Love and Sword [Complete] - 8

Volume 3, Seeking Love, Chapter 13: The Fruit of Love's Bloom.

"Brother Hua, what a coincidence! You're here too!" Hearing someone call his name, Hua Ruoxu turned around.
"Yes, what a coincidence!" Hua Ruoxu smiled slightly. The person who came was Tian Xie, the lecherous gentleman he had met once before. Accompanying him were three men of similar age.
As he expected, the Four Gentlemen of the Martial World were indeed all present. The Wine Gentleman, Wu Jiu, had a large, bulbous nose, perhaps from drinking too much, and carried a large gourd of wine. The Wealthy Gentleman, Duo Bao, was plump and dressed almost like the God of Wealth, rubbing a gold ingot in his hand. The Angry Gentleman, Ao Yun, looked unwell, somewhat haggard and thin, probably from being angry for no reason.
"Brother Hua, where's my beautiful sister-in-law who was with you last time?" Tian Xie, living up to his reputation as a lecherous gentleman, immediately inquired about the beauty.
"Hey, Second Brother, stop talking about beautiful women all the time. Why don't you invite Brother Hua to have a drink with us?" The speaker was Wu Jiu, old habits die hard; his first thought was always about wine.
"I appreciate your kindness, but I have other matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave," Hua Ruoxu said calmly, bowing slightly. He always felt that Tian Xie wasn't so simple. He'd inexplicably appeared beside him last time, and this time it was just a sudden coincidence. He didn't believe it was really just a coincidence.
Since he didn't know why Tian Xie was looking for him, it was best to stay away.
"Young Master Hua! Young Master Hua!" An urgent call reached his ears. He turned around and frowned; he didn't recognize the person.
"Xue Qi from Piaoxue Manor greets Young Master Hua." A man knelt before him.
"Brother Xue, please rise," he quickly helped Xue Qi up. "
Young Master Hua, my young lady and Master Feng will be getting married on the 18th of this month. This is the invitation," Xue Qi handed over a bright red wedding invitation with gold lettering.
"Please tell Brother Feng that I will definitely attend his wedding on time!" Hua Ruoxu smiled, having not experienced such joyous occasions in a long time. A few months ago, his own wedding had turned into a farce. Although he ultimately married his beloved senior sister, he couldn't feel the joy he should have. After days of travel, he had finally found the one he was looking for, yet he still couldn't be with her.
The wedding was approaching, and if he wanted to arrive on time, he had no time to linger here.
Perhaps this was fate. Sister Qing didn't want him to go to her, and Heaven wanted so too. Sister Qing, I hope my departure is the best choice. Hua Ruoxu silently murmured to himself. He truly couldn't know whether seeing Jiang Qingyue again would be good or bad for her. Since Heaven had made a choice for him, why should he defy it?
He spurred his horse, arriving at Piaoxue Manor after a long and dusty journey. Although he hadn't been delayed on the road, he was still somewhat late; the wedding had already begun.
Few would have imagined that Xue Mingfeng would marry his precious daughter to a homeless wanderer of the martial world, but now that the facts were undeniable, people couldn't help but believe it. Xue Piaopiao, the eldest daughter of the renowned Piaoxue Manor, one of the four great families, known throughout the martial world as the Fairy of Fragrance, the only woman not listed on the Phoenix Ranking for her beauty, was finally getting married today. Although her groom was also famous in the martial world, everyone's first thought upon learning of their marriage was that they were utterly mismatched.
The wedding ceremony was about to begin, but Feng Ping anxiously watched the doorway; the person he hoped to see hadn't appeared yet.
"Sister and brother-in-law, time to go to the bridal chamber!" Xue Youyou suddenly appeared, her playful demeanor incredibly cute, and coupled with her stunning beauty, she instantly stole the spotlight from her bride-to-be.
"Young Master Hua Ruoxu has arrived!" The welcoming voice rang out, and Feng Ping's face lit up with joy.
"May Brother Feng and Miss Xue grow old together in happiness! I'm a little late, please forgive me!" Clad in flowing white robes, Hua Ruoxu hurriedly entered the hall, not even bothering to brush off the dust.
"It's alright, it's alright, it's enough that you came, Brother Hua." Feng Ping, seemingly ignoring his bride, strode forward to greet Hua Ruoxu.
"Wow, Brother Hua, you're here! Your brother-in-law has been waiting for you for so long!" Xue Youyou approached again, smiling sweetly. "Brother-in-law, it's getting late. I'll greet you in your place."
"Brother Hua, come with me!" She grabbed Hua Ruoxu's sleeve and pulled him forward. The others around them could only smile wryly, and Hua Ruoxu himself was helpless.
No one dared offend Xue Youyou at Piaoxue Manor, so Hua Ruoxu was dragged away to who-knows-where. Feng Ping felt it was somewhat inappropriate, but ultimately there was nothing he could do.
*** *** ****
“Miss Xue, is there anything wrong with me?” Xue Youyou pulled Hua Ruoxu into the back garden. There was a small pavilion in the garden, and Hua Ruoxu was sitting at a small stone table in the pavilion. Xue Youyou sat opposite him, her hands supporting her chin, looking at him for a good quarter of an hour, occasionally tilting her head. She looked quite cute, but it made him very uncomfortable.
“Nothing wrong. I was just looking. What are you afraid of? Have you done something wrong?” Xue Youyou giggled.
Hua Ruoxu smiled helplessly, thinking to himself: Even if I did something wrong, I didn’t do anything wrong to you! But of course, he couldn’t say it out loud.
“You really did something wrong? Who did you do something wrong to?” Xue Youyou looked surprised.
“Miss Xue, did you bring me here just to ask me this?” Hua Ruoxu didn’t know what to say. This young lady seemed to be too curious.
"Of course not! By the way, Brother Hua, where's your beautiful wife? Why isn't she with you?" Xue Youyou quickly shook her head, then asked after a moment's thought.
"Miss Xue, today is your sister and Brother Feng's wedding day. I'm just a guest here to offer my congratulations." Hua Ruoxu was truly afraid of her. "You don't need to be so concerned about the affairs of an ordinary guest, do you?"
"You're right. Of course I wouldn't care about the affairs of an ordinary guest." Xue Youyou nodded, but immediately changed the subject. "However, Brother Hua, you're not an ordinary guest."
"Look at this!" Seeing that Hua Ruoxu didn't speak, Xue Youyou seemed somewhat unwilling to give up. She took out a small jade flute from her bosom, the very one Hua Ruoxu had given to Feng Ping as a betrothal gift.
Hua Ruoxu's heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to speak, a soft laugh rang out, a voice incomparably alluring and captivating, yet strangely familiar to him, as if he had heard it somewhere before. This was followed by a clear, panicked scream: "Second Miss, help!"
"It's Ling'er!" Xue Youyou's face paled.
A faint pink figure flashed through the garden, disappearing outside the manor with incredible speed, like a fleeting glimpse of a startled bird. Xue Youyou leaped up, her body traveling ten zhang in a single bound, chasing after the figure. The turn of events was too swift. Hua Ruoxu hesitated for a moment, then suddenly remembered who the soft laugh belonged to. Startled, he immediately followed the direction Xue Youyou had disappeared in.
However, in that instant of hesitation, Xue Youyou had vanished without a trace. Hua Ruoxu felt a surge of anxiety. If he hadn't misheard, that person should be Baili Hu, the third-ranked seductive demon on the Earthly Ranking. If such a beautiful girl as Xue Youyou were to fall into his hands, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Hua Ruoxu activated his inner energy, quickening his pace while focusing his attention on his surroundings. Finally, dozens of miles from Piaoxue Manor, he heard shouts and sounds of fighting. Following the sound, he breathed a slight sigh of relief. Two figures, one in red and one in green, darted about. As he expected, it was indeed Baili Hu. Two colorful ribbons, one red and one purple, fluttered in his hands, like thousands of rainbows rolling. However, to Hua Ruoxu's surprise, Xue Youyou seemed to be holding her own. She had no weapons, relying solely on her soft palms to parry and counter each move, even managing to unleash a few palm strikes herself. Her exquisite body was incredibly agile, and Baili Hu couldn't do anything to her for the time being.
"Oh, Hua family brother, you've come too! I've missed you so much!" Baili Hu noticed Hua Ruoxu, her expression changing slightly, but she spoke in a coquettish voice.
Hua Ruoxu felt a chill run down his spine. If he hadn't known he was neither male nor female, it wouldn't have mattered, but now that he knew, it was truly unsettling. He glanced at a white figure in the distance and quickly rushed over. Upon closer inspection, he saw she was merely immobilized by pressure points, otherwise unharmed. He recognized her as Xue Ling'er, the maidservant beside Xue Piaopiao.

