Chapter 9: Yu Clan
As they passed a food stall selling steamed buns filled with sweet bean paste, Bai Yuexian stopped to purchase two, handing one to his companion. The simple gesture seemed to surprise her, but she accepted with a small smile.
"These smell delicious," he said, taking a bite and savoring the sweet filling. "One of the pleasures of life that transcends cultivation levels, wouldn't you agree?"
Before she could respond, a loud, arrogant voice cut through the market chatter.
"Bai Youyou! Have you considered the offer made by our Yu clan?"
Both Bai Yuexian and Bai Youyou turned to see a young man approaching, flanked by four others who carried themselves with the unmistakable swagger of bullies who relied on the protection of someone more powerful than themselves. The speaker, clearly their leader, wore expensive robes in dark green trimmed with gold the colors of the Yu clan. His features might have been handsome if not marred by the contemptuous curl of his lip.
"Just become Young Master Lei's wife, and they'll give substantial gifts to your family," he continued, his tone suggesting he was granting her a tremendous favor.
Bai Youyou's expression hardened instantly, her gentle demeanor replaced by cold disdain. "Hmph! Yu Lingfeng, I've already told you that I don't fear your Young Master Lei." Her voice carried clearly in the suddenly quiet market street. "Go tell him that the next time he appears before me, I'll kick his face!"
Yu Lingfeng's expression darkened at her defiance. "Bai Youyou, don't think that just because you're from a branch family of the Bai clan from Flower Capital, you have their protection." His voice lowered ominously. "They don't care about small people like you. Even if you were sacrificed "
"Oh? Is that so?" Bai Yuexian interrupted, his voice calm but carrying a subtle authority that drew all eyes to him. Despite standing at some distance, his words cut through Yu Lingfeng's threats with ease. "I don't think your words will be valid. Go tell your Young Master Lei to change his choice, or he'll have to change his bones here."
The threat, delivered with such serene confidence, caused Yu Lingfeng and his followers to turn in surprise. They found themselves facing a young man with handsome features and deep black eyes, a small smile playing on his lips that somehow made his words more menacing rather than less.
Yu Lingfeng's tone shifted to something almost syrupy as he assessed this newcomer. "And who might this young master be, to speak so boldly about Young Master Lei of the Lei clan from Vermilion Capital City?"
Instead of answering, Bai Yuexian simply approached them with unhurried steps. When he reached Bai Youyou's side, he did something that shocked everyone present he slipped his arm around her waist in a gesture of clear possessiveness.
"Bai Youyou, let's go," he said, ignoring Yu Lingfeng completely. "We have more important matters to attend to."
Youyou's face flushed crimson at the sudden contact, her body tensing briefly before she allowed herself to be guided away. Bai Yuexian glanced back over his shoulder, meeting Yu Lingfeng's stunned gaze. "Didn't you see? We're an immortal couple. Find your Young Master Lei another target for his unwanted attentions."
Yu Lingfeng seemed too surprised to respond immediately, his mouth opening and closing without producing words. His followers looked to him for direction, but he made no move to pursue or challenge Bai Yuexian a wise decision, given that Yu Lingfeng was only at the eighth level of Vital Essence Tempering, while Bai Yuexian now stood at the ninth.
More importantly, the young man's confidence suggested connections to powers Yu Lingfeng was unwilling to offend without proper backing. Better to report this development to his superiors rather than risk a confrontation that might have unforeseen consequences.
Once they had turned down a side street and were safely out of sight, Bai Yuexian immediately released Youyou, putting a respectful distance between them. His own heart was racing at the unprecedented physical contact in his previous life, he had been far too focused on his studies and career to develop any significant romantic relationships. The softness of her waist, the subtle fragrance of orchids that clung to her hair these sensations had affected him more than he'd anticipated.
Youyou's face remained flushed, her eyes downcast as she struggled to regain her composure. "Th-thank you, Young Master, for your intervention," she finally managed. "I don't think they'll bother me again after this."
Bai Yuexian took a deep breath to calm his own racing pulse, adopting a more casual demeanor to ease the tension between them. "If they've been harassing you, you should have informed us earlier. The night is long, but dawn always comes." The ancient saying slipped from his lips naturally, a remnant of the original Bai Yuexian's memories.
He then added with a small smile, "Besides, you are quite beautiful. Beautiful enough to shake the heart of someone from the Lei clan, it seems."
The unusual compliment only deepened her blush, but a small smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Young Master is too kind."
Clearing his throat, Bai Yuexian gestured toward the road leading east. "We should proceed to the mine. Elder Chenrui will be waiting for us."
The remainder of their journey passed in comfortable silence, occasionally broken by Youyou pointing out landmarks or sharing local legends about Night Orchid City. Bai Yuexian listened attentively, absorbing information that might prove useful while also enjoying the simple pleasure of learning more about this world that was now his home.
An hour later, they reached the outskirts of the city where the terrain began to rise toward the distant, ominous silhouette of what must be Devil Mountain. The mine entrance was visible as a dark gash in a hillside, surrounded by simple wooden structures that served as storage and administrative buildings. A handful of workers moved about the area, their movements subdued compared to the lively atmosphere of the city.
As promised, Second Elder Bai Chenrui awaited them near the main entrance, his stern face brightening slightly at their approach.
"Young Master Yuexian, Young Mistress Youyou," he greeted them with a respectful bow. "I've taken the liberty of speaking with the mine supervisor. He awaits us inside."
Bai Yuexian nodded his appreciation. "Excellent. Let's not delay further." He turned toward the dark opening of the mine, his enhanced senses already detecting something unusual about the energy patterns within. Whatever had happened to the missing miners, he suspected they were about to discover that it went far deeper than simple accidents or rival clan sabotage.
