Love and Sword [Complete] - 7

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Volume 3, Chapter 6: Heart-wrenching Feelings (Part 2)

"That's right, as the saying goes, a good dog doesn't block the road. Surely Young Master Yue isn't even as bad as a dog?" A lazy voice interrupted, and a tall man in a blue robe, around thirty years old, slowly strolled over. He was touching his nose, a wicked smile playing on his lips. His face wasn't exactly handsome, somewhat thin. His gaze darted left and right, finally settling on Hanxue in Hua Ruoxu's arms, a lecherous look on his face.
"What are you, daring to speak to me like that?" Young Master Yue immediately flew into a rage, glaring fiercely at the man.
"I'm not a thing, but Young Master Yue, you don't seem to be either. Aren't you called Yue the Bear? Is a bear a thing?" He looked around, seemingly seeking everyone's opinion, "What do you say, is a bear a thing?" The expressions on the faces of the people in the restaurant were strange, a mixture of wanting to laugh but not daring to, a strained expression.
Young Master Yue? Yue the Bear? Hua Ruoxu pondered to himself, recalling that Yue Tianhong had two younger brothers, Yue Tianying and Yue Tianxiong. Could this be Yue Tianxiong? There was a slight resemblance between him and Yue Tianhong in their features; no wonder he felt a sense of familiarity earlier.
The second young master of the Yue family was flushed, seemingly about to erupt, when suddenly his expression changed slightly.
"Second brother, you mustn't be rude to Young Master Hua!" a voice sternly commanded. The second young master of the Yue family stepped aside, and a man entered. He was handsome, with refined manners, and appeared to be around twenty years old. His hands, which had been behind his back, were released upon entering.
"This must be Young Master Hua of Mount Hua. Yue Tianying greets you. Please forgive my younger brother's disrespect towards Young Master Hua!" Yue Tianying bowed respectfully, and Hua Ruoxu finally realized his guess was correct.
Actually, the Yue family was originally from Luoyang, so the appearance of the Yue brothers, Yue Tianying and Yue Tianxiong, here wasn't unusual.
"Young Master Yue, you're too kind. I don't deserve such praise," Hua Ruoxu said with a calm smile. "I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave now." He gently stepped out the door, holding Hanxue in his arms. Yue Tianying seemed taken aback, probably not expecting Hua Ruoxu to be so disrespectful.
"Ah, wait for me!" The man in blue robes paused for a moment, then hurriedly rushed out. Yue Tianxiong glared at him from behind, but seemed too afraid to stop him.
*** *** ***
Although Hua Ruoxu was currently focused on Hanxue's injuries, he still didn't have a good impression of the Yue brothers. Jiang Qingyue had once told him that Yue Tianhong's pursuit might be their doing, and Yue Tianxiong's arrogant behavior just now further displeased him.
"Young Master, aren't you happy?" Hanxue asked softly from his arms.
"Xiaoxue, I'm very happy to have you with me," Hua Ruoxu said softly, looking at Hanxue with doting eyes.
Hanxue didn't ask any more questions, gently closing her eyes, a happy expression on her face. Even if he was just trying to coax her, she was still happy.
"Hey, Brother Hua, wait for me!" Hua Ruoxu turned around at the sound of his voice, his brows furrowing slightly. A man stumbled after him, the same man in blue who had just cursed Yue Tianxiong as a bear.
"Brother, is something the matter?" Hua Ruoxu frowned because he noticed that although the man in blue seemed unsteady on his feet, he actually possessed a subtle and skillful gait. He didn't seem to have any ill intentions, but his lecherous gaze displeased Hua Ruoxu.
"Nothing, nothing, just some small matters," the man hurriedly replied.
"Please speak quickly, I have other important business to attend to," Hua Ruoxu said irritably, his tone already showing displeasure.
"It is indeed a small matter, but it can't be discussed in a short time. How about this, to avoid taking up Brother Hua's time, let's talk as we walk," the man said, completely disregarding Hua Ruoxu's attitude and continuing to address him as brother.
"Alright then, may I ask your name, brother?" Hua Ruoxu really didn't want to waste time, so he sighed inwardly and asked.
"Oh, my name is Tianxie. Brother Hua, you may not have heard of me, but you're quite famous in the martial arts world now. Everyone knows that you, Brother Hua, acted rashly for a woman, severing the hand of Zhang Lie, a top-ranked expert on the Earth Ranking, with a single sword strike. I truly admire you." Tianxie looked at Hua Ruoxu with a hint of genuine respect in his eyes.
"So you're the lecherous gentleman Tianxie, brother. I'm truly sorry for my rudeness." Hua Ruoxu's heart skipped a beat. He had heard of the name Tianxie before; he was indeed a formidable figure. He and three others were known as the Four Gentlemen of the Martial Arts World: the Wine Gentleman Wujiu, the Lustful Gentleman Tianxie, the Wealthy Gentleman Duobao, and the Spirited Gentleman Aoyun. The four gentlemen were ranked fourth on the Human Ranking. The reason they were grouped together was because these four were sworn brothers and rarely acted alone. It was somewhat unexpected that Tianxie was here alone today.
Tian Xie, known as the "Gentleman of Lust," is famous for his insatiable gaze upon beautiful women. Some claim he's never actually touched a woman, while he maintains he merely appreciates beauty, though most women dislike being stared at. This has earned him a rather poor reputation in the martial arts world.
However, Hua Ruoxu was somewhat surprised that news of his affair with Zhang Lie had spread so quickly throughout the martial arts community.
"So, Brother Hua knows my name? That's good. Please don't take offense, Brother Hua. It's just a bad habit of mine; I have no ill intentions towards your wife," Tian Xie said, seemingly relieved. However, Hua Ruoxu found it somewhat amusing that Tian Xie continued to stare at Han Xue even while explaining.
"Brother Tian truly deserves the title of 'Gentleman of Lust,'" Hua Ruoxu said calmly. While it wasn't pleasant to have another man staring at one's beloved, he couldn't say anything more since Tian Xie had said so.
"Brother Hua, you flatter me. At such a young age, you've already climbed to the Earthly Ranking; it truly makes me ashamed," Tian Xie continued to compliment Hua Ruoxu.
"Earth Ranking? When did I get on the Earth Ranking?" Hua Ruoxu was taken aback.
"Brother Hua, you don't know yet? Ever since you defeated Zhang Lie, you've taken his place. Now you're tenth on the Earth Ranking." Tian Xie explained, seeing Hua Ruoxu's puzzled look.
After Tian Xie's explanation, Hua Ruoxu understood. Logically, if he were to be on a ranking, he should be on the Heaven Ranking. However, because someone said Hua Ruoxu wasn't a righteous person, he ended up on the Earth Ranking, becoming the youngest master on it.
"However, Brother Hua, you're in a bit of trouble now. Everyone in the martial arts world knows that you transformed from a weak scholar into a peerless master in just three months because you obtained the Love Sword. Therefore, there are probably countless people who want the Love Sword now. Brother Hua, you must be careful." Tian Xie sighed.
"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Tian." Hua Ruoxu looked at Han Xue in his arms; she had become like this because of the Love Sword.

