Springtime Splendor Across the Martial World (1-2)

Chapter One: Escape
That day, I decided to leave home and venture into the martial world.
I'd heard that the martial world was full of extraordinary weapons, eccentric heroes, rare books and secret manuals, exotic fruits, and breathtaking scenery, not to mention a whole host of stunning beauties that would make your mouth water and your nose bleed. All of this held an irresistible allure for me, a young man raised in a wealthy family.
Sitting in the spacious courtyard, gazing at the sky beyond the walls, I often wondered: what would the outside world be like? Whatever it was, it would surely be more colorful than my confined life at home.
My father was the "Jade-Faced Judge," Hua Tianpan, whose imposing righteousness sent chills down the spines of those with guilty consciences; my mother was Nangong Rouyun, the third young lady of the Nangong family, gentle, virtuous, and obedient, always moving quietly and never once losing her temper. In the martial world, they were always seen as a divine couple, idols of love. As my parents' only child, I naturally received their utmost care and affection.
But I always felt something was missing.
Later I realized it was "freedom."
Every time I went out, my parents were always with me, afraid I'd be kidnapped and killed by treacherous villains, or led astray by wicked people and become a despised disgrace to the martial arts world. So while other children played in the mud, I practiced martial arts in the yard, sweating profusely; while other children fished and crabbed naked in the river, I read scriptures and history in the sweltering study.
I had already gained a reputation among my father's Daoist friends... The best of the younger generation, revered as role models for children of wealthy families.
The loving gazes my parents gave me told me that everything I had done had not disappointed their expectations. But sadly, I lost my childhood.
As I grew older, my parents arranged a marriage for me. The woman was said to be the daughter of the Linghu family, beautiful and well-educated. I knew I would soon become another "perfect couple" envied by everyone in Luoyang; my life had been designed, made into a model for others to admire and revere.
The seeds of rebellion burned within me, my masculine passion uncontrollable. I longed to control my own life, I yearned to unleash my inner desires, so I chose to run away from home.
I wanted to walk my own path.
I chose to escape when my father was not home, but bumped into my mother at the door. My mother, with her sensitive heart, sensed something and stopped me from leaving.
Could it be that my long-planned scheme was about to end? Giving up like this?
I finally poured out my heart to my mother, telling her my decision. I also told her I had grown up and it was time to have my own life.
My mother saw me off with tears in her eyes. She knew I had grown up and was no longer a child whose every decision depended on my parents. She didn't forget to secretly slip me three 100,000 tael silver notes, and told me that if I had any difficulties, I could go to her family, the Nangong family. How
can a blade of grass repay the warmth of spring?
Although I couldn't abandon my parents' kindness, I decided to bury my past family background and start a completely new life.
Of course, I didn't bury those silver notes. What a joke! Without them, how would I live?
I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Hua Yichuan. Thanks to my father, this name is already quite famous. So I decided to change my name to Nangong Chuan, using my mother's surname.
On my first night at the inn, I laughed out loud even in my dreams.
**********
...

Suddenly, I found myself in front of a brothel. Bright red lanterns illuminated
the words "Welcome Guests," and the entrance was already packed with patrons. I inquired and learned that Lan Mei, one of the four most famous courtesans renowned for her music and beauty, had chosen today to hold her first virginity ceremony.
These four courtesans always sold their art, not their bodies; Lan Mei was unaware of this. It was no wonder that patrons, drawn by her reputation, flocked to the brothel like swarms of locusts.
But none of this concerned me. I was simply thinking: if we're talking about spending money, what could be more suitable than a brothel?
Chapter Two: The Brothel
There were so many people. A tremendous number. Incredibly, ridiculously so.
I channeled my inner energy to squeeze in, but before I even entered, I was already dizzy. So many people wanted to be Lan Mei's first love, to steal her virginity?
I raised my inner energy to its full power, and with a slight exertion, several people beside me were sent flying, crashing into a large crowd. Unfortunately, I only managed a few steps before the gaps were filled by newly arrived people.
"This can't go on..." I muttered to myself, then suddenly an idea struck me. I yelled, "Heavens! My smallpox isn't cured yet!"
I leaned against the person next to me, feigning dizziness, "Hold me, hold me! My smallpox has flared up again..."
"Whoosh!" Instantly, a circular clearing about two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters) widened around me, the brothel's doors bursting open as the crowd surged out. The previously dense crowd thinned considerably, scrambling to escape. I yelled like this a few more times, and even the hesitant, skeptical customers finally gave in and rushed out.
Strangely, a dozen or so customers remained unmoved, seemingly indifferent. I asked in surprise, "Brothers, why aren't you hiding? Aren't you afraid of getting infected? It's a matter of life and death!"
One of them gave a half-smile and said leisurely, "Excuse me, I've already had smallpox once."
"Damn, you're something else." "I cursed inwardly. One plan failed, so I devised another. I moved closer to him, subtly revealing half of the jade pendant at my waist, and said in a low voice, 'The Embroidered Uniform Guard is on duty, no irrelevant personnel allowed!'
Before he could see the badge clearly, I had already hidden the disguised jade pendant. My voice wasn't loud, but it was just loud enough for the remaining dozen or so patrons to hear clearly. The Embroidered Uniform Guard's power was untouchable; their expressions changed drastically, and they all lowered their heads and hurriedly left.
I was left alone in the brothel. I clapped my hands triumphantly and called out, 'Miss Lanmei, have I had the honor of witnessing your exquisite music and music?'
The sound of delicate feet echoed from upstairs, and two maids helped Miss Lanmei to the balustrade. My gaze towards Lanmei involuntarily hardened: What a beauty!"
A perfectly tailored pale yellow dress, paired with spotless silver-white embroidered shoes, perfectly accentuated Lan Mei's tall and curvaceous figure. Long legs, a slender waist, full breasts, and a shapely bottom, along with a deliberately exposed section of her fair, snow-white shoulders and arms, outlined the alluring figure of a peerless courtesan. Her hair was piled high, adorned with a gold hairpin, but unfortunately, her face was shrouded in a smoky veil. However, her bright, clear eyes shone through the veil, brimming with unspoken words. She glanced around at the empty space below and giggled, "Oh dear, young master, you've scared away all of Lan Mei's patrons! What will Lan Mei do now?"
Her voice was soft and melodious, with an unmistakable hint of seduction. I unconsciously puffed out my chest: "Isn't it me who can keep you company, young lady?"
"Young master, you're mistaken!" The madam hurried downstairs, suppressing her anger as she couldn't ascertain my identity: "Only when our patrons bid against each other and drive up prices can our brothel offer good value and earn a meager profit. Young master, are you intentionally making things difficult for Miss Lan?"
I smiled slightly, ignoring the madam, and took out a 100,000 tael silver note. With a flick of my finger, the note flew towards Lan Mei upstairs. Lan Mei caught it, her face showing surprise, clearly secretly astonished by my display of skill. Upon seeing the amount on the silver note, she smiled broadly, "Young master, you have quite the generosity, offering a hundred thousand taels of silver in one go! But with just one hundred thousand taels, you think you can buy Lan Mei's virginity? I'm afraid that's still a bit too much."
Hearing the amount of "one hundred thousand taels," the madam beside her couldn't close her mouth, and involuntarily gestured towards Lan Mei upstairs, clearly afraid that further demands would scare me away. Nowadays, a top-tier prostitute's virginity costs only four or five thousand taels of silver, and even someone as noble as Lan Mei's going rate is no more than ten thousand taels. One hundred thousand taels is far too much, and Lan Mei dares to continue raising her price, clearly knowing that I will continue to spend money.
I didn't care at all; my purpose in coming here was to spend all my money, and the more Lan Mei offered, the better for me.
I flicked my finger again, and another hundred thousand taels of silver note landed in Lan Mei's hand.
Lan Mei said calmly, "Young Master's extravagant spending is truly captivating. Two hundred thousand taels is far beyond my means. If I were to continue raising the price, it would be disrespectful to you. How about we go upstairs for a chat?"
I left the dumbfounded madam behind me and was about to ascend the stairs. Suddenly, a loud shout came from behind me: "Boy, get out of my way! I've already bought Lan Mei's 'red pills'!"
I turned around in surprise and saw a red-faced man with a full chest hair, wielding a ghost-head knife, charging towards me as if he were about to devour me. I slightly sidestepped and hooked him with my foot, and he fell to the ground with a thud, clearly having taken a hard fall.
I laughed: "You're rather shameless. With your terrifying appearance, do you think you can be the protagonist?"
The man got up, roared, and swung his knife at me. I couldn't help but secretly thank my father for his rigorous training. The man's moves were utterly flawed and easily defeated in my eyes. Without making a sound, I kicked out, striking the man in the chest just as the blades flashed. He flew out the door like a kite with a broken string, crashing onto the street with a thud.
During the fight, I glanced at Lan Mei and found her expression calm, watching the fight below with interest, completely unconcerned. I thought to myself: It seems Lan Mei is also a trained fighter. Ignoring
the scoundrel whose ribs I had broken at least three times, I climbed the stairs.
Chapter Three: Conspiracy
The maidservant ushered me into Lan Mei's boudoir, discreetly closing the door and leaving.
Lan Mei was already waiting inside, pouring a cup of hot tea and handing it to me. Our fingers lightly touched, our eyes conveyed affection, and a surge of heat erupted from my lower abdomen. After all, I was just a virgin, full of youthful vigor; how could I resist such a display?
The most difficult thing to bear is the favor of a beautiful woman; it seems that losing my virginity today is inevitable.
I sipped my hot tea and said lightly, "This is the finest pre-rain Longjing tea, made with water from Baotu Spring in Jinan Prefecture. Combined with Miss Lan's skillful cooking, it's truly extraordinary."
Lan Mei showed a hint of surprise, clearly not expecting me to be able to discern the origin of the tea and water. She asked softly, "Young master's knowledge is truly profound. Although I've seen countless people, I couldn't guess your origins at all. Could you tell me?"
I adopted a seductive posture, gently taking Lan Mei's fragrant shoulder and leaning close to her delicate ear: "Things are like spring dreams, leaving no trace. Miss Lan, you are kind and gentle; why ruin this mysterious atmosphere?"
A shiver ran down Lan Mei's neck; she clearly couldn't resist the heat of my breath in her ear and gently pulled away. I was secretly pleased: so her ears are an erogenous zone!
Lan Mei, clearly afraid of upsetting me by leaving, took down the pipa hanging on the wall and gently stroked it, producing a clear, resonant sound: "Young master, would you like Mei'er to play a tune for you?"
I clapped my hands and said, "That's exactly what I'm thinking. I've heard that you are exceptionally talented in both music and music, and I must experience it for myself tonight."
I deliberately emphasized the word "talent," and Mei'er gave me a flirtatious wink, clearly understanding the meaning behind my words: "Don't worry, Mei'er's skills will not disappoint you!"
As my heart pounded, the clear, resonant sound of the pipa flowed out. Lan Mei truly lived up to her reputation as a woman of exceptional beauty and talent!
The music was stirring, swirling and lingering, like a clear spring flowing from a mountain, like a nightingale singing in a valley; like pearls falling onto a jade plate, like rain pattering on duckweed. Such beautiful music existed in the world!
I was completely captivated by the music, my mind gradually leaping and shifting with the pipa's sound, involuntarily. The pipa seemed to possess a mysterious magic, gradually taking control of my mind. My head drooped, almost falling asleep. Lan Mei's fingers continued to caress the pipa, but a strange light flashed in her eyes, which I unfortunately missed.
My head finally slammed onto the table, and the crisp sound brought me back to my senses: Lan Mei was actually trying to hypnotize me with the sound of her pipa! What was she planning?
I made a silent decision and pretended to remain unconscious, lying on the table in a daze. Lan Mei continued playing for a while, then finally stopped. She gently nudged me and said softly, "Young master, is Mei'er's pipa playing still pleasing to the ear?"
I ignored her. Lan Mei nudged me a few more times, then finally helped me up and walked towards the couch. I deliberately leaned against Lan Mei, breathing in her body fragrance, secretly pleased with myself.
When Lan Mei placed me on the couch, I flicked my hand, brushing against her fragrant breasts as I fell. Lan Mei's body trembled, and she froze for a moment. I secretly calculated in my heart: It seems she really is still a virgin.
Lan Mei checked my breath and then began to loosen my belt. I secretly opened my eyes a crack and looked at Lan Mei's face. Even through the thin veil, I could feel her heavy breathing and flushed face. Strange, was Luo Yu going to serve her guests in this way?
What happened next immediately dispelled my suspicions. She merely glanced at my lower abdomen, let out a disappointed sigh, covered me with the blanket, and left the room.
I got up and followed her. I discovered that she went into a side room, obviously going to meet someone.
I quietly hid outside the room and eavesdropped.
"Godmother, I checked, it's not him." It was Lan Mei's voice.
"Alas, heaven is unkind, child. We've waited so long, a few more days won't matter." It was the madam speaking; truly, she was unassuming.
"What about that young master?"
"Kill him! We must not let the secret leak out, otherwise we will never get our revenge!"
Lan Mei sighed and remained silent. The madam clearly noticed her expression and added, "Child, you can't be soft-hearted. That's how the martial world is; only the ruthless survive."
After a moment of silence, Lan Mei finally replied, "Child, I'll listen to your godmother."
"Be clean, remember to dispose of the body properly, lest there be any future trouble."
I cursed inwardly: Damn it, if I hadn't been quick-witted, a life would have been lost at the hands of this vixen.
If I didn't rape you, I wouldn't be a man!
When Lan Mei pushed open the door, I had already quietly sneaked back into the room, continuing to pretend to be unconscious.
She held a crystal dagger in her hand, slowly approaching me, looking at my face, hesitating for a moment, and finally stabbing down hard.
Chapter Four: Loss of
Virginity Just as the dagger was about to pierce my heart, I suddenly turned to the side, dodging this fatal blow. Before Lan Mei could recover from her surprise, I poked her soft spot with a finger, and she slumped softly onto me.
Lan Mei cried out, "Young master, you..."
I ripped off her veil; this bitch indeed had a face that was so delicate it seemed to break at a touch. Unfortunately, filled with rage, I had lost all interest in admiring her. I ripped her clothes off, revealing her undergarments, and grabbed one of her breasts, kneading it through the fabric.
Lan Mei cried out, "No! You lecherous thief! Let me go!"
I slapped her across the face, yelling, "Damn it, I paid you real money, and you almost killed me! And you still have the nerve to blame me?"
Lan Mei's voice suddenly fell silent. Not wanting to hear her continue, I silenced her with a pressure point. I quickly stripped off her remaining clothes, parted her long, white legs, and thrust inside.
Lan Mei bit her lip, her brow furrowed, and two tears rolled down her cheeks. I ignored her and continued my wanton thrusting. A thin trickle of blood slowly seeped from the point of contact: she was indeed a virgin!
I sneered, "A whore like you who plays with men knows what it's like to be played with, doesn't she?"
Lan Mei, her speech impeded, couldn't answer, but tears continued to stream down her face. I remained unmoved, helping her sit on my lap and continuing my brutal beating. The intense pleasure was indescribable.
I completely disregarded Lan Mei's feelings, using her only as a tool to vent my desires. Only after I had thoroughly satisfied my masculine instincts did I embrace this exquisitely beautiful body and fall into a deep sleep. I slept
soundly until the sound of the door being pushed open startled me awake. I rubbed my eyes; it was already the next morning. The bedding beneath me was stained with blood, and Lan Mei's body lay sprawled to one side, gazing at me with resentful eyes, as if she hadn't slept all night. The
madam entered, clearly stunned by what she saw. She paused for a moment before reacting, then rushed to the bed to release Lan Mei's pressure points. I took the opportunity to get dressed.
The madam asked, "Child, what happened? Did he force you?"
Lan Mei nodded shyly.
The madam turned and glared at me, clearly intending to kill me. Her hands instantly turned pitch black, and I felt a chill run down my spine: it was the "Yin Wind Palm," a technique lost to the martial world for many years!
I secretly gathered my strength and prepared myself. Sure enough, the madam struck with her palm. I dodged to the side and kicked back. The madam twisted and dodged, then withdrew her palm into a fist and struck my left shoulder. I did a somersault, grabbed the pipa on the table, and gathered my inner energy to meet the blow.
With a "crack," the pipa was shattered into pieces by the Yin Wind Palm, scattering across the ground. Taking advantage of her weakened attack, I punched her left rib. The madam's chest and abdomen suddenly caved in, defusing the attack in an impossible way. I was not surprised but delighted. I spun to the side and struck her shoulder with my palm.
The madam spat out a mouthful of blood and staggered backward. I leaped to my feet, ready to strike, when Lan Mei suddenly lunged at the madam, reaching out to stop her: "No!"
Lan Mei's clothes had been torn to shreds by me last night, leaving her almost naked, but her resolute expression made me involuntarily lower my fist and freeze: I simply couldn't bring myself to harm a woman who had just taken her virginity.
Seeing my unbridled gaze, a blush rose to Lan Mei's face, and she withdrew her outstretched arms, attempting to cover her private parts. The madam seized the opportunity to spit out another mouthful of blood, roaring, "Child, get out of the way! Let me kill this beast!"
I mocked, "Oh, after that palm strike, you'll need at least a month to recover before you have the strength to fight anyone again, and now you dare to boast about taking my life? I might not even let you go!"
The madam struggled to her feet, only to fall to the ground again. That palm strike was a concentrated burst of my inner strength; she was already severely injured. I strode over, intending to deliver two more blows. I understood the principle of "cutting the weeds at the root" all too well. Since we'd already made an enemy, it was best to eliminate any future trouble.
Lan Mei knelt before me, clinging to my leg: "Young Master, no! Please, spare her!"
I sneered: "Spare her? If my skills were lacking, would she have spared me?"
Lan Mei pleaded: "Young Master, it's all Mei'er's fault, please forgive her this time!"
Looking at Lan Mei's naked body, I knew I couldn't bring myself to deliver that blow. But I still feigned toughness and said, "What good would it do me to spare her?"
Lan Mei glanced at the madam behind her, then looked up at my face. Gritting her teeth, she resolutely said, "If you, young master, can spare my godmother, I am willing to serve you as a slave for the rest of my life!"
Before I could speak, the madam hissed, "No!"
Lan Mei replied, "Godmother, the whole thing is my fault. You have already paid me for the night; you haven't wronged me. It was I who disregarded morality and tried to kill you, which is why I've ended up like this. I can't afford to make another mistake. Even if I have to be a slave, it's my retribution in this life."
Before me was a delicate, pitiful beauty; behind me was a ruthless, vicious madam who deserved to die. What should I do?
Chapter Five: Hidden Secrets
I took off my clothes and draped them over Lan Mei, pulling her up. "Get up, I have something to ask you."
Lan Mei wore my long robe, which, though slightly oversized, perfectly accentuated her tall, slender figure. Coupled with her shy and pitiful expression after recently losing her virginity, it stirred a warmth in my heart. I gently lifted her face, admiring her beauty for the first time.
If Lan Mei wasn't a beauty at this moment, then I bet there was no beauty left in the world…
…Lan Mei was now as beautiful as a celestial being, no, even more beautiful than a celestial being. Her skin was like jade, her beautiful eyes were like water, and just looking at her melancholy expression, her hidden sorrow, I bet even a highly accomplished monk would be moved by her. She was truly a peerless beauty. Wow, giving my first time to such a beauty was a huge win!
Lan Mei met my gaze, hesitant to speak. Finally, she stammered, "Master, may I speak with my godmother alone for a few minutes?"
I nodded and left the room.
A moment later, the door opened, the madam came out, glanced at me, and then left. I returned to Lan Mei's boudoir and said calmly, "Now can you tell me why you plotted against me?"
Mei'er bowed gracefully, "Master, I apologize to you first. This sale of myself was a trap that my godmother and I had planned to lure out an enemy."
"Oh?" I asked in surprise, "Do I look a lot like your enemy? Luo Diao Shou?"
Lan Mei's voice was filled with a sense of sorrow, "Mei'er doesn't know what my enemy looks like, only that he's a lecherous thief who loves to rape beautiful women. The only clue is a birthmark the size of a copper coin on his lower abdomen."
"I see." I suddenly realized: no wonder she used the pipa to hypnotize me and then examined my lower abdomen.
I continued to press, "What grudge does he have against you?"
Lan Mei shook her head: "No. Mei'er did this to avenge her godmother; he is her enemy. Both of her godmother's older sisters were raped and murdered by this villain. Although the villain was masked when he committed the crime, one of her godmother's sisters told her before he died that he had a birthmark on his abdomen."
"Bang!" I slammed my hand on the table, and it collapsed with a crash. I roared, "You can't even avenge your own family, yet you sacrifice your daughter's reputation to lure a lecherous scoundrel! You're worse than an animal!"
Lan Mei cried out in panic, "Master, please don't say that. I've been an orphan since I was little, raised by my godmother. I'd be more than happy to do my duty to her. Besides, she didn't force me; it was all my own choice."
I thought to myself, "Your godmother is ruthless. To avoid revealing secrets to her enemies, she treats human life like dirt. You're no match for her. Why would she force you? She'll just set a trap, and you'll fall right into it. She might even sell you off and still make a fortune." At this thought, I felt a surge of pity for the beautiful woman before me and gently stroked her face: "Mei'er, do you hate me?"
"No," Lan Mei's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz.
Overjoyed, I pressed, "Mei'er, speak louder, I can't hear you!"
"No." Mei'er's face flushed crimson like a late autumn fruit, and she lowered her head shyly, her voice even softer.
I strained my voice to barely hear her.
I tenderly lifted her fragrant shoulders, murmuring, "Why? I took your virginity and injured your godmother, shouldn't you hate me?"
Lan Mei raised her head, meeting my gaze: "Mei'er tried to kill Master, does Master hate Mei'er now?"
I gently kneaded Lan Mei's earlobe, looking at her alluring expression of feigned reluctance: "How could I? Knowing the cause and effect, I'm too grateful to have time to pity you. Besides, if not for this, how could I have such a beautiful wife?"
Mei'er's face was as red as if it were dripping rouge, and she used all her strength to hold onto my shoulders to avoid falling.
She dared not break free from my large hand rubbing her earlobe, and could only gasp, "Master, please have mercy on Mei'er."
We fell onto the bed together. She gently lay back, bending her legs. I immediately stepped forward and removed her long robe, instantly revealing her voluptuous figure. I hadn't seen clearly yesterday, but today I wanted to take a good look at her beautiful body. Her pubic hair, forming an inverted triangle, was already lush and verdant, yet it still couldn't conceal the allure of her vulva. Her two red labia stood upright, so cute, so captivating! There was very little hair below her vulva. Yesterday I was too hasty and didn't get a good look at her beautiful vulva, but today I was determined to see it to my heart's content. Her tight anus wasn't too dark, and the surrounding buttocks were very smooth and white. Her vulva was small, and a little red and swollen, from where I had deflowered her yesterday. It probably still hurt a little!
I reached into her vulva and gently probed and teased her with a soft "Ah!" She was very wet, but it didn't affect my exploration; on the contrary, it made it easier for me to pleasure her. Ah—Master…don't dig anymore…Oh! "Okay...
...don't... tease... me... anymore..." Mei'er moaned softly, afraid someone outside would hear. She forcefully parted her labia, swaying her hips, and said shyly in a low voice, "I'm so itchy, I can't stand it. Come in quickly."
I understood a principle: no matter how gentle or ladylike, in bed one is wanton. With the man she loved giving her virginity to me, what couldn't Mei'er let go of?
So I knelt before her buttocks, holding my penis, and gently entered along her love juices.
Her vagina was still very narrow; yesterday's wound hadn't fully healed, and the pain brought tears to her eyes, but it brought her even more pleasure and the joy of making love with her beloved. The point where Liu Ruyan and I were joined was breathtaking. Her outer labia were stretched wide, her inner labia curled in and out, and my penis moved in and out like a piston, working tirelessly
. It grew hotter and hotter inside, and her juices flowed even more abundantly. The squelching sounds and the slapping sounds of our buttocks hitting each other were like a symphony, rising and falling, never ceasing. Her legs were wrapped tightly around my hips, as if she were very thirsty, her face flushed with desire.
Her full, white, and incredibly elastic breasts danced with dazzling curves and radiance; her disproportionate nipples were no longer important, like a conductor's baton passionately conducting a symphony, leaping, waving, and swaying wildly, shaking my soul and boiling my blood…! She had at least three orgasms, and we continued making love like this until she couldn't take it anymore. Only then did I thrust wildly more than a hundred times, ejaculating into her vagina. She lay on top of me, whispering, "Master, you're so strong." "Silly girl, if your master wasn't strong, how could I satisfy a little slut like you!" Master only knows how to tease Mei'er; Mei'er can't talk to you anymore. I gazed at Mei'er's stunningly beautiful face and said in a deep voice, "Mei'er, I swear I will help you avenge yourself, find that bastard with the birthmark on his abdomen, and tear him to pieces! If I break this vow, may I be struck down by heaven and earth!"
Hearing my words, Lan Mei pressed herself against my chest and murmured, "Thank you, Master." A tear of emotion slid down her delicate face, striking my chest.
"With a wife like this, what more could a husband ask for!" I whispered my vow of love in Mei'er's ear, leaving my mark on her body. We kissed passionately again, lingering for a long time…
Chapter Six: An Encounter
"Where's your godmother?" I asked Mei'er, who was limp against me.
"She's gone." I told her I had decided to follow my master and that I would persuade him to take revenge. "Master, you truly haven't disappointed Mei'er," Mei'er murmured, gently stroking my chest.
"You haven't disappointed me either; that two hundred thousand taels of silver was definitely worth it," I said with a sly laugh. "
You still dare to say that!" Mei'er said, pounding my shoulder hard. Just as I was about to dodge, Mei'er suddenly cried out "Ouch!" and bent over. I was startled and caught her delicate body: "Mei'er, what's wrong?"
"It's all your fault!" Mei'er said irritably.
I quickly bowed and said with a forced smile, "How about I host a banquet at Tianxiang Restaurant to apologize to Miss Mei?"
Mei'er stamped her foot and laughed, "Fine, Master, you can't renege on your promise! By the way, Master, Mei'er still doesn't know your name."
My heart sank, and I said blankly, "I... Mei'er, you can call me Nangong Chuan, although that's not my real name." Mei'er
clearly noticed the change in my expression and obediently said, "Master, from now on I'll only call you Master, Mistress, or Lord."
I shouted, "Mei'er! Listen to me: you are my wife, not my maid! I will bring you home in a grand wedding procession, so you can marry into my family with dignity!"
Mei'er's tears rolled down again: "Master, Mei'er dares not have such a wish. Mei'er has fallen into prostitution, and is an orphan without parents. Although Master doesn't say it, Mei'er can guess from Master's demeanor that you come from a wealthy family. It is already a great blessing that you are willing to take me in." Thinking of my
parents' reaction to me marrying a prostitute, I was momentarily stunned. Mei'er was right; her status made it impossible for her to marry into the Hua family. I gripped Mei'er's hand tightly and gritted my teeth, saying, "Mei'er, don't worry. If our parents don't agree, we'll leave home and find a secluded place to live out our days!"
We embraced tightly for a long, long time.
**********
...
The owner of Tianxianglou Restaurant is surnamed Song, and is said to be a descendant of Song Sao from the Southern Song Dynasty. Of course, the restaurant's signature dish is "Song Sao Fish."
Whether he is truly a descendant of Song Sao is anyone's guess. Restaurant owners love to emphasize their "authenticity," and their customers love that too, making Tianxianglou incredibly popular.
Tianxianglou has two floors. The upstairs private rooms offer a more expansive view, so the dishes are ridiculously expensive—a single meal can cost the equivalent of a year's worth of food for an average family. Strangely, the upstairs private rooms are almost never empty; people of status often sit there for half an hour, even if they're burning up, they still appear very relaxed.
I had promised to treat Mei'er to a lavish meal, and naturally, I couldn't break my promise. Unfortunately, just as I was about to go upstairs, a chubby waiter stopped me: "Excuse me, gentlemen, the upstairs is booked!"
His eyes practically bulged out of Mei'er's sockets, making me find him even more despicable. But today, having won Mei'er's heart and lost my virginity, I was in a great mood and too lazy to argue with him. I slipped a ten-tael silver note into his hand, dodged him, and was about to continue upstairs.
Unexpectedly, the waiter stopped me again. Although he had been clutching the silver note tightly, he still handed it back like spitting out a roast duck, bowing repeatedly: "I'm so sorry, you two, I'm really sorry, the upstairs is really full!"
I said calmly: "Oh? How many people are upstairs?"
I had a reason for asking this, because I couldn't hear any sound from upstairs, and I was sure that there were no more than half the people upstairs. The waiter scratched his head, stammering, "There's only one person."
"Bang!" I punched the railing, sending splinters flying. A sharp glare made the waiter shrink even smaller. "Isn't this just playing a trick on me?"
Mei'er quietly tugged at my sleeve, whispering, "Master, let's go to another place. It's not worth arguing with him."
A fat man, five feet tall and with a five-foot waist, hurried over. If you didn't look closely, you'd think he'd rolled out. The waiter immediately breathed a sigh of relief: "Manager, this..."
It turned out that this unassuming, short, fat fellow was none other than Manager Song of Tianxiang Restaurant. Fat Song waved his hand, telling the waiter to go about his business. Turning around, he smiled broadly and said, "This gentleman has an extraordinary bearing, even the beautiful Lan Mei is willing to accompany him. May I ask your name?"
Hearing someone praise her beauty, Mei'er smiled first, and my anger subsided considerably. At the same time, I secretly felt a chill: "This fat man was obviously hiding nearby, watching everything unfold, only to come out and clean up the mess when things were about to fall apart. Moreover, he recognized Lan Mei, who usually wears a veil, at a glance, thus deducing my extraordinary status, and then flattered me at the opportune moment. He's truly an old fox!"
I casually cupped my hands and said, "Mr. Song makes a fortune every day, so naturally he wouldn't recognize a nobody like me.
