The Righteous Man's Search for His Wife [Complete] - 4

(Sixty-four) The First Cry of the Nightingale

I got up early the next morning and looked at Li Niang, who was fast asleep in bed. My heart was filled with boundless gratitude; I saw hope in her. I gently pulled the blanket up to her exposed shoulders. She had tormented me terribly last night. To test whether that wisp of true energy could still be generated, I kept asking her for it.

After repeated testing, I was certain that every time yin and yang clashed, a wisp of true energy would be generated at the point of union. Because my dantian was destroyed, I could not gather true energy, so this true energy did not need to be controlled and would naturally spread throughout my body. Hands, feet, legs, arms, chest, back—nowhere could contain this true energy, not even my foot-long treasure.

Although this true energy was still very weak now, I was certain that with the number of times men and women clashed, it would become stronger and stronger. What would happen in the end, I didn't know, and I didn't want to care. I only knew that it could make me stronger, it could make me more powerful!

Never before had I felt such an urgent thirst for power. Recalling the days I had been tortured by the Iron-Faced Man, I couldn't help but feel a surge of rage. How could I not be excited at the prospect of revenge?

But I was still far from being a match for the Iron-Faced Man's "ten-step kill." Patience was paramount. I got up early and dutifully went to the kitchen to fetch water and chop wood, doing everything meticulously. I always pretended to be exhausted, dropping the buckets of water, creating a water trail from the well to the kitchen. I would chop wood a couple of times, rest, chop a couple more times, rest again…

I had to be extremely careful in my pretense, because perhaps the Iron-Faced Man's sinister eyes were watching me from some dark corner.

After I finished all this, an hour had passed, and the servants had also gotten up and started working. Li Niang's face remained unchanged when she saw me, just like yesterday, as she liked to joke with me. However, anyone could see that her usually dull complexion was unusually rosy today, her black and white eyes shimmering with a captivating glow, her breasts and buttocks even more rounded and full, especially her large breasts, which had sagged slightly yesterday, now seemed to be perky.

Several women asked Li Niang what was going on.

Li Niang made no attempt to hide it, glancing at me with her large eyes, and said, "A happy occasion makes one feel good, right? Now that I'm expecting a grandson, I'm even more energetic!"

The women praised Li Niang for her good fortune in having such a handsome son-in-law.

Suddenly, a dog barked like a thunderclap, startling everyone. Their faces changed, and they scattered like birds, each going back to their work.

Who else could it be? Zhang Ma, swaying her large hips, slowly walked over, leading her big yellow dog.

As soon as I heard the dog bark, I knew it was her. Li Niang gave me a look, clearly worried I'd clash with Zhang Ma again. I understood, lowered my head, and turned to leave.

"Oh, you were so fierce to me yesterday, why are you hiding from me today?" Zhang Ma's charming voice rang out behind me.

I ignored her, continuing on my way.

"Stop! You little brat, no manners at all! You don't even greet the head steward?"

I stopped, turned around, and said with my head bowed, "Good morning, head steward!"

"Is that how you greet someone? Raise your head and look at me!" Zhang Ma was clearly deliberately picking a fight. A wise man doesn't fight when he's at a disadvantage; there was no need to invite trouble. I looked up at her and said loudly, "Good morning, head steward!" Zhang Ma was

stunned. Was the handsome young man before her the same dirty little mud-covered brat from yesterday?

He was over seven feet tall, with striking eyebrows and bright eyes, incredibly handsome. Although his skin was somewhat dark, the straight lines revealed his strong character. He looked a few pounds heavier than yesterday, though still a bit thin; with a few days of rest, he'd likely appear stronger.

Zhang Ma looked at me, her face growing increasingly red. Her beauty, though past her prime, only made her more alluring. Her eyes gleamed as she gazed at my lower body with a tantalizingly distant look. I thought to myself, "Goodness, could this woman have taken a liking to me?

" "Uh, cough, cough, okay. You, what's your name?" Zhang Ma snapped out of her daze, speaking incoherently.

"Xu Qi."

"Oh..."

"Is there anything else, Steward?" I asked, seeing her staring blankly at me.

"Oh, no, um, nothing."

"Nothing, I'm going to work!"

"Okay!"

I turned to leave, but I could still feel Zhang Ma's burning gaze fixed on my back. It seemed Zhang Ma's skills were quite formidable!

Judging from the current situation, there are no other men in the village besides those three masked men. Li Niang, Zhang Ma, and the others are all in their prime, their desires burning bright. Zhang Ma's eyes were filled with lust when she looked at me; she's most likely taken a liking to me. Perfect for helping me practice my skills! The thought of sleeping with a woman who possesses internal energy excites me; maybe my true energy will grow even faster! Oh, right, there's that maid named Xiao Ying. She actually went to seduce the masked men; she must be a slut, unable to resist loneliness. It shouldn't be too difficult to get her.

I finished my work long ago, ate breakfast, said goodbye to Li Niang, and went out to a small grove of trees not far away. I need to make myself a bed; if I stay at Li Niang's every night, trouble is bound to happen sooner or later.

I arrived at the grove, picked a tree as thick as two arms, and started chopping it down.

Pretending to be weak is really uncomfortable; I'm clearly strong, but I have to pretend to be weak. It's exhausting.

"Hey, silly boy, where did you come from?" A sweet, melodious female voice rang out.

I turned around and saw a girl of about seventeen or eighteen standing gracefully not far away, walking towards me. She had pigtails, bright eyes, wore a yellow dress, and carried a small basket in her left hand. Her large, watery eyes darted around, and her slender figure and willow-like waist swayed as she walked, her movements graceful and bouncy. She was quite beautiful, seemingly intelligent and clever. She wasn't tall, about 1.6 meters, with delicate hands and feet, and was charming and lovely—a true little beauty.

Looking at the beautiful girl before me, my eyes lit up. Her melodious voice was like a nightingale singing in a secluded valley.

"Hey, why are you so silly? I'm asking you a question!" the girl pouted, displeased.

Looking at her adorable face, I couldn't resist teasing her: "Hey, who are you asking?"

"Of course I'm asking you! Is there anyone else here besides the two of us?"

I feigned ignorance, saying, "Little girl, my surname isn't 'Hey,' and my name isn't 'Silly Boy,' how would I know you're calling me?"

"You brat, who are you calling 'little girl'?" The little girl got angry, her eyebrows furrowed, and she pouted.

"You're the only girl here, who else would I call 'little girl'?"

"Pah! I'm seventeen this year, how am I little?" The little girl was afraid I wouldn't believe her, so she straightened her slender waist and puffed out her chest, making her two little rabbits look a bit bigger.

I deliberately glanced at her chest, clicking my tongue: "Hmm, not bad, not too small."

Ah, the little girl blushed, covering her chest with her hands, speechless. Seeing that I was still staring at her chest with a smile, the little girl finally couldn't hold back anymore, angrily picking up the small basket in her hand and throwing it at me.

I dodged her attack and said, "You little brat, how can you be so unreasonable? Why are you hitting me for no reason?"

The girl chased after me, scolding, "You brat, you've angered me! I'll beat you to death, you little lecher!"

Judging from her nimble movements, she was clearly not trained in martial arts. I easily dodged her attacks, taking advantage of the many trees in the forest. Girls are naturally weaker, and after a short while, she was panting heavily, her chest heaving with each step.

She was indeed a feast for the eyes.

Suddenly, she stumbled and fell to the ground, bursting into tears. She buried her head between her legs, her small, white hands rubbing her ankle incessantly, as if

she had twisted it. "Hey, what's wrong?" I asked, knowing the answer already.

Waaah—, the little girl ignored me, continuing to cry, her little hands desperately rubbing her shapely legs.

"Hey, hey, what's wrong? Did you hurt your foot?" I approached her. Hearing my voice, the little girl cried even harder, "Waaah, waaah—"

I felt a little uneasy; after all, she had hurt herself while chasing me. I squatted down to check her foot.

Unexpectedly, just as I was about to pull up her trouser leg, the little girl's small, white hands suddenly grabbed my arm. "Haha, finally caught you, you little rascal! Now where do you think you're going?"

the little girl shouted joyfully, glaring at me with a displeased expression. Her face was radiant with smiles, her large eyes clear and bright, without a single tear.

The little girl shoved me to the ground, plopped down on my waist, and unleashed a barrage of punches.

"Have mercy, heroine!"

"Hmph, I'll beat you to death, you little lecher! I'll teach you a lesson for looking around like that!" Her small hands formed claws, lunging to gouge out my eyes. I was startled; if she gouged them out, wouldn't I be disfigured? My large hand easily caught her small hand.

"You brat, you lecherous scoundrel! Let me go!"

"You little brat, you dare lie to me! You're not hurt at all, and you're crying so convincingly."

"That's because you're too stupid. I easily fooled you with a little trick," the little girl said smugly.

I retorted, "Then how did you end up in my hands?"

The little girl was taken aback by my words, then became angry and embarrassed, "You brat, are you going to let go or not?"

At this moment, the little girl was pressing down on me, her little bottom rubbing against me, arousing me. My penis was already erect, pressed tightly against her buttocks. I was enjoying myself, so I was reluctant to let her go easily.

"I'll let you go, fine! But you have to tell me your name!"

"Pah, I'm not telling you! You lecherous scoundrel."

I chuckled, "You won't tell me? Fine. If you don't tell me, I'll rape you and then kill you! Anyway, this is a forest, so I'm not afraid of anyone seeing."

"Hmph, I don't think you have the guts!"

Ha, this little girl isn't buying it. I'll have to put on a show for her.

I gently thrust my lower body, rubbing against her little bottom, controlling her two little hands in one hand, while my other hand slowly reached for her little jade rabbit.

"Hey, you brat, you're not serious, are you?" The little girl was scared.

"Hehe, as long as you tell me your name, I won't touch you."

"Uh, okay, okay, I'll tell you. My name is Xiaoying."

"Oh, so you're Xiaoying." I looked at her ambiguously.

"Hey, you brat, what kind of look is that? If you look at me like that again, I'll tell the master when we get back."

Goodness, if that iron-faced man found out about this, he'd skin me alive. I didn't want to experience his "dislocating tendons and bones" again.

Reluctantly, I let go of her little hand, and the little girl suddenly jumped up and kicked me. I rolled away, stood up, and said, "What, you want to do it again?"

"Hmph, I'm asking you, what did you put on me there just now?" The little girl's face was red when she said this, obviously accusing me of my inappropriate behavior.

"Where did you put it?" I asked with a wicked smile.

"Uh, right on top of..." The little girl blurted out, but quickly realized her mistake, her face turning bright red with embarrassment, and her fair neck also flushed with shyness.

Xiao Ying stomped her little foot and said angrily, "You brat, don't think I don't know who you are. Aren't you Xu Qi, who just arrived a few days ago?"

I was surprised and asked, "How did you know?"

Xiao Ying said smugly, "Hmph, I knew it. Last night at dinner, the Third Master said that a servant named Xu Qi had come to the manor, who was in charge of chopping wood and carrying water. I thought, is that you?"

I nodded, "That's right."

"Well then, can we settle our accounts now? " "

Little girl, I don't owe you any money, what accounts are there to settle?"

"You brat, my name is Xiao Ying, not some little girl."

"You can call me a brat, but I can't call you a little girl?"

"Hmph, you're right. I'll call you Qi then."

"No, you have to call me Brother Xu! I'm older than you, I'm eighteen this year." I persisted.

“I can call you Brother Xu, but you have to promise me one thing!”

“What is it?”

“Promise me first.”

“Okay, I promise you.”

“Yay—, long live Brother Xu!” Little Oriole jumped in front of me like a happy little bird, grabbed my hand and started walking. “Brother Xu, let’s go.”

“Where are we going?”

“To help me pick mushrooms!”

“Uh, no, I still need to cut down trees to make a bed!”

“I don’t care, you just promised me. If you dare to go back on your word, I’ll tell the Madam that you’re bullying me.” Little Oriole shook her little head, refusing to listen.

“Okay, fine, I’m scared of you. Let’s go.”

Yay—, Little Oriole was as happy as a little oriole, and started our mushroom-picking journey with me.

Don’t underestimate this forest. There are quite a few animals and plants in it. As Little Oriole and I picked mushrooms, we saw one or two wild rabbits hopping around from time to time, and occasionally we could see a few wild deer grazing in the forest. They didn’t shy away from us at all, leisurely enjoying the delicious fresh grass and tender leaves.

From Xiao Ying, I learned a little about the three ladies, but regarding the Iron-Faced Man, Xiao Ying, who had served them for three years, knew no more than I did.

Xiao Ying served the First Lady, Xiao Yan was in charge of the Second Lady, and Xiao Hong served the Third Lady.

The First Lady had the biggest appetite, especially for mushroom soup. She would crave it terribly if she didn't have it every day, so Xiao Ying's morning routine was to pick mushrooms in this forest. Although the forest wasn't very large, the mushrooms picked the previous day would grow back overnight, but they always grew haphazardly, so it usually took Xiao Ying a whole morning.

After spending half a day with this little girl, I had a general idea of her temperament. Xiao Ying was clever and quick-witted, and understanding. Don't let her innocent appearance fool you; she was quite cunning. Along the way,

while picking mushrooms, she completely bewitched me. This girl is very clever and knows a lot about everything. Sometimes she even tells me stories about love between men and women to tease me. It seems that Li Niang's story about her seducing the Iron-Faced Man wasn't unfounded.

(Sixty-five)

I spent a happy morning with Xiao Ying, and by the end, we were inseparable and became good friends.

Happy times always pass so quickly. Before I knew it, it was noon. I reluctantly parted ways with Xiao Ying, and the two of them agreed that I would help them pick mushrooms the next day.

The afternoon was more difficult. I dragged the felled trees and sawed them piece by piece with a large saw to make a wooden bed. It was my first time, like a bride getting into a bridal sedan chair.

The sun was blazing and the temperature was very high.

When I took off my shirt, revealing my bare, strong upper body, it attracted the excited gazes of Li Niang and her maids. They shamelessly pointed and commented on my body right in front of me, occasionally offering their opinions.

"Wow, look at A-Qi's arm muscles, they're huge!"

"Yes, yes, I never expected that the seemingly thin A-Qi would have such a great physique!"

"Look at that chest, so solid!"

...

Li Niang's gaze intensified. Yesterday's passionate encounters had almost left her bedridden, but thanks to years of hard work, she was always strong. In bed, she was indeed a formidable opponent, managing to hold her own against me yesterday. She knew

my strength better than anyone, but this was the first time she had ever witnessed my virility under the bright sun. Seeing the handsome man before her, sweating profusely from his labor, and remembering his similar sweating and hard work the previous night, Li Niang felt a surge of heat in her heart, a warm current rising in her lower abdomen, and a light rain began to fall in the garden.

Seeing Li Niang's pained expression, I glanced knowingly at her lower body before returning to my work.

Li Niang was fantasizing about our passionate encounter when my glance sent a surge of intense pleasure through her; a wave of heat washed over her, and she climaxed. She clamped her legs tightly together, desperately pulling her clothes down to cover the abnormality, her large, watery eyes fixed on my handsome face.

I was completely unaware of her sudden change, only noticing her slightly damp trousers when she said she had to get back to work. I hadn't expected Li Niang to be so easily aroused by a man; even in broad daylight, a few glances at me could bring her to orgasm. My charm was truly unparalleled.

I thought smugly, and worked with even greater enthusiasm.

"Ah—!" A sudden scream rang out. I stopped and looked. A woman dressed as a maid covered her face with her hands, her back to me, and angrily said, "Hey, what's wrong with you? In broad daylight, without any clothes on?" Although her tone was angry, her voice trembled, clearly showing her embarrassment.

The woman was not tall, about 1.6 meters, slender and slightly thin, wearing a green dress, with her black hair cascading over her shoulders. Because her back was to me, I couldn't see her face.

"Miss, it's so hot today, and I still have to work. I'm sweating buckets. Wouldn't I die of heat if I didn't take off my clothes? Why don't you try it?"

"You!" The woman in green didn't even turn her head, clenching her fists and placing them beside her. "Hmph, I'm going to tell Madam." With that, she ran away.

I looked at that beautiful back and asked the maids curiously, "Who is this woman?"

"Ah Qi, you've gotten yourself into big trouble!" they said gleefully.

"She's Xiao Yan, the Second Madam's maid!"