Volume 3, Chapter 7: The Sword of Love 's Calamity

. Hua Ruoxu couldn't understand the reason for Tian Xie's infatuation; the two were complete strangers. The sudden turn of events left Hua Ruoxu feeling breathless. He couldn't go to Jiang Qingyue now; he had to heal Han Xue's injuries first.
Bidding farewell to Tian Xie, he sped towards Mount Song. He was getting closer and closer, yet his heart grew increasingly uneasy, an indescribable feeling weighing on his chest.
After passing this forest, the foot of Mount Song was just ten miles away. Suddenly, Hua Ruoxu stopped, moving slowly forward. His steps were light, yet his true energy filled his entire body.
"Young Master, where are we?" The body in his arms stirred; at this moment, Han Xue had actually woken up, asking in a soft, murmured voice.
"If you have all come for me, then please come out." Hua Ruoxu sighed softly, his gaze slowly sweeping across the surrounding forest, his clear voice echoing through the woods for a long time.
There was no response. The forest grew even more silent, and Hua Ruoxu could clearly feel the breathing within.
"Xiaoxue, close your eyes and hold me tight," Hua Ruoxu whispered, his eyes scanning the surroundings, his ears alert. His sword, already drawn, was gripped tightly in his hand as he slowly moved forward. Suddenly, a whistling wind sounded behind him. With a swift movement, he turned around, revealing two black iron arrows broken into four pieces, lying on the ground. The tips of the arrows gleamed with a bluish light, indicating they were coated with deadly poison.
There was no more movement, but Hanxue had opened her beautiful eyes, looking at him with concern. The atmosphere in the forest grew increasingly unsettling. Hua Ruoxu vaguely sensed that some trap awaited him ahead, yet he had no other way but to move forward.
Silence, a suffocating silence. Hua Ruoxu could even hear his own barely audible footsteps. With one step, he suddenly felt his foot go weak, and a large crater appeared in the ground, causing Hua Ruoxu to plummet. However, Hua Ruoxu didn't panic. He took a deep breath and shot straight up.
"Young Master, watch out above!" Hanxue cried out. Hua Ruoxu was still pulling upwards when he saw a large net descending. At the same time, a continuous whistling wind swept in, and long arrows glowing blue hurtled towards him, but only a small portion were aimed at Hua Ruoxu; most were aimed at the air below him. Hua Ruoxu immediately understood; they only wanted to prevent his fall, to trap him in the net. At this moment, his unique method of circulating his energy proved most effective. Hua Ruoxu took a deep breath, and instead of descending, he pulled upwards even faster. Simultaneously, he channeled his true energy into the Love Sword, causing it to emit a sword light over a foot long. This was something Hua Ruoxu discovered unintentionally: the Love Sword, when infused with true energy, could emit a sword beam, the length of which was determined by the strength of the true energy. The sharpness of the beam far surpassed that of the Love Sword itself, enough to cut through gold and iron. A large hole was silently cut in the net, and Hua Ruoxu emerged, letting out a slight, cold laugh. When he landed, the torrential rain of swords had ceased.
"What other tricks do you have up your sleeve? Bring them on," Hua Ruoxu coldly snorted, his anger rising.
"Since Young Master Hua wants it, then we brothers won't hold back." A somewhat annoyed voice echoed from the shadows. As soon as the voice faded, countless small black dots rushed in, resembling small cloth bags, while simultaneously, countless crossbow arrows were fired, half aimed at Hua Ruoxu, and half at the cloth bags.
"Young Master, don't block with your sword, dodge quickly!" Hanxue suddenly cried out in panic, but it was too late. Hua Ruoxu's sword had already struck several cloth bags, which immediately tore open, and white powder began to scatter in the air.
"Xiaoxue, close your eyes quickly!" Hua Ruoxu's expression changed drastically. He never expected them to resort to such a despicable method. The cloth bags were actually filled with lime powder. Hua Ruoxu's true energy filled his body, and his sword danced like a whirlwind. The
crossbow bolt caught up with the cloth bags and then tore open. Lime filled the air, and Hua Ruoxu was surrounded by a white mist.
"Continue, don't stop!" someone whispered.
With a clear whistle, Hua Ruoxu soared into the sky, leaping forward more than ten zhang, and landed lightly on the ground.
"Young Master, be careful, there's poison in the lime!" Hanxue's voice was very weak, so weak that Hua Ruoxu could hardly hear it. Hua Ruoxu opened his eyes in shock, only to find that Hanxue in his arms was already silent and her face was even paler.
"Xiaoxue, Xiaoxue!" Hua Ruoxu trembled as he reached his hand towards her nostrils.
"Ah!" Hua Ruoxu let out a heart-wrenching, mournful howl; the person in his arms was no longer breathing.
"Xiaoxue, I will avenge you!" Hua Ruoxu's eyes were bloodshot as he uttered a few cold words.
"I will make all of you pay with your lives for Xiaoxue!" Hua Ruoxu roared to the sky and plunged into the forest. He now regretted not killing them all from the beginning, instead waiting until they made their move before passively defending himself. His heart was filled with hatred—hatred for himself, and even more hatred for these despicable people. Kill, kill, kill, he only knew to kill relentlessly. With each sword strike, someone's blood splattered beneath the blade. He didn't know how many people he had killed; he only knew that the last person he killed seemed somewhat familiar, and that person looked at him with terrified eyes.
The screams finally ceased. Hua Ruoxu's white robes were completely stained red. He stared blankly at Hanxue in his arms, silent tears finally streaming down his face. "Xiaoxue, I'm so sorry! I killed them all, but you still can't come back!"
What a lovely girl, so devoted, even in her dying moments she was worried about his safety. Yet, from childhood to adulthood, he had never treated her well. Today, she left in his arms, a smile on her face. She had never regretted it.
Hua Ruoxu held Hanxue's body tightly, sitting blankly on the ground. He didn't know how much time had passed before he awoke from his half-asleep state. The sky was gradually darkening. Hanxue's body was still so soft, so warm, not as cold as he had imagined.
He slowly stood up and walked out of the woods. Mount Song was in sight, but was there any point in going to Shaolin now? Hua Ruoxu stood there blankly for a while longer, unsure of what to do.
Suddenly, he realized something was wrong. Xiaoxue had stopped breathing for several hours, yet her body was still so warm. A surge of joy welled up within him. He gently buried his head in her chest, then abruptly lifted his head and rushed towards Mount Song.
*** *** ***
"Hua Ruoxu requests an audience with Abbot Yuanguang!" Hua Ruoxu stood at the entrance of Shaolin Temple, but instead of asking the gatekeeper to announce his arrival, he projected his voice directly into the temple using his inner energy.
Although Hua Ruoxu had a deep connection with Shaolin, this was his first time visiting. A slight commotion arose within Shaolin Temple, but it quickly subsided. Moments later, Hua Ruoxu saw the abbot-like monk stride out. His hair and beard were white, yet he was remarkably vigorous. He had a kind face and a bright, intelligent gaze.
"Junior Brother Ruoxu, what happened to you?" Even the experienced Yuanguang couldn't help but exclaim in surprise upon seeing Hua Ruoxu's current state. Hua Ruoxu looked truly terrifying, covered in blood, whether his own or someone else's, his hair disheveled, a picture of utter disarray.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Yuanguang!" Hua Ruoxu bowed slightly. Since Yuanguang addressed him as Junior Brother, he couldn't very well call him Abbot.
"Junior Brother, no need for formalities. Are you alright?" Yuanguang's voice was kind.
"Senior Brother, I'm fine, but you must help me save Xiaoxue. Only Shaolin's Great Rejuvenation Pill can save her now. You must help me!" Hua Ruoxu's tone was urgent and direct, clearly stating he had come to ask for the Great Rejuvenation Pill.
"Junior Brother, come in with me first." Yuanguang's expression changed slightly, revealing a hint of difficulty. After a moment's hesitation, he said to Hua Ruoxu.
"Wuxing, quickly go and invite Uncle Yuanhui to the main hall." Yuanguang led Hua Ruoxu into the Great Buddha Hall while instructing those around him.
Hua
Ruoxu was frantic, like an ant on a hot pan. He watched as a middle-aged monk took Hanxue's pulse, and half a cup of tea's time had passed without a word being spoken.
"Senior brother, Xiaoxue is running out of time! Please hurry and get the Great Rejuvenation Pill for her!" In his anxiety, Hua Ruoxu disregarded his tone and urged Master Yuanguang.
"Junior brother Yuanhui, how is it? Any results?" Yuanguang glanced at the anxious Hua Ruoxu, shook his head, and sighed softly, asking the middle-aged monk, Master Yuanhui.

"Abbot, this young lady suffered severe internal and external injuries, and then was poisoned. Curing the poison isn't difficult, but healing her original injuries seems to truly require the Great Rejuvenation Pill," Master Yuanhui finally spoke.
"What should we do now? Isn't there any other way?" Abbot Yuanguang was also getting anxious.
"There's no other way for now. I can remove the poison from her body, but I can't do anything about her other injuries. She should be able to hold on for another two months, depending on whether there are any other methods during that time," Yuanhui shook his head and said.
"Senior brothers, why is there no way? Senior Brother Yuanhui, didn't you just say that the Great Rejuvenation Pill could save Xiaoxue?" Hua Ruoxu finally sensed something was wrong and hurriedly asked.
"Junior Brother Ruoxu, you don't know," Abbot Yuanguang sighed, "The temple should have had two more Great Rejuvenation Pills, but they were stolen last night. And the thief didn't leave any clues. This is a great disgrace to our temple, but Junior Brother Ruoxu is not an outsider, so we're not afraid to tell you." Abbot Yuanguang's expression was very unnatural as he spoke.
"Stolen? How could this be? How could this happen? Then, what about Xiaoxue?" Hua Ruoxu murmured, staring blankly at Hanxue.
"Junior Brother Ruoxu, don't rush. I think we should have Junior Brother Yuanhui help remove the poison from Miss Hanxue's body first, and then think of another way," Master Yuanguang suggested from the side. Hua Ruoxu nodded blankly, staring at Hanxue. The poison Hanxue was suffering from wasn't very severe, otherwise she wouldn't have been able to endure this long, and besides, that kind of poison wasn't supposed to be fatal.
"Junior Brother Ruoxu, can you tell me what happened?" Master Yuanguang sighed.
"They're so despicable. Why did they treat me like this? They just wanted the Love Sword, right? If they wanted it, I could have given it to them. Why did they treat Xiaoxue like this?" Hua Ruoxu seemed not to hear Master Yuanguang's question, yet he seemed to have heard it, muttering to himself.
*** *** ***
Ignoring Master Yuanguang's pleas, Hua Ruoxu quickly left Shaolin. Hanxue in his arms was still fast asleep, her pale face regaining some color. Although Shaolin Temple no longer had the Great Rejuvenation Pill, they still had ordinary medicines for recuperation. Master Yuanhui was also highly skilled in medicine, and Hanxue's breathing had stabilized, temporarily pulling her out of danger. However, Ruoxu knew that if no other solution could be found within two months, Hanxue might never wake up again.
At Shaolin Temple, Master Yuanguang's face was grim.
"Abbot, we still can't find any clues. I think there might be a spy in Shaolin," Yuanhui said softly.
"Let me send a disciple to investigate what happened to Ruoxu before he came here," Yuanguang said after a moment's thought.
*** *** ***
A shocking piece of news suddenly spread throughout the martial world.
Hua Ruoxu once again wielded his sword for his beloved, and hundreds of members of the Qianlong Gang, from their leader Fang Feilong down, all perished under Hua Ruoxu's blade.
Mount Hua.
Hua Yufeng's brows were furrowed, and Hanshuang stood quietly beside her.
"Xiaoshuang, I heard the disciple who went to find Xiaoxue has returned. Is there any news?" Hua Yufeng asked softly.
"Miss, I heard, I heard..." Han Shuang hesitated to continue.
"Speak, whether it's good news or bad news." Hua Yufeng's tone was gentle, yet authoritative.
"Xiao Xue is with the young master, but, but I heard Xiao Xue is seriously injured. Because those disciples only heard rumors, I sent them to inquire further." Han Shuang said timidly.
A carrier pigeon gently landed on Hua Yufeng's shoulder.
"Zhang Lie!" Hua Yufeng uttered two cold words from her cherry-like lips.
*** *** ***
Luoyang. Night market.
A young man in white was carrying a young woman in white as they walked slowly down the avenue. The girl in his arms pointed and gestured with her slender hands, occasionally letting out a few melodious laughs like silver bells.
"Young Master, that pendant is so pretty, I want it!"
"Young Master, what's that? It smells so good, I want to eat it!"
Hua Ruoxu forced a smile and fulfilled Hanxue's requests one by one. He didn't know what else he could do now. He only knew that in these last two months, he had to take good care of Hanxue, and everything else had to be put aside for the time being.
"Sister Qing, you will understand me, right?" Hua Ruoxu thought to himself.

