Shared Blood

"Yes… it was me," Lang Huan said with a lazy smirk. "Not only did I kill it, I even skinned it."

She snorted. "If you're here for revenge… bring it on, grandma." Lang Huan couldn't see her face. The woman was wearing a shiny golden mask that reflected the sunlight, hiding all her expressions. But she spoke with the clear, bright tone of a young woman.

"Grandma?!" The woman's posture stiffened, and though her face was hidden, her killing intent surged like a storm.

"You little brat… I'll rip your mouth off!" she shouted, then charged straight at Lang Huan without another word.

The fight spilled out of the hidden cave, wind whipping violently around them. Xiao Bai lunged in, his massive fangs snapping as he tried to fend off the silver-haired woman's attacks.

The silver-haired woman was dangerously fast. With a single sharp palm strike, she slammed Lang Huan in the chest, sending her flying several meters through the air.

Lang Huan hit the ground hard but rolled back to her feet. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth, laughing as her eyes flashed bright blue. Energy surged around her, fierce and wild.

"Now that's more fun," she grinned.

The woman narrowed her eyes. "You're a brat from the Lang Clan, aren't you? No wonder… I had my suspicions the moment I saw that giant wolf."

Lang Huan's laughter faded. Her smile turned cold. "Yeah. So what?"

"How dare you speak to me like that? I'm your elder. We're from the same bloodline."

Lang Huan scoffed. "Bullshit." Her tone turned sharp, burning with fury. "The Lang Clan are warriors. Protectors. You pretended to be a mountain god and hurt people."

The woman didn't flinch. Instead, she reached up and removed her golden mask. Lang Huan's breath caught the moment she saw her face. "Lang… Yuyan?"

"Lang Ruhua," the woman corrected, her glowing blue eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "Recognize these eyes?"

Lang Huan saw those familiar eyes—so much like her own—and she couldn't deny it anymore. Her grip on her sword loosened slightly, doubt creeping into her chest. For a moment, Lang Huan stood frozen, unsure whether to keep fighting or stop.

"Ruhua," she said, despite her confusion. "Let Xiao Lan go. Stop hurting innocent villagers. If we're family… don't force me to go all out."

Lang Ruhua smiled, but her eyes stayed cold. A slow, mocking laugh slipped from her lips. "And you think you can defeat me?" she said coldly. "Just because we share blood doesn't mean I'll go easy on you."

"What do you want with the virgin, huh? You're disgusting old pervert!" Her patience snapped, and she launched herself at Lang Ruhua, her blade crashing down in a blaze of blue energy.

Lang Ruhua blocked the strike with her bare palm, and a powerful shockwave burst from the clash—so strong it rippled through the ground and shook the waterfall behind them.

The roaring cascade split for a heartbeat, spraying mist into the air as the rocks trembled beneath their feet.

Lang Ruhua was overwhelmingly powerful. Compared to her, Lang Huan was nothing more than an ant.

Then suddenly, as Lang Huan was about to land a heavy blow, Lang Ruhua staggered backward. Her body tensed, and a deep cough ripped from her chest. Blood sprayed from her mouth, splattering the ground. She clutched her chest and fell to one knee, her breathing ragged.

Lang Huan froze mid-strike, her sword trembling in her hand. "…Shit," she muttered under her breath. She tossed her weapon aside and rushed to Lang Ruhua's side, catching her before she collapsed.

"What happened to you? Are you okay?"

Lang Huan looked at her—her face was young and beautiful. Strangely, her hair had turned white. From her judgment, Lang Ruhua was probably cultivating some kind of demonic technique.

Lang Ruhua let out a soft sigh and mumbled, "Don't nag… Just bring me to the bamboo house near the waterfall."

"Okay. I'll tell Xiao Lan and Qiu Yue to head back first."

To her surprise, Lang Ruhua gave a small nod and rested her head lightly on Lang Huan's shoulder, completely docile—like a sick little girl. Lang Huan let out a long breath. Seriously… her mood changes faster than the damn weather.

Lang Huan carried Lang Ruhua back into the cave. The village chief was dead, and she felt he deserved it. As for Xiao Lan's mother... she could only hope it wasn't Lang Ruhua who killed her. Her eyes drifted toward Ruhua—and their gazes met.

Qiu Yue looked up from where she sat beside Xiao Lan. Her brows immediately furrowed when she saw Lang Huan holding the silver-haired woman.

Her arms were wrapped around Lang Huan's neck, her face resting close—and to Qiu Yue, it looked way too intimate.

Just moments ago, Lang Huan had been fighting her like she wanted to kill her. But the moment that mask fell off and revealed a stunningly beautiful face, this hateful brat suddenly turned soft.

Qiu Yue's face turned red with anger. This shameless man! He clearly doesn't care about Her Highness at all. Just wait—I'll beat you flat!

"You guys go back first with Xiao Bai. I've got something to deal with," Lang Huan said, then turned to leave.

"Hey! Lang Huan!!" Qiu Yue shouted, scowling. "Wait a second—what the hell is that? Bastard, you're such a playboy!"

Her hand clenched into a fist at her side. "Hmph! I'm gonna tell Her Highness about this! Don't think you can get away with it!"

Lang Huan heard her yelling but didn't stop. With a deep breath, she used her qinggong to leap through the trees, heading toward the quiet bamboo house.

As they moved, Lang Ruhua quietly studied Lang Huan's face. Sunlight hit her from the side, revealing delicate, gentle features. Her movements were strong, but there was a softness in the way she held her.