"She's Xiao Yan?" "

The Second Madam has always loved reading and rarely leaves the house, only enjoying flowers and reciting poetry in the front garden. Xiao Yan is the same; she rarely comes to the kitchen in the back. I don't know if you're unlucky today, or if she's been bewitched. Xiao Yan is very shy and can't stand jokes; she'll run away if you try. She's usually quiet and reserved, with a gentle personality."

"What if she complains to the Second Madam?" I asked, feigning fear.

"Just kidding. This second madam prefers peace and quiet, and she's the type who'd rather avoid trouble. She never scolds or beats us, unlike the third madam, who takes her anger out on us servants all the time."

"Oh, that's good then."

As the maids had said, the afternoon passed peacefully, nothing happened, and Xiao Yan was nowhere to be seen. I did bump into Xiao Hong a few times, though. She was quite bold, staring straight at my strong muscles, and after a while, she said, "You're only this small."

I was both amused and exasperated, but for Li Niang's sake, I didn't cause her any trouble.

Several days passed peacefully.

During these days, the Iron-Faced Men seemed to have disappeared from my world. Li Niang said that these three Iron-Faced Men were usually elusive, appearing only at mealtimes, and even their wives didn't know what was going on. It was even better that the Iron-Faced Men weren't bothering me. I was happy to have some peace and quiet. In the mornings, I picked mushrooms with Xiao Ying, in the afternoons I bickered with Xiao Hong, and in the evenings I enjoyed myself with Li Niang.

These past few days, Li Niang has become even more radiant and luscious thanks to my care. Her breasts are firmer, and her buttocks are rounder, larger, and perkier. Because of my use of the Nine Heavens Conquering Technique, she's now willing to try any position with me—the old man pushing the cart, the dry land pulling on the onion, the dragon-tiger stride—each time giving me supreme pleasure. The only regret I have is the lack of her wanton moans and cries; she always covers her mouth, refusing to utter a sound.

My internal energy is also increasing, but it's not under my control; it's like a still pool of water, motionless, only growing fuller. These past few days of hard work have made my strength increasingly powerful, like flowing water, increasing with the distribution of my internal energy. However, this increase is far too slow, completely unable to satisfy my urgent needs.

I've also discovered that the internal energy generated in the later encounters is much less than the first. It's precisely because of this discovery that I'm even more diligent in exploring Li Niang's treasure trove, unused for over three years.

Aunt Zhang was getting nicer to me, and she never let her big yellow dog bite me again. Today, she even brought me some excellent wound medicine, saying that applying it to my wound would help it heal faster. Little did she know that my bite had already healed the night I first made love with Li Niang. My constitution was originally excellent; although I had lost my strength, my wound healing ability hadn't weakened at all, and my recovery speed was many times stronger than that of ordinary people.

That day, after lunch, I was taking a nap.

Xiao Ying excitedly ran into my bare bedroom, grinning and hesitant to speak, which puzzled me!

"Xiao Ying, have you eaten honey? You're so happy!"

"Brother Xu! Do you want to watch a play?" Hearing this, I, who was bored, immediately perked up.

"What's the show?"

"Come on! You'll find out when you get to my room."

Seeing how excited this little girl is, could she be looking for me...?

Xiao Ying's bedroom is a small room downstairs in the east courtyard. Against the wall is a single bed and a small wardrobe, and by the window is a dressing table. The room is very clean and exquisite. Next door is Zhang Ma's bedroom, separated by a wooden partition. They live here to serve the ladies, as all three ladies' bedrooms are upstairs in the east building.

Xiao Ying tiptoed to the door, glanced back at me, and gestured for me to be quiet. She quietly pulled me into the room, gently climbed onto the headboard, and peered into the room through the wooden partition. There were two small holes cut into the partition, one above the other, allowing a clear view into Zhang Ma's bedroom. Xiao Ying knelt on the bed, looking through the lower hole, and gestured for me to look through the upper hole. At that moment, I was on Xiao Ying's back. I braced my hands on her shoulders, pressed my head against the hole, and exclaimed, "Wow!" Zhang Ma's every move was clearly visible.

She was putting on makeup, wearing a thin silk dress that accentuated her plump, white flesh, making her curves stand out. Her large, fleshy breasts, weighing several pounds, trembled as if they were about to burst out. She faced the mirror, posing and admiring herself. Strangely, her male wolfhound, "Big Tiger," was kneeling beside the bed, staring intently at her. I didn't understand its purpose, so I whispered in Xiao Ying's ear, "Hey! Why did she drag Big Tiger into the bedroom?"

"Shh...keep your voice down, you'll find out soon enough,"

Xiao Ying said mysteriously, turning back to me with a smile. I was even more confused. A moment later, I saw Zhang Ma slowly approach Big Tiger. Big Tiger suddenly stood up, its front paws gripping Zhang Ma's shoulders, sniffing and licking her pink cheeks. Zhang Ma took a step back, patted its head, and scolded, "You beast! What's the rush?"

She turned and took off her silk robe, leaving only a bodice. She bent slightly, bringing her full breasts close to its mouth. It quickly bit the bottom of the bodice and pulled it down, revealing two large breasts, their round nipples standing erect. Of course, the tiger had no appreciation for her, nor any understanding of romance, and simply pounced on Zhang Ma. If it weren't for the rope binding it, Zhang Ma wouldn't have been able to escape.

Zhang Ma slowly took off her trousers, lying on the bed with her legs bent and feet braced against the edge. I never expected the tigress Zhang Ma to have such alluring assets.

I was already mesmerized, my hands already roaming over Xiao Ying's body. Xiao Ying was only wearing a pinkish-yellow outfit, which I easily removed. She was engrossed in watching and didn't resist my actions. I rubbed her firm nipples, and she made soft "hmm...hmm..." sounds. I then looked through the small opening.

At this moment, Zhang Ma's legs spread even wider, and Da Hu extended its long, blood-red tongue, licking fiercely. Da Hu seemed trained, licking in circles with relish. Every time it licked her sensitive spots, Zhang Ma would giggle and laugh incessantly, her legs swaying and undulating—it was truly indescribable.

Perhaps having tasted the sweetness, Da Hu suddenly raised its front paws and pounced on Zhang Ma's crotch. As if having tasted pleasure, Da Hu wagged its tail and thrust its hips in and out slowly, again and again. Zhang Ma also made satisfied "mmm...mmm..." sounds.

Da Hu then opened its mouth, its tongue lolling out, panting heavily, but still continuing to thrust. Its front paws were on the ground, its head turned in a different direction, but its hind legs were dangling between Zhang Ma's legs, like a female dog courting. Zhang Ma closed her eyes, enjoying the ultimate pleasure.

Xiao Ying was already aroused, her body burning hot, panting heavily. Her plump, round buttocks arched back and forth, pressing against my crotch. My penis was also rock hard. In this situation, how could I resist? I quickly took off my clothes and hugged her delicate body tightly. She was already paralyzed. I sucked on her red lips and kneaded her firm, not-too-large breasts. Her pointed, red nipples were pinched until they stood erect. Xiao Ying couldn't bear it anymore and whispered in my ear, "Brother Xu! Stop kneading! It hurts!"

Xiao Ying was probably a virgin, and a trickle of blood had already flowed out, so I didn't dare to be too hasty, afraid of hurting her. Xiao Ying didn't dare to cry out, but gently cried out in pain, "Brother Xu! It doesn't hurt!... Ouch!... Be gentle..."

Because she was afraid that Zhang Ma next door would hear our mysterious sounds of passion, we were always proceeding quietly. Although Xiao Ying was very comfortable, she could only show it on her face and dared not make any unrestrained noises.

I collapsed weakly into Xiaoying's arms. She embraced me warmly, a satisfied smile on her lips. She took a cloth from beside the pillow and gently wiped me, then wiped her own red vulva. We both closed our eyes, embracing each other quietly to rest.

Xiaoying was still a virgin, and I was surprised to find that the true energy generated from the union of heaven and earth was more abundant than Li Niang's. I was overjoyed and relaxed, enjoying this passionate moment, letting the true energy spread throughout my body.

I don't know how much time passed, but Zhang Ma stood by our bed like a ghost. She was wrapped in a bath towel, her hair wet, clearly having just taken a bath. Seeing Xiaoying and me sleeping naked, neck to neck, she stared at us, her eyes filled with lust, whether out of jealousy or envy, I didn't know. Xiaoying was startled and buried her face in my chest, but I lay there calmly.

"Zhang Ma! Were you comfortable just now?" I teased her.

"Hmph! Comfortable my ass, did you two enjoy it?" she retorted, blushing.

Zhang Ma is cunning and shrewd. I knew she was interested in me all along. This was just a ploy to scare the naive Xiao Ying. I knew what she was up to, so I calmly sat up.

"Zhang Ma, don't make a fuss. Maybe Da Hu didn't get enough of you. Want me to cool you down?"

Xiao Ying burst out laughing at my words, making Zhang Ma blush and feel a little embarrassed. To be honest, she was much prettier than Li Niang, both her breasts and buttocks were a size larger. I'd been itching for a while, and now that she was offering herself up, I wasn't going to be polite. I ripped off her towel, her large breasts swaying wildly, and grabbed one to start kissing.

Zhang Ma's face turned even redder, her desire surging forth.

"Ah, after more than thirty years, I've finally tasted the flavor of a man!"

"Oh!...you little devil...you're killing me...so...so...I've lost it again..."

"Zhang Ma! Did you enjoy it?"

"Enjoyed it!...Your thing is hundreds of times better than Da Hu's! Humph!..." She gasped.

The wind howled, the bed shook, and Zhang Ma, incredibly bold, let out wave after wave of lewd moans, scaring me so much that I kept moving, slapping her large buttocks...

"You slut, do you still dare to let your Da Hu bite me?" I slapped her buttocks viciously. The thrill of revenge rose in my heart, making me inexplicably excited.

"No, I wouldn't dare," Zhang Ma said weakly.

Humph, how could I let her get away with it so easily? Just thinking about it made the wound on my buttocks ache! How could I get revenge? Seeing her beautiful anus, an evil thought flashed through my mind.

I reached down and scooped up some of Zhang Ma's vaginal fluid, splashing it into her anus. Zhang Ma, eyes closed, was completely unaware of my intentions, lost in blissful pleasure as she enjoyed my ministrations.

I withdrew from her, and Zhang Ma opened her eyes, crying out, "No, don't leave me! I... I want more!"

I chuckled wickedly, "Don't rush, you slut, my treasure will be back soon!" I forcefully spread her buttocks apart, one hand holding my penis, aiming at her anus, and thrusting it in...

Ah—, Zhang Ma cried out in pain, her face contorted with agony, tears and sweat streaming down her face, "Wrong place, wrong place, not there."

"Hehe, you slut, no mistake, this is exactly where I want it. You sent your dog to bite my ass before, today is the perfect time for revenge." With that, I exerted another burst of force, and my penis slid in halfway, causing Zhang Ma's anus to split open, bleeding slightly.

Ah—, Zhang Ma screamed in pain and fainted. I didn't care whether she lived or died, I thrust in and out like a storm...

... (omitting many words!)

When the storm subsided, Zhang Ma was still holding me tightly, and I was happy to lie on her soft, fleshy body. Her white, tender flesh felt like a waterbed, and it was wonderful to be pressed down on her. My treasure was still inside her, stubbornly enduring Zhang Ma's pressure. I lay exhausted in Chen Ma's arms, my head against her large breasts, and casually hugged the exquisite Xiao Ying, grasping her firm small breasts. The three of us huddled together and fell into a deep sleep.

(Sixty-six) Once again

, I killed two birds with one stone. Heaven was fair to me.

The torment of hunger for several days was exchanged for boundless bliss.

During the process of cultivating true qi, the addition of Zhang Ma and Xiao Ying, these two new forces, greatly increased my internal strength. All three of them had tasted the wonderful flavor of sex for the first time and were very attached to me. Every day they would pester me for several rounds of lovemaking.

The three of them took up all my time every day.

In the morning, it was Xiaoying. We made love in the woods, the sky our tent, the ground our bed. Our love was etched everywhere – on the trees, the grass, the stones.

In the afternoon, it was Zhang Ma. Zhang Ma was quite virile, the best "nourishment" among my three women. Her stamina was also stronger than the other two; she often took up the entire afternoon before she was willing to get out of bed. As for my "rival" – the wolfhound Da Hu – he became a sweet treat for Zhang Ma and me during our battles in bed the next day.

I've heard that dog meat is an aphrodisiac. I don't know if it's true or not, but I can definitely feel it – ever since I ate that horny dog, my sexual ability has noticeably increased.

That night was Li Niang's turn. Although she was wholeheartedly devoted to marrying her daughter to me, lately she wouldn't even mention Xiao Hong in her jokes. With each passing night of passion, her gaze towards me grew increasingly hazy and unfocused. It was clear she was deeply conflicted and helpless. On one hand, she wanted me to be her son-in-law; on the other hand, she was deeply infatuated with the taste of love. Li Niang's heart seemed to be torn in two, causing her immense pain.

I understood her pain but couldn't offer any comfort, only able to soothe her wounded soul with my actions.

My internal energy cultivation had progressed rapidly these past few days thanks to constant effort. Strictly speaking, my physical condition was now vastly different from that of martial artists. Because I no longer had a core to contain my internal energy, I could only disperse it throughout my body.

To my surprise, I discovered that my body's hardness was increasing. Without any conscious effort, my body could spontaneously withstand external blows. Now, if someone were to strike me with a Shaolin sword with 100 jin (50 kg) of force, it would only tickle me. Tests showed my body's maximum resistance to blows was around 1000 jin (500 kg). However, I couldn't project my internal energy, and my speed was also limited. My martial arts skills were like those of a low-level martial artist without internal strength.

Had I developed a "beating-resistant divine skill"? Against a master of internal martial arts, I could only take the beating; I had no chance to retaliate!

Fortunately, I unintentionally turned my hands into aphrodisiac hands. I was completely unaware of this; the three women said that whenever my hands touched their skin, a tingling, itchy sensation would stimulate their bodies and arouse their sexual desire!

I was overjoyed. With such a pair of "killer" hands, wouldn't all the women in the world be within my grasp?

As my internal energy increased, my sexual ability slowly returned to its pre-dissipation state, and the three women were increasingly unable to keep up with my vigorous desires.

That day, Zhang Ma and I were having a wild time in the room. After several rounds of intense battle, Zhang Ma finally couldn't take it anymore and begged for

mercy, "Little devil, let's stop here for today!" I wasn't about to agree, saying, "We've been fighting all afternoon, you're satisfied, but I haven't had my fill yet!" I kept speeding up.

Zhang Ma cried out, "Ouch, little devil, spare me! I really can't take it anymore! I'll call you brother, okay?"

I glanced at her lower body and realized she really couldn't take any more. Reluctantly, I dismounted, feeling sullen.

"Brother, it's my fault for being useless, but who told you to be so strong!" Zhang Ma was really good at comforting people, even flattering me.

"Who told you to be so charming, seducing me every day, making me unable to quell my desire?" I patted her plump buttocks and said.

"I think Li Niang has become more and more beautiful lately." Zhang Ma said meaningfully.

"Oh, really?" I replied casually.

"How about it, is she better than me in bed?" Zhang Ma smiled seductively.

I was taken aback, but remained outwardly calm: "What did you say?"

Zhang Ma said seriously, "Don't you like her calling you 'good son-in-law'?"

"Good son-in-law" was what Li Niang called me in bed; her saying this clearly meant she knew about my affair with Li Niang.

I pulled her into my arms, playfully pinching her high nose, and said, "Li Niang can't compare to our Zhang beauty!"

Zhang Ma scoffed, laughing, "Hehe, stop flattering me. I'm not jealous, but you're so capable. The three of us women take turns with you every day, and you leave us exhausted. Looks like we need to find some more to deal with you."

Hearing this, my surprise turned to delight, and I said, "What, do you want to introduce me to your sister?"

Zhang Ma giggled, "I don't have any sisters, but I do have two younger sisters. Do you want them?"

I vaguely understood her meaning.

"Which two?"

"Xiao Yan and Xiao Hong!"

"Xiao Yan? Is she pretty?" When a man meets a woman, his most important concern is her appearance.

"What? You've been here so many days and haven't seen her yet?"

"I did see her once, but she had her back to me that time, so I only saw her back and didn't get a good look at her face."

