[Fantasy] Immortal Cultivation of the Heart (Complete) - 26-28

Chapter Four: Man and Blade as One.

Chu Liuguang was trapped in a perilous situation. Her body was growing weaker and weaker, which was bad enough. Her mind was also exhausted; she only wanted to lie down and rest. She didn't even want to speak, let alone concentrate on the battle.

Chu Liuguang knew that her old injuries had flared up, and she could no longer hold on. She could only hold on now because Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong were supporting her with their magic. But if she used any more powerful magic, the consequence would be heart failure, ultimately leading to a broken heart meridian.

But now was the most critical moment. Li Se was trapped and on the verge of death. If she couldn't rescue him in time, not only would she be unable to unleash the great power of her treasured blade and achieve victory, but Li Se might also be trapped in the underworld, and his life would be in danger.

Chu Liuguang had originally thought that the magic of Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong could escort Li Se out of the underworld. But the enemy was too powerful, exceeding Chu Liuguang's original assessment, and had actually trapped the two of them.

Chu Liuguang sighed inwardly, "Fate has decreed this. It seems I have no choice but to fight with all my might." As for the outcome, it was no longer within her control. Chu Liuguang gritted her teeth, touched her heart with her jade finger, and then took out two paper talismans from her bosom. She sat cross-legged, chanted incantations, and then spat out a mouthful of blood, which sprayed onto the talismans. At the same time, Chu Liuguang heard someone shout in her mind, "No!" But Chu Liuguang could no longer hear it; she instantly fainted.

The two talismans shot out like shooting stars, bright and straight, instantly tearing the darkness in two. The light shot straight into the dark sky, like a fireball streaking across it. Wherever the light passed, it seemed to carry immense magic, like a red-hot sword. Every side of the darkness it touched emitted the shrill screams of demons, and then turned into a void of darkness.

Li Se, who was originally in a daze, seemed to have a voice in her heart saying, "This difficult life has too much pain and suffering. Why not give up and end it all? Why not just sleep and all worries will be gone?"

Li Se seemed to slowly agree with this idea, and just as she was about to fall asleep, suddenly her eyes were bright. A beam of light pierced the darkness, forming a portal in the distance. Beyond the portal lay the clear blue sky. It was very close to Li Se, only a few feet away. Li Se was greatly encouraged and struggled to climb towards the portal.

However, even those few feet felt incredibly difficult. Every inch he moved felt like a thousand knives slicing through his skin, causing excruciating pain. At the same time, a gentle voice said to him, “Why strive for fame and fortune in this life? In the end, it's all just a dream. As the Hongwu Emperor’s poem says: ‘Before the officials rise, I rise; before the officials sleep, I sleep. Better to be a wealthy old man in Jiangnan, still covered by a blanket when the sun is high.’ Even if you become emperor, what then? You still envy the carefree life! Why are you working so hard? Why not lie down and rest? Tomorrow, when you look back on all your efforts, you’ll see they were nothing but a joke.”

Li Se was stunned. He thought of his past experiences—what had all his hard work and struggles amounted to? Isn't this all just fate at work, a cycle of toil and busyness? Li Se felt a sense of bewilderment. Though this thought seemed strange and made her uneasy, she couldn't pinpoint what was wrong.

Suddenly, she thought, "I came with Sister Chu. Where is she?" With that thought, she quickly looked around and suddenly saw a figure floating in the darkness. The figure was almost transparent, emitting a faint light that flickered in and out of the darkness. Li Se was startled and quickly focused her gaze. She saw that the figure was exceptionally beautiful, with exquisite features, serene and natural—it was Chu Liuguang. In the darkness, she was like a lotus flower rising from the mud, blooming and fading, seemingly emitting a fragrance.

Suddenly witnessing this extraordinary sight, Li Se's mind cleared instantly. She shouted "Hoo!" and her eyes shone brightly. Ignoring her surroundings, she struggled towards the light.

But this time, the feeling was no longer vague or indistinct, like being in a dream. Li Se clearly felt that with every inch forward, he was subjected to all sorts of torment: burning, electric shocks, water immersion, suffocation… These torments grew stronger the closer he got to the exit. Even with Li Se's open-mindedness and extraordinary endurance, he was about to reach his limit.

Li Se silently recited in his heart: "When the mind is clear and still, like a mirror, there is nothing to be disgusted with; when the spirit is peaceful, like the bright sun and gentle breeze, there is nothing in the world to hate." Li Se was completely indifferent to the suffering he was enduring. His heart was tranquil and natural, without a trace of resentment or resistance. But even the strongest-willed person will succumb when faced with immense, inhuman trials.

When he was just one step away from the exit, Li Se stopped. Immense pain and sorrow, all the joys and sorrows of humanity, overwhelmed Li Se's heart. That

one step ahead was like a turbid wave in the mortal world. Stepping inside meant enduring the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death, separation and suffering. This feeling was so clear and intense in Li Se's heart, as if he were once an old monk with a thousand years of cultivation, never experiencing pain or sorrow, but suddenly one day, as if possessed, he stood before the mountain gate, hesitant. One step forward meant the hardships of worldly life. Could he abandon his former blissful, almost divine existence to experience a life filled with so much sorrow and separation?

Li Se stopped, stunned, mesmerized. Memories of his past were awakened, from childhood to encounters with Gu Xiangjun, Yang Yingyun, Leng Ruxue, and others, all surfacing in his mind. Could he take that step? Li Se couldn't move.

But when faced with choices in life, one cannot avoid them. Sometimes, not choosing is also a choice. At this moment, Li Se seemed to have lost all feeling; he didn't know how to choose.

The pillar of light was gradually swallowed by darkness, about to be completely devoured. In the darkness, someone wiped away sweat and let out a sigh of relief. At the same time, darkness enveloped everything around them.

Li Se couldn't perceive the change in his surroundings, but a sudden joy welled up within him; something had changed. His body twitched slightly, a feeling awakened within him, like the reunion with loved ones.

Perhaps it was instinct, or habit, but his hand gently rested on his waist. Li Se performed a movement he had done hundreds, even tens of thousands of times: drawing his sword, focusing his mind on the blade.

Li Se shouted, then drew his sword.

A strange sight appeared in the dark sky. Instantly, a bright light shone forth, like a lamp being lit in the night, emitting a radiant glow. A giant, humanoid sword emitted a tremendous light, slowly spreading outwards.

Wherever the light touched, the black mist seemed to evaporate, emitting white vapor accompanied by mournful howls.

The light slowly penetrated the depths of the dark sky, illuminating Chu Liuguang. Chu Liuguang, like a transparent crystal, seemed to emit a unique radiance under the light, a radiance so pure and flawless that it inspired awe and reverence.

Drawn by the light, she slowly floated up, eyes closed, arms outstretched, as if entranced. She seemed to be listening to the cries of her loved ones; her beauty was unparalleled, and anyone who saw her couldn't help but want to approach and cherish her.

The light blade cleaved through the darkness, and the sky grew brighter. Then, a huge ice ball flew towards the blade. The blade shone brightly, meeting the ice ball head-on with a single slash. With a scream, the ice ball shattered into pieces, then transformed into a Taoist priest, fleeing in disarray.

The light blade also materialized into a human form—Li Se. Bringing dazzling light, majestic as a god descending to earth, the darkness gradually dissipated. Li Se flew down and scooped up Chu Liuguang.

Everything became clear. Seeing that they were above the palace, Li Se, carrying Chu Liuguang, flew into the palace.

Li Se shuddered, as if waking from a dream. Opening his eyes, he saw Wang Bao'er, Gu Xiangjun, and Hua Xiangrong all looking at him with concern, overjoyed to see him awake.

Li Se pushed away Wang Bao'er's supporting hand, stood up, and felt his inner energy flowing through him, brimming with power, making him want to let out a long, triumphant roar. Overjoyed, Li Se suddenly remembered something and quickly searched his body. Wang Bao'er and Hua Xiangrong asked in unison, "What are you looking for?"

Li Se murmured, "Where's my treasured sword?" He stretched. "Could it be..." he thought. Suddenly noticing Gu Xiangjun wasn't beside him, he turned and saw Gu Xiangjun, Yuan Gong, and Jin Zhong surrounding Chu Liuguang, who was lying on the ground, her condition unknown.

Li Se quickly pulled Wang Bao'er and Hua Xiangrong over, whispering, "How is Sister Chu?"

Yuan Gong and Jin Zhong looked serious but didn't answer. Gu Xiangjun, her face filled with sorrow, said, "I'm afraid..."

Li Se exclaimed in surprise, "What? She was perfectly fine just now, why is this happening?" Just

as Li Se was about to act, Chu Liuguang suddenly stirred slightly, and Gu Xiangjun quickly went to support her. Chu Liuguang struggled to sit up and smiled at everyone, saying, "I'm fine, don't worry. Fortunately, the enemy has been driven back, but it's not over yet! We still need to make some arrangements."

Yuan Gong said, "Miss Chu, don't think so much. Hurry up and go inside. Let me and my senior brother help you..."

Chu Liuguang interrupted, "Uncles, don't rush. Let me finish what I need to do. Otherwise, all our efforts might be in vain. Don't worry, I told you I have my own ideas."

Jin Zhong said, "That's right. We might not be able to help you much. It all depends on your luck. Maybe you really have a good plan. But that would be quite unexpected for us."

Chu Liuguang smiled but didn't answer. She first asked for water, borrowed Yuan Gong's magic power, and used a knife-and-water incantation. After a while, a Taoist priest appeared in the water. He was only an inch tall, carrying a bag on his back, pulling a stick, and wearing a red Taoist robe. Everyone looked into the water and saw the Taoist priest.

Chu Liuguang laughed, "This might be the last time I use magic." Except for Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong, no one understood her meaning.

Chu Liuguang took out a sewing needle and stuck it into the water, pricking the Taoist's left foot. Everyone saw the Taoist limp. Chu Liuguang said to Li Se, "This person is easy to catch, only about ten li away. Brother, go and catch him." Then she gave Li Se some more instructions.

Li Se led his men north to chase the Taoist. After chasing for more than ten li, they indeed saw the red-robed Taoist limping forward, his appearance and posture identical to the Taoist seen in the water. Li Se called out, "Master Zhang, please wait!"

The Taoist turned around fiercely and said, "You brat, what are you doing here? Does that dead girl want to kill us all?"

Li Se had achieved a state of perfect harmony between man and sword, and Zhang Maocheng, having just suffered a defeat, was greatly wary of Li Se.

Li Se smiled and said, "I wouldn't dare, but Miss Chu said she doesn't know which sect you belong to, and we'll be fighting each other in the future! She doesn't know your background either, so she specifically asked me to come and ask."

Zhang Maocheng sighed for a while after hearing this, understanding the meaning behind Chu Liuguang's actions: to avoid revealing his origins in Longhu Mountain, thus saving Longhu Mountain from harm, but on the condition that he withdraw from the martial world. He thought to himself, 'This girl is formidable. With her here, what else can I do but withdraw from the martial world?' Recalling his past ambitions, he felt even more disheartened and said, "Go back and tell that girl! As long as she exists in the martial world, I will never leave it again, so she can rest assured. If she survives, what ability do I have to show off in front of her? But in my opinion, you should go back and see her as soon as possible."

Li Se smiled and said, "Very well, then I won't see you off any longer, senior." "Thinking to himself, Sister Chu was perfectly fine when she arrived. With her superb magic, how could anything have happened to her? This wicked Taoist priest is afraid I'll kill him, so he's telling me to hurry back; he's even come up with this idea."

Zhang Maocheng sighed, then left without another word, limping away.

Meanwhile, after Li Se left, Chu Liuguang said to Wang Bao'er, "Please take this couplet and paste it on the door, then stand in front

of it, okay?" Wang Bao'er was confused and didn't know what the couplet said. Seeing Chu Liuguang's pale face, she knew it wasn't the time to ask, so she obeyed. She pasted the couplet on the door, which read: "A drop of kindness deserves a spring in return; past kindness is repaid today."

Wang Bao'er was puzzled and didn't understand its meaning, but Sister Chu had given the order very solemnly, so she had to endure it for now and ask later.

Wang Bao'er looked around in front of the door, quite bored, unaware that a tiny figure was staring blankly at her from a crack in the stone.

The tiny figure was very old. Looking at Wang Bao'er, the old man murmured, "Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. This girl has grown so much, and I've naturally grown old too. Time truly flies!" The old man fell into deep thought.

The one who used magic to transform into a small figure was the same person who had just helped Zhang Maocheng and Chu Liuguang fight. He was originally a former official of Emperor Jianwen. After Emperor Jianwen's defeat and escape, he went into seclusion, seeking an opportunity to assassinate Emperor Yongle, calling himself Piaomiao Fengchen. He established the most

secretive Piaomiao Tower. Ten years ago, he attempted to assassinate the emperor but failed and was injured. He unintentionally escaped to the Wang family and was rescued by Wang Bao'er, who was five years old at the time. Now, seeing the couplet, he recalled the past and couldn't help but let his thoughts wander.

Piaomiao Fengchen thought of Emperor Yongle's insubordination, seizing the throne from the benevolent and lenient Emperor Jianwen. Now, the tide had turned, and he had secured the throne. Even if he were killed, only his son could inherit the throne. However, killing Zhu Di would avenge Emperor Jianwen and fulfill his long-cherished wish. Therefore, when Prince Han, Zhu Gaochi, sent someone to ask him to assassinate Emperor Yongle, he readily agreed.

Zhang Maocheng, confident in his abilities and extremely concerned with his reputation, refused to join forces with him to fight Chu Liuguang. Only in a critical moment did Piaomiao Fengchen reluctantly lend a hand, but it was too late. Li Se, with his sword and man combined, broke their spell. Zhang Maocheng was also injured and fled. If the two had united, they would surely have won and killed Zhu Di.

Now, he wanted to take advantage of Chu Liuguang's serious injury and inability to fight, and assassinate the emperor independently, but unexpectedly, he encountered Wang Bao'er here.

The ethereal figure murmured, "Could this truly be fate! Zhu Di's life is not yet over?" Even if they disregarded Wang Bao'er's kindness and charged in, Yuan Gong and Jin Zhong were also highly skilled in magic. He had been defeated by them before. Although his magic had greatly improved, victory was not guaranteed. Moreover, Chu Liuguang was cunning and unpredictable. Even severely injured, she might still devise some ingenious scheme. The outcome was even more uncertain.

The ethereal figure pondered for a long time, sighed, and drifted away.

Li Se rushed back to the palace. He saw Gu Xiangjun and the other women weeping around Chu Liuguang, who was lying on the bed, while Yuan Gong and Jin Zhong shook their heads and sighed. Rushing to the bedside, he asked, "What's wrong? Why are you crying?"

Wang Bao'er sobbed, "They said Sister Chu's heart meridian broke, and she died from her injuries."

Li Se's mind went blank. He said, "Impossible! She's so smart, and her magic is so powerful. How could she die so young? You must be lying to me."

Hua Xiangrong said, "That's right. Sister Chu's magic is incredibly powerful, more than ten times stronger than mine. Even if her injuries were severe, how could she not heal herself?"

At this moment, Gu Xiangjun wiped away her tears and said, "My lord, you don't know the reason. Do you remember the first time I saw you bring Sister Chu back? She told me that she used a heaven-defying magic to save you, which caused her heart meridian to break. She only has three years left to live."

Li Se slumped onto the bed, crying sadly, "So that's how it is! I thought my death from my injuries was a hallucination! It turns out that Sister Chu sacrificed her life for me."

Li Se turned to Yuan Gong and Jin Zhong and said, "My lords, is Miss Chu truly beyond saving?"

The two nodded slowly. Li Se stood there stunned for a moment, then stood up and picked up Chu Liuguang. Chu Liuguang's body was still warm, light and soft.

Li Se suddenly laughed, "I was so stupid. I didn't realize someone treated me like this. I was like a blind man, completely oblivious." He turned and walked away.

Hua Xiangrong asked, "My lord, where are you going?"

Li Se paused. He didn't answer, and strode away.

Gu Xiangjun murmured, "I've never seen my lord so heartbroken over someone."

Wang Bao'er cried. "Sister Chu was such a good person, it's understandable that my brother is so sad."

Hua Xiangrong bit her lip and said, "My lord will never forget Sister Chu, will he?"

Gu Xiangjun said, "More than just not forget, he'll be haunted by her dreams!"

Hua Xiangrong said, "Why? Is Chu Liuguang the person he loves most?"

Gu Xiangjun said, "Not necessarily before, but definitely in the future."

Hua Xiangrong said, "Why in the future?"

Gu Xiangjun said, "Actually, my lord may not even know who he loves most. But Sister Chu is dead, so she will forever remain a perfect image in his heart, and what is lost is what is precious. Chu Liuguang will no longer be by his side, so his lord will never discover her flaws. Actually, no matter how good Sister Chu was, she was still a girl, and she must have had her flaws. But my lord doesn't know that, so he will always remember her goodness. Most importantly, Sister Chu did so much for my lord, and he is grateful, but he has no chance to repay her. So he will always remember her in his heart and love her." Hearing this, Hua

Xiangrong was captivated and murmured, "No, I don't want my beloved to love someone other than me."

Suddenly, Hua Xiangrong dashed away like a whirlwind.

Gu Xiangjun was shocked and cried out, "Sister Hua, where are you going?"

But Hua Xiangrong seemed not to hear her and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

At this moment, Yuan Gong smiled and said, "Madam, don't worry, she went to save Miss Chu. Miss Chu is saved now."

Gu Xiangjun asked in surprise, "You mean Sister Chu won't die?"

Jin Zhong solemnly said, "Miss Hua is a fox who has cultivated into a human. She has an inner core. If she is willing to give up her inner core and her ageless beauty, she can save Miss Chu. However, Miss Chu will lose all her magic power. Whether she can accept this is still a question."

Gu Xiangjun said, "Sister Hua has lost her inner core, so she can no longer stay young, right?"

Yuan Gong said, "That's right." The fact that Hua Guniang used her magic to keep Chu Guniang's body temperature stable, preventing her from dying completely and becoming incurable, shows that she is still hesitant and hasn't made up her mind whether to save her or not. But based on what Madam said just now, I guessed she would definitely try to save her. Wasn't that what Chu Guniang told you before she died?

Gu Xiangjun said, "No." But she felt very uncomfortable, thinking, "Is Chu Liuguang using me?"

Yuan Gong said in surprise, "I understand now. So Chu Guniang is gambling with her life. She's entrusted everything to fate. If Young Master Li doesn't respond correctly when he sees Hua Guniang, Chu Guniang might be in serious trouble."

Hearing this, Gu Xiangjun forgot all her suspicions. She said, "Then let's hurry and find Young Master Li. He doesn't know the details. We don't want to make things worse and harm Chu Guniang."

Jin Zhong sighed, "It's too late. They've already met. " Li

Se held Chu Liuguang in his arms, his mind blank. Everything that had happened felt like an illusion to him. He had become one with his sword, his martial arts and Taoist cultivation had greatly improved, but suddenly he had lost a loved one, someone he had never noticed or cared about. By the time he realized it, it was too late.

Li Se felt a deep pain in his heart. Looking at the woman in his arms, peaceful and serene, her incomparably beautiful face seemed to still hold a smile, but this beautiful woman had lost her life. She had been so good to him, yet she had received nothing in return. He was completely unaware of the immense kindness she had shown him. How could such a kind and beautiful girl die! How unjust was Heaven?

Li Se was heartbroken. Holding Chu Liuguang, he thought, "Sister, I will bury you in Maoshan, next to your mother's grave! Perhaps this is your last wish." "That time you risked your life to save me. If it hadn't worked, wouldn't we both have died together in your mother's grave? Maybe that would have been better; all our troubles would be gone, and I could be with you forever..."

Li Se wandered aimlessly, lost in thought, when suddenly a figure blocked his path.

Chapter Five: Dragon Returns to the

Sea .

Li Se said dreamily, "Sister Hua, what are you doing here? Please don't disturb me and Sister Chu, okay? Don't worry, after I bury her and feel better, I'll come find you." Li Se was one with his sword, his martial arts greatly improved. Without even looking up, he knew from the voice that it was Hua Xiangrong.

Hua Xiangrong said, "My lord, don't be sad. I have a way to save Sister Chu. But I'm afraid that if I do that, I'll grow old, and you'll dislike me."

Upon hearing this, Li Se excitedly said, "What? You have a way to save Liuguang? Oh, right, you also know magic. I thought you weren't as powerful as Sister Chu, so you couldn't save her. I forgot to ask you. How stupid of me! What's your plan? Tell me quickly."

Hua Xiangrong said, “I can save her life with my inner core. But if I lose my inner core, I'll be just like an ordinary person, and I can no longer stay young and beautiful forever. In a few years, I'll be old and ugly, and you won't like me anymore.” Li

Se laughed heartily and said, “Good sister, it's fortunate that you are kind-hearted and told me this, otherwise I would hate you for the rest of my life if I knew about this later. What you did only brought benefits, not harm.”

Hua Xiangrong said, “Then tell me.”

Li Se gently placed Chu Liuguang by the roadside, then hugged Hua Xiangrong and said, “Think about it, you saved your sister Chu, and I am grateful, so naturally I love you even more. Besides, if you hadn't saved her, you could have remained beautiful forever, but wouldn't Xiangjun and the others be very jealous? If they joined forces against you, your situation would be terrible, and although I would want to protect you then, I might not be able to do so!”

Hua Xiangrong clapped her hands and said, “That's right! How come I didn't think of that?” "But what if I get old and you don't love me anymore? You have to make a vow."

Li Se immediately knelt down and swore, thinking, "They are all beautiful and kind girls. They are the ones who look down on me, not the ones I should despise. Since they truly love me, how can I, Li Se, betray them?"

Hua Xiangrong was delighted to see the sincerity of Li Se's vow and spat out the Xuan Pearl, placing it in Chu Liuguang's mouth. The pearl slowly entered Chu Liuguang's stomach.

Seeing Li Se's unwavering gaze, Hua Xiangrong said, "My lord, why are you so nervous? Sister Chu will definitely get better, but she will be extremely weak afterward, far weaker than ordinary people, and will no longer be able to use magic."

Li Se said, "As long as she survives, that's enough. What's the point of magic? I will protect you even if it costs me my life." "At that moment, Li Se picked up Chu Liuguang and returned to the Wang family with Hua Xiangrong to treat Chu Liuguang's injuries. The scene

in the palace was quite different. Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong woke Zhu Di, who immediately ordered the rectification of the palace's internal affairs. He ordered Jin Zhong, the Minister of War, to seal off the entire city, and the inner palace guards were placed under the command of Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong.

Zhu Di summoned some trusted ministers for a secret meeting in the palace. Zhu Di first asked Minister Saiyi, who hesitated and dared not answer. Zhu Di sighed and said to Yang Shiqi, "I have been assassinated this time. The villains are so audacious. Please tell me what you know."

Yang Shiqi thought for a moment and said, "I have learned that Prince Gao Xu of Han is privately manufacturing weapons, raising fugitives, and using lacquered leather to make boats for naval warfare. Please investigate this matter carefully, Your Majesty."

Jin Zhong said, "Prince Gao Xu of Han has recruited more than 3,000 soldiers without authorization. They are not under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of War and spend their days chasing hawks and hounds, harassing the capital. " Previously, my subordinate commander Xu Yelu captured one or two of the murderers and punished them according to their crimes. The Prince of Han actually came to the palace to personally demand their release, spoke briefly with Yelu, and, not satisfied, took out an iron claw from his sleeve and killed Yelu. I dared not report this matter before, but now that Your Majesty has suffered such a calamity, I ask myself honestly, even if I were to be torn to pieces, I would not dare to deceive Your Majesty again.”

Zhu Di, his face ashen, sighed, “I know all of this. What are your thoughts? Please speak frankly; I will not blame you. Well, there are no outsiders here; you can rest assured.”

Xie Jin said, “The Prince of Han once said to others, ‘With my martial prowess, am I not worthy to be Prince Qin, Li Shimin?’ He also once wrote a poem: ‘Shen Sheng vainly guards his death, Wang Xiang suffers in vain from the cold.’ These two lines clearly express his resentment towards Your Majesty and reveal his intention to seize the throne. I urge Your Majesty to reconsider.”

Zhu Di angrily said, “Then what do you think should be done?”

Yang Shiqi bowed and said, “The Prince of Han was initially granted Yunnan, but refused to go. He was then granted Kenzhou, but still refused. His intentions are clear, and I need not say more. I only hope that Your Majesty will handle this matter well as soon as possible, so that he can have a stable place, preserve the bond between father and son, and enjoy lasting happiness and prosperity.”

Zhu Di was furious and immediately summoned the Prince of Han, Zhu Gaoxu.

Zhu Di went to court, paced around the hall, and then summoned all the civil and military officials and the Crown Prince to the hall. He then said to Jin Zhong, “How is Miss Chu’s condition? If she is not seriously ill, please invite Li Se to court.” Jin Zhong obeyed the order.

After a while, all the civil and military officials arrived. As soon as Prince Han, Zhu Gaochi, entered the court, Zhu Di, in a fit of rage, questioned him relentlessly, his voice booming like thunder.

Zhu Gaochi had no way to deny it and could only stammer. Zhu Di berated the Prince of Han for a full hour, finally sneering, "You don't need to deny it anymore. You colluded with sorcerers, attempting to kill me. You are disloyal and unfilial; I have already investigated this matter. At this moment, your residence is surrounded, and none of your sorcerers will escape. Guards, strip this bastard of his official robes and imprison him inside the Xihua Gate, reducing him to a commoner. Later, after further investigation,

he will be executed by slow slicing." In Zhu Di's fury, the officials trembled and listened. Seeing the Prince of Han deposed, though guilty of treason and plotting to seize the throne, even those who secretly supported him dared not speak out. Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi stepped forward from the crowd, weeping, "Father, you mustn't! Gao Xu is still your flesh and blood. Even if he was confused for a moment, he should be given a chance to repent. Besides, if my brother is guilty, I, as his elder brother, am guilty of failing in my duty to supervise. I am willing to share the blame. Please forgive him, Father!"

Zhu Di said sternly, "I have to put aside my personal affections for your sake. Do you want to raise a tiger only to have it harm you?" The Crown Prince pleaded incessantly.

At this moment, Prince Zhu Gaoxu suddenly stood up and said contemptuously to Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi, "Don't pretend to be all high and mighty with your crocodile tears. I won't accept your favor."

