The Darkness Before the Eyes

Watching the layers of intertwined vines wrap around him, Lin Yongming realized they were endless. Despite having a soul power of level 20, he only possessed one soul ring. The girl before him, however, not only had a soul power 19 levels higher than his but also boasted two additional soul rings, including a rare thousand-year purple soul ring. The gap between them was immense.

The extra soul rings meant additional attribute enhancements. Lin Yongming had managed to cut through some of the vines thanks to the unique properties of his Thunder Blade and the penetrating effect of his Thunderlight Slash. However, this confrontation was ultimately a misunderstanding. Although the girl was annoyed, she didn't seem intent on killing him—perhaps due to her inherent kindness or the fact that Lin Yongming appeared younger, almost like a child.

"Hmph! Got you now. You're so young, yet you're already up to no good. Let me see if you're really blind or just pretending," the girl said with a hint of triumph as she approached.

As she drew closer, Lin Yongming caught a whiff of a fresh, natural scent, as if he were standing in a meadow. His limbs were bound by the vines, but sensing no killing intent from the girl, he stopped struggling and retracted his martial soul. Since this was a misunderstanding, he figured it would be best to clear it up.

"Miss, while I may have been in the wrong, you're not entirely blameless either. Who would expect someone to be diving in a remote mountain stream? My spiritual sense didn't detect your presence at all. Besides, I just drank from the stream," Lin Yongming said, feeling a bit embarrassed. It dawned on him that he had essentially drunk her bathwater.

However, he also realized who the girl before him was. On this continent, only two individuals could manipulate Blue Silver Grass with such mastery and finesse: Tang San and his mother. Given that Tang San was likely still a child in the Tang Sect at this time, the girl before him could only be the second person—a ten-year-old girl with three soul rings, a prodigious talent, and the embodiment of the Blue Silver Emperor, a pure wild Blue Silver Grass that had taken human form.

"Why did I have to run into her, and in such a way, right after setting out?" Lin Yongming thought to himself.

"So, it's my fault for being here, is it?" the girl retorted, placing her hands on her hips as she stood before him.

"That's not what I meant. It's just that this stream provides water for several nearby villages. Bathing in the pool isn't exactly considerate," Lin Yongming replied, nodding.

"You're still nodding? Take off that black cloth. Let me see if you're really blind," the girl said, growing more annoyed.

"Miss, my hands are tied," Lin Yongming calmly reminded her.

"Oh, right. There, you're free," the girl said, releasing his hands but keeping his feet bound by the vines.

Lin Yongming removed the black cloth covering his eyes and showed them to her.

"Open them."

"I can't," Lin Yongming shook his head.

"You're still pretending? Your eyelids show no signs of injury," the girl said, clearly dissatisfied.

"I really can't open them," Lin Yongming insisted.

"Fine, I'll do it myself. Let's see how long you can keep up the act," the girl said, stepping closer and reaching out to pry open his eyelids.

"Go ahead," Lin Yongming said indifferently.

"Alright, but don't move. If you end up really blind, don't blame me," the girl warned as she proceeded.

Lin Yongming felt a cold sensation on his eyelids.

"Ah!" the girl let out a startled cry.

When she pried open his eyelids, she didn't find what she expected. Instead, she was met with a dark, empty void—a pair of black holes so deep and dark that they seemed to pull at her very soul. Strangely, in the center of this abyss was a faint blue streak, like a bolt of lightning.

"What's wrong?" Lin Yongming asked, hearing her startled cry.

"Nothing, just two black eyeballs. You can put the cloth back on," the girl said, trying to mask her shock.

"Those eyes are terrifying, sending chills down my spine! If I had stared any longer, my soul might have been consumed," she thought to herself, feeling a lingering fear.

Lin Yongming re-tied the black cloth over his eyes.

"See? I wasn't lying," Lin Yongming said, unaffected. Even with his eyelids slightly opened, his vision remained pitch black.

"I believe you now. Were you born blind, or did it happen later?" the girl asked, her curiosity piqued.

"I was born this way," Lin Yongming replied honestly.

"Have you ever sought treatment?" she pressed.

"Of course. My parents were even more anxious than I was. A year ago, even the Pope of the Spirit Hall gave up after hearing about my condition. The top healing soul master on the continent said it was incurable," Lin Yongming explained.

"Miss, can you release my feet now?" Lin Yongming asked with a smile.

"Alright," the girl said, releasing the vines around his feet. The vines vanished as if they had never been there.

Lin Yongming filled his water bottle, picked up his bag, and prepared to leave.

"Hey, blind boy, where are you headed?" the girl called out.

"To a town about ten miles away," Lin Yongming replied without turning back.

"Wait! I'm a healer. Why don't I try to treat you? Besides, I'm heading to the same town. Let's go together," the girl said, catching up to him.

"No need. I've given up on treatment. No soul skill can cure me," Lin Yongming said, though he believed the girl had healing abilities, they were likely limited to physical injuries.

"Even if my healing doesn't work, I know of a herb specifically for eye ailments," the girl continued.

"Oh? What is it?" Lin Yongming asked, stopping in his tracks.

"It's called Star-Eye Grass. It's rare and hard to find. I used to have one, but I used it to treat someone else. It might help with your blindness," the girl explained.

"Alright, I'll keep that in mind. Thank you," Lin Yongming said, resuming his journey.

"Blind boy, wait! You're at level 20 but only have one soul ring. Are you out here alone trying to get a second one? It's strange—you're blind, yet you walk these mountain paths as if it's nothing. How did you even end up here?" the girl rambled on, as if she hadn't spoken to anyone in years.

"Miss, our misunderstanding is cleared up, right? Let's go our separate ways," Lin Yongming said, exasperated.

"I get it. You're afraid talking to me will distract you and slow you down. Or maybe you've been isolated in your village and have no friends. Which spirit beast forest are you planning to go to, anyway?"

Lin Yongming, unable to see, focused on ignoring her chatter and finally reached the town of Wurto just as the sun was setting.