"Go back to the manor now. I'll help your second young lady here," Hua Ruoxu said softly, releasing her pressure points. Xue Ling'er seemed confused, nodding as if she understood.
"Hey, you damned freak, don't run!" Xue Youyou's delicate shout rang out. Hua Ruoxu quickly looked up and saw that Baili Hu had stopped fighting Xue Youyou and was retreating deeper into the forest, while Xue Youyou had chased after him. This young lady was probably enjoying the fight and didn't want to let go.
"Go back quickly!" Hua Ruoxu shouted to Xue Ling'er, a vague sense of unease creeping into his heart. He quickly followed.
"Hey, Miss Xue, don't chase after her!" Hua Ruoxu had almost pushed her cultivation to its limit before finally catching up with Xue Youyou and walking alongside her, while Baili Hu was still about ten zhang ahead.
"If you're scared, then don't chase after her!" Xue Youyou seemed a little impatient. Hua Ruoxu smiled wryly and had no choice but to follow. Along the way, the terrain became increasingly complex, and they eventually entered a valley. The valley wasn't large, but it contained a huge cave, which Baili Hu had actually crawled into.
"That damned vixen, she actually went into a fox den!" Standing at the entrance, Xue Youyou said angrily.
"Little sister, come in, I'll take care of you!" Baili Hu's demonic voice came from inside. Xue Youyou made a move to rush in, but Hua Ruoxu reacted quickly and grabbed her.
"Miss Xue, don't go in. What if there are traps or something inside?" Hua Ruoxu said hurriedly, then added after a moment's thought, "I think Baili Hu might be deliberately luring you in."
"Brother Hua, that damned freak isn't anything to be afraid of. Look, he can't even beat me, and now with you in the mix, he's even less of a match. How about we both go in and catch him?" Xue Youyou's eyes darted around, and she said to Hua Ruoxu in a coquettish tone.
"Miss Xue, Baili Hu is ranked third on the Earthly Ranking, and he's done so many bad things over the years yet still lives a carefree life. He's definitely not an ordinary person. Besides, he's in the shadows while we're in the open. If we rush in, we'll definitely be the ones who suffer." Hua Ruoxu sighed slightly. Although Xue Youyou's martial arts skills were higher than he expected, he didn't think he could gain any advantage by going in now. If it really was a trap, then it would be even more difficult to say.
"Hua Ruoxu, are you scared? I never knew a grown man like you could be so cowardly." Xue Youyou's temper flared instantly, and she said angrily.
"Second Miss..." Hua Ruoxu tried to persuade her, but found it was useless. She had already broken free of his hand and gone inside. Hua Ruoxu inwardly groaned. He knew there might be danger inside, but he couldn't just leave Xue Youyou behind. He could only accept his bad luck, shake his head, and follow her in.
After walking for a while, they found that the space had opened up, and a large stone chamber appeared before them.
"Second Miss, don't walk so fast, be careful!" Hua Ruoxu realized that his words had no effect at all. Xue Youyou had already stepped inside, and Hua Ruoxu followed. Suddenly, he realized something was wrong, turned around abruptly, and found that the stone door had slammed shut.
"Hey, you damned freak, get out here right now!" Xue Youyou shouted at the empty stone chamber in a fit of temper, but only a buzzing echo came back.
Hua Ruoxu carefully examined the four walls of the stone house and found that its structure was somewhat peculiar. There were no visible joints or gaps, as if it had been hollowed out from a single large rock.
"That damned freak, hiding and too ashamed to show her face!" Xue Youyou continued to complain.
"I say, Miss Xue, haven't you realized we're trapped yet? This is clearly a trap, and you insist on jumping in," Hua Ruoxu sighed.
"It's just a broken stone house, I don't believe it can trap us," Xue Youyou said nonchalantly. Actually, she was a little uneasy, but she didn't want to admit defeat or make a mistake.
Suddenly, Baili Hu's giggling laughter drifted in, seemingly coming from all directions.

Volume 3, Chapter 14: Enchanted by the Stone Cave

"You damned freak, stop laughing! It's awful!" Xue Youyou cried out. "Get out here right now so I can teach you a lesson!"
The laughter abruptly stopped, and after a brief silence, another sound rang out—a soft, seductive moan, enough to make one's heart race.
"Pah! You damned freak, shameless!" Xue Youyou spat, her face flushed.
"Giggle giggle," another string of giggles followed, then the alluring voice of Baili Hu Yaomei, "Little sister, I'm just letting you hear your own voice later, but I'm sure it will be even better." She finished with another burst of giggles.
Suddenly, there was movement in the stone house. A sudden bulge appeared in the center of the house. Hua Ruoxu was slightly startled, pulling Xue Youyou back a step, only to discover to her astonishment that it was actually a large stone bed, complete with a pair of embroidered mandarin duck pillows, a brocade quilt, and curtains.
Hua Ruoxu leaped to the bedside and examined the area closely, but found nothing that could be a mechanism.
"Little brother Hua, don't bother looking, you won't find a way out. You're so handsome, but it's a pity you're about to die. However, before you die, your sister will let you experience a wonderful pleasure you've never felt before, a pleasure so intense you'll die without regrets!" Baili Hu's voice rang out again.
"Baili Hu, as a top-ranked expert, you only know how to hide in the shadows. Don't you feel ashamed?" Hua Ruoxu said coldly.
"Alas, my dear little brother, how can you be so naive? I've always been like this, hasn't anyone told you?" Baili Hu said sweetly. "But don't worry, your sister will meet you soon, and she'll serve you well." Baili Hu's voice was gentle and slow, but it sent chills down Hua Ruoxu's spine.
"Bailihu, what tricks are you playing?" Hua Ruoxu said in a deep voice, a sense of unease creeping into his heart, though he couldn't pinpoint the source of this feeling.
"Good brother, don't worry, you'll find out soon enough," Bailihu drawled.
"Achoo!" Xue Youyou suddenly sneezed. "What smells so good?"
A rich, sweet fragrance instantly filled the entire stone house, the source of which was none other than the stone bed. The fragrance grew stronger, and a strange heat began to rise within Hua Ruoxu, primal desires beginning to sprout and spread.
"This is a huge win! Such a handsome little brother and such a beautiful little sister! It's been so long since I've played this kind of game . Don't rush, little brother and little sister, your big sister will pamper you soon," Baili Hu chuckled.
A flicker of clarity crossed Hua Ruoxu's mind; he knew what trick Baili Hu was up to, but unfortunately, he had no way to stop her. He looked at Xue Youyou and saw that she seemed to be struggling to hold back, her face flushed red, incredibly beautiful. For a moment, he almost pounced on her.
Hua Ruoxu grabbed the Love Sword and ran his hand along the blade. The pain sobered him up considerably. A cool sensation slowly emanated from the Love Sword, and the heat in his heart seemed to subside slightly; at least it was temporarily suppressed and didn't intensify. Hua Ruoxu felt a slight surge of joy; this wondrous Love Sword seemed to be working its magic again.
With a soft moan, a fragrant body nestled into his arms. Xue Youyou seemed unable to resist the allure of the scent and finally gave in.
"Brother Hua, I'm about to collapse! I... we can't let that damned freak get away with this! We'll pretend we're having an attack, lure him in, and then kill him!" Xue Youyou whispered in his ear, her arms wrapped around his neck.
"Then, what should I do?" Hua Ruoxu was slightly taken aback. He hadn't expected Xue Youyou to be so lucid; he had just thought she was having an attack and was worried sick.
"You... aren't you married already? You treat me the same way you treat your wife," Xue Youyou scolded. Hua Ruoxu couldn't see her face, but he could imagine it was flushed.
"Hurry up, do you really want to die such a horrible death?" Xue Youyou urged, her breathing already becoming rapid. Hua Ruoxu knew he couldn't hesitate any longer. He steeled himself, tightened his grip on her slender waist with one hand, and gripped the Love Sword tightly with the other. He lowered his head slightly and kissed her cherry-like lips.
Xue Youyou's delicate body trembled noticeably, but she immediately responded passionately, seemingly under the influence of the aphrodisiac. Although Hua Ruoxu felt the slight coolness emanating from the Love Sword, he still found it difficult to control himself, and his movements became increasingly wild.
Xue Youyou's outer garment had been undone, revealing a section of fair, delicate skin. Hua Ruoxu breathed slightly, his hand slipping inside her underwear.