Prince Zhu Gaoxu stood straight and loudly addressed Zhu Di, "Father, if you want to kill your son, don't be so hesitant.

During the Jingnan Rebellion, Father promised me that after conquering the country, he would make me Crown Prince, but Father broke his promise. I have made great contributions and am as wise as Father. Shouldn't I be Crown Prince? In a fit of anger, I did many outrageous things, but the plot to assassinate Father was done by my subordinates who wanted to gain favor with the emperor. However, I cannot shirk my responsibility. Since Father is biased and gives the throne to this good-for-nothing, I have nothing to say. Please, Your Majesty, execute me by slow slicing immediately! My body and hair came from my parents, and it is not wrong to return them now. Please grant my request, Your Majesty." He finished speaking with a resolute expression.

The words of the Prince of Han stunned everyone, and the hall fell silent. Zhu Di looked at the Prince of Han for a long time without speaking, then glanced at the kneeling Crown Prince, frowned slightly, and suddenly said to Li Se at the end of the hall, "Minister Li, come forward."

Some people were confused, but Li Se, seeing Zhu Di looking at him, knelt forward and said, "Your subject is here."

Zhu Di said, "I owe my safety to your help. Tell me, how should I handle this matter?"

Li Se was no longer the naive man he once was; his mind worked quickly. He said, "This matter is Your Majesty's family affair, but it is a public affair. The Emperor has no private matters. I believe that Your Majesty should simply do what you think is right, like an eagle soaring in the sky or a dragon swimming in the sea. Your Majesty is wise and powerful; you will surely handle this matter well."

Zhu Di nodded repeatedly, and the crowd in the hall... The ministers, however, were utterly confused. Most thought, "These words are meaningless; this lad is skilled at flattery, no wonder he rose to such a high position so quickly."

Zhu Di recalled Daoyan's words to him: "The two princes are vying for the throne, no need to concern yourself with them; the eighteen sons will assist you."

Now, Li Se's name subtly echoed this saying, and he also spoke of the two princes vying for the throne, implying that things should proceed naturally without interference—the meaning of natural selection. They understood immediately, but still flew into a rage, saying, "Fine! Guards, take Zhu Gaochi back to his residence and confine him to his quarters for three months. Further punishment will be determined later based on his repentance."

Everyone was astonished, seeing the Emperor's fury, yet his hand, though raised high, fell lightly.

The Prince of Han had committed the grave crime of treason, yet the punishment he received was so lenient—a complete surprise. But before they could even process what was happening, Zhu Di adjourned the court.

Xie Jin and Yang Shiqi left the hall with Li Se and the others. Xie Jin said

, "Young Master Li is indeed a man of exceptional talent. His words are watertight, offending neither side, unlike us who will have a hard time in the future." Li Se said with shame, "I haven't been involved in court affairs for long and didn't know who to help, so I spoke the truth. In fact, the Emperor has his own opinions, and we can't change them just by saying them."

Yang Shiqi said, "That's right. Although His Highness the Crown Prince is naturally benevolent and righteous, he lacks martial prowess. His Majesty is exceptionally powerful and has won the country through force, so it's understandable that he doesn't like the Crown Prince."

Jin Zhong said, "Furthermore, the Prince of Han dared to confront the Emperor directly in court, showing courage and decisiveness. Compared to the weeping and wailing Crown Prince..." " The Crown Prince is naturally even less likely to be favored by His Majesty. His Majesty, considering the future of the empire, would never kill him,"

Xie Jin said. "The Prince of Han's strategy of putting someone in a life-or-death situation is truly brilliant! It seems the mastermind behind the Prince of Han is indeed formidable! Such a shocking case, resolved with such a simple move—brilliant!"

Yang Shiqi said, "From now on, the Prince of Han will hate us to the bone. We must be careful. Young Master Li, don't think we helped the Crown Prince out of personal motives, hoping to gain favor. The world needs a benevolent and magnanimous ruler. We made this decision after many years of deliberation. Just don't misunderstand."

The group left the palace and returned to their respective residences.

Li Se returned to the Wang family home. As soon as she reached the door, she saw Old Master Wang and Wang Rong waiting to greet her. Li Se was flattered and said with a smile, "Uncle and Brother Wang, you are too kind. I have troubled you for so many days and have been very uneasy . How could I dare to trouble you two to come and welcome me?

" Old Master Wang smiled broadly and said, "Young Master Li is too kind. You are now a favorite of the Emperor, and your future rise to prominence is just around the corner. Please forgive your past neglect for my daughter's sake."

Li Se said, "Uncle is too kind. Bao'er and I are like brother and sister." "Uncle is like family to me, so any further formality would be too much."

Old Wang was overjoyed and said, "Yes, yes. Since Young Master Li says so, then I won't stand on ceremony."

Old Wang wanted to host a banquet for Li Se, but Li Se hurriedly said, "I have other important matters to attend to, so it would be better to bother you another day."

Wang Rong said, "In that case, my father and I won't force you. Please make yourself at home, Brother Li."

Li Se hurriedly went to Chu Liuguang's residence to visit her. Chu Liuguang had been saved by Hua Xiangrong, but she was very weak and needed recuperation. Although she had taken the precious pill, her constitution was different from Hua Xiangrong's, so she needed to slowly neutralize the pill.

Chu Liuguang was lying in bed when she saw that although Li Se was all smiles, there was a hint of anger between her brows, so she forced herself to sit up and ask him what had happened. Li Se had no choice but to recount what had just happened.

Chu Liuguang said, "Brother, you and I both need to recuperate. Now that things are over, don't get angry. You need to be in harmony with your sword; you need a peaceful mind to resolve the true energy you've gained."

Li Se, instead of listening, felt extremely uncomfortable.

Chu Liuguang said, "You forgot about this before, only thinking about saving me. Now you know how serious it is! Go back and rest!"

Wang Bao'er said, "Yes! I'll take care of Sister Chu here, Brother, don't worry."

Hua Xiangrong, having lost her inner core, was also unwell and went to practice her martial arts to minimize the damage.

Seeing that Chu Liuguang was alright, Li Se returned to his room reassured. On the way, Li Se encountered Leng Ruxue and Gu Xiangjun.

Gu Xiangjun said, "Sister, look, I told you my husband would be back soon, but you wouldn't believe me."

Leng Ruxue had already thrown herself into Li Se's arms, saying, "My lord, I haven't seen you for days. I couldn't get into the palace and couldn't help at all. You've come back twice, but you didn't see me. Are you tired of me?"

Li Se laughed, "Alright! It was an urgent matter, you know that, so why complain? Besides, I'm back now, let's go back and talk!"

Leng Ruxue said, "I heard about what happened between you two. Is Chu Liuguang really that powerful? Why didn't you tell me sooner? I never got to see it. Now Sister Xiangjun says she's lost her magic. Is that true? She's so pitiful! If I lost my martial arts, I'd be heartbroken! She's like this now, it's worse than death for her!"

Li Se returned to his room with the two women.

The next day, Emperor Yongle sent someone to visit Chu Liuguang, bringing many gifts and bestowing upon Li Se a mansion. He also issued an edict stating that Chu Liuguang must be cured and that any needs should be met by order. Several days later, Chu Liuguang gradually recovered, and Li Se and Gu Xiangjun, along with several other women, moved into Li Se's mansion. Once

everything was settled, Li Se took Chu Liuguang to the palace to thank the Emperor.

Zhu Di, seeing Chu Liuguang unharmed, was overjoyed and laughed, "Miss Chu, I know you are no ordinary person, and I do not know what reward I should bestow upon you. You have rendered such a great service; whatever you desire, just say the word. As long as it is within my power, I will certainly satisfy you."

Chu Liuguang smiled and said, "Since Your Majesty is so generous, I will not stand on ceremony. To be honest, what I want is useless to Your Majesty, so please bestow it upon me! What I want is the Maoshan Mountain-Suppressing Jade Seal."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di laughed heartily. The imperial seal used by the emperor was said to be made from the "He Shi Bi" jade. When the Yuan Dynasty was overthrown, this imperial seal was taken to the southern Mongolian steppe by Emperor Shun of Yuan. Therefore, Zhu Yuanzhang, the founding emperor, reigned for thirty-one years without ever using it.

After Zhu Di ascended the throne, he issued an imperial edict, sending a capable official to Maoshan to retrieve the seal.

The night before the imperial envoy arrived at Maoshan, the Maoshan Taoist temples had an omen. At midnight, the Taoist priests on night duty at the Yuanfu Palace and Chongxi Palace of Maoshan discovered a bright red light emanating from the Jiuxiao Palace on Da Mao Peak and immediately sounded the alarm. The Taoist priests from both palaces rose and, seeing the red light from Jiuxiao Palace, rushed up the mountain, but nothing happened. When they returned to their respective palaces and looked at Da Mao Peak again, the red light was still fiery. The Taoist priests rushed back to Jiuxiao Palace, but still saw no sign of disaster. This back and forth continued, causing the Taoist priests great anxiety, unsure of what was to come. Just as dawn broke, the imperial envoy arrived at Maoshan with a golden plaque and an imperial edict.

It turned out that the imperial court had appointed "Spirit Officials" at Maoshan, officials of the seventh and sixth ranks. Because the Maoshan sect had once aided the Yuan Dynasty in resisting the Ming Dynasty, Maoshan was under the supervision of the court. Upon seeing the golden plaque and the imperial edict, the Taoist priests hurriedly prepared an incense table and knelt to receive the decree.

Hearing that it was to summon the sacred jade seal of Maoshan, though they were extremely reluctant, they had no choice but to present the seal to the imperial envoy. The imperial envoy accepted the seal, satisfied, and returned to the capital to report.

When the jade seal arrived in the capital, it coincided with Emperor Yongle's morning court session. The imperial envoy entered the palace to deliver the imperial decree. The duty eunuch received the jade seal and presented it to Emperor Yongle. Upon examining it, Emperor Yongle recognized it as a four-inch square jade seal, exquisitely crafted from flawless jade, shimmering with a subtle auspicious aura. Looking at the seal face, he saw the six characters "Seal of the Nine Immortal Lords" engraved in seal script. He thought, "If I simply polish away these six characters and then engrave the six characters 'Treasure of the Mandate of Heaven,' wouldn't that be the imperial seal of my Great Ming Dynasty?" He then issued an edict: the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat in charge of the Wenhua Hall was ordered to write the seal face; the Minister of the Imperial Seal Office was ordered to oversee and protect the jade seal; the Minister of Works was ordered to select laborers from across the land to carve the seal characters; and the Imperial Observatory was ordered to choose an auspicious day and time. Construction began on the appointed day.

After the imperial decree was issued, the Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat fasted, bathed, and used the incense to draft the seal characters. The Imperial Astronomical Bureau officials used the I Ching, calculated the Eight Trigrams, accurately predicted the sun and moon, and meticulously observed the ecliptic and lunisolar ecliptic. The Minister of Works immediately issued numerous documents and warrants to select jade carvers.

The Ministry of Works rigorously selected craftsmen, choosing the best of the best, ultimately selecting thirty-five highly skilled artisans. The Ministry of Works registered each of these jade carvers to ensure rewards for merit and punishment for offenses.

Since all treasures possess a spirit, and this jade seal was carved from the "He Shi Bi" (a famous jade disc), the Ministry of Works dared not easily alter its carving. However, the imperial edict compelled them to proceed, so the Imperial Astronomical Bureau chose an auspicious day. The Minister of Works, dressed in his court robes and hat, first burned incense and prayed to Heaven and Earth. Two official desks were then set up in the Ministry of Works' main hall. He respectfully went to the Imperial Seal Office, paid homage to the jade seal, and then placed it on the cushions in the Ministry of Works' main hall. Each jade craftsman, in turn, bowed to Heaven, Earth, and the jade seal, then lit incense and burned paper, silently praying. The jade seal shone with countless rays of light and auspicious energy.

At this moment, the imperial edict sounded, and the Grand Supervisor shouted, "The hour of Chen (7-9 AM) has arrived!" The Minister of Works immediately ordered work to begin.

The thirty-five jade craftsmen were divided into three shifts: upper, middle, and lower, with nine people in each shift. The remaining eight were divided into three groups: two to add sand, two to change water, two to fill gaps, and two to supervise. The three shifts rotated, repeating the cycle. Work did not begin until the appointed time each day, proceeding in an orderly fashion. The work was roughly as follows: jade craftsmen entered the office at Yin (3-5 AM), prepared at Mao (5-7 AM), began work at Chen (7-9 AM) and Si (9-11 AM), polished at Wu (11 AM-1 PM), and rested at Shen (3-5 PM). Why were there so many rules? Because at Yin and Mao, the sun was just rising, and the sun was still setting; at Chen, Si, Wu, and Wei, the sun was at its zenith; and by Shen, the sun had set. Therefore, there were times each day when work was possible and times when it was forbidden to work.

A full month had passed in the blink of an eye before the project was finally completed. The Minister of Works was the first to inspect it, and saw that the seal was engraved with six raised seal characters: "Treasure of the Mandate of Heaven." The Minister of the Imperial Seal verified that it was correct, and both ministries rejoiced. The jade craftsmen cheered and eagerly awaited the reward. To ensure good fortune, they laid the jade seal on a silk cloth, adorned it with a pair of gold flowers, and joyfully carried it to the palace to deliver the imperial decree. At

the third watch of the night, the Yongle Emperor ascended the throne for court. The Minister of the Imperial Seal presented the jade seal, and the Minister of Works stepped forward and announced, "Your Majesty's blessings are boundless, and the seal-making project has been successfully completed. We hereby deliver the imperial decree."

The Yongle Emperor was delighted and said, "Bring it here so I may see it."

The Minister of the Imperial Seal then presented the jade seal with both hands to the Minister of Rites, who in turn presented it to the Grand Secretary, who then presented it to the Grand Eunuch, who presented it to the Emperor.

When Emperor Yongle saw that the seal indeed bore the inscription "Treasure of the Mandate of Heaven" in raised seal script, he felt as if he were finally truly the emperor, the ruler of the south! Overjoyed, he hurriedly ordered, "The eunuch in charge of ceremonies, please transfer the seal to a piece of paper and show it to me!" The eunuch in charge of the vermilion brush quickly applied vermilion, and the eunuch in charge of the paperwork hastily opened the plain paper. The eunuch in charge of ceremonies stamped the seal three times in succession and presented it to the emperor for his perusal. Unexpectedly, upon seeing the inscription, Emperor Yongle's face suddenly darkened. All the officials were bewildered. A nearby eunuch peered at the plain paper and turned pale with fright. For some reason, the paper still clearly bore the six seal characters "Seal of the Nine Immortal Lords of the Capital." The civil and military officials were also stunned, standing frozen like statues. The Golden Palace suddenly became quiet and eerily silent, as if it had transformed into the palace of the King of Hell.

After a long while, Emperor Yongle's displeased voice rang out: "Issue an order to the Minister of Works to have

the jade seal cleaned again." The Minister of Works, carrying the imperial seal, wept bitterly as he returned to his office. He thought to himself, "Ten years of hard work and years of diligence have finally earned me this second-rank position, and today it seems I'll lose it all because of this jade seal." Fortunately, the jade craftsmen hadn't been released, so they were brought back to their quarters. The craftsmen, hearing this astonishing story, were all very surprised, but they had no choice but to continue working in shifts as before. Every day at dawn, the craftsmen entered the office; at dawn, they prepared; at dusk, they began work; at noon and late afternoon, they polished; and at late afternoon, they stopped. The Minister of Works, fearing punishment, kept urging them on, and in less than a month, the seal was finished. Seeing that every character was accurate and clear, he brought it to the palace to present to the emperor.

A young eunuch said, "His Majesty is in the Hall of Diligent Governance." The Minister of Works hurriedly went to the Hall of Diligent Governance. Upon arriving at the Hall of Diligent Governance, he did not wait for the emperor's summons and went straight in.

The Yongle Emperor asked, "Why have you come in such a hurry?"

The Minister replied, "The seal has been completed, and I have come to report back." He then presented the imperial seal with both hands.

Emperor Yongle saw that the seal bore the inscription "Treasure of the Mandate of Heaven" in seal script and hurriedly ordered it to be imprinted on paper with cinnabar. However, upon opening it, he found it read "Seal of the Nine Immortal Lords." Yongle thought, "This seal is an ancient and spiritual artifact. Could it be that I haven't shown it enough respect, and therefore it refuses to be used by me?"

So Emperor Yongle respectfully placed the jade seal on his desk, bowed three times, and kowtowed nine times, then murmured a prayer: "Jade seal, jade seal, I now pay my respects, heed my decree, do not be arrogant, it is incomparably precious!" After the prayer, he still ordered the Minister of Works to have it re-engraved.

As the saying goes, "Serving a ruler is like serving a tiger." The Minister of Works was truly filled with anxiety after the seal's two failed attempts to be engraved.

Trembling with fear, he still gathered all the jade craftsmen and instructed them, "The old characters must be thoroughly cleaned so that the new characters can be clearly engraved. All craftsmen, be careful!"

The craftsmen replied in unison, "Understood."

This time, everyone worked with extra care, and the very act of "cleaning thoroughly" thinned the imperial seal by half. The craftsmen worked respectfully and on time, meticulously engraving each character; the Minister of Works stayed by their side constantly, carefully checking every step, daring not to be careless or perfunctory. Finally, it was completed again, and everyone saw that the six seal characters "By the Mandate of Heaven" on the seal surface were particularly eye-catching and dazzling.

At dawn, the Minister presented the imperial seal, hurriedly brushed it with cinnabar, and when he pressed it onto paper and opened it, it still read "Seal of the Nine Immortals of the Capital"!

This infuriated the Yongle Emperor, who was furious and enraged, and flew into a rage. He raised the jade seal and slammed it onto the osmanthus-covered pillar of the Nine-Room Hall, cursing, "Even if you are capable, you are nothing but a grass fairy, how dare you mock the imperial court!" Then, an imperial edict was issued, ordering it to be impounded in the national treasury and sealed off for use!

Emperor Yongle, recalling the previous events, said, "Since Miss Chu has spoken, I naturally grant her request."

Chapter Six: A Chaotic

Li Se. Overnight, Li Se's name spread throughout the land, making him the most sought-after celebrity in the capital, naturally attracting countless people eager to curry favor. Li Se usually disliked meeting strangers, and besides, several women around him were constantly pestering him, so he mostly refused visitors.

This day, Li Se finally managed to coax the women to stop bothering him and secluded himself to practice his martial arts. Suddenly, a knock came at the door. Li Se had no choice but to open it and said, "Xiangjun, what urgent matter is it? Is it an imperial decree?"

Gu Xiangjun replied, "No, the Prince of Han has sent someone to invite you to a banquet. I can't decide whether you should go or not, so I came to ask you."

Li Se pondered for a while and said, "Didn't you discuss it with Sister Chu?"

Gu Xiangjun said, "She said it would be good to meet them."

Li Se said, "Then I'll go. Being in the court, I have no choice in what I do. But it would be good to meet so many extraordinary people." Li Se

prepared his horse and went to the Prince of Han's residence. As soon as he arrived at the gate, he saw the Prince of Han leading a group of people to greet him. Li Se quickly bowed and said, "What merit do I have to trouble Your Highness!"

The Prince of Han smiled and helped Li Se up. The two chatted and laughed as they entered the hall together. Li Se saw the Prince of Han's heroic spirit and secretly admired him. He thought of how the Prince of Han dared to admit to the crime of assassinating the Emperor to his face. His courage and boldness were truly rare in this world. Although it seemed that the King of Han had committed a breach of filial piety and morality, Li Se felt that the realm was a public instrument, and if it were for the sake of the realm, then personal morality could be set aside.

Many of the banquet guests were high-ranking officials of the court. They enjoyed the fine food, watched the songs and dances, and laughed and chatted happily.

When the wine was flowing freely, the King of Han said, "Minister Li, it was thanks to your kind words to my father the other day that I was spared; otherwise, I fear I would have met with misfortune! I have long wanted to invite you to drink and make merry, but as a person awaiting punishment, I dared not disregard suspicion. Today, please open your heart and drink to your heart's content."

Li Se replied, "Your Highness is too kind. I was merely rambling; Your Highness must not take it to heart."

Immediately, everyone praised Li Se as a young hero, saying his future was limitless. As the wine flowed freely, the ministers began to speak favorably of the King of Han, saying that only the King of Han was fit to be emperor.

Li Se, upon hearing this, drank to cover it up, remaining silent but inwardly vigilant. Knowing the Emperor is old and the princes are vying for the throne with no clear winner, they are now trying to win him over, seeing his favor with the old Emperor. The ministers, including Yang Shiqi, do not support the Prince of Han, and there must be a reason for this. The best course of action is to avoid being caught between the two factions.

Li Se feigned drunkenness. Just then, a group of dancers finished their performance. Seeing Li Se's intoxicated expression, the Prince of Han teased, "Young Master Li, are you drunk because of the beauties, or because you've had too much to drink?"

Li Se pretended to drowsily open his eyes and laughed, "Naturally, it's Your Highness's beauties!" He pointed to a dancer and said, "Such a beauty, only Your Highness's family possesses such a lovely lady."

The Prince of Han laughed, "Young Master, you are indeed young and charming. Since you admire her so much, how about I give her to you?"

Li Se laughed, "I am a little drunk." "I was just rambling and presumptuous. I hope Your Highness will forgive me. I appreciate Your Highness's kindness..."

King Han said, "What? Do you look down on me? Do you think I'm reluctant to part with it? It's just a beautiful woman I'm giving you. There's no need for you to refuse, Young Master."

Li Se laughed, "It's not that I don't want to, but I'm afraid someone at home will make a scene. In the past, when Prince Dan gave Jing Ke a beautiful woman, he only gave him her hand. It must be because Prince Dan knew that Jing Ke had a shrewish wife and dared not accept it. Haha!"

King Han laughed and did not insist. After a while, Li Se pretended to be drunk and got up to take his leave. King Han personally saw him off, saying, "Young Master, there's no need to rush. Please take the gift I'm giving you before you go." He then ordered someone to bring over a plate.

When the plate was opened, Li Se almost fainted. On the plate was a beautiful woman's head, the very same one of the dancers he had just casually praised.

The King of Han laughed, "Crown Prince Dan is willing to sacrifice a beautiful woman for a righteous man. Am I not as good as him? Whatever you desire, I will not hesitate to give it to you. If you cannot obtain something, I will destroy it. In this respect, we are quite alike. Haha!"

Li Se's face changed drastically, and he angrily said, "King of Han, you are greatly mistaken. I was merely speaking casually and had no intention of taking this woman. Although Your Highness greatly values me and wants me to serve you without any cost, words speak louder than words. If Your Highness were truly a benevolent ruler who cared for the people, you would naturally be loved and respected. However, Your Highness treats human life as a joke and is indifferent to human life. I dare not presume to associate with such a person. Farewell." Li Se left in a rage.

The Prince of Han was astonished. At this moment, an old man approached him, his spirit radiant and his bearing extraordinary. He said, "This time, I miscalculated and failed to win this man over. However, we now know his weaknesses, and controlling him in the future will not be difficult."

The Prince of Han said, "This lad has already been won over by my brother. He flatters my father, pretending to be righteous, just to gain his trust. I escaped this predicament thanks to your brilliant strategy, sir. I was foolish before, ignoring your advice, and almost made a grave mistake. Fortunately, your brilliant plan saved me from danger."

The man said, "Your Highness, there's no need to be so polite. I, Zhang Xuanji, am highly regarded by Your Highness and naturally share your burdens. Great things cannot be rushed. We can deal with the matter of the succession slowly. Since His Majesty desires the most capable to rule, is Your Highness afraid of not being able to win?"

The two laughed together.

Li Se returned home in anger, but it was to no avail, and he felt deeply guilty. Back home, as he reached the door of the main hall, he heard several familiar voices. Li Se pushed open the door and saw the three leaders of the six major sects—Buqing, Situ Ming, and Gu Xuanzhong—all looking up at him upon hearing the door open.

Upon seeing Li Se, the three immediately greeted him with beaming smiles. Situ Ming said, "Congratulations, sir! Congratulations! It's been so long! You've achieved great things and become famous throughout the land. You are truly a man of great talent!"

Gu Xuanzhong said, "Indeed! You are truly unfathomable! Who would have thought you would gain the Emperor's favor? Truly, the capable are capable of anything!"

Seeing Li Se's thoughtful expression, Buqing said, "Sir, now that you've achieved fame and success, do you no longer wish to see us? Do you no longer want to deal with us old folks? Can you bear to watch our six major sects be wiped out?"

Li Se smiled and said, "Senior, please don't take offense. I was a little out of sorts because I encountered something unpleasant just now. Please, senior, have a word with me."

Li Se gestured for Gu Xiangjun, who was with the three of them in the living room, to accompany Situ Ming and Gu Xuanzhong, and then pulled Bu Qing to the outer living room.

After the two sat down, Li Se took a sip of tea and said, "Master, you don't need to hide anything from me. Let's not beat around the bush. Why do you insist on forcing me to become the leader of the six major sects? What's the hidden reason behind this? Please tell me the truth. As you can see, I'm no longer the naive young man I was when I first started out. You can't fool me anymore."

Bu Qing said with a grin, "Sir, you're overthinking it. You are exceptionally intelligent and have great talent and ambition. You are a dragon among men. If you lead our six major sects, you will definitely be able to fulfill the position of alliance leader. That's why we are so eager to find a worthy person! What we are doing is asking you to become the leader of our six sects!"

Li Se's face changed drastically, and he said angrily, "Fine, you still won't tell the truth. Guards, show them out. If you come to bother me again, I will definitely throw you out. Don't blame me for being impolite then."

Bu Qing quickly said, "No, no, don't be so hasty! Why are you angry, sir!"

Li Se said, "Then tell me the truth."

Buqing replied, "A monk doesn't lie. What I'm saying is indeed the truth!"

Li Se snorted coldly and said, "Fine, I'll accept that you're telling the truth. Then let me ask you, why did you all have to cripple my martial arts as soon as I came out of seclusion? You're not foolish people; there must be a hidden reason. You said a master guided you. Who is he? Why did you listen to him?"

Buqing said, "Well, you'll find out in the future, sir. Just be careful. I promised him I wouldn't reveal it. But since you've spoken so frankly, sir, I'll tell you what I can, and naturally I won't hide anything!"

