[Like a Shadow] Chapter Sixty-Three: Stealing Fragrance and Jade

"I've done my best, Brother Nie, are you still worried?" Yun Panqing sheathed her sword and saw
Nie Yang slowly walk to Wu Yan's side, plunging his sword into the back of the neck of the fallen corpse. Her heart skipped a beat.
Nie Yang shook his head and said, "Death is never something believable."
Yun Panqing smiled helplessly and said, "I never imagined that a dead person could be faked." She
looked at the girl's corpse lying on the ground, used as a cover, and thought, if Sister Qianqian hadn't made such a realistic fake
, that girl probably would have lost her life for a few dozen taels of silver.
Ruyi Tower wouldn't act out of politeness, but Nie Yang might not show mercy now.
"Let's go back," Yun Panqing tugged at his sleeve and whispered, "You haven't slept for two or three days.
I was really worried about what would happen if Wu Yan really attacked you."
Nie Yang sighed and nodded. His face, still throbbing slightly from removing his disguise, throbbed slightly. He touched his
cheek and said, "I know he won't attack me." A person who has been hiding for so long
wouldn't risk their life if they were confident of escape.
Ironically, it's often these same people who die even faster.
It wasn't until this morning that Yun Panqing learned that Nie Yang hadn't gone south, but had instead disguised himself and tirelessly
searched for Liu Ting's whereabouts in Peacock County. That night, when he left Tian Qianqian's room, he had already
switched identities with Xiao Zhao, who was of similar build. Afterwards, he secretly changed into ordinary clothes in Tian Qianqian's room and silently
infiltrated Peacock County alone.
Thanks to the undiscovered commoners at Ruyi Tower, Nie Yang finally found their
hiding place this morning. However, Wu Yan was inside, making it inconvenient to act. He could only leave spies to monitor the situation
before rushing back.
Over the past few days, with the help of Murong Ji, Tian Qianqian meticulously examined everyone who came and went in the courtyard
. She even used the Five Luo Charming Heart Sutra, expending considerable effort, but finally managed to find
the clumsy girl who had betrayed them for a few dozen taels of silver. Murong Ji and Yun Panqing pleaded for her
life, and the girl was spared. As for creating a fake corpse to play the ghost, that was entirely Tian Qianqian's spur-of-the-moment idea.
Unexpectedly, it worked remarkably well.
At this moment, Liu Ting was lying safely in Hua Muzhen's room, carefully cared for by the Soul-Redeeming Jade Hand, and was certainly unharmed.
"That day, Murong spoke with such conviction; I thought you were really determined to go south," Yun Panqing said
, her soft voice still light and relaxed, though tinged with lingering fear, despite Nie Yang's concealment of her secret.
They hadn't gone far from the city gate when Nie Yang's voice remained low and somber. "I was originally going to
find Yue'er. Ting'er has been in their hands for a long time; asking Brother Murong to rescue her would be the same."
"So you still can't let go of Sister Liu?" Yun Panqing asked, glancing at his reaction.
Nie Yang's eyes flickered. "I just suddenly understood something."
"Oh? What is it?"
"I shouldn't have kept doing what Xing Suiying wanted me to do. All his trouble and effort was just to get me to rush
to Qingfeng Yanyu Tower. Once Yue'er sees me, she naturally won't want to stay by Xie Zhimiao's side anymore, and I can't
stay at Qingfeng Yanyu Tower forever. So, when I leave with Yue'er, that will be Xing Suiying's best opportunity."
"Then... you really won't go to our side?" Yun Panqing was worried, afraid he would even
disregard their promise.
Nie Yang smiled slightly, took off his outer robe, and draped it over Yun Panqing's shoulders to shield her from the cool night breeze. He then
said, "Of course I will go, but not now, when he wants me to go." Looking at the hazy crescent moon, he
said in a deep voice, "While he's away, I must eliminate his trusted followers one by one. He's just a mortal; he
can't expect to succeed alone. I've always been the one looking for him; perhaps it's
time for him to turn back to me."
Yun Panqing blinked, somewhat puzzled. After Nie Qingyi's death, her worry was that Nie Yang's
pent-up hatred, which he had barely suppressed, would erupt uncontrollably. But she hadn't expected him to become
like this. Although it was better than the rage she feared, it still left her feeling uneasy.
Like the outer robe she was wearing, it should have brought warmth, but why did something feel so wrong
? Yun Panqing thought for a moment, then joked, "Brother Nie, if people see me wearing your robe when we get back,
some will be unhappy."
She was about to return the robe to him when he said, "It's chilly tonight, and your internal injuries haven't fully healed, so just wear
it. None of us will be angry with you."
Yun Panqing's eyes darted around, and she smiled, "That's not necessarily true. Miss Zhao seems to want to bite me
."
Nie Yang said calmly, "When did Zhao Yujing become part of 'us'?"
Since most of the pursuers had followed Xiao Zhao south, the traps and ambushes they had been worried about were gone on the way back.
Having returned safely, Nie Yang hurried to Hua Muzhen's place.
Liu Ting was already asleep, her brow slightly furrowed, occasionally letting out a soft groan, probably having some nightmare.
Nie Yang wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, sighed softly, turned and walked to Hua Muzhen's side, whispering,
"Senior Hua, is Ting'er alright?"
Hua Muzhen, also somewhat weary from Nie Qingyi's situation, forced herself to speak, "Miss Liu is mostly well,
but she's been frightened these past few days, and her body is at its weakest point for a woman, so her diet hasn't been nourishing enough,
causing her considerable health problems. Fortunately, she has a foundation in martial arts, and someone is protecting her with their inner energy; otherwise, the child would most likely
have died in the womb."
"Thank you for your concern, Senior Hua," Nie Yang said respectfully in a low voice. "I'll go and rest now. I'll come to see her again tomorrow."
Hua Muzhen nodded and said softly, "You don't look too well either. You've been practicing the unorthodox Nine Revolutions Technique,
and you're carrying a deep-seated hatred in your heart. You must be extremely careful. Physical ailments may heal, but if your heart is possessed by
demons, it will be difficult to escape."