Suddenly feeling a sharp pain on his lips, he involuntarily released his mouth. He heard Xue Youyou's voice in his ear: "He's here. Pretend you don't know. Prepare to attack. Leave no room for retreat!"
Hua Ruoxu felt a pang of shame. He hadn't been acting; he had acted completely out of control. He took a deep breath and gently kissed Xue Youyou's cheek, pushing his power to its limit. The stone door was already fully open, and a figure silently slipped in.
"Kill!" Xue Youyou's voice rang in his ears. He abruptly turned to face the door, pulling Xue Youyou close. Xue Youyou leaped from his arms, unleashing a barrage of palm strikes at Baili Hu. Her slender hands seemed to be present at every angle, attacking Baili Hu's vital points.
"You damned freak, take this young lady's Youyou Divine Palm!" Xue Youyou's palm strikes carried the faint sounds of wind and thunder, demonstrating her formidable power.
At the same time, Hua Ruoxu also made his move. His power was released instantly, his sword flashing with a two-foot-long blade of light in the air.
The Heavenly Star Sword Technique's Heavenly Star Wrath, a devastating sword aura carrying his fury, swept towards Baili Hu. With a sudden elbow strike, Baili Hu was caught off guard. Only when danger was almost upon him did he hastily try to retreat, but he was too late. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, followed by a sharp pain in his arm; he had been struck by both a palm and a sword.
Baili Hu was, after all, a master of the Earth Ranking. His martial arts were unfathomable, and his composure was extraordinary. Even now, he showed no panic. He pressed forward, spitting out a spray of blood that fell upon Hua Ruoxu and Xue Youyou. Hua Ruoxu and Xue Youyou saw only a blur of red before their eyes, unable to move an inch. When the blood dissipated, the stone house had closed again.
"I, Baili Hu, have roamed the martial world for so many years, and yet I've been defeated by two juniors!" Baili Hu said bitterly. If Hua Ruoxu saw him now, he would find that his seductive expression had completely vanished, replaced by a ferocious look.
"You two are getting off easy, you can still be sweet together in your dying moments." Baili Hu glanced at the stone house with a hint of jealousy, slapped the cave wall, and flew backward at lightning speed. With a huge rumble, the cave was completely blocked by an enormous boulder.
*** ***
Inside the stone house, the two men's breathing gradually became rapid. Hua Ruoxu forced himself to turn his head away. He dared not look Xue Youyou in the eye. The coolness emanating from the Love Sword could no longer stop the rising desire in his heart. He didn't know how much longer he could hold on. He just kept telling himself: No, no!
"Brother Hua, come here!" Xue Youyou's soft voice suddenly rang out behind him. He paused for a moment, then finally couldn't help but turn around. Xue Youyou's fair, jade-like face was flushed, her beauty captivating, and her clear, bright eyes revealed a hint of affection. Her hands gripped the hem of her clothes tightly, as if she were struggling to hold back.
"Brother Hua, come here quickly, come to my side, I have something to tell you!" Xue Youyou's voice trembled slightly, though she spoke in a slightly coquettish tone.
"Second Miss, I..." Hua Ruoxu felt the heat within him growing stronger. He tried hard to control himself from going over, afraid that he would pounce on her if he did.
Xue Youyou stood up, her body swaying slightly, and walked towards Hua Ruoxu with somewhat unsteady steps. Just as she was about to reach him, she stumbled and fell onto him, knocking him to the ground. The
soft female body stimulated Hua Ruoxu's nerves, and a raging fire of desire instantly overwhelmed his mind. Without hesitation, he embraced her delicate body and kissed her fiercely.
"No." Xue Youyou pinched his thigh hard, the sudden pain bringing him to a brief moment of clarity.
"Second Miss, you, you kill me! I really can't control myself anymore." Hua Ruoxu's expression was pained; he desperately wanted to leave her body, but his body was completely out of his control.
"Brother Hua, this is for you!" Xue Youyou's cheeks flushed, her body growing increasingly hot. She pulled out a jade flute from her bosom and handed it to Hua Ruoxu.
Hua Ruoxu took the jade flute, somewhat puzzled, not understanding why Xue Youyou would give it to him at this moment.
"Brother Hua, this jade flute is yours now. Use it as a betrothal gift." Xue Youyou's voice became urgent.
Hua Ruoxu was slightly taken aback, understanding her meaning, but he hesitated, unsure whether he should obey her.
"Hurry up, give me the jade flute, then repeat what I say, say what I say." Xue Youyou urged.
At this point, Hua Ruoxu knew he couldn't hesitate any longer; in truth, his mind was no longer capable of rational thought.
He handed the jade flute to Xue Youyou, and then, following Xue Youyou's instructions, the two knelt side by side on the ground.
"Heaven above, this stone house as our matchmaker, this jade flute as our betrothal gift, I, Hua Ruoxu, swear to take care of Xue Youyou for the rest of my life!" Hua Ruoxu said, each word distinct.
"Brother Hua, Youyou is now in your hands. You must cherish me!" Xue Youyou seemed to use her last strength to say these words, wrapping her arms around Hua Ruoxu's neck, and the two flew together to the stone bed. They slept side by side, like mandarin ducks.
Time flew by, and finally, there was no more movement in the stone house, only the faint sound of breathing.
After an unknown amount of time, a sound came from the stone house again.
"Second Miss..." Hua Ruoxu's tone was full of guilt.
"Brother Hua, remember to call me Youyou from now on," Xue Youyou said sweetly.
"Youyou, I..." Hua Ruoxu wanted to say something, but didn't know how to begin, and was speechless for a moment.
"Brother Hua, I know what you want to say, but I won't blame you. It was my own fault for jumping into that damned transvestite's trap." Xue Youyou's tone showed no sadness whatsoever. "But it's alright, Brother Hua, you're still pretty good. It's not shameful for Youyou to be with you. But don't forget what you said."
"What I said?" Hua Ruoxu didn't know which sentence she was referring to.
"Brother Hua, you said you would take care of Youyou for the rest of your life. Have you forgotten?" Xue Youyou pouted her cute cherry lips, looking somewhat dissatisfied. Hua Ruoxu was speechless for a moment.
Of course, he remembered what he said, but could he really take care of her for the rest of her life? He really didn't know. He once wanted to take care of his senior sister for the rest of his life, and he once wanted to take care of Sister Qing for the rest of her life, but now he had left the two of them and promised to take care of another girl for the rest of her life.
Seeing that he didn't speak, Xue Youyou seemed a little angry. She wrinkled her nose, turned around, and ignored him.
"Youyou, don't worry, I'll take care of you for the rest of my life." Hua Ruoxu sighed inwardly, gently embracing her delicate body as he spoke softly. Undeniably, Xue Youyou was a very beautiful and lovely girl, even surpassing Hua Yuluan and Jiang Qingyue in beauty
. However, he couldn't say he loved her yet, but the situation was what it was, and he had indeed promised her; he had to keep his promise.
"Brother Hua, I knew you were the best to me!" Xue Youyou turned around with a grin, happily kissing him. Her naked body writhed in his arms, making Hua Ruoxu's heart flutter.
"Youyou, we need to find a way out. There's no food or water here; we'll probably starve to death in a few days." Seeing that he was losing control, Hua Ruoxu quickly changed the subject, trying to distract himself.
Xue Youyou obediently nodded, but then insisted that Hua Ruoxu help her dress, causing poor Hua Ruoxu to suffer another round of torment.
*** *** ****
Hua Ruoxu carefully examined every inch of the stone house, but found nothing different from the rest.
"Brother Hua, I think we don't need to look anymore. The mechanisms in this house are definitely outside. I think we should wait. My father should find us soon." Xue Youyou was a little immobile, so she remained seated on the bed.
"I'm afraid by the time your father finds us, we'll have already starved to death here." Hua Ruoxu sighed slightly. This place was quite hidden, and they hadn't left any marks on the road. It was hard to say when they would find it. "
Starving to death here isn't so bad. It's just a good thing for you. You won't have to take care of me for the rest of your life. You only need to take care of me for these few days." Xue Youyou giggled, seemingly indifferent to life and death.
"You're still laughing? You're about to die and you're still so happy." Hua Ruoxu glared at her, somewhat annoyed. He truly couldn't understand Xue Youyou. Sometimes she seemed clueless, but upon closer inspection, that wasn't the case. Not long ago, when she was poisoned by aphrodisiacs, she was noticeably calmer and had much better self-control than him.
"Anyway, we're going to die. Dying happily is better than dying with a bitter face." Xue Youyou still smiled, but this statement left Hua Ruoxu speechless.