Li Se originally thought that Buqing and the other two were entrusted by their martial uncle Daoyan to cripple his martial arts to hone him, but seeing that Buqing refused to tell the truth, it seemed they had no connection with their martial uncle Daoyan. Otherwise, since their martial uncle was dead, there would be no need to hide any past events. Looking up and seeing Buqing's fawning expression, he couldn't help but sigh, "Master, you are a reclusive sage, why bother toying with this humble one? There's no need for this obsequious act. I know you have ulterior motives, please speak frankly! I will help if I can, otherwise, don't blame me for standing idly by."

Buqing smiled obsequiously, "Sir, please don't be so polite. Just call me A-Da as before. Actually, we initially intended to eliminate the Flower Butterfly, but seeing that your martial arts are indeed very similar to the Blade Master's, we decided against killing you."

Li Se said, "But why did you cripple my martial arts?"

Buqing replied casually, "Hehe, because if you were the Blade Master, you wouldn't care about our six major sects, you would only cultivate your blade path. Only by crippling your martial arts and utilizing your wisdom can you help us overcome this difficulty."

If Li Se hadn't reached a higher level and regained his martial arts, he would have been so angry he would have vomited blood, saying, "Without martial arts, you believe in my talent? " "Will wisdom help you?"

Buqing said, "Knife Lord is no ordinary person, we firmly believe that. Besides, hehe, given your relationship with Sword Queen, wouldn't Sword Queen help you?"

Li Se choked on his words, thinking, "These guys really have deep plans." He pointed at Buqing's bald head and said, "You shameless bastards, you schemed against me like this for this? And you even put on such a shameless act! You are truly the disgrace of the six major sects. The dignified martial arts world has been turned into a mess by you."

Buqing said, "Yes, yes! Sir is right. Our leadership is bad. In the future, please teach us more, and under your leadership, we will definitely restore our prestige."

Li Se cursed a few times in anger, then calmed down and said, "If you have any difficulties, I can help. As for the alliance leader, I will never accept the position."

Buqing was about to say something more, but Li Se stopped him. Li Se first arranged for the three sect leaders to stay, then pulled Gu Xiangjun into the inner hall. Leng Ruxue was also in the inner hall at that time, but Li Se sent her back to her room.

Li Se said to Gu Xiangjun, "Actually, your father put you by my side to monitor and control me, didn't he?"

Gu Xiangjun laughed, "My lord, you look so serious, it's scary. Are you joking? No! I don't like it."

Li Se stared blankly at Gu Xiangjun and said, "Actually, you don't love me at all; you just want to use me. Otherwise, there's no reason to fall in love at first sight."

Seeing Li Se's expression, Gu Xiangjun, being clever, knew that if she couldn't persuade Li Se now, the consequences would be dire. Her face first paled, then flushed, and she smiled, "Actually, my lord is right. I didn't fall in love with you after seeing you."

Li Se said blankly, "Sigh!"

Gu Xiangjun said, "Actually, before I saw you..." "I've fallen in love with you."

Li Se was greatly surprised and looked up, saying, "Ah?"

Gu Xiangjun smiled and said, "When I was little, I heard people say how powerful Dao Jun was and how he saved our six major sects. At that time, I knew that the only great hero in the world was Dao Jun. After I grew up, although I knew that Dao Jun must be very old, I had a premonition: the Dao Jun I met would definitely be young and handsome and would marry me. The moment you rescued me from Hua Hudie, I knew that you were the one I had been waiting for. My love, do you think I fell in love with you even though I had never met you? As for my father's affairs, how could we girls understand?"

Li Se had a thousand doubts and ten thousand suspicions, but they were all dispelled at this moment. Li Se argued, "If you don't tell me, how can I know what you're thinking?"

Gu Xiangjun laughed and said, "Silly girl!" The two were deeply in love and snuggled together.

After the three of them arrived at Li Se's residence, they lingered and refused to leave. That was fine, but the four lecherous thieves who had not been seen for many days suddenly came to Li Se's door. Li Se led the four men to a secluded room. The four were beaming with excitement, praising Li Se profusely upon seeing him, saying he was indeed powerful and had greatly enhanced the prestige of the Butterfly Sect, much like the three sect leaders.

Li Se was both amused and exasperated. At this moment, Liang Gongchang said, "Master Yu, I have some good news for you! You'll be delighted!"

Li Se asked, "What news?"

Du Kaixian laughed heartily and said, "We've contacted several hundred companions in the martial world! Everyone is quite skilled in martial arts, with extraordinary abilities. Hearing that Master Yu has become a high-ranking official in the court, they've all come to join our Butterfly Sect!"

Li Se was shocked and asked, "What extraordinary abilities? Where are they?"

Du Kaixian replied, bewildered, "Naturally, they're skilled in flower picking, but some are thieves. If Master Yu thinks they're not skilled enough, you can teach them a few moves. They're all hiding in the capital, waiting for Master Yu to arrange a meeting."

Li Se was furious but helpless. A group of several hundred flower pickers and thieves was no joke.

Li Se said to Liang Gongchang, "Did you tell them not to act rashly? I said we're going to do something big, and those petty thieves are absolutely unacceptable. If they ruin my grand plan, I won't let you off the hook."

Tie Ding said, "Don't worry, Master Yu, they all want to stop being petty thieves and make something of themselves, that's why they've come to join you. In the future, our Butterfly Sect will act openly and boldly in the martial world, just like those prestigious sects."

Li Se said, "Good, then you go and restrain them immediately. I'll arrange accommodations, all food and lodging will be provided, but they must not be allowed to commit any more crimes. I'll make arrangements after I've decided what they should do." The four men repeatedly agreed.

After arranging things for the men, the four lecherous thieves moved into Li Se's residence. Li Se was initially reluctant, but then he thought that having these men live in the residence would keep an eye on them and prevent them from doing anything bad.

However, things are getting lively in Li Se's mansion now. Although Li Se is lazy and doesn't like court affairs, and his official position is just a nominal one, he doesn't have to attend court every day. But the three women, Hua Xiangrong, Leng Ruxue, and Wang Bao'er, are enough to keep him busy.

Under Li Se and Gu Xiangjun's care, Hua Xiangrong and Leng Ruxue were finally able to get along peacefully, but Li Se always felt that there weren't enough days. Xue Yaoguang and the others only visited occasionally, which was fine, but since Li Se had become one with his sword, he still couldn't comprehend his own true energy and couldn't achieve complete mastery. He needed time to cultivate in seclusion, but where was he to find the time!

One day, after finishing his practice, Li Se was passing by the corridor, intending to visit Chu Liuguang, when he suddenly saw Gu Xuanzhong and Situ Ming walking ahead, beaming with pride.

Li Se's heart stirred, and he called out, "Ahem, you two, Ah Er and Ah San, come here." Because the three sect leaders were lingering and pestering Li Se to take over as the alliance leader, Li Se was quite impatient and still used the old way of addressing them.

Hearing the commotion, Gu Xuanzhong pulled Situ Ming over and said with a smile, "Greetings, sir! What do you need us for? Ah? Has sir changed his mind and wants to become the leader of our six sects? Good, then I'll go and inform the old monk and the others immediately. This is great news!"

Li Se said irritably, "You come back here. I've already said I don't want any of this nonsense as the leader. You've been bothering me all day, but it's no use. I'm asking you, why are you so happy today?

" Gu Xuanzhong blushed, and Situ Ming said somewhat awkwardly, "This... sir, please don't ask!"

Li Se said, "Speak quickly, don't stammer."

Situ Ming had no choice but to say, "We obtained some prescriptions, so..."

Li Se said, "What prescriptions? Bring them here." "

Situ Ming hesitated for a while before handing over a sheet of paper.

Li Se looked at it and saw two prescriptions written on it. The first prescription was for

a male dog's gallbladder, one qian of musk and a small amount of 'Dangmenzi' (a type of herb )

. Preparation and usage: Put the musk into the gallbladder, stir well, and hang it in a well-ventilated place to dry in the shade. Before intercourse, apply a small amount of saliva to the tip of the penis.

Effect: Increases intercourse duration and prevents premature ejaculation.

The second prescription was for a 'Golden Spear Never Falls': One 'Human Dragon' (dried on a tile), fifteen dried loofahs, five fen of frankincense, five fen of myrrh, seven almonds (oil removed), five fen of musk, five fen of orange borneol

. Preparation and usage: Grind into a fine powder, mix with oil and vinegar to form pills the size of wheat grains. Before intercourse, insert one pill into the penis's mouth.

Effect: Increases size, hardness, and duration.

Li Se stared in disbelief, but then heard Situ Ming laugh and say, 'We've always said that you, sir, are incredibly talented and unfathomable! You wouldn't reveal it until your four friends told us about some of your abilities.'"

These prescriptions, according to Master Liang and the others, are all quite ordinary. You, sir, have even more powerful prescriptions! No wonder Miss Xue, a talented woman from the capital, and Wang Bao'er, the beloved little princess of the Qian family, are both so infatuated with you! Their dependence on you is truly enviable and admirable. Your kung fu is truly amazing! You said the cold-hearted girl from Tianshan was so aloof, but look what she's become under your tutelage! Tsk, tsk, you, sir, can do what others cannot!"

Gu Xuanzhong added, "And my precious daughter, she's no pushover either, she's a real headache. I never expected you to subdue her..."

Li Se, realizing what he meant, angrily shouted, "Shut up!" She threw the paper at Gu Xuanzhong and strode away.

Behind her, Li Se heard Gu Xuanzhong scolding Situ Ming: "Look, you've driven my beloved son-in-law away! I told you not to mention he's a playboy!"

Situ Ming retorted, "What do you mean, your beloved son-in-law? You, sir, are a reclusive master, unparalleled in the world. How could you possibly be worthy of him?" "Besides, when did I ever say he was Mr. Hua?"

Gu Xuanzhong said, "You didn't say it explicitly, but you were implying it."

Li Se quickened her pace, leaving them as soon as possible, heading straight for the residence of the four lecherous thieves. From afar, she could hear laughter coming from inside.

When Li Se reached the window, she heard Liang Gongchang say inside, "Miss Bao'er, your riddle was too difficult to guess, it stumped all of us. You are truly clever and beautiful, worthy of being our sect leader's sister-in-law."

Wang Bao'er giggled and said, "Nonsense, it's really awful, what 'sister-in-law'!"

Du Kaixian said in a deep voice, "You are Yu Da's wife, and also his sister, so naturally you are his sister-in-law!"

Wang Bao'er said, "Nonsense, who said I am his wife?"

Du Kaixian said, "You're not? How could that be? Gu Yatou, Xue Yatou, and Leng Yatou are all his wives, why aren't you?"

Wang Bao'er got angry and pouted, "I'm not, they are them, and I am me." "Besides, who said Sister Xue is also Big Brother's wife? Does Sister Xue like Big Brother too?"

Tie Ding said, "Good, good, good! Whatever my precious girl says is right, Third Brother, you're not allowed to talk nonsense!"

Du Kaixian said sullenly, "What's wrong with being Yu Da's wife? Haven't you seen so many beautiful and capable girls vying to marry him? Listen to my advice, you'd better hurry up with this girl, or there won't be any left."

Li Se gasped when he heard this. He originally wanted to teach these guys a lesson and not let them get mixed up with Bu Qing and the other two, but after hearing what they said, if he went in, firstly, Bao'er would be embarrassed, and secondly, Bao'er would question him, so he quietly left.

Li Se strolled to Leng Ruxue's room. Leng Ruxue smiled when she saw him and said, "Why does my lord look so worried? Is it because your qi is still not flowing smoothly?"

Li Se said, "No, it's those three sect leaders and four lecherous thieves that are extremely troublesome." Leng Ruxue laughed, "

So you're angry about the incoherent ones!"

Li Se asked, "What incoherent ones?"

Leng Ruxue replied, "Three sect leaders and four petty thieves, they're muddle-headed and ridiculous in their actions, what else could they be but incoherent ones?"

Li Se found it amusing and, upon reflection, realized it was indeed true. He laughed, "Incoherent ones! These guys are definitely incoherent!"

Chapter Seven: The Heart of the Azure Sea

"Incoherent Ones" Staying at Li Se's residence, Li Se's headache grew with each passing thought. The three sect leaders were one thing, but the four lecherous thieves had brought hundreds of other lecherous thieves and bandits. If those guys caused trouble in the capital, it would be no joke. But how to deal with them was a big problem. He couldn't just kill them all!

The more Li Se thought about it, the more worried he became. He asked someone to summon Liang Gongchang and asked, "How are the people you brought doing now?"

Liang Gongchang said, "They're eating and drinking well, and they all say that you treated them very well, but..."

Li Se exclaimed in surprise, "But what?" Liang Gongchang laughed, "

It's just that we're eating and drinking for free and can't do anything for Master Yu, which makes me feel bad. Besides, we're all bored, so they've all volunteered, saying they'd do anything for Master Yu, even murder, arson, robbery, or murder, as long as Master Yu gives the order, they'd go through fire and water without hesitation!"

Li Se said, "No, our Butterfly Sect wants to flourish, so we can't do those sneaky things anymore. Our goals are far-reaching, and you mustn't ruin my grand plan."

Liang Gongchang said, "Master Yu misunderstands. I meant that they're willing to do anything for Master Yu, which shows how determined they are. Master Yu is extremely powerful; even the three leaders of the six major sects listen to you. Your grand goals are beyond our comprehension. Rest assured, we will follow your orders."

Li Se was relieved and asked, "Have the three leaders met with the four of you?"

Liang Gongchang said, "Yes! The three of them were very polite to us." And they're really loyal; they promised to take us to the martial arts gathering and make us famous in the martial arts world! Hehe, from now on we can be legitimate martial arts heroes. Before, we called ourselves the 'Four Great Lecherous Heroes,' but others insisted we were the 'Four Great Lecherous Thieves.' From now on, let's see who calls us lecherous thieves again!"

Li Se said, "No, we can't call ourselves 'Lecherous Heroes' either; we must change that."

Liang Gongchang said, "Yes! They also said it wasn't appropriate, suggesting we call ourselves the 'Four Great Heroes' from now on. The leader of Mount Tai even said the prescription we gave was truly miraculous! They said we truly deserve to be called heroes! Haha!"

Li Se was dumbfounded. After Liang Gongchang left, Li Se invited the three leaders to the living room for a chat.

The three sat down, and Li Se got straight to the point: "You three are indeed seasoned veterans, quickly figuring out my background. Tell me! What exactly do you want to do with those four lecherous heroes? What do you want me to do before you'll let me go?"

Bu Qing said, "Sir, you're overthinking it. We really want you to become our leader and save and reform our six major sects. As for your four friends, they are all extraordinary talents! We admire them greatly, how could we have any other intentions?"

Li Se said, "Alright, I might as well be frank. These four were originally lecherous thieves, but under my tutelage, they have reformed. They still have several hundred followers." "These men have nowhere to go. Could you three do me a favor and properly settle them, assign someone to supervise them, and help them turn from evil to good? Firstly, this would be a good thing; secondly, if you help me, I will repay you. Except for nominally refusing to become the alliance leader, I will help the six major sects. Tell me! Why do the six major sects insist on my help? What difficulties have you encountered?"

The three exchanged glances. They had spent several days at Li Se's residence, and Li Se was no longer the naive newcomer to the martial world. The three knew they could no longer deceive or force him.

Gu Xuanzhong slowly said, "Since you've said so, sir, we can't hide it anymore. Right now, our six major sects are facing a very difficult situation in the martial world! The Tianlong Gang is powerful, backed by the Prince of Han, and recently wiped out one of our six sects, the Hengshan Sect. The Hengshan Sect's leader, Shen Chongyan, bravely resisted and has heroically sacrificed his life!"

Li Se exclaimed, "A major martial world sect, so easily destroyed? Why hasn't this been mentioned in the martial world?"

Gu Xuanzhong said, "Sir, you are unaware that our six major sects were designated by the imperial court. Back then, Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang personally bestowed upon us the title of the orthodox sects of the martial world and allowed us to operate within our sect's territory..." Locally, a small tax can be levied to maintain the survival and strength of the six sects. It is explicitly stipulated that we can take one-tenth of the imperial tax.

Li Se sighed, "So there are so many secrets involved! Please continue!"

Situ Ming said, "The Tianlong Gang annihilated the Hengshan Sect, and because this violated the old imperial precedent, they naturally refused to make a fuss. As for the remaining five sects, Qi Yue, the leader of the Qingcheng Sect, stayed behind to make arrangements and strengthen defenses against attacks from the Tianlong Gang. The three of us came to the capital hoping to find some way to obtain imperial support to fight against the Tianlong Gang."

Bu Qing said, "But our avenues have been blocked. The imperial court has sent word that the Jianghu..." The court cannot easily intervene in this conflict. The Tianlong Gang, backed by the Prince of Han, has changed the court's attitude towards our six factions. If the Tianlong Gang were to wipe out our five factions, then the entire martial arts world would belong to them, and the Prince of Han would unify the martial arts world. The founding emperor of the Han dynasty also rose from the martial arts world before ascending to the throne. The Prince of Han is following in his footsteps. You, sir, have a deep connection with His Highness the Crown Prince. If you, sir, cannot help us against the Tianlong Gang, it will be difficult to challenge the Prince of Han once he unifies the martial arts world and becomes powerful. You, sir, are a man of great talent; you surely understand this principle. If you, sir, were to assume the position of leader, uniting the various martial arts factions to fight against the Tianlong Gang and assist the Crown Prince, this would be a crucial step. "What a perfect solution!"

Li Se pondered for a long time before saying, "I only understand now. Actually, I have no connection with the Crown Prince, but I know about this matter. Let me consider how to help you. By the way, tell me what you think should be done with those lecherous thieves?"

The three replied, "Don't worry, sir. As long as you are willing to help us, we will definitely try our best to solve their problems."

Li Se said, "That's excellent."

Li Se went out to visit Yang Rong. Although he trusted Yang Shiqi and Xie Jin, he had some connection with Yang Rong, and he hadn't met Yang Rong privately since becoming an official. Logically, he should pay him a visit.

Li Se arrived at the Yang residence, where Yang Rong received him in the living room. Li Se noticed Yang Rong's polite demeanor, devoid of any warm words, and wondered aloud, saying, "Lord Yang, do you perhaps despise my lowly rank and consider me unworthy to pay your respects?"

Yang Rong pondered for a moment, then said sternly, "Since you inquire, I will speak frankly out of consideration for our past relationship. Whether you listen or not is beyond my control."

Li Se said, "Uh? Please speak plainly."

Yang Rong said, "You come from the Jianghu, so naturally you are familiar with killing..." He viewed killing with indifference and admired chivalrous and powerful figures; therefore, it was not surprising that Your Excellency had befriended the Prince of Han. However, the world needs a benevolent ruler. Governing the world is not like martial arts battles, where force is required to resolve problems. Now that the world is at peace, unlike the time when your uncle Daoyan assisted the current emperor in seizing the throne, what is needed now is a benevolent ruler to allow the people to recuperate and live peacefully. If Your Excellency intends to assist the Prince of Han, then we will be enemies from now on, with no further personal ties to maintain!" Yang Rong finished speaking and stood up, flicking his sleeves.

Li Se laughed heartily after hearing this, saying, "Thank you for your guidance, sir. It has enlightened me. Actually, I have no good relationship with the King of Han! You have misunderstood me."

Yang Rong turned around in surprise and said, "Really? You're not lying to me? But Xie Jin told me that you have the intention to assist the King of Han, and that you are a very insightful person with strong opinions that are not easily swayed. He also said that trying to persuade you would be a waste of breath!"

Li Se said, "Lord Xie must have misunderstood. A few days ago, the King of Han invited me to drink. Seeing his cruelty and bloodthirstiness, I realized he was indeed not a good ruler."

Yang Rong said, "Not so. The King of Han is also a great hero, but he is suited to be an emperor in chaotic times. It is not

unusual for emperors to kill without hesitation." Li Se sighed, "What you say is indeed true, sir. But if there is no good emperor who loves his people like his own children, I will retire to the mountains and forests and not get involved in this mess."

Yang Rong laughed, "Then you can't retire into seclusion. Although the current Crown Prince appears foolish, he is kind, benevolent, and quick-witted. He is a rare and excellent emperor." Li

Se said, "Hearing you say that, I'm relieved. So the Crown Prince pleaded with the Emperor not to kill his brother that day because he knew the Emperor wouldn't kill the Prince of Han. I originally thought the Crown Prince was weak!"

Yang Rong said, "You don't understand the Crown Prince. He believes in the dignified Confucian scholarship, doesn't show his true colors through intrigue, and is kind and benevolent in all things, believing that this will eventually influence others. Although these ideas are quite similar to mine, they are somewhat stubborn, only knowing how to forgive and not how to adapt. But if we loyally support the Crown Prince, he will surely become a sage ruler."

Li Se listened with great interest, and the two laughed heartily.

Li Se had originally been unsure whether to support the Crown Prince, but after hearing Yang Rong's words, a weight was lifted from his heart, and he then told Yang Rong about the six major sects.

Yang Rong said, "Tell the Crown Prince about this. Tell him there are ambitious bandits in the martial world plotting against the people and causing great harm. Don't go into details. Then we'll secretly support the Six Sects. The Crown Prince won't make a move against the Prince of Han and the Prince of Zhao. Actually, he's too confident and doesn't believe the Prince of Han can challenge his position." Li Se agreed.

Li Se returned home laden with spoils. Just as he left Yang's residence, Liang Gongchang, covered in blood, appeared beside his carriage, shouting, "Yu Da, hurry! Hurry home! Your wives and brothers like Du Kaixian and Tie Ding have been captured by a strange man. If you're late, he says he'll kill them all!"

Upon hearing this, Li Se didn't have time to think. He immediately mounted his horse and rode home.

On horseback, Li Se adjusted his breathing, getting into peak condition to face the challenge of a peerless master.

It's not uncommon for someone to capture several lecherous thieves in one fell swoop, but to capture all three sect leaders of the family, including Leng Ruxue, a martial arts expert, all by one person, shows just how formidable this person is.

Upon arriving home, Li Se rushed to the back garden upon hearing the commotion. There, he saw a large, noisy crowd gathered in a circle. In the center sat a man calmly on a pavilion, where Gu Xiangjun and the other women, along with three lecherous thieves, lay unconscious.

Seeing Li Se arrive, Wang Laocai grabbed him, saying, "You've finally come! Bao'er was kidnapped here by this man, and we tracked him down. We didn't expect him to capture your wife as well, saying he'd only release Bao'er and the others if you came out to see him. This man is too powerful; you must be careful."

Li Se noticed that many of the people surrounding the group were experts from various sects, including members of the Imperial Guard. The three sect leaders were also making a show of force, shouting and gesturing, but they only came over when they saw Li Se.

Li Se said, "Who is this person? How can you all be so useless? So many of you, and you can't even take him by force?" Bu Qing

smiled bitterly, "Sir, you don't know, we were afraid to push him too far, lest we hurt the hostages he held. If I'm not mistaken, the master of Bihai Manor has arrived!"

Li Se exclaimed, "Bihai Xin?"

The man on the pavilion opened his eyes at the right moment, his eyes shining brightly, and said softly, "Since Lord Li Se has arrived, why don't you dare to come forward?"

Li Se pushed through the crowd and leaped forward, laughing, "So it's Senior Bihai Xin who has arrived. I'm sorry for not welcoming you properly. Since you've come, let's have a drink and make merry. As for if I've offended you in any way, it's not too late to apologize!"

Bihai Xin leaped in front of Li Se, sized him up, and then snorted coldly, "Indeed, a handsome man, no wonder you can wreak havoc on the world. It's a pity you had to provoke me!"

Seeing Bi Haixin's tall stature and piercing eyes, Li Se recalled his teasing of Bi Ning, realizing the matter had been exposed. Li Se said, "Senior, you misunderstand me. Could you release my wife and some of my friends? Let me explain the

whole story, and I will certainly not shirk my responsibility." (Chapter

8, March 2nd) Bi Haixin, the head steward of the Li family

, laughed loudly. Then, he suddenly said coldly, "What a fiend! You have deceived the world, but you cannot deceive me. Today, I, Bi Haixin, will expose your true colors, ruining your reputation. Then, I will finish you off in front of all the heroes of the world, letting you die knowing the truth."

Bi Haixin floated into the pavilion, then changed his tone, pointing at Gu Xiangjun, saying, "This woman is the daughter of the Huashan Sect Leader, yet she willingly follows Li Se." Everyone knows this girl; she's Leng Ruxue, the young lady from the Tianshan Sect. Yet, she shamelessly moves into Li Se's residence. How could this young lady, known as the Jade Maiden of Tianshan, be so shameless if Li Se didn't possess such alluring skills? And then there's Wang Bao'er from the Wang family, who's infatuated with this young master Li. Who in the capital doesn't know? As for these other two women, they are both exceptionally beautiful. But why are they willing to be slaves and concubines, at Li Se's mercy?

Bi Haixin paused, her gaze sweeping across the room, making everyone feel as if they were under a powerful spell, their bodies filled with unease. Bi Haixin said, word by word, "The reason is that Li Se is the infamous lecherous rogue, Flower Butterfly!"

A murmur of astonishment rippled through the crowd. Bi Haixin continued, "That's not all. Flower Butterfly also deceived the court and became an official. If I don't eliminate this monster, who knows how he will wreak havoc on the world in the future?" The other three in the pavilion were the lecherous thieves who had caused chaos in the capital; they were all Li Se's subordinates! Moreover, the Butterfly Sect had gathered in the capital, numbering several hundred. If they were not eliminated, the consequences were self-evident! Butterfly, things had come to this point, and your denials were useless. Why not surrender now, or do you want to suffer my thunderous methods?"

At this moment, Li Se was speechless, unable to utter a single word.

Suddenly, three people rushed out from the crowd, saying, "Master Bi, please hold your hand. There is still a misunderstanding here. Let's wait and talk."

The three were none other than the three sect leaders. Ignoring Bi Haixin, the three pulled Li Se aside and said with an unclear smile, "Sir, don't be afraid. As long as you announce in front of everyone that you are the leader of the six major sects, you will be safe and sound! We will do our best to explain for you and help you." Then, the unclear voice said loudly, "Fellow martial arts practitioners, please listen to Young Master Li's explanation. There is some misunderstanding in what Master Bi said. Please do not believe it for now." Li Se slowly walked up to Bi Haixin and said, "

Indeed, what you said, senior, is somewhat true. Senior is a ruthless killer, renowned throughout the martial world. However, the people in the pavilion are either innocent or my subordinates, so naturally I will bear all the blame. Could you perhaps kill only me and let them go?"