My name is Nangong Chuan."
Chapter Seven Dispute
Fatty Song smiled broadly: "So it's Young Master Nangong, a pleasure to meet you." "Yes! I wonder if you have any connection with the Nangong family?"
I chuckled inwardly and said calmly, "I've heard of the Nangong family, but they've never heard of me."
Fatty Song paused slightly, clearly unsure of my identity, and said with a forced smile, "Fatty Song isn't blind; you're certainly no nobody. It's just that today's situation is rather difficult. The guest upstairs paid double the price three days ago to reserve a private room upstairs. Could you do Fatty Song a favor?"
I chuckled awkwardly, knowing that things had come to this point, and if I didn't back down now, I'd only make an enemy. Just as I was about to say a few polite words to take my leave, a cold snort suddenly came from upstairs: "Whose little brat is being so insolent here?" Both
Boss Song and I changed our expressions simultaneously. With things developing this way, I had no chance of letting go. Just as Fatty Song was about to apologize, I preemptively shut him up: "Boss Song, if you insist on interfering, we'll have no choice but to settle things with a fight. If you're willing to stay out of it, I, Nangong Chuan, will remember this favor, and I'll cover any losses your establishment suffers."
Fatty Song's expression shifted between anger and uncertainty, but he finally gestured for me to proceed: "Please, sir!"
I put my arm around Mei'er's shoulder and we went upstairs.
Sure enough, there was only one person upstairs. Several tables were pushed together, laden with food and wine, steaming hot, clearly freshly served. A burly man with a red beard, a hooked nose, gold earrings, and a half-naked chest sat imposingly on a bench by the window, staring at me with surprise: "Who are you?"
I sneered: "You don't even know who we are, yet you speak so rudely; your manners are truly lacking!"
The man was indeed enraged, and his hands reached out to grab my throat. My expression changed. The man was at least ten feet away, yet his grab seemed to shrink to an inch, instantly appearing right in front of me. Aside from my stern father, this was the first time I'd ever seen such a masterful technique.
Realizing that no matter how I dodged, there were endless counterattacks waiting for me, and I'd likely never regain the upper hand, I dared not be careless. Gathering my full strength, I punched the center of his palm. The man neither dodged nor evaded, meeting my punch head-on without any fancy moves.
"Boom!" The force of the impact sent the surrounding tables, chairs, and dishes rattling loudly. My face darkened, and I involuntarily took three steps back. The man snorted coldly, also slammed back onto his stool, which cracked in two with a snap. It
took me a full cycle of internal energy to neutralize his energy, and I was even more astonished: the power of that punch was definitely no less than mine, and the fact that he could transfer my energy to the stool was truly bizarre.
The man, instead of being alarmed, laughed and shouted, "The Central Plains is indeed full of talented people! Try and squeeze me again!"
He leaped up like a vulture descending from the sky, striking down from mid-air. I was furious. This was clearly a move used only by the strong against the weak; the man obviously didn't take me seriously.
Even so, I knew I had no confidence in meeting this powerful, downward-moving attack head-on. In a flash of inspiration, I channeled my inner strength into the soles of my feet, using the technique of "thousand-pound drop" to first soften the wooden planks beneath my feet, then sidestepped, waiting for the man to fall into my trap.
The man fell for it. After landing, he intended to continue his pursuit, but the wooden planks beneath his feet suddenly shattered. He could only hastily move aside, only to be met with my full-force attack, which I had prepared for.
"Bang!" The man's hastily gathered internal force was clearly no match for mine. He was sent flying, crashing into the wall and leaving a large "big" mark. I clapped my hands and laughed, "What a hard head!"
Although the man was dazed from the impact, he quickly bounced up, ready to defend himself against my continued attacks. A stream of blood flowed from his bald head, making him look particularly gruesome. Just as I was about to continue my beating, a soft voice came from the stairs: "Young master, what excellent skills!"
I turned my head and saw a slender woman dressed in plain clothes, dressed as a man, slowly walking up the stairs. Damn, this was the second woman I had seen after Mei'er who could be described as a national beauty, but her beauty was completely different from Mei'er's.
Mei'er's beauty was hot, so alluring that it made your heart flutter; the beauty of this woman was cold, so dignified that you dared not profane her.
She looked like an immaculate fairy, with a soft, glossy black hair flowing down her head, like a straight waterfall. Looking again at the woman's oval face, her large, bright eyes glistened with tears, like stars in the night, or pearls in the darkness. Her beauty was ethereal; I wonder if Luo felt a pang of inferiority upon seeing her.
Forcing myself to remain calm, I bowed and said, "Young lady, what brings you here..."
Before she could finish speaking, the man roared and lunged at her, shouting, "It's you! You're the one who tricked me!"
He was too fast; even though I leaped in time, I couldn't stop him before the girl.
The girl frowned slightly, her sleeve flicking out and sweeping towards the menacing man. The man was involuntarily propelled into the air by the sleeve, changing direction and crashing through the window.
I landed right in front of the girl at that moment, surprised, "Flowing Clouds and Flying Sleeves? Are you perhaps 'Flowing Clouds Fairy' Yan Ruoyu?"
Yan Ruoyu bowed slightly, "It's just a shallow skill of relaying blows; I'm just showing off my limited abilities. I'm afraid I'll be embarrassed for you, sir."
She was polite, as if she were talking about something unrelated. I had a feeling that although she was right in front of me, within reach, she was also worlds apart.
Chapter Eight: The Gathering
I said calmly, “If ‘Flowing Clouds and Flying Sleeves’ is considered a shallow skill, then my abilities are only good for begging on the streets. Fairy, could you please explain the situation to us in detail?”
I pulled out a stool, brushed off the dust, and invited, “Fairy, please sit.”
The obedient Mei’er had already set out the bowls and chopsticks for us. I pulled Mei’er
, who was about to stand with me, to sit down with me. Yan Ruoyu thanked me and sat on the stool I had chosen, saying softly, “Ruoyu is just an ordinary woman, how dare I accept the title of ‘Fairy’? May I ask your name, sir?”
“Fairy, you ask so kindly, of course I dare not refuse. My name is Nangong Chuan, just a nobody who has just entered the martial world.”
I stroked Mei’er’s fragrant shoulder: “This is my wife.”
Mei’er’s body trembled, which I naturally felt, and I quietly pinched her thigh under the table. She dared not cry out, only letting me hold her tighter.
Yan Ruoyu frowned slightly, clearly guessing that I hadn't told her my true identity. However, being understanding, she didn't press the matter, and said softly, "A perfect match, truly a divine couple. To be honest, that man just now was Chu Tianfeng from the Western Regions. He was waiting here for Ruoyu to settle their differences."
I smiled and said, "That's simple. I can guarantee that you are definitely female, and he is male."
A faint blush appeared on Yan Ruoyu's face, but surprisingly, she didn't get angry. She changed the subject, saying, "Thank you for acting on Ruoyu's behalf, young master."
I then shared a section of Song Saoyu's story with Mei'er . Looking at Yan Ruoyu in the bowl, I said, "This Song Sister-in-law Fish is made by steaming fresh grass carp, then simmering it with lotus root starch and sweet and sour sauce, which is poured over the cooked fish. The taste is extraordinary. Why don't you try it
, Fairy?" Yan Ruoyu blushed. "Thank you, Young Master, but I have important matters to attend to and must take my leave."
I stopped her in time, smiling, "Fairy's story isn't finished yet. How did Chu Tianfeng get involved with you?"
Yan Ruoyu had no choice but to sit down again. "If you keep calling me 'Fairy,' Young Master, I'll get angry."
I clapped my hands as an apology. Yan Ruoyu gave me a disapproving look, which made my heart flutter. I never expected that the elegant and icy beauty would show such a girlish side.
"Chu Tianfeng didn't provoke Ruoyu. He simply has ambitions for the Central Plains and therefore seeks out renowned figures to challenge. Ruoyu happened to be there and disrupted his plans, which is why he challenged her here for a duel… a contest of skill."
I smiled slightly. The ice beauty finally refrained from using the phrase "a duel of skill," indicating she wasn't as unapproachable as she appeared.
Seeing my expression, Ruoyu was deeply embarrassed and fidgeted. I seized the opportunity to suddenly ask, "How is your brother, Yan Ruoshui, doing?"
Yan Ruoyu looked up in surprise: "So, you know my brother, young master. He practices martial arts diligently at home every day, almost never leaving the house. I wonder if you…"
I interrupted her: "I wonder how your brother's martial arts compare to yours, fairy?"
Yan Ruoyu said softly, "My father forbids me from practicing martial arts; my brother secretly taught me."
My mind went blank, my face turned ashen, and I thought to myself: I'm doomed. My martial arts are far inferior to Yan Ruoyu's; how can I possibly compete with Yan Ruoshui?
I forced a smile and said, "No, I was just curious. I've never met your brother before."
Yan Ruoyu clearly noticed the change in my expression, but she couldn't press the matter, and the atmosphere became extremely awkward.
Fatty Song seized the opportunity to run up: "Is there anything else you need, sir?"
My mood was terrible, and I pulled out a thousand-tael silver note: "No need, check out. This is for the meal and compensation for the things you broke. By the way, it's getting late, would you like to stay here tonight, fairy?"
Yan Ruoyu glanced at the sky outside the window; it was already dusk. I said decisively, "Use the remaining silver to prepare a superior room for me and Miss Yan each."
Tianxiang Tower had a restaurant in the front and an inn in the back, convenient for guests to eat and sleep, which was why its business had always been thriving.
Boss Song accepted the silver note, his face beaming. "There's still some silver left. Is there anything else you need, sir?"
I waved my hand. "No need. Please have a cup of tea with the rest, Boss Song."
Boss Song put the silver note in his pocket and led the way.
"Thank you, sir. This way, please!" Yan Ruoyu smiled wryly and thanked me
. "Thank you for the treat, young master. 　　I will repay the silver later." I smiled and said, "Not at all. Doing some small favors for the fairy is Nangong Chuan's duty. I'm happy to oblige. "
**********
... 　　Mei'er leaned against me and asked softly, "Master, you seemed quite unhappy today when you heard that Miss Yan's martial arts were being taught by my elder brother." 　　Chapter Nine: The Promise 　　I said calmly, "Three years from now, I will duel with Yan Ruoshui. Do you think I'll be happy?" 　　"A duel? Why?" Mei'er asked in surprise. 　　"No reason. My family and his family are sworn enemies, and we duel every ten years. The losing family has to withdraw from the martial world according to the agreement and wait for the next ten-year agreement." 　　"Oh, so Master is from the Hua family..." Mei'er said softly. 　　"My name is Nangong Chuan, you'd better remember that!" I gripped Mei'er's shoulders tightly, as if gripping an unchangeable fate. 　　"It hurts...it hurts...Master, Mei'er knows she was wrong, please let go!" Mei'er cried softly, clearly in pain from my grip. 　　I snapped out of my daze and abruptly released my grip. Mei'er's boneless body collapsed to the ground. I said apologetically, "Mei'er, forgive me. I acted impulsively. If I had a choice, I would never have wanted to be born into a wealthy family, but I cannot change my fate. Seventeen years ago, and seven years ago, my father defeated the Yan family in duels. 　　Three years later, I cannot afford to lose, otherwise the prestige my ancestors worked so hard to build will be destroyed in my hands. 　　" 　　Mei'er knelt on the ground, looking up at me, "I know... I understand Master's pain. It was Mei'er who shouldn't have reopened Master's wounds. Master, please punish Mei'er!"

"Punish you?" I teased. "Fine, I'll punish you by making you play a tune on the flute for your master!"
"Master, Mei'er doesn't have a flute with her?" Mei'er asked, puzzled.
I pressed her head down to my crotch. "It's alright, Master has one with him."
Mei'er's face flushed red. She looked up at me with a resentful gaze, her delicate hands already loosening my belt.
A moment later, my "jade flute" was nestled in a warm cavity, and I sighed comfortably.
"Lightly plucking, slowly twisting, stroking and picking, who told the jade beauty to play the flute?" I murmured to myself. Mei'er, being from a brothel, had seen and heard many fancy tricks, and her cherry-like mouth was used with unparalleled skill. After her skillful teasing, my desire rose even higher.
I gently patted her hair and said in a deep voice, "Turn your back, and remember to stick your buttocks up!"
Mei'er glared at me, still turning her back, her hands on the couch, sticking her buttocks up. I parted her pink legs, rubbed them a few times, causing her delicate body to tremble incessantly, and then launched a full-scale assault.
Mei'er moaned softly, responding to my onslaught. I whispered in her ear, "Don't hold back, scream louder, I want the neighbors to hear your pleasurable moans!"
Next door was Yan Ruoyu's sleeping room. Mei'er glared at me, biting her lip, "I knew you men were the most fickle, always wanting more!"
I thrust forward, eliciting a high-pitched cry from Mei'er. As I continued my onslaught, Mei'er's cries became uncontrollable, until finally she let out a long sigh and collapsed into my arms.
I, too, had finished my cathartic release, collapsing onto the bed, where Mei'er and I lay embraced under the covers. I could vaguely hear Yan Ruoyu tossing and turning next door, and fell into a deep, satisfied sleep.
**********
The next morning, Yan Ruoyu knocked on the door to say goodbye.
Looking at her bloodshot eyes, I knew she hadn't slept all night. I chuckled inwardly and said softly, "May I see you off, fairy?"
Yan Ruoyu bowed slightly, "No need. I suddenly received an urgent letter from home and have important business to attend to. Please excuse me."
I feigned magnanimity, "We'll meet again someday, fairy, please!"
Yan Ruoyu hadn't even eaten breakfast before hurriedly mounting her horse and departing. I embraced the disheveled Mei'er, watching her retreating figure. Mei'er said calmly, "It seems even the fairy has fallen for mortals. Will Master keep her?"
I tapped her on the head, "Why keep her? Master has you, that's enough!"
Mei'er gazed at me and giggled, "Master is probably playing hard to get, trying to reel in a big fish, isn't he?"
I chuckled, "My real intention isn't what it seems. I just want to use this to hurt her brother."
"Master, you're so despicable!" "You
dare insult me? There's something even more despicable!"
"Ouch, no!" Mei'er's armpit was tickled by me, making her laugh uncontrollably.
After a playful fight, Mei'er and I lay down on the bed, gazing up at the ceiling. Mei'er said softly, "Master, what are your plans?"
"What plans could I possibly have? Judging from the current situation, even if I train for another ten years, I might not be a match for Yan Ruoshui. I'd better take advantage of the time before the duel to travel around."
Chapter Ten Secret Talk
Mei'er sat up abruptly, "Master, you shouldn't be so dejected!"
I smiled bitterly, "What else can I do but be dejected? We all know each other best. Even if I train day and night now, I'm still no match for Yan Ruoshui."
Mei'er traced my chest with her slender fingers, continuing to encourage me, "It's all about human effort. Yan Ruoshui isn't a god; there's always a way to defeat him. Like when you defeated Chu Tianfeng, it was through intelligence, not brute force.
Besides, I've heard that there are many rare and precious fruits in the Desolate Land that can increase one's power..."
"This girl, I almost forgot she's a martial artist too!" I thought to myself, "She's really thinking of me!" Touched, I gently kissed her forehead as a reward. After a moment's thought, I replied, "Rare fruits can only relieve fatigue and quickly restore one's strength, not increase it.
If they could truly increase one's strength, who would bother to practice martial arts diligently? They would all be scrambling to find rare fruits!
However, there is a way to defeat Yan Ruoshui within three years..."
"What way? Oh, right, martial arts manuals!" Mei'er exclaimed excitedly.
I glared at her, annoyed. "There aren't that many martial arts manuals in the world. Besides, such things are extremely rare and hard to come by. Even if they existed, we might not be able to find them even if we exhausted our entire lives. However, there are indeed a few living 'manuals' in the martial world..."
Before Mei'er could ask, I explained, "Yan Ruoshui's skill is superior to mine, that's undeniable; but his techniques aren't any better. If I could incorporate the precise techniques of several major martial arts sects into my own, I could use the ingenuity of my techniques to counter his internal energy and defeat him by avoiding direct confrontation!"
"That's difficult," Mei'er frowned. "The most famous sects in the martial world have always been very protective of their martial arts, keeping them secret. How could they possibly share everything they know?"
"I'll become your apprentice! If I can't, I'll learn by stealing! Like you said, it's all up to you!" I sprang to my feet. "Mei'er, thank you. Never before have I known so clearly what I need to do, and never before has my life had such a concrete goal to strive for."
Mei'er rested her head on her hand, her jade-like body reclining, her watery eyes filled with unyielding affection, gazing at me. My heart fluttered: Mei'er is truly a rare beauty, beautiful in every way!
While Mei'er was still washing up, I got up and went for a walk outside. Outside the inn, there was a craggy rockery and lush flowers and plants, the scenery no less beautiful than my own home. I secretly praised: Fatty Song's management skills are indeed impressive!
"You're up early, sir!" I was startled: I had been so relaxed that I hadn't heard the footsteps of the guests!
I turned around, and Fatty Song, giving me a thumbs-up, was smiling broadly behind me.
My face flushed. If Yan Ruoyu hadn't been in such a hurry to leave, I probably wouldn't have gotten up this early. I gave a slight bow: "Mr. Song, you're too kind. Speaking of early, I'm far from being as busy and prosperous as you are!"
Mr. Song smiled mysteriously: "I'm different. I'm old and frail, and I have the will but not the strength. Your 'sound' last night lasted until the early hours of the morning, you're quite the young man!"
Damn it! I cursed inwardly: "Last night I was trying to seduce Yan Ruoyu next door, and you, old man, got off easy!"
With that thought, I suddenly struck out with my palm at the fat man in front of me.
The fat man never expected me to turn on him without warning, and he was caught off guard.
Even so, my three killing blows only managed to cut off a piece of his sleeve. This fat man is indeed not simple! The
panting fat man dodged to the side, and I took the opportunity to withdraw my fist and stand still. Before he could protest, I said seriously, "Mr. Song, have you ever thought about expanding your business?"
Fatty Song's face flickered between anger and uncertainty: "What do you mean by that, sir?"
"I was just testing Mr. Song's skills, to see if there was any possibility of cooperation."
Hearing my explanation, Fatty Song's expression finally softened a little: "What cooperation?"
"Is Mr. Song's ambition merely to own Tianxiang Restaurant?"
Fatty Song's eyes gleamed with a flicker of heat, but he quickly regained his composure. "Do you even know how much capital and manpower it takes to run Tianxiang Restaurant? Just maintaining its operation is exhausting enough for me, let alone anything else!"
I casually uttered an "Oh," and turned to leave. For such a skilled expert to be content to stay in a restaurant, I simply couldn't believe he harbored no ambition whatsoever.
"Please take care, sir!" Fatty Song finally couldn't help but try to persuade me to stay. I knew I had made the right bet this time.
Fatty Song led me to a secluded, quiet private room. After I sat down, he asked, "How would you like to cooperate, sir? Tell me. Whether it works out or not, I'll appreciate your help!"
I tapped my fingers on the table. "Mr. Song, answer me a question first: If we were to open several more branches of Tianxiang Restaurant, what would be the biggest difficulty?"
"Capital!" Mr. Song replied without hesitation. "With money, we can figure out the other things, like locations and manpower."
I pulled out a stack of silver notes and handed them to Fatty Song. It would be a lie to say I hadn't made preparations before running away from home. Before my mother gave me 300,000 taels of silver, I had already secretly embezzled a total of one million taels of silver from my father. I wondered if he would be furious when he found out.
"One million taels?" Boss Song murmured. "The branch doesn't need to be as big as the main branch. This money is enough to open four or five more."
Chapter Eleven Cooperation
"If it's not enough, I can find another way." Before leaving home, my mother told me that if I had any difficulties, I could ask her family, the Nangong family. I didn't believe my grandmother would let me starve to death.
"That won't be necessary." Fatty Song said seriously, "I've accumulated quite a bit of savings over the past ten years. But, what kind of conditions does the customer want?"
Fatty Song's eyes were like lightning, staring intently at me, as if trying to guess my innermost thoughts.
I smiled slightly and held up one finger.
"Oh. So the customer wants a Tianxiang Restaurant." Boss Song's face relaxed. "That's easy. Even if you want the main branch, we can discuss it."
"No," I shook my head, staring at Fatty Song, whose heart was pounding, "I only want 10% of your annual profits."
Fatty Song looked incredulous. This condition was not only not harsh, but too generous. He said seriously, "Sir, aren't you afraid that I, Song, will mismanage and lose all your capital?"
I laughed and said, "Mr. Song, you're too modest. Seeing how well Tianxiang Restaurant is doing, I know you won't disappoint me. Besides," I said calmly, "the capital isn't a loan, it's a gift.
Even if I lose it all, I won't require you to repay a single penny."
Mr. Song slammed his hand on the table: "Fine! Let's go all out! Damn it, if I don't seize such a good opportunity, am I still Fatty Song?" "!"
Fatty Song's eyes darted around. "Brother Nangong, aren't you afraid I'll abscond with the money?"
I smiled and said, "Boss Song is a smart man. He wouldn't let such a good opportunity slip by.
Abscond with the money? Heh, money is just inanimate; no matter how much you have, it will eventually run out. Only making money from money is the only way to make money that never goes out of style. Besides," I said coldly, my face turning frosty, "I'm not afraid of Boss Song turning against me."
This wasn't an exaggeration or a threat. With my father's power and my mother's family's influence in the Nangong clan, I really wasn't afraid of Fatty Song turning against me. Besides, the money was originally a gift to him; what businessman would be so stupid as to try and steal it?
Boss Song's eyes darted around, then he smiled broadly and said, "Fatty Song, you're being a gentleman after all. Brother Nangong thinks so highly of me, so of course I won't let you down. Okay, it's settled then!"
Fatty Song and I high-fived. Fatty Song wrote me a contract, and I added, "If I unfortunately die, 10% of the annual profits will be collected by Miss Lan Mei."
************
When I returned to my room, Mei'er had already finished washing up and bought breakfast. Seeing me return, she smiled sweetly and said, "Master, what were you busy with so early?"
I patted my empty pockets: "I went to spend all the money I had."
Mei'er took out the 200,000 taels of silver notes I had given her and handed them to me: "Master, Mei'er still has some here."
I held her soft hand tightly: "Silly girl. What's given to you is yours, there's no reason to ask for it back.
Besides, I still have several thousand taels of loose silver notes, enough for spending money. I was just making some arrangements for our future, so that if we really leave home and become independent in the future, our money won't be cut off." Livelihood.
Knowing that if my parents didn't agree to my marriage to her, I had already made up my mind to leave the family, Mei'er's eyes reddened, and tears streamed down her face: "Master is so good to Mei'er! Actually, Master didn't need to do this. Mei'er would be content just to be a servant and serve Master."
I pinched her rosy cheeks: "Mei'er is also good to Master, even giving me her own savings without hesitation. It's a man's blessing to marry such a good wife!"
Mei'er wiped away her tears, forcing a smile through her sobs: "The porridge is cold, let me feed Master!"
**********************************
It took almost half an hour to finish the now-cold porridge mouth-to-mouth. After saying goodbye to Boss Song, I finally embarked on my first journey into the martial world with my beauty, no longer alone.
"Which sect should we visit first?" Mei'er asked.
I pondered for a moment, then said, "The nearest major sect should be Wudang Sect, about ten days' journey away.
However, Maoshan is not far ahead. I've heard that the Taoist priests of Maoshan possess profound magic, so perhaps we should pay them a visit first."
Mei'er, on the bumpy horseback, looked up at me with her pretty face: "Master, the Taoist priests of Maoshan are said to be able to catch ghosts and exorcise demons. Are there really ghosts and demons in the world?"
Mei'er's face showed the curious, girlish demeanor of a young girl; it was hard to believe she was Lan Ji, one of the four famous courtesans—truly captivating!
I smiled and said, "Who knows? Although the tales of ghosts and demons are absurd, they have a long history. I have personally witnessed people possessed and driven mad, supposedly by the resentment of ghosts. But as for the truth, I can only tell you after I have mastered the magic of Maoshan."
Mei'er clapped her hands and said, "Great! Master, once you master the magic, catch a beautiful female ghost to keep Mei'er company!"
I smiled slightly but did not answer. What beautiful female ghost could there be in the world!
Chapter Twelve Maoshan
Maoshan Crossroads
A huge, horizontal wooden sign blocked the road up the mountain. Three large characters were written on it in a flamboyant, twisted style: Maoshan Sect.
I chuckled inwardly: The Maoshan Sect has such a strange way of doing things, blocking the road with a wooden sign. I kicked the sign aside, and suddenly a middle-aged Taoist priest with a long beard, who had been sleeping on the ground, emerged from behind it, exclaiming, "Oh dear, what a strong wind! It even blew away my 'Get Rich' sign!"
He seemed about to rush over to retrieve the sign I had kicked away when, as if suddenly noticing our presence, he quickly stopped, straightened his clothes, and stretched out two withered hands to stop us: "Wait! Visiting Maoshan costs five taels of silver!"
I exclaimed in surprise, "Are you robbing me? I've come to Maoshan to become a disciple and learn martial arts!"
The middle-aged Taoist priest stroked his long beard, smiling: "Hmm, becoming a disciple and learning martial arts will cost an extra ten taels of silver!"
I stared at the middle-aged Taoist priest before me in even greater astonishment: indeed, he wore a dirty Taoist robe, a peach wood sword slung across his back, and worn-out straw sandals. He was tall and thin, with a long beard and a signature bulbous nose. My mouth gaped open: "Could it be... could it be that you are...?"
The middle-aged Taoist priest clasped his hands behind his back, slightly turned his body, half-closed his eyes, and glanced at the sky, striking an arrogant pose: "That's right, I am the legendary sixteenth-generation head of Maoshan, the direct disciple of Zhang Tianshi, the master you are to worship—Mao Sandou!"
When he said his name, he drew out the last syllable, as if anticipating my shock at the name.
When he turned around and saw me standing there motionless, he sighed, "No wonder you juniors aren't surprised. The ghost-hunting industry has been bad lately. The Maoshan Sect isn't making much money, and all the disciples have left. I had to personally take on some small business to make ends meet. It's tough!"
I scratched my head. "Don't you know how to use some kind of 'Five Ghosts Moving Technique' to borrow money from someone else's treasury?"
"'Five Ghosts Moving Technique'? Sounds good. But even Zhang Tianshi didn't pass it down. Where can I learn it?"
Sect Leader Mao wasn't ashamed to ask.
"This..." I was speechless for a moment. Mei'er asked on my behalf, "Then may I ask, Master Mao, what are your skills?"
Mao Sandou brushed off his clothes, "Catching ghosts and exorcising demons, upholding justice, are the sacred duties of those of us who study Taoism. By the way, bringing a female relative to become an apprentice will incur an extra five taels of silver."
I took out a hundred-tael silver note and handed it over, "Master, this is a small token of my appreciation. Please keep it for tea."
Mao Sandou took the silver note, glanced at it, and quickly stuffed it into his pocket, saying with a flourish, "Come on, I'll show you around the Maoshan Sect. You're the only decent disciple I've taken in decades, able to offer a hundred taels of silver so readily.
Look, that's our magnificent sect building!"
I looked up, and several dilapidated thatched huts came into view. I couldn't help but curse, "Damn, are you kidding me?
A magnificent house made of thatched roofs?"
Mao Sandou smiled awkwardly, "That's why it's called the Maoshan Sect. The great responsibility of rebuilding the sect falls on your generation."
There
were seven or eight thatched huts in total, and Mei'er and I were assigned one, settling down. Simple meals every day, it had its own unique charm. However, every time I asked Mao Sandou to teach me Maoshan magic, he would shake his head and say the time wasn't right, and I couldn't persuade him otherwise.
Another late night.
Mei'er's body clung to me like an octopus, the constant flow of fragrant sweat and the faint moans of mosquitoes indicating how satisfying our recent intimacy had been. Feeling my still-erect erection, Mei'er murmured, "Master, you haven't..."
I said calmly, "It's alright, it's good to do this once in a while."
Mei'er gasped, "Master, but Mei'er heard that it's very harmful for a man if he can't release his pent-up desire.
How about Mei'er sucks it out for you with her mouth?"
I didn't agree or disagree, and Mei'er lowered her head and began to suck and stroke. My desire was rekindled, and I used Mei'er's fragrant mouth as a furnace, ramming and thrusting, each time going deep into her throat, until I finally released my pent-up desire.
Although Mei'er tried her best to suck and swallow, she still choked a little. Mei'er said in alarm, "Master, I'm sorry, Mei'er didn't mean it!"
I patted her head and comforted her, "Silly girl, how could I be angry? I'm grateful."
After tidying myself up a bit, Mei'er and I embraced. Mei'er asked softly, "Master, hasn't that Master Mao taught you any martial arts yet? He seems crazy and greedy, not like a martial arts master at all."
I plucked a blade of grass, put it in my mouth, and chewed while pondering, "I don't know why, but I always feel that this person isn't as simple as he seems."
Chapter Thirteen: The Female Ghost
Life in Maoshan was simple, and the days were uneventful. Gradually, I learned how Maoshan's reputation among the people had been built.
The area around Maoshan was a poor and remote place, and the people lived very hard lives. Their hardship exceeded my imagination as a spoiled rich kid. Although Master Mao still carried a large sign at the crossroads every day to swindle money, I never saw him squander it. Later, I discovered that he bought rice every day to cook a large pot of porridge, which he used to help the poor in the back mountains. Many destitute old people relied on Master Mao's thin porridge to survive.
Now I understand the origin of Mao Sandou's name: it's because he cooked at least three dou of rice into thin porridge every day. I'm now even more curious about his real name, but he almost never talks about himself.
Mei'er, with her rudimentary medical knowledge, spent the next few days treating the sick and ill around Su Gu Pi, sometimes busy brewing medicine late into the night, completely neglecting to satisfy my physical desires. Looking at her apologetic eyes, I felt not anger, but rather a surge of sweetness: I had truly found a good wife content with a simple life. Although she was a prostitute, her soul was cleaner than most of those in positions of power.
