[Fantasy] Immortal Cultivation of the Heart (Complete) - 22-24

Chapter Four: Wise People and Wise Things

(31) Playing with a Spear and a Stick The day's plan begins in the morning

Wang Bao'er said, "Sister, if you have some free time, shall we go see Sister Chu? I know you think I'm talking nonsense and don't really believe she's that good!"

Xue Yaoguang was a little surprised and said, "I didn't think that way. But since we have nothing else to do, let's go see her together. I'd like to get to know a sister like that!"

The two of them went to Chu Liuguang's residence together. As soon as they entered, they saw Chu Liuguang carefully instructing a maid to do something. The soil in front of the courtyard steps, about a foot square, had been turned over. Then Chu Liuguang took out two flower seeds from her pocket and planted them. She then instructed a maid to cover them with a pot.

Wang Bao'er walked up and said, "What are you doing, sister?"

Chu Liuguang smiled and said, "You'll find out soon enough. Sister, who is this beautiful sister?"

Wang Bao'er then introduced them to the two of them.

After exchanging pleasantries for a while, Chu Liuguang said, "Alright."

She walked over, took the pot away, and there it was—flowers had already sprouted from the ground. They grew rapidly, reaching a height of five feet, with blossoms on each layer of leaves, two of which were particularly dazzling and lovely.

Xue Yaoguang was astonished. Wang Bao'er, having already witnessed Chu Liuguang's abilities, wasn't surprised, but clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Ah! Sister Chu is amazing!"

Seeing Xue Yaoguang's puzzled expression, Chu Liuguang smiled and said, "Legend has it that this is a fairy's banner flower. I obtained the seed by chance; it's not that I have any special abilities."

Xue Yaoguang was taken aback and said, "Sister, don't be modest. I've heard that you can see through boxes. Can you see what I'm holding in my right hand?"

Chu Liuguang smiled slightly and said, "What you're holding is a peony."

Xue Yaoguang was initially annoyed by Chu Liuguang's boastful address of "sister," but upon hearing the answer, she was startled. She opened her hand, and indeed, in her small, white hand lay a red peony.

Xue Yaoguang said, "You figured it out so quickly? What divination method did you use?"

Chu Liuguang chuckled and said, "I didn't use any divination! I just guessed!"

Xue Yaoguang asked in surprise, "Guessed? Guessed?"

Chu Liuguang said, "Yes. I saw you in the garden before, and I noticed you liked to pick a flower and play with it. I also smelled the fragrance of peonies, so I knew it was a peony in your hand!"

Xue Yaoguang was surprised and thought, "She's so observant and perceptive; she's truly remarkable." She said, "Sister, you're so thoughtful, able to see the big picture from small details. You're incredibly wise. I admire you greatly." "Very well."

Chu Liuguang said with a smile, "You're too kind, sister."

Xue Yaoguang felt annoyed that she kept calling her "sister," and her eyes darted around. She said, "Sister is so smart, you must know everything, right?"

Chu Liuguang replied, "Not necessarily, I just know a little about everything."

Xue Yaoguang chuckled inwardly, thinking, "Your knowledge is really shallow, so arrogant. You'll be sorry later. No matter how smart a person is, they can't know everything."

Immediately, Xue Yaoguang began to talk to Chu Liuguang about all sorts of things, from astronomy to geography. However, no matter how hard Xue Yaoguang racked her brains, she couldn't stump Chu Liuguang. Xue Yaoguang was most skilled in business, but if she made a mistake in this area and stumped Chu Liuguang, it wouldn't be a real skill. Therefore, Xue Yaoguang asked some other tricky and strange questions, but Chu Liuguang actually talked fluently and answered them smoothly.

Finally, Xue Yaoguang realized she couldn't stump Chu Liuguang. A thought flashed through her mind, and she sneered, "Sister, you truly are the smartest person in the world. I don't think any woman is more capable than you. Hehe, and no man could possibly be more capable than you either." The implication was that no man was worthy of her; otherwise, no matter how smart she was, wouldn't that be quite tragic?

Chu Liuguang seemed oblivious to Xue Yaoguang's meaning, but her expression darkened. She said, "There is one. Sister, you praise me as the best in the world, but actually, not to mention men, even among women, I discovered someone far more capable than me when I came to Bao'er's house."

Wang Bao'er, who had been watching the two women's antics, couldn't help but ask, "Sister Chu, who are you talking about? Someone even more capable than you!"

Xue Yaoguang's heart fluttered. She thought, "I've been known as a talented woman since childhood. It seems you're not so arrogant after all; you actually know how capable I am." She couldn't help but feel smug.

Chu Liuguang sighed and said, "She is magnanimous and upright in her actions, and kind-hearted; she is truly blessed by Heaven. Most importantly, she can do what she says she will do, while I cannot. There are things I know how to do, but I can't do them—what's the use then? Therefore, knowing is easy, doing is hard. So no matter how clever I am, I will never be the most powerful woman; I think only she deserves to be the number one in the world."

Xue Yaoguang was stunned and asked, "Who exactly is she?"

Chu Liuguang smiled and said, "You'll know in the future, sister. Even if I told you now, you wouldn't believe me. " "You'll understand when you suffer the consequences."

Xue Yaoguang smiled contemptuously, thinking, "This is probably something you made up! Unable to refute my words, you resort to other lies. It seems your wisdom is quite limited."

As dawn broke, Leng Ruxue suddenly woke up. Opening her eyes, she found herself lying naked in Li Se's arms. She instinctively reached for Li Se's manhood, her movements extremely gentle, afraid of waking him. However, as she climbed out of his arms, she inevitably woke him as well. Leng Ruxue had a habit of playing with Li Se's penis early in the morning, because it was always hard.

Li Se squinted at her, and sure enough, Leng Ruxue was touching his manhood, rubbing and squeezing it. Li Se couldn't resist any longer; his previously hard manhood suddenly swelled up, like a red-hot iron rod.

Leng Ruxue loved playing with Li Se's large penis. Knowing he was awake, she became even more unrestrained, using her hand to stroke it.

"Up so early to play... Xiaoxue..." Li Se asked with a smile, pulling Leng Ruxue into his arms.

"Your baby is so much fun... hehe..." Leng Ruxue laughed and acted coquettishly, a sight that would make any man lose his mind. Li Se sat up, his hands moving from her bare back to her chest, grasping her breasts and holding her close. His lips gently

and slowly touched her hair. Gradually, Li Se's hands became restless, kneading her breasts. Her full, firm breasts fit perfectly in his large hands, making them incredibly easy for him to play with. Under his kneading, her nipples gradually hardened. Li Se's lips moved down, kissing her smooth neck, the base of her ears, and her smooth back. Leng Ruxue remained quietly in this position, letting Li Se's lips rain down on every part of her body.

"Mmm...mmm...mmm..." She gradually let out soft panting sounds.

"Ugh...ugh...ugh..." As her desire grew, Li Se's grip tightened, pressing and kneading her breasts, then sliding down to her smooth abdomen, finally settling on the pubic area between her thighs. His hot, hard penis pressed uncomfortably against Leng Ruxue's buttocks. Li Se lay down, embracing her buttocks, and began licking her vulva.

Leng Ruxue was like a docile lamb, letting Li Se do as he pleased. As he licked her vulva, she grasped his penis and began licking it as well.

An endless desire began to burn between them. Both their genitals had a slight odor, but they both seemed to love the obscene, pungent smell.

Li Se parted Leng Ruxue's labia, licking her tender opening with his tongue, his nose rubbing against her clitoris.

Leng Ruxue writhed restlessly as Li Se licked her, her mouth tasting the deliciousness of his penis.

"Is it itchy inside, Xue'er?" Li Se asked softly as he gently probed her vagina with his fingers.

"Mmm... Ah..." Suddenly, Leng Ruxue felt a surge of heat rushing into her vagina.

Li Se's mouth covered her full labia and opening, blowing hot air into her. Each breath made Leng Ruxue shiver, and she couldn't help but leak vaginal fluid. Taking advantage of the situation, Li Se lifted her buttocks and sucked hard on her vagina, drawing all the fluid into his mouth. Leng Ruxue felt a constant flow of fluid inside her, and Li Se's sucking caused waves of intense itching in her vaginal walls, her clitoris throbbing.

Li Se continued to extend his tongue inside, swirling and probing the vaginal walls. The tender flesh inside, after this period of probing, felt sore, numb, and itchy. Leng Ruxue felt lightheaded, her head spinning, forgetting everything except subconsciously arching her buttocks, bringing her vagina closer to his mouth, allowing his tongue to penetrate deeper. Suddenly, her clitoris was pressed against the tip of his tongue, which flicked upwards.

"Mmm...uh...uh..." Leng Ruxue's breathing became short and rapid, her mouth spitting out the large penis, only able to inhale.

Li Se then inserted his fingers into her vagina, which was exceptionally wet. His fingers kept thrusting and teasing her vulva, while his tongue licked her clitoris. Leng Ruxue gradually lost her rationality under Li Se's teasing.

"Mmm...husband...I can't take it..." Leng Ruxue began to moan lasciviously. She was overwhelmed with lust, burning with desire, as if she were being consumed by fire.

Leng Ruxue turned around, straddling Li Se's waist, grasping the base of his penis, aligning the glans with her vaginal opening, parting her labia, and inserting the large glans. Then she slowly lowered herself, swallowing the penis completely. When their pubic hair touched, Leng Ruxue supported herself on Li Se's abdomen, lifting her lower body up and down to begin thrusting for a while. Then she sat on Li Se's lower abdomen, moving her lower body back and forth, rubbing her vagina against his penis. She swayed her body up and down, manipulating the penis, her breasts heaving. She then braced herself on the bed with her hands behind her, leaning back with her legs spread wide, thrusting her lower body. Her two tender red labia, her erect clitoris, and the alluring entrance of her vagina, swallowing and releasing the thick base of the penis, were all clearly visible. Leng Ruxue's beautiful eyes were half-closed, occasionally tossing her hair, licking and biting her fingers.

Li Se got up and pressed Leng Ruxue back down on the bed, adjusting her position, while his penis continued to thrust in and out of her vagina. Li Se's waist thrust with increasing force, each thrust more powerful, more ferocious, faster, and deeper than the last, relentlessly penetrating Leng Ruxue until she was on the verge of death. She would occasionally open her mouth and cry out, "Ah...ah!" Her waist swayed from side to side like a snake, her tender buttocks never still, responding to Li Se's every move.

"Oh...oh...so beautiful...I'm dying..." Leng Ruxue's moans were so wanton. Her body was so hot, as if it were filled with electricity.

Li Se's hot glans rubbed against the walls of Leng Ruxue's narrow vagina, arousing her lust. Her whole body twisted and swayed like a tremor, her eyes burning with a raging fire, her lips as red as fire, her body as fiery as fire.

Leng Ruxue, like a snake, writhed beneath Li Se, moaning from time to time: "Oh...oh...husband...you're so good...so amazing..."

Leng Ruxue's hands tightly encircled Li Se's neck, her tender buttocks automatically thrusting upwards to meet the thrusts of Li Se's glans. She was like a maddened beast, wanting to devour Li Se whole. Her thighs were tightly hooked around Li Se's waist, so that his thrusts could go deeper.

Seeing Leng Ruxue lying beneath him, so alluring and wanton, Li Se intensified his thrusts, penetrating her with relentless force. His hard, hot member felt like a fish in water, or a caged bird soaring into the sky, inside her tight, warm, and moist cavern. The

sticky, lustful fluids flowing from her vagina gradually gushed out as Li Se's glans withdrew and thrust in and out. The fluids splashed onto Li Se and her pubic hair, glistening and shimmering, making the hair appear tangled—a rather amusing sight. Li Se's movements were warm and pleasurable; the pleasure was indescribable.

Gradually, Leng Ruxue's spring tide returned; her cheeks flushed, burning hot, and her mouth gaped open as if she couldn't close it. Li Se leaned down and bit her thin, lovely lips, continuing his thrusting motions. His heart was pounding with desire, his desire overflowing – that was the perfect description of his state.

"Xiao Xue... does it feel good...? Your little hole... is so tight... so warm... so amazing... ah... so good..." Li Se whispered in Leng Ruxue's ear, panting heavily.

Leng Ruxue's face flushed red, her beautiful eyes half-closed, her breath coming in gasps: "Oh... husband... so... so good... your... cock... is so big... so hard... so hot... ah... so amazing... so wonderful..."

Li Se felt a burning desire, like a mad bull, thrusting into her until she felt both ecstatic and writhing. Leng Ruxue closed her beautiful eyes, as if enduring immense pain, or perhaps lost in blissful bliss. The sounds of their bodies colliding, "slap," "slap," and the wet, squelching sounds of their thrusting, combined with Leng Ruxue and Li Se's passionate moans, "Ouch," "Ouch," created a beautiful melody.

Li Se thrust and pulled forcefully. Just then, Leng Ruxue seemed to have reached the peak of her arousal, as if she was about to ejaculate. She cried out more urgently, "Husband...so...good...mmm...ah...so comfortable...ah...harder...ah...faster...ah...I...I'm going to heaven...oh...fuck me to death...oh..."

Her moans were so beautiful and melodious that Li Se's thrusts became faster and more intense. Leng Ruxue lay beneath him, tightly embracing him, letting him ruthlessly ravage her, her body and soul melting away.

Li Se was like a tiger unleashed from its cage, fierce and invincible, like a valiant warrior, charging into battle, conquering and seizing territory, invincible in every way. As Li Se's glans withdrew and thrust in again, her vaginal fluids were drawn out, flowing over their pubic hair, then down their thighs, soaking the sheets.

Leng Ruxue trembled all over, followed by streams of hot, soft vaginal fluid gushing from her uterus like a burst dam, drenching Li Se's glans and scalding him, making his whole body tingle and his mind reel. Li Se, alone, thrust in and out several times, the sound of her vaginal fluids splashing loudly. She had reached the peak of pleasure, and her body went limp as she lay flat, letting Li Se plunder her body at will.

"Xiaoxue... ah... your pussy... is so... alluring... ah!" Li Se couldn't help but praise.

"Oh... so beautiful... oh my god... ah... husband... you... you... are so amazing... um..." Hearing her moans, Li Se's penis, swelled with her vaginal fluids, was on the verge of ejaculation, the pleasure concentrated at one point, his muscles contracting in preparation for release.

After several powerful thrusts, Li Se released a surge of semen, which sprayed onto her vulva, causing Leng Ruxue to become wildly excited. Her vagina squeezed tightly, and she held Li Se tightly, savoring this most beautiful moment of her life. The two embraced tenderly like this, and before they knew it, dawn was breaking.

Li Se and Leng Ruxue were inseparable, trying every trick and position they had never tried with Gu Xiangjun. Even Leng Ruxue's anus was thoroughly explored at her insistence. They were so happy that they lost track of time, and only after some days did they remember that they should go home. During

these days, Leng Ruxue, because of her close relationship with Li Se, was only outwardly polite to Hua Ruxue at Li Se's urging. Wang Bao'er was also very afraid of Leng Ruxue and dared not compete with her for favor, so Li Se was relatively carefree.

However, as time went on, Hua Ruxue and Chu Liuguang grew tired of studying magic, and seeing Li Se and Leng Ruxue's intimacy, they could no longer resist and began to compete for his affections. In her predicament, Li Se realized she should go home.

At Qixiang Residence, she mentioned her intention to return home to Gu Xiangjun, who nodded repeatedly in agreement, saying, "Our restaurant is being managed by Hua Meimei's maid, Xiao Shitou. Who knows what might happen! Luckily, Master is there, otherwise I would be very worried. But we should still go home as soon as possible. Bao'er's birthday has already passed, and we don't have anything else to do in the capital."

Li Se said, "That's right, we'll pack today and set off tomorrow."

As they were talking, a maidservant entered and said, "Young Master, Madam, we have guests."

Li Se, not knowing who they were, went out to greet them. Seeing Jie Jin and Yang Shiqi approaching together, he quickly went to meet them, smiling, "What brings you two gentlemen here? If you two have anything to say, just tell me. It's too much trouble for you to come in person."

Jie Jin laughed, "You're so busy. We tell you to come to our residence often, but you're only interested in romance and pleasure. You'd never visit us old folks! So young and carefree, it's truly enviable!"

Li Se was quite embarrassed and said, "Not at all, I was afraid of disturbing you two gentlemen."

As they spoke, the three entered the room, and Gu Xiangjun quickly served tea.

After chatting for a while, Yang Shiqi said, "Young Master Li, we've come to take you to see someone. You've met him before, but do you know what? He's your martial uncle!"

Li Se was startled, spilling the tea in his hand. He asked, "Who are you talking about?"

Xie Jin replied, "It's your Junior Master Yao Guangxiao, whose Dharma name is Daoyan."

Li Se said, "Ah! I have met him once, but my master never mentioned having such a martial uncle." He thought to himself, "That's impossible. He's a monk, and my master is a Taoist." "They're completely unrelated, how could they be connected?"

Yang Shiqi said solemnly, "Go and see them, you'll know the truth. We don't know anything about it."

Seeing the solemn expressions on their faces, Li Se guessed that something important must have happened, and besides, she was also very curious, so she said, "That's right, then could you two gentlemen introduce us? I also want to know the truth."

Xie Jin said, "Very well. Let's set off now!"

As soon as the three of them stepped out the door, they saw Wang Bao'er, Chu Liuguang, and Hua Ruxue walking towards them.

After greeting Xie Jin and Yang Shiqi, Wang Bao'er asked, "Uncle Xie, where are you taking Brother Li?"

Xie Jin replied, "We're going to pay our respects to Master Yao. Actually, your Brother Li is his junior apprentice!"

Wang Bao'er was overjoyed and exclaimed, "Ah! I really want to go and see for myself! He usually looks quite intimidating, but since he's Brother Li's senior apprentice, he won't scare me. Hehe! Why is he a monk even though he's a high-ranking official? Many people want to know! I'll ask him this time and then tell everyone."

Hua Ruxue exclaimed in surprise, "You mean you're going to see that high-ranking monk? I'm not going! I'm terrified; his magic is too powerful!"

Yang Shiqi sighed inexplicably and said to Chu Liuguang, "Miss, one of them wants to go, and the other doesn't. What about you?"

Chu Liuguang smiled and said, "Of course I'm going. Maybe I'll get some benefits!"

Yang Shiqi and Xie Jin looked at each other in astonishment and said in unison, "What a powerful old monk! He really predicted that two girls would go." Chu

Liuguang smiled without saying a word, but Wang Bao'er kept asking questions.

The group then rode in a carriage to Qingshou Temple. It turned out that although Daoyan held a high position and great power, he usually wore monk's robes and lived in temples except when attending court. In recent years, he had been residing at Qingshou Temple.

Upon arriving at Qingshou Temple, they came to a meditation room. Xie Jin went in to announce their arrival, while the two women, Li Se, and Yang Shiqi waited outside.

The group found the meditation room quite elegant, cleanly furnished, and decorated with antiques and paintings. Li Se, Chu Liuguang, and Wang Bao'er carefully examined it. When they came to a portrait, Wang Bao'er suddenly began to study it closely, then exclaimed, "Brother, Sister Chu, come quickly! Look at what's written on this painting!"

Chu Liuguang and Li Se saw a poem inscribed on a portrait of a monk: "A moment of spiritual light emerges from the void, what is the meaning of his transformation into a human? The elixir of autumn needs no fire in the furnace, to remove the mortal's heart of a single point."

Li Se noticed that the monk in the painting had triangular eyes, resembling a sick tiger, and recognized him as Dao Yan, whom she had met once in the palace. Li Se exclaimed in surprise, "This is a portrait of the Junior Tutor. But this poem..."

Chu Liuguang nodded with a smile and said, "Bao'er and Big Brother guessed correctly."

At this moment, Yang Shiqi walked over with a smile and said, "The three of you are indeed clever people. This poem is a riddle, and the answer is the two characters 'bald dead.' This is none other than the work of Grand Scholar Xie. He is used to joking with the Junior Tutor. When the Junior Tutor saw the poem he wrote, he just laughed heartily but didn't take it seriously and still hung it up in the open. His magnanimity is truly great."

Li Se and Wang Bao'er clicked their tongues in amazement, while Chu Liuguang laughed and said, "What an enlightened monk!"

At this moment, Xie Jin pushed open the door and came in, laughing, "What bad things are you saying about me while I was away!" Then he said to Chu Liuguang, "Miss, please come in! The Junior Tutor wants to see you first."

Li Se was very puzzled, thinking, "I haven't even asked him if he is my uncle yet! Why does he want to see Sister Chu? What is the reason for this?"

The others didn't seem to care, and a little monk led Chu Liuguang away.

The young monk led Chu Liuguang to a meditation room, bowed, and left.

Chu Liuguang gently pushed open the door and saw a monk sitting cross-legged on a chair. He smiled at her and gestured for her to sit down. Chu Liuguang noticed that he didn't seem very old; he had triangular eyes and prominent cheekbones, which, from a physiognomy perspective, would have been extremely fierce. However, his radiance had now softened, revealing a gentle aura, which surprised her.

The monk smiled and said, "Appearance reflects the heart, and a change in the heart changes the appearance. Why should you care, young lady? But Miss Chu, I need to see you alone. Are you surprised?"

Chu Liuguang said, "Yesterday I had my fortune told, and I knew I would meet a benefactor today. I didn't expect that you would indeed want to see me. I'd like to know what benefit you can offer me? I'm currently well-fed and clothed, everything is going smoothly for me, and I'm quite carefree. Moreover, I know quite a lot; is there anything I can't do myself? Do I need someone else's help?"

Daoyan smiled and said, "What you say is indeed very true. But do you see? This potted plant in the room is almost ready to wither. Of course, you have a way to make it..." "You won't wither, but what about yourself?"

Chu Liuguang trembled and said, "Uncle-Master is indeed powerful, all-knowing and all-seeing. No wonder you are renowned throughout the world. But my illness is the will of Heaven. Does Uncle-Master have any way to cure it?"

Dao Yan did not answer Chu Liuguang's question, but said solemnly, "If a person is blind, shouldn't their hearing be very sharp? If a person is deaf, shouldn't their eyes be even brighter?"

Chu Liuguang pondered Dao Yan's words and said, "You are right."

Dao Yan smiled and said, "That's how things are in the world. If you lose one thing, you will make up for it in another. There are gains and losses! If you focus on..." "One thing can lead to great achievements."

Chu Liuguang said, "Yes, please continue."

Daoyan said, "I'm old! My magic power is waning, and I can't help you much anymore. But those who can help you are right beside you, why don't you make good use of them?"

Chu Liuguang was taken aback, then sighed, "Uncle-Master, that's a slim hope! It's almost hopeless. And it comes at the cost of harming others. Even if I could obtain it through scheming, I wouldn't be able to act on it. Even if I did, I would feel uneasy afterwards, worse than death, so I won't do that."

Daoyan laughed and said, "You're trying to blind me with your false heart." "Unfortunately, I only use my heart to perceive the world. Come, let me enlighten you." Then he took out a book from his bosom and said, "This is the culmination of my life's work, called 'The Book of Wisdom.' Once you learn it, you can roam the world freely. What need do you have for magic or illusions? Have you not heard that those who labor with their minds govern others, while those who labor with their strength are governed by others?"

Chu Liuguang excitedly took the manual and excitedly flipped through it. After a while, she looked up and saw Dao Yan smiling at her. Her eyes darted around, and she put the book on the table, saying calmly, "Hey! Old monk, I don't appreciate your kindness! You think you're just trying to use me to help your good nephew?"

Dao Yan laughed heartily, then said, "What a clever little girl. But if you weren't my nephew's wife, I wouldn't bother using you! He has many wives, all quite intelligent, why would I give you mine? If you don't want it, I won't force you. Hehe! Are there few who want my book?"

Chu Liuguang said calmly, "Fine! I don't want it anyway! Besides, I'm not his... I'm just his sister."

Dao Yan was stunned, then smiled bitterly, "Alas! I was wrong, Miss, please accept my book!" Seeing Chu Liuguang accept the secret book with a victorious smile... Ji sighed, "I've lived over eighty years in vain, and I still can't outsmart a girl. That kid Li Se is so clumsy now, how come he's so popular with girls?"

Chu Liuguang laughed, "So it turns out Uncle doesn't know everything. You don't need to try to trick me, just ask directly."

Daoyan laughed, "Alright. Tell me, what makes Li Se so special to you? I've calculated that he's destined for many romantic encounters, but your wisdom is unparalleled, far surpassing that of ordinary women. Is it simply because he was willing to risk his life to save you that you treat him differently?"

Chu Liuguang blushed at first, then her starry eyes... "Mysterious," she said, "When the heart is pure and the people are sincere, frost can fly, cities can fall, and metal and stone can be pierced. A hypocrite, no matter how clever or capable, is repulsive in my eyes, a mere shell. A stream, however shallow, is still clear and lovely; muddy water, however deep, is still annoying. But that's not all. The most important thing is that he is kind-hearted but not arrogant. Moreover, he is gentle and considerate towards us women, genuinely caring for us without a trace of discrimination. Such a person is extremely rare in this world today!"

Chu Liuguang's eyes grew brighter as she spoke, and she excitedly said, "My uncle said Brother Li is stupid, but actually he is..." "He's just being silly! He has a knot in his heart that he hasn't untied yet. If he could untie it, he would be the most capable person in the world. Fish forget the water when they're in it, birds fly on the wind without knowing it exists. I only received your secret manual, Uncle-Master, which is tangible wisdom, but Brother Li acts without scheming, following his instincts and moving people's hearts with his spirit. This is the highest realm of being invincible in the world!"

Dao Yan nodded and sighed, "Your wisdom is beyond my expectations. From now on, the martial world belongs to you. It's time for this old monk to retire. Hehe! Heaven really does arrange things." After saying this, he sighed deeply. After pondering for a while, he said again, "Didn't you want to untie the knot in Li Se's heart? Please watch my methods!" After saying this, he took Chu Liuguang's hand and walked out of the room together.

While Chu Liuguang and Dao Yan were talking, Li Se and the others were not idle either. Yang Shiqi said to Xie Jin, "We didn't dare speak ill of you. Not to mention the Junior Tutor, even the Emperor can't do anything about you, Grand Scholar Xie. How could we dare offend you?" Xie

Jin smiled and said, "You flatter me, you flatter me."

Li Se's curiosity was piqued, and he said, "Oh? Even the Emperor can't do anything about Mr. Xie? Lord Yang must know many such things, right? Please tell me, so I can broaden my horizons."

Seeing that Wang Bao'er also seemed very interested, Yang Shiqi said, "Alright, then I'll tell you a few."

One of the Emperor's concubines died, and during the memorial service, Grand Scholar Xie Jin was invited to read the eulogy. But the so-called "eulogy" was nothing more than a blank sheet of paper with only four "one" characters on it—a complete waste of time.

Xie Jin remained calm and, after a moment's thought, immediately transformed "nothingness" into "somethingness," and recited aloud: "A cloud over Wushan, a pile of snow on Emei Mountain, a flower in the Imperial Garden, a moon over Chang'an. The cloud disperses, the snow melts, the flower fades, the moon wanes. Alas! May you enjoy this feast!" The emperor and his ministers were secretly impressed.

On another occasion, when Zhu Di appointed Xie Jin as a Hanlin Academician and ordered him to compile the "Yongle Encyclopedia," Xie Jin often served the emperor. Zhu Di knew that Xie Jin was erudite and could compose poems and respond fluently, so he frequently tested him with difficult questions. Once, Zhu Di said to Xie Jin, "My dear minister, one of my beloved concubines gave birth to a child last night. Please compose a poem for me!"

Xie Jin immediately recited a congratulatory poem: "Your Majesty, a golden dragon descended last night."

Zhu Di said, "It's a princess, not a prince."

Xie Jin immediately changed his poem: "Transformed into Chang'e descending from the nine heavens."

Zhu Di said again, "It's a pity she's already dead."

Xie Jin interjected, "It's unlikely she could be kept in the mortal world."

Zhu Di said, "I've already ordered the eunuchs to throw her into the Jinshui River."

Xie Jin continued, "Turned over and jumped into the Crystal Palace."

Zhu Di laughed heartily and said, "My dear minister, you truly know how to adapt to circumstances!"

Yang Shiqi told two of Xie Jin's secrets in court, which left Li Se and Wang Bao'er mesmerized. Li Se sighed, "Mr. Xie is truly clever!"