Bi Haixin laughed loudly, "Great! Alright, I'll agree, kid. Make your move!"

Li Se moved swiftly, his arm lightly tapping, and he had already made a move. The three sect leaders beside him were dumbfounded, not understanding why Li Se wouldn't do as they asked and instead wanted to die for nothing.

Bi Haixin and Li Se clashed, and Bi Haixin shouted, "Good lad, no wonder you're not afraid of this old man, your martial arts are indeed formidable." Li

Se focused intently on his battle, remaining silent.

Bi Haixin laughed heartily, his hands never letting up. Each move was powerful and vigorous, unleashing a torrent of energy. His momentum was invincible. Li Se was equally formidable, his moves graceful and natural, his advances and retreats precise and controlled. The two fought to a standstill.

The onlookers watched in stunned silence as the arena raged with a storm of energy, the two figures soaring through the air like gods battling.

At the crucial moment, they suddenly separated. Bi Haixin sighed, "Your martial arts are impressive; I've even felt a pang of pity for you. But this makes it even more difficult to keep you alive. Even I have developed a strong liking for you; is there anyone in the world who can resist your charm?"

"Give me your life!" "Bi Haixin shouted. Instantly, Li Se felt the sky darken and the world turn upside down. His feet trembled violently, and waves of true energy surged towards him like ocean waves. Li Se was shocked and hurriedly circulated his energy to resist. However, it was as if he were in the middle of the ocean, suffering from all kinds of tossing and turning, and his breathing became increasingly difficult.

Li Se made a decisive move, shouted loudly, transformed his palm into a blade, and used all his strength to strike. But it was like a blade cutting through water; the water first parted, then returned to its original state.

Li Se struck three times in a row, but still could not escape this perilous situation. Li Se suddenly clasped his hands together and sat down, concentrating his whole body and mind, and then slashed out like a great blade.

Although the onlookers were now far from the center of the battle, they still felt as if they were beside a rushing torrent, sensing the surging sounds of true energy. The two fighters in the arena were indistinguishable, appearing only as a mass of energy swirling around them.

Suddenly, a flash of light appeared, revealing a massive blade that slashed at the swirling, agitated energy, followed by a deafening roar. The crowd gasped in shock, the timid screaming.

After the explosion, silence slowly returned. The two stood facing each other, Li Se's chest heaving as he gasped for breath. Bi Haixin, proud as a mountain, sighed after a long silence, "You've actually achieved the state of oneness with the blade!

In this world, purely in terms of martial arts, you're probably only the second person I've encountered against whom I can't gain the upper hand. However, your power is insufficient, and your true energy is somewhat impure and beyond your control. You're unlikely to escape from me."

Li Se replied, "I know you haven't yet unleashed your most powerful and awe-inspiring techniques, senior!" "If you truly wish to kill me, senior, I have no chance of escaping your grasp. However, you are a remarkable figure of our time. Can't you discern my origins from the style of my martial arts? If you truly believe the rumors, then I have no recourse, though it would be a pity to tarnish your illustrious reputation."

Bi Haixin listened for a long time before bursting into laughter. Then she said, "Indeed, I know your origins. But I, Bi Haixin, act only according to my own will. You have offended my precious girl, and you deserve to die. Whoever he is, even the Heavenly King himself, if he displeases my daughter, I will make him displeased too. This is your fate!" She was about to attack when

two female voices simultaneously cried out, "No! Please show mercy!"

Two women gracefully flew over and landed in front of Li Se and Bi Haixin. Li Se saw that one of the women had a bright and kind smile; it was none other than the Sword Queen Yang Yingyun, whom she hadn't seen for many days. She couldn't help but call out, "Sister Yang?" Remembering how she had suddenly appeared in the moment of crisis, a warmth filled her heart.

Yang Yingyun smiled gently at Li Se before turning to Bi Haixin. Li Se then turned her gaze to the other woman and was surprised to see that she was Princess Zhu Wushuang. She exclaimed, "Princess?"

Zhu Wushuang snorted coldly and pouted, ignoring Li Se.

At this moment, Yang Yingyun said to Bi Haixin, "Master, you have returned to the martial world, intending to kill, forgetting your old vows. There must be a reason. I am very curious; could you tell me?"

Yang Yingyun's beautiful eyes were bright as she gazed at Bi Haixin, her voice soft and affectionate, like a child pleading with her father.

Bi Haixin gave a wry smile and said to Yang Yingyun, "It's understandable that you're helping this kid; I know a thing or two about it. But this young lady, judging from your amazing movements, are you perhaps a disciple of the Holy Mother of Lishan? What connection do you have with this kid that you're also helping him?"

Zhu Wushuang snorted coldly and said, "This princess will help whomever she wants. Do I need a reason?

This kid is an official of the imperial court. Since I've encountered him today, I will naturally do my best to help him. What's so strange about the manor lord's actions? The manor lord is always carefree and

decisive. When have you ever been so unpleasant?" Bi Haixin laughed loudly for a long time before stopping. "What an interesting day!" he said. Looking around, he turned to Li Se and said, "So many girls have gotten involved with you. I underestimated you! Brother Xue, why are you hiding to the side, silent?"

A man laughed loudly and entered the room with another person, bowing and saying, "Brother Bi, why are you arguing with a junior? Come on, let's have a drink."

Li Se saw that the newcomer was Xue Guandai, holding the hand of a beautiful woman, Xue Yaoguang.

Bi Haixin thought, "Wait a minute. Brother Xue, you're here to help this kid too, right? What kind of magic does this kid possess that even Brother Xue has graced us with his presence? Explain yourself."

Xue Guandai first pointed at Xue Yaoguang, then at Yang Yingyun and Zhu Wushuang, and laughed, "My precious daughter has given her word, how could I disobey? I already said that even if I didn't come, with these two girls here, you wouldn't get away with it, but you were still dragged here. It's good that you're here, it'll be perfect for rescuing you, you devil. Let's go! These girls are too much for us two old folks to handle together, we'd better leave quickly." After saying that, he grabbed Bi Haixin with his left hand and waved his right arm, releasing the pressure points of everyone in the pavilion.

Bi Haixin was completely bewildered and said, "This guy is even more powerful than the legendary lecherous thief, Flower Butterfly. These girls are all high-class people, why do they all like this kid?"

Xue Guandai laughed loudly, but didn't answer, just pulled him away. Suddenly, a woman in the pavilion said, "Senior Bi, did your precious daughter cry to you, saying someone bullied her? Did you coax her for a long time before she told you who bullied her? You ran to the capital before she even finished speaking?"

Bi Haixin sensed something was amiss in her words. She replied, "Yes, you guessed correctly, young lady."

The woman said, "Of course I wouldn't guess wrong! Because your daughter is carrying my elder brother's child. If you weren't so hasty, why would you have gone to such lengths to kill my elder brother!"

These words shocked everyone present. Li Se recognized the speaker as Chu Liuguang; why she would say such a thing was truly perplexing. Li Se was stunned.

Bi Haixin, upon hearing this, was also stunned. It took her a long time to come to her senses. She broke free from Xue Guandai's grasp, but without answering Chu Liuguang's question, she recited aloud: "My master is gone, the pond is no more, the cranes scatter, never to part. The vast blue sky and boundless sea, where do they go amidst the wind and snow? Though their voices and shadows remain across ten thousand miles, our hearts are ultimately one, even in life and death. The pine tree by the pond is broken, its nest destroyed, yet year after year, birds lay their young on its branches." After reciting, Bi Haixin spread her arms, leaped onto the wall,

and flew away like a great bird. Xue Guandai shook his head and also flew away. It took everyone a long time to come to their senses. Old Wang forcibly dragged the extremely unwilling Wang Bao'er away, and the crowd gradually dispersed.

Li Se was extremely embarrassed in front of the women, but upon seeing Yang Yingyun again, she was overjoyed. He said, "Sister Yang, it's been so long! How have you been? I've missed you terribly. It's great to see you again!"

Yang Yingyun glanced at the women's faces and chuckled, "You should clean up your mess first! We'll talk another day!" With that, she chuckled and left.

Li Se was extremely embarrassed. Seeing Zhu Wushuang standing with her back to him, hands behind her back, looking very angry, he smiled apologetically, "Princess, thank you for coming..." But before he could finish speaking, Zhu Wushuang suddenly turned around, glared at Li Se, snorted coldly, and left without looking back. Li Se stood there dumbfounded.

After a while, only Xue Yaoguang remained as a guest, so he couldn't be neglected. Li Se said to Xue Yaoguang, "Miss Xue, how did you know about what happened here and come to help?"

Xue Yaoguang also snorted and ignored Li Se. Li Se wondered how he had offended these girls. Suddenly, he heard someone burst into tears. Li Se went over upon hearing the commotion and saw Liang Gongchang and the other two surrounding Du Kaixian, sighing repeatedly. The one crying was none other than Du Kaixian.

Li Se asked, "Brother Du, why are you crying?" Asking only made Du Kaixian's sobs intensify.

Tie Ding cried out in anguish, "Yu Da, Third Brother… Third Brother has been castrated by that old bastard Bi Haixin. He can no longer have sex!"

Li Se exclaimed in shock, "What?"

Dong Yan said, "Third Brother argued with that Bi Haixin a few times, and he had him cut off."

Li Se sighed, instructing the three to take care of Du Kaixian, and sent someone to fetch the best doctor. At this time, the women dispersed.

Li Se thought, "These four have committed many evils; their punishment serves as a warning."

Li Se returned to his room. Gu Xiangjun, Leng Ruxue, Hua Xiangrong, and Chu Liuguang were all there. Seeing Li Se arrive, the four women smiled secretly.

Li Se looked embarrassed and said to Chu Liuguang, "Sister Chu, why are you teasing me? What, Bi Ning is pregnant... pregnant with my child?"

Chu Liuguang laughed, "Bi Haixin dared to bully us, so I'll teach him a lesson and make his daughter bear the same bad reputation as us! As for you! You're already labeled a lecherous scoundrel anyway. It doesn't matter if you add another charge."

Li Se thought for a moment, remembering that they had all been called Bi Haixin's lovers in front of so many people today, which had indeed ruined their reputations. The three women were one thing, but Chu Liuguang had suffered an injustice, no wonder she wanted to punish Bi Haixin.

Li Se smiled awkwardly, and Leng Ruxue and Hua Xiangrong also made faces at him to embarrass him. Li Se said helplessly, "This is really troublesome today. I have to deal with the aftermath. Don't laugh at me, I'm at my wit's end!"

Hua Xiangrong said, "Hmph! Are you going to try to please your lovers so they won't be angry with you? Although my lord is a bit lecherous, those girls are all so beautiful, no wonder he's attracted to them."

Leng Ruxue said, "What do you know? They're quite formidable! Don't talk nonsense in front of them, or you won't even know how you died. I'm not trying to scare you, I've suffered enough at their hands."

Hua Xiangrong was shocked and quickly pressed for answers. Although Li Se was also very curious, he knew that staying would waste a lot of time, so he took his leave.

Li Se sent someone to inquire, and then went straight to visit Yang Yingyun.

When he arrived at Yang Yingyun's residence, Yang Yingyun saw him. She laughed and said, "What? You finished cleaning up the stall so quickly? You're really impressive! You've improved a lot!"

Li Se said, "Sister knows exactly what happened, yet you keep making fun of me. If you keep doing this, I won't dare to see you again."

Yang Yingyun smiled and offered her a seat, saying, "Alright! I'm not joking anymore. I have serious business to discuss with you! You can't leave now."

Li Se said, "What is it, sister? Just tell me.

" Yang Yingyun said, "You're really quite strange. Why don't you become their leader even though the sect leaders are pressuring you so much?"

Li Se laughed, "Does sister really think I'm stupid? Becoming their so-called leader is just a title without substance; I'd just be their scapegoat. If things get really tough, it'd be useless. In today's situation, if it weren't for your arrival, the three sect leaders would be utterly useless. Could they withstand a single blow from Master Bi?"

Yang Yingyun smiled, "You're right. But you only know one side of the story. Let me explain it to you properly!"

Li Se quickly agreed. Sipping her tea and listening to Yang Yingyun's warm words, she felt very at ease.

Yang Yingyun said, "The six major sects and the Tianlong Gang are irreconcilable enemies in the martial world, and now they've gone from a standoff to war." "You know the Hengshan Sect was wiped out, right?"

Li Se said, "I've heard about it. But what exactly is the entanglement between the Tianlong Gang and the Six Sects? How could the Tianlong Gang, with its own strength, be stronger than the Six Sects? I don't know the reason."

Yang Yingyun said, "That's not surprising. Bai Xiaotian, the leader of the Tianlong Gang, is a remarkable person. He founded the Tianlong Sect, taking it upon himself to eliminate evil people. Heroes from all over the world followed him, and later his power grew stronger and stronger. Leader Bai is a man of great talent and strategy, and he governs well, which led to his current status as the number one gang in the martial arts world. This was all due to the circumstances."

Li Se asked curiously, "What do you mean by the circumstances?"

Yang Yingyun said, "After the founding emperor gained the world, in order to deal with the infamous Demonic Sect in the martial arts world, he came up with an idea. He decreed that the current Six Sects could collect a certain amount of tax in their territories to increase the power of the Six Sects and eliminate the Demonic Sect, which was then in charge of the martial arts world." Later, the Demonic Cult disappeared. Without an opponent, the other five of the six major sects, except for Shaolin, grew increasingly numerous and extravagant, leading to a growing shortage of tax revenue. Desperate, the six sects cleverly used various pretexts to increase taxes. This caused widespread resentment among the people, further damaging the sects' reputation. Eventually, the sects simply stopped caring about their reputation. This cycle continued, and the six sects became infamous throughout the martial arts world.

Li Se sighed, "So that's how it is. I thought that since the six sects were supposed to be righteous sects, they wouldn't be so absurd!"

Yang Yingyun laughed, "Have you never heard the saying 'officials and bandits are one family'? Even the government is becoming increasingly corrupt, let alone the sects in the martial arts world!"

Li Se said, "I understand. With the six major sects having such a bad reputation, naturally anyone with some ability and backbone would side with a sect that dared to oppose them. This made the Heavenly Dragon Gang increasingly powerful and stronger. Isn't that right?"

Yang Yingyun said, "That's indeed the case." I heard there's a swordsman in the martial world who specializes in challenging masters from various sects, all to hone his swordsmanship. He first visited Mount Hua and Mount Tai, but was turned away both times, told he was unaffiliated and had no standing in the martial world. After hearing this, I tracked him down to Mount Heng, but I was too late and missed him. In a fit of anger, he joined the Heavenly Dragon Gang. Initially, the six major sects had the support of the imperial court. Despite their power, the Heavenly Dragon Gang dared not do anything. Now, however, the Heavenly Dragon Gang has found a way in through the Prince of Han's influence and has begun to act!"

Li Se said, "Since the six major sects are so hateful, why not let the Heavenly Dragon Gang wipe them out?"

Yang Yingyun laughed, "How could you be so heartless? Don't you care about your wife, Gu Xiangjun? The Mount Hua sect is her maternal home."

Li Se blushed and said, "For the greater good, I naturally cannot consider my own selfish interests."

Yang Yingyun laughed, "You! You're still hiding something from me." "Although the Six Sects are wrong, we can't let them be wiped out by the Tianlong Gang and allow the Tianlong Gang to unify the martial world. If that happens, the Tianlong Gang will have no checks and balances and will slowly turn bad. That's on a small scale. On a larger scale, if they support the Prince of Han in seizing the throne, then the world will be in chaos."

Li Se said, "Sister, tell me! What do you want me to do?"

Yang Yingyun said, "I want you to become the leader of the Six Sects, to reorganize the six major sects, and to restore peace and tranquility to the martial world."

After bidding farewell to Yang Yingyun, Li Se thought for a moment and then went to the palace to request an audience with Princess Zhu Wushuang. After waiting for a long time, word came from the palace that the princess was not available, and Li Se had no choice but to return home.

Li Se walked to the center of the street. Suddenly, he heard someone call out, "Would you like to accompany me to the Eight Immortals Restaurant for a meal?"

Li Se turned around and saw that it was Zhu Wushuang, disguised as a man, and he was overjoyed. Just as he was about to say something, Zhu Wushuang tugged at his sleeve and said, "Don't stand on the street, let's eat and talk."

The two arrived at the Eight Immortals Restaurant, where they ordered food and wine. Li Se said, "I am very grateful for the princess's righteous rescue today, but I also feel guilty. I truly don't know how to face the damage to the princess's reputation." Zhu

Wushuang stared at Li Se and said, "I have been cultivating with my master since childhood, and I have no intention of marrying in this life. I don't care about worldly reputation."

Li Se listened with great interest and said happily, "The princess's idea is brilliant! To be able to break free from the shackles of mortal life is true freedom! Please, princess, cultivate diligently. The princess is naturally intelligent and will surely achieve extraordinary cultivation."

Zhu Wushuang said, "Is that so? Thank you for your encouragement. To be honest, I thought you would definitely advise me against cultivating Taoism!"

Li Se asked in surprise, "How could that be? Cultivating Taoism is a good thing! I am not a foolish woman!"

Zhu Wushuang sneered, "You have indeed had the idea of becoming an immortal since childhood, but you have changed now, becoming greedy for the glory, wealth, and beauty of the mortal world." "I thought you would also persuade me to enjoy these worldly delicacies!"

Li Se sighed. "I have no choice! I also want to cultivate freely and unrestrainedly, but now that I'm trapped in the mortal world, I can only take this path of cultivation within the mortal realm."

Zhu Wushuang sneered, "Is that so? Alright! Let's not talk about this anymore. Tell me, are we friends?"

Li Se said, "If the princess doesn't mind my lowly status, then of course I consider the princess a friend."

Zhu Wushuang said, "Fine, then let me ask you. I built a grand courtyard for you in Zhenshan. But you left without a word. That's fine, but my father was in danger, why didn't you tell me? You are truly greedy and shameless. Are you afraid I'll take away your credit?"

Seeing that Zhu Wushuang was truly angry, Li Se quickly said, "Princess, you misunderstand. We were afraid that the princess would get involved in the palace intrigues, caught in the middle and unable to find a good place. The princess is pure and innocent; it's best not to touch these filthy things."

Zhu Wushuang was initially furious, intending to teach Li Se a lesson, but seeing that Li Se's words made sense, she refrained from anger. After a moment of silence, she suddenly turned around and angrily said, "It's all your fault! You keep saying you're doing this for my own good, yet you bully me at every turn!" Li

Se was surprised to see Zhu Wushuang, who was usually a dignified and composed lady, suddenly acting like a child. She couldn't ignore it, and a headache started to run down her spine. She softened her voice and carefully said, "Princess...it was my fault. Please don't be angry, don't hurt your precious health. If you're happy, I'll do anything."

Zhu Wushuang turned around like a whirlwind and smiled, "Really? You said it yourself."

Seeing Zhu Wushuang's expression, Li Se secretly regretted her actions. She gritted her teeth and said, "I said it. Princess, give the order!"

Zhu Wushuang thought for a moment and said, "Alright, tell me everything about you and Yang Yingyun in detail."

Bi Haixin's outburst at Li Se's residence was common knowledge in the capital. Everyone knew that Li Se had entanglements with numerous beauties. His unclear relationships with the talented daughter of the Xue family and the beloved daughter of the Wang family were already astonishing enough, but then came the Sword Queen of the martial arts world, and the fact that the matter even involved a princess—truly astonishing. Officials in the court were all very interested, and all sorts of rumors spread throughout the capital. The most widespread rumor was naturally that Li Se was a notorious lecherous rogue, the "Flower Butterfly," which explained why he had bewitched so many beauties.

On this day, Li Se was summoned to the palace by the Yongle Emperor. The Emperor said, "You're quite the celebrity in the capital now; rumors about you are everywhere!"

Li Se smiled bitterly, "Even Your Majesty knows about my shameful deeds. I'm truly ashamed! I've greatly disgraced the court; please, Your Majesty, punish me and strip me of my official position!"

Zhu Di laughed, "You've got your own schemes, not wanting to serve me, but instead choosing to live a life of leisure. Don't worry, I know you; I won't misunderstand you like those fools outside. A young man being a bit of a playboy is nothing. I was quite the playboy when I was young! Haha!"

Li Se smiled obsequiously, "How dare I compare myself to Your Majesty!"

Zhu Di said, "I don't want to know anything else, but I've heard you have some connection with Wushuang. What's going on? That girl has a terrible temper; if she's interested in you, it would fulfill one of my wishes." Zhu Di stroked his beard and smiled.

Li Se said, "The princess and I are at most friends. I am grateful that she does not despise my humble status and we sometimes exchange a few words. The princess is of noble birth; how could she possibly take a liking to a lowly person like me? The rumors circulating outside are mostly fabrications. Please do not believe them, Your Majesty."

Zhu Di simply smiled and remained silent. Feeling guilty, Li Se took his leave.

Li Se returned to his residence and went to visit Du Kaixian. The other three lecherous scoundrels were with Du Kaixian. Upon seeing Li Se, Liang Gongchang said, "Yu Da, the third brother's injuries will never heal! He cries and threatens to kill himself all day long."

Li Se said, "I will go and persuade him!"

Li Se lifted the curtain and went to Du Kaixian's bedside. Upon seeing him, Du Kaixian cried, "Master, please have mercy and tell them to stop guarding me. Let me kill myself!" Saying this, he threw himself on Li Se's shoulder and wept bitterly.

Just as Li Se was feeling helpless, she suddenly heard someone behind her say, "What a coward! You think you can die from a little injury? If you die, who will play with me?"

Li Se turned around and saw that it was Wang Bao'er who spoke, with Hua Xiangrong behind her, winking and smiling at Li Se.

Wang Bao'er walked to the bedside and said, "Don't think about dying! There are plenty of eunuchs in the palace, and I haven't seen any of them want to die. They're all living well!"

Li Se was dumbfounded, never expecting that the naive Wang Bao'er knew so much.

Du Kaixian cried, "But...but I can't be a lecher anymore! What else can I do? Should I become a eunuch in the palace?"

Wang Bao'er said, "You can stay with me!"

Hua Xiangrong chimed in, "Yes! Our lord has so many wives, and they're all maids. There's no one strong enough. We need a eunuch like you to serve him!"

Li Se suddenly understood and hurriedly said, "Right, right. I'm lacking a steward! There's no suitable candidate other than you. Look how beautiful my wives are, I don't trust anyone else to be the steward. But you, Third Brother, are the most loyal and intelligent, and you're already a eunuch. Wouldn't it be perfect for you to be my steward? Do you think it's shameful to be my steward?"

Wang Bao'er said, "A steward is very important! When my eldest brother has children in the future, you can discipline them and be their wet nurse. If they misbehave, you can spank them! Wow, Du Mazi, you're amazing! You're so useful."

Du Kaixian stopped crying and started laughing. "Really? Then I won't die. But..." Du Kaixian frowned.

Li Se said, "But what? Tell me quickly, would your sect leader make things difficult for you? What do you want? Just say it."

Du Kaixian muttered, "But you have to take all those pretty girls as your wives. I won't talk about Bao'er! That Yang sister of yours, the little girl from the Xue family, um... and the princess is also very pretty, you have to take them all as your wives, so that I can have status when I serve them! So many beauties, all the most beautiful beauties in the martial arts world, I can see them every day, how prestigious that is! From today onwards, I will be the head steward of the Li family. Haha! Wow! Such a wonderful job, I should have castrated myself!"

Wang Bao'er said shyly, "Don't talk nonsense, I won't be my brother's wife!"

Hua Xiangrong teased, "If you won't be, who will?"

Wang Bao'er was shy and turned to run away. Hua Xiangrong chased after her, but the two women disappeared in the blink of an eye, leaving Li Se still looking bewildered.

Li Se left Du Kaixian's place to find the three sect leaders. Upon entering, he found them arguing in the room.

Li Se said, "I finished reading 'Four Downwards' and now I'm here to see 'Three Downwards'!"

The three leaders quickly offered him seats. Li Se said, "Elder Brother, I've told you about those hundreds of lecherous thieves. Have you thought about what to do with them? Why not let them join your Shaolin sect and become monks, so they won't commit any more evil?" Uncle Bu

said with a bitter face, "No, no. This old monk can't afford to support them. Our Shaolin sect only eats vegetables and tofu every day, and we're already struggling to survive! I think we should ask the Huashan and Taishan sects if that's possible."

Gu Xuanzhong immediately said, "No, no. Our Huashan sect has many disciples, and everyone needs to eat. If it weren't for our difficult circumstances, we would have thought of..." "Why not try to open a money exchange in Hangzhou and do some business?"

Situ Ming said, "Yes! We earn a lot, but our expenses are also high. Our small Taishan Sect can't accommodate so many people." Then he smiled obsequiously, "Besides, these people are all your trusted confidants, sir. We can't just give them vegetables and tofu, can we? That would be embarrassing for you!"

Li Se said with a livid face, "So, you have no other way?"

Bu Qing said, "We have a way."

Li Se said, "What way?"

The three of them said in unison, " "Open a pharmacy!"

Chapter Nine: A Battle of Brilliance.

Seeing the three men speaking strangely, Li Se asked, "There are so many pharmacies in the world, why open one? Is it a sure thing? Besides, these people are either lecherous thieves or bandits; you want them to open a pharmacy? You three are really crazy!"

Gu Xuanzhong smiled mysteriously and said, "Sir, you don't know! Our pharmacy is called Huichun Hall. See how good the name is!"

Li Se almost laughed out loud, saying, "A good name can make money? Besides, there are so many pharmacies in the world with that name..." "There are plenty of pharmacies out there, you! Wake up! Stop dreaming!"

Situ Ming chuckled, "Sir! Don't worry! We'll definitely make money, because we've got the prescriptions from those four extraordinary heroes, they're all rare and precious! Besides, even if they don't work, we still have you, sir! Just give us a few prescriptions, and we can make a fortune!"

Li Se exclaimed, "You mean...?"

Bu Qing smiled and said, "That's right! Sir, what do you think of these prescriptions?" He then handed over a list.

Li Se saw the following:

"Three-Seed Pill Formula: Cuscuta seed, Cnidium fruit, and Schisandra fruit, equal parts.

Preparation and usage: Grind into a fine powder, mix with wine paste to form pills the size of mung beans. Take three pills two to three times daily on an empty stomach with warm yellow wine.

