Time Travel: Ancient Martial Arts Chronicles

Lin Xiaoxiao lay in the cave for several days, a long, wondrous dream for her. The cave was damp, and water droplets from the walls occasionally dripped onto the ground. The dripping sound was particularly clear in the silence. Her body, in the sound of this dripping, gradually recovered from the pain of falling off the cliff, and her once sore and weak body slowly regained its strength.

Lin Xiaoxiao felt helpless these past few days spending time with Ye Wuhen. Ye Wuhen always had a cold, aloof demeanor, often spending his time resting with his eyes closed or polishing his beloved sword. But how could Lin Xiaoxiao back down so easily? Her fearlessness made her try to find ways to get close to Ye Wuhen.

"Hey, Ye Wuhen, do you think there are any fun places in this Ancient Martial Continent?" Lin Xiaoxiao asked while lying on the haystack and crossing her legs.

Ye Wuhen didn't even raise his eyelids, and said in a cold tone: "This place is full of dangers. It's not the place of entertainment you imagined."

"Tsk, how boring. Then you can at least tell me why you came to this forest alone to look for herbs?" Lin Xiaoxiao persisted.

Ye Wuhen was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "In order to improve my skills, I need that herb."

Lin Xiaoxiao sat up suddenly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Improve your skills? Are you very powerful now? And what is power? Like in martial arts novels, where you can fly over rooftops and walls?"

Ye Wuhen glanced at her, as if he was somewhat helpless at her ignorance. "With a deep level of skill, one's own strength, speed, reaction and other abilities will all be enhanced. Flying over eaves and walking on walls are just some ordinary little tricks."

That day, Lin Xiaoxiao felt like she had been revived and full of strength. She could no longer suppress the urge to explore and pulled Ye Wuhen to leave the cave. Seeing her full of energy, Ye Wuhen nodded slightly and led her out of the cave.

Lin Xiaoxiao's eyes widened in awe at the view outside the cave. It was a lush valley, a breathtaking painting meticulously crafted by nature. Sunlight streamed like golden threads through the lush branches and leaves, casting dappled light on the ground. Dewdrops on the flowers and plants sparkled like brilliant gems in the sunlight. A gentle breeze swayed the flowers and plants, bringing with it a fragrant aroma – a captivating blend of earth, flowers, and the freshness of vegetation, a refreshing and soothing experience.

Lin Xiaoxiao ran ahead excitedly, looking around like a curious baby. She touched the exotic flowers by the roadside, chased colorful butterflies, and exclaimed in amazement. Ye Wuhen followed behind at a leisurely pace, his eyes warily scanning the surroundings, keeping an eye out for potential danger.

Suddenly, a deep roar shattered the silence. It seemed to come from the depths of the earth, powerful and resonant. Then, a ferocious wild boar, covered in spiky thorns, bolted from the brush. Its eyes were red, and panting heavily, it lunged straight at Lin Xiaoxiao. Its momentum kicked up a cloud of dust, and it seemed to crush everything in sight.

Lin Xiaoxiao was startled, but quickly composed herself. Just as the wild boar was about to strike her, she used the agility she'd acquired from modern street fighting to dodge the attack with a sideways roll. The wild boar's momentum was so strong that it crashed directly into a nearby tree, causing the thick trunk to tremble slightly and sending leaves rustling down.

Seeing this, Ye Wuhen drew his sword and was about to attack, but was stopped by Lin Xiaoxiao: "Hey, I'll do it this time." Ye Wuhen was surprised, his eyes full of suspicion: "You are no match for it, don't try to be brave." Lin Xiaoxiao smiled confidently: "Don't underestimate me, I have a way." She picked up a sharp stone from the ground and shook it provocatively at the wild boar: "Come on, you big stupid pig!"

The wild boar, enraged, charged at her again. Lin Xiaoxiao seized her opportunity, and as the boar drew near, she leaped onto its back. The boar thrashed wildly, trying to throw her off. Lin Xiaoxiao clung to the boar's neck, legs clamped together, and with a stone in her hand, she stabbed it in the eye. The boar screamed in pain, struggling even more frantically, spinning in circles and trampling the surrounding flowers and plants.

Lin Xiaoxiao held onto the wild boar tightly, her hands moving relentlessly as she stabbed it repeatedly in the vitals. Blood splattered on her face and clothes, but she didn't flinch. After a fierce struggle, the boar finally fell to the ground, raising a cloud of dust.

Lin Xiaoxiao jumped off the wild boar's back. Although she was in a mess, a smug smile was on her face. She looked at Ye Wuhen: "How is it? I'm awesome, right?" A hint of admiration flashed in Ye Wuhen's eyes: "You actually have such ability. I underestimated you."

The two continued on their way, and soon encountered a turbulent river. The water was murky, its depth unpredictable. Only a few wobbly rocks formed a ragged, dotted line across the surface. The water roared, crashing against the rocks and sending high, deafening splashes that seemed to warn anyone crossing.

