[Sword Rises in the Deep Clouds] Episodes 11-16 (Complete) Author: Purple House Demon Love

page views:1 Publication date:2023-06-11 20:12:36

【Sword Rises in the Deep Clouds】
Author: Purple House Demon Love
Publisher: Hetu Culture

【Volume 11】Chapter 1: Unveiling the Secret

Seeing Wu Yu open the letter on the flying knife, Shao Xueqian leaned over and looked at it, her face turning pale. Even though the passion in the room had been intense all night, and her body still felt like it was burning, this matter made her shiver.

Seeing this letter, even the composed Wu Yu couldn't help but change color. Although everyone in the Weitian Alliance except for a few people from Yuanxiong Fortress had submitted, the Black Alliance was beset by internal and external troubles, but the two sides were ultimately different in strength. If Ma Xuan made up his mind and ignored the hidden troubles within the Black Alliance, launching a full-scale attack on the Weitian Alliance, with the strength of the Shadow Sword Sect and the cooperation of Xiahou Zheng's Twelve Linked Forts, launching a strong attack regardless of casualties, even Shang Yuexuan might not be able to find an opportunity to counterattack, and Wu Yu himself dared not place all his hopes on Shang Yuexuan's attempt to find an opportunity to counterattack.

Under these circumstances, Master Ronghua's presence within the Weitian Alliance is extremely important. In terms of martial arts, he may not be superior to Ma Xuan; one possesses profound internal strength, the other excels in swordsmanship. Only a direct confrontation would reveal the difference in their abilities. However, Master Ronghua represents not only himself, but also the powerful Shaolin Sect, which is reluctant to participate in martial arts affairs.

Even though Sect Leader Rongxing is gentle in nature, if Master Ronghua is injured by the underworld alliance, the Shaolin Sect's reputation will be damaged. The pressure within the temple would be enough to compel Master Rongxing to participate in this battle. In that case, the three sides would compete, and the outcome, life and death, would depend on who can seize the opportunity. This is far better than the previous clear-cut power imbalance, which is why Wu Yu insisted on having a Shaolin master oversee the situation.

However, Master Ronghua was assassinated by the Weitian Alliance. If he survives and it can be proven that it was done by another force, that would be fine. But if Master Ronghua dies as a result, or if the real culprit cannot be found, the Weitian Alliance will be implicated both morally and legally. It is also unknown how the Shaolin Sect will react. It

would be better if they simply sent someone to question them. At worst, they could apologize like Ye Qian did before. The worst thing would be if the Shaolin Sect, in a fit of anger, distanced themselves from the conflict and did not participate in the battle between the two sides. In that case, the difference in strength would be obvious, and even Wu Yu's extraordinary abilities would be unable to bridge the gap.

Compared to the expressions of the two, Xin Wanyi and Xie Mingyan beside them did not react much. Although the former saw the two change color, she was always indifferent and had long been used to leaving everything to Wu Yu. She did not get involved in scheming and intrigue, and she was not in a position to compete in martial arts. Xie Mingyan did not notice the contents of the escort letter, nor did she care about the expressions of the two. Her beautiful eyes were only looking into the forest.

In terms of martial arts, while Jie Mingyan wasn't as skilled as Wu Yu and Shao Xueqian, she was still a formidable expert. Unlike the two who were initially distracted by the throwing knife, Jie Mingyan noticed the figure in the woods the moment the person made a move. Moreover, the person didn't simply flee after throwing the knife; instead, they stayed in the forest until they confirmed that Wu Yu and Shao Xueqian had opened the throwing knife and their expressions had changed before finally flying away.

Jie Mingyan couldn't help but sigh inwardly. This Ji Mengying was really something; why couldn't she just say what she wanted to say directly, instead of using the throwing knife to inform them? It seemed that even with the noble cause of assisting Ji Pingyi in fighting the enemy, their nightly indulgence in playing with Ni Changzi hadn't been enough to win over the young girl's innocent heart.

Glancing slightly at Wu Yu and Shao Xueqian beside her, Jie Mingyan wondered why they both looked so unhappy, but her strongest desire wasn't curiosity, but rather a desire to see a good show.

As a woman herself, how could she not see through Ji Mengying's little scheme? The two were simply too different in age, and Wu Yu's scarred face was a far cry from the delicate, spring-like beauty of the young girl. Moreover, Wu Yu and Shao Xueqian already had a physical relationship. It was understandable that the young girl, consumed by jealousy and frustration, might have acted slightly out of line.

It wasn't that Shao Xueqian couldn't discern the style of the throwing knife, nor could she hide her daughter's handwriting. But even though the letter contained only eight words, it struck her like a thunderbolt, its impact so profound that Shao Xueqian couldn't control her daughter's thoughts for a moment.

She gritted her teeth; her initial joy at Ni Changzi's submission and the secret assistance of Shang Yuexuan in dealing with Ma Xuan was completely shattered by those few words. Seeing Jie Mingyan's eyes and brows not only brimming with spring-like joy but also hinting at a smile, she felt a surge of annoyance.

She snatched the letter from Wu Yu's hand and shoved it into Jie Mingyan's, thinking, "Let's see if you can still smile after knowing such serious news."

"How...how could this be? It's not a false alarm, is it?" Upon seeing the eight characters in the letter, Xie Mingyan's slender hands trembled uncontrollably, almost unable to read the words, her words stammering and hesitant. If she were free of fear, and with a touch of alluring tone, she sounded remarkably similar to the seductive moans and groans Ni Changzi had uttered on the bed earlier.

"I...when I left Guili Plain earlier...Master was perfectly fine, how...how could he be like this after just one night?"

"Is it a false alarm? How serious are the injuries? Have the real culprits been found? We don't know the details yet, perhaps things aren't as bad as they seem." Exchanging a glance with Wu Yu, Shao Xueqian barely managed to suppress her panic. Seeing Xie Mingyan even more flustered than herself actually calmed her down considerably.

"Master Ronghua's martial arts skills are unparalleled. Even if members of the underworld alliance were to ambush him, few could harm him. Besides, although Guili Plain is missing us, its defenses are still quite tight. Perhaps, perhaps the real culprit has already been captured. Don't panic..."

Confused by the situation, Jie Mingyan turned her head, her heart filled with resentment towards Xin Wanyi. It

was one thing if she hadn't looked at it at first, but now that she and Shao Xueqian were both frightened, Xin Wanyi simply refused to look, clearly only following Wu Yu's lead. If she had known this would happen, she would have followed Xin Wanyi's example, never practicing martial arts or paying any attention to such matters, and perhaps she wouldn't have been so frightened!

"Well, let's go back first!" Knowing something was amiss, Ni Changzi's words about Ma Xuan having other plans might refer to this matter. And yet, she had left Guili Plain at such a crucial time. If the situation spiraled out of control, it would be extremely disastrous!

Although she vaguely sensed that there might be more to this than met the eye, she had no choice but to go back and face it. Wu Yu hurriedly stepped forward: "Things have come to this point, there's no point in hiding anything. When we get back, we'll say that it was Mrs. Yang who leaked the information, allowing us to find a master in the underworld alliance. We spent the whole night capturing and threatening him to force him to return to the underworld alliance to investigate for us. As for the master... we can only play it by ear. I just hope the master is alright." "

This..." Although she was inevitably flustered, Shao Xueqian's decades of experience in the underworld were not for nothing. If she hadn't encountered her nemesis Wu Yu, she wouldn't have ended up in this situation.

While silently pondering why she had become like this, Shao Xueqian continued walking, her mouth never stopping: "Ma Xuan must have people hiding in the alliance. Shang Yuexuan is lurking in the shadows within the underworld alliance, posing a significant threat to Ma Xuan. Not to mention, Ni Changzi has already made it clear that she and Ma Xuan are at odds. If Ma Xuan finds out, he might take the opportunity to cause trouble for the two of them, which would be detrimental to Yi'er's grand plan..."

"Even if we don't say anything, Ma Xuan won't reduce his control over the underworld alliance," Wu Yu shook his head slightly.

To him, Shang Yuexuan was definitely not a good partner; at most, it was a matter of mutual exploitation, and he suspected the other party felt the same way.

"Even if he didn't know beforehand, after Ye Qian acted on his own initiative, Ma Xuan should have realized that there were hidden forces within the Underworld Alliance. If he could unite the Shadow Sword Sect and the Twelve Linked Forts into one, just like the Alliance and the Junshan Sect, his power would be enough to control the Underworld Alliance. If he could also use both kindness and force to make Yan Jiayou truly submit, thereby forcing Ni Changzi to submit, and with the Four Mysteries obeying his orders and controlling the Xuanjia Sect, Shang Yuexuan would be unable to act rashly no matter how capable he was."

"But judging from how Ye Qian was dealt with, Ma Xuan, although now the leader of the alliance, hasn't adjusted his mindset yet. He's skilled in both literature and martial arts, but lacks the self-awareness of someone in a position of power. He severed ties with Ye Qian cleanly, letting Ye Qian go to Shaolin to apologize. On the surface, he remains uninvolved and unaffected, but it's clear he doesn't consider the Dirty Clothes Gang one of his own. Those in the Dirty Clothes Gang who still harbored hopes for Ma Xuan must have been utterly disappointed. Shang Yuexuan's influence hasn't diminished because of this; otherwise, I wouldn't want to join forces with this old fox!"

"The underworld alliance is rife with undercurrents. Shang Yuexuan is secretly making connections, and his network is already incredibly vast. Although Ma Xuan and Xiahou Zheng's power is considerable, it's not enough to prevent others from even considering resistance. Unfortunately, the two cannot cooperate sincerely. On the surface, Ma Xuan and Xiahou Zheng appear powerful within the underworld alliance, but in reality, Shang Yuexuan's power is no less than theirs, perhaps even greater. If we don't cause him some trouble, after dealing with Ma Xuan, it will be our alliance that will be the next headache. Madam, you don't think Shang Yuexuan is so kind as to wait for our alliance to recover after both sides have been weakened before attacking us, do you?"

Of course, that's absolutely not the case. Although she has always been on the righteous path, Shao Xueqian understands the principle of "strike while the iron is hot." As for the martial arts rules of one-on-one combat and fair play, those were completely forgotten during the siege of Duan Ling.

If Ma Xuan weren't the leader of the Underworld Alliance, and the thought of fighting him meant fighting the entire Underworld Alliance, Shao Xueqian wouldn't have been so flustered by such a powerful enemy. His reminder lessened her anxiety considerably.

Only now did she understand why, while she and Ji Pingyi had focused on the entire Underworld Alliance, Wu Yu had only been targeting Ma Xuan and the Shadow Sword Sect, perhaps adding the Twelve Linked Forts, and even repeatedly instructing them to narrow their focus and spare the other members of the Underworld Alliance. What she initially thought was just a psychological comfort tactic turned out to be part of his overall strategy.

However… even with only Ma Xuan and the Shadow Sword Sect, this enemy was still not to be underestimated. Just considering how close Ma Xuan had come to eliminating Shi Jian, Liu Qu, and herself that day, Shao Xueqian now knew just how terrifying this person she had been overlooking was.

Ji Pingyi might only perceive the enemy's fearsome nature as stemming from the sheer number and power of the underworld alliance. However, she deeply understood that the enemy was cunning and resourceful, not someone to be underestimated. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been willing to sacrifice everything just to keep Wu Yu by her side. After all, this man's intelligence and strategy were comparable to Ma Xuan's. No matter how cunning Ji Pingyi possessed, her experience and refinement limited her ability to deal with him, making him far inferior to others.
"But... Ma Xuan also has the Four Mysteries under his command, and the Xuanjia Sect combined with the Shadow Sword Sect shouldn't be underestimated either..." Listening to the two discussing the strengths and weaknesses of their formidable enemy, Jie Mingyan, standing nearby, was suffering. Last night, after Wu Yu and Shao Xueqian captured the person, they leisurely walked to the room that had been prepared in advance. Xin Wanyi was already waiting in the room, while she had to first consult Master Ronghua before rushing over.

Both were involved in romantic affairs, but she was the one who was most exhausted. She gritted her teeth, enduring the slight soreness in her back and legs, while joining the discussion.

"Si Xuan, actually, it's alright..." Wu Yu smiled slightly, recalling the battle at Junshan Sect that day. When Yi Jie Monk stepped out from the crowd, the Xuanjia Sect seemed to vanish without a trace. The entire sect couldn't even match his sheer power and prestige. Although it was only from Fu Mingxuan's account, his power was evident.

If Ma Xuan hadn't known he couldn't subdue this man, he wouldn't have targeted Shang Yuexuan and Yi Jie Monk as his first assassination targets. Judging from Shang Yuexuan's ability to fake his death and escape, Ma Xuan's main focus should be on Yi Jie Monk. Otherwise, given his depth and meticulousness, if he went all out, Shang Yuexuan's attempt to fake his death might backfire!

"Si Xuan and the Xuanjia Sect are not a concern." Shaking her head, Shao Xueqian looked at everyone.

Besides Wu Yu and herself, who were the most skilled and accustomed to matters of the heart, their fatigue was barely concealed. Xin Wanyi and Xie Mingyan, however, couldn't hide their exhaustion. Fortunately, to avoid losing to Ni Changzi, the three girls had dressed up carefully that morning, appearing clean and refreshed, not looking disheveled. Otherwise, if they had been flustered and rushed back to Liyuan, they probably wouldn't have been presentable at all. "The Xuanjia Sect is like a tiger without claws and teeth, nothing to worry about."

"Oh..." Hearing Shao Xueqian's confident words, Jie Mingyan didn't say anything more. By chance, before entering Yixin Garden, she had fought with Si Xuan once. Although that person's martial arts were not as good as hers, the battle was still very close.

However, that was more than ten years ago. Besides, both Shao Xueqian and Wu Yu had more experience and insight than her. Since they said so, they must be right.

"However... even if the Xuanjia Sect has no more masters, it still has a considerable number of followers. In terms of sheer numbers, it ranks second in the Black Alliance. If the Four Xuans truly obey Ma Xuan's orders, it will be a major problem."

For Yijie Monk, the Xuanjia Sect's forces were mainly used for his protection. Even their ostentatious display was merely a distraction. Without Yijie Monk, the Xuanjia Sect was indeed nothing to fear, but with the cooperation of the Shadow Sword Sect's masters, they would still be a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield.

"That's true... but the death of Monk Yijie was suspicious. Although the Xuanjia Sect lacks experts, they aren't all fools. I imagine Shang Yuexuan knows this too. I'm afraid Ma Xuan himself doesn't fully trust the Four Mysteries. If it comes to actual combat, the Xuanjia Sect will at most be used to bolster morale; Ma Xuan wouldn't dare to use them extensively." Wu Yu chuckled. "If Monk Yijie weren't so arrogant, he would never have used the tactic of faking his death and disappearing. With him leading the Xuanjia Sect, Ma Xuan wouldn't dare to act rashly. Back then, even with Cao Yan's prestige, status, and the aura of a powerful figure, Monk Yijie only..." "They obey orders but not decrees, let alone Ma Xuan? Beset by internal and external troubles, Ma Xuan must be having a headache right now. There's still a lot to come!"

Although they didn't know what Wu Yu was up to, seeing that no one mentioned the Xuanjia Sect when discussing the situation of the underworld alliance, they knew that everyone more or less understood that the Xuanjia Sect, now without a monk, was just a burden to Ma Xuan. As long as the Weitian Alliance didn't take drastic action against the Xuanjia Sect, whether the Four Xuans would support Ma Xuan was probably uncertain.

The group walked and talked, quickening their pace, and soon saw the gate of Guili Plain.

However, as they got closer and could see the faces of the gatekeepers, Shao Xueqian's expression changed slightly. She stopped and waited for Wu Yu to catch up. Although they didn't speak, they both knew they were uneasy.

It's one thing that the current gatekeepers aren't the original ones, but with such a major incident, if Guili Plain doesn't strengthen its defenses, Ji Pingyi would truly be unworthy of being the leader of the Mighty Alliance. The fact that he's assigned someone from Yuanxiong Fort, and not even under Jin Xianyu's command! Even without seeing the other's expression, she knew something must have changed in Guili Plain. How could Shao Xueqian not be anxious?