Nie Yang smiled slightly and said respectfully, "I will be careful."
Hua Muzhen watched him leave, and couldn't help but sigh softly, muttering to herself, "Could it be... too late
...?"
In these past few days, the most heartbroken person wasn't the maid who had been exposed and tied up in the woodshed,
but rather the restless and bewildered Dong Shishi.
She had witnessed Tian Qianqian and Nie Yang becoming increasingly intimate, and then, without even a goodbye, heading south.
In the end, she discovered that Nie Yang had never left, and she, his wife, had been completely kept in the dark
.
Although she kept telling herself that Nie Yang was only trying to save Liu Ting, this thought only made her more bitter and
resentful. After sending Lü'er back to her room, she was alone with nothing to do. She leaned against the bed, practiced her
embroidery with Nie Yang's old clothes, and then drifted off to sleep against the bedpost.
When she was gently stroked on the cheek and woke up, she thought a lecher had entered the room. She immediately shuddered
and stabbed him with the needle in her hand. Her wrist was firmly grasped, and only then did she realize that the person in front of her was her husband
. She breathed a sigh of relief, quickly tossed the needle aside, and patted her chest, saying, "Little Yang, you almost
scared me to death..."
Nie Yang smiled at her, then nimbly rolled into the bed, lazily supporting her waist, and said, "At this hour,
who do you think it is?"
Dong Shishi rubbed her eyes, leaned against him, and pouted, "I was half asleep, how could I possibly know
who it was? It's all your fault, walking like a cat, without making a sound."
Nie Yang half-closed his eyes, playing with her hair, and said softly, "You've suffered these past few days. Do
n't blame me."
Hearing this, Dong Shishi immediately forgot the grievances she had been holding in for days, happily leaning against Nie Yang's chest
, and said, "What suffering could I have endured? I was just worried sick, afraid something might happen to you. Now that you're safe and
sound here, I'm overjoyed."
“I’m here.” He turned his head and gazed at her, slowly burying his face in her soft chest, and said in a muffled voice, “
Where else can I go…”
“Xiao Yangzi, your tone is strange. Is something wrong?” Dong Shishi’s chest felt
hot from his breath, and her face flushed. Then, thinking of her previous failed attempt, she immediately regretted her
talkativeness.
Nie Yang only said, “Nothing, just tired.”
Dong Shishi was greatly disappointed, but she didn’t want to show it too obviously. After all, she had heard that Nie Yang
hadn’t rested properly for several days, and that he had only taken a nap in the afternoon and left in a hurry without saying a word. So she awkwardly
said, “Then you should rest early, don’t overwork yourself.” As she spoke, she got up and helped him take off his soft boots and
loosen his clothes.
He was left with only his undergarments. Dong Shishi pulled back the thin blanket and covered him with it, whispering, "Sleep,
I'm going to rest too."
Nie Yang shook his head, hooked his arm around her, and pulled her into the blanket. His large, warm hands
pressed lightly against her plump buttocks, without moving, just warming her until her waist and hips felt hot in waves.
"You...you weren't tired?" Dong Shishi thought to herself, blurting it out. As
soon as the words left her mouth, she immediately regretted it, wishing she could slap herself. She quickly added, "I...I thought you needed to rest, it's not
...that...it's not that I don't like you touching me." Unable to explain her true feelings, her pretty face
flushed crimson with embarrassment and anxiety. Finally, she buried her face in Nie Yang's chest, pressing her hands behind her back against his arms, saying,
"It doesn't matter, whether you rest or not tonight, you're not allowed to sneak away again."
"When did I mean to sneak away?" Nie Yang chuckled softly, his hands clenching
her buttocks through the layers of fabric, his palms spreading, a warmth penetrating Dong Shishi's skin, a tingling, numbing sensation spreading through her.
Even though she was already overjoyed, she couldn't help but worry, "Xiao Yangzi, do you... do you still have the strength
?"
Nie Yang's hand slid and squeezed into the tight crevice between her buttocks, pressing the layers of silk fabric against the woman's
most delicate area. He rubbed back and forth, whispering, "I'm just tired, that's why I need you to help me catch my breath.
If you don't like it, then forget it."
"No, I don't dislike it!" Dong Shishi said hurriedly, "I... I mean, if you don't have
the strength, then let me do it."
As she spoke, she straightened her back and unconsciously clenched her buttock muscles. Just then, Nie Yang's hand
rubbed hard between them, and she felt the fabric tug at her crotch, unexpectedly rubbing against her nipple. The rubbing made her abdomen twitch, and
she couldn't help but groan.
"Alright, then I'll wait for you." Nie Yang's eyes were half-closed, and he continued to caress her buttocks.
This time, Dong Shishi remembered her lesson from last time and refused to discuss anything unrelated to marital intimacy. She lowered her head and
pressed her cherry lips to Nie Yang's. Her tongue had barely traced halfway along his lips when he took it into his mouth,
their saliva mingling and lingering.
Nie Yang released her buttocks and instead slipped his hands inside her bodice, tracing the edge of her bodice up her firm, slender
waist. She moaned softly as she unbuttoned her bodice, pulled back the drawstring, and tossed the pink silk garment
aside, offering her full, bare breasts to Nie Yang's hands. He pinched her nipples with two fingers, his palm caressing
her smooth, firm, rounded peaks.
His slightly rough fingertips pinched and rubbed Dong Shishi's tender tips a few times, and her rosy buds shyly
swelled.
"Mmm..." Dong Shishi let out a soft moan, a surge of ache shooting through her chest to her heart. Her legs involuntarily
tightened, and she instantly felt a sticky, honey-like moisture welling up in her most private and shameful area.
Not wanting her underpants to get stained, she had to raise herself and pull her lower garment down a bit, revealing a patch of smooth, honey-smooth
skin. Even after pulling it down a little and loosening the skirt's sash, the waistline still felt tight around her slightly parted legs,
causing her considerable discomfort. She simply propped herself up on the sheets and pulled the layers of silk down to her knees in one go,
revealing
her round, slightly upturned buttocks. Sitting half-kneeling, half-squatting on Nie Yang, her pink petals barely touched the high, erect nipples below.
