At that moment, Shen Kangren looked utterly miserable—his flesh rotting away, as if he could collapse into a pool of blood at any second!
Yet even so, Yinghuo immediately seized Ye Yu’s hand and fled toward the horizon!
Perhaps the poison pill’s power was indeed formidable, but to kill an Ancient-God–realm powerhouse—especially one who could devour flesh—there was absolutely no chance!
Over countless years, Shen Kangren’s flesh had already accreted to a truly terrifying degree. To annihilate him completely, one would have to dissolve every last fragment of his flesh! Otherwise, even a sliver remaining would allow him to revive!
As it appeared now, Shen Kangren looked wretched, but his true root remained untouched. That was precisely why Yinghuo had dragged Ye Yu away so urgently!
Indeed, as she had predicted, after a few breaths Shen Kangren’s form collapsed into a pool of bloody water. When the purple-tinged poison had dissipated, a figure re-formed—it was Shen Kangren himself.
He raised his still-purpling right hand, a twisted grin on his face. “You feed me poisoned flesh? Intriguing—so intriguing. Even if your realm is low, I still wish to taste your flesh! Just wait—I will absorb you both into my body!”
No sooner had the words fallen than Shen Kangren vanished from that spot.
Meanwhile, Yinghuo and Ye Yu did not continue to dash through the wilds; instead, they arrived at Balance City!
Honestly, Ye Yu would rather never return to this place—because the drunkard Su Tian was here! If Yinghuo met Su Tian, how could he fabricate their backstory? It would be a dead end.
But Yinghuo insisted. She even claimed that besides the God of Balance, no one else would guarantee their safety now! Perhaps it was true—but Ye Yu resisted all the same.
Yet with a secret divine art, Yinghuo whisked them to Balance City in the span of two breaths! To Ye Yu’s relief, Su Tian was nowhere to be seen—his old drinking spot occupied by someone else entirely. Ye Yu exhaled in quiet relief.
Yinghuo had no intention of lingering in the outer city; she led Ye Yu into the main city. Two stone lions perched beside the gate sprang to life and leapt forward to block their path!
Yinghuo continued at full speed, drew a token from her storage ring, and slapped it against each lion’s face. A single character appeared on each:
“Pain!”
The character glowed with divine might, and the two lions, aggrieved, turned and fled!
Ye Yu found it fascinating—until Yinghuo tugged him onward, like someone perfectly at home here.
They reached a door in the inner city. Yinghuo kicked it open. “Old Yu, are you still alive?”
A sigh came from within. Ye Yu turned slightly and saw a woman in a loose robe seated cross-legged, a balance scale before her heavily tilted by mismatched weights. Her brow was tightly furrowed.
“I knew nothing good would come of your waking,” she scolded. “How many times have I told you to knock? Why won’t you listen, why!”
Yinghuo paid no heed to the reprimand. “This is Yu Buxia,” she introduced. “Master of Balance City, severe OCPD—she operates by her own set procedures. If conditions aren’t equal, she does nothing. But if everything balances out, all is negotiable!”
“She’s also Ye Yu’s lifesaver—saved me twice. Modest cultivation, but a good person.”
At those words, Yu Buxia resumed adjusting her scale, striving for absolute equilibrium. “Oh? You’re Lord Ye Xian—you may sit!”
“And you,” she said to Yinghuo, “let’s speak plainly. Every time you come, it’s never without trouble—what need brings you this time?”
“Good—straightforward,” Yinghuo murmured approvingly. “I’ll tell you everything.” She recounted their plight, then continued gravely: “Old Yu, I have a simple request. Ye Yu and I will stay here for three days. During that time, you must protect us. Once three days pass, I should have regained my peak strength—and then I can face that fiend with confidence! I beg your assistance.”
Yu Buxia paused her work and regarded Yinghuo, /N_o_v_e_l_i_g_h_t/ her eyes full of complexity.
Yinghuo produced a purple wooden box from her ring and hurled it. Yu Buxia cracked it open a slit, her face shifting into a broad smile. “Three days, you say? No problem—absolutely no problem! Stay here and rest.”
Ye Yu raised an eyebrow. So this was true balance—enough gratitude offered to guarantee genuine protection. A fair exchange, indeed.
Yinghuo did not linger to chat. “Wait for me!” she whispered, then vanished into the secluded meditation grounds on the city’s back mountain.
Three days would be no small trial for her, but for Yinghuo’s and Ye Yu’s survival, success was the only option.
After her departure, Yu Buxia resumed her work on the scale and said earnestly, “For three days, remain within Balance City—no danger will find you. If anything arises, contact me immediately!”
In the next moment, a jade Communication Stone appeared before Ye Yu. He accepted it without hesitation and turned to leave.
Yu Buxia watched, surprised at his quick decisiveness. She had expected him to fear Shen Kangren’s name and remain within the lord’s mansion—but he showed courage!
Little did she know, Ye Yu didn’t fret at all. In his view, it was Yinghuo whom Shen Kangren sought—he was of little interest. Shen Kangren might not even remember him.
Thus Ye Yu was untroubled. Moreover, now that he was back in Balance City, he intended to forage for treasures again. He wouldn’t expect another terrifying Hell Technique like last time, but perhaps a few second-rate divine arts—hardly asking too much, right?
Of course, first things first: he would complete his task before indulging in treasure-hunting.