Volume 3, Seeking Love, Chapter 15, Love Through Hardship .

"Youyou, don't worry, we'll definitely get out of here alive." After a slight silence, Hua Ruoxu said firmly.
"Brother Hua, come here." Xue Youyou tilted her head and thought for a moment before saying to him. Hua Ruoxu didn't know what she was planning to do, but he immediately retreated to her stone bedside.
Xue Youyou gently pressed the edge of the bed, her body soaring into the air, flying rapidly towards the door, drawing a graceful arc. Xue Youyou parted her cherry lips and let out a delicate shout. With a muffled thud, her slender hand slammed onto the stone door.
Xue Youyou's body flew back, and Hua Ruoxu, noticing something was wrong, quickly caught her in mid-air.
"Youyou, are you alright?" Hua Ruoxu asked anxiously. Xue Youyou's face was pale.
"I'm fine, but I don't know what this stone door is made of. I used all my strength, but it wasn't damaged at all, and it almost injured me." Xue Youyou's complexion quickly regained its rosy hue, but her face showed a very unconvinced look.
"Youyou, you rest for a bit, I'll try." Hua Ruoxu said softly, placing her on the bed. Xue Youyou nodded obediently and leaned against the headboard.
Hua Ruoxu straightened up, gripped the Love Sword tightly, and channeled his inner energy into it. The light shimmered, making the previously dim stone room as bright as day. The light touched the stone door, yet it couldn't penetrate even a fraction. Hua Ruoxu felt a wave of dejection wash over him. His strength weakened, he lowered his sword, and sighed. He truly didn't know what this stone door was made of; it was impossible to budge it.
"Brother Hua, don't force it. Let's think of another way," Xue Youyou gently advised.
"Even if we force it, it's useless. I just don't understand why this sword can cut through gold, yet it can't cut through this stone." Hua Ruoxu sighed.
"I see. Brother Hua, don't rush. Let Youyou think about it first." Xue Youyou frowned slightly, falling silent, seemingly lost in thought.
Hua Ruoxu began to recall past events. He clearly remembered the time he used his sword to shatter the golden fan of Shan Xiaoyao of the White Robe Pavilion. Could it be…? Suddenly, a thought struck him. He sprang up again, unleashing the Heavenly Star Sword Technique: Heavenly Star Dance, and slashed at the stone door once more. A flurry of stone chips flew up, and he was overjoyed. Sure enough, a small but significant hole had been carved into the stone door.
"Youyou, it's done! We'll be out soon!" Overjoyed, Hua Ruoxu scooped up Xue Youyou and spun her around twice.
"Brother Hua, how did you do that?" Xue Youyou's face lit up with joy.
"It seems this Love Sword needs to be used in conjunction with sword techniques to unleash its full power. Youyou, you watch from the side while I completely shatter the stone door, then we can get out." Hua Ruoxu smiled slightly, then suddenly realized he had excitedly embraced Xue Youyou. He quickly put her down, a slightly embarrassed expression on his face.
Stone chips flew everywhere inside the stone house as the stone door gradually disappeared. Hua Ruoxu used the Heavenly Star Sword Technique again and again. After an unknown amount of time, a large hole was finally carved into the stone door, big enough for a person to pass through.
"Youyou, let's go!" Hua Ruoxu picked up Xue Youyou and rushed out, but then he froze, completely dumbfounded.
"Why is this happening?" Hua Ruoxu murmured, staring ahead. His previously excited expression instantly turned to utter dejection, and his legs nearly gave way, causing him to collapse to the ground. He had already exhausted too much of his energy. Although his recovery speed was usually fast, it wasn't something he could recover in such a short time. He had thought they would be out soon, but suddenly realized it was all for naught. The enormous obstacle blocking the cave ahead had dashed all his joy to the winds.
"Brother Hua, don't worry, we still have a way." Xue Youyou gently kissed his cheek with her warm, soft lips, jumped out of his arms, and helped him sit down on the ground.
"Youyou, I'm so useless!" Hua Ruoxu said dejectedly.
"Brother Hua, how can you say that about yourself? Youyou believes in you. You can definitely get me out of here. You have to believe in Youyou too. Youyou will definitely get out of here alive with you." Xue Youyou said softly.
Hua Ruoxu smiled bitterly, nodded, and took Xue Youyou back into the stone house, putting her under the covers.
"Youyou, don't move on the bed. I'll think of another way," Hua Ruoxu said softly. Xue Youyou nodded.
Hua Ruoxu crawled out of the stone house again and looked at the huge rock blocking the cave. The rock looked exactly the same as the stone door. He couldn't help but feel disheartened. He knew he didn't have the energy to break the rock anymore. Although he didn't know how much time had passed in the stone house, he was clearly feeling hungry and tired.
"Brother Hua, maybe we can dig a hole out from the side," Xue Youyou said, having reappeared sometime earlier. Hearing her words, Hua Ruoxu slapped his forehead. Right, why hadn't he thought of that? Digging a new hole would save them the trouble of breaking the rock and conserve a lot of energy.
"Youyou, you're so clever!" Hua Ruoxu praised sincerely, then his tone suddenly changed, sounding somewhat annoyed. "Didn't I tell you to stay asleep and not come out?"
"Brother Hua, I think it's better for us to dig together than for you to dig alone," Xue Youyou said softly. "Youyou isn't that delicate, shall we dig together?" As she spoke, she pulled out a small dagger from somewhere.
Hua Ruoxu was still somewhat reluctant, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something.
"Brother Hua, let's begin." Xue Youyou started digging first.
*** *** ***
Snowdrift Manor was almost deserted, devoid of any festive atmosphere, as almost everyone, including the guests who had come to offer their congratulations, had gone out to help search for people.
Xue Mingfeng's face was ashen, while his wife, Feng Yunpiao, was extremely anxious, worried about her daughter.
"Father, Mother, don't worry too much, my sister is always clever, she'll be alright," Xue Piaopiao gently reassured her parents.
“Piaopiao, three days have passed already. How can I not be anxious?” Xue Mingfeng’s face was full of anxiety. “Youyou is indeed clever, but she’s also very willful.”
“Father-in-law, I think with Brother Hua with her, she should be alright.” Feng Ping also chimed in.
“I hope so!” Xue Mingfeng sighed.
“Reporting to the Master.” A man rushed over. “Young Master Feng may have discovered the Second Miss’s whereabouts. He asks the Master to go and check on her immediately.”
*** *** ***
“Uncle, if my estimation is correct, my cousin is very likely trapped inside.” The speaker was a handsome young man in a sky-blue robe. He was Feng Congyun, the youngest son of Feng Yundong, the current head of the Feng family, one of the four great families.
****
Hua Ruoxu was now almost mechanically wielding the Love Sword in his hand. He didn’t know how much time had passed, nor how deep he had dug. He only knew that he still hadn’t seen the light of day, hadn’t seen a glimmer of hope. Hunger and exhaustion had clouded his mind. The only saving grace was the cool sensation emanating from Qingjian whenever he was about to give up, which would slightly rouse him. However, a greater problem now loomed before him: thirst.
"Youyou, how are you?" he asked her every few minutes. The tunnel was dark, and he was too exhausted to see clearly.
"Youyou!" He grew anxious and crawled towards her. She always answered when he asked before, but this time there was no sound.
"Youyou, wake up! Don't sleep!" he cried, shaking her violently.
"Brother Hua, Youyou is so sleepy. Please let Youyou sleep for a while," Xue Youyou mumbled, opening her eyes slightly.
"Youyou, don't sleep! You have to hold on! We'll be out soon! Please don't sleep!" Hua Ruoxu's voice choked with emotion; he knew Xue Youyou couldn't hold on much longer.
"Brother Hua, Youyou is so cold, can you hold me?" Xue Youyou looked incredibly frail, her voice low and slow.
Hua Ruoxu held her tightly; her body seemed very cold and she was shivering.
"Brother Hua, will you marry Youyou?" Xue Youyou's voice grew softer and softer, almost inaudible to Hua Ruoxu.
"Yes, I will definitely marry you. I will marry you in a grand and glorious way, Youyou, you must wait for me to marry you, okay?" Hua Ruoxu tried to control his emotions, speaking as calmly as possible.
"Brother Hua, Youyou is so sleepy, so thirsty..." Xue Youyou seemed about to close her eyes again, and Hua Ruoxu was startled.
"Water, where is there any water?" Hua Ruoxu cried out in his mind, and in a moment of inspiration, a thought suddenly struck him.
"Youyou, don't sleep, come, drink some water." Hua Ruoxu steeled himself and cut his hand with his sword, bringing the wound to her cherry lips. The dazed Xue Youyou greedily sucked on the water, as if drinking sweet spring water.
"Brother Hua, how come there's water here?" Xue Youyou finally stopped sucking and began to doubt. Opening her eyes, she noticed Hua Ruoxu's right hand, which he hadn't managed to retract in time, and immediately understood.
"Brother Hua, you're so good to Youyou, but Youyou will feel sorry for me." Xue Youyou buried her head in Hua Ruoxu's arms, her voice trembling with sobs.
"Youyou, don't worry, we'll definitely get out of here." Hua Ruoxu gently kissed her soft hair and whispered.
The two embraced without speaking again, time continuing to flow slowly.
"Brother Hua, listen, what's that sound?" Xue Youyou suddenly cried out. Hua Ruoxu pressed his head to the ground to listen; the thumping sound seemed to be coming from not far away.
"Youyou, it sounds like someone's here." Hua Ruoxu's spirits lifted. Could it really be that heaven has finally opened a way out, and reinforcements have truly arrived?
"It's my father! It's my father! Brother Hua, Father has come to rescue us!" Xue Youyou listened intently for a moment, then cried out joyfully.
*** *** ****
"Uncle, there's still no response. It seems my cousin might not be able to hear the signal we sent in." Feng Congyun said to Xue Mingfeng with some helplessness.
Another three days passed. Three days had passed since they discovered this place. They were certain that Xue Youyou was trapped in the cave, but the large rock at the entrance rendered them powerless. They had no choice but to mobilize all their men to dig in from all directions, sending signals to Xue Youyou by tapping on the cave walls every so often, hoping to get a response and pinpoint her location. But so far, they still hadn't received any signal.
Thump, thump thump thump, thump thump... A series of muffled thuds reached Xue Mingfeng's ears.
"Who's knocking randomly? This isn't how the signal works!" Xue Mingfeng was furious, but then overjoyed.
"Hurry, hurry, Youyou's inside! You guys get there faster!" Xue Mingfeng shouted, rushing in first and frantically waving his sword.
*** *** ***
"Youyou, what does this mean?" Hua Ruoxu asked, puzzled.
"This is the secret signal my father and I agreed on. This way he'll know I'm inside. Brother Hua, you can rest for a bit. Father will find us soon," Xue Youyou said happily.
Dust swirled around them. Xue Mingfeng no longer possessed the air of a patriarch of one of the four great families; he was now simply a father worried about his daughter's safety. He was covered in dust, but no one noticed his disheveled state. Perhaps no one had ever known the extent of his love for Xue Youyou.
A sliver of light finally shone in, accompanied by Xue Mingfeng's anxious call: "Youyou!"
"Father!" Xue Youyou threw herself into Xue Mingfeng's arms and then fainted.
"Master Xue, Youyou hasn't had any water or food." Hua Ruoxu hurriedly said from the side. Xue Mingfeng nodded, understanding his meaning, picked up his daughter, and rushed out.
Finally seeing the light of day again, Hua Ruoxu suddenly felt a sense of rebirth. Seeing Youyou being pampered by the Xue family, he felt a sense of comfort. He and Youyou had finally come out alive. Suddenly, he felt dizzy and almost fell to the ground. He quickly used his sword to support himself. The Xue family probably didn't have time to care about him now.
"Brother Hua, here, quickly drink some water and eat something." Feng Ping hurriedly came to Hua Ruoxu.
"Thank you, Brother Feng." Hua Ruoxu forced a smile. He really had no strength, so he accepted the food without ceremony and wolfed it down.
"Brother Hua, Brother Hua." Xue Youyou's call came over. Hua Ruoxu hesitated for a moment, then went over. He had just eaten something, and although he was still a little weak, he was fine. After all, he had only been hungry these past few days, not injured.
"Youyou." Hua Ruoxu felt many eyes watching him, so he called her softly and then fell silent.
"Brother Hua, give me your right hand." Xue Youyou said softly. Hua Ruoxu hesitated for a moment, then obediently extended his hand to her.
Xue Youyou rolled up his sleeve, revealing a noticeable wound on his hand that was beginning to scab over. She took out a handkerchief from her bosom and gently wrapped it around the wound, her movements incredibly tender. Her eyes were full of affection. Xue Mingfeng, standing beside her, felt uneasy. Anyone could see that something was amiss between Xue Youyou and Hua Ruoxu.
"Young Master Hua, thank you for taking care of my daughter these past few days." Xue Mingfeng coughed lightly and said.
"Master Xue, you're too kind. It's what I should do." Hua Ruoxu gave a wry smile. He could sense that Xue Mingfeng seemed somewhat displeased.