Volume 3 Seeking Love Chapter 8 Love's Fate Like a Dream

"Xiaoxue, are you tired?" Hanxue looked quite funny now, with a candied hawthorn in her mouth and her hands full of small ornaments. Hua Ruoxu looked at her pretty face with affection and asked softly.
"Ugh," Hanxue babbled but couldn't speak, but her beautiful big eyes were fixed on Hua Ruoxu, and you could see the coquettishness in her eyes. Hua Ruoxu felt a little amused and freed one hand to take the candied hawthorn from her mouth.
"Young Master, this is so much fun! Xiaoxue isn't tired, she wants to play more!" Hanxue said sweetly.
"Xiaoxue, let's go back first. We'll come again tomorrow. You need to rest for a while." Hua Ruoxu sighed softly in his heart.
"No, I don't want to go back!" Hanxue pouted and insisted. "Young Master, let's keep playing!"
"Alright." Hua Ruoxu had no choice but to continue accompanying her, occasionally letting her bite into the cute candied hawthorn.
"People say that Young Master Hua is a romantic and amorous man. Seeing him today, I can see that the rumors are indeed true." A melodious and clear voice sounded beside Hua Ruoxu. Hua Ruoxu turned around and found two men and a woman looking at him, each with a slightly different expression.
In the middle was a girl in plain clothes, with long hair flowing over her shoulders, delicate eyebrows and bright eyes. A faint smile flowed across her beautiful face. Her slender figure inspired endless imagination. She was looking at Hua Ruoxu with great interest, and it was clearly her who had spoken earlier.
Beside her were two young men. One, Feng Guoyun, glared with hatred in his eyes; the other, dressed in a blue robe, was tall and handsome, with an inner radiance and an elegant demeanor, yet his gaze towards Hua Ruoxu was somewhat intense.
"May I ask your name, young lady? Is there anything you need?" Hua Ruoxu glanced at them briefly before lowering her head to look at Hanxue, her tone flat and devoid of any emotion.
"My younger sister is Ye Wuying, this is Brother Fang Xia from Kunlun, and this is…" she said, turning her gaze to Feng Guoyun.
"So you are Miss Ye and Young Master Fang. As for this gentleman, there's no need for you to introduce him," Hua Ruoxu interrupted Ye Wuying, smiling calmly.
"Brother Hua, you've reached the top of the rankings before you're even twenty! I truly admire you. But I wonder if you'd be willing to give me some pointers?" Fang Xia's eyes gleamed with fervor. He paused, then added, "Brother Hua, rest assured, I will never attempt to dabble in the sword of love. I simply wish to make friends through martial arts. I hope you won't hesitate to teach me!"
Hua Ruoxu was slightly taken aback. He had never seen such a direct person before, wanting to spar on the first meeting. It seemed this person was probably a martial arts fanatic.
"Brother Fang thinks highly of me, and I am deeply honored. However, at this time and place, I cannot grant your request." Hua Ruoxu pondered for a moment and said, "Right now, I only wish to be with Xiaoxue. Please forgive me, Brother Fang. I will certainly seek your guidance another day when I have the time."
"Young Master, you don't need to spoil Xiaoxue like this," Hanxue said softly.
"Xiaoxue, you know I've never liked martial arts conflicts," Hua Ruoxu sighed gently.
"Hua Ruoxu, don't you think you're hypocritical? You say you dislike martial arts conflicts, yet you killed over a hundred members of the Qianlong Gang in one go. You're a ruthless butcher!" Feng Guoyun coldly chimed in from the side.
"In the martial world, one is often not in control of one's own destiny. The Qianlong Gang brought this upon themselves; they can't blame me," Hua Ruoxu said calmly. "They can deal with me, they can want the Love Sword, but they shouldn't have harmed Xiaoxue."
"I think it's you who's bloodthirsty. In fact, Miss Hanxue is safe and sound now, while the Qianlong Gang suffered annihilation in a single day. I think this is just you finding an excuse to kill!" Feng Guoyun said coldly.
"I don't need to explain further to you. I, Hua Ruoxu, act not to benefit others, but to have a clear conscience. However, may I ask, Brother Feng, can you also act with a clear conscience? On Mount Hua that day, were you truly telling the truth?" Hua Ruoxu's expression turned slightly cold. "People should reflect on whether their actions are righteous, instead of constantly questioning others. I have other matters to attend to, Miss Ye, Brother Fang, farewell!"
"What a fine line, 'not seeking to benefit others, but to have a clear conscience,' so free-spirited!" Fang Xia exclaimed in admiration. "How many people in this world can truly achieve a clear conscience?"

"Brother Fang is right, indeed not many people can achieve a clear conscience. However, Hua Ruoxu kills without batting an eye and yet he can act with a clear conscience? If this continues, I'm afraid he will truly become a murderous monster." Ye Wuying's voice was full of worry; her impression of Hua Ruoxu seemed rather poor.
“Fairy Ye, don’t worry too much. I don’t think Brother Hua is a bloodthirsty person; perhaps he’s just too sentimental.” Fang Xia had a good impression of Hua Ruoxu.
“Brother Fang, as the most outstanding disciple of Kunlun, you can’t just think about martial arts.” Ye Wuying sighed softly, brushing her hair from her forehead with her slender hand. “Brother Fang, Brother Feng, the heavy responsibility of upholding justice in the martial world rests on our shoulders. Don’t let personal matters delay important matters.”
“Fairy Ye, please rest assured, we know what to do!” The two said in unison, but their thoughts were different.
*** *** ***
“Brother Hua!”
“Brother Hua!”
A male and a female voice rang out simultaneously behind Hua Ruoxu. Hua Ruoxu turned around and saw a tall figure next to a petite figure. It was an old acquaintance, Zhao Changkong, a lay disciple of Shaolin, and his sister-in-law, Huang Yingying, a lay disciple of the Emei Sect.
Zhao Changkong’s complexion was much better; he didn’t look as haggard as when Hua Ruoxu first met him.
"So it's Brother Zhao and Miss Huang. How have you been?" Hua Ruoxu smiled slightly.
"Brother Hua, you're too kind. I'm truly sorry, I couldn't attend your wedding. I didn't expect to run into you here." Zhao Changkong's tone was full of apology.
"Brother Zhao's kindness is deeply appreciated." Hua Ruoxu said with a smile, but suddenly his expression changed slightly. A tinkling sound rang out, and many small ornaments fell to the ground. Hanxue's eyes closed again, her small hands hanging limply at her sides.
Hua Ruoxu hugged her tightly, bent down to pick up the fallen ornaments. This wasn't the first time Hanxue had done this; she often fell asleep suddenly and inexplicably like this now, and he was used to it. However, Zhao Changkong and Huang Yingying, who were beside him, were quite surprised.
"Brother Hua, is this young lady alright?" Zhao Changkong couldn't help but ask.
"It's alright, she's like this every day. Don't worry, she'll wake up in a few hours." Hua Ruoxu gazed at Hanxue's beautiful face, a slight pang of sadness in his heart. Hanxue's sleep sessions were getting longer and longer; he truly didn't know when she would fall asleep forever. ...
"Brother Hua, is she Sister Hanxue?" Huang Yingying asked, leaning closer. Hua Ruoxu nodded.
"Brother Hua, is there no way to cure Miss Hanxue's symptoms?" Zhao Changkong asked hesitantly.
"I will definitely find a way." Hua Ruoxu's tone was firm, but he knew in his heart that he was only comforting himself.
"By the way, Brother Hua, do you know Fairy Ye?" Zhao Changkong asked, as if remembering something.
"Fairy Ye?" Hua Ruoxu was slightly taken aback.
"When I saw Brother Hua just now, weren't you with Fairy Ye?" Zhao Changkong looked somewhat puzzled.
"Could the Fairy Ye you're talking about be Miss Ye Wuying?" Hua Ruoxu asked with some doubt.
"Brother Hua, don't you know that Miss Ye Wuying is known in the martial arts world as the Seven-Skill Fairy?" Zhao Changkong was surprised this time.
Hua Ruoxu nodded, somewhat embarrassed; he genuinely didn't know.
He learned from Zhao Changkong that Ye Wuying was actually Ye Bu'er's daughter, and that her status in the martial arts world was in no way inferior to her father's, perhaps even surpassing it. Ye Bu'er's revered position in the martial arts world mainly stemmed from the four major sects of Shaolin, Wudang, Qingcheng, and Emei; or rather, many people respected these four sects. But Ye Wuying was different. She had been traveling the martial arts world alone since she was twelve, for six years now, and her title of Seven-Skill Fairy was entirely earned by herself. Although she was exceptionally beautiful, her talent overshadowed her fame. A year ago, news spread throughout the martial arts world that Ye Wuying was actually a disciple of the South Sea Divine Nun, who had been living in seclusion for twenty years. The South Sea Divine Nun's Purple Wood Token was also in Ye Wuying's possession, and this token could directly command the seven major sects: Huashan, Shaolin, Wudang, Emei, Qingcheng, Kunlun, and Tianshan. Therefore, the Ye family was currently enjoying immense prestige.
"Brother Hua, Fairy Ye is very knowledgeable; perhaps she knows someone who can heal Miss Hanxue. Why don't you give it a try?" Zhao Changkong suggested.
Hua Ruoxu remained silent. His impression of Ye Wuying, while not particularly good, wasn't bad either, but now that he heard she was Ye Bu'er's daughter, he felt a growing unease.
"By the way, Brother Zhao, could you tell me about the current situation in the martial arts world?" Hua Ruoxu asked after a moment's thought, realizing how little he knew about the martial arts world.
In the current martial arts world, the righteous path is led by the Seven Great Sects, while the evil path is dominated by the Demon Palace. Within the righteous path, the Ye family and Mount Hua actually hold the highest positions. Although the Ye family consists of only a father and daughter, they can mobilize the power of the Seven Great Sects. Mount Hua, as the head of the Seven Sects, along with the sisters Hua Yufeng and Hua Yuluan, is naturally not to be underestimated. Furthermore, among the Seven Great Sects, Tianshan rarely ventures into the Central Plains, and Kunlun rarely intervenes in the martial arts world. Besides these, the Four Great Families are difficult to categorize as either righteous or evil, but their strength is comparable to the Seven Great Sects. Although the White Robe Tower is merely an assassin organization, they can also contend with any sect. In short, the current martial arts world is very complex, with all forces seemingly evenly matched.
"However, I feel that the Demon Palace's strength seems to surpass all these sects," Hua Ruoxu said, having grasped the general picture but still harboring some doubts.
"On the surface, that's certainly true. But in reality, there's another very mysterious sect in the martial world, the Divine Palace. Although no one knows exactly where the Divine Palace is, it's certain that this sect exists. And the Divine Palace's main purpose seems to be to deal with the Demon Palace. Therefore, all of the Demon Palace's actions have to take the Divine Palace into account." Zhao Changkong sighed softly.
"Divine Palace, Demon Palace, judging from the names, they really do seem to be opposites." Hua Ruoxu murmured.
"Yes, yes, but I heard that there's now some kind of Immortal Palace. I wonder what it does." Huang Yingying interjected from the side.
"By the way, Brother Zhao, what brings you here?" Hua Ruoxu's mind was suddenly filled with so many things that he wasn't quite sure what to do, so he simply decided not to think about it for now.
"Before Yan Yan passed away, I promised her that I would take her to travel all over the world, and the place she most wanted to visit was Luoyang." Zhao Changkong's face darkened, and he said in a low voice.
"Brother-in-law, don't be sad." Huang Yingying gently comforted Zhao Changkong, her eyes filled with tenderness.
"I'm sorry." Hua Ruoxu said apologetically, sighing inwardly. Zhao Changkong was indeed a man of deep affection.
"Brother Hua, don't say that. If it weren't for you killing that bastard Yu Langjun for me, I'm afraid Yan Yan wouldn't be able to rest in peace. I've never forgotten your kindness." Zhao Changkong thought of his beloved wife, his tone heavy.
"Brother Hua, brother-in-law, you two don't need to be so polite." Huang Yingying
said somewhat disapprovingly, "Why are you two grown men being so sentimental?" "Yingying is right. If you think Changkong is worth befriending, then we can call each other brothers from now on." Zhao Changkong said with a slightly embarrassed smile.
"This humble brother greets Brother Zhao. I apologize for the inconvenience of formalities." Hua Ruoxu felt a warmth rising in his heart. He sensed that Zhao Changkong was indeed a friend worth making.
"Good, good, Brother Hua!" Zhao Changkong extended his hand and clasped it tightly with Hua Ruoxu's.
*** *** ***
Hua Ruoxu was slightly drunk, thanks to Huang Yingying's suggestion to go to a restaurant to celebrate their friendship. Hua Ruoxu hadn't drunk much before becoming quite tipsy, and remembering that Hanxue still needed his care, he refused to drink anymore, so Zhao Changkong didn't force him. Back at
the inn, Hanxue was still asleep, and Hua Ruoxu collapsed onto the bed. In his hazy state, he seemed to feel a soft little hand gently stroking his cheek, and there seemed to be a faint fragrance—a familiar feeling, yet he couldn't open his eyes.
"Sister!" Hua Ruoxu suddenly jumped out of bed, a strong feeling welling up inside him, as if a voice was telling him that Hua Tianxing had just been there. However, looking around the room, it was empty. He gripped his sword tightly, calling out in his heart, but there was no reply.
"Could it really be my imagination? But I felt it so clearly, my sister was really here just now," Hua Ruoxu wondered to himself, unable to come up with any answer.
With a soft "Mmm," Hua Ruoxu turned his head and saw Hanxue's eyes blinking; she had just woken up.
"Young Master," Hanxue called out sweetly. Ruoxu had no choice but to put aside his doubts and begin to serve this adorable baby.
The night was deep, but the night was still.