"It's alright." Although standing behind Shao Xueqian and not seeing her expression, Wu Yu knew what she was thinking. His voice was very soft, just within her audible range. "If there really was

a major change, the young lady's escort mission wouldn't have been so brief. Besides, if the other side wanted to set up a trap, they wouldn't have made it so obvious that we'd be suspicious. At most, they just want to take the initiative and suppress our arrogance."

Shao Xueqian responded with a nasal "hmm," barely managing to suppress her slightly flustered heart. She had now reached a point where she could clearly see the expressions of the gatekeepers. Besides the additional members of Yuanxiong Fortress, there were also several members of the Junshan Sect standing to the side.

The Yuanxiong Fortress members remained as arrogant as ever, while the Junshan Sect disciples, though showing resentment, did not yet appear to be in conflict. It seemed that what had happened at Guili Plain the previous night, although giving the Yuanxiong Fortress members, who had always been dissatisfied with Ji Pingyi, an opportunity to vent their anger, had not yet reached the point of causing an upheaval. Otherwise, the two sides would not be as respectful as they were now, but would have already started fighting. The Yuanxiong Fortress members were not the type to tolerate others' displeasure without retaliating.

"Greetings, Madam." As Shao Xueqian and her entourage reached the gate, the leading disciple of Yuanxiong Fortress bowed and blocked their path. "Something happened in the fortress last night, but Madam was nowhere to be seen in the alliance. Where did Madam go? What did she do? Please tell us."

"Madam's whereabouts are none of the business of a mere disciple of Li Chenzhu." Unexpectedly being questioned upon her return, Shao Xueqian was slightly taken aback. Before she could speak, Wu Yu coldly snorted, his figure flashing forward. With a flick of his sleeve, he had already sent the intruder flying

. His cold gaze swept over them, and the disciples of Junshan Sect beside him quickly opened the gate and bowed to welcome them in.

"Doing your duty as a gatekeeper is what's right. Keep quiet about matters beyond your jurisdiction. We will demand an explanation from Li Chenzhu for your rudeness earlier. Go!"

"You..." The disciples of Yuanxiong Fortress were furious at Wu Yu's overbearing manner. He attacked immediately upon entering the arena, and his words were directed only at their master, clearly showing he didn't take them seriously. However, they had been easily overwhelmed by the sudden attack, and while the difference in their skill levels was largely due to the unexpected clash of their energies, the difference in their strength was undeniable. With no experts from Yuanxiong Fortress outside, they dared not act rashly.

The leader snorted and retreated to the side, not even daring to glare at the arrogant Wu Yu. He could only grit his teeth and give a meaningful look to the disciples of Junshan Sect, thinking that once their master suppressed this man's arrogance later, Junshan Sect would suffer!

While they appeared to have won, Wu Yu's words had been incredibly disrespectful to the Yuanxiong Fortress, yet they hadn't seen any resistance. This was completely different from Yuanxiong Fortress's usual self-righteousness and inability to tolerate insults. Wu Yu and Shao Xueqian were instead filled with worry.

These people from Yuanxiong Fortress were not disciples of Quan Jizhong or Jin Xianyu, but rather disciples of Li Chenzhu, Quan Jizhong's junior brother. Li Chenzhu had a good relationship with Shi Jian, but had always been at odds with Quan Jizhong. Therefore, although his martial arts were not much weaker than Quan Jizhong's, he had always been neglected by Quan Jizhong. Even when the Yuanxiong Fortress army entered Yixin Garden last time, Li Chenzhu was only assigned to guard Yuanxiong Fortress; otherwise, Jin Xianyu probably wouldn't have become the fortress lord.

Although their relationship was strained, Li Chenzhu was still a member of Yuanxiong Fortress, inheriting the fortress's tradition of arrogance. However, Jin Xianyu had already become the fortress lord and was in charge of the main force of Yuanxiong Fortress guarding Guili Plain. Although Li Chenzhu was resentful, time was of the essence, and he could only stay in his room and sulk.

Unexpectedly, this person jumped out when something happened at Guili Plain. Presumably, this person had already taken control of the situation inside; otherwise, his disciples wouldn't have had the patience to attack him without going outside.

Although they knew things were going badly, there was no turning back now. The group entered with their heads held high, only to find Ji Pingyi, seated in the main seat of the hall, looking troubled and weary.

Despite his youth, the exhaustion of the night had clearly taken its toll. On the other side, Li Chenzhu sat in the main seat of Yuanxiong Fortress, having pushed Jin Xianyu aside. His middle-aged face glowed with excitement.

Meanwhile, Master Ronghua stood with his hands clasped in prayer, his injuries not readily apparent, but judging from the expressions of his disciples, they were likely quite severe.

Shao Xueqian was slightly alarmed. While relieved that Master Ronghua was not fatally wounded, the expressions of the Shaolin disciples made her fear that he might storm off in anger, leaving her to face the underworld alliance alone without respite. With her

strategy of dividing and conquer failing, this battle would be far from easy. She nudged Xin Wanyi: "How is Master's injury? Would Madam Wu like to take a look?"

"This old monk is unharmed, thank you for your concern, Madam." Hearing Shao Xueqian speak, Master Ronghua finally began to speak, which startled Shao Xueqian.

Master Ronghua's complexion was alright, but there was a shallow sword mark between his brows, just a hair's breadth away from slicing into his eye.

This wound was not there when they met before, clearly left by the assassin last night. The attack was so ruthless, not intended to kill, but to humiliate Master Ronghua. Even if Master Ronghua was well-mannered and advanced in years, and didn't care much about disfigurement, this direct sword strike was like a blow to the face of the Shaolin Sect. No wonder the disciples behind Master Ronghua looked indignant; this was truly a vicious attack!

What's particularly bad is that even with Master Ronghua's exceptional martial arts skills, he couldn't dodge a direct sword strike. The assassin must either be a very close confidant, possess martial arts skills surpassing Master Ronghua's, or have exceptionally outstanding agility and swordsmanship.

Master Ronghua is a guest from afar; besides herself, Xie Mingyan, and a handful of others within the Weitian Alliance, he has no close confidants or old friends. The first possibility can be ruled out. As for the second or third possibility, even with numerous experts in the underworld alliance, very few possess the ability to do so. Infiltrating the heavily guarded Weitian Alliance requires inside help, and no one else has such swordsmanship. After a few moments of observation, Shao Xueqian immediately wondered: could it be that Ma Xuan himself risked his life to come here?

"How many of our members were injured when the assassin escaped?" She turned to ask Ji Pingyi, but the latter shook his head slightly, seemingly finding it difficult to speak. After a long while, he finally opened his mouth: "The assassin retreated in an instant, and no one in the alliance noticed..."

"Ha, there really is something fishy going on!" With a cold snort, Li Chenzhu slammed his hand down, making the teacup clatter, and a palm print immediately appeared on the table: "Madam was away from the Weitian Alliance all night, and when she returned, she didn't even ask about anything else, but knew that the assassin had escaped safely. If Madam wasn't prescient, then she must have already encountered the assassin outside. Could it be... that this assassin was sent by you? Otherwise, how could you know so clearly?"

"Sigh, she really is incredibly stupid." Wu Yu pressed his forehead, shook his head, and looked so embarrassed that he couldn't bear to watch anymore. As soon as he spoke, he provoked Li Chenzhu to glare at him angrily.

Who taught him to perfectly mimic Li Chenzhu's arrogant and haughty demeanor, his mockery overflowing? Not only the people of Yuanxiong Fortress, but even Fu Mingxuan couldn't stand it.

"To be able to sneak into our alliance and injure a master in front of everyone, such martial arts and swordsmanship are rare even in the entire underworld alliance. Apart from Ma Xuan, there is no one else who uses a sword. If it really was him, how many in our alliance could have captured him? At least you, Li Chenzhu, are definitely not qualified. Anyone can guess that an assassin could escape."

Although his words and actions were annoying, seeing Li Chenzhu's face turn red with anger, his hand holding the steel whip trembling, yet he still didn't make a move, even if everyone in the hall disliked Wu Yu, that ugly man, very few people had any goodwill towards Li Chenzhu.

Several young men almost burst out laughing, instantly easing the tense atmosphere in the hall. Even Jin Xianyu couldn't help but pat his junior brother's hand behind him, signaling them to hold back, though his expression was absolutely wicked and amused, which only fueled Li Chenzhu's anger.

"If it really was Ma Xuan who made the move, this man is deep, patient, and cunning. His use of poison against Master Shi was also exceptional. It's impossible for him to have secretly joined our alliance just because of a sword wound. Please, Master, allow my wife to examine the injury, lest this man secretly plot other methods."

As if thinking about something, Wu Yu shook his head slightly: "Although Master is the head of Shaolin's medical department, Ma Xuan is extremely skilled in using poison. Master Shi fell for it that day. Although my wife's medical skills are not as good as Master's, she is somewhat knowledgeable in detoxification. It's always good to be careful...."

"Why are you crocodile tears?" Hearing Wu Yu's words of concern, Xin Wanyi stepped forward, about to take Master Ronghua's pulse. Before Master Ronghua could react, a Shaolin disciple behind him shouted, "Last night, you used the pretense of discussing Buddhism to sneak up behind Madam Xie. Master was caught off guard and was ambushed by you, then fled faster than anyone else! Now, you're pretending to be unconscious and unharmed, do you think we're all blind and can't even recognize your face?"

"Huh?" Xin Wanyi, who had just reached Master Ronghua, was startled by this turn of events and turned back to look at Wu Yu. She saw that several Shaolin disciples who had been behind Master Ronghua had rushed out and formed a formation around Wu Yu.

Caught off guard, even Xie Mingyan and Shao Xueqian were separated. Their speed and coordination were indeed those of disciples from a prestigious sect.

"The Shaolin Dragon and Tiger Formation is indeed formidable." Seeing the Shaolin disciples set up their formation beside him, ready to capture him at a single command, Wu Yu remained unmoved, merely waving his hand indifferently, causing the recovered Shao Xueqian to step back slightly.

"If we are to fight this formation, I cannot hold back my iron chain. However, this master is adamant, stating unequivocally that I am the assassin. But last night I was away on official business with my wife and others, and was not with the alliance. Leaving aside the reason for my attack on the master, and moreover, I never wield a sword. Just the fact that I was in two places at once is enough to make this master's accusation inaccurate. I wonder how this master thinks I am able to be in two places at once?"

"Ha!" Upon hearing this, not only did Ji Pingyi's expression change, but Li Chenzhu also looked smug, as if he had found a flaw in Wu Yu's defenses.

He laughed loudly, ignoring Ji Pingyi's increasingly ugly expression: "If you're going to find an excuse, at least find a better one. Forget about what official business you're doing that I don't know about, going out on official business with your wife in the dead of night! What are you doing on official business?"

Hearing him emphasize the word "do," Ji Pingyi's face turned a deep purple with anger, her eyes blazing with

fury as if she wanted to devour Wu Yu. The hall erupted in a cacophony of voices, even Master Ronghua bowed his head and chanted Buddhist prayers. The majority of the people's expressions were disbelief. After all, Wu Yu's face was covered in scars, almost unrecognizable. Such an ugly appearance was utterly mismatched with Shao Xueqian's unparalleled beauty. For Li Chenzhu to insist that the two had an affair was something no one would believe.

But Wu Yu's unbelievable reason had been given beforehand; otherwise, Li Chenzhu wouldn't have said that, and everyone would have already accused him of talking nonsense.

"What business is it? I should inform the Alliance Leader and the Lord of your fortress, but this matter is confidential and cannot be easily leaked. Therefore... perhaps you should refrain from inquiring?" Wu Yu glanced sideways at Li Chenzhu, his voice still normal, but his expression made Li Chenzhu's anger almost explode.

He was also an elder in Yuanxiong Fortress, his seniority even above Jin Xianyu. Back when he was at odds with Quan Jizhong, Quan Jizhong was still polite and courteous on the surface. He had never been insulted like this before. Especially since Wu Yu had forbade him to inquire, clearly treating him as an enemy spy!

"Amitabha." Seeing that the two were on the verge of conflict, Master Ronghua chanted a Buddhist prayer and slowly stood up: "Since this matter is top secret, why don't you explain it to your Alliance Leader and Lord Jin first, and I will speak with you later?"

"Ah, Master, your cultivation is profound, and everyone trusts you. Even if you were just eavesdropping, it wouldn't matter. Why should I avoid it?" Knowing

he had been so caught up in his momentary urgency that he hadn't noticed the hurt he'd caused Master Ronghua, Wu Yu bowed apologetically, his heart pounding slightly.

Master Ronghua had changed his form of address, which seemed innocuous on the surface—martial arts practitioners weren't always formal—but compared to what had happened before, it was clear he was suspicious, though his expression hadn't yet betrayed him.

"Besides," Wu Yu continued, "last night's injury was a coincidence. If I don't explain my whereabouts to dispel any doubts, it might harm the relationship between our two sects. Please, Master, stay."

Li Chenzhu hadn't expected Wu Yu to ignore him and continue his exchange with Master Ronghua, subtly touching on the relationship between Shaolin and the Weitian Alliance. Even with Shaolin's strength, Master Ronghua couldn't afford to be arrogant and dared not damage the relationship. But if this continued, would he really have to slink away in disgrace? Where would he put his old face then?

"Even if you were on official business, who knows if you sent someone close to you to create a clone using disguise? Last night, the two masters saw it clearly; it was obviously you who secretly tried to assassinate Master Ronghua!" "

Oh? You really saw it was me?" Hearing Li Chenzhu's continued insistence, Wu Yu's lips curled into a faint smile as he moved closer to the four or five Shaolin disciples surrounding him. His

scarred face was not very pleasing to begin with, and with the Shaolin formation already in place, the hostility between the two sides was obvious. Seeing someone from the formation approaching them so unguardedly, the monks, though they managed not to retreat and lose their composure, couldn't help but show hesitation in their expressions. Especially the Shaolin disciple who had called out at the beginning; his expression had lost its initial resolve, replaced by suspicion.

"You...you really weren't you?"

"That's strange." Hearing the monk say this, Wu Yu's smile turned into a bitter one. "Since Master has accused me of the sneak attack, but we can't be sure now, what should I do? Master should at least explain whether I was the one who did it."

"This...this..." Seeing Wu Yu's certainty, the monk was at a loss. His hesitant and flustered eyes darted between Wu Yu and Master Ronghua, unable to make a decision.

It's understandable that he was flustered. After all, Wu Yu's face was too terrifying. Even according to the rules of Shaolin disciples, one wouldn't dare to look at it too much, let alone memorize its features.

Last night, seeing that person had many wounds on their face, he directly assumed it was Wu Yu. As a result, he was less vigilant and allowed the newcomer to strike successfully without uttering a sound.

Looking closely now, although it was still a face that was hard to look at, it seemed to have many differences from the face last night. However, he hadn't been able to see it clearly either time, and once he calmed down, he really couldn't be sure.

He couldn't help but stammer, "Could it be... that someone really disguised themselves as you? Then last night... who exactly was it...?"

"If I were an enemy, I would really disguise myself as me." Spreading his hands, Wu Yu's bitter smile deepened, "After all, this face is really something that can't be seen by others. I don't think anyone would really look closely. Everyone only knows that the one with the scars on his face is me. If there were any mistakes during the disguise, as long as the scars are made, it would be really not easy to be discovered. Master, don't you think?"

"Uh... this... this..." He was already not very sure. If Wu Yu had argued with him in a fit of anger, perhaps the Shaolin monk would have argued back a few times out of spite. But now Wu Yu was calm and composed, without any fear or excitement of being caught.

Leaving aside the fact that his words were reasonable and irrefutable, the subtle smile in his speech alone completely dispelled the tense atmosphere in the hall. The Shaolin monk couldn't even hold on any longer, staring blankly at Wu Yu's innocent expression, finding him increasingly unlike the ruthless assassin from the previous night, whose sudden attack and swordsmanship were both exceptionally skillful.

"This humble monk...this humble monk truly didn't see clearly, and cannot confirm...Master..."

"Amitabha!" Seeing his disciple rendered speechless by the other's composure and forced to turn to him for help, Master Ronghua sighed softly.

He himself had been in the martial world for a long time, but the disciples he brought today were newcomers to the sect. If he hadn't known that his purpose in coming was more to intimidate than to actually fight, he wouldn't have brought these young disciples.

