Youth must be seized early, for how can one remain young forever Chapter Sixty-Seven: The Abduction of a Village Maiden

In front of a meticulously cleaned courtyard in the shantytown outside the market—

“So? Old Luo, it’s been days. Have you still not made up your mind?” A young cultivator, dressed in a snow-white robe with a straight collar, spoke with a gentle laugh.

Opposite him stood a gaunt, middle-aged cultivator in tattered clothes. The middle-aged man wore a troubled expression. “Young Master Yu, I think it’s best if we just drop this…”

“Drop it?” The young cultivator raised his brow, sounding displeased. “I’ve already humbled myself this much, yet you still refuse?”

The thin man was none other than Old Luo. He stood in the doorway, glancing at the two burly men behind the young cultivator, his face etched with bitterness. “My daughter is far too young, not yet of age…”

“What nonsense about being too young!” the young cultivator snapped. “I’m willing to give you five pieces of low-grade spirit stone, and you still won’t let go of a mere mortal?”

At these words, Old Luo’s expression shifted from bitterness to solemnity. He straightened and replied, “Young Master Yu, she is my daughter. I won’t sell her for a handful of spirit stones!”

Yu scoffed. “Selling? Such an ugly word. For a mortal to follow me is her stroke of immortal fate. And you dare be picky?”

Seeing the conversation turn sour, Old Luo cast aside all courtesy. “Find someone else. You are not welcome here!” he declared, moving to close the door.

But Yu thrust out his hand, blocking the door with a force so strong that Old Luo couldn’t push it shut.

Yu glared at Old Luo, eyes cold and murderous, saying nothing.

One of the cultivators behind Yu sneered, “Hey, old man, you really don’t know what’s good for you! Just days ago, Young Master Yu helped you settle those troublemakers, and now you turn on him? You’re a real weasel!”

The other chimed in, “Exactly! Without Young Master Yu, you’d be crippled by now! He only asks that your daughter marry him, and yet you stall and refuse. Truly ungrateful!”

Hearing this, Old Luo’s grip on the door loosened a little.

Their words were not without reason. Only a few days ago, while he was hawking his wares, two masked rogue cultivators had stirred up trouble, nearly smashing his stall. At the last moment, Yu had appeared, chased the troublemakers off, and even kindly helped him push his cart home.

Old Luo had felt grateful then, but when they’d returned, Yu saw Little Yin and immediately declared his intent to marry her, catching Old Luo completely off guard. After all, Little Yin was just a child.

He had assumed the young man was jesting, but Yu had been serious, returning daily to press the matter. Old Luo had been too frightened to set up his stall or to leave Little Yin’s side since.

“It’s not that I’m ungrateful, but my daughter is only fifteen…” Old Luo stammered.

Yu’s expression softened into a smile. “Fifteen? So what? In a few years, she’ll be of age, ready to marry…”

“But—” Old Luo tried to object.

Yu interrupted, “How about this? Bring Little Yin out and let her decide. Just let her look at me. If she doesn’t like me, I’ll leave at once. How about that?”

Old Luo hesitated, having never considered separating from his daughter, having shared their lives for so many years. He’d never thought to ask Little Yin how she felt. What if she truly wished to go?

After a moment’s thought, seeing Yu had forced the issue, Old Luo gritted his teeth. “Very well…”

Yu and his two companions exchanged a glance, amusement flickering in their eyes.

Old Luo turned and called, “Little Yin! Come out here a moment.”

At his summons, Luo Xiaoyin emerged from the house.

The girl shrank timidly behind Old Luo, peering curiously at the three cultivators at the door.

Old Luo pointed to Yu, asking her gently, “Little Yin, what do you think of this cultivator?”

Little Yin glanced curiously at Yu, then looked at Old Luo in confusion. “Father, what’s going on?”

Yu straightened, donned a benevolent smile, and with his white robe and fine features, cut a rather distinguished figure.

“This cultivator wishes to marry you. Would you be willing?” Old Luo asked softly.

Little Yin’s eyes widened in shock as she looked at Yu again, bewildered. Marriage? So suddenly?

As her thoughts raced, for reasons unknown, the image of a slender cultivator flashed through her mind.

At this, Little Yin immediately shook her head. “I’m not willing.”

Yu’s face froze, his smile fading away.

Old Luo, however, was relieved, turning to the cultivators outside with a smile. “Young Master Yu, you see, my daughter isn’t willing either, so perhaps you should…”

“Hmph!” With a cold snort, Yu slammed his right hand against the courtyard gate.

With a sharp crack, the gate splintered under his strike, sending Old Luo flying from the force.

“A mere mortal dares refuse me!” Yu strode in, advancing on Little Yin. “I don’t have the patience to waste on you!”