In just one glance, Lang Ruhua knew—Lang Huan wasn't a man.

Lang Huan sat Lang Ruhua down on a reclining couch. "Alright, tell me how to help you… but make it quick. I can't stay here too long," she said, clearly uneasy.

Her mind was racing—if Qiu Yue really ran off to tell Feng Yao, she was doomed. With Her Highness's jealous temper, Lang Huan could already imagine the storm waiting for her.

Lang Ruhua, however, didn't seem to be in any hurry. She remembered the girl shouting angrily inside the cave—and found it amusing. On purpose, she decided to take her time.

"Ehem… this can't be quick," she said with a falsely innocent tone. "You ruined the sacrifice I needed, so now you have to take responsibility." She pouted.

"I'm a woman too… Tell me what to do," Lang Huan said, still unsure but willing.

Then, with a sly smile, she asked, "Are you a virgin?"

Lang Huan gave a small nod. Lang Ruhua's eyes made her feel like prey standing before a predator.

"Lang Huan…" She remembered that girl in the cave shouting her name so fiercely.

"What's your relationship with Xiao Lan?"

Lang Huan looked away. "There's nothing between us… I'm just a passerby who couldn't stand seeing you hurt innocent people."

Lang Ruhua chuckled darkly. "Tch tch… You really remind me of Lang Yuyan. What a protector, what a hero… all empty words." Her tone dripped with sarcasm.

"Good. Since you want to play hero…" Lang Ruhua smirked. "Then I'll give you a chance—let me draw your yin essence."

Lang Huan frowned and knelt in front of her. "What kind of demonic technique is that…?"

Lang Ruhua didn't bother to answer. Instead, she leaned forward suddenly, grabbed Lang Huan by the collar, and pulled her into a kiss. Her lips moved softly but deeply, slowly drawing out Lang Huan's energy with every second the kiss lasted.

Lang Huan's face turned pale, and blood began to trickle from her nose. She tried to pull back, but her strength was fading fast. When Lang Ruhua finally released her, her once-silver hair had turned pitch black, and her cheeks glowed with color. Lang Huan stumbled backward, breathless and dizzy. "Is… is that enough?" she whispered, struggling to stay upright.

"For now,"

"For now? Are you a vixen or a human?!" Lang Huan asked, terrified.

She suddenly remembered a storybook she had read as a child—about a vixen who drained the life force of young scholar. It had scared her back then.

"Of course I'm human… My age has already reached several hundred years," Lang Ruhua said calmly, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

Lang Huan stared at her, stunned. Several hundred years?

"I—along with my twin sister, Lang Yuyan—were once considered the most promising descendants of the Lang Clan," she continued, her voice carrying a hint of nostalgia. "Back then, the clan was at its peak. Both of us were obsessed with mastering martial arts, but we had very different personalities. Lang Yuyan… she always wanted to be the strongest, the best. She chased perfection with fire in her heart."

Her lips curved into a faint, bitter smile. "But I was different. I didn't care much about power or fame. What I longed for… was eternal youth. Beauty that never fades. I wanted to stay young and flawless forever."

"One day," she said, eyes growing distant, "I found an ancient text, a secret technique said to keep a woman forever young. It was a dangerous and complex art—designed only for those with a pure yin body. I was reckless, too eager. I began practicing it in secret."

She paused, lowering her gaze. "Something went wrong. My internal qi reversed. Since then… every time I use my inner force, the flow turns chaotic. Painful. Dangerous. I lose control. The only way to suppress it… is by absorbing pure yin energy from others."

Lang Ruhua looked back at Lang Huan with a half-smile. "That's why I need someone like you… a virgin with strong yin essence. I didn't want to hurt anyone. But I didn't want to grow old either."

She let out a soft laugh, brushing her fingers through her now-black hair. "Lang Huan… your Qi is strong, that's why you survived. A normal woman would've died from the drain."

Lang Huan sat up slowly, her face pale. She wiped the blood from under her nose and frowned. "You can't keep living like this," she said firmly. "There must be another way."

"There is," Lang Ruhua replied after a moment. "In the depths of Baiyuan Mountain, there's a rare plant said to heal Qi deviation. No one has ever been able to enter. The place is like a maze—full of beasts, traps, and shifting paths."

Lang Huan looked at her quietly, then nodded. "I'm heading there soon anyway. I'll find it for you."

Lang Ruhua blinked. She hadn't expected that answer—she had only spoken casually.

They might be from the same clan, but Lang Huan had no obligation to help her.

For Lang Huan, she had no family left in this world. In this strange land, she dressed as a man and was used to standing at the front, protecting the people she cared about and loved. Lang Ruhua… could be considered the only family she had left from the Lang Clan. And no matter what, she would protect her.

"I want to go home," Lang Huan said, rising to her feet though her legs were unsteady. "My wife's waiting for me."

Wife? In the martial world, relationships between women weren't taboo. Besides, the Lang Clan's secret ability made it possible for two women to be together and even have a child. Hearing Lang Huan say it so openly stirred something strange in her chest.

She stayed silent, watching Lang Huan's back as she walked toward the door, swaying slightly.

Lang Ruhua had lived alone for a long time. Even when Lang Yuyan was still alive, they had gone their separate ways, each chasing different dreams. In all those years, she had never missed anyone. As Lang Huan walked away, a quiet unhappiness settled in her heart.