"Senior sister, let me break it down for you. Right now, Master is facing three big problems: world-shaking achievements, fame across the land, and unmatched bravery. The first two depend on luck and opportunity, and the last one needs rare medicines and divine weapons—again, all about luck. And where does luck come from? The martial world, obviously! The world is huge, so we'll always find some chance out there—so no matter what, we can't just keep hiding out in these mountains forever, right?" Fiona Fang carefully dodged a patch of thorns, grumbling, "If we keep going like this, we're going to turn into wild women!"
"Alright, enough complaining. Master has his reasons," Rachel Luo comforted her while walking with an odd, twisting step.
On the second day in the forest cabin, Mr. Yang woke the two girls up bright and early, announcing morning training. Neither of them thought much of it, and after breakfast, they started exercising. Mr. Yang had invented his own set of calisthenics—tough for normal people, demanding both strength and flexibility, but just right for martial artists to warm up, stretch, and get their blood flowing. After a round of calisthenics and breakfast, Mr. Yang led them into the woods for what he called a forest trek drill.
"This forest trek isn't just ordinary training—it's about honing your stealth skills," Mr. Yang explained before they set off. "Listen up: there are guards and sentries all over these woods. Most aren't martial arts experts, but they're experienced. The forest is big, but sneaking through without being spotted isn't easy. Your goal this time is to get out undetected."
After all, this forest was right next to the Moon Palace—of course it would be guarded.
"That's way too hard," Fiona Fang protested immediately, drawing on her martial world experience. "We don't even know lightness skill, and Rachel just started training—there's no way we can do it." The forest guarded by official sentries was no joke, and Fiona knew it was impossible without even trying.
"Exactly, it'd be way too tough if you tried alone. That's why this is your first time, so we're in tutorial mode," Mr. Yang said, like he was launching a newbie village quest. "I'll guide you through it this time, so stick close and pay attention."
So, Teacher Yang led the two beauties—one tall, one petite—into the forest. It felt just like when they escaped from the Hookah Slave Gang back in the day. Teacher Yang kept his eyes and ears sharp, weaving through the woods, erasing their tracks as they went. He'd stop now and then to quietly point out sentry positions to the girls, who nodded and memorized everything. Stealth skills were crucial—essential for anyone wanting to survive in the martial world, whether for escaping or, well, 'borrowing' a few valuables. If you wanted to make it in the jianghu, you had to learn this stuff.
Just like that, in full tutorial mode, the three of them left the forest cabin. All their stuff—clothes, supplies—was left behind, making it obvious this was just a quick trip. At least, that's what the two girls thought. But after they slipped past the guards, Mr. Yang didn't turn back; he just kept leading them deeper into the woods.
"After stealth comes endurance training. If you want to be a martial artist, you have to be able to take hardship—and you need solid survival skills. So next up: three days of wilderness survival!"
"Huh?" Fiona Fang blurted out in surprise. "We didn’t bring anything—are we just supposed to survive in the wilderness for three days empty-handed? I can’t even skin a rabbit properly!" She narrowed her eyes, grinning mischievously. "Wait, is this your plan all along? Wilderness survival, huh? More like you want to run off with two gorgeous ladies. What a perv~"
Thud! Mr. Yang delivered a swift teacher's karate chop to her head, making a sound like knocking on a wooden fish. "Gorgeous lady? You wish! Maybe in a few years, kid."
"Ouch! That hurt! Who are you calling a kid? Where am I small? Say it to my face!" Fiona Fang clawed at him, while Rachel Luo glanced back at the path they'd come. Was this really just a drill? Maybe not. She looked at Mr. Yang, joking freely with Fiona, and saw nothing suspicious—maybe it really was just simple training. Hopefully.
"Alright, keep moving and cultivate as you go. From now on, you can’t walk normally. Your forefoot can’t leave the ground—you have to glide it along. That way, your center of gravity stays steady and you’re always ready to push off if you run into trouble. Got it? Let’s go!" Mr. Yang glared, shambling after the girls like a zombie. "Whoever I catch has to wash my feet!"
"Whoa!" Fiona Fang bolted, while Rachel Luo smiled and started moving with the weird new steps. And so, the three of them began their life in the deep forest.
Anyone who actually tried this would realize moving through the forest this way was tough. The ground was uneven, tangled with roots, and the terrain was a mess. If your foot left the ground, the eagle-eyed Mr. Yang would immediately call you out and count—mess up too many times and you’d have to make the beds and warm up the blankets.
But if you scraped the ground too hard, you couldn’t move properly, and if the big zombie caught you, you’d have to wash his feet or give him a massage. All in all, Rachel Luo felt like she was playing a real-life Temple Run. No stopping—if you did, you were doomed. All she could do was hurry forward, panting.
Still, the training really worked. Once they got used to the weird footwork, they could move steadily through the forest. With their feet gliding over the ground like gentle, probing sensors, they hardly ever tripped or fell. After a few surprise animal encounters, both girls realized this walking method was great for handling anything unexpected.