Master Mao remained as carefree as ever, until one day he quietly pulled me aside: "My dear disciple, come here, I have something to tell you."
I asked warily, "What is it?"
Master Mao replied, "Recently, some people have reported a man-eating female ghost appearing in Black Wind Town, not far from the foot of the mountain. How about I send you to catch the ghost and subdue the demon? If you succeed, you can leave the mountain!"
I cursed, "Damn it, isn't this blatantly treating your disciple like livestock? You haven't taught me a single move, how am I supposed to catch ghosts and subdue demons? Besides, how did you even ..." "Why don't you go..."
The Taoist priest blushed slightly. "Catching ghosts is all about talent. I see you're exceptionally gifted, so you're naturally blessed. And to tell you the truth, those talismans and holy waters are basically just for show. Even if I passed them on to you, they wouldn't be of much use. Besides, I've been a bit unavailable these past few days..."
I spat and sighed, "Damn, do you think you're a woman? Fine, I'll go. Do you have any treasures to give me?" Although I said that, I knew that Master Mao had been busy going out to Luo'an to collect herbs that weren't available near Maoshan these past few days, and I felt a surge of gratitude.
The Taoist priest pulled out a dark, grimy peach wood sword from behind him. "Hmm, here's a peach wood sword left by our patriarch. Take it with you!"
I took it and weighed it in my hand. It felt heavy, not quite like peach wood. I asked, "Will it be useful?"
The Taoist priest chuckled mischievously. "Taking it means you're almost certainly dead, not taking it means you're definitely dead!"
I shouldered my bag and bid farewell to Mei'er. To avoid worrying her, I only said I needed to go down the mountain to gather some daily necessities. Mei'er didn't suspect anything and told me to go and come back soon.
Black Wind Town was only half a day's journey from Maoshan, but unfortunately, it started raining heavily on the way, and I happened to have no umbrella, so I was instantly soaked. Just
as I was panicking, I suddenly spotted a dilapidated temple by the roadside, and I quickly led my horse inside.
The temple was dark and unlit, but I could vaguely make out that it enshrined a white-robed Guanyin Bodhisattva. The temple had clearly been without incense offerings for a long time; the floor was covered with broken bricks, the corners were covered with cobwebs, and the dust on the offering table was half a foot thick. I was too lazy to clean it, so I spread some straw in a corner and sat down, intending to wait for the rain to stop.
Just as I settled in, I suddenly heard the rapid sound of hooves approaching from afar. I peeked out and saw two riders galloping towards us in the pouring rain. I thought to myself: since this dilapidated temple is the only shelter from the rain nearby, they'll probably arrive here soon. These two are rushing through the rain so hastily; perhaps they have some secret they can't share with outsiders? Why not eavesdrop?
With that thought, I quickly untied the reins and used my inner strength to poke the horse's back. The white horse, in pain, bolted away. I returned to the temple, gathered my energy, and leaped onto the roof beam. The beam was thick, and I was safe from being discovered hiding behind it.
Just as I concealed myself, the sound of hooves reached the temple. A gruff male voice said, "Damn it, what a disappointment to run into such a downpour!"
A female voice chimed in, "Shh, let's go inside and see if anyone's there." The woman's voice was high-pitched, filled with a seductive air.
The man praised, "You're so thoughtful!" He then entered the temple with his footsteps, and after a moment, exclaimed in surprise, "Someone's here!"
The woman rushed in after him, "What?"
I peeked over and saw a bald man, around thirty years old, lying on the ground, examining my footprints by the light from outside. A flamboyant woman in a fox fur coat carefully searched the area around the temple, spitting, "You're nothing! The dust is so thick, anyone would have left long ago!"
The man pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "I still feel uneasy. I'll go out and take a look!"
The woman grumbled for a while, finally choosing a clean spot, laying down some straw, and sitting down.
The man went out for a walk, and as soon as he returned, the woman demanded, "Where is he?"
The man awkwardly replied, "There are two lines of hoofprints behind the temple; it seems he's already ridden away."
Chapter Fourteen: Eavesdropping
The woman spat again, cursing, "Knowing a coward like you, I, Miao Cuimei, must have had the worst luck in eight lifetimes! You're so timid, wanting to cheat but lacking the guts, look at your character!"
The man smiled ingratiatingly, moving closer to the woman, "Better safe than sorry. You know, my martial arts are no match for that old devil, and I can't even beat that bitch!"
The woman grew angrier as she spoke, her sharp finger poking the man's nose, "Damn it! I was hoping you'd kill that old devil and marry me! Is that all the ambition you have? Heavens, who will I rely on in my next life!" The woman cried and snotted, putting on a vivid performance.
The woman's crying grew louder and louder. At first, the man tried to comfort her with great care, but gradually he grew impatient and kicked her to the ground: "You slut, are you itching for a beating?"
The woman rolled on the ground, but with seductive eyes, she grabbed the man's leg: "Fine, kill me then! Come on!
Hit me!"
The man grinned maliciously and stomped on the woman's face: "I knew your cunt was itching again! Damn it, if that old devil knew that his beloved third concubine was just a slut who got more excited the more he hit her, he'd be furious to death!"
I secretly glanced at her. The fur coat on the woman who called herself "Miao Cuimei" was already spread out on the ground. She was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, with a curvaceous figure. She was indeed a hot beauty. It seemed that she was a concubine of some wealthy family, having an affair with a servant behind her husband's back.
The bald man had already straddled the woman and was slapping her one after another, while his other hand was also twisting her breasts. Strangely, the woman became even more wanton in this situation, swinging her long legs back and forth in the air, murmuring, "So good...so good it's killing me! Harder...harder!"
I cursed these two shameless sluts in my heart, but I could only force myself to endure it. Just as the two sluts below were locked in a fierce struggle, suddenly the sound of horses' hooves came from afar.
The man, naked, leaped off the adulterous woman and peered out the window. A moment later, he stammered, "Damn it... it's that old devil's bitch! Looks like she's starting to suspect us; she's been following us!"
The woman straightened her clothes, sat up from the ground, and said impatiently, as if nothing had happened, "Stop looking back. With the two of us working together, surely we can capture her? She's just a sixteen or seventeen-year-old brat. Let's just deflower her and make her the old devil's cheap son-in-law!"
The man turned around, staring at the woman, his small eyes darting around, clearly plotting something wicked: "She's nominally your daughter! You're willing to do that?"
The woman licked her lips: "Nonsense! She's not even my biological daughter." " If that slut's mother doesn't die, I'll never be the old ghost's legal wife! You've gotten off easy this time, but if you get addicted to her and neglect me, I'll expose all your dirty secrets!"
The man smiled obsequiously, "How could that be! She's nowhere near as good as you in bed!"
The adulterous couple whispered in each other's ears for a while. The man hid naked behind the door, while the woman made her clothes even more disheveled, smeared some dust on her face, spread her legs wide towards the door, revealing her filthy vulva, and lay motionless on the ground, repeatedly shouting, "Help! Someone help me!"
I also gathered my inner strength, secretly on guard, waiting to leap in and save them at the crucial moment.
The sound of horses' hooves stopped in front of the door, followed by light footsteps. A young girl in a yellow dress appeared in the doorway, cautiously surveying everything before her. She didn't rush in, but instead gazed at the still-crying adulterous woman and asked calmly, "Third Aunt, what's wrong?"
The woman gasped, "That bastard Niu Tian has me pinned down! Don't come in! He's hiding...
"
Suddenly, the man lunged out from behind the door, striking at the girl in the doorway. The girl raised her hand, about to retaliate, but then realized the man before her was naked. Her face flushed, and she stepped back. The man withdrew his hand and stepped back in front of the woman, his right hand bent like a claw, gripping her throat. He hissed, "Don't come any closer! If you dare come any closer, I'll strangle her!"
The girl stepped into the temple, clapping and laughing, "Good, good, you two adulterers are really good actors. If I hadn't discovered your affair before, you would have definitely fooled me this time!"
The man's expression changed: "I don't understand what you're saying, but if you dare move, I'll snap her throat!"
The girl said contemptuously, "Okay, hurry up, I'm waiting to see."
The man and woman froze simultaneously. The woman angrily said, "What nonsense are you talking about! Hurry up and save me!"
The girl said leisurely, "Third Aunt, you said Niu Tian has sealed your acupoints, but can you tell me why he didn't also seal your mute acupoint, instead leaving it to remind me that this is a trap?"
The adulterers' expressions changed drastically at the same time. Hiding on the beam, I couldn't help but secretly admire the girl's resourcefulness and meticulousness.
The girl continued, "Niu Tian is a fool; he probably couldn't have come up with such a brilliant idea. Third Aunt, this was your idea, wasn't it? Father has no sons; you think that as long as Niu Tian can take my virginity and subdue me into an obedient slave, he can naturally take over the family fortune and have whatever he wants. Third Aunt, do you think my guess is correct?"
Niu Tian and Miao Cuimei exchanged a glance and pounced on the girl.
The girl turned, a crystal dagger appearing in her hand, her jade-like face turning frosty as she stabbed at Niu Tian, who was charging ahead, her target being his manhood.
Chapter Fifteen: The Antidote
Niu Tian was shocked and kicked out twice in quick succession, aiming for the girl's wrist holding the dagger. The girl flipped her wrist and stabbed at Niu Tian's sole. Niu Tian hurriedly withdrew his foot, but the sharp dagger still left a cut on his sole.
Miao Cuimei grabbed at the girl's throat, shouting, "You bitch, die!"
The girl kicked out, aiming for Miao Cuimei's abdomen, forcing her to retreat and defend herself. Simultaneously, her right hand flicked her dagger, unleashing three more thrusts, targeting the restless Niu Tian.
The girl's movements were incredibly fluid; with every gesture, she deflected their attacks and gained the upper hand, demonstrating exceptional martial arts skills. Despite Niu Tian and Miao Cuimei's screams and deadly attacks, they couldn't gain the upper hand.
After another fierce offensive, Niu Tian had three more bloody gashes, and Miao Cuimei's sleeve was torn off. The bloodstains didn't deter Niu Tian; instead, they fueled his ferocity, leading him to recklessly fight to the death. The girl, still inexperienced, and with Niu Tian completely naked, his manhood dangling, made her blush and gradually began to falter.
Hiding on the roof beam, I watched the girl fall into danger and was about to leap down when suddenly I smelled a strange fragrance and was startled. Looking closely, I saw that Miao Cuimei had secretly sprinkled some powder behind her back while Niu Tian and the girl were fighting—it was a sleeping potion!
The potion was potent; I felt a sudden heat surge in my lower abdomen, and my body felt uncomfortably swollen. I could only desperately control my mind and use my internal energy to suppress the potion. This made the situation even more precarious for the girl below.
Her breathing became increasingly heavy; the intense fighting caused the drug to take effect faster, and soon she was drenched in sweat. Niu Tian's eyes were bloodshot, like a bull in heat, sinister and terrifying.
Miao Cuimei, who had been watching coldly from the sidelines, seized the opportunity to lewdly sneer, "Good. Let's see how long you can hold out, you little slut. Soon you'll be begging men to fuck you, even more slutty than a whore in a brothel. Niu Tian used this kind of drug to scheme against me back then, now I'll let you taste it too!"
Miao Cuimei's words made the girl's mind even more chaotic, and her moves gradually became erratic. Seeing this, Miao Cuimei's teasing words became even more incessant: "Tsk tsk, what a delicate little girl, about to be ravaged to the point of wishing for death by Niu Tian, I'm actually a little reluctant!"
Niu Tian finally got his chance, his large hand slipping through the girl's blade and grabbing her breast. The girl's body trembled violently, swaying precariously.
The girl feigned a thrust and pulled away to run away. Niu Tian shouted, "Trying to leave?" He pounced on her like a tiger, pinning her down. The girl struggled desperately, which only made Niu Tian more excited, and his hand also reached into her chest, groping her haphazardly.
Realizing the situation was critical, I desperately suppressed the effects of the drug and leaped down from the roof beam. Taking advantage of Niu Tian's surprise, I struck him squarely on the top of his head with all my might. Knowing my drug-induced effects wouldn't last long, I acted swiftly and mercilessly.
A cracking sound of bones breaking echoed from Niu Tian's head, and he died instantly. Miao Cuimei, seeing the situation was dire, tried to escape, but I kicked her in the soft pressure point on her waist, rendering her immobile.
I struggled to lift the girl and asked, "Miss, how are you?"
Her eyes were flushed, her breath was shallow, and her face was flushed with desire. My lust burned even brighter, and I involuntarily ripped open the girl's top. The girl raised her weak hand in resistance, saying, "What...what are you doing?"
My mind cleared a little, and I managed to stand up. I walked to the restrained Miao Cuimei, grabbed her throat, and demanded, "Where's the antidote?"
Miao Cuimei was almost suffocating from my grip, struggling to say, "There's no antidote...this is an aphrodisiac. After intercourse, naturally...naturally, nothing will happen!"
The girl beside me had already begun frantically rubbing her full breasts, muttering, "Quickly...I want..."
I rolled to the girl's side, muttering, "I'm sorry!" I jabbed her pressure point with one finger and pushed her to a corner.
I grabbed Miao Cuimei's fair thighs, pulled her between my legs, untied her clothes, and thrust into her without a word. This slut had just been with Niu Tian, so the aphrodisiac had less effect on her, but after I penetrated her honeypot, her lust was immediately revealed.
With my rough, unadorned thrusts, her moans grew louder and louder. Lost in the aphrodisiac, I treated this harlot as nothing more than a tool for my gratification. I hoisted her two pink legs onto my shoulders, and my penis pounded into her wet, juicy vulva like a pile driver.
With Miao Cuimei's seventh scream, I was finally close to my climax. I thrust a finger into her acupoint, then, with my throbbing erection, I went to the girl's side, grabbed her chin, and continued thrusting into her mouth like a honey pot.
My ejaculation finally erupted, and a large amount of fluid gushed into the girl's throat. Seeing the girl about to vomit, I closed her mouth tightly and shouted, "This is the most effective antidote, drink it all!"
The girl, without thinking, obediently swallowed it all. I lifted her body and threw her into the rain outside the temple, letting the rain accelerate the dissipation of the aphrodisiac's effects.
The Guanyin statue on the altar remained serenely watching everything that had just happened, its wise eyes seemingly seeing through all the chaos of the world.
Chapter Sixteen Arson
The rain gradually subsided, the torrential spring downpour finally disappearing without a trace.
I straightened my clothes and went outside the temple, releasing the acupoints on the girl who was still soaked in the rain. The girl's clothes were soaked, her cheeks slightly flushed, her exquisite curves clearly visible, and even covered in mud, her stunning beauty remained undiminished.
Although the effects of the drug had worn off, the thought of Luo's detoxification earlier still stirred my heart.
The girl struggled to sit up and began to vomit again. I said apologetically, "Miss, I am truly sorry for what happened earlier. I..."
The girl's hand moved with lightning speed, slapping me hard across the face. I did not dodge, and five finger marks quickly appeared on my face. I touched my face and sighed, "I have indeed offended you greatly, but it was unavoidable, please forgive me."
A hint of surprise flashed in the girl's eyes, clearly because I had not dodged and was willing to accept the punishment. Perhaps my apology reminded her of the previous scene, for a blush immediately appeared on her face. After a moment's hesitation, she reached out and said, "I'm too weak right now, help me up."
I took her soft hand and helped her lean against my shoulder to stand up. Just as my mind was racing, I suddenly felt a chill in my abdomen, and with a start, I fell flat on my back in the muddy water, rolling away.
The girl didn't continue her pursuit. I stood up, blood gushing from a deep wound in my abdomen.
Fortunately, I was lucky; my internal organs weren't damaged. I stared in astonishment at the crystal dagger hidden in the girl's sleeve and shouted, "What are you doing?"
The girl stared at me with interest and sighed, "You humiliated me like that and threw me into the mud. Now I'm stabbing you so you can get some mud on you too, and we'll be even." The girl ignored me, turned and walked into the temple, saying hatefully, "What about that adulterous couple?"
I cursed inwardly. The girl had clearly intended to kill me to silence me. If I hadn't dodged quickly, I'd probably be dead in the mud by now. Without thinking, I took out some wound medicine and bandaged my wound.
The girl in the temple screamed in surprise. I knew she had seen the dead bodies of Niu Tian and Miao Cuimei.
Niu Tian was alright, only his skull was shattered; Miao Cuimei, however, had been through seven orgasms and was covered in filth when I struck her vital point, so naturally she was in a terrible state.
The girl rushed out of the temple, a dagger pointed at me: "You...you raped her?"
I sneered, pointing to her tattered clothes that revealed large patches of her snow-white skin: "If I hadn't been able to control myself, I probably would have taken advantage of you too..."
I had absolutely no sympathy for a girl who was ungrateful and had just stabbed me. Although she was right next to me when I vented my anger on Miao Cuimei, she was too intoxicated by the drugs to remember anything.
My words gradually brought her back to reality, and the dagger in her hand slowly dropped. The girl's face flushed red, and she managed to say, "Th-thank you."
I coldly replied, "If you hadn't stabbed me a few more times, I would have been grateful to you." I pulled out several bundles of straw, lit them with a tinderbox, and started setting fires everywhere.
The girl followed behind, watching my actions with surprise. "What are you doing?" she asked.
I replied calmly, "Setting fire. Do you want to erect a monument for them so everyone knows how they died?" As I passed Niu Tian's corpse, I noticed his genitals had been smashed to pieces. I sneered, "You really have the heart to do that!"
The girl blushed and stammered, "Does having that thing... make all men... become bad?"
I laughed angrily, "Yes, yes, you're right. You must never marry anyone in the future; it'd be best to marry a eunuch."
The girl seemed to realize she had said the wrong thing, muttered a few awkward words, and then fell silent.
The rain had just stopped, making setting the fire even more difficult. I exerted all my strength to burn the two corpses to a charred state, but the straw and wood were all used up, and there was nothing left to ignite in the temple. If I wanted to climb onto the roof and dismantle the beams, it would be a huge undertaking. I realized then that while "murder and arson" sounded easy, doing it was not so simple.
While I was busy with all this, the girl followed me the whole time, but refused to help in any way.
Ah, women!
Looking at the extinguished fire, I clapped my hands and said, "The evidence's been covered up. We'll part ways here. I have other things to do, so I'll take my leave."
My own horse had already wandered off somewhere, so I grabbed one of the adulterous couple's horses and prepared to ride away. The girl spurred her horse to follow me. I turned back angrily and said, "Why are you following me? Are you going to stab me?"
The girl blushed and pointed to the horse I was riding: "This horse is our family's property."
I coughed awkwardly; what the girl said was true. I pretended to be tough and said, "How much? I'll buy it."
The girl shook her head: "I'm not selling."
I looked at the road ahead. If I had to walk to Black Wind Town, my legs would be wasted. I suppressed my anger: "What exactly do you want?"
The girl said leisurely: "Thinking about it carefully, you're not such a bad person. Anyway, I've been idle these past few days, so I thought I'd spend a few days playing with you."
Chapter Seventeen Forced Marriage
I said coldly: "Aren't you afraid I'll suddenly go berserk and rape and kill you too?"
The girl laughed heartily: "Even when you were under the influence of aphrodisiacs, you managed to restrain yourself from destroying my virginity. Now you say you'll go berserk, isn't that just bluffing? Besides, we've already been intimate. At most, I'll just have to make do and marry you!"
I snorted: "I already have a wife. Even if I were to take a concubine, I wouldn't choose a clueless little brat like you!"
The girl puffed out her chest on horseback: "Who said I don't know anything? Do you think I'm small?"
It cannot be denied that her breasts were indeed very full, extremely disproportionate to her age. My heart skipped a beat, but I still put on a stern face and said, "I'm going to Black Wind Town to catch a female ghost this time. If you're not afraid of death, come along. Don't scream and yell when we get there!"
The girl cheered and spurred her horse to my side, grabbing my clothes: "Is there really a female ghost? Is she pretty? How do you plan to subdue her?"
I shook off her hand and said coldly, "You can come along to see, but you'd better not interfere with my work.
Otherwise, don't blame me for being impolite."
I spurred my horse on, and the girl rode alongside me, persistently asking, "Hey, you rascal, what's your name?"
I ignored her, but she continued to call me "rascal," "rascal." I could only reply, "My name is Nangong Chuan. And yours?"
The girl repeated it several times before smiling and saying, "Nangong Chuan, that's not a bad name. As for my name, guess?"
I ignored her and sneered, "You're called 'Jian Nizi,' right? That's what that adulterous couple calls you."
The girl's face turned frosty as she angrily retorted, "You're the one called 'Jian Nizi'! My name is Linghu Meier!"
I exclaimed in astonishment, "What?! Are you the daughter of the Linghu family?"
The girl looked up and said, "That's me! Scared yet?"
My head suddenly felt like it was about to explode. So the marriage my parents arranged for me was with this girl in front of me! Recalling the girl's behavior from the moment she saw through Niu Tian's conspiracy until now, I finally understood a thing or two.
I said calmly, "Let me guess: you must have sneaked out of the house, right? You must have acted gentle, virtuous, and proper in front of outsiders, right? You ran away this time because you didn't want your parents to marry you off to a man named Hua Yichuan, right? You don't know Hua Yichuan at all, and you've never even met him, right?"
The girl's mouth dropped open in surprise, "How did you guess that?"
I snorted coldly, "If you're afraid of marrying him, you can rest assured, because he will never marry you."
"You're talking nonsense!" The girl's face was filled with suspicion and uncertainty. Suddenly, she looked me up and down. "You wouldn't happen to be that Hua Yichuan, would you? Hmm, his name also has the character 'Chuan' in it, and he has quite a connection with Nangong Shijie. I heard his mother is the third young lady of Nangong Shijie. Nangong...Chuan? It seems you're the one!"
I sneered a few times. "Anyway, I won't marry you. I already have a wife!"
The girl cursed. "You dare to marry someone else behind my back? Be careful, or I'll castrate you!"
I retorted. "Is it any of your business? I'm not only marrying a wife, I'm also taking a concubine! I'll go home and have my father cancel this marriage!"
The girl shouted. "You dare!"
"You'll see if I dare!"
"You're shameless!" "
So what if I'm shameless? Didn't you refuse to marry me? Now you're willing, but I'm still not!"
"You..." The girl was speechless and buried her face in her arms on the horse, sobbing.
My heart softened, and I sighed, "The young lady doesn't actually want to marry me; she's just unwilling to admit defeat and can't save face. Besides, I already have a beautiful wife, and I'll have my father come to apologize another day. The young lady is naturally beautiful; she can certainly find a husband a hundred times better than me."
The girl, tears streaming down her face, looked up, crying and shouting, "Who said...who said I don't want to marry you?
I...I've been...what have you done to me? Who else can I marry if not you? At most..." She gritted her teeth and continued, "At most, I'll be a little lax and marry you as a concubine!"
I was stunned. He exclaimed, "What?" Then he shook his head, "That would be too unfair to you, Miss. Besides, even if you were willing, your father would never agree!"
The girl wiped away her tears and cried out, "I don't care! If you agree, I'll find a way to get my father to agree. If you don't agree, I'll castrate you first, and then kill myself!"
I murmured, "Miss, you'd better think it over carefully before making a decision. Being a concubine isn't such an easy thing."
The girl smiled through her tears, "I've already thought it through! At most, I'll give way to your wife! You must remember to treat me well!"
Chapter Eighteen: Back Then
After carefully observing Linghu Meier, I found her increasingly beautiful and captivating, though her beauty was completely different
from Meier's. Meier was naturally alluring and worldly-wise, therefore always cautious and considerate. Knowing her lowly status, she had an innate fear of marrying into a wealthy family, constantly regarding herself as a servant, appearing pitiful and vulnerable. Linghu Meier, on the other hand, had a background no less impressive than mine, so she spoke without restraint, seemingly less concerned with her social standing, and was even willing to marry me as a concubine. Her youthful energy made her seem like a mischievous younger sister. However, this girl was perfectly proportioned, her figure in no way inferior to Meier's; for a moment, both were alluring and beautiful, each with their own charm.
I touched the still throbbing wound on my abdomen and said sternly, "The primary duty of a concubine is to serve her husband well. Someone like you, who so readily resorts to violence against her husband, will be kicked out of the house sooner or later."
"You dare!" Mei'er retorted coquettishly. Noticing my unfriendly expression, her tone softened involuntarily: "Alright, alright, I'll change slowly!"
I seized the opportunity: "That's more like it." I then opened my arms: "Come, let your husband hug you!"
Mei'er blushed deeply, spurred her horse, and galloped away. I smiled wryly and could only follow on horseback.
**********
Black Wind Town wasn't small; it could even be considered the largest town within a hundred miles. But now, there was no sound of usual bustling activity, only deathly silence. All the doors of the houses were tightly shut. I and Mei'er had knocked on all of them, but there was still no response.
The sky was darkening, and a chilling wind was blowing. Mei'er trembled uncontrollably behind me: "No...no, there really isn't a ghost, is there?"
I forced myself to remain calm and complained, "I told you not to follow me, but you wouldn't listen. Now you regret it, don't you?"
Mei'er's delicate body leaned against my back, her lips white with cold: "No, I want to stay with you."
I felt a surge of tenderness and took off my coat to drape over Mei'er, instructing her, "It's cold, and you just got soaked in the rain, wrap yourself up tighter."
Mei'er involuntarily wrapped her coat tighter, clearly grateful for the warmth of my body still on it, and murmured, "Thank you."
I took the opportunity to stroke her face and chuckled, "Why are you being so polite with your husband!"
Before Mei'er could complain, I gathered my strength and shouted, "Is anyone there? I'm a disciple of the Maoshan Celestial Master, here to exorcise demons for you!"
My voice, imbued with my inner energy, carried far enough across the entire Black Wind Town with the wind. I shouted three times, and finally, with a "creak," a heavy wooden door opened at the corner. An old man with white hair leaned out, coughing as he asked, "Young man, are you truly the exorcist master of the Maoshan Sect?"
I nodded, drew the peach wood sword given to me by Master Mao, and replied, "I am here on Master Mao's orders. Where is the demon?"
The old man squinted at the dark peach wood sword and said, "Hmm. There's no mistake. Ten years ago, when Master Mao came here to subdue a demon, he also stayed at my house, carrying this same sword."
I asked in surprise, "Uncle, you're saying Master Mao came here to subdue a demon ten years ago?"
The old man pushed the door open wider and gestured, "Young hero, come in and talk."
Mei'er and I entered hand in hand. The old man turned the lamp in the room brighter: "Ten years ago, there was also a female ghost, but she wasn't nearly as fierce as this one. Back then, Master Mao was only around thirty years old, and he came alone to help us subdue the demon. By the way, what are your names, young hero and young lady?"
I replied, "My name is Nangong Chuan. And this is..."
Mei'er answered first, "I am his wife, my name is Linghu Mei'er." She then gave me a playful glare.
The old man said happily, "A perfect match, indeed a pair of chivalrous lovers. I was hesitant because I only have one guest room, and I'm afraid it wouldn't be enough for you two to stay the night. In that case, please don't mind the humble abode and make do with the night."
I quickly declined, and in my haste, I glanced at Mei'er with a smile, noticing that her face was already as red as a persimmon. I pressed on, "Old man, could you please recount the events of that day in detail?"
The old man nodded, closed his eyes in thought, and said, "It was an evening ten years ago.
A female ghost suddenly appeared on Phoenix Mountain in front of the village, specifically to lure the men of the village, bite their throats, and suck their blood, causing widespread panic. Everyone discussed sending someone to invite Master Mao to come and exorcise the demon.
Master Mao, always helpful and kind, readily agreed and came as promised. However, when the time came, no one wanted to take on the task, fearing that Master Mao wouldn't be able to subdue the demon and would instead incur its revenge. Therefore, no one was willing to let him stay at their homes. As a result, Master Mao was homeless late into the night. It was only because I, an old man, was alone and without any ties that I mustered the courage to let him stay in my guest room. Master Mao didn't mind the simplicity of my humble abode and gladly let me stay the night. The next morning, he went alone to Phoenix Mountain to exorcise the demon."
"Wait!" I interjected, "Old man, aren't ghosts afraid of sunlight? She should only appear at night. Where would we find her during the day?"
The old man coughed and replied, "Well, I don't know. But that female ghost isn't afraid of the sun at all; several murders happened in broad daylight. Master Mao didn't return until that evening, telling us he had suppressed the female demon and that we would be safe for ten years, but after ten years, trouble might arise again, and we should seek another expert then."
Mei'er listened intently and pressed, "What happened next? Was the female ghost really suppressed by Master Mao?"
The old man sighed, "At the time, no one believed Master Mao, so we didn't even treat him to a meal. I still feel guilty about it. But for the next ten years, we were truly safe. This time, when the female ghost returned, everyone unanimously thought of Master Mao again."
Chapter Nineteen: Overnight Stay
The old man led Mei'er and me to the guest room, pointed out the placement of the utensils, and told us to rest early so we could be well-rested for our exorcism on the mountain. Then he said he was tired and left. As
soon as the old man left, Mei'er pounced on the bed, rolled into the bedding, covered her face, and cried out in a coquettish voice, "You're not allowed to do anything naughty tonight!"
I chuckled and said, "An ugly daughter-in-law is bound to meet her husband eventually, so why not just do it now? How about I take your 'red pill' tonight?"
Mei'er grabbed a dagger, her face contorted with malice, "I'll see if you dare!"
I surrendered, "Fine, fine, you sleep on the bed, I'll sleep on the floor, is that alright?"
Before Mei'er could react, I grabbed a quilt and lay down on the floor. Mei'er stared at me for a moment, her expression strange, neither happy nor sad. I ignored her and went to sleep.
In the middle of the night, I was awakened by Mei'er's low sobs. I rubbed my eyes and asked, "What's wrong?"
My question seemed to open a floodgate for Mei'er's outburst. She jumped off the bed onto me, pounding my body with her fists: "You don't love me! You don't care about me at all! Tell me, isn't that right?"