With a slight exertion, his erection pressed against her delicate entrance through the fabric of his trousers, sending
a tingling sensation through her heart.
"Ugh... Little Yangzi, how... how come your hands are like they're under a spell, making me... my
body feel so numb. Mmm..." This was the first time she had experienced the arousal of his yin energy, and coupled with her own inner
desire, the mere caress of his breasts made her blush and her eyes wet, uncontrollable
moans escaping from the back of her tongue.
"What? Don't you like it?" Nie Yang asked softly, grasping her breasts with both hands, lifting and
playing with her rounded nipples, his inner energy spreading along them.
"It's not that..." A lump seemed to be pressing against her chest, but it wasn't painful;
it felt heavy, sinking towards her lower abdomen, sending a tingling sensation down her spine. She frowned, pressing her hands against Nie Yang's chest, and couldn't help but say,
"But...but with all this pleasure, I...I'm exhausted."
"Exhausted already?" Nie Yang chuckled teasingly, reaching out to pull her to his side, rolling over
and pinning her down. He kissed her lips, saying, "It's alright, I'll take care of it."
Dong Shishi could only nod, her face flushed. It wasn't the embarrassment of her half-undressed body, but
rather annoyance at her own weakness. She had said she would save her husband's energy, yet she had ended up lying on the bed, limp
and helpless, completely at his mercy.
He parted her clothes, finding her slightly trembling nipple and taking it into his mouth. Using both hands, he began
to roam over the curves of her half-naked body. She felt the nipple being sucked in her mouth swell and throb
, the licking of her tongue a pleasure that was almost painful, while her body, gently caressed by her hands, grew weaker and weaker with each passing moment. In the short time it took to cool
half a cup of hot tea, it felt like an eternity. Her legs were dripping with fluid, soaking the sheets beneath her, and
her sweaty body was so soft it felt boneless, as if she were melting into that spring water.
The pleasure, however, remained trapped within her chest and abdomen, just a tiny bit short of reaching its peak, impossible to fully experience.
Her heart pounded in the air, desperately hoping the trickle would quickly transform into a raging torrent. She bent her knees and kicked
, rubbing her thighs together, but nothing could alleviate the stifling, itchy sensation deep within her wet core. Finally, she could n't help
but moan softly, "Little Yangzi, don't... don't tease me anymore, I can't... um... I can't take it anymore."
Nie Yang slowly probed between her thighs with his finger, finding it already slippery and wet. His fingertip effortlessly
parted her soft, honey-coated labia and gently probed towards her vaginal opening. His fingertip had barely penetrated halfway when
Dong Shishi couldn't help but let out a soft moan, covering her mouth and arching her slender waist. Her incredibly soft
muscles suddenly contracted, and she kissed his fingertip with a soft kiss.
Confused as to why she was so easily aroused today, Dong Shishi lowered her head, her
mind hazy, watching Nie Yang pull down his pants and insert his erect penis. A strange fear gripped her.
Was it because it looked even bigger? Her wild thoughts were quickly
interrupted by a surge of fullness. Nie Yang's penis easily squeezed into its thickest part. She couldn't help herself; gripping
his arms, she cried out, a mixture of pleasure and pain.
She hadn't had intercourse for some time, and her already narrow passage was suddenly stretched, causing a tingling,
aching, and swollen sensation within her vagina. Before she could catch her breath, Nie Yang swiftly pulled her out, the large
glans scraping against her skin, making her tremble. She finally managed to exhale, only to be met with another full, heavy
thrust.
"Ouch...ouch...Little Yangzi, you...you be gentle, my stomach, my stomach is going to be pierced
!" She wrapped her legs around Nie Yang's waist, struggling to raise her slender waist and pressing her buttocks against him, thinking that being
closer would reduce the force.
Little did she know that this advance was tantamount to directly offering her delicate and tender core to the mouth of that angry dragon.
Nie Yang arched his body, and his hot head pressed firmly against her slightly open and dewy bud.
This grinding against her sensitive spot made Dong Shishi even more unbearable. She was already a
body that craved pleasure but had no limits. Even without the Netherworld Nine Revolutions Technique, Nie Yang could bring her to multiple orgasms with just one dose of his yang essence. Moreover, with
his internal energy circulating at full power, her unsuspecting tender flesh was instantly defeated, trembling as she exhaled her
first mouthful of cool yin essence.
This situation was somewhat similar to when Nie Yang went mad. Dong Shishi was moaning and enjoying the exquisite pleasure, but she
couldn't help worrying that if this pleasure continued, she might die. After all, there was no Tian Qianqian
to save the day, and no Widow Hua to take over.
However, this worry vanished in an instant. Nie Yang bent down and nibbled at her rosy, erect nipples,
his back arching and his waist thrusting in and out, like a jade pestle pounding milk, making a continuous, wet sound. Dong Shishi had no time to think;
a surge of heat within her lifted her high into a world of bliss.
"Mmm... Ahhh—!" She gripped her loosened clothes and pressed them hard against the bed, oblivious to
the eavesdroppers. She knew that if she didn't scream, the overwhelming pleasure coursing through her body would burst her apart.
With a long moan, her soft, naked body convulsed, her tender vulva clenching tightly,
completely emptying her clitoris.
"Haa... Haa... Haa... Xiao Yangzi, I... I felt... I felt like I was dying from
pleasure just now..." Dong Shishi stared dazedly at Nie Yang's chest, tears welling in her eyes. If she were
n't so utterly exhausted, she would have clung to him tightly, as if only in this way could this pleasure
continue indefinitely.
Nie Yang smiled at her, but didn't speak. His breathing was long and strong, unlike
the heavy panting he used when aroused. Seeing that he was clear-headed, she was no longer worried. She lay softly beneath him, quietly enjoying
the sweet afterglow.
His member was still vigorous, sucking up every last drop of her vaginal fluid before reluctantly
withdrawing. Her still-tightening vagina groaned softly from the withdrawal.
"You're still so hard down there?" Dong Shishi looked at Nie Yang's still erect penis and felt a pang of guilt.
When she was no longer useful, she could always have Greenie take over. But now that there was no backup, she couldn't very well force him to go find Tian Qianqian, could she?