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"If you want to fly, you’ve got to stand steady first. Even after you learn lightness skill, don’t forget that."
They moved at a leisurely pace, training and learning as they went. Mr. Yang always had endless ideas—he’d come up with a new trick at the drop of a hat. Some were borrowed from Master Tang, and some were his own inventions. Either way, his sharp eye let him keep track of the girls’ exhaustion, scheduling breaks and mixing things up to keep boredom away.
The girls were tired, but everything felt fresh and new. Teacher Yang’s lessons were fun, and they were eager to learn. Between martial arts practice, he’d throw in little games—finding fruit, water, and food. Wilderness survival became surprisingly entertaining. Fiona Fang felt like she was playing, exhausted but excited. Rachel Luo, though, noticed they were getting farther and farther from the forest cabin, with no sign of turning back.
By the end of the first day in the woods, night had fallen. After sunset, the forest was pitch black, full of strange noises. The Flower Kingdom was in the southern part of the continent, rich in wildlife. At night, all sorts of nocturnal creatures came out, and the eerie cries of night owls echoed through the darkness.
With Mr. Yang’s guidance, the girls found a decent cave to spend the night in. Well, 'cave' was really just a hollow in the rock wall. Luckily, it was summer and not cold, so no worries about getting sick. They built a campfire, giving the whole thing a camping vibe.
"Now, let me teach you how to make a bed out of wild materials, so you can sleep soundly without worrying about bug bites." Mr. Yang gathered a pile of wood—some thick, some thin. He rubbed his hands together, and strips of bark peeled off like taking off a jacket, as if the bark wasn’t even attached to the tree. "At night, making a fire isn’t always safe, so you need special tricks. Smell this wood—see that weird scent? It keeps the bugs away."
Watching Mr. Yang quickly shape a nest-like bed under the firelight, Fiona Fang couldn’t help but ask, "How do you know all this stuff? Where’d you learn it?"
"I lived in the jungle for a while, even built a boat once. All self-taught." Mr. Yang kept working, then asked, "Actually, I should ask you—weren’t you in the martial world for years? How come you don’t know any of this?"
"I—I was in the martial world, not a wild woman!" Fiona Fang protested. Then, blushing, she added quietly, "Besides, I spent those years hiding out in the Southern Wasteland, not really familiar with the central lands…"
At this, Rachel Luo hesitated, glanced at Mr. Yang, then finally spoke up: "Lingji, you mentioned hiding and revenge—what’s that all about? If you want, I can help."
"Well…" Fiona Fang’s face darkened for a moment, then she stared at Mr. Yang. "It’s about that secret. The Southern Wasteland Ancient Empire’s royal manual, the Fang family massacre—they’re all connected. Do you really want to hear it?" She’d wanted to tell them yesterday, but Mr. Yang stopped her, so now she wasn’t sure what to do.
Mr. Yang nodded. "Go ahead—here’s fine."
Rachel Luo caught the phrase 'here’s fine.' Did that mean they couldn’t talk about this back at the cabin?
"Alright, I’ll tell you." Fiona Fang took a deep breath, organizing her thoughts. "My family was a prominent clan in Jiangnan—over a hundred people, plus servants and workers, with a huge estate and lots of businesses. But when I was four, everyone was slaughtered in a single night—not even the dogs and chickens survived. Only my mom and I escaped because we were visiting relatives. When we came back, everything was ashes."
"Lingji…" Rachel Luo was moved, unable to imagine the pain a four-year-old would feel facing such a disaster. She reached out and grabbed Fiona Fang’s small hand, wanting to give her strength.
"I’m okay. Honestly, I barely remember that part—I was so little, I don’t even know what my dad looked like. My mom covered my eyes, so I didn’t see anything. Most of what I know, she told me later." Fiona Fang squeezed Rachel’s hand back, her smile still as bright and tough as a wild swallow—carefree, but full of strength.
Mr. Yang smiled gently, still weaving the bark bed. "Let me guess—your mom took you to the Southern Wasteland after that?"
"Yeah, I don’t remember the details. All I recall is traveling nonstop. At first by carriage, then on foot when we ran out of money. We crossed Chongshan Pass and reached the Southern Wasteland, where we stayed for ten years, always moving—from one oasis to another, from one desert to the next. I didn’t think much of it at the time—since we were hiding, of course we had to keep running. With so many enemies, running was the only option. But later, I realized my mom was actually searching for something."
As Fiona spoke, her expression dimmed. "I used to tell her not to be so obsessed—even if it was about revenge, the past is the past, and the living should live well. But later I found out, she wasn’t searching for revenge—she was searching for something for me. She wanted me to have real skills, to live free and strong. In the end, though, she never found it, and she passed away."
The campfire crackled and popped, and for a moment, none of them spoke. Rachel Luo couldn’t imagine how a fourteen-year-old, beautiful as a fairy, could have such a harrowing past. The hardship alone was enough to chill even the toughest warrior. Yet this girl had survived, and still kept her bright smile and righteous heart—a true treasure in this world.