Zhang Ma pointed at my forehead and said, "You men care about a woman's appearance the most. You can't even recognize such a beauty. Besides the three ladies, she's the most beautiful in the valley."

"Oh..."

"Hmph, you men just like young and pretty people." Zhang Ma's words made me smell a strong sourness.

This slut Zhang Ma, she was the one who brought it up, and now she's blaming me. No wonder people say that women are inherently jealous creatures.

"Who said that? I like a slut like you, so wanton and wanton." Women need to be coaxed, so I coaxed her while my hands, which were meant to arouse her, caressed her breasts. “Oh,” Zhang Ma’s charming face showed a hint of panic, “Good man, spare me. I’ll let you have Xiao Yan and Xiao Hong, please forgive me?”

I released her, and she whispered something in my ear.

After a long while…

I looked at Zhang Ma’s charming smiling face with suspicion and said, “Is this really okay?”

“Why not? As long as it’s to your liking, what’s the harm in using any means?”

I hesitated and said, “Xiao Yan is weak by nature. If something big happens, she might take her own life. How will we explain that to the Second Madam?”

“Hmph, what’s so difficult about that? As long as you coax her a bit, everything will be fine.” Seeing that I was hesitant, Zhang Ma continued, “Those who achieve great things don’t concern themselves with trifles. You’re a grown man, and you can’t even make this kind of decision?”

“Alright.” I agreed, “By the way, why don’t we take care of Xiao Hong too!”

Zhang Ma was shocked, her mouth wide open as if she had an egg in it. It took her a long time to recover: “(Xu Da) You’re really ruthless…”

…

The next afternoon.

I slipped into Zhang Ma's room and asked, "Zhang Meiren, is it done?"

Zhang Meiren stood by the door, glanced at me, and said, "When I'm in charge, one is worth two. Those two virgins can hardly escape my grasp; they're both in bed. You handle it; I'm going out."

"Okay!" I hurried towards the bed. Zhang Ma grabbed me and said, "What, you've done it all, and you're not even going to thank me?"

I smiled awkwardly, gave her a quick kiss on the cheek, and said, "Are you satisfied now?"

"That's more like it." She smiled seductively, swayed her large hips, and went out.

When I got to the bed, two women lay side by side at the head of the bed; one was tall and voluptuous, the other petite and frail. I finally saw Xiao Yan's true face clearly; Zhang Ma was right, Xiao Yan was prettier than her.

She was still dressed in green, carefully observing the woman in green on the bed. Her eyebrows were arched, her eyes bright and long, sparkling and alluring. Her skin was slightly thin, and due to the aphrodisiac, her eyes were filled with boundless desire. Her delicate, pink nose was slightly sweaty, and her small, red lips were thin and luscious, her pearly teeth gently biting. Her slender, jade-like hands rested beside her disheveled, black hair, adding to her seductive charm. Her long, slender, snow-white neck possessed an indescribable allure. Her shoulders were sharply defined, her breasts, though not large, were remarkably firm, and her waist was slender and captivating, so thin it seemed one could grasp it with one hand. Her body was long and shapely; her bodice was almost torn off, revealing half of her breasts, delicate and beautiful like alabaster. Despite being under the influence of the aphrodisiac, I could still immediately discern the scholarly and refined air about her.

Little Red beside her possessed a different kind of beauty. She was tall and voluptuous, her large, round face exuding a bewitching allure. Her round arms and thighs, her large eyes tightly shut, and her thick lips panting heavily caused her breasts, far exceeding Little Swallow's, to heave wildly. Her hands, unlike Little Swallow's, were far from still; the sensuality of her body made her delirious, constantly kneading her two large mounds of flesh. Her two plump legs were also restless, tightly clenched and kicking erratically, causing her large buttocks to jiggle. With

such alluring golden flowers at my mercy, how could I resist? I leaped onto the bed, pressing myself against them…

The ancients said, "Don't judge a book by its cover," and today I, Xu Zhengqi, truly understood the profound truth of this saying.

You absolutely cannot imagine how unbelievable this was.

Little Red and Little Swallow on the bed had completely transformed into different people! It was as if heaven and earth had turned upside down, their personalities swapped.

Xiao Yan on the bed was wild and reckless, completely oblivious to the concepts of male superiority and female inferiority, or male on top and female on the bottom. Having drunk the aphrodisiac, she pounced on me, pinning me beneath her. For a moment, I even wondered if I was raping her or she was raping me. She held me down tightly, giving me no chance to take control, until she climaxed and fainted in my arms.

And Xiao Hong?

On the bed, Xiao Hong's actions were nothing like her outwardly rough and generous demeanor. From the moment I entered her, she was like a weak little white rabbit, letting me ravage her, and no matter how I manipulated her, she wouldn't resist. But one thing was enough to make me laugh out loud: her rough voice, like her mother Li Niang's, wasn't good at making lewd noises, but the muffled "hmm" sounds she made were melodious and clear, and she could even coordinate with my movements with rhythmic moans, captivating and mesmerizing.
(Sixty-seven) Shamelessness

at its extreme will inevitably backfire; extreme joy will lead to sorrow.

Just as I was enjoying myself, vigorously thrusting onto Xiao Yan and Xiao Hong's naked bodies, someone I least wanted to see appeared in the room—the Iron-Faced Man.

With my current abilities, I had no idea where he came from. As I finished and savored the exquisite afterglow, a voice rang out from behind me, startling me so much I almost wet myself.

"Young Master Xu is truly a womanizer! Even with all your power gone, you're still so vigorous!" the Iron-Faced Man sneered.

I forcibly suppressed my initial panic and calmly replied, "A beautiful lady is a gentleman's desire. This young master is young and strong, with ample resources. These two are compatible with me; love between a man and a woman is a natural thing!"

I slowly sat up, and as my penis withdrew from Xiao Hong's body, it made a soft "snap" sound. In an instant, the Iron-Faced Man shuddered, his eyes flashing with a strange light, staring intently at my still "unyielding" penis.

I laughed heartily, saying, "Ten steps, one kill, aren't you envious? Yours isn't as big as mine, is it?"

A chilling aura suddenly emanated from the iron-masked man, almost tangible, stimulating my naked body! The iron-masked man moved; in a flash, his pale, thin right hand gripped my neck, his eyes gleaming with a cold, menacing light.

My face flushed red, but I forced myself to remain calm and fearless, saying with difficulty, "Don't...don't you want my internal energy cultivation manual?"

Upon hearing this, the iron-masked man's grip on my neck noticeably weakened. After a while, he calmed down, released me, turned his back to me, and said coldly, "Don't test my patience. If you anger me, you'll suffer! Pack your clothes and come with me!" With that, he slammed the door and left. I dawdled as I packed

my clothes and came out of the house. Outside, the iron-masked man was already standing in the courtyard with his back to me, while Zhang Ma stood to the side, smiling broadly, secretly giving me a meaningful look. It seems she still has some conscience and cares about me.

"I know everything about you," the Iron-Faced Man said to me without turning his head.

"What about me?"

"Stop pretending! Zhang Ma already told me everything."

Zhang Ma smiled helplessly at me. The Iron-Faced Man was her master; of course, she couldn't hide anything from him.

"What do you want?"

"Zhang Ma and Li Niang are both unfortunate women, and Xiao Ying, Xiao Yan, and Xiao Hong are all just beginning to experience love, with the hearts of young girls. Now that they have given themselves to you, you must treat them well, otherwise—humph!

Originally, I wanted to kill you after obtaining the cultivation technique to eliminate future troubles, but I didn't expect that after only a few days of seclusion, all the women in my manor have been seduced by you and their hearts are filled with lust. That's fine too, since your martial arts are already gone, you can settle down in this valley and live out your life peacefully."

I was greatly surprised. This Iron-Faced Man caught me raping women, so normally he should have tortured me severely. How could he be so kind, not only letting me go but also wanting me to marry them? Is there such a cheap deal in the world? No way, there must be a conspiracy!

"I've lost all my martial arts skills and am now a cripple. You can do whatever you want with me, can't you?"

"You know that's good." The Iron-Faced Man turned around and said, "I'll be away for a few days starting tomorrow. Zhang Ma, you'll have to take care of things at home."

Zhang Ma hurriedly replied, "Third Master, please go with peace of mind. I understand."

The Iron-Faced Man's eyes, hidden behind his iron mask, glanced at me and said slowly, "After I leave, you'll be the only man in this valley. You'll have to take care of things."

Strange, strange, strange! I'm a prisoner, and someone in the world actually wants his prisoner to help take care of his family!

What is this Iron-Faced Man up to?!

I opened my mouth wide and stammered, "Hey, hey, hey! I'm your prisoner! Did you accidentally burn your brain while practicing martial arts?"

"You're the one who's sick!" The Iron-Faced Man threw down a sentence and left without explaining anything! He left Zhang Ma and me standing there like dumb geese, watching him slowly disappear around the bend in the corridor.

"Zhang Ma, what's wrong with your Third Master?" I couldn't contain my curiosity and asked.

Zhang Ma also looked incredulous and shook her head, saying, "I don't know either. He's usually perfectly normal."

After a few more questions, neither of them could come to a conclusion. Looking at Zhang Ma's voluptuous figure, especially the two large mounds of flesh swaying in front of me, I no longer cared what was wrong with the Iron-Faced Man. I grabbed Zhang Ma, pressing my lower body firmly against her buttocks, and said, "If you can't figure it out, don't think about it. Let's have some fun first."

Zhang Ma had been listening outside the room all afternoon, and her lust was already burning. Now that the Iron-Faced Man was gone, she went limp in my arms as soon as I hugged her, and said, "Let's go inside. It's not good if someone sees us in broad daylight."

"What are you afraid of? Didn't you hear your third master just personally betroth you to me? Besides, having fun in the room every day is so boring. Today I'm going to do it in broad daylight!" I chuckled lewdly.

"No, you little lecher."

I thrust hard, saying, "I'm a lecher, and you're a whore. Heh, whore, let me show you what my little lecher is all about." I ripped off her outer pants and underwear in one swift motion, and without thinking twice, I fucked her until she was completely full. Zhang Ma cried out in pain, hooking her legs around my thighs and gripping my sleeves tightly with both hands, hanging herself up to me, her lower body pressed tightly against mine.

"Oh, you little lecher, you've ruined me! Trying to do this to me in broad daylight!"

I carried her around the yard, and soon Zhang Ma was panting and moaning from my novel methods...

Just as we were lost in our joyful walk, two gasps suddenly came from inside Zhang Ma's room, one loud and one soft. Clearly, Xiao Yan and Xiao Hong had woken up.

Zhang Ma panicked, "You brat, put me down like this! What will I do if they see this?"

I didn't care, saying, "What's the big deal? You're sharing a husband with them now, they'll find out sooner or later. It's better for them to know now." With that, I turned and, without stopping, carried Zhang Ma towards the door.

Zhang Ma was terrified, pleading, "No, no, you little devil, Aqi, please, let me off!" She struggled violently, trying to get off me. Ever since I witnessed this harlot's affair with a dog, I'd only felt lust for her, treating her merely as a tool to vent my anger and cultivate my inner energy. I wouldn't let her have her way. I held her waist tightly and increased my speed.

Zhang Ma tried to use her inner strength to break free, but my sudden acceleration sent a wave of intense pleasure through her, leaving her completely powerless. In that brief moment, I carried her into the room.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Hong, upon waking, found themselves naked, their lower bodies a blur of pain. Realizing their virginity had been taken from them after more than a decade, they embraced each other, weeping bitterly. Hearing footsteps, we were shocked to see Zhang Ma naked from the waist down, hanging on the new servant. The servant was thrusting his penis under Zhang Ma's buttocks repeatedly. The two women, never having seen anything like it, stared at us in shock, forgetting even to cry.

"You're both awake? You've just lost your virginity. You two better stay in bed and don't move."

Upon hearing me, the two women's faces changed drastically, and they shouted angrily in unison, "It's you!" Of course, the culprit was this man in front of them.

"Yes, it's me." I admitted frankly.

The two women gritted their teeth, their four red, tearful eyes glaring at me as if they wanted to devour me.

Xiao Hong couldn't bear it any longer and rushed towards me, ignoring her naked body. But after only two steps, she collapsed to the ground, unable to get up for a long time. She was usually very healthy, but now even getting up was difficult, showing how deep her trauma was. "Oh," she tried several times to get up, but was helpless due to the excruciating pain in her lower body and

her overall weakness. I carried Zhang Ma to Xiao Hong and squatted down in front of her. Xiao Hong, watching from such close range, blushed with shame and anger. I freed one arm and picked her up. Xiao Hong screamed, "Bastard, let me go, let me go, you lecher!" Her small fists kept hitting me. Actually, her strength had long been exhausted by the aphrodisiac in bed, and with her fists clenched, she could only let me tickle her.

Zhang Ma had closed her eyes since entering the room, enduring my thrusts with difficulty. Seeing me having sex in such a shameful position in front of two women, she was already drowsy and ready to ejaculate. When I picked up Xiao Hong, their breasts rubbed together unintentionally. Zhang Ma trembled, suddenly snapped, and squeezed me tightly, screaming "Ah—!" Due to the combined effects of internal and external stimulation, plus psychological factors, Zhang Ma experienced the most intense stimulation of her life and fainted!

I smiled wickedly, enjoying Zhang Ma's sweet nectar, and laid Xiao Hong down on the bed. The two women, vaguely aware

of what was happening, cursed in unison, "Shameless!" They then took Zhang Ma and got into bed as well, squeezing four people into a large double bed. I knew this was the perfect opportunity to comfort Xiao Yan and Xiao Hong. Ignoring their curses and glares, after half an hour of using aphrodisiacs, sweet words, and various other physical techniques, the two women finally softened and resigned themselves to following me.

(Sixty-eight) Seeking Death

While I was fast asleep on Li Niang's full, bed-like body, the Iron-Faced Man left silently.

With the Iron-Faced Man gone, I became even more unrestrained and lawless. My intense desire for power made me obsessed with the beautiful bodies of the women in the mansion. Whether it was day or night, inside or outside the house, as long as it was in the backyard, this was my domain. I was their heaven, their earth, and I controlled all their joys and sorrows.

I still make love to the same few women every day, but the thought of the three beautiful ladies in the manor makes my heart itch unbearably. What's more, they are the wives of the Iron-Faced Man. The thought of possessing and ravaging my enemy's wives, watching them moan and sway beneath me, excites me greatly.

But Zhang Ma keeps a close eye on me; after all, she's the head steward, and with the Iron-Faced Man away, she's in charge of all the big and small matters. She's served the Iron-Faced Man for nearly twenty years and knows my lustful nature inside and out. Whenever I mention wanting to go to the front yard to take a look, she always tries to stop me.

That afternoon, I managed to lull the three maids and Zhang Ma into a deep sleep. There were still two hours until dinner time, and having planned ahead, I dressed and headed towards the front yard.

It was nap time in the manor, and everyone in the valley would be resting at this time. The sweltering sun released all its resentment into the valley, and the oppressive heat made everyone drowsy.

I suppose no one in the manor, besides myself, is as spirited and radiant as I am. I walked triumphantly into the front courtyard, whistling as I surveyed the surroundings.

The front courtyard was indeed extraordinary: artificial hills, trees, flowers, green grass, and a small pond with shimmering water—it was like stepping into a Suzhou garden, utterly captivating. This garden rivaled even the Flower Mansion of the Prince of Ning's residence.

The garden covered about two acres, with three small buildings on each side. The buildings were made of antique wood, exuding a refined elegance; these must be the residences of the three ladies.

The windows of all three buildings faced south, shaded by large trees. At a glance, I could only see a beautiful woman sitting by the window on the central floor, holding a book and engrossed in reading!

According to Xiao Yan, the Second Madam loved reading; it seemed this woman was her. This

was truly a headache. The books I read in my younger days never appealed to me, and I'd forgotten most of them. It seemed I'd have to find another way to approach her.

I bent down and secretly circled around to her window, peering up at her closely. Zhang Ma had told me that none of the three ladies knew martial arts, so she hadn't noticed the thief stealing her perfume in the garden.

The second lady appeared to be around thirty years old, dressed in a snow-white gown, sitting gracefully in the chair opposite me. Because of the heat, she constantly fanned herself with a fan, appearing frail. She held a book in one hand, her brow furrowed, engrossed in its world. Her chest was flat, her figure delicate and well-proportioned, and her exquisitely beautiful oval face was marred by worry and resentment, her complexion sickly. Her beauty was truly incomparable to Zhang Ma's mediocre looks, and my eyes gleamed with lust.