Xie Jin laughed, "It's nothing, just a trick. It's all petty cleverness, useless."

Yang Shiqi laughed, "It's not petty cleverness at all! The Emperor tried everything to make things difficult for you, but to no avail. A few days ago, the Emperor came up with another idea and said to you: 'My dear minister, we all know you are very clever. Today I will ask Scholar Yang to tell a truth, and the Junior Tutor to tell a lie. You are only allowed to add one word to combine the two sentences into another lie. Can you do it?'"

"So, I told the truth: 'The Emperor sits on the Dragon Court.' The Junior Tutor told a lie: 'A mouse catches a cat.'"

"These are two completely unrelated sentences, and we were deliberately trying to make you look foolish. But you immediately replied: 'The Emperor sits on the Dragon Court watching a mouse catch a cat.' This is obviously a huge lie, and you answered it right away."

"The Emperor still wouldn't give up, and changed his mind: 'It's still these two sentences; you use one word to combine them into a truth.'"

"You immediately replied, 'The Emperor sits on the Dragon Court, talking about mice catching cats.' That's the absolute truth! We still couldn't stump you, haha!"

The group laughed and chatted merrily.

Wang Bao'er joined in, saying, "I remember once, an official and Uncle Xie came to my house for a banquet. In the garden, they asked him to compose a poem on the spot about cockscomb flowers. Without hesitation, Uncle Xie recited, 'The cockscomb is dyed with rouge.' As soon as he finished the first line, the official suddenly took out a white cockscomb flower from his sleeve and said, 'It's not red, it's white.' Uncle Xie calmly recited, 'Why is it so lightly adorned today? It's because it greedily crows at dawn, and now its head is covered in frost.' The man nodded repeatedly, saying, 'Well done!'"

Li Se was also full of admiration and praised Xie Jin repeatedly.

Yang Shiqi said to Xie Jin, "Since Young Master Li speaks so highly of you, why don't you compose a poem for him?"

Xie Jin laughed, "I knew you wouldn't let me off the hook. Alright, bring me a brush."

Yang Shiqi said, "Wait, I still need to give you a topic! Hmm! Let's use an axe as the topic." He was determined to make things difficult for Xie Jin, so he gave him a strange topic, thinking, "Such a wildly imaginative one, he'll definitely find it hard!"

Xie Jin, however, didn't hesitate and immediately wrote: "

An axe, presented to Young Master Li , A

tool to hone talents at the Phoenix Pool,

A fine craftsman and a fine tool complement each other.

In future years, may it be carried to the heavens,

To seize the first branch of the moon palace."

Yang Shiqi was greatly surprised, thinking, "Why is Xie Jin so different from his usual joking and mocking manner, praising Li Se like this! Li Se is indeed talented, but he doesn't deserve such praise. Is it because of the Junior Tutor? But he even teases the Junior Tutor!"

Just as he was pondering this, he suddenly heard someone laugh loudly, "Good poem, good spirit. But why is Xie Jin so polite to a junior? I remember my senior brother Tian Lingzi asked you to write a poem on his portrait. When you saw that he was a Taoist priest, you wrote: 'Thief, thief, thief.' We were both stunned. You continued: 'With shadow but no form, cannot be caught. Only because he stole Lü Dongbin's elixir, now he is a guest of Penglai.' You even tease us, but you are polite to the younger generation. Have you changed your nature?"

Everyone laughed together and greeted Dao Yan.

When Li Se saw Dao Yan bring Chu Liuguang out and mention his uncle Tian Lingzi, he was largely convinced. Just as he was wondering how to react, Dao Yan, after exchanging pleasantries with the others, said to him, "Truly a young talent! You've got a good start. Even your uncle Tian Lingzi wasn't as lucky as you. Come on! Follow me." He pulled Li Se along, nodded to the others, and led him inside.

Li Se felt a warm current flowing through him as Dao Yan held his hand. He was overjoyed, his heart overflowing with a thousand words he wanted to say, yet he didn't know where to begin.

Chapter Five: The Finishing Touch

After Li Se followed Dao Yan to the secluded meditation room, he immediately knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "Uncle-Master, I was blind to your greatness, please forgive me. My master never spoke of his affairs or our sect to me, so I didn't recognize you. I am both surprised and delighted to meet you for the first time."

Dao Yan helped Li Se up and smiled, "Your senior brother has taught you well! Some things you need to observe and understand gradually; there's no benefit in telling you. Even though I'm not by your side, I've seen everything you've done since you left the mountain." He then laughed heartily.

Li Se exclaimed in surprise, "What? So Uncle-Master knows all about my embarrassing behavior?" He was extremely dejected.

Dao Yan said affectionately, "Child, don't be discouraged. The fact that you've come to my side today speaks volumes about your abilities. Do you know, if I didn't respect you, why would I acknowledge you as my nephew?"

Li Se said bitterly, "But...but I've accomplished nothing, my martial arts have been crippled, and my future is bleak. Why would Uncle still care about me?"

Dao Yan said, "Jade comes from stone; without polishing, how can it become a vessel? Adversity and hardship are the crucible for forging heroes. Those tempered by them benefit both body and mind; those not are harmed. Fortunately, although you've made some minor mistakes along the way, they haven't affected the overall situation. You're currently in a fog, but you're already on the sunny path. If you break free from your delusions, you can soar to great heights."

Li Se said bewilderedly, "Please enlighten me, Uncle."

Dao Yan sighed, "Alas! What can I teach you? Actually, your journey has been a great lesson for me. In you, I see myself. You are like a..." " The mirror reflects all my gains and losses clearly, plainly and distinctly. Child,

your actions are natural and unpretentious, worldly yet detached—this is something I've only come to understand after a lifetime of struggle!"

Li Se said, "Uncle-Master, please don't say that. I'm like a small boat on the vast ocean, drifting with the current, not knowing where I'm going. Before me lies an endless sea; I can't see any land. People often say, 'There are immortal mountains in the sea,' but where are those immortal mountains?"

Dao Yan said, "That's because you don't understand yourself. Listen to my background, and you'll see how far your understanding is." He pondered for a moment, then said, "My surname is Yao, my given name is Guangxiao, from Changzhou. I was originally from a family of physicians. At the age of fourteen, I shaved my head and became a monk, taking the Dharma name Dao Yan. That year, I met the Daoist Xi Yingzhen, your ancestor, and from then on, I learned the arts of Yin and Yang and numerology. After many years of diligent practice, I finally achieved mastery."

Li Se was completely absorbed in hearing about his sect for the first time. Seeing his expression, Dao Yan continued, "Your master is our eldest brother, Tian Lingzi is our second brother, and I am the third brother. Hehe! They are Taoists, but I am a monk. Isn't that strange? That's just how things are in this world; anything can happen."

Li Se nodded. Dao Yan then became serious and said, “I possess extraordinary skills that transcend heaven and earth, and I felt I should accomplish something great. So I traveled the world, seeking opportunities. Finally, I discovered that the then-Prince of Yan had the countenance of an emperor, so I joined his side and introduced my friends Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong to assist him. Together, we overcame countless hardships and finally defeated the imperial army.”

Dao Yan looked up and reminisced, sighing deeply. After a moment, he said, “The current emperor was just a prince back then. If I hadn’t helped him, how could he have attained the throne and established such unparalleled achievements? After we entered the capital, I was full of pride and arrogance, looking down on everyone. Moreover, all the officials praised me highly, and I couldn’t help but feel smug. The emperor was also pleased. As the saying goes, ‘Wealth and honor without returning to one’s hometown is like wearing embroidered robes at night,’ so the emperor allowed me to return to my hometown and bestowed upon me a yellow robe.” "One thousand taels of gold, five thousand taels of platinum, one hundred bolts of colored silk, ten jade tablets, a seven-Buddha purple-gold hat inlaid with seven precious stones, a thousand-Buddha goose-yellow kasaya adorned with twenty-four pearls, and other precious jewels. I also ordered three hundred Imperial Guards to escort them along the way, along with a land carriage and a water boat. All officials along the route were under my command. Such grandeur, truly magnificent!"

Li Se, hearing this, thought, "Indeed, a grand display."

Dao Yan continued, "I lost both my parents at a young age and only have one older sister. She raised me, and her kindness is like that of a mother. Since becoming wealthy, I haven't kept in touch. Now, having achieved fame and success, even a simple meal from my mother was repaid with a thousand pieces of gold; how much more so should my sister? So I personally led a hundred officials to visit her. But my sister was furious and refused to let me in, and all my servants' attempts to persuade her were to no avail. I had no choice but to visit my childhood friend, Wang Bin, first."

"But Wang Bin wouldn't see me either, only calling out from afar: 'The monk has made a mistake, the monk has made a mistake.' Having no other choice, I went to see my sister again, kneeling before her door and begging her. Only then did she open the door and say to me: 'You deceived the Prince of Yan, claiming he was the true Son of Heaven, and taking advantage of the young Emperor Jianwen's ascension to the throne, you instigated the Prince of Yan to rebel, threatening the capital. The Emperor has disappeared, the six palaces have been reduced to ashes, princes and brothers have all been slaughtered, and thousands of loyal ministers' families have been exterminated. Countless ladies and young women have been imprisoned in brothels, and countless others have committed suicide to uphold their chastity! Add to that the chaos of war, and countless soldiers and civilians have died. How many sins have you committed?'" "Ah! The ancients said, 'Loyalty and righteousness are the righteous spirits of heaven and earth.' Your actions are a disgrace to our ancestors! From this day forward, we will never meet again until we reach the Yellow Springs."

After saying this, Daoyan remained silent for a long time before sighing, "Even if I were richer than a country, more powerful than the heavens, second only to the emperor, I would have no warmth of home, and no happiness at all. My sister died without seeing me! Tell me, has my life been meaningful?"

Daoyan was filled with sorrow as he said, word by word, "Life is burdened by desire, like a horse or an ox, bound by others; like a hawk or a hound, whipped by whatever it is." "In Qingming, with a tranquil and desireless heart, neither heaven nor earth can sway me, nor can ghosts and gods command me. Wouldn't that be blissful?"

Li Se saw his uncle's dejected expression, yet could offer no words of comfort. Reflecting on his life, he realized he had truly been too obsessed with pursuing fame and fortune, trapped in empty glory. He sighed and slowly recited: "The powerful and wealthy soar like dragons, heroes fight like tigers. Viewed with detachment, they are like ants swarming, like flies vying for blood; right and wrong arise like bees, gains and losses flutter about. Responded with detachment, they are like smelting gold, like snow melting in hot water. Fame and fortune are but fleeting clouds. Life is short; what then is the eternal pursuit?"

Dao Yan Wang Ran said, "Life is like a grand dream. Everyone is entangled in the pursuit of fame and fortune, driven by ambition and a desire to win. No wonder someone wrote a poem: 'The armored general crosses the pass at night, while courtiers wait for the dawn in the cold. The sun is high in the mountain temple, but the monks have not yet risen. In truth, fame and fortune are not as good as leisure.'"

Li Se said softly, "Uncle-Master is right, but it's not too late for you to see through this now! Once you attain enlightenment, you can reach the heavens. Why dwell on the past?"

Upon hearing Li Se's words, Dao Yan suddenly smiled, staring intently at him with an extremely playful expression. Where was the trace of melancholy on his face?

Li Se was shocked and stammered, "Master... Uncle... what's wrong with you?"

Dao Yan clutched his stomach, pointed at Li Se, and burst into laughter, saying, "Foolish child, foolish child!"

Li Se was confused and thought to himself, "Oh no, what's wrong with Master? Could it be... could it be that he's gone mad?" Dao

Yan suddenly stopped laughing, his expression becoming serious, and said solemnly, "'In the end, fame and fortune are not as good as leisure.' This poem has some truth to it, but if different people read it, their understanding will be very different. If this poem was written by someone from outside the world, their cultivation must be too shallow. They vainly envy fame and fortune, but because they cannot obtain them, they write this poem to console themselves. Only by experiencing it can one's heart truly experience that indescribable feeling. You can't talk about ice with a summer insect. How can ordinary people understand the hearts of those who have achieved great fame and fortune? Without experiencing it, do you know what hunger feels like? Do you know what pain and heartache really feel like?"

“After experiencing hunger, you truly understand the taste of being full; after feeling heartache, you know the true taste of joy. If you fear hardship and suffering, fear fame and glory, fear the burden of achievements, and only avoid and retreat, then you will never know your own heart, never know the bitterness, spiciness, sourness, and sweetness of life.”

Li Se was suddenly stunned by Dao Yan’s words, and said blankly, “But my master taught me that nothing should be forced. You must know that once you indulge, you will leave a mark. The sun and moon traverse the sky, rivers flow across the land; they are natural, and therefore eternal. Our pursuit is for eternal things. How foolish and ridiculous it is to be obsessed with things that are fleeting and destined to perish!”

Dao Yan said, “You are right. However, what suits your master’s path may not suit you. On the path of immortality, no two people can succeed using the same method. The Sword Lord faction claims to enter the Dao through the sword, but the sword is merely a means, or rather, a point of passage. Your master’s method cannot teach you.” "You wouldn't understand."

Seeing Li Se's growing confusion, Dao Yan suddenly changed his tone and said, "In the third year of Hongwu's reign, Emperor Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang began reading Mencius. When he read 'The people are the most important, the state is next, and the ruler is the least important,' and 'If the ruler has committed a major fault, he should be remonstrated with; if he is repeatedly ignored, he should be replaced,' he was very disdainful. But when he turned to the fourth volume, 'The Chapter on Li Lou,' he was furious. Because in this chapter there was a passage that said: 'Mencius told King Xuan of Qi: 'If a ruler regards his ministers as his hands and feet, then the ministers will regard the ruler as their heart and soul; if a ruler regards his ministers as dogs and horses...'" "If a subject views his ruler as a fellow countryman, and the ruler views his subject as dirt, then the subject will view his ruler as an enemy." This was outrageous; Mencius dared to incite the people to regard the emperor as an enemy when he treated them poorly. Therefore, he issued an edict declaring that Mencius's words were "not something a subject should say," and removed Mencius from the Confucian Temple. Zhu Yuanzhang, fearing opposition from his ministers, further declared that anyone who dared to offer advice would be punished for "great disrespect" and executed, and ordered the Imperial Guards to shoot them.

"After some time, Qian Tang, the Minister of Justice at the time, could no longer restrain himself. Knowing that advising the emperor was a capital offense, he still submitted a memorial defying the imperial decree and remonstrating with him. He even ordered servants to carry his coffin to the palace, willing to bare his chest and receive arrows. He said, 'To die for Mencius is an honor beyond measure.'"

"Zhu Yuanzhang knew that Mencius's position in the hearts of the people was unshakeable, and it was impossible to completely ban him. So he organized an office to review Mencius's works, and published a 'Selected Texts of Mencius,' which severely abridged Mencius's writings, removing 85 articles and leaving only 170, as a model for setting questions and selecting officials. He also issued an edict praising Mencius for 'distinguishing heresies, refuting false doctrines, and elucidating the way of Confucius,' and restored Mencius's status as being worshipped alongside Confucius."

Li Se suddenly heard his uncle tell a story from the court. He didn't know what his uncle's intention was, but he guessed that there must be a deeper meaning, so he carefully pondered it.

Daoyan continued, “Zhu Xi said that Confucianism has never been widely practiced throughout the world, and this is indeed true. Confucianism has indeed been constantly changing. Through the hands of Dong Zhongshu, the Cheng brothers, Zhu Xi, and others, it has become unrecognizable over the past two thousand years. Nowadays, scholars regard Confucianism as the orthodox doctrine, but where has this orthodoxy gone?”

“Confucius said, ‘When three people walk together, there must be one who can teach me.’ Why does no one take this to heart? Everyone thinks Confucius is a sage and that we should listen to him in everything, which goes against the Confucian way.”

Mozi said: "What if we all emulate our parents? There are many parents in the world, but few are truly benevolent and righteous. If we all emulate our parents, then we are emulating the unbenevolent and unrighteous. What if we all emulate our teachers? There are many teachers in the world, but few are truly benevolent and righteous. If we all emulate our teachers, then we are emulating the unbenevolent and unrighteous. This cannot be taken as a standard! What if we all emulate our rulers? There are many rulers in the world, but few are truly benevolent and righteous. If we all emulate our rulers, then we are emulating the unbenevolent and unrighteous. Emulating the unbenevolent and unrighteous cannot be taken as a standard. Therefore, parents, teachers, and rulers should not be emulated. Only the Way of Heaven can be emulated. The Way of Heaven is vast and impartial, its bestowal is generous without immorality, its brightness is enduring and never fades. Therefore, it can be emulated."

Li Se, upon hearing these words, felt as if struck by lightning. He was stunned, his mind a jumble of thoughts, his heart empty and adrift.

Daoyan continued, “The Book of Songs says, ‘It’s not just today, it’s been like this since ancient times.’ That’s well said. Since ancient times, all the words have been deceiving people! There are countless unchanging maxims for imitation over thousands of years. To name a few prominent examples, there are ‘take officials as your teachers,’ ‘follow the former kings,’ ‘emulate the virtuous,’ ‘serve your ruler with loyalty,’ ‘Heaven does not change, nor does the Way’… In my opinion, they are all deception, all utter nonsense. The words of your teacher, the words in the books, are all nonsense when applied to you!”

Li Se murmured, “All…all nonsense!?”

Daoyan said, “That’s right.”

Li Se was drenched in sweat; in an instant, beads of sweat appeared on his body from nowhere.

Daoyan continued, “Within the universe, one must both shoulder responsibilities and skillfully detach oneself from them. Without taking responsibility, one cannot accomplish anything of worldly affairs; without detachment, one cannot attain the aspiration to transcend the world. Your past actions, while detaching yourself from them, lacked responsibility. In the end, you were merely escaping. Where is your profound insight and skillful conduct? To resolve matters is to resolve one's own affairs; to escape fame, not the world, is the essence of the mind. The way to transcend the world lies in engaging with it, not in cutting off all ties to escape it; the merit of resolving one's own mind lies in fulfilling one's inner desires, not in extinguishing all desires to lose heart. Your previous nonsensical insights were all inferior, mere nonsense. If the mind is not clear, talking about anything else is nothing but self-deception.”

Li Se's mind seemed to explode; he couldn't remember anything, his eyes were glazed, and he could only stammer, "Then what should I do? What should I do..."

Dao Yan shouted, "Mix with the world, live in the world, integrate with all living beings, let go of inferiority, abandon negativity, and be courageous in striving—this is true cultivation of the heart. The ancients said, 'Before cultivating the mysteries, first be a person; once you are a person, immortality is not far away.' Do what ordinary people do, and become a true person; do what ordinary people cannot do, and wait for the right opportunity to act. With the aspirations of the Dao in your heart, living in the mortal world, this is called cultivating the heart in the mortal world. The body flows with the water, the heart is as free as white clouds. Cleansing the heart in the world is not about being passive and world-weary, but about seeing through the affairs of the world, using them flexibly, and not being misled by illusions." That's all. The difference lies in this: ordinary people pursue wealth and fame for enjoyment, but this consumes their energy and hastens their death; I acquire wealth and fame to aid the Dao, do good deeds, accumulate virtue, and preserve my life for longevity. Therefore, ordinary people experience fleeting happiness but endless troubles, while I experience fleeting troubles but can enjoy eternal freedom.”

Dao Yan finished speaking, laughed loudly, and without waiting for Li Se to reflect, suddenly added: “Foolish boy, if you only use your eyes to see things, what can you understand? When you left the mountain, you encountered the infamous lecherous thief, Flower Butterfly. Did you think you killed him? Let me tell you, his master and your grandmaster, Xi Yingzhen, were fellow disciples. The Sword Lord's inner cultivation method is only passed down to one…” "Other disciples must find a different path. He and I are of the same generation, or if we're really talking about it, you could say that! He and we belong to the same sect, we're fellow disciples, both from the Sword Lord faction. With his profound cultivation, even with my level of cultivation, I couldn't kill him, let alone you. If he didn't have his reasons, would he willingly die at your hands? Can you kill him? Everyone dies eventually, but the torch is passed down, ensuring the lineage continues. He has his reasons, think about it carefully! Did you kill him or not?"

Dao Yan's words were more impactful than any of his previous statements. Li Se suddenly realized that all his initial experiences and thoughts had been completely negated, and the new truth exceeded his imagination and understanding. All his original thoughts and ideas shattered like bubbles.

Li Se felt a "boom" in his mind, and then his body felt light and weightless, unsure of where he was.

Seeing Li Se suddenly slump to the ground, Dao Yan said, "Years ago, a Daoist named Ye painted a dragon. After dotting its eyes, the dragon roared to the heavens. Now I follow the example of my predecessors and will do the same." He then focused his energy on Li Se's brow, and without looking at him again, laughed loudly and left.

Li Se suddenly felt a cool sensation in his mind, and then scenes from the past floated before his eyes, as if they had happened right before his eyes, while he watched like a mere bystander.

Li Se's feelings towards those events suddenly shifted; he seemed to have some understanding, yet also no understanding, feeling lost and confused.

Chapter Six: Like Snow, Like Jade

Wang Bao'er accompanied Li Se to visit his martial uncle, Dao Yan, but returned dejectedly without exchanging a single word with him. Having grown up in wealthy and powerful families, Wang Bao'er was highly regarded, but this time she received nothing, leaving her extremely upset.

Although saddened, Wang Bao'er dared not act recklessly. She knew that Dao Yan was extremely famous, influential throughout the land, and possessed extraordinary abilities, including the power to communicate with gods and ghosts. Moreover, he had a fierce appearance, so Wang Bao'er dared not act rashly.

While Wang Bao'er was fuming in her room, Leng Ruxue suddenly entered, saying, "Little girl, how did you seduce my husband? Tell me, where is he?"

Wang Bao'er hurriedly replied, "Sister Leng, I didn't! Don't misunderstand, my brother is at his martial uncle's temple. Whether he comes back or not is none of my business." Wang Bao'er explained anxiously.

It turned out that Wang Bao'er's father, Wang Laocai, had instructed her not to offend Leng Ruxue, because the Tianshan Sect and the Wang family had close ties, and Leng Ruxue had secretly protected her when she went to Hangzhou. Therefore, Bao'er was to obey Leng Ruxue's orders and at least not offend her.

That was one thing, but Leng Ruxue had a very fierce temper. Although she was very gentle with Li Se and Gu Xiangjun, she was cold and ruthless to others. Wang Bao'er had only met her a few times and was terrified of her.

Seeing Wang Bao'er's fear, Leng Ruxue said, "I know you wouldn't dare! But did you see that so-called martial uncle? Is he really your master's martial uncle? What did he want with him?"

Wang Bao'er said, "I saw him once, but we didn't even exchange a single word before I came back! My elder brother really stayed there, without telling me why. I know nothing!" After saying this, Wang Bao'er, remembering her lack of attention and affection, felt extremely aggrieved.

Leng Ruxue said, "Honestly, it's a waste of your time to go; you won't know anything. I'll go ask someone else." With that, she left.

One morning at Qingshou Temple, the morning bell rang, waking a man from a dream—Li Se, who had been unconscious for three days.

He gently pushed open the door, closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and then slowly opened his eyes, revealing a sweet smile. These two small movements, though subtle, exuded an indescribable aura, suggesting he was not of this mortal realm.

Just then, a voice rang out behind him, "Haha! Congratulations! Congratulations! You've finally woken up!"

Li Se turned around and bowed, saying, "Thanks to my master's guidance, I've broken free from my delusions. I dare not accept your congratulations!"

Dao Yan smiled and helped Li Se up, saying, "I'm not congratulating you, I'm congratulating myself. If you hadn't woken up, my little temple would have been razed to the ground!"

Li Se felt completely at ease, his mind clear and lucid, as if he had been reborn. Hearing Dao Yan's words, he smiled and said, "Master has gone to great lengths for me. " "My heart! Thinking back on my foolish past actions, it's laughable! Now I've even implicated my martial uncle! I wonder if it was Miss Leng who came to bother you?"

Dao Yan laughed, "Yes, it's her. But that little vixen isn't even afraid of me anymore, all for your sake! They came together to demand you, luckily I still have some skill, hehe!"

Li Se was shocked, knowing that this martial uncle possessed profound magical power and acted differently from ordinary people. She hoped Hua Ruxue and the others wouldn't make any mistakes, so she quickly smiled apologetically, "Martial uncle's skills are profound, and his martial arts are formidable. Those two are ignorant, daring to bother you like this, they really don't know what's good for them." "I just wonder what the outcome will be?"

Dao Yan laughed, "You little rascal, you've really forgotten your mother now that you have a wife. What are you worried about? Would I harm them? I'm just letting them suffer a bit to broaden their horizons. If others begged me, I wouldn't even bother to look at them! Let alone do it myself."

Li Se was overjoyed and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Uncle-Master."

Dao Yan suddenly frowned and said, "However, I can't handle the girls who have come now. I'll have to trouble you, Nephew-Master, to take action yourself."

Li Se was very embarrassed and said, "Uncle-Master, you're joking! But... but there really is..." "Is someone this powerful that even your martial uncle finds it a headache? Martial uncle must be joking, right?"

Dao Yan slapped his thigh and shook his head, saying, "No, no. You can ask her yourself later. I truly envy you, having so many beautiful women adore you. If I had been loved by such a clever and intelligent woman when I was young, I would have become a libertine monk. Alas! Wouldn't that be wonderful? What a pity, what a pity!"

Li Se knew that this martial uncle's cultivation was unfathomable. His seemingly simple and ignorant words actually contained profound mysteries. He appeared to be a superficial person, but his cultivation was far beyond what words could describe. He immediately asked, "Uncle-Master, are you reminding me of something? I've been acting foolishly, unable to understand even a few women, making a complete mess of things. Do you think I'm too stupid to handle such a simple matter? Do you want to guide me? I'm too slow to understand, please just tell me!"

Daoyan said, "I'm lamenting my own fate! Truly. When I was young, I hoped to meet a clever woman who would appreciate me, but none did. Now that I'm in a high position of power and have many followers, I'm old and no longer need women. It's clear that finding a soulmate in life is extremely rare, and to have one is such a great blessing! If you encounter one, you should cherish it! Only those with shallow cultivation and limited aptitude, afraid of falling into the desires of love, would hesitate because they fear the consequences..." " Stay away from women. But the true path of immortality has nothing to do with anything, not even love. Your heart transcends worldly affairs, transcends the mortal realm, and unites with the heavens—that is the ultimate goal."

Li Se said, "I understand what you mean, Uncle-Master. Master leads you in, but cultivation is up to you. Only by breaking through what you have taught me can I truly find my own path of immortality." Dao Yan

laughed, "That's right. What you see and hear is an external thief, and desire and consciousness are internal thieves. Being trapped or blinded by these thieves is the inferior path. Perception, hearing, and smell are all minor paths that can be seen, but the great path can only be comprehended by the heart. Lao Tzu said, 'The Tao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Tao.' This means that the Tao that can be spoken of is not the eternal Tao. Once you understand this, you understand everything!" After saying this, he laughed heartily and left.

Li Se stared at Dao Yan's back for a while before following the path out. When he reached a bend in the road, he saw Gu Xiangjun sitting in a small pavilion by the roadside. Upon seeing Li Se, she happily ran over.

Li Se laughed, "I was just about to go back. What brings you here?"

Gu Xiangjun laughed, "You haven't been back for three days! So I came to see you. My lord, you seem like a different person! You feel different from before!"

Li Se said, "Nonsense, how could I change! I'm still the same as before."

Gu Xiangjun pulled Li Se around, making him turn several times so she could get a good look at him.

Li Se let her do as she pleased, and said with a wry smile, "Xiangjun, what are you doing? Don't bother me! Let's go back and talk about it. This is a temple."

Gu Xiangjun then stopped, saying, "My lord has an indescribable aura about him, quite different from before."

Li Se said, "You're the one who's different from before! I didn't realize you were so capable, even my martial uncle is afraid of you. What did you do to make him praise you so much?"

Gu Xiangjun asked in surprise, "Ah? He really is my martial uncle? I thought it wasn't! Isn't my master a Taoist?"

Li Se said, "What's so strange about that? All streams converge into one, monks and Taoists are just different names. How did you make your martial uncle afraid to mess with you?" "My martial uncle said that even Miss Leng and Miss Hua were given a good scolding before they left."

