Chapter Five: The Scarlet Blood Vine

“There’s no sign of human life on this isolated island, and with demonic crabs prowling about, it’s impossible those two are residents here. That sunken ship had over a thousand martial artists aboard—it seems I’m not the only one washed ashore. Other warriors have also found themselves stranded on this island!” Ye Mo stood on the treetop, his gaze flickering as he observed the two below.

Previously, he’d been absorbed in his cultivation and busy searching for food, leaving no time to scour the island. Now, it seemed several martial artists, like him, had been fortunate enough to survive and land here.

But soon, Ye Mo’s expression turned thoughtful. “What are they fighting over? Judging by their speed, both are intermediate-level martial artists, though the man in black is a bit faster than the woman in green.”

“That blood-red vine the man in black mentioned… Could it be the seventh-grade Body Tempering Herb recorded in the ‘Herbology of the Martial Kingdom’? Blood Crimson Vine, best suited for high-level martial artists in the later stages of body refinement, with excellent effects for tempering the body. For intermediate-level martial artists, the effects are even more remarkable.”

Ye Mo mused, the name of the herb striking a chord of familiarity. He’d once memorized the ‘Herbology of the Martial Kingdom’ and knew many herbs by heart.

“The Blood Crimson Vine is a seventh-grade Body Tempering Herb, worth at least ten gold, and extremely beneficial for the training of intermediate and high-level martial artists. If they’re fighting over the vine, it’s no surprise!”

Ye Mo pondered quietly. He didn’t know either party, nor cared who was right or wrong, and had no intention of intervening. He chose instead to remain in the branches and watch. He had no desire to get swept into a brawl between martial artists.

The woman in green, realizing she could not escape the man in black’s pursuit, stopped running, her voice sharp with anger as she spun around. “I was the first to discover this Blood Crimson Vine, and I was the one who picked it. Why should I give it to you? If I weren’t worried that a fight would attract others and leave us both empty-handed, do you think I’d be afraid of you?”

“Hmph, ‘Princess’?” sneered the man in black, stopping three yards from her. “I don’t care what title you hold. The Blood Crimson Vine is unclaimed on this deserted island. By martial artist custom, finders have a share. Since I’ve seen it, I’m entitled to a portion!”

The woman in green fumed, but her fighting spirit seemed lacking. Her expression shifted, and she gritted her teeth. “Fine! By martial law, finders have a share. But I found the vine in the jungle, and it measures nine inches. I’ll keep six; you can have three.”

“Only a third for me?” A strange light flickered in the black-clad man’s eyes, but he laughed. “Very well, as you say. Since you picked it, you should get the larger share. Cut three inches off and hand them over, and I’ll leave at once.”

“It really is the seventh-grade Blood Crimson Vine mentioned in the ‘Herbology of the Martial Kingdom’!” Ye Mo was inwardly surprised.

This was a body-tempering treasure used by advanced-level martial artists, and even more potent for those at the intermediate stage. Ye Mo himself had been stuck at the sixth level of the intermediate stage for nearly a year, his physique not yet strong enough, his strength and speed lagging. Because of this, the third and most powerful move of his Wave-Cutting Technique, “Cascade Strike,” remained out of reach.

“To think this island has seventh-grade Body Tempering Herbs like the Blood Crimson Vine!”

“I must search the entire island before I leave—there may be more precious herbs hidden here. If I can find one or two more seventh- or eighth-grade Body Tempering Herbs, I’ll have hope of breaking through to the later stages of body refinement and becoming a high-level martial artist.”

Astonished but expectant, Ye Mo continued to observe. He doubted the two would resolve their dispute so easily.

The woman in green wasted no time. Drawing from her sash, she produced a nine-inch vine, vivid crimson from root to tip. With her sword, she cut it in two, stowed the longer piece away, and tossed the shorter three-inch section to the black-clad man. “There. Leave me be!”

No sooner had she turned to go than the black-clad man’s eyes flashed with a cold, predatory gleam. Elation filled him as he caught the segment of vine, but his thoughts were chilling. “She handed it over too easily—she must be seriously wounded and afraid to fight. With the whole vine, I could reach the seventh level of refinement, becoming a high-level martial artist.”

“Executioner’s Shears!”

Tensing his muscles, he sprang into the air, legs snapping together like blades, launching a flying kick at the woman’s back.

But she seemed to anticipate his move. In the instant he struck, she spun around, her sword flashing with deadly light, aiming straight for his face.

She had feigned weakness, deliberately exposing a vulnerability to lure the man in black into attacking from behind—and then unleashed this fatal counter.

“Damn!” A look of horror crossed the man’s face. He was too fast, already airborne, unable to dodge her sword.

“Black Wind Kick!”

Desperately, he twisted midair, lashing out with both legs. If he couldn’t evade, he’d gamble everything, hoping to land his strike before her sword found its mark.

A thunderous impact—followed by the sickening sound of flesh torn by steel.

Together, the two figures were hurled in opposite directions.

The man in black crashed to the ground, clutching at his throat, his gaze fixed on the jungle canopy above, hopelessness and fury mingling in his eyes as he coughed up blood, his body wracked with spasms. After all his effort, mastering the Asura Leg Technique and reaching the intermediate level, he was to die in this forsaken place.

A deep gash crossed his throat, blood welling up and gushing through his fingers, unstemmable.

The woman in green had also been struck, the man’s kick landing on her chest and sending her tumbling several yards away with a muffled groan.

“So it ends like this,” Ye Mo sighed, silent atop the lofty tree, watching the two martial artists both grievously wounded.

He could feel, as if firsthand, the bitter despair in the man’s gaze. Every martial artist who boarded that ship for the Eastern Sea had risked everything, chasing dreams and hope. But this man in black—his dream had ended before it even began, snuffed out forever in the wilderness.

“If I hadn’t driven off that juvenile demon crab earlier, my fate would likely have been no better than his,” Ye Mo thought, his heart heavy.

And then he remembered—the Blood Crimson Vine!

Ye Mo’s keen eyes fell upon the three-inch, seventh-grade vine still clutched in the black-clad man’s hand.