Function: Warms the kidneys and strengthens yang, ensuring prolonged combat effectiveness.

Unyielding Pill Formula: Prepared black aconite root 6 grams, Cnidium fruit 15 grams, Epimedium 15 grams, Alpinia oxyphylla 10 grams, and licorice root 6 grams.

Preparation and usage: Grind into powder, mix with honey to form pills. Take twice daily with warm water.

Function: Warms the kidneys and strengthens yang ."

...

Li Se finished reading the dozen or so prescriptions and remained silent, deep in thought. In the past, Li Se would have strongly opposed it, but his understanding had changed; he

carefully considered the pros and cons. He tentatively said, "Sir! Although these pharmacies may seem unrefined to worldly people, we know that your prescriptions are actually beneficial to some commoners. We haven't harmed anyone or done anything immoral."

Situ Ming said, "That's right! That's right! These medicines are indeed very good! I..." Suddenly realizing something, he quickly stopped speaking

. Li Se's mind raced; he immediately thought of the butterfly and seemed to understand something. He resolutely said, "Don't say anything more. Regardless of what others think or say, you immediately set about these matters. Have these individuals operate these shops in various places. However, find some capable people to help them. I will handle the rest; you just need to find more good helpers." The three were overjoyed.

Li Se stepped out of the mansion and strolled along. He recalled his uncle Daoyan's words about the Flower Butterfly, how he had hidden himself among the people and spoke of the passing down of the torch. Li Se instantly understood that the Flower Butterfly had foreseen that he would inherit the mantle of the Butterfly Sect, which was why he died in peace. Even the possessions of a lecherous villain contain good things, things beneficial to the world. He left him to choose. He sought out a so-called righteous person who vehemently hated him so that he could pass on the useful, essential things he left behind. Li Se suddenly understood everything and just wanted to laugh out loud.

Li Se arrived at the Xue family home to pay his respects to Xue Yaoguang. He waited for a long time in the living room before a maidservant reported, "Young Master, my young lady has something to attend to and cannot see you today!"

Li Se had no choice but to turn and leave when he suddenly heard a loud laugh. Then Xue Guandai came over, pulling Li Se along, saying, "Shaoqing, don't be hasty. This girl is angry with you. Come, I'll take you to see her. This is your first time at my house. If you're turned away and never come again, I'll be the one who suffers! If this girl wants to see you again, where will I find you?"

Without further ado, Li Se was dragged by Xue Guandai to Xue Yaoguang's boudoir. Xue Guandai pushed Li Se inside and then closed the door.

Xue Yaoguang was staring blankly at her dressing table. Startled, she scolded, "Father, what are you doing! Why are you meddling in your daughter's affairs!"

Xue Guan laughed heartily, saying, "I won't interfere? In the end, you'll still be begging your father for help, crying and pleading. I can't wait until things get out of control before stepping in. I'll help you achieve your wish now! Don't I know what you're thinking?" With that, he left.

Xue Yaoguang sat down in a huff, ignoring Li Se.

Seeing Xue Yaoguang's back to him, Li Se didn't dare speak and didn't know what to do, so he could only stare blankly.

After a long while, Xue Yaoguang finally scolded, "What are you doing here? All this talk of Miss Chu, Sister Yang, and Princess! Aren't you tired of it all?"

Li Se replied, "Ah! I've come to ask you for a favor. Only you, with your exceptional intelligence and gentle heart, can help me. Everyone in the capital knows you're a famous talented woman and a master businesswoman! If there were someone as clever as you, I wouldn't dare trouble you!"

Xue Yaoguang laughed, "Come on! When you needed me, you showered me with compliments, but why didn't you come sooner? Now that you need me, you're trying to curry favor, but it's too late!"

Li Se said, "Alright, then I'll be going. I just remembered, you're an expert in business, but you really can't be involved in my business. Miss Xue, I considered you a friend, so I came here rashly without thinking too much about it." Li Se finished speaking, bowed, and left; Xue Yaoguang couldn't stop her.

Li Se returned home and told Gu Xiangjun about opening the pharmacy, saying, "Miss Xue is, after all, a young lady; she can't participate in this kind of business. You can ask her for advice discreetly if you have any questions. I was careless and almost told her directly; she's a young lady, she would definitely have beaten me up."

Gu Xiangjun laughed, "What's there to hide? Aren't you very close to her?"

Li Se said, "Don't tease me. According to the rumors, all the beautiful girls are very close to me."

As the two were talking, Wang Bao'er and Hua Xiangrong, having heard about the pharmacy opening, arrived. Hua Xiangrong said, "Great! Great! If we open a pharmacy, I'll finally have a chance to use my skills. I know where to find rare herbs; if I gather them and sell them, they'll definitely be worth a lot. Didn't you say that money should be earned honestly? This time, I'll gather herbs to sell, is that alright?"

Wang Bao'er said, "Then take me with you, sister! Anyway, I have nothing to do and I'm very bored!" Wang Bao'er and Hua Xiangrong were very close; the two women were the best of friends. Both women were simple-minded and straightforward, without any ulterior motives, which is why they hit it off.

Li Se nodded and said, "That's wonderful, you're both really good girls!"

The two women were delighted to hear the praise.

Li Se was preparing to open a pharmacy, but remembering that these lecherous thieves were no pushovers in the past, he decided to teach them a lesson. So he first went to find the Four Great Heroes and asked them to help persuade them.

Du Kaixian's injuries had healed, so he gave him specific instructions on how to speak.

After Li Se finished his preparations, he set a date and hosted a banquet for the lecherous thieves.

After everyone had eaten and drunk their fill, Li Se said, "Brothers, I want to do something great, and I appreciate your support. But as you all know, to achieve great things, your old ways won't cut it. I hope you won't do what you did before, and that you'll follow me to build something great." Everyone responded with a resounding "Yes!"

Li Se said, "To do things better, we need to calm down and change our appearance. I've decided to establish a new gang and set new rules that everyone must abide by. Otherwise, everything will be dealt with according to the gang rules!" The crowd buzzed with discussion, curious about what kind of gang it was.

Li Se looked around and waited for everyone to quiet down before saying, "The gang we're establishing is called the 'Strict Gang.' As the name suggests, it has strict rules. Everything must be strictly enforced. No one is allowed to violate the rules or do anything immoral."

Li Se then read out the gang rules one by one.

Everyone present was a former thief, and upon hearing the rules, they all yawned repeatedly.

After Li Se finished reading, he said, "Everyone, hold on a minute. Please let the Chief Enforcement Officer, Master Du Kaixian, speak to us."

The crowd was very close to Du Kaixian and often joked around. Although Li Se had spoken, they couldn't very well boo, so they only clapped sparsely.

Du Kaixian shouted, "I am Du Kaixian, and from now on I will be your chief law enforcement officer!"

Some people jeering, "Alright! Aren't you Du Laosan, Du Mazi? Everyone knows you, hurry up and say your name!"

Amidst the laughter, Du Kaixian said, "Brothers! Don't follow the gang rules the leader just mentioned! You can do whatever you want, like burning, killing, robbing, raping, and setting fires. At most, the gang rules will punish you, and I'll cut off your little penises. But what's the big deal? After cutting off your little penises, there are many benefits!

I'm short of men to help me! Then you can all come and help me! You don't know, do you? I'm now the chief steward of the gang leader's house. I can come and go in the inner chambers every day. The gang leader's wives are all beautiful, and I can look at them every day. What an honor! I can enjoy the same visual feast as the gang leader!"

Someone shouted, "Without that thing, how will we pee!" Du Kaixian jumped onto the table and shouted, "Why can't I pee? I'll pee right now and show you! "

Chaos erupted at the banquet. Li Se, seeing Du Kaixian's disorganized behavior and his deviation from his pre-arranged instructions—though absurd, surprisingly effective—was pleased, knowing it would prevent these people from doing anything wrong again. Knowing Liang Gongchang was shrewd, he instructed Liang Gongchang to clean up the mess and manage the situation before leaving.

Li Se returned to his inner room, where only Gu Xiangjun was present. Li Se smiled and said, "It's rare to be so quiet. Where are they?"

Gu Xiangjun said, "Bao'er and Hua Meimei went to play. Xiaoxue has also been very busy lately, after all, she has to manage the affairs of the Tianshan Sect. The situation in the martial arts world is very chaotic right now, as you know. You want to see them, don't you? Then go find them!"

Li Se laughed, "Don't tease me. Haven't I suffered enough from their pestering? It's rare that they're all away, I'm overjoyed! By the way, the six major sects also collect some taxes, so why didn't anyone come to collect them when you opened your tavern?"

Gu Xiangjun lowered her head and said, "The people of the Huashan Sect all know me, so naturally they didn't want to come. They also told the government officials not to come either, otherwise, our shop was small and the profits were meager, and we would have had a hard time making ends meet."

Li Se sighed, "I see, we benefited so much from their generosity. Life was very hard back then! It shows how difficult life was for ordinary people." It was so difficult. Anyway, I still received a favor from the Huashan Sect.

Gu Xiangjun said, "Yes! You know that. I didn't dare to say it originally, but my father always bothers me and asks you to help them. If you have a way, please help! You are so capable now, you can ignore everything else, but you can protect the Huashan Sect, right?"

Li Se smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will protect all six major sects."

Gu Xiangjun said in surprise, "Really? So you want to be the leader? Or is there another way?"

Li Se said, "Oh my! My dear wife has spoken, how can I not listen? I will be the leader!" He thought that if he listened to Sister Yang's suggestion to reform the six major sects, he could also do a favor and make Xiangjun happy.

Gu Xiangjun smiled and happily threw herself into Li Se's arms.

(33) Gu Xiangjun took office as the leader and devoted herself

to the two of them stripped naked and went to bed. Gu Xiangjun held the giant rod on top and aimed the glans at her tender clam.

Gu Xiangjun was overjoyed to see her face bloom like a flower. She shifted her hips on top of the man, her plump, soft vulva taking his hot, hard penis into her mouth. She looked at the man's handsome face, bit her red lips, and slowly sat down. After swallowing his penis, she lifted her leg and turned around, her back to Li Se...

Her vagina gripped his penis and rotated half a circle. Li Se felt a sudden surge of pleasure, his soul melting. He whispered, "Xiang'er..."

Gu Xiangjun turned around and gently touched the man's lips with a finger, softly saying, "Don't speak, just enjoy it."

Her slender, shapely body swayed gently and alluringly, her appearance charming and seductive. She only wanted to thank the man beneath her for his kindness.

Li Se was dumbfounded and overwhelmed. He had never seen Gu Xiangjun with such charm before. Her swaying, undulating buttocks, her small hole holding his large penis, and her delicate chrysanthemum opening and closing were all right in front of him. He could feel her using her flower core to touch his glans, soft, smooth, and tenderly rubbing and kneading it. He felt a wave of numbness and weakness wash over him. After only a few dozen thrusts, he felt an urge to ejaculate. Fortunately, his internal energy cultivation was almost at its peak, and he immediately reacted, tightly locking his vital energy gate.

Gu Xiangjun rose and fell, twirling left and right. Her hair, which had been styled in a cloud-like pattern, had somehow come loose. She tried to hold it up with one hand, but after a long while, her back ached and her arms were weak, so she had to let it fall loose. Her flowing hair covered half her pretty face, making her appear even more alluring. Seeing the man below staring intently, she felt embarrassed and whimpered, "I can't care about anything else right now, don't look."

Li Se, however, found this beauty beautiful in every way, his eyes glazed over, and exclaimed, "Xiang'er is truly a fairy descended to earth!"

Seeing his pleasure, Gu Xiangjun relaxed. Her pretty face flushed, she bit her lip and, enduring the tingling sensation, rubbed her tender flower against the man's head a few more times.

Li Se was deeply moved. Suddenly, he sat up, causing the beauty to cry out. Her delicate body fell off the man, timidly sprawling on the quilt. Li Se chased after her, his iron rod disappearing into her flower chamber.

Gu Xiangjun felt a sharp, tingling pain from the impact, her soul almost leaving her body. The man, however, relentlessly pursued her, his rod piercing her sore spot, making the pain unbearable. Her juices flowed like a spring, soaking the man's legs. She could only clench her teeth tightly around the quilt, utterly unable to resist.

Li Se lifted Gu Xiangjun's two fair, pink legs, placing them on his shoulders, and thrust deeply again and again. He felt that her tender flower core seemed much more swollen than before, incredibly smooth and slippery. His kisses and sucking made his glans feel indescribably good, and his own passion burned like fire.

Gu Xiangjun felt as if she were drinking fine wine; the urge to ejaculate grew stronger and stronger. Her white feet, resting on the man's shoulders, stood straight, trembling incessantly.

Li Se watched his large penis thrusting in and out of Gu Xiangjun's body, feeling an urgency. Suddenly, he extended a finger and touched the delicate, perky clitoris inside Gu Xiangjun's vulva, groaning, "Xiang'er, would you like to touch this flower bud for me to see?"

Gu Xiangjun's face flushed red, and after biting her lip and pondering for a moment, she said, "You've played with my insides and out, seen everything, what else can't I have?"

She then peeled back the inner and outer labia with one hand and rubbed the clitoris with her fingers with the other, her eyes filled with amorous allure as she watched the man admire her masturbation.

Li Se was overjoyed, his eyes glazed over as he gazed at the woman's tender vulva. He saw Gu Xiangjun kneading the small, erect clitoris into various shapes with her fingers, sometimes pinching, sometimes stroking, sometimes shaking, sometimes trembling, and his heart pounded wildly. Suddenly, he saw a large gush of nectar clearly gushing out from the vulva he had inserted, and he couldn't help but let out a muffled groan.

Seeing the man's expression, Gu Xiangjun convulsed, feeling her clitoris numb from his touch, her eyes itching unbearably. She suddenly brought her slender finger, glistening with nectar, to his lips, her beautiful eyes watery, and asked, "Husband, do you want some?"

Li Se had never seen Gu Xiangjun so wanton, and was deeply moved, calling out, "Little vixen."

He took her finger into his mouth, licking it gently with his tongue.

As Li Se sucked on her right finger, Gu Xiangjun continued to caress her clitoris with her left hand, rubbing faster and faster. Li Se's penis moved in rhythm, thrusting deeper and deeper. When the glans reached her open clitoris, Gu Xiangjun felt it gripping it tightly. She began to move her penis, trembling with a tingling pleasure, while the heat within her clitoris gave Li Se an unparalleled comfort.

Li Se's penis tip penetrated slightly into Gu Xiangjun's flower core, and he felt as if a small mouth was sucking on his glans. When Li Se paused for a moment and then quickly withdrew, a "pop" sound was heard.

When Li Se thrust in again quickly and forcefully, the entire glans could be inserted into the flower core, which tightly gripped the neck groove of the glans, the soft walls of the flower core holding the glans tightly.

Gu Xiangjun felt extremely comfortable, sitting on it, rocking and rotating, experiencing one orgasm after another, convulsing to the point of ecstasy, screaming incessantly, her beautiful eyes suddenly rolling back, and she moaned, "I'm coming..." She

couldn't continue speaking, her body trembling violently, the plump glans deep inside her jade palace quivering and jumping wildly, suddenly spitting out several streams of thick, viscous flower fluid.

Li Se felt his bones go numb from the intensely numbing fluid flowing from her, feeling his massive glans pressing against the soft flesh inside her, creating a concave shape. He could no longer suppress his urge to ejaculate, and his glans thrust hard against the tenderest part of her vulva. In an instant, an overwhelming wave of pleasure surged through his body. With a muffled groan, drops of his already boiling semen shot out from his urethra.

Gu Xiangjun's limbs were wrapped tightly around the man, her delicate body tensing and relaxing, her liver trembling. She cried out incoherently, her words muffled. Li Se, while thrusting into her and ejaculating fiercely, lowered his head and brought his ear close to her mouth, only vaguely hearing a sentence that sounded like, "I'm going to die."

Li Se was now in a state of ecstasy, still relentlessly thrusting into the jade-like woman's tender core, ejaculating intensely for a long time before finally gradually ceasing.

Meanwhile, Xue Yaoguang, having been inexplicably harassed by Li Se, was puzzled. She thought this lecherous scoundrel was deliberately teasing her and wanted to ignore him, but her curiosity was piqued. One day, unable to resist, she went to Li Se's residence to investigate. When

Xue Yaoguang arrived at Li Se's house, she saw Chu Liuguang, Leng Ruxue, and several other women there. Gu Xiangjun ordered wine and dishes to be laid out, and the group ate and chatted.

The group of women together naturally created a lively atmosphere. Xue Yaoguang noticed that while all the women were beautiful, only Chu Liuguang was not only beautiful but also exceptionally intelligent, making her her greatest rival. Furthermore, Chu Liuguang was favored by the Emperor for her service, which fueled Xue

Yaoguang's jealousy. As the women chatted merrily, Xue Yaoguang said, "Sister Chu is not only beautiful but also favored by the Emperor, treated like a princess—truly a glamorous life! Moreover, you are intelligent and capable, far superior to us useless maids!"

Xue Yaoguang's words were intended to sow discord between Chu Liuguang and the other women. Chu Liuguang, being incredibly astute, understood this perfectly and sighed, "What you say is all in the past! Even if I were a thousand times better than you, it wouldn't matter to me! I was severely injured, and although I have recovered, I am extremely weak, weaker than an ordinary person. Forget about the life of a typical woman devoted to her husband and children; I probably can't even get married!" She then wiped away tears.

These words shocked the women, who felt great sympathy for her. Hua Xiangrong wiped away her tears, saying, "It's all my fault for being useless; I couldn't help my sister recover."

Chu Liuguang said, "Sister, please don't say that. I know how kind you are to me. If I can live a few more years, I will definitely serve you like a slave to repay your kindness."

The women quickly comforted her, and Xue Yaoguang also felt a pang of regret. Her past resentment and jealousy had long since vanished, and she also gently comforted her.

The banquet was thus shrouded in a tragic atmosphere. The girls were all soft-hearted and compassionate. They found common ground and gradually chatted amiably. What had been a constant struggle between them now deepened their friendship.

After the banquet, Chu Liuguang, feeling weak, was helped to rest by Wang Bao'er, Leng Ruxue, and Hua Xiangrong. Gu Xiangjun pulled Xue Yaoguang aside to talk.

Xue Yaoguang said, "Sister, Brother Li came to my house a few days ago, saying he had some business to ask for my help with, but then he ran away without saying anything. What happened?"

Gu Xiangjun smiled but remained silent for a while before saying, "To be honest, he's not doing any legitimate business. At first, he forgot that it wasn't appropriate for you, but he only remembered when he got to your house. He couldn't bring himself to say it, so he left!"

Xue Yaoguang laughed and said, "Sister, you're wrong. You don't understand the ways of business. Is there any business in the world that isn't legitimate? All businesses are for the good of the people! Even some illegal businesses, like selling smuggled salt or running brothels, are ostensibly against the law, but as long as you have the government backing you up, everything becomes legal. The key is whether you have the ability to make the business bigger and better and earn more money."

Gu Xiangjun said, "Since you say so, then I'll tell you!" Gu Xiangjun told Xue Yaoguang about selling aphrodisiacs.

Xue Yaoguang blushed and said, "This guy actually came up with this idea. Although it's quite indecent, it can definitely make money! However, no one has done this business before; it's a very niche market. We need to plan it carefully."

Gu Xiangjun said, "Then I'll ask you to help with this matter. I'll definitely reward you handsomely."

Xue Yaoguang laughed and said, "Alright, leave it to me. Why are you being so polite with me, sister? Leave this to me, and I guarantee you'll be satisfied."

After Daoyan left the mortal world, Zhu Di became restless and gradually distanced himself from politics. Instead, he became obsessed with the Dao, seeking out alchemists and extraordinary people everywhere to pursue the Dao. Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong's advice was useless, and they were even rebuked: "You two have low cultivation levels and cannot impart the method of immortality to me. Do you want to stop others? Do you not want me to live a few more years?"

Seeing the emperor's stern words, Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong dared not advise him anymore and could only ask Yang Rong, Yang Shiqi, and others to advise him.

Zhu Di, annoyed by the constant nagging, simply appointed the Crown Prince to temporarily manage state affairs while he himself went off to practice alchemy and Taoist cultivation with the sorcerers and priests. He also issued a decree that anyone who dared to offer further advice would be executed without mercy. The ministers dared not disobey and had no choice but to let him go.

Xie Jin said to Yang Shiqi, "Isn't Your Majesty's action a descent into demonic ways? I must fulfill my duty as a subject and dissuade Your Majesty."

Yang Shiqi replied, "Absolutely not! We have a close personal relationship, which is why I speak frankly. Your Majesty is old, and his memory is... not good; he is easily angered. If you defy the Emperor's will, you may be in mortal danger."

Xie Jin knew that Yang Shiqi was referring to the Emperor's senility and bad temper, urging him not to take the risk, and smiled, "Don't worry, sir, I have a plan."

Yang Shiqi had no choice but to say, "Then please let me see your memorial! Don't say anything that might offend the Emperor."

Yang Shiqi took the memorial and saw that it read: "I have heard that Your Majesty has decreed that the Crown Prince will oversee the country, allowing him to temporarily cultivate himself. This is merely a matter of believing the words of alchemists and using it as a means of self-care. Even Yao and Shun possessed this nature, and Tang and Wu practiced it. It's not that they didn't know that cultivation could lead to immortality, but it is not easily attained." Also. It's not easy to get, so you don't learn. How can there be no immortals in the world of Yao and Shun?

Yao and Shun were so hasty that they didn’t know how to learn? Confucius said that Lao Tzu is like a dragon, and a dragon is an immortal. Confucius does not know that Lao Tzu is an immortal and cannot be learned

from it. How can it be easy to learn from it? When the ministers heard the emperor's order, they were shocked and horrified at first, and then moved and sad. The sincerity of dogs and horses only hopes that your majesty will bow to Mu Qing, respectfully meditate on the Tao, be silent about sounds and colors, and protect Yuanyang. If you don’t expect immortality, you will become an immortal. If you don’t expect longevity, you will live long. Ruofu's yellow and white techniques and golden elixir medicines are all enough to damage the vitality and cannot be trusted. Fortunately, your majesty is careful!

Yang Shiqi's expression changed after seeing it and he said, "You must not play it!" If you say it's not easy to become an immortal, the Holy Spirit will be furious. "

Xie Jin said: "I have made up my mind, but it is just a matter of being a minister. Please say no more. "

Yang Shiqi could not stop the team, so he had to summon Jin Zhong, Yuan Gong, Yang Rong and others to wait in the palace, so that if something happened to Xie Jin, they could jointly recommend Xie Jin.

Jin Zhongdao said, "Grand Secretary Xie is very clever; I predict he will be fine. When Emperor Taizu was in power, Xie Jin accompanied him fishing in the Cha River, but they caught nothing all morning. Emperor Taizu was deeply disappointed and ordered Xie Jin to 'record it in a poem.' This was an extremely risky task! Not catching any fish was a disgrace; if he simply recorded it, he might anger the emperor and lose his head. But since the emperor had given the order, not recording it would be considered disobeying the decree. However, this did not stump Xie Jin. After a moment's thought, he recited a short poem: 'A few feet of fishing line enters the water, the golden hook is cast away and disappears without a trace, ordinary fish dare not approach the emperor, the emperor only fishes for dragons.' Emperor Taizu listened..." He laughed heartily and even bestowed some gifts upon Xie Jin.

Yang Shiqi said, "I understand what you mean, but although Xie Jin is talented, that's precisely what makes him so enviable! Some petty people around the Emperor are secretly speaking ill of Xie Jin, and he's also the Prince of Han's number one enemy. I think this time, things are likely to turn bad."

Yang Rong said, "That's right, the current Emperor both loves and hates Xie Jin. Now that the Emperor is getting old, his temper is becoming increasingly erratic, and he scolds people

at the drop of a hat. I think Xie Jin is in grave danger!" As they were discussing this, an imperial edict indeed came from the inner court, stripping Xie Jin of his academic honors and ordering the Embroidered Uniform Guard to imprison him.

The group rushed to the palace to request an audience, but were all turned away. Under these circumstances, to avoid suspicion, they couldn't visit Xie Jin. After discussing it, they went to see the Crown Prince, asking him to recommend Xie Jin. Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi said, "Father must be furious right now. Let's wait until he calms down tomorrow, then we can recommend him together."

The group had no choice but to go home first, gather information slowly, and then devise a plan.

The next day, the Crown Prince went to the palace to plead for Xie Jin, but was severely reprimanded by Zhu Di. Zhu Di declared that anyone who spoke up for him would be punished as an accomplice, and also issued an edict punishing several ministers, including Yang Shiqi, who was fined three months' salary. Seeing the emperor's rage, the ministers were all insecure, and panic gripped the court.

Chapter Ten: Unsettled Heart

. Qixia Mountain is located more than forty li northeast of Yingtian City. It boasts rugged rocks, clear springs, and maple trees covering the mountain. In late autumn, the red leaves blaze like fire, creating a beautiful scene.

At this moment, on the Qingfeng Sword of Qixia Mountain, a woman with an ancient sword on her back strolls leisurely, gazing at the rock shaped like a giant sword with great interest.

Suddenly, a soft sigh was heard behind them, followed by a clear and melodious female voice: "The scenery here is truly beautiful, but it seems a bit out of place for the two of us to have a martial arts contest."

The woman turned around, her expression gentle, and said, "Your Highness is absolutely right. The reputation of 'Spring at Niushou, Autumn at Qixia' is indeed well-deserved. In that case, why don't we recite poetry and play music here?"

Princess Zhu Wushuang smiled and said, "Yes! However, it's not easy to see the renowned Sword Queen of the martial world. My long-cherished wish is to fight you, so I have no choice but to spoil the mood." "Well, anyway, I'm not a refined person."

Yang Yingyun laughed, "Princess, your ambitions are lofty, your supernatural powers refined, and you aspire to transcend the ordinary. How can you compare to those who merely feign refinement! My reputation in the martial world is only due to my master's past achievements. What does this young lady care about reputation? I don't even care about wielding swords. Princess, please show mercy later!"

Zhu Wushuang remained calm and said, "Please make your move! Why try to deceive me? If you were just an ordinary woman, I wouldn't need to fight you!" With that, he made his move.

Between experts, unless it's a sneak attack or under special circumstances, the order of attacks doesn't make much difference. However, Zhu Wushuang still made a feint, showing politeness, before unleashing his strange techniques and treasures to launch an attack.