She didn't know that the four or five moments of ecstasy she'd just experienced had almost completely depleted her yin essence. At this point, let
alone Nie Yang inserting his penis again, even just a finger poking her clitoris a few times would make her gush with
honeyed fluids, an unbearable surge of pleasure. The fact that she hadn't fainted was entirely due to Nie Yang's increasingly proficient Yin-Yang Mantra, which had kept
her mind clear.
"Or...or you could try again...this time, this time don't hold back. Okay?" Even though her inner thighs were already
trembling slightly at the touch of a hand, she gritted her teeth, reached out and touched Nie Yang's penis,
and whispered.
Nie Yang smiled, got out of bed, grabbed a towel, and carefully washed her in the basin. He gently dried her body
before turning over and lying down beside her, pulling her into his arms. He said softly, "Rest now. Thanks to your help, I
feel much better."
Compared to his exhaustion before their lovemaking, Nie Yang looked much more energetic. Although Dong Shishi wasn't entirely clear on the details,
she had experienced Liu Ting's detoxification and Nie Yang's outburst, so she roughly knew about his strangeness. However, she didn't find
anything wrong with it. Instead, she pursed her lips and nestled against his chest, saying in a muffled voice, "You're my husband, why are you being so polite
? I didn't know this could help you before, so I always had Lü'er take my place. You explained it to me long ago.
" " Wouldn't it be good if I helped you every time?"
Nie Yang half-closed his eyes, his newly transformed inner energy slowly spreading, bringing a sense of lightness and well-being. He stroked
Dong Shishi's sweat-dampened black hair and said, "No, you need to rest for at least three or four days."
Dong Shishi glared at him, unwilling to give up, and said, "I... I'm much stronger than Lü'er, and... and
..." She repeated "and" twice, then her voice lowered, and she lowered her head sadly, "And I don't
know anything. I don't know martial arts, I don't know needlework, I can't do housework, and my personality... my personality isn't likable either. If I...
if I can help you like this, I... I'll be very happy. At least... at least I'm not so useless,
right..."
"Silly girl," Nie Yang smiled slightly, lowered his head and kissed her lips, "If you lose your health,
how will you help the Nie family continue its lineage?"
Dong Shishi was taken aback, a surge of joy welling up inside her. She laughed, "I
grew up running around in the fields with my uncles and aunts since I was little. Mother always says I'm as strong as a colt, so you don't need to worry about me."
"Alright, alright, you must be tired now and need to rest, right?" Nie Yang coaxed her gently, his smile seeming
much more genuine.
Dong Shishi shifted her position, snuggling closer to him and rolling up in the blanket, muttering, "You talk about continuing the lineage, but
... you didn't produce anything this time. If it's like this every time, I'll be worried. I'll be
stuck with nothing for the rest of my life."
Nie Yang couldn't help but chuckle. Dong Shishi's thoughts contrasted with Tian Qianqian's words from a few days ago,
making it quite amusing. Although their appearances, personalities, speech, and actions were very different, on this matter, they were
more like sisters than anything else, sharing a deep understanding. This was probably one of the reasons why the two of them could never meet each other's approval
.
Unfortunately, even with her Peach Blossom Skill as a backup, Tian Qianqian was still weak and listless for three days after that incident. Nie Yang naturally
wouldn't let Dong Shishi cross that line again. He patted Dong Shishi's shoulder and said, "There's plenty of time
. There's no need to rush."
Dong Shishi was already exhausted, and seeing that she wouldn't get what she wanted tonight, her spirits relaxed, and she went
limp. She mumbled a few words in a daze before falling into a sweet sleep.
Nie Yang, however, simply closed his eyes and repeatedly circulated his Netherworld Nine Revolutions Skill, endlessly,
until the rooster crowed to light the sky. Only then did he quietly get up and leave the room.
Compared to the panic caused by the chaotic battles of the previous days, Wu Yan's death caused almost no
ripples.
In fact, very few people knew about it.
His body was discovered by patrolling constables and, mistaken for an unknown member of the recent martial arts feud,
was carelessly tossed into the morgue awaiting identification.
No one could claim his corpse, for no one had seen the disguised face he wore at the moment of his death.
This lecherous thief, who had changed countless faces, rotted quietly in an unnoticed corner.
However, an ordinary passerby lingered outside the now-empty, dilapidated courtyard, silently
watching for a long time.
He knew no martial arts, clearly an honest, simple commoner; even if the people from Ruyi Tower discovered him, they
couldn't do anything to him.
He watched leisurely for a moment, then picked up his peddler's drum and slowly walked into the bustling market
.
In the afternoon, the six men who remained in Peacock County to meet Wu Yan all received a note.
Liu Ting had been rescued; Wu Yan's chances of survival were slim. Report immediately.
The one who was supposed to be the seventh would never be able to read the words on the note. As he cautiously
climbed over the courtyard wall, fumbling for the daily message from the earthenware jar under the tree, a chilling,
bone-deep palm strike silently landed on his back.
Pure and orthodox Netherworld Palm, Sun Juefan's expressionless face.
She clenched her fingers, drawing the mud ball into her palm. Several secret characters were engraved on the mud ball, stealing the Heavenly Dao
's communication code.
Unfortunately, while this was good news, it wasn't what she wanted. She had painstakingly identified Xing Suiying's
two subordinates and had been waiting for crucial news. Finally, a major event occurred, and she risked her life to act,
only to receive news of Liu Ting's rescue.
Somewhat disappointed, she clenched her fist, shattering the note into hundreds of fragments, scattered them with her hand, and turned to leave.
The city was currently a chaotic place, unsuitable for lingering. Furthermore, given the news from Dongfang Mo the day before, Ling Jueshi naturally set off
to pursue him. Sun Juefan, being aloof, was unwilling to rely on the weakened and virtually defunct remnants of the Shadow Chaser Clan for help.
Hua Keyi, imprisoned in their hiding place, was unguarded and could not remain unattended for long.
She always tried every means to obtain information related to Xing Suiying, but she hadn't anticipated that Nie Qingyi...