Then, I inadvertently caught sight of the cover of the book she held! It was the legendary classic—

*Jin Ping Mei*!

Startled, I accidentally stepped on a branch, which snapped with a "crack."

"Who? Who is it?" The sickly beauty, the Second Madam, hurriedly put the book into the drawer, stood up, and shouted towards the window.

"Uh, no, I'm sorry. Second Madam, it's me." I awkwardly grinned at her, scratching the back of my head incessantly.

"Who are you?" A hint of wariness flashed in the Second Madam's sickly eyes. Before her stood a seven-foot-tall man, imposing and dignified. Though dressed as a servant, his handsome face was undeniable, and his bright, starry eyes shone with a captivating gaze that stirred the heart. The Second Madam had never seen such a handsome, manly man in her life. Her heart swayed, and she was somewhat lost in thought.

"I, I'm a servant in the backyard, mainly responsible for heavy lifting." I continued to grin foolishly, my face flushed. Don't think I was scared or shy; playing dumb was the perfect tactic to deal with this kind of sickly, frail woman.

Looking at the shy, timid, and somewhat simple-minded man before her, the second madam felt a sense of relief and said, "Aren't people from the back courtyard not allowed to come to the front courtyard? Didn't Zhang Ma tell you that?"

"Hmm, I didn't know. I'm new here, less than half a month old!"

"Oh, so you're the new servant! Master seems to have mentioned it at the dinner table." The second madam was completely at ease and said, "Then what are you doing here?"

This second madam seemed to have little interaction with people and was easily fooled by my words. Seeing how gullible she was, I stammered, "Uh, I heard from Xiao Yan that the second madam is very learned, so I wanted to ask the second madam to teach me to read and write."

Upon hearing this, the Second Madam was surprised that a servant like me possessed such a thirst for knowledge, which suited her taste perfectly. For decades, life in this mansion had been monotonous, and she could only pass the time by immersing herself in books. Now, it seemed she had something to do, something she excelled at; her joy was beyond words.

"Come upstairs," she said, "let's have a good talk!" A faint, radiant glow seemed to emanate from her pale, sickly face—truly, joy brings happiness.

This Second Madam looked to be around thirty years old, yet she was still so naive, boldly inviting me upstairs for a chat; she truly didn't know the ways of the world. But how many people like her, raised in the confines of a large, secluded mansion, truly understood the ways of the world?

I deliberately feigned hesitation and said, "Second Madam, this isn't quite right."

Seeing my expression, the Second Madam couldn't help but smile, covering her face with her sleeve, and said, "What, you don't want to learn to read anymore?"

Oh, my god! She was indeed a well-educated and courteous woman. Every smile, every gesture, every natural way she raised her sleeve to cover her face—every movement captivated my restless heart, making it pound.

I lingered as I went upstairs. Above the door was a neatly written character for "plum blossom," clearly the work of a woman, presumably the second mistress. The room wasn't large, only about 30 square meters, containing a large double bed, a dressing table, a desk, a round table, and several stools. The

desk was right by the window, its edges neatly arranged with paper, ink, brushes, and inkstones. Beside it was a large bookshelf, taking up considerable space.

The second mistress gestured for me to sit down and asked about my situation. I dared not tell the truth, so I fabricated a tragic backstory, which actually moved her to tears. While feeling

sympathy, she was also moved by my constant displays of eagerness to learn and improve. Without a word, she took out a brush, ink, paper, and inkstone, and began to teach me to write, stroke by stroke, holding my hand. Completely absorbed in being a teacher, she was oblivious to how intimate their posture was.

Her small hand gently covered my rough, large hand, soft and smooth. Her upper body pressed against my broad back, and as the brush moved across the paper, her pert breasts occasionally brushed against my back, like waves, one after another, stirring the already simmering flames of desire within me.

A woman around thirty years old is at the most alluring age. Thirty is like a wolf, forty is like a tiger. This age is the perfect combination of beauty and desire in a woman's life.

Moreover, besides her beauty, the second wife's delicate and slender figure would make any man want to hold her in his arms and cherish her. Although I tried to suppress the fire burning within me, I couldn't concentrate as the Second Madam's small hands guided my writing, stroke by stroke.

As I made mistake after mistake, the Second Madam was greatly surprised. Who could make mistakes when someone personally guided them in writing? She gently admonished, "Don't be so stiff when writing!" Her soft, fragrant breath wafted into my ear.

Her unintentional breath finally ignited the fire within me. I turned sharply and met her bright eyes. The Second Madam found my gaze strange, as if burning with desire. But before she could react, I suddenly pulled her into my arms. For a moment, she seemed stunned, her mouth slightly open, as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. How could such a handsome, studious, and ambitious student treat her like this…?

Only when my lips pressed against hers did she snap out of her daze, desperately pushing against my chest with both hands. But how could a weak woman, powerless to resist me? She tried to scream, but her small mouth could only utter muffled sounds within my large mouth. My mind was consumed by a single thought: to possess this woman before me.

With each stroke of my hands, her clothes were stripped away, until she was completely naked. My eyes were fixed on her pristine white flesh; I couldn't see the tears of humiliation in her eyes or her frantically flailing hands. As I pressed her beneath me, my throbbing hands kneading her small breasts, her small hands, which had been pushing against my chest, fell limply to her sides.

When I entered her, she seemed to lose all strength. Her eyes widened, her mouth opened slightly, but no sound came out… Strangely, I could clearly feel an obstruction within her. But at that moment, I didn't care to investigate further; wasn't it better that she was a virgin? Overjoyed, I thrust into her for what seemed like an eternity. When I finally exhausted my last bit of strength, I collapsed onto her and fell asleep…

When I awoke, it was almost dark; dinnertime was approaching. When I turned to look for the Second Madam, she was no longer beside me. A surge of anxiety filled me, and I hastily dressed. Given her delicate nature, such a devastating blow might lead her to do something foolish.

I hurriedly got up and went downstairs, where I saw the Second Madam standing silently by the artificial hill and pond in the garden. Her back was to me, staring blankly at the water, her hands seemingly clutching something. I couldn't see her face, but anyone could tell what she was thinking. I cried out urgently, "No—"

Before the words were even out of my mouth, I saw the Second Madam leap lightly, plummeting into the pond like a shooting star. In that instant, I clearly saw a pale, deathly face, a lifeless glance at me.

I was stunned. I hadn't expected such a frail woman to be so fiercely independent, willing to sacrifice her life to uphold her dignity. In that instant, my heart clenched, a dull ache gripping it. In my short life, I have never regretted anything so much. I rushed to the edge of the pool, not even bothering to take off my clothes, took a deep breath, and leaped into the once calm water.

The water was orange-green. I searched desperately for my second wife's figure. I hadn't expected that this seemingly small pool would be so deep. It wasn't until I dived six meters down that I saw her lying on the bottom of the pool, clutching a large rock among the water plants.

I was overjoyed. I plunged in and swam to her side, pushed the rock off her, put my arm around her shoulders, and pressed my mouth to hers, giving her a breath.

My second wife was determined to die. She jumped into the water with the rock, gulping down the water as soon as she entered. She was unconscious when she hit the bottom. Time was of the essence; a few more seconds and it would be too late. Having been a swimmer since childhood, I knew this all too well. I quickly held her, pushed off with my legs, and swam upwards.

But fate had other plans. A few water plants, as if cursed, tangled around my left foot. I tried to pull my leg free, but the plants only tightened their grip. In my panic, I grabbed a rock from the edge of the pool, hoping to break the plants. But fate seemed determined to work against me; the rock was rooted to the spot, and even with my current strength of 500 pounds in one arm, I couldn't budge it.

Desperate but unwilling to give up, I pushed sharply to the side. Suddenly, a cracking sound rang out, and a large hole appeared out of nowhere behind me. An immense suction force emanated from the hole, pulling me and my wife, along with the water plants clinging to my leg, inside.

I held my wife tightly, my lips still pressed against hers. Such a powerful force of nature was beyond human resistance; my heart sank uncontrollably.

I don't know how much time passed, maybe a second, maybe a moment, but as I felt the air in my chest growing thinner, I felt a sudden lightness, and I found myself out of the water, in a large hole.

I was overjoyed, filled with the joy of escaping death. Although the hole was pitch black, I accurately began performing CPR on the Second Madam. If she lived, I would do anything for her to atone for my sins.

After a long while, the Second Madam coughed up some water. I wept with joy, embracing her tightly as she continued to choke on the water, saying, "Ah, thank God, Second Madam, you're finally awake! If you had died, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life… It's all my fault, I deserve to die, I deserve to die…"

The Second Madam groggily awoke, feeling an incredible weight pressing on her chest, making her feel suffocated. She whispered, "Let… let me go."

Hearing this, I loosened my embrace, choking back tears, "Yes, I'm sorry. Yes, it was my fault. Kill me or do whatever you want, Second Madam, please don't do anything foolish and die!"

Although the second wife couldn't see my face clearly, she knew from the voice that it was the boy who had raped her. She seemed to have just escaped death, and her heart was much calmer. Her icy voice rang out: "Let me go, you beast."

I awkwardly released her, and she gently struggled, curling up and sitting to the side. The atmosphere in the cave was extremely awkward. If it weren't so dark that you couldn't see your hand in front of your face, she would have seen my disheveled state.

"Are you alright?" I finally

managed to stammer after a long pause. "None of your business," the second wife coldly retorted.

I was extremely embarrassed again. I, who was usually so eloquent, couldn't utter a single word. It seemed that no matter what I said, she wouldn't listen. Helpless, I could only look around at my surroundings…

(Sixty-nine) First Love

After a long while, my eyes slowly adjusted to the darkness, and I finally understood that we were in a passage! The passage split into two ends, one in front and one behind. Behind me lay a path leading into the pitch-black depths, while ahead lay the entrance we had come from.

To my surprise, there was water at the entrance, yet it wouldn't flow out, as if an invisible wall of air was blocking its entry. Curiosity piqued, I reached out to touch the water; it was wet. Suddenly, I remembered my stepmother, Gong Yuelan, mentioning a rare bead in the martial arts world called the Water-Repelling Bead, capable of keeping rivers, lakes, and seas at bay within three zhang (approximately 1.3 meters).

Could there really be a Water-Repelling Bead here? But the cave was dark; where could I find this Water-Repelling Bead I'd never seen before? Suddenly, a suction force came from my hand, almost pulling me in completely. Startled, I forcefully pulled my right hand back from the water.

"This water is strange; it has an extremely strong suction force," I muttered to myself, panting heavily.

The Second Madam didn't answer; her eyes remained lifeless and colorless. It seemed she still hadn't recovered from the trauma of being raped. Seeing her still so stubborn, he was filled with regret. He, Xu Zhengqi, had seen countless women, but he had never encountered one as inflexible as her.

Actually, this second wife was from Suzhou. Her father was a marquis in the court, and her mother was also from a prominent family. She had one son and three daughters. The eldest son's surname was Lin, and his given name was Hai. The three daughters were named Zhongmei, Zhonglan, and Zhongxiang. The second daughter loved reading from a young age, and from the age of six, she accompanied her brother Lin Hai in studying and practicing calligraphy.

Unexpectedly, one morning when she was sixteen, she woke up to find herself and her sister in an unknown mansion located in a secluded valley. Later, three men in black, wearing iron masks, appeared and, at dusk, decorated the place with lanterns and banners, married all three sisters at the same time. At first, the three sisters were somewhat afraid, but the three men ignored them daily and did not sleep with them. They let the three sisters do whatever they wanted, but because they were in the secluded valley, they could not leave. Fifteen years passed in this daze.

The first wife's name was Lin Mei, the second wife's name was Lin Lan, and the third wife's name was Lin Xiang.

Unlike her two sisters, the second wife had received some education from a young age and valued moral principles and the three obediences and four virtues above all else. For fifteen years, except for a few smiles when chatting with her three sisters, she was constantly frowning, burying herself in books to ease her homesickness. Although she had no feelings for the Iron-Faced Man, they were, after all, bound by marriage, and he had preserved her chastity, never laying a finger on her in fifteen years.

Unexpectedly, today she finally met the only man in fifteen years besides the Iron-Faced Man, and her heart was filled with extreme joy. She had thought him handsome, studious, and ambitious, but she never expected him to be so wicked, a beast, who raped her. The moment she awoke, she had suicidal thoughts. Lin Lan was naturally weak; she wanted to strangle me, but she was utterly powerless. When she took out the scissors, her kind nature prevented her from even stepping on an ant, let alone bringing herself to do it.

After much deliberation, having been a caged bird in this nameless valley for fifteen years, and now having lost her virginity, she felt it was better to die. Thus, the scene of her attempting suicide by drowning occurred.

But fate was cruel; she couldn't die even if she wanted to, as that lecherous beast in human form saved her. She didn't care where she was now, feeling lost and helpless, simply staring blankly, lost in thought.

"It seems we can only move on," I said helplessly, looking at Lin Lan. Lin Lan still looked distraught, sitting blankly to one side.

I sighed; we couldn't just wait to die here. I bent down and pulled her into my arms. Lin Lan didn't react at first, but when she realized it, she was already in that lecherous beast's arms. She struggled, her small hands covering her chest, pushing desperately, screaming frantically, "Let me go, you lecherous beast, lecherous beast… let me go…"

She was no match for me; I simply wrapped one arm around her waist, picked her up, and carried her away. Seeing that she couldn't push me away, Lin Lan attacked me with her small hands, striking my face repeatedly. I was too lazy to dodge, letting her hands leave streaks of blood on my face. Luckily, Lin Lan regularly trimmed her nails, otherwise, I would have been disfigured.

Seeing that I didn't fight back, Lin Lan suddenly grabbed me and bit down hard on my left shoulder, holding on for a long time. I groaned in pain and said softly, "Bite me, bite me, it was my fault. If this makes you feel better, I'm willing to let you bite me for a lifetime."
Lin Lan ignored me and continued to bite...

This passage was over a meter high, seemingly a straight line stretching into the dark distance. I don't know how long we walked, but there seemed to be light ahead. When I quickly walked to the source, what I saw greatly disappointed me.

It turned out that I had led Lin Lan to a circular place, with a luminous pearl the size of an egg on the ceiling, emitting the light. Disappointingly, this circular passage, like a transfer station, connected nine entrances, including the one we had come from.

What should we do? I thought to myself, this is most likely a maze. Being trapped in this predicament, it's no wonder I'm so anxious. A chill ran down my spine; I've already forgotten my master's lessons so soon after leaving the valley.

Calm down, calm down! I need to stay calm to clear my head. Yes, calm down, I need to think this through.

I've thoroughly searched this valley; there's nothing special about it. Today, coming to the front courtyard, apart from the main hall and the three small buildings, there's nothing suspicious. So why does Zhang Ma say she rarely sees the Iron-Faced Man, yet he always appears so unexpectedly?

Zhang Ma has grown up in this valley since she was old enough to understand, and the Iron-Faced Man taught her some techniques of qi cultivation, yet for thirty years she's never seen his true face. It seems there must be something else hidden in this valley, and this mysterious cave we've stumbled upon is the secret.

If that's the case, then things are easier.

I examined all the cave entrances, and sure enough, the friction marks on the ground in front of one entrance were much more obvious than the other seven. A surge of joy filled me, and I said to Lin Lan, "Second Madam, we're saved!"

But Lin Lan remained silent, resting her head on my shoulder, her long, soft hair tucked into my neck, and she actually fell asleep holding me! It seemed that the brush with death had exhausted this gentle woman both physically and mentally!

Lin Lan bit the man's shoulder hard, completely unexpectedly, the man seemed oblivious to the excruciating pain, even managing to speak such tender words to her. A warm, alkaline liquid flowed into her mouth, and Lin Lan's heart trembled. Ah, this, this is blood! Her grip on the man's lips weakened, and she remained fixed on his wound.

"What, what's wrong with me?" Lin Lan screamed inwardly, completely unable to comprehend the feelings swirling within her—hatred, resentment, anger, shock, fear, sorrow, and more… Her heart was a jumbled mess of emotions, a mixture of sweet, sour, bitter, and spicy flavors. In a daze, Lin Lan shed two tears, which fell onto the man's shoulder, and she drifted off to sleep.