My sleepiness vanished instantly, my male alertness heightened to its limit. While trying to figure out where I had wronged her, I forced myself to remain calm and asked, "How have I wronged you?" Mei'er's blows
intensified, and she angrily demanded, "In that dilapidated temple, you'd rather have that harlot of a third mother than me, did you think I wasn't good enough? And here you've left me alone to sleep, showing no mercy whatsoever, and you dare say you've been fair to me?"
I cursed inwardly that women were such a hassle. Just now she threatened me with a knife to get out, and now she's blaming me for abandoning her.
I knew that explaining would only make things worse, so I simply hugged her tightly and kissed her red, jade-like lips passionately.
Mei'er was clearly caught off guard by my unexpected move, letting me kiss her passionately. My desire surged, and I quickly stripped off her outer garment, about to remove her underwear. Mei'er's body was burning hot, her body contorted like a snake, her hands desperately protecting her last line of defense, whispering, "No! Let me go!"
I thought to myself, if I let you go, you might blame me later for not being kind enough. With a little more force, a pair of proudly erect breasts were exposed to the air. Mei'er's hot skin, stimulated by this, also developed tiny bumps.
Her face flushed red, her hands covering the tips of her nipples, and she said coquettishly, "Don't look!"
I used another bit more force, and with a "pop," her pajama bottoms were torn. Slippery dewdrops were faintly visible in the lush pubic hair. My head buzzed, my blood boiling from the alluring sight before me, my body feeling like it was about to burst.
While Mei'er frantically tried to cover herself, I lowered my head and sucked on one of her purple nipples. Mei'er's body suddenly stiffened, and a long, deep "oh" escaped her lips. I pried open her hands and shamelessly began to knead her proud breasts. Mei'er
twisted even more violently, desperately trying to break free. I pressed her down and quickly removed my clothes. Mei'er became even more frantic, flailing her arms and legs: "No!"
I lewdly laughed: "You say no now? Your husband is already on the verge of action, how can he not release it?"
I lowered my head to make my move, when Mei'er suddenly bent her leg and slammed it hard against my genitals. I was in unbearable pain, my lust vanished, and I rolled to the side, cursing: "You... what are you doing?"
My face was pale, and beads of sweat rolled down my forehead. I secretly prayed that my manhood wouldn't end like this.
Mei'er noticed my pain and knelt beside me, stammering, "Don't be angry, I didn't... I didn't mean to!"
I gasped for breath, almost losing the ability to speak. Desperate to relieve my pain, Mei'er opened her cherry lips and took my penis into her mouth, her tongue moving rapidly.
Mei'er's hot mouth burned my penis even more, and I hurriedly pushed her away, saying, "No need, just stay here quietly. I'll be fine after a while!" Mei'er
wrinkled her nose, and large tears rolled down her cheeks, "I'm sorry, it's all my fault!"
I was overwhelmed, both angry and amused, and forced myself to say, "It's alright, I brought this on myself. Ah, it's hardest to resist a beautiful woman's kindness!"
Mei'er smiled through her tears, raising her head and puffing out her chest, saying, "Husband, you don't blame me? You forgive me? I'm mentally prepared now, you..." "Go ahead!"
I chuckled, looking at my fading erection. "Your husband's not in the mood for that now. He'd be lucky to avoid becoming a eunuch!"
Seeing Mei'er's guilty expression, my heart softened. "Sit here and talk to your husband. Hmm, let's talk about your Linghu family."
Mei'er readily agreed, "Okay, tell me about your experiences too!"
We chatted until dawn. I learned that her father, Linghu Wushuang, had two brothers, Linghu Wuji and Linghu Wudui, all nearing fifty. Except for Linghu Wuji, whose son died young, the three brothers had no children.
Mei'er's father, Linghu Wushuang, had taken seven concubines in his quest for an heir, but still had no offspring. Mei'er's mother passed away two years ago, and her stepmother is frail and sickly, unable to bear children. Miao Cuimei is now the most powerful woman in the family. Mei'er has always been extremely disgusted by her promiscuous behavior, and this time she discovered that Miao Cuimei was having an affair behind her father's back. Coupled with the need to escape the arranged marriage, she secretly slipped out of the house and followed the adulterous couple all the way here.
Linghu Wushuang's favorite concubine is his seventh wife. I sighed inwardly: no wonder Mei'er is so indifferent to becoming a concubine; she has such a philandering father as a role model. The current situation is clear: whoever marries Mei'er will be the future head of the Linghu family. My shrewd father's choice to marry into the Linghu family might not be without this consideration. The reason he never mentions the Linghu family to me is probably to avoid my resentment and protest.
Mei'er also learned why I ran away from home, why I was willing to change my name to Nangong Chuan, and inquired more in detail about my wife, Mei'er. Upon hearing that Mei'er was once one of the four most famous courtesans in the martial arts world, a fleeting look of hesitation crossed her eyes. She was probably still worried that her skills in bed couldn't compare to Mei'er's.
This woman, using her father as a model to understand men, coupled with the Niu Tian incident, made her believe that what men valued most was a woman's bedroom skills. I thought to myself, "That's for the best," and didn't say anything.
We chatted and laughed until dawn broke.
Chapter Twenty:
Ghost Hunting After a quick breakfast, Mei'er and I bid farewell to the old man and headed towards Phoenix Cry Mountain.
Phoenix Cry Mountain was overgrown with weeds and thorns, and with piles of abandoned graves, it didn't resemble a phoenix's habitat at all, but rather a good place for bats and crows to land. Mei'er and I were exhausted, but we hadn't found any trace of the female ghost.
Mei'er's clothes had been torn in several places, and beads of blood seeped from her delicate skin, a sight that tugged at the heartstrings. I slowed my pace and asked, "You've worked so hard, why don't I take you back to your old man's house to rest? I can find it myself!"
Mei'er shook her head, wiping the sweat from her face. "No, catching a female ghost is such a fun thing, of course I can't miss it. Besides, I... I have to stay with you, lest you get bewitched by the female ghost. I'm not even married yet, I can't become a widow."
Mei'er's voice was very low as she said the last sentence, and I couldn't help but feel very grateful. Mei'er, a young lady from a wealthy family who had never suffered, was unusually willing to go through all this trouble with me.
I pinched her pink cheek. "Having Mei'er and you as my two wives is enough. No matter how beautiful the female ghost is, she can't compare to you!"
Mei'er spat, but she was clearly very happy. I handed her the water pouch. "It's strange. I always felt there were many suspicious points in the process of Master Mao catching the female ghost ten years ago. Master Mao predicted that the female ghost would return in ten years, and even told them to find someone more capable. This doesn't seem like Master's style."
Mei'er nodded and added, "Moreover, the female ghost appeared during the day and sucked people's blood, which is even more suspicious. A female ghost should be afraid of sunlight and specifically target people's souls. I think this female ghost is most likely a person in disguise."
Once Mei'er shed her girlish mentality, she immediately transformed into a shrewd and calculating businesswoman from a powerful family, which is truly admirable. I chimed in, "That's what I thought too. But the question is: why did Master let her go ten years ago?"
"Could it be that the female ghost's martial arts were so powerful that your master couldn't subdue her?"
"No," I pondered. "In that case, the female ghost wouldn't have needed to hide for ten years. Even if both sides were severely injured, it wouldn't make sense, because Master couldn't have predicted that the female ghost's healing time would be exactly ten years."
Mei'er comforted me, "Don't bother thinking about it too much. We'll just catch the female ghost and ask her what happened, won't we?"
I exclaimed in surprise, "No!" Before Mei'er could ask any more questions, I pointed to a patch of weeds not far ahead: "Look there!"
Mei'er looked closely and suddenly realized, "That's right. That patch of grass is longer and more lush than the surrounding grass, as if it's deliberately used to conceal something."
I took Mei'er's hand: "Come on, let's go take a look!"
Parting the weeds, a dark cave entrance was revealed on the hillside, which turned out to be a cave of unknown depth.
I hesitated for a moment, then said to Mei'er, "You stay outside and keep watch, I'll go in and take a look!"
Mei'er gripped my hand tightly and shook her head resolutely, "No, I want to go down with you."
Looking at her determined eyes, I nodded, "Okay, but I'll go in front, so hold on tight to my clothes and don't let go."
The two of them walked one after the other through the narrow cave. After about half an incense stick's time, the cave suddenly became lower and smaller, forcing them to crawl. The cave floor was damp and reeked of blood, making them feel nauseous.
After crawling for several hundred meters, the space suddenly opened up into a spacious stone chamber. As soon as I poked my head out, a fierce gust of wind suddenly came from above. The situation was delicate; my entire body was stuck in the cave and unable to move, with Mei'er following closely behind me, making it impossible to even retreat or dodge. This attack was coming straight at me, truly an impenetrable fortress. In this
critical moment, I didn't have time to think and shouted, "Push me!"
Mei'er responded immediately, channeling her inner energy into her hands and pushing against my feet. My entire body flew sideways through the cave passage into the stone chamber, narrowly avoiding the attack. Although I escaped by sheer luck, I was drenched in a cold sweat: if Mei'er had reacted even a fraction slower, or if I had come alone, I would have been dead on the spot.
I turned to look at the attacker; she was a woman of about twenty-six or twenty-seven, her face pale and bloodless, her clothes filthy and tattered, exposing most of what a woman shouldn't be showing. She held a sharp wooden stick and glared at me menacingly.
I thought to myself: this dusty woman before me might be the "female ghost" I've been searching for
. For some reason, she was hiding in this dark cave, pretending to be a ghost to harm people. I said seriously, "Miss, you..."
Before I could finish speaking, she had already swung her wooden stick at me. Although her moves were scattered, each strike was deadly, aimed at killing me. I was furious and drew my peach wood sword, using my family's "Quicksand Sword Technique" to launch a relentless close-quarters attack. At this moment, Mei'er had also climbed out of the cave and attacked the half-naked mysterious woman from behind.
Mei'er and I joined forces, and the woman quickly fell into a disadvantageous position. She attacked a few more times, then suddenly her eyes fell on the peach wood sword in my hand, and she said stiffly, "Maoshan Sect?"
I turned my sword back and held it horizontally in front of me: "That's right. I am here to subdue the demon on the orders of the Maoshan Sect Leader!"
The woman dropped her wooden stick and said stiffly, "I'm not fighting anymore! Sect Leader Mao is a good person!"
Mei'er and I looked at each other in astonishment and asked, "What do you mean by that, young lady?"
The woman seemed to have not spoken for a long time, and her words were extremely awkward: "He saved me ten years ago. He is a good person!"
I waved the peach wood sword in my hand: "Did you recognize this sword as Sect Leader Mao's?"
The woman nodded, as if she wanted to say something, but she opened her mouth several times and still couldn't speak.
I sneered, "Sect Leader Mao spared you ten years ago, yet you show no remorse and now you're out here taking lives again. Your crimes are unforgivable!"
The woman hoarsely protested, "I...I was forced!"
I pressed her, "Who forced you to do this?"
Suddenly, the woman's body began to tremble violently. She clutched her throat tightly, rolling on the ground like a madwoman, screaming, "Ah...ah...it hurts..."
I went to hold her down, "What's wrong with you?"
The woman didn't answer, but suddenly bit down hard on my wrist, sucking my blood.
Chapter Twenty-One: The Background
The woman's teeth were clenched so tightly that I couldn't break free for a moment. Mei'er slapped her hard on the back, and only then did she release her grip in pain.
Seeing my deep wound, Mei'er was furious and slapped the woman twice, knocking her to the ground. Surprisingly, the woman didn't get angry, but only said in a panic, "I...I'm sorry!"
Mei'er scolded, "You vixen, don't try to be all crocodile tears! What's the use of saying sorry now?"
I endured the excruciating pain and stopped Mei'er, "Mei'er, don't blame her. Her pain just now didn't seem faked. It seems she just needs some blood to heal her wounds and has no ill intentions."
The woman got up from the ground, looked at me, and said, "You're a good person!" She paused and added, "As good as Master Mao!"
I waved my arm and found that the bleeding had stopped on its own. I gestured for the woman to sit down, "Don't rush, slowly tell us how you ended up like this?"
Although the girl's speech was extremely halting, I gradually pieced together her fragmented words and was able to understand the general situation. The girl's name was Lu Fangxin, and she was originally a protector in the "Heart-Destroying Sect." Because the Heart-Destroying Sect was indiscriminate in its judgment of right and wrong and killed indiscriminately, she gradually grew tired of it and planned to betray the sect and escape. However, before they joined the sect, the sect leader personally used the "Heavenly Heart Poisonous Gall" to imprison their meridians. Every three days at noon, their meridians would reverse, causing excruciating pain, as if pierced by a thousand arrows. Only by drinking men's blood could they prolong their lives and alleviate the pain. But she preferred death to returning to the vicious "Heart-Destroying Sect," so she could only choose lustful men who couldn't resist her naked seduction to drink their blood.
Ten years ago, Sect Leader Mao encountered her and, using three years' worth of cultivation, temporarily suppressed the "Heavenly Heart Poisonous Gall" with a unique method, restoring her freedom. But Sect Leader Mao knew that the "Heavenly Heart Poisonous Gall" would recur in ten years, and he himself was helpless. He could only instruct her not to harm good people and to take care of herself.
I nodded, thinking to myself: That makes sense. Master couldn't control the "Heavenly Heart Poisonous Gall" again, nor could she bring herself to kill Lu Fangxin, so she was forced to use me. In the end, Master still has that compassionate heart!
Mei'er, hearing Fangxin's plight, was already in tears (alas, women's emotions are so rich!), and grabbed my sleeve, insisting that I swear to help her.
I sighed, "You make it sound so easy. Of course, I don't want to see Fangxin harming herself and others like this, but I don't even know what 'Heavenly Heart Poisonous Gallbladder' is, so how can I talk about breaking it!"
Lu Fangxin said sadly, "Xin'er is a person full of sins... and besides, she has already... had ten years of happy times, she should be content."
I said sadly, "This 'Heart-Destroying Cult' is truly vicious, I must find out what kind of methods they use when I have the chance!"
Lu Fangxin shook her head in alarm, "No... no! You are no match for them!"
I thought to myself: Am I, Nangong Chuan, a person who fears trouble! However, seeing her concerned expression, I really didn't want to hurt her good intentions, so I changed my words and said, "Since you're so worried, I won't go."
Mei'er, unwilling to give up, said from the side, "Is there really no way to break the 'Heavenly Heart Poisonous Gallbladder'?"
Lu Fangxin said, "Sect Leader Mao once said that if we could find the 'Demon Subduing Treasure Record,' which has been lost to the martial arts world for a hundred years, there might still be a glimmer of hope to find a way to break it. Otherwise, even the person who cast the spell would be helpless."
"Find the Demon Subduing Treasure Record? Finding the elixir is much easier," I cursed inwardly. Mei'er, standing to the side, gaped, "The Demon-Subduing Treasure Record? I know where it is!"
Lu Fangxin and I were both surprised, "You know it?"
Mei'er's face flushed red, and she nodded vigorously, "I overheard my father talking a while ago. He mentioned the Demon-Subduing Treasure Record, saying it had fallen into the hands of the Creator Ancestor." She then sighed, "But even if he got it, it wouldn't be of much use. It's said the Demon-Subduing Treasure Record is covered in incomprehensible scribbles."
I abruptly stood up, "At least there's still a glimmer of hope. I'll set off to find the Creator Ancestor. Mei'er, you take Fangxin back to Maoshan. The Maoshan Sect Leader and Mei'er are healing people there; you can have them ask the patients for some blood to temporarily alleviate Fangxin's pain."
Mei'er cried out, "No, I want to go with you!"
I said coldly, "Mei'er, listen to me! Fangxin needs someone to take care of her too. When you see Mei'er, remember not to act like a pampered young lady. She's my wife, you're my concubine. If you dare to bully her, I won't let
you off when I get back!" Mei'er bit her lip and lowered her head to obey. I felt apologetic and went over to gently embrace her flat stomach, whispering in her ear, "Remember to wash up nicely, so your husband
can deflower you when he gets back!" Mei'er's cheeks flushed red, and she glared at me angrily. I forced a strange smile in response. Lu Fangxin gracefully bowed, "Thank you for your help
, young master. If it really doesn't work, Fangxin would rather die than take another life!" Perhaps because she had been talking so much, Fangxin's words finally became clear and coherent. I helped her up and comforted her, "Don't worry, good people are always protected by heaven! Wait patiently for me to come back!" 　　**********
...
Exhausted and weary, I had no choice but to find an inn for the night. Unfortunately, the surrounding area was desolate and deserted.
Suddenly, the sounds of fighting came from the bushes ahead. I quietly dismounted, concealed myself, and cautiously made my way over.
I saw a group of bandits besieging a woman in white. She was clearly exhausted; her moves were clumsy, yet she stubbornly refused to fall. I looked closer and realized that the woman was none other than Yan Ruoyu, the "Fairy of Flowing Clouds," whom I had met once before!
Chapter Twenty-Two: A Helping Hand
I sighed inwardly: Yan Ruoyu truly lived up to her title of "Fairy of Flowing Clouds"; even her defeated posture was so graceful.
Her delicate brows were furrowed, and she was drenched in sweat. A section of her sleeve had been torn off, revealing a lotus-root-like white arm, particularly alluring.
Surrounding her were about twenty bandits of various styles, all of them highly skilled; several cold corpses lay on the ground, clearly killed by "Flowing Clouds Flying Sleeves." The bandits seemed utterly unmoved by their fallen comrade, their eyes fixed on Yan Ruoyu's breasts, now soaked through with sweat and
barely concealed by her transparent clothes. Several bandits hurled vulgarities, shouting, "Hey, this chick's skills are really something! I wonder how she is in bed?" Another chimed in, "Of course! She's a fairy, of course she'll be like a goddess! So even when she's under a man's crotch, she'll be ecstatic, even her moans will be like heavenly music!"
Although Yan Ruoyu knew they were trying to distract her, her movements involuntarily slowed. One of the bandits seized the opportunity, unleashing a deadly attack that left a bloody gash on her bare arm. Despite her injury, Yan Ruoyu remained composed. Taking advantage of the moment when her attacker's attack faltered, she delivered a timely blow, killing the assailant.
My mind raced as I quickly assessed the situation: only seven or eight people were actively engaging Yan Ruoyu, while the majority were watching from the outside, clearly employing a rotation tactic to wear down her internal energy. My martial arts skills were at best comparable to Yan Ruoyu's; even if I rushed in to help, I would only be wasting my life. Yan Ruoyu was already panting, and it seemed she wouldn't last long before being subdued, becoming a meal for these lecherous wolves.
What should I do?
The best course of action right now was to remain on the sidelines, secretly studying their techniques to figure out how to counter "Flowing Clouds and Flying Sleeves," so that I could gain the upper hand when I dueled Yan Ruoshui three years later. Moreover, Yan Ruoyu's fate would surely deal a heavy blow to my opponent. Or, I could slip away before these experts discovered me, preserving my precious life. But did I really have to watch Yan Ruoyu fall into the tiger's den?
I gritted my teeth and finally made up my mind: damn it, being a gentleman is too much trouble. In my next life, I'll just be a shameless rogue and lecher! Just
as I was about to roar and pounce, my mount in the distance suddenly reared up and neighed. The bandits surrounding me all looked in my direction, and Yan Ruoyu, invigorated, killed two more bandits in quick succession. A thought struck me, and I quickly used my lightness technique to return to my mount, urging it to gallop towards Yan Ruoyu's location.
The bandits, seeing the galloping horse, were puzzled, but still quickly separated a group to block Yan Ruoyu's path, each brandishing their weapons to prevent me from snatching her away. I felt a chill: these bandits were so well-trained, and most of them were exceptionally skilled in martial arts, yet they suddenly gathered together to intercept Yan Ruoyu; it was really illogical.
The steed I was riding came from Mei'er's house and was clearly no ordinary horse. The distance of several hundred paces was covered in the blink of an eye, and ahead lay the bandits surrounding Yan Ruoyu. I cried out, "Fairy, don't panic! I'm here to save you!"
The bandits blocking my path didn't hesitate, unleashing a barrage of hidden weapons at my mount, some even leaping into the air to strike. It was clear I couldn't force my way through; I would be trapped in a desperate struggle. Fortunately, my mind wasn't on that. I suddenly reined in my horse and shifted to the side, changing my vertical charge into a parallel glide.
They clearly hadn't anticipated this move, and their hidden weapons and attacks all missed. I pulled the lasso from the saddle, twirled it, and then released it, shouting, "Fairy, stop!"
Yan Ruoyu was startled, and the lasso was already before her. She decisively dropped her weapon, her hands hanging limply at her sides, standing motionless. Just as the bandit's weapon was inches from her body, the lasso caught her. I pulled hard, and the lasso, carrying her soft, fragrant body, fell back into my arms.
I laughed loudly, "Gentlemen, excuse me!" Taking advantage of the bandits' surprise, I held the beauty tightly and spurred my horse to gallop away.
The bandits mounted their horses and gave chase. I didn't have time to untie Yan Ruoyu's lasso and said in a deep voice, "Hold on tight, I need to free my hands to control the reins!"
Yan Ruoyu and I were facing each other, and with her arms bound by the lasso, she blushed upon hearing this, but quickly wrapped her legs around my waist to secure herself. Despite the critical situation, I still looked at Yan Ruoyu with surprise. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she buried her face in my shoulder: "Young master, please don't misunderstand. Ruoyu's hands are bound; she has no other choice."
I cursed myself for being so foolish as to forget this, and awkwardly replied, "I was just being presumptuous; please don't take offense, fairy."
To make matters worse, my penis inappropriately arched upwards, pressing against Yan Ruoyu's private parts through her clothes. Yan Ruoyu let out a soft moan, her fragrant body trembling violently, and she collapsed onto me. I awkwardly explained, "I'm sorry, it's a normal male reaction."
Yan Ruoyu rested her pretty face on my shoulder and made a soft "hmm," indicating that she didn't mind. In this brief moment, the bandits had caught up to a short distance behind my horse. I quickly regained my composure and focused on urging the horse on, gradually widening the distance.
Finally, the bandits were completely left behind. I couldn't help but secretly praise my family's fine steed; even carrying two people, its speed was still astonishing.
Yan Ruoyu whispered, "Young master, can you untie me now?"
I slapped my forehead and hurriedly untied the noose from the beauty in my arms. "Please don't be angry, fairy. I was so focused on escaping that I forgot about that." Yan Ruoyu said softly,
"How could I blame you, young master? If it weren't for your rescue, I'm afraid I would be in grave danger."
I asked seriously, "Those bandits who attacked you seemed a bit strange. How did you get involved with them?"
Yan Ruoyu frowned slightly and replied, "Young master, could you please stop calling me 'fairy'? I've already stated that I'm just an ordinary woman."
I smiled leisurely and said, "Your beauty is unparalleled, and your martial arts are superb, making us commoners feel ashamed. Calling me 'fairy' is truly fitting."
Yan Ruoyu glared at me and replied, "I didn't see those bandits before. Perhaps they were tempted by my lone figure."
I noticed a flicker of something unusual in Yan Ruoyu's eyes, clearly indicating she was holding back. I didn't
point it out, casually replying, "The intention is certain, but I'm afraid it's because..." I was about to say it was her beauty, not her money, when I suddenly noticed Yan Ruoyu's displeasure. I swallowed the rest of my words, a strange expression forming on my face. Seeing this, Yan Ruoyu couldn't help but giggle, her body trembling with delight.
I was completely stunned by the girlish charm that Yan Ruoyu inadvertently revealed: she was simply...so beautiful!
Chapter Twenty-Three: Teasing
Yan Ruoyu finally stopped laughing, forcing a smile, and asked, "Is Young Master also afraid of making Ruoyu angry?"
I felt my manly dignity being insulted, and a desire for revenge arose within me. My penis, through her clothes, thrust hard against her: "If you get too cocky, Fairy, be careful, I might lose control."
This time, Yan Ruoyu realized that although the noose was undone, her legs were still wrapped around my waist. She couldn't help but let out a soft "Ah!" and gracefully spun half a circle, turning her back to me, her neck flushed red.
Knowing I couldn't rush things, I changed the subject: "Where does Fairy plan to go next?"
Yan Ruoyu calmed down and replied, "I haven't decided yet. I've been away for a while, it's time to go home and visit. What about
you, Young Master?"
I hesitated for a moment, then told her directly, "I'm going to seize the Demon-Slaying Treasure Record."
Yan Ruoyu exclaimed in surprise, "Young Master actually knows the whereabouts of the Demon-Slaying Treasure Record, which has been lost for nearly a hundred years?"
"Hmm." I nodded and said, "I also learned by chance that it had fallen into the hands of the Creation Ancestor. Would you be willing to accompany me, Fairy?"
Yan Ruoyu turned and gazed at me, her eyes bright as stars: "Why would you tell Ruoyu such important news, Young Master? The Demon-Subduing Treasure Record is a treasure that everyone in the martial world desires. If Ruoyu were to accidentally leak this news, the martial world would likely be thrown into chaos and bloodshed immediately. Moreover, aren't you afraid that Ruoyu will take it for herself?"
I said calmly, "If I could truly obtain the Demon-Subduing Treasure Record, what harm would there be in giving it to you, Fairy? I only need to borrow it temporarily to heal a young lady's injuries."
Yan Ruoyu sighed: "Your demeanor, sir, truly captivates Ruoyu. But what injury did your wife suffer?"
I shook my head: "No, it was a woman I don't know at all."
Yan Ruoyu's eyes became hazy. I subconsciously put my arm around her waist and whispered in her ear, "Actually, I'm not as noble as you think. I just happen to know that the Demon-Subduing Treasure Record is full of illegible characters, so I gave it to you to please you. Besides, without your help, I wouldn't have many chances to succeed. It's a win-win situation, so why not?"
My warm breath on Yan Ruoyu's ear made her twist her neck, a faint pink blush rising on her skin. Yan Ruoyu's body went limp in my arms, completely unaware of resistance. My heart stirred, and I leaned down towards her red cherry lips.
"No..." Yan Ruoyu's voice was as weak as a mosquito's buzz. I knew that her last shred of reason was still instinctively resisting me, and I quickened my pace.
The moment our lips touched, Yan Ruoyu seemed to awaken from a nightmare, and said softly, "Ruoyu already has a fiancé. Young master, please don't tease Ruoyu any further. Ruoyu is just an ordinary woman, not a sage who is detached from worldly affairs and unmoved by emotions."
My lips lightly touched her cherry lips, but I was completely stunned. A void filled my heart, as if I were hearing news from a distant place. I asked with difficulty, "Why didn't you tell me sooner?"
Yan Ruoyu still kept her eyes closed and replied indifferently, "Did you ask me, young master?"
I remained silent for a long time, then sighed, "Immortals and immortals are separated, we are destined to be apart. I was just being presumptuous. Please don't blame me, fairy."
I knew that with just one more step, I could obtain the beauty before me by any means necessary. I also knew that after obtaining her, I could gain a powerful ally, and even deal a heavy blow to my destined rival, Yan Ruoshui. But my hateful reason told me: the woman in my arms was a complete woman, not a tool for me to use.
Seeing that I hadn't continued for a while, Yan Ruoyu slowly opened her eyes, glanced at me with a strange look, and asked in surprise, "What are you thinking about, young master?"
I gave a bitter smile and replied, "I'm wondering if my heart isn't ruthless enough, or if I'm just a cowardly person who shrinks back. The fruit is right in front of me, but I'm powerless to grasp it."
Yan Ruoyu changed the subject and asked softly, "Would you still like Ruoyu to accompany you, young master?"
I flicked the reins, spurred my horse forward, and smiled, "Of course. Even if I can't eat the fairy..." "It would be good to be able to look at it from time to time."
Yan Ruoyu breathed a sigh of relief, regaining her usual peaceful and tranquil mood, and replied with a smile, "Thank you for letting Ruoyu off the hook, young 　　master. If the Demon-Subduing Treasure Record falls into your hands, Ruoyu will be content to borrow it for a few days." I said indifferently, "How can I go back on my word? If I really get the Demon-Subduing Treasure Record, I will give it to the fairy as her dowry!" The sound of hooves 　　was
rapid 　　, and I vented all my displeasure on my mount. After that, neither of us spoke for the rest of the journey. ********** ... 　　The inn was simple, and the innkeeper hastily cobbled together four dishes, mostly radishes and cabbage, with only a single meat dish of dull-colored cured beef. I raised my chopsticks in invitation, "Thank you for your help, fairy, but you can't even offer me a decent meal. Please forgive me!" 　　Yan Ruoyu smiled slightly, revealing pearly white teeth that made my heart flutter. Yan Ruoyu replied, "You're too kind, young master. I've always preferred simple vegetables and rice; this is far too lavish." 　　"Vegetables and rice?" I thought to myself, "Isn't that almost like being a nun?" 　　My strange expression didn't escape Yan Ruoyu's discerning eye. She explained, "I'm not pretending to be aloof; it's just my nature. Although I enjoy reading Buddhist scriptures, I have no intention of becoming a nun." 　　I told the innkeeper to remove the cured beef and began to devour the cabbage. After running around for half a day, I was starving. Ruoyu only ate half a bowl of white rice before putting down her chopsticks, watching me curiously as I continued to wolf down my food. 　　I finally filled my stomach, wiped my mouth, and said with a wry smile, "My table manners are poor, please forgive me, fairy." 　　Yan Ruoyu smiled but didn't reply. I told the waiter to take Yan Ruoyu to the guest room first, then took out a silver ingot and instructed him to bring each of us a large tub of hot soup, and to go to the nearby town to buy a few sets of clothes. 　　The hot soup arrived quickly. I removed my clothes and tentatively immersed my entire body in the boiling water. The tingling, stinging sensation made me sigh with pleasure. My heart warmed, and I thought to myself, "I wonder if Yan Ruoyu next door is also bathing naked in hot water like me? What a captivating sight her body would be after she takes off her clothes?" 　　Chapter Twenty-Four: The Precious Record 　　After a difficult night, dawn finally arrived slowly.