She had inexplicably lost her life.
It wasn't that she couldn't understand why Xing Suiying would kill Nie Qingyi, but rather that she couldn't comprehend
why Nie Qingyi would abandon the heavy protection of Ruyi Tower and, as if driven mad, choose to die alone.
She had spent several days in the Nie family when she was young and had developed a rather favorable impression of Nie Qingyi. After the deaths of Nie Qingyi's brother and sister-in-law, she
felt an even stronger sense of shared hatred, and upon hearing the news of her death, she couldn't help but feel saddened.
Knowing that the Qiu and Nie families had been old friends, Hua Keyi should know Nie Qingyi somewhat, so she asked her a few
questions.
However, Hua Keyi had no particular impression of Nie Qingyi, only remembering her as a lively and somewhat temperamental
younger sister. When asked about her connection with Xing Suiying, Hua Keyi insisted she knew nothing.
Sun Juefan vaguely felt there must be more to the story, so he patiently inquired from various sources, using his spare
time over the next few days to review Nie Qingyi's life in the martial arts world.
At thirteen, she first ventured into the martial world, her skills mediocre, and she made no significant name for herself. At fifteen, she met Du Yuanran,
and afterwards abandoned her brother to travel with Yinglang, experiencing several ups and downs, even risking offending the Nangong family
to marry. During this time, she became close friends with Liu Yueru, and on several occasions, facilitated a marriage between the Nie and Liu families.
After the Tianlang Mountain pact, she retired from the martial world with Yinglang.
In any sense, Nie Qingyi was merely a fleeting figure in the martial world, her career unremarkable
, with hardly any noteworthy martial arts duels.
Her connection to Xing Suiying was, at most, her role in pushing Liu Yueru into the Nie family.
She pondered deeply, but still couldn't find a reason for Nie Qingyi to actively seek out Xing Suiying. She felt that once
the reasons were understood, Xing Suiying's past thoughts would become much clearer.
When everything became clear, everything would be resolved.
Back in the dilapidated house, Hua Keyi remained in the same position, sitting upright on the edge of the bed, her whole body numb. Sun
Juefan finally breathed a sigh of relief and went over to release several of Hua Keyi's major acupoints.
She wasn't sure how long she would be gone before returning, so she used heavy force to seal all seventy
-two vital acupoints on Hua Keyi's body. Even with immense skill, it would take seven or eight hours for her to break free.
This feeling of blocked blood vessels and constant numbness and tingling was unbearable. As soon as the acupoints
were released, Hua Keyi immediately shouted, "Sun! If you're worried I'll escape, why don't you tie me up with a rope? Every time you press these points,
I feel like a dead person, my skin itches like it's being pricked with needles. You might as well just kill me with one blow!"
It seemed Sun Juefan hadn't had the time to care for Hua Keyi's appearance these past few days; this once charming and alluring
woman was now in a truly pathetic state. Her clothes were all coarse cloth stolen from some unknown village
, men's clothing, and reeked of a pungent, sweaty odor. She hadn't washed or groomed herself for four or five days; her once lustrous black
hair was a mess, and her makeup was completely gone, indicating poor rest, with
dark circles under her eyes. If Hua Keyi were to appear like this in front of her former lover, countless people would likely stare in disbelief
.
For Hua Keyi, such a wretched appearance was probably more unbearable than imprisonment.
Seeing that Sun Juefan ignored her, she pleaded softly, "Good sister, I've told you everything I know.
I accept that you're keeping me alive to summon my shadow form, but at least give me a bucket of hot water so I can wash myself
! If this continues, I'll suffocate myself from the stench!"
Sun Juefan ignored her, continuing to sit cross-legged and silently cultivate his internal energy.
Smelling the sour stench emanating from her, Hua Keyi felt irritated and couldn't help but yell again. Only
a few vital points had been released, allowing her to barely move her mouth.
"I...I need to go to the outhouse!" After yelling for a while, seeing that Sun Juefan still didn't react, Hua Keyi said helplessly,
"Just let me go this once. I can't exactly crawl into the latrine and run away, can I?" Previously, when she needed to relieve herself, Sun Juefan
had always used a chamber pot or toilet, simply untying her arms and helping her sit down.
While Hua Keyi wasn't particularly fastidious about cleanliness, she couldn't stand this treatment.
Sun Juefan slowly finished his work, stood up, walked to Hua Keyi's side, released her arm pressure points, helped her
to the toilet, and sat back down without a word.
Hua Keyi was so angry she almost cursed aloud. She had previously thought she could handle anyone, but this time, after running into
Sun Juefan, she finally understood what it meant to have someone who could subdue her.
No matter what, she couldn't argue with her own excrement, so she blushed and pulled down her pants, sitting
on the stinking toilet, cursing inwardly while plotting how to escape.
She had been eating terribly these past few days, and her constant anger made even using the toilet extremely painful. The toilet paper Sun Juefan had given
her was so rough it could be used to sharpen a knife; after cleaning herself up, her hatred
only intensified.
Sun Juefan waited until Hua Keyi was hoarse from muttering curses and had no strength left before slowly saying, "
News came from the city today; Wu Yan seems to be in grave danger."
Hua Keyi glared at her and gritted her teeth, saying, "I don't even know that shameless lecher
. What's the use of telling me?"
"Isn't he also one of Qiu Sui's subordinates?"
"So what?" Hua Keyi sneered, "He's used countless people in his life.
If they're all his subordinates, where would I find the time to recognize them all? Besides, if helping him means
being his subordinate, then you, Sun Juefan, are practically his number one, aren't you?"
She deliberately provoked her, hoping to find an opportunity to break the deadlock, but Sun Juefan nodded and said calmly,
"You're right. Among these fools, I was the first."
"You..." Hua Keyi was speechless with anger. Her usually confident and eloquent tongue was utterly useless. "Are you
made of wood?"
This time, Sun Juefan didn't even bother to answer. He simply sat down to the side and continued practicing his cultivation.
Hua Keyi almost ground her teeth to powder. She glared at Sun Juefan hatefully, then closed her eyes angrily and simply
fell asleep.
