【The Legend of the Bloodstained Moon】(1-7)

Chapter 1
I can't forget that delicate, petite figure, and even more so, I can't forget that cold, beautiful, and deeply affectionate gaze. The thirst for revenge and the infatuation with her lover, driven by a madness bordering on cruelty, in this chaotic world, you ignited the long-dormant passion within your heart with an absolute zero temperature. In the world of the Ice City, let us bid farewell to love.
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The clock of history points to the fifteenth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign. The once-prosperous Ming Dynasty was already faltering. Due to ineffective governance, popular resentment was boiling, especially after the Tumu Crisis, the court's tyranny continued for years, making the people's livelihood even more difficult and unbearable. Rebellions broke out in various places, making this ancient dynasty teeter on the brink of collapse.
Li Chao was born into such a chaotic world. Abandoned by his parents at birth, he later wandered and joined the Wudang Sect.
He was intelligent and, though somewhat mischievous, possessed outstanding potential among his fellow disciples. He was greatly favored by the sect leader, Master Yun Kong, who often kept him by his side, instructing him in martial arts. After several years, his skills had become quite proficient.
As the war escalated, many martial arts heroes were involuntarily drawn into it, some joining the imperial court, others serving the rebel army; few managed to extricate themselves.
Wudang, a century-old sect, naturally couldn't avoid being courted, and Master Yun Kong had been deeply troubled these past few months.
He wasn't usually a stern, unsmiling old man, but the current situation truly troubled him, leaving him with no appetite. Li Chao knew his master's worries but could only diligently practice martial arts, unable to offer any help. Especially after winter arrived, several secret imperial edicts from the capital summoning him to an audience were arriving daily. Knowing he couldn't refuse, the master appointed his eldest disciple, Chen Qi'an, as acting sect leader, while he himself took Li Chao to the capital to investigate the situation.
That evening, the master and disciple arrived in the capital city bathed in the afterglow of the sunset. Although war raged and the people suffered, life seemed relatively comfortable under the emperor's rule, with bustling markets thriving one after another. However, the hustle and bustle of the streets did little to ease the Taoist priest's somber expression. Li Chao, traveling far from home for the first time, was indeed excited by the surging crowds, finding everything novel and fascinating. But his master's worried brow prevented him from venturing out. The master stopped in front of the Junlin Inn, indicating that Li Chao should stay there.
The two ordered some food and wine, and after a satisfying meal, the Taoist
priest whispered in his ear, "I have some important business to attend to tonight. You stay here and don't wander around. I expect to return around dawn. Remember that."
Li Chao nodded in agreement and lay in his room for about an hour, but tossed and turned in bed. The dazzling world of the capital intrigued him, and he longed to experience the enchanting nighttime lights. Besides, his master wouldn't be back for a while. Unable to contain himself any longer, he rose and leaped from the window, leaving the inn.
The prosperity of the ancient city was unparalleled. Li Chao thoroughly explored the night market, still unsatisfied, and decided to stroll along the city wall. He took a side path and walked hurriedly for a while. The further he walked, the fewer people there were. Although the weather was cold, his excitement and rapid pace warmed his body. After walking quite a distance, he came to a quiet, narrow alley. The houses on both sides were silent, and he realized it was probably midnight, and people were asleep.
Suddenly, he heard a whooshing sound in his ears. Li Chao immediately judged it to be the sound of a master flying. He quickly opened the window beside him, flipped over, and jumped into the house behind him. It was probably someone's kitchen, empty except for some pots and pans. He landed right in the pile of straw. He then held his breath, trying not to make any noise. Fortunately, there were gaps in the brickwork of the walls, so he could clearly observe the situation outside.
Soon, a purple figure gracefully landed. Although it was the cold winter, the newcomer's clothes were very light, made of the finest gauze. Her bright skin was faintly visible. Although she wore a veil, her graceful curves made it clear in the darkness that she was a young girl. Even though the purple clothes concealed her, the smoothness of every inch of her skin was dazzling, especially her slender waist, which seemed impossible to encircle, and her gentle charm was captivating. Before
she could even stand properly, two monks in robes landed beside her, one on each side. After a brief standoff, the young woman let out a delicate shout, and suddenly a bronze gong bound with purple silk shot out from her right hand with a "whoosh," tearing through the night with its purple weapon. Due to the incredible speed of the attack, the two monks could only dodge aside and then reach out together to grab the young woman.