Volume 3, Chapter 16: Waves Rising in the Sea of Love (Part 1) -

Snowdrift Manor.
Xue Youyou sighed softly, staring blankly at the familiar face in the bronze mirror. It was still so beautiful, now possessing a touch more of a mature woman's charm, seemingly incongruous with her age. After all, she was only sixteen.
Her hand reached into her bosom, pulling out the jade flute, a tenderness welling in her eyes. The mutual affection in the stone house, the life-and-death struggle in the cave, the seven days spent in darkness—every detail between them flashed through her mind.
Today was the seventh day since her rescue. She had stayed in her room these past few days, not leaving for a moment. Feng Yunpiao, her mother, wanted her to rest and recuperate, which was also Xue Mingfeng's wish. In truth, she had long since recovered, but her girlish reserve prevented her from actively seeking out Hua Ruoxu. She simply couldn't understand why he hadn't visited her for so many days. She wanted to ask her mother, but hesitated to speak. They should know her feelings, shouldn't they? Everyone at Piaoxue Manor had witnessed Xue Youyou gently bandaging Hua Ruoxu's wounds that day. Couldn't her parents understand her heart?
She was, after all, a girl, and this was an era of strict social norms. Although Xue Youyou was willful and capricious, she still had many concerns. Regardless of how close she and Hua Ruoxu were in private, they were currently without official status. She couldn't bear the shame. Although she herself wasn't afraid, she couldn't bring disgrace to Piaoxue Manor. She only hoped that Hua Ruoxu would propose to her father. Although Hua Ruoxu already had a wife, her father had always doted on her; if she agreed, her father would surely agree as well. But why hadn't he made a move? No, she couldn't wait foolishly any longer.
As soon as Xue Youyou opened the door, she found her mother standing there.
"Mom!" Xue Youyou clung to Feng Yunpiao, acting coquettishly
. "Youyou, where do you want to go? Didn't I tell you to rest and recover?" Feng Yunpiao said sternly.
"Mom, I'm all better now." Xue Youyou was slightly taken aback; in her memory, Feng Yunpiao had never spoken to her with such a serious tone and expression.
"Alright then, where do you want to go? I'll have your cousin go with you." Feng Yunpiao's tone softened slightly.
"Mom, I want to walk around by myself." Xue Youyou pleaded, but this time it seemed to have no effect.
"No, you haven't fully recovered yet. I'll feel more at ease having your cousin with you." Feng Yunpiao was very firm.
"Mom, I..." Xue Youyou felt wronged.
"Stop talking. If you don't want your cousin with you, then stay in your room and don't move." Feng Yunpiao interrupted her, and seeing Xue Youyou's tearful appearance, his heart softened slightly, and his tone became kind. "Youyou, we're just worried about you. Do you want us to worry about you like we did the other day?"
"Mother, I know. I'll go with my cousin." Xue Youyou forced a smile, feeling an indescribable sadness in her heart.
*** *** ***
Xue Youyou and Feng Congyun walked side by side in the manor. The man was handsome, and the woman was charming; they looked like a perfect couple. However, they seemed to be preoccupied with their own thoughts. Feng Congyun kept smiling, his eyes lingering on Xue Youyou's pretty face, but Xue Youyou didn't notice him at all. She was clearly distracted.
"Ling'er, is my sister inside?" After a while, the two arrived in front of Xue Yunpiao's room. Looking at the red lanterns still hanging and the big red "double happiness" character on the door, Xue Youyou couldn't help but stare blankly again.
"Second Miss, Eldest Miss and Young Master are inside." Xue Ling'er giggled, then bowed gracefully to Feng Congyun.
"Sister, Brother-in-law." Xue Youyou pushed open the door and entered. Xue Piaopiao and Feng Ping were gathered around a table, looking at something, seemingly studying it.
"Youyou, Cousin, you're here. By the way, Youyou, are you feeling better now?" Seeing her beloved younger sister enter, Xue Piaopiao quickly dropped what she was holding.
"Sister, I'm all better now. By the way, Brother-in-law, can I ask you something?" Xue Youyou said softly.
"Youyou, just ask whatever you want. Your brother-in-law will definitely tell you if he knows." Xue Piaopiao paused slightly, feeling that her younger sister seemed to have changed a lot.
"Brother-in-law, have you... have you seen Brother Hua?" Xue Youyou suppressed her excitement, her voice trembling slightly as she asked. Feng Congyun's heart sank suddenly. Not only him, but Xue Piaopiao and Feng Ping's expressions also changed.
"Youyou, Brother Hua... he's already left!" Feng Ping sighed softly, seemingly reluctant to say it.
"Gone? When did he leave? How come I didn't know?" Xue Youyou murmured at first, then shouted out loud.
"Youyou, Young Master Hua left the day after you were rescued. Didn't Mother tell you?" Xue Piaopiao said softly, gently hugging her and patting her back to comfort her.
"How could he do this? Even if he had something to do, he should have told me." Xue Youyou muttered to herself, then suddenly looked up at Xue Piaopiao, "Sister, tell me, did something happen these past few days? He couldn't have left without telling me!"
"Actually, nothing really happened." Xue Piaopiao looked at her sister with pity, but her words were somewhat insincere.
"Fine, neither of you will tell me, I'll go ask someone else!" Xue Youyou said and ran out.
"Youyou, wait!" Xue Piaopiao hurriedly called her back, then turned to Feng Congyun apologetically, "Cousin, Brother Feng, you two go out first, Youyou and I have something to talk about."
Feng Congyun nodded, and Feng Ping also went out, leaving only the two sisters in the room. Even Xue Ling'er had gone outside.
"Youyou, can you tell your sister what happened between you and Young Master Hua during those seven days?" Xue Piaopiao pulled Xue Youyou down to sit and asked softly.
"Sister, I just want to know why he left without telling me." Xue Youyou seemed to have calmed down, her tone flat, revealing neither joy nor sorrow.
"That night, Father told Young Master Hua something. He said that you and Cousin Congyun were engaged, and then Young Master Hua left the next day. That's all I know." Xue Piaopiao sighed.
"Who said I was engaged to my cousin? How come I didn't know?" Xue Youyou shouted angrily at her sister.
"Youyou, this is what Father and Mother wanted, and..." Xue Piaopiao paused, "Your sister also thinks that you and your cousin are a good match."
Xue Youyou gave Xue Piaopiao a cold look, turned around, and walked out without saying a word.
"Hua Ruoxu, you're a coward!" Xue Youyou thought bitterly. "You want to run away? Let me, Youyou, teach you what it means to love and hate fiercely!"

Volume 3, Chapter 16: Waves Rising in the Sea of Love (Part 2)

After raping Xue Youyou, the second young lady of the Xue family, Hua Ruoxu fled from Piaoxue Manor. This news was like a bombshell dropped into the already turbulent martial arts world.