She thus spent the most peaceful hour of the afternoon. Sun Juefan released the acupoints on Hua Keyi's arms, allowing her to nibble...
He gave her a hard flatbread, then used a heavy hand to seal all her meridians. Ignoring her eyes, which were practically spitting fire,
Sun Juefan casually ate half a dry flatbread and went out again.
For years, Sun Juefan had tirelessly repeated this monotonous
cycle of practicing internal energy, eating and drinking, investigating, and resting. If Wei Xi'an hadn't been tricked into teaching Xing Suiying her unique method of concealment and tracking, she would almost have
caught Xing Suiying by now.
Now, she had to start all over again. Fortunately, there was still Nie Yang.
Although she didn't know the inside story, she still vaguely guessed from past events that
there must be some secret hidden between Nie Yang and Xing Suiying. She didn't care about that secret; she only knew that the Destroying Flower Alliance had disbanded, and since she couldn't
track Xing Suiying herself, she could only keep a close eye on Nie Yang.
If it weren't for Hua Keyi being a burden that made it difficult for her to move, she should have already gone south with Nie Yang. The longer the delay
, the stronger her feeling that Nie Yang hadn't gone south became. After discovering today that Liu Ting had been rescued
, her belief that Nie Yang's southward journey was a deception grew stronger. However, the lack of any evidence to
confirm this made her somewhat uneasy.
The atmosphere in the county town grew increasingly tense; even she, who wasn't involved, felt surrounded by danger. She was somewhat
relieved that she had dismissed the remaining members of the Zhu Ying group early in the morning, preventing them from being drawn into the vortex of the three-way struggle.
Xing Suiying must have learned the methods of the Heavenly Dao; her subordinates all communicated through single-line communication, unaware of each other's identities. Sun Juefan
had already figured this out and wasn't worried about killing that person and alerting the enemy. Unfortunately, there were hidden dangers everywhere in the county town.
After Wu Yan's incident, the remaining six were probably like frightened birds, unlikely to easily show themselves to send messages again.
Two hours passed in a flash, and having gained nothing from the other person she was keeping an eye on, Sun Juefan had to return empty-handed.
Unexpectedly, upon returning to her hiding place, she found someone anxiously waiting at the door. Upon seeing her, the person rushed forward and
grabbed her, saying, "Junior Sister! You're finally back! Help me!"
Dressed in a light red dress, her face flushed with anxiety, yet her natural beauty was undeniable. It was
none other than her senior sister, Ling Jue Shi, whose lightness skill was exceptional. Senior Sister Ling's martial arts were naturally several levels above hers; in the martial world, she could be considered a first-rate
expert. However, at this moment, her dress and sleeves were torn in several places, and a fresh bloodstain clung to her cheek,
indicating she had suffered a serious injury at the hands of someone unknown.
"Senior Sister, don't panic. What happened? Tell me slowly." Ultimately, out of consideration for their shared sect, Sun Jue Fan's tone
softened unconsciously, unlike her usual flat and wooden demeanor.
"It's too late! Come with me, we'll talk as we go! If we're any slower, Dongfang will be dead!"
Rarely seeing Senior Sister Ling so anxious, Sun Juefan had no choice but to put down Hua Keyi, who was still in the room, and nodded,
following Ling Jueshi as she sped away.
Ling Jueshi possessed excellent lightness skills, and even while running and leaping, she still had the composure to recount the whole story.
It turned out that after hearing the news Sun Juefan had unintentionally brought, she had gone to great lengths to find Dongfang Mo's whereabouts. Finally,
at noon today, she discovered that a group from Ruyi Tower was acting strangely. She concealed her tracks and observed them for a long time before deducing from
their conversation that their mission was to pinpoint Dongfang Mo's approximate location and prepare to capture him.
Relying on her superior lightness skills, she flew there as soon as she heard the approximate location. However, when she arrived, the fierce battle
was already over, and Dongfang Mo had been defeated, slumped under a tree, his chest stained with blood. Seeing her husband in such a state
, Ling Jueshi disregarded all morality and sentiment, and without a word, rushed forward to snatch him away.
She had already lost her composure when she made her move, and her opponent was an unparalleled genius like Yan Zhuxue; the outcome was self-
evident.
"That little brat is going too far!" Ling Jueshi said indignantly. "She actually said she'd wait for me there for an hour, and that
she'd return Dongfang Mo to its rightful owner no matter who helped me, as long as I could defeat her. I... I really have no
other choice but to come to you for help."
She couldn't possibly ask Nie Yang and the others for help. Dongfang Mo had always been one of Nie Yang's formidable enemies;
if a conflict broke out, it would be a good thing if he didn't help her deal with Dongfang Mo. That left her with
only Sun Juefan as a possible ally.
Sun Juefan abruptly stopped, her expression changing slightly. She raised her voice, "Senior Sister, did she let you come to find help
?"
Ling Jueshi's face flushed slightly, and she tilted her head slightly, saying, "Yes, I was indeed no match for her. After thirty moves,
I was powerless to fight back. If she hadn't held back, I'd probably be dead at least ten times over." Her tone was quite
somber. "New talents emerge in the martial world, and I've probably been living a peaceful, secluded life for too long..."
Sun Juefan, however, wasn't thinking about these things. She said slowly, with a hint of helplessness, "I'm afraid... she just wanted you to come
to me."
Ling Jueshi... She wasn't stupid, just confused by her concern. Only now, with her junior sister's words, did she suddenly realize
, exclaiming, "You mean, they're actually looking for you?"
Sun Juefan looked back at the way they came, realizing it was too late to turn back, and could only say, "Not necessarily. Maybe
I'm overthinking it. Let's go."
The two quickened their pace, and after traveling a distance, Ling Jueshi finally couldn't help but murmur, "Junior sister,
I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I never thought they... they were also looking for Hua Keyi."
They might not be looking for Hua Keyi; it was probably only Nie Yang who was looking for her. However, Ruyi Tower was ordered to
assist, and it wasn't difficult for them to lend a hand.
There was no point in saying anything more now. Sun Juefan simply said, "It's alright, it's always
good to be able to save brother-in-law." This wasn't an exaggeration. Dongfang Mo was practically Xing Suiying's subordinate, and judging from his recent movements
, he probably knew more than Hua Keyi.