Unexpectedly, although there was no real fight, the verbal exchange was just as intense as a physical confrontation. Wu Yu remained calm and composed even now, showing no sign of panic, which was truly admirable, but it also further confirmed his earlier doubts.

Seeing that Master Ronghua had spoken but hadn't ordered his disciples to retreat, and that although the Shaolin disciples surrounding him had lost their tense demeanor, the formation remained intact,

Wu Yu sighed inwardly. His earlier reasoning, though impractical, had been believed by these Shaolin disciples to a large extent, and even the one who presented the evidence wasn't entirely certain. Yet Master Ronghua still wouldn't let him go, clearly indicating that his earlier prediction had come true. However, he couldn't speak out first.

"Regarding last night's events, could you please ask those unrelated to the matter to step back so I can explain?"

Hearing Wu Yu bring up last night again, his eyes constantly glancing at him, the implication was clear: he was being told he had no right to speak and could only retreat in disgrace. Li Chenzhu was consumed by anger, his face flushing red.

But he was, after all, a seasoned veteran. Even as anger clouded his judgment, his intellect remained sharp. After a few moments of thought, he realized that Wu Yu was merely trying to disrupt his plans. Whether the assassin from last night was him, or whether he was involved, remained uncertain. Even though Wu Yu spoke with conviction, he lacked concrete evidence.

This exchange in the hall, though only verbal, was no less thrilling than a real fight. If he could defeat Wu Yu in one fell swoop, even Shao Xueqian would be implicated. Young and inexperienced individuals like Jin Xianyu and Ji Pingyi were no match for him. Besides himself, who else in the Weitian Alliance could salvage this mess? He would then be the primary contributor to restoring the prestige of Yuanxiong Fortress.

"No matter how eloquent you are, you still can't prove that the assassin last night wasn't you. Even if you and your wife went out on official business, no one can prove that you weren't someone else in disguise. Who knows if you have other trusted confidants who can impersonate you at crucial moments to deceive others?"

Taking a deep breath, he flicked his sleeves, unleashing a powerful aura that revealed his skill. The pressure caused the cups and plates on the table to clatter, and it was difficult to breathe. Apart from a few people, some of the younger disciples even had difficulty breathing due to the pressure.

"Isn't that what I'm about to say?" The hall was filled with the aura, and several young people even had difficulty breathing, but Wu Yu shrugged and pretended to be innocent, still appearing so relaxed, as if he was completely unaffected by Li Chenzhu's aura. Ji Mengying, who had already stood up and was protecting her mother, didn't know whether to be angry or admire him.

Even now, this man remained calm and composed, making it hard not to admire him. However, his smug expression clearly showed that he didn't take Li Chenzhu seriously. Even though she knew he was deliberately provoking Li Chenzhu, she still found it hard to watch. However, the situation was clear, and she would never speak up for Li Chenzhu; at most, she would remain silent.

"I say, Brother Li, even when you speak, you secretly plot against others, trying to silence them, just like when Shi Jian framed your former fortress lord. Such underhanded methods are truly not what a righteous person like us should do..."

Before Wu Yu could finish speaking, Li Chenzhu was so angry that he grabbed his steel whip, intending to grab it and teach this man who had hurt him a lesson. But before he could move, he felt unfriendly gazes focused on him from all around. Only then did he realize that Wu Yu's seemingly ordinary words concealed a deadly intent.

On the day Quan Jizhong failed to capture Shi Jian, Shi Jian seized the opportunity to kill him under the pretext of "purging the sect," a flimsy excuse that already infuriated the people of Yuanxiong Fortress. However, no one could challenge Shi Jian at the time, and Park Jong-seo, the eldest disciple, was unwilling to act, thus calming the situation, though their anger remained unabated.

Later, it was proven that Shi Jian was the true schemer, and Quan Jizhong was unjustly murdered. Shi Jian's subsequent death only exacerbated their pent-up rage, making it difficult to vent. Otherwise, they wouldn't have taken their anger out on Jie Mingyan, causing her distress even within the Weitian Alliance. Despite Shao Xueqian's efforts to comfort her, the resentment remained.

The same effect applied to Li Chenzhu, but because of his high position, his absence at the time of Quan Jizhong's murder, and Jin Xianyu's submissive attitude, the people of Yuanxiong Fortress didn't directly confront him. Unexpectedly, Wu Yu chose this moment to expose their weaknesses!

The moment Li Chenzhu stepped out, he sensed something was wrong. Aside from a few of his close disciples, even the people from Yuanxiong Fortress were looking at him strangely. He was furious, his face flushed red, but he was speechless, pointing at Wu Yu, unable to utter a word.

"Brother Wu," Jin Xianyu chuckled inwardly at Li Chenzhu's frustrated and helpless state. Even though he still harbored many grievances against Wu Yu, this man was particularly adept at bullying those he couldn't handle. Even if he didn't owe him a favor, he found the man's ugly face somewhat endearing. However, being fellow disciples, he couldn't remain silent in helping his uncle.

"My uncle was merely caught in a fit of anger and lost his temper, speaking carelessly and inevitably becoming aggressive. He did not intend to emulate Shi Jian's evil methods. I apologize on his behalf, and ask for Brother Wu's forgiveness. As for last night's business, since it was a secret, it should not have been announced in public. How about we discuss it further tonight?"

"You!" He hadn't expected Jin Xianyu to speak up for him on the surface, but in reality, he was kicking him while he was down, just like Wu Yu, suppressing him. Yet, as the fortress lord, he hadn't lost his dignity by saying such things. No matter how angry he was, he couldn't openly turn against his fortress lord.

He secretly resented the two for their deep scheming, how they had worked together to take advantage of last night's events to display their prowess and almost suppress him before he could subdue Ji Pingyi and Jin Xianyu and seize control of the Weitian Alliance!

Although he testified partly because of last night's events and partly because he couldn't stand Wu Yu's ugly face, after a few words from Wu Yu today, he suddenly realized he wasn't so righteous. Li Chenzhu, who had been agreeing with him, was quickly overwhelmed by Wu Yu's words.

The Shaolin disciple still surrounding Wu Yu blushed with shame and exchanged glances with his fellow disciples, wanting to retreat. Unexpectedly, Master Ronghua beside him gave them a look, signaling them not to let their guard down. Although suspicious, their master's orders were paramount, and for a moment they were caught in a dilemma. While maintaining their formation, their killing intent had completely vanished.

"No matter how eloquent or deceptive you are, you can't hide your filthy identity!" Enraged, Li Chenzhu wanted to smash Wu Yu's unsightly face to pieces with a whip. However, this man's martial arts skills were extraordinary, and in terms of true ability, Li Chenzhu wasn't entirely confident he could capture him. If it weren't for last night's events, he might have even hesitated about whether to retaliate today!

Li Chenzhu pointed his halberd at Wu Yu, his voice escaping through gritted teeth

, each word dripping out. "Your true identity, Wu Yu, is none other than the infamous lecherous villain who, through the combined efforts of the Mighty Alliance, forced himself to the bottom of a cliff, yet somehow survived—Duan Ling!"

[Volume 11] Chapter 2: A Twist of Fate

Upon hearing the name Duan Ling, everyone in the hall trembled. Some had initially thought Li Chenzhu was merely being unreasonable as usual, but now they were all on guard.

All eyes were fixed on Wu Yu, fearing he might suddenly attack. Even the Shaolin disciples surrounding him were on edge, their weapons pointed at Wu Yu, waiting for Master Ronghua's command to capture him.

Forcing Duan Ling to fall off the cliff that day was a famous feat for the Weitian Alliance. Although only Shao Xueqian remained in the hall after the attack, the story spread like wildfire. Not only the members of the Weitian Alliance, but also the Shaolin monks brought by Master Ronghua and the disciples of the Junshan Sect knew about the various grudges between Duan Ling and the Weitian Alliance.

Now, hearing Li Chenzhu's testimony that Wu Yu in front of them was Duan Ling in disguise, how could they not be extremely wary?

Especially since Duan Ling in the past was a handsome and dashing young swordsman, a far cry from his current ugly appearance and scarred face. Considering that this person was willing to disfigure himself to join the Weitian Alliance, his ambitions must be great. Perhaps even his previous exposure of Shi Jian and Liu Zao's conspiracy was not out of good intentions.

It was a coincidence that his former enemies had turned against each other, leaving only Shao Xueqian alive.

Ji Pingyi, who had always stood by Wu Yu's side, couldn't help but tighten his grip on his longsword upon hearing this.

However, if Wu Yu is truly Duan Ling in disguise, then it's no wonder he attempted to assassinate Master Ronghua. Firstly, Master Ronghua participated in several pursuits of Duan Ling back then, but Duan Ling, cunning and resourceful, repeatedly escaped from encirclements, leaving a deep-seated grudge.

Secondly, this man's appearance has changed significantly; recognizing him solely from his appearance would be extremely difficult. The only possible candidates are those from the martial arts world who knew him back then. Knowing his methods is crucial to seeing through appearances, and Shao Xueqian and Master Ronghua in the hall happen to be two of those individuals. While

he may have deceived Shao Xueqian, he might not have been able to deceive the accomplished Buddhist master Ronghua, making his assassination attempt understandable.

Although his appearance was vastly different from the legendary figure, and even his martial arts were quite different from before, altering his appearance and martial arts skills was not difficult for a vengeful assassin. However, old habits die hard, and Duan Ling's flippant nature and cunning, calm intelligence were strikingly similar to Wu Yu's.

Considering that the location where Qilan Manor was destroyed and Shao Xueqian and Ji Mengying were forced to fall off the cliff was exactly the same as where Duan Ling fell off the cliff, it was not surprising to conclude that Wu Yu was Duan Ling in disguise.

"You say I am Duan Ling? Does Li Chen have any evidence to kill you?" Even with hostility all around and the Shaolin monks' formation surrounding him, Wu Yu remained unbelievably calm.

His hands hung limply at his sides, the chains attached to his gloves dangling to the ground, unresponsive like dead snakes. He merely tilted his head to look at Li Chenzhu: "If you frame someone without any evidence, I won't let you off the hook."

"That's the truth." Fu Mingxuan, who had remained silent since the incident last night, merely observing Ji Pingyi's struggle against Li Chenzhu's relentless advance, finally spoke up.

The conflict between Ji Pingyi and Li Chenzhu was now at its crucial moment.

"You helped my Junshan Sect fight against the Black Gang Alliance, causing Cao Yan's death in battle. Later, you exposed Shi Jian's conspiracy, clearing the names of Yang Lan and Quan Jizhong. You've rendered many meritorious services. Not to mention Brother Wu, you even saved Madam Ji and Miss Ji. You've made great contributions to our alliance. You can't be framed based on mere conjecture..."

"This is a reasonable suspicion, not conjecture." Unexpectedly, Duan Ling was just spouting empty words, showing no remorse whatsoever. There were even people supporting him. Li Chenzhu laughed in anger.

Having guessed the man's identity, his next step was naturally to capture him and interrogate him thoroughly, exposing his various schemes. Everything else was irrelevant. Even if his guess was wrong, it wouldn't be a big deal for him, a dignified elder of Yuanxiong Fortress. Did he expect him to admit his mistake?

"As an elder of Yuanxiong Fortress, and a senior member of the Weitian Alliance, I cannot allow a traitor to infiltrate and plot against me. If you continue to resist and attempt to escape, my steel whip is not to be trifled with!"

Hearing Li Chenzhu's arrogant attitude and display of the airs of a member of Yuanxiong Fortress, the crowd, though disgusted, showed no outward reaction. After all, compared to an annoying old man who relied on his seniority, Duan Ling, burdened with deep hatred, was a far more dangerous threat.

"Duan Ling, surrender immediately and await your fate!" Hearing Li Chenzhu reveal the man's identity, the Shaolin monks surrounding Wu Yu couldn't help but feel apprehensive. Those who could escape Master Ronghua's clutches several times were no easy opponents.

But the formation was already set; the Shaolin Temple's Dragon-Tiger Demon-Slaying Formation was renowned and not easily broken. Moreover, this man was so ugly that even the well-mannered Shaolin monks couldn't help but underestimate this hideous fellow. Even those who had been hesitant just moments before mustered their courage. Even if this man wasn't the assassin from last night, Duan Ling's name alone was enough reason for him to capture him. Last night's mistakes would be handled by his elders; he only needed to do his duty.

With a faint smile, and without any visible movement, the iron chain hanging from his hand suddenly lashed out like a dead snake, striking directly at the four monks' hearts.

Although they rarely left Shaolin, the four monks, chosen by Master Ronghua for training, were certainly not weak in martial arts. Even though this top-down attack was unprecedented, and even though they were caught off guard, they still had time to raise their weapons to defend themselves, preventing them from being injured in a single blow.

However, these attacks came strangely and unexpectedly. Although the four monks were on guard, they still suffered some losses and became flustered, causing their once impregnable formation to break down. Suddenly, a figure flashed in the center, as if Duan Ling was about to break through the formation.

Unexpectedly, Duan Ling attacked without a word, and even more unexpectedly, his attack was so swift and without any warning. Even the four Shaolin monks were momentarily thrown into panic, and their formation was disrupted. Li Chenzhu hurriedly stepped forward without drawing his whip to block Duan Ling's possible escape route, but he was a step too slow. A look of hesitation flashed in his eyes and then disappeared. Ji Pingyi gritted his teeth, his long sword already drawn, blocking the other side.

Although the two moved quickly, it was all in vain. It wasn't that Duan Ling took advantage of the opening to escape, but rather that he didn't move at all. His figure flashed in all directions, yet he remained perfectly still in his original position, even retrieving his iron chain. The six people were so surprised that they completely forgot to attack him, and everyone stood there dumbfounded.

Apart from a few experts, those with mediocre eyesight didn't even notice his movements just now. They only felt that Duan Ling hadn't moved at all, so why were the four monks, Ji Pingyi, and Li Chenmo acting as if facing a formidable enemy, yet remaining as immovable as mountains?

Although others couldn't see the situation clearly, the four monks, Li Chenzhu, and Ji Pingyi were greatly shocked. Just now, Duan Ling had merely waved his hands lightly, and even the iron chain he struck at the four monks hadn't used much force. Coupled with his slight movement, he had already lured the Dragon Tiger Demon-Slaying Formation to expose its flaws. It was only thanks to Li Chenzhu and Ji Pingyi's cover that Duan Ling wasn't able to escape.

The four monks, never expecting this man to nearly embarrass them before even making a move, couldn't help but lose their initial contempt. The monk who had just testified against them was even more alarmed. Just thinking about how, if this man had gone all out and attacked while they hesitated and their formation was incomplete, they would likely be dead by now. No wonder their master was so wary of him.

While the four monks were filled with trepidation, Li Chenzhu and Ji Pingyi were utterly horrified. Neither of them had personally witnessed the events of that year and had never experienced this man's prowess. Ji Pingyi had heard from his parents about the perils they faced when chasing this man, and dared not underestimate him. Now, seeing his skill, he was simply even more wary. Li Chenzhu, however, had never taken this man seriously from the start, thinking Shi Jian and Quan Jizhong were too weak to even capture a petty lecher, and had even mocked them several times. Only now did he realize how ridiculous his mockery had been.

"Hmph!" With a cold snort, as if trying to dispel the fear in his heart, Li Chenzhu brandished his steel whip, still exuding an intimidating aura, yet he dared not take a step forward, fearing he would disrupt the four monks' formation. Without the Dragon-Tiger Demon-Slaying Formation, he alone could not hold this person.

"No matter how extraordinary your abilities, Duan Ling, you will not escape today. Come, let this old man see how much skill you still retain after abandoning your sword and using the Refined Sword?"

"If you want to escape, you can, but why should I?" Wu Yu glanced provocatively at the formation surrounding him, smiled faintly, put his hands behind his back, and showed no intention of making a move.

"You keep claiming I am Duan Ling in disguise, yet you can't offer a single piece of evidence. I'd like to ask, on what grounds do you believe I am Duan Ling? Know that I am not a disciple of your esteemed fortress, and I have no obligation to consider your feelings

. If you offer no evidence and merely make empty accusations, I will pursue this matter relentlessly." "You!" Unexpectedly, Duan Ling was still resorting to sophistry at this point, yet his arguments seemed plausible at first glance. Unable to provide any evidence, Li Chenzhu's face flushed red. He pointed at the man, speechless with anger, his feet firmly planted on the ground, unwilling to take another step forward.