“Father!” Little Yin screamed, her voice raw with terror.

Yu tossed five low-grade spirit stones aside, reached out, and swung Little Yin over his shoulder, marching toward the gate.

The two cultivators at the entrance were startled. One hurriedly said, “Young Master Yu… isn’t this going too far?”

“Yeah, won’t this draw the attention of that Foundation Establishment cultivator in the market?” the other added.

“What’s there to fear? I paid! Five spirit stones for a mortal—no one can fault me!” Yu barked.

“Villain!” Old Luo, regaining his senses, scrambled up, seized a table, and hurled it at Yu. “Let go of my daughter!”

Yu dodged nimbly.

Seeing Old Luo charging, Yu kicked him hard in the gut, sending him crashing back down.

“Father!” Little Yin was in tears, her fists pounding weakly against Yu’s back, to no effect.

Yu glanced coldly at Old Luo, bleeding on the ground. “Overestimating yourself,” he sneered.

“Old Luo!”

A new voice rang out.

Even as the words faded, a figure streaked in from the distance.

The newcomer, about twenty years old, wielded a long sword with a crimson hilt, its tip pointed at Yu. “Who are you? What are you doing?”

Yu eyed the young man with contempt. “And who might you be?”

On Yu’s shoulder, Little Yin cried out, “Immortal Bai, help my father!”

It was Bai Qingzhou.

“Let her go!” Bai Qingzhou commanded.

Yu snapped, “Boy, I advise you not to meddle! There are three of us here; we could kill you at any time!”

A surge of anger welled up in Bai Qingzhou’s heart. After half a year of acquaintance, he and Old Luo were close, and Old Luo had helped greatly when Bai opened his shop.

Now, seeing Old Luo beaten and his daughter being carried off, fury blazed within Bai Qingzhou.

“I’ll count to three. Will you let her go?” Bai Qingzhou’s voice was icy.

“Counting? How laughable. Brothers, let’s cripple him together!” Yu shouted to his companions.

With that, he dropped Little Yin, drew his sword, and charged at Bai Qingzhou.

Bai Qingzhou met him without fear, his sword dancing as he unleashed the Bamboo Leaf Sword Manual techniques.

Steel clashed with steel.

But to both Yu and Bai Qingzhou’s surprise, Yu’s two companions did not move, remaining rooted in place.

“This kid’s got some skill…” Yu thought, alarmed. His cultivation was at the sixth level of Qi Refinement, and he sensed his opponent was the same. He’d expected an even match, but Bai Qingzhou’s swordplay was so refined that within a few exchanges, Yu found himself hard-pressed.

Yu struck forcefully to put some distance between them and retreated to his companions. He barked, “Hey! What are you doing? Get over here!”

“Uh… Young Master Yu, that’s the Butcher Bai from Xuan Yang Sect who sells meat… Best not provoke him,” one of the cultivators murmured.

Yu’s face darkened in alarm.

The two onlookers had clearly recognized Bai Qingzhou and refused to attack him. Among rogue cultivators, infighting was common, but one didn’t lay hands on sect disciples. Harm one, and the elders would come for you.

Especially with Bai Qingzhou, a rising star of Xuan Yang Sect—who would risk it?

“Young Master Yu, the one spirit stone you gave us was for smashing stalls, not fighting Butcher Bai! That’s a different price. I’m out!” said one, sheathing his sword and walking away with his companion, both eager to avoid trouble.

“Useless cowards!” Yu spat, glaring venomously at Bai Qingzhou.

Bai Qingzhou’s eyes blazed with anger, his grip on his sword tight. At fifth level, he had already bested sixth-level Ye Yin; now, at sixth level himself, he feared no peer.

In their brief exchange, Bai Qingzhou had sensed Yu’s mediocrity—he would not be a match.

“Boy, for the sake of Li Yuyun, I’ll spare you tonight!” Yu laughed harshly, slipping a hand inside his robe.

“Trying to run?” Bai Qingzhou snorted. He stamped his foot, sending up clouds of dust, and shot toward Yu.

He could see at a glance that Yu was putting on a show!

Without hesitation, Bai Qingzhou thrust his Azure Rainbow Sword toward Yu.

A deafening bang erupted as a cloud of white mist suddenly burst forth.

“A Smoke Talisman…” Bai Qingzhou instantly recognized it—a common escape tool among cultivators. He cursed under his breath, accelerated, and, sword in hand, slashed into the haze.

With a sweep of his blade, he cut through the smoke, which drifted upward, revealing Yu’s fleeing figure dozens of yards away.

Bai Qingzhou started to give chase but, glancing at Little Yin, who was still trembling in fear, reconsidered and stopped.

He sheathed his sword and walked toward her.