Lin Lan had a dream. She returned to her hometown, which she hadn't seen for fifteen years. Her hometown was still the same as it had been fifteen years ago, with its beautiful mountains and clear waters and lush gardens. She returned to her beloved home in Suzhou. The tall gates of the Lin family mansion stood there, and Zhang Laosan was the one who opened them. She saw her parents, who showed no signs of aging, and her mother was still as beautiful as ever.

She rushed into her mother's warm embrace. Her mother's embrace was just as warm and safe as it had been fifteen years ago. She was like a small boat, tossed and turned by storms for fifteen years, finally anchoring in her mother's harbor…

Tears slowly streamed down her face—no, not from sadness, but from joy. In her dream, Lin Lan's lips curled into a faint smile, which I happened to see.

At that moment, I froze. For the first time in my life, an inexplicable chord had been plucked in my heart. Looking at Lin Lan's beautiful face, tear-streaked, I murmured a poem: "

The Han emperor, captivated by beauty, sought a woman to rival the nation's glory, but for years he could not find one.

The Yang family had a daughter, just blossoming into womanhood, kept hidden in her secluded chambers, unknown to the world. Her

innate beauty could not be concealed, and one day she was chosen to serve the emperor.

A single glance, a smile, and a hundred charms bloomed; the beauties of the six palaces paled in comparison.

In the spring chill, she was granted a bath at Huaqing Pool, the smooth hot spring waters cleansing her delicate skin.

Attendants helped her up, languid and weak, at the beginning of her newfound favor.

Her cloud-like hair adorned with flowers and golden hairpins, she spent the spring night in the warm hibiscus-scented tent."

The spring night is fleeting, the sun rises high, and from then on, the emperor no longer holds morning court. He is constantly occupied

with serving the emperor and attending banquets, spending his days in spring outings and his nights in exclusive

indulgence. Of the three thousand beauties in the harem, all the emperor's favor rests on one.

She is adorned in the golden palace, serving him tenderly at night; after the banquet in the jade tower, she is drunk with spring's embrace.

Her sisters and brothers are all high-ranking officials, bringing glory to their family.

Thus, the hearts of parents throughout the land yearn for daughters, not sons.

The Lishan Palace rises high into the clouds, celestial music drifts on the wind.

Slow songs and gentle dances, accompanied by strings and flutes, captivate the emperor all day long. Then,

the drums of Yuyang shake the earth, shattering the "Rainbow Feather Garment Dance."

Smoke and dust rise from the nine-layered palace, as thousands of chariots and horses head southwest.

The imperial carriage sways, moving and stopping, more than a hundred li west of the capital.

The six armies refuse to advance, leaving no choice but

to let the beautiful concubine die before the horse. Her jeweled hairpins lie scattered on the ground, her jade comb and golden hair ornaments lying uncollected.

The emperor covers his face, unable to save her, turning back to see tears of blood mingling with his own.

Yellow dust scatters in the desolate wind, winding mountain paths lead to Jianmen Pass;

few travel beneath Mount Emei, banners are dim in the pale sunlight.

The Shu River flows blue, the Shu Mountains are clear, the Emperor's heart is filled with longing day and night.

The moon seen from the temporary palace is a sorrowful sight, the sound of bells in the night rain is heart-wrenching.

The world spins, the imperial carriage returns, but here it hesitates, unable to leave;

beneath the Mawei Slope, in the mud, her jade-like face is nowhere to be seen, only the empty place of her death remains.

Emperor and ministers look at each other, their clothes soaked with tears, they gaze eastward towards the capital, letting their horses lead them home.

Returning, the ponds and gardens are all as before, the lotus of Taiye and the willows of Weiyang Palace.

The lotus like her face, the willows like her eyebrows, how can one not weep at this sight!

Spring breezes bring peach and plum blossoms, autumn rains bring falling leaves of the paulownia tree.

Autumn grasses grow thick in the western and southern palaces, fallen leaves cover the steps, red and unswept. The actors of the

Pear Garden have new white hair, the palace maids of the Pepper Chamber have aged.

Fireflies flit in the evening palace, thoughts are quiet, the lonely lamp is burned low, sleep eludes me.

The slow tolling of bells and drums marks the beginning of the long night, the bright Milky Way heralds the approaching dawn.

The mandarin duck tiles are cold with heavy frost, the jade quilt is cold, who shares it with me?

Years have passed since our parting in life and death, my soul has never come to me in dreams.

A Taoist priest from Linqiong, a guest of the

capital, can summon souls with his sincerity. Moved by the emperor's restless longing, he instructed a sorcerer to diligently search.

Riding the air like lightning, he searched everywhere, ascending to

heaven and descending to the underworld. He searched the highest heavens and the deepest hells, but found nothing.

Suddenly, he heard of a fairy mountain in the sea, a mountain in the misty void.

Exquisite pavilions rise amidst five-colored clouds, where many graceful fairies dwell.

Among them is one named Tai Zhen, with skin like snow and a face like a flower.

He knocks on the jade door of the western wing of the golden palace, and instructs Xiao Yu to inform Shuang Cheng.

Hearing of the Han emperor's envoy, she is startled awake from her dream in the nine-flowered tent.

She rises, pushes aside her pillow, and paces back and forth, the pearl curtains and silver screens slowly opening. Her cloud-like

hair is half-undone from her recent sleep, her flower crown askew as she descends the steps.

The wind blows her fairy sleeves, fluttering like a dance of rainbow-colored feathers. Her jade-like

face was lonely, tears streaming down, like a pear blossom in spring rain.

With tender gaze, she bid farewell to the king, their voices and forms now lost to each other.

In the Zhaoyang Palace, their love was severed, while in the Penglai Palace, the days and nights stretched endlessly.

Looking back down at the mortal world, she saw no Chang'an

, only dust and mist. She could only express her deep affection with old keepsakes

, sending a gold hairpin inlaid with jewels. One piece of the hairpin remained, the other

a fan; the hairpin was broken, the gold and jewels separated. If only their hearts could remain as steadfast as gold and jewels, they would meet again in heaven or on earth.

Before parting, she earnestly sent another poem, a vow known only to their two hearts.

On the seventh day of the seventh month, in the Hall of Eternal Life, at midnight when no one was around, they whispered their vows: "In heaven,

we wish to be birds flying wing to wing; on earth, we wish to be trees with intertwined branches. Heaven and earth

may end, but this sorrow will last forever.

" Having recited Bai Juyi's "Song of Everlasting Regret," my heart is clear as a mirror. Yes, I am in love; indeed, I, who have seen countless women, have fallen for someone I have just tormented.

At less than thirteen years old, I finally understand what love is. In the past, none of the women I encountered were my lovers. To the mothers and the many women of Xiaoyao Valley, they were like family to me. I grew up there, and unconsciously considered them all members of my family. Driven by instinct, I married most of them. This wasn't love.

To Jiang Rushui, I felt pity, but because of her status, I also felt a desire to conquer her. This wasn't love either. To Jiang Shaling

, I treated her as a playmate, a playmate of my own age, someone to play "games" with. This wasn't love either.

To the women of Killer Valley, my pursuit of "power," my thirst for strength, and my intense hatred for the Iron-Faced Man made me constantly think about sex. This wasn't love either.

I cared for and cherished these women, but none of it constituted complete love.

At the moment Lin Lan drowned herself, I felt boundless respect for her. Lin Lan, she was a strong woman.

Why?

Because she wasn't afraid of death; she had the courage to commit suicide!

People often categorize those who commit suicide as weak, believing they are afraid to face reality, that they are escaping, and that they have no other choice but to end their lives.

But there are many perspectives, and I believe those who dare to commit suicide are strong.

How many people in the world can face death with the same courage? People chase fame and fortune; those who have no desires pursue happiness. No one dares to face death because they have too much to let go of.

But what about those who commit suicide? They too have family and friends, things they cherish. Because reality presents them with a hopeless tomorrow, what's the point of living? Despite their attachments, they still choose death, preferring to go to another world. What kind of world is that? No one knows.

The unknown is so vast.

Humans have an instinct, a mixture of curiosity and fear about the unknown.

However, those who commit suicide are neither curious nor afraid of the unknown. They resolutely choose suicide. Even though death is so terrifying, they still take their own lives.

Think about it, how much courage that takes!

How can one not admire them?

Therefore, I admire Lin Lan, who attempted suicide.

Her belief in chastity filled me with utmost admiration. So, the moment Lin Lan threw herself into the water, I subconsciously accepted her and felt a deep love for her.

Now, seeing her smile in my dream, I truly understand the meaning of Bai Juyi's two lines: "In heaven, we wish to be birds flying wing to wing; on earth, we wish to be branches intertwined."

I hugged her tighter, looking at her tear-streaked face, and secretly vowed never to hurt her again.

(Seventy)

I stood there holding Lin Lan in the Ecstasy Cave for who knows how long, until my stomach rumbled and I was startled awake. We had to find the exit as soon as possible, otherwise, hunger alone would be enough to make us suffer. Holding Lin Lan,

I carefully walked straight into the cave. After a few steps, the light grew dimmer and dimmer until it was pitch black, but fortunately, the cave had no bends, so there was no need to worry about bumping into walls; we could continue forward by touching the walls.

Unexpectedly, as soon as I touched the wall, I felt a protrusion. I pressed it casually, and to my surprise, I sank into the wall. Suddenly, a grinding sound came from inside the hole. Could it be a trap? Better safe than sorry. Without hesitation, I grabbed Lin Lan and fell backward.

You might ask why I didn't fall forward?

Well, this is a trick, everyone should remember it.

Most traps and mechanisms are designed to harm you from the front, like flying arrows or other traps. If you step in, you might fall into a hole full of sharp wooden stakes. So, I fell backward.

Lin Lan and I fell to the ground, but we didn't hear a sound afterward. It seems I was just being paranoid. However, Lin Lan, who had been disturbed from her sweet dream, was quite angry and annoyed. When she opened her eyes and was about to teach the man a lesson, she realized she was lying in someone's arms, and that person was a man (because she had accidentally touched his manhood).

"Ah—" Lin Lan screamed in fright, clutching her chest and collapsing to the ground. "Who is it?"

"Second Madam, don't you remember? I'm Xu Qi! I'm the one who saved you when you jumped into the water!" I wondered if Lin Lan had lost her memory after a nap.

"Oh," Lin Lan listened to me, thought for a moment, and then remembered everything. "Ah—" Another scream, "You lecherous thief, what more do you want from me? I want to die but you won't let me, you've already ruined my body, what more do you want?"

Lin Lan shouted and cried out in pain.

"I..." I had just started to speak when I heard a series of sharp sounds as if something was cutting through the air. Oh no, there really is a trap. "Watch out—" I shouted, tackling Lin Lan and pinning her down. "Whoosh whoosh whoosh—" A series of arrows grazed past my back, quickly embedding themselves in the ground behind me with a "thud—" sound.

"Damn it, those people who set up this mechanism are so damn cunning. They only launched the arrow after we let our guard down and thought everything was fine." I almost died, and I even swore. "Are you alright?" I asked anxiously, looking at Lin Lan beneath me.

The passage was so dark I couldn't see her face at all.

"You lecherous scoundrel, get away!" Lin Lan said irritably. "Who asked you to save me? I was already looking for death."

"But, but I don't want you to die. I want you to live."

"My life is my own, what does it have to do with you?"

"From today onwards, your life is no longer just yours. Without my consent, no one can take your life."

"You and I are not related, why do you say that?"

"Why? Because I'm your husband!"

"You! You lecherous scoundrel, I'd rather die than submit to you!" Lin Lan said firmly.

"Of course you can't submit to me if you're dead, but you're still alive, so you're still mine!" I deliberately misinterpreted her words, speaking domineeringly.

"You! You scoundrel, you rogue, you lecher..." Lin Lan had grown up in a secluded mansion and had never cursed before; she only ever used these three words.

I laughed out loud: "That's all the cursing you know? You can't even curse properly?"

"You!" Lin Lan was speechless with anger. I could imagine her face turning red with rage, looking incredibly cute. Thinking of this, I couldn't resist kissing her on the cheek.

"You! Waaah..." Lin Lan hadn't expected me to kiss her and burst into tears.

How could I not feel sorry for her? After all, she was my first love, and this was the first time I had ever fallen for her. "Sweetie, okay, I won't tease you anymore, okay, don't cry, okay? It was my fault, I'll get up now. But I still have to carry you; this passage looks like it's full of traps, we have to be careful."

Lin Lan kept crying, desperately trying to escape my grasp, but I wouldn't let her. Finally, she resigned herself to her fate and collapsed into my arms, continuing to cry, muttering incoherently, "You lecher, you scoundrel..."

After walking a while longer, seemingly safer, she quickened her pace slightly. "Ah—" Lin Lan gasped softly, because her hand had touched a small stick on my shoulder. "You, you're injured!"

Hiss—I gasped, Lin Lan's touch had aggravated my wound. "It's nothing, just a small injury." Actually, the arrows had already struck my shoulder when I pounced on Lin Lan, but I hadn't shown it to avoid alerting her.

"No, you have to pull the arrow out." Lin Lan was eager to get down, and this time I didn't stop her. Lin

Lan was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to see anyone injured, even though this person was her "great enemy."

"Ah, so much blood." Lin Lan reached out and touched my back, not expecting it to be soaked with blood.

"Why didn't you make a sound just now?"

"I was afraid you'd be frightened by the blood. It's alright, this little injury isn't a serious illness, it'll be fine tomorrow." Indeed, with my current self-healing ability, I would be fine after a day's rest under normal circumstances.

However, this was an abnormal situation.

Lin Lan was silent.

After a long while, she said, "I, I dare not pull it out."

Without turning my head, I grabbed the arrow shaft on my left shoulder and pulled it out forcefully. With a muffled groan, blood and bits of flesh splattered, some even landing on Lin Lan behind me.

Lin Lan screamed in fright, ah—, her whole body trembling and she began to sob softly.

My left hand gradually went numb, and I gritted my teeth and said, "Help me tie it up." I took off my shirt, revealing my bare upper body, and tore it into a long strip of cloth in a few quick movements, handing it to Lin Lan.

Lin Lan took the strip of cloth, sobbing and trembling, gritted her teeth, and slowly tied it up.

I knew she'd never even seen blood before, so it must have taken immense courage for her to bandage me like this. I comforted her, "It's alright, it won't hurt. Just tighten it as much as you want, otherwise it'll be a waste."

"Oh...

"

After resting for a while, the two of us set off again. After all, if we didn't get out of this maze, we were doomed.

After walking for a while, we suddenly found ourselves in a slightly larger space, and a gust of wind suddenly rushed towards me. Oh no, someone's here! I pushed Lin Lan aside and took the punch head-on. Fortunately, the force was only about 500 pounds, and the attacker seemed to practice external martial arts; there was no internal force in the punch.

"Lanlan, move aside and don't make a sound!" I shouted, deflecting another punch.

Lin Lan was a smart person; she knew she was a burden and obediently moved aside without uttering a sound. But she was extremely nervous, secretly worried for me.

I dared not be careless, and I didn't know if the person who ambushed me had accomplices. I dared not use my full strength, and besides, I had been hit by an arrow, which weakened my power. Left with no other choice, I had to use the Swimming Dragon Fist, a technique I had never used since I entered the martial world.

The cave was pitch black, so dark you couldn't

see your hand in front of your face; I could only rely on my ears to hear the wind to locate myself. "Who goes there? Why are you attacking us?" The man didn't answer, and threw two more punches at me. I used a move called "Dragon Tail Sweep" to deflect the enemy's fists. Since my left hand was weak, I had to throw another punch at the enemy's abdomen. I originally thought that with my punch, which had the force of eight hundred pounds, he would be seriously injured if not killed, but I heard a thud, and the recoil made my right hand numb; I almost couldn't clench my fist.

"Who are you, you scoundrel, wearing armor?" I roared. You dare wear armor? I'll hit your head! I used another move called "Dragon Probing the Cave," and threw a punch at the opponent's head. "Bang!" What? His face was covered with an iron mask! Startled, the enemy swept his leg, knocking me to the ground.