Ye Wuhen was the first to step onto the stone, his steps light and steady, each one landing precisely on the stone, his body swaying slightly to maintain his balance. Lin Xiaoxiao followed closely behind, a little frightened as she watched the rushing water below. Halfway through, she slipped and nearly fell into the river. Her screams were drowned out by the roar of the water, and one foot was already in the water. Ye Wuhen, quick-witted and quick-handed, grabbed her and, with a powerful pull, brought her to the other side.

After getting ashore, Lin Xiaoxiao patted her chest with lingering fear: "What a close call, I almost got washed away." Ye Wuhen looked at her: "Be careful, this place is full of dangers."

They walked along the riverbank for a while before discovering a dilapidated temple. Overgrown weeds surrounded the temple, nearly covering the main entrance. The walls were mottled, the marks of time deeply imprinted on them. In places, the plaster had peeled away, revealing the underlying brickwork. The roof had several holes, through which sunlight streamed, creating shafts of light through which dust danced.

The two entered the temple, which was filled with a stale atmosphere, a mixture of the smell of rotting wood and a faint musty odor. Several dilapidated Buddha statues were placed in the temple hall, their gold paint mostly peeling off, revealing a dull base. Some were even missing arms and legs, giving them a sinister look.

In a corner of the temple, they found a wounded woman. It was none other than Bai Zhi. Her face was as pale as paper, her lips bloodless, and her long, dark hair was scattered messily on the ground. She had multiple wounds, her clothes soaked in blood, and her wounds were still oozing. Her breath was so weak that it seemed she would die at any moment.

Lin Xiaoxiao felt pity and hurried over to check on Bai Zhi. She carefully helped Bai Zhi up, her eyes full of worry: "What happened to you? Who are you?" Bai Zhi opened her eyes slightly, looked at Lin Xiaoxiao, and moved her lips, but no sound came out.

Ye Wuhen also came over, squatted down to check Bai Zhi's injuries, frowning: "She is seriously injured and needs timely treatment." Lin Xiaoxiao looked at Bai Zhi and said firmly: "We can't just stand by and watch her die."

So, in this unfamiliar place, Lin Xiaoxiao and Ye Wuhen began their efforts to save Bai Zhi. They searched for herbs around the temple. Lin Xiaoxiao, relying on her knowledge of modern medicine, directed Ye Wuhen, "We need to look for herbs with long, slender leaves and serrated edges, and those with small yellow flowers. They all have hemostatic properties." Although Ye Wuhen was a little confused, he still followed her instructions and searched.

After a while, they found some herbs. Lin Xiaoxiao chewed them up and gently applied them to Baizhi's wound, saying, "You'll be fine. We're saving you." Ye Wuhen helped clean the blood and dirt around the wound.

While Bai Zhi was being treated, she slipped in and out of consciousness. Finally, the wound was healed, and Lin Xiaoxiao collapsed on the ground, exhausted. Ye Wuhen looked at her and said, "You know a lot." Lin Xiaoxiao smiled and said, "That's because I learned some first aid knowledge in modern times."

As time went by, Bai Zhi's face gradually regained color. She slowly opened her eyes and said weakly, "Thank you for saving me." Lin Xiaoxiao held her hand and asked, "How do you feel? How did you get injured here?"

A trace of sadness flashed in Bai Zhi's eyes. "I'm a doctor. I was hunted by my enemies and fled here." Lin Xiaoxiao said angrily, "How despicable! Why are they hunting you?" Bai Zhi smiled bitterly and said, "Because I have a precious medical book, and they want to steal it."

As they cared for Bai Zhi, they gradually became familiar with each other. Lin Xiaoxiao discovered that although Bai Zhi looked fragile, she was actually very strong inside. Ye Wuhen also paid more attention to this woman who suddenly appeared. After all, in this dangerous ancient martial arts continent, having a companion might mean more hope.

As the days passed, Bai Zhi's injuries gradually improved. During this time, Lin Xiaoxiao wasn't idle either. She began to train her physical fitness and reflexes. In the open space in front of the temple, she practiced jumping, rolling, and climbing, with Ye Wuhen occasionally guiding her in some simple martial arts techniques.

One day, during training, Lin Xiaoxiao unexpectedly discovered she seemed to have a special ability to perceive her surroundings. She could vaguely sense if there was any danger nearby, and even detect the presence of small animals. She excitedly ran to Ye Wuhen and Bai Zhi and said, "Did you know? I seem to have gained a magical ability. I can sense if there is any danger around me, and I can even tell where small animals are!"

Ye Wuhen pondered for a moment: "Perhaps this is your own talent. In this ancient martial arts continent, there are many people with extraordinary talents." Bai Zhi also smiled and said: "Xiaoxiao, you are really a special person. Maybe you will achieve great things in the future."

(End of this chapter)

[Note: This story is purely fictional. Any similarity is purely coincidental.]