When I stepped out of the shop, Yan Ruoyu was already sitting quietly at a table laden with porridge and pickled vegetables. Although I had seen her many times before, my gaze still froze, and I stood there stunned: Yan Ruoyu's skin, after her bath, was as white as jade, and paired with her stunning face, she resembled a goddess statue carved from the purest jade in the world; a pale yellow fitted long dress accentuated her curvaceous figure; her long, flowing hair was tied with a purple ribbon, a charming touch; a pair of deerskin boots concealed her beautiful feet, making one want to get a closer look.
Only one thought crossed my mind: "That fifty-tael silver ingot was definitely worth it! Although I told the waiter to pick out something nice, I never expected the clothes I bought to fit so perfectly! That waiter is a genius!" Yan
Ruoyu noticed my dazed gaze and smiled, "What are you looking at, young master?"
I involuntarily swallowed and subconsciously replied, "The fairy is so beautiful!"
Yan Ruoyu blushed slightly, turned her back, and said softly, "Young master, you've spent too much. I thank you."
Only then did I realize my lapse in composure, and I regained my composure and sat down at the table. With such a beautiful woman beside me, even the porridge seemed to taste better. I ate four large bowls, still feeling unsatisfied, and repeatedly called for the innkeeper to come and refill my bowl.
The innkeeper bowed and said awkwardly, "The porridge you ate was made by your wife herself; our shop doesn't have any extra."
I looked at Yan Ruoyu's blushing face in surprise: "It was you?"
Yan Ruoyu lowered her head and said, "Ruoyu specially added extra portions, but it still wasn't enough for your appetite, young master."
I chuckled and put down my chopsticks: "Your cooking skills are truly remarkable, even plain porridge can be made so delicious!"
Yan Ruoyu said softly, "Ruoyu owes you too many favors, young master, and has no way to repay you, so I can only do this small favor as repayment."
I was in a good mood, and when I paid the bill, I gave the innkeeper and the waiter a few extra taels of silver before taking my leave.
I was extra careful and didn't ask the waiter to buy more horses, hoping to ride with Yan Ruoyu. Unexpectedly, she seemed to see through my intentions and repeatedly declined to mount. Helpless, I had no choice but to abandon my horse and walk with her. Fortunately, we were quite close to White Stone Ridge, where the Founding Ancestor resided, and after chatting and laughing, we were almost there.
"How much do you know about the Founding Ancestor?" Yan Ruoyu asked.
I pondered, "Not much. I only know that his martial arts are unpredictable, he's one of the top ten martial arts masters, and he's a heavy drinker."
Yan Ruoyu replied, "My father fought him once, and they were evenly matched within a hundred moves. My father said that to defeat him, it would take at least a thousand moves. Taking the Demon-Subduing Treasure Scroll from him will be no easy task."
"It's all up to us," I replied. "Let's take it one step at a time. With the two of us working together, we should be able to survive."
White Stone Ridge was now in sight. We used our lightness technique to conceal our movements and carefully crept up. Each time I got close to Yan Ruoyu, I smelled a faint, pleasant fragrance. Yan Ruoyu was helpless against my deliberate physical contact, only occasionally giving me a reproachful look, telling me to tone it down. After searching
for a while, I still couldn't find any trace of the Creator. I couldn't contain myself any longer and was about to unleash a string of curses when I suddenly heard a deafening snore coming from not far away.
I tugged at Yan Ruoyu's clothes, signaling her to sneak closer. After crossing a hillside, we found a middle-aged man with a stubble beard fast asleep on a flat rock on a not-too-steep slope below.
He had a large gourd of wine at his waist, and beneath him lay a half-open ancient book filled with strange tadpole-like characters—it seemed to be the legendary "Demon-Subduing Treasure Record."
I thought to myself, "It can't be this easy; could there be a trap?" I exchanged a glance with Yan Ruoyu; clearly, she didn't understand what was happening either.
Regardless, since we'd come this far, we couldn't leave empty-handed! I made a silent decision and whispered, "You stay here. I'll sneak over and steal the book while he's asleep."
Before Yan Ruoyu could react, I had already crouched down and quietly approached the Creator on the rock. He seemed oblivious, fast asleep, even turning over so his back was to me, exposing the treasure scroll within my reach.
My unease grew stronger, and I suddenly sat up, bowing deeply: "Grandmaster, I am Nangong Chuan, here to borrow the Demon-Subduing Treasure Scroll!"
The Heavenly Ancestor finally sat up, yawning: "Considering you still have some manners, I'll spare your life this time. Now,
get lost!"
Hearing the Heavenly Ancestor's words, I knew I had made the right bet. If I had acted rashly, I would likely be in dire straits. However, to heal Lu Fangxin's injuries, I had no other choice but to resolutely say, "I have my own unavoidable difficulties, and I hope you will understand and lend me the treasure record!"
The Kaitian Ancestor sneered, "You ignorant fool! I am but a three-year-old child, so easily deceived?
If you want the treasure record, beat me down first."
I said in a deep voice, "Since that's the case, I have no choice but to offend you and ask you for a few moves. I hope you will show mercy."
"Show mercy?" The Kaitian Ancestor pulled out the stopper from his wine gourd and gulped down several mouthfuls of wine before sneering, "Ever since I was beaten down and snatched this treasure record, I don't know how many bastards have tried their best to snatch it from me. If I showed mercy to each one, wouldn't I be driven crazy? Tell your helpers to drink it down too!"
I was shocked: The Kaitian Ancestor's hearing was so amazing that even Yan Ruoyu, who was hiding in the distance, already knew! Just then, Yan Ruoyu appeared from behind the hillside and came to my side, bowing as well, saying, "Senior, please forgive me!"
The Kaitian Ancestor threw down his wine gourd, letting out a pig-like scream, and struck me with his palm. Before the palm even reached me, a blast of scorching heat swept over me. I was startled and dodged to the side: What kind of skill was this?
Before the palm strike could even land, the Kaitian Ancestor suddenly reversed his position, bracing himself on a large rock with his hands and kicking his legs outwards, looking like a toad kicking its legs. But Yan Ruoyu and I, caught in the middle, felt nothing ridiculous; we only felt as if a heavy boulder was pressing down on us, making it hard to breathe. I drew my peach wood sword and slashed at the Kaitian Ancestor's soles, while Yan Ruoyu's sleeve flew out like a flowing cloud, swirling towards his bare feet.
With two sharp "thuds," we clashed head-on with the Kaitian Ancestor, each taking a step back as if struck by a heavy blow. The Creator Ancestor remained calm, pounding his chest with both hands and roaring to the sky. Our ears rang, and we almost lost our footing, each secretly circulating our energy to barely suppress the surging blood in our veins.
"So powerful!" I thought to myself, "No wonder the treasure record has always been in his hands, yet no one has been able to snatch it.
Just this strange skill alone is enough to make him invincible, unstoppable."
Yan Ruoyu and I exchanged a glance, understanding each other's intentions, and simultaneously lunged forward. If the Creator Ancestor were to unleash his full power, even escaping would be a serious problem. Only by advancing as a form of retreat might we have a sliver of hope.
Chapter Twenty-Five: The Sleeping Potion
I brandished my peach wood sword, unleashing a continuous stream of my family's "Quicksand Sword Technique," filling the sky with countless sword shadows, leaving no room to maneuver.
My father, the "Jade-Faced Judge," always believed in the saying "a strict teacher produces outstanding students." From the age of six, he began to soak my body in medicine and gradually increased the force of his wooden sword strikes on my vital points to enhance my self-defense capabilities. In addition, I have practiced diligently every day for more than ten years, and the sweat I shed could almost form a river. I have always been quite confident in my martial arts skills. It wasn't until I witnessed the amazing martial arts of the Founding Ancestor that I realized there are always higher levels and more capable people out there.
My prized swordsmanship couldn't even touch the Kaitian Ancestor, and I was instead overwhelmed by his casual counterattacks. If it weren't for Yan Ruoyu's intervention, I would likely be in grave danger. Whether due to prejudice or not, nine out of ten of the Kaitian Ancestor's moves seemed aimed at me. I cursed inwardly: "Looks like this guy's a lecherous old man, knows how to cherish women, and can't bear to harm a peerless beauty like 'Flowing Cloud Fairy'." With this
thought, my stubbornness flared, and I resorted to a style of fighting where each move was mutually destructive, barely managing to gain the upper hand. The Kaitian Ancestor clearly didn't want to die with me, avoiding my desperate attacks and searching for openings. Fortunately, my techniques had been honed through generations of family training, leaving very few weaknesses. With Yan Ruoyu's timely intervention, the fight became a close contest: my back was soaked with sweat, and the Kaitian Ancestor's breathing grew increasingly heavy.
The Creator Ancestor unleashed a palm strike, then suddenly retreated, saying, "Kid, hold on a minute. My craving for wine is kicking in. Let me have a few sips first." Before I could reply, he had already leaped back onto the rock, picked up his wine gourd, and began to drink voraciously. How could I be so ungrateful? I grabbed Yan Ruoyu and we leaped away from the danger.
With a "bang," I crashed heavily to the ground, limbs outstretched, panting heavily, "Damn it, I'm exhausted! This damn Creator Ancestor is truly extraordinary!"
Yan Ruoyu sat beside me, her slender hand smoothing a strand of hair that had fallen across her forehead, and comforted me, "It's clear he wasn't confident he could handle the two of us together, so he pretended to be craving wine to give us a chance to escape."
I nodded, "That's true, but if we keep fighting, he'll at most get injured, but whether we'll survive is still a question."
Yan Ruoyu smiled and said, "I didn't realize you were such a humble person. We..." "What should we do next? Should we still try to steal the Demon-Subduing Treasure Record?"
I slammed my fist on the ground. "I have no choice. If I don't get the Demon-Subduing Treasure Record, I'll lose a life!"
Yan Ruoyu said apologetically, "It was Ruoyu who misspoke."
I shook my head and said, "It's not your fault. It seems that we can't just take it by force. We can only outsmart it."
Before Yan Ruoyu could ask, I added, "I haven't thought of how to outsmart it yet. Let's go to a nearby town and find a place to stay. We can think of a plan later."
This was a lie because I didn't want to tell Yan Ruoyu my thoughts, afraid that she would despise me as a despicable person. My secret plan was: the Heavenly Ancestor was fond of drinking. I could sneak a sleeping potion into his wine when he went down the mountain to buy some, knock him out, and then the treasure record would be my for the taking.
Yan Ruoyu didn't ask any questions and we went to a nearby market together. I settled Yan Ruoyu in an inn first, and then I went to a nearby pharmacy.
The layout of pharmacies across the land is pretty much the same: a high counter, a cabinet filled with drawers, an exquisite brass scale, and some oddly shaped medicine jars labeled with things like "Cordyceps sinensis," "Cicada molting," "Monk fruit," "Light bamboo leaves," "Angelica sinensis," and "Licorice."
It was a quiet time, and the shopkeeper was dozing off at the counter. I shook him awake and asked, "Do you sell any sleeping potions?"
The shopkeeper's eyes flickered, and he put on a displeased expression: "Go away! We run a legitimate business, honest and fair. What do you take us for? A shady inn?"
I didn't want to waste any more words and directly slapped a large silver ingot in front of him. The shopkeeper flicked his sleeve, and the silver ingot on the counter disappeared. He licked his lips and lowered his voice, saying, "We have dozens of sleeping potions, such as 'Begonia Spring Sleep,' 'Black Heart Aphrodisiac Powder,' and 'Rooster Crows at Dawn.' Which one would you like, sir?"
I slapped down another large silver ingot, replying mysteriously, "I'm dealing with a formidable opponent, highly skilled in martial arts." The
shopkeeper understood, and after the silver ingot disappeared, he turned and retrieved a white paper packet from a corner. He opened it through a dozen layers, revealing a pile of white powder: "Take this, it's absolutely effective, but I'm not responsible if it kills anyone!" I
clutched the paper package in my hand, said goodbye, and headed out. As I left, I bumped into a man. Without thinking much of it, I apologized and continued on my way. The man, head down, grunted and sneaked into the pharmacy. I thought to myself: Looks like this guy's here to buy something shady too. There are so many shameless scoundrels in the world these days. Then I thought again: Doesn't this mean I'm insulting myself too? I couldn't help but chuckle.
The market was small, and there weren't many taverns. I proceeded to each one in turn, setting up my scheme: first, I'd demonstrate my skills to the innkeeper, threatening to kill his entire family if he didn't comply; then I'd leave them a large silver ingot, telling them that if they succeeded, this would be half his reward. Under this combination of coercion and enticement, they... One by one, they submitted. I then described the appearance of the Creator Ancestor, instructing them to slip the sleeping potion into the wine when he came to buy it, and then to inform me at the inn where I was staying, while also collecting the other half of the reward.
After all the inns were finished, it was already dark, and I hurried back to the inn where Yan Ruoyu was staying. From afar, I saw the person I had bumped into at the pharmacy slip out of the inn, and I couldn't help but wonder: What is he doing here?
Could it be... to deal with Yan Ruoyu?
My body felt as cold as ice water, a chill ran through me, and I quickly rushed into the inn, reached the door of Yan Ruoyu's room, kicked it down, and burst inside.
Yan Ruoyu was sipping a cup of tea, and when she saw me burst in, she asked in surprise, "What happened? Are you done?"
I breathed a sigh of relief, and my whole body relaxed: "I'm glad you're alright. I was so afraid... afraid you would be ambushed by a villain."
Yan Ruoyu stared at me blankly, then sighed softly, "Thank you for your concern, young master. I owe you even more of a favor now." I
casually explained a few words, then added, "Perhaps I was being too suspicious."
Just as I was about to take my leave, I suddenly heard Yan Ruoyu's previously calm breathing become unusually heavy and clearly audible.
I turned around in surprise and found her face flushed, her breasts heaving violently. Before I could ask, Yan Ruoyu sighed, "Young master is not mistaken. I have indeed been tricked, it seems to be... an aphrodisiac or something."
Chapter Twenty-Six: Descending to the Mortal Realm
I rushed over to support Yan Ruoyu, asking, "How are you feeling now, fairy?"
Yan Ruoyu leaned her entire body against my shoulder and whispered, "I'm so hot... so itchy, Ruoyu is about to lose control..." There was a hint of lust in her voice. I
gently picked her up and placed her on the bed, pulling a blanket over her writhing body. Suddenly, one of her hands reached out from under the blanket and grabbed my arm: "Stay... stay with Ruoyu, okay? If it's really beyond repair, I'd rather that person be you..."
I extinguished the candle and whispered in her ear, "I'm sorry, I need to use you as bait to lure the conspirators behind the scenes. Please hold on a little longer." I
crouched down and crawled under the bed, quietly waiting for the fish to take the bait. The night was deep, and the room was eerily quiet, save for Yan Ruoyu on the bed, tossing and turning, moaning and panting. The aphrodisiac was too potent, turning a chaste fairy into a wanton woman driven by desire.
Suddenly, a presence entered the room; I sensed another person. In an instant, I was startled. This person's martial arts were so advanced that he made no sound; I had no idea how he had entered the room. I held my breath, relying on my senses to detect his movements.
He was staring intently at the aroused Yan Ruoyu on the bed, his Adam's apple bobbing. The blanket I had covered her with had been kicked aside as she turned, exposing her snow-white thighs.
Yan Ruoyu's hands were stroking her chest vigorously, her mouth slightly open, emitting alluring moans, as if enticing the newcomer.
I felt his breathing grow heavier, and his hands began to remove his clothes. I channeled all my inner strength into my right palm and, as the man lunged onto the bed, struck his shin. A crisp "crack" rang out—the sound of his shinbone breaking. I pressed my advantage, rolling away swiftly and, as the man cried out in pain, elbowing him in the chest. I knew I'd met a formidable opponent, and I held nothing back.
The man's martial arts were far beyond my expectations; even severely injured, he could deflect my full-force attack and retaliate with a palm strike.
I was filled with rage, knowing that if I dodged this blow, he would surely seize the opportunity to escape. Considering his superior lightness skill, I had no confidence in stopping him. With this thought, I risked taking his blow and launched a flying kick towards his chest. These swift movements caught him completely off guard; before he could react, I had already struck him in the chest. He was sent flying, breaking at least three ribs, and died instantly. I was also struck in the shoulder by his palm, the pain excruciating, my forehead covered in sweat.
I wiped the sweat from my brow and struggled to turn and help Yan Ruoyu up from the bed. Her clothes were mostly torn, her body almost completely naked, her body twisted like a snake, coiled around me. Surrounded by her fragrant beauty, my head buzzed, almost completely lost in this alluring embrace. Fortunately, the pain in my shoulder kept me somewhat rational; I swiftly used my fingers to strike her pressure points, rendering her immobile.
I slowly sat on the edge of the bed, pondering how to handle the situation: it was probably too late to prepare an antidote for the aphrodisiac; did I really have to destroy Yan Ruoyu's virginity?
I felt a certain part of my body harden like iron, uncontrollable, and my hands involuntarily began to knead Yan Ruoyu's breasts, despite my inner cries of "No, I can't do this," my hands continuing their movements without stopping.
My eyes fell on the corpse still lying stiffly in the corner, and a thought surfaced in my mind. I couldn't help but raise my hand and slap myself hard, cursing: "Damn it, what's the difference between you and that lecherous thief? Aren't you the same, using aphrodisiacs to steal someone's virginity?"
I placed my palm on Yan Ruoyu's forehead, channeling a stream of true energy into it: "Hold on a little longer, I'll go out and find an antidote for you!"
"Young master, it's too late. Whatever you do, Ruoyu will never blame you!" Yan Ruoyu's voice was soft but incredibly clear.
I stared at her eyes in surprise: "Are you conscious now?"
Yan Ruoyu struggled to nod: "Your true energy helped me temporarily suppress the effects of the drug, but it's too strong, I'm afraid I can't hold on for long."
I withdrew my hand and whispered in her ear: "Fairy, I had no choice, I apologize for the offense."
Yan Ruoyu's face flushed red, her eyes gradually becoming hazy, and she murmured: "Young master, take Ruoyu..."
As soon as I released her pressure points, she had already wrapped herself around my waist like a water snake. My blood was boiling. I gently stroked her hair, watching her remove my clothes, lift my erection, and slowly sit down.
A trickle of blood slid down my thigh. The pain of deflowering made Yan Ruoyu's brow furrow slightly, but consumed by lust, she couldn't control herself and began to move. I pinched one of her pink nipples, and with a gentle squeeze, a high-pitched moan escaped her lips, like a swan pierced by an arrow.
She danced, like a prostitute with insatiable desires, or a shameless harlot, chasing only her own lust; her jade-like body turned crimson, becoming even more alluring. I gazed at her, knowing she had fallen from an untouched fairy to the mortal realm. Her whole body trembled, immersed in the pleasure of depravity.
Her body slowly softened, utterly exhausted. My desire was ignited, and I flipped her over, pinning her beneath me and ravaging her. The lascivious sounds, mingled with her satisfied moans, fueled my fervor and fueled my fighting spirit. I had already spurred her on like a steed, driving her towards the peak of excitement.
The effects of the drug had long worn off, yet she could only passively continue to endure. Her hands braced against my chest, she weakly said, "No, please, sir, let Ruoyu go..."
I thrust a few more times with great force, smiling slightly, "Fairy, are you really willing for me to stop?"
Yan Ruoyu's delicate body trembled, her hands falling limply to her sides, "Sir, you're so mean, making Ruoyu so...
so..."
I kissed her cherry lips, stopping her from continuing, "Fairy, do you regret it?"
Yan Ruoyu firmly shook her head, "No, only now does Ruoyu feel like a true woman, a woman who can wholeheartedly love a man."
Everything was understood without words; my intense actions were my answer. Yan Ruoyu's eyes blurred again, and suddenly she opened her pearly teeth and bit my shoulder hard. Blood flowed down my shoulder, and I held the already completely ecstatic Yan Ruoyu tightly as we ran towards the ultimate moment of love.
Chapter Twenty-Seven: The Corpse
The day dawned exceptionally early.
Yan Ruoyu was still nestled in my arms, fast asleep. Her flowing hair cascaded over her chest, and one of her
jade-like legs straddled my lower abdomen—a sight that would absolutely ignite a man's desire. My erection involuntarily rose, pressing against Yan Ruoyu's waist. Although Yan Ruoyu was still fast asleep, her face slowly flushed, making her incredibly beautiful. A thought struck me: So this girl was pretending to be asleep!
Without further ado, my large hands kneaded her slightly upturned pink buttocks, and my fingers deftly explored her private parts. Yan Ruoyu's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and she let out a soft moan, unable to continue pretending. She clutched her private parts tightly with both hands, pleading softly, "Young Master, no!"
I gently wrapped my arm around her waist, whispering in her ear with a chuckle, "Still calling me Young Master?"
"Husband...Husband..." Yan Ruoyu's voice was so soft it was almost inaudible. I pressed my advantage, slapping her buttocks lightly. "Louder, I can't hear you!"
"Husband..." Ruoyu's entire body rolled into my arms, her face buried in my chest, too afraid to look up, though her voice still grew louder.
Only then did I realize my arms, numb and sore from being pinned down by Yan Ruoyu all night, and I couldn't help but cry out, "Ouch!" Yan Ruoyu looked up in a panic and asked, "Husband, what's wrong?"
I took the opportunity to pull her into my arms and roll over, pinning her down again. "You've made my arms sore and numb, let me take over!"
Realizing my wicked intentions, Ruoyu's delicate body suddenly stiffened, and she cried out, "No! Ruoyu...it still hurts there, I really can't bear it!"
I cursed myself inwardly, and took the opportunity to get off the bed, replying, "Hehe, fairy, you've misunderstood, I'm just getting up."
Ruoyu believed me, blushing and speechless. After a moment, she said softly, "You still call me fairy?"
I slapped my forehead. "Hmm, I'm used to it. Who told you to be as beautiful as a fairy descended from the heavens? From today onwards, I'll call you Yu'er! Come, let your husband help you get out of bed and get dressed!"
As soon as Ruoyu's feet touched the ground, her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, she gasped, and almost fell. I asked in surprise, "What's wrong?"
Ruoyu leaned against me, scolding, "It's all your fault!"
I suddenly realized, my male vanity satisfied, and I felt even more smug. Suddenly remembering Ruoyu's engagement, I couldn't help but apologize, "Yu'er, your engagement..."
Yan Ruoyu gave a half-smiling, half-daughterly look and turned her head away: "It's fake. Yu'er has no such idea!"
I was overjoyed and rushed over to hug her waist: "Fake? How could it be?"
Yan Ruoyu's eyes were hazy as she whispered, "Yu'er is a woman, after all. From the moment we met, you deliberately made those...those sounds with your wife next door, and Yu'er knew you were teasing me. Everything that happened afterward confirmed Yu'er's suspicions. Even though Yu'er knew your tricks, she still couldn't resist...
that's why Yu'er pretended to be engaged, to see how you would handle it. Your willingness to give up proves you're someone I can rely on, and that's why Yu'er decided to follow...follow you."
I felt a lump in my throat, a bittersweet sensation. Just as I opened my mouth to say something, Ruoyu suddenly stood on tiptoe, her cherry lips sealing my words. I cupped her neck in my hands and returned her kiss passionately. Countless tender feelings melted into that kiss; heaven and earth seemed to cease to exist, and the entire universe consisted only of two devoted lovers.
For a long, long time...
We finally separated. Ruoyu glanced to the side and saw the corpse in the corner. She cried out, "He—"
I helped her over, turned the body over, and removed the mask, revealing a pale, ugly face.
"Yan Feng, the Flower-Picking Bee!" Ruoyu and I exclaimed his name simultaneously. Yan Feng was the most skilled and despicable lecher in the martial arts world, a wanted criminal for years. Rumor had it that the four great constables of the Six Doors had plotted to kill him multiple times, but Yan Feng had always escaped alone. I never expected him to die here.
"There seems to be more to this story," I thought to myself, my eyes involuntarily turning to Yan Ruoyu.
Ruoyu said calmly, “Husband, I don’t need to hide it from you now. Yan Feng and the group that attacked me last time didn’t encounter me by chance. They are all henchmen of the ‘Heart-Destroying Sect.’ My father had a feud with the ‘Heart-Destroying Sect’ many years ago.
The ‘Heart-Destroying Sect’ was helpless against him before his death, so this hatred was transferred to me.” “
The Heart-Destroying Sect?” I said in surprise, “It’s the Heart-Destroying Sect again?”
“Have you ever heard of the Heart-Destroying Sect before, husband? The Heart-Destroying Sect is mysterious and unpredictable, rarely heard of in the martial arts world. Where did you hear about it?”
“Do you remember I said that I took the Demon-Subduing Treasure Record to heal a woman’s wounds? Her name is Lu Fangxin. She used to be a protector of the Heart-Destroying Sect. She was punished with the ‘Heavenly Heart Poisonous Gallbladder’ for betraying the sect. When it flares up, the pain is unbearable, and she feels like she’s dying. I heard that only the Demon-Subduing Treasure Record can cure her.” I explained.
"Oh." Yan Ruoyu said suddenly, "My husband has now also gotten into trouble with the Heart-Destroying Sect because of Yu'er. You must be more careful in the future. The Heart-Destroying Sect is ruthless and will stop at nothing to prevent it."
I clenched my fists and said in a deep voice, "Hiding like this is not a solution. I want to meet this Heart-Destroying Sect and see what they can do to me."
Yan Ruoyu suddenly hugged me tightly from behind, and I could feel her trembling slightly. I already knew her feelings, and patted her hand: "Don't worry, I know my martial arts are not enough to challenge the Heart-Destroying Sect. I won't be so reckless as to throw my life away."
Yan Ruoyu said shyly, "Yu'er is really worried... afraid that my husband might do something unforeseen if he acts rashly."
I cupped her cheeks and gently kissed her forehead: "We can't keep running away forever, otherwise how will we ever have a peaceful life? I'm still waiting for you to give me a few chubby sons after everything is over!"
Ruoyu blushed deeply and stammered, "Who wants... who wants to give you sons!" Turning her gaze to the corpse, she asked, "What should we do with this corpse?"
I smiled and said, "Since it's still early, I'll put him in a sack and dump him at the entrance of the county government. That will be quite interesting."
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Success
For the usually quiet and ordinary town, today was a special day, because two explosive pieces of news were circulating in the streets and alleys, and the restaurants and teahouses were certainly not lacking in topics of conversation.
The first incident involved Constable Li of the county yamen. Upon arriving at the yamen, he found a bulging sack on the steps. Inside was a half-naked male corpse. After wiping the sweat from his brow, he finally recognized the body as Yan Feng, a womanizer wanted by the Ministry of Justice for many years. It was said that the matter had already alarmed the officials of the Six Doors in the capital. The second incident involved a scraggly middle-aged man who suddenly collapsed in the street in full view of everyone, then fell unconscious. He was tried everything – splashed with water, forced to urinate, slapped – but no one could wake him. This man was wearing a dirty monk's robe and had a bright red gourd at his waist. According to Liu Yishou, the only renowned doctor in the town, he had been poisoned by the insidious drug "Eight-Day Intoxication," and would not recover for at least eight days.
I believe everyone has already guessed that the unconscious man was none other than the Creator Ancestor, and the Demon-Subduing Treasure Record was now in my hands. Upon receiving the message from the innkeeper, I immediately caught up with the venerable Kaitian Zushi, who was already drinking heartily before even leaving town. Before he collapsed unconscious, I brushed past him and snatched the Demon-Subduing Manual from his arms. Incidentally, I've discovered I have a real talent for thievery.
I was riding back to Maoshan, and the gentle and lovely Yan Ruoyu was, of course, on the same horse—the same horse. With the manual in my hand and a beauty in my arms, I was so satisfied I almost let out a long sigh. The only regret was that I couldn't understand a single word of the Demon
-Subduing Manual. While Ruoyu was intently studying the celestial book, I embraced her slender waist and took advantage of her. I kissed her delicate neck repeatedly, then lightly touched her small earlobe with my tongue. Ruoyu finally couldn't resist; two rosy blushes rose on her jade-like face, and her whole body went limp in my arms. My hands moved up, and a pair of breasts fell into my palms. I gently rubbed her skin, feeling its smoothness even through her clothes.
"No..." a low, muffled voice escaped Ruoyu's cherry lips, her entire being seemingly lost in the moment.
I kissed her lips deeply, silencing her protests. My fingers, through her clothes, picked up a grape. Ruoyu's eyes closed slightly, her body trembling uncontrollably. A thought struck me, and my fingers slipped under her skirt, finding it damp and slippery.
Holding the evidence to her face, Ruoyu was both ashamed and anxious, burying her face in my clothes, refusing to look up. She pleaded, "Husband, don't tease Ruoyu..."
I smiled, "Husband will not only tease, but also... hehe."
I was only teasing this girl whose heart was already fluttering with desire; I couldn't possibly commit adultery in broad daylight. Ruoyu's irresistible lust was truly captivating, stirring my heart and making my appetite surge. I was considering whether to find a secluded spot to savor this beauty beside me one last time when a sudden, unsettling feeling welled up inside me.
Yu'er sensed it too, raising her head in surprise to meet my gaze. From each other's eyes, we noticed the anomaly around us; at least twenty martial arts masters were closing in on us from a short distance away. I had no time to think, so I whipped the reins, urging my horse to gallop at full speed.
My actions clearly caught the ambush off guard. Four men appeared in the road ahead, intending to hold me back for a moment while the ambush closed in from all sides. A black-clad man with hawk-like eyes and a leopard-like nose drew his weapon and shouted, "Hey, my love, stop!"
I ignored him, spurring my horse forward. I was riding Mei'er's well-trained steed, far faster than any ordinary horse, and in a few leaps, I reached the men blocking my way. Seeing the fierce approach, the four bandits blocking our path quickly sidestepped and launched a barrage of hidden weapons at us.