Gu Xiangjun laughed, "It's nothing! Originally, I didn't stop them from coming to find you, thinking it was nothing serious! But when I saw them leave dejectedly, I got worried! But my martial arts are inferior to theirs, so I couldn't do anything. I just took some bedding and food and told my martial uncle that I would wait here until you went home. I didn't need anything from the temple, and he didn't need to kick me out! He glanced at me, shook his head, and left, and then you came out."

Li Se said, "No wonder my martial uncle was scared! Haha! Your move is called the Sticky Word Technique, it's very powerful!" He laughed and pulled Gu Xiangjun back to the Wang family.

Li Se returned to the Wang family, and Leng Ruxue and Hua Ruxue came upon hearing the news. Having suffered some hardships at Dao Yan's hands, they were initially both frightened and frustrated. Now, seeing their lover return and having achieved their goal, they were overjoyed.

Li Se said, "Don't worry about it. Your martial uncle is training and testing you! He's letting you see some things and broaden your horizons. If you think about it carefully, it will definitely benefit you greatly; perhaps your martial arts and magic will even improve!"

Hua Ruxue said, "Really? He's really your martial uncle? Then why is he locking you up and not allowing anyone else to see you? The old monk… no, my martial uncle is truly amazing! I didn't know you had such a powerful martial uncle, young master." She couldn't help but feel happy for Li Se.

Leng Ruxue, however, felt a pang of jealousy. She took Li Se's arm and said, "My lord, let's go to my residence! I haven't seen you for so many days, I've missed you terribly. Now that you're finally back, let's not waste time talking to irrelevant people. I'll play the zither for you."

Seeing Hua Ruxue's expression change immediately, Li Se knew she was about to get angry, so he quickly said, "Sister Hua is my closest person, how can you call her an outsider? Don't talk nonsense. But listening to you play the zither is quite nice, it's been a long time since I've heard it, I really miss it."

Li Se then pulled the retorting Leng Ruxue away, and as he turned, he smiled at Hua Ruxue and winked, implying that Leng Ruxue was being immature and should be more understanding.

Seeing Li Se's expression, Hua Ruxue, though unwilling, felt much better, thinking, "This brat knows nothing and is very willful. Why should I lower myself to her level? Li Lang still likes me."

At this moment, Gu Xiangjun, seeing Li Se and Leng Ruxue leave, came in and said to Hua Ruxue, "Good sister, don't be fooled by Li Lang being with Miss Leng. She's just a bit fierce, and we have no choice but to appease her. You don't need to be angry with her."

Hua Ruxue smiled and said, "I know! As long as Li Lang treats me well, I won't pay any attention to Miss Leng! I'm going to go play with Sister Chu; I don't have time for her." After saying goodbye to Gu Xiangjun, she left.

Li Se and Leng Ruxue's meeting as lovers naturally created a romantic atmosphere. Leng Ruxue's eyebrows were delicate, her cheeks rosy, and her graceful figure exuded a delicate and pitiful charm, which stirred Li Se's heart.

Li Se tasted every inch of Leng Ruxue's skin, from her cherry-like mouth to her fair and delicate skin, which was smooth and supple.

(32) Leng Ruxue was completely satisfied after being kissed three times .

She slowly stretched out one leg, sat on the bed, and used her right middle and index fingers to spread her pink and tempting labia. She shook her other hand and played with Li Se's penis. She said with a seductive expression, "Se Lang, come on..." Li Se could no longer resist her seductive expression. Li

Se jumped up, picked up Leng Ruxue's two jade feet, put them on his shoulders, and inserted his large penis into her flower, spreading open the tender flesh and gradually disappearing into the dragon root.

Leng Ruxue, her eyes half-closed, moaned softly, "Hmph! Ouch! Be gentle! Go in a little less, ouch! It hurts so much! Once the water comes, you can play however you want, why rush it like this?"

Seeing her so wanton, Li Se became even more aroused, thrusting with extra force. He then pinched her nipples with his fingers, gently twisting them.

Leng Ruxue felt a burning desire, and her juices flowed freely, her vulva widening considerably. No longer afraid of the pain, she spread her legs wide, raising them high, her slender waist swaying, her buttocks tightening upwards, swallowing his large member completely.

Li Se thrust wildly, and Leng Ruxue cried out in a coquettish voice, "Hmph! Oh! These thrusts are so good! Hmph! Brother, hmph, good! How come you're so good at it! Your big thing is right in the heart of my flower, it's making me so itchy! It's making my soul fly away!"

Li Se thrust vigorously while watching her lewd moans and wanton expressions, feeling as if he were in heaven. His eyes were on her delicate face, his nose smelled the fragrance of her pink cheeks, his arms were wrapped around her soft, white legs, her legs were against her plump buttocks, and his penis was inserted into her tight vagina. It was truly the most pleasurable experience in life. Since

reuniting with Li Se, Leng Ruxue had been like a parched land receiving rain, and she had tasted the sweetness of life. In bed, she had become increasingly lewd, and when she let loose, she was incredibly seductive.

Li Se's waist swelled and thrust, and his huge, round penis moved in and out of her hot, sticky, red flesh.

Leng Ruxue let out a soft moan: "Brother... your... big cock... is so big... so thick... so powerful..." Her body recoiled as if struck by an arrow, her two snow-white, beautiful legs springing back, tightly clamping around the man's waist.

Li Se grinned, his hands gripping the beauty's waist, relentlessly thrusting forward, his burning hot rod cleaving through layers of soft flesh and tender fat, rapidly penetrating deeper.

Leng Ruxue's jade neck arched back, her stiff waist arching violently, her thrusts matching Li Se's rhythm, murmuring: "Brother... harder... deeper... tear my flower core apart..."

Li Se didn't know where Leng Ruxue had learned to moan, but pressing against her incredibly soft and wonderful member, his entire penis became as hard as iron, unable to be relieved without vigorous thrusting, so he thrust even more forcefully and violently.

Leng Ruxue was utterly overwhelmed, like a drifting catkin in the wind or a floating object on water. Her large, plump breasts swayed wildly with the movement of her body, creating waves of alluring white flesh. She cried out, "Brother... you're killing me... my flower is broken..."

In truth, Leng Ruxue had been separated from her lover for a long time, and her longing for him was profound. Having cultivated demonic arts, she was already well-versed in these strange and erotic techniques. Before, she had been somewhat reserved, holding back in front of Li Se. Now, reunited with her lover, she was increasingly letting go and indulging in her desires.

Li Se buried his head and thrust hard, feeling the indescribable richness and plumpness within her. In addition, many wondrous tender things clung to his penis, softly brushing against it, sticky and entangled endlessly. Those growing in the shallower areas were constantly being pulled out by the bulging glans, turning into delicate, translucent fleshy flowers, blooming gracefully around his engorged penis.

Leng Ruxue's face was flushed with a deep blush, her body throbbing with arousal, and she murmured, "...Brother...faster...fuck me to death..."

Li Se, sweating profusely, thrust and pumped relentlessly, suddenly feeling a surge of heat within her, intensifying his pleasure. He gripped her buttocks tightly, pulling with frantic, powerful strokes, each thrust seemingly aimed at piercing her completely.

Leng Ruxue, however, suddenly felt the enormous rod within her swell, as if about to tear her flower path apart, burning even more intensely, as if the walls of her flesh were on fire.

Li Se suddenly thrust out with all his might, lifting her from her original position, causing Leng Ruxue's head to slam against the headboard, leaving a trail of sticky wetness in its wake.

Leng Ruxue's body curled up in a ball, her two beautiful, firm legs with nowhere to go, forced to be raised high and draped over his shoulders. She felt an unbearable ache from the deep penetration, almost causing her to ejaculate.

Li Se's enormous penis was so hard it felt like cast iron, throbbing with pain. He felt the tenderness deep within her flower garden, and suddenly felt an intense pleasure. He pressed against the beauty and began to ejaculate, drops of his semen flowing directly into her tender heart.

Leng Ruxue's beautiful eyes suddenly widened, as if she wanted to say something, but her shoulders shrank, her alabaster-like abdomen spasmed and convulsed, and she trembled as she lost control.

Li Se felt a surge of heat, followed by something thick and slippery, which instantly enveloped his entire penis. He felt a surge of pleasure and pressed forward relentlessly, as if trying to knead his enormous, egg-shaped head into the beauty's tender heart.

Leng Ruxue's body, already tense like an arrow on a bowstring, suddenly relaxed, crying out, "Ah... Brother... I've lost it... It feels so good..." Her delicate body went limp, her inner juices flowing freely, letting herself fall into the surging sea of desire.

The two of them released their climaxes, and after a while, Leng Ruxue finally relaxed a little. But before she could even catch her breath, Li Sehe on top of her began to convulse again.

"Big cock... Brother... You're so strong... You... are... fucking me again... I want... to fuck you forever," Leng Ruxue moaned dreamily, her starry eyes hazy, her limbs numb and weak. Her two pink arms wrapped around the man's neck, her lower body glistening with fluids, her already plump and tender flower garden now as soft as mud.

Li Se was indescribably beautiful, and he became even more ferocious and ruthless, pounding away until the woman's nectar splattered everywhere. Her enormous breasts swayed and plump, their movements so rapid and violent that they were mesmerizing. They were glistening with sweat and a greasy sheen, making them appear even more plump and beautiful.

Li Se couldn't resist reaching out again to grab them, squeezing and kneading them forcefully. But no matter how fiercely and wantonly he ravaged her breasts into all sorts of strange shapes, they would return to their original state as soon as he let go, still full, swollen, and perky.

Leng Ruxue gasped for breath, her eyes glazed over with a mixture of drowsiness and resentment as she looked at the man on top of her and his mischievous hand. The impact of his semen still tingled her flower-like opening, and the attack on this most sensitive spot quickly overwhelmed her. Her flower-like opening overflowed with fluids and nectar, becoming a chaotic mess under the man's relentless thrusting. Though she said she couldn't take it, she still swayed her hips, using her fleshy walls to grip his penis, ensuring each insertion was a thorough and satisfying experience.

Leng Ruxue moaned and cried out in pleasure, her tender buttocks arching and rotating. Her waist sometimes swayed in the air, twisting her fair body, causing her incredibly elastic breasts to tremble and sway. Especially striking were the two swollen, purplish-red nipples, which swayed in Li Se's eyes, forming two rotating arcs—a truly beautiful sight. Li Se couldn't resist reaching out and grasping them one by one, kneading and rubbing them. The feel was delicate and beautiful, extremely pleasurable.

Leng Ruxue's nipples hardened and swelled into two purple grapes from Li Se's magic hands, while the large penis made her vagina tingle and numb, her whole body trembling uncontrollably, her white buttocks shaking even higher and more urgently. She desperately made her vagina meet the thrusts of the large penis, the vaginal walls contracting in waves, clamping the glans so tightly that there was no gap at all, incredibly itchy, making Li Se exclaim in admiration: "Xue'er...you...are so tight...your vagina...is so wonderful..."

With Leng Ruxue's cooperation, Li Se indulged in pleasure and took without restraint, the glans scraping against the vaginal walls and being rubbed by the clitoris inside, quickly reaching its peak again, unable to bear the ecstasy, and then shuddered and ejaculated again.

Leng Ruxue felt a surge of heat wash over her, the intense heat hitting her tender core deep within. Her flower chamber was instantly numb, her soul almost leaving her body. A spasm ran through her vagina, and a thin stream of white fluid gushed from the edge of his penis, spraying onto Li Se's body, drenching both of them.

Li Se was dumbfounded. Although he had already experienced two rounds of intercourse, he felt no fatigue and continued to manipulate the beauty in every way. His penis continued to thrust in and out of the water curtain of her vagina, slowly becoming erect again. He thrust hundreds of times in one go, then changed to a rear-entry position. His penis had already ejaculated twice and was no longer sensitive, feeling like an iron rod flying inside her.

Leng Ruxue twisted her body, constantly thrusting her pink buttocks, her labia engulfing Li Se's large penis. The two clashed in close combat. One was a seasoned warrior, full of killing intent, charging forward with unstoppable momentum, launching a continuous and relentless assault.

One was a seasoned veteran of the "slut" spree, waiting in comfort. Though she allowed her opponent to do as he pleased, she secretly used her seductive skills to resist to the death. A fierce battle ensued, the world seemed to darken.

At this moment, Li Se launched his all-out attack, thrusting fiercely straight at her core, driving her eyes back, saliva drooling, and her teeth clenching. After hundreds of thrusts, Li Se straightened his upper body, crossed his legs, and assumed a "lotus position," letting Leng Ruxue sit on his large penis, pushing it deep and forcefully, all the way to her core.

That tender and beautiful little hole was filled to the brim with his treasure. Then Li Se embraced Leng Ruxue and began to thrust, her juices flowing down his large penis. The two melted into the frenzy of their lovemaking, Leng Ruxue's buttocks twisting incessantly, his thick, long penis going in and out, creating a scene of breathtaking beauty, with only incessant moans and constant squelching from within.

"It feels so good... Hurry... I'm almost there... Oh... Keep going... Good... Heavy... Yes... This feels so good... Brother... I'm coming..."

Both of them possessed superb techniques for locking in their essence, but at this moment they were completely immersed in lust, with neither the mind nor the strength to use them. They could only accompany each other as they thrust again and again. Leng Ruxue's lustful fluids frequently leaked out, splashing water stains all over the bed, creating a spectacular sight.

But Li Se became more and more vigorous with each thrust, his erection growing stronger and stronger, as if he wanted to use up all his reserves. At this critical moment, he suddenly leaped up, adopted a squatting position, lifted Leng Ruxue's buttocks high, and thrust into her flower garden with all his might, causing the beauty's snow-white legs to be raised high into the air, all the way to the top of his head.

Under the violent thrusts, Li Se suddenly gushed out fluids, embracing her beautiful buttocks, his movements becoming increasingly vigorous. When he reached his peak of excitement, after a torrential downpour, he finally ceased his advances, his penis swollen, pressing tightly against her clitoris, the glans throbbing. His urethral opening relaxed, and with a final, powerful thrust, he ejaculated in a torrent. This time, Li Se's semen was a colorless liquid. Li Se felt as if Leng Ruxue had drained him dry, panting heavily with exhaustion. He loved Leng Ruxue's wantonness; his surging desire made him no longer care for his body or his semen, only wanting to satisfy his lover. Leng

Ruxue was speechless, unable to resist the urge to bloom again, a torrent of vaginal fluid gushing out like a flood. She lost control again, finally unable to hold on any longer, her head lolling to the side as she fainted from pleasure. Li Se, also exhausted, rolled over and fell into a deep sleep.

Meanwhile, Hua Ruxue arrived at Chu Liuguang's room and found it quiet, without a sound. Hua Ruxue was puzzled and called out a few times, but no one answered. She went into the inner room and saw Chu Liuguang lying on the bed. When he saw Hua Ruxue, he struggled to sit up.

Hua Ruxue saw that Chu Liuguang's face was as white as paper and quickly said, "Sister, lie down quickly!" She gently helped Chu Liuguang sit up and lean against the pillow, saying, "Why does Sister always get sick every few days? Sister knows everything, can't you cure your own illness?"

Chu Liuguang sighed and said, "Human strength has its limits. Who can have the ability to transform themselves and change the world? But my body is just a little weak. Even if I'm tired, I'll be fine after a few days of rest. But I'm sorry I can't teach you magic."

Hua Ruxue said sadly, "Don't worry about magic, take it slow. I don't care too much. Just don't overwork yourself, Sister."

Chu Liuguang smiled and said, "You won't learn magic, but I have another skill that you'd definitely like to learn."

Hua Ruxue said calmly, "What skill? I'm not as smart as my sister, I probably wouldn't be able to learn it even if I wanted to!"

Chu Liuguang smiled sweetly, "You don't want to learn? Fine then! I thought you liked Brother Li! I was even thinking of teaching you how to win his favor, but it seems I was just being nosy."

Hua Ruxue immediately grabbed Chu Liuguang's arm in surprise, saying, "What? Sister wants to teach me this? Sister Xue has already taught me some, you're smarter than her, it'll definitely be more useful. Why didn't you say so sooner! I want to learn, I want to learn!"

Chu Liuguang said, "Look at how anxious you are, don't you know any shame?" She tilted her head and smiled sweetly at Hua Ruxue.

Hua Ruxue stared with her round eyes, puzzled, "Why should I be shy? I just like Li Lang! Of course, I want to learn how to please him!"

Chu Liuguang smiled, seeing Hua Ruxue's naivety, even more innocent than Wang Bao'er. However, finding her truly adorable, he felt a pang of pity.

Since meeting Dao Yan, Li Se felt as if he had been reborn, his perspective on things vastly different from before. In the past, he would have needed to meditate alone to carefully observe those subtle changes, but now, surrounded by women, Li Se felt no burden, his mind and body as calm as ever.

Li Se's mind had changed; he discovered that his Blade Lord's Heart Sutra had improved to a higher level than after his martial arts were crippled. His body was much more agile, but this made things more troublesome, because his martial arts had come at the cost of weakening his Heart Sutra. Now that he discovered the Blade Lord's Heart Sutra had actually improved, he should no longer be able to practice his martial arts. But how to practice the Blade Lord's Heart Sutra, how to continue improving, Li Se still didn't know.

Li Se spent most of her time with Leng Ruxue, and Wang Bao'er and Hua Ruxue would often come over as well. However, Gu Xiangjun and Chu Liuguang were not often by Li Se's side, so Li Se would frequently go to check on them.

Although Li Se didn't have much to do, she was still busy every day, which made her feel restless and melancholic.

This person was the talented Xue Yaoguang. Xue Yaoguang had initially developed feelings for Li Se, but reason told her that staying away from him was the best course of action. During the few days Li Se was missing, Xue Yaoguang was even happy for a few days. However, when Li Se returned to the capital with two exceptionally beautiful women, she had even less free time. Xue Yaoguang wanted to see Li Se, but had no good opportunities, which made her feel frustrated. Seeing that Chu Liuguang was incredibly intelligent, even more so than herself, Xue Yaoguang, though she wouldn't admit it outwardly, was deeply saddened.

That morning, after getting up, Xue Yaoguang handled many affairs, not finishing until the afternoon. Facing delicious food, Xue Yaoguang had no appetite, listlessly pushing it away. Returning to her room, she sat by the window, listening to the cicadas chirping outside. The weather was hot and humid, making her feel drowsy, her thoughts wandering aimlessly.

Xue Yaoguang stared blankly out the window, when suddenly a poem came to mind. She softly recited, "A pale moon, a light chill, seeps through the green gauze; before the window, I dream, hearing the cawing of crows. The spring breeze

, indifferent to the depth of sorrow, sweeps fallen petals from the door every day." After reciting, Xue Yaoguang felt deeply melancholy. The poem seemed incongruous with the scene before her, yet it had flown from her lips. She paused, realizing the poem's meaning, and suddenly felt a pang of sadness

. She sighed, "I was thinking of him! Why do I like him! Brother Li! Brother Li, why did you make me like him? My heart aches so much!" Before she could finish speaking, she heard a loud laugh behind her: "Girl, girl, don't be sad! My brothers and I will help you achieve your goal! Haha!"

Startled, Xue Yaoguang turned around and saw that the room was empty. Looking closer, she discovered a tiny figure, only three inches tall, standing on the table, complete with nose, eyes, mouth, and tongue—just like a real person, only smaller. Xue Yaoguang was stunned.

That day, Hua Ruxue returned from Chu Liuguang's place and happened to encounter Leng Ruxue in the corridor. Upon seeing Hua Ruxue, Leng Ruxue snorted coldly, glanced at her, and walked straight past.

Hua Ruxue, having listened to Li Se and Gu Xiangjun's words, considered herself a gentle and kind girl and disdained to pay attention to Leng Ruxue, merely smiling before continuing on her way.

The two women had joined forces once when Li Se was imprisoned at Qingshou Temple, but only for Li Se's sake. Now that Li Se had returned, and both were vying for favor, they had become hostile towards each other again.

Seeing that Hua Ruxue was being looked down upon but dared not utter a word, Leng Ruxue couldn't help but

feel smug. She casually remarked, "A mere servant girl, wandering around all day, doesn't Sister Xiangjun even discipline her?" Hua Ruxue, hearing this, felt her anger rise and could no longer hold back. She sneered, "You are truly shallow and ignorant. I've always yielded to you because of Li Lang, and you're still taking advantage of me. Actually, Li Lang likes me very much and often praises me for being sensible, telling me to ignore you. That's why I yielded to you. What? With your meager abilities, could you kill me? I just didn't want to lower myself to your level..." "Don't think I'm afraid of you."

Leng Ruxue's face turned pale, and she said angrily, "Yes! Li Lang likes you, so he's with you all the time. Haha! How ridiculous."

Hua Ruxue was initially furious, but then smiled calmly, looking extremely cute, and said, "Always being with you isn't because I love you the most! He really likes me, and as long as he likes me, I'm satisfied. We have a long time together in the future! Why rush? I know he loves me, and that's enough." After saying this, her face flushed, probably because she was thinking about Li Se's sweet words and was moved by them.

Leng Ruxue was now quite puzzled and asked suspiciously, "What did my husband say to you that makes you so happy? It's normal for him to be so likable! Who can blame him for being so good! But you say he said he likes you? I don't believe it. You must be making things up. Or you're just deceiving yourself. Haha! I think that's probably the case. You're ridiculous."

Seeing Leng Ruxue's face trembling with laughter, Hua Ruxue became furious and could no longer contain herself. She said angrily, "I'm doing this for your own good, tolerating you in every way, but you really don't know what's good for you! If I tell you this, you'll know who Li Lang loves most. Don't regret it and feel sad. Humph! I bet you'll make a huge scene, crying and begging Li Lang to love you. "

Leng

Ruxue was stunned and filled with curiosity. She said, "I'm not that shameless. Fine, as long as you provide evidence, I will definitely not be jealous or cause trouble for Li Lang. Whether he likes someone or not, we can decide for ourselves. Who would make a scene?" "Tell me quickly!"

Hua Ruxue couldn't help but speak up, not only to humiliate Leng Ruxue but also to show off. She smugly pulled a delicate little bag from her clothes, gently opened it, took out a piece of paper with writing on it, and smiled charmingly, saying, "Hehe, please take a look!"

Leng Ruxue was somewhat frightened, not knowing what was written on it. Could it be a love letter from Li Se to Hua Ruxue? Suppressing her emotions, she glanced at it and saw four large characters written on it: "Ru Xue Ru Yu"

(meaning "like snow, like jade"). Leng Ruxue chuckled after reading it and then said, "Just these four characters, what does it mean? Does it mean Li Lang loves you?"

Hua Ruxue said smugly, "Look at you, all your time as a human is wasted, you're not even as good as this little fox who just cultivated into human form! My name, Ru Xue, was given to me by Li Lang. When we left the restaurant, he slipped this paper into a book. He never said he loved me to my face, but he must have loved me in his heart, otherwise why would he secretly write this sentence?" "These words are a compliment, comparing me to a beautiful jade. Isn't that the epitome of love? He didn't say it to my face, but doing it secretly makes it all the more precious! It proves his heart is true." She finished, overjoyed, her face radiant.

Leng Ruxue scoffed, "But my name is also Ruxue (如雪), how can you be sure your husband didn't write it for me?"

Hua Ruxue smiled sweetly, "No way! He deliberately left it for me. Only I was in the restaurant; if it wasn't for me, who else would it be for? If it was for you, he would have given it to you long ago."

Hearing this, Leng Ruxue laughed heartily, clasping her hands together in prayer, "Li Lang, Li Lang, I'm so happy! You really do love me!"

Hua Ruxue stared in disbelief, sneering, "Have you gone mad? Are you out of your mind from anger?"

Leng Ruxue said, "What do you know! The first time I met Li Lang was in a brothel in Hangzhou. I was using the alias Ruyu, a prostitute. So, your words were definitely for me." As for your name, it must have been something my beloved thought of when he missed me, and that's how he gave you this name. How ridiculous that you still thought Li Lang loved you! Haha! You're so pitiful! But I won't laugh at you anymore. Today I know Li Lang has me in his heart, and I'm so happy. So no matter how he treats me from now on, I'll be happy! You're so pitiful, I'll make Li Lang love you even more."

Leng Ruxue was still excitedly talking. She was usually a cold woman who didn't talk much with outsiders, but in her joy, she became quite talkative.

Hua Ruxue, upon hearing Leng Ruxue's words, was struck dumb, her face turning as pale as paper. She murmured, "This is impossible, this is absolutely impossible." He tore the paper to shreds, stomped his foot, chanted a spell, and vanished.

After meeting Dao Yan, all of Li Se's thoughts and beliefs from the previous twenty years were completely overturned. Despite his attempts to conceal it, the joy he felt from discovering secrets of the universe and life couldn't escape the eyes of two people.

One was Gu Xiangjun, because she knew Li Se so well; his every move, even the slightest change, was noticed.

The other, though she had little contact with Li Se, was incredibly intelligent. Having arrived in the bustling city, her wisdom and insightful eyes allowed her to see the joys and sorrows of all beings, broadening her horizons. This person was none other than the exceptionally intelligent Chu Liuguang.

That day, Li Se visited Chu Liuguang and suggested, "I don't visit you often, please forgive me. If you're bored, let Bao'er or Xiangjun accompany you for a walk; you won't be bored then. There are many new things outside! You should see them."

Chu Liuguang smiled and said, "I'm not bored at all!" "Bao'er's house is huge, I haven't even explored it all yet! Brother, you're too busy to come here every day."

Li Se laughed, "What do I have to do? I'm just wandering around all day! But I heard something funny from my sister, so I couldn't help but come and ask."

Chu Liuguang laughed, "Is it about the case where I helped someone escape a lawsuit?"

Li Se said, "That's right. I heard from Bao'er that she has a friend who, for some reason, was sued by his father for filial impiety. Filial impiety is punishable, and even if his father was wrong, there's no reason for a son to sue his father; the case was bound to be lost. But I heard you gave him an idea that saved him from punishment. Bao'er didn't know what your idea was and insisted I ask you, plus I was curious, so I came to ask you."

Chu Liuguang laughed, "It's nothing! I just had him write on his left hand: 'My wife has the beauty of Diao Chan'; and on his right hand: 'My father has the heart of Dong Zhuo.' Then he just cried in court without saying a word, and finally showed his hands to the official."

Upon hearing Chu Liuguang's words, Li Se immediately understood the matter. Dong Zhuo and Diao Chan were father-in-law and daughter-in-law, yet Dong Zhuo coveted Diao Chan's beauty and wanted to possess her, representing a prime example of moral depravity in ancient times. Therefore, the officials handling the case immediately understood his intentions and assumed the elder was in the wrong! Seeing that the child was filial and wouldn't air their family's dirty laundry, they released him. Because this matter was highly indecent, Chu Liuguang didn't tell Wang Bao'er about his plan, which explains why Wang Bao'er couldn't find out.

Seeing Li Se deep in thought, Chu Liuguang said, "Brother, are you angry? I gave you bad advice, meddled in other people's business, and bullied the old folks. You must be mad at me, right?"

Li Se laughed and said, "I'm not mad at you! Actually, many old people, though well-intentioned, are quite infuriating. They'll stop at nothing to help their children achieve their dreams or to make them follow what they think is the right path! Everyone has their own dreams, and with times changing, sometimes the elderly can't understand the hearts of young people, which causes pain and estrangement—a human tragedy! Besides, my sister is very smart; I believe she would never do anything wrong."

Chu Liuguang nodded slightly, thinking, "Brother is indeed much smarter now. He's free of obstacles; he's so open-minded and insightful. If it were before, he might have blamed me!" Looking at Li Se, he felt a sweet warmth in his heart. As

the two were chatting, suddenly, a young girl burst into the room. Chu Liuguang stood up and laughed, "What's wrong, Sister Hua? Why are you in such a hurry? Come, sit down first! You have to talk things out slowly!"

The person who came was Hua Ruxue, who had just quarreled with Leng Ruxue. Hua Ruxue ignored Chu Liuguang and said to Li Se plaintively, "Young Master, I only want to ask you one question, and you must answer me honestly."

Seeing Hua Ruxue's expression, Li Se asked curiously, "What happened? Please tell me what's wrong, I've never lied to you!"

Hua Ruxue said, "Alright, I'll ask you, do you love me or not?"