Wudang originated from Shaolin, and Li Chao had heard his master describe some of Shaolin's unique techniques. Judging from their attire, this was undoubtedly a minor grappling technique. The purple-clad young woman, however, remained calm and composed. She took a few steps back, her slender waist tightening, and with a leap, she flew over their heads. The two monks hurriedly turned, but the girl's bronze gong was already flying towards their faces. Fortunately, their movements were quick enough to avoid a fatal blow.
However, the Shaolin monks quickly recovered. They took turns throwing punches, one after the other – it was the Eighteen Arhats Fist, a style requiring eighteen people. The combined power of just two was ultimately limited. Although the girl's situation became somewhat precarious, forcing her to retreat, she managed to hold her ground.
Li Chao knew that Shaolin techniques relied heavily on profound internal energy, and these two monks' cultivation was clearly not particularly high. The girl's agile movements might have an unexpected effect. Sure enough, as the girl retreated to the corner, one of the monks, thinking his opportunity had arrived, viciously reached out to grab the purple-clad girl's cheek. But she smiled coldly, using her back foot to step into a crack in the wall, using the momentum to leap into the air, gracefully tracing a purple arc.
After dodging her opponent's attack, her slender fingers plunged straight for the two monks' foreheads. The monk who had attacked was already struggling to defend himself and was in imminent danger. The other monk was also in dire straits, with almost no chance of saving his fellow disciple. Just at this critical moment, a cloud of dust suddenly swept across the three of them. Though it was dust, the internal force it carried was so great that the girl had to withdraw her hands and abandon her attack. She also wanted to defeat her enemy in one move, but this sudden change made her response very difficult. A few pebbles hissed as they grazed her veil, which fell carelessly to the ground.
Li Chao finally saw the girl's face. He thought she was pretty and delicate. Although her features were somewhat obscured by the night, her high, straight nose still made her beauty undeniable. Perhaps not stunningly beautiful, she was certainly quite lovely. Blood seeped from the scratches on her fair face. Most girls would cherish their appearance, but strangely, the girl in purple seemed unconcerned, merely raising her hand to wipe her wound.
The two monks hurriedly retreated in the direction from which the dust had come. In the vast darkness, a burly figure finally appeared.
Li Chao was secretly alarmed. The internal energy required to use dust as a hidden weapon was unimaginable. Shaolin never used hidden weapons; it was highly likely that the attacker, anxious to save someone, hastily used the power of the Vajra Finger to repel the enemy. If the three of them were too engrossed in the fight to notice this person, and Li Chao himself hadn't noticed her even while hidden, this master's lightness skill must be first-rate. The two monks stood guard on either side of the figure, keeping a close eye on the girl.
The moon was bright and the stars were few; by the moonlight, Li Chao noticed that he too wore a pale yellow robe, and had a ferocious face, a face full of scars, and a deep scar between his brows that was chilling. The four stood in the night wind. Suddenly, the master in the middle leaped up, like a steel blade, lunging at the girl. The other two didn't move; it seemed Shaolin still valued the one-on-one rules of the martial world.
The girl sneered, unfurling the silk binding the copper bells once more, wildly waving it in the air, like a fishing net being cast towards the Shaolin master. Seeing this, he crouched down and used a sweeping leg in mid-air. The air current carrying pebbles and leaves instantly deflected the girl's weapon. Just as the girl was about to be struck in the vital spot, she suddenly stretched her slender waist and flicked the copper bell to the ground. The man, like a snake, flew past from the side with the recoil of the silk, avoiding the fatal attack, and gracefully landed on the ground.
Li Chao could sense the high monk's astonished expression. To an outsider, it was unbelievable that three burly men and a frail woman could fight to a standstill, and the failed attack greatly surprised the Shaolin master. But then he roared, like the howl of a wild beast, and the entire quiet alleyway trembled violently. Li Chao, a martial artist himself, was startled and couldn't help but shiver.
Two figures, one purple and one yellow, suddenly appeared, clashing and intertwining in the confined space. The woman's silk robes gave her a very large attack and defense radius, and coupled with her agile movements, she moved like a swallow in the forest or a small boat on the waves. Although the Shaolin monk's attacks were fierce, they always felt like a mouse trying to pull a turtle. Seeing this, Li Chao couldn't help but secretly admire the woman. Wudang Tai Chi also emphasized using softness to overcome hardness; today he had seen the gem of another school of thought. However, judging from the Shaolin's moves, almost every strike was fatal. If the girl made the slightest mistake, she would likely be torn to shreds.