Zhu Wushuang threw flying knives, attacking from all directions, sometimes east, sometimes west, sometimes appearing and disappearing, one strike after another, confusing Yang Yingyun's vision.

Although Zhu Wushuang's throwing knives were sharp, Yang Yingyun remained unfazed. With a smile, she drew her sword, unleashing a series of sword energies that caused the knives to fall.

Suddenly, Zhu Wushuang changed tactics, taking out her treasured Heavenly Escape Mirror. The mirror emitted dozens or even hundreds of rays of light, intended to dazzle Yang Yingyun's eyes. These were all meant to deceive. Then, she unleashed a Heavenly Thunderbolt, which immediately produced a thunderous roar, sending purple sparks flying, shaking the earth, and sending sand and dust billowing high into the air.

The Heavenly Thunderbolt exploded upon impact, its sound shaking the earth, striking towards Yang Yingyun. But after the sparks faded, nothing appeared. Just as Zhu Wushuang was wondering what was happening, a golden light flashed, dazzlingly bright, and a sword flew in from the sky, its momentum so fierce it seemed impossible to resist.

Zhu Wushuang dared not be negligent and quickly cast a spell, raising the Dingxuan Pearl above his head. It emitted a halo of auspicious light the size of a bronze hammer, its radiance spreading in all directions. When it collided with the sword light, their brilliance immediately intertwined. Then, another burst of auspicious light, seemingly present yet elusive, suddenly rained down, showering down upon him . The Dingxuan Pearl was shattered by Yang Yingyun's sword, but Zhu Wushuang had also dodged Yang Yingyun's devastating attack.

Seeing that Yang Yingyun was indeed powerful, Zhu Wushuang used another magical artifact, taking out his Qiankun Bag from his robes. Opening the bag, a plume of yellow smoke immediately spewed out. Suddenly, the smoke, like a pile of gunpowder ignited, surged upwards and downwards in all directions with a boom, then dispersed, transforming into an enormous yellow cloud of smoke that not only filled the surrounding cliffs but also soared into the heavens. Yang Yingyun only felt a flash before seeing a hazy yellow smoke all around, filling the entire sky, and he could no longer open his eyes.

Seeing Yang Yingyun trapped, Zhu Wushuang attacked again with flying knives. However, Yang Yingyun, controlling her sword with her divine power, seemed unaffected, her defense extremely tight, and Zhu Wushuang still couldn't succeed.

A moment later, as the yellow dust settled, Yang Yingyun's sword light flashed up again, striking with lightning speed. Zhu Wushuang sensed the danger and immediately prepared. With a flick of her jade hand, two streams of golden and azure light flew out like dragons drawing water, one blocking Yang Yingyun's attack, the other shooting towards her.

Yang Yingyun remained completely calm, seemingly unsure how she did it, and parried with her sword, defusing the crisis.

Zhu Wushuang, now significantly weakened, unleashed her ferocious power. With a sharp cry, she hurled her Qiankun bag into the air. The bag immediately grew larger in the wind, billowing yellow smoke, and countless yellow energy balls shot out in all directions. Zhu Wushuang unleashed the extraordinary treasure she had painstakingly crafted over the years, ready to fight Yang Yingyun.

Zhu Wushuang soared into the air, then descended from above, raising both hands to unleash the Taiyi Divine Thunder Chain Seal passed down to her by her master. Thousands of silver rays rained down like hail, striking Yang Yingyun wildly from above. The attacks were fierce and rapid; who in the world could withstand such a powerful spell?

Yang Yingyun focused all her attention, concentrating all her power into her sword. Zhu Wushuang only saw a wisp of purple energy, like a rainbow, pierce through the smoke, knock away the Taiyi Divine Thunder, and then land in the distance.

The two engaged in a fierce battle, the heavens and earth trembled, their momentum extraordinary. However, they were evenly matched, neither gaining the upper hand. From afar, Zhu Wushuang heard Yang Yingyun sigh

, "What a pity! I didn't listen to my master and found someone I love, so my swordsmanship has greatly declined. It seems I can't beat you!" Zhu Wushuang never expected Yang Yingyun to have someone she loved. He coldly snorted, "You mean you could have defeated me before? Do you love Li Se? Absolutely not! He's so philandering! Besides, even if you don't care, he's not good enough for you!"

Yang Yingyun said, "It's him! Before, because I ignored him, he willingly fell into depravity, even having his martial arts crippled. It was truly pitiful. His sincerity moved me. He originally didn't want to enter the martial world, but now, at my request, he's going to become the leader of the six sects."

Zhu Wushuang sneered, "Don't lie to me. He told me about your affair himself, he and..." "You've only met him a few times, and besides, you think he treats you like a sister? You're just being delusional, aren't you?"

Yang Yingyun chuckled. "You don't need to take his words seriously. He's good at deceiving girls! Actually, you'll understand as soon as I tell you. Except in front of me, he always pretends to be clueless in front of other women, making them fall in love with him. You see, many women are willing to get close to him, treating him like a treasure, but he's always hot and cold because he only loves me. However, I inherited my master's ideal, just like you, to become an immortal. I still love him now, but in a few days, I'll be able to overcome this obstacle and stop loving him. Because the Sword Lord and the Sword Queen are like two tigers fighting; whoever falls in love first will lose!"

Zhu Wushuang said, "You're talking nonsense! You've made all this up." Zhu Wushuang's chest heaved with excitement; every word Yang Yingyun said seemed to be directed at her.

Yang Yingyun laughed, "Consider it me talking nonsense! What a pity! Those women are so pitiful, yet they remain stubbornly deluded. What I see as straw, others treasure. There's just no way to stop them!"

Zhu Wushuang covered her ears with both hands, saying, "I won't listen, I won't listen, you're lying..." Then she rushed down the mountain, disappearing like an arrow.

Seeing Zhu Wushuang leave, Yang Yingyun thought, "Although the princess is skilled in martial arts, she has little experience in the ways of the world. She was so easily defeated by a few words. But it also shows how powerful the magic of love is!" After thinking for a while, Yang Yingyun smiled and went down the mountain to visit Li Se's residence.

Because Li Se was opening a pharmacy, he and Liang Gongchang and others supervised the members of the Yan Gang in learning various herbs and also taught them some medical knowledge. These people were all fugitives in the martial arts world, used to being hunted down and often injured, so they all knew some self-healing medical skills, and many even had secret recipes that were not passed on to others. Li Se benefited greatly from this.

After studying the secret manual left by Hua Hudie in detail, Li Se selected many useful things and taught them to these people. Seeing that they were all studying diligently and improving their skills rapidly—even if they couldn't handle things independently, at least they wouldn't make mistakes with herbs anymore—Li Se was very pleased.

Li Se was training his Yan Gang disciples when he suddenly saw Yang Yingyun being brought in by a servant. He quickly went to greet her, saying happily, "Sister, why didn't you let me know you were coming? I wanted to welcome you and give you a proper welcome."

Yang Yingyun smiled and said, "You go about your business! I didn't come to see you."

Li Se asked curiously, "Then who are you looking for?"

Yang Yingyun smiled but didn't answer, simply letting the servant lead the way.

Yang Yingyun arrived at Chu Liuguang's residence. Chu Liuguang was reading alone. Seeing Yang Yingyun, she wasn't surprised and said, "The renowned Sword Queen of the martial world has arrived! It's truly an honor to have you here! It's my great fortune to meet you, sister."

Yang Yingyun said to Chu Liuguang, "Your wisdom surpasses mine tenfold. Although I possess some brute strength, those who use their minds govern others. I believe you are the greatest master of our time."

Chu Liuguang laughed, "Sister, you're teasing me. What wisdom do I possess? I used to know some magic and had some skills, but now I'm just a weak woman. How could I possibly compare to others?"

Yang Yingyun said, "You don't need to be modest. Li Se is surrounded by so many outstanding women; naturally, there's competition and vying for attention. But only you manage to keep everyone from being jealous, to befriend you, and to show you such care. Such ability is unparalleled in this world."

Chu Liuguang laughed, "I'm frail and sickly; having children is out of the question, and I probably can't even get married. Naturally, no one will compete with me!"

Yang Yingyun clapped her hands and laughed loudly, "Brilliant plan! A brilliant plan indeed! I admire you!" The two women looked at each other and smiled.

The two women chatted more and more congenially, and just as they were getting into the swing of things, they suddenly heard footsteps. Three people entered; it was Li Se with Hua Xiangrong and Wang Bao'er. It turned out that Li Se had been thinking about who Yang Yingyun was visiting, and since the two women had just returned from playing, they came together.

Yang Yingyun said, "Young Master Li has two beauties with him, why did you come to see us sisters?"

Wang Bao'er chimed in, "We were so bored, we didn't know what to do, so we came to see you two sisters. It's such an honor to meet you. You're very famous in the martial arts world, you really bring honor to us girls. I'm so happy to see you today!"

Hua Xiangrong was usually very lively, but for some reason she didn't speak at this moment. The group started chatting, and Wang Bao'er said, "There are so many people today, let's play riddles. I used to play with Sister Chu, and she could guess everything, it was so boring."

Li Se immediately changed color and said, "Bao'er, we're all adults now, can't we skip the riddles? I'm afraid it'll strain my brain." Wang Bao'er said, "No, you're so lazy, you have to guess."

Wang Bao'er gave a riddle, "A white snake crosses the river with a red sun above its head; a green dragon hangs on the wall, its body adorned with countless golden stars."

Yang Yingyun said, "These are two riddles. The answer to the first line is: oil lamp. The answer to the second line is: scale. Is that correct?"

Wang Bao'er immediately said it was correct and gave another riddle: "A new moon hangs at the foot of the clouds, two petals of a withered flower lie before the horse's hooves."

Yang Yingyun said, "The answer is a bear."

Wang Bao'er gave several more, all of which Yang Yingyun easily guessed.

Wang Bao'er pouted and said, "Sister is too clever, it's not fun at all. Give me a riddle!"

Yang Yingyun laughed and said, "Alright, listen carefully. Who is the flower's husband?"

Wang Bao'er said, "What? What kind of riddle is this? I... I can't guess."

Chu Liuguang laughed and said, "Is it a butterfly? Because butterflies love flowers!"

Yang Yingyun laughed and said, "Indeed, you are the smartest person in the world." She said to Wang Bao'er, "I'll give you another one, who is the flower's daughter?"

Wang Bao'er looked pale and said, "This? Flowers have daughters? Who are they?"

Yang Yingyun said, "The flower's daughter is rice, because peanuts are rice."

Chu Liuguang said, "Good riddance, good riddance, I'll give you one too! Who is the flower's mother?"

Wang Bao'er blushed and said, "There's no answer to this, you're just making things up, you're fooling people."

Yang Yingyun said, "I know the answer. The flower's mother is of course the magic pen! Because a magic pen creates flowers!" Yang Yingyun and Chu Liuguang high-fived and laughed.

Wang Bao'er's face grew increasingly red and pale. After a long while, she said, "You're bullying me! You're bullying me!"

Suddenly, she burst into tears, crying, "You're all bad people! You're ganging up on me!" She turned and ran away.

Hua Xiangrong saw this and scolded, "How could you two sisters bully Bao'er? She hasn't offended you at all!" After saying that, she quickly chased after Wang Bao'er.

Seeing the two women leave in a huff, Li Se asked, "Why did you two tease Bao'er?"

Chu Liuguang laughed, "Didn't you complain that Bao'er always made people guess riddles, which was troublesome? We helped you solve a problem, but unfortunately, it made us have to play the bad guys again. Instead of thanking us, you blame us. You really don't appreciate kindness."

Li Se realized what was going on and said, "Hey, if the two of you teamed up, who in the world wouldn't be teased by you! It's truly frightening."

Yang Yingyun said, "It seems it's all for nothing! I'm leaving, so as not to be frightened."

Li Se quickly smiled and said, "I was just joking, sister, why take it seriously? Let's talk about serious matters! I've already sent word that I want to become the leader of the six major sects. Please advise me on how to proceed from now on."

Yang Yingyun... Yun smiled and said, "That's for later, we'll talk about it then. But right now, there's something urgent."

Li Se asked, "What is it?"

Yang Yingyun said, "You owe someone a favor! Why don't you repay it? Aren't you letting them down?"

Li Se asked, "What do you mean, sister?"

Chu Liuguang said, "Hua Xiangrong is deeply in love with you, why are you ignoring it?"

Yang Yingyun got up and walked out, reciting as she went, "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may, lest you break a bare branch when there are no flowers left."

After seeing Yang Yingyun off, Li Se thought of what she and Chu Liuguang had said to him. Hua Xiangrong was truly deeply in love with him, but so much had happened these past few days, and he hadn't had a proper chat with her. Moreover, since Hua Xiangrong returned, she wasn't as proactive towards him as before.

"Love at its deepest point turns to thinning." Li Se suddenly remembered this saying and murmured to himself. The shy look in Hua Xiangrong's eyes whenever she saw him flashed before his eyes.

As dusk fell and darkness descended, Hua Xiangrong sat alone by the window, lost in thought. Suddenly, she heard the door open. Turning around, she saw Li Se standing at the door. Hua Xiangrong jumped up.

Seeing Li Se standing there blankly, not saying a word, Hua Xiangrong said, "Don't worry, Bao'er has gone home. She won't be angry in a little while. Don't worry."

Li Se slowly walked to her side, embraced her, and said, "What Bao'er or Bei'er? I came to see you." 03-02
(34) Hua Xiangrong's First Time with Li Se

Hua Xiangrong felt hot all over and stood there, completely bewildered. Li Se put his tongue into Hua Xiangrong's cherry lips and stirred it. He reached into Hua Xiangrong's clothes with his left hand. Inside, her snow-white breasts were bulging and bouncing happily. Li Se repeatedly grabbed them with his hand.

In a moment of intense passion, Li Se carried Hua Xiangrong to the bed and took off all of Hua Xiangrong's embroidered clothes. Hua Xiangrong's navel revealed a wondrous place, its petals slightly parted, full, soft, and utterly alluring.

Li Se was already aroused; one finger had already probed into the petals, feeling its heat and wetness. He then stirred his finger back and forth. Hua Xiangrong gasped softly, and Li Se licked her nipple, which instantly hardened.

Li Se's fingers continued to move, and her vagina was already overflowing with lustful fluids. He then added another finger, but the petals were too tight to penetrate, so he could only rub it back and forth on the outside. After

a few more thrusts, Li Se's member was now erect. Hua Xiangrong, seeing this, felt both ashamed and curious. She reached out to explore, then quickly withdrew her hand. It turned out that the member was as hard as an iron chisel; just touching it felt like being struck by lightning. Unwilling to give up, Hua Xiangrong reached out again, this time gripping it tightly. Her keen eyes revealed that the veins on the member were bulging and throbbing.

Li Se, now consumed by lust, pushed Hua Xiangrong down, spreading her legs wide to reveal her petals, white with hints of red, already dripping with lustful fluids.

Li Se thrust forward, but with a soft "plop," before penetrating even halfway, he felt the tightness of her petals, so he slowly began to move.

Hua Xiangrong moaned softly, her arms tightly wrapped around him, her legs gripping his buttocks to help him penetrate deeper. Li Se thrust again, reaching the tightest point, and with a powerful thrust, broke through the encirclement. Hua Xiangrong cried out, her face pale, feeling a tearing pain in her lower body. Li Se thrust again forcefully, with a crisp sound, his member fully inserted, followed by a soft moan. Hua Xiangrong's eyes were closed, in pain. Li Se, however, felt immense pleasure, gently moving in and out of Hua Xiangrong's petals, repeatedly teasing her. Hua Xiangrong gradually felt an unbearable itch below, and her fluids flowed again, a warm and pleasurable sensation beyond words.

Knowing this was the perfect opportunity, Li Se intensified his thrusts, reaching over five hundred strokes in an instant. Hua Xiangrong was aroused, her fragrant skin swaying like a willow in the wind, her mouth uttering soft moans like a child crying at night.

Li Se was unstoppable, thrusting up and down, left and right, his juices flowing freely; Hua Xiangrong's cries were incessant, her heart filled with pleasure, her thighs trembling and quivering like leaves. Soon, she cried out repeatedly, her tongue cold and her body trembling, losing her virginity.

But Li Se's member grew stronger and more powerful, like a tyrant. Knowing Hua Xiangrong was exhausted, Li Se pressed his advantage, ordering her to lie down, lifting her legs onto his shoulders, and thrusting his engorged member with all his might. Hua Xiangrong's eyes rolled back in pain, her clitoris felt like it was being shattered, her cries of pleasure echoing endlessly.

Li Se, aroused, charged and pounded wildly, a series of violent thrusts that left Hua Xiangrong writhing in agony, her bones melting and her body going limp.

Seeing this, Li Se grew even more aroused, thrusting and pumping wildly. Hua Xiangrong couldn't speak, her body burning like fire, her juices flowing freely, her lower body unable to move. Just then, Li Se thrust forcefully, and she couldn't meet his thrusts, tumbling off the saddle.

Li Se's force was so great that he landed on top of Hua Xiangrong, his member plunging straight into her petals, suddenly and completely inside. Hua Xiangrong arched her hips and spread her legs wide to meet him, moaning and groaning. Just as

Li Se reached the climax, he suddenly felt his head tighten, his entire body pierced through, and his member shuddered, spurting his semen like an arrow into her flower core, sending Hua Xiangrong into a blissful trance. Li Se then slowly withdrew and thrust, releasing his remaining semen.

The two embraced, tears streaming down Hua Xiangrong's face. Li Se said, "You've suffered, don't cry. We'll be happy together from now on."

Hua Xiangrong said, "I've become an ordinary person. I'll grow old and ugly. I'm so scared! You've been so busy these days, and there are so many beautiful women more capable than me. I thought you wouldn't talk to me anymore!"

Li Se was moved and said, "How could that be! I was planning to wait for a good time to marry you in a grand and glorious way."

Hua Xiangrong smiled and said, "That doesn't matter. As long as you love me like you did just now, I'll be satisfied."

Li Se was aroused again and got up, pressing himself against Hua Xiangrong, laughing, "How was it just now?" Hua Xiangrong felt something hot and hard against her lower body and said shyly, "My lord, you're bad. I won't say anymore."

Seeing Hua Xiangrong's face flushed red and looking pitiful, Li Se thrust himself into her again. Their lovemaking was unlike anything they had experienced before; tender caresses and vows of eternal love filled the air with unparalleled beauty.

Li Se admired Hua Xiangrong's delicate feet with great delight. They were truly beautiful; Li Se couldn't resist holding them in her hands for a closer look. They were the plump, pretty feet unique to young girls. Her toes were long and slender, white and tender, with neatly trimmed toenails, making her feet appear long and elegant. Especially striking were her ivory-white toenails, slightly tinged with pink, which made her toes look exceptionally clean and delicate. The skin on her feet was fine and white, her ankles and heels narrow, her ankle bones prominently displayed, all bare and charming. Her five slender toes were neatly joined together, with fine, soft interlacing, and five rosy, smooth toe pads. The tender, pale pink flesh resembled double-petaled flower stamens, delicate and alluring. Her smooth, delicate, rosy heels, like goose eggs, gradually transitioned in color from the soles of her feet to a pale pinkish-white from her calves.

Li Se felt as if he were touching a baby's face when he stroked Hua Xiangrong's feet; the entire foot was soft and boneless. Pressing it against his cheek felt like touching a trembling little bird. The warm, delicate, smooth, and moist sensation was almost intoxicating.

Li Se brought his nose close to her five slender toes, and the warm, fleshy scent unique to beautiful women wafted into his nostrils. The water droplets remaining on her white, tender feet were crystal clear. Li Se licked her long, delicate middle toe, the unique scent of Hua Xiangrong's feet intoxicating him.

Li Se began to frantically lick and nibble at her soft feet, first the soles, then between her toes, and finally sucking on each of her long, white, tender toes. Hua Xiangrong lay on the bed, watching the lecherous man lick and nibble at her feet, her face flushed with shame. From childhood to adulthood, no one had ever seen or touched her feet. And now, she was being so brazenly played with by a lecherous thief.

Li Se's mouth, both infatuated and delirious, rested on her ankles. Her smooth, rounded ankles, her fair insteps, and the silky, satin-like smoothness of her insteps were beneath his lips. The delicate veins on her insteps were clearly visible to Li Se.

Hua Xiangrong also felt comfortable. She had never imagined that having her feet licked could bring her such immense pleasure. She had to admit that the lecherous thief Li Se had conquered her entire being. She was completely naked, her lower body's curves fully exposed, and her legs were exceptionally long.

Li Se saw that her face was pale, but her snow-white skin had turned a pleasant pink. Her body was covered in glistening beads of sweat, and the thick, sticky love fluid from her vulva had clung to her skin, filling the air with a rich fragrance. Her long, beautiful, black hair had somehow come loose and was now loosely draped over her shoulders. Her starry eyes were half-closed, and she was breathing softly.

The light shone on Hua Xiangrong's naked body, revealing her soft, large breasts, translucent skin, round, snow-white buttocks, and mysterious private parts—all exquisitely beautiful and alluring.

Li Se smiled as he gazed at Hua Xiangrong. Her charming face, her delicate, arched eyebrows, her cherry-like lips, bright red and adorned with two rows of small, white teeth, her snow-white, delicate skin, her smooth, supple breasts, her flat, shimmering abdomen, her high, prominent mons pubis, her pubic hair thick and sparse, and the clitoris at the lower tip of her inverted triangle, a vibrant red like a red agate, slowly shimmering.

Li Se admired Hua Xiangrong's jade-like breasts with abandon. Her skin was as white and lustrous as jade, shimmering like a beautiful woman. Her two enormous breasts, coupled with her slender waist and delicate navel, drove Li Se almost mad. He couldn't help but grab Hua Xiangrong's two firm breasts and began to play with them wantonly.

Hua Xiangrong's heart pounded, her blood rushed, her jade cheeks flushed, and her fair breasts turned as red as the sunset. Her delicate body trembled slightly, like a girl on the edge of a cliff feeling dizzy and about to fall...

Li Se kissed Hua Xiangrong's rosy lips. With her lips parting slightly without resistance, his tongue plunged in. Li Se displayed his tongue skills, kissing Hua Xiangrong passionately. Her sweet little tongue responded tenderly. Now, being held tightly and kissed passionately, she did not resist or struggle. Instead, she reached out to embrace him, her heart fluttering, because she had already decided to entrust her life to him.

"Mmm!" Hua Xiangrong felt a tongue swirling in her mouth, a warm hand caressing her buttocks and back, and Li Se's hard object pressing against her lower abdomen. She blushed and felt hot all over. Hua Xiangrong involuntarily twisted her whole body, bending her thighs and rubbing them lightly against Li Se's side.

Li Se could feel Hua Xiangrong's firm, elastic flesh pressed against her chest, deforming and trembling due to the pressure and friction. Li Se pulled his hands back, pressing his tiger's mouth upwards against Hua Xiangrong's lower abdomen, rubbing and moving upwards. When the arc of his palms met the lower part of her breasts, he tried to gently lift and tease them in a circular motion.

Before Li Se appeared a stunningly beautiful woman: her full, slender, and well-proportioned figure was accentuated by her curves, her long, flowing hair cascading down her back and soft, rounded shoulders like a waterfall. Her arms were smooth and glossy, like two tender lotus roots. Beneath her willow-leaf eyebrows were a pair of phoenix eyes, dark and watery, sparkling with captivating allure. Her snow-white body was both full and tender, her full breasts standing tall, and thick black hair grew where her smooth abdomen met her jade-like legs, leading down to her tender vulva hidden among the pubic hair. Li Se felt an uncontrollable lust rising within him, and he embraced Hua Xiangrong from behind, grasping her breasts and caressing them.

Her youthful, vibrant body, with skin as smooth as cream, a full and delicate figure, large, hemispherical breasts standing erect, a rounded and fleshy waist, and rounded buttocks much larger than those of an average woman—perhaps a deliberate sculpting during her transformation into human form. Her jade-white hands hung at her sides, and a thick, dark patch of hair ran from her groin to her abdomen, almost completely covering her lower body. Within the dark pubic hair, a startling crack was faintly visible, and on either side of the tightly closed cleft were thick, tender, pink labia. These two thick labia sandwiched two slender, delicate labia, which, from the outside, appeared to be a color not much different from the thick ones.

A pair of long, slender, white legs, as tender as bamboo shoots, and a perfectly rounded, pert bottom. At the junction of her legs, a slender cleft of flesh, adorned with faintly visible, unique purple downy hair, revealed her flawless figure. Her entire body was breathtakingly beautiful, every inch of her captivating allure. With every movement, her peach-like petals parted, revealing her secret paradise; her breasts and buttocks rippled, releasing a fragrant breeze. It was truly a sight to behold, inspiring endless fantasies. Her two firm, soft, and enormous breasts, with their delicate pink areolas, were undeniably alluring, and her slightly erect nipples were incredibly tempting. Her flat abdomen was adorned with a charming, small navel.

Li Se's blood boiled at the sight, his heart pounding with desire. Such perfect flesh was not of this world. Li Se extended his tongue to Hua Xiangrong's soft earlobe, gently stroking her back like soothing a baby. While secretly observing her expression, he had her tilt her head back, revealing her white throat. He licked from her earlobe to her neck, then slowly licked her face. He grasped Hua Xiangrong's breasts with both hands, his palms swirling and caressing her firm, taut breasts, kneading her large, translucent, flawless breasts. They were soft to the touch, indescribably comfortable. His left hand went further, climbing up to Hua Xiangrong's nipples, gently kneading them. The beautiful pink areolas, though not yet touched, were already round and swollen. He took Hua Xiangrong's right breast into his mouth, sucking it with a soft, sizzling sound, occasionally biting the nipple with his teeth and licking the bud with his tongue.

Li Se extended his middle finger, sliding and stirring it inside Hua Xiangrong's tender vulva. It was very moist inside, and his finger slowly slid inside her vagina without her realizing it. It was warm and cozy, the flesh on either side of her vagina writhing, tightly gripping the intruder. A tingling sensation spread from his middle finger, a strange pleasure he couldn't quite describe. Li Se's movements stimulated Hua Xiangrong's entire body, making the pleasure even stronger, but the itching below intensified. Although Hua Xiangrong felt a foreign object inside, temporarily relieving the itching in her vagina, the object was too small and too short, leaving the depths of her vagina feeling unbearably empty and itchy.