Although Li Se was clever, this question was very tricky. He glanced at Chu Liuguang and then hesitated, "I... although I want to love you, Miss, I am a married man, so I'm afraid I cannot accept your kindness."

Before Li Se could finish speaking, Hua Ruxue said, "But what about Leng Ruxue? Why can you have her?"

Li Se said awkwardly, "This..." "This is different. Some things are just too complicated to explain in a few words."

Hua Ruxue said, "Alright, let's not talk about this anymore. I'm asking you, why did you name me the same as Leng Ruxue? When you saw me, you were thinking of her all along, even giving me the same name as her. I can tolerate anything else, but why are you so cruel, even making my name exactly the same as hers? I just want you to give me a name, a name that belongs only to me! Can't you even do such a small request? Do you think I'm still a beast in your eyes? Why... why won't you give me even this little bit of happiness? You won't give me anything." She finished speaking and burst into tears.

Li Se was dumbfounded. Hua Ruxue had always been very innocent and lovely. Although Li Se knew that she loved him deeply, he could only avoid her because he couldn't love her. However, seeing that she was so innocent and easy to deal with, and that she didn't cause him any trouble, and even helped him in every way, he was very grateful to her. Now, seeing her suddenly heartbroken and full of sorrow, he couldn't help but feel a surge of pity.

Li Se said softly, "Sister Hua, you don't need to be sad. When I met you, I didn't even know there was such a person as Leng Ruxue! So you don't need to be upset. I did indeed name you. I met you first, and then I met Miss Leng. It's just a coincidence that you have the same name. Even if it's a coincidence, it's Miss Leng who named you first. You don't need to be sad about it."

Chu Liuguang also laughed, "Yes! Sister, you're usually so gentle and generous. Why are you unhappy about such a small thing today? Come here, tell me carefully, and I'll see why you're unhappy."

But Hua Ruxue didn't appreciate it at all. She didn't even look at Chu Liuguang and stared at Li Se, saying, "Fine, since you say my name wasn't given to me by her, then who did you write it for?" After

Hua Ruxue finished speaking, she opened her hand and a piece of paper appeared, which she handed to Li Se.

Li Se glanced at the familiar handwriting, instantly recalling the sweet days of his early marriage with Leng Ruxue. He felt a pang of nostalgia, then sighed, "Yes, this is what I wrote for Miss Leng. But..."

Before Li Se could finish, Hua Ruxue snatched the paper, threw it at his face, and ran out, crying, "You're a bad person! You're all bad! I hate you! I'll never love you again!"

The paper shattered into countless fragments above Li Se's head, slowly scattering like fireworks or drifting snow. Li Se's heart was also as cold as ice. He weakly reached out his hand, but knowing he couldn't hold onto anything, he let go.

Upon seeing this, Chu Liuguang suddenly felt saddened as well, and quickly forced a smile, saying, "Brother, Miss Hua has left in anger, why don't you go after her?"

Li Se said sadly, "I thought I had seen through everything and that my heart would never grieve again, but when I encounter things and see a good girl heartbroken, and I am powerless to change anything, I still can't help but feel sorrow. This is life, joys and sorrows, separations and reunions, unavoidable."

Chu Liuguang said, "But you can make Miss Hua happy, if you want to."

Li Se said, "She will be heartbroken sooner or later, why bother? The sooner she's heartbroken, the sooner she'll recover, let her go!"

Chu Liuguang said, "It's different. Miss Hua is gentle on the outside but strong on the inside. Even if you try to persuade her to stay, she won't. But if you coax her, her heartbreak will lessen considerably."

Hearing this, Li Se knew that Chu Liuguang was extremely intelligent, and being a girl herself, she must understand girls' feelings. She quickly said, "Okay, I'll listen to you."

Li Se leaped out of the room and ran towards Qixiang Residence, assuming that even if Hua Ruxue wanted to leave, she would definitely go back to pack her things first.

Li Se had only traveled halfway when suddenly a man leaped out from the roadside and blocked her way. Li Se, surprised, exclaimed, "Liang Gongchang, it's you! Didn't I tell you not to wander around? If I didn't have urgent business, I would have taken you away from the capital. Just wait for me, why the rush?"

Liang Gongchang grinned and whispered a few words in Li Se's ear. Li Se exclaimed in surprise, "What? You kidnapped Miss Xue again? Have you lost your minds? Didn't I tell you to behave yourselves? What's the matter this time?"

Liang Gongchang said, "Master Yu, it's like this! We need to refine a medicinal pill."

Li Se's face darkened. "Refine a medicinal pill? You want to…you're confused! Tell me, where is she now? What have you done to her?"

In her anxiety, Li Se grabbed Liang Gongchang's collar. Liang Gongchang hurriedly struggled, saying, "Yu Da, don't be hasty! She's perfectly fine! If you don't agree, how dare we act recklessly and steal your woman? Besides, she's crucial to your grand plan!"

Li Se secretly scolded himself for his rashness, released his grip, and said, "Then take me there quickly and release her. Since you know my grand plan, you still won't listen. I really don't know what you're thinking!"

Liang Gongchang said, "Yu Da, you'll find out when you come with me to Xuanwu Lake!"

Li Se was startled, sighed inwardly, and thought, "Miss Hua, I'm sorry. I have to go save Miss Xue. It's better if you hate me; that would probably be better for you. The sooner you forget me, the sooner you can find happiness. I can't hurt you because I love you. It seems fate is also forcing us to separate early, not even letting us see each other one last time."

Seeing Li Se suddenly lost in thought, Liang Gongchang chuckled inwardly and said, "Yu Da, you're so worried about Miss Xue. It seems you love her very much!"

Li Se put Hua Ruxue's matter out of his mind and said, "Love her? Why do you say that? Let's go! I'll go see her. You guys are always causing me trouble. I really don't know if you even consider me your boss anymore." He thought to himself, "Love? I don't know what love is. I might love Xiang Jun and hope to be by her side for life, but why is there always a trace of regret in my heart? The path of cultivating the heart is truly a very difficult thing."

Seeing Li Se's anxious look, Liang Gongchang went with him. Thinking to himself, "Boss's skills in seducing women are truly divine! He's made Xue Yaoguang completely infatuated, lovesick, and Boss doesn't even know it! I'll help them get together today; Boss will be so happy then."

Liang Gongchang was smug as he led Li Se to a small boat on Xuanwu Lake. The other three lecherous thieves, Tie Ding and the other two, had been waiting for a long time and greeted Li Se warmly.

The four of them didn't mention Xue Yaoguang at all, but simply drank with Li Se, chatting about all sorts of random things. Li Se was now at ease, knowing that Xue Yaoguang was safe. Since they were here, Xue Yaoguang was no longer in danger, so he simply drank with the four of them.

Li Se rambled on, boasting wildly, and then, observing the four men's reactions, secretly advised them to mend their ways. The four men listened to Li Se's words quite readily, which comforted Li Se, who thought, "Given time, perhaps I can get them to leave the Butterfly Sect!"

When the moon rose high above the treetops, the five men finished their revelry. Liang Gongchang, grinning, pulled the slightly drunk Li Se to

his feet and said, "Yu Da, isn't it time for you to go to the bridal chamber?" Li Se hadn't drunk much, and upon hearing this, he immediately sobered up. Though suspicious, he feigned a slurred speech and asked, "What bridal chamber?"

Du Kaixian of "Nan Dang" laughed loudly, "Yu Da, we've found you a stunningly beautiful young lady! We brothers are happy to serve you! Boss Liang even said there might be other uses for her! Anyway, Yu Da, quickly show us your true skills and broaden our horizons!"

Du Kaixian laughed wildly as he spoke. Then, without further ado, the four men ushered Li Se into the cabin. The cabin was brightly lit and decorated in an extremely luxurious and flamboyant style. The polished floor emitted a yellowish glow, and the bed curtains were exquisite, covered with bright red sheets, creating a festive atmosphere.

Li Se saw a beautiful young woman in red lying on the floor. Her beauty, illuminated by the light, was so striking that it was almost blinding. It was none other than the peerless Xue Yaoguang.

Li Se was startled and pulled the four men out of the cabin, saying, "What are you all doing? You've confused me."

Liang Gongchang smiled mysteriously and said, "Yu Da, you don't know! Actually, this Xue girl has been infatuated with you for a long time. I overheard her talking and I know she's thinking about you! So, we brothers kidnapped her, helping both you and her—a win-win situation!"

Li Se frowned and said, "This girl likes me? No way! I still have a few women I haven't charmed! If she gets involved first, wouldn't that be a hindrance? That would be very troublesome. You don't know my plan, so don't try to help me!"

Liang Gongchang asked curiously, "Yu Da, no way! Once a girl is in bed, she'll love you even more." "You'll have it all, then you can take whatever you want, won't that be even easier? How could it be an obstacle for you?"

Li Se thought to himself, "This guy seems to have some insight." He then said, "What you say makes sense, but you don't understand Miss Xue's temper. She's a smart woman, and since she's captivated by me and fallen in love with me, how could she not be jealous? If a woman falls in love with someone, she doesn't want her beloved to love only her. However, because I already have a wife, she can't do anything about it and won't cause trouble for Xiang Jun. But if I want to get close to other girls, that's out of the question. She's smart and capable; what difficulty would it be for her to keep an eye on me? In that case, wouldn't our great cause be in vain?"

The four lecherous men looked at each other, speechless. Seeing this, Li Se was somewhat pleased. Seeing that the effect had been achieved, he stopped talking and watched how the four men would handle the situation.

After a while, Tie Ding patted his belly, frowned, and said, "Brother Yu, what you say is indeed a great truth. But you are the leader of our Butterfly Sect! If you use our sect's skills, wouldn't the girls listen to you in everything after you've used them? Where does the jealousy come from?"

Li Se smiled slightly, thinking, "These guys are really stupid! There's no such skill in the world!" He said, "What you're talking about are lesser skills. It's not difficult to win a woman's heart and soul with lust for a while, but what I want is their hearts. Once a woman falls in love, she won't easily change her mind, and that's the most precious thing. I'm undertaking a great cause, so I must be careful. I must make them love me wholeheartedly so that they can help me achieve my great cause."

The four of them praised Li Se in unison, exclaiming that he was farsighted and had a deep understanding of the situation. After a while, Liang Gongchang suddenly pulled Li Se aside and said somewhat awkwardly, "Master Yu, I need to refine some pills, which require the virginity of a woman of exceptional quality as a medicinal ingredient. Xue Yaoguang is an excellent vessel. If you think she's a bit redundant, why not give her to me? I'll steal her virginity, and she'll definitely fall in love with me, which will be of great benefit to our Butterfly Sect. I can use her virginity to refine pills, which can prolong life and increase internal energy. However, if Master Yu changes his mind and uses Xue Yaoguang himself, I'll be even happier. I have faith in the Sect Master's skills, hehe! If I could witness the Sect Master's skills firsthand, I would be extremely honored!" He finished with a sly grin.

Li Se was startled and said, "You'd better not use your crooked and evil methods. The idea of using a woman's 'red pill' to refine elixirs is utter nonsense. How could you take it seriously?"

Liang Gongchang asked in surprise, "What? Does that mean the method passed down by my master is useless? Then I'll have to verify it even more! If Master Yu thinks Xue Yaoguang isn't ready to lose her virginity yet, then I'll find another woman. Although she might be less talented, there's nothing I can do!" He shook his head and sighed.

Li Se's mind raced, and he said, "Alright! How about this? I'll go and bewitch Miss Xue! As for the rest of the plan, I think I'll find a way to solve it."

Liang Gongchang was overjoyed and said, "I knew Master Yu's skills were extremely profound."

Before Li Se entered the cabin, Liang Gongchang smiled and handed him a piece of white gauze. Li Se understood his meaning, smiled, and took it into the cabin.

Liang Gongchang watched Li Se's retreating figure, a sly smile suddenly appearing on his face. However, he immediately frowned, his expression turning troubled. He thought, "Why am I unhappy even though my plan succeeded? Could it be that I..." A sense of dread crept into Liang Gongchang's mind. He quickly suppressed the thought, shook his head, and walked away.

The candlelight flickered in the cabin, shimmering and illuminating the ornate deck and furnishings, creating a dazzling spectacle. But even more captivating was a beautiful woman on the deck, her bright eyes and white teeth mesmerizing in the lamplight. Even a

man of great virtue would likely be tempted here. Li Se stared at the beauty before him for a long while, then suddenly turned and went outside, addressing the four men behind the door: "What are you doing? Do you really want to see me perform the Butterfly School's art of seducing women?"

The four men, unfazed, readily agreed. Li Se smiled wryly and said, "Don't worry, I will teach you the profound techniques of our sect in the future. However, this method of controlling women is not the most advanced, and it won't be of much use to you. If you want to glorify our sect, you can't achieve it with just these things. If you listen to me, please prepare a banquet and then disembark! I want to have a drink and chat with Miss Xue."

Liang Gongchang asked in surprise, "Yu Da, what about the matter I entrusted to you?"

Li Se smiled and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely do it."

Chapter Eight: Treating Everyone Equally

A small boat drifted freely in the night breeze on Xuanwu Lake, its faint light flickering like fireflies in the darkness.

At that moment, Li Se released Xue Yaoguang's pressure points, then sat upright in a chair, smiling as he watched her.

Xue Yaoguang gently shifted her body, allowing her numbness to ease, then slowly stood up and, at Li Se's prompting, gently sat down at the table laden with various foods.

Xue Yaoguang stared at Li Se with her beautiful eyes and said, "Brother Li, what are you laughing at? Is there something funny about Yaoguang?"

Li Se clapped his hands and laughed, "No, I admire your composure, young lady! You were kidnapped and then suddenly saw me; you should be full of questions. But you remained calm and didn't ask anything. Even a fine man couldn't be as composed as you!"

Xue Yaoguang gently patted her chest and smiled, "No! I was actually very scared, but I trusted Brother Li, so when I saw you, I wasn't afraid of anything. Brother, you are truly my lucky star. Whenever I'm in trouble, Brother..." "You appeared just in time."

Li Se said with a wry smile, "Miss, you're really good with words. You didn't expose that I was in cahoots with those people, which really saved me a lot of face."

Xue Yaoguang smiled sweetly and said, "Then you must have your reasons, right?"

Li Se said, "Yes! That's the truth, but the way you put it, I feel like I'm lying. It's a long story, and you haven't eaten for half a day, have you? Please eat while I explain."

Xue Yaoguang smiled and said, "Yes! I am a little hungry! Then I won't be polite." After saying that, she stretched out her small, jade-like hand, took a piece of pastry, and ate it. Her graceful posture was unexpected, and Li Se was stunned.

After Xue Yaoguang ate for a while, Li Se said, "When I first entered the martial world, I encountered strange things, and all the entanglements and misunderstandings I have now stemmed from this, so I have to start from the beginning."

Seeing that Xue Yaoguang nodded slightly, seemingly very interested, Li Se recounted his background.

After speaking, Li Se said, "Perhaps Senior Flower Butterfly wanted me to inherit his mantle, and therefore he was willing to die at my hands. He was indeed a master, and his actions were truly unconventional. At first, I was forced to learn some of his skills, but the more I learned, the more I realized that his skills were not as despicable, filthy, and vulgar as outsiders thought. His mental techniques are actually quite useful. I wonder if Senior Flower wanted me to reform the Butterfly Sect? He knew I was a righteous person, yet he still passed his skills to me. There must be a deeper meaning behind that!" After speaking, he pondered deeply.

Xue Yaoguang blushed as she listened, thinking, "What use could this lecherous scoundrel's skills be? Gu Xiangjun and the others... they..." Xue Yaoguang became more and more ashamed as she thought about it, and couldn't help but cover her face.

Suddenly, Li Se said again, "Miss Xue, you know everything about me now. I think you understand all the misunderstandings you had about me before. Don't worry, I will let you leave this place safely today, but please believe me, don't tell anyone about this. I think these lecherous scoundrels aren't so bad. Although they've gone astray, judging from their behavior these past few days, I believe they can reform if I guide them. You have a kind heart, Miss, and you won't make things difficult for me."

Xue Yaoguang hummed in agreement, then playfully said, "But that's not necessarily true! It depends on what you give me! Otherwise, how can I swallow this insult after being tricked by these four bad guys time and time again?"

Li Se thought, "Miss Xue has the same temper as a princess? Do all girls think the same way?" He smiled and said, "Alright, what do you want, Miss? If I can do it, I will."

Xue Yaoguang thought, "So that's what his experience was like. He wouldn't lie to me. But he said that Gu Xiangjun and Leng Ruxue only liked each other because of a misunderstanding." "He must be lying to me. If he didn't have exceptional talent, why would they marry him? Besides, Princess Wushuang is very close to him, and he didn't mention this."

Seeing Li Se staring intently at her, his eyes clear as water, his face handsome, she couldn't help but feel a flutter in her heart. She quickly lowered her head and stammered, "What benefits? I haven't thought of anything yet. I'll tell

you when I do." Li Se was overjoyed and said, "Miss is indeed understanding. Come, let's drink a few cups. It's a blessing from past lives that we can drink together alone on the lake." "I don't want to miss this opportunity! Life is short, and we shouldn't miss out on the time to be happy."

Seeing Li Se's enthusiastic expression, Xue Yaoguang, who had never seen him so happy before, asked joyfully, "Brother, are you willing to see me? Why are you so happy?"

Li Se smiled and said, "Your intelligence is exceptional, which I greatly admire. Actually, I would very much like to be close to you, but there is a difference between men and women, and I had no reason to see you before. Now that I have this opportunity, to go boating on the lake with you, wouldn't that be a great pleasure? Come, let's drink." He then downed a cup.

Xue Yaoguang was also happy to hear Li Se's words and drank a cup with him.

Li Se wanted to make Xue Yaoguang happy, so he tried to coax her. Xue Yaoguang was a talented and clever woman, and the two chatted happily. Xue Yaoguang had always been fond of Li Se, and now that she could be alone with him, her feelings for him deepened.

It should be known that when the feelings between men and women first begin, they are inevitably tinged with utilitarianism, such as loving someone's talent, wealth, or appearance. But once love is established, these things become unimportant. As for other things like developing feelings over time, being moved by a certain event or environment, the same applies. Before falling in love, a person is always very picky, but once they suddenly realize they've fallen in love, those previous flaws become insignificant.

Xue Yaoguang, with her high standards, was probably initially curious about Li Se, then suddenly discovered he resembled her father, and thus fell in love with him without realizing it. Therefore, even now that she understands him, once she's fallen in love, how could she so easily stop? Besides, there are still many things about Li Se that Xue Yaoguang doesn't understand, so she remains greatly infatuated with him.

The two chatted and laughed happily until the moon was high in the sky. Suddenly, Li Se remembered what Liang Gongchang had asked him to do. Because he was familiar with Xue Yaoguang, like an old friend, he smiled and said, "Miss, I need your help with something."

Xue Yaoguang scolded, "Didn't I tell you to call me Yaoguang? You forgot again; you should drink a cup of wine as punishment." Saying this, she raised a cup of wine.

Li Se laughed and said, "That's right, I should drink a cup of wine as punishment." He took the wine from Xue Yaoguang's hand and drank it.

Xue Yaoguang, flushed with alcohol, her cheeks already rosy, looked even more alluring under the lamplight. She smiled and said, "Brother, what can I do for you?"

Li Se took out a piece of white cloth and said, "Please bite your cheek until it bleeds, then smear some blood on this cloth for me! I feel so bad for making you suffer, but I have no choice. Please forgive me."

Xue Yaoguang, though exceptionally intelligent, was still a young woman and didn't understand what Li Se's purpose was in asking her to do this. After

thinking for a while, still confused, she said, "Brother Li, what is your intention in asking me to do this? I have no idea! I want to know, please tell me!"

Li Se stammered, his face turning bright red, and finally couldn't utter a single word. He simply said, "Just do as I say, why ask so many questions!"

Hearing this, Xue Yaoguang's face darkened. She said, "Fine, then do this yourself. I'm sleepy, I want to go to bed." After saying this, Xue Yaoguang went to the bedside and lay down.

Li Se inwardly berated himself for his rashness, but should he really tell her the truth?

Hesitant, Li Se walked to the bedside and said with a forced smile, "Yaoguang, I know you're afraid of pain, but I'm doing this for your own good..."

Xue Yaoguang, with her back to Li Se, didn't turn around and said, "I'm not afraid of pain! Humph! For my own good? How come I don't know? I can't accept your kindness for no reason."

Seeing that Xue Yaoguang was angry, Li Se knew that she wouldn't help unless he explained the reason. If he used his own blood, those guys were too shrewd and would definitely see through the deception.

Li Se grew angrier the more she thought about it, and said angrily, "These guys are really annoying. If it weren't for the fact that Senior Hua and my Daojun sect have some connection, I would really want to kill them. That damned Liang Gongchang said that virgin blood can be used to refine pills, and that you have excellent aptitude, so he insists on having your 'red pill' (a

type of virginity). You are pure and innocent, how can you be insulted by them? Therefore, I want you to deceive them. If you want me to use my own blood, that's fine, but I probably won't be able to fool them..." Xue Yaoguang suddenly said in a voice as soft as a mosquito's buzz, "Then... then if I don't agree, do you have any other way to do it?"

Li Se exclaimed, "What?" She vaguely guessed Xue Yaoguang's deeper meaning, but immediately cursed herself for being despicable, and hurriedly said, "This... I don't know any other way. Please do as I say! Or do you have any other good ideas?"

Xue Yaoguang said, "I don't know, but I won't bite myself!"

Li Se was stunned, and said softly, "Yaoguang, don't lose sight of the bigger picture for a small gain. Please help me with this!"

Xue Yaoguang said: "You've lost sight of the bigger picture for a small gain. You don't need to say anything more; I definitely won't do that."

Li Se was stunned. Seeing that Xue Yaoguang had her back to him and wasn't paying attention to him, seemingly angry, he asked, "Are you angry?"

Xue Yaoguang replied, "Yes! You just realized?"

Li Se asked curiously, "Why is that? You're a smart, virtuous, and well-mannered girl! You must be angry with those four lecherous thieves. I promise you, I'll avenge you and make them suffer."

Xue Yaoguang retorted, "I'm not angry with them at all! " "Those roughnecks aren't worth my anger."

Li Se exclaimed, "Ah!" and asked, "Are you angry with me?"

Xue Yaoguang replied, "I wouldn't dare. I'm angry with myself."

Li Se asked curiously, "Then why?"

Xue Yaoguang said, "I'm angry because I'm ugly! I have no charm, I'm not attractive at all. People would rather fake it than pay attention to me! I'm so useless, I'm so sad."

Xue Yaoguang's last few words were barely audible, but when Li Se heard them, it was like a thunderclap in his ears, and he was stunned.

Li Se slumped into his chair, no longer daring to pay attention to Xue Yaoguang. He was filled with mixed emotions, unable to understand how Xue Yaoguang could say such affectionate words. A girl would never say such things that would have serious consequences unless she was willing and deeply in love. But what should Li Se do? He already had two lovers, and he felt busy every day. If he got involved with another girl, he would rather be dead. That was fine, but Li Se was the kind of person who would rather be betrayed by the world than betray the world. If he married Xue Yaoguang but didn't have time to spend with her, he would feel guilty to death. Besides, Xue Yaoguang was so intelligent and beautiful that Li Se felt unworthy of her, so he absolutely didn't want to get involved. Moreover, he and Gu Xiangjun were deeply in love, and no matter how beautiful other women were, he wouldn't be tempted.

After thinking for a while, Li Se dared not pay any more attention to Xue Yaoguang, his mind only on how to deal with the four lecherous thieves. Gradually, the room fell silent; Xue Yaoguang seemed to have fallen asleep.

As dawn broke and the first rays of sunlight appeared, Li Se leaped up and rowed the boat to the shore. The four lecherous thieves had been waiting for a long time, and when they saw the boat dock, they cheered loudly.

Li Se told them to wait outside. Returning to the cabin, he was about to quietly tell Xue Yaoguang his plan when he noticed the white cloth stained with blood. Overjoyed, he saw Xue Yaoguang sitting on the edge of the bed, her face as cold as ice, her expression unreadable.

Seeing Xue Yaoguang's actions, Li Se knew she had forgiven him and was cooperating. He smiled and said, "Yaoguang, I'm sorry. Please cooperate with me a little longer! 'To help a drowning sister-in-law is a matter of expediency,' please don't mind." Without waiting for a reply, he swept her up in his arms and strode out. Caught off guard,

Xue Yaoguang let out a soft moan, her ears turning bright red. Once outside, seeing him, she became even more shy, burying her head in Li Se's chest, refusing to look up. Lost in passion against his broad, warm chest, she couldn't understand why Li Se had gone from arrogant to submissive.

Li Se tossed the white cloth to Liang Gongchang without a word, then carried Xue Yaoguang away. The four men said, "Respectfully seeing off the sect leader."

Reaching a secluded spot, Li Se put Xue Yaoguang down. The blush on Xue Yaoguang's face hadn't faded; she sat on a stone chair under a tree, panting.

Li Se said, "I was afraid those men would notice something amiss, so I apologize for any offense."

The way a young woman and a married woman walk is slightly different; experienced people can usually tell. The four lecherous men were seasoned experts and could naturally see it, so Li Se carried Xue Yaoguang away. Whether they would be discovered later was a matter for the future.

Xue Yaoguang, being a girl and immersed in lust, only half understood Li Se's explanation. She thought, "He...he still likes me after all; he's carrying me on purpose!" Thinking this, she remained shy and silent.

Seeing Xue Yaoguang remain silent, only shyly, Li Se was about to speak again when suddenly a man emerged from behind the woods, stroking his beard and proclaiming loudly, "Life is inherently filled with passionate infatuations; this matter has nothing to do with wind or moon." He then burst into laughter.

Li Se saw that the newcomer appeared to be in his forties or fifties, with eyes like the sun and moon, a voice like thunder, a nose and forehead like a mountain, a short three-inch beard, and a tall, slender figure. His bearing and imposing presence were overwhelming; Li Se was stunned by this heroic figure.

Then he heard Xue Yaoguang call out shyly, "Father, why have you come?"

Li Se exclaimed in surprise, "Xue Guandai?" He immediately regretted his words. Since being enlightened by his uncle Daoyan a few days ago, Li Se's willpower was far stronger than before; if not as strong as iron, it was close. However, Xue Guandai's aura was truly astonishing, and Li Se's resolve was captivated, leaving him flustered and bewildered.

Xue Guandai smiled slightly at Li Se, then turned and beckoned. Two maids emerged from a distance, helping Xue Yaoguang away. Seeing Xue Yaoguang frequently looking back, Xue Guandai smiled and said, "My dear daughter, don't worry. I know your thoughts. What could I possibly do to him?" Xue Yaoguang then smiled and left with peace of mind.

Li Se, having regained his composure, bowed respectfully after seeing Xue Yaoguang gone, saying, "Uncle Xue, I apologize for my rudeness!"

Xue Guandai glanced at Li Se and smiled, "In this world, there are countless talented young men, but you are indeed a very special person. I have observed you for a long time and found that although you are surrounded by beautiful women, you are truly unmoved. This is beyond my expectations. Even when I was young, I couldn't remain unmoved by beautiful women."

Li Se felt much more comfortable with Xue Guandai's amiable manner and couldn't help but secretly admire him. Xue Guandai was a renowned grandmaster in the martial arts world, with unfathomable martial arts skills. He initially exerted his full power, overwhelming Li Se and forcing Li Se to exclaim in surprise. After assessing Li Se's cultivation level, he suddenly changed his aura, making Li Se feel as if bathed in a gentle breeze. He was truly in complete control, and such skill was indeed astonishing.

Li Se was secretly on guard and said, "Senior is a grandmaster. It is my great honor to meet you. I have acted foolishly and incoherently. It is already a blessing that you have spared my life. I dare not accept your praise." At the same time, he thought, "Xue Guandai's reputation is not unfounded. No wonder Xue Yaoguang was captured so easily twice and yet remained fearless. It turns out that Xue Guandai was secretly watching. If I make any move, I will surely be beheaded. There are many masters in the capital. It is only because a few lecherous thieves can get away with it that they are all so powerful." "Thanks to me, if they had really done something bad, their lives might be in danger right now."

Xue Guandai said, "Whether your actions are erratic or chaotic, it has nothing to do with me! I only came to you because of my precious daughter. Otherwise, even if you turned the capital upside down, I wouldn't bother to look at you."

