Supreme Sword Master - Chapter 25
"Supreme Sword Master - Chapter 25: This Mighty Warrior... Is Actually a Woman?"
Chapter 25: This Mighty Warrior... Is Actually a Woman?
"What?"
Gu Han was still trying to process what had just happened.
Help?
Help with what?
With your cultivation level, do you really need the help of someone at the Meridian Opening Realm?
"Little brother, you must help me!"
The young man repeated his plea, his tone now tinged with desperation.
"If anyone asks, whatever you do, don't say you've seen me!"
"Don't—absolutely don't say it! My entire happiness rests in your hands!"
Swish!
As soon as the words left his mouth, he vanished into thin air, leaving behind only a gust of wind.
Happiness?
Gu Han was still baffled.
What happiness?
"Young Master."
Asha cautiously peeked out from behind him.
"Who is he? Doesn't he want our medicinal herb?"
"Forget about him!"
Gu Han hastily tucked the herb away.
"This person might be insane!"
"What does their happiness have to do with me?"
Of course.
Though he grumbled inwardly, Gu Han didn't dare linger any longer. If that person returned and noticed the medicinal herb in his hand, it would be a disaster.
He hoisted Asha onto his back.
Deliberately choosing a direction opposite to where the young man had fled, he sprinted off at full speed!
...
About an hour later.
"Phew..."
Seeing no one pursuing them from behind, Gu Han let out a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, they hadn't followed!
After battling the demonic vine for so long, he had already expended most of his energy. Now, having pushed himself to the limit while traveling such a long distance, even someone with his deep spiritual energy felt exhausted.
"Young Master."
Asha, feeling sorry for him, wiped away his sweat.
"Should we keep running?"
"No more."
Gu Han shook his head.
"Let's find a place to rest first, then..."
"Roar!"
Suddenly!
A deafening roar echoed through the forest!
A demonic beast!
And judging by the sound...
This beast was no weakling!
Gu Han's heart tightened as he immediately snapped to attention. He unsheathed his sword, his senses on high alert!
First, the demonic vine.
Then, the mysterious young man.
And now, a powerful and ferocious beast.
It seemed...
Today was shaping up to be particularly unlucky?
Just as he was thinking this.
"Roar!"
Another roar thundered through the air.
As several towering ancient trees toppled in succession, the silhouette of the beast finally came into view.
It resembled a wild boar.
Its body stretched over two zhang in length.
On its back were rows of three-foot-long bone spikes, glinting coldly.
This demonic beast...
At least rank four!
Gu Han's heart sank.
Rank four equated to a cultivator at the Spirit Gathering Realm. Even if he were in peak condition, victory wouldn't be guaranteed. Now, with his cultivation nearly depleted, his chances were slimmer than ever.
"Young Master!"
Asha suddenly gripped him tightly.
"Let me handle it!"
She could clearly sense Gu Han's caution and understood that this beast was no ordinary opponent.
Moreover, she had a vague feeling that if she used her inexplicable ability, defeating this beast would be effortless!
"No way!"
Gu Han firmly rejected her.
"Have you forgotten what I said? Stay here and watch. I can handle this myself..."
Whoosh!
Before he could finish speaking.
The beast completely ignored the two of them, charging straight ahead.
Gu Han froze.
Just moments ago...
Had he seen a flicker of fear in the beast's eyes?
Zing!
Before he could dwell on it further.
A sharp whistling sound cut through the air!
A massive purple-gold hammer, spanning two chi in diameter, descended from the sky, landing precisely on the beast!
Boom!
A thunderous explosion!
Gu Han felt the ground beneath his feet tremble violently.
When he focused again, a deep crater several zhang wide had formed nearby. Inside it, the beast had been reduced to a pile of bloody pulp.
"This..."
Gu Han's pupils contracted.
Boom!
Boom!
...
Before he could react, the ground began trembling once more.
Then... an incredibly muscular figure appeared in his line of sight!
Gu Han was stunned.
Even Asha was dumbfounded.
Bang!
Bang!
The figure casually summoned the purple-gold hammer back into their hand, taking three strides in quick succession to stand before Gu Han.
"Boy!"
A deep, gruff voice rumbled.
"Did you see anyone pass through here recently? Someone who ran very fast!"
Gu Han instinctively looked up.
He couldn't help but look up.
This towering figure was at least three heads taller than an average person. Their body was covered in bulging muscles, which not even their loose green robe could conceal. Simply standing there, they exuded an overwhelming presence.
Looking further up...
Gu Han was utterly stupefied!
On that mighty, muscular frame rested the head of a woman! Her delicate features were indistinguishable from those of an ordinary woman—she even appeared somewhat refined!
This...
Was a woman?
"What are you staring at!"
The female warrior seemed both embarrassed and irritated.
"Answer me! Did you see this person or not?"
"No!"
Remembering the young man's desperate plea earlier, Gu Han instinctively shook his head.
"I haven't seen anyone!"
"And you!"
The burly woman turned to Asha.
"No! No!"
Asha, terrified, quickly hid behind Gu Han.
"I didn't see anything either!"
"Hmph!"
The burly woman ignored them, slinging the purple-gold hammer over her shoulder and growling, "You wait! When I find you, I'll skin you alive!"
Boom!
Boom!
...