"I must win. Even if it becomes a laughingstock because we're two against one, I'll accept it," Ling Jueshi
said through gritted teeth.
After more than a decade of marriage, Dongfang Mo was far more important to her than any empty fame in the martial world.
"We're here. She's just ahead."
Following her slender, jade-like finger, a clearing in the woods suddenly appeared. A woman dressed in snow-white robes with flowing black hair
stood quietly there, her back to the setting sun, gazing at the tender green leaves among the branches.
Ling Jueshi looked around, indignantly saying, "Yan Zhuxue! Where's Dongfang?"
Yan Zhuxue said, "I've already had someone take him away. If we don't hand him over to the Wolf Soul soon, it'll probably cause
a lot of trouble."
Ling Jueshi was furious and shouted, "You...you broke your promise! Didn't you say that no matter who I called
for help, as long as I defeated you, you would return him to me?!"
Yan Zhuxue said, "That's right."
"Then why, why did you send Dongfang away?!" Ling Jueshi was so angry that her fingertips trembled slightly. She
knew that in a battle between experts, the most important thing was to avoid being impatient, but the invisible pressure from the woman in front of her made her anxious
.
Sun Juefan wanted to persuade her, but before she could speak, she found herself also a little nervous, her palms slightly sweaty.
She then realized that this young woman had already reached such a level.
Yan Zhuxue slowly drew her longsword, its cold, sharp edge pointing diagonally at the ground. She said calmly, "Because I know you can't beat
me."
Ling Jueshi felt as if she had been struck heavily in the chest, involuntarily taking a half-step back.
She gripped the sides of her skirt tightly with both hands to stop her trembling. She glanced at Sun Juefan, who was intently staring at Yan Zhuxue's right hand,
his breathing becoming increasingly labored, and fine beads of sweat appearing on his nose.
The setting sun was behind them, and the wind was blowing diagonally behind them. Within a few feet of where they stood, there wasn't a single extra rock
. Even the branches of the surrounding trees had their fragile ends sheared off by the sword energy. Yan Zhuxue wasn't
standing there casually; her position was the most advantageous within a radius of several dozen feet.
In a life-or-death battle between top masters, whoever stood in Ling Jueshi's position would surely be dead.
"Let's attack together." Yan Zhuxue slightly raised the tip of her sword. From behind her blade, an invisible formation seemed
to slowly unfold, encompassing all weaknesses behind an impenetrable defense.
This wasn't the Thirteen Styles of Qingfeng, nor even any sword technique in the martial world, yet it could transform into
the Thirteen Styles of Qingfeng at any time, and also into any sword technique in the martial world at any time.
Ling Jueshi tried to calm her rapid breathing and slowly took a step forward, but immediately, her arm was
grabbed by Sun Juefan.
"Junior sister, you..."
Sun Juefan shook her head and slowly said, "Do you still remember Master's Netherworld Sword?"
Ling Jueshi was stunned and said, "Of course I remember."
Sun Juefan shook her head slightly again and said, "Do you remember Master's last sword technique?"
Ling Jueshi frowned slightly, then her face turned deathly pale, and cold sweat dripped down her forehead.
Sun Juefan remained silent for a long while, then turned to Yan Zhuxue, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said, "Miss Yan, we concede defeat.
We hope you will show mercy and not make things difficult for Mr. Dongfang."
Yan Zhuxue nodded, her fair wrist flicking as her sword returned to its sheath. She showed no sign of fatigue, as if
the momentum she had just built up was merely a trivial matter. She didn't glance at them again, her graceful figure flashing
into the forest.
Sun Juefan breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself, "No wonder Xing Suiying was so low-key and cautious in Peacock County,
and even went to great lengths to incite a direct confrontation between Tiandao and Ruyi Tower. It seems that even with my martial arts, I am still not enough
to act arrogantly in front of such a master.
" Ling Jueshi, defeated without a fight, seemed completely lost. If Sun Juefan hadn't been holding her arm
, she wouldn't know which way she would have wandered into the forest. Knowing that his senior sister was still thinking of her lover and had lost confidence, and
that she couldn't calm down for a while, Sun Juefan had no choice but to lead her back to his hiding place.
Standing at the door, without even going in, Sun Juefan knew that Hua Keyi was no longer in the room.
It seemed that Hua Keyi really harbored a lot of resentment towards that toilet; once she gained her freedom, she didn't care about the filth and
smashed that thing to pieces in the yard, making it stink.
It seemed she would have to find another place to go. From a distance, it was clear that Hua Keyi had vented all her anger from the past few days
; the already dilapidated wooden house was now a complete mess.
Ling Jueshi finally recovered slightly from his daze and asked apologetically, "Was Hua Keyi rescued?"
Sun Juefan nodded, then shook his head and said in a low voice, "It can't be called rescued, she was just snatched
away."
"Who was it?"
Sun Juefan frowned slightly, his deep, pool-like eyes looking at the ground with subtle ripples. "If I had to guess,
it's most likely Nie Yang."
Ling Jueshi asked in surprise, "Didn't he head south to Qingfeng Yanyu Tower?" That bloody battle was
famous enough that everyone in the nearby martial arts world knew about it.
Sun Juefan said calmly, "I thought so too." She raised her left palm, staring at the slightly
rough lines on her palm, and slowly clenched it. "Now I'm 80% sure he's just finally figured it out and fooled someone
once."
"If it's Nie Yang... I'll go and demand him!" Ling Jueshi felt guilty and immediately made up his mind. Whether
he relied on previous favors or used his martial arts to forcibly take him, he couldn't let his junior sister suffer a great loss because of his recklessness
.
Sun Juefan let out a sigh of relief and said, "That's not necessary. I won't get anything more from her. Perhaps handing her over
to Nie Yang is a good thing."
Ling Jueshi was puzzled and asked, "If you can't get the answer, how could he possibly get it?"
Sun Juefan shook her head and said, "If Hua Keyi doesn't want to talk about it, none of us can get it out of her." She was silent for a
moment before continuing, "However, since no one can get the answer out of her, it's
better for Hua Keyi to be in Nie Yang's hands than in mine."