Li Se's hands and tongue were like red-hot irons, igniting wherever they touched Hua Xiangrong's body. Hua Xiangrong's slender waist writhed violently beneath Li Se. Li Se's face pressed against Hua Xiangrong's rounded buttocks, gently yet firmly parting her legs with his hands. Her most hidden, tender vulva was immediately exposed to Li Se's eyes. In the center of her thick, fragrant pubic hair, the two fleshy, pinkish-red doors were slightly ajar, from which a clear fluid slowly seeped.

Li Se gently licked the inner walls of her thighs with the tip of his tongue, deliberately avoiding touching the center of her alluring triangle, instead assaulting it with his hot breath. Hua Xiangrong, pinned beneath Li Se, tilted her head back, her eyes hazy, her legs swaying, emitting seductive low moans.

Li Se's gentle caresses had melted away the last trace of shyness in Hua Xiangrong's heart. All the sensitive organs in her body were awakened by Li Se's tenderness, and her soft, fleshy body was manipulated beneath Li Se like the strings of a harp. Beneath her, Hua Xiangrong arched her back, then collapsed weakly. Li Se kissed down the inside of her thighs, massaging her plump, white buttocks with both hands. As Li Se's lips traveled down her smooth thighs and calves to her slender ankles, Hua Xiangrong's moans grew louder.

Waves of pleasure emanating from her vagina made Hua Xiangrong scream and drive her wild. She moved her sensual lips away from Li Se's mouth and lowered her head to lick and kiss his neck and chest.

Li Se withdrew his fingers from Hua Xiangrong's vagina, bringing out a large amount of vaginal fluid. Hua Xiangrong let out another cry: "Oh!" Suddenly, she felt an unprecedented emptiness inside her vagina. Hua Xiangrong's snow-white, tender, and infinitely alluring mature body was fully displayed before Li Se's eyes. Her breasts were full and firm, with two small, pink nipples on their snow-white peaks; her abdomen was smooth and flat, her skin smooth and delicate, feeling as if she were touching silk; below her abdomen was a large patch of grass, the largest patch Li Se had ever seen, where the grass grew lush and abundantly, filling Li Se with fantasies; her two thighs were long, white, and very well-proportioned.

Li Se's breathing became heavier, his hands climbing up Hua Xiangrong's full, firm breasts, gently stroking and kneading them, then he lowered his head and sucked on her left pink nipple with gusto, occasionally gently biting her pink nipple with his teeth. Each bite, with its slight pain, caused Hua Xiangrong to tilt her head back, thrusting out her ample breasts, and letting out ecstatic moans. Li Se's hands weren't idle either, traversing her body, crossing a charming little pool, and finally reaching a triangular area, where he stopped and played freely at her mons pubis.

Li Se gently kissed her fragrant lips, his tongue probing into her warmth, swirling around her nipples. Hua Xiangrong's desire intensified, instinctively engaging her own tongue in a passionate embrace with Li Se's invading tongue. Her lower body gradually became wet, the large area of pubic hair appearing as if it had just been soaked in water.

Li Se covered her fragrant lips, his right hand pressing and grasping her large, soft breasts, gently stroking her areolas, occasionally pinching her nipples. Under his caresses, Hua Xiangrong's nipples gradually hardened, her breathing became more rapid, and her body temperature rose. She turned her face away from Li Se's kiss, opening her mouth to pant softly.

Li Se kissed her earlobe again, and her body trembled at the same time. He knew that the earlobe was Hua Xiangrong's sensitive spot, so he licked and bit her smooth skin even more vigorously...

Li Se's hand slid over her smooth lower abdomen, groping for her dark field, which seemed to have turned into a swamp. All the fragrant grass was soaked by the liquid overflowing from her vulva. His fingers crawled across the grassland and accidentally encountered a crack in the grassland. His fingers squeezed and kneaded the crack. Hua Xiangrong groaned, "My lord, be gentle, it will hurt."

Li Se was indeed much gentler. His fingers squeezed into the crevice. Hua Xiangrong's legs squeezed together at the same time. His fingers felt incredibly warm and moist in the squeeze of her thick lips. Because of the invasion of his fingers, Hua Xiangrong's tender vulva hurt slightly. An indescribable itching came from her tender vulva. She trembled, her eyes fixed on Li Se, her two rows of white teeth clenched tightly.

His fingers slid and slipped inside her wet, tender vulva. As they passed through her newly opened opening, a slight pain shot through her, yet the exquisite sensation made her unwilling to let go. Suddenly, she felt Li Se's other finger also seeking its way in. The intrusion of two thick, long fingers, the slight tearing, caused her to involuntarily twist her hips, trying to escape Li Se's wicked fingers…

Li Se's huge, thick penis pressed against Hua Xiangrong's tender vulva, eager to break through and reach its climax. Meanwhile, the delicate petals of Hua Xiangrong's vulva were already slightly parted, seemingly anticipating Li Se's thunderous strike.

He held his penis, its large glans pressed against Hua Xiangrong's plump vulva, spread her legs apart with both hands, then squeezed his penis into her slit, rubbing it up and down at the shallow end to moisten the hot glans...

Hua Xiangrong's two thick outer lips parted to the sides, revealing her pink clitoris in the light, her thin and wide labia barely enveloping half of Li Se's glans, her vaginal fluid overflowing from her vagina, wetting her buttocks, the half-inserted glans already stretching her opening almost to the point of tearing, she endured the pain, waiting for the moment Li Se would erupt!

Li Se groped around her cleft, smearing his penis with her vaginal fluids. He gripped her plump buttocks tightly, waited a moment, and said, "Rong'er, I'm coming in!"

Hua Xiangrong's heart clenched. Li Se shouted, his hips suddenly pressing down, pushing against her tight, tender vulva, forcing open her closed vagina, and thrusting deep inside, hitting her clitoris...

Finally, he was fully inside, his penis completely inserted, reaching the very depths of Hua Xiangrong's clitoris. Li Se's glans and Hua Xiangrong's clitoris rubbed against each other, and Li Se felt an indescribable pleasure extending from his glans to his body, then spreading throughout his limbs, giving him a feeling of ethereal bliss.

"Ah!" Hua Xiangrong cried out, all her muscles stiffening and tensing. Her legs naturally rose and tightly gripped Li Se's waist, her hands gripping the sheets tightly, veins bulging, knuckles white from the force. Because of her nervousness, the flesh inside her tender vagina began to twitch powerfully, gripping Li Se's penis tightly, and Li Se actually felt a little pain.

Li Se felt his glans being tightly gripped. The fleshy walls of Hua Xiangrong's vagina writhed incessantly, tightly enveloping his penis, forcefully squeezing this uninvited guest, trying to expel this intruding foreign object. Hua Xiangrong's vagina had only been explored once before being invaded again by this strong and thick penis, causing a strong pain. However, the itching deep inside her vagina also longed for this thick thing to penetrate even more powerfully and deeply.

Because of the ample foreplay, Hua Xiangrong's entire vagina was wet and lubricated. With Li Se's forceful thrust, it actually reached directly to the depths of Hua Xiangrong's paradise. Li Se felt the hot, fleshy lips of the vaginal opening tightly gripping the base of his penis. His entire penis was tightly wrapped by the soft, tender labia of the vaginal opening and the hot, wet, mucous membranes and tender flesh inside the vagina. His entire penis was tightly bound inside that dark, deep, delicate little pussy, and the two clumps of pubic hair were also intertwined.

Hua Xiangrong felt as if a long, thick, hard, and hot rod had pierced her lower body, and her whole body felt as if it were being torn apart. The pain was unbearable, and she couldn't help but scream. Li Se leaned down and gently kissed her lips, inserting his tongue into her mouth and venturing it around, then capturing her tongue and entwining it tightly, swallowing and sucking her sweet saliva to relieve her tension and distract her.

Gradually, Hua Xiangrong's body softened, forgetting the pain from before. Her tongue was no longer passive; it began to actively entwine and suck with Li Se's tongue. Soon, she felt her whole body relax, and her hands slowly wrapped around Li Se's neck, tightly holding him. This relaxation caused a tingling, itchy, and sore sensation to rise from her heart and spread to her limbs.

Li Se felt her tender vagina becoming lubricated again, slowly releasing a large amount of love fluid, moistening his penis. Li Se slowly moved his body, his penis beginning to gently thrust in and out of her tender vagina. Hua Xiangrong clearly felt a dizzying, intense pleasure mixed with a slight pain as the thick penis gradually withdrew and penetrated her body, constantly surging from her vagina. Hua Xiangrong breathed rapidly beneath Li Se, panting softly, her cries soft and melodious, coyly accepting Li Se's thick penis, already wet and slippery with her own fluids, penetrating her secret passage.

"Ah...uh...so...so comfortable..." Hua Xiangrong moaned, desperately twisting her body beneath Li Se in a coquettish manner. Li Se felt as if he were out of control, thrusting his lower body faster. The tender flesh of Hua Xiangrong's vaginal walls seemed to have layers, each layer enveloping Li Se's penis. Each time his penis withdrew and re-entered, the tender flesh of Hua Xiangrong's vagina would automatically contract and writhe, her clitoris tightly gripping the glans and urethral opening, as if sucking on Li Se's glans.

"Ah..." Hua Xiangrong let out another mournful cry. She felt his thick penis suddenly plunge into her body again, quickly sliding into the depths of her small, tight vagina... When she slightly regained consciousness from that intoxicating penetration, she realized with shame and helplessness that his unusually thick penis had once again filled her deep, hot, tight, and soft vagina completely.

The overwhelming, tight sensation caused a blush to rise involuntarily on Hua Xiangrong's exquisite face, revealing her boundless shyness. With his rough, unrestrained penetration, her slender, beautiful legs involuntarily rose as his massive penis deepened within her delicate vagina. Hua Xiangrong gently moved her

lower body, exploring the rhythm of Li Se's thrusts. Once she caught the beat, she arched her back more forcefully; nothing could be more pleasurable and harmonious than this response! Li Se felt the tightness of his penis inside her vagina becoming increasingly pronounced. The folds of the vaginal walls, through slight peristalsis, were rubbing against the glans, so pleasurable that Li Se couldn't help but moan softly. When Li Se felt his penis had reached the very end of her vagina, he quickly thrust his hips forward, "whoosh!" withdrawing the glans rapidly to the vaginal opening, then quickly thrusting it back in, pushing it deep to the very end. Li Se repeated the thrusting motions, teasing Hua Xiangrong's desire. "

Mmm...ah...mmm..." Hua Xiangrong felt the tender flesh on the inside of her thighs getting hotter and hotter from the friction of Li Se's huge member, as if an extremely intense heat was spreading between her legs. This heat was like the fuse of an explosive, spreading deep into her tender vagina, stirring up wave after wave of tingling pleasure, drilling straight into her core, almost making her lose control of her bladder. Her nipples were also played with until they were firm and blooming, and the tingling sensation from her ears quickly transformed into pleasure that rushed straight to her brain. The desire that had just subsided was immediately rekindled, even stronger than before. She felt a warm current rushing through layers of resistance, flowing towards the entrance of her tender vagina. She wanted to suppress it, but she was powerless. In an instant, the warm current broke through the dam, soaking her tender vagina into a vast expanse of water. Because of the large amount of love fluid, it dripped directly onto the bed, wetting a large area of the bed.

Li Se relentlessly thrust his penis, plowing the fertile soil of Hua Xiangrong's body, frantically pounding inside her vagina. Hua Xiangrong's legs were straight, and now their straightness was even more apparent, her legs raised perfectly upright, the man

's large buttocks heaving powerfully between them, emitting stimulating sounds. Hua Xiangrong's body began to tremble slightly, her panting almost turning into cries.

With each change of position, Hua Xiangrong felt her vagina tormented between the itchy emptiness of the penis withdrawing and the full comfort of its insertion, driving her even more mad.

Li Se's lower abdomen seemed to relentlessly and fiercely pound against Hua Xiangrong's vulva, his swollen penis, soaked in her vaginal fluids, scraping open her labia with each withdrawal, revealing vibrant, tender flesh. Hua Xiangrong convulsed again, and Li Se cried out passionately. His hands gripped her two fleshy mounds, forcefully spreading them open—buttocks that any man would find irresistible, tempting him to abuse them. Snow-white and smooth, full, round, and elastic, their beautiful curves ignited an insatiable lust.

Hua Xiangrong was being fucked to the point of ecstasy, her vaginal fluids gushing out, moaning incessantly, "My good husband…you're fucking me to death…my lover…my dear husband…I can't fuck you anymore…oh…my little cunt can't be so wanton anymore…you're really going to fuck me to death…my little cunt…ah…" Thinking of this, coupled with Hua Xiangrong's lewd moans, Li Se's lust was aroused. He immediately changed positions, spreading Hua Xiangrong's two smooth, white legs apart and lifting them high, placing them on his left and right shoulders, his penis thrusting relentlessly… He changed the angle and thrust in hard.

The sound of his penis entering her mons pubis was heard. Li Se grabbed Hua Xiangrong's white, glistening breasts with both hands, kneading them vigorously, their shape constantly changing in his hands. He also kissed Hua Xiangrong's snow-white, smooth legs incessantly.

His penis thrust in and out rapidly, ravaging Hua Xiangrong's tender vagina like a storm. Hua Xiangrong slowly imagined herself as a small boat caught in a storm at sea, unable to control herself, at the mercy of the tempest. Her vaginal fluids gushed out uncontrollably, and she cried out loudly as he thrust into her: "Good husband...you really...you really know how to...thrust...my little vagina is going to be ruined by you, I'm going to die...oh...fuck me to death...fuck my little cunt to pieces!"

"Rong'er, where did you learn these words?"

"Hmm...I overheard you and my sisters doing it..."

"What? When did you overhear? How come I didn't know?" Li

Se thrust in and out several more times, pressing his large glans tightly against her clitoris. He stopped thrusting and instead began to rub and grind, making Hua Xiangrong's clitoris and tender flesh unbearably itchy and tingling. Her heart trembled, and she cried out, "Okay! I'll talk! I'll talk!"

"Okay, talk quickly!"

"I... used... invisibility..." she said, her face flushing red with shame as she turned away from the bed.

Li Se laughed heartily. He was deliberately mischievous, so he continued thrusting and grinding, grinding back and forth, becoming even rougher. "Plop... plop..." The thrusting caused Hua Xiangrong's juices to spray everywhere, her moans incessant.

"Slap... slap..." The lewd sounds of his scrotum hitting her mons pubis were clearly audible to Hua Xiangrong. Hua Xiangrong smiled coquettishly, moaning with pleasure, "Ah... so... beautiful... so... happy... ah... harder... pound... harder... deeper... ah..."

"Ugh! Oh...oh...I...ah! Ah! So good...good husband...thrust harder...ah...how's my moaning...?"

Receiving no answer, Hua Xiangrong cried out involuntarily, "Ah...oh...husband...Rong'er loves you...big cock husband...fuck your wife to death...oh...so good..."

She happily thrust her chest and raised her hips, twisting and turning her jade buttocks, trying her best to cooperate with Li Se's movements, enjoying the pleasurable sensation of being fucked and the unique, wonderful taste.

Hua Xiangrong's tight vagina made Li Se pant heavily, and Hua Xiangrong was already dizzy, her lower body tightly wrapped around Li Se's penis while continuously secreting the lustful fluids of orgasm. Li Se thrust rapidly, not in and out, but deep inside Hua Xiangrong's body, his body pressed tightly against her buttocks. The intense stimulation deep within her body made Hua Xiangrong almost breathless. Her long, flowing hair hung down, her mouth agape, her waist arched, her buttocks pressed tightly against Li Se's lower abdomen.

The rubbing of Hua Xiangrong's body against Li Se's genitals brought waves of pleasure. She felt her tender vagina constantly overflowing with love juice, a continuous feeling of fullness and satisfaction emanating from her lower body. She completely gave up struggling, wanting only to follow Li Se, to follow the repeated thrusts of his penis, and to chase the ultimate pleasure with him. Li Se could feel the muscles of Hua Xiangrong's thighs, pressed tightly against his, taut, causing her tender vagina to contract. Her clitoris gripped the head of his penis tightly, making Li Se feel incredibly comfortable.

Li Se looked down at the stunning beauty beneath him, a sudden pang of guilt welling up inside him. He couldn't help but say, "Rong'er, it's my fault. I should have made you this happy sooner..." Hua Xiangrong, beneath Li Se, her eyes gleaming with desire, quickly kissed him and moaned, "Mmm! It's not too late now... um..."

Li Se lowered his head and kissed Hua Xiangrong's red lips, saying, "Don't worry, I will definitely give you happiness and pleasure you've never experienced before!" As he spoke, Li Se kissed Hua Xiangrong's soft, fragrant lips again. Lost in lust, she shyly closed her eyes, extending her soft tongue for Li Se to suckle. Li Se's lower body began to move gently again, his hot, hard penis gently thrusting in and out of Hua Xiangrong's tender vagina.

Hua Xiangrong moaned softly, "Um... ah..." Her expression was both joyful and satisfied. Li Se knew she had fully adapted to the thrusting of his penis and was beginning to enjoy the pleasure of sex. Li Se gently swayed his hips, rubbing the tip of his large penis against Hua Xiangrong's cervix in a circular motion. He could clearly feel the tip of his penis trembling slightly as Hua Xiangrong's clitoris swelled. Streams of honey-like vaginal fluid gushed from deep within Hua Xiangrong's tender vagina, soaking Li Se's thick penis and making him feel like he was floating on air.

Hua Xiangrong let out seductive moans, softly saying, "Oh...so good, I can't take it...I'm so full...you're so thick, it feels so good down there...mmm! Faster...oh..." Li Se watched as Hua Xiangrong beneath him opened her eyes slightly, her tongue pressing against her upper teeth, licking her own lips back and forth, her face filled with a blissful and satisfied expression, utterly seductive and alluring. He couldn't help but become excited and began to thrust wildly.

"Ah..." Hua Xiangrong's moans grew more urgent, her eyes becoming increasingly hazy. Suddenly, she used all her strength to clamp Li Se's legs together, simultaneously twisting her slender waist rapidly, kissing him even more intensely, their tongues almost intertwined. Gradually, Li Se felt Hua Xiangrong's vagina growing hotter and hotter, the layers of tender flesh inside contracting and writhing, powerfully sucking at Li Se's penis. Li Se hadn't expected Hua Xiangrong's tender little pussy to be so tight and supple, an overwhelming wave of pleasure washing over him.

Li Se gently licked Hua Xiangrong's cherry-like nipples, his penis pressing tightly against her womb deep within her paradise, rotating and rubbing. A tingling sensation surged from her lower body straight to Hua Xiangrong's brain. She twisted her fragrant, smooth, and curvaceous sexy body, contracting and writhing the flesh walls of her tender vagina. Waves of pleasure gradually pushed Hua Xiangrong to the peak of carnal pleasure. She felt incredibly comfortable and happy, and love juice gushed out from her tender vagina.

All that could be heard was the rhythmic slapping of flesh against flesh at the junction of their penises and mons pubis. Her supple waist twisted and turned desperately, and Hua Xiangrong began to surrender. Li Se's penis pounded wildly against Hua Xiangrong's clitoris, her tender flesh tightly gripping it. A sharp scream rang out, and Hua Xiangrong shook her head and gesticulated wildly. Then came another scream, "Ah..."

Hua Xiangrong felt a spasm deep within her vagina, a large amount of fluid gathering. Her whole body trembled as if she had been electrocuted, her body quickly stiffening, her muscles tensing. Her vagina suddenly contracted and then opened again, a gush of fluid shooting out from deep within her uterus, splashing onto the huge glans, and then being pulled out by the penis.

Li Se felt as if countless tiny claws were scratching at his penis, making his body weak, numb, and even paralyzed. It was as if his penis had fallen into the mouth of a toothless tiger, being chewed and swallowed from all sides. Then, a powerful suction force pulled his penis into her vagina...

Hua Xiangrong cried out desperately, moaning ecstatically. Li Se's penis was completely sucked in, and he could no longer thrust. Her vagina was still chewing incessantly. At this moment, Li Se slowly raised his arms, took a deep breath, and began to tremble all over. He forcefully pushed the breath down from his dantian, making his face turn red. A powerful heat surged into his lower abdomen, gradually concentrating on his penis, which was being bitten. Then, he cried out, "Ah!"

In that instant, Hua Xiangrong felt as if the large penis had pierced through her internal organs, shooting out gusts of intense pleasure that struck her core. Hua Xiangrong's whole body shuddered; her vaginal walls contracted sharply, then began to undulate and swirl like waves, a powerful current of pleasure radiating from her uterus, radiating outwards like ripples throughout her entire being. Her jade-like hands scratched and clawed wildly at Li Se's chest and back, her full, white legs kicking incessantly, finally wrapping tightly around Li Se's lower body like vines. At this moment, Li Se's scrotum twitched, releasing the last few drops of semen.

Chapter

1 of Episode 9: The Way of Business .

To reform some outlaws of the martial world and provide them with a way out, Li Se conceived the idea of opening a pharmacy selling aphrodisiacs from the Butterfly School. These prescriptions could treat some illnesses, which could be considered a good deed for the people. Besides, many lecherous thieves were skilled healers; it wouldn't be a waste to let them utilize their skills.

While training the people and raising money, Li Se had everything ready. All that was left was to wait for Xue Yaoguang's plan and for her to announce when to open for business.

During the waiting period, Li Se, having no prior business experience, was filled with anxiety. He asked Gu Xiangjun, "Do you think this business we're starting will work? As long as these guys can make a living, I'll ask for nothing more. If this little shop in the capital can sustain us, then those lecherous thieves can go back to their hometowns and open their own shops. If they're well-fed and have a stable home, under our supervision, they'll surely become good people."

Gu Xiangjun blushed and said, "Li Lang, don't worry, this shop will definitely do very well!"

Seeing Gu Xiangjun's shyness, Li Se laughed, "Why are you shy? Why do you think business will be good?"

Gu Xiangjun smiled, "There are plenty of lustful men in the world like you; they'll definitely come secretly to buy medicine. I bet business will be best at night."

Li Se said, "That makes sense, but can't they come to buy medicine during the day? They can just wear masks!"

The couple smiled at each other. That night, Gu Xiangjun arranged for Li Se to rest at Hua Xiangrong's place.

(35) Enjoying the pleasure of the king lifting the cauldron,

Li Se embraced Hua Xiangrong. He could clearly feel two plump mounds pressing against his chest. Hua Xiangrong's excited heartbeat seemed to be transmitted from those two plump mounds to his body. He could clearly feel those two plump mounds trembling slightly.

Li Se gently lifted Hua Xiangrong's face, revealing her blushing cheeks, like a rosy sunset. Her eyes were tightly closed, but her eyelashes trembled. Her cherry-red lips were glistening, like sweet cherries. Just as Hua Xiangrong was about to lower her head again in embarrassment, she felt a soft tongue touch her lips, causing her to feel dizzy and momentarily at a loss.

Li Se gently let their lips rub together, his tongue exploring Hua Xiangrong's mouth. This made Hua Xiangrong's breathing increasingly rapid. Her hands slid gently along Li Se's back, her soft, boneless body writhing like an earthworm, emitting intermittent moans of "Mmm! Mmm!"

Li Se's lips gradually moved to Hua Xiangrong's ears, neck, and shoulders. Hua Xiangrong felt waves of unbearable tingling, tilting her head back as far as she could, her whole body trembling, panting heavily!

Li Se moved his hands down, tightly embracing Hua Xiangrong's slender waist, pressing his hot, hard, erect penis firmly between her legs, grinding it incessantly. "Oh," Hua Xiangrong couldn't help but moan. The intense masculine arousal made her feel a tingling sensation in her private parts, as if ants were constantly wriggling inside her vagina, waves of itching and discomfort washing over her, and her love juices gushed out.

Then Li Se kissed her snow-white, large breasts. Hua Xiangrong's body became increasingly weak and limp, swaying precariously, only managing to stay upright by tightly embracing Li Se's head.

Li Se, however, did not relent in his offensive, continuously thrusting his lower body to intensify the stimulation of Hua Xiangrong's vagina; at the same time, he sucked on Hua Xiangrong's nipples, sometimes licking, sometimes gently biting, sometimes forcefully sucking...

Hua Xiangrong felt wave after wave of wetness gushing from her vaginal opening. With her increasingly heightened emotions, her moans grew louder, and her body trembled more and more frequently. With each tremor, she seemed to disregard the madness of the horse, only knowing to frantically thrust her hips, seeking pleasure. This made Li Se's penis seem to swell even more.

Li Se knew that Hua Xiangrong's lust had reached its peak, and his large hand immediately reached under Hua Xiangrong's skirt, ripped off her panties, spread her legs apart, and guided his penis straight to her vagina. Hua Xiangrong felt a hot, molten iron rod pushing against her vaginal opening, a feeling of both pleasure and emptiness spreading from her lower body. She couldn't help but twist her waist and thrust her vulva upwards, "Sizzle!" The penis smoothly inserted half of its glans.

"Ah!" The throbbing pain made Hua Xiangrong immediately bend over and pull away. Li Se felt as if his penis had been sucked in, then "spit out," and immediately lowered his waist to thrust it back into her vagina. With that, there was another "plop!" sound as Li Se's glans was fully inside Hua Xiangrong's vagina, intruding into that unusually tight, narrow, and moist space.

"Ah!" Hua Xiangrong felt a throbbing pain in her lower body, and her hands involuntarily clung tightly to Li Se. Li Se kissed her cherry lips tightly, gently rotating his hips, letting his glans rub and grind inside Hua Xiangrong's vagina.

Li Se's gentle actions deeply moved Hua Xiangrong, and she responded with a passionate kiss. After a while, she began to feel the throbbing pain in her lower body gradually subside, replaced by waves of tingling and itching in her vagina, spreading from the core of her vagina, permeating every cell in her body, making her itch unbearably, unbearably, and desperately needing to scratch. She felt an intense need for Li Se's large penis, to penetrate deep into her vagina and scratch the inner walls of her vagina. She could only gently sway her lower body, letting her honey hole rub against the large glans of his penis.

The friction brought Hua Xiangrong a wave of pleasure, and she let out a charming, soul-stirring moan. Taking advantage of Hua Xiangrong's body movements, Li Se slowly thrust his hips, pushing his penis inch by inch deeper into her vagina. He felt the foreskin slowly roll back; a warm, tight sensation gradually engulfed his penis; the rough folds of the vaginal walls scratched the tip of his glans… Li Se felt all sensation in his body suddenly disappear except for his penis. The folds of the vaginal walls, with their slight peristalsis, tightly enveloped and scratched his glans, making his penis unbearably itchy and tingling. He couldn't help but exert his strength and thrust hard.