Hearing Wu Yu's rebuttal, the atmosphere in the hall relaxed. Although Li Chenzhu had made accusations, given his status, the crowd readily believed him. However, upon closer examination, Li Chenzhu hadn't offered any evidence to prove that this man was Duan Ling. At most, he had only mentioned the rumors that had arisen last night, claiming that Wu Yu's location was the same place where Duan Ling had fallen off the cliff. Especially since Wu Yu targeted the Weitian Alliance as soon as he appeared, although it turned out that Shi Jian, Liu Zao, and others whom he had schemed against were all conspirators, they were also Duan Ling's enemies.

But this evidence alone was not enough to prove that he was the Duan Ling of that time.

Ji Pingyi was taken aback, unsure whether to sheath his longsword or leave it unsheathed. Compared to him and Li Chenzhu, who was still armed and radiating killing intent, the four Shaolin monks were much more composed. After all, whether Wu Yu was Duan Ling or not was irrelevant to them; they were just setting up a formation to prevent the other party from escaping for a short time. If it was indeed Duan Ling,

they would take action; if not, they would simply sheathe their weapons and apologize. "Rest assured, four masters, if you really wanted to leave, I would have already done so just now." Deliberately trying to expose Li Chenzhu's weakness, Wu Yu glanced at him with contempt, even pointing a finger at him, which met Li Chenzhu's finger pointing at him.

"I dare not fight the Alliance Leader, but I can easily break through his lines without much effort.

Although I know that Duan Ling's refusal to flee is to psychologically suppress and damage me, to diminish my previous momentum, and that his provocation is most likely intended to make me lose my temper and expose a weakness so he can strike successfully, knowing this doesn't diminish the anger overflowing in my heart.

Although a powerful enemy is right in front of me, and even dares to provoke me, there is a Shaolin formation between us. Li Chenzhu is not a reckless person, and knowing that this person is no ordinary individual, he naturally will not disrupt his own formation."

"If...if you can break through this formation, I'll come and see how much skill you have with your iron chain. It's not your place to be so quick-witted, hmph!"

"If you really want to fight, I'm happy to oblige. After all, being able to test the power of the Dragon Tiger Demon Formation is a great pleasure in life. If it weren't for the fact that I have to deal with the underworld alliance, a sparring match between the two sides would be unavoidable."

Wu Yu coldly dismissed Li Chenzhu's boastful words, his voice unwavering: "However, you have insulted my

innocence. If you can't provide evidence, your status and position won't save you." "Uncle-Master, if you really have evidence, then produce it. With the Master here, we're not afraid of this person flying to the sky." Seeing that Li Chenzhu was no match for Wu Yu in verbal sparring, Jin Xianyu had no choice but to speak up to defuse the situation. However, his anger towards Li Chenzhu was even greater than towards Duan Ling. After all, the former had just made him suffer, while the latter was just a rumored formidable enemy.

"Providing evidence will prove this person's crimes, eliminating internal strife and preventing further internal strife, allowing us to focus our efforts on the enemy. This kind of undercover agent who disrupts the order of our Weitian Alliance and colludes with the underworld alliance must not be tolerated!"

Hearing Jin Xianyu's words, it seemed like he was helping him, but in reality, he was putting him in a corner. If he still couldn't produce evidence, wouldn't he become the one Jin Xianyu was referring to as "an undercover agent who disrupts the order of our Weitian Alliance and colludes with the underworld alliance"?

Unfortunately, although Li Chenzhu was angry, he really couldn't produce any evidence for the time being. He could only point at Duan Ling and shout angrily: "This person was extremely lucky. He destroyed the evidence long ago. Otherwise, how could I not produce any evidence? Everyone, let's work together, capture this thief, and interrogate him properly. We must expose this secret to the world no matter what. Even if there is no evidence, I will pry it out of this thief's mouth..."

"Utterly boring!" Hearing this, Shao Xueqian finally couldn't bear it anymore and interrupted Li Chenzhu's endless chatter with a sharp rebuke.

"Brother Wu saved Xueqian and Mengying's lives at the bottom of the cliff that day, and he also worked tirelessly for our alliance, fighting against the underworld alliance with all his might. How can he be compared to someone who has accomplished nothing and only knows how to make wild accusations? If you, Li Chenzhu, can provide evidence, then our alliance will naturally deal with the internal troubles. But if you cannot provide evidence, you, Li Chenzhu, cannot bear this responsibility! Even if Lord Jin wants to protect you, Xueqian must seek justice!"

"Protect...protect..." Hearing Shao Xueqian's words, Li Chenzhu really couldn't hold back anymore. As the junior brother of Quanji, he not only held a respected position in Yuanxiong Fortress, but was also famous in the martial arts world. When did he ever need Jin Xianyu, a junior, to "protect" him?

However, before he could even erupt, Jin Xianyu spoke first, not giving him a chance to interject: "Uncle-Master is, after all, a member of Yuanxiong Fortress. Why should Madam reprimand him? If Madam truly has objections to Uncle-Master's actions, she should come at me! As for Uncle-Master, evidence should naturally be presented. If there is no evidence, the fortress has its own rules to deal with Uncle-Master's actions, so Madam need not trouble herself."

How could these two, who were usually like strangers, have such a good understanding? On the surface, they were arguing, but in reality, they were pushing each other to the edge. Li Chenzhu, who was so angry that he felt like vomiting blood, barely endured the humiliation of being "protected" by a junior, thinking that he would settle this score with them after he had dealt with Duan Ling!

"The evidence is there, but I'll bring it up after we capture this fellow, lest he escape first..."

Li Chenzhu appeared confident on the surface, but he was actually playing hard to get. He intended to use Shaolin's power to capture Wu Yu first, thus destroying Wu Yu's formidable reputation since joining the Weitian Alliance. Afterwards, regardless of whether Li Chenzhu could produce evidence, Wu Yu's reputation would be tarnished. Even if Ji Pingyi and the others still admired his strategy, martial arts were paramount in the martial world. Once Wu Yu was defeated and captured in front of everyone, his words would lack conviction.

Even Ji Pingyi saw through this scheme. He glanced at his mother with difficulty, only to see her expressionless, merely watching the battle raging beside Wu Yu, her slender hand gripping her sword as if ready to strike at any moment, yet remaining silent, indicating that she left the matter entirely to him. Ji Pingyi grew increasingly uneasy.

Although righteous sects were much more reasonable than underworld factions, the reputation of those with superior martial arts skills far surpassed that of ordinary people—a universally accepted truth in the martial world. He knew that once he made this move, the outcome was less important than who won or lost. Even if he later wholeheartedly supported Wu Yu and avoided the negative consequences of diminished prestige, the animosity between him and Wu Yu would never be erased.

Neither advancing nor retreating was advantageous to him. He couldn't understand how the self-righteous Li Chenzhu could have conceived such a vicious plan.

"Since that's the case, masters, you may make your move." Whether he had guessed Li Chenzhu's wicked scheme or not, Wu Yu sneered, not even glancing at Master Ronghua, and challenged the four Shaolin monks from afar.

"It is said that Shaolin martial arts are all derived from Buddhist teachings, supreme divine powers for subduing demons and protecting the righteous path. Let me test the power of the Dragon-Tiger Demon-Slaying Formation and see how effective such methods are against me, hmph!"

"This…" The four Shaolin monks exchanged glances, their weapons still pointed at Wu Yu, but their initial momentum had vanished.

Although lacking experience in the martial world, the four Shaolin monks, having been taken out of Shaolin by Master Ronghua for training, were undoubtedly among the best in the temple.

Before leaving, their elders had earnestly warned them against using their martial arts for violence or bullying the weak, but most importantly, to distinguish right from wrong and never become someone else's killing tool, lest they tarnish the entire reputation of Shaolin.

Now, seeing Li Chenzhu so aggressively pressing forward, even Wu Yu had lost his temper, dragging them into the mess. Unable to discern right from wrong, how were they supposed to act? And their master hadn't given any orders.

"If that's the case, then I'll make the first move!" Not one to back down, seeing the Shaolin monks hesitate, Wu Yu snorted coldly and struck first. His iron chain moved like a serpent towards the four monks, and in the blink of an eye, he had already launched several attacks.

Only then did everyone realize that what they had initially thought was a single chain attack from Wu Yu, created by his rapid movements, was actually a closer look. Wu Yu's gloves were actually connected to his fingers. While

striking with his fingers was slightly weaker than using his hands, the simultaneous use of multiple chains, coupled with his agile finger control and the coordinated chain work, created a net of chains floating around him. His defense was impenetrable, his attacks unpredictable, demonstrating genuine skill. Even the four monks, having practiced formations for a long time and sharing a deep understanding, were unable to overcome Wu Yu. Their combined power, achieved through mutual support and defense, was several times greater than a one-on-one fight.

However, the Dragon-Tiger Demon-Slaying Formation possessed immense power to subdue demons, and the monks, already in formation, had become more cautious after being startled by Wu Yu. Having surrounded Wu Yu, and with the aim of avoiding mistakes rather than seeking merit, Wu Yu, though outwardly imposing and forcing the four monks into a defensive posture, would have already won by a landslide in a direct confrontation. However, fighting four against one, breaking through the encirclement would be extremely difficult.

Seeing that the Dragon-Tiger Demon-Slaying Formation had finally trapped Wu Yu, Li Chenzhu's heart, which had been pounding in his chest, finally relaxed. In terms of martial arts prowess, the two sides might be evenly matched, and Wu Yu might even have a slight edge.

But now it had become a war of attrition, a test of who would give out first. In this respect, the Shaolin disciples possessed a long, steady, and solid breathing technique. Unless Wu Yu's martial arts truly surpassed the four monks by a significant margin, victory would be extremely difficult, especially considering that Master Ronghua had not yet made a move!

Now he didn't need to fight himself. Seeing how strange Wu Yu's skills were, Li Chenzhu felt it was merely a minor technique, not a great achievement. But if he were to fight, he wondered if he could easily defeat him. If victory was difficult, his reputation would be even more jeopardized.

After exchanging over a hundred blows, seeing that Wu Yu, though still attacking more than defending, was unable to break through the formation, Shao Xueqian, outwardly calm but inwardly panicked, gripped her longsword tightly. If she hadn't known that intervening would not only fail to help Wu Yu but also cause him trouble, and might even implicate her own son, she probably would have already acted.

On the other side, Ji Mengying hadn't even learned her mother's outward composure. With her longsword in hand, she gritted her teeth and observed the situation. If it weren't for Zhu Yuhan, who was unknowingly standing beside her, pleading with her to remain calm, she probably would have already charged into the fray.

After another forty-odd moves, seeing that Wu Yu had repeatedly tried to lure and attack, yet failed to find a weakness in the Dragon-Tiger Demon-Slaying Formation, everyone knew that he was doomed. Wu Yu, of course, knew this even more clearly. His four-linked sword clashed with the weapons of the Shaolin monks, his eyes constantly searching for an opening. Finally, his left hand, which had been held in front of him in a defensive stance, clenched, drawing everyone's attention.

Given his ugly appearance and his initial clear hostility towards Yuanxiong Fortress, even though the members of the Mighty Heaven Alliance knew Wu Yu was one of their own, they couldn't help but be wary of him, unconsciously searching for flaws in his moves.

Seeing that Wu Yu's iron chain followed a strange and unpredictable pattern, the crowd relaxed slightly. Although surprise attacks are difficult to defend against, long weapons, like anything else, have their weaknesses. While their power is formidable and they can strike from a distance of several feet, the movement of a long weapon creates numerous openings around the user. Once the opponent gets close, the outcome is almost certain.

Unexpectedly, today I witnessed Wu Yu's true skill. His simultaneous use of multiple techniques, each covering the other's attack and defense, made getting close to him significantly more difficult than anticipated. Furthermore, Wu Yu only used his right hand to wield the techniques, while his left hand remained protectively positioned in front of him. It's unclear whether his iron gauntlet had the same mechanism as his right hand.

Clearly, he used these two points to compensate for his weaknesses. Enemies found it difficult to attack his side, and even if they did, they would face his constantly defensive left hand, making victory extremely difficult. If it weren't for the fact that his opponents were four Shaolin monks who had already set up the incredibly powerful Dragon Tiger Demon-Slaying Formation, making escape nearly impossible, and if others hadn't intervened, capturing him would have been an impossible task.

Now, this clenched left hand was clearly not intended to deal with the four Shaolin monks who were difficult to approach, or even those who could only wave flags and shout from the outside, unable to make a move or even take a step forward. He must have intended to switch from defense to offense.

Seeing Wu Yu's true abilities, which he had been concealing, the crowd naturally wouldn't let such a good opportunity pass.

Wu Yu stretched out his right hand, and four agile, snake-like iron chains, like four arrows, pierced through the four men's defensive line, launching a counterattack that struck at the enemy's vitals. Although the four monks had worked together for a long time and had excellent teamwork, the principle of a formation was to use numbers to overwhelm the few. The formation members would cover each other, the attackers wouldn't fear counterattacks, and the defenders wouldn't worry about the offensive, using unity and cooperation to offset differences in skill or technique. However, Wu Yu's simultaneous use of four chains was like four people attacking simultaneously within the formation, instantly disrupting their formation.

Seeing the iron chain aimed directly at their vital points, and knowing that their comrades could only defend themselves and could not protect themselves, the four monks were terrified. They used their weapons to either parry or dodge the incoming iron chain.

Although dividing the force into four channels inevitably weakens it, and Wu Yu's skill is not far superior to the four monks, while the attack from the iron chain is deceptive, it's impossible for the four monks to be unable to resist its force. However, since "the four monks must fight individually," the formation has already been broken.

Especially since Wu Yu's methods are not limited to this. The force of the chain varies in strength, speed, and even direction, as if using four different martial arts simultaneously. When the four monks tried to resist, they immediately felt the strange and unbearable force of the chain. The instinct of a martial artist is naturally to resist with all their might to prevent the force from penetrating their bodies, but the recoil from the force caused their internal energy to stagnate, and their feet to stagger involuntarily. The scene was immediately chaotic.

The four monks were already exhausted just trying to avoid colliding with each other, let alone blocking Wu Yu who was about to break through the formation.

Although they knew Wu Yu was extraordinary, the Dragon Tiger Banner Formation was a major Shaolin formation. The formation was renowned in the martial arts world. Seeing Wu Yu trapped in it, Shao Xueqian felt a cold sweat on her palms. Only when Wu Yu broke the formation did her heart ease slightly.

Even though she knew that Wu Yu was able to break the formation because the four Shaolin monks were new to the martial arts world and inexperienced in trickery, and because he could attack several people simultaneously with his multiple iron chains, a far cry from ordinary weapons, the four monks suffered such a great loss due to their lack of experience.

In terms of true skill, Wu Yu might not be much better than the four monks, but seeing him break the formation so easily, as if not even shedding a drop of sweat, his dashing and relaxed appearance still made her heart flutter, completely forgetting his ugly appearance. After

disrupting the four monks' formation, Wu Yu snorted and stepped forward, not forgetting to launch a whip attack on Li Chenzhu. He had already raised his whip to strike when he suddenly felt a strong wind rushing towards him, and saw the whip silently appear before him. The iron chain, capable of forcing the four monks back and disrupting their steps, was not to be underestimated. He hurriedly raised his whip to protect his head and face, but felt the chain's strength was weak. For a moment, he thought Wu Yu had some hidden tricks up his sleeve, so he adopted a defensive stance, and naturally, he had no way to launch an attack, only letting Wu Yu easily step out.

At this moment, a Buddhist chant rang out, and Shao Xueqian and Li Chenzhu were both surprised and delighted, and the steps they were about to take stopped involuntarily.

Although they knew that with the Dragon Tiger Demon-Slaying Formation broken, Master Ronghua, as an elder of Shaolin, would definitely make a move, they did not expect him to choose this moment! He broke through the formation of the four monks in one fell swoop, and even Li Chenmo, who was waiting for the rabbit to come to the tree stump, was forced to adopt a defensive stance. On the surface, he was majestic, but in reality, Wu Yu must have expended a lot of energy. At this time, how could he possibly survive when facing Master Ronghua, whose power was several levels higher than his own? Back then,

Duan Ling relied on his wit to... Having escaped Master Ronghua's grasp, Wu Yu's skill was already far inferior to his opponent's. His progress over the past decade or so at the cliff's edge had been severely hampered by the Golden Dragon Thorn. With this disparity in strength, if he didn't compensate for his shortcomings with new techniques, Wu Yu would have no chance against Master Ronghua's palm strike in a direct confrontation!