Just then, a whooshing sound came from the other end of the alley. This time it was two yellow figures, undoubtedly young women, though their clothing differed from that of Han women—the fabric was slightly thicker. Both wielded curved hand knives, their blades flashing coldly. Though lacking some of the gentleness of women, their shadowy figures exuded a cold and alluring aura.
Li Chao had seen the decorations his senior brothers had brought when they traveled beyond the Great Wall, so he knew a little about them, but he didn't know their exact origins. The two women didn't speak, and upon approaching the woman in purple, they attacked her directly.
The two women were, of course, more robust than the Han women, and their attacks were far more ruthless. The woman, surrounded by three, was naturally walking on thin ice. Just as the Shaolin master was about to succeed under the cover of the other two, three white beams suddenly shot out from the purple woman's flowing sleeves—presumably hidden weapons for self-defense. However, their speed was slow, and it seemed all three could dodge them.
In the blink of an eye, several beams of white light suddenly exploded with a "bang," instantly filling everyone's vision with smoke and obscuring the figure of the woman in purple. Seeing the situation was dire, the Shaolin master immediately grabbed the waist of one of the women from the foreign tribe beside him. Given his inferior martial arts skills, she was unlikely to break free from such an attack.
Just as the high monk saw a flash of purple light and sensed his opponent approaching, he exerted force with his wrist, sending the woman flying forward.
Another person tried to help but was knocked away by a flying copper bell. As the powder dissipated slightly, the woman who had been thrown suddenly found herself surrounded by a pale purple light. She raised her knife to strike, but her forearm was immediately entangled by the ribbon of the copper bell. She felt her opponent channel internal energy, and her hand involuntarily slashed towards herself! She tried to resist, but her opponent's extremely strong internal energy rendered her efforts futile. Seeing the white light slashing towards her waist, she knew she had no more choice. She closed her eyes and felt a sharp slash cut through her stomach. The knife first sliced through her internal organs horizontally from her navel, then severed her spine. Excruciating pain tormented the girl's entire body, but she could no longer make a sound. She crawled forward, her upper body separating cleanly from her abdomen and falling to the ground with
a muffled thud. Her upper body landed face down on the cold ground. The colorful liver and white intestines gushed blood from the cut surface of her waist. Her smooth, white arms struggled to support her body as she arched back. Her full, white breasts trembled with her movements. She felt her breasts swell from being rubbed against the ground. She tried to look back at her standing lower body. With a "whoosh," her skirt, freed from the blood, fell straight down, exposing the girl's most private parts. The layers of tender flesh and the folds between them were clearly visible. The girl's beautiful white legs took a few more steps with a pitiful air, lost her balance, and fell to the ground. But it didn't stop there. Her calves rubbed back and forth excitedly, kicking the skirt tied around her ankles into pieces.
Seeing the reaction in her lower body, she, a virgin with only a breath left, felt both immense shame and a yearning for sex. She reached out and used her meager strength to touch her full breasts, her fingertips brushing against her two cherry-red nipples. Unfortunately, her breath was fading, and her full breasts never reached their peak. She didn't want to give up, but her senses were fading faster and faster. Finally, she saw her writhing lower body release yellow urine, her defiant body relaxed, her delicate tongue lolled out, her vision went black, her head drooped, and she died. Li Chao, of course, couldn't see any of this. Afterwards, he only saw the woman's body, severed in two, lying askew in the middle of the road. With a loud
"bang!"
, the other woman's body crashed heavily against the wall of the house where Li Chao was hiding. Due to long-term neglect, many roof tiles and wood chips fell down, followed by her falling to the ground with a "thud." The fragrant scent of the young girl immediately stimulated Li Chao's sense of smell.
The girl struggled to sit up, about to rise and fight again, when suddenly her hand reached painfully towards her neck, her fingers digging desperately into it. Li Chao looked up and saw a golden silk ring around her neck, seemingly made of metal, and containing some kind of mechanism. The ring was constantly shrinking, constricting the woman until her face turned bright red.
She first tried desperately to break the ring while half-standing, but such futile efforts only hastened her demise due to the excessive exhaustion. Soon, her face turned from deep red to pale, her bluish-purple lips bleeding from her teeth. No matter how wide she opened her mouth, the air in her lungs grew increasingly scarce.