Ling Jueshi was still confused and asked, "What do you mean?"
Sun Juefan raised her eyes but didn't answer directly. Instead, she said, "That depends on whether Nie Yang remembers
what I said."
Ling Jueshi frowned, and after a long while, her eyes flashed, and she exclaimed in surprise, "You mean about Senior Brother Yin?"
Sun Juefan didn't answer again, as if she had already said too much, or as if she wasn't sure
if what she was thinking would actually happen.
Compared to Sun Juefan, Hua Keyi was obviously much happier.
A woman like her, if she fell into enemy hands, would rather be in the hands of a man than a man who...
Those she had a fleeting affair with were even better.
Without a doubt, Nie Yang perfectly met her expectations. Therefore, even though she knew Nie Yang's visit to her was definitely
not for anything good, she still laughed happily and even had the mood to tease him, "Little Brother Nie,
I smell terrible, aren't you afraid of the stench if you hug me like this?"
Nie Yang smiled slightly, pulled on the reins, and held her even tighter. It wasn't for any other reason than that her acupoints had just
been released and her internal injuries hadn't healed; on a galloping horse, one wrong move and she would be smashed to pieces.
"Hey, haven't seen you for days, did someone poison your voice?"
Nie Yang hurriedly rushed into the room, released her acupoints, and watched her vent her frustration by throwing herself around. Then, he took her
southwest, off a side road, bought a good horse at the nearest post station, and galloped away
without uttering a word; even the smile on his face was inscrutable.
"Speaking of which, didn't my granddaughter mention that you went south to Qingfeng Yanyu Tower? How come you suddenly reappeared
? You're quite something." Hua Keyi's first sentence was shy, the middle sentence was coquettish, and the last sentence was confused. In an instant, she naturally
switched between three tones, each one soft and alluring. If it weren't for her disheveled appearance, she would surely have reverted to her usual
charming and seductive demeanor.
Nie Yang finally spoke, but didn't answer any of her questions. Instead, he smiled and said, "If
you'd rather talk to me than find a place to bathe and change, you can continue asking."
Hua Keyi immediately sniffed her sleeves in disgust and said in a soft voice, "Then I won't ask. We agreed on
bathing and changing, so you can't go back on your word."
Nie Yang looked at the town that was gradually becoming clearer ahead of the road with a half-smile and said, "Of course.
What good would you do me looking like this?"
This town was called Ce Ling, only a little over a hundred miles from Peacock County. Nie Yang had been rushing all this way, clearly having already set
his sights on it. Hua Keyi looked at the unfamiliar town and couldn't help but ask, "What are you doing here?" There
were too many people and too many eyes around; it didn't look like a good hiding place at all. Compared to such bustling places, most martial
arts practitioners who were being targeted by their enemies preferred to camp in villages, dilapidated temples, or even the wilderness.
Nie Yang reined in his horse under the sign of the Rugui Inn, looked around, dismounted, and helped her down before
saying, "I had an appointment with someone else." He looked at the stunning face revealed through the open window upstairs and said calmly,
"Bringing you along was purely an unexpected bonus."
Hua Keyi giggled, "What? Sister, what are you dissatisfied with such an unexpected bonus?"
Nie Yang gave her a meaningful look, which made her shiver involuntarily.
Zhao Yujing upstairs seemed to be getting impatient and called out, "Nie Yang, aren't you coming up?"
Nie Yang handed the reins to the waiter who came to greet them, grabbed Hua Keyi's hand, and walked into the inn.
Only then did Hua Keyi hear his reply.
"No, I'm quite satisfied."
Chapter Sixty-Three
(Part One)
"I did my best, Brother Nie, are you still worried?" Yun Panqing sheathed her sword and said coquettishly.
Looking at the pile of minced meat on the ground, Nie Yang forced a smile and said, "Don't worry, of course I'm not worried. I just didn't expect you
to chop him into mincemeat with one move."
"That's right, my senior uncle used to have a very famous name. He was called Zhen Guanxi."
"..."
(II)
"So you're still worried about Sister Liu in the end?" Yun Panqing asked, glancing at his reaction.
Nie Yang's eyes flickered, and he said, "I just suddenly understood some things."
"Oh? What is it?"
"I'm the main character, I can't let the supporting characters steal the show anymore."
(III)
"Senior Hua, is Ting'er's health alright?"
Hua Muzhen seemed a little tired because of Nie Qingyi's matter, but she forced herself to be energetic and said, "Miss Liu is generally well,
but she has some cervical erosion, and her vaginal discharge is not quite normal. She may also have some fungal vaginitis. You people who travel the Jianghu
don't know how to take care of your health."
"Then what should we do?"
"Go to xxxxxx Hospital quickly, the experts there..."
"Bang!" The sound of smashing the TV came from inside the room.
(IV)
Compared to the panic caused by the chaotic fighting of the previous days, Wu Yan's death caused almost no
ripples.
In fact, few people even knew about it.
Who told him to be caught up in the Peacock County's New Civilization Campaign Month? That's fate.
(V)
However, a very ordinary passerby lingered outside the now deserted, dilapidated courtyard, silently
watching for a long time.
He didn't know martial arts and looked like an honest, simple commoner. Even if the people from Ruyi Tower discovered him,
they couldn't do anything to him.
He leisurely watched for a moment, then picked up his peddler's drum and slowly walked into the bustling market
.
In the afternoon, the six people who stayed in Peacock County to meet Wu Yan all received a note.
Empty room for rent, kitchen, woodshed, and outhouse all equipped, two bedrooms and one living room, rent negotiable, serious inquiries only.
(VI)
Ling Jueshi looked around angrily and said, "Yan Zhuxue! Where's Dongfang?"
Yan Zhuxue pointed east and said calmly, "So you're terrible with directions."
(VII)
Nie Yang handed the reins to the waiter who came to greet them, grabbed Hua Keyi's hand, and walked into the inn.
Only then did Hua Keyi hear his reply.
"No, I'm quite satisfied."
"Then... dear, remember to give a good review!
"

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