(Volume 3, Chapter 9: Love Also Hurts)

"Young Master, you're so lazy! Get up!" Hua Ruoxu woke up, disturbed by Hanxue. Hanxue was always very energetic when awake, so Hua Ruoxu hadn't slept for long before she woke him.
Looking outside, it was already dawn. Hua Ruoxu had no choice but to get out of bed, but he didn't feel sleepy at all.
"Young Master, hurry up! I haven't had enough fun yesterday!" Hanxue kept urging Hua Ruoxu. Hua Ruoxu felt a little helpless; this girl seemed to have been spoiled these days and had started to act willfully. However, he didn't feel unhappy at all. As long as Hanxue was happy, he was satisfied. Perhaps this would lessen his guilt.
Soft footsteps approached, followed by a gentle knock on the door. Opening the door, Hua Ruoxu was startled to see a young man standing there—it was Yue Tianying.
"I'm so sorry to bother Brother Hua so early. Please don't take offense," Yue Tianying said with a smile.
"You know you're sorry, yet you still bother us. Aren't you deliberately making things difficult for us?" Hanxue glared at Yue Tianying and said in a coquettish voice.
"Don't mind what you say, Brother Yue. But, may I ask what brings you here?" Hua Ruoxu gently put his arm around Hanxue, frowning slightly.
"I'm preparing to host a banquet for some friends from the martial arts world today. I heard that Brother Hua is also here, so I've come to invite you to join me for a few drinks. I wonder if Brother Hua and Miss Hanxue would do me the honor of attending?" Yue Tianying's tone was very polite.
"I'm not going. I want to go out and have fun." Hanxue immediately refused, showing no respect to Yue Tianying.
"Xiaoxue doesn't really like these kinds of banquets, so I have to apologize to Brother Yue. I'll definitely pay you a visit another time when I have time." Hua Ruoxu said apologetically.
"He looks like a thief; he doesn't seem like a good person." Hanxue was very unhappy about being disturbed by this person so early in the morning, and said with puffed cheeks. Hua Ruoxu almost laughed. Yue Tianying did look quite refined, not like what Hanxue said. However, Hanxue's subjective judgment seemed to be correct; Yue Tianying was indeed not a good person.
"Xiaoxue, didn't I refuse to go? Don't be angry. I'll go out and have fun with you." Hua Ruoxu said, picking up her soft and delicate body.
"Young Master, why are you being so polite to that guy?" Hanxue wrapped her arms around his neck and whispered in his ear, sounding a little disgruntled.
"He's being so polite to us now, we can't be too petty," Hua Ruoxu smiled faintly, and led her out the door.
*** *** ***
"Brother, why do you value that Hua Ruoxu so much? You are the future head of the Yue family, one of the four great families, and you personally invited him, yet he still didn't come," Yue Tianxiong complained to his elder brother in Yue Tianying's study.
"Second brother, can't you use your brain? Hua Ruoxu is now the son-in-law of Mount Hua, and he'll definitely be the future leader. Besides, with his strength as a top-ranked expert, everyone has to give him some respect." Yue Tianying's tone was somewhat impatient. "More importantly, I received news that he seems to have a good relationship with Yue Tianhong and his wife. We absolutely cannot let him stand on their side, or at least we can't let him become our enemy."
"Eldest brother, I was just about to ask you that. Why did you suddenly withdraw your pursuit of them, and now you want to give the White Robe Tower an extra 100,000 taels of gold?" Yue Tianxiong's tone was somewhat dissatisfied.
"I naturally have my reasons, don't worry about it." He was truly helpless with his younger brother's lack of common sense. If it weren't for certain reasons, he would have kicked him aside long ago.
*** *** ***
"Young Master Hua, our elder wishes to see you." A figure suddenly appeared in front of Hua Ruoxu, a middle-aged man.
"Who are you? And who is this elder you speak of?" Hua Ruoxu took two steps back slightly, secretly on guard.
"Young Master Hua, you'll understand once you come with me. The elder said that if you wish for Miss Hanxue's speedy recovery, you must do me the honor of visiting the elder's residence. The elder has prepared a banquet to welcome you." The middle-aged man's tone was soft yet firm.
"Please lead the way, sir." Hua Ruoxu hesitated slightly before speaking.
"Young Master, don't go. This person doesn't seem like a good person. He won't say who this so-called elder is, acting all mysterious and like he can't be seen by anyone." Hanxue whispered in his ear.
"Xiaoxue, are you afraid?" Hua Ruoxu sighed softly.
"With Young Master, I'm not afraid of anywhere, but... but Xiaoxue is worried about Young Master." Hanxue said sweetly.
"He said he could cure you. Whether it's true or not, I'm going to try." Hua Ruoxu's voice was resolute, his eyes filled with tenderness as he looked at Hanxue. "Xiaoxue, I shouldn't have let you risk your life with me, but I'll be even more worried about leaving you alone in the inn."
"Young Master, wherever you go, just take Xiaoxue with you. Xiaoxue won't be separated from you. Please don't leave Xiaoxue alone." Hanxue said wistfully.
"Don't worry, Xiaoxue, I won't leave you." Hua Ruoxu tightened his grip on her body. Seeing that the man had already gone quite a distance, he slightly gathered his breath and quickly followed, covering ten zhang in a flash.
"Young Master Hua, your skills are truly impressive!" the middle-aged man exclaimed in admiration.
"You flatter me. But where is your esteemed elder?" Hua Ruoxu's face remained expressionless.
"We've arrived. Please come in, Young Master Hua." The middle-aged man smiled slightly and stopped in front of a large, antique-style courtyard.
"So it's Elder Nangong. My apologies for my rudeness." Hua Ruoxu stepped into the courtyard and entered the inner hall, where he found a tall, gray-haired man standing in the center. Indeed, a sumptuous feast had been prepared in the hall. This middle-aged man was someone he had met once before—the Grand Elder of the Demon Palace, the number one expert on the Earth Ranking, Nangong Xuanyuan, who had appeared at his wedding at Mount Hua.
"Young Master Hua has arrived! Please, please come in!" Nangong Xuanyuan's enthusiasm caught Hua Ruoxu off guard.
"Elder Nangong, there's no need for such formalities. I, Hua Ruoxu, will not mince words. I simply wish to ask if Elder Nangong can truly save Xiaoxue?" Hua Ruoxu did not sit down but asked slowly and deliberately.
“Since Young Master Hua is in such a hurry, then I will be frank.” Nangong Xuanyuan seemed somewhat surprised by Hua Ruoxu’s directness. “I can indeed save Miss Hanxue, but it depends on whether Young Master Hua will cooperate.”
Hua Ruoxu’s eyes flashed with several divine lights as he stared intently at Nangong Xuanyuan. Nangong Xuanyuan stood tall and imposing, his demeanor as the number one expert in the underworld was truly extraordinary. He seemed to be standing very casually, but Hua Ruoxu could not sense any aura emanating from him.
“Please speak frankly, Elder Nangong.” Hua Ruoxu’s expression relaxed as he spoke calmly.
“Young Master Hua is a rare talent in the martial arts world today. You have already reached the Earth Ranking before you even turned twenty, which shows your limitless potential. Looking at the martial arts world, among the younger generation, I, Nangong Xuanyuan, only respect two people. One of them is Young Master Hua, and I think Young Master Hua should know who the other is, right?” As he said this, there seemed to be a hint of tenderness in Nangong Xuanyuan’s eyes, but it was unclear whether it was just Hua Ruoxu’s imagination.
"It is my honor to be noticed by Elder Nangong, but I am foolish and cannot fathom Elder Nangong's thoughts, nor do I know which expert Elder Nangong is referring to." Hua Ruoxu smiled calmly, yet Su Daier's beautiful face clearly appeared in his mind. After a slight pause, he continued, "Please state your conditions, Elder Nangong!" "
Since Young Master Hua is in such a hurry, I will be frank." Nangong Xuanyuan sighed softly, seemingly helpless. "Actually, the condition is very simple: Young Master Hua only needs to join our Demon Palace." "
Elder Nangong seems to be making things difficult for me. I am a disciple of Mount Hua; how can I join the Demon Palace?" Hua Ruoxu appeared helpless, his tone somewhat bitter. "
Does Young Master Hua perhaps consider himself a disciple of a prestigious sect and disdain associating with us?" Nangong Xuanyuan showed no surprise at Hua Ruoxu's answer, asking with a slight smile.
"Elder Nangong, you misunderstand. However, good and evil have always been irreconcilable. My master's kindness is profound, and I cannot betray my sect," Hua Ruoxu said with a wry smile.
"So, Young Master Hua doesn't want to save Miss Hanxue?" Nangong Xuanyuan still had that smiling expression, his tone carrying a threat, but his expression revealed nothing.
"Young Master, I don't want to be treated anymore, let's go," Hanxue in his arms raised her head and said sweetly.
"Xiaoxue, I'm sorry, I still can't save you," Hua Ruoxu's voice was full of guilt towards her.
"Young Master, if you join the Demon Palace for me, Xiaoxue won't agree either," Hanxue said softly.
"If Young Master Hua is unwilling, I won't force you. But Young Master Hua should think carefully. If Young Master Hua is willing to join our Demon Palace, not only can he save Miss Hanxue, but he can also marry our Palace Master. I believe that soon, Young Master Hua can become the Lord of the Demon Palace." Nangong Xuanyuan's slow tone brought turbulent waves to Hua Ruoxu's heart.

