The Crimson Forest

"What? Are you serious?" Lan Bei Er asked disbelievingly. "But…why?"

"Isn't it a given to help my future father-in-law?"

"Who's your future father-in-law?!" Lan Bei Er snapped, her face red. Then she cleared her throat. "But if you can really help to save my father, then I…I don't mind…marrying you."

"Really?" I brightened up. Yeah, I must save my father-in-law, no matter the cost. I glanced at him and noticed that he wasn't conscious, otherwise he probably would have raised some kind of protest. Not that it mattered. I was going to obtain his approval.

But first I needed information.

"So where can this Red Python be found?"

"The Crimson Forest," Lan Bei Er replied. She raised a hand. "But before you rush there, you have to be careful. The Crimson Forest is known for possessing a high content of pure yang qi. Most of the spirit beasts dwelling there are fire-type. That's why it's so dangerous to venture there…and also why nobody wants to help me."

She would have gone there herself, but unfortunately, as a priestess, she couldn't brave the Crimson Forest solo. She could only heal and raise barriers, but she had no way of fighting the fire-element spirit beasts inhabiting the Crimson Forest. Moreover, she needed the blood of the Red Python, so she needed someone with enough firepower to bring it down.

"Well, you have me now," I assured her and turned away. "Wait for the good news!"

Walking out of the corridor and toward the exit, I passed by Madam Lan, who looked surprised.

"Eh? You're leaving already?"

"Yeah. I'll be back soon." I had a rough idea of where the Crimson Forest was. Even though I had rarely left the Heaven and Earth Sect, I did know where all the forests were. Mostly because Master would send me to the forests for training. I had been to the Crimson Forest before, and though this was my first time in Azure Cloud City, I roughly knew where it was in relation to the forest. "You need the blood of a Red Python, right? I'll go get some right now."

"Don't be an idiot!" Madam Lan smacked my head and dragged me back to the corridor. If she wasn't my future mother-in-law, I would have retaliated, but for now I just endured the indignity. I knew she meant well anyway. "It's getting late. At least stay for the night. You can go tomorrow morning."

"Yes, auntie."

Apparently the Lan household had been preparing to welcome Lan Bei Er back, which explained the bustling activities of the busy servants earlier. They had even cooked a feast, and the Lan family was more than happy to pull me in.

"Having more people eat together is more fun," auntie explained.

"I'll make sure uncle will be able to join you for dinner soon," I promised, fiddling with my chopsticks. Even a villain knew the value of a happy family – before I was transmigrated here, I had warm and loving parents and a great home. I missed my family terribly. If possible, I would rather stay in a normal world with my parents than get thrown into some stupid cultivator world and live as a powerful villain.

There was more meaning to life than strength and superpowers. All I needed, really, was joy and companionship. Affection that a demonic sect like the Heaven and Earth Sect couldn't offer. Brothers and parents who wouldn't stab me in the back for their own personal benefits or ambition to climb the hierarchy of the sect.

Constantly looking over my shoulder to watch out for the inevitable betrayal got tiring for a while. Perhaps that was why I was so happy to leave the Heaven and Earth Sect behind.

As I ate the vegetables and meat that Madam Lan constantly put in my bowl, I began to understand. This warmth was what I had been missing this entire time. No amount of power or cultivation could make up for it.

The next morning, they even ensured that I was well supplied and had everything I needed.

"Don't force yourself," Madam Lan told me. "If it gets too dangerous, withdraw and return here. I would much rather you return alive than stupidly die over the attempt."

"I understand. But I will definitely succeed."

"I believe you," Lan Bei Er said, clasping her hands. "But you should still be careful. Don't get complacent."

She wanted to follow along, but I had declined. It would be faster if I went alone.

And I didn't need healing or barriers. It was just one measly Red Python. I could easily take it out myself. The only difficulty I foresaw was finding it.

"I'll be fine. But I appreciate your concern. I'll definitely be careful." I grinned. "As long as you keep your promise when I come back."

Lan Bei Er's face turned red, but she met my gaze. "It's a promise then."

I waved my hand, and then I turned around and set off. The Lan family had offered me the use of a heavenly carriage, and I decided to accept it to save time. Just as well – the horseman set me down right in front of the Crimson Forest after fifteen minutes of flight.

"Young master Hei," the horseman (or kirin-man) said, passing me a talisman. "When you're done with your task, use this talisman to contact us. We'll come over immediately to pick you up."

"Understood. Thank you very much!"

Cupping my hands and bowing politely, I watched the heavenly carriage take off, and then I stepped into the Crimson Forest. Bashing through the woods, I proceeded deeper in hopes of running into the Red Python.

Of course, it wasn't going to be easy. Within the first couple of hours, I ran into salamanders and fire apes. The former were huge overgrown lizards whose lengths were equal to the height of an adult male. They breathed fire, but other than that, they were pretty slow and clumsy. That said, their black and red armored scales rendered them impervious to most ordinary weapons and cultivator attacks.

They were nothing to me.