"I'll fight you to the death!" Everyone has a temper, and this attacker was clad in golden armor—how could I possibly fight him? Now, I had all my inner energy but couldn't unleash it, so I had no choice but to engage in close combat. I used the Dragon Capture Hand technique, hooking his kick and pulling him down onto the fallen enemy. With

a scissor-like motion, I pinned one of his hands behind his back. "Hmph, you still lost to me." Before I could even feel smug, his hand defied the laws of the human body, resisting my right hand and slowly looping around behind his head, before he suddenly threw me to the ground!

"How is this possible? When did Indian Yoga come to China?" There's no other martial art in the world that allows the arms and limbs to rotate and twist freely, defying the body's natural limitations. However, the Indians harbored deep hatred for the people of our Great Zhou Dynasty because Bodhidharma had secretly introduced Buddhism to our country, and it was impossible for them to pass on such divine skills to the people of our Celestial Empire.

"You're from India!" I exclaimed in surprise, not expecting to encounter such a "troublesome" person. Indian yoga is unpredictable and has always been known for its tricky and strange techniques, and because practitioners of this art are extremely flexible, they are especially difficult to deal with.

The enemy remained silent, his continuous attacks crashing down on me like waves, and I struggled to defend myself. Fortunately, this person's striking power was not strong, only about 500 jin (approximately 250 kg), which was more than enough for me, who possessed a resistance to blows of 1000 jin (approximately 500 kg). Wait

a minute, something's not right. If this person truly practiced yoga, how could he be fighting me while wearing heavy armor? Isn't this completely different from yoga? Who in the world would add a restraint to their own advantage?

The more I thought about it, the stranger my opponent seemed. He practiced the same Shaolin Tiger-Taming Arhat Fist for ages, without changing his moves at all. It was like he was rehearsing a routine, attacking me one move after another, over and over again. Even more astonishingly, he didn't even break a sweat after all that. Wait, no, he wasn't just not breathing. He... he wasn't breathing at all.

The thought sent chills down my spine. Was I fighting a zombie? But zombies are stiff; how could they twist their arms like this? He

wasn't afraid of being hit, didn't twist, had unlimited stamina, kept repeating the same routine, and wasn't even breathing!

Could he be...?

The strange tales my grandmaster had told me flashed through my mind!

Taking advantage of our close proximity, I shamelessly groped his face, body, and lower body...

"Lanlan, where are you? He's a mechanical man!" I finally confirmed, shouting with joy.

"What? A mechanical man? I'm here," Lin Lan said, bewildered.

"Get over there quickly, prepare to escape. The one attacking us was just a mechanical puppet; it's not a real human, it has no thoughts."

"Ah! Oh, okay!" Lin Lan successfully ran to the other end of the passage, turned around and called out, "Aqi, come here quickly!" She didn't notice at all that her way of addressing me had changed.

I used the move "Dragon Appears in the Field," exerting all my strength, ignoring its continuous attacks, and sent the mechanical puppet flying three meters backward. Taking advantage of this opportunity, I turned and flew back. Although I couldn't use my internal energy, "Starry Sky Chess Steps" was, after all, the number one lightness skill in the world. Its footwork was mysterious, and even without internal energy, it was twice as fast as a normal full-speed sprint!

I grabbed Lin Lan with my right hand, tucked her under my arm, and ran forward. After running a long way and making sure the mechanical puppet wasn't chasing us, I finally put Lin Lan down on the ground with peace of mind.

I bent over, panting heavily, and said, "Wow, what a powerful mechanical man!"

Lin Lan asked, puzzled, "What mechanical man?"

"Huff, huff—come on, let's talk as we walk." I said, reaching for her small hand. Lin Lan was startled and embarrassed, trying to pull away but unable to. She snapped, "How can you be like this, so shameless as to hold my hand?"

"I was just holding you the whole time, why didn't you say that?"

"Well, that was in a crisis, we had to escape. I had no choice but to let you..." Lin Lan's voice grew softer and softer until it disappeared completely.

"We're in a desperate situation right now, every moment is fraught with danger. What if I hurt you?" I argued, holding her hand tightly.

"You, you're shameless. Whether I get hurt or not is none of your business!" Lin Lan increasingly revealed her girlish charm. It seemed that I had slowly opened her heart, and her suicidal thoughts had faded.

“I’m your husband, who else can take care of me?”

“Who’s your wife? I didn’t agree to that.”

“We’ve already consummated our relationship, and besides, you gave me your virginity. If I’m not your husband, then who is? Is it that iron-faced man who wasted fifteen of your prime years?”

Lin Lan was speechless, and the atmosphere became awkward and stiff.

I changed the subject, “Want to know what a mechanical man is?” Lin Lan didn’t answer. I didn’t care and continued, “The study of mechanical arts originated from the Mohist school during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Mozi was its founder, you should know that, right?”

Lin Lan still didn’t answer, but nodded.

“Mozi advocated ‘universal love and non-aggression’ and ‘selflessness,’ which are the origin of the profound thoughts of chivalrous people like us.” Looking at Lin Lan’s blank eyes, I knew she hadn’t read the book *Mozi*. Since the Han Dynasty, China has “dismissed all other schools of thought and exclusively honored Confucianism,” so very few people read these kinds of miscellaneous books.

"Mozi was not only a sage but also a master craftsman. His mechanical arts were unbelievable. He once created a wooden bird that could fly freely in the sky. He even fought alongside Lu Ban in a simulated siege battle in the State of Chu and defeated Lu Ban decisively. It's conceivable that his mechanical arts possessed unfathomable power."

"Since Qin unified the world, the Mohist school has remained hidden, rarely appearing in the martial world. It is said that there was a senior named Tianjizi whose mechanical array diagrams originated from Mohist principles. However, Tianjizi disappeared three hundred years ago, and Mohist principles were almost forgotten by the world. Unexpectedly, today he can fight against the legendary mechanical man. It seems that the Mohist mechanical arts have survived. The Iron-Faced Man is most likely related to the Mohist school."

Lin Lan was astonished by these words, suspecting that this servant was far more than he appeared. Judging from his words and actions, he must be a wandering knight-errant. Thinking of this, Lin Lan became somewhat excited! A woman well-versed in literature, she had once greatly admired wandering swordswomen like Gongsun Da Niang, who could accompany handsome young heroes, roaming the world with swords, punishing evil, and righting wrongs. But that was merely a girlish dream; was it about to become reality?

No, no. Lin Lan panicked. What was wrong with her? Even if he was a figure of the martial world, he was still a despised lecher. How could she be with such a lecher? If people found out, how could she ever face them again? But, but she had already been… been…

Lin Lan was lost in her own inner world, while I was secretly astonished. I hadn't expected this masked man to have connections with the Mo family; he was truly not to be underestimated. We had walked for so long and still hadn't reached the end. I wondered what other traps lay ahead. It seemed we had to proceed with extreme caution. We were already hungry and exhausted; if another trap appeared, we would be in deep trouble.

(Seventy-one) A Blessed Cave

The two continued onward, gradually feeling the passage widen. After walking for a while, suddenly their eyes were brightened. They didn't know where the light came from, but they had arrived at an extremely spacious cave.

Unexpectedly, there was a cave within a cave, a hidden paradise

. The cave was extremely spacious, several times larger than the living room of an ordinary wealthy family. The entire cave was constructed of stone. The air inside was fresh, incomparable to the murky air in the passage.

The cave was like an ordinary family's home, complete with stone tables, stone chairs, and stone benches. Opposite, against the wall, was a stone platform about a meter high and several meters square. On the platform sat a stone bed, complete with bedding and a mosquito net. Beside it was a small stone table, upon which sat a large bronze mirror. The mirror's surface was smooth and new, clearly a high-quality item.

Nearby was a small spring, overflowing with water. Below the flowing water was a trough, just large enough for one person to lie down, apparently a bathing place.

"Looks like someone lives here," I said, picking up the teapot and pouring myself a cup of tea, which I finished in one gulp. I then poured a cup for Lin Lan. Lin Lan didn't stand on ceremony, sitting upright on a stool, sipping her tea, and curiously examining the cave.

"Hey—look, there are some reliefs here," I called to Lin Lan, pointing to several images on one of the cave walls.

These carvings were incredibly lifelike, depicting several women of varying ages, all possessing breathtaking beauty, like celestial beings descended to earth. Even I, who have seen countless beauties, was mesmerized. While these women were undeniably beautiful, there was one unsettling aspect—their postures varied, yet their expressions were all the same—cold and unsmiling.

"Hey, there are some words here."

I walked over to Lin Lan and saw it. "Portraits of the founders of the Heartless Sect," Lin Lan read. "Heartless

Sect? I don't remember such a sect in the martial world. Could this be the sect the Iron-Faced Man belongs to?" I stammered.

"Who's the Iron-Faced Man? Are you talking about my husband?" Lin Lan asked, puzzled.

I was a little angry; she still considered the Iron-Faced Man her husband. "Your husband is both far away and right here. Who else could it be but me?"

Lin Lan blushed, glared at me, and turned her head away, ignoring me.

Seeing Lin Lan's transformation along the way filled me with joy; it was only a matter of time before she accepted me.

After carefully examining the pictures, which didn't seem to hold any hidden meaning, I idly walked to the stone bed.

Beside the bronze mirror were some jewelry and ornaments, indicating this was a woman's dwelling, yet there wasn't a trace of cosmetics. I pulled the blanket up and smelled it; far from being damp, it had the fragrance of a virgin. The bedside table was filled with women's belongings—skirts, undergarments, and lingerie.

A bold thought crossed my mind, and I asked, "Sister Lan, has the Third Master slept with you?"

Lin Lan's face changed drastically upon hearing this, and she coldly retorted, "You've already taken my virginity, and you still dare to debase me? What do you take me for!"

I knew immediately that she had misunderstood my words, so I quickly apologized, saying, "I was just curious, how could a man be so indifferent to a woman as beautiful as you?"

Hearing my praise, Lin Lan was delighted, her expression softening. She playfully scolded, "Do you think all men in the world are as shameless as you? The first time you met him, you..." Her face flushed crimson, and she couldn't finish her sentence.

I said seriously, "Sister Lan, I have something important to ask you. Don't think I'm joking; this is very important."

Lin Lan, seeing me so serious for the first time, abandoned her shyness and nodded earnestly, "Go ahead and ask."

"Fifteen years have passed. Have you ever seen the true faces of those three Iron-Faced Men?"

Lin Lan was stunned and said, "No."

"Have your two sisters seen them?"

"No." "

Are your two sisters still virgins?"

Lin Lan blushed slightly, but under my serious gaze, she gently shook her head.

"That's right!" My suspicions were confirmed, and I felt a surge of excitement.

"What's right?" Lin Lan asked, puzzled.

"I'll tell you a huge secret—I suspect those Iron-Faced Men all sleep with women!"

"What? Good heavens, how could that be?" Lin Lan's eyes widened, shaking her head, refusing to believe it.

"You still don't know their identities, do you?"

Lin Lan nodded with difficulty.

"Assassins. Although I've never met the First Valley Master or the Second Valley Master, I'm quite certain that all three of them are top assassins in the martial arts world."

"I don't believe it... how could that be? I don't believe it."

"You have no choice but to believe it. To tell you the truth, I was captured and had my martial arts crippled by him because I disrupted the Third Valley Master's assassination attempt." He paused, then added, "Don't those three often mysteriously disappear and then strangely reappear before you?"

Lin Lan nodded, clearly believing most of what I said.

“Take another look around. This is most likely their real lair.”

Lin Lan, seeing the women’s belongings, finally believed it: “Ah, really? Are they really women?”

“That’s right.”

“But why did they capture my three sisters and take them as wives?”

“I think this is probably their usual practice, the Heartless Sect. With you as cover, even if someone finds this valley, they won’t discover it. Concealing their tracks is of utmost importance to an assassin sect with such a long history. If it weren’t for wanting my internal energy cultivation manual, she would have killed me with a single sword strike long ago. But she dared to let me leave this valley; I really can’t figure out what her scheme is.” I’ve always had doubts about “Ten Steps One Kill” leaving the valley; it seems like she’s plotting against me.

“Gurgle—” A rumbling sound came from my stomach. Lin Lan chuckled, covering her mouth with her sleeve and looking at me with a smile in her eyes.

My face flushed red. "I'm hungry... I'm hungry! People need food to survive, otherwise I'll get really hungry." I immediately started searching for food to hide my embarrassment. Making a fool of myself in front of a beautiful woman was incredibly disgraceful.

I searched the cave thoroughly and finally found some dry rations—quite a lot: dried pork belly, dried pumpkin, bean curd... It seemed the Iron-Faced Man had come prepared.

After eating some, my hunger was finally satisfied. Ah, that felt great! I patted my stomach and said, "Let's rest early tonight. This ration is enough for us for almost half a month."

Lin Lan frowned slightly, thinking to herself, "This man is truly a scoundrel, utterly ill-mannered, patting his belly right in front of me."

I didn't care what she thought; a full stomach, a bath, and a good night's sleep were all I needed. I went to the water trough, took off my outer clothes, leaving only my underwear, and started bathing in the spring water.

Lin Lan looked at me and exclaimed, "Pah! Scoundrel, shameless!"

...

After cleaning my wounds and taking a bath... Suddenly remembering something, she called out, "Sister Lan, you were frightened today and jumped into the water. Quickly go to the bed, wipe yourself clean, and change into some dry clothes so you don't catch a cold."

Lin Lan was delighted to hear this, thinking to herself, "

I didn't realize this lecherous scoundrel was so observant." But she said aloud, "Mind your own business! You lecherous scoundrel, you're probably up to no good." Saying this, she grabbed a set of clothes and slipped into the bed curtains to change. Knowing she was all bark and no bite, I joked, "Your Honor, I'm more wronged than Dou E! Sister Lan, how can you misunderstand my good intentions like this? Sister Lan, your thoughts are becoming increasingly impure!"

"Hmph, what impure? It's all because of you, you scoundrel!" Lin Lan changed her clothes under the white curtains. Although most of her figure was covered, her delicate arms and the half-exposed shoulder beneath the covers were even more alluring.

A moment later, Lin Lan finished changing and, without getting up, went straight into bed, remaining silent.

I deliberately said, "Sigh, I've been shot with an arrow, but since men and women shouldn't be so intimate, I'll just spend the night on this cold stone bench." Saying this, I lay down on the stone bench to see Lin Lan's reaction.

After a long while, she still didn't utter a sound. I started to get anxious. Was Lin Lan not as kind as she seemed? Did she still harbor resentment towards me? Thinking this, I became even more uneasy, shifting uncomfortably on the stone bench.

"Pfft," Lin Lan chuckled softly, "Alright, you shameless rascal. If you want to sleep... anyway, this bed is big..." Saying this, she moved further into the bed.

I was overjoyed, throwing all my doubts to the wind, and leaped onto the bed. I lifted a corner of the blanket and slipped under it.

"Sister Lan is so kind-hearted, no wonder she's so beautiful, heaven truly has eyes," I complimented.

"You rascal, you're so badly injured, why don't you rest?"

How could I sleep? Every night I'm indulging in pleasure with women. Even today, after being shot with an arrow, that darling still got up on time to protest my unfair treatment.

Lin Lan lay on her side with her back to me, the heavy blankets still highlighting her curves. Her long hair cascaded onto the pillow, revealing a section of her fair and dazzling neck. Perhaps because it was the first time she had willingly slept with a strange man, she couldn't fall asleep for a long time, yet dared not turn over, her breathing growing heavier and heavier. The thought that she was now his made her body heat up.

How could I, sharing the same bed, not know? Seeing that the time was ripe, I gently stroked Lin Lan's hair. Lin Lan trembled, pretending not to notice, letting me stroke her glossy black hair.

My hand traced her hair and touched her fragrant shoulder. Lin Lan trembled slightly, wanting to stop me, but a voice inside her kept telling her, "You're already his. It'll happen sooner or later. Why resist? Let him be."

Seeing her lack of reaction, I became bolder. I gently turned her face, Lin Lan's eyes tightly closed, her face flushed with embarrassment, not daring to look at me. I gently moved my lips and kissed her luscious red lips. Lin Lan's mind went blank, completely unaware of where she was.

I used my honed skills with my lips and tongue, igniting the fire of desire within her. Lin Lan was now aroused, awkwardly hugging me tightly and offering her fragrant tongue. My two large hands slipped inside her bodice, caressing her delicate breasts. Lin Lan's breasts weren't large; "plump" would be the most fitting description. She was slender, and although the feel wasn't particularly pleasant, her skin was smooth. I hadn't expected her to be so well-maintained, a lucky break for this lecherous wolf.