Li Se found this strange. He had thought that Xue Guandai, a renowned swordsman, would be a righteous figure. If he had done something wrong, would a grandmaster like him stand idly by?

Li Se was puzzled and cupped his hands, saying, "Please instruct me, senior."

Xue Guan said, "A few days ago, my dear daughter suddenly visited my Ningsi Residence. In the past three years, this is only the second time she has asked me something. I thought it was something important, but when she arrived, she just lowered her head and didn't speak. Before she even opened her mouth, her face turned red. My daughter manages the Xue family's business. She often deals with all kinds of people, including officials, merchants, and soldiers. What major events hasn't she seen? I've never seen her like this before. Yes! She's eighteen years old! She's a young lady now!"

Li Se vaguely guessed that what Xue Yaoguang wanted to discuss with her father must be related to him, and sighed inwardly.

Xue Guandai sighed and continued, "She said she's fallen for a married man, and she's conflicted. She wants to stay away, but it's causing her a lot of pain. Perhaps she's a strong-willed person; the more difficult and rebellious something is, the more she enjoys doing it." After saying this, he turned to stare at Li Se, his eyes clear and bright, and said, "Upon hearing this, I was extremely curious. In this world, what kind of person could move my daughter so deeply, and yet he's a married man!"

Li Se couldn't withstand Xue Guandai's gaze, as if... As if he had been seen through, he quickly bowed and said, "So, Senior wants to see me, is that right?"

Xue Guandai said, "That's right. I've secretly observed you several times, but I'm greatly disappointed. I don't understand why Yaoguang likes you. You're too pedantic and lack courage; you're not my type."

Li Se breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Senior is too proud. This humble one is unworthy and incompetent, so it's natural that I cannot meet your standards. As for Miss Xue liking me, that must be a misunderstanding. Perhaps she's in her prime and was momentarily attracted. Maybe after a few days, perhaps even..." I don’t remember anyone!

After Xue Guandai heard this, he burst into laughter and said, "You don't have to make yourself so miserable. My daughter likes you for her own reasons." She asked me how I would deal with it, and I told her that as long as she liked it, just do it!

Li Se was surprised: "What?" I'm not in the eyes of my seniors, so that's fine. But I already have a wife, so why do my seniors still say that? "

Xue Guandai sneered: "What? Even if you can have three wives and four concubines, can't my daughter like one person? No matter who you are! As long as my daughter likes you, it will be fine. When she doesn't love you anymore, she will naturally leave you. Otherwise, the farther away she is from you, the less she will be able to discover your shortcomings, and she will love you more and suffer more.

Li Se said: "But only after a person has experienced pain can he learn to cherish his feelings. Senior asked Yao Guang to get close to me. Although it can make her feel happy temporarily, the pain will come later. When she finds out that she no longer loves me, can she still choose a new life?" "If

a woman loses her virginity and remarries, even in modern times, if she wants to pursue her love, there are many restrictions, let alone ancient times.

Xue Guan laughed loudly, then his face darkened, and he said coldly, "Why not? If she doesn't like you anymore, she will naturally seek new happiness. Does she think she will remain chaste for you for the rest of her life? Do you think those hypocritical moralists who fool fools can fool my daughter? Since men can have multiple wives and concubines and do whatever they want, why can't women? Do you think that if a woman chooses a man, she has to gamble her whole life on him?"

Li Se was a smart man, and he didn't care about so-called worldly laws and customs. However, having lived in the mortal world, one's thoughts inevitably become guided by worldly rules and regulations. Hearing Xue Guandai's unconventional words, she immediately understood his thinking, thinking, "Indeed, I was wrong before. What's the difference between men and women? Why should I burden myself with so many unnecessary burdens? They have the right to pursue happiness, and if they find that what they have is not happiness, then they will naturally seek it elsewhere. They are all exceptionally intelligent and clever women, incomparable to ordinary women."

Xue Guandai continued, "As the saying goes, 'Husbands and wives are like birds in the same forest; when disaster strikes, they fly away separately.' This saying has been passed down through generations and considered a truth, revealing many..." The helplessness of life and the tragedy of human nature—how many people have truly considered these things? Before marriage, men and women are usually in love and affectionate, caring and considerate towards each other. But what about after marriage? Many men think that once they have a wife, they can do whatever they want, no longer caring and considerate, and even treating her like a beast of burden. While children and family usually keep them from easily changing their minds, when faced with important matters, they will naturally think of themselves first. This is no one else's fault but theirs. The so-called cause and effect, retribution, is quite reasonable.”

Li Se, whenever he met wise people and heard their words, felt as if he had entered another world. Now, hearing Xue Guandai's words, he was also shocked.

Seeing that Li Se was stunned, Xue Guandai stroked his beard and pondered for a while, finally saying, “You should take care of yourself in the future! Love is unpredictable. Don't be unaware of your blessings when you are fortunate, or you will regret it when you lose it! Enjoy life to the fullest, don't let the golden goblet face the moon empty.” After saying this, he drifted away.

Chapter Nine: The Mortal World is Like a Dream.

Li Se and Xue Guandai had been gone for a long time before Li Se came to their senses. Suddenly remembering Hua Ruxue's matter, they temporarily put it aside and hurried back to the Wang family, rushing to Qixiang Residence.

Gu Xiangjun greeted them, saying, "Why didn't you return all night? I couldn't find you anywhere. Something terrible has happened!"

Li Se said dejectedly, "Did Miss Hua leave? Alas! What's meant to leave will leave; you can't force it."

Gu Xiangjun said, "Yes, she left, and I couldn't persuade her otherwise. But last night someone sent a message saying that Uncle-Master is seriously ill and you must go see him immediately!"

Li Se said, "What? Such a thing has happened?" Remembering seeing him a few days ago, Uncle-Master was so vigorous, looking like someone in their forties. How could he suddenly fall ill? Uncle-Master's cultivation is so profound; there's no reason for him to suddenly become ill. However, Dao Yan is over eighty years old after all; fate is hard to defy. Could something have happened to him? Thinking of this, Li Se was filled with worry and immediately took Gu Xiangjun with him to Qingshou Temple.

Emperor Yongle, Zhu Di, held court and, having not seen Grand Master of the Palace, Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince Yao Guangxiao, for several days, felt unwell. Although he knew that Junior Tutor Yao Guangxiao had taken a few days off due to illness, he had been accustomed to seeing him come and go like a daily routine for over a decade. Now, after only a few days apart, he felt as if he had lost his backbone and could not muster the energy to participate in political affairs.

Zhu Di addressed his ministers, saying, "The Junior Tutor has not come to court for several days. Yixing, you went to inquire about his condition. Do you know how he is? You must report the truth. Although I am old, I am not senile. I have a bad feeling. The eunuchs I sent all returned stammering and dared not tell the truth. You are my beloved minister. Go and inquire again after court. If there is anything, just come back and tell me directly. If there is anything needed, just instruct the servants to handle it. You must ensure that the Junior Tutor is well."

Yang Shiqi (courtesy name Yixing) glanced at Yang Rong and Xie Jin, then suddenly knelt down and said, "We visited the Junior Tutor last night. Your Majesty is wise beyond measure. The Junior Tutor is indeed critically ill and has not eaten for three days. He wants to see Your Majesty, but unfortunately he cannot get out of bed, so... so we request Your Majesty to come..."

Zhu Di stood up abruptly, his white beard trembling, and his hands also trembling. The courtiers knelt and cried out, "Your Majesty, please take care of your health!"

Since ancient times, there has been a rule that the emperor could only visit a minister in his final moments, and even if the minister recovered after such a visit, he would have to die. Therefore, Dao Yan's request to see the emperor was clearly significant. Furthermore, a minister would only request an audience with the emperor if he were not on the verge of death.

Zhu Di tried to remain calm and said in a trembling voice, "Move the capital to Qingshou Temple!" Zhu Di, who had won the throne through countless battles and was renowned for his power, was now utterly distraught, demonstrating Dao Yan's high regard for him.

Dao Yan had contributed the most to Zhu Di's rise from a prince to the emperor. He not only offered strategic advice but also recommended talented individuals, trained troops, pacified the people, and strategized with

unparalleled skill, comparable to Zhang Liang. Upon ascending the throne, Zhu Di appointed Dao Yan as the Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, personally addressing him as Junior Tutor without using his name, a lifelong honor—an exceptional honor in Chinese history. However, in the treacherous and vicious power struggles of the court, Daoyan's special favor was inseparable from his profound knowledge, wise speech, and rigorous argumentation of Buddhist principles. Of course, even more important was his Daoist heart.

Zhu Di ascended the throne at the age of forty. As he aged, the presence of numerous beautiful concubines in his harem drained his vital energy, and like the cruel hand of time, he was reduced to a hollow old walnut. Now nearing sixty, the emperor feared nothing more than the allure of his beautiful, ruthless concubines and death itself. Though outwardly still brave and capable, he was terrified of dying. Like many who have spent most of their lives in wealth and luxury, he harbored a whimsical desire for immortality. Zhu Di, though a valiant emperor who fought tooth and nail for the throne, was also an ordinary man, weak in both body and mind. Daoyan was precisely his pillar of support.

Daoyan understood Zhu Di's needs perfectly; he had taught the emperor the art of the bedroom. Some Confucian officials admired Yao Guangxiao's scholarship, respecting and fearing his Daoist arts, yet still harbored reservations about his offering of bedroom techniques. Although they had no shortage of things like seahorses and dog kidneys in their bedrooms to deal with their concubines, and they liked the few effective prescriptions that Yao Shaoshi casually wrote down, they always felt it was inappropriate to discuss bedroom pleasures with the emperor.

Dao Yan's wisdom was so profound, and his actions so unpredictable, that ordinary people couldn't understand him. Therefore, many ministers couldn't comprehend his behavior and considered him a court jester, flattering the emperor for glory, though more often than not, it was for personal gain. Ministers who wanted to persecute him included the powerful Princes of Han and Zhao, who had planted many informants in the palace and court to gather information. The Prince of Han had long harbored ambitions of becoming emperor; during the Jingnan Rebellion, he led his troops at the forefront, thus many military generals were on his side, making him very powerful.

Zhu Di had promised to make the Prince of Han crown prince, but later changed his mind because of Dao Yan's opposition. Therefore, the Prince of Han tried every means to get rid of Dao Yan.

Some monks who practiced asceticism in the mountains also criticized Daoyan for having the audacity to speak of Buddhist principles amidst wealth and luxury. This criticism stemmed from two groups: first, the jealousy of petty, opportunistic individuals who couldn't bear to see those living comfortably; and second, the stubbornness of monks bound by extreme beliefs who thought enlightenment could only be attained in harsh conditions, unaware that true enlightenment gained amidst the bustling world would bring even greater comfort to the Buddha. They failed to recognize the immense merit Daoyan accumulated through his strict adherence to precepts. This merit came not only from his admonitions to the emperor but also from his guidance of countless ordinary people and his tireless efforts to ensure their peaceful lives.

If you want to persecute someone, then rumors are the best weapon. The story of Daoyan secretly keeping a woman in a temple spread throughout the capital, eventually even reaching Zhu Di. When Zhu Di summoned Daoyan, he questioned him with a smile. Daoyan, however, showed no panic whatsoever. The Grand Tutor, after all, was a highly virtuous monk. He composed himself and said, "My virtue is like a village woman about to weave white silk; at the last moment, she uses unwashed, dirty hands to smear it. Besides, I have already cultivated myself to the point of being unmoved by temptation. Even if I were to be tempted by demons..." "I think, at my age, I am willing but unable!"

Zhu Di, like all those who admire a saint's immaculate nature yet secretly wish for him to commit a couple of scandalous acts, hoped that his holy monk would indeed engage in such romantic escapades. However, he knew the unmoved nature of the young master, who was single-mindedly focused on attaining Buddhahood. Several times, he had his ministers lead beautiful women to Yao Guangxiao's meditation room at midnight, hoping to arouse the old monk's worldly desires, but all attempts had failed.

Zhu Di couldn't help but sigh, "Yes! Yes! This matter is of no pleasure, and I am also tired of it. The young master is more than twenty years older than me, so there is even less reason for him to be tempted." The emperor shook his head and sighed.

Daoyan said, “That’s right. Before I knew about the young woman, I shaved off the yellow hair on my head. I actually know nothing. I didn’t drink a drop of wine; the scriptures say it’s poison that burns through the intestines, but I don’t believe it. I didn’t eat a single piece of meat. If it weren’t delicious, why would so many people risk slaughtering sheep and dogs, committing the heinous crime of killing and ruining their karma? Lust refers to women. Guanyin Bodhisattva is a beautiful woman. She gave alms and saved people at Malang Beach, and those men converted to Buddhism in one night. This shows that the union of men and women is a wonderful thing. Of course, this is not something a virgin like me could know.”

The matter passed, and Daoyan became increasingly favored by the emperor. Gradually, no one dared to directly harm Daoyan anymore. But Daoyan was getting older, and they knew his good days were coming to an end, though they never expected it to happen so quickly.

When the over-sixty-year-old Emperor Zhu Di arrived at Dao Yan's meditation room, he saw Dao Yan lying on his sickbed with sunken eyebrows and eyes, a withered face, white hair and beard, and a lifeless appearance. Recalling his first meeting with Dao Yan, who resembled a fierce tiger, with imposing bearing and a heroic spirit, like a celestial being descended to earth, Zhu Di couldn't help but sigh deeply.

Hearing the sound, Dao Yan opened his eyes and, seeing the emperor's arrival, quickly got up. Zhu Di rushed forward to support him.

Daoyan, lying on the couch, said, "What virtue or ability do I possess to trouble Your Majesty's golden statue? I am truly sorry!"

Zhu Di, hearing Daoyan, for the first time in twenty years no longer address him as a subject but instead as a monk, knew their earthly ties had come to an end. He sighed, "Years ago, you advised me to raise an army, reciting a couplet: 'In the freezing cold, not a drop of water can remain unfrozen; in the chaos of the nation and the suffering of the people, if the king does not step forward, who will be the ruler?' I still remember it vividly. Now, I have reigned for nearly twenty years, yet you are about to depart?"

Daoyan sighed, "All good things must come to an end. The sun and moon revolve, and more than eighty years have passed in the blink of an eye. This body of mine has accumulated too much dust in this mortal world. I know my time is up, and in a few days I will likely leave this mortal realm. Having known Your Majesty for so long, I must see you one last time. If Your Majesty has anything to say, please speak freely." "Speak freely! This humble monk, with my meager abilities, will do my utmost to assist Your Majesty one last time."

Zhu Di, displeased, remained silent for a long time before finally saying, "Now that the empire is newly pacified and the people are living in peace and prosperity, we are just beginning to enjoy good times. However, all industries still need to be revived. I wonder what good strategies the Junior Tutor has to ensure the people's well-being and the nation's strength?"

Yao Guangxiao knew these were merely digressions, but smiled slightly and earnestly replied, "Your Majesty, this humble monk is a man of the secular world, having been attached to worldly affairs for many years, only seeking the well-being of the people. I am truly grateful for Your Majesty's willingness to listen to my advice. Today, Your Majesty has graced my humble temple with your presence and has not been ashamed to ask my questions. This humble monk cannot but offer my loyalty. In my humble opinion, if Your Majesty wishes for the prosperity of the nation, the primary focus should still be on improving internal governance, strengthening the military, allowing the people to rest, and protecting agriculture. As for the remnants of the Yuan dynasty, they should be thoroughly eradicated." "Strike back to quell border troubles. Recruit and pacify the people, settle refugees, reduce taxes and corvée labor; how then can the people not be prosperous, and the nation not strong? However, Your Majesty must not be too hasty; stability is paramount."

Zhu Di said, "Your Excellency's words are wise, but currently Beiping is dilapidated, society is in chaos, remnants of the Yuan dynasty are invading, and bandits are rampant. You and I, as ruler and minister, have painstakingly managed it for over ten years, but Beiping is too far from the capital, resources are scarce, the population is small, the economy shows no improvement, and the enemy continues to harass us. If this continues, the court will be heavily constrained. I wonder if Your Excellency has any good solutions?"

Daoyan took a deep breath, calmly and deliberately, and said, "Move the capital! Now that the Grand Canal is being dug, it is not difficult to transport supplies northward. It is the perfect time to relocate wealthy households from all over the country to Beiping. Within three years, farmers will be exempt from grain taxes, merchants from taxes, and those lacking money will be able to obtain loans, thus making the city..." " Prosperity is key. Second, we must recruit a large number of soldiers, repair the Great Wall, and restore the beacon towers and post stations. Third, we must establish a special government office specifically responsible for this matter."

Zhu Di gasped and said, "Move the capital?" Dao Yan hummed in agreement. Zhu Di remained silent for a long time, then suddenly stood up and said, "Then may I ask, Grand Tutor, where should we choose for the burial site of our Great Ming?"

Dao Yan said, "I once accompanied Your Majesty to Huangtushan in Beiping. The feng shui masters and Jin Zhong and others all said it was a good place. I think Huangtushan has a large open space, which gathers wind and energy, and is suitable for burying Your Majesty's many descendants."

Zhu Di was overjoyed and said, "Grand Tutor has enlightened me, like clearing away the clouds to see the blue sky! Grand Tutor is truly a treasure bestowed upon me by Heaven." Zhu Di danced with joy, rubbing his hands like a child.

Later, he indeed chose Huangtushan as the burial site, renamed the mountain Tianshoushan, and broke ground to select the burial site. He was unaware that Dao Yan's words were a coded message, implying that the Ming Dynasty would perish by the time of Emperor Wanli's grandson, Emperor Chongzhen—but that's a story for another time.

A while later, when Zhu Di regained consciousness, he saw Dao Yan with his eyes slightly closed, seemingly asleep. Knowing that time was running out, and if he didn't ask the crucial question now, he feared he would never have another chance, he softly called out, "Grand Tutor, may I ask if you too cannot comprehend life and death? How much longer do I have left to live?"

Daoyan closed his eyes and said, "Death isn't particularly frightening. The physical body is like a burning house; death is like ascending to heaven and participating in a new cycle of reincarnation. What's wrong with that?"

Zhu Di then asked, "Can I continue to be emperor in my next life?"

Daoyan replied, "There are joys in being a fish, and joys in being a bird. Being emperor generation after generation is utterly uninteresting!"

Zhu Di thought for a moment, recalling the tasks of reviewing memorials, handling numerous complex matters, and having to be wary of his ministers. It was truly uninteresting, despite the many benefits. To be emperor for several lifetimes was truly tedious. Although he felt a little regretful about not being emperor, Yao Guangxiao's words made a lot of sense, so he didn't ask any more questions.

Seeing Daoyan growing increasingly weary, Zhu Di said, "Grand Tutor, is there anything else on your mind? Tell me, and I will do my utmost to fulfill your request."

Daoyan opened his cloudy eyes and said, "Does Your Majesty remember the matter of Fang Xiaoru?"

Zhu Di was speechless for a long time before finally saying, "Grand Tutor, please speak. How could I not grant your parting wish? I have failed you once, but this time I will not break my promise. A ruler's word is law. Speak!"

It turned out that when Zhu Di was still the Prince of Yan, he left Daoyan to assist the heir apparent, the current Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi, in defending Beiping when he launched a major invasion southward. Daoyan saw the Prince of Yan off to the outskirts of the city and knelt down, saying, "I have a secret matter to entrust to you." The Prince of Yan asked what it was.

Dao Yan said, "In the Southern Dynasty, there is a scholar named Fang Xiaoru, renowned for his learning and conduct. If Your Highness were to conquer the capital, you must not kill him. If you do, the seeds of learning in the world would be extinguished."

The Prince of Yan nodded in agreement and kept it in mind. After entering the capital, he launched a massive manhunt for criminals. Although he listed Fang Xiaoru as the ringleader, he secretly wanted to spare him and force him to surrender. He summoned Fang Xiaoru's disciples, Liao Yong and Liao Ming, to the prison to persuade him.

Fang Xiaoru angrily retorted, "You have served me for years, do you not understand the greater good?" Liao Yong and the others returned to report to the Prince of Yan, who paid no heed.

Not long after, when the Prince of Yan was to draft his enthronement edict, the court officials recommended Fang Xiaoru, and he was released from prison. Fang Xiaoru, still in mourning, ascended the throne, weeping bitterly.

The King of Yan descended from his throne and comforted Fang Xiaoru, saying, "Sir, do not grieve! I wish to emulate the Duke of Zhou in assisting King Cheng!"

Fang Xiaoru replied, "Where is King Cheng?"

The King of Yan said, "He died by self-immolation."

Fang Xiaoru then asked, "Why not establish Prince Cheng as heir?"

The King of Yan replied, "A nation relies on an established ruler, not on a naive one." Fang

Xiaoru said, "Why not establish King Cheng's brother as heir?"

The King of Yan was speechless, unable to find a word, and reluctantly said, "This is a matter of my family; you need not concern yourself with it." Fang Xiaoru

wanted to speak further, but the King of Yan had already ordered his attendants to hand him paper and pen, and then said tactfully, "Sir, you are a Confucian master of your generation. Today, as you ascend the throne and issue the edict, I trouble you to draft it; please do not further..." "I resign!"

Fang Xiaoru threw down his pen, crying and cursing, "Kill me if you want, but this edict cannot be drafted!"

The Prince of Yan was also angered and said, "How can you be so quick to die? Even if you are not afraid of death, do you not care about your nine generations of relatives?"

Fang Xiaoru retorted sharply, "Even if you exterminate ten generations of my relatives, I am not afraid." With that, he picked up his pen and wrote four large characters, throwing them at the Prince of Yan, saying, "This is your draft edict."

The Prince of Yan would have been fine if he hadn't looked at it, but when he saw the four characters "The Yan traitor usurped the throne" on the paper, he was horrified and couldn't help but fly into a rage, saying, "How dare you call me a traitor?" He ordered his men to use knives to cut open Fang Xiaoru's mouth, all the way to his ears, and then drive him to prison. He ordered the arrest of Fang Xiaoru's nine generations of relatives, as well as his friends and students, making it ten generations. He showed each person he arrested to Fang Xiaoru. Fang Xiaoru ignored them all, so they were all killed

. Finally, Fang Xiaoru was dragged out of the Jubao Gate and executed. Fang Xiaoru bravely faced execution, composing his last poem: "Heaven has sent chaos and turmoil, who knows the reason? Treacherous ministers have succeeded in their schemes, plotting against the country. Loyal ministers are filled with indignation, their blood and tears flowing freely. I die for my sovereign, what more could I ask for? Alas! May they not blame me."

Fang Xiaoru's younger brother, Fang Xiaoyou, was also arrested and executed, dying alongside Fang Xiaoru outside Jubao Gate. At the moment of execution, Fang Xiaoru wept before him, and Fang Xiaoyou spontaneously composed a poem: "Brother, why shed tears? Righteousness and benevolence are achieved here. A thousand years from now, on the pillar of the Huabiao, my wandering soul will still return to my homeland." This is the origin of the idiom "brothers in dire straits."

Fang Xiaoru's wife, Zheng, and his two sons, Zhongxian and Zhongyu, all committed suicide. His two daughters, not yet of marriageable age, were arrested and taken across the Huai River, where they all drowned. Eight hundred and seventy-three members of the clan, relatives, and disciples were implicated and executed, including Liao Yong and Liao Ming.

Daoyan, having brought up the past, saw that he had forced Zhu Di to agree to his request, and struggled to sit up. Zhu Di, seeing this, exclaimed in surprise, "Young Master, if you have something on your mind, just say it! There's no need for this!"

Daoyan coughed and said, "Your Majesty, this monk has one last request of yours: please order the clemency of Emperor Jianwen's monastic order and grant them their freedom!"

Upon hearing Daoyan's words, Zhu Di fell silent, stroking his beard in deep thought.

The matter Daoyan spoke of had a significant historical basis: Zhu Di had defeated his nephew, Emperor Jianwen (Zhu Yunwen), and stormed the capital, Yingtian. Upon hearing this, Emperor Jianwen (Zhu Yunwen) attempted suicide. At his side, Junior Eunuch Wang Yue hurriedly knelt down and said, “Your Majesty, you must not take your own life so lightly. When Emperor Gaozu passed away, he entrusted a chest to the palace eunuch in charge, and left a will saying: ‘If your descendants encounter great calamity, you may open the chest and see what is inside; there will be a way.’”

Cheng Ji interjected, “Where is the chest?”

Wang Yue replied, “It is hidden on the left side of the Fengxian Hall.”

Upon hearing this, those around him all said that great calamity had arrived and urged them to quickly retrieve the chest and open it. Emperor Jianwen hurriedly ordered Wang Yue to retrieve the chest

. A moment later, four eunuchs carried a red chest into the hall. The chest was very heavy, and its sides were covered with iron sheets, with the chain also filled with pig iron. Wang Yue took an iron awl and knocked the chest open. Everyone stared at the chest, all thinking that there was some secret that could repel the enemy. Unexpectedly, the chest contained three ordination certificates—one for Yingwen, one for Yingneng, and one for Yingxian—along with all the necessary items such as robes, hats, and shoes. It also contained a shaving knife, ten silver ingots, and a piece of paper inscribed in vermilion ink: "Yunwen will exit through the Ghost Gate; the rest will depart through the Water Gate and Imperial Moat. We shall meet at the Western Chamber of the Shenle Temple at dusk."

Emperor Jianwen sighed, "This is fate; what more can be said?"

Cheng Ji took out the shaving knife and shaved Jianwen's head. Prince Wu, who was teaching Yang Yingneng, whose name matched the certificate, also shaved his head along with Emperor Jianwen.

The Censor Ye Xixian said, "My name is Xixian; Yingxian's ordination certificate should be given to me." He also shaved his head.

The three men removed their robes, donned cassocks, hid their certificates, and prepared to flee, ordering the palace to be set on fire. Instantly, flames roared, completely destroying the magnificent palace. Empress Ma committed suicide by throwing herself into the fire. Most of the concubines and other women, except those who fled, perished in the flames. Emperor Jianwen

wept bitterly and then prepared to depart. Fifty or sixty people remained in the palace, all prostrating themselves in deep sorrow, wishing to follow him in exile. Emperor

Jianwen said, "It's inconvenient to flee with so many people. Please proceed as you see fit." The Ghost Gate was inside the Taiping Gate, a low gate in the inner city, only wide enough for one person to pass through, leading to a waterway. Emperor Jianwen, hunched over, went out first, followed by the others in single file. A small boat was waiting outside, and a Taoist priest dressed as an old man inside invited Emperor Jianwen to board, bowing and shouting "

Long live the Emperor!" Emperor Jianwen asked his name, and the priest replied, "My surname is Wang, and my given name is Sheng. I am the abbot of Shengle Temple. Last night I dreamt that the Emperor Gaozu ordered me to come here, so I moored my boat and waited."

The Emperor and nine others boarded the boat, which sailed with the wind, and after some time arrived at Shengle Temple, where Wang Sheng led them inside. As dusk fell, Yang Yingneng, Ye Xixian, and thirteen others arrived, bringing the total to twenty-two.

Emperor Jianwen said, "I have become a monk; from now on, we should address each other as master and disciple, and there is no need for the formalities of ruler and subject." The ministers wept and agreed.

Liao Ping said, "You all followed Master with sincere intentions, but the number of those accompanying you should be small, even smaller. Only those without family burdens and with the strength to protect you should accompany Master, no more than five. The rest will provide support from afar. Is that alright?"

Emperor Jianwen nodded in agreement. They then sat in a circle on the ground, and Wang Sheng served them supper, which they ate hastily. It was agreed that Yang Yingneng, Ye Xixian, and Cheng Ji would accompany Emperor Jianwen. Yingneng and Xixian would be called monks, and Ji would be called a Taoist priest. Guo Jie, Song He, Zhao Tiantai, Niu Jingxian, and Wang Zhichen would travel the roads, providing clothing and food. They all concealed their names and changed their titles. The remaining dozen or so people stayed in different places. Emperor Jianwen then discussed with his advisors, saying, "It is inconvenient for me to stay here. I would rather go to Yunnan and rely on Marquis Mu Sheng of Xiping."

Shi Bin said, "There are too many of us. The enemy has many spies and their movements are unknown. If someone informs us, it could cause more harm. It would be better to travel the world; we can make our home anywhere. Why must we go to Yunnan?"