With a single punch, I blew a hole in a salamander's supposedly armored body. Whirling around, I kicked a second salamander, leaving a bloody crater in its midriff. It gurgled, fumes pouring out of its nostrils and dying embers vomiting from its bloody jaws, and toppled over. A third lost its head to my ruthless stomp, the top of its neck reduced to blood, shattered shards from a broken skull, and brain matter.

The rest turned to flee.

A fire ape attempted to get the drop on me less than hour later, descending from a tree. Having sensed its fiery presence, I stepped to the side and allowed it to hurtle past, and then rammed my elbow into its chest. That broke all of its ribcage. While it gurgled bloodily and clutched at its chest, I whirled around with a kick that took off its head.

Its mate launched itself at me in single-minded rage, seeking vengeance for its slain lover. Flames combusted around its fists and it felled trees in its bloodthirsty frenzy, rendering thick trunks into ash and burning leaves into soot.

I dodged and evaded its fire punches, seeing the movements come at me as if in slow motion. Moving to the side, I then responded with a hook that it blocked. The flames spluttered out from the blow and the fire ape's eyes widened in shock.

Then I rammed a knee into its gut, causing it to double over. With an elbow, I broke its neck and collarbone, sending it to the ground. Watching it writhe, I then ended its agony with a stomp that obliterated its head and shoulders.

Better to ensure an enemy was dead than to leave it and regret later when it returned to seek revenge on me. Many of my opponents in Heaven and Earth Sect had learned that the hard way. That was partially how I became the peak master of the Human Peak.

After that, none of the inhabitants in this section of the Crimson Forest dared to approach me.

"I hope I didn't scare the Red Python away," I muttered under my breath as I pushed past a shrub and walked around a tree. By now, a few hours had passed, and the threat of boredom and exhaustion was now overshadowing the threat of spirit beasts. It would be counterproductive if I beat up all the fire-type spirit beasts in my path, only to have the Red Python not dare to attack me. That would turn this trip into a waste.

Nah, the Red Python was on a different level from the fire apes and salamanders. And it lived deeper in the forest. It shouldn't be intimidated by a human like me.

Just when I thought that, I heard a snarl and a few yells of panic. The latter sounded human, which piqued my curiosity. Without any hesitation, I set off toward their direction, partly because I hadn't seen another person in this huge forest and was feeling a little lonely.

Skidding to a stop, I caught sight of a bunch of orthodox cultivators cowering before a behemoth. Almost nine meters long and about three meters tall, bristling with muscle and covered in crimson and orange fur that was striped with black, it was an Infernal Sabretooth. Two huge fangs curved downward from its upper jaw, deadly canines that gleamed with fire.

"Help!" the orthodox cultivators screamed. I understood why. They were probably at the peak of foundation establishment stage, or early core formation stage. They were no match for an Infernal Sabretooth, which was probably the equivalent of a late Acquired Realm or early Innate Realm. A few of them were dead, ripped apart by the fiery claws of the behemoth or chewed through by those terrifying fire fangs.

By now, less than ten of a formerly twenty strong group were left.

Using Shadow Step, I transported myself over. Drawing my sword, I unleashed Shadow Strike on the Infernal Sabretooth, drawing some blood. Snarling, the behemoth spun toward me, swiping at my head with a fiery paw. I vanished into the shadows and appeared elsewhere.

"Over here!" I called out to the Infernal Sabretooth, waving my sword. The feline roared furiously and bound over, only for me to disappear and practically teleport elsewhere. Even though my movements appeared as if I was evading the Infernal Sabretooth's pounces, I was actually drawing it away from the terrified human cultivators…and out of their sight.

It took a few more Shadow Steps to finally lure the Infernal Sabretooth to a clearing that was obstructed by several shrubs and bushes. It lunged at me, flames blossoming from its mouth and incinerating the trees and plants around the clearing. Slashing ferociously, it left a trail of flames on the grass, gouging out soil and leaving deep ravines.

"You really are hotheaded," I remarked, stepping away from the Infernal Sabretooth's line of attacks. Then with a casual swing of my sword, I unleashed Heaven and Earth Strike.

The Infernal Sabretooth stared at me for a while. Then it tried to move, only to find that it couldn't. A thin line of blood slowly materialized, expanding from its paw and then streaking across its entire body. A few seconds later, it fell into several pieces.

"Hmm, this seems useful," I remarked, picking up an intact fang from my quarry. They could be sold for high prices and used to craft spirit weapons. Glancing at my sword, which was looking rough around the edges, I figured that it was time to get a new weapon. Adjusting my glasses, I the straightened and headed toward the place where I had left the orthodox cultivators.

I needn't had bothered. They burst into the clearing in a rush, panting heavily.

"Benefactor, are you all right?!"

"We won't let you fight the Infernal Sabretooth alone!"

"Don't sacrifice yourself for our sakes! It's our fault for blundering into its nest!"

Then they fell silent when they caught sight of the Infernal Sabretooth's carcass. Their jaws dropped onto the ground and their eyes almost literally popped out. Did they suddenly turn into pirates or something? I didn't have One Piece.

"How…what…when…?"

"Just in time," I interrupted their spluttering. "I have a question for you guys."