Hua Ruoxu was torn. Hanxue, Dai'er, the Lord of the Demon Palace—all of this held immense allure for anyone. Joining the Demon Palace would grant him instant ascension. While status and position weren't paramount to him, Hanxue and Su Dai'er held significant places in his heart. But could he truly do this? Joining the Demon Palace would mean ceasing to be a disciple of Mount Hua, betraying his master, his senior sister, and even Zen Master Jueyuan. However, the most crucial question now was: who could save Hanxue?
"Young Master, please don't agree! Xiaoxue would rather die than see you do such a thing!" Hanxue pleaded anxiously, seeing Hua Ruoxu's hesitation.
Looking at her pale face, Hua Ruoxu felt a pang of pity, and suddenly, he made his decision.
Hua Ruoxu raised his head, his expression a mixture of sorrow and determination. His bright eyes gazed at Nangong Xuanyuan, radiating an otherworldly aura. Hanxue's face showed a hint of infatuation as she looked up at him, mesmerized.
"Elder Nangong, I can agree to your conditions. If you can save Xiaoxue, I will join the Demon Palace," Hua Ruoxu said slowly, his tone heavy. "
Ah!" Hanxue cried out, "Young Master, no! Miss won't forgive you if she finds out!"
"Good, good, good!" Nangong Xuanyuan said three times in a row. "Young Master Hua has indeed made a wise choice. No problem, we can give Young Master Hua the Great Rejuvenation Pill first. We believe Young Master Hua will not go back on his word."
"I don't want to, Young Master, I don't want to take their medicine!" Hanxue struggled in Hua Ruoxu's arms, pouting angrily.
"Xiaoxue, don't worry, Senior Sister won't blame me if she finds out," Hua Ruoxu gently comforted Hanxue.
"Young Master Hua, this box contains what you desire." Nangong Xuanyuan held a red brocade box in his hands, slowly approaching Hua Ruoxu and standing before him.
Hua Ruoxu's hand trembled slightly as he reached out. The moment he accepted this box would be the moment he became a treacherous villain despised by the martial arts world. The box was small and should have been light, yet it carried a very heavy burden.
Hua Ruoxu's mind was slightly dazed. His hand finally touched the brocade box, but he didn't notice the sinister look in Nangong Xuanyuan's eyes.
Suddenly, Hua Ruoxu felt a surge of true energy flow through his hand, its power overwhelming, like a tidal wave crashing down, instantly engulfing his meridians.
"Ah!" Hua Ruoxu let out a painful scream, violently shaking off Nangong Xuanyuan's hand, flying backward more than two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), spitting out a stream of snow.
"Nangong Xuanyuan, you're so despicable!" Hua Ruoxu felt as if his body was on fire, his meridians aching terribly, almost unable to muster any internal energy. He sat flat on the ground, his fiery eyes glaring at Nangong Xuanyuan, and said hatefully.
"Young Master Hua, you're really easy to fool. Alas, I didn't want to kill you either, I had no choice." Nangong Xuanyuan showed no remorse. "You call me despicable? Perhaps so, but this martial world is inherently full of deceit and treachery. It can only be said that Young Master Hua's experience in the martial world is too poor. It's just a pity that Young Master Hua possesses unparalleled martial arts skills." Nangong Xuanyuan looked genuinely regretful, as if he was truly reluctant to let go.
"Nangong Xuanyuan, you just want me dead, don't you? Don't make things difficult for Xiaoxue." Hua Ruoxu said breathlessly, Hanxue in his arms looking at him with teary eyes, seemingly stunned by the sudden turn of events.
"Alas, Young Master Hua, your experience in the martial world is truly lacking. Although I don't think there's anything shameful about a sneak attack, I am, after all, the number one expert on the Earth Ranking. How could I possibly let this matter leak out?" Nangong Xuanyuan shook his head and sighed, a hint of pity appearing in his eyes as he looked at Hua Ruoxu.
"You..." Hua Ruoxu was furious, his blood rushing to his head, and he coughed violently, spitting out several mouthfuls of blood. The power of Nangong Xuanyuan's all-out attack was extraordinary; it was already a miracle that he could still speak.
"Xiaoxue, I'm so sorry. I'm really useless; I still can't save you." Hua Ruoxu didn't look at Nangong Xuanyuan anymore. He lowered his head slightly, looking at Hanxue in his arms. Hanxue's pink face was covered with tears, and she shook her head vigorously.
"Young Master Hua, remember not to be so sentimental in the next life." Nangong Xuanyuan sighed. As soon as he finished speaking, Hua Ruoxu felt a surge of energy rushing towards him.

Chapter 10 of Volume 3, "Seeking Love," "The Bitterness of Love

." Nangong Xuanyuan still underestimated Hua Ruoxu. Just as his palm was about to reach Hua Ruoxu, Hua Ruoxu, whom he thought was powerless to fight back, moved. The Love Sword flicked up a flurry of sword flowers, stabbing towards Nangong Xuanyuan's palm. The chilling sword energy made him feel a slight coldness, and he had no choice but to withdraw. Hua Ruoxu felt a sweet taste in his throat again, and another mouthful of blood spurted out.
Was he really going to die here today? No, I can't die. My senior sister is still waiting for me at home, Qingjie's whereabouts are unknown, and Xiaoxue is also in critical condition. I can't die. Hua Ruoxu screamed inwardly. He slowly closed his eyes, the remaining true energy within his body rapidly gathering. His sword, the Sword of Love, rose with the slowest possible speed, slashing through the void. His longing for Hua Yuluan, his worry for Jiang Qingyue, his pity for Hanxue, and his attachment to life were all contained within this single strike. He repaid his love with the sword; this strike was profound.
His masterful swordsmanship and wondrous moves finally forced Nangong Xuanyuan back a few steps. Although Hua Ruoxu's eyes were closed, his mind was exceptionally clear. He could clearly sense every movement around him. He discovered a tiny crack in the tightly encircled circle. With the final strike, he lifted Hanxue and leaped over the wall. Due to the excessive force, he opened his mouth again, scattering a cloud of blood mist into the air.
"Trying to run?" Nangong Xuanyuan coldly snorted. Although shocked by Hua Ruoxu's swordsmanship, he was certain Hua Ruoxu was at his limit. He moved slightly, about to catch up. Two graceful white figures flew in and stood in front of Nangong Xuanyuan. Nangong Xuanyuan was taken aback, unsure what to do. The two were Su Daier and her maid, Liuyun.
"Liuyun, tell the Grand Elder what I have to say." Su Daier's face was grim. She glanced at Nangong Xuanyuan with a complicated look, then sprang up and chased after the direction Hua Ruoxu had disappeared in. "
Elder, Miss asked me to tell you something. She said that if you want to be the Palace Master, she will immediately give up her position to you." Liuyun's tone was devoid of any emotion.
"Liuyun, don't you know I'm doing this for her own good?" Nangong Xuanyuan's face fell upon hearing this. After a long silence, he sighed and said...
“Elder, I am just a maid, there are some things I cannot understand. But I do know one thing: perhaps if Young Master Hua and Miss are together, Miss will not be happy in the future. But if Young Master Hua dies now, Miss will never be happy in her life.” Liu Yun said softly. “Elder, I’m going to find Miss.” After saying that, she turned around and quickly chased after Su Dai’er in the direction she had left.
*** *** ***
Hua Ruoxu was supported by his willpower as he ran forward. His vision was gradually becoming blurry, and his steps were becoming increasingly unsteady. Large beads of sweat dripped from his forehead. He stumbled and fell to the ground, tripping over a stone. Han Xue, whom he was holding, was thrown more than ten feet away because of the stumble. Hua Ruoxu finally lost consciousness.
“Brother Ruoxu!” Su Dai’er saw Hua Ruoxu fall to the ground from afar and cried out. She rushed to his side. At this moment, she no longer cared about her identity as the Palace Master of the Demon Palace. She reached out to check his breath, which was already faint. Su Dai'er felt a pang of sorrow. She picked up Hua Ruoxu and turned to flee, seemingly oblivious to Han Xue beside her.
"Li Buren, if you cannot save Brother Ruoxu, I will truly bury you!" Su Dai'er said coldly.
"Palace Master, rest assured, I will definitely heal Young Master Hua." Li Buren felt a chill run down his spine. It seemed the Palace Master knew about his lie last time. If he couldn't save Hua Ruoxu this time to atone for his mistake, he feared he would truly face certain death. "
Palace Master, you can rest assured. Although Young Master Hua's injuries are severe, his constitution is exceptional, and a surge of true energy protects his heart meridian, so he is absolutely not in mortal danger. However…" Half an hour later, Li Buren respectfully addressed Su Dai'er. During that half hour, she had been watching Hua Ruoxu intently, her gaze never leaving him, her pretty face filled with worry and anxiety.
"However, what?" she asked urgently.

