Urban Seduction: Housewives Club

Chapter 259: A Blessed Spot in the Mountains (1)

After walking for a while longer, Ye Fei suddenly let out a soft ”Huh?” in surprise.

He had noticed that the environment here bore a striking resemblance to the natural formation in the southwest forest.

Although the formation here was far less intricate than the one he had encountered before, it had been cleverly concealed, catching him off guard initially.

”Whatʼs wrong?” Liu Yiru asked curiously, prompted by Ye Feiʼs voice.

”We seem to have stumbled into an array,” Ye Fei said with a hint of gravity.

To him, this array was no mere curiosity; it was far more perilous than the one in the southwest forest.

The latter was naturally formed, devoid of any adversaries—only the occasional wild beast might wander in by accident. This one, however, was clearly man-made.

Without knowing whether its creator was friend or foe, Ye Fei couldnʼt afford to take it lightly.

”An array?” Liu Yiruʼs voice betrayed her astonishment. ”You mean those legendary constructs that can trap and harm people?”

”Precisely,” Ye Fei nodded.

”But the purpose of this one appears to be more about disorienting intruders to conceal something. So, itʼs unlikely to pose any real danger.”

Despite Ye Feiʼs reassurances, the very notion of something from legend unsettled Liu Yiru. She instinctively nestled closer to Ye Fei, seeking his protection rather than offering hers, a shift that pleased him immensely.

It signaled that she was increasingly viewing him as a man she could rely on, rather than a fragile son in need of her constant care.

”Ye Fei, a humble martial artist, and Liu Yiru, here to gather herbs, have inadvertently trespassed into your domain. We mean no harm and seek only to apologize. Would the esteemed owner please reveal themselves?” Ye Fei called out, adhering to the traditional etiquette of the martial world, even though the modern era had largely left such customs behind.

After a moment of waiting, the silence persisted, unbroken by any response. The lack of acknowledgment deepened the unease between Ye Fei and Liu Yiru.

It seemed that the owner of this place was either absent or exceedingly reclusive. In the presence of such a person, the slightest misstep could easily spark conflict.

Yet Ye Fei was undeterred. Once he had recognized the array, it posed no threat to him.

As for martial prowess, he was confident that no one in the world could surpass him. His initial polite declaration was merely to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Now, seeing the ownerʼs apparent disregard for etiquette, he felt a surge of irritation.

”Letʼs go,” he said, taking Liu Yiruʼs hand and leading her towards the seemingly impenetrable mountain wall.

Liu Yiru, now accustomed to relying on Ye Fei, followed without question.

The transition through the array was seamless; it felt as though they had simply passed through a thin veil.

The scenery shifted, revealing a dark cave not far ahead, likely the dwelling of the mysterious owner.

Reaching the cave entrance, Ye Fei repeated his earlier plea, but still, there was no response. He let out a cold snort.

”Wait here for a moment,” he told Liu Yiru, releasing her hand and striding into the cave. Liu Yiru, however, quickly followed. She was acutely aware that Ye Fei had lost his strength and couldnʼt bear the thought of him facing danger alone.

Ye Fei didnʼt stop her. He was confident in his ability to protect her, even if it meant revealing his true strength.

The safety of this place was paramount. He couldnʼt risk the unknown.

What if the owner was a treacherous individual who might take advantage of their vulnerability?

The caveʼs passage was short.

In just a few steps, they were inside. The dim light from outside illuminated the interior.

The cave was small, no more than twenty square meters, with minimal furnishings—a stone bed and two stone stools.

There was no sign of any cooking utensils or other daily necessities.

Surveying the sparse surroundings, Ye Fei felt a pang of apprehension. He knew that as oneʼs strength grew, the need for food diminished.

Legends spoke of individuals who could survive without eating or drinking, achieving a state of immortality.

While Ye Fei had once dismissed such tales as mere fantasy, he now found himself reconsidering.

The absence of any eating utensils suggested that the caveʼs inhabitant might have reached such a state of self-sufficiency.

But as he looked around, Ye Fei realized that the cave had long been abandoned. The owner had either left or passed away.

The array outside, likely left in place by the owner before their departure or demise, had inadvertently preserved the cave from discovery by adventurous souls.

Ye Feiʼs knowledge, though extensive, was largely theoretical.

When it came to real-world experience, Liu Yiru had the upper hand. She quickly deduced what Ye Fei had missed: this cave was a hermitʼs retreat, and its simplicity indicated that the owner had no interest in material possessions.

There were no hidden treasures or clues to the ownerʼs identity.

”Yiru, what are you looking for?” Ye Fei asked, puzzled by Liu Yiruʼs search.

”Nothing much. I was just hoping to find some martial arts manuals left by the previous owner,” Liu Yiru replied, careful not to reveal her true intentions. She was searching for anything that might help cure Ye Fei, given that Bingling Grass seemed like a far-fetched solution.

”Oh? Did you find anything?” Ye Fei inquired casually.

He had little interest in martial arts manuals. His current cultivation method suited him perfectly, and he could enhance Liu Yiru and the othersʼ internal strength.

Once he found the missing part of his cultivation technique, they could practice together.

To him, martial arts manuals were trivial.

Liu Yiru sighed as she sat down beside Ye Fei. ”Thereʼs not even a single clue about the ownerʼs identity, let alone any secret manuals.”

”Who cares? Weʼre not here to covet anything,” Ye Fei said with a smile, looking around.

”Itʼs getting late. How about we rest here tonight? We wonʼt have to bother setting up the tent.”

”Sure,” Liu Yiru agreed without hesitation.