The astonished Shao Xueqian instinctively wanted to draw her sword, but then she remembered that such a strike would not only bring shame upon herself but also implicate her son. Her feet faltered, and she didn't draw her sword. Just then, she heard the overjoyed Li Chenzhu shout, "Master, well done! We don't need to care about the rules of the martial world when dealing with such a scoundrel and wicked lecher. Everyone, let's attack together! After capturing this thief, we'll use torture to extract a confession and see what tricks he's hiding in our alliance! This time, we'll never let this villain escape again!"

However, it wasn't just the two of them who were excited. Seeing the four monks' disordered movements, seemingly chaotic, Fu Mingxuan and the others with discerning eyes could see that Wu Yu's calculations on the iron chain were precise. The monks' chaotic movements perfectly blocked Master Ronghua's attack.

Although Master Ronghua's martial arts were superb, escaping the monks' obstruction would only take a moment. However, in a battle between masters, every second counts. Regardless of whether Wu Yu was truly the reincarnation of Duan Ling from back then, both Duan Ling and Wu Yu possessed exceptional lightness skills. Escaping the hall in that instant would be no difficult task. Fu Mingxuan couldn't help but be secretly alarmed by the depth of this man's cunning. If he were to become an enemy, it would be truly troublesome.

Unfortunately, Li Chenzhu's words had truly cornered Wu Yu, and Ji Pingyi's silence left Wu Yu to face a powerful enemy alone. Fu Mingxuan couldn't help but curse his disciple for being too inexperienced; this was not the time to worry about reputation!

If Wu Yu is truly innocent, Ji Pingyi's intervention to protect him would win Wu Yu's favor, at most incurring Li Chen's wrath. However, Li Chen and Wu Yu were already at odds, so offending him wouldn't be a big deal. If Wu Yu was truly Duan Ling in disguise, it would at most be a case of oversight. As the leader of an alliance, how could he not even distinguish between such serious matters?

Shao Xueqian remained silent, and Ji Pingyi's failure to protect Wu Yu had forced Master Ronghua to intervene. Given Master Ronghua's high reputation, his intervention would be tantamount to a judgment. If Wu Yu was indeed Duan Ling, he would likely fall into Master Ronghua's clutches. Even if Wu Yu could find evidence to prove his innocence, witnessing the coldness of human nature, he would likely be disappointed in Ji Pingyi.

The disappointment of a wise man is more dangerous than anything else. The story of Ke Huo and Guo Jia, who fled to Cao Cao's side at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty due to their disappointment with Yuan Shao, is a prime example. Moreover, with the two sides currently locked in a stalemate, the Weitian Alliance is not as powerful as Cao Cao was back then! What should be done now?

On the contrary, Ji Mengying was about to draw her sword when Zhu Yuhan stopped her. The two women only tugged at each other on the surface, but in reality, they were also testing their internal strength. Fu Mingxuan couldn't help but hold onto hope.

Although trapped in the formation, he could still see and hear in all directions and easily break through the formation. If Wu Yu saw the scene over there, he might be able to turn the tide. In any case, it was better than letting this exceptionally talented expert leave.

Seeing Shao Xueqian hesitate, Fu Mingxuan knew her thoughts. After all, she had gone out with Wu Yu last night, and she had to avoid suspicion. It was difficult for her to protect him, otherwise it might backfire. But compared to her hesitation, Ji Pingyi, who should have been protecting his own people, was particularly disappointing.

Fu Mingxuan thought to himself that after this matter was over, he would have to have a good talk with this disciple. Hesitation only leads to trouble, and indecisiveness is a major taboo for those in positions of power! In the blink of

an eye, Master Ronghua had already approached Wu Yu from behind in an instant, and stretched out a palm. On the surface, there was no powerful aura, but the force of the move pushed aside the disciples blocking his way, and in an instant, only the two of them remained in the arena.

At first glance, onlookers might have thought Master Ronghua was holding back, not using much force. However, with their discerning eyes, Fu Mingxuan and Shao Xueqian could clearly see the sheer power of Master Ronghua's move. He had concentrated all the force of the wind into his palm, not revealing a single trace. If he hadn't needed to buy time to prevent Wu Yu's escape and push his disciples away with the force of the wind, even that little bit of force wouldn't have escaped. This kind of completely concentrated palm strike was the true power of a master.

Feeling the wind behind him, although he didn't feel the force hitting him, he vaguely sensed its overwhelming power. Knowing that he couldn't escape it, Wu Yu sighed inwardly.

He knew his own limitations; in terms of internal energy, fighting Master Ronghua head-on was the worst possible strategy. He hadn't expected that despite all his scheming, he still couldn't avoid this direct confrontation.

Turning back to meet the attack would be suicide. He lightly touched the ground with his toes, spun around, and faced Master Ronghua directly. His left hand, previously clenched into a fist, extended into a palm, forcefully blocking Master Ronghua's long-prepared strike.

The moment he received the blow, he felt immense pressure bearing down on his palm. How could Master Ronghua's decades of steady and profound internal energy be easily countered? Almost immediately, the pressure made it difficult for Wu Yu to breathe.

If Wu Yu hadn't been prepared when breaking the formation, holding back five-tenths of his strength in his left fist, and hadn't wasted no energy in his spin, this palm strike would have been a long-prepared attack. If he had truly reacted hastily as he appeared, this single blow would have likely caused him to vomit blood and retreat in defeat.

The moment of contact felt eternal. Wu Yu ultimately couldn't withstand Master Ronghua's powerful palm strike, staggering back several steps, blood trickling from the corner of his lips.

Since removing the Golden Dragon Thorn, he appeared to only offer advice, but in reality, he worked exceptionally hard behind the scenes. Coupled with the cooperation of women like Shao Xueqian and Jie Mingyan, and the mastery of sexual techniques, his skill progressed rapidly through the union of yin and yang. While not exceptionally powerful, his solid and integrated strength was no less than others, unlike his apparent reliance on unorthodox techniques. Otherwise, a single exchange would have been far more brutal.

Master Ronghua uttered a Buddhist chant, clasped his hands together, stood solemnly with his eyes closed and head bowed, and ceased his pursuit. It was unclear whether he felt he shouldn't attack again, or whether he was confident that Wu Yu was defenseless after that blow, making further capture unnecessary.

Seeing their master's demeanor, the four monks, who had finally regained their composure, naturally refrained from intervening. But how could Li Chenzhu, standing nearby, not seize this opportunity? He had been genuinely embarrassed and annoyed by Wu Yu's weak and effortless attack.

He roared, as if declaring that he wasn't acting without permission, but openly and honestly. The younger members of the hall were so shocked they lost their footing, silently closing in behind Wu Yu and bringing their whip down on Wu Yu's head!

With a loud "clang," Li Chenzhu's seemingly inevitable strike was actually blocked. Seeing the newcomer, Li Chenzhu's face turned red with rage, his blood boiling.

"Young lady, you're so ignorant! How dare you intervene to save this person? Don't you know the difference between good and evil, and disregard even the reputation of your sect? You ignorant brat, today I'll teach you a lesson on behalf of your father!

" "Hmph!" A snort escaped Ji Mengying's nose, and she felt a slight pain in her bones. Her swordsmanship was inherently unsuitable for direct confrontation, and her skill was far inferior to Li Chenzhu's. If it weren't for Wu Yu's rescue and her diligent tutelage, which led to her rapid progress in internal energy, how could she have possibly blocked that whip?

Even so, the direct hit still left her in excruciating pain, forcing her to grit her teeth and endure it.

"Still not leaving? Have you and this scoundrel had some scandalous affair? Watch me kill you in one move!"

Enraged that his attack had been blocked by this junior, Li Chenzhu increased the force of his whip. But the next moment, he was stunned, unsure whether to press down further.

If he hadn't known that Wu Yu, after being struck by Master Ronghua, would be powerless to resist, Li Chenzhu wouldn't have acted at this moment. He hadn't expected that although Wu Yu's mouth was bleeding, his eyes were still bright and clear, yet with a hint of bewilderment, clearly indicating that he hadn't suffered much loss at Master Ronghua's hands. He was already shocked. But the steel whip had already been thrown; there was no reason to retract it.

Blocked by Ji Mengying, Li Chenzhu intended to strike again with greater force, as he wasn't afraid of the younger Ji Pingyi or the woman Shao Xueqian. However, in a flash, the person who appeared beside Ji Mengying, lightly blocking his steel whip with a palm strike, was none other than Master Ronghua!

Li Chenzhu's skill was already inferior to Master Ronghua's, not to mention the added internal force from Ji Mengying's resistance. Moreover, his shock had reduced the force of his palm strike, and Li Chenzhu immediately followed in Wu Yu's footsteps, staggered back several steps, and the steel whip clattered to the ground, too weak to pick up again. If Master Ronghua hadn't intended to harm him,

Li Chenzhu would likely have suffered internal injuries. His palm strike was weak, and his breathing slightly disordered, but this was nothing compared to the immense shock in his heart. If Master Ronghua hadn't personally intervened, Li Chenzhu wouldn't have dared to act rashly, let alone Ji Pingyi and the others who were already hesitant and unsure whether to intervene.

Li Chenzhu cursed inwardly, "You old bald man, you injured him just now, making us all really believe you're Duan Ling, which is why we attacked without reservation to capture him. But now you're saving him. Were your earlier attack and your disciples' formation all just for show?"

But no matter how arrogant and conceited Li Chenzhu was, how much he thought he was above everyone else in Yuanxiong Fortress, as if no one in the world mattered to him, he couldn't bring himself to utter these words of rebuke in front of Master Ronghua.

For a moment, the hall was silent, only the sound of Li Chenzhu's steel whip hitting the ground echoing. Not only was Master Ronghua silent, standing with his hands clasped in front of Wu Yu, a hint of pity in his eyes, but even Wu Yu, who had escaped unscathed, looked unusually surprised, as if his usual wit and self-confidence had vanished, as if he hadn't understood Master Ronghua's intentions at all. And Li Chenzhu, his face flushed red with anger, was speechless.

After a long silence, Fu Mingxuan finally broke the silence: "Master, this...this is..."

"Amitabha." Master Ronghua uttered a Buddhist chant, but didn't even raise his head. Bathed in the questioning gazes of the crowd, he seemed oblivious: "Regarding Benefactor Li's words, this old monk also had doubts, which is why I tested Benefactor Wu's martial arts. However, although Benefactor Wu's skill follows the Yin-Yang division, a Tai Chi profound skill, it is no longer the more Yang-oriented Duan Ling Gong of yesteryear. Clearly, this old monk misunderstood. This old monk apologizes here, and hopes that Benefactor Wu will not take it to heart and will continue to assist the Weitian Alliance in resisting the Black Gang Alliance." "If a strongman like you could leave a sliver of hope for our righteous path, then the righteous path would be fortunate, and the world would be fortunate. I wonder what Benefactor Wu's wishes are? Can you have the magnanimity to let all past events flow away?"

Although he was so angry that his heart was pounding several times faster, and he wanted to pick up the steel whip on the ground and beat Wu Yu to death, not to mention that Master Ronghua was already protecting Wu Yu, and just seeing that Wu Yu had caught his breath and could only stand with Ji Mengying's support, given this man's intelligence, if he rashly made a move, he would probably suffer at this man's hands.

Li Chenzhu turned his head away angrily, thinking that since Master Ronghua had said so, taking full responsibility for everything, Wu Yu probably wouldn't dare to lightly offend the Shaolin's might. This time, his actions should be considered a closed case.

He never expected such an outcome, but Master Ronghua had been in the martial world for a long time, what kind of vision and insight did he have? Now that he had spoken, Wu Yu must indeed have no connection with Duan Ling from back then. Fu Mingxuan was relieved, and when he saw that Ji Pingyi was also relieved, he couldn't help but shake his head slightly.

This disciple is so naive, relaxing so quickly, unaware that the real crisis isn't over yet! Li Chen's whip strike was indeed well-timed; even when Wu Yu saw an opening, he didn't dare act rashly. Fortunately, Ji Mengying intervened in time, saving Wu Yu's life. Regardless of whether Wu Yu harbors resentment towards Ji Pingyi, he at least appreciates Ji Mengying's kindness and shouldn't become estranged from the Weitian Alliance.

Seeing that Wu Yu is safe and sound, and Master Ronghua has apologized, indicating that everything was a misunderstanding, this matter should be considered closed. Now it depends on whether Wu Yu accepts Master Ronghua's sincerity.

All eyes shifted from Master Ronghua to Wu Yu, who, supported by Ji Mengying, gradually regained his balance. His gaze towards Master Ronghua was a mixture of doubt, gratitude, and astonishment. After a long silence, he finally uttered, "Since Master has such a kind intention, I will naturally comply. Yesterday's events are like yesterday's death, today's events are like today's birth. I will not be bound by the past, so please rest assured, Master. I will be deeply grateful for any further instruction you may give.

" "But..."

Hearing Wu Yu's words, Li Chen's anger flared again after only half-relief. This guy had gotten away with it and was still acting innocent! Master Ronghua had already smoothed things over, and he still planned to pursue the matter further? Did he really expect him, as an elder of Yuanxiong Fortress, to apologize to him?

He gritted his teeth, only to hear Wu Yu continue, "This small matter can be let go, but I cannot easily let go of these old grudges and grievances. Even in the martial world, there are right and wrong. I only wish that the sinners would bow their heads. Since there is cause, there will be effect. I cannot let it go easily."

"Oh? If it does not violate the rules of the martial world and does not cause the dead to suffer injustice, this old monk has nothing to do with it. I hope you will be considerate."

Although he did not understand what kind of secret technique Wu Yu and Master Ronghua were discussing, seeing that the matter had been resolved, Ji Pingyi breathed a sigh of relief. In fact, whether Wu Yu was Duan Ling in disguise was not important. As long as Master Ronghua was there, he would not be afraid even if Duan Ling came.

But Li Chenzhu taking this opportunity to challenge his authority as the leader of the alliance was something he could not tolerate. However, since Master Ronghua had already spoken, no matter how much he hated Li Chenzhu, he could not pursue the matter here. Turning his head and seeing his master's gaze, he knew he was in trouble. Ji Pingyi sighed inwardly. This position of leader of the alliance was really not easy to hold.

"Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, let's leave it at that and everyone can rest. Madam Wu, please examine the master's pulse to prevent any possible enemy from engaging in any treacherous acts. Brother Wu, please also rest well; you must have had a hard night on official business..."

Turning his head to glance at Yuanxiong Fortress, Ji Pingyi added with reluctance, "As for Fortress Master Jin, since we've determined that there are Shadow Sword Sect spies within the alliance, stirring up trouble and disrupting our foundation, we urge Fortress Master Jin to take on this heavy responsibility and do everything in his power to find out who the spy is. We absolutely cannot allow this person to continue their underhanded schemes, no matter how high their position or how prestigious their status. We urge Fortress Master Jin to find this person and eliminate this major threat to our Mighty Heaven Alliance."

"I obey your command." Glancing coldly at Li Chenzhu, Jin Xianyu could no longer conceal the smile on his lips. On the surface, he was already the lord of Yuanxiong Fortress, but in reality, there were quite a few undercurrents within the fortress who were not convinced

of his authority. Li Chenzhu was one of them, and he was taking this opportunity to suppress these people and see who would dare to offend his authority as the fortress lord. If it weren't for Ji Pingyi giving him such a good opportunity, given his personality, he wouldn't have tolerated Ji Pingyi using his authority as the alliance leader to order him around!

Knowing that he was in trouble now, and that every word Jin Xianyu and Ji Pingyi said was aimed at him, the shrewd Li Chenzhu knew that in this world, there were those who would add flowers to brocade, but not those who would offer charcoal in the snow. The people in the hall were not farsighted or insightful; how could they see his importance? Most of them would only kick him when he was down and follow the fool Jin Xianyu to deal with him. If he wanted to survive, he could only find a way to save himself.