Finally, Fiona Fang broke the heavy silence herself. "Before she died, my mom told me the secret. For ten years, she’d been searching for the Southern Wasteland Ancient Empire’s treasure and divine skill. There are always rumors about endless gold and jewels in the Southern Wasteland, and plenty of people go there to hunt for riches every year. But this time, the secret was real."
It was a secret paid for with the lives of the entire Fang family—true as blood.
"The secret comes down to one sentence." Suddenly, a gust of wind sent sparks flying. Leaves rustled in the dark, and Fiona Fang spoke the words like a spell: "Martial arts supreme, Wedding Dress Divine Skill. All the martial world bows, all streams flow to one. The secret is about the Southern Wasteland Ancient Empire’s royal divine skill—the Wedding Dress Divine Skill."
Rachel Luo suddenly remembered a famous saying: Martial world supreme, Dragon-Slaying Saber—whoever holds it commands the world, none dare disobey. Just sixteen simple words and a single saber brought endless bloodshed and love-hate drama to the martial world. Maybe this Wedding Dress Divine Skill was just like that saber—it hadn’t even appeared, but it destroyed the entire Fang family. It hadn’t appeared, but it sparked the great battle, drawing the Golden Saber King and Silver Sword King into the fray.
This Wedding Dress Divine Skill was clearly extraordinary.
"Of course, there’s more to the secret—it points to where the Wedding Dress Divine Skill is hidden. My mom searched for ten years and never found it, but she did find some clues. Before she died, she told me everything and said she’d contacted my aunt. I was supposed to go to her right away, and after giving the secret to the Princess Protector, I’d be free from the martial world’s bloodshed. Sure enough, out of nowhere, powerful assassins came after me. I kept running and hiding, and when I finally made it back to the central lands—well, you know the rest."
After finishing, Fiona Fang let out a breath and stretched with a smile. "Ah, it feels so much better to get it all out—no more bottling it up alone!" She stood and twisted her body, stretching like she didn’t have a care in the world.
Rachel Luo’s face froze, unsure what to say. Fiona had entrusted her secret to two princesses, earning enough merit to live comfortably in the Flower Kingdom, maybe even learn top-tier martial arts and make a name for herself. But fate had other plans, leaving her where she was now.
None of it was their fault—at least not Rachel or Fiona’s. If Mr. Yang hadn’t shown up, she’d probably have been caught by the Golden Saber King already. Fate was so unpredictable, Rachel didn’t even know how to comfort her.
Mr. Yang laid out the finished bed and patted it. "Alright, quit moving around and get some sleep." "Okay!" Fiona Fang flopped right onto it.
Mr. Yang’s handiwork was impressive—the bed was simple, even rougher than a hammock, but surprisingly comfy. It was big enough for three, but Mr. Yang didn’t lie down. Instead, he turned to face the outside.
But suddenly, Fiona Fang reached out and grabbed Mr. Yang’s hand.
"Hmm?" Mr. Yang turned around. In the firelight, the girl's budding curves caught the eye. Looking at her now, Fiona really was a little beauty—those big eyes shone right into your soul.
"Even though Mom told me to stay away from the martial world, I... I still want to avenge her." Fiona looked up at Mr. Yang, her wild side mixed with a bit of girlish weakness and worry. "But... can I do it?" Wiping out an entire clan in one night—nobody ordinary could pull that off. The girl seemed to be searching for support, grabbing Mr. Yang’s hand tightly, her eyes full of longing. "Can I really... do it?"
Mr. Yang smirked, then promptly karate-chopped her again, face dark. "Are you doubting your master?"
"Ow, that hurts!" Fiona clutched her head, flopping around on the bed and wailing.
"Hmph! If you master my skills, you’ll be able to beat the Underwear Guy early on, smack the Golden Fan Prince in the middle, and by the end, crush anyone you don’t like! Revenge? Piece of cake—find out who did it, where they are, and go flatten them! How hard can it be?" Mr. Yang clapped his hands. "Starting tomorrow, your training gets tougher—get ready to suffer! Now sleep!"
Mr. Yang put out the fire and sat cross-legged with his back to the girls. With him there, the girls could sleep soundly.
As he circulated his internal energy, the Supreme Spiritual Emotion Dao quietly unfolded. Yang still kept the Flower Shifter’s energy bead, refusing to let her remove it. After all, if one version of himself could conquer the Golden Saber Qi, why couldn’t this one conquer the Flower Shifter Qi? He’d been holding back on purpose these past few days, just to build a solid foundation. Fiona’s story had just moved him deeply.
He knew the time had come for his breakthrough.
A surge of spiritual power poured down, flooding into the energy bead like a physical force. Crack! It sounded like crystal shattering—the Flower Shifter’s energy bead broke apart, turning to dust. In Mr. Yang’s dantian, his energy trembled, sprouting like a seedling and unfurling two fresh leaves, spreading vitality through his whole body.
Bright Jade Skill, first layer—five years of power, achieved.