I jerked my horse's head, and it leaped into the air, the hidden weapons passing right under its hindquarters. I knocked the remaining ones away one by one with my wooden sword. In that fleeting moment as we passed each other, I realized that these men who had ambushed us were the same bandits who had attacked Ruoyu that day, and surprisingly, the man in the blue robe who had drugged Yan Feng was among them.
Knowing that once surrounded, there was no chance of escape, I spurred my horse onward with all my might. The steed seemed to know its master was in a life-or-death crisis, its hooves flying, leaving the ambush bandits far behind in moments.
I silently prayed, "Heaven protects us," and dared not linger, riding straight back to Maoshan.
************
As we approached the thatched hut where Mei'er and I lived, Ruoyu suddenly stopped: "Yu'er, why don't you stay here and wait?"
I was taken aback, then realized she was ashamed to see my beloved wife. Without another word, I bent down and scooped her up tightly, ignoring her struggles, and strode into the hut.
Mei'er was brewing medicine with her back to me when Mei'er, who had been sitting idly nearby,
suddenly leaped up and rushed over, intending to throw herself into my arms, shouting, "You're back!" But upon realizing I was holding another woman, she suddenly kicked me in the buttocks, cursing, "You lecherous scoundrel! You've seduced another woman back!"
I ignored Mei'er and went straight to Mei'er. I put Ruoyu down, cupped her smoke-blackened face, and murmured, "Mei'er, you've lost weight again." Mei'er's
eyes filled with tears as she leaned on my shoulder, "Master, it's so good you're back. Mei'er was so afraid you'd never come back."
I gently patted her back, comforting her, "Silly Mei'er, your master..." "Didn't you come back?" She then waved to Ruoyu, who nimbly knelt before Mei'er and bowed gracefully: "Yu'er greets Eldest Sister!"
Mei'er, intelligent as she was, had guessed what was going on from the beginning and quickly returned the greeting: "How dare Mei'er claim seniority? Sister Yan
, please don't be so polite." I pulled Mei'er up and said calmly, "Mei'er, you are the master's principal wife, so naturally you should have the airs of one. Yu'er and Mei'er are just the master's concubines, so it's only right that they address you as Eldest Sister."
I turned to Linghu Mei'er, who was standing there stunned, and asked, "Mei'er, when I wasn't here, did she put on any airs of a young lady in front of you?"
Mei'er quickly replied, "No, Master, Sister Mei'er has always been very kind to me."
"Sister Mei'er?" I shouted angrily, "Mei'er, come here!"
Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Principal Wife
Mei'er, with a resentful expression, still lowered her head and moved to Mei'er's side.
I sneered, "Kneel down properly and acknowledge Sister Mei'er before me again!"
Mei'er tugged at my sleeve, "Master, let it go. Mei'er comes from a prestigious family; it's only right that I give her some leeway. Mei'er didn't force me; it was my own choice. I'm already happy as long as I can follow you, Master, even as a slave or concubine."
I held Mei'er's hand and said calmly, "Mei'er, you are my first woman and will be my future wife. Anyone who doesn't respect you is unworthy of entering the Hua family."
Ruoyu, who had been standing quietly to the side, trembled slightly upon hearing my cold words. Mei'er knew there was no way to salvage the situation. With tears in her eyes, she knelt before Mei'er, her knees slightly bent, and said, "Mei'er... Mei'er greets elder sister..."
I waved my hand. "Forget it. Seeing your aggrieved expression, I know you're not doing this willingly. Go. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. I will persuade my father to dissolve the engagement between our two families. You can continue being your pampered young lady."
Yu'er and Mei'er simultaneously reached for my arm. I said calmly, "No one is allowed to plead for her!"
My words were like sharp thorns, and Mei'er finally couldn't hold back her sobs. I stared coldly at her until she was hoarse, then pressed, "Aren't you leaving?"
Mei'er wiped away her tears with her sleeve and slowly stood up. "Fine, you don't want me? I'll leave."
She turned and walked out of the hut step by step. Yu'er and Mei'er had only taken a step when they heard my command, "Don't chase her," and obediently turned back. Mei'er complained, "Master, you're too heartless!"
I said calmly, "She had too much of a spoiled young lady's temper. It's better that she's gone."
Suddenly, a heavy thud was heard outside. Yu'er couldn't help but chase after her. I shook my head and pulled Mei'er into my arms. "Mei'er, have you missed your master these past few days?"
Mei'er tiptoed and obediently offered me a kiss, whispering, "Yes, Mei'er has missed you day and night."
After a pause, she continued, "Congratulations, master, on finally winning over Miss Yan."
I smiled and said, "So Mei'er can be jealous too. Don't worry, no matter how many women you have, you will always love Mei'er the most."
Mei'er smiled radiantly and replied, "Even though I know you're lying, I'm still very happy.
It's common for men to have multiple wives and concubines, as long as you don't forget me."
I was deeply moved and wanted to taste Mei'er's rosy lips again when Yu'er suddenly rushed in carrying Mei'er: "Husband, Mei'er... she committed suicide!"
I was shocked, never expecting Mei'er to be so fierce. I rushed to her side and saw a crystal dagger stuck diagonally in her chest, an inch deep. A quick examination revealed her intentions: though the dagger was sharp, it hadn't pierced her chest, indicating that Mei'er had left herself some room to maneuver when she committed suicide. If I changed my mind and chased after her in time, there was still hope of saving her; if I hesitated even for a moment, she would perish forever.
Even so, a cold sweat broke out on my back. I hurriedly sealed the acupoints on her chest, carefully pulled out the dagger, and applied medicine to the wound. Blood gushed out, almost soaking Mei'er's clothes; the situation was extremely critical. I said in a deep voice, "Mei'er, quickly go and fetch Master Mao! Yu'er, help me heal Mei'er!"
Yu'er and I each took one of Mei'er's hands, continuously channeling our inner energy into her. After several attempts, Mei'er remained pale as paper, unconscious, showing no improvement. Just as I was at my wit's end, Mei'er arrived hastily with Master Mao and Lu Fangxin. Master Mao examined her briefly, then waved us away. He took out several golden needles from his chest and, with lightning speed, inserted them into several acupoints on Mei'er's body.
I anxiously watched Master Mao as he needled Mei'er, muttering, "If anything happens to Mei'er, I... I don't want to feel guilty for the rest of my life!"
Yu'er comforted me, "I believe Mei'er is a lucky girl, so you don't need to worry too much."
Mei'er said irritably, "Master, you only realize now how deeply Mei'er loves you? You were so heartless to drive her away just now!"
I slapped myself several times, "I'm a pig, I'm a stupid pig! No, I'm worse than a pig or a dog!"
Mei'er grabbed my hand, pleading, "Master, don't be like this! Mei'er didn't mean it! Mei'er will definitely get better!"
Master Mao finally put away the golden needles and calmly said, "Linghu..." The girl is out of danger, but she has lost too much blood and is very weak; she may remain unconscious for some time.
I finally felt relieved and murmured, "Thank you, Master!"
Master Mao laughed heartily and patted my shoulder heavily. "Your master is a bachelor Taoist priest and doesn't understand your romantic feelings, but driving your wife to suicide, isn't that a bit much?"
I bowed my head, accepting the lesson. "Master is right. I will definitely treat her better in the future. By the way, what about Miss Lu's injuries..."
Lu Fangxin interjected from the side, "Thank you for your concern, young master. Fangxin has managed to stay alive for a few more days. As long as she doesn't harm anyone else, I'm already very relieved. Young master, did your journey to help Fangxin's injuries go smoothly?"
I took out the Demon-Subduing Manual from my robes and handed it to Master Mao: "I have fulfilled my mission. I still need to entrust Miss Lu's injuries to Master. Since Master knows that this book can heal Miss Lu's injuries, he naturally has a way to resolve them."
Master Mao took the Demon-Subduing Manual, his eyes showing disbelief, and murmured, "The Demon-Subduing Manual?
How did you obtain it?"
I briefly explained my experiences over the past few
days and pressed, "Master, are you confident that you can understand this Demon-Subduing Manual?" Master Mao stroked the cover of the Demon-Subduing Manual and murmured, "This book was originally written by Zhang Tianshi, the founder of Maoshan. I naturally know how to interpret it. For over a hundred years, Maoshan has lost this treasure of the sect. I never expected that I would be able to see this book in my generation!"
Yu'er and I exchanged a glance, greatly surprised: Master Mao before us was truly unfathomable.
Chapter Thirty: The Sect Leader
Sect Leader Mao seemed to sense that the solemn expression on this face was inconsistent with his usual playful style, and awkwardly chuckled a few times: "Disciple, you and your wives haven't seen each other for a long time, so I won't disturb your time together. I'll go and translate the Demon-Subduing Treasure Record now, to prepare it for treating Lu'er's injuries."
Sect Leader Mao beckoned Lu'er to leave, but after walking a short distance, he turned back mysteriously: "Don't work too hard, come back to Master when you're done, Master has something to tell you."
Before I could reply, Sect Leader Mao's figure had already disappeared. I smiled wryly and looked at Ruoyu and Mei'er.
No matter which one I looked at, her head immediately lowered, her cheeks flushed, and she looked shy. I smiled and said: "You're so open when you're alone, but when there's someone else, you all sit up straight, leaving your husbands aside!"
Before Ruoyu and Mei'er could protest, I had already pulled them into my arms, giving each of them a sweet kiss, and my hands were also on their high breasts. Perhaps because of the presence of others, their bodies instantly became burning hot.
I cupped Ruoyu's delicate face in my hands, a half-smile on my face, and said, "Yu'er, you should have guessed your husband's identity long ago, right?"
Ruoyu avoided my gaze and said softly, "When you displayed your martial arts before, I had my suspicions; just now, when you claimed to be from the Hua family, my guess was confirmed."
I said in a deep voice, "The Hua and Yan families have been sworn enemies for generations, and in three years, I will have a life-or-death duel with your brother, Yan Ruoshui. Do you regret it?"
Ruoyu raised her head to meet my gaze: "Does my husband intend to resolve this feud by marrying me?"
I smiled and said, "Wouldn't that make your husband a despicable and shameless person? Besides, although I haven't met your brother, I can tell from you that he is definitely not someone who can be easily manipulated. Even if we want to resolve it, we must first do so honorably." "Defeat him."
Ruoyu let out a long breath: "Thank you, husband. What I'm most worried about is that if you ask me to secretly explain the secrets of 'Flowing Clouds and Flying Sleeves,' I really don't know what to do."
I sneered: "'Flowing Clouds and Flying Sleeves' isn't necessarily such a remarkable martial art!"
Seeing my livid face, Ruoyu gracefully bowed: "I misspoke, please punish me, husband!"
Just as I was about to take the opportunity to touch her, Mei'er in my arms was already laughing uncontrollably: "Sister Yu, Master is tricking you. He's worried so much about your brother's martial arts, and he's even planning to seek out masters everywhere to hone his skills!"
Yu'er suddenly realized, jumped up, and threw herself into my arms: "Husband, you're so cunning!"
I laughed and was angry at the same time, and slapped Mei'er's plump buttocks hard: "What is the punishment for betraying your master!"
Mei'er's eyes were alluring!?
My penis fell into a warm and moist cavity, and the desire that had been suppressed for a long time quickly ignited. Mei'er's nimble tongue slid and curled slowly, even sucking with her throat, making me want to scream with pleasure. Ruoyu, seeing Mei'er's bold actions, froze, staring in disbelief at what was happening before her.
Without a word, I pulled Ruoyu in front of me, my hands moving up and down towards her vital parts. Ruoyu struggled against my intrusion, clearly ashamed to express her desire in front of Mei'er, but when I gently took that protrusion into my mouth, Ruoyu finally went completely limp and paralyzed. I tore at her clothes with both hands, and Ruoyu's clothes turned into fluttering catkins that fell to the ground.
Noticing that Ruoyu's lower body was completely wet, I withdrew my erect and hard member from Mei'er's mouth and thrust it into Ruoyu's secret place. Ruoyu trembled, quickly adapting to my speed, and began to moan softly. Mei'er, understanding the situation, crawled over on her knees, her tongue licking our joined genitals.
"Husband, pierce me..." Yu'er cried out in a high-pitched scream, trembling as she reached her peak, falling into a coma. Before I could give the order, Mei'er had already turned her back, her round buttocks raised. I withdrew my slick, juice-covered member from Yu'er's secret orifice and thrust it heavily into Mei'er's depths.
Mei'er's technique was far superior to Yu'er's; her twisting and sucking brought my desire to its peak, my entire body feeling as if it were about to explode. I thrust hundreds more times, and amidst Mei'er's screams of orgasm, I also released my seed into Mei'er's honeypot.
Finally, having satisfied my two beloved wives, I watched them fall into a deep sleep, a sense of satisfaction as a husband making me feel somewhat elated. After a short rest, remembering Master Mao's instructions, I hurriedly tidied my clothes and stepped out of the thatched hut.
Master Mao was sitting reclining on the hillside, his face somewhat pale in the moonlight. I quietly walked over and sat beside him. I had never imagined that Master Mao would have such a solemn and dignified expression.
Seeing me approach, Master Mao pondered, "How long have you been at Maoshan?"
I replied, "One month and seven days."
Master Mao smiled, "You remember so well. These past few days, have you known that I've been secretly observing you?"
I frankly said, "I just feel that Master isn't as simple as he seems; many of the things he's asked me to do have deeper meanings. This time, being ordered to go down the mountain to exorcise demons has also allowed me to grasp some of Master's thoughts."
"Tell me about it?" Master Mao encouraged.
"Master Mao encountered Miss Lu ten years ago. At that time, Master used a secret method to delay the onset of 'Heavenly Heart Poison,' giving Miss Lu ten years of peace. Presumably, Master knew Miss Lu's background and felt compassion for her."
Master Mao nodded slightly. "Miss Lu is just a pitiful, kind-hearted woman who betrayed the Heart-Destroying Sect. Although she took lives, it was out of necessity." When "Heavenly Heart Poison" flares up, it's truly worse than death.
I continued, "But this time, Master is unwilling to personally intervene. Presumably, there's no possibility of curing Miss Lu again. He doesn't want to see Miss Lu continue to kill, nor does he want to personally take her life." "To take Miss Lu's life, thus using my unsuspecting disciple as a tool. Master foresaw all of this ten years ago."
Headmaster Mao sighed, "Do not do to others what you would not have them do to you. What I did was truly despicable."
I bowed solemnly and said, "Disciple absolutely does not blame Master, and Master also wanted to take this opportunity to test my character and conduct, to see if I am a worthy person to entrust with tasks, right?"
Chapter Thirty-One: Transfer of Skill
Headmaster Mao finally stared at me and said calmly, "You guessed correctly. When I gave you that peach wood sword, I did indeed give you a chance to uncover the truth, to see how you would choose."
"If, in order to please Master and complete the mission smoothly, I kill Miss Lu without even asking any questions, it can only mean—" "
It means you are a cruel and bloodthirsty person who will stop at nothing to achieve your goals." Headmaster Mao concluded without hesitation.
"If you, disciple, know the truth but do not try to save Miss Deer or still kill her, it can only mean—"
"It means you are a cowardly and incompetent person, unwilling to take responsibility." Master Mao concluded again, paused slightly, and added, "But I really didn't expect you could actually retrieve the Demon-Subduing Treasure Record. I originally expected you to return empty-handed; I also didn't expect you to hand it over to your master without hesitation. With such a precious treasure in hand, you shouldn't trust anyone else—but this also precisely shows that you are an honest and not greedy person."
I smiled and said, "In that case, hasn't my disciple passed Master's test? Can Master be frank about what he wants to entrust to my disciple?"
Master Mao stroked his beard and laughed loudly, "That depends on whether you are willing to stay in Maoshan." "What are you plotting?" Maoshan is desolate and unworthy of a wealthy young master like you. "A dragon is willing to stay in shallow water; of course, it has something to ask for."
I blushed. "I don't sincerely want to join the Maoshan Sect. I'm only here for the Maoshan Sect's martial arts secrets. A sect that can exist for hundreds of years must have its reasons for existing." The
Maoshan Sect leader looked at me with a half-smile and said calmly, "I deduced this from the beginning. It's not that I'm being covetous or intentionally hiding my skills, but rather that the true martial arts of Maoshan are bizarre and outrageous, and if passed on to the wrong people, they could cause great harm. Over the past few decades..." "I have only found one qualified successor, and that is you."
I stood up solemnly and knelt down, "Master, please accept my bow!"
Headmaster Mao asked in surprise, "Didn't you already become a disciple?"
I said awkwardly, "The previous one doesn't count, because I didn't know you were a true master at the time, I was just going through the motions."
Headmaster Mao laughed, "Good, good disciple. From today onwards, I will teach you Maoshan magic according to the records in the Demon Subduing Manual."
Before I could express my gratitude with joy, Headmaster Mao added, "Everyone thinks that the Demon Subduing Manual records unparalleled martial arts, but that's not true. The manual covers everything from divination and medicine to astrology, but it doesn't include martial arts." "My disciple, remember my words: true martial arts can only be mastered through your own diligent practice and understanding of each move. There are absolutely no shortcuts in this world. Even if there were a martial arts manual that recorded unique moves, the moves are static. To think you could dominate the martial world based solely on that is impossible."
I bowed my head in acceptance, then pressed further, "From what Master is saying, it seems you're not going to teach me martial arts moves."
Master Mao nodded, "My eyes are not blind; I can see that your martial arts foundation is no less than mine. There's nothing I can teach you in that area. What I want to pass on to you is the secret of Maoshan's magic: the Soul-Capturing Technique."
"The Soul-Capturing Technique?" I stammered, "That name is a bit... a bit sinister..."
Master Mao replied, "Maoshan has always been famous in the martial arts world for its magic of subduing demons and monsters, but that's not actually the case. There are no demons in the world, so naturally they cannot be subdued. In fact, Maoshan relies on this 'Soul-Capturing Technique,' which can bewitch and control people's minds, along with a little bit of astrology and divination. To outsiders, it's naturally mistaken for worshipping ghosts and gods and communicating with the yin and yang."
I suddenly realized, "No wonder Master is so cautious. The Soul-Capturing Technique can control a person's mind. If it's taught to the wrong person, it can indeed cause great harm."
"Water can carry a boat, but it can also capsize it. Martial arts and techniques are not inherently evil; it is only because the user is righteous or wicked that they can be used for good or harm. Your personality is somewhat extreme, but your nature is not bad. I hope you can use this art wisely to benefit all living beings."
I replied resolutely, "Disciple will certainly not let Master down."
Master Mao said calmly, "The Soul-Capturing Technique has three levels. I will now teach you the incantation and method of internal energy circulation for the first level. Listen carefully."
Master Mao's gaze suddenly flashed like lightning, radiating a bewitching light. My chest pounded, and I tried to look away from his face, but found myself completely unable to move. Master Mao's lips moved, as if chanting incantations, but I could not hear any sound. My clothes were soaked with sweat, and an instinctive urge to resist his gaze made me bite my tongue, using the pain to regain some of my senses, and leaped out of his sight.
Master Mao's voice returned to my ears: "The Soul-Capturing Technique can only control those with weak minds; if it cannot subdue others, it will only make one vulnerable to being controlled. Your mental fortitude has exceeded my expectations, and I was slightly injured by your counterattack."
I regulated my inner energy and calmed myself down: "Why did Master suddenly use this technique on me? Was it merely to make me aware of the shortcomings of the Soul-Capturing Technique?"
Master Mao laughed and replied: "After you succeed, I have an important task for you. It concerns the safety of the martial world, so I must act with utmost caution."
I took a deep breath and continued: "If I'm not mistaken, Master intends for me to deal with the Heart-Destroying Sect, isn't that right?"
“Exactly. The Heart-Destroying Sect is ruthless and vicious, gradually becoming a major threat to the martial world. Moreover, this sect also possesses secret techniques to manipulate people's minds. If you cannot withstand my full-force Soul-Seizing Technique, I will not place any hope in you, nor will I tell you the truth.”
I sneered, “I will deal with the Heart-Destroying Sect sooner or later, but I will never become a tool for others. I don't need to learn the Soul-Seizing Technique. Farewell!”
I sneered, turned around, and left without looking back.
Watching my departing figure, Sect Leader Mao sighed, "He's stubborn, but he's definitely the best choice for this mission."
A man in blue appeared silently behind Sect Leader Mao and added, "Nonsense, otherwise why would I need to entrust this stinking Taoist priest to you?"
Sect Leader Mao wasn't offended and said calmly, "It seems we need to add a few more sparks. Such a young man with such a good foundation, are you really prepared to make a sacrifice?" The man in blue
looked up at the sky and murmured, "If I had any other choice, how could I bear to give him up? I only hope that he can truly do as I wish and contribute to the martial world."
The night deepened, and they stood there talking, I wonder what they were talking about?
Chapter Thirty-Two: Awakening
Ruoyu, who hadn't closed her eyes all day, saw me return and said softly, "Husband, you're back?"
Mei'er was still unconscious, and Mei'er had fallen into a deep sleep after being intimate with me, only Yu'er was still forcing herself to stay awake and wait for my return. A surge of pity welled up in my heart. I leaned over and embraced her, stroking her long, beautiful hair. I sighed, "Yu'er, I've wronged you."
Ruoyu paused slightly, then immediately understood my meaning. She said softly, "Sister Mei'er met you first, and although I came later, I have to share your affections. It's Sister Mei'er who's truly wronged."
I shook my head. "It's not a matter of order. You, Mei'er, and Mei'er all hold equal weight in my heart; each one is irreplaceable. It's just that Mei'er's life was tragic, she fell into prostitution, and she's kind-hearted by nature, always thinking of others, even at her own expense. That's why I feel a bit more pity for her."
Ruoyu looked up. "Yu'er knows..." "My lord is afraid we might unintentionally hurt Sister Mei'er,"
I admitted. "Mei'er has always felt inferior and insignificant, her heart sensitive and fragile. You and Mei'er both come from wealthy families, which makes Mei'er even less willing to compete. I am very grateful that you understand her and are willing to take the lowest position."
Ruoyu looked at Linghu Mei'er, who was still unconscious, and replied, "My lord, Mei'er didn't mean to provoke Sister Mei'er, did she? Perhaps she just spoke her mind and revealed her family background and the master's marriage agreement. I heard from Sister Mei'er that she herself offered to be a concubine, and Mei'er just didn't explicitly object."
I said calmly, "Mei'er is meticulous; she wouldn't speak carelessly. She's just taking advantage of Mei'er's kind heart."
"My lord, please don't say that. Mei'er was willing to commit suicide for you; even Yu'er is ashamed of her feelings.
I think she just wants to be the most important person in your heart. My lord, you must treat Mei'er well in the future, otherwise Mei'er and I will not be at peace."
I lowered my head and kissed Yu'er's red lips, my tongue prying open her teeth and plunging in. Yu'er's eyes were slightly closed, and her body became unbearably hot. I also kneaded her full breasts with my large hands and smiled, "Not only Mei'er, but I will treat you better in the future too."
I quickly removed Ruoyu's clothes, lifted her two jade legs onto my shoulders, and rubbed my penis against her vulva a few times. Just as I was about to break in, Mei'er on the other side of the bed suddenly woke up and said weakly, "Water...give me water...
"
My desire subsided instantly, and I snatched a cup of tea and brought it to Mei'er's lips. Mei'er gulped down several mouthfuls, and her spirits improved considerably. Seeing that it was me in front of her, she suddenly opened her arms and hugged me tightly: "No...don't leave me..."
I bent down and gently kissed her cheek, comforting her: "Mei'er, it's me. Don't worry, I will never leave you again."
Mei'er burst into tears, crying harder and harder, as if she wanted to vent all her grievances through her tears. I stood there quietly, letting the tears soak my clothes, until she calmed down, looked up, and asked softly: "Are you still angry with me?"
I leaned down and murmured: "That's what your husband should be asking. What happened before was your fault. I hope my wife will be magnanimous and forgive me this time."
Mei'er smiled through her tears and replied: "You're so annoying...who's your wife? Didn't you say you didn't want me anymore?"
I swore and vowed for a long time before I got Mei'er's forgiveness. Mei'er, who was fast asleep, was also woken up and quickly cleaned up the cooking utensils with Yu'er, cooked a pot of thin porridge, and served several bowls to her.
I helped Mei'er sit up, letting her lean against the pillows, and fed her with a spoon. Mei'er was starving and couldn't wait any longer, eating two large bowls before she was full. Patting her stomach, Mei'er glared at me with lingering resentment: "I'll let you off this time, but if you dare to bully me like this again..."
I quickly interrupted: "No, absolutely not next time, I promise my wife."
Mei'er pouted: "You're such a liar." Turning to look at Mei'er, whose skin was blackened by the stove fire, she whispered: "Sister Mei'er, thank you."
I smiled and said: "Yu'er was the first to find you injured, and it's thanks to her that you survived."
Mei'er blushed and continued: "Thank you too, Sister Yu'er..."
Of course, I understood the hidden meaning behind Mei'er's "sister," and I felt a little gratified: I didn't expect that Mei'er would lower her pride and accept their existence under such circumstances. Although it was because of me, Mei'er had finally become a little more sensible.
Before Yu'er could respond, I interjected, "Mei'er and Yu'er are both older than you, so it's only right that you call them 'sister.' There's still much you should learn from them."
Mei'er's eyes reddened, but she remained silent. Yu'er and Mei'er had already come to the bedside, offering words of comfort. Three women make a drama; Mei'er's constant forbearance and Yu'er's understanding finally dispelled the last trace of worry on Mei'er's brow. It seemed she had realized that Mei'er and Yu'er weren't the type to compete for favor or be jealous, and therefore no longer worried about her position being threatened.
I secretly shook my head: it seemed Mei'er's father's philandering had made her very familiar with the power struggles between wives and concubines, and she was always on guard. Fortunately, of the three wives, only she was petty; otherwise, wouldn't the world be in chaos?
The sky outside was already turning light; a long night had passed unknowingly.
I couldn't help but think of everything that had happened since arriving at Maoshan: the Maoshan Sect Leader wasn't a despicable person, so why did he deliberately lead me down a path of irreconcilable enmity with the Heart-Destroying Sect? Master Mao was merely a figurehead leader of a declining sect, with virtually no followers or influence. Why would he be so confident in shouldering the responsibility of upholding justice in the martial world?
What kind of martial art was the "Soul-Capturing Technique" that Master Mao used on me? Could it truly control a person's mind at will?
The questions piled up, all revolving around the core figure of "Master Mao." I finally couldn't bear it any longer and was about to confront him when I opened the door to find Lu Fangxin. She was standing outside, seemingly wanting to knock but hesitating. Seeing me come out, she was startled and took several steps back.
I exclaimed, "Miss Lu, it's you! What's the matter?"
Chapter Thirty-Three: The Secret Manual "
No...nothing." Lu Fangxin stammered, turning and walking away.
My suspicions grew, and I caught up with her, asking, "Did Master Mao send you to find me?"
"Yes...ah, no, no..."
I smiled and said, "Don't rush, take your time. I happen to have some things I'd like to ask you about, Miss." Lu Fangxin gradually calmed down and looked at me: "
Young hero, you saved my life, and I haven't repaid you yet. Please feel free to ask me anything."
I said calmly, "I wouldn't dare. I just wanted to ask you about the details of the Heart-Destroying Sect."
Lu Fangxin looked up in surprise, glanced at me, then lowered her head and sighed: "Young hero, are you really planning to deal with the Heart-Destroying Sect? That's an extremely dangerous choice."
I replied, "I've already incurred the wrath of the Heart-Destroying Sect because of Yu'er. Even if I don't provoke them, I'm afraid they won't let me go. The more details I know, the better my chances of survival. Of course, if it's difficult for you, please don't worry about it."
Lu Fangxin responded, "No, I'm just worried about your safety, young master. The Heart-Destroying Sect is powerful and ruthless; it's not easy to deal with, and a slight mistake could cost you your life. That's why I hesitated outside the door just now."
I said calmly, "Did Sect Leader Mao send you to persuade me?" Lu Fangxin shook her head: "
Sect Leader Mao only asked me to inquire if you need any assistance, young master. I guessed you might want to deal with the Heart-Destroying Sect, so I wanted to persuade you to abandon this idea, but I didn't expect you to have already provoked them."
"The Heart-Destroying Sect has five branches: Green, Yellow, Red, White, and Black. The location of the main altar is highly secret; almost no one knows it except the five altar masters. Each branch has four law enforcement elders and eight guardian envoys, leading hundreds of followers. I used to be a guardian envoy under the White Altar, responsible for intelligence gathering and assassination. The branch's rules are strict, and personnel changes are frequent. One mistake will result in a demotion; two mistakes will lead to execution. Outstanding contributions can easily lead to promotions. Many followers are secretly powerful figures in the martial arts world who rely on the Heart-Destroying Sect to commit many shady acts, which the sect uses as leverage against them." "The two colluded and conspired together." Lu Fangxin paused, then added, "However, that was ten years ago. I don't know much about the current situation."
I asked, "What kind of person is the leader of the main altar?"
Lu Fangxin replied, "I wasn't authorized to see her. I only heard that her martial arts are unfathomable, her calculations are flawless, and she's a woman."
"A woman?" I was somewhat surprised and asked again.
Lu Fangxin nodded, "Not only is the leader a woman, but most of the branch altar leaders of the Heart-Destroying Sect are also women. However, I've always maintained a single-line contact, directly reporting to the branch altar leader. The members aren't familiar with each other."
"Oh. Do you know their identities?"
Lu Fangxin bit her tongue, pondered for a moment, and answered hesitantly, "Ten years have passed, and I've lived alone for a long time, so my memory is a bit hazy. I only remember 'Fierce Lion' Ximen Shi, 'One-Eyed Eagle' Wang Litian, 'Mother Night Demon' Sun Xiu, and the Bai brothers, the 'Three Heroes of Changbai.' The branch altar leader was always masked when she appeared, so I couldn't see her face. Judging from her voice, she should be very young, probably no more than thirty years old now."
I thought to myself, "It seems I can only start with these people."
