After transmigrating into the body of the Jade Rat Spirit, I became Nezha's adopted sister.

"It's alright, I'm just near the waterfall, I won't go far," Bai Yeying said.

She needed some time alone to sort out her thoughts, and she also wanted to see if she could make a breakthrough in her cultivation under pressure.

The waterfall behind the mountain roars with the sound of water and is shrouded in mist.

Bai Yeying did not start cultivating immediately. Instead, she walked to the smooth boulder by the pool, sat down, and stared blankly at the white ribbon cascading down.

The harrowing experience of last night, Nezha's words, the threat from the Xuan Yin Sect, and the uncertainty about the future—all these intertwined emotions left her feeling unsettled.

She suddenly realized that it had been a long time since she had simply spaced out without thinking about anything.

Since transmigrating here, I've been either running for my life, cultivating, or worrying about all the big and small affairs in my cave.

She lowered her head, looking at her reflection in the water. The girl's face was still delicate and beautiful, but her eyes held a more serene expression and a hint of worry than when she had first taken human form.

"Bai Yeying, oh Bai Yeying," she whispered to her reflection in the water, "you can't back down. The road ahead is long."

She took a deep breath of the crisp, moist air and closed her eyes.

This time, she didn't rush to circulate her demonic power, nor did she practice her whip techniques. She simply emptied her mind, feeling the vibration of the waterfall crashing into the pool below, the coolness of the water droplets splashing on her face, and the fragrant breeze blowing through the mountains and forests.

Gradually, those chaotic thoughts settled down like silt at the bottom of the water. My heartbeat and breath seemed to merge with the roar of the waterfall and the rustling of the wind through the treetops.

A long-lost tranquility slowly rose from the bottom of my heart.

She opened her eyes after an unknown amount of time, her gaze clear. Although she didn't immediately feel a breakthrough, the heavy, restless feeling in her heart had largely dissipated.

She stood up and picked up the Shadow Whip that was placed to the side.

This time, she didn't pursue speed or try new techniques. She simply swung the whip slowly, each move basic and solid.

The whip flashed through the air, creating a subtle whistling sound. Her movements were slow, yet exceptionally steady. Every exertion of force, every turn, was executed with precision, as she sensed the subtle changes in the flow of demonic energy within her body and between the whip.

This is not practice, but more like a review, a way to solidify what you have learned and practiced.

Sweat gradually soaked through her clothes, but she was completely unaware, immersed in this slow and focused state.

The sun gradually rises higher and then slowly sets in the west.

As she finished the last move, Bai Yeying slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, feeling refreshed all over. Although her demonic power had not increased significantly, her control over it seemed to have become more refined.

She wiped her sweat and prepared to return to her cave.

Just as he turned around, his steps suddenly stopped.

Not far ahead, on a smooth blue stone polished by the flowing water, a person had appeared.

The boy in red sat on a rock with one leg bent, the other dangling casually in the stream. His fire-tipped spear leaned against a nearby tree, and his sash lightly brushed the clear water. He was looking down at a few small fish swimming in the water, his profile outlined clearly and beautifully by the shadows of the trees and the setting sun.

Why is he here again? Is he just passing by this time too?

Bai Yeying stood there, unsure whether to go up and say hello or pretend she hadn't seen her and quietly slip away.

Just then, Nezha raised his head.

My gaze passed over the shimmering stream and landed on her.

His face remained expressionless, still aloof and indifferent, but perhaps due to the setting sun, the sharpness in his phoenix eyes seemed to have softened slightly.

"Finished practicing?" he asked, his voice clear and crisp, blending into the babbling water.

Bai Yeying nodded subconsciously: "...Mm."

Nezha didn't speak again, and lowered his head to look at the fish in the water, as if he had just asked casually.

She hesitated for a moment, then walked over and stopped on this side of the stream, looking at him across the water, which was a few steps wide.

"Um... thank you for last night," she said softly, her thanks more formal than the night before.

Nezha paused, his fingers still parting the water, without looking up: "By the way."

"On the way" and "by the way" again. Bai Yeying's initial awkwardness eased somewhat with these words, and she even felt a little amused. This Third Prince's "on the way" indeed covers a wide range of topics.

"I used a calming herb on that woodcutter, and he's temporarily stabilized," she reported. "However, it will probably take some time for him to fully recover."

"Hmm," Nezha responded, his tone unreadable.

A brief silence descended once more, with only the babbling brook flowing merrily.

Bai Yeying looked at his boot tips and trouser legs, which were soaked with water, and suddenly remembered that he seemed to have been looking at fish earlier? A somewhat absurd thought popped into her head: could it be because she had given him that jade fish?

She quickly shook off these chaotic thoughts.

"You..." She mustered her courage and asked the question that had been swirling in her mind all day, "Last night you said I should find a big tree to lean against..."

She paused, looked up at him, her eyes clear and earnest: "Besides this, is there any other way to become stronger quickly? The kind that doesn't rely on others."

Nezha finally raised his head again and looked at her.

The golden rays of the setting sun fell into his eyes, like two tiny flames igniting. He gazed at her for a long while, until Bai Yeying began to tense up again, before slowly speaking:

"fight."

"Huh?" Bai Yeying didn't react.

"I said, fight," Nezha repeated, his tone as calm as if he were commenting on the weather. "Find an opponent who is stronger than you, but not strong enough to kill you instantly. Fight them to the death. If you can't win, run away. If you can't run away, admit defeat, heal your injuries, and then fight again. The more you fight, the stronger you will naturally become."

Bai Yeying: "................"

This method is indeed simple, direct, and very characteristic of Nezha.

"But..." she licked her slightly dry lips, "Where can I find such an opponent?" Should she go around provoking someone like the Black Wind Monster every day? Or go looking for trouble with the Xuan Yin Sect? What's the difference between that and courting death?

Nezha seemed to read her mind and scoffed, "Aren't there any other living things in these mountains?"

He glanced meaningfully in the direction she had come from, towards the depths of Trapped Sky Mountain, a more treacherous and desolate area.

Bai Yeying's heart skipped a beat. Yes, the Trap Mountain was quite vast, and the area she usually frequented was only a small, relatively safe part of the outer perimeter. Deeper into the mountains, there were bound to be many more powerful spirits and monsters lurking.

She used to be afraid to go because of the danger. But now...

"I understand." She nodded, her eyes showing a hint of eagerness. "Thank you for your guidance."

Nezha didn't reply. He stood up from the bluestone, stamped his feet, and shook the water droplets off his boots. He picked up his fire-tipped spear, glanced at Bai Yeying, and suddenly said, "Your whip is not bad."

Bai Yeying was taken aback, then her eyes lit up: "Really?"

This was the first time he had commented on her work without showing any disdain.

"Hmm." Nezha responded perfunctorily, and the phantom image of his Wind Fire Wheels appeared beneath his feet. "They're just too weak and limp."

Bai Yeying's initial excitement was dampened by the second half of the sentence.

"I'll train my strength," she muttered to herself.

Nezha seemed to give a soft hum, said no more, and with a flash of red light, his figure disappeared from the spot.

Bai Yeying stared in the direction he disappeared, and after a long while, the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curve upwards.

Although the words were still harsh, they didn't seem so annoying anymore.

She clenched her fist and looked into the deep, lush forest of Trapped Sky Mountain, a forest that seemed to hold countless unknowns.

Shall we fight?

Then, go fight.