Thinking about it, Li Chenzhu couldn't help but hate Master Ronghua. If this old monk hadn't ordered his disciple to take action, clearly treating Wu Yu as Duan Ling in disguise, he wouldn't have acted so righteously.

To be honest, he was initially skeptical. After all, he hadn't fought Duan Ling many times back then, and among those in the hall who could recognize Duan Ling, only Shao Xueqian and Master Ronghua could see through him. Since he had fooled Shao Xueqian, only Master Ronghua could see through this man.

Therefore, as soon as the Dragon-Tiger Demon-Slaying Formation activated, Li Chenzhu knew he had made the right bet and hurriedly attacked, intending to capture this ugly man first! Even if it didn't dethrone Ji Pingyi from his position as alliance leader, he would make sure this man suffered greatly.

Unexpectedly, at the last moment, it was that old monk Ronghua who betrayed him! If it weren't for Ronghua's timely intervention to block his attack, not only would the exhausted Wu Yu, after the fierce battle, be unable to withstand his whip, but even if Wu Yu escaped, Li Chenzhu could then use this to gain power and mobilize the entire Mighty Heaven Alliance to hunt down this man and ensure he didn't escape justice. Who would have thought that, with the meat on the chopping block, such a dramatic turn of events would occur? If he hadn't known that Ronghua's martial arts far surpassed his own, and that the Shaolin Sect's power was far greater than that of Yuanxiong Fortress, he probably would have challenged them long ago.

Now that things have come to this, he truly didn't know how to handle the situation. Before Li Chenzhu could even speak, Wu Yu waved his hand.

"I urge the Alliance Leader to reconsider the matter of searching for spies. After all, Ma Xuanyuan is also connected to our alliance, and many within the alliance have ties to him. Leaving aside whether we can find all his spies, such a public display alone could cause countless disputes within the alliance. The battle with the Black Gang Alliance is imminent; we must not lose our composure. I urge the Alliance Leader to calm down and focus on preparing for the upcoming battle!"

"As for spies, perhaps there are still some within the alliance who have been misled by Ma Xuan, but as long as they don't truly betray us and collude with Ma Xuan, I hope the alliance leader will be magnanimous and tolerant. After all, if our alliance wins this battle and eliminates the threat of the Shadow Sword Sect, these weak-willed individuals will have no way to rebel and will obediently submit to the alliance leader. If our alliance loses..."

A bitter smile appeared on his lips. It was indeed not easy to say the consequences of their defeat, but he had no choice but to say it now. Wu Yu ignored the stares from others and kept glancing at Master Ronghua, speaking calmly: "These spies are no longer of any value, and I'm sure Ma Xuan wouldn't dare to reuse these fickle people. I hope the alliance leader will reconsider the gains and losses here."

"Since Brother Wu has said so, let's put this matter... aside for now!" Seeing the fleeting disappointment on Jin Xianyu's face, Ji Pingyi knew he was unconvinced. After all, Li Chenmo's arrogance from last night to today was unbearable even for him, let alone for Jin Xianyu, who had been directly bullied by him. To let this rare opportunity for retaliation slip away would be a huge waste, not only for the furious Jin Xianyu, but also for him.

However, firstly, Wu Yu was right; with a formidable enemy at hand, it was not the right time for him to use drastic measures to reorganize his internal forces. Secondly, not only were his own people from the Weitian Alliance present, but also Master Ronghua! Although he was the leader of the Weitian Alliance, he was still young and lacked sufficient prestige in the martial arts world. Giving Master Ronghua a good impression would only benefit the Weitian Alliance's future expansion. Wu Yu had been gesturing with his eyes about this, so he had no choice but to suppress his impatience and feign generosity. After all… there's always a future!

"Yes..." Jin Xianyu was quite disappointed that Wu Yu had unexpectedly intervened, leaving him with no reason to make a fuss about Li Chenzhu. After all, he had already come up with seven or eight ideas to make Li Chenzhu suffer the humiliation he had endured the previous night, but they had all turned out to be nothing but a mirage.

However, he also guessed that Ji Pingyi had suffered no less than him the previous night, and Wu Yu was probably not a magnanimous person. In the upcoming battle with the underworld alliance, Li Chenzhu would inevitably be the first casualty. All he needed to do was to prevent Yuanxiong Fort from suffering too much damage and to absorb the forces left behind by Li Chenzhu.

"I understand. Everything should be done with the greater good in mind."

"Brother Wu has a broad mind and Alliance Leader Ji is magnanimous. They are truly outstanding people. I admire them greatly." Master Ronghua clasped his hands together in a gesture of respect. Others thought he was being compassionate, but only a few close disciples could hear a hint of sorrow in Master Ronghua's words.

He gritted his teeth, but didn't even have a chance to utter a word. Hearing them let him go after just a few words, Li Chenzhu felt relieved to have escaped a calamity, but the anger inside him only burned brighter.

He was a veteran of Yuanxiong Fortress and a senior figure in the Weitian Alliance, yet he had fallen so low that even his fate was arranged by these younger generation, and he couldn't even utter a word! The old monk Ronghua had set the tone for everything with a single sentence, leaving him no room for further discussion, fearing that saying more would only lead to more mistakes. The anger in his heart could only fester, unable to be quelled.

Taking in the expressions of everyone in the hall—disappointment, relief, joy, and doubt—Master Ronghua sighed inwardly. He assumed Wu Yu already understood his meaning, and while he didn't fully grasp the underlying message, he felt reassured. However, even he didn't know if his decision was right; everything… ultimately depended on fate.

[Volume 11] Chapter 3: Taking Advantage of the Situation

The candlelight on the table flickered. The person sitting in the chair rested one hand on his forehead and the other lightly on the table, his fingertips tapping gently. His hazy gaze seemed unfocused, perhaps watching the flickering candlelight. He appeared frozen in place, motionless for a long, long time.

Entering through the door, seeing him still in this posture, the woman tilted her head, unsure whether to interrupt his reverie.

After all, today's day had been far too eventful. When the Shaolin monk testified that Wu Yu was the true culprit in the assassination of Master Ronghua, she initially dismissed the accusation as worthless. After all, Wu Yu had been with them all night. Appearance could be faked, but martial arts skills couldn't be faked. To capture Ni Changzi, few within the Weitian Alliance possessed such ability. Moreover,

even if skill could be faked, prowess in bed couldn't be faked either. Last night, the group had been intimate, and Wu Yu had conquered Ni Changzi with his prowess. How could such a thing be fake? Therefore, when Wu Yu was trapped by the Dragon Tiger Demon Formation, she wasn't nervous at all. With his intelligence, he could easily explain it away.

But when Li Chenzhu uttered the name Duan Ling, she felt her chest skip a beat, and she almost lost her breath. If Master Ronghua hadn't secretly supported her, she probably would have slipped and fallen to the ground. After all, Li Chenzhu wasn't an ordinary disciple, but an elder of Yuanxiong Fortress. Whether he had real evidence or just made empty accusations, he had at least inadvertently revealed Wu Yu's true identity!

No one knew better than her what the name Duan Ling represented in the Weitian Alliance. Although very few people in the Weitian Alliance had actually encountered him, just thinking about how difficult it was to force him to his death back then, the disciples of the Weitian Alliance would instinctively reach for their weapons and prepare their moves upon hearing that name, without any hesitation.

If Wu Yu couldn't clear his name of this accusation, he would likely face an attack from the disciples of the Mighty Heaven Alliance, not to mention the presence of Master Ronghua, whose martial arts were no less than his own! Even if Shao Xueqian harbored no hostility towards him, she wouldn't actually intervene for him in public. Given the overwhelming odds, even if Wu Yu had three heads and six arms, escaping would be extremely difficult.

Unexpectedly, Wu Yu neither explained nor defended himself, but directly stormed the Dragon Tiger Demon Formation! He offered no explanation on the surface, yet his words and actions were perfectly imbued with resentment, perfectly portraying the demeanor of a wronged person. Even she, who knew the truth, could only secretly admire her husband's superb acting skills; nine out of ten people in the hall had been fooled by Wu Yu. The only

person Wu Yu truly wanted to deceive was the one who hadn't been fooled! His appearance had changed, and his martial arts were vastly different from before; to discern his true identity, one could only look at his past actions. Besides Shao Xueqian, who was already completely submissive to him, whose pleasure in bed had reached its peak, and who only retained the cold and aloof demeanor of the Cold Moon Fairy on the surface, but was inwardly conquered and would never testify against him, only Master Ronghua was qualified.

However, Master Ronghua's Buddhist teachings were profound, and he was not someone Wu Yu could easily deceive. His reason for watching Wu Yu break through the Dragon-Tiger Demon Formation was likely to find subtle similarities between him and Duan Ling from years ago, so as to expose him in one fell swoop. Therefore,

although Wu Yu appeared powerful and easily broke the Dragon-Tiger Demon Formation, her mind did not relax at all. On the contrary, when Wu Yu broke through the formation and even Li Chenzhu was forced to be unable to act, her tension reached its peak.

Master Ronghua would not act unless he decided to, and once he did, he would not let this opportunity pass. Whether or not he could capture Wu Yu, his true identity would likely be impossible to hide. At that time, she would have no other choice but to share life and death with him.

Having made up her mind and let go of the past, Xin Wanyi was no longer nervous. When Wu Yu took a blow from Master Ronghua, everyone in the hall knew he was doomed. While Shao Xueqian hesitated, unsure whether to intervene, Xin Wanyi remained unmoved. At worst, they would all die together!

Seeing Ji Mengying, unlike her mother, who hesitated and stood directly beside Wu Yu to take a blow from Li Chenzhu's whip for him, Xin Wanyi felt no jealousy, but rather even more admiration for Wu Yu.

This man was truly remarkable; even with his face altered, he could still win the young girl's heart. The person she had chosen was indeed extraordinary. However, there was a hint of bitterness in her praise, which she herself couldn't quite understand.

She knew that no matter how much Ji Mengying improved, there would always be a gap in skill, especially in a head-on confrontation; she couldn't possibly withstand Li Chenzhu's steel whip. She had already resolved to die, but even Xin Wanyi hadn't expected that the one who ultimately saved Wu Yu was Master Ronghua himself!

When Xin Wanyi saw Master Ronghua block Li Chenzhu's steel whip, her first thought wasn't that Wu Yu had finally escaped, but rather, "What's wrong with this master? You're the one who hurt people, and you're the one who saved them. Are you really just playing with us?"

Fortunately, Xin Wanyi was gentle by nature, and since Wu Yu had escaped unscathed, she was happier than anyone else, so she hadn't yet expressed her emotions. Even afterward, when Wu Yu and Master Ronghua had a long, rambling conversation, saying a lot of things she couldn't understand, she didn't take it to heart. In

any case, as long as Wu Yu was alright, that was all that mattered. In her excitement, she almost forgot the most basic pulse-taking technique a doctor should have. If it weren't for the Shaolin monks feeling guilty and understanding that she might make a mistake in her excitement, they probably wouldn't have allowed her to take Master Ronghua's pulse in such a state of mind!

"Hmm... thank you for your hard work." Feeling Xin Wanyi's soft, slender body pressed against his back, Wu Yu finally came to his senses, pulled her into his arms, and gently stroked Xin Wanyi's slightly disheveled hair.

"You were so nervous for me, and you even pretended to be fine while taking the master's pulse. My dear Wanyi, it's my fault for making things difficult for you... don't blame me, okay?"

"Hmm... I don't blame you..." Closing her beautiful eyes, feeling his fingers gently gliding through her hair, Xin Wanyi hummed softly, nestled in his arms, not wanting to get up. It was as if the fatigue that had settled deep in her bones was rising with her relaxation, and she wanted to stay in his warm embrace forever.

"It's a good thing it ended like this. You don't know how scared Wanyi was when he... when he revealed your identity... Hmm... Luckily... luckily your changes in your cultivation concealed the master's actions... It's all thanks to that Nine-Turn Dragon Pearl... It was just luck..."

Although she was dizzy from the sudden changes, Xin Wanyi had long been a practitioner of medicine. A doctor can save lives in a split second, and she couldn't let a sudden situation cloud her judgment. Carefully recalling Master Ronghua's words, Xin Wanyi guessed the key point.

Duan Ling's original cultivation was indeed more yang-oriented. After all, as a man, even if he practiced Taoist martial arts, which emphasizes the balance of yin and yang and the complementarity of the five elements, his innate instincts still allowed him to make more progress when practicing yang-oriented martial arts. The influence of the erotic potion was also stronger on those with a yang-oriented cultivation. Although Xin Wanyi and Shao Xueqian were also infected with the erotic potion, the effects they suffered were not as severe as Duan Ling's.

To suppress the power of the lustful poison, Duan Ling consumed the Nine-Turn Dragon Pearl, suppressing its extremely potent yin energy. Although he didn't use any medicinal methods to aid his cultivation, the resulting clash between yin and yang energies within his body was intense, the pain of which was indescribable to outsiders. Therefore, when Duan Ling was alone at the bottom of the cliff, unable to resist the agony, he could only rub his body against the rough stone ground to alleviate the internal suffering, thus transforming his appearance into what it is today.

However, his cultivation also shifted from predominantly yang to a harmonious balance of yin and yang. This transformation couldn't be achieved through ordinary martial arts techniques; otherwise, it wouldn't have escaped Master Ronghua's experience and discerning eye. However, the price he paid was far too high.

Gently stroking his scarred face, Xin Wanyi smiled bitterly. With her medical skills, even after so much time, the scars had already set in. If she were to actually do something, even if she couldn't turn him back into the handsome and dashing Duan Ling of the past, at least he wouldn't be as hideous as he is now.

But for Wu Yu now, concealing the truth was more important than anything else. Although Xin Wanyi could understand, she couldn't help but feel fortunate. If she had been the one injured, as a woman, even knowing how serious the consequences would be, she would still try every means to return to her original state.

Her slender fingers gently traced the rough scars when Xin Wanyi suddenly remembered something. She hurriedly sat up from Wu Yu's embrace and reached out to press Wu Yu's wrist pulse. During the day, she had been shocked and overjoyed, and her emotions had fluctuated greatly, inevitably affecting her. Otherwise, how could she not have thought that Wu Yu was the most likely one to be seriously injured after taking a blow from Master Ronghua!

After checking his pulse, Xin Wanyi finally breathed a sigh of relief, but inwardly cursed herself for being careless. Whether it was due to overconfidence in Wu Yu's abilities or the intense emotional turmoil of the day, she completely forgot the most important thing. She remembered to examine Master Ronghua's pulse and Ji Mengying's pulse, but completely forgot about Wu Yu's injuries!

Fortunately, upon examination, Wu Yu's pulse was normal, showing no signs of serious injury. Had Master Ronghua noticed something amiss and shown mercy? Or had Wu Yu's original power, after merging with the Nine-Turn Dragon Pearl, already been nearly equal to Master Ronghua's, and that palm strike hadn't harmed him?

"Thank goodness you're alright, otherwise Wanyi would have been terrified..." Softly nestled in Wu Yu's arms, Xin Wanyi didn't forget to give instructions, "Although you managed to deceive Master Ronghua, his skill is simply too high. Even after you fused with the Nine-Turn Dragon Pearl, your power isn't weak, but you were ultimately harmed by the lingering effects of the Golden Dragon Thorn, making you inferior to him. I wonder if you've been internally affected? My good husband promises Wanyi that at least... at least for three to five days you won't make a move. Let Wanyi keep a close watch until you're sure everything is alright before engaging in combat. Is that alright,

my husband?" "Since Wanyi has given her orders, I will naturally obey." He knew Xin Wanyi was only thinking of him. Besides, he had been forced to fall off a cliff, leaving her alone for over ten years. Now that he was back, she had to share him with this woman, and even last night she had to fight Ni Changzi alongside Shao Xueqian and the others.

Women don't like to spread their affections evenly like men; Xin Wanyi must not be feeling too good about it. A surge of tenderness welled up in Wu Yu's heart, and he no longer cared about asserting his husbandly authority.

"Actually, if we're talking about healing injuries, this beautiful Wan Yi is the best remedy. My Yin-Yang dual cultivation method is quite good, Wan Yi, how about giving it a try tonight? I guarantee the taste won't be any less wonderful than last night!"

"You...you're so annoying!" Hearing him being so serious for a moment and then making suggestive remarks to her again, she felt extremely embarrassed despite being married for so long, yet her heart was filled with sweetness.