“Because Young Master Hua’s injuries are quite severe, it will probably take a long time for him to fully recover,” Li Buren quickly said, not wanting to be killed by Su Dai’er in a fit of anger.
“That’s good.” She finally breathed a sigh of relief, but then her expression changed slightly as she remembered something.
“Liu Yun, Fei Xu, come in and take care of Brother Ruoxu. I have to go out for a bit,” she said hurriedly.
Su Dai’er finally remembered Han Xue, but when she arrived at the place where she had just carried Hua Ruoxu back, she was stunned. There was no trace left on the ground; Han Xue had disappeared without a trace.
*** *** ***
Hua Ruoxu didn’t know how long he had slept. He had a very long dream. In the dream, he saw his beautiful sister, his senior sister, his Qing sister, Xiao Xue, and Dai’er. They were all very happy together, but suddenly a gust of wind swept by, and they all disappeared, leaving him all alone. Startled, he woke up.
He opened his eyes to a pink curtained bed, a familiar, delicate fragrance wafting from the blankets. He knew whose it belonged to. A lock of dark hair fell across his cheek, and a white figure slept soundly beside him. He stirred slightly, feeling utterly weak and powerless.
"Brother Ruoxu, you're awake?" His slight movement had already startled Su Dai'er awake. She rubbed her eyes, seemingly unable to believe it was real, then immediately threw herself at him, her face beaming with a smile.
"Brother Ruoxu, you're finally awake! I was so worried about you," Dai'er murmured softly. Ruoxu tried to push her away, but he was too weak to do so.
"Palace Mistress Su, thank you for saving my life." Hua Ruoxu found that his heart ached slightly when he said the words "Palace Mistress Su.
" "Brother Ruoxu, can't you call me Dai'er one more time?" Dai'er's previously joyful face suddenly turned resentful, and she sighed softly.
Ruoxu remained silent, and the atmosphere became somewhat somber.
"Brother Ruoxu, you've been asleep for seven days. You must be very hungry. I'll go get you some lotus seed soup. Don't move, okay?" Dai'er, her lively demeanor returning, said sweetly.
"Wait!" Seeing Dai'er about to leave, Ruoxu quickly called out, struggling to sit up.
"Brother Ruoxu, what's wrong?" Su Dai'er rushed over to support him, asking softly.
"Where's Xiaoxue? Where is she?" Hua Ruoxu asked anxiously.
Su Dai'er's face darkened slightly, a hint of worry flashing in her eyes, but she quickly regained her composure.
"How is Xiaoxue now? Tell me quickly!" Seeing her silence, Hua Ruoxu grew increasingly anxious, his voice becoming agitated, and he gripped her tightly.
"Brother Ruoxu, don't worry, she's alright. But Protector Li said she needs to rest for a few days," Su Dai'er said softly. "You should take care of yourself first and not think too much."
"It's good that she's alright," Hua Ruoxu breathed a sigh of relief, without doubting Su Dai'er's words.
"Brother Ruoxu, I'll go out now." Su Dai'er gracefully walked out of her room, glanced back at Hua Ruoxu, sighed softly, and hurried away.
"Liuyun, Feixu, is there any news of Hanxue?" Su Daier asked.
"Miss, Hanxue seems to have vanished from the face of the earth. We can't find a single trace," Liuyun replied helplessly.
"Miss, does Young Master Hua know about this?" Feixu asked softly from the side.
"He's very weak right now and might not be able to handle the shock. We must keep it from him until he's fully recovered," Su Daier said, shaking her head.
*** *** ***
Su Daier gently pushed open the door, carrying a porcelain bowl, only to discover a strange sight: Hua Ruoxu's body was floating in mid-air, radiating a white glow.
After Su Daier left, Hua Ruoxu's hand touched the Love Sword beside his pillow. As his hand touched the sword, a sudden, inexplicable flutter stirred within him. He seemed to feel a faint connection to the sword, a cool aura emanating from it. Driven by this aura, his internal energy began to circulate, cycling rapidly. He felt his energy growing stronger and stronger, and gradually he entered a meditative state. He
didn't know how much time had passed when his floating body slowly descended, returning to its initial position, half-leaning against the headboard. At this moment, Hua Ruoxu awoke from his meditation, opened his eyes, and found Su Dai'er staring at him intently. On the coffee table, a bowl of lotus seed soup had long since cooled.
"Brother Ruoxu, you've been meditating for six hours. Wait a moment, I'll go get you another bowl." Su Dai'er smiled happily. She had entered when she found Ruoxu in meditation, and knowing he shouldn't be disturbed at this time, she had stayed by his side.
Hua Ruoxu sighed softly in his heart. Dai'er, why are you so good to me? He checked his internal energy and found that his injuries had completely healed, and his internal energy even seemed to have improved slightly, becoming more refined than before.
"Brother Ruoxu, why are you up? Your injuries haven't healed yet." When Dai'er returned, she found that he was already dressed and hurriedly put down her bowl to come to his side.
"Dai'er, I'm fine, don't worry." Hua Ruoxu said with a slight smile, but Su Dai'er took his hands with her slender hands and began to examine them carefully.
"That's great, Brother Ruoxu, you're really completely alright." Su Dai'er happily hugged his neck, but suddenly remembered something and said in a slightly trembling voice, "Brother Ruoxu, you called me Dai'er again? You're not angry with me anymore?"
"Dai'er, you haven't done anything to wrong me, so how could I blame you?" Hua Ruoxu sighed softly, unsure of what to do with his hands, and finally gently embraced her beautiful body.
"By the way, Dai'er, will you take me to see Xiaoxue?" Hua Ruoxu's voice broke the brief moment of warmth.
"Brother Ruoxu, I, I..." Su Dai'er stammered, unsure how to speak. Her joy was immediately swept away by worry.
"What's wrong? Dai'er, could it be..." A thought suddenly flashed through Hua Ruoxu's mind, almost making him break out in a cold sweat. His face instantly turned grim.
"Brother Ruoxu, Sister Hanxue, she, she..." Su Dai'er still couldn't finish her sentence.
"Dai'er, take me to see Xiaoxue." Hua Ruoxu felt a pang of sorrow. Xiaoxue, are you really gone? He released Su Dai'er, his voice filled with sadness.
"Brother Ruoxu, it's all my fault!" Su Dai'er's voice was full of self-reproach as she finally began to recount what had happened.
After listening to her story, Hua Ruoxu fell silent. Could he blame her? He knew he couldn't really blame her, yet in truth, he blamed her for not bringing Hanxue back with him.
"Dai'er, I should go." Hua Ruoxu finally spoke, his tone filled with an inscrutable emotion, perhaps even he himself couldn't discern it.
Dai'er didn't try to stop him; behind her, the mournful sound of a zither played, a melody of Dai'er's song to bid him farewell.
"Hua Ruoxu, stop right there!" A cold shout came from behind. Hua Ruoxu turned around, slightly taken aback. It was Dai'er's maid, Liuyun, who had caught up with him.
"Miss Liuyun, what's the matter?" Hua Ruoxu asked calmly.
"Hua Ruoxu, what has Miss ever done to wrong you? Let's not even talk about the distant past. Just think about when you were unconscious; Miss barely rested for seven days and seven nights, staying by your side without changing her clothes. And now, you leave as soon as you recover? Don't you have any conscience? It's not Miss's fault that Hanxue is missing. She only has you in her heart; she doesn't care about anyone else! I've seen heartless and fickle people, but I've never seen anyone more heartless than you!" Liuyun seemed very angry, rattling off a long string of words like beans spilling from a bamboo tube.
“Miss Liuyun, many things are predestined. Fate plays tricks on us; Dai’er and I are destined to be apart in this life.” Hua Ruoxu’s tone was somewhat desolate. He didn’t want to deceive himself; he knew he loved her deep down. That’s why, not long ago, he finally couldn’t resist calling her Dai’er again, and instead of pushing her away, he embraced her. However, she was the Palace Master of the Demon Palace, and Nangong Xuanyuan was an elder of the Demon Palace. Even if he could overlook the despicable methods Nangong Xuanyuan had used against him, he would never let Nangong Xuanyuan off the hook because it was because of Nangong Xuanyuan that Hanxue had encountered this accident. The conflict between him and the Demon Palace was inevitable.
“Being unfaithful is being unfaithful, and you still talk about fate? I think you’re just a hypocrite,” Liuyun said sarcastically.
“Can she give up the Demon Palace? Can she kill Nangong Xuanyuan for me?” Hua Ruoxu didn’t care about Liuyun’s sarcasm. He smiled faintly, turned around, and slowly walked away, while Liuyun suddenly became dumbfounded.
"He wants to kill the elder? What... what should we do?" Liu Yun murmured. Miss, what should you do?

Volume 3, Chapter 11:

A Path of Love Amidst the Vastness of the Road. Hua Ruoxu was utterly lost. He didn't know where to go. There was no news of Qing Jie, and Xiao Xue's fate was unknown. He wanted to find them, but didn't know how. Wandering aimlessly, he suddenly heard several distant and profound bell tolls.
The White Horse Temple was bustling with worshippers, its incense burning brightly. Hua Ruoxu unintentionally arrived there and followed them inside, silently praying for Qing Jie and Xiao Xue's safety.
"I didn't expect Young Master Hua to come here." A melodious female voice sounded beside him. Hua Ruoxu turned his head in surprise and found a beautiful young woman not far away.
"If Miss Ye can come, why can't I?" Hua Ruoxu smiled faintly. It turned out she was Ye Wuying, whom he had met not long ago, but he didn't see Fang Xia and Feng Guoyun who had been with her last time.
“Those who believe in Buddhism should be compassionate and have a heart that sympathizes with all beings. I wonder if Young Master Hua also thinks so?” Ye Wuying’s cherry lips parted slightly, uttering soft, clear sounds.
“If Buddha could truly save the world and protect its peace, then no one would need to pray to Heaven.” Hua Ruoxu said calmly, “I have other matters to attend to, so I will take my leave.”
He slowly stepped out of the White Horse Temple, only to find Fang Xia and Feng Guoyun standing at the entrance. He nodded slightly to Fang Xia, ignoring Feng Guoyun’s angry glare, and walked past.
“Excuse me, are you Young Master Hua Ruoxu?” Suddenly, a person appeared in front of him, blocking his way. He was an ordinary middle-aged man, with nothing special about him.
“That’s me. May I ask what you need, senior?” Hua Ruoxu asked politely.
“Young Master Hua is too kind. I’m just entrusted with something to give you. Please accept it.” The middle-aged man handed Hua Ruoxu an item, which was a handkerchief folded into a square shape.
A surge of excitement welled up inside him. He seemed to recognize the handkerchief; it looked exactly like the one he had given Xiaoxue last time. His hands trembled slightly as he opened it, finding a beaded flower inside. He was now certain it belonged to Xiaoxue, as he had also bought it for her, and it even had a small "Xue" character engraved on it.
"Young Master, Xiaoxue is doing well now. Don't worry, Young Master. Once Xiaoxue recovers, she will come to see you soon." Two lines of delicate handwriting followed the message. Hua Ruoxu looked up sharply, only to find the person had vanished into thin air, long gone.
"Xiaoxue, are you really alright?" Hua Ruoxu murmured to himself. If she was truly alright, why hadn't she come to see him? Why had she only given him these tokens? Even if she was seeking treatment, she could have told him where she was. Although he harbored some doubts, he had received some news. If she hadn't given it willingly, she wouldn't have given him these tokens. He could only believe that she was indeed receiving treatment; this was the best explanation he could think of.
"Brother Hua!" "Brother Hua!" Two calls startled him from his reverie. Only then did he realize he was still on the street, and quite a few people were already pointing and whispering about him. Of course, people would find it strange to stand in the middle of the street in a daze.
"Brother Zhao, Miss Huang, we meet again!" Hua Ruoxu looked at the man and woman before him, a slight joy welling up in his heart. These two were Zhao Changkong and Huang Yingying.
"Yes, Brother Hua, I haven't seen you for the past few days. I thought you had left." Huang Yingying seemed very lively, then suddenly exclaimed, "Where's Sister Hanxue? Why isn't she with you, Brother Hua?"
"It's a long story, Brother Zhao. Why don't we find a place to sit?" Hua Ruoxu had just received news of Hanxue, and now seeing his friend again, his mood had naturally improved considerably.
"That Nangong Xuanyuan is too hateful!" Huang Yingying said indignantly. Hua Ruoxu didn't hide anything from them, except for omitting the matter between him and Su Daier. After hearing the story, Huang Yingying expressed her righteous indignation.
"People in the Demon Palace always act solely to achieve their goals, regardless of the means, which is quite normal for them. However, it's somewhat unexpected that Nangong Xuanyuan, as the top expert in the underworld, would resort to such methods," Zhao Changkong said after thinking for a moment. "But, Brother Hua, it seems he's not after your love sword. Logically speaking, you two don't have any deep-seated hatred, so why is he so determined to kill you?"
"I don't know either," Hua Ruoxu shook his head. "But whatever the reason, I will settle accounts with him. However, I also know my own limitations; right now, my martial arts skills and experience in the martial world are far inferior to his."
"Brother Hua, don't worry. You're still so young. In a few years, he definitely won't be your match," Huang Yingying encouraged him from the side.
"Actually, none of this is the most important thing to me. Right now, I just hope Xiaoxue is alright. As for revenge, it's not urgent," Hua Ruoxu sighed softly.
"Good people are always protected by heaven. I think Miss Hanxue will be safe and sound. Brother Hua, you don't need to worry," Zhao Changkong comforted him, knowing the pain of losing a beloved woman very well.
"I also believe Xiaoxue will be alright," Hua Ruoxu said softly, her delicate figure reappearing in his mind.
"By the way, Brother Hua, are you attending the ceremony in three days?" Huang Yingying suddenly asked.
"Ceremony? What ceremony?" Hua Ruoxu was taken aback.
A new sect had emerged in the martial arts world, called the Immortal Palace. The identity of its leader was unknown, but they had been sending out invitations everywhere a few days ago. Their opening ceremony would be held on July 24th, three days later, and their headquarters was located twenty miles west of Luoyang City. It was said that it was originally an abandoned manor, but now, after renovation, it was decorated in a magnificent and resplendent manner, resembling a real palace.
The Immortal Palace? What exactly was it? Could it be related to the Divine Palace or the Demon Palace? Hua Ruoxu wondered to himself.
Zhao Changkong and Huang Yingying also received invitations. They figured they had nothing better to do than go, and such opening ceremonies weren't unusual; many sects held them upon their founding, firstly to announce their existence to the martial arts world, and secondly to attract new members.
Hua Ruoxu considered it briefly and decided to go with them. He didn't know where else to go, and he figured there would be many martial artists present at the ceremony; perhaps he could even get news of Sister Qing.
Three days later, at the Immortal Palace's main altar in Luoyang.
When Hua Ruoxu, Zhao Changkong, and Huang Yingying entered the hall, they found it already packed with people. Looking around, they noticed the place wasn't particularly luxurious, but it was spacious enough to hold over a thousand people. The altars were already set up, but they hadn't yet seen anyone from the Immortal Palace.
"Young Master Hua, we meet again!" A soft, pleasant voice sounded beside him. This time, he didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"Miss Ye, you've come to join the fun too? What a pleasure to meet you." Hua Ruoxu smiled slightly, turning his head to see Ye Wuying, Feng Guoyun, and Fang Xia already standing beside him.
"Zhao Changkong, a lay disciple of Shaolin, greets Fairy Ye." Zhao Changkong respectfully bowed to Ye Wuying. Although Huang Yingying seemed reluctant, she also bowed along with Zhao Changkong.
"Brother Zhao and Miss Huang, you're too kind." Ye Wuying said this, but she accepted their bows with ease.
"Brother Hua, how have you been lately? Where's that girl who was with you last time?" Fang Xia greeted Hua Ruoxu.
"I'm fine, thank you for your concern, Brother Fang." Hua Ruoxu felt a slight pang in his heart, forcing a smile. "Xiaoxue has gone to another place and can't be with me for the time being."
"Once you've had your fun, you just throw her aside." Feng Guoyun spoke, but his sarcastic tone was unbearable.
Hua Ruoxu's face turned cold, his two lightning-fast eyes fixed on Feng Guoyun, who suddenly felt a chill rise from the depths of his heart. Hua Ruoxu coldly snorted, remaining silent and withdrawing his gaze. Feng Guoyun, however, felt a cold sweat break out; Hua Ruoxu's gaze just now had been terrifying.
The six people took their seats, and whether intentionally or unintentionally, Ye Wuying sat next to Hua Ruoxu. The opening ceremony hadn't even begun, yet some in the crowd seemed to be growing impatient, grumbling.
Just then, a melodious musical instrument melody drifted in, and twelve beautiful young women in white slowly emerged from the inner hall, standing on either side. Next came three men and one woman, all appearing to be under thirty. Finally, a middle-aged man in a brocade robe appeared.
"We are deeply grateful to all fellow martial artists for attending this grand ceremony. As our Palace Master is currently in seclusion, he is unable to personally receive you all. I, Fan Xing, as the Vice Palace Master, have been ordered by the Palace Master to lead the four Hall Masters in receiving you on your behalf. Please forgive us." The middle-aged man, Fan Xing, spoke in a clear and resonant voice, his voice not loud, but full of energy, reaching everyone's ears.