Seeing my solemn expression, Lu Fangxin sighed, "I'm sorry, that's all Fangxin knows. I hope it can help you, young master."
I thanked her, then asked again, "Where is the White Altar located?"
"Hangzhou."
**********
It was almost noon when I returned to the thatched hut. Mei'er had already gone out to treat the wounded people near Maoshan, Yu'er was busy starting a fire to prepare lunch, and only Mei'er was still resting in bed, reading a book.
Seeing me enter, Mei'er waved the book in her hand and excitedly said, "Sect Leader Mao translated the Demon-Subduing Manual overnight and sent it over, but you weren't there. He also left a letter for you, which is on the table."
I picked up the letter, tore open the seal, and a thin piece of white paper fluttered to the ground. I picked up the letter, and the four characters "Soul-Capturing Technique" immediately caught my eye. As expected, it was indeed the cultivation method of the "Soul-Capturing Technique." Sect Leader Mao had also included a few words, essentially saying that he needed to leave for a while and that I should practice according to the incantations on the paper.
The letter didn't mention anything about dealing with the Heart-Destroying Sect, which was somewhat unexpected.
As I pondered, Mei'er on the bed began to complain, "What a worthless Demon-Subduing Manual! It's all empty talk, just a bunch of gimmicky stuff about medicine, divination, and astrology. It doesn't even mention martial arts!"
I smiled and said, "That's even better. Mei'er has always been interested in medicine, so let her study it carefully."
Yu'er, having finished cooking, began setting the rice on the low table. Hearing this, she interjected, "Husband, I know a little about the Five Elements and Escape Techniques. Let Yu'er have this part of the Demon-Subduing Manual; let's see if she can conjure something useful for fighting."
I was overjoyed, and from behind, I held her fragrant shoulders and kissed her... He kissed her fair neck: "I never expected Yu'er to be so learned and talented."
Mei'er on the bed said irritably, "Sister Mei'er and Sister Yu'er are both helpful, but Mei'er is just a useless good-for-nothing."
I rushed over and embraced Mei'er's slender waist, teasingly saying, "How could that be? You can give your husband a son! The most important thing for you now is to take good care of yourself and prepare for our wedding night."
Chapter Thirty-Four: Descending the Mountain
Many days passed, and even though Mei'er's health had almost fully recovered, Sect Leader Mao remained as elusive as a white cloud or a yellow crane.
During these days, Mei'er used the medical techniques in the Demon-Subduing Manual to treat the people near Maoshan, and the treatment effects greatly improved. Many intractable illnesses were cured suddenly, making Mei'er very happy. Yu'er practiced the Five Elements, Qimen Dunjia, and astrological divination; I don't know what level she had reached, but she seemed a bit eccentric, often picking up piles of stones and sticks, saying she wanted to set up some kind of formation. Seeing her enjoying herself, I was greatly pleased. The Demon-Subduing Manual even contained records of disguise techniques. Mei'er, always fond of originality, seemed to have discovered a treasure. Because she was bedridden and unable to move easily, she begged Mei'er to brew countless tubers of adhesive plaster for her, using me as a guinea pig, smearing it all over me, until my once thick eyebrows became sparse. The smell of the adhesive was unbearable; we felt like we were living in hell, unable to tolerate even a moment's discomfort.
My soul-capturing technique had also achieved some success, and I longed to test it on someone, but dared not easily try it on my wives and concubines, fearing some adverse effects. However, the itch to try it was unbearable, and life was quite difficult, so I began to consider leaving the mountain.
One morning, gazing at a fragrant body with fair skin and delicate curves, I finally couldn't help but say, "Mei'er, Yu'er, Mei'er, your husband has been away from home for quite some time now. I'd like to take you home to meet my parents and, incidentally, arrange your marriages."
To my surprise, all three wives remained silent.
I asked in surprise, "What's wrong? Have you all changed your tastes and fallen in love with this dilapidated thatched hut?"
Mei'er answered first, "Master, I can't bear to leave the people around Maoshan. If I stay here, I can act as their doctor and treat all kinds of illnesses." Mei'er is an orphan with no parents. Over the past few months, she has clearly developed feelings for the elderly and children around her. Leaving here is like leaving her own family; it's hard to part with them.
I replied, "Mei'er, even with the kind heart of Guanyin Bodhisattva, I'm afraid you can't save so many. Besides, it's better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. If they don't have a way to earn money, their lives will remain so difficult.
I plan to gather some young and strong people or knowledgeable elders and introduce them to Boss Song's Tianxiang Restaurant as waiters. That should be enough for them to earn a salary to support their families." It's
been a long time since we last met. Boss Song's Tianxiang Restaurant should be open by now; it should be a time when they are short-handed. With my connections, and considering that most of the young people around Maoshan have been taught some basic martial arts by the Maoshan Sect Leader, and the local customs are simple and honest, I believe they could be quite good helpers.
Mei'er didn't answer, clearly already somewhat tempted. I looked at Yu'er again: "What about you?"
Yu'er blushed: "I...I'm not ready to meet your parents yet..."
The Hua and Yan families have a long-standing feud, and I understood her concerns, so I had to comfort her. I kissed her pink neck and chuckled: "Even an ugly daughter-in-law has to meet her in-laws eventually; always hiding isn't a solution. Besides, when my parents discover how beautiful their daughter-in-law is, they'll be overjoyed."
Yu'er lowered her head, her cheeks still flushed, but I believed she knew she couldn't keep running away; it was just the typical shyness of a woman. I turned to Mei'er and asked, "What reason do you have now?"
"Husband, I...I'm not fully recovered yet!"
I laughed and chuckled, giving her round, shapely buttocks a light tap. "Not fully recovered? You've been lying in bed for over half a month! Even a pig would have fattened up by now! Is it because your husband hasn't deflowered you yet that you're not satisfied?"
Mei'er jumped up. "No, that's not it! I don't want you...your thing!"
I clapped my hands. "Alright, now the problem is solved. Let's pack our things and head down the mountain home today!"
The three women cheered and went to pack their things, their earlier hesitation completely gone. Sigh, women are truly strange creatures; it's hard to fathom their intentions.
Thinking of Lu Fangxin, who had been living alone and avoiding us, a thought struck me, and I went to invite her to come down the mountain with us.
Lu Fangxin looked at me in disbelief, a hint of joy flashing in her eyes before dimming again. "Ah, no, I'm not used to the outside world. It's better to stay here quietly by myself..."
I couldn't help but step forward and take her hand, trying to persuade her, "I know you've been isolated for too long and are a little afraid of the outside world, but one must always be brave enough to live. Do you really intend to abandon everything outside and live alone for the rest of your life?"
Lu Fangxin replied softly, "Maybe...maybe you're right, but...but I..."
I pulled her up and, without further ado, led her into the thatched hut, telling my three wives: Miss Lu will be traveling with us. Mei'er rolled her eyes at me, annoyed, "Nonsense, of course Miss Lu will be coming with us. Are you really going to leave her here alone?"
I gave a wry smile, thinking to myself, "Goodness, it seems I was the one overthinking and being too restrained. How embarrassing."
That afternoon, our group of five, along with a bunch of young and old who were willing to work with us at Tianxiang Tower, left Maoshan in a grand procession.
When we arrived at Tianxiang Tower, Fatty Song was busy with the opening of the branch. When I recommended the group of young and old men from Maoshan to Fatty Song, he slapped his forehead: "With two branches opening at the same time, we're severely short-staffed. Boss, you've done me a huge favor!"
I smiled and said, "Boss Song, you're too kind. Tianxiang Restaurant is entirely run by you; I'm just reaping the benefits, not really the boss, haha."
After settling the men I brought, Fatty Song's gaze fell on the four girls beside me, and his eyes immediately widened: "I've met Miss Lan and Miss Yan before, but who are these two?"
I smiled and said, "Besides this Miss Lu, who is my friend, the others are my inner circle. Why don't you all greet Boss Song?"
Mei'er, Yu'er, Mei'er At the same time, I gave a slight bow: "Greetings, Boss Song."
Boss Song grinned and replied, "Good, good." Then he secretly pulled me aside: "Boss, you're quite the ladies' man. I have seven or eight wives, and none of them are as beautiful as any one of yours. Is one of them unfamiliar?"
I understood what Fatty Song meant and answered directly, "She is the daughter of the Linghu family, Linghu Mei'er."
Chapter Thirty-Five: A Delicate Cry
Fatty Song narrowed his eyes and looked me up and down again, nodding and saying, "Hmm, only someone like you, young master, could..."
I interrupted him: "Boss Song, you're too kind. They are young and ignorant, and we need you to take good care of them."
"Not at all!" Boss Song chuckled and tactfully changed the subject: "Look, I've been so busy talking that I forgot to arrange accommodations for the ladies. I'm really getting senile!"
Boss Song arranged the two side rooms that I had stayed in before for the four of us. Before I could even give the order, Mei'er had already pulled Lu into the room next to ours, clearly keeping her company so she wouldn't be lonely. I secretly praised her, "Mei'er has indeed become much more sensible and has started to be considerate of others."
As soon as I entered the room, Yu'er's face was already as red as fire. I pulled her to my side and asked curiously, "Yu'er, what's wrong?"
Yu'er mumbled something in a barely audible voice. Before I could ask again, Mei'er grabbed my arm and whispered in my ear, "Master, have you forgotten what you did here last time?"
I suddenly realized that this girl remembered the time Mei'er and I had kept her awake all night, and she couldn't help but feel a surge of lust. I kissed Yu'er's earlobe, "Last time, Mei'er was so turned on that she screamed. Do you want to try it this time?"
Yu'er pounced on the bed, covered her face with the blanket, and said coquettishly, "I'd never want to try!"
I exchanged a glance with Mei'er, who understood and helped me press Yu'er down onto the bed. With a few swift movements, I removed Yu'er's lower garments. Yu'er struggled and resisted, which only emboldened me to be more wanton and lewd.
I lifted her top from below, reaching inside to cup and knead her high, firm breasts.
Yu'er's body trembled, her entire form stiffening. With her back to me and her eyes covered by the blanket, she couldn't see or move, making her senses even more acute. When I lifted my other hand from her lower body, it was covered in slippery fluids.
I chuckled, "Yu'er's body is so sensitive. Your husband only touched her lightly, and she's already so wet."
Yu'er's mouth was also covered by the blanket, and she could only make a few soft "mmm" sounds, seemingly in protest. I parted her legs, rubbed my penis against hers a few times, and before she could object, I thrust inside.
Warm and slippery, a wave of pleasure spread from my penis to every part of my body. I lifted her upper body and slowly began to thrust in and out. Yu'er's eyes were slightly closed, her legs trembling. Although she leaned against the bed, she could barely stand. Mei'er obediently kissed her full breasts, the intense stimulation causing her to involuntarily let out a charming sigh.
My movements were cautious and gentle, slowly arousing Yu'er's desire, but I never allowed her to be satisfied.
Her delicate body grew hotter and hotter, and her body began to twist violently in response. I took the opportunity to avoid her, only taking small bites. The accumulation of desire made Yu'er unable to restrain herself, and she finally let out a soft moan. I bit her ear and asked, "Do you want it?"
Yu'er bit her lip tightly, refusing to answer. Mei'er smiled and said, "Master, it seems that Yu'er hasn't given in yet!"
After saying that, her fragrant tongue had already touched one of Yu'er's nipples, and began to entwine back and forth endlessly; her thumb and forefinger also picked up another pink nipple, pulling it forcefully.
"Ah..." Yu'er finally couldn't hold back and began to moan softly. I increased the force of my thrusts, cooperating with Mei'er's attack.
Yu'er's consciousness slowly became hazy, and her moans grew louder and louder. Suddenly, a knocking sound came from the wall, clearly Mei'er next door protesting the noise disturbing her sleep. I smiled slightly and thrust even more violently into Yu'er's honeypot.
Yu'er's moans grew higher and higher, finally reaching their peak. I felt a powerful suction force from within her honeypot, and finally, unable to withstand Yu'er's final strike, I succumbed and reached my climax at the same time. My
liquid-covered member had just withdrawn and disappeared into Mei'er's cherry lips. The understanding Mei'er was doing the post-coital cleaning for me, licking and sucking my member clean.
I carried the two warm and soft bodies to the headboard, pulled a blanket over them, and fell asleep in each other's arms. In my hazy state, I didn't know whose arm pressed against my chest, nor who accidentally kicked me when turning over; in short, I was lost in a blissful dream.
When I woke up in the morning, half of my body was still sore and numb. It seems that the bliss of having two wives is not something everyone can enjoy. Mei'er kicked open the door and rushed in early in the morning: "Who was shouting so loudly last night? It kept Sister Lu and me from sleeping!"
Yu'er, recalling the frenzy of the previous night, blushed like a persimmon. I pulled the naked Mei'er and Yu'er into my arms on either side, and said with a wicked smile, "Who can blame me for being so virile? This is a blessing for any wife or concubine. Want to try it too?"
Mei'er couldn't resist and finally rushed out laughing and scolding.
I shook my head and called to the beauties beside me to get up and dress. Yu'er still shyly avoided my gaze, but I deliberately wrapped my arms around her slender waist and asked, "How did it feel last night? Do you want to do it again?"
Yu'er retorted, "I don't care about you."
Mei'er giggled upon hearing this, "Sister Yu'er is being stubborn now, but I'm afraid she'll become weak and limp once she's in bed."
Yu'er chased after Mei'er and they started playfully fighting, while I watched the captivating scene before me with great interest: how many people have the luck to witness the demure beauty of such a peerless woman? How kind Heaven has been to me!
In an instant, an uncontrollable impulse surged in my chest, and I thought to myself, "Even if I have to risk my life to protect everything before me, it would be worth it, wouldn't it?"
Chapter Thirty-Six Adopted Daughter
As expected, stepping out of the room, I saw again, in the distance, Fatty Song's ambiguous smile and lingering expression. I went straight up to him and sneered, "Mr. Song, you're in high spirits. You've been eavesdropping all night again, haven't you? Did you enjoy it?"
Fatty Song blushed and coughed, "I just happened to be passing by. I've only been here a short while." Before I could react, he grabbed my sleeve and whispered, "I have some things to discuss with you, young master."
I frowned. "What's so mysterious about this? Can't we talk about it here?"
Fatty Song looked around, released my sleeve, and awkwardly continued, "Young Master is right. I just can't shake this timid and cautious habit."
I shook my head. "Mr. Song, you're too kind. Tianxiang Restaurant is yours; I'm just providing the initial capital.
I have no intention of encroaching on the business you've painstakingly built. I dare not accept the title of 'Young Master'; at most, I'm just a small fry hiding behind the scenes."
Fatty Song hesitated, and I pressed him repeatedly until I was almost angry before he lowered his voice and said, "With only one Tianxiang Restaurant, I'm perfectly fine as the boss; but now the business is growing bigger and bigger. Without a strong backer, I'm afraid there will be trouble every few days."
"I'm just a young man fresh out of school. If you think I have some powerful backer, you're mistaken," I firmly denied.
Fatty Song narrowed his eyes and said, "I can barely guess your identity, young master. Besides, one of your concubines is a young lady from the Yan family; the other, if my eyes aren't deceiving me, should be the daughter of the Linghu family. To say you don't have some background would be a lie."
I thought for a moment and continued, "Since we are partners, we naturally hope to make money together. I'm new to the martial world and have no reputation. How about this?"
I turned to Mei'er and called out, "Mei'er, come and pay your respects to Boss Song!" I gazed at Fatty Song and said calmly, "Would Boss Song be willing to take her as his goddaughter?"
Fatty Song was overjoyed and murmured, "This... how could I dare to accept this?"
I waved my hand and looked at Mei'er, who had just run over, "Mei'er, come and pay your respects to your godfather!"
Mei'er was stunned for a moment, glanced at me, and realized I wasn't joking. Finally, she bit her lip and bowed down. Fatty Song hurriedly helped her up, saying, "Please get up quickly!"
Seemingly still wanting more, Fatty Song took off his jade-green, translucent thumb ring and handed it to Mei'er, saying, "Your godfather didn't prepare any gifts, so this thumb ring is for you!"
Mei'er accepted the ring, and thus, a bizarre alliance of interests was born.
"Master! How could you treat Mei'er like this?" Mei'er hadn't spoken to me all day, hiding in her room sulking. Mei'er accompanied me to inquire, and after learning the details, she finally couldn't help but scold me.
I smiled and said, "Boss Song's business is renowned far and wide."
I coldly replied, "The reputation of the Linghu family? Hmph, the Linghu family is probably filthy and on the verge of collapse."
Mei'er finally couldn't help but retort, "You're talking nonsense!"
Mei'er, fearing that Mei'er's impulsive words would enrage me, quickly covered Mei'er's mouth. I said calmly, "Let her go. Mei'er, I'm asking you, why did you run away from home? Did you sense something?"
Mei'er raised her head, seemingly about to answer my question; but then, as if suddenly remembering something, her expression darkened, and she silently lowered her head again.
My words were like daggers, gradually cutting into the hidden pain in her heart: "Niu Tian is just a servant. What right does he have to seduce your third aunt, Miao Cuimei? Miao Cuimei is a lewd and vicious character. Would she really entrust her lifelong happiness to Niu Tian, who is of low status and has weak martial arts skills? Even if he used schemes to kill your father, the inheritance of the family property would never fall to him. Why is he so confident?"
Mei'er shook her head and shouted, "Don't say it... please don't say it!"
I ignored her and continued, "Your two uncles, Linghu Wudi and Linghu Wudui, are the biggest beneficiaries and power holders of the Linghu family after your father's death. Even you can see the relationship between Niu Tian and Miao Cuimei. These two famous high-ranking officials..." How could a renowned master like Niu Tian be completely unaware? The only possibility is that Niu Tian is simply a pawn being manipulated, and after he caused the death of your ailing father, he will likely be used as a scapegoat to be executed and displayed to the public!
Mei'er burst into tears, struggling to protest, "Don't say anymore..."
I added the final cornerstone to my speculation: "You've already discovered your two uncles' conspiracy, haven't you? You already know they want to persecute your seriously ill father, but you can't stop them, right? You've also discovered that they want to sacrifice your happiness, using you as a stumbling block to drive you out of the Linghu family, right? That's why you're in such a hurry to get married, wanting to stay far away from all the darkness around you, right?"
Mei'er finally abandoned her pride and burst into tears. Mei'er glared at me: "Nobody thinks you're stupid, can't you just shut up?"
I clapped my hands: "I don't want to keep up with Mei'er, but if we don't completely resolve her inner conflict, she won't be able to find a way to solve the problem, she'll just keep running away. I'm her husband, and naturally I don't want her to have any regrets before she marries into our family."
Mei'er asked in surprise: "Master, you mean...?"
Mei'er also stopped crying and quietly waited for my answer. I sighed: "After I go home to meet my parents this time, I will return to the Linghu family with Mei'er to see if there's anything we should do."
Mei'er gripped my hand tightly, clearly fully supporting my decision. Mei'er also threw herself into my arms and started crying happily: "I...I thought you didn't want me anymore..."
I stroked Mei'er's hair, but felt no joy at all. I've decided to help Mei'er reclaim what rightfully belongs to her from the Linghu family, but I have no guarantee of success. After all, I'm just an outsider to the Linghu family, with no right to interfere. Moreover, a misstep could easily escalate the feud between the Hua and Linghu families, making the situation even more uncontrollable. If my stern and imposing father knew of my decision, he'd probably give me another severe scolding.
Strangely, I'm starting to miss my father's usual reprimands. "The closer I get to home, the more timid I become, afraid to ask the passersby."
The reason I haven't rushed home immediately, but instead linger here, is it because I fear my parents' disappointment?
Chapter One: A Sudden Change Wandering
aimlessly through the streets, my heart is filled with unbearable bitterness. Have I been walking like this for a whole day? Perhaps two days, three days?
My father's words and my mother's anxious, gaunt face still echo in my ears—perhaps it's because she misses her good-for-nothing son? Upon hearing the news of my return home, my mother rushed out barefoot, repeatedly asking about every fragmented detail of my life since leaving. She then pulled Mei'er and the other two close, gently stroking their necks. She even divided a pair of bracelets and a silver chain left to her by my grandmother among the three of them, clearly showing her great affection. My father, however, unexpectedly remained in his study, unmoved by my kneeling. Finally, my mother uttered a scolding remark: "You had the guts to run away from home and make your way in the world, didn't you? Then don't rely on our family's wealth. Make something of yourself before you come back!" His
cold words felt like a bucket of ice water. My father, seemingly not satisfied, confiscated all the silver notes my mother had, as if determined to let me starve to death on the streets. Fortunately, when I decided to marry Mei'er, I had resolved to fulfill my responsibilities as a husband and had prepared enough assets to support myself.
But did my father really intend to kick me out of the house?
Whose shrewd eyes were watching me from behind the door? Since you forced me to become a monk, why did you leave me a way home through my mother? Perhaps I would be happier if I truly didn't understand my father's good intentions? Knowing he was using this to encourage me to become a monk and grow through experience, not wanting me to remain a spoiled brat bound by wealth, I still couldn't disobey his wishes. The weight of my father's kindness pressed down on me, yet I couldn't utter a simple word of gratitude. I could only kowtow several times, then leave home again without looking back.
Would my father truly believe he had angered me, thus preventing me from ever returning? Once I leave, when will I be able to return home?
My jumbled thoughts swirled in my mind for who knows how long, until I finally remembered Mei'er and the others who had been silently following behind me. For days I hadn't eaten or drunk anything, just walking with my head down; they must have been starving with me for days too. I stopped and turned to look back at the beautiful women behind me. Suddenly,
disaster struck.
Seven or eight large hidden weapons—iron lotus seeds, flying stones, throwing knives, and more—along with a volley of needles, attacked from all sides. With a few angry shouts, more than a dozen men wielding weapons charged out. In an instant, I recognized them as the same thugs who had plotted to ambush Yu'er before.
My heart ached terribly. These past few days had been a blur, leaving me no time to consider the previous crisis; I hadn't expected them to be lying in ambush on the roadside. And what I was seeing now was far beyond our capabilities. Did Yu'er truly harbor such deep hatred for them?
Without a second thought, I channeled my inner strength into my outer robe and unleashed a strike, intercepting most of the hidden weapons. I quickly pulled Yu'er behind me, as she was the primary target of most of the attacks, and I didn't want her to suffer any harm. At the same time, I shouted, "Mei'er, get down!"
Of the three of us, only Mei'er didn't know martial arts. Fortunately, she always obeyed me, and immediately lay down behind us, thus remaining unharmed. Mei'er had already drawn her dagger and deflected several hidden weapons, shouting, "Husband, be careful!"
The most deadly needle-like attack came, and I had no time to block it. Suddenly, Yu'er spun around, appearing before me in an instant. Her long sleeves billowed out like clouds, and all the hidden weapons vanished before her. I cursed inwardly, "Damn it, I almost forgot that the Yan family's Flowing Cloud Flying Sleeves are the nemesis of all hidden weapons, and Yu'er's skill is no less than mine."
Yu'er tossed her sleeve, her movements incredibly graceful. The ox-hair needles she had concealed in her sleeve flew out in reverse, causing the oncoming bandits to pause in surprise. The bandit who had released the needles suddenly pulled a dark object from his robes and collected them all—it turned out to be a magnet.
Everything happened so fast; I threw my robe, Mei'er fell to the ground, Mei'er brandished her dagger, and Yu'er counterattacked with the ox-hair needles almost simultaneously, leaving no time to think. Taking advantage of the moment the bandits were blocked by the needles, I leaped up and struck down with both fists. Two sharp "pop" sounds rang out simultaneously, and I had already clashed head-on with two bandits without any fancy moves.
As the two bandits coughed up blood and fell backward, I had already kicked one of them in the head.
Accompanied by the sound of a skull cracking, I rose again, drawing my peach wood sword from behind and slashing at the two blades and one sword coming at me. I brandished my sword, weaving a net of blades that descended upon the bandits.
One bandit's arms were severed, the splatter of blood like a puff of smoke. My peach wood sword emerged through the smoke, piercing a bandit's chest. As I pulled the wooden sword from my grasp, the bandits, trembling with fear, finally turned and fled in terror.
Yu'er and Mei'er, standing behind me, looked at me in surprise: "Husband, you—"
I said calmly, "Anyone who tries to harm my women, I will never let them live in this world."
Yu'er, Mei'er, and Mei'er all rushed into my arms, Mei'er crying tears of joy: "Master, you've finally recovered! These past few days you haven't spoken a word, refused to eat, and just walked around on your own. We were all so worried!"
Looking at the haggard expressions of my three beloved wives, I felt a surge of emotion: "My wives, I'm sorry you've suffered. I'll never be like this again. Let's go have a big meal!"
Mei'er cheered first, while Yu'er, besides her radiant smile, still had a hint of confusion: "Husband, how did your martial arts suddenly become so high?"
I smiled and said, "When I was worried about you, naturally my skills became twelve times better."
Yu'er's smile grew even brighter, and she didn't press the matter further. Only I knew in my heart that my martial arts level had risen another level, and a myriad of emotions welled up inside me. My family's swordsmanship is vastly different from that of other schools in the martial arts world. Besides a solid foundation, it emphasizes comprehension above all else. The same swordsmanship can have vastly different power depending on the two people wielding it.
Generally speaking, ten years is enough to establish a solid foundation. Future development depends on individual circumstances and talent. My current level is already five years ahead of my father's. My father's willingness to sever our father-son bond and force me to experience the martial world is probably for my future, not wanting to waste my talent.
"It's strange, though. Why did my father always forbid me from venturing into the martial world, but this time he's unusually forcing me to leave home?"
A bizarre thought crossed my mind, leaving me somewhat confused.
Oh well, the restaurant is just ahead. I'd better go and have a big meal first!
Chapter Two: The Demonic Sect's Heart-Shattering
Strike - On Ten Mile Slope After instructing Yu'er to invite Lu Fangxin, who had been staying in the side room, I loudly called for the waiter to bring the food quickly. With the knot in my heart untied, my stomach suddenly felt like it was being torn apart by hunger. My impatient expression drew quiet sneers from Mei'er and Mei'er. It's strange, they've been starving with me for days, yet Luo is so calm?
A rumbling in my stomach made Mei'er's face turn as red as a persimmon after frost, and I couldn't help but tease her, "Can't you maintain your ladylike demeanor after all?"
Mei'er playfully punched me, "It's all your fault! You made me go hungry with you! And now you're laughing at me!"
Perhaps on Boss Song's orders, the waiter served the dishes much faster than the other tables. Looking at the dazzling array of dishes, my appetite was whetted: "Let's not wait for Yu'er and the others, let's eat first!"
Yu'er appeared at the top of the stairs, smiling, "So my husband is this selfish!"
Mei'er and Mei'er exchanged a few more jokes before finally picking up their chopsticks and eating calmly. I sighed inwardly: It seems being a lady isn't easy.
I felt Yu'er's smile was a little unnatural, so I casually asked, "Where's Miss Lu?"
Yu'er sat down beside me and said calmly, "Miss Lu said she's already eaten and told us to help ourselves."
A note was slipped into my hand from under the table. I glanced at Yu'er; her expression was normal, but a hint of anxiety flickered between her brows, and her gaze seemed to hint at something when she met mine. I quickly ate a few mouthfuls of rice, and while Mei'er and the others weren't looking, I secretly unfolded the note. A line of tiny handwriting caught my eye: "Hua Yichuan: If you want her to live, get to Shili Slope within an hour, alone!" The signature was a small red heart, seemingly dripping blood.
"The Heart-Destroying Sect!" A thought flashed through my mind: "When I returned home this time, Miss Lu insisted on not coming along. I knew she was still somewhat afraid of strangers, so I didn't force her. I didn't expect the Heart-Destroying Sect's actions to be so swift, and even more so, I didn't expect them to have already discovered my true identity. I underestimated the Heart-Destroying Sect's strength, and in the end, Miss Lu fell back into their hands."
The handwriting wasn't even dry yet, clearly indicating that the incident hadn't happened long ago. I forced myself to remain calm, stood up, and smiled, "My husband needs to use the restroom. Anyone want to come along?"
Mei'er ignored me, while Mei'er glared at me irritably. Just as Yu'er was about to get up, I patted her shoulder: "I'll be right back!"
I emphasized "alone," and Yu'er surely understood: the Heart-Shattering Sect required me to go alone. Although it was dangerous, I couldn't disobey, otherwise Miss Lu's life might be ruined by this one decision. Yu'er's body went limp, and she finally sat back down.
I whispered in her ear, "Don't worry, I promise I'll return safely!"
Yu'er's helpless expression softened my heart, but in the end, I still left without hesitation. Yu'er was thinking of my safety, and so was I. This journey was fraught with danger; how could I bear to let Yu'er be caught in it as well?
Stepping out of Tianxiang Tower, I snatched a fine horse tethered to the manger beside the door and immediately spurred it on at full gallop. Shili Slope wasn't actually ten li away; without running desperately, an hour would be far from enough, especially since I had no idea how long I'd been delayed before seeing that note.
My heart was burning with anxiety, yet I forced myself to remain calm, silently pondering the situation. There were too many suspicious points in this whole affair: if I could barely reach it even with all my strength, how could the Cuixin Sect have arrived ahead of time with Miss Lu?
It seemed like a trap. The crucial point was that although I knew it was a trick, I still had no choice but to go. How did the Cuixin Sect discover my true identity? Had I revealed a flaw in my martial arts? Or did they deduce from Mei'er that her husband was me? The murderer's plan was flawless, but the handwriting on the note was delicate and slender—could the murderer actually be a woman? Unexpectedly, after ten years, the Heart-Destroying Sect is still hunting down Miss Lu. Their methods are truly ruthless. I wonder what kind of torture Miss Lu will suffer now that she's back in their clutches?
I sighed inwardly: I had underestimated the martial world. Everything I've encountered has made me acutely aware of my lack of experience. If I want to carve out my own place in the martial world, I still have much to learn and understand. I secretly vowed: One day, I will trample the entire martial world under my feet! The Heart-Destroying Sect, you will be my first prey in my quest for supremacy!
