Chapter 4: martial cultivation

Tan Xia trudged through the strange forest, brushing low-hanging branches out of her way as her eyes scanned the trees.

Not a single fruit.

She frowned, kicking at the root of a tree."Are you trees on a diet or what? Not even a berry?"

Her gaze shifted upward, brow furrowing as she studied the golden-tinged leaves."…Why the hell are the leaves golden? Is this some fantasy world version of autumn?"

She grumbled under her breath and kept walking. After a short while, the sound of gently moving water reached her ears. Her steps quickened.

Soon, she stood at the edge of a serene lake, sunlight reflecting softly off its clear surface. A genuine smile crept onto her face.

"Well, finally, something normal-looking."

She glanced down at herself—her clothes were caked in dust, torn and crusted with blood. Her lip curled in mild disgust."I look like I crawled out of a grave."

As she stepped closer to the water, her eyes caught something resting on a large flat rock nearby—a neatly folded robe. A man's robe.

Her smile faded as her instincts kicked in. Her eyes darted around the area, scanning the trees, the water, the rocks.

Nothing.

She crouched low and narrowed her eyes."Someone's been here. But where the hell did he go?"

Tan Xia crept toward the robe cautiously, each step deliberate and silent. Her fingers twitched, wishing she had one of her needles.She stopped just short of the rock, her gaze sweeping the area one more time.

"Don't tell me he's in the water…"

Tan Xia's sharp gaze locked onto the figure just beyond the water's edge.

A man.

His crimson-red hair spilled down his back like fire, glistening under the sun. His body—tall, athletic, every muscle taut and defined—stood half-submerged in the lake, his back facing her as he washed himself. His pale skin contrasted starkly with the deep blue water, and every motion of his arm caused gentle ripples to echo outward.

Tan Xia's eyes narrowed slightly.

But then she looked down at herself—dirt-covered, blood-stained, her tattered dress hanging in shreds around her legs. A tiny, strange smile crept onto her lips."Not exactly the most graceful first impression."

Without a sound, she crept toward the rock where the man's red and white robe was folded neatly.

One step. Two.

With the precision of a trained assassin, she grabbed the robe and darted behind a larger boulder nearby, crouching low.

Settled behind the rock, she held the robe in her arms and peeked out. The man was still unaware, peacefully scrubbing the back of his neck with closed eyes.

A devilish grin tugged at her lips.

Well, if you're bathing in the middle of nowhere and leave your clothes out, you can't blame me for borrowing them, right?

She hugged the robe closer to her chest and mumbled,"Don't worry, mister. I'll return it. Maybe."

She turned and started to change out of her ragged clothes, every movement quick and quiet, just in case the red-haired stranger noticed she'd robbed him of his dignity.

After changing into the red and white robe, Tan Xia tossed her torn, dirt-covered clothes onto the rock where the man's robe had once been. Without hesitation, she turned and bolted into the trees, her bare feet barely making a sound as she sprinted through the underbrush.

By the lake, the red-haired man paused. His sharp ears caught the sound of rustling leaves and rapid footsteps.

Someone was running.

He snatched a stone from the ground, his body tense and ready to strike.

But when he turned around, his eyes widened in disbelief.A figure was dashing into the forest—wearing his robe.

"What the— OY! Who are you?! Thief! Stop right there!" he shouted, fury rising in his voice.

Tan Xia glanced back over her shoulder, her lips curled into a teasing smirk.She caught a perfect view of the man—half-naked, wearing only his pants, his muscular chest glistening with water as he ran toward her.

"Bye, mister! Thanks for the clothes!" she called, giving him a playful wave before darting deeper into the forest.

"I said STOP!"

With a growl of frustration, the man touched the ring on his finger. A pulse of light flickered, and in an instant, a new black robe materialized in his hand. He flung it around himself in one swift motion and gave chase, his long legs quickly eating up the distance.

"You dare steal from me? You better run fast, thief!"

Tan Xia's eyes widened as she glanced back again.The red-haired man was still gaining on her—fast. Too fast.

"What the hell did you eat to run like that?!" she gasped, breathless.

Without wasting another second, she leapt up and grabbed a low-hanging branch. Her body swung upward with practiced ease, and she scrambled into the thick canopy of a massive tree, vanishing into the leaves.

Down below, the man skidded to a halt, scanning the forest with a fierce glare.

"You thief! How dare you steal from me! Just wait—I'll catch you!" he shouted, his voice echoing through the woods.

High above, hidden by leaves and shadows, Tan Xia let out a quiet sigh of relief. She crouched on the thick branch, one hand supporting her balance while the other rested under her chin.

"Phew… that was close," she whispered. Then her eyes narrowed, thoughtful. "Wait a minute… how the hell did he move like that? His speed… and that jump—it wasn't normal."

A flicker of memory surfaced from the new mind she now inhabited, and her lips slowly curled into a smile.

"Right… in this world, there's something called aura martial cultivation. Shen Qianyu's grandfather could do things like that too."

Her gaze glinted with curiosity and ambition.

"Well then… I guess I better learn to use it too."