Although she was unable to suppress her embarrassment, Xin Wan Yi knew this was inevitable. Firstly, although her medical skills were superb, her knowledge of martial arts was not deep, and it was even more difficult for her to understand the high level of martial arts of Master Ronghua and Wu Yu. If there were any hidden injuries from fighting, they might not be detected by pulse diagnosis. Only this kind of "profound" physical and mental contact could allow her to fully understand Wu Yu's physical condition.

Secondly, for someone tainted by the lustful potion, the practice of dual cultivation between men and women is the best healing method. Not to mention, after such a passionate encounter with Ni Changzi last night, yet without receiving any yang essence, she naturally has this need. Presumably, both Shao Xueqian and Jie Mingyan also crave Wu Yu's affection. However, given the circumstances, Shao Xueqian and Jie Mingyan absolutely cannot come to Wu Yu's room. Even if Wu Yu has been cleared of suspicion, Li Chenzhu has brought up the matter of their public relations last night. Even if there's a valid reason to cover it up, Ji Pingyi and the others will inevitably remain suspicious. Furthermore, given Li Chenzhu's current predicament, it's possible he might act like a mad dog, trying to save himself. Shao Xueqian and Jie Mingyan must be extremely cautious in their words and actions these next few days. Even if Wu Yu wanted to engage in dual cultivation, he has no one else to turn to besides himself.

Xin Wanyi knew how skilled Wu Yu was in bed. They'd tried several women sharing the bed before, and even two of them taking turns might not be enough to satisfy him completely. If she were to do it alone, she'd likely only be conquered. But the pleasurable feeling made her aware of how exhausted she'd be afterwards, yet she willingly let him do as he pleased.

With a soft "mmm," she gently clenched her fist and tapped his chest, afraid to hurt him. Xin Wanyi felt that although their clothes were intact, the aphrodisiac within them was gradually surging with each breath, making her body hot.

Especially between her thighs, a surge of heat rose up, making Xin Wanyi feel shy, but not because of what was about to happen in his arms. Anyway, it wasn't the first time they'd been intimate; they'd even shared intimate moments. But before he even made a move, just the thought between them was enough to ignite their desires. The power of this erotic potion was truly terrifying. If it weren't for the unavoidable aftereffects, it would be a wonderful way to enhance pleasure.

"Since Wanyi is here, it's... to heal your injuries..." She buried her face in his chest, her tongue flicking against his neck, her body almost bursting with heat from her clothes. However, Xin Wanyi still had some sense of reason and secretly regretted it. When

it comes to sexual intercourse, the woman involved is naturally happy and doesn't care about anything else, after all, the object of her affection is the man she dreams of and can never forget.

But the art of Yin-Yang dual cultivation, or even the practice of absorbing Yin to replenish Yang, is not just about the cooperation of the two minds and the tacit understanding between them; the depth of their internal energy and cultivation is the key factor in determining the effectiveness. However, in terms of skill level, she couldn't match Shao Xueqian's. As for vitality, she hadn't practiced martial arts for long and wasn't a virgin, so she wasn't really suitable.

"It's such a pity... If Xueqian or Mingyan were here... the healing effect for you would be much better! But it has to be at this time... dear husband, please... please make do..."

"At such a good time, let's not talk about anyone else, the only one in your arms is Wanyi!" Although he knew Xin Wanyi was mild-mannered and not a jealous person, women who don't get jealous are rare, it's just a matter of how much they get jealous.

Wu Yu couldn't help but hold her even tighter, lowering his head to smell the fragrance of her hair. He felt incredibly gentle and peaceful, yet he didn't feel the desire within him weaken in the slightest: "There are no other women tonight. Husband, you must focus on loving Wan Yi... If Wan Yi can't take it anymore, there will be no one to save her!"

"Mmm..." When a woman is limp in a man's arms, the best accompaniment is the man's sweet words. Xin Wanyi's body and soul went weak at his words. Even before he made a move, her mind was already in the blissful state of climax. She only managed a soft moan as she said, "But... but your treatment is important. Do you want to... do you want to take a risk? It's not good to go to Xueqian's place, but Mingyan's place... I suppose even if others find out, it won't be a big deal.

After all, in this aspect... um... if our skills are similar, then I'm a little better. If Mingyan and the others are considered good medicine, then Wanyi is just... just the dregs you've taken... not as... not as nourishing as them... right?"

Hearing Xin Wanyi's insincerity, Wu Yu chuckled inwardly. She said she wasn't jealous, but Xin Wanyi must still feel a little jealous. Her words sounded like she was being reasonable, but there was a hint of sourness in her tone.

He held his wife tighter, his large hands gently stroking Xin Wanyi's shoulders, back, and waist, until Xin Wanyi's voice softened, her words echoing softly in her hair.

"My husband also... loves eating the dregs of medicine... especially Wanyi's bowl of medicine. My husband wants you... to eat it all, leaving not a single dreg..."

"You... you're so naughty..." She complained softly, but her heart was overflowing with sweetness. She felt his demonic hands touching her, and a burning desire rose within her. Even though she knew it was a necessary means for him to fully release her yin energy so that he could replenish her strength and heal her wounds, the pure sweetness of lust still made Xin Wanyi's heart flutter.

While letting him do as he pleased, she couldn't help but curse inwardly. If Master Ronghua hadn't shown mercy and not seriously injured you, you wouldn't have had the strength to bully me! But she also welcomed this kind of bullying.

"Luckily...luckily the master didn't see through it, otherwise...let's see if you could still do something naughty..."

"He...he saw through it!" Hearing Xin Wanyi mention Master Ronghua, Wu Yu's hand froze. Xin Wanyi, who hadn't received any caresses, couldn't help but feel strange. Her beautiful eyes, slightly misty, looked at him with confusion, but she saw doubt in his eyes. It took her a while to understand the meaning behind Wu Yu's words.

"You...what did you say? The master...he saw through it? But...but in the hall...didn't the master say...it wouldn't happen..."

"Don't worry, Wanyi..." Although there were still clothes between them, their bodies were already hot. How could he not feel Xin Wanyi's nervousness?

Wu Yu smiled bitterly, cursing himself for bringing up the most awkward thing. Fortunately, the matter was over. He hugged Xin Wanyi even tighter, his warm breath lingering on her hair. Although he loosened his grip, the intensity hadn't lessened much.

"Actually, he knew my true identity the moment he took over. I must have acted too arrogantly before, just like back then, which aroused his suspicion. He couldn't hide it from me at all.

"However, the master's mercy wasn't entirely due to the compassion of a Buddhist monk. He probably investigated beforehand, knew what I had done, and discovered that even though he knew my identity, Xueqian and the others still had no hostility towards me. So he hesitated when he attacked. Once he realized the condition of my body, he decided not to attack, but only to use words to persuade me to abandon my past grudges and wholeheartedly help Xueqian and the others. Actually, this was similar to what I wanted. Since he didn't attack, I'll just be obedient!"

"Then... what did you mean by what you said later?" Thinking of the scene in the hall at that time, Xin Wanyi still couldn't help but feel scared. If Master Ronghua hadn't attacked then, or had attacked later, Wu Yu probably wouldn't have escaped Li Chen's steel whip. She couldn't help but be afraid.

Mentioning Wu Yu's condition, Xin Wanyi couldn't help but feel distressed. She could only do what a doctor could.

"I no longer blame the Weitian Alliance for what happened back then; after all, their actions weren't entirely unreasonable." Perhaps sensing Xin Wanyi's worry, Wu Yu gently embraced her, feeling the warmth of her concern in his arms, but couldn't help chuckle again: "Besides... Xueqian and Mingyan have already lost a lot, and will continue to lose more. As their creditor, I just need to collect the debt obediently, and I don't need to... do anything else."

"But other matters, I cannot easily dismiss." Changing his tone, Wu Yu's hands did not soften; they gradually increased in pressure, making Xin Wanyi feel a tingling sensation again. "However, the master has already agreed that as long as I respect the rules of the martial world and don't go too far, he won't interfere. Since he has kept his promise, I'm not worried about that much. As for marital relations, or Xueqian and Mingyan offering their bodies to compensate for my suffering, that's not something the Shaolin Sect should concern itself with. So, good Wanyi… tonight, let your husband properly taste your flavor… um…"

Although her heart was full of doubts, unsure who Wu Yu was after, since it wasn't Shao Xueqian, Xin Wanyi felt relieved. Besides, Wu Yu's hands, moving freely as he spoke, were something Xin Wanyi had tried countless times, yet she still couldn't resist.

Just like now, when Xin Wanyi realized it, her clothes had already been stripped down to only her undergarments, her nearly naked body nestled softly in his arms. His large hands, especially, kneading her jade-like legs, relentlessly poured forth a burning passion, searing Xin Wanyi until she couldn't help but moan. Her beautiful, hazy eyes gazed at him blankly, her protective instincts long forgotten.

Influenced by the aphrodisiac within her, Xin Wanyi was already most vulnerable to teasing, especially since the one touching her was her beloved. In particular, her desire was intense; the knot of her undergarment was already half-undone, hanging limply on her body, its alluring curves barely concealed.

His lips kissed her from cheek to neck, from neck to chest, his chin gently nudging her, until her undergarment was disheveled, her firm breasts half-exposed. Xin Wanyi felt a fever spread through her body; her slender hands were tangled in his hair, unsure whether to hold on or let go.

"Good...good husband...mmm..." A fire burned sweetly in her lower abdomen, and Xin Wanyi knew that he had aroused her desire again. Even though she knew that excessive lust would harm her health, and that what he needed most was not mutual affection, but to take her virginity to heal her wounds, only those who had personally experienced that feeling knew how captivating the pleasure of complete submission, of being unable and unwilling to resist, was.

Even knowing that she would be brutally killed by him, she would be willing, just like Ni Changzi, who was attacked by a series of storms last night and finally conquered. How could she think of resisting?

"Give...give it to Wanyi...Wanyi wants...wanyi wants you...mmm..."

"Good Wanyi...you're too slow..." His lips and tongue lingered on Xin Wanyi's chest, reluctant to let go. Although they were not as full and bouncy as Shao Xueqian's, their delicate and smooth sweetness had its own unique pleasure.

Wu Yu couldn't resist the firm nipples. He held one in his mouth, his tongue teasing and licking it, while his muffled voice pierced Xin Wanyi's heart.

"My husband still has so many clothes... how can I pamper you? Good Wanyi... please... undress your husband... let your husband pamper Wanyi's body properly..." Good

heavens! Xin Wanyi realized something was wrong when Wu Yu teased her like this. She was already down to only a small garment, barely enough to cover her body; with just a little force, he would be completely naked. Although Wu Yu's clothes were disheveled by her constant writhing in his arms, he hadn't removed any of them.

This scoundrel was clearly planning to continue teasing her while waiting for her to undress him, only to possess her fiercely when they were naked together. By then, she would be burning with desire, probably having ejaculated several times already, and who knew what kind of wanton state she would become under his devilish hands? Even though she was already head over heels in love with him, the shameful sensation still left Xin Wanyi

somewhat defenseless. Having already fallen for his charms, there was no easy way out. Besides, she knew that this shameful teasing concealed her deep affection. Xin Wanyi gritted her teeth; since it was inevitable, let him come on strong!

"Mmm… Wanyi… let me undress you…" Her hands slid weakly down his clothes, gradually reaching his buttons. Xin Wanyi gasped, feeling a fire burning within her, a fire being felt by his caresses. Tormented both internally and externally, the agonizing experience was incredibly alluring.

"But husband... um... please... please hold back a little... Wanyi's body is delicate... she can't... she can't withstand too much... if husband eats too fast... um... and... sucks all the dregs of the medicine—then— Wanyi's body—will lose the medicine—the effect—oh no...

"Don't be too fast all at once... um..."

She wanted to do more, but her body and mind were already Wu Yu's possession, and every sensitive area had been explored by Wu Yu. Once those shameful words came out, she could no longer hold back.

"Wanyi... is not your Xueqian... not as... hot and playful as her... and can't withstand your intense stimulation... Wanyi's medicine effect... is not even a tenth as strong as hers... ah... good..."

"Wanyi, don't worry..." He raised his head and kissed Xin Wanyi's hot and soft lips, feeling the warmth and sweetness between their lips and tongues, making him unable to resist kissing her deeper and deeper. He held onto Xin Wanyi's beautiful breasts, refusing to let go, teasing her until she moaned softly. Even her hands

, which were undressing him, trembled with heat. Xin Wanyi really wanted to ignore his clothes and just slip them inside, exploring the body that aroused her, just like Wu Yu's hands were doing.

"Who cares about the effects of the drug? Husband... um... I just want Wanyi... I want to devour Wanyi... devour Wanyi until there's not a drop left... make Wanyi feel like she's dying of pleasure... so good that she can never leave your bed again... look at you..."

"Oh... you're bad... um... you've made... made Wanyi like this..." She moaned softly as she continued to undress him, her slender hands forgetting their work, only intoxicated by his hot body.

Xin Wanyi felt as if her body was on fire, almost about to explode. Only she knew how much she loved the sensation of writhing and yielding beneath him, until it truly exploded.

This man was truly wicked. He knew Xin Wanyi was already intoxicated, yet he didn't actually make a move. He lured her with the sweetness of their intertwined lips and tongues, while his hands, having already released the soft desires of Xin Wanyi's breasts, slid down to her sweaty waist, sometimes lightly caressing, sometimes firmly kneading. This caused a tingling, numb, itchy, and sore sensation that traveled straight through her body from her slender waist, almost like directly stimulating her uterus. It made Xin Wanyi's valley wet and slippery, her hips trembling and contracting, trying to hold back the overflowing juices

. This was a torment for Xin Wanyi. Although she desperately wanted to be hotly and passionately played with by Wu Yu until she reached climax and collapsed limply in his arms, her innate shyness prevented her from surrendering to him so quickly.

The more she tried, the more chaotic her movements became, and she couldn't manage to undress Wu Yu. Especially now that she was aroused, Wu Yu deliberately left her most sensitive spot untouched, only lightly moving his hand around her waist, indirectly enticing her. If she wanted it, it wasn't strong enough; if she didn't want it, the indirect methods were just as effective. Xin Wanyi twisted and swayed wildly in his arms, panting and her breathing becoming erratic, but she couldn't entice him to make a move.

If her sensitive areas were exposed, she would at least actively respond; after all, she was now completely in his arms, and even if he didn't make a move, she could press herself against him and offer herself to him wholeheartedly. But she still had the important task of undressing him, a task that was originally just embarrassing, but now it made her increasingly uncomfortable.

His buttons were all in the front, and no matter how wild and bold Xin Wanyi was, she couldn't undress him while pressing herself against him. She could only endure her unsatisfied desire and try to undress him quickly.

After finally managing to undress, Xin Wanyi struggled to loosen Wu Yu's belt. Suddenly, her hand slipped, and without her noticing, Wu Yu's penis sprang to life, standing erect before her, as if shooting a beam of heat directly at her.

Overwhelmed with shame yet also with intense desire, Xin Wanyi couldn't help but groan, her body going limp and unable to move.

"Good Wanyi…it's finally over…husband…I've been waiting for you for so long…" Sensing her shy yet burning desire, Wu Yu had also been holding back for quite some time. He kissed Xin Wanyi's soft, hot lips, whispering his passionate desires into her mouth, gently supporting her waist and lowering her body.

Amidst Xin Wanyi's soft moans, her wet, secluded valley eagerly swallowed the penis little by little. The burning lust stimulated her body, causing her to convulse uncontrollably. She gasped and moaned under his movements, gently twisting as he slowly penetrated deeper, tenderly and hotly teasing her itch, filling her emptiness completely.

"So...so good..." Hearing his soft and teasing words, even though she had already experienced it countless times, Xin Wanyi was still overwhelmed with shame. But the surging passion within her was so intense that she could no longer calm down, letting him manipulate her body.

Her limbs clung to him desperately, feeling the wonderful heat piercing deeper and deeper into her body, a bone-chilling numbness that rendered her powerless to struggle: "Good husband... um... Wanyi loves you so much... Wanyi wants you... um... wants you to enjoy yourself..."

