It is said that in the distant Fairy Tale Kingdom, the greatest treasure in the world lies hidden.
As for Ruan Zhixian, she is the most famous Great Adventurer in the Fairy Tale Kingdom, searching for new treasures all over the kingdom every day.
But alas, our Great Adventurer always had one regret in her heart—no matter how hard she tried, she could never find the legendary greatest treasure.
One day, the king summoned Ruan Zhixian, who had just returned from her travels, to his side.
The king said:
“Great Adventurer Ruan Zhixian, I know you have always been searching for the greatest treasure in the world, and it just so happens that I know where it is.”
“Really?”
Ruan Zhixian asked curiously.
Even a renowned Great Adventurer like her could not find the legendary treasure, so how could the king, who stayed in the castle every day, possibly know its location?
The king laughed heartily:
“Hahahaha, but of course! Because the most precious treasure in this world is my beautiful daughter—Su Ling!”
“As long as you marry her, you will have obtained the greatest treasure in the world!”
The king clapped his hands, and the beautiful Princess Su Ling slowly stepped forward.
Ah, what a truly beautiful princess!
Look! The princess’s smooth, long hair is as lovely as a length of dark satin, fanned out behind her.
Look! The princess’s skin is as white as snow, crystal clear and radiant.
Look! The princess’s cheeks are as red as the sunset clouds on the horizon, so delicate and charming.
“Wow! You’re really so beautiful!”
Ruan Zhixian stepped forward to embrace and kiss her princess. After a long while, the two finally parted. Though our Great Adventurer seemed somewhat reluctant, she still shook her head at the king:
“O king, o king, the princess may be beautiful, but she is not the treasure I seek.”
“Wait for me. When I find the greatest treasure in this world, I will return to marry this beautiful princess!”
And so, the Great Adventurer set off, braving thorns and brambles, overcoming layers of obstacles, and following the graceful, goblet-shaped mountains until she arrived at two small hills.
Eh? These really are two strange little hills.
Though not tall, the hills had a most charming curve; and atop each bare hill, there stood a cherry tree, each with cherries red as pearls and agate, dazzling to behold.
“Wow! The cherries on these hills are so beautiful—maybe this is the treasure I’ve been searching for!”
Ruan Zhixian couldn’t wait to climb one of the small hills, picking a delicate cherry and tasting it carefully.
It was truly the most delicious cherry the Great Adventurer had ever eaten in her life! Tender and juicy, sweet and sour! So delicious!
“Mmm, no, no, I need to eat a few more, only then can I know if this is really the treasure I seek!”
So, the greedy adventurer feasted again, going back and forth between the two little hills, tasting cherries from both sides.
Her movements were so vigorous that the cherry trees trembled constantly.
“Mmm~ Although the cherries here are delicious, they’re still not the treasure I’m looking for!”
The Great Adventurer smacked her lips, and once again set out on her journey to find the greatest treasure in the world.
She walked and walked, walked and walked, traversing the heart of the kingdom, passing through the sparse Dark Forest.
***
Finally, the adventurer Ruan Zhixian arrived at a quiet cave entrance.
The mouth of the cave was pitch black, so deep the bottom could not be seen, yet there was a gentle stream trickling out from inside.
“Wow, this cave looks so mysterious—there must be the treasure I want inside!”
The Great Adventurer was full of confidence; cave exploration was also one of her specialties.
Why, you ask? That was because not long ago, her mentor Tang Jin’er had already taught her all the skills needed for exploring caves.
So, Adventurer Ruan Zhixian descended into the damp cave. She hadn’t gone far before she encountered a terrifying monster. The beast was enormous, blocking the entire passageway.
“Hmph, mere monster, you’re no threat! You can’t stop the steps of the Great Adventurer Ruan Zhixian!”
Seeing the monster blocking her path, the Great Adventurer felt no fear at all.
Why, you ask? Because her mentor Tang Jin’er had also taught her swordsmanship, and the Great Adventurer Ruan Zhixian was also an extraordinary Swordmaster.
Oh dear, but our Great Adventurer had not brought her sword before entering the cave—what should she do?
No problem! A true Swordmaster has no need for such useless things as a sword. In the hands of a true Swordmaster, even falling leaves and drifting flowers can become a blade.
“Ha! Behold my No-Sword Style ultimate move—Finger Spear!”
The mighty Swordmaster Ruan Zhixian used her finger as a sword, aimed at the monster’s vital point, and launched a fierce attack.
With just one strike, the blocking monster collapsed with a howl, its dark red blood flowing out along the stream in the cave.
After a short rest, our Great Adventurer continued deeper into the cave.
“Eh? There’s a sign here?”
At the end of the dim cave, a small wooden sign with writing caught Ruan Zhixian’s eye. She stepped forward and read it aloud, word by word:
“Congratulations! Great Adventurer! You have defeated the monster and arrived here!”
“The greatest treasure in the world is placed here, but before you can claim it, you must forcefully strike the weak point of the cave. This is the final step to obtaining the treasure!”
Attack the weak point of the cave? That was no trouble for our Great Adventurer.
The Great Adventurer Ruan Zhixian poked here and prodded there, quickly finding the key spot. Then she unleashed the ultimate techniques of her No-Sword Style in rapid succession:
“Finger Spear! Finger Spear! Finger Spear! Watch my rapid-fire Finger Spear!”
Under the Swordmaster Ruan Zhixian’s continuous assault, the weak point of the cave suddenly tightened, and then—
“Whoosh—!”
A roaring flood burst forth, sweeping our Great Adventurer out of the cave.
The floodwater and the monster’s blood from the mysterious cave flowed together into a small river, nourishing all the farmlands of the Fairy Tale Kingdom.
“Hahaha! Now I understand—the real treasure is what can benefit the whole kingdom!”
Soaking wet, the Great Adventurer shouted with joy.
Later, the adventurer who found the treasure returned once more to the Kingdom’s Capital, for there was still a promised wedding waiting for her in the castle there.
At the wedding scene, the beloved Princess Su Ling blushed deeply, her eyes rolling back, and she looked truly breathtaking!
“Ah, my dearest princess!”
Dressed in a wedding gown, the Great Adventurer brushed aside the princess’s bangs, damp with sweat and tears, and leaned down to kiss her moist, dark eyes.
“How I love you, how I love this grand adventure!”
“I’ve decided—tonight, I want to experience this thrilling adventure all over again!”