Emperor Jianwen thought this made perfect sense and stayed at the inn that night. As dawn approached, Emperor Jianwen's feet ached and he could not walk. So, Shi Bin and Niu Jingxian walked to the Zhonghe Bridge to find a boat.

Just then, a boat arrived. The boatman was from Wujiang and was from the same hometown as Shi Bin. Shi Bin recognized him and, after learning his purpose, discovered that he had been sent by Shi Bin's family to gather information. Shi Bin was overjoyed and went back to report to Emperor Jianwen. Emperor Jianwen then went to Shi Bin's house with seven others: Ye, Yang, Cheng, Niu, Feng, Song, and Shi. The rest bid farewell and went home, but they made an appointment to meet again. Emperor Jianwen stayed at Shi Bin's house, in a room on the west side called Qingyuan Pavilion. Emperor Jianwen renamed it Shuiyue Temple and wrote the name in seal script himself.

When the Prince of Yan ascended the throne, he stripped the officials who had fled from their posts of their official titles and ordered the Ministry of Rites to issue a document to recover the imperial edicts issued earlier. The Suzhou Prefecture sent Gong De, the magistrate of Wujiang County, to Shi Bin's house to retrieve the edicts and other documents. Shi Bin met with him, and Gong De asked, "I heard the Jianwen Emperor is in your house; is that true?"

Shi Bin exclaimed in surprise, "That's not true!" Gong De left, disbelieving.

Upon hearing this news, the Jianwen Emperor knew he could no longer stay. He then bid farewell to Shi Bin, along with two fellow scholars, Yang and Ye, and the Daoist Cheng, and disappeared without a trace. The Jianwen Emperor was

fond of literature and skilled in poetry. Once, while passing through Guizhou, he inscribed two poems on a wall: "

The dust of war suddenly invaded the south overnight, Heaven's mandate subtly shifted the hearts of the four seas.

The phoenix returns to the red mountain, the red sun is far away; the dragon returns to the vast sea, the blue clouds are deep.

The Purple Palace has an omen, the stars still surround it; the jade water clock is silent, the water sinks by itself.

I imagine the moon over the Forbidden City tonight, the six palaces still yearn for the imperial carriage's arrival.

Having finished reading the Shurangama Sutra, I am too lazy to strike the chime; I laugh as I watch the yellow palace, a mere bowl in hand."

The southern mountains are shrouded in a thousand layers of miasma, while the northern gates of Heaven stretch for ten thousand miles.

The elegant carriage of the flying phoenix has long been forgotten, and the monk's robe has been replaced with a new dragon robe.

Where are the officials today? Only the crows pay homage morning and evening.

Zhu Di, knowing that the Jianwen Emperor had become a monk, ordered Hu Ying and others to take charge of the matter, searching the entire land for the Jianwen Emperor among the monks, but to no avail; more than ten years had passed.

Seeing that Zhu Di was still hesitant after thinking for a long time,

Daoyan said again, "It is said that the late Emperor Gao helped him. Why does Your Majesty have to kill them all? How will you face the late Emperor in the afterlife?" Zhu Di was shocked and gritted his teeth, saying, "Fine, tomorrow I will order the pardon of all monks in the world!"

Zhu Di left Qingshou Temple, but halfway there, he suddenly ordered the carriage to return to the temple. When he arrived at the temple, he saw the monk who was taking care of Daoyan and said, "Your Majesty, please come in. The Junior Tutor is waiting for you!"

Zhu Di did not say much and quickly went to the meditation room and walked to Daoyan's bedside. Seeing that Daoyan seemed to be fast asleep, Zhu Di dared not disturb him. After waiting for a long time, seeing that Daoyan still did not wake up, he whispered, "Young Master, wake up quickly, I still have something to tell you!"

After a long while, Zhu Di saw Daoyan's lips tremble slightly, and he quickly leaned in to listen. The voice was barely audible. Zhu Di listened for a long time before he heard Daoyan say, "The two princes are fighting for the throne, no need to pay attention, the eighteen sons will help!"

Zhu Di was puzzled and wanted to ask again, but seeing that Daoyan was silent, he had no choice but to return to the palace.

In the middle of the night, Zhu Di suddenly woke up with a start, and without even dressing, rushed outside. The serving eunuchs hurriedly put on their clothes and came forward. Zhu Di angrily asked, "What happened outside?"

At this moment, a eunuch stumbled in, crying, "Young Master... Young Master has passed away!"

Zhu Di cried out, spat out a mouthful of blood, and fell to the ground unconscious.

In his dazed state, Zhu Di seemed to have come to an unfamiliar place, and wandered aimlessly, not knowing where he was going. Before he knew it, he had arrived at the lakeside. A waning moon hung in the sky, the stars shifted and changed, and the vast lake shimmered, a gentle breeze stirring the water—a serene and beautiful scene. Green vines and cassia trees lined the lakeshore, their fragrance filling the air.

Zhu Di, captivated by the sight, forgot his inner turmoil and began to admire the scenery. Just then, a small boat appeared on the lake. As it slowly approached the shore, a young boy alighted, bowing and saying, "Your Majesty, we have kept you waiting. Please board the boat!"

Zhu Di was startled and about to ask a question when he looked up and saw a smiling man emerge from the boat, his face radiant and full of vigor—it was Dao Yan.

Zhu Di exclaimed in surprise, "Young Master? You...where is this?"

Dao Yan and the boy helped Zhu Di onto the boat. Dao Yan smiled and said, "Your Majesty has spent too long in the mortal world. Aren't you tired of it? Please follow this monk to my humble abode."

Zhu Di was overjoyed to suddenly encounter Dao Yan. At first, he was somewhat incredulous, but seeing Dao Yan looking refreshed and perfectly at ease accompanying him on a boat trip on the lake, he was overjoyed and murmured, "Young Master, I thought that after our parting in the mortal world, I would never see you again!"

Dao Yan smiled and said, "In this turbid world, my fate with Your Majesty has ended, but our connection to the immortals remains. Your Majesty and I have established an everlasting foundation. Now that our great achievement is complete, Your Majesty should also plan for what comes after you."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di knew that Dao Yan had a hint of helping him ascend to immortality, and he was delighted. His mood relaxed, and he felt completely at ease. The small boat glided across the lake, the clear waves rippling, the moon shining brightly in the sky, and the gentle breeze caressing the water. He felt utterly relaxed and at peace.

The small boat reached a shore, and the boat was moored and disembarked. Passing through fragrant flower bushes, a stone gate suddenly appeared, revealing a smooth path inside. Delighted, they went in, finding the breeze and sunshine warm and the weather clear and pleasant—a truly otherworldly place.

Zhu Di, knowing he had arrived in a different realm, was even more delighted. Continuing on, after about a mile, he saw bridges, beautiful trees, magnificent houses, flowing water, and misty pavilions—no longer of this world,

but a heavenly realm of jade trees and celestial forests. Zhu Di, now sixty, though still ambitious, was increasingly showing signs of aging and couldn't help but harbor thoughts of becoming an immortal. However, the highly respected Taoist monk he had always deeply believed in had suddenly departed, causing him great sorrow. Unexpectedly, the monk returned, bringing him to a place like a fairyland. How could he not be overjoyed?

Dao Yan led Zhu Di to a pavilion, where he saw stone pillows, a bamboo bed, and light gauze curtains—a scene of cool tranquility. Dao Yan ordered his servant to bring tea. The tea was clear and refreshing, something even Zhu Di, the emperor, had never seen before. A moment later, heavy snow began to fall outside the window. A servant brought a stove and some food. Dao Yan personally roasted some venison, and soon the aroma filled the air. Dao Yan invited Zhu Di to eat.

Zhu Di asked curiously, "Where is this place? Can we eat meat here?"

Dao Yan laughed loudly, "This is the closest place to the Heavenly Court. What's the difference between the mortal and immortal realms? Your Majesty, please open your heart and enjoy your meal." (Chapter
10: Bewitching the Emperor)

Zhu Di also felt hungry and began to eat. A moment later, a group of celestial maidens appeared, their jade pendants jingling. Each one was exceptionally beautiful, rarely seen in the mortal world. Zhu Di was mesmerized.

The maidens sang and danced, their movements graceful and enchanting. Zhu Di was completely captivated. At this moment, Daoyan pointed to a fairy and smiled, "Your Majesty, please enjoy yourself! If you receive this fairy's celestial energy, you too can become an immortal."

Zhu Di was both surprised and delighted. Although he trusted Daoyan implicitly, he still found it hard to believe and asked suspiciously, "Really? Is that all it takes?"

Daoyan smiled and said, "Of course, when have I ever lied to Your Majesty? Many stories of our ancestors encountering immortals and ascending to heaven are recorded in history. I would never lie. Your Majesty, please believe this old monk. Don't be fooled by the stone pillows and bamboo beds here; they are all imbued with celestial energy. Your Majesty will understand the benefits once you stay here." After saying this, he smiled and left with the other fairies, leaving only the most beautiful one behind.

The fairy gracefully approached Zhu Di. Zhu Di was captivated by her beauty, which resembled that of his deceased beloved concubine, Consort Quan. He exclaimed, "My beloved concubine, I have seen you again!"

The fairy replied, "The night is too short, Your Majesty. Let us enjoy ourselves while we can, and then reminisce about the past!" She embraced Zhu Di and lay down on the bed. Suddenly, a loud shout rang out, and two figures leaped out from nowhere.

Zhu Di was greatly alarmed. Seeing that the visitors were his ministers Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong, he angrily demanded, "What are you doing here?"

The two men didn't answer, but instead muttered incantations. Suddenly, the beautiful woman in Zhu Di's arms transformed into a skeleton. Zhu Di was terrified and immediately fainted.

When he awoke, he saw the bed draped in gold and jade, with Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong sitting upright by his side with their eyes closed. Several other ministers, including Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, and Xie Jin, were also present.

Zhu Di, upon seeing that they had returned to his chambers, roared, "Guards! Take these two sorcerers out and execute them! How dare they ruin my dream of becoming an immortal!"

At this moment, Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong awoke and said, "Your Majesty, please calm down! You have been bewitched by these sorcerers! The Grand Tutor is no longer here; the one you saw in your dream was not him! Fortunately, we performed our ritual in time, otherwise Your Majesty would have been in grave danger!"

Zhu Di, enraged, refused to listen. Hearing this, he became even more furious and ordered his men, "You are the sorcerers! Seize them immediately!"

The guards all looked at Yang Shiqi and the others standing nearby. Yang Shiqi said, "Didn't you hear His Majesty's order? Seize them first." The guards then seized Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong and took them away.

Zhu Di was sweating profusely, his hands and feet were ice-cold, and he coughed repeatedly. Yang Shiqi and the others quickly helped Zhu Di lie down, saying, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger."

Zhu Di coughed and said, "These two wicked men ruined my plans; they deserve to be torn to pieces."

Yang Shiqi gave Xie Jin a look, and Xie Jin said, "Your Majesty, although they have committed serious crimes, granting them the privilege of suicide is sufficient. They have both rendered meritorious service to Your Majesty in the past."

Yang Shiqi quickly said, "That's right, those two do have some abilities. Before I served Your Majesty, I dreamt that I climbed to the top of a high mountain, looking down at the world, a vast expanse where nothing could be distinguished. Looking up, I saw the sun right before me, its red light shimmering, shining brightly for thousands of miles. I then raised my hands to cup it, and felt the sun burning hot, its heat reaching my very heart. It took me a long time to wake up, and when I looked at my hands, they were still sweating profusely." "Wow!" I exclaimed in surprise, and told Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong. Yuan Gong interpreted the dream, saying, "The sun is the symbol of the emperor. Now you dream of climbing a mountain and holding the sun, doesn't this mean you are destined to become prime minister and assist the emperor?" Later, I was indeed granted the emperor's favor and served by His Majesty's side. It is clear that Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong are not entirely useless!

Xie Jin said, "Indeed, Yuan Gong also examined Tao Kai's face and said that 'the five sacred mountains are bowing in reverence, but the complexion is not yet open; the five stars are clear, but the luster is not yet visible. He should keep his talents hidden and wait for the right time. Within ten years, he will advance through the civil service and become a second-rank official, perhaps in Jingzhou or Yangzhou!' Later, Tao Kai was appointed by His Majesty as Minister of Rites and Councilor of Huguang Province. This can be considered as recommending talent to His Majesty!"

Seeing that Zhu Di's eyes had become focused, as if he was thinking about something, the men knew that he had become somewhat clear-headed and they should strike while the iron was hot. At this moment, Yang Rong suddenly knelt down and said loudly, "Your Majesty, have you forgotten? When you were still the Prince of Yan, you were stationed in Beiping. You and nine guards practiced archery together and drank wine in a tavern. Yuan Gong saw you and knelt down, saying, 'Your Highness, why do you take such a risk?'

Everyone laughed at his absurdity, but Yuan Gong smiled without saying a word. You then led him to the palace, and he said to you, 'With the stride of a dragon and the gait of a tiger, and the sun's horn piercing the sky, Your Highness is destined to be a peaceful emperor. At forty, when you reach the age of forty and your navel is above the navel, you will ascend the throne!' Your Majesty's ability to ascend the throne and initiate the uprising was due to the efforts of Yuan Gong and others." "No small matter! Does Your Majesty intend to kill meritorious officials?"

Yang Shiqi rebuked, "Yang Rong, how dare you speak to the Emperor like that? Yuan Gong and Jin Zhong were personally recommended by the Grand Tutor. How could Your Majesty harbor any ill intentions towards them? If they hadn't committed a serious crime, why would Your Majesty punish them?"

Zhu Di, being a wise emperor, though temporarily blinded by witchcraft, had now become much more clear-headed. He said, "You don't need to say anymore. I understand somewhat now. Let Yuan Gong and Jin Zhong in! Their relationship with the Grand Tutor is..." More than usual, I am a little impatient. "

Yuan Gong and Jin Zhong entered the palace, and Zhu Di said: "I met the young master. What is going on? Tell me.

Jin Zhong said: "Young Master passed away last night and is no longer in this world!" Unfortunately, there are a few wizards who want to take advantage of this opportunity to take His Majesty's life. "Yuan Gong said:

"Yes, these great spells are powerful. If you miss one step, the consequences will be unpredictable! However, His Majesty is not out of danger yet, they will try to harm you again, so please be careful. You must never step out of the palace gate in the future. I and Jin Shangshu will protect you. If you have a fight with them, the outcome is still unpredictable! It's a pity that the young master is no longer here, otherwise how could these clowns dare to jump out?

Zhu Di said angrily: "I am so powerful and mighty in heaven, why should I be afraid of a few clowns?" How can you show cowardice! "Zhu

Di's dream of becoming an immortal was shattered. Although he knew that Jin Zhong and others had good intentions, but his dream was shattered, he was naturally very angry and couldn't help but get angry. He was originally a military emperor, having fought tooth and nail to gain the throne. Now, in a fit of rage, he lost his temper and reason, ordering all his ministers to leave so he could sleep alone.

The next day, Zhu Di went to court as usual, but upon returning to the palace, he suddenly saw a ghost wielding a sword attacking him from his carriage. Zhu Di hurriedly jumped off the carriage and rushed towards the inner palace, but tripped on the threshold and fell to the ground. Palace maids rushed to help him up, but Zhu Di punched them away. A concubine happened to see this and comforted Zhu Di for a while before asking what had happened.

Zhu Di reluctantly explained, and the concubine then said, "Your Majesty, why don't you learn from Emperor Taizong of Tang and have fierce generals guard the palace gates?"

Zhu Di replied, "In my past, I was the fiercest warrior in the world. Why should I fear a few villains? Aren't I afraid of being laughed at by the outside court?"

Fortunately, the ghost did not reappear. That night, as Zhu Di lay on his imperial bed, he saw another ghost draw a sword and strike at the top of his head.

Zhu Di dodged, leaped to his feet, drenched in cold sweat, and sat down with a candle in hand, sword in hand. Suddenly, he felt the ghost behind him again.

Zhu Di roared, "What kind of monster are you? My life is ordained by Heaven! What dare you do to me?" He strode around and slashed. The ghost, however, was in front of him, then turned to meet him again. It swirled around him, sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right, sometimes in front, sometimes behind, relentlessly pursuing him. Zhu Di used all his strength to swing his sword and thrust until dawn.

From then on, wherever Zhu Di rested, the ghost would appear in broad daylight, brandishing its sword and attacking him directly. A chilling wind blew, making hair stand on end, and two or three guards were scared to death. Zhu Di then saw a fierce general wearing a red-gold turban and a crimson robe, leading dozens of warriors into the palace.

Zhu Di shouted for his attendants, then suddenly awoke, half-asleep. He was extremely anxious and, remembering Jin Zhong and the others' words, felt deep remorse. He immediately ordered them to be brought before him.

The order was barely given when Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong entered the inner palace, knelt, and pleaded guilty, saying, "Your Majesty, our skills are shallow; we could not stop the villains from harming Your Majesty. We are truly ashamed and beg Your Majesty to punish us."

Zhu Di then realized that the two had secretly used magic to protect him; otherwise, the ghosts would likely have been ten times more powerful. He quickly ordered them to rise and offered them many words of encouragement.

Jin Zhong said, "Your Majesty, although a sorcerer is harming Your Majesty, we have killed too many people in the past, causing countless wronged souls. Your Majesty should grant a general amnesty and pray for Your Majesty's well-being."

Although Jin Zhong's words were true, he was kind-hearted and had always felt that the past killings were too cruel. He had wanted to remonstrate several times, but fearing Zhu Di's ruthless nature, he dared not speak out. Seeing that Zhu Di showed some remorse, and seizing this opportunity to seek benefits for the people and bring them blessings,

Yuan Gong said, "Indeed, the Crown Prince is naturally benevolent. Why not invite him to offer sacrifices at the ancestral temple, and then grant a general amnesty to the world, thus bringing blessings to Your Majesty? With Heaven's help, we two will do our utmost to fight those sorcerers for Your Majesty, and we will surely be able to rid the world of those evil spirits!"

Zhu Di knew the two men's character well. Seeing their solemn expressions and their determination to bring great benefits before daring to fight those sorcerers, he understood the urgency of the situation and asked, "Where are those villains? I have sealed off the capital; surely I can't find them?"

Jin Zhong replied, "Their magic is profound; no ordinary person can find or subdue them. Your Majesty, rest assured, we two will certainly protect Your Majesty's safety."

Zhu Di nodded in approval, muttering, "I know that magical duels are not your forte. One of you is skilled in divination and predicting the future, while the other is adept at discerning good from evil and foreseeing destiny. If the Junior Tutor were still alive, how dare these clowns bully me? Alas! It's a pity the Junior Tutor didn't leave behind a successor! Otherwise, why would I be in this predicament?"

Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong exchanged a glance and said in unison, "Your Majesty, the Junior Tutor is not without a successor. He has a nephew who is currently in the capital."

Zhu Di, who had been haunted by ghosts for the past few days and was weak all over with bloodshot eyes, suddenly jumped up and shouted, "What? There is such a person? " "What...what's his name?"

Yuan Gong replied, "His surname is Li, and his given name is Se. He's just a young man of twenty."

Zhu Di murmured, "Li Se...Li Se!" He suddenly remembered Dao Yan's last words before parting: "The two princes are vying for the throne. Don't worry about it. Your eighteen sons will help you!"

Zhu Di laughed heartily and said, "I understand! I understand! Summon Li Se immediately. Li Se is the successor of the Junior Tutor. He will first inherit the position of Junior Minister. If he makes great contributions in the future, he will be rewarded."

Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong were not surprised that someone the emperor had never met had suddenly obtained a high position. It seemed as if they had expected it, and they both praised the emperor's wisdom.

Yuan Gong said, "Your Majesty, to be honest, the villains who want to harm Your Majesty are extremely powerful. Neither of us has any confidence in winning. However, if the successor of the Junior Tutor can assist us, even if he only possesses a fraction of the Junior Tutor's abilities, our chances of victory will greatly increase. Furthermore, Your Majesty is of invincible health and is protected by divine spirits, so we will be invincible."

Zhu Di was overjoyed upon hearing this.

Jin Zhong said, "Let's set up the formation first! Before, we only used magic outside to stop them, wasting a lot of magical power with little effect. Now we should immediately set up the altar and perform the ritual." Zhu Di

had already realized the danger and the power of those ghosts, so he ordered the guards to cooperate with the two in performing the ritual.

Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong then chose the Kan direction in the bedroom and set up the altar. They marked out seventy-two steps around it, nailed peach wood gods, placed deer antlers, and arranged positions for fifty children to worship. Behind it, a large umbrella was erected, and under the umbrella, a long table was placed, displaying tokens, ritual implements, cinnabar seals, talismans, and other items.

Within the altar, seventy-two black flags were erected, inscribed with the names of poisonous demons and evil spirits. Beyond the altar, a long, deep yellow banner stood to the north, bearing the inscription "Supreme Dao Ancestor, Great Heavenly Venerable of the Spiritual Treasure"; a crimson banner stood to the south, bearing the holy title "Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady, Head of the Dharma"; a blue banner to the east bore the talismans of Pang, Liu, Gou, and Bi, while a white banner to the west bore the talismans of Deng, Xin, Zhang, and Tao—eight celestial generals in total.

Jin Zhong said, "In that case, many of the sorcerers' spells will be useless, and Your Majesty can rest easy for now."

At this moment, a guard reported that Li Se had arrived. Zhu Di was overjoyed and said, "Quickly, invite him in! I cannot personally go out to greet him. The disciple of the Junior Tutor—I truly want to see what he looks like. Why don't you let him in quickly?"

Life is unpredictable. Li Se, originally a commoner, suddenly rose to a high position and was drawn into the treacherous political struggles of the court. What kind of extraordinary encounters would he have? What bizarre stories would unfold? In the first chapter

of episode eight , Li Se, guided by a eunuch, walked step by step towards the inner court. His martial uncle was dead; another relative he hadn't seen many times had left him. However, unlike when his master left the first time, he felt no grief. It wasn't that he had no feelings for Dao Yan, but rather that he had gained more experience and understood that everyone eventually dies. Those who have experienced life and death tend to take it less seriously, especially since his martial uncle had ascended to immortality, something he even envied! On the night Dao Yan left, Li Se stayed by his side the whole time. Dao Yan appeared radiant and healthy in Li Se's presence, showing no signs of illness. He said to Li Se, “Any profession, if mastered to its highest level, leads to the Great Way. Don’t think there’s a hierarchy among professions. Is being an emperor the Great Way? Liu Shan became emperor, so being an emperor is a Lesser Way. Is farming a Lesser Way? Tao Yuanming farmed, and farming became the Great Way. The world is full of hidden talents; everyone has something you can learn from, it just depends on whether you’re willing to try. Your swordsmanship isn’t something you can grasp by studying the sword itself.” Li Se replied, “Uncle-Master is right. From now on, I will no longer have any thoughts of despising the world or yearning for escapism. I want to learn from Master and you, to become someone who blends into the world, yet remains detached from worldly affairs.” "A person should strive to achieve something great." Dao Yan smiled slightly, then said nothing more, handing Li Se a book, saying, "This book, *Dao Yu Lu*, contains my insights, but it contains many truths and criticizes Confucianism. Confucianism is now regarded as the orthodox path by those in power, so my book will not be accepted by the world. Take a look! Also, after my death, my clothes and hat should not be moved to the Imperial Ancestral Temple, but this is not your decision. You can change the clothes and hat yourself." Li Se was not surprised and asked, "Then where should your clothes and hat be buried?" Dao Yan said, "Daxinglong Temple, that will ultimately be my final place." After saying this, he said nothing more. That night, Dao Yan died sitting cross-legged, but his body was as soft as light gauze, as if only his clothes and hat remained. In the palace, Li Se remembered the teachings of her uncle Dao Yan, and filled with courage, walked with her head held high towards the inner court. He was to meet the current emperor. Although the emperor didn't understand martial arts, his imperial aura was so powerful it transcended the clouds and the earth; a single word from him could cause millions to die and rivers of blood to flow, making him more formidable than any martial arts master. When Li Se met the grandmaster Xue Guandai, he was overwhelmed by his imposing presence and lost all face. Although Li Se's aura had diminished considerably after losing his martial arts, he had witnessed Xue Guandai's power and understood that Xue Guandai had reached a state of complete mastery, while Li Se himself, at his strongest, was merely forcing himself to be strong, never truly achieving complete control. Li Se truly understood the meaning of "there are always higher levels beyond the heavens." Now he was about to meet the emperor; what would he gain next? Li Se was filled with anticipation. Through these unexpected experiences, Li Se realized how shallow his previous understanding had been. His martial arts had been crippled, and he had lost his innate energy, but this didn't necessarily mean he would lose his chance to become an immortal. Although he didn't know how to break the curse, the path to immortality was inherently ethereal and unpredictable, something that could only be encountered by chance. Even though it was more difficult than before, extraordinary things were indeed extremely difficult, and only through diligent effort and unwavering perseverance could one hope to succeed. If he persisted, he would surely find the way. Now, he was about to meet some of the most extraordinary figures in the world, which would surely inspire him. Li Se was very excited. Li Se was led by a eunuch to a bedroom. Standing on either side of the bed curtains were several ministers, including Xie Jin and Yang Shiqi. However, it wasn't the time for greetings, so he simply knelt before the curtains and said, "Long live the Emperor! This humble subject, Li Se, pays his respects." A burst of laughter came from inside the curtains, followed by a man who stepped out, lifted Li Se up, and said with a smile, "You are no longer a humble subject. I have appointed you as Junior Minister. So you are the disciple of the Junior Tutor! The Junior Tutor kept this a secret from me! Come, let me see what the Junior Tutor's successor looks like." Li Se involuntarily raised his head and saw a man with white hair and a long, thick white beard. Although he had few wrinkles, he was an extremely old man, but his eyes were piercing, like lightning, penetrating to the heart, and his imposing presence was awe-inspiring. Although Li Se was somewhat prepared, he still felt something was amiss. Despite the Emperor's kindness and preferential treatment, the feeling of the unpredictable nature of imperial authority remained very strong. Li Se bowed his head and said, "Your Majesty's kindness is too much for me. I dare not accept it. Please return to your bed and rest!" Zhu Di laughed and said, "I am indeed seriously ill, but seeing your heroic spirit, your youthful vigor, and your vitality, I feel as if I have returned to my youth, and my health has greatly improved!" Jin Zhong said, "Indeed, Li Shaoqing is upright and has received the true teachings of the Junior Master. Now that His Majesty is bewitched by evil spirits, my junior brother Yuan and I are having a headache! You have come at the right time. Show us your skills and let us fight those evil spirits together, so that they will know our power. Haha!" Li Se bowed to Zhu Di and said, "Your Majesty's kindness extends to my master, but it is a pity that I have only met my master a few times and am naturally stupid. I have not learned a single bit of my master's skills. Otherwise, I would have sworn to repay Your Majesty even if it meant my death."

Zhu Di was startled upon hearing this and asked, puzzled, "Oh? You say you haven't learned the Grand Tutor's Taoist arts?"

Li Se pondered for a moment and said, "That's right, how could I dare to deceive Your Majesty? However, one of my sworn sisters possesses powerful magic. If Your Majesty has her assistance, you will surely be at ease!"

Zhu Di exclaimed happily, "Excellent! Please come in!"

When Chu Liuguang arrived at the palace, Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong were waiting outside. The two men looked Chu Liuguang up and down for a while, and Yuan Gong suddenly exclaimed, "Miss, you... you are about to face a great calamity! Did you foresee this?"

Chu Liuguang smiled slightly and said, "Mr. Yuan is indeed formidable, but you need not worry. My martial uncle has already instructed me, and I know how to deal with it. Please, Lord Jin and Mr. Yuan, do not interfere in my affairs. I will safely overcome this calamity." "It's difficult, but don't worry, you two,"

Jin Zhong said. "We understand that what you're doing is against the will of Heaven, and there's no room for error. If you have any instructions, we will certainly assist you. Since the Young Master has instructed you, and you seem so confident, we have nothing to worry about. However, what do you think about the matter of secretly plotting to assassinate the Emperor? How should we handle this?"

Chu Liuguang said, "How about a swift resolution? If you two seniors trust me, please let me be under your command, how about that?"