"Wanyi is so good... husband is coming to pamper you..." Although the desire in her body after her injury had greatly reduced Wu Yu's patience, Xin Wanyi's body was delicate and far less mature than Shao Xueqian's, and she could not tolerate his forceful assault. Wu Yu still tried his best, wanting to fully arouse her desire before he could truly experience ecstasy, but he did not expect that after being transformed by the aphrodisiac, Xin Wanyi had also become so thirsty.

The softness and heat of her skin fully displayed the allure of her female body, making him unable to resist any longer. But as soon as he loosened his grip slightly, he heard Xin Wanyi let out a sweet yet painful moan, as if the penis had pierced to its deepest point, startling him so much that he had to stop.

"Will it hurt, Wanyi? Should I... um..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xin Wanyi's cherry lips sealed his words. Xin Wanyi's soft, seductive whispers echoed in her mouth: "No... um... it's okay... Wanyi, although... although it hurts a little... but... but it's just like... just like before... after the pain... you'll feel beautiful... and... and even if it hurts... Wanyi feels comfortable in the pain, my dear husband, don't hold back... tonight... Wanyi will definitely... be happy..."

Feeling his penis probing into a soft, tender mound, coupled with Xin Wanyi's instinctive physical reaction, how could Wu Yu not know that he had reached Xin Wanyi's climax? Especially since Xin Wanyi was so aroused by him, as soon as his penis touched her sensitive spot, her delicate body couldn't help but climax.

The intense physical intimacy during their climax made him unable to resist any longer. Instinctively, he began to explore and suck her yin essence, the sensation of which sent Xin Wanyi into a blissful trance. She greedily pursued his tongue, unwilling to leave him even for a moment.

"Good Wanyi...you came so quickly...I can't...be satisfied so soon!" After finally bringing Xin Wanyi back to her senses from the ecstasy of her orgasm, Wu Yu kissed her, his hands tenderly caressing her soft skin, making her tremble. He then moaned softly at their lips, a sound that made Xin Wanyi blush: "Wanyi's came is so sweet...I love it so much..."

During the passion of lovemaking, men and women can say anything, but such words would sound shameful in another context. Moreover, Xin Wanyi had already climaxed, and her mind was slightly clearer. Hearing such vulgar words, she felt hot with shame, but then she thought that tonight she was the only one left to enjoy pleasure with him. These words—she couldn't help but hear them.

She shyly punched his back with her pink fists, but she didn't want to leave his embrace: "It's all your fault—um—you made Wanyi—unable to hold back—and you—you still shame Wanyi like this—but Wanyi—I miss you so much—whatever you—um—do—it's all good…"

As she uttered these lewd moans, Xin Wanyi felt as if her brain was on fire, as if the lingering taste of her orgasm was surging back. In particular, the instinctive sucking in her valley was a constant reminder that the penis that had just given her so much pleasure was still deeply inserted inside her, its hard tip teasing her tender spot. This thought made Xin Wanyi feel like she was in heaven.

"Good husband...use your lecherous nature...make...make Wanyi happy...happily crazy...mmm..."

"Since Wanyi says so...husband won't hold back..." Intimately sucking on Xin Wanyi's delicate cherry lips, Wu Yu smiled wickedly, his hands supporting Xin Wanyi's snowy buttocks.

She didn't know how he did it, but Xin Wanyi felt herself floating, as if on a cloud. In her dazed state, he turned her around, only to find herself facing a full-length mirror, sitting naked in his lap, engaged in intercourse.

Their clothes lay scattered at their feet, stained with the lewd marks of their recent climax. The sight was more shameful than any seduction, and she collapsed in ecstasy.

"You're so cute, my dear Wanyi..." This wicked Wu Yu, oblivious to the impropriety, kissed Xin Wanyi's earlobe, gently biting and occasionally blowing hot breath into it. His arms were wrapped around her waist, giving her no chance to escape.

His hands gently cupped her slender, delicate breasts, exposing her alluring naked body completely in the mirror. Xin Wanyi, though too ashamed to look directly at herself, couldn't help but gaze at her tempting reflection, enduring the pleasure of her secret place being scratched by his hot, hard penis—a sensation truly indescribable.

Being manipulated like this was shameful enough, but worse still, already driven to a state of ecstasy, Xin Wanyi only now realized that she hadn't even been to bed; she had already begun their lovemaking on a chair!

Even knowing that this man, once lustful, could sleep with any woman, and that she herself had been brutally violated by Wu Yu in the woods, the scene still filled her with unbearable shame: "You...you're so bad..."

"I'm not bad...that's why Wan Yi is unhappy..." He intimately and gently sucked and nibbled at Xin Wan Yi's ear, his tongue slowly sliding, kissing Xin Wan Yi's cheeks and ears until they were flushed red. At the same time, he gently arched his waist, his penis seemingly slow, but actually powerfully and gently thrusting.

Wu Yu didn't use much force, but his penis touched the most delicate part of a woman's body. How could Xin Wan Yi's tender flower heart withstand it? Although she was extremely shy, she was also burning with passion. She couldn't help but close her beautiful eyes, her slender arms gently hooking his head to her cheek, enjoying the incomparably wonderful stimulation.

As he spoke, Wu Yu continued his actions, one hand gently cupping Xin Wanyi's breasts, feeling their soft yet firm smoothness, his fingers lightly playing with the erect nipples. His other hand moved downwards, his fingers gently caressing the point where they were joined, lightly touching the wetness that had overflowed from Xin Wanyi's body, gently and slowly spreading the moisture onto her delicate lower body.

Although his technique was gentle, the areas he touched were all sensitive, and the movements, combined with the gentle thrusting and grinding of his penis, completely captivated Xin Wanyi's attention. The incredibly pleasurable stimulation instantly made her heart melt, and while kissing him, she shyly cooperated with his thrusts and rotations.

"Look... Wanyi is already so wet... sticky and slippery, smelling so sweet..." While using multiple methods to make Xin Wanyi lose her mind, Wu Yu gently bit her ear, enticing her to open her eyes. She saw his fingertips, wet and glistening under the light, and he even smeared them on his lips before lowering his head to seal her lips with his, giving her no chance to escape.

The erotic fluid entered her mouth, and Xin Wanyi was extremely ashamed, but under the burning desire within her, she reluctantly swallowed it. And just as he said, the fluid she had released was indeed very delicious!

She shyly opened her eyes, and in her hazy state, she noticed that he had leaned back slightly, his waist slightly arching, pulling her up as well. In the mirror, she could see the two of them joined together. Seeing his penis fully inserted, touching her pink skin, the alluring sight made her involuntarily burn with desire.

"Oh...it's all...it's all your fault...you've made...made Wanyi so wanton..." The word "wanonon" had barely left her lips when Xin Wanyi felt a wildfire raging in her lower abdomen, an overwhelming bliss.

That wanton lust had long since burned away all her shyness. She kissed him tightly, looking at herself in the mirror with a mixture of shame and love, as if just looking at herself was enough to bring her to orgasm. How could she continue like this? Yet, like a moth drawn to a flame, she was unwilling and unable to leave.

"My dear husband...Wanyi has already...has already been played with by you until...becomes a thoroughly wanton woman...you...you should just...eat Wanyi well...Wanyi wants...want to be played with like this...until you eat every last bit of her bones...leaving nothing behind..."

Hearing such seductive words, seeing such alluring temptation, it would be impossible for a man not to be tempted! Wu Yu's hands roamed freely, gently caressing and teasing, his tongue flowing, kissing, sucking, licking, and biting, leaving delicate marks on Xin Wanyi's tender skin. His erect penis, amidst Xin Wanyi's alluring moans, played with her enchanting valley, instructing her on how to twist and turn, providing them both with unparalleled pleasure. The room was filled with a blissful, indescribable beauty.

Firstly, her desire was aroused; secondly, she was wholeheartedly offering herself to heal him. At this moment, Xin Wanyi was utterly powerless against this position. While it was shameful, shame had its advantages, giving her an unprecedented thrill. Xin Wanyi moaned ecstatically, kissing his tongue with ever-sweetering sweetness, feeling as if she were melting, willingly allowing him to take what he wanted.

"Oh...good husband...like this...um...like this, do Wanyi...ah...Wanyi loves you so much...that...oh...there...Wanyi's flower heart...ah...it's been taken by my husband again...just...like this...um...Wanyi feels so good...I'm coming...I'm coming without holding back a drop...I'm...I'm being ravished by my husband so much...um...so beautiful..."

"Good Wanyi...my husband loves you too...so beautiful, so wanton...so wanton that my husband can't hold back anymore, my husband wants to play with Wanyi's body for a lifetime...to make Wanyi feel so good that she doesn't care about anything...to swallow Wanyi whole...and never spit her out again..."

"You...ah...husband...just eat...eat Wanyi...eat her clean...Wanyi...uh...want...ah...want to lose it...good husband...you...you're so amazing...you've made Wanyi...come...come again...Wanyi's coming...comes so beautifully...husband is so amazing...uh, good Wanyi only knows how to lose her body...ah, so beautiful, husband...go in...go in a little more...pierce...pierce Wanyi's heart...ah...Wanyi is going to fly...going to fly...good husband...harder...pierce...come out all of Wanyi's essence...Wanyi is all yours..."

Feeling the beautiful, soft, and moist body in his arms, especially with his penis repeatedly being irrigated by her essence, the sour and numb sensation was incredibly wonderful. While enjoying the stimulation, Wu Yu didn't forget to practice the Yin-Yang replenishment method. Xin Wanyi in his arms was so beautiful and lovely, as delicate as a flower petal, he couldn't accidentally hurt her!

He kissed Xin Wanyi passionately, his penis relentlessly probing, reaching deep into her womb, drinking in her tingling vaginal fluids until the pleasure permeated his back. He couldn't resist any longer and bit her earlobe.

"Good Wanyi... Husband... Husband's come too... Mmm... Husband feels so good being sucked by Wanyi... Good Wanyi is ready... Husband's coming to you..."

"Come... Ah... Come... Good husband, come into Wanyi's heart..." After several orgasms, Xin Wanyi was in a daze of pleasure, oblivious to the world around her. Hearing that Wu Yu had also reached his climax, her own thirst reached its limit; she only wanted to be thoroughly irrigated by him.

"Wanyi will receive... receive well... Good husband... give to Wanyi... Wanyi wants to cum happily... and be comfortably cummed by you... Ah..."

Lying limply on the bed, Xin Wanyi felt weak and sore all over. On the surface, it seems that during sexual intercourse, the man is dominant and the woman is submissive, and the woman shouldn't expend as much energy as the man. However, firstly, it still consumes energy. In terms of martial arts, she is far inferior to Wu Yu, and her stamina is naturally much lower. Secondly, during their lovemaking on the chair, she sat on Wu Yu's lap and thrust vigorously, expending more energy than a woman who writhes and submits beneath a man, naturally leaving her more exhausted afterward.

Knowing that the passion she had just experienced was quite strenuous for her, but for Wu Yu it was probably just a warm-up, Xin Wanyi couldn't help but feel sorry for herself. She also knew that even with another extraordinary encounter, it would be too late for her to continue practicing martial arts at her age. Rather than worrying about this impossible task, she should use her most effective medical skills to help Wu Yu; perhaps that's what he needs most right now.

Slightly wriggling her body under the covers, Xin Wanyi's slender hands softly encircled Wu Yu's neck. She was both amused and exasperated to find that Wu Yu had somehow become lost in thought, his eyes fixed on the ceiling, seemingly oblivious to her advances. Normally,

given Xin Wanyi's nature, she wouldn't bother Wu Yu if he was lost in thought. However, firstly, they had just made love, and given Wu Yu's usual style—unless it was a long and intense sexual encounter—he would always treat his partner with tender affection afterward. Secondly, although he had escaped a calamity at Master Ronghua's hands today, onlookers only knew what happened, not why. Even Shao Xueqian, the most experienced and knowledgeable person in the martial arts world, didn't understand Master Ronghua's decision. Yet Wu Yu himself remained silent, his deep confusion making it impossible for Xin Wanyi not to ask.

"My dear husband... what exactly happened between you and Master Ronghua? Today in the hall, not only Wanyi... even Xueqian was frightened!"

"Ah? What?"

Seeing Wu Yu's unusually blank expression, Xin Wanyi couldn't help but chuckle, her suspicions growing even stronger. Those involved are often confused by the situation, unable to see what others can see. But with Wu Yu's shrewdness, how could he not understand how much confusion Master Ronghua and his cryptic words had caused others?

Not only herself and Shao Xueqian, but even Fu Mingxuan, Ji Pingyi, and Jin Xianyu had their doubts evident as they left. How could Wu Yu seem completely oblivious?

With his intelligence, he couldn't possibly be unaware of the consequences if such doubts took root in everyone's minds. While the Weitian Alliance's strength had increased significantly after absorbing the Junshan Sect's power, internal factions were also rising, and the friction between Yuanxiong Fortress, the Junshan Sect, and others was becoming increasingly acute.

Although Ji Pingyi is exceptionally intelligent, he is still young and lacks established prestige, making it difficult to command respect. This is something that cannot be compensated for by the assistance of Fu Mingxuan, Wu Yu, or Master Ronghua, especially with this incident today. Jin Xianyu outwardly seems pleased to use Li Chenzhu as a scapegoat, but who knows what he's really planning? Adding to the problem is the presence of a criminal alliance eyeing them covetously. The current Weitian Alliance cannot afford any split!

After the matter in the hall was settled, not only Shao Xueqian, but even Zhu Yuhan, who has always had a rift with Wu Yu, stepped forward, subtly hinting that she should clarify Wu Yu's thoughts. Otherwise, Xin Wanyi wouldn't have asked such an awkward question during this time of sweet romance.

"It's all because of Master Ronghua." She let out a soft sigh. Although Xin Wanyi lacked martial arts experience, as a medical practitioner, she wasn't someone who stayed in an ivory tower, and naturally could see that Master Ronghua's behavior today was quite unusual.

If he hadn't suspected that Wu Yu was actually Duan Ling in disguise, he wouldn't have attacked Wu Yu, let alone used the Dragon-Tiger Demon-Slaying Formation. Instead, he withdrew his attack immediately after the first strike, even shielding Wu Yu from Li Chen's attack – a classic case of much ado about nothing, making it seem suspicious. If he weren't so highly respected, such an act would have drawn a massive wave of condemnation.

"Master's actions today... what exactly is going on? I can't figure it out..."

"He... he probably just saw through my situation..." A bitter smile appeared on Wu Yu's lips as he shook his head slightly. He felt Xin Wanyi unconsciously snuggle closer to him. He knew that he could deceive others, even Shao Xueqian and Jie Mingyan, with whom he had a physical relationship, but he could never deceive someone as skilled in medicine as Xin Wanyi: "So he took pity on me and gave me this opportunity..."

"This..." Knowing that Wu Yu appeared relaxed on the surface but was suffering inside, and that only she could help with this matter, which could not be told to outsiders, Xin Wanyi couldn't help but feel a headache. However, she knew that she couldn't dwell on this matter for too long, so she quickly changed the subject.

"Even so, the impact of today's events... is indeed too bad. I think Lord Jin and Ping Yi still have doubts about your identity, but they are only refraining from action because of the Master's reputation. Ping Yi is alright, but who knows what trouble Yuanxiong Fort will cause? Putting all the blame on Li Chenzhu might not dispel the doubts..." "

Since it can't dispel the doubts, then don't try to." Wu Yu chuckled. "Master Ronghua seems detached from worldly affairs, but if we're talking about shrewdness and wisdom, he's actually a notch above the Alliance Leader. Saying that I let Li Chenzhu go because I have a broad vision... is really sarcastic."

Although she didn't know what kind of riddle Wu Yu was playing, Xin Wanyi had been with him for a long time, and even if she didn't focus on this, her intuition for conspiracies had at least increased. Hearing Wu Yu say this, she knew that his decision to let Li Chenzhu go must have been part of a plan, and it was definitely not just a sudden act of mercy.

Since Wu Yu wouldn't tell her, she didn't want to ask. She just hummed in response, then couldn't help adding, "Good husband... don't keep things bottled up inside. Tell Wanyi if anything's bothering you... after all, Wanyi is your wife..."

"I know..." Wu Yu sighed inwardly, gently stroking Xin Wanyi's slightly sweaty hair. He'd rather handle these intrigues himself; he didn't want someone as innocent as Xin Wanyi to be tainted by such things. Actually... there was someone else he didn't want to be tainted either...

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