A moment later, her body finally collapsed to the ground, her fingernails frantically trying to dig into the ring to buy air, but the golden ring was tightly locked around her neck, and no matter how much she scratched her neck, she couldn't stop its contraction.
Her breasts rubbed painfully against the ground, her slender legs leaving marks on the sand and dust, her waist twisting from side to side, her eyes wide open in terror, her long, sweet tongue lolling out, and snot from her nose mingling with sweat from her face, dripping down her chin. In this dying moment, she suddenly withdrew her right hand from her neck and placed it on her genitals. Li Chao guessed what she was going to do. Sure enough, the girl's already broken fingers, through her clothes, inserted into her own vagina. At this moment, although her left hand was still clutching the gold ring, the final struggle of her body transformed into extreme pleasure; the oxygen-deprived ecstasy electrified her entire body, and the ferocious expression on her face turned into comfortable ecstasy.
But she seemed unsatisfied; she withdrew her left hand as well, kicked off her shoes, bent her legs, and with her left hand pulled up her skirt, revealing Xiuqin's beautiful legs after a wave of movement. Then, her left hand also began to probe into that secret place.
Watching a girl masturbate in her final moments, Li Chao was also aroused. However, due to her weakened state, the girl's repeated attempts to stimulate her genitals failed to reach orgasm. Seeing her breathing grow increasingly labored, Li Chao wanted to help her. He picked up a stone nearby and secretly used his strength to shoot it at the woman's left wrist. With a muffled thud, the girl's fingertip pierced the delicate walls of her vagina. Her whole body convulsed, like a carp thrown to the ground, twitching and rolling a few times. Then, she let out a soft "Ah," her snow-white thighs stretched out forcefully, her pink arms bent, her bloodshot eyes fixed on the sky, her lips slightly parted. At the peak of her life, she perished. Then, her body went limp like mud, her buttocks swaying a few times before ceasing all movement.
Li Chao quickly shifted his gaze back to the woman in purple. At this moment, the other two monks, seeing the situation, disregarded all rules of the martial world and leaped into the fray. After a series of fierce battles, her once nimble movements had noticeably slowed. Her fair face was glistening with sweat, her cherry-red lips were slightly upturned, and her breathing became increasingly rapid.
Ultimately, her opponents were too strong. Although she had killed two of them, it was difficult for her to escape unscathed. The three monks advanced in a crisscross pattern, forcing the woman into a corner. Due to their extremely tight formation, she could only barely parry with the movements of her silk robes. In a flash, the woman noticed a slight opening in one of their formations. She launched a few quick attacks, then swiftly turned, attempting to retreat in the opposite direction.
Li Chao's heart skipped a beat, realizing this was likely a trap. He almost rushed to her aid, but firstly, getting involved would surely incur his master's punishment; secondly, the woman's silk-clad movements remained uninterrupted, and her defensive stance was still intact. The Shaolin monk, unarmed, might not be able to kill her.
The woman swiftly dodged to the side, when suddenly, the Shaolin master attacked from behind. Although the girl knew she had fallen for a trap, she calmly used her silk-clad robes to block. But the terrible thing still happened. Li Chao noticed a flash of white light from the Shaolin master's sleeve and involuntarily cried out, "Oh no!" Upon closer inspection, he saw that he had indeed drawn a sharp blade. In a flash, he turned and swung his hand, and the blade silently pierced the girl's neck.
The girl felt a gentle breeze behind her, a chill on her neck, and the sharp blade first sliced through the delicate white skin, cleanly separating the blood vessels connecting her head and body, then her trachea, and then the knife swept across.
It was a painless process, but in the next instant, she lost the ability to react. In the hazy night, a bloody gash could be clearly seen appearing on her white neck, and then this fatal mark spread to both sides. At this moment, the world before her eyes began to be slowly filled with blood-red squares, her breathing was absolutely stopped, her mind was blank, her eyes were wide open, and beads of sweat dripped from her forehead.
Strangely, the girl's lower body gradually became wet, a tingling sensation spreading from her clitoris to her vaginal opening, and her breasts involuntarily erected, pushing her clothes high. She had actually orgasmed in front of her opponent? Was it from suffocation? She had no strength to think.