The four great families jointly issued a kill order: kill Hua Ruoxu on sight!
Huashan announced that Hua Ruoxu would be expelled from the sect, and Shaolin also declared that Hua Ruoxu was no longer a disciple of Zen Master Jueyuan, and that everything about Hua Ruoxu would no longer have any connection with Shaolin Temple.
When Hua Ruoxu heard this news, it was already half a month after he left Piaoxue Manor. By this time, he had arrived in Wuchang and was planning to travel down the river to Jinling. As for why he didn't go to Luoyang or return to Huashan, even he himself couldn't explain it. There seemed to be a voice in his mind telling him to go to Jinling, as if something was waiting for him there.
The Riverside Restaurant, as its name suggests, is located right on the banks of the Yangtze River. Hua Ruoxu leaned against the window, gazing absently at the boats passing by on the river. Perhaps soon, he would be on one of those boats, drifting along the river.
His attention was drawn to the conversation of two patrons. They were two江湖人士 (jianghu figures), the older one around thirty years old, the younger one just past twenty, both with ordinary, unremarkable appearances.
"Brother Zheng, who exactly is this Hua Ruoxu?" the younger one asked, seemingly curious.
"This man is quite famous now. Speaking of him, he's a real scoundrel. Do you know Jiang Qingyue? She's the girl who originally got the Love Sword. I heard she's very beautiful. Hua Ruoxu tricked Jiang Qingyue out of the Love Sword, then abandoned her and married Hua Yuluan, the Heartless Fairy of Mount Hua. Let me tell you, Hua Yuluan is ranked fourth on the Phoenix Ranking. I don't need to tell you how beautiful she is, do I?" The elder looked around and deliberately lowered his voice, as if afraid of being overheard. "Logically speaking, Hua Ruoxu should be content, but unfortunately, he also took a fancy to Xue Youyou. When his advances were rejected, he raped her. Don't you think such a person deserves to die?"
With a snap, Hua Ruoxu crushed the wine cup in his hand. He was shocked beyond measure. Seeing many eyes sweeping over, he quickly turned his head away and continued to look outside as if nothing had happened. He just wanted to hear the two of them continue talking so he could understand what had happened.
"Xue Youyou is the second young lady of the Xue family. How could Hua Ruoxu rape her so easily?" The younger man seemed somewhat incredulous.
"Haven't you heard? Hua Ruoxu is the disciple of Hua Tianyun and Zen Master Jueyuan. Moreover, I heard that his martial arts improved by leaps and bounds after obtaining the Love Sword, and he's now one of the top ten masters on the Black List. Besides, Hua Ruoxu and the Xue family have a close relationship." The older man continued, "The eldest young lady of the Xue family just married the drunkard Feng Ping, and Feng Ping is said to be Hua Ruoxu's sworn brother. I heard that Hua Ruoxu used this relationship to make Xue Youyou lower her guard, and with his high martial arts skills, it's natural that he succeeded so easily."
"Hua Ruoxu is truly blessed with good fortune. Xue Youyou is the second most beautiful woman on the Phoenix List. If I could have sex with her even once, I would be willing to die." The younger man revealed envious eyes, and began to spew vulgarities.
With a snap, the younger man suddenly felt his eyes see stars.
"Don't speak such foul language to Youyou!" A surge of inexplicable anger welled up within Hua Ruoxu, and he slapped the
young man hard across the face. "You, who are you? What business is it of yours?" The young man covered his face, looking both frightened and furious.
"I'm asking you, who told you what you just said?" Hua Ruoxu moved his hand slightly, and the gleaming tip of his sword was already at the young man's neck. The two men were instantly stunned, and a small commotion broke out in the restaurant.
"How could I remember who it was? Everyone's talking about it now. If you don't believe me, go ask anyone you know." The young man's voice trembled slightly, clearly showing his extreme fear, but he still stubbornly insisted.
"Is that really so?" Hua Ruoxu felt a pang of bitterness in his heart. How did things turn out this way? "
Hey, who exactly are you? Just because you're skilled in martial arts doesn't mean you can bully people like this!" The young man was afraid of the sword at his neck, but perhaps due to his personality, he still spoke rather rudely.
"Remember, don't use foul language towards girls in the future." Hua Ruoxu sheathed his sword, sighed somewhat forlornly, slowly turned around, and walked out of the restaurant.
"Hey, who are you?" the man called out from behind, his curiosity piqued.
"I am Hua Ruoxu." A calm voice came from behind, and the young man's legs went weak, almost causing him to fall to the ground.
Hua Ruoxu stood quietly on the banks of the Yangtze River, watching the surging waters. His emotions, like the river, were turbulent and he couldn't calm down for a long time.
Half a month ago, when he was still at Piaoxue Manor, when Xue Mingfeng told him that Xue Youyou was already engaged to Feng Congyun, who was also a scion of one of the four great families, he understood Xue Mingfeng's meaning. The four great families have always favored intermarriage to solidify their relationships. The Feng and Xue families were already related by marriage, and Feng Congyun was indeed outstanding in both character and martial arts. While Hua Ruoxu's sect was prestigious, he wasn't significantly better than Feng Congyun, and his reputation in the martial arts world was poor. Most importantly, Hua Ruoxu was already married; he couldn't possibly allow his second young lady of Piaoxue Manor to become someone else's concubine.
He chose to leave Piaoxue Manor. Before leaving, he wanted to see Xue Youyou, but after thinking it over, he decided against it. He figured that since Xue Youyou knew about her marriage to Feng Congyun but hadn't told him, she must have agreed. However, he didn't know that Xue Youyou was completely unaware of this arrangement. Moreover, even if she did know, Hua Ruoxu should have taken the initiative to find her, unless he completely avoided any responsibility towards her.
Why did things turn out this way? It's undeniable that he possessed Xue Youyou's body, but that doesn't mean he raped her. Even if Youyou wanted to think that way, why was she so tender towards him when they were first rescued? And with such widespread gossip in the martial world, how could Xue Youyou ever face anyone again?
At this moment, in Piaoxue Manor, Xue Youyou looked at the jade flute, also thinking of Hua Ruoxu.
"Heaven above, the stone house as matchmaker, the jade flute as betrothal, I, Hua Ruoxu, swear to take care of Xue Youyou for life!" Hua Ruoxu's voice seemed to echo in her ears again.
"Hua Ruoxu, have you kept your promise? Youyou doesn't like men who don't keep their word, nor do she like cowardly men. Why are you both cowardly and untrustworthy?"