The aphrodisiac hand didn't need to be deliberately used; it had already played a significant role the moment I touched Lin Lan's shoulder. Otherwise, given Lin Lan's attitude towards chastity, if she hadn't been stimulated by the aphrodisiac hand and trembled slightly, how could I have succeeded so easily?

As I was about to advance downwards, Lin Lan's desire had already been ignited, her lower abdomen surging with desire, overflowing. How could I resist? I flipped onto my horse and spurred it on. Lin Lan only had time to let out a soft cry of "Please have mercy," before responding to my "straight to the heart of the matter" move!

The stone bed was indeed better than the wooden one; you can see that it remained unmoved even as I attacked Lin Lan like a storm. I must build a large one when I return to Xiaoyao Valley for my own enjoyment.

The empty stone cave echoed with melodious, plaintive music, and even Lin Lan, a woman well-versed in poetry and literature, was driven to moan incessantly by my actions, the sound lingering for three days.

On the dry quilt, whether it was sweat or something else, the water, which had been dripping, had turned into small streams, soaking a large area. Occasionally, a drop or two of blood could be seen.

Finally, with a loud and clear shout, the storm gradually passed. Stroking her wet and shiny hair, though not completely satisfied, he lovingly held Lin Lan and fell into a deep sleep...

(Seventy-two) The Four Beauties of Ancient Times (Part 1)

Time flies in the mountains, and the sun and moon are obscured in the caves. When I woke up, the cave was still brightly lit. I didn't know where the light came from. I was quite curious about the Heartless Sect. The sect of assassins was indeed mysterious.

"Eek," Lin Lan woke up from her dream. The first feeling was the fullness and comfort in her lower body, which was very comforting. Fifteen years had passed. So this is what it feels like for a woman to have a man. How happy she was!

Opening her eyes, she met a pair of eyes that shone like stars. These eyes were full of deep affection and tenderness, like the loving eyes of a mother. No, that's not right. A mother's kind eyes wouldn't have that expression. That's desire, the satisfaction that comes from possessing someone.

The two were silent, their hearts mingling, though no words were spoken, their understanding was profound. Silence spoke louder than words.

Love without desire is like a fish out of water. Their tender feelings transformed into longing for each other, and so, no matter how intense the night before, they once again enjoyed the exquisite pleasure of lovemaking.

"Sister Lan, let's change positions?" Lin Lan was reserved in bed, always sticking to conservative positions. Naturally, I was a little bored; who could stay in one position for hours without getting bored?

Unable to resist my persistent coaxing, Lin Lan shyly rolled over and slowly sat on my waist. As I instructed her, her slender waist swayed gently… Just as she was about to reach her climax, Lin Lan's slender waist and full hips swayed more and more, rising and falling dramatically. With a cry, she suddenly swayed and fell against the side of the stone wall, her hand accidentally bracing itself against the stone arm and sinking half a foot in. A loud "boom" echoed from the cave.

Lin Lan was enjoying her climax and didn't care about anything else. But I was worried, wondering what had happened in this heavily guarded, heartless cave. So I decided to get up and check.

"No, don't leave me." Lin Lan's eyes were tightly closed, her whole body flushed, and she clung to me tightly, not letting me leave her body. I chuckled wickedly, picked her up, and our lower bodies remained tightly connected. Lin Lan was different from ordinary women; the feeling of her climax could last for almost a quarter of an hour, and if you left her during that quarter of an hour, it would be like taking her life. I, being lustful, was too busy liking her for this secret I had only discovered last night, so how could I leave her?

Lin Lan's long, slender legs were tightly wrapped around my waist, her head buried against my chest, her eyes closed in blissful enjoyment. Judging from this, she was too shy to realize she was being carried by me.

The loud rumble came from the stone wall with its bas-relief carvings; it suddenly opened like a door, revealing a passage. Just as I was about to carry Lin Lan inside, a chilling, icy draft hit me, making me shiver. Stimulated by this, Lin Lan, still enjoying the afterglow of her climax, reached another peak. "Ah—," she convulsed, her body trembling, warm currents surging within her, threatening to overwhelm my erection, yet her delicate form stubbornly held it back. Such a contradiction, yet such a thrill!

Looking at Lin Lan's face, completely absorbed in enjoyment, I helplessly pulled up the blanket and wrapped it around both of us, especially Lin Lan, who was covered only by her black hair. Endless curiosity drove me further inside.

The further you walk inside, the colder it gets. The light is just as bright as the large stone cave outside, and you don't know where it comes from. The path is not long, only twenty or thirty meters long, and at the end there is a stone gate with three large characters written on it in a flamboyant style: Chenxiang Tomb!

I reached out and pushed hard, but the stone door didn't budge. I cursed under my breath, "What an idiot! There must be a mechanism or button." Sure enough, there was a strange stone next to the door. I pressed it, but nothing happened; I twisted it, and it opened.

The stone door slowly opened, and a chilling wind blew out, almost piercing even the thick quilt. Fortunately, my strange internal energy enhanced my resistance, greatly increasing my ability to withstand the cold.

Inside was another stone cave, but this one was much simpler. It was rectangular, several tens of meters deep, with a corridor-like passage in the center. Coffin-shaped objects were placed on both sides and at the end of the cave, shrouded in mist, eerie and sinister, sending chills down my spine. I

approached one of the coffins, reached out and touched it, and a wave of yin energy rushed out, scaring me so much that I shrank back faster than a rabbit. Looking closer, it really was a coffin, but it was transparent, and I could see everything inside.

"Isn't that one of the peerless beauties on the wall?" I exclaimed in surprise. A stunningly beautiful woman lay motionless in the coffin, her eyes closed.

"Could this be the final resting place of the founders of the Heartless Sect?" With this question in mind, I examined over a dozen coffins, finding seven or eight containing bodies. Indeed! The Sandalwood Tomb truly is a tomb of beauties. Each body in this small, transparent coffin was a peerless beauty; in life, they must have been among the most beautiful women in the world.

But why hadn't they decayed? Was it because of the ice coffin? It seemed so; this place, so cold and gloomy, was one of the nine most yin places in the world. Women are inherently yin, and when placed in such an extremely yin coffin after death, their bodies are instantly frozen, making it possible for their corpses not to decompose. But these beauties all had rosy complexions, like infants; they showed no signs of death whatsoever. There must be another mystery.

Though I had doubts, I dared not open the coffin to examine the bodies. Not only was this ice coffin untouchable, but what if a corpse reanimated? Forgive me, forgive me! Heavenly spirits, earthly spirits, please, all you beautiful spirits, do not show yourselves! I am terrified!

These women are all of unparalleled beauty, comparable to celestial beings. I, a mere mortal, cannot even rank them. Of all the women I have ever seen, perhaps only Aunt Yu'er can compare to them.

Huh, there's a fat woman here. I was secretly surprised, never expecting an ugly woman among such beauties. But upon closer inspection, I felt a surge of heat rush to my lower body, and my erection grew three inches.

The woman in the coffin was of medium build, with enormous breasts, a bottom the size of a washbasin, a moderate waist, and a face like a silver basin. How could there be such a beautiful woman in the world? From afar, she appeared fat, but up close, she possessed an unparalleled allure. As the poem says: "Clouds

yearn for her garments, flowers for her face; spring breezes caress the railing, dew is heavy.

If not seen atop Jade Mountain, she would be met beneath the moon on the Jade Terrace.

" Exquisite beauty, exquisite beauty, this beauty is enough to make all flowers pale in comparison! She was even more beautiful than the famous Yu'er.

Could there be such a graceful and radiant noblewoman in this world? Aside from the deceased Yang Guifei, perhaps no one else possessed such a voluptuous and exquisite beauty.

As I marveled, I noticed a few words on the side of the coffin lid: "The...Sixteenth...Gate...Master...Yang...Yu...Huan."

"What! Yang Guifei!" I cried out in shock. Lin Lan, startled, exclaimed, "Husband, what Yang Guifei? You and I are one, how dare you call another woman's name? I'll teach you a lesson!" As she spoke, a sharp pain shot through my lower back.

"Don't be ridiculous. Look at the person inside this coffin." My fierce voice rang out, and Lin Lan felt wronged, about to burst into tears, when she saw a banyan tree behind her—ah—!—she screamed in terror. "Husband, I'm scared."

"It's alright. Although they are dead, they look no different from the living. Look."

"Ah, this woman, so...so beautiful, she looks like a fairy from a dream. Her face is a bit large, but it's so beautiful, yet I can't quite put my finger on what makes her so beautiful."

"Indeed, words cannot describe her beauty. She's like a dream, so close yet so unattainable."

"Ah, husband. You just said...Yang Guifei...could she be her?" Lin Lan's mouth gaped open as she looked at me in confusion.

"Yes, look..." I pointed to the small characters on the coffin lid: Sixteenth Sect Leader Yang Yuhuan.

"Ah, it really is Yang Yuhuan!" Lin Lan exclaimed in surprise, "Perhaps it's just someone with the same name."

"How could there be such a beauty in the world, even more beautiful than Ming Yu'er?"

"Who is Ming Yu'er?" Lin Lan asked anxiously.

"The most beautiful woman in the world twenty years ago, my aunt." Lin Lan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Unbelievable! Yang Guifei was actually the leader of the Heartless Sect!

I stared in astonishment for a while, then turned to the other coffins. There was an even bigger surprise. It was unbelievable that three of the Four Beauties were leaders of the Heartless Sect: Yang Yuhuan, Wang Zhaojun, and Diao Chan.

Their beauty was equally matched: Wang Zhaojun was as pure as a wild goose, Diao Chan as alluring as the moon, and Yang Yuhuan as voluptuous as a flower. What kind of sect was this Heartless Sect, that it included three of the Four Beauties of ancient times?

And what about the middle coffin? I hadn't even looked at it yet… Could it be

…? I rushed forward, and before I even got close, I smelled a strange and intoxicating fragrance.

It wasn't the scent of flowers or herbs, nor the scent of cosmetics. It was like… yes, like

the scent of a virgin! But what virgin's scent could be so strong? Unheard of throughout history.

No, there was one. It was said that her scent was exactly like that.

"Ah, my husband, this person's face..."

"That's right, anyone who sees this face will think of the name 'Xi Shi.' Because she is undoubtedly the greatest beauty in the world throughout history."

Yes, it's another indescribable dream, but she is different from others, her beauty surpassing Diao Chan and the others by a fraction. How do I compare them? What makes me say that?

To tell the truth.

There's no comparison, just a feeling, a feeling that makes me think that the Four Beauties are a fraction more beautiful than Ming Yu'er, and Xi Shi is a fraction more beautiful than the other three beauties.

"My husband, are the legends about them in the world not true? Otherwise, how could they become the leaders of the Heartless Sect?"

Chapter 73 The Four Beauties of Ancient Times (Part 2) The beauty

that makes fish sink and geese fall, the beauty that makes the moon hide and flowers blush, that's what describes these four beauties. Let me tell you their stories.

During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, there was a woman named Xi Shi in the Yue Kingdom. She was a washerwoman with regular features, a fair complexion, and an extraordinary appearance. As she washed silk by the river, the clear water reflected her beautiful figure, making her appear even more stunning. Fish, seeing her reflection, forgot to swim and gradually sank to the bottom. From then on, Xi Shi became known as "the one who makes fish sink," a nickname that spread throughout the area. During

the Three Kingdoms period, Diao Chan, a courtesan of Wang Yun, a minister of Emperor Xian of Han, was worshipping the moon in the back garden when a gentle breeze blew, and a floating cloud obscured the bright moon. Wang Yun happened to see this. To boast about his adopted daughter's beauty, he told everyone, "My daughter is so beautiful that even the moon hides behind the clouds." Therefore, Diao Chan became known as "the one who makes the moon hide."

During the reign of Emperor Yuan of Han, the north and south were at war, and the borders were not peaceful. To appease the Northern Xiongnu, Emperor Yuan chose Zhaojun to marry the Chanyu (ruler of the Xiongnu) to ensure lasting peace between the two countries. On a clear autumn day, Zhaojun bid farewell to her homeland and set off north. Along the way, the neighing of horses and the cries of geese tore at her heart; her grief overwhelmed her. On her mount, she plucked the strings of her zither, playing a poignant farewell song. Hearing the beautiful music and seeing the beautiful woman on horseback, the southward-flying geese forgot to flap their wings and fell to the ground. From then on, Zhaojun was known as "the one who makes geese fall."

During the Kaiyuan era of the Tang Dynasty, there was a beautiful woman named Yang Yuhuan who was selected to enter the palace. After entering the palace, Yang Yuhuan longed for her hometown. One day, she went to the garden to admire the flowers and clear her mind. Seeing the blooming peonies and roses, she thought of herself being confined in the palace, wasting her youth, and sighed deeply. She said to the blooming flowers, "Flowers, oh flowers! You bloom year after year, but when will I have my day?" Tears streamed down her face as she touched a flower. Immediately, the petals closed, and the green leaves curled up and drooped. Little did she know, she had touched a mimosa. At that moment, a palace maid saw this. The maid spread the word that Yang Yuhuan was so beautiful that even the flowers were ashamed and lowered their heads. Thus, she earned the title "Shy Flower."

"These are things you, me, and everyone else know. But history is just history; only with history can there be legends. Legends are not historical facts. For thousands of years, everyone has praised them. Seeing is believing, hearing is deceiving. Besides, what you saw might have been a play staged by the originator. The truth of history has long since faded away; perhaps only the true protagonists of history know the truth."

Lin Lan listened to me, thought about it carefully, and realized it was true. Suddenly, she pinched me, pretending to be angry: "Didn't you say you were illiterate?"

"Hehe, well... let's not talk about that." I grinned foolishly to hide my shame.

"Hmph!" Lin Lan rolled her eyes at me.

I pretended not to see it and continued to admire Xi Shi, my mind wandering!

Although these four beauties are long gone, with Xi Shi being the oldest, nearly two thousand years ago, the world is vast, and anything is possible today. I, Xu Zhengqi, am incredibly fortunate to have witnessed the beauty of the four beauties in my lifetime. Heaven has been kind to me!

Looking at the sleeping beauties before her, Lin Lan felt no jealousy, only a sense of shame and inferiority.

Looking at these cold corpses, she felt a pang of dejection. If these beauties were alive, she would have devoured them all.

Of course, imagination is always pleasant; she wouldn't even dare touch these ice coffins, let alone anything else. This extreme cold and yin energy was not to be trifled with; without thousands of years of supreme yang internal energy, opening it was impossible.

Then again, who put them in there? Indeed, in the past two thousand years, many martial arts masters had cultivated to the highest level and ascended to immortality. But the Heartless Sect was so mysterious; they surely wouldn't need outside help. Could it have been them themselves? Don't be fooled by their

appearance; the oldest of them looked no more than thirty. In fact, there were many martial artists with high internal energy who could maintain their youth; they might not even know their true age! Women are most concerned about their true age, and the older they get, the less they care.

Then she thought, impossible. If they truly possessed a thousand years of true qi cultivation, wouldn't they have already ascended to immortality? How could they have died here?

It's incomprehensible, utterly incomprehensible. Things in this world can't be figured out just by thinking;

otherwise, how could there be the idiom "building a cart behind closed doors"? The two lingered in the Agarwood Tomb, captivated by the faces of the countless ice corpses, completely lost in thought, until their stomachs rumbled, bringing them back to their senses.

Over the next few days, they searched the cave thoroughly, hoping to find something, but reality was incredibly disappointing. They couldn't even find an exit. Were they really going to be trapped here to die?

I've never been one to resign myself to fate; everything depends on my own efforts. If I try, there's a chance of success; if I don't, there's absolutely no chance.

I discussed it with Lin Lan; now, our only hope lies at the junction of the nine caves. The Iron-Faced Man of the Heartless Sect can come and go freely; there must be a passage there that leads back to the valley.

With dry rations and water, we set off.

We encountered the bronze mechanical figure again, but this time, knowing its true nature, we easily passed through. Reaching the middle of the nine caves, we carefully examined the ground and the traces at each entrance. I pointed to one of the caves and said, "Let's go, I think this is the one."

Actually, I wasn't sure if this cave was the exit, but rather than waiting to die here, I might as well take a gamble and try my luck.