At the top of Ten Mile Slope, a young man in white stood against the wind, his handsome face shrouded in a cold, aloof air. His hawk-like eyes were fixed on me as I slowly climbed the slope. In that instant, I seemed to see myself: a more cunning, more shrewd version of myself.
I stood quietly before him, coldly scrutinizing him. He finally spoke slowly, his voice low and deep: "Is Yan Ruoyu in your hands?"
I was taken aback, not expecting him to ask such a question. I replied, "She is my betrothed concubine."
"You're asking for death!" The young man's anger erupted instantly, making one wonder if the calm and collected demeanor I had just witnessed was an illusion. A punch, carrying the force of a fierce wind, came hurtling towards me, but its momentum already made my chest freeze. I dodged to the side, involuntarily drawing my peach wood sword to slash at his elbow.
I was secretly startled, and an anger also involuntarily ignited within me: being forced to draw my sword in one move was a complete loss of face.
The young man's sleeve twisted like a snake, coiling around my sword—such a bizarre move was something I had never seen before. I slightly tilted my sword, aiming for his palm. The young man's fingers curled like an eagle, grabbing at the tip of my sword.
I was furious: his moves were so urgent, he clearly didn't take me seriously. I neither dodged nor evaded, letting him grasp the tip of my sword. Suddenly, I spun like a top, twisting my body towards his palm. The young man had no choice but to release the sword tip and strike out with his palm.
Fist and sword clashed with a resounding "bang." The young man swayed slightly, but I was forced to take a small step back to deflect his internal force. It seemed my internal strength was slightly inferior to his.
I unleashed a series of intricate sword techniques, adopting a hit-and-run strategy, trying to avoid direct confrontation. The young man's long sleeves swung, seemingly creating a suction force, nearly ensnaring my wooden sword several times. I felt as if the wooden sword was stuck deep in mud and sand, its movements becoming increasingly difficult and sluggish, like a fish struggling in a net, the more it struggled, the more trapped it became.
I knew I would soon have to abandon my sword and be defeated, which only fueled my anger, making me go all in. I thrust out with all my might, certain that he wouldn't let this unprepared strike go unpunished. As expected, his sleeve lashed out, locking the wooden sword firmly in place.
I wanted him to do exactly that, so I decisively abandoned my sword and threw a punch. This punch, imbued with all my inner strength, slammed into his chest with unparalleled speed. Success or failure would be decided in that instant.
The Demonic Sect's Heart-Shattering Chapter 3: Dragon and Tiger Clash
. The white-robed youth's right hand was still entangled with my wooden sword. Seeing my all-out attack, his eyes blazed, and he flicked out his left sleeve to meet my fist.
The instant our fists met, Yu'er's cry came from behind: "Brother, no!"
I suddenly realized that this youth before me was none other than my destined nemesis, Yan Ruoshui. No wonder he was so enraged upon hearing that Yu'er was my concubine. I hurriedly began to gather my inner strength, while simultaneously thinking, "Yu'er didn't tell me to stop, but instead called me 'brother,' clearly indicating that she thinks I'm no match for her brother. I can't help but feel a little uneasy."
Yan Ruoshui also withdrew most of his inner strength, and our fists barely touched before separating. Yu'er rushed to my side and grabbed my arm: "Husband, I was just worried you'd get hurt, please don't take offense."
I laughed heartily, all my grudges gone: "How could I! If you had told me to stop, your brother would have hit me even harder."
Yu'er smiled sweetly: "Husband, you haven't disappointed me." Yan Ruoshui, standing to the side, was clearly confused: "Little sister, come here, what's going on?"
Yu'er remained standing beside me, showing no intention of moving: "Brother, don't blame me for being willful, I've already decided to marry him."
Yan Ruoshui looked me over with an uncertain expression: "Are you Hua Yichuan, brother?"
I nodded in acknowledgment: "That's right, I am your opponent three years from now."
Yan Ruoshui's face turned ashen: "Can we speak in private?"
I shook my head: "There's nothing I can't say to others." I gazed at Yu'er's solemn expression and continued: "Besides, this concerns Yu'er's lifelong happiness, and I don't want to hide any decision from her." My
eyes met Yu'er's gentle gaze, and I turned my attention back to Yan Ruoshui in front of me. Yan Ruoshui sneered, "Fine, since that's the case, it would be too rude of me to keep dodging. Let's lay everything out on the table.
Brother Hua, did you use such despicable means to deceive my little sister in order to sabotage our duel three years from now?"
Yu'er anxiously interjected, "Brother, how can you say such things?"
Yan Ruoshui snapped, "Shut up! I want your future husband to answer me himself!"
I coldly replied, "Please don't insult your sister, and even less so me. Three years from now..." The duel will proceed as scheduled, a life-or-death struggle. I will never learn a single move of yours through Yu'er. The Yan family has already suffered three consecutive defeats at the hands of the Han family. I hope you won't disappoint me in three years!
Yan Ruoshui, instead of being angry, smiled and bowed, saying, "It was my slip of the tongue, please forgive me, Brother Hua."
I returned the bow, "I dare not. The matter is sudden, and I haven't yet proposed marriage to your esteemed family, please forgive me."
Yan Ruoshui said calmly, "I entrust my younger sister to Brother Hua from now on, I hope you will treat her well. My siblings and I lost our parents early, and our family..." "There are bound to be oversights in the teaching, and I hope my sister will forgive me if she has done anything wrong."
I asked in surprise, "Brother Yan, you actually trust me to be without fault based on just a few words?"
Yan Ruoshui said calmly, "I can tell that you haven't learned any
secrets of 'Flowing Clouds and Flying Sleeves' from my sister, and if I'm not mistaken, your father didn't tell you about the Yan family's 'Flowing Clouds and Flying Sleeves' moves either, right?"
I admitted, "Father never wanted to talk about his two previous duels, only telling me to rely on myself..." "Use your own strength for a fair and square duel."
Yan Ruoshui sighed, "Your father's magnanimity is truly admirable; my father's defeat was well-deserved. I already learned the moves of your family's sword technique from my father, so I deliberately set a trap to lure Brother Hua into it. If Brother Hua had known the 'Flowing Clouds and Flying Sleeves' move beforehand, he would never have fallen for it."
I looked blankly at Yu'er, pondering to myself, "If Yu'er hadn't shouted, it would have clearly been a lose-lose situation. Why does Yan Ruoshui say it was a trap he set?"
Yu'er looked at her brother, Yan Ruoshui, who nodded slightly. "I also do not wish to rely on our father's influence; the duel should be completely fair."
Yu'er explained, "My brother's sleeve is woven from silkworm silk mixed with other metals; it's a unique weapon. When their fists collide, my brother can transfer some of my husband's internal energy to his clothes, causing the sleeve to break off and fly out like a hidden weapon, striking my husband's chest. Just now, the distance was so close, and we were both competing in internal energy; any mistake could have seriously injured the other."
I suddenly understood; no wonder Yu'er could catch all sorts of hidden weapons with her sleeve—that was the reason. I secretly admired Yan Ruoshui's integrity, but I knew I absolutely could not tarnish my family's reputation, so I smiled and said, "Although I cannot defuse your family's attacks as easily as my father, I have my own way of countering them."
Yan Ruoshui said in surprise, "Under the circumstances just now, I really couldn't think of any other way to counter it."
Even Yu'er tugged at my sleeve, signaling me not to be reckless.
I was both angry and amused, and I planted a hard paw print on Yu'er's shapely buttocks: "In the end, you still side with your brother and have no confidence in your husband!"
I raised my head, my eyes gleaming, and looked at Yan Ruoshui. Yan Ruoshui met my gaze, her body trembled, and she took three steps back. Knowing when to stop, I said calmly, "This is the 'Soul-Seizing Technique.' I'm a beginner and not very skilled at it."
Yan Ruoshui smiled bitterly, "You actually possess such a strange art. If you had used it suddenly just now, there's a 90% chance I would have already died."
Yu'er glared at me, annoyed, "Brother, it's not that I wanted to harm you. I didn't know beforehand, otherwise I would have warned you to be careful."
I laughed, "Wow, now I have a spy for Brother Yan by my side. Wouldn't I be doomed to defeat on the day of the duel?"
After joking with Yu'er for a few moments, I explained, "The Soul-Seizing Technique can only be used once. If it doesn't seriously injure the opponent, it might hurt yourself instead. I only used it briefly and then stopped. If I had used it at full strength, I might not have been able to secure victory. Besides, Yan..." "Brother, now that you're on guard, I'll never be able to succeed again. So, Yu'er, don't worry about your brother. Next time, it might be your husband who dies."
Yan Ruoshui bowed and said, "Brother Hua, you have an extraordinary bearing. If we weren't destined to be rivals, I would truly like to become sworn brothers with you. What a pity!"
I deeply agreed: "Indeed, I think so too. But thinking about having a rival like Brother Yan, isn't that a blessing in life? By the way, why are you waiting for me here, Brother Yan?"
Chapter 4 of The Demonic Sect's Heart-Shattering Journey: Elder Yellow
Eyebrows. When Yan Ruoshui opened his hand, a note similar to the one I had received was revealed in his palm. It said that if I wanted to save Yu'er, I had to get to Shili Slope within an hour. The signature was also a bleeding red heart.
I briefly explained my situation and handed over my note. Yan Ruoshui glanced at my note and said calmly, "One person's handwriting, trying to make us kill each other."
I pondered, "But obviously the writing times are different. The handwriting on your note is at least three days old; the one I received was just written recently."
Yan Ruoshui sneered, "To accurately know our whereabouts beforehand, and to kidnap your maid, Lu, at the same time I received the note, this person is quite capable. I really want to see who he is."
I added, "Judging from the handwriting, it seems to be a woman's handwriting, but the Heart-Destroying Cult bandits who intercepted Yu'er were all men." "Yes. It's said that most of the high-ranking members of the Heart-Destroying Sect are women, and it seems that's true."
Yu'er brushed a lock of hair from her forehead and murmured, "The Heart-Destroying Sect couldn't do anything to my father back then, so they extended their hatred to us. Miss Lu has been gone for ten years, but they still haven't given up the pursuit. It seems that the Heart-Destroying Sect's vengeful style is extremely ruthless, no wonder they are so mysterious in the martial arts world."
Yan Ruoshui snorted coldly, "Since the Heart-Destroying Sect still remembers us, we must not let them down."
No one is willing to be used by others, and Yan Ruoshui seemed to be truly angry. Although this young man has a calm and collected appearance, his fiery temper is no less than mine. Suddenly remembering something, my hands trembled slightly: "Where are Mei'er and the others? You abandoned them and rushed here alone?"
Yan Ruoshui immediately understood: "You mean they not only want us to fight each other, but also to lure us away to harm Mei'er and the others?"
Cold sweat beaded on my forehead: "I hope I'm wrong, and I hope the Heart-Destroying Sect isn't so cunning and treacherous."
Yu'er anxiously protested: "I've already instructed Boss Song to send someone to take good care of Mei'er and Mei'er. Besides, it's broad daylight in a crowded restaurant; surely they won't be in any danger?"
Yan Ruoshui glared at her sister and resolutely said: "We'll leave immediately! Hopefully, it's not too late!"
I forced a smile: "If something really happens, we'll leave now..." "It's definitely too late. Besides, we've just fought a major battle and traveled back and forth several times. By the time we barely arrive, we'll be a weakened army. We should return calmly. Hopefully, as Yu'er says, it's all our own fault."
Yu'er clearly heard my voice tremble slightly. She wanted to say a few words of comfort, but didn't know where to begin. I was in a daze, but still tried to comfort her, saying, "It's not your fault. You're just worried about my comfort."
I murmured a sigh, "I hope they'll be alright!"
The three of us looked at each other, our expressions somber, and remained silent.
"Bu!" A deep, resonant sound of a wooden fish drum snapped us back to reality, making us all startled and turn towards the source of the sound. An old monk with yellowed eyebrows and a worn-out robe approached calmly, chanting Buddhist prayers. He walked slowly and deliberately, covering a distance of several dozen feet in an instant. Yan Ruoshui and I exchanged a glance, inwardly astonished: "This monk's lightness skill has reached the level of seamless fluidity and shrinking distances to an inch. We never expected such a master to appear here."
The old monk stopped a few feet in front of us, bowing slightly: "These two benefactors must be descendants of the Hua and Yan families. Truly outstanding individuals."
Yan Ruoshui and I returned the bow simultaneously: "Indeed, Master, have you come from afar to seek us out?" After a pause, Yan Ruoshui said calmly: "Master, are you Elder Huangmei of the Shaolin Disciplinary Hall? What crimes have we committed?"
I was greatly surprised: "Although Shaolin and Wudang are Buddhist sects, they are still part of the martial arts world and cannot remain aloof.
The Disciplinary Hall..." This is a branch of Shaolin dedicated to upholding justice in the martial world. They usually only appear to enlighten the most heinous criminals, while the stubborn and unrepentant are captured and brought back to Shaolin to reflect on their actions. Could it be that the old monk before me has come to capture us?
I secretly reviewed my past actions, which, though somewhat absurd and unrestrained, I couldn't think of anything that would alarm the elders of the Disciplinary Hall to personally intervene. "
Huang Mei smiled, his tone calm: "Not at all. This old monk has been invited, but only wished to ask you two a few questions." He paused, then continued: "As for who invited me, this old monk has promised not to reveal it. A monk does not lie, so if you two insist on asking, this old monk will have to pretend to be deaf and dumb."
"Invited?" I pondered for a long time but still couldn't figure it out. However, seeing Huang Mei's seemingly foolish wisdom, I was afraid I wouldn't get anything out of him anyway. Yan Ruoshui answered first, "Master, please ask!"
Huang Mei narrowed his eyes, a glint of light flashing in them, "May I ask you two benefactors, how should one choose between good and evil?"
Yan Ruoshui snorted coldly, "Why ask a question you already know the answer to? Of course, one should abandon evil and choose good."
Huang Mei nodded slightly, his gaze shifting to me, "And what about Benefactor Hua?"
I said calmly, "Good and evil are merely arbitrary distinctions. One should act only with a clear conscience; what is there to distinguish between good and evil?"
Huang Mei closed his eyes for a long while, then opened them again and asked, "The Sixth Patriarch Huineng once left behind a verse:
'Bodhi is not a tree, nor is the bright mirror a stand. Originally there is nothing, so where does dust alight?' I wonder what you two benefactors mean by this?" Yan Ruoshui said calmly, "Thank you for asking from afar, Master. Unfortunately, I have never liked Buddhism, and my answer may make you laugh. But I would like to know more: if there is nothing originally, then where does the dust come from?"
I interjected from the side, "Master, I have also read the Platform Sutra, but..." The verse I heard was slightly different from the master's. The last line was titled "Buddha-nature is always pure, where can dust settle?" I think this aligns with the Sixth Patriarch's Zen philosophy.
If one can maintain true Buddha-nature, dust naturally cannot taint it. "
Huang Mei chanted a Buddhist prayer and calmly said, "This old monk has finished asking his questions. You two are indeed highly intelligent individuals, worthy of being called equals. This old monk dares not disturb you any further and will take his leave."
Watching Huang Mei's composed departure, Yan Ruoshui and I were both a little confused. I asked, "Elder Huang Mei, did you really come all this way just to ask a few questions?"
Yan Ruoshui pondered, "Perhaps he really was entrusted by someone to select from among us. Strange, what will the chosen one do?"
Chapter 5 of The Demonic Cult's Heart-Shattering Journey: Who is the Spy
? We didn't travel very fast along the way, and Yan Ruoshui took the opportunity to inquire in detail about everything that had happened to Ruoyu after she left home. Hearing how Yu'er and I had tricked our way of obtaining the "Demon-Subduing Treasure Record," Yan Ruoshui sighed, "I never imagined that the legendary book 'Demon-Subduing Treasure Record,' which has been passed down for centuries, would fall into Brother Hua's hands. Brother Hua is truly a blessed man."
Yu'er's voice was as soft as a mosquito's buzz: "My husband said that...that was my dowry...my betrothal gift."
Yan Ruoshui laughed loudly, "What a generous gesture! Sister, you've found a husband who values you so much; no wonder you'd rather leave your own brother aside and delay returning home."
Although I was extremely anxious, I also knew... They distracted me from my worries, and upon hearing this, they smiled and said, "However, Brother Yan, you will surely be disappointed, because there is not a single word about martial arts in the *Demon-Subduing Treasure Record*. The widespread claim that it is a martial arts manual is just a clumsy lie."
Yan Ruoshui sighed, "It's a pity that so many people in the martial world have perished because of this. Fortunately, you and my sister stumbled upon this mystery, otherwise who knows how many more people would have been harmed."
Even the longest journey has an end, but I never expected that the first to rush up to greet me would be my two beloved wives, Mei'er and Mei'er. Yu'er, who had been trying to remain calm, finally couldn't hold back anymore and wept with joy. Was she thanking heaven for not letting her make a terrible mistake? I lovingly embraced her and gently comforted her.
A dozen or so men who looked like shop assistants surrounded me, hurriedly explaining everything that had happened. I looked closely and recognized them as the group of strong young men who had followed me out of Maoshan. Their oratory skills were truly underwhelming. I patiently pieced together all the clues to understand what had happened:
It turned out the Heart-Destroying Sect hadn't missed such a good opportunity, sending six or seven masked men to storm the restaurant in broad daylight to capture Mei'er and her companions. But they had miscalculated. They thought Yu'er, the most skilled fighter, was gone and that their current strength would be enough to capture her easily. However, after easily defeating the thugs sent by Boss Song to protect Mei'er and her group, they finally incurred the wrath of the crowd.
Mei'er had previously practiced medicine and healing in Maoshan, relieving the suffering of countless people in the area. In the eyes of the Maoshan people, she was nothing less than a benevolent Guanyin. The dozens of young men who had followed us out of Maoshan to seek their fortunes, upon seeing their benefactor Mei'er in trouble, immediately stepped forward, wielding sticks and surrounding the six or seven thugs. They had previously learned some rudimentary martial arts from Master Mao, and in their rage, they possessed a formidable strength. Seeing the situation was dire, the thugs fought desperately, injuring several young men before retreating. Some of the thugs had been severely struck with clubs and would likely need a month or two to recover before they could resume their evil deeds.
Looking at the simple, honest faces of these men, my heart warmed. Although the area around Maoshan was poor, the people were generous and righteous. If you were to receive even a small act of kindness, they would often remember it and repay it tenfold in times of trouble. Otherwise, if Mei'er and Mei'er were to be separated from me, I couldn't imagine the heartbreak I would feel.
I ordered the entire restaurant to be booked for a banquet to entertain these kind-hearted brothers, and my three wives and I raised our glasses to express our sincerest gratitude. After several rounds of drinks, the group of men patted their chests and declared that if Miss Mei'er continued to stay here, their safety would be her responsibility. They said they wouldn't be human if they couldn't even take care of their benefactor. Their enthusiastic welcome was truly moving.
I told them to drink to their hearts' content and not to worry about saving me money. Amidst loud laughter, Mei'er and I finally left the restaurant and returned to our room.
Without pausing to reminisce about our separation, I instructed Boss Song and Yan Ruoshui to be summoned and cut straight to the point: "The defenses of our current location are too weak. I absolutely do not want today's events to repeat themselves. Therefore, I intend to renovate Tianxiang Tower to serve as our future base."
Boss Song nodded repeatedly: "It should have been done long ago, but my martial arts skills are meager, and I lack connections. In addition, Tianxiang Tower was previously just a small place, making it impossible to hire any top-tier experts, so it has been shelved. I am quite adept at running restaurants and taverns, but I am completely clueless about building a martial arts school. Now that the young master is willing to step forward, it is naturally the best thing."
I smiled slightly. Fatty Song has always respected me as the young master, and he probably already harbored the idea of pushing me to the forefront while he himself remained hidden behind the scenes. Naturally, he couldn't be happier with this arrangement. I gazed at Yan Ruoshui and said, "I am Brother Yan's brother-in-law. Today, I dare to ask for a favor, hoping that Brother Yan will reluctantly agree for the sake of your sister's safety."
Yan Ruoshui smiled and said, "Brother Hua, you don't want me to train those men from Maoshan, do you?"
I nodded, "Exactly. They all have a good foundation. With a little training, they can become a powerful force to protect the courtyard .
Yu'er has studied the Qimen Dunjia and Five Elements techniques in the 'Demon Subduing Treasure Record,' so she must have gained some knowledge. If I can help train them in formations, it will be like adding wings to a tiger."
Yu'er nodded, "Yes. I can also arrange the trees and rockeries in the courtyard to create some formations, which I hope will be helpful."
Yan Ruoshui sighed, "A woman is disloyal to her family and loves her husband more. It seems I have no choice but to agree. I'm afraid that if I say 'no,' my sister will disown me as her elder brother."
Yu'er smiled sweetly, "I knew you loved me the most, brother."
“Mei’er is the best doctor, so naturally we can’t do without her. As for Mei’er… I’d like to ask you, the master of disguise, to disguise me.”
Mei’er rubbed her hands together, giggling, “Great! My disguise skills, learned from the ‘Demon Subduing Manual,’ can finally come in handy.”
Only Mei’er stared at me with wide eyes, puzzled, and murmured, “Master, after you’ve arranged everything, are you planning to leave here to do something secret?”
“Mei’er understands me best!” I sighed inwardly and nodded silently. Yan Ruoshui seemed to understand something and quickly said, “Why don’t you stay and train them, and I’ll disguise myself?”
I shook my head, “Brother Yan, there’s really no need for that. Actually, I’ve already made up my mind to do this, and Sect Leader Mao has already made arrangements. There must be a deeper meaning behind his passing on the ‘Soul-Capturing Technique’ to me.”
Yan Ruoshui argued, “But you have wives and concubines to worry about, while I’m all alone, making it easier for me to act.”
Everyone listening was confused, except for Yu’er, who gripped my hand tightly. She had clearly guessed that we were arguing about who should infiltrate the Heart-Destroying Cult. The person who infiltrated was in grave danger, with a slim chance of survival. In contrast, the other person only needed to wait for the intelligence he provided to contact various righteous forces to wipe him out, which was a great opportunity to make a name for himself in the martial arts world.
I seemed to understand something, and said calmly, "Brother Yan, do you remember Elder Huangmei's question today? When Elder Huangmei left, he transmitted a message to me, saying, 'Then I'll leave it to Benefactor Hua.' I've never understood his meaning. Now I think I finally understand Elder Huangmei's unspoken meaning. Between good and evil, you chose good, which has already shown your choice; what I need to do is to guard my true Buddha-nature and avoid being tainted by worldly dust."
Yan Ruoshui realized, "I see. Elder Huangmei must have found that my personality is not suitable for being an undercover agent, so he chose Brother Hua. Buddhism emphasizes the word 'fate,' so I will no longer compete with Brother Hua."
Chapter Six of The Demonic Sect's Heart-Shattering Journey: A Beauty Like Water.
I discussed many details with Fatty Song alone, and when I returned to the room under the inky night, I found it empty. Where did Mei'er and the others hide? I pondered, turned around, and was about to step out to search next door when I suddenly noticed a beautiful figure standing quietly at the door in the moonlight.
Her long robe trailed on the ground, her beautiful hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her bare, jade-like feet were spotless. Beneath the robe, nothing was visible; the loose sash swayed gently in the breeze, revealing her exquisite curves. The pale moonlight cast a shadow over her beautiful face, hazy and dreamlike.
"Mei'er?" A surge of warmth welled up in my heart, and I was about to bend down to light a candle.
"Don't light the lamp!" the beautiful woman called softly, stopping me. That voice was clearly… Mei'er?
I was surprised, lifting her beautiful face to the moonlight, and indeed it was Mei'er. This willful girl had let down her coiled black hair, and her face carried a sorrowful, fragile resentment: was she angry that I hadn't recognized her immediately?
"Mei'er, you've changed your attire; your husband didn't recognize you at first. No wonder, you're so much more beautiful now than usual, enough to make even the fairies in the moonlight pale in comparison," I sighed sincerely.
The beauty's anger turned to joy, and she stepped forward, throwing her entire fragrant body into my arms. Her long robe was as thin as a cicada's wing, and her breasts, beneath the fine gauze, gently rubbed against my chest, slowly rising proudly. I held her slender waist, feeling the smooth, tender skin of her beauty, and smiled, "You dare to tempt your husband? Aren't you afraid I'll unleash my beastly desires and devour you?"
The beauty stood on tiptoe and bit my ear, "Silly husband, I came here this time to...offer myself to you!"
Before she finished speaking, the beauty in my arms was already flushed, her delicate body trembling slightly. I sighed inwardly and kissed her pearly lips. After a passionate kiss, I murmured, "I know your good intentions, but I can't have you now."
The beauty's face changed instantly, turning deathly pale. I tightened my grip on her, holding her even closer as she struggled to break free, and continued, "Mei'er, your husband loves you, without a trace of perfunctoriness. You, Mei'er, and Yu'er are all precious gifts bestowed upon me by heaven. Holding your hand, growing old together, your husband has no regrets in this life."
"Then why...why did you still..." Mei'er's stiff body slowly softened, but her tone still filled me with sorrow.
I squeezed Mei'er's pert buttocks hard, and after she let out a soft moan, I gazed into her dazed eyes and said, "Tomorrow, your husband will disguise himself and infiltrate the Heart-Destroying Sect. His fate is uncertain. How could I bear to take your virginity at this critical moment? What if I don't return? Wouldn't you..."
A jade-like hand covered my mouth, and Mei'er murmured, "Mei'er is willing. Sister Mei'er and Sister Yu'er deliberately avoided you tonight to fulfill Mei'er's decision. Seeing your ecstatic expression when you saw us unharmed today, Mei'er knew she hadn't chosen the wrong person. The three of us sisters have already decided to serve you for life, even unto death."
I was deeply moved and speechless for a moment. I simply picked up Mei'er and threw her hard onto the bed. Her silk robe fell off, and a warm, jade-like body slowly appeared before me. Mei'er closed her eyes in shyness, only feeling the touch and teasing of my fingers through her body. The moonlight, like water, cast shadows on her body, only fueling my arousal.
Amidst soft moans, Mei'er's lower body was already soaked. My member gently ground against her, then parted the gates and plunged in.
"Pain..." Mei'er's body arched violently, her brows furrowed, enduring the greatest pain a woman could feel. Her passage was tighter than Mei'er's and Yu'er's, giving me a more intense pleasure, but also inflicting greater pain on herself.
Several bloody scratches had already appeared on my arms; the slight sting only fueled my desire. Seeing Mei'er's expression slowly relax, I immediately began to move.
Mei'er's body was almost lifted by my thrusts; having tasted the pain of deflowering for the first time, she was soon overwhelmed by my relentless onslaught, utterly defeated. Mei'er's allure was even stronger than Mei'er's. Once she tasted the pleasures of sex, she twisted and yielded, responding intensely, making her already weak body even more powerless. She only managed to stay afloat thanks to the internal energy I slowly channeled into her.
Perhaps we both feared that this was our last night, because my climax was exceptionally delayed.
It wasn't until Mei'er had reached her peak four times that I finally released my pent-up desire and fell into a deep sleep, embracing my beloved.
I woke up several times, vaguely hearing heavy breathing from next door. Was it Mei'er and the others? Did they also wish to spend their last night with me? "Unfortunately, I'm not made of iron. My lovemaking with Mei'er has exhausted most of my desire, and I can't continue." With a sense of regret, I finally drifted off to sleep again.
When I got up in the morning, it was almost noon, but Mei'er was still fast asleep in the crabapple tree grove. I carefully pulled my arm, which had been pressing down on her neck until it went numb, and Mei'er only mumbled something before turning over and falling back into a deep sleep.
The sun was blazing high in the sky, and Mei'er and Yu'er had clearly been waiting for me at the table for a long time, while Yan Ruoshui was wolfing down his food.
I picked up a bun with my chopsticks and took a big bite: "Brother Yan, your eating manners are truly appalling."
Yan Ruoshui stood up, wiped his mouth, and said, "Like a dog biting Lü Dongbin, I'm eating so fast so you'll have time to express your feelings of parting. Hehe."
He grabbed a few more buns and finally strode out the door to begin training the group of strong men from Maoshan. I turned to look at Mei'er and Yu'er, who showed no intention of touching their chopsticks, and said casually, "What's wrong? Is Fatty Song's cooking still not as good as my two beautiful wives'?"
Yu'er turned her head away, deliberately ignoring me, but a single tear fell onto the table; Mei'er, however, picked up her teacup: "Let's use tea instead of wine to see our master off!"
I picked up my teacup and drank it all in one gulp: "Good wine, good wine! After drinking my beautiful wives' fine wine, your husband will naturally be invincible!"
No one responded to my teasing words, and the atmosphere was terribly oppressive. Mei'er finished washing up perfectly and sat down beside me. "Eldest sister, second sister, why aren't you eating?"
Yu'er shook her head. "I can't eat."
Mei'er smiled. "If there's no sorrow of parting, how can there be joy of reunion? Besides, my husband is setting off to pursue his ambitions, we can't hold him back, can we? At most, we sisters can teach him a lesson when he returns safely!"
"Teach him a lesson?" Mei'er smiled lightly. "I wonder who was yelling so loudly last night that we couldn't sleep? You got your wish, shouldn't you thank me and Yu'er?"
Mei'er blushed and ran over to playfully wrestle with Mei'er. "You still say that... didn't you do it last time too..."
Mei'er pulled Yu'er, who was standing there stunned, aside. "My husband is so brave, of course I can't do it alone. With Sister Yu'er by my side, I guarantee my husband will surrender and beg for mercy!"
Yu'er spat lightly. "Don't drag me into your business, okay?"
The sorrow of parting was finally dispelled by the thoughtful Mei'er. Looking at the scene before me, a feeling of happiness filled my whole body. It's time to say goodbye! From this day forward, I will embark on a completely different path in life
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