Jin Zhong laughed and agreed. Yuan Gong stroked his beard and nodded with a smile. Both of them were exceptionally intelligent and insightful. Seeing that Chu Liuguang, a young woman, spoke with such confidence, composure, and frankness, they knew she must possess extraordinary skills. Otherwise, most women would be too shy to even show their faces in public, let alone take on such a responsibility. Moreover, since Dao Yan had instructed Chu Liuguang, she must have extraordinary abilities, and the two were happy to yield to her.

Chu Liuguang set up in Zhu Di's bedchamber and said to Zhu Di through the curtain, "Your Majesty, please rest for three days. After three days, you can attend court without worry. Why not take these three days to rest properly?"

Zhu Di, lying in bed, nodded in agreement. Strangely enough, after hearing Chu Liuguang's words, he felt relieved and no longer felt that someone was trying to harm him. After a while, he fell asleep peacefully.

That night, Chu Liuguang guarded the door, while Yuan Gong, Jin Zhong, and Li Se guarded the hall. Originally, according to Yuan Gong and Jin Zhong, since Li Se did not understand magic, he was of no use and did not need to stay. However, seeing that he volunteered, and Chu Liuguang smilingly agreeing, they could not send him away.

Yuan Gong and Jin Zhong took turns guarding the altar in the hall, changing every other watch, while Chu Liuguang sat alone at the door. At

midnight, a sudden gale arose outside the palace, the howling sound was extremely fierce and chilling. Suddenly, the palace gates were blown open by the wind, and then a series of strange monsters, including tigers, leopards, bears, snakes, boars, and demons, bared their claws and fangs and rushed straight at Chu Liuguang.

Chu Liuguang merely glanced at them, then smiled and ignored them. Strangely enough, the monsters swept past her without harming her in the slightest and then vanished.

It turned out that these were the essences of mountain spirits and wood monsters. They were phantoms without form, and although they wielded many weapons, they were nothing more than withered grass and broken branches, only good for frightening people, not for killing. If one's knowledge and magical power were insufficient, and one tried to use magic to deal with them out of mere bravery, one would be fooled. Because these monsters were like reflections in a mirror or the moon in the water, an illusion that could not be grasped or obtained. Even a sword immortal's divine sword could not sever these captured souls. To deal with these illusory and intangible things in this way would be a waste of magical power.

Chu Liuguang possessed unparalleled talent and extraordinary courage, instantly seeing through her enemy's scheme. It's rare for masters to use feints from the outset, yet Chu Liuguang remained unfazed, defeating her opponent with ease – truly a remarkable heroine.

Having won without a fight in their first encounter, Chu Liuguang felt no pride, knowing her enemy's powerful magic meant that if one scheme failed, they would surely unleash an even more potent attack.

However, a short while later, a gust of wind swept in from outside, and when it subsided, a Taoist priest landed in the courtyard. He possessed striking features, a refined air, and appeared to be around thirty years old – an exceptionally handsome and dashing Taoist.

Chu Liuguang, puzzled, said, "May I ask your name, Master? You look quite respectable, but I didn't expect you to be so bold as to show yourself. Are you not afraid of being executed along with your entire family for plotting against the Emperor?"

The Taoist laughed loudly, saying, "You little girl, you do have some tricks up your sleeve, but unfortunately, your understanding is too limited. What good will it do you to wade into such troubled waters? You'd better obediently step aside. If you have any requests, I might be able to fulfill them."

Chu Liuguang retorted, "You truly don't know what's good for you, daring to act so arrogantly in the palace. There's no point in saying more to a fool like you. Show me what you've got!" "If you're not afraid of a miserable death, then unleash your power."

The Taoist priest wasn't angry. He smiled slightly, then suddenly became amiable, saying, "Young lady, your beauty is unparalleled, a sight to behold. You inspire pity at first sight. If you don't mind, please call me Maocheng! Your magical power is high, and your courage and meticulousness are admirable. We cultivators all have some connection, and it would be wonderful if we could turn enemies into friends. You come from the Maoshan Sect. If I'm not mistaken, your help to the Emperor is simply to reclaim the Maoshan Sect's sacred jade seal and restore its prestige!" He then laughed heartily.

Chu Liuguang was startled, thinking, "This guy actually knows about this; he must be from Longhu Mountain."

It turns out that the Emperor's jade seal was said to be made from the "He Shi Bi" jade. When the Yuan Dynasty was overthrown, the Imperial Seal of the State was taken to the southern Mongolian steppe by Emperor Shun of Yuan. Therefore, Emperor Hongwu (Zhu Yuanzhang) reigned for thirty-one years without ever using the seal.

Emperor Yongle (Zhu Di), originally the Prince of Yan guarding Beiping, seized the throne and, upon hearing that the "He Shi Bi" (a famous jade disc) had been broken into three pieces and that the Maoshan Mountain-guarding jade seal was part of it, he felt himself to be the emperor of the world's wealth. As the saying goes, "The wealth of the world is my wealth, the treasures of the world are my treasures," he wanted to obtain the Maoshan Mountain-guarding jade seal and have it recarved by skilled jade craftsmen to become the imperial seal. He issued a golden plaque and an imperial edict, dispatching a capable official to the Maoshan sect to bring the Maoshan Mountain-guarding jade seal into the palace. Longhu Mountain was the foremost Taoist sect and the most favored by the imperial court, so someone from Longhu Mountain was involved in this matter. Other martial arts sects would never have known about it.

Chu Liuguang considered the matter, then smiled slightly and said, "Oh? You are indeed remarkable, seeing through my origins upon first meeting. No wonder you dare to commit the most rebellious and audacious act in the world."

The Taoist priest said arrogantly, "Young lady, your magical power is impressive, but your knowledge is shallow. If I were not absolutely certain, how could I dare to do such a disgraceful thing? If you heed my advice and leave the palace quickly, I guarantee your wish will be fulfilled. Otherwise, if you persist in opposing us, the Maoshan Sect may be wiped out."

Chu Liuguang feigned surprise and said, "So you came to see me in person to kindly advise me." "What? I thought you were going to fight me!"

The Taoist priest said solemnly, "That's right, we're all fellow Daoists. I don't want you to be taken advantage of at such a young age. Since I dared to defy Heaven and kill the emperor, I have my reasons. What do you, at such a young age, know about matters of state? Zhu Di has been emperor for a long time; it's time for him to return to the throne. He's old and frail, and it's time for a wise and virtuous ruler to govern the world. This is a heavenly secret, not something a young girl like you can understand. Why don't you listen to me and return to the mountains? If you have any requests, I'm confident I can grant them." He finished speaking and smiled smugly.

Chu Liuguang thought to himself, "Why do I always encounter Taoist priests who love to lecture others, just like that guy Wuyong?" He remained outwardly calm and said, "Your surname is Zhang, isn't it?"

The Taoist priest was startled and said, "Hmm?"

Chu Liuguang continued, "As the saying goes, 'The higher the Tao, the more subdued dragons and tigers; the greater the virtue, the more revered ghosts and gods.' Even if your magic is powerful, your actions are despicable and shameless, committing heinous acts. Even with great magic, your abilities are limited. If I listen to you, I'll truly suffer a loss!"

The Taoist priest was speechless. It turned out that his surname was Zhang, and his given name was Maocheng. He was the third son of Zhang Zhengchang, the 42nd Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain. Zhang Yuchu, the 43rd Celestial Master, was Zhang Zhengchang's eldest son, and Zhang Yuqing, the 44th Celestial Master, was Zhang Zhengchang's second son.

After Zhang Daoling, the founder of Taoism, achieved great success in cultivating Taoism and alchemy on Mount Longhu, successive Celestial Masters, starting with Zhang Sheng, the fourth Celestial Master at the end of the Han Dynasty, resided on Mount Longhu. They stayed on Mount Longhu to seek immortality and learn arts, preached and spread the teachings in the Shangqing Palace, and cultivated themselves in the Celestial Master's Mansion. Therefore

, Mount Longhu can be called the first mountain of Taoism in China. Among his three brothers, Zhang Maocheng was the most talented. The position of Celestial Master was passed down by the eldest son, not the youngest. After Zhang Zhengchang's death, it was reasonable for his eldest brother to succeed him, and he could not object. Unexpectedly, his eldest brother died of illness a few years later. Since he had no son, the position of Celestial Master had to be chosen between Zhang Maocheng and Zhang Yuqing. Zhang Maocheng, confident in his abilities, thought he would definitely succeed to the position. Unexpectedly, the elders of the sect chose his second brother as the Celestial Master. In a fit of anger, Zhang Maocheng left Mount Longhu.

Zhang Maocheng, confident in his abilities, was determined to make a name for himself. He arrived in the capital and saw that Prince Zhu Gaoxu of Han was spirited and had the appearance of an emperor. He then sought refuge under Prince Zhu Gaoxu's patronage, hoping to gain favor and achieve great things. Recently, he observed the night sky and saw a giant star fall, which he felt was the opportune moment to assassinate the emperor and install Prince Zhu Gaoxu as emperor. He then personally plotted to kill the Yongle Emperor.

The words Chu Liuguang had just spoken, "The Way is high, dragons and tigers submit; virtue is weighty, ghosts and gods revere," were the couplet on the second gate of the Celestial Master's Mansion. Upon hearing Chu Liuguang utter these words, Zhang Maocheng knew that Chu Liuguang had seen through his background, and he felt both ashamed and indignant. He had originally thought that by seeing through Chu Liuguang's scheme, even if he couldn't persuade Chu Liuguang, at least dissuading him from his ambition would be acceptable. Unexpectedly, he was defeated by Chu Liuguang's words.

Zhang Maocheng was furious. He drew a sword from his waist, pointed the tip at the sky, drew talismans, chanted incantations, and shouted, "Hurry!"

Was this Zhang Daoren trying to conjure some kind of ghost to aid his magic? Actually, no. It was said that all immortals and deities would give way to the Daoist Ancestor, and all divine generals would avoid the path of their leader. The imperial palace housed many deities, and he feared that these ethereal spirits would be angered by his magic and might try to assassinate the emperor, thus ruining his plans. Therefore, he used a false holy method, falsely claiming the Daoist Ancestor's name and borrowing power to establish a sacred altar in the sky, emitting golden light, so that all the gods and spirits would be unable to interfere with his actions. This was his deceptive tactic, and it also greatly reduced the power of the altars set up by Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong in the palace.

After Zhang Maocheng finished his spell and made his preparations, an umbrella suddenly flew out of his sleeve. This umbrella looked no different from an ordinary umbrella, except for its multicolored appearance; however, it was no ordinary umbrella. This umbrella was named "Extinguishing Yang Killer," and what was its power? The *I Ching* says, "Qian represents Heaven, and Heaven is Yang." The sun is the essence of the sun, and the dragon is a pure Yang creature.

The *Mysterious Techniques* states, "Even a trace of Yin energy, if not exhausted, will not lead to immortality; even a trace of Yang energy, if not exhausted, will not lead to death." Therefore, not only ordinary people, but even celestial beings and divine generals possess true Yang; once lost, they will be injured even if they do not die. Thus, if any immortal, demon, or monster mistakenly enters under the umbrella, all five energies will be dissipated, and their true essence will be lost; if any divine general mistakenly crosses the umbrella, they will fall into the mortal realm and be reincarnated; if they are tainted by any of the surrounding energies, they will be unable to ascend, and their magical power will be greatly diminished.

Zhang Maocheng conjured an umbrella in the air, which unfurled like the wings of a giant bird, covering the palace. He then silently chanted an incantation and drew a talisman in the air with his sword. Suddenly, a fierce wind arose, scattering pebbles, stones, and gravel from all directions, swirling towards the golden palace, centered on Chu Liuguang, its force overwhelming. Chu Liuguang,

however, remained calm. He took out a small jade incense burner from his sleeve, lit a few inches of incense, and chanted continuously in the air. Then he blew on a breath of Samadhi Fire, and the burner emitted fragrant smoke.

Chu Liuguang turned and transmitted his voice into the hall, saying, "Brother Li, please hold this incense burner for me." Li Se obeyed.

Chu Liuguang then took out a small red copper pot, no bigger than a bowl, and tossed it into the air. With its base facing upwards and its opening downwards, a wisp of spiritual energy sucked in countless flying stones from the air, leaving none behind. Then, it dispersed, turning them all into ash, scattering down like a heavy snowfall.

Chu Liuguang took out a palm-leaf fan and fanned it slightly, sending the ash swirling directly towards Zhang Maocheng.

Zhang Maocheng quickly chanted a wind-returning incantation, and instantly, a strong wind swirled in all directions, dispersing the ash mist. Zhang Maocheng then took out a white paper crane from his robes, blew on it, and the crane seemed to come alive. He then rode the crane into the heavens, holding a white flag, and the palace was instantly transformed into a formidable fortress.

Li Se, seeing the surrounding walls and unable to see the Taoist priest, although unaware of the power of Zhang Maocheng's magic, became worried upon seeing Chu Liuguang's sudden change in expression.

At this moment, Yuan Gong and Jin Zhong also came out. Jin Zhong said to Chu Liuguang, "This is an extremely powerful magical formation. Don't be fooled by the seemingly normal appearance of these steep walls; they are actually an formation distributed according to the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, representing the righteous energy of the five elements. It also contains the stars Qi, Bo, Luo, and Ji, representing the residual energy of the five elements. This residual energy is what we call evil energy. The mixture of righteous and evil is extremely powerful, and breaking it is incredibly difficult. However, if the three of us join forces, we might be able to put up a fight."

Chu Liuguang said, "Absolutely not. A battle between two forces is like a battle between two armies; it's not just about talent and intelligence, but also about mental strength, calmness, and patience. Patience is the way to cultivate inner strength; calmness is..." The method of cultivating the mind. Those who can be calm can be patient, and those who can be patient can be calm. Though the circumstances may differ, the principle is the same. For example, when Xiang Yu wanted to boil Taigong alive, the King of Han laughed and said, "Please share a cup of soup with me!" Sima Yi held firm and did not fight. Zhuge Liang gave him a headscarf, which he accepted calmly. This is what is meant by patience. It is easier to shake Mount Tai than to shake Yue Fei's army. This is what is meant by calmness. We must use calmness to control movement, and not be rash!

Yuan Gong and Jin Zhong looked at each other and recalled the time when they raised their army to fight the Jingnan Rebellion. When they marched down the Yangtze River, the general guarding the Yangtze River, Jing Qian, was a talent in the country, and Prefect Ma was also a hero of Huainan. However, when they were locked in a fierce battle with Dao Yan, and the outcome was uncertain, they were provoked by Dao Yan and attacked in anger. They fell into Dao Yan's trap and their entire army was wiped out. The Art of War says, "An army that is angry will be defeated." It seems that Chu Liuguang has indeed learned the true teachings of Dao Yan. The two of them couldn't help but smile knowingly, and were secretly delighted.

Jin Zhong said, "Miss Chu's words make sense, but the enemy is powerful. They've used witchcraft, making an idol of His Majesty out of wood and hiding it somewhere, cursing him daily or pricking him with needles. After seven days, His Majesty will be in danger! The fortifications they've set up, while powerful, aren't particularly offensive. Their clear aim is to trap us and control His Majesty. If we don't act, wouldn't we fall into their trap?"

Chu Liuguang said, "It's alright. I'm not ignoring them, but waiting for the right opportunity."

Li Se said, "At dawn, the enemy's magic is weakest. They can't stand the light. Then we can send soldiers to surround and annihilate them. Wouldn't that be better? Sister, you surely know where they're hiding, right?"

Chu Liuguang smiled and said, "Brother is right. They are extremely bold..." "Hiding in the palace allows their magic to reach its full potential. But without an inside agent, how could these people have entered? How could they have unleashed such powerful magic? Sending soldiers to capture them, even if they can't be captured, would at least harass them and lend us a hand. That would be ideal, but I fear it would be a waste of effort and time."

Yuan Gong sighed, "Indeed, young lady, you are truly insightful. At this juncture, I think even if the Emperor himself ordered the arrest of these people within the palace, he wouldn't be able to command anyone."

Li Se was startled. He was a clever man and immediately understood the Yongle Emperor's predicament. Unless an extremely powerful figure was plotting to seize the throne, how could these sorcerers have infiltrated the palace and even harmed the Emperor? This person was likely a prince, or even the Crown Prince. In this moment of great upheaval, no one in the palace dared to act rashly, knowing that it concerned their future lives and fortunes.

Thinking of the dire situation, Li Se asked worriedly, "What should we do now?"

Chu Liuguang said, "We lack a magical treasure. If we had it, we could defeat them. Brother, you can obtain this treasure, but I don't know if you'd be willing to go and get it."

Li Se replied, "I invited you, sister. If needed, I'll naturally obey your every command. I'm just worried about not being able to contribute!"

Chu Liuguang said, "Alright, I'll ask you to seek out a treasure, a peerless sword. It's the Sword Lord's treasured sword in Miss Hua's possession."

Hearing Chu Liuguang mention the Sword Lord's treasured sword, Li Se suddenly recalled past events and chuckled, "It's time for it to emerge."

Chu Liuguang also smiled sweetly.

Chapter Two: Daojun Seeks the Sword.

Gu Xiangjun was invited by Yuan Gong to escort her to the palace. Chu Liuguang pulled her aside and gave her a few words of advice, then handed her a brocade pouch, saying, "Sister, if Brother Li cannot persuade Miss Hua and fails to obtain the sword, then please open this pouch. There is a clever plan inside."

Gu Xiangjun smiled and agreed, then frowned and said, "You must also be careful. Don't risk your life." She glanced at Li Se and said nothing more.

Chu Liuguang's eyes flickered, and he said, "Sister, don't worry, it's nothing serious." Then he beckoned Li Se over.

As soon as Li Se arrived beside the two, Chu Liuguang lightly waved his jade hand, and he and Gu Xiangjun somehow found themselves in a valley clearing.

Gu Xiangjun was slightly surprised to suddenly leave the group and arrive in a valley.

Li Se laughed, "This is Sister Chu's shrinking-earth technique. We've arrived near Zhenshan. Let's go! Although we've been away from home for a long time, let's take care of our business first, and then see if we have time to go home and explore." After saying that, he pulled Gu Xiangjun away.

Li Se first left the valley, and then searched for the little fox spirit Hua Ruxue's large garden according to his memory. However, when he arrived in the city, he found that Zhenshan had changed a lot, and the streets were much more magnificent. Everywhere there were craftsmen building houses and palaces.

Li Se and Gu Xiangjun were both quite surprised, so they asked an old man by the roadside. The old man said, "You two are just passing by, aren't you? Who here doesn't know that these houses were built for the Li family? Most of the town's property has been requisitioned by the government, all for this Mr. Li. I don't know what kind of background this Mr. Li has, but he's caused so much suffering to those people who were forced to move. Luckily, my house is in a remote area. Otherwise, not only would I have to leave my ancestral home, but I would also have to move again and again. These old bones of mine can't take it."

Li Se was somewhat surprised to hear this. In just a few months, it seemed that the town had undergone considerable changes. She wondered if the restaurant was still safe and sound. Hua Ruxue had left in a huff, and she expected that the restaurant she left behind would suffer a very tragic fate.

At this moment, Gu Xiangjun asked, "Old man, do you know this name, Li?"

The old man replied, "I do know him, but legend has it he's a drunkard. He wasn't particularly remarkable at first, but his wife is quite formidable. She runs a tavern called 'Xiangjun Tavern,' and is said to be young, beautiful, and skilled in martial arts. She's very famous in town..."

Li Se only heard a few sentences before frowning. He had just returned to Zhenshan and already encountered something related to him. However, Li Se had encountered many strange things, and his horizons had broadened considerably, so he didn't dwell on this small matter. He needed to deal with more important matters first, so he pulled Gu Xiangjun, who was still about to say more, away.

As Gu Xiangjun walked, she said, "Could this have been done by my father? He's such a busybody. We were perfectly fine, and he had to interfere. I hope you won't blame him, my lord."

Li Se replied, "Since it's already done, we can make amends. There's no need to complain. Let's go get the knife first."

Gu Xiangjun smiled and said, "It's not about the knife; it's about someone you're thinking about, isn't it?"

Li Se looked thoughtful and remained silent.

Gu Xiangjun felt a pang of jealousy upon seeing this, but then she thought again and was pleased, thinking, "Isn't this exactly what I wanted? Things can't be perfect. As long as he's with me for life, what does it matter if there are a few more people with him?"

The two arrived at Hua Ruxue's manor. Although Chu Liuguang had warned Li Se, she was still afraid that Hua Ruxue wasn't there. If she wasn't there, and the restaurant wasn't there either, she really wouldn't know where to look for her.

But as soon as they reached the door, they heard shouts and commotion inside. Pushing open the door, Li Se felt relieved.

In the courtyard, Little Stone was trying to soothe a crying child. She said, "Hey, alright, alright! I won't punish you anymore, and I won't tell your parents. Don't cry anymore. I was just trying to scare you. If you cry again and our young

lady finds out, you'll be in big trouble. She's in a bad mood lately, and she might even eat you alive! She's very fierce!"

The child continued to cry. Just then, Little Stone heard footsteps. Seeing Li Se enter, she first curled her lip in disdain. When Xiao Shitou finally saw Gu Xiangjun, he said, "Hello, Sister Gu! You came so quickly! I thought I would never see you again!"

Gu Xiangjun smiled and said, "How could that be! I couldn't bear to part with such a clever little girl like you. What's wrong with that child?"

Xiao Shitou blushed and said, "He's a naughty kid from the neighborhood. He cried after I said a few words to him. He's cowardly and doesn't dare to admit his mistakes. What a coward! And he calls himself a man!"

Gu Xiangjun first went to coax the child away before taking Xiao Shitou's hand and starting to talk.

Seeing that Xiao Shitou ignored him, Li Se took the opportunity to ask, "Why is that child being naughty? Where is your young lady?"

Xiao Shitou frowned and angrily said, "You still ask about my young lady! You've made her so angry, she doesn't want to talk to you anymore, what are you doing here?"

Li Se was both amused and exasperated, and Gu Xiangjun quickly came to her rescue, saying, "Yes, he deserved to be scolded, but I haven't done anything wrong to you, have I? Tell me! I miss Hua Meimei very much!"

Xiao Shitou said, "The wall in front of my house was covered in graffiti. After I had someone redo it, I solemnly wrote 'No Writing Here' on the wall, thinking that everything would be peaceful and I could rest easy from then on! But when I woke up the next day, I found that there were more graffiti under those five characters." The five words "Why did you write first?" left me resentful, so I immediately picked up my pen and added five more words: "My family writes, I write." The next day, when I looked at them, I almost fainted from anger. Below those five words was an additional line: "Everyone writes." I was so angry that I waited at the door and finally caught the child from before. But after only two scoldings, he started crying incessantly.

Gu Xiangjun, hearing this, was both amused and exasperated. She said, "You little rascal, you're going against me now! I wasn't asking you about this; I was asking how Hua-mei is doing. We're going to see her."

Little Stone said, "I wouldn't dare. Miss is angry and hiding in her room, not seeing anyone. I'm avoiding her too!"

Gu Xiangjun said, "Alright, then we'll go see her ourselves." With that, she and Li Se went inside.

When they reached the boudoir door, Li Se said, "Xiangjun, wait here, I'll go by myself!"

Gu Xiangjun said, "Okay." She wondered to herself: Had he changed his ways and was going to coax Hua Ruxue? Otherwise, why would he avoid her?

Li Se pushed open the door and entered the room. After passing through the second door, he lifted the curtain and went in. He saw Hua Ruxue sitting upright in a chair. Upon seeing him enter, her face was as calm as water. She waved her hand and said, "It's

rare for you to grace us with your presence, young master. Please have a seat." The Hua Ruxue that Li Se had seen before was always incredibly cute and adorable. She was also particularly fond of him. It was rare to see her so mature now. For some reason, Li Se couldn't help but chuckle before sitting down properly.

Li Se said, "Miss Hua, how have you been? How have you been?"

Hua Ruxue replied, "Thanks to you, young master, I'm doing well. But please take back the title 'Miss Hua,' I've changed my name. I was just about to see you! Your arrival saves me a trip. I've handed over all the restaurant's accounts to Princess Caiyun. Do you have any questions about the accounts?"

Li Se asked curiously, "Princess? Zhu Wushuang? Why did you hand them over to her? Is she here too? I haven't even gone home yet! I know nothing about the restaurant."

Hua Ruxue said irritably, "You know nothing? Humph, then what are you doing here? I think you've come to show off." "Is the whole town yours? Or are you here to make me move, or to find a maid?" she shouted, her anger rising with each word. But then, her eyes met Li Se's, and seeing his clear gaze, her heart skipped a beat. Hua Ruxue thought to herself, "Strange, why am I so nervous? Do I hope he'll say he wants me back? Is that why I'm nervous? But I don't love him anymore! Yes, even though I don't love him anymore, I still hope he'll change his mind, so I can humiliate him and vent my anger. He doesn't know how to cherish me, he's lost such a wonderful person, he didn't seize the opportunity, and now it's too late for regrets."

Seeing that Hua Ruxue had suddenly fallen silent, Li Se hesitated for a moment before saying, "What happened before is in the past. I've come here... to do business with you." He then looked at Hua Ruxue calmly, his eyes like still water.

Hua Ruxue's heart, which had been pounding, suddenly felt a chill run through her. She sneered, "Business? What business? Are you here to buy back your precious sword? Remember what I said before, I will never sell this sword. When have I ever needed money?"

Li Se slowly said, "I can offer more silver!"

Hua Ruxue was furious. She stood up and said, "I don't care! Show her out! What's wrong with Little Stone? She's getting lazier and lazier, letting all sorts of monsters in! She's becoming increasingly unruly; she needs to be taught a lesson."

Li Se reluctantly got up and left. Just as he stepped out, he heard Hua Ruxue slam the door shut.

Hua Ruxue closed the door, leaning against it, her chest still heaving with anger. Just then, she heard a knock. She flung the door open and saw Li Se standing there. She snapped, "Why aren't you leaving? What else do you want to say? I've already told you I won't do business with you, I hate you! Why are you still bothering me? If you don't leave, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Li Se said, "It's not about business. It's about what happened before. I'm sorry, and now I realize I was wrong. If you're willing, could you come back? Wouldn't it be better if we could all be happy together?"

Hua Ruxue was completely taken aback by Li Se's words and froze for a moment. After a long pause, she suddenly giggled.

Seeing Hua Ruxue's strange expression, Li Se asked, "What's wrong with you? Am I being ridiculous?"

Hua Ruxue laughed for a long time before finally saying, "Yes, it is ridiculous. I used to like you a lot! Even after I realized you didn't like me at all and weren't nice to me, I still liked you. Just now when you left, my heart ached, and I felt very sad. This feeling is something I've never experienced before, and it's awful. I didn't want you to leave me. I wish you had come here in the first place just to have me back by your side! But you didn't. You only came for your precious sword. I know you'll eventually need it. Only when you can't get the sword do you think of having me back by your side, so you can have both the sword and the person. You've never really treated me like a human being. In your eyes, am I always just a monster?"

After saying these words, tears streamed down Hua Ruxue's face. Her appearance was both pitiful and endearing. Her delicate nose was slightly upturned, and even a person of stone would feel pity upon seeing her.

Seeing Hua Ruxue's tears streaming down her face, her expression sorrowful yet her brows seemed to hold a thousand sorrows and ten thousand charms, Li Se thought, "She's no longer as innocent as a child; she's grown up. It's all my fault, making her suffer so much injustice and torment, unable to live a simple and happy life." Composing himself, Li Se gently said, "Sister, I know you blame me. I did come for that sword; it has a great use, but not for myself, but for others, for the people of the world. Of course, I did want to see you, hoping you'd be happy by my side, that we could be like family, caring for and loving each other, so you wouldn't be alone anymore. These are two separate things, but they've come together. If I don't say it, it'll seem like I only came because of the sword..."

Hua Ruxue chuckled, tears still on her face, and said, "You underestimate me. Although I may be foolish,..." "I'm not stupid. Don't try to fool me again. Do you think I really don't know anything about your human tricks? Do you think I can't see through anything? Brother, this is the last time I'll call you that! I'm really heartbroken. You only realized you were lying to me now because I'm of use to you. You had no choice but to lie to me. If you had lied to me before, even if you were only after my beauty, I would have followed you willingly. I wouldn't have blamed you. But this time, all you wanted was the precious sword! A sword! Am I that worthless? Yes! You have so many beautiful women by your side, how could you possibly fancy a vixen like me? Fine, go! I never want to have anything to do with you again. If you want to be some kind of savior hero, then fine, try stealing the precious sword! Let's see what you're capable of. If you have extraordinary methods that I can't resist, then I'll accept my fate." After saying this, she gently closed the door.