Lin Lan, having spent every night with me these past few days, was completely obedient to me. Hearing my suggestion, she didn't hesitate to grab my arm and follow me into the cave.

The cave was quite wide, and the two of us walked side by side without difficulty. After about an hour, we finally saw light ahead. We shouted happily and ran towards the light.

Ah—, Lin Lan, who was running ahead of me, screamed and her body began to fall. "Oh no!" I lunged forward, barely managing to grab her arm.

Thank goodness! Only after I held Lin Lan, who was crying her eyes out in fright, in my arms to comfort her did I see the situation clearly.

It turned out that the cave's exit was actually in the middle of a cliff, neither above nor below. It was about twenty meters above the ground, and directly below was a large pond, its depth unknown.

Looking ahead, there was a vast forest, the tall, lush trees stretching as far as the eye could see like a boundless sea—truly an ocean of forest. In the distance, I could hear the calls of many animals—some clear, some deep, some loud, some roaring.

A forest! I, Xu Zhengqi, had only been in the martial world for a short time, yet I had already returned to the embrace of nature.

"Alright, alright, don't cry, my Lanlan, be good, don't cry. You won't be pretty if you cry!" I patted Lin Lan's back, comforting her.

Lin Lan chuckled, tears falling onto my chest. She lightly punched me with her small fist and said, "Is that how you coax me? You're treating me like a three-year-old."

"Haha, alright, alright, our good baby, stop crying," I teased. "You're

so annoying! I'm more than ten years older than you, won't you look down on me?" Lin Lan suddenly looked at my face nervously.

"In my heart, you're still just a little girl who's never left home, how can you be older than me?" I replied with a smile.

"You're annoying, I'm ignoring you." Lin Lan was overjoyed. "Brother Zheng, how do we get down now?" During the few days we spent together in the cave, I had already told her everything about myself. The title "Brother Zheng" was something I had forced her to say in bed.

Lin Lan was very unhappy after hearing this, but the traditional virtues of obedience and submission had taken root in her heart since childhood, and I was now her husband in name and in fact. What could a weak woman like her do? She had no choice but to follow me. But she was still angry. Despite the presence of the red snake's inner core and the vermilion fruit, she was still furious that I was philandering. I retorted, "If I didn't have this nature, how could you have become my wife?"

In the end, only my soft waist suffered. Given the chance, Lin Lan would twist and turn mercilessly, her buttocks swaying... Being a man is truly bitter! Anyway,

back to the point.

"What else can we do? We can only jump down." I said helplessly, with a bitter face.

Ah—, Lin Lan's face turned pale, "Brother Zheng, I'm so scared!"

"Lanlan, don't be afraid, I'll jump with you. With me here, you'll be alright, and neither of us will be alright."

"Yes, I believe you, Brother Zheng." Lin Lan looked at me with unwavering determination, like a little girl with reverence.

I unbuckled my belt and tied Lin Lan to my body, whispering, "Hold on tight, Lanlan."

"Mmm," Lin Lan leaned calmly against me, her pretty face radiating happiness.

"Go!" I growled, grabbing Lin Lan tightly and leaping into the pond.

"Brother Zheng, even if we die, we'll die together," Lin Lan murmured in my ear…

A splash echoed, sending water flying over ten feet high… A long while later, the calm surface was filled with a soft splashing sound. I carried the unconscious Lin Lan ashore.

"Mmm," Lin Lan slowly opened her eyes, seeing me and asking, "Brother Zheng, are we dead?"

I smiled gently, flicking her little nose, and said, "Silly girl, if we were dead, would you still be able to talk to me?"

"Wow, that's great!" Lin Lan broke free from my embrace, stretching and kicking. "Yay, we're all alive! That's wonderful!" Lin Lan threw herself into my arms, crying, "That's wonderful, Brother Zheng, I'm so happy."

I groaned softly, and Lin Lan was startled. "Brother Zheng, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, I just got a minor injury when I jumped in."

"Ah—, where are you hurt? Let me see."

"It's nothing, just a minor internal injury." I forced a smile. Actually, I had used my body to block the impact of the water. Of course, with my meager resistance, how could I possibly be a match for the boundless power of nature?
Chapter

74 The Enjoyment of the Strange Forest

"I'd never believe your nonsense." Lin Lan glared at me as if in pain, pinching and squeezing me here and there. I stubbornly endured the pain, grabbing her small hand and saying, "It's nothing, just a minor injury. With my physique, strong as an ox, it'll heal on its own in a day."

Lin Lan punched me lightly, her eyes red, and said, "You naughty thing, what will I do if something happens to you?"

"Relax, I'm a bad guy, you know. Haven't you heard people say, good people don't live long, but bad guys live a thousand years?"

"Hmph, if you lived a thousand years, wouldn't you be a thousand-year-old tortoise?"

"Fine, you dare call your husband a tortoise, let's see how I deal with you." Saying that, I pounced on Lin Lan like an eagle catching a chick, with both hands forming claws.

"Hehe, you can't catch me, come on, come catch me!" Lin Lan's smile bloomed like a flower, and she ran forward as lightly as a rabbit.

"Awooo—, the big bad wolf is going to catch the little white rabbit, if I catch you I'll eat you, hehe." My eyes gleamed with wicked light as I chased after the little rabbit Lin Lan.

Blue sky, white clouds, green grass—the two of us, like two happy little birds, chased each other merrily through the forest, heading towards it.

…

“Oh dear, we’ve gone too far! We’ve run into the forest!” Lin Lan said worriedly.

“If we don’t go into the forest, how can we get through it and leave?”

“Oh dear, how could I be so stupid? I didn’t even think of such a simple thing.”

“It’s not that you’re stupid, it’s that I’m too smart.” I laughed exaggeratedly.

“Show-off!” Lin Lan raised her little fist to punch me again, when suddenly a gust of cold wind blew through the forest, “Caw-caw—chirp-chirp—” a series of strange, shrill cries came from afar. Birds scattered in all directions, wild rabbits, deer, even foxes and wild dogs scattered, as if they had encountered something terrifying.

“Ah, what kind of monster is making that sound?” Lin Lan’s pretty face turned pale, and she hid in my arms, looking fearfully into the depths of the forest.

“This forest is so vast, there must be some extraordinary monsters or something.” I hugged her, gently rubbing her breasts to comfort her.

"Is...is it a tiger?" Lin Lan asked timidly.

I shook my head and said, "I grew up in the forest. What kind of animal haven't I seen? I'm sure this isn't a tiger's roar. I've never heard any animal roar so loudly."

"Ah—, could it be a ghost?" The jade hand on my waist gripped even tighter.

Many people believe in gods and ghosts, and I'm no exception. But if I, a seven-foot-tall man, can't even protect my own woman? Am I still a man?

"Don't be afraid. With me here, no demon or monster can harm you!" I said righteously, a surge of heroic spirit rising from my body.

"Caw—squeak—," a strange cry exploded in our ears. "Ah—" Lin Lan screamed, staring blankly at the monster twenty or thirty meters ahead.

It was about ten feet tall, fifteen feet long, with four eyes as big as copper bells, a blue face, and fangs several times larger than tiger fangs, three on the top and three on the bottom, gleaming coldly. With a bull's head, a tiger's gait, and a crimson leopard tail, it had six legs with dragon-like claws and a ring of red fur around its ankles, making it appear as if it were treading on red clouds.

At that moment, its four eyes gleamed with hunger, and foul water flowed from its gaping maw. Clearly, it considered us its lunch.

In the blink of an eye, the monster (let's call it the Fire-Treading Beast) leaped, covering more than ten meters in an instant, and was back where we had been standing. Luckily, I reacted quickly, grabbing Lin Lan and running for my life. I sprinted at all my might, reaching at least thirty kilometers per hour. I secretly glanced back and was terrified. The Fire-Treading Beast's speed was astonishing; it closed the gap by a meter every second. The mere twenty-meter difference was reduced to within ten meters in just a few seconds. The stench from its breath grew stronger, and some water even seeped onto my neck. It is

in times of crisis that one's true potential is revealed.

At this critical moment of life and death, I suddenly sped up, instantly widening the gap to twenty meters. The Fire-Treading Beast, seeing its delicious meal vanish, roared angrily, "Chirp—!" Its six legs tried to push harder, but lacking human potential, it couldn't unleash its power and naturally couldn't catch me.

The two of us, one beast and one human, raced through the forest, startling all the other animals into a frenzy. The Fire-Treading Beast seemed to have been provoked by me, abandoning the plump elephant beside it and determined to chase me. The more I ran, the easier it became; the inner energy circulating in my feet automatically circulated, my legs grew hotter, and my running speed increased dramatically. Now I was thirty meters ahead of it.

Lin Lan, timid as she was, had already fainted from fright. Sometimes she was also very angry, especially when escaping for her life. If only she knew martial arts! I made up my mind that if I escaped this calamity today, I would definitely teach her martial arts! Wow, my hands are so tired!

Hey, what are you all saying? That I'm inhuman? "You think I, a grown man, am complaining?

Hey, folks, why don't you try carrying someone and running at high speed for over a hundred miles?

Even though I'm a 'superman,' I'm still flesh and blood!"

An hour later.

Just as I was about to collapse from exhaustion, a series of ape cries echoed across the land. I thought to myself, "Good heavens! Judging from this, it's clearly a large troop of apes. There were at least twenty warning cries alone." A thought flashed through my mind, and I was overjoyed. If I could lure the Fire-Treading Beast into that troop of apes, making them fight each other, I could escape in the process. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Without another word, I ran towards the direction of the ape cries.

I hadn't run far when I saw humanoid apes, some black and some white, perched in the trees of the forest. Each one was over two meters tall, wielding crude spears and long spears, their eyes gleaming with ferocious beastly light as they looked down at us. Perhaps it was because I looked somewhat ape-like, or perhaps the Fire-Treading Beast had a grudge against them, or perhaps… In any case, after the sound of the flute, the barrage of spears and arrows all landed on the Fire-Treading Beast, not a single one aimed at me or Lin Lan.

A deafening roar came from behind, “Chirp—”. I was overjoyed, thinking, “Now you’re dead!” I stopped and turned around. My god, the Fire-Treading Beast was completely unharmed. Its rage only intensified after being attacked, and it even spewed water vapor from its nostrils. Ignoring the spears, it continued to chase after me, closing the distance to within twenty meters in an instant. “Mommy—” I screamed, frantically running for my life, but this time I was almost out of strength and could only hold out for a quarter of an hour at most.

The two groups of black and white giant apes, seeing their attack fail, were furious. They pounded their chests, stomped their feet, and roared repeatedly. The roars of hundreds of giant apes shook the trees, but had no effect on the Fire-Treading Beast, as if it was convinced that I was the one who caused all this trouble. Its anger was only directed at me, oblivious to everything around it.

Then, another clear flute melody rang out, seemingly from beyond the heavens. Though not very loud, it reached the ears of every giant ape in the forest. Instantly, the giant apes all fell silent, ceasing their chest-pounding, stomping, and roaring. They all disappeared into the shadows of the forest.

The previous flute melody was too faint for me to hear clearly, but this one I heard perfectly. Could there be a living person in this forest? This flute was clearly played by a master with profound inner strength; no one could produce such a long and melodious sound without at least five hundred years of internal energy. As far as I know, apart from my grandmaster Li Xiaoyao before his ascension, I haven't heard of anyone else possessing such profound inner strength.

Truly, there are heavens beyond heavens, and people beyond people!

I thought to myself, with such a master, my life is safe, and it seems that these two groups of black and white apes obey his every command; this flute melody is used to control them.

But now I don't know where this master is, so I dare not run around recklessly. I can only run in circles in the forest. Fortunately, this fire-treading beast isn't very intelligent and is foolish enough to follow me in circles.

Suddenly, a vine as thick as an arm appeared on the ground ahead. Could this be a tripwire? I was overjoyed and nimbly leaped over the thick vine. With a whistle, I heard a "whoosh" sound behind me.

"Chirp—" The Fire-Treading Beast roared with earth-shattering fury. "Bang—" A loud crash followed, clearly from the beast falling to the ground. The earth trembled. They'd succeeded! Ha, those giant apes had succeeded! I happily ran a hundred meters before daring to look back.

Amidst the swirling fallen leaves, the Fire-Treading Beast lay on its back, legs in the air. "Caw—Chirp—" The Fire-Treading Beast roared repeatedly, seemingly about to get up. Suddenly, several vines flew out from the forest, hooking onto its six legs and pulling them wide open. Then, a huge vine net descended from the sky, covering the Fire-Treading Beast.

In an instant, countless black and white apes emerged from the trees and below, some wielding javelins, others wielding vines, all attacking the Fire-Treading Beast. The Fire-Treading Beast, entangled in vines, was like a tiger fallen to the plains, bullied by dogs. Its feet were bound, rendering it powerless, and it could only helplessly endure the giant apes'

wild attacks. Fortunately, its hide was thick and tough, and these small javelins and axes were like tickles to it, causing no harm whatsoever. The vines tightened, and the giant apes watched as they caught the Fire-Treading Beast. They began to beat their chests and stamp their feet, seemingly venting their joy. Just then, suddenly, half-foot-long claws sprouted from the Fire-Treading Beast's thick claws. Six claws with thirty sharp nails were like swords, and in a few strokes, they tore the thick vines binding it to pieces. The

Fire-Treading Beast flipped over and bit one of the still-beating white apes, swallowing it whole in a few bites. The surrounding giant apes were terrified and scattered in all directions, truly living up to their reputation as monkeys, their escape speed faster than anyone else's. In a short while, hundreds of giant apes vanished as if they were air, chattering and disappearing without a sound, as if nothing had happened.

The Fire-Treading Beast, having eaten the white ape, swayed its massive head left and right, seeing no other giant apes. With nowhere to vent its rage, it suddenly saw me standing there dumbfounded in the distance. With a powerful thud from its six legs, "Chirp—," it charged towards me.

I was still marveling at the strange power of its claws, which could extend at will, when I saw the Fire-Treading Beast charging towards me again. I was terrified, my pants practically wet myself. Good heavens, I, Xu Zhengqi, hadn't done anything to wrong you! Why was it so determined to chase me?

And so, the deadly chase between man and beast was reenacted.

At that moment, I was completely panicked, running blindly with my eyes closed, wishing I had more legs so I could take turns running...

I hadn't run far when suddenly a dozen or so giant apes appeared ahead, waving their arms and legs, roaring and gesturing as if to tell me to run towards them. I didn't care about anything else. If the Fire-Treading Beast saw these giant apes that had bothered it, it might change its mind and chase after them instead. Without thinking twice, I focused on the direction and ran towards the apes. I

had only run ten meters in front of the giant apes when I felt the ground beneath my feet become soft. Could it be?

"Boom—" A loud crash, "Screech—" The Fire-Treading Beast screamed and fell into a pit ten meters in diameter behind me. Accompanied by the Fire-Treading Beast's cries, the giant apes revealed themselves, waving their arms and legs, pounding their chests with their large hands.

I approached the trap and, good heavens, it was incredibly deep, several meters deep, with sharp wooden stakes stuck all over the bottom. Seven or eight stakes pierced the Fire-Treading Beast's body, and red blood gushed out like a small spring, staining its flesh. It was clear it was doomed.

I exhaled, my tense muscles completely relaxing. I laughed triumphantly, "Why did you have to chase me? Now look what you've done! You've brought this upon yourself! If you knew this would happen, why did you do it in the first place? You've made me work myself to death."

The Fire-Treading Beast seemed to understand my refusal. Its four eyes, as big as copper bells, bulged open in anger, as if about to pop out. It opened its mouth, and a small red ball shot out, hurtling towards my face like a meteor. I was laughing heartily, never expecting this final move.

The red ball flew like an arrow, aimed directly at my wide-open mouth, and with a "gulp," it was swallowed whole. I tried to pat her with both hands, but I was holding Lin Lan in my arms, so I couldn't. A burning sensation entered my mouth, traveled down my throat, and reached my stomach, instantly shattering my senses.

I fell backward, and in the moment I lost consciousness, I seemed to hear a deafening roar of defiance from a cloud-riding beast…

URL 1:http://localhost:909/htmlBlog/15596.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=15596&aspx=1

Previous Page : The Righteous Man's Search for His Wife [Complete] - 5

Next Page : Pearl Order [Complete] - 19

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

The Righteous Man's Search for His Wife [Complete] - 4

comment Open a new window to view comments