The mine entrance yawned before them like the maw of an ancient beast, its darkness seeming to devour the afternoon sunlight. As Bai Yuexian stepped inside with Bai Youyou, Second Elder Chenrui, and the mine supervisor Old Feng at his side, a wave of cold energy washed over him a subtle breath exhaled from the mountain's depths. The chill carried strange undertones that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end, something beyond mere temperature that whispered of age and hidden power.
"Unusual," Bai Yuexian murmured, his heightened senses at the ninth level of Vital Essence Tempering detecting nuances in the energy that his companions might miss. "This isn't ordinary mountain air."
Old Feng, a weathered man with hands calloused from decades of mining work, nodded sagely. "You have keen senses, Young Master Bai. This mine has always had peculiar qualities being the nearest significant excavation to Devil Mountain Valley."
As they ventured deeper, Bai Yuexian observed their surroundings with careful attention. The tunnel walls glowed with an ethereal light emanating from various luminous fungi and strange phosphorescent plants that clung to the rock faces. At regular intervals, crystal lamps had been installed to supplement this natural illumination, casting prismatic reflections across the rough-hewn corridor.
More intriguing were the subtle formations etched into the stone at strategic points protective arrays that shimmered with faint energy when his spiritual sense brushed against them. These were not crude workings but sophisticated constructs requiring considerable skill to create and maintain.
"Elder Feng," Bai Yuexian said as they paused at a junction of several tunnels, "how extensive is this mine? And how many paths have been excavated thus far?"
The old supervisor stroked his wispy beard, eyes reflecting the crystalline light. "Young Master, this mine extends more than ten kilometers in total, eventually reaching beneath the outskirts of Devil Mountain Valley." His finger traced an invisible map in the air. "But as we progress, the tunnels descend bit by bit deeper underground. What began as a horizontal excavation now reaches hundreds of meters below the surface at its furthest points."
Bai Yuexian nodded thoughtfully. "A considerable expanse. Searching thoroughly with just the four of us will take significant time."
He turned to Bai Youyou, who had been quietly observing their exchange. "Bai Youyou, how deep have you ventured in your previous investigations? And from where exactly have most people gone missing?"
Her silver hair caught the blue glow of a nearby crystal lamp as she tilted her head in consideration. "I haven't explored much beyond the mid-checkpoint, Young Master. As for the disappearances" she hesitated, brow furrowing, "they follow no discernible pattern. Workers have vanished from various sections at different times of day. Some were in groups, others working alone."
"No pattern to the locations," Bai Yuexian echoed, his analytical mind already processing possibilities. "That suggests either multiple perpetrators operating independently or a single entity capable of moving throughout the mine unseen."
Second Elder Chenrui's expression darkened. "A stealth beast with predatory intelligence would explain much. Many creatures from Devil Mountain Valley possess unusual abilities."
"Perhaps," Bai Yuexian conceded, though inwardly he suspected something more complex at work. "Yet even the most cunning predator typically leaves some tracen blood, torn clothing, signs of struggle. You mentioned that nineteen people have disappeared over recent months, correct? And not a single body recovered?"
Bai Youyou nodded solemnly. "Nineteen confirmed missing. No remains found despite extensive searches."
"Most curious," Bai Yuexian murmured. The complete absence of physical evidence pointed toward something beyond ordinary predation. Either the victims were being taken elsewhere perhaps through some form of spatial transportation or something was happening to their bodies that rendered them unrecognizable or incorporeal.
They continued deeper into the mine, the air growing progressively cooler and denser with spiritual energy as they descended. Occasionally, Bai Yuexian would pause to examine peculiar formations in the rock or trace patterns of energy flow with his spiritual sense. His azure cultivation essence responded subtly to certain currents in the mine's ambient energy, a common reaction for cultivators in areas of high spiritual density.
After nearly an hour of careful progress, they reached what the miners called the first checkpoint a cavernous chamber where five distinct tunnels branched outward like the fingers of a hand. A rest area had been established here with simple wooden benches and tables. Several unlit lanterns hung from posts, presumably for workers to take when venturing into the darker sections beyond.
Bai Yuexian surveyed the five paths thoughtfully. "Elder Feng, do these tunnels follow particular mineral veins?"
The old supervisor nodded. "Indeed, Young Master. Each tracks a different ore concentration copper and iron primarily, with traces of more valuable minerals in the third and fifth tunnels."
After considering their options, Bai Yuexian made a decision. "We should explore each path to gather comprehensive information. Let's separate and return here in five hours." Noting Second Elder Chenrui's immediate look of concern, he added, "Any significant findings can be communicated through signal talismans."
Chenrui's lips thinned with disapproval, but his respect for Bai Yuexian's position clearly outweighed his misgivings. "As you wish, Young Master. But please exercise utmost caution we still don't know what we're facing."
"I'll take the central path," Bai Yuexian said, already feeling a subtle pull from that direction. Something about the energy patterns emanating from the third tunnel suggested it might hold answers to their mystery.
Old Feng selected the rightmost tunnel, while Bai Youyou chose the second path from the left. Second Elder Chenrui, still looking dissatisfied with the arrangement, took the far left tunnel with a final warning glance at his companions.
Before they separated, Bai Yuexian drew three simple talismans from his spatial ring and handed one to each of his companions. "Channel a pulse of spiritual energy into these if you discover anything significant or encounter danger," he instructed. "The connection will alert the rest of us immediately."
With a final nod to each other, they parted ways, each venturing into their chosen tunnel with a crystal lamp to supplement the increasingly sparse natural illumination.