Seeing Hua Ruxue's resolute expression, Li Se felt extremely sad and slowly turned to walk out.

Once outside, Gu Xiangjun noticed Li Se's troubled expression and asked, "My lord, what's wrong? Did things not go well?"

Li Se continued walking, muttering, "There are so many joys and sorrows in this world, sometimes it's because we can't see things clearly that we cause trouble. Fortunately, I've finally understood some things, and it's not too late!"

Seeing Li Se leave, Gu Xiangjun initially wanted to follow, but then she reconsidered. Remembering Chu Liuguang's words before she left, she took out the brocade pouch, read it, smiled slightly, then her expression turned solemn. She sighed and turned back into the house.

Gu Xiangjun arrived at Hua Ruxue's boudoir. Before she could knock, the door opened automatically. Hua Ruxue leaned against the door and said, "Sister, although we have no relationship now, our past friendship remains. However, if you've come to persuade me to return, or because of the precious sword, please leave!"

Gu Xiangjun smiled and said, "Little sister, you underestimate me! How could I be that kind of person? I've come to speak with you on behalf of Miss Chu."

Hua Ruxue asked curiously, "Sister Chu has something to tell me?"

Gu Xiangjun said, "It's not really a word, but a story."

Hua Ruxue was intrigued and tilted her head, saying, "A story? I'd love to hear it. Please come in, sister."

The two women sat down in the room. Gu Xiangjun said, "Sister Chu's mother was an extraordinary woman, intelligent, possessing great magical powers, and very beautiful."

Hua Ruxue bit her lip and said, "Yes! Just look at Sister Chu, and you'll know."

Gu Xiangjun said, "This story is about Sister Chu's mother. Since Aunt Chu had many advantages that others didn't have when she was young, naturally..." High above all, proud and ambitious, she vowed to find a hero worthy of her as her companion, someone who would love only her for life and never betray her. She felt that most men in the world had multiple wives and concubines, a great insult to women, and that women's submissiveness only fueled this arrogance. Therefore, she resolved to stand up for women and set an example.

Hua Ruxue listened, her eyes shining. Imagining the extraordinary woman's demeanor, she exclaimed with admiration, "Aunt Chu is so amazing! And what happened next?"

Gu Xiangjun said, "Later, she met Chu's father and fell in love at first sight. They were deeply in love, and a few years later, Chu was born. But one day, Aunt Chu discovered that Chu's father was with another woman. Enraged, Aunt Chu hid in a secluded valley, setting up a barrier to isolate herself from the world, refusing to see Uncle Chu again. Uncle Chu begged many times, but Aunt Chu refused to forgive him. Nearly twenty years passed, and they never saw each other again until Uncle Chu's death."

Hua Ruxue was stunned. Gu Xiangjun said, "Sister Chu said that her mother often said before she passed away: 'A woman, in her most beautiful years, cannot be with the one she loves most. Even if she teaches that unfaithful man a lesson, in the end, she is the one who suffers! Since you love him, why not forgive him?'"

Hua Ruxue bit her lip and said blankly, "So you're still trying to persuade me to turn back."

Gu Xiangjun said, "No, I haven't finished speaking yet! Your sister Chu said: 'The worst thing in life is to be competitive, to live for face, for honor, for the opinions of others. If you get rid of superficiality and let your true heart guide you, you will be much happier. Even if...'" Even when you feel lost, it's still better than sacrificing your happiness and pursuits for something external.

Hua Ruxue's bright eyes flickered as she murmured, "Ah! What is Sister saying? I don't understand at all! It seems I'm really too stupid to understand all the profound truths Sister Chu is talking about. Sister, you wouldn't harm me, would you? Tell me, what does Sister Chu mean for me to do?"

Gu Xiangjun said, "She's telling you to think carefully about whether you still love Li Lang. Don't do anything you'll regret later because of a moment of impulsiveness or resentment. I ask you, what did Li Lang say to you? How did you reply to him?"

Hua Ruxue repeated her conversation with Li Se, saying, "My mind is in turmoil right now. I don't know if I still like him. Seeing him makes me very sad."

Gu Xiangjun laughed, "Then you still like him! If you didn't like him, why would you hate him? You haven't been away from him for long, so you're still thinking about his bad points. In a few days, you'll be thinking about him again and only remember his good points."

Hua Ruxue said listlessly, "So what if I like him? He doesn't like me either. All of you are prettier and smarter than me, and you know how to make him happy." " I don't understand anything, I've just made a fool of myself."

Seeing Hua Ruxue's resentful expression, Gu Xiangjun knew she was no longer bitter and had a change of heart. She smiled and took Hua Ruxue in her arms, saying, "Silly child, look at yourself. As for looks, you're much younger and more beautiful than us roughnecks, how could he not like you!"

Hua Ruxue immediately laughed, "Yes! Yes! I'm very young! And I'll never grow old! If he doesn't like me, he's blind."

Gu Xiangjun was startled, then said, "That's right! Exactly!" "Lang wouldn't lie. Didn't he say he came to take you back? Why don't you believe him? If you still have doubts, why don't we go ask him together and hear his explanation? If you're not satisfied with his answer, you can ignore him then! If he had begged you to come back from the beginning and then asked you for the knife, that would be because he really wanted the knife."

Hua Ruxue felt these words struck a chord with her and jumped up happily, saying, "Yes! I'm so stupid, I only realized that now."

Gu Xiangjun was also happy and laughed, "Alright, let's go find Li Lang!" "I wonder where he went! That knife is black and heavy, quite ugly, and I don't know what's so special about it that Sister Chu insists on having it."

Hua Ruxue laughed, "Yes! I'll take the knife to Li Lang! He was angry just now, I need to appease him quickly! So Sister Chu wants it, it must be for a very important purpose."

Gu Xiangjun nodded quickly in agreement, secretly smiling to herself, thinking, "This girl is so simple-minded, she has no ulterior motives. She's so adorable, I must take good care of her in the future and not let her suffer any injustice."

Meanwhile, Li Se left Hua Ruxue's manor and went straight home. Halfway there, he saw a long stretch of city walls and houses, magnificent and imposing. But as he continued, someone blocked his way, preventing him from going further. Li Se said, "My name is Li Se. I used to own a restaurant here. I don't know what happened, but I'm now unable to return home."

The person blocking his way was startled and said, "Please wait a moment, sir." Then he ran off. A short while later, a man who looked like a leader came to greet him with a group of people.

The man looked like a steward and bowed to Li Se. Li Se quickly helped him up, and as they talked, Li Se learned that Princess Zhu Wushuang had indeed come to the city, and that she had built all these houses.

Upon arriving at the former Xiangjun Restaurant, Zhu Wushuang greeted him with a warm smile. Li Se hurriedly knelt down to pay his respects, but Zhu Wushuang stopped him, raising his hand and saying, "Look, how is your new home?"

Li Se looked up and saw that the old houses and streets were nowhere to be seen. A plaque hung above the main gate, bearing the four characters "Li Family Manor".

Li Se exclaimed in surprise, "This... what's going on? Princess, you've confused me!"

Zhu Wushuang laughed, "What are you confused about? This is your home. Congratulations on becoming a wealthy man! Come on, let's go inside and take a look."

Chapter Three: The Yin-Yang Array

Zhu Wushuang led Li Se inside. The corridors and rooms were extremely luxurious. Zhu Wushuang said, "What are you thinking about, Young Master Li? This is your home. Do you have any questions?"

Li Se said, "Why did the princess give me such a valuable gift? I don't understand. If the princess needs any help, just ask. There's no need for such a complicated process."

Zhu Wushuang said, "Although I'm not very bright, I'm confident I have some abilities. If there's something I can't do, most others probably can't either. Don't worry, these houses were all bought with your money."

Li Se said, "My money?"

Zhu Wushuang said, "That's right. Do you remember when I first met you..." "What about the situation? A drop of kindness deserves a spring of gratitude in return. Besides, what you gave me is a priceless treasure, especially that relic. I absorbed its essence, which greatly improved my martial arts skills and benefited me immensely."

Li Se said "Oh," thinking, "The princess is used to being competitive and doesn't want to owe anyone favors. Although I didn't mean to help her then and didn't expect anything in return, it's different for her. It's better to let her be, so we're even. She's a princess, so it's better to have less to do with her." He then said, "I understand. But since this is my home now, may I invite the villagers who used to live here to come back and live here? Anyway, this place is so big, my whole family can't fit in."

Zhu Wushuang said, "Since it's your home, you can do whatever you want. Why ask me?"

Li Se laughed and said, "That would be great. Then thank you very much, Princess."

Li Se immediately asked someone to handle the matter quickly.

Zhu Wushuang thought to herself, "This man and I will have nothing to do with each other anymore. He's of low status and looked down upon. My brother promised to help him, and I've given him such a large fortune; I've done more than enough. He's now rich and powerful, so I don't need to worry about him anymore." Thinking this, Zhu Wushuang felt a surge of pride and left with a smile. She didn't bother arguing with Li Se any further.

With the return of the head of the household, Li Se naturally had to handle many matters. His subordinates would come to him with decisions they couldn't make, and Li Se patiently dealt with them.

While Li Se was busy, he suddenly saw Gu Xiangjun and Hua Ruxue being brought in by servants. Hua Ruxue hid behind Gu Xiangjun, looking shy and resentful, wanting to say something but remaining silent.

Gu Xiangjun smiled and said, "My lord, she came to ask you why you only asked for the precious sword from the start, without considering her feelings at all. Is that sword really more important than her?"

Li Se was taken aback, and smiled bitterly, "Xiangjun, your question is quite sharp." Then he turned to Hua Ruxue and said seriously, "To be honest, Sister Hua, if I hadn't come to ask for this precious sword, I would never have come to find you so quickly. However, I feel sorry for you, so I will come to find you soon. Although the precious sword was passed down to me by my master and is a treasure of my Sword Lord sect, I no longer need it. Besides, I have come to terms with it; it has no meaning to me now. But because someone needs this precious sword to save them, I came to ask for it. Of course, my sister is much more important to me. If I cannot get the precious sword this time, as long as I have tried my best, I will have no regrets. I can't say what I will feel, but if my sister ignores me, I will be very sad."

Gu Xiangjun listened and secretly extended her jade finger, praising Li Se for speaking well.

Hua Ruxue's face flushed slightly as she listened, and she said, "So you still love me?"

Li Se, who had been somewhat embarrassed by Gu Xiangjun's gesture, felt even more awkward upon seeing Hua Ruxue's expression and words. She changed the subject, saying, "You came so quickly! Xiangjun, do you know? This grand estate was a gift from the princess. Sister Hua must know the story; why don't you tell me?"

Gu Xiangjun chuckled and whispered in Hua Ruxue's ear, "Look how shy he is. But whether he loves you or not, even a fool could tell. Good sister, let's see if you're still angry and ignoring him now. I think you shouldn't make things difficult for him."

Hua Ruxue was also pleased. She was naturally innocent and straightforward. She walked over and took Li Se's arm. She laughed, "I just got home and found the house completely changed. Seeing the princess, I realized this huge estate was for my beloved. So she likes you too! I should have said so earlier! You wouldn't admit it. What, didn't you see her? If you want to see her, we can go in now."

These words left Li Se extremely embarrassed, while Gu Xiangjun looked furious.

Li Se quickly said, "Sister, don't talk nonsense. This is something she owes me, it has nothing to do with anything else. We have important business to attend to! Didn't you say it would only work if I stole the knife? Well, I'm going to steal it tonight!"

Hua Ruxue giggled, "Silly boy, I only said that when I was angry. Didn't I say that you can only get the treasure sword if you marry me? Look, I brought the sword with me, so you don't need to worry anymore!" She then pulled out the dragon-shaped sword from behind her back.

Li Se was overjoyed, took the sword, and said, "Good, now Sister Chu can display her divine power!"

Although Li Se had regained his treasure sword, he didn't feel anything special holding it. He had truly seen through the illusions of the world and was no longer burdened by material possessions. His cultivation was far superior to when he first left the mountain.

Li Se urged the two women to hurry to the capital. Hua Ruxue said, "Don't rush! Haven't you seen Princess Sister?"

Li Se thought to himself, "Why are you still mentioning her?" He replied, "Sister Chu repeatedly told me not to mention palace matters when I see the princess. I used to think the princess was still in the capital, so naturally she knew what was going on in the palace! I even blamed her for being suspicious, but I didn't expect the princess to be here. Let's not see the princess again, lest she know her father is in danger and worry."

Gu Xiangjun also said, "That's right, let's hurry up! Your Sister Chu is waiting anxiously! It's a matter of life and death, not something to be taken lightly."

Hua Ruxue said, "Alright, the house is still under construction. I'll have Xiao Shitou stay and decorate it nicely. You don't need to rush. Although I don't have Sister Chu's ability to travel a thousand miles in an instant, I'm confident I can still fly a thousand miles in a few hours."

After the three of them finished dealing with some matters in Zhenshan, Hua Ruxue used her magic to fly the two of them. At midnight, the three of them arrived in the capital and stayed at the Wang family's residence.

As soon as the three landed, Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong came to greet them, and Wang Bao'er also skipped over, showing great enthusiasm towards them.

Jin Zhong asked eagerly, "Where is the treasure?"

Hua Ruxue handed over a package, saying, "It's here; I concealed it with a barrier spell."

Yuan Gong laughed, "What a clever girl! Young Master Li is truly remarkable. You have so many elite soldiers and generals, all exceptionally beautiful."

Li Se, however, didn't mind Yuan Gong's teasing, saying, "Yes! But it's a pity my skills are too poor; I'm truly ashamed."

Jin Zhong said, "No, absolutely not! If someone had so many beautiful and capable girls under their command, how could that person be incompetent!"

Li Se laughed, "Then it seems I can still be proud!" The three of them laughed heartily together.

Because they were going to enter the palace, Yuan Gong and Jin Zhong, fearing that Hua Ruxue's magic wasn't powerful enough, cast another spell to conceal the essence of the treasured sword before escorting them inside. Since Hua Ruxue had arrived, she naturally wanted to join in the fun, and Wang Bao'er, unable to resist the urge to join in, naturally went with everyone.

The group arrived at the palace, where they saw Chu Liuguang sitting cross-legged with her eyes closed, ignoring them completely.

Wang Bao'er asked, "What is Sister Chu doing?"

Yuan Gong replied, "Don't disturb her. She's fighting with the enemy!" The girls tactfully pulled Li Se away, while Yuan Gong and Jin Zhong sat beside Chu Liuguang.

Gu Xiangjun said worriedly, "Sister Chu is so frail, won't something happen to her?"

Hua Ruxue said, "No, she's very capable! Besides, the two old men next to her are quite formidable!"

Wang Bao'er echoed her sentiments, and Li Se nodded slightly.

Gu Xiangjun thought to herself, "Huh, you guys don't know anything at all!"

Hua Ruxue and Wang Bao'er each took one of Li Se's arms. Hua Ruxue said, "Li Lang, you're being unfair."

Li Se was both amused and exasperated. He had originally intended to personally bring Hua Ruxue back, treating her like family—like a younger sister. He harbored a lingering thought that Hua Ruxue's feelings for him were familial, not romantic. Who would have thought that Hua Ruxue was so devoted, refusing to let him express his feelings, and relentlessly clinging to him? It seemed she was deeply in love. Li Se was both grateful and touched, although having another woman by his side was a considerable hassle. But it seemed he could only accept this fate.

Li Se said, "How am I biased? Just tell me, let Bao'er be the judge."

Wang Bao'er said, "Yes! Big brother is very biased."

Li Se said strangely, "She hasn't even said anything yet, and you're already criticizing your big brother. I wanted you to help me! It seems my efforts were in vain."

Wang Bao'er pouted and said, "Sister Hua, then tell me, where is big brother biased?"

Hua Ruxue was happily giggling, but when she saw Wang Bao'er asking, she immediately pouted and said, "The name you gave her is the same as everyone else's name. You're biased. I don't want this annoying name anymore. Give me a nicer name."

Upon hearing this, Wang Bao'er immediately clapped her hands and said, "Great! Great! What name do you want, sister? I'll be called Bao'er, and you can be called Bei'er. We're big brother's two darlings, hehe!"

Hua Ruxue said, "No. What Bao'er and Bei'er? It's so cheesy and childish."

Wang Bao'er was slightly angry and said, "You said my name isn't nice?" Upon seeing this, Li Se thought, "

My dear aunt, if you keep making a fuss like this, who knows what will happen!" He quickly said, "No, Bao'er's name is very nice, but such a nice name is only suitable for Bao'er. Hua's surname doesn't need to be changed. As for her name, I've thought of it. What do you think?"

The two girls asked in unison, "What is it?"

Li Se said, "Hua's face is as beautiful as a flower and as lovely as the moon. There's a poem that says, 'The clouds think of her clothes, the flowers think of her face,' so how about we call her Hua Xiangrong? From now on, everyone will call you Rong'er, okay?"

Gu Xiangjun had been watching Chu Liuguang with concern and had overheard some of Li Se's conversation. At this moment, she chimed in, "Wow, my lord is indeed a genius. He came up with such a wonderful name so quickly. Hua's sister is so lucky." Wang

Bao'er, lacking her own opinions, also echoed the praise.

Li Se gazed at Gu Xiangjun's fair and smooth face, her heart filled with gratitude. She thought, "Thanks to Xiangjun's quick thinking, we were able to bring Miss Hua back this time. She played a significant role. If it weren't for her magnanimity and kindness, I don't know how many conflicts I would have faced! No matter how nice the new name sounds, it doesn't feel as good as the original one because I'm not used to it. Fortunately, she was quick to defuse the situation."

Although Hua Ruxue felt the new name was a bit awkward, seeing everyone's praise and hearing it repeated a few times, she accepted it and felt happy.

As the group was discussing the name, they suddenly heard Chu Liuguang shout, "Brother Li, bring your sword and come with me! Uncle Jin and Uncle Yuan will protect me and help me with my cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Li Se hurried to Chu Liuguang's side and asked, "Where are we going?"

Yuan Gong handed the precious sword to Li Se and said, "Please sit down and concentrate on your cultivation."

As soon as Li Se sat down and closed his eyes, he felt someone gently touch his brow. Then he heard Yuan Gong say, "Go!" Li

Se felt as if he were floating on clouds, not knowing where he was going. After a while, he opened his eyes and saw that he was surrounded by clouds and mist, vast and boundless. Just as he was feeling lost, he suddenly heard someone call out in the distance, "Brother Li."

Upon hearing this, Li Se saw Chu Liuguang waving at him from dozens of feet away. He hurried over. He felt light as a feather, as if he could fly in the clouds and mist.

Chu Liuguang gently took Li Se's hand. Li Se was initially very curious about this strange place, but as Chu Liuguang held him, he felt that her hand was exceptionally smooth. A fragrance wafted into his nose, and he was instantly intoxicated. Suddenly,

he heard someone shout loudly from high above, "Little girl, you've managed to hold on all by yourself until now, that's really impressive." "Now you've finally found some help, but I thought you'd bring in those two old guys, Jin Zhong and Yuan Gong. I didn't expect you to bring in a greenhorn. What's so special about this kid? Are you trying to kill yourself by dragging your lover down with you? Haha!"

Chu Liuguang remained calm, saying, "You'll see how powerful he is in a moment."

Li Se looked up and saw a red-robed Taoist priest in the air. He looked quite respectable and didn't seem like a bad person.

Chu Liuguang said softly, "His name is Zhang Maocheng, a Taoist priest from Longhu Mountain. Remember, never offend him."

Before Li Se could finish speaking, the Taoist priest Zhang Maocheng said, "Hmm! You say he's powerful, but I can't see it. Let me try." After saying that, he muttered some incantations, and then lightning flashed in the sky. A bolt of lightning, emitting a dazzling light, pierced through the air and struck towards Li Se.

Li Se was at a loss for what to do when Chu Liuguang raised her jade hand, recited a divine wood incantation, and a small wooden stick flew out, knocking the lightning halberd away.

Zhang Maocheng laughed loudly, "What a strange little girl! What's the point of bringing along someone who can't use magic? I don't care what kind of mystical formation you use. Watch my Yin-Yang Grand Array trap you!" He then threw the Yin-Yang Mirror Pillar in his arms towards the sky, shouting, "Heavenly thunder roars, the sun and moon revolve, Yin and Yang reverse, heaven and earth turn upside down..."

As soon as the roar began, a deafening roar echoed in the sky, and the clouds turned black, like dark clouds pouring down like a flood, faster and faster. The black mist was bizarre and unpredictable, transforming into all sorts of strange shadows—sometimes like roaring skulls, sometimes like the fangs of demons, sometimes like the tongues of vengeful ghosts, utterly terrifying. Just as

the black clouds were about to engulf the two of them, they suddenly burst open with a series of vengeful phantoms, each with a hideous face, pressing towards them. Li Se, having witnessed Chu Liuguang's battle with the Taoist Wuyong, assumed these were just phantoms and was not afraid.

Chu Liuguang's face was solemn as she chanted an incantation, summoning her treasure, the Qiankun Umbrella. The umbrella emitted a golden light in the air, bathing the two in its warmth, keeping them safe.

However, the surroundings were utterly dark, boundless and endless. It was as if they had entered hell, shrouded in darkness. Countless demons constantly approached, though they couldn't get close, but the two felt a chill run through their bodies, as if they had been drenched in ice water.

Seeing Chu Liuguang trembling, Li Se reached out and hugged her, asking, "What's wrong? Is the enemy very powerful?"

Chu Liuguang smiled, a smile as beautiful as a blooming flower, thinking, "With your pity, even death would be worthwhile." She said, "Brother, don't worry."

After speaking, Chu Liuguang pulled out some treasures from her bosom—cinnabar, talismans, chicken blood, red glutinous rice, and so on—and unleashed them at the black mist, but it seemed to have little effect. The black mist continued to roll in, mixed with the wailing laughter of ghosts and wolves, and the surroundings remained shrouded in darkness.

Seeing that she couldn't hold them off any longer, Chu Liuguang let out a sharp cry, then chanted incessantly, throwing out countless talismans that transformed into thousands of swords, flying towards the demons and monsters. Those pierced roared incessantly, turning into droplets of water that flowed down.

However, despite Chu Liuguang's magic's effectiveness, there were simply too many monsters; one wave was killed, only to be followed by another, seemingly without end. At this moment, Zhang Maocheng's mocking voice came from the sky: "These monsters of mine are all water-based, imbued with the spirits of those who died with resentment. You can only break my water droplets, but my water droplets are countless. Let's see how many talismans you have left to use?"

Chu Liuguang didn't reply, but said to Li Se, "Brother Li, I need your help."

Li Se readily agreed, "Sister, please give your orders, and I will certainly not fail you."

Chu Liuguang said, "Alright." She immediately bit her tongue, spitting blood onto the talisman paper, and with a series of violent waving and shaking motions, transformed her palms into flames, rapidly striking towards the dark clouds. Suddenly, a beam of light shot out, like a window of light just opened in the darkness. The fiery beam shone directly through, the light visible everywhere, forming a tunnel of light.

Chu Liuguang lifted Li Se up with one hand and shouted, "Brother, you must deliver the treasured sword to the exit, and then reveal it!"

Before Li Se could even reply, he felt his body shoot out like an arrow, flying up along with the light.

Li Se flew faster and faster, thinking that this wasn't difficult at all! Suddenly, he felt his whole body begin to feel cold again. Then he saw countless ghosts flying towards him. Although some of them howled once in the light and then stopped, some were still not afraid of the light. Seeing that they were about to pounce on him, Li Se hurriedly gripped his sword to prepare for battle. Suddenly, countless flying knives came flying, killing the ghosts.

Before Li Se could even rejoice, a strong wind rose up, blowing in his face. Li Se immediately could no longer move forward, his face cracking from the wind.

Li Se was startled, but suddenly heard Chu Liuguang say, "Brother, don't be afraid. Here's a wind-stopping pearl for you."

A moment later, a pearl flew over and landed beside Li Se. Li Se quickly picked it up and put it in his mouth, and the wind could no longer reach him.

The wind stopped, but then a huge flame rushed towards Li Se. Li Se heard Chu Liuguang say again, "Fire-avoiding bag."

A large bag flew from behind, and Li Se quickly crawled inside. After a while, he felt extremely hot outside, but just bearable. Gradually, he felt the heat subside and crawled out. Sure enough, the flames had passed.

He then heard someone shout in the air, "I'm so angry! I'm so angry!"

Li Se saw that the exit was not far away; he had probably flown more than halfway. It seemed Chu Liuguang had gained the upper hand.

Li Se was overjoyed when he suddenly heard a muffled groan, followed by a deep voice saying, "You're celebrating too soon."

Then Li Se sensed a sudden change. Looking down, he saw a large horde of zombies surrounding Chu Liuguang. Chu Liuguang conjured countless swords and blades to slash at them, but they were relentless. She was forced to use her palms to hack and slash like felling trees, the situation appearing extremely critical.

Li Se's heart tightened; he knew time was of the essence. Only by breaking out of this underworld and reaching the mortal realm, unleashing the power of his treasured sword, could he rescue Chu Liuguang. He hurriedly flew towards the exit, and just as he was about to reach it, the dark clouds beside him suddenly churned and surged like wounded beasts. The illusory image of a demon, like a drizzling rain, suddenly erupted in fury, transforming into a thousand-horned monster and a gigantic dragon. Roaring and howling, they raged and surged wildly, their gaping maws seemingly ready to devour everything. Where the maws plunged, black clouds surged forth, as if cursed by demonic spirits, their darkness a chilling, icy, and utterly black. Instantly, Li Se was enveloped in a bone-chilling cold, as if plunged into an icy abyss.

Although Chu Liuguang fought valiantly, she suddenly saw the black mist engulf Li Se. Unable to dodge, Li Se was suddenly submerged from the waist down. The black mist seemed to possess a demonic hand, dragging Li Se deeper and deeper. Li Se desperately grabbed her precious sword and struggled, but it was futile; in the blink of an eye, she was swallowed by the black cloud. Chu Liuguang was shocked, realizing that the enemy had powerful allies. Although all of this was within her expectations, the enemy's strength far exceeded her expectations. What was even more devastating was that she herself was currently weak and frail, which was beyond her expectations. She couldn't help but secretly hate herself for being too arrogant. Now, she was willing but powerless, and the situation was no longer entirely in her control.

Chu Liuguang's mind raced, and she immediately took action. She chanted an incantation, and as soon as she finished, she released two spirit talismans that shot straight into the sky like arrows, igniting them in the black mist. Then, she took out a small dressing mirror—a Bagua mirror—from her bosom and shone it on the spirit talismans. The talismans shattered, and sparks burst forth like fireworks, flying towards the bright blue sky outside. Their brilliance was dazzling, shimmering silver-red in the darkness. Each silver-red light was like a sharp knife, angrily trying to slash through the ugly, dark void, like a guiding light in the darkness, or like the sun shining on the world.

Li Se felt as if he had rolled into the belly of a giant dragon. Inside, he was being tortured by the cold, sticky stomach walls, and countless hungry and frenzied venomous snakes and beasts were tearing and biting at him, causing him both physical and mental pain and suffering. The surrounding darkness was a gruesome scene of blood and gore, with rotting flesh and mangled limbs strewn across the ground—a truly terrifying sight.

Li Se felt as if he had fallen into a hellish city of the dead, with blue-faced, fanged creatures swarming around him, some baring their teeth, some roaring, and some tearing off their own faces and throwing them at him. The skinned, bloodied skeletons darted about, their veins throbbing like maggots, crawling and twisting as if trying to break something. Some of the bloodied skeletons laughed maniacally in front of him, their mouths spewing out centipedes and venomous snakes. In the darkness, besides seeing ghosts and monsters, Li Se was surrounded by a cold, deathly void. He felt nauseous and in pain, his body growing heavier and heavier, as if slowly sinking. He just wanted to sleep, to die like this, to escape this inhuman torture.

At the most dangerous moment, Li Se suddenly saw a bright light appear in the void, seemingly guiding him like a beacon. At the end of the light, Li Se saw the exit of light. Li Se felt a surge of power, and hurriedly flew towards the exit with all his might.

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