"Oh!" Hua Xiangrong exclaimed softly, her voice filled with boundless pleasure. She felt his penis suddenly reach the very end of her vagina, causing her clitoris to swell and throb, a deep, comforting flow filling her heart, a feeling of complete fulfillment. Li Se vigorously rotated his penis, and Hua Xiangrong's brows relaxed, feeling an indescribable pleasure that made her begin to thrust in

response. Li Se felt Hua Xiangrong's vagina becoming increasingly slippery and smooth, so he squeezed his legs together forcefully, his blood boiling with lust. Holding Hua Xiangrong's slender waist, he began to thrust wildly and relentlessly, like a storm. This unleashed her long-suppressed wantonness and lustful nature beyond control.

Hua Xiangrong's large breasts were being kneaded until they felt like they were about to burst, leaving her utterly disoriented, experiencing a mixture of soreness, sweetness, numbness, and pain. Her eyes darted around seductively, she cried out in a soft, wanton voice, and breathed heavily. Her trembling breasts rubbed against his chest, her waist swayed rapidly, her vulva lifted sharply, her legs opened and closed repeatedly, her full, jade-like buttocks swaying and spinning rapidly, each movement perfectly complementing his fierce onslaught.

Li Se gazed at Hua Xiangrong's wanton expression, kissed her alluring red lips, and held her tightly with one hand. He thrust his thick, long penis forcefully into her enchanting opening, releasing his lust and enjoying her seductive, wanton energy. He gazed upon her radiant beauty, indulging in endless, unrestrained pleasure.

After a long while, both reached their climax, their pleasure bordering on madness, as if in a trance. Sweat, fluids, and even their panting became an obsession as they relentlessly thrust. Finally, at the peak of ecstasy…

Hua Xiangrong's panting had not yet subsided, fine beads of fragrant sweat still clung to her delicate skin, and the captivating blush on her face had not faded. She felt as if her body was floating, her mind drifting in a dream. Thinking back to the blissful state, she felt both ashamed and delighted. This lovable yet hateful man had given her an unforgettable dream, a comfortable and pleasurable experience. How could she have been so wanton, so naked and unrestrained? His thick, hard penis felt so good, so incredibly pleasurable. She unconsciously tightened her limbs around Li Se, as if afraid he would run away, and offered her her fragrant tongue.

Li Se gently sucked on her cherry lips, embracing her tenderly. Recalling Hua Xiangrong's wanton and seductive movements, her fiery passion, he couldn't help but feel unsatisfied and began to touch her again. One hand caressed her breasts, while the other squeezed between her legs, inserting his fingers into her vagina, moving them in and out repeatedly.

A wave of tingling, fulfilling pleasure made Hua Xiangrong involuntarily moan, a blush rising to her face, her breathing becoming heavy, and her whole body going limp again.

Li Se's fingers instinctively felt the layers of warm, moist, and tight flesh inside the secret cave tightly wrapped around him, an indescribable feeling of comfort and beauty that excited him even more. His fingers, buried deep inside, began to slowly thrust in and out, probing and exploring. He felt the tender flesh of the secret cave like layers of doors, wrapping around his penetrating fingers with each thrust, a truly indescribable pleasure. His thrusting movements quickened involuntarily, causing Hua Xiangrong to moan and cry out wildly. Her pink buttocks and jade thighs swayed up and down incessantly, responding to Li Se's thrusts… Hua Xiangrong's moans grew increasingly intense, her vaginal flesh opening and closing, sucking on Li Se's invading fingers. Her full, smooth body writhed like a twisted candy, clinging tightly to Li Se's body. At this moment, her breasts were being kneaded until they felt like they were about to burst, her paradise was being penetrated to the point of ecstasy, a mixture of sour, sweet, numb, and painful sensations coexisting within her. Her eyes were glazed with desire, she cried out in pleasure, and her breathing became rapid.

Li Se held Hua Xiangrong tightly, then thrust his hips forward, his engorged member plunging in like a giant python. The intense impact felt like it reached her very core, causing Hua Xiangrong to involuntarily let out a long "Ah..." Her face flushed crimson with embarrassment, but a surge of satisfaction washed over her at the same time.

Li Se began to thrust his member in rapid, frenzied strokes, hundreds of thrusts in a row. The intense pleasure sent shivers down Hua Xiangrong's spine, making her body ache and tingle. With each thrust, her slender waist and pink buttocks swayed rhythmically, her tongue intertwining with Li Se's invading tongue, emitting seductive moans.

Li Se kissed Hua Xiangrong's fragrant lips passionately, kneading her firm, high breasts, his thrusts relentless, pushing her into one abyss of desire after another. Hua Xiangrong's starry eyes were slightly closed, her face flushed. Her hands tightly gripped Li Se's shoulders and neck, her slender waist and snowy buttocks swaying gently, responding to Li Se's thrusts. Her long, firm legs were tightly wrapped around Li Se's waist and hips, rubbing and intertwining like an octopus. She moaned incessantly, "Ah...so good...ah...so good...again...harder...oh...yes...so good...ah...again...coming...I can't take it anymore...ah...I can't take it anymore!"

Hearing these lewd words, Li Se went even crazier, his penis thrusting wildly. With a move reminiscent of "The Overlord Lifts the Tripod," he hoisted Hua Xiangrong's legs onto his shoulders, then plunged in again with the force of a thunderous army, aiming straight for her core, grinding and rubbing relentlessly, followed by a frenzied in-and-out thrusting. Each thrust reached the very depths, each one penetrating to the very core, over eight hundred times in a single breath.

The young girl, inexperienced in such matters, had never experienced such a onslaught; her core tingled with pleasure, and she moaned incessantly. Suddenly, the world spun around her, Hua Xiangrong's head swaying wildly from side to side, her flowing hair flying like a waterfall, her body thrashing in response to Li Se's thrusts, the waves of her breasts and buttocks creating an indescribable beauty.

"...So...so good...I...I'm coming...I'm done..."

Li Se suddenly felt Hua Xiangrong's tender vaginal flesh contract and rotate powerfully, tightly gripping his penis, feeling incredibly comfortable. He hurriedly pressed his penis tightly against the tender flesh at the center of her vagina, grinding and rotating it incessantly. This made Hua Xiangrong's hair stand on end, as if she had ascended to the ninth heaven. With a long scream, a torrent of hot fluid gushed out, scalding Li Se's penis, causing it to throb uncontrollably. His glans felt waves of tingling, numb, and itchy sensation. Unable to resist the tingling pleasure, he... He hurriedly lifted Hua Xiangrong's pink buttocks, and with a series of rapid thrusts, shot a stream of hot semen deep into her secret cave. Hua Xiangrong trembled violently, collapsing to the ground, panting heavily, her cheeks flushed a seductive blush, her body still quivering slightly, unable to move an inch…

Xue Yaoguang, determined to please her beloved and let Li Se know her worth, carefully considered many opening plans, choosing the best one; she also had someone divine the future, finally selecting an auspicious day.

The banks of the Qinhuai River were densely populated, with glittering pavilions and towers, a scene of great prosperity. The Confucius Temple, as the examination hall for the Imperial Academy, was teeming with candidates, thus attracting various businesses, including restaurants, teahouses, and snack shops. The brothels and pleasure houses were renowned throughout the land. On the Qinhuai River, "the sound of oars and the reflection of lanterns stretched for ten miles, singing girls and flower boats played on the turbid waves," with painted boats and the sounds of flutes and drums never ceasing day and night. Thus,

the banks of the Qinhuai River were a bustling scene, attracting a constant stream of visitors. It was also a gathering place for merchants, a prime location for competition. Li Se's "Huichun Hall" opened in this golden spot on the banks of the Qinhuai River. The weather was clear and crisp that day. Li Se dressed in his

finest clothes, preparing for the grand opening ceremony. Xue Yaoguang told Li Se that everything was ready, and he only needed to watch the excitement; he didn't need to worry about anything. Li Se was curious, seeing Xue Yaoguang's confident demeanor, wondering what brilliant scheme this renowned, business-savvy woman would devise.

The opening ceremony drew closer, and many guests arrived. There were officials from the imperial court, as well as figures from various martial arts sects. The three sect leaders arrived early to greet them, treating them like hosts.

Li Se thought to himself, "What a grand display! Isn't Miss Xue going too far? Is she really opening a pharmacy?" The thought of the shop using aphrodisiacs as its selling point made Li Se feel incredibly embarrassed.

As Li Se was lost in thought, a commotion suddenly erupted at the entrance. Seeing Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, Jin Zhong, and Yuan Gong arrive, many officials went up to greet them. Li Se quickly stepped forward, saying, "What brings you four gentlemen?"

Yang Shiqi laughed, "Young Master Li's business is about to open; how could we old men not come to lend our support?" The group entered, chatting and laughing.

The group entered the living room, where servants brought tea. They chatted over tea, and after a while, Yang Rong suddenly sighed, "Shaoqing is riding high, but Xie Jin is suffering in prison. What kind of world is this!"

Li Se looked troubled and sighed, "I understand what you gentlemen mean. I've probed the Emperor about Mr. Xie's situation, but His Majesty hasn't shown any sign of relenting. Even with the combined efforts of you gentlemen and His Highness the Crown Prince, we can't save Mr. Xie. What can I do?"

Jin Zhong laughed, "Since you have the will, Shaoqing, you have a way. You were simply not using the right methods before."

Li Se said, "So you have a plan. As long as Mr. Xie can be rescued, I'm willing to help."

Yuan Gong said, "However, you will face immense danger. Are you willing?"

"Don't worry, " Li Se said, "I'm not an unrighteous person."

Yang Shiqi laughed heartily, stood up, and said, "This old man originally didn't want to attend your messy business opening ceremony, it's not in accordance with the way of the sages, but since you are so benevolent and willing to sacrifice yourself to help Xie Jin, my trip wasn't in vain."

Yang Rong also said, "Young brother, I won't stand on ceremony with you. The rumors outside are very unfavorable to you, saying that you are a lecherous thief. We know your background and naturally understand your character, but you should be more careful in the future and not give others grounds for criticism. We are all doing this for your own good, you are still young, and your future is limitless!"

Li Se blushed with embarrassment, and just then, a servant came to announce that the opening ceremony had begun.

After a burst of firecrackers, Xue Yaoguang announced, "Our shop, Huichuntang, is officially open today! We cordially invite all of you to patronize us. Our shop offers some special benefits; otherwise, why would so many court officials and martial arts masters come to support us? Now, let's invite Senior Situ, the head of the Taishan Sect, to say a few words."

Situ Ming stepped forward and shouted, "Fellow martial artists, hello! The owner of this shop is neither related to me nor has any connection with me, so why am I personally here to support you today? Am I just bored and have nothing better to do? I'm incredibly busy!"

Situ Ming paused, glanced around, and suddenly pulled out a medicine bottle from his robes, exclaiming, "The real reason I'm here is that Huichuntang's medicine has given me a second spring! After taking these herbs, I'm incredibly virile! Hehe, what's in this..." "What benefits are there? Gentlemen, young and old, I'm sure you all know. What are you waiting for! Everyone, come and buy from now on! You'll never embarrass yourselves in front of your wives again; those with many wives and concubines especially must buy the medicine here, then your homes will be very harmonious, haha!"

Li Se was dumbfounded, but that wasn't all. As soon as Situ Ming stepped down, the old monk Bu Qing came up and said, "Amitabha, what a sin! Fellow martial arts enthusiasts, I have come here today to solemnly tell you something: the secret formula in Huichuntang is truly miraculous! My three beloved disciples not only possess unparalleled mastery of Shaolin martial arts, but also have extremely strong Buddhist concentration. However, because I didn't believe in the power of the secret formula in Huichuntang, I made a bet with my three disciples, and as a result, after they took it, they all returned to secular life. What a pity for my years of hard work!" After saying this, he beat his chest and stamped his feet.

Li Se stared in disbelief, saying to Xue Yaoguang beside him, "Is this...is this really okay? Isn't this nonsense? How could such a thing happen? It's utterly absurd, utterly absurd!"

Xue Yaoguang laughed, "Even the best wine needs advertising. What's wrong with promoting it like this? We're in business! If we don't say this, how will the common people know what special benefits our Huichuntang has? Hehe, with so many court officials and renowned martial arts masters supporting us, it's hard not to become famous. Just you wait and see! People will be lining up to buy our medicine. And think about it, even the head of the Taishan Sect takes our prescription, and the head of the Shaolin Sect says it's very powerful. Who would be embarrassed? They'll definitely come to buy it openly!"

Li Se's mouth dropped open in astonishment, but he also secretly admired Xue Yaoguang's cleverness, thinking that even if Xue Yaoguang was selling fake medicine, she would definitely make a fortune. What followed were various discounts on medicine purchases, free handkerchiefs with purchases, and other promotions, creating quite a sensation.

After Huichuntang opened its doors in the capital with great fanfare, business was indeed booming.

Li Se, impressed, was full of admiration for Xue Yaoguang and said to Gu Xiangjun, "With Miss Xue's methods, even if Huichuntang's herbs don't work, as long as they don't kill anyone, there will still be plenty of customers. She's truly an extraordinary woman!"

Gu Xiangjun laughed, "Since you think she's so good, why don't you marry her?"

Li Se laughed, "Do you think I can just marry whoever I want? Even if she were willing to be my concubine, I wouldn't have time to marry anyone else. Look, here comes Hua Meimei, doesn't she?"

Hua Xiangrong pushed open the door and entered, smiling, "Sister, husband, what are you chatting about so happily?" Hua Xiangrong nestled close to Li Se as soon as she entered. Having just tasted love, she was naturally inseparable from Li Se.

Gu Xiangjun smiled and said, "We were just talking about you, sister! The pharmacy is doing very well, and we need a lot of herbs. We've troubled you with gathering them, sister; we really feel bad about it."

Li Se said, "Yes! You've worked so hard."

Hua Xiangrong said, "It's not hard at all. Bao'er came with me to gather them, and she found it very interesting! She can learn some magic from me, and she can also wander around. Most importantly, she feels she can be of use, and she's very happy!"

Li Se happily said, "As long as she's happy, that's all that matters. You should spend more time with her! But remember not to tire yourselves out; just treat it as a game."

Hua Xiangrong agreed with a smile.

The three of them only chatted for a short while when Leng Ruxue arrived. Li Se was at a loss for words, and when Leng Ruxue mentioned that the Tianlong Gang in the martial arts world was planning to wipe out the other five sects, Li Se couldn't sit still any longer. He rose to take his leave, saying he had important business to attend to, and went straight to find Yang Yingyun.

Yang Yingyun lived at Wuxiang Temple, named after the mountain it was nestled in, a truly wondrous place. Wuxiang Temple was first built during the Six Dynasties period and was located at the bottom of the southern valley of Wuxiang Mountain. Li Se was led to Yang Yingyun's residence by the guest monk, where Yang Yingyun was already waiting with a smile at the door.

Yang Yingyun said, "Aren't you spending time with the beauties at home? Why do you have time to come see me? Or did you quarrel with them and need me to mediate?" As she spoke, she ushered Li Se into the house.

Li Se said, "Sister, you jest. You asked me to become the leader of the Six Sects Alliance, but the sect leaders aren't in a hurry at all after I agreed. I heard that the martial world is in turmoil, and the Tianlong Gang is poised to strike. The Hengshan Sect has already been annihilated, and the other five sects are now on the verge of collapse. If we don't find a way out, are we just waiting to die?"

Yang Yingyun said, "Don't worry, things aren't that critical. After the Tianlong Gang took over the Hengshan Sect's territory, they still have to clean up the mess! They suddenly have such a large area, and they can't just act like the Hengshan Sect did before." They would be blaming themselves by levying taxes and exploiting the people there; otherwise, wouldn't they be contradicting themselves? Their rallying cry for war was to liberate the people and relieve them of heavy taxes. Furthermore, the court tacitly approved their attack on the Hengshan Sect because they promised to cease taxation after the conquest. However, this campaign has been extremely costly, and they desperately need rest. Also, what should be done with the surrendered Hengshan Sect disciples? Killing them is out of the question; they must be settled. If they aren't settled properly, the Hengshan Sect disciples will become thieves. The Hengshan Sect members are quite skilled in martial arts; if they were truly disturbed… If they disrupt public order and cause chaos in the world, how will they explain it to the court? These are big problems that cannot be solved in the short term.

Li Se pondered for a while and said: "It turns out that the reason why Hengshan Sect fell into the hands of Tianlong Gang was to give them a hot potato."

Yang Yingyun smiled and said: "Not bad." After the Hengshan faction was annihilated, the remaining five factions naturally united, and the Tianlong Gang's strength was also exposed, so they could formulate countermeasures.

Li Se nodded in agreement, and Yang Yingyun said: "Alas, the two families are at odds with each other, and this great martial arts battle seems inevitable." I don’t know how many lives will be sacrificed by then! You have to try your best to resolve it.

Li Se said: "I know." I met Bai Tingyu, the eldest son of the Tianlong Gang, a few days ago. Unfortunately, I didn't know the situation in the world at that time and didn't have a deep talk with him. It would have been nice if there was a chance for reconciliation.

Yang Yingyun glanced at Li Se meaningfully and said, "Then you must work hard!" I believe you will succeed. "

The two chatted for a while. Seeing that it was getting late, Li Se stood up and left.

Yang Yingyun saw Li Se off to the door, and only after his figure gradually disappeared did she turn around. An old monk appeared behind her.

Yang Yingyun asked, "Master Xinkong, how do you think Li Se's cultivation is now?"

Xinkong smiled and said, "Naturally, his cultivation is very profound, but I don't know exactly how profound. It's just that I see you two are so aloof; you're enthusiastic one moment and indifferent the next. I wonder what you're thinking."

Yang Yingyun sighed, "Master, don't imagine me to be so powerful. After all, I'm just a girl. The Sword Master and the Sword Empress have a deep connection in martial arts, and Li Se and I are young lovers; naturally, there's a hazy, budding affection between us." "But Li Se has a harem of wives and concubines; he has already lost his chance to compete with me. He vaguely knows this, which is why he acts so reservedly. If he were promiscuous and unrestrained, it would mean he has seen through the ways of the world and has no more attachments or lingering feelings. But he is still hesitant and indecisive, acting as if he wants to leave but then stays. I think his understanding is still very shallow."

Xin Kong chuckled and said, "Miss Yang is truly acting like a young girl today! After all, this old monk is older and understands these things. If a man truly falls in love with a woman, he will..." "He's anxious and insecure, and a little afraid of that woman. Isn't Li Se just like that in front of you? He's afraid of saying the wrong thing in front of you, afraid that you'll look down on him. Actually, since he debuted, he's never really achieved anything great, even though his martial arts have recovered and his cultivation has deepened. But isn't he just like a bird startled by the twang of a bow?"

Yang Yingyun paused, then smiled self-deprecatingly, and said, "Alas, I still can't escape human nature. Although I pursue the 'Tao,' worldly love holds very little weight in my heart, I still can't help but hope that everyone will love me, even though I can't give the same love in return. But whenever I see an outstanding man, I still hope that he can love me, and then I tell him with a pitying look that it's impossible, with a hint of schadenfreude. I know it's not good, but I still do it."

Xin Kong looked at Yang Yingyun and stopped speaking. It was the first time he had seen the Sword Queen act like an ordinary little girl, with the mentality of a child. It shows how difficult the path of cultivating the heart is. How can one become an immortal without truly being a human being? But how difficult it is to overcome human nature. Knowing it is simple, but doing it is very difficult.

Li Se returned home and summoned the three sect leaders the next day. He said to them, "The business of Huichuntang in the capital is very good. I have already sent my men to open similar pharmacies elsewhere. Now that you have helped me resolve the matter of my brothers, I have no more worries and should help your six major sects. Tell me what I should do. Old monk, if you have any ideas, just say them. Don't keep them to yourself."

Bu Qing said, "This old monk has no ideas. When the opportunity comes, you will be appointed as the leader of our six sects in a grand

and glorious manner, so that you can enjoy the limelight. After that, we will do whatever you say." Li Se said, "Six sects? Now there are only five sects left! What's so glorious about that? Besides, pushing me to the front to fight against the Tianlong Gang, you have quite the wishful thinking."

Situ Ming said, "Not at all! Sir, you are extremely intelligent and unfathomable." "The Tianlong Gang is no match for you."

Gu Xuanzhong stepped forward to offer some flattery, but Li Se waved him off, saying, "We're all on the same side. Don't spout useless nonsense. The Tianlong Gang can't be defeated with empty words."

Gu Xuanzhong and Situ Ming said, "It's not nonsense, it's from the bottom of our hearts. Sir, you are indeed formidable, we admire you..."

Li Se said, "Alright, I'll go and report to the Emperor about my desire to become your leader. Let's see if the Emperor can help me."

The three immediately exclaimed excitedly, "Yes, yes, that's the most crucial thing! If the wise Emperor were to issue an edict designating the Tianlong Gang as a demonic cult and eradicating it, that would be wonderful."

Seeing the three gesticulating wildly, Li Se sneered, "What's there to be happy about? With the support of Prince Zhao, it's already a favor if the Tianlong Gang isn't designated as a demonic cult." With that, he strode away.

Li Se entered the palace to pay his respects to Zhu Di. After kneeling and bowing, Zhu Di said, "Minister, what have you done? I heard that Wushuang was so angry with you that she cursed you in the palace. She has never been so out of control since returning to the palace. Tell me, how did you manage to do this? Why is my youngest and most precious daughter so infatuated with you?"

Li Se was taken aback and said, "Is that so? I didn't know!"

Zhu Di said, "Oh! Very well, I won't pry into your children's affairs. I want to ask you, your pharmacy, I've heard the medicine is very effective, do you have any elixirs of immortality?"

Li Se was stunned and said, "No, Your Majesty is in high spirits and in good health, you don't need these medicines."

Zhu Di said impatiently, "If you don't have the elixir of immortality, then what are you doing here? Come see me when you have better medicine!"

Li Se said, "I want to resign my official post and become the leader of one of the six major sects in the martial arts world. Also, I have a deep personal relationship with Xie Jin, and I beg Your Majesty to allow me to visit him."

Zhu Di waved his hand impatiently and said, "Go! Go! Isn't the Crown Prince the regent? Ask him if you have any questions. I still need to refine elixirs!"

Li Se bowed and withdrew, remembering that the Emperor had said the princess was angry and scolded him, and he couldn't understand it, so he went to see Zhu Wushuang. When he arrived at the princess's palace, Zhu Wushuang sent word that she refused to see him, so Li Se had no choice but to leave the palace to visit Xie Jin in prison. Ji Gang

, the commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, only allowed Li Se to enter the prison to visit Xie Jin after hearing that Li Se had followed the Emperor's orders.

When Xie Jin saw Li Se arrive, he laughed and said, "It's truly your influence, Shaoqing, that you've come to see me. A hero emerges from among the young!"

Li Se replied, "Sir, you flatter me. How are you doing in prison?"

Xie Jin said, "I'm doing well. With the Crown Prince and the ministers looking after me, my food and clothing are quite good."

Li Se smiled and said, "That's good then. Don't worry, sir. After a few days, when the Emperor's anger subsides, we'll plead with him to release you."

Xie Jin said solemnly, "Xie Jin is doomed. The Emperor will not let me go."

Li Se asked in surprise, "What?" Xie Jin

said, "I know the Emperor too well. I know his intentions, and that's a major taboo. As for sometimes teasing the Emperor, that's another matter. But the most taboo thing is the matter of the Crown Prince. Personally, he hopes that the Prince of Zhao, who resembles him, will ascend the throne. However, the realm is already settled. Publicly, a benevolent ruler is needed to govern the country. Although the Crown Prince is benevolent, he appears foolish, which the Emperor dislikes. The Emperor most desires the Crown Prince..." "If only his benevolence and the heroic spirit of Prince Zhao were combined, but there is no such person. For the sake of the world and the Zhu family's empire, the emperor had no choice but to establish the crown prince as the heir apparent. The rightful successor naturally had too many advantages; it could be said that the empire belonged to Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi. But the emperor was not satisfied. I contributed the most to the matter of establishing the crown prince, so naturally the emperor wanted to punish me to appease his frustrated mood. That's why I said: Xie Jin will surely die."

Li Se was no longer surprised upon hearing this, and smiled slightly, saying, "Sir, you have naturally thought of a plan to escape! What can I do for you?"

Xie Jin laughed loudly, "Xie Jin will not be alive for long. But what about my talents? Can I be qualified to be your child's teacher?"

Li Se smiled and said, "I understand, sir. You will definitely be my child's teacher."

Li Se bid farewell to Xie Jin and returned home, where he met Wang Bao'er and Hua Xiangrong returning from gathering herbs. Li Se smiled at Wang Bao'er and said, "Bao'er, have you been having fun with Sister Hua these days? If you feel tired or bored, you don't have to go out to collect herbs all day."

Wang Bao'er replied, "That won't do. Isn't the pharmacy going to open a branch elsewhere? We'll need more herbs in the future! I never imagined that these flowers and herbs in the mountains are both valuable and can cure diseases. Now I'll be of use." Wang Bao'er finished speaking with a beaming smile, very proud of herself.

Seeing that Hua Xiangrong was also happy, Li Se smiled and said, "Bao'er, in a few days, you'll have someone to guess riddles with! Are you happy now?"

But Wang Bao'er immediately pouted and shook her head, saying, "No, no. I'll never guess riddles again, they're not fun at all!"

Li Se asked curiously, "Why? You used to like them a lot!"

Wang Bao'er said, "I don't like them anymore! I've grown up!"

Li Se thought to himself, "Sister Chu and Sister Yang are too clever; they changed Bao'er's mind so quickly."

At this moment, Hua Xiangrong said, "Li Lang, we met Sister Yang today while gathering herbs on Wuxiang Mountain. She praised you highly, saying you have good taste, finding two herb gatherers as smart, capable, and beautiful as us!"

Wang Bao'er exclaimed excitedly, "Yes! Yes!"

Li Se laughed, "She wasn't praising me at all; she was really praising you!"

The three of them laughed together.

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[Fantasy] Immortal Cultivation of the Heart (Complete) - 26-28

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