There were no particularly important figures present at the ceremony today; perhaps only Ye Wuying and a few others could be considered significant. The ceremony proceeded smoothly, but Hua Ruoxu paid no attention to it. His eyes were fixed on the woman in red, the Vermilion Bird Hall Master of the Immortal Palace.
"Young Master Hua, do not act rashly!" Hua Ruoxu finally couldn't help but try to stand up, but Ye Wuying's low shout reached his ears. She had already noticed something was wrong with Hua Ruoxu. Although she didn't know the reason, his flustered state indicated that something had happened suddenly.
Hua Ruoxu's mind cleared. Why was she here? Although he believed he couldn't mistake her, he had no idea why she was there. And since she clearly saw him, why didn't she show any sign of recognizing him? He took a deep breath, trying to suppress his excitement, but found it difficult to calm down. He was almost completely oblivious to what was about to happen; his mind was completely overwhelmed. He
didn't know when the ceremony finally ended, and it seemed many people stayed behind. Hua Ruoxu and his companions returned to the city.
A gentle knock sounded at the door.
"Miss Ye, still awake so late?" Hua Ruoxu looked somewhat haggard.
"Isn't Young Master Hua the same?" Ye Wuying smiled faintly. Under the lamplight, a faint blush flowed across her fair face, making her breathtakingly beautiful.
"What can I do for you, Miss Ye?" Hua Ruoxu turned his head slightly, his tone somewhat cold.
"Young Master Hua seems to want to go out?" Ye Wuying glanced around the room and asked abruptly.
"Miss Ye, you wouldn't be so interested in my private affairs, would you?" Hua Ruoxu smiled faintly and asked in return.
"The appearance of the Immortal Palace in the martial world was completely unexpected, and their strength today is extraordinary. This suggests that they have likely been planning this for a long time, so I can't help but suspect their motives. Judging from your reaction today, if I'm not mistaken, you must have discovered something." Ye Wuying said after a moment's thought.
"This is just my private matter, please don't pry, Miss Ye." Hua Ruoxu said after a brief silence.
"I shouldn't pry into your private affairs, but I hope you can do me a favor." Ye Wuying sighed slightly.
"I'm afraid there's nothing I can do to help you, Miss Ye." Hua Ruoxu politely declined, not wanting to get too close to Ye Wuying or have any further involvement with her.
“If I’m not mistaken, the Vermilion Bird Hall Master of the Celestial Palace should be related to the person Young Master Hua is looking for, right?” Ye Wuying ignored Hua Ruoxu’s refusal and said with a slight smile, “However, in my opinion, if Young Master Hua rushes off to investigate, it might alert the enemy and could even be detrimental to the person you are looking for.”
Hua Ruoxu was slightly startled. Ye Wuying’s reputation as the Seven-Skill Fairy was well-deserved; she was at least meticulous, observant, and had excellent judgment. Furthermore, it seemed she knew quite a bit about him, which made him secretly wary of her.
“Does Miss Ye have any good suggestions?” Hua Ruoxu asked after thinking for a moment.
"The Immortal Palace announced today that starting tomorrow, over the remaining seven days, they will recruit thirty-six swordsmen each in gold, silver, white, and purple robes. These will become disciples of the four halls of the Immortal Palace. Based on my prediction, the thirty-six purple-robed swordsmen will become subordinates of the Vermilion Bird Hall Master. With Young Master Hua's skills, becoming a purple-robed swordsman will be a piece of cake. However, Young Master Hua is currently quite famous in the martial world, and many people know you. Therefore, if Young Master Hua appears with his original identity and appearance, it might arouse suspicion." Ye Wuying spoke confidently, appearing assured. "However, if Young Master Hua is willing, Wuying will temporarily change your appearance. Furthermore, Wuying has prepared a very suitable identity for you, ensuring you won't be suspected."
"The condition is that I inquire about information for Miss Ye, is that right?" Hua Ruoxu's tone held a hint of sarcasm.
"I only hope that Young Master Hua can investigate the Immortal Palace, and most importantly, the identity of the Palace Master." Ye Wuying nodded, unconcerned by his mockery.

The Immortal

Palace offered each swordsman a monthly salary of one hundred taels of silver, more than ten times higher than the salaries of guards in ordinary wealthy families. Many people practiced martial arts to support their families, so the number of people wanting to join the Immortal Palace was countless, making the competition extremely fierce.
On the seventh day, all the swordsmen were finally selected.
Zhuge Yun came from a fallen martial arts family. He was just twenty years old this year. While not exactly handsome or dashing, he was still quite good-looking. Once upon a time, his grandfather, Zhuge Feng, was a renowned figure, but unfortunately, his father was incompetent, and the Zhuge family quickly declined. Although he wanted to revive the Zhuge family's glory, he lacked the power to do so. Now, Zhuge Yun could only make a living as a henchman.
Upon entering the Immortal Palace, he discovered its organization was exceptionally tight. He had been there for seven days, yet he hadn't even seen a hall master, let alone the palace master. Here, he wasn't called Zhuge Yun, but Purple-Clad Thirteen, because he belonged to the Purple-Clad Swordsman class, number thirteen, and all Purple-Clad Swordsmen belonged to the Vermilion Bird Hall. All swordsmen worked in pairs; his partner was Purple-Clad Eighteen, and his real name was Liu Feng. That was all he knew, as palace rules forbade inquiring about each other's affairs. Nothing unusual happened during those seven days, except for the daily meal delivery. It felt much like being in prison. Besides Liu Feng and the meal delivery person, he hadn't seen anyone else.
"Gather in the council hall in half an hour; the hall master has something to say to you!" On the eighth day, a beautiful girl in purple finally arrived, quickly uttered these words, and then turned and left without hesitation.
The four halls seemed independent of each other, each with its own council chamber. Half an hour later, the thirty-six purple-clad swordsmen gathered together. Zhuge Yun finally saw the Vermilion Bird Hall Master again. Today, she was also dressed in purple, her face beautiful yet unfamiliar, but her slender figure gave him a strange sense of familiarity. How many times had they shared a passionate night together? He was certain he wouldn't mistake her.
"This is yours, take it!" A purple-clad girl handed him a thin booklet. Today, the hall master had only given each of them a booklet, supposedly containing a set of martial arts moves. Zhuge Yun suppressed his excitement and finally managed not to look at her again.
"Thirteen, why aren't you going back? What are you looking at here for?" a purple-clad girl scolded him. The others left one after another, but he was still lingering at the back.
"Yes, subordinate takes his leave!" Zhuge Yun was suddenly startled, silently reminding himself not to lose his composure.
Watching Zhuge Yun's retreating figure, the Vermilion Bird Hall Master's heart suddenly skipped a beat.
"Xiao Lan, bring him to my place tonight, don't let anyone know!" she whispered.
*** *** ***
Looking at the booklet in his hand, he opened it and was shocked to find it contained the Huashan Sword Manual. He couldn't help but smile bitterly. Was this what they called fate? He was destined to learn this after all. However, upon closer inspection, the manual seemed incomplete. Although he had never learned the Huashan Sword Manual, he still knew some of it; at least the number of moves alone was more than this.
"Thirteen, come out now, don't disturb Eighteen in your room." A low, clear voice suddenly rang in his ears. He paused, glancing at Liu Feng not far away. Liu Feng was intently studying the booklet, his hands unconsciously gesturing something.
"Come with me, don't make a sound!" He recognized the purple-clad girl who had scolded him during the day.
Silently following behind her, he suddenly realized that this girl's martial arts were actually quite high. Her steps were completely silent, and they arrived at their destination in no time.
"Master, he's here!" The girl in purple led him to a vermilion-lacquered room and gently knocked on the door.
"Let him in. Xiao Lan, you guard the outside and don't let anyone in," came the voice of the Vermilion Bird Hall Master from inside.
"Go in!" Xiao Lan glanced at Zhuge Yun and said softly. Actually, she was also very curious. Why would the Hall Master be interested in this person?
"Your subordinate, Purple Robe Thirteen, greets the Hall Master," he bowed slightly.
"Your name is Zhuge Yun?" The Vermilion Bird Hall Master's tone was calm, as if asking a casual question.
"Yes," he nodded.
The Vermilion Bird Hall Master stared intently at his face for a full quarter of an hour, her expression shifting between anger and uncertainty.
"What is your purpose in disguising yourself and infiltrating here?" she suddenly asked. Zhuge Yun was startled and abruptly raised his head.
"Who exactly are you?" she asked again, her tone somewhat aggressive.
Zhuge Yun's mind raced. Had she truly discovered his weakness, or was she merely testing him? Was she really the person he was looking for? If not, wouldn't all his efforts be in vain? Although he believed that getting out wouldn't be a problem, he would likely be unable to fulfill his promise.