End of Volume Three, "Seeking Love."

Volume Four, Sword Dance (Synopsis)

Faced with relentless pursuit and the misunderstanding of his friends and wife, Hua Ruoxu finally reached his breaking point and erupted in anger…
The mysterious sword spirit reappeared, and various factors led to Hua Ruoxu's successful personality transformation, a rebirth from the ashes…

Volume 4 Sword Dance Chapter 1 The Sword's Edge Unhidden (Part 1)

“Are you gentlemen here to see me?” Hua Ruoxu turned around, a bitter smile on his face. In front of him stood five people, all dressed in Taoist robes, around thirty years old. Four of them had their hands on their sword hilts, poised to strike.
“Hua Ruoxu, if you surrender now, we can spare your life,” said the long-faced Taoist in the middle, his tone arrogant.
“May I ask how you gentlemen are addressed? Are you from Wudang?” Hua Ruoxu asked calmly, judging from their attire and the fact that this place was relatively close to Wudang.
"Hua Ruoxu, you're smart enough to know your place. We, the Daoist priests, are Wudang disciples, known as the Five Swords of Wudang. You'd better surrender obediently." It was the same person who had spoken earlier.
Hua Ruoxu found it amusing. These people didn't seem to be martial arts masters at all. The "Five Swords of Wudang" was probably a self-proclaimed title; he'd never heard of it before.
Hua Ruoxu shook his head helplessly and walked past them. He didn't want to get entangled with them.
"Hua Ruoxu, you stop right there!" The long-faced Daoist seemed surprised that Hua Ruoxu was trying to leave so easily. He paused for a moment, then reacted quickly, spinning around to block Hua Ruoxu's path.
"I have no grudge against Wudang. Please don't bother me, Daoist priest," Hua Ruoxu said, continuing to walk forward.
A series of "whoosh" sounds rang out behind him as five long swords thrust towards his vital points from all directions, seemingly intent on killing him from the very first strike.
Hua Ruoxu didn't turn his head. His sword, the Love Sword, was swiftly drawn, tracing a graceful arc. A series of clanging sounds followed, and five longswords lay on the ground. The five Wudang disciples stared blankly at the swords.
Hua Ruoxu's face seemed to hold a mixture of disdain and helplessness. He sighed softly, quickened his pace, and vanished from their sight in the blink of an eye.
*** *** ***
Hua Ruoxu didn't continue downstream; instead, he turned back upstream, heading towards Xiangyang. He wanted to see Xue Youyou at Piaoxue Manor and ask her what had happened. He couldn't bear the unjust accusation of being a lecherous thief.
Unbeknownst to Hua Ruoxu, his whereabouts had already been widely known throughout the martial world.
Hua Ruoxu hurried towards Piaoxue Manor under the stars and moon. If all went smoothly, he would reach Xiangyang in three days. Unfortunately, things rarely go as planned.
In fact, Hua Ruoxu had sensed all along that someone was secretly following him. However, these people weren't as rash as the five Taoists he had initially encountered in Wuchang; they seemed hesitant to attack him yet, continuing to follow him, probably waiting for reinforcements.
There's a saying in the martial arts world: "Never enter a forest when it's too close," because forests are generally the best places for ambushes. Hua Ruoxu knew this saying, but he was currently in a forest, because it was a necessary route to Xiangyang.
As soon as he stepped into the forest, Hua Ruoxu felt an inexplicable atmosphere of tension and became increasingly vigilant. It was in the forest that he had been ambushed by the Hidden Dragon Gang, nearly killing Hanxue and triggering many subsequent events; Hanxue's whereabouts remained unknown to this day.
The forest was silent, broken only by the occasional rustling of leaves in the breeze, followed by the soft footsteps of Hua Ruoxu. Suddenly, a large clearing appeared ahead. It seemed odd that such a space existed in a place usually filled with trees, but upon closer inspection, it wasn't surprising. It was clear the trees had been recently felled, and this clearing seemed to have been prepared specifically for Hua Ruoxu.
"Hua Ruoxu, we've been waiting for you for a long time." Hua Ruoxu slowly walked to the center of the clearing and stopped. At that moment, a cold voice sounded behind him.
Hua Ruoxu glanced around and saw a throng of people. Instantly, he was surrounded by a large crowd in the center of the clearing. The voice came from a middle-aged man in blue, with a fair complexion, no beard, and a tall, elegant figure. His cold eyes stared intently at Hua Ruoxu, an aura of overwhelming pressure emanating from him.
"Such a grand reception for my next guest... I truly didn't expect it," Hua Ruoxu said with a slight sigh.
"Hua Ruoxu, when you committed that heinous act, you should have known this day would come." The middle-aged man in blue spoke coldly, his eyes filled with anger and disdain as he looked at Hua Ruoxu.
"May I ask how I should address you, senior?" Although the man possessed an extraordinary air, Hua Ruoxu didn't recognize him.
"Young Master Hua, this is Senior Feng Yundong, the head of the Feng family." A familiar voice rang out.
"I never expected Miss Ye to be here too." Looking at the beautiful figure before him, Hua Ruoxu gave another bitter smile.
Ye Wuying looked at Hua Ruoxu with a peculiar gaze, her beautiful eyes shooting out a sharp light that seemed to pierce his heart.
"Young Master Hua, could you tell me why you did this?" Ye Wuying's tone was filled with disappointment.
"Does Miss Ye also believe the rumors in the martial world are true?" Hua Ruoxu pondered for a moment before speaking.
"Fairy Ye, why waste your breath on such a person?" The speaker was Feng Guoyun, who, along with Fang Xia, had become Ye Wuying's personal guards; they were almost always seen wherever Ye Wuying appeared.
"Originally, I wanted to see Youyou, but it seems you all don't want to give me that opportunity. Whether you believe it or not, I still have to say: the rumors in the martial world are unreliable. I, Hua Ruoxu, am not so debased as to become a lecherous thief." Hua Ruoxu ignored Feng Guoyun, slowly glancing at the surrounding crowd before speaking calmly.
"If Young Master Hua is willing to give up resistance, I can guarantee you will see Miss Xue unharmed," Ye Wuying said after a slight pause.
"Fairy Ye, this…" Feng Guoyun was taken aback, turning to say something, but was stopped by Ye Wuying's gaze.
"Miss Ye, if that's truly the case, then why not let me see Youyou first?" Hua Ruoxu smiled calmly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing with Ye Wuying's suggestion.
“Fairy Ye, there’s no point in negotiating with such a vicious scoundrel. Let me seek justice for my niece first.” Feng Yundong’s words drifted over.
“Senior Feng, please wait a moment. I’ll go first.” Fang Xia, who had been silent until now, stepped out of the crowd and stopped about two zhang in front of Hua Ruoxu.
“Brother Hua, I’ve always considered you one of my best rivals. Now I just want to have a simple match with you, because I’m afraid I won’t have this opportunity again.” Fang Xia’s tone was filled with a deep sense of loss.

