrupted him:— You know exactly what kind of man you are. I, Li Derong, am no ingrate for having been saved by you twice. I will let this pass for now. But if we meet again in the future, we will surely exchange blows!
Wang Hao was left speechless. He had thought Li Derong a reasonable person, but now realized he had struck a sore spot. Had he not been so "helpful" in dressing her wounds, her attitude would have been entirely different.
— You disappeared for two years and stayed here the whole time? — Li Derong tried to change the subject.
Wang Hao nodded:— Yes, I've been trapped here for two years. And you, Lady Li—how did you end up here?
— That's my business and none of yours, — she replied curtly.
There was no reasoning with her. He had planned to tell her about the Ningyuan Fruit and recruit her, since as a Ninth-Level Qi Refiner with great combat power she would have been invaluable against the demon fish in the Jade Pool. Even if they could not kill it, they might snatch a fruit. But with her still angry, revealing anything now would only invite trouble. Wang Hao needed to secure the Ningyuan seeds and could not risk that.
— Let's drop it then. Lady Li, your injuries still look serious. You should rest and heal first, — Wang Hao said coldly. If she wanted to keep this air of hostility, he was no flatterer. Let them each go their own way. When Wang Yanfeng emerged from seclusion, perhaps she'd be more reasonable.
Li Derong wanted to understand the situation here before isolating herself to heal, but recalling how he'd touched her, she felt repulsion—and with that attitude, had no desire to continue talking. She muttered:— I don't need your concern, — and stormed back to the cabin, slamming the door in frustration.
— That's my cabin… — murmured Wang Hao with a sigh. — What's going on? Cultivators can be irrational too?
— Whatever. I'll build myself a new house later, — he said, shaking his head.
Wang Hao erected another cabin and returned to his seclusion. It would be years before the Ningyuan Fruit ripened. The canyon map was fully charted, with no exits, so he wasn't worried that Li Derong might escape. Better to let things cool until she calmed down.
Though he claimed seclusion, his cabin lacked a sound-isolation formation—he could still sense her movements. Over the next months, he noticed Li Derong coming and going frequently—sometimes gone two or three days, sometimes half a month—seemingly unable to accept being trapped, searching for an exit.
Last time she'd been away for a full month.— Damn, she went to the Jade Pool, didn't she? — Wang Hao sat up suddenly. He and Wang Yanfeng had already scouted to the other side of the canyon, but the path ended after a few thousand li. If Li Derong had not returned in so long, the only place she could be was the Jade Pool.
— This woman really loves trouble, — Wang Hao sighed. — I'd better go find her. If anything happens to her, it'll be hard for me and Eighth Uncle to face the Demon Fish!
He checked and saw Wang Yanfeng still in seclusion, likely refining to the ninth level, so he left him be. He summoned Golden-Eyed Jinya and set off toward the Jade Pool with the duck.
Though Jinya couldn't carry him in flight through the thousand-meter-deep canyon, it could make short leaps like a frog. Wang Hao alternated between riding the duck and trekking, resting in between, advancing faster than on foot.
Li Derong did not know the terrain well and was not nearly as fast. He estimated he could catch up in half a month.
Five hundred kilometers from the Jade Pool, Wang Hao halted abruptly and called Jinya back—he saw on the map that the "boss" at the lake was behaving oddly. Clearly, he knew who was responsible.
— Li Derong, don't overestimate your abilities, — Wang Hao murmured. He knew some Qi Refiners could slay higher-level beasts, and Li Derong was strong—but the Demon Fish was two ranks above her. A cultivator from a small family defeating an enemy two levels higher? Not a chance.
Far ahead, Li Derong was engaged in battle with the Demon Fish. Her clothes were torn and bloodstained, and she coughed up blood—obviously already gravely wounded.
She had healed enough to fight, and upon seeing Wang Hao in seclusion, had ventured out alone.
After more than a month, she finally reached the Jade Pool and was thrilled to see the Ningyuan Fruit. Without hesitation she approached—but awoke the Second-Order Demon Fish.
The surprise attack nearly killed her. If not for a second-order talisman given by her clan, she would have died instantly. Now, she didn't dare try to pluck the fruit; escape was a desperate struggle.
Wang Hao drove Jinya at full speed, already hearing the clash of combat.— She's still alive. Truly formidable! Arrogance can be a kind of talent too.
He had fantasized about making a dramatic, heroic rescue, but his dust-covered appearance and Jinya's halting glide made him look ridiculous.
Deep down, he also wanted to see Li Derong plead for help.
But as he arrived, he saw her red robes stained with blood—no more room for annoyance. Summoning his courage, he shouted:— Insolent monster! How dare you harm someone in my presence! Take this!
With a great effort, he hurled a handful of talismans as though they were nothing, drawing the Demon Fish's attention. But to a mid-rank second-order beast, first-order talismans were mere irritants—unable even to scratch its scales. The fish didn't bother to dodge.
Boom!Explosions sent water mist high into the air.
Li Derong was no fool. Seeing Wang Hao drawing the monster's focus, she seized the moment and fled with all her remaining strength.
When the mist cleared, the Demon Fish realized the trap: Wang Hao had distanced himself, and now his other prey was escaping. Furious, it roared and spat a massive water sphere at Li Derong.
If it connected, she would be slain or incapacitated.