"Zhuge Yun is dead. You can't be him. Tell me, who exactly are you? If you don't speak, I won't be polite!" she said calmly.
"Don't you know who I am?" Zhuge Yun suddenly laughed. "If you didn't know who I am, you would have already arrested me. How could I still be so carefree?"
"Go back. Leave here immediately!" Her voice trembled slightly.
"If you come with me, I'll leave right away." Zhuge Yun smiled faintly. He knew she had recognized him, and he was certain she was the one he was looking for.
A woman always has a strange connection with the man closest to her. They often only need a feeling to recognize their lover, not just to see.
"I think you've mistaken me for someone else." Her tone suddenly turned cold, catching him off guard.
"Have I really mistaken you for someone else? No matter what you look like, I can recognize you!" He took two steps forward, closing in on her. She seemed a little afraid and took a step back, but when she tried to retreat further, she found she couldn't, because his hands were already around her waist.
He pulled her forcefully, and her entire body fell into his arms.
"What are you doing? Let go of me!" she said, slightly embarrassed and annoyed.
"Sister Qing, I missed you so much!" he murmured, lowering his head slightly to kiss her cherry lips.
After a slight struggle, she began to let him do as he pleased. The longing of many days had made her somewhat out of control, until he began to take further action, at which point she came to her senses.
"No." She hurriedly grabbed his hand that was still inside her bodice and pushed him away forcefully. "Hua Lang, no, not here." She said softly, her face flushed, her breath coming in short gasps.
*** ***
Hua Ruoxu opened his eyes and looked up at the ceiling beams, momentarily stunned. Where was he? He shouldn't be here. Where was Sister Qing? Where had she gone? She was clearly beside him.
Soft footsteps came from the doorway, and a beautiful figure turned and entered, dressed in simple white clothes.
"Sister Qing!" He jumped up from the bed, then slumped back down. It wasn't the beauty he longed for who had entered.
"Young Master Hua, you really are here!" Ye Wuying looked somewhat surprised. "Did you find out so quickly?"
Hua Ruoxu remained silent for a long time, recalling the events of not long ago. He remembered seeing Sister Qing, the two embracing tightly and pouring out their hearts to each other. Later, he asked her about her life after their separation, but she changed the subject. He asked her to come with him, but she smiled without answering. That night, he stayed in her room, only to wake up here.
"Miss Ye, may I ask what day it is today? What time is it? And where is this place?" Hua Ruoxu suddenly asked. Ye Wuying was startled, but immediately told him. Hua Ruoxu fell silent again.
Yesterday he was still in the Immortal Palace, with Sister Qing, and this morning he was already in an inn in Luoyang City.
“Young Master Hua, forgive my impertinence, but may I ask what exactly happened in the Immortal Palace?” Ye Wuying sighed softly. “I just received a letter saying you were here. It seemed strange, but upon arrival, I found it to be true.”
“Miss Ye, I’m sorry, I couldn’t keep my promise.” Hua Ruoxu’s expression was forlorn, tinged with desolation. “Could you please remove the disguise from my face?”
“Could you tell me what you’ve seen and heard in the Immortal Palace these past few days?” Hua Ruoxu had reverted to his original appearance, and Ye Wuying asked after a moment’s thought.
Hua Ruoxu hesitated for a moment, then finally told her what had happened, but he didn’t mention anything about his relationship with Jiang Qingyue.
“Then, Young Master Hua, have you found the person you’re looking for?” Ye Wuying asked, her brows furrowing slightly.
"I found her, but it's as if I didn't." Hua Ruoxu stood up and looked out the window, his tone tinged with sadness. "I found her, but I can't get her to leave with me. Besides, she doesn't want me to stay there, doesn't want me to be with her. I don't know how many things she's hiding from me. The only thing I know for sure is that she's safe now."
"Perhaps Miss Jiang has her own reasons," Ye Wuying finally couldn't help but comfort him.
"So Miss Ye already knew who I was looking for." Hua Ruoxu smiled self-deprecatingly. "Indeed, Miss Ye is so intelligent, what wouldn't she know?"
"Young Master Hua flatters me. But everyone in the martial world knows about your relationship with Miss Jiang. Young Master Hua, so newly married, yet you left your bride to travel the martial world alone. I really can't think of any other reason besides searching for Miss Jiang," Ye Wuying said with a embarrassed smile.
"Miss Ye, haven't you always thought of me as just a serial killer?" Hua Ruoxu smiled slightly. "A serial killer can't be thought of with normal logic."
"If Young Master Hua could reduce some of the killing, that would be best." Ye Wuying's expression turned slightly solemn. "Wuying only hopes that this martial world can have less bloodshed and more peace."
"Where there are people, there is conflict; where there is a martial world, there will inevitably be bloodshed. I admire Miss Ye's grand ambition, but if I may be frank, it will probably always remain just a wish." Hua Ruoxu sighed slightly.
"Having a wish makes my life meaningful. Perhaps I will never achieve my goal in this lifetime, but I will dedicate my life to striving for it. Although Wuying is a woman, she doesn't want to spend her life just being a wife and mother, and that's what my father taught me from a young age." A sweet smile appeared on Ye Wuying's lips.
"Your father is indeed a role model for the righteous path." There was a hint of sarcasm in Hua Ruoxu's words. In his eyes, Ye Bu'er seemed like a hypocrite.
"My father is the person I admire most." Ye Wuying didn't notice the sarcasm in his voice at all, and her tone was quite different from usual, filled with pride. Hua Ruoxu was slightly taken aback; it seemed that in Ye Wuying's mind, Ye Bu'er's image was perfect.
"Young Master Hua, have you ever thought about becoming a great hero admired by everyone?" Ye Wuying suddenly asked, and Hua Ruoxu was stunned again.
"Admired by everyone? I should be content if not despised by everyone." Hua Ruoxu said self-deprecatingly.
"Haven't you thought about your future, Young Master Hua?" Ye Wuying seemed somewhat puzzled.
"Let's leave the future for the future!" Hua Ruoxu shook his head slightly and sighed softly. The future? He really hadn't thought about it. He had never even thought he would leave Mount Hua; now he just wanted to reunite with Sister Qing and the others as soon as possible. Perhaps, I should think about it carefully. He thought to himself.
"Then where does Young Master Hua plan to go now?" Ye Wuying's face showed a hint of disappointment.
"There are some things I want to clarify," Hua Ruoxu said after a moment's thought. Unconsciously, he had become less wary of Ye Wuying.
Footsteps echoed down the corridor.
"Excuse me, is Young Master Hua Ruoxu here?" A waiter entered.
"I am indeed Hua Ruoxu. May I ask what brings you here, waiter?" Hua Ruoxu greeted him at the door.
"Here is a letter, given to you by a young lady. Please accept it."
"To be opened by my beloved Hua Lang." The four elegant characters on the envelope stirred a surge of emotion within Hua Ruoxu.
"Knowing that my husband has been traveling for me for many days, I am deeply troubled. Although I wish to be with you, I cannot be apart. The world is dangerous and treacherous; please be careful, my husband. I am well, and I will return to your side when the time is right. Because I cannot reveal my identity, I cannot see you for the time being. I hope you can understand! Yours truly, Yue." The few words conveyed a deep tenderness.
Hua Ruoxu stood there blankly, speechless for a long time. "Sister Qing, oh Sister Qing, what are you doing? Why can't you just tell me clearly?" He had originally wanted to explore the Immortal Palace to ask her for clarification, but Jiang Qingyue seemed to have foreseen this; the letter had already told him that she couldn't meet him now. Although he wanted to see her, he couldn't forgive himself if she were put in danger because of him. "
If I had enough power to protect Sister Qing, she wouldn't have so many concerns, would she?" he thought to himself.
"If you want to see it, then see it. There's nothing you can't show others." Seeing Ye Wuying's hesitant expression, Hua Ruoxu gave a bitter smile and handed her the letter. Ye Wuying smiled somewhat embarrassedly, but quickly took the letter.
"What do you plan to do now?" Ye Wuying asked hesitantly.
"What else can I do? Since I might endanger her, I'd better not see her." Hua Ruoxu said with a wry smile. "Miss Ye, I should take my leave now. The people looking for you have arrived."
Hua Ruoxu slowly walked away, seemingly too lazy to even glance at Fang Xia and Feng Guoyun who had just arrived.
"Young Master Hua!" Ye Wuying suddenly called out from behind. He stopped but didn't turn around.
"Actually, I think she might be afraid of implicating you, not afraid of you implicating her." Ye Wuying said loudly behind him.
"Thank you for reminding me, Miss Ye!" Hua Ruoxu turned around, smiled, a bright smile, and looked at her sincerely. Seeing Hua Ruoxu turn away again, Ye Wuying suddenly regretted her impulsiveness.

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