Volume 4 Sword Dance Chapter 1 The Sword’s Edge Is Unhidden (Part 2)

“A simple match?” Hua Ruoxu muttered to himself, a hint of mockery in his eyes.
“Brother Fang, do you also believe that I am the flower thief?” Hua Ruoxu asked Fang Xia with a strange look in his eyes.
“Well, Brother Hua, I didn’t witness the incident myself, so I can’t say for sure that it’s true. However, judging by common sense, Miss Xue wouldn’t deliberately do anything that would damage her reputation.” Fang Xia’s expression seemed somewhat embarrassed.
"Then may I ask you again, Brother Fang, if I win this match, may I leave?" Hua Ruoxu seemed unsurprised by Fang Xia's answer, smiling calmly as he continued.
"Well, I can only guarantee I won't interfere anymore. I'm not qualified to make decisions for Senior Feng and Fairy Ye." Fang Xia's expression grew even more unnatural.
"In that case, why should I bother with this so-called ordinary match with Brother Fang?" Hua Ruoxu's tone was laced with sarcasm.
"If Brother Hua wants to leave today, he'll at least have to get past me first. I, Fang Xia, have practiced martial arts for nearly twenty years, yet I've never encountered a master of such exceptional skill as Brother Hua, who is my age. Therefore, I only hope that Brother Hua can have a match with me as ordinary friends, not as adversaries." Fang Xia seemed to sense the sarcasm in Hua Ruoxu's words and sighed slightly.
"Since Brother Fang doesn't trust me, and we must fight, how can we possibly compete as friends?" Hua Ruoxu finished speaking and laughed loudly, then said coldly, "Let's fight. Don't hold back, come at me all at once. In the end, none of you are willing to let me go."
"Brother Hua, this..." Fang Xia seemed to want to say something.
"Brother Fang, why waste so much breath on such a person? If you don't want to fight, then I, Feng Guoyun, will teach this shameless villain a lesson first." Cold words came, stopping Fang Xia from continuing.
"Feng Guoyun, half a year ago, I almost lost my life under your sword. Now I'll settle old scores with you." Hua Ruoxu didn't want to engage in pointless entanglement anymore. As soon as he finished speaking, he took a step forward, dodging Fang Xia in front of him, and instantly appeared in front of Feng Guoyun.
With a resounding "ding," the Qingjian sword appeared in Hua Ruoxu's hand, its tip gleaming brightly. Hua Ruoxu flicked his wrist, and the Qingjian sword traced a smooth arc, its light just approaching Feng Guoyun.
"Watch out!" Feng Yundong shouted urgently, his body rapidly closing in on Hua Ruoxu, his left palm and right sword already unleashed.
The Windless Sword and the Cloud-Connecting Palm were the Feng family's two signature techniques. The Windless Sword, as its name suggests, was executed without wind, focusing on a soft, yielding approach, while the Cloud-Connecting Palm was the opposite, belonging to a strong, masculine style. One soft and one strong, combining strength and gentleness, their power was greatly amplified.
Seeing the sword light flash before his eyes, Feng Guoyun was startled. He had no time to think, and with a somersault, he awkwardly dodged the attack.
Hua Ruoxu secretly lamented his loss; he could no longer attack Feng Guoyun, as Feng Yundong's powerful offensive was already pressing in. He had no choice but to withdraw his sword stance and instead counter Feng Yundong's attack.
Although Hua Ruoxu was a top-ranked expert on the Earth Ranking, he was clearly at a disadvantage compared to Feng Yundong, who was also on the Earth Ranking and ranked higher. However, thanks to the Love Sword and the exquisite Heavenly Star Sword Technique, Hua Ruoxu had temporarily gained the upper hand.
Yet, Hua Ruoxu felt no relief. Around him were nearly a hundred Feng family experts, as well as Fang Xia and several others. He would have difficulty escaping even with just Feng Yundong, let alone with so many others. He glanced around out of the corner of his eye, silently devising a plan to escape.
Feng Guoyun's recent clumsy dodge had greatly damaged his reputation. Looking at Hua Ruoxu locked in combat, a surge of hatred welled up within him. His hand was already on his sword hilt, seemingly ready to join the fray at any moment. However, he still seemed hesitant. After all, someone of Feng Yundong's status would certainly not want to team up with someone to attack a single opponent, especially since Hua Ruoxu was merely a junior to Feng Yundong. Even in a one-on-one fight, a victory for Feng Yundong wouldn't be considered honorable, let alone joining forces.
Suddenly, Hua Ruoxu let out a long howl, the light on his sword intensifying, his sword amplifying several times over. After much deliberation, he finally unleashed the Heavenly Star Tear. Ever since he used the Heavenly Star Tear, he had felt a lingering fear of its power. Moreover, Hua Tianxing had said that this sword technique could reverse control, so even though Hua Tianxing had later taught him all the Heavenly Star Sword Techniques and told him he could use them, he had still never used the Heavenly Star Tear.
However, he had no choice but to try. He remembered this sword technique as the most powerful, and he needed to finish it quickly; the longer it dragged on, the worse it would be for him.
Faced with the vast sword energy and overwhelming onslaught, Feng Yundong had to withdraw all his attacks and take a small step back. Just as he was preparing to fully resist the powerful sword strike, he suddenly discovered that all the attacks in front of him had vanished.
In the instant Feng Yundong withdrew his attacks, Hua Ruoxu abruptly changed his target, unleashing his sword strikes towards the crowd on the left. A series of groans and muffled thuds rang out, throwing the encircling formation on the left into chaos. Almost no one had expected Hua Ruoxu to be able to escape Feng Yundong, let alone that he could shift his attack while launching a full-scale assault. A small gap appeared in the encirclement, and Hua Ruoxu attempted to slip through the crowd amidst the chaos.
With a low shout, a faint figure suddenly appeared in front of him, followed by a flurry of sword shadows dancing before his eyes. The Kunlun Sect is most renowned for its Floating Sword Technique. When attacking, the Floating Sword Technique appears chaotic and disorganized, but precisely because of this, it is virtually flawless. Now, Hua Ruoxu is facing precisely this technique, and the one attacking him is Fang Xia.
At the same time, Ye Wuying, who has been observing the battle, also moves. Her delicate body shifts slightly, and she swiftly moves behind Hua Ruoxu like a ghost. Her slender palms rise, and suddenly thousands of crystalline jade palms appear in the air. The Thousand-Hand Guanyin Palm, a supreme technique from the South Sea, perhaps recognizing Hua Ruoxu's formidable skill, she unleashes her ultimate technique right from the start.
In an instant, Hua Ruoxu seems trapped in an endless net, unable to advance or retreat, his life hanging by a thread.

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Love and Sword [Complete] - 8

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