With her booming steps, she disappeared into the distance with a speed that belied her massive size.
After a while.
The ground gradually stopped trembling.
Gu Han wore a speechless expression.
The encounters of this day—were they fortunate or unfortunate?
"Young Master."
Asha was still shaken.
"She..."
"Let's go!"
Gu Han dared not linger any longer.
If they stayed, who knew what other strange people they might encounter.
...
Late at night.
Inside a demon beast's cave.
The fire illuminated the cave as bright as day, while the original occupant of the cave was roasting over the flames, sizzling and dripping with oil.
"Phew..."
Gu Han exhaled a breath of turbid air, slowly opening his eyes.
Not only had his fatigue vanished, but his cultivation had also improved slightly. The cost, however... was another significant loss of spirit crystals.
Beside him.
Asha stared at the roasted beast meat, drool glistening at the corners of her mouth.
"Hungry?"
Gu Han chuckled, reaching to take down the meat.
"So fragrant!"
At this moment.
A sudden voice interrupted, and before Gu Han could react, a figure appeared inside the cave.
"Who!"
Gu Han tensed, instantly rising to his feet!
"It's you?"
The newcomer...
Was none other than the young man they had encountered earlier in the day.
"Don't worry."
The young man waved dismissively.
"I mean no harm. I just smelled the food... cough, cough, I came specifically to thank you, little brother."
As he spoke.
Without hesitation, he tore off a leg of the roasted beast and began devouring it voraciously.
"Sigh, eating this beast meat occasionally isn't bad."
Asha glared at him angrily.
"You..."
Seeing he had no hostile intentions, Gu Han relaxed slightly but remained wary.
"Why are you back again?"
"Hehe."
The young man grinned mischievously.
"It's called a diversion. You all thought I ran deeper into the forest, but in reality, I never went far!"
As he spoke.
He had already finished the leg of meat and reached out again.
"That's mine!"
Asha couldn't hold back any longer and jumped forward to protect the food.
"Cough, cough..."
He awkwardly withdrew his hand.
"Little girl, why so stingy? There's so much meat—can you really eat it all by yourself...?"
"You're not simple, little brother."
Seemingly to cover his embarrassment, he turned to Gu Han.
"The poison mist from the Purple Crystal Vine would leave even a Spirit Gathering Realm cultivator in a dire situation. Yet you emerged unscathed. No wonder you dare wander these Wilderness Forests alone with a little girl!"
Purple Crystal Vine?
Gu Han's heart sank.
So he had been seen after all!
"Don't worry. Lowly acts like killing and stealing treasures—I, Shen Xuan, would never do such things."
Gu Han felt slightly reassured.
"That person... that person..."
He wanted to say "young lady."
But the thought of her muscular physique made the words stick in his throat.
"She... is the one chasing you?"
"Yes!"
At the mention of the burly woman, Shen Xuan's face twisted with sorrow and indignation.
"She's my junior sister!"
"..."
Gu Han was speechless.
Junior sister chasing senior brother?
And threatening to skin him alive?
What kind of grudge could lead to this? Or were they both just insane?
"Why is she chasing you?"
"She..."
Shen Xuan gave Gu Han a meaningful glance.
"Wants to marry me!"
Pfft!
Beside them.
Asha, who had been enthusiastically devouring a leg of meat, couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.
"Sorry... sorry..."
"I... I didn't mean to..."
Her little face flushed red, seemingly embarrassed.
"..."
Gu Han nearly lost it too.
But his self-control far surpassed Asha's, and he managed to suppress his laughter.
Across from him.
Shen Xuan wore a mournful expression.
At this point, Gu Han's hostility toward him diminished, replaced by a hint of sympathy.
Putting himself in Shen Xuan's shoes, if a burly woman wanted to force him into marriage, he'd run ten times faster than Shen Xuan!
"You've suffered..."
He didn't know how to console Shen Xuan.
"It's true."
Shen Xuan looked thoroughly aggrieved.
"I can't beat her in a fight, so I can only run, sigh..."
As he spoke.
Seemingly unable to contain his frustration any longer, he poured out his grievances to Gu Han.
"Little brother, judge for yourself. Even if we grew up together and have feelings for each other, she can't force me into marriage! I, Shen Xuan, a proud seven-foot man, how can I..."
"Wait!"
Gu Han felt dizzy.
Childhood sweethearts?
Mutual affection?
"You... like her?"
"Of course! From the moment I saw her, I fell in love. Hehe, actually, she feels the same way!"
"..."
Gu Han wanted to call him insane.
"If you both like each other and she wants you to marry her, why not just marry her? Why are you running away?"
"Little brother."
Shen Xuan sighed.
"You may not understand. It's not me marrying her—it's her marrying me."
"She... marrying you?"
Gu Han finally understood.
"Yes!"
Shen Xuan's face grew solemn.
"A true man stands tall between heaven and earth. If anyone is to marry, it should be me marrying her. How could I possibly become a son-in-law in her Murong family? Even if you kill me, I won't agree!"
"..."
Gu Han confirmed it.
Shen Xuan was truly insane.
And not just a little.
Boom!
Boom!
...
Suddenly!
The ground shook violently!
"Shen Xuan!"
That deep, gruff voice rang out once more.
"You bastard!"
"You made me run in circles! Get out here!"