Suddenly, a crisp "clang?" sound rang out. Her ribbon slipped from her hand, and the copper bell fell onto the stone slab. A gust of cold wind blew by, swirling leaves that lashed against the girl's exquisitely shaped body. Just then, her small mouth parted slightly, and a trickle of blood flowed from the corner of her pearly teeth. Her petite body trembled. Pleasure stimulated the secretion of her love juices in her private parts. This damned pleasure was like the urge to urinate; she could almost feel her groin already swelling. She had never had sex before, and the shameless reaction of a virgin driven by her physiology stirred a sense of feminine shyness within her.
But everything was beyond her control. The intoxicating waves of pleasure repeatedly washed over her most sensitive areas, churning her to the point of ecstasy. Just as her body was about to reach its exquisite peak, her smooth back muscles twitched with pleasure, prematurely ending her life. Due to the change in her body position, her face tilted to the side, and her beautiful head fell straight off her neck, landing heavily at the girl's feet with a "thud."
The master turned around and, together with two Shaolin disciples, clasped their hands together, chanting incantations, seemingly to guide the departed soul to the afterlife. Another chilling gust of wind swept through the alley, and the girl's soulless body trembled a few times. The sweetness of their lovemaking seemed not to have ended, and the orgasm was still tormenting her female organs, but this would not last long. Because the fabric was thin, Li Chao could see that the joints of her legs, hidden deep within her pale purple dress, loosened, and then she suddenly knelt down with a "thud," her buttocks landing on her heels. However, her hind legs clearly could not bear the weight of her body, and her upper body slowly leaned backward, finally lying on the cold ground in this strange posture.
Soon, her body began to twitch, her elastic lower abdomen swaying up and down. However, because her legs were bent and pressed down, her physiological struggles appeared very awkward, tossing her private parts up and down repeatedly. Her feet could only push against her lower abdomen, struggling to move away. Faced with such a scene, any man would be unable to restrain himself, and Li Chao's lower body was also severely swollen.
Suddenly, he heard a dripping sound of urine. Looking closely, he realized that the girl's lower body was spurting urine. Incontinence had soaked her inner thighs, and a puddle of pale yellow discharge formed on the ground. However, throughout the entire process, her two slender arms remained motionless, simply placed beside her body, probably because the energy in her hands had been exhausted from the previous battle.
The Shaolin master remained expressionless and did not approach the female corpse, while his two young disciples appeared somewhat restless and uneasy. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the girl's shy writhing gradually stopped. Seeing this, the master finally signaled his disciple to leave. It was nearly dawn, and the three of them slowly departed in the faint morning light.
Li Chao, who had been hiding in the house, stood up, brushed the straw off his clothes, and pushed open the door. The female corpse was now silent. Although her head was covered in blood, her serene expression was still faintly discernible. After all, everything had happened too quickly; she hadn't even had time to believe it. Li Chao reached out and touched the female corpse's shoulder. Although she was cold, her fragility still made his heart tremble. He pulled down the girl's collar and found a white lotus tattooed on her snow-white skin.
Many sects in the martial world marked their disciples, but he had never heard his master mention this mark before. However, given her exceptional skills, if she wasn't from any famous sect, then who was her teacher? Moreover, Shaolin monks were known for their enlightenment and rarely killed, but the attack just now was clearly intended to kill her. Why? As he pondered, the corpse's fragrance reignited Li Chao's lust. He had trained at Wudang for ten years, yet he had never seen such a beauty, especially one so young. He found himself struggling to control himself.
At the height of his passion, he noticed the clouds on the horizon beginning to glow with a touch of crimson, and suddenly remembered he had secretly slipped away from his master. He had to return to the inn before dawn, and this battle involved so many martial arts masters; he didn't know the consequences if he left any clues detrimental to Wudang. Li Chao couldn't help but glance at the beautiful corpse a few more times, then used his Cloud Ladder technique to leap onto the roof, using his inner energy to dart along the eaves towards the Junlin Inn.
Chapter Two
It was nearly dawn when he returned to the inn. Li Chao pushed open the door and entered the room. Fortunately, Master Yun Kong hadn't returned yet, so he undressed and lay down on the bed for a short nap.
In his hazy state, the image of the woman in purple appeared and disappeared in his confused thoughts. At the end of the dream, he returned to the beautiful corpse. This time, faced with the celestial body of the young girl, he disregarded everything else and only knew to bring his trembling hands close to her body. He finally touched her breathtaking body, and through the thin veil, his palms lingered on her fair and firm breasts.
Soon, he began with a pair of slender, white feet, lifting the woman's skirt and tracing her smooth, cool legs upwards. At the most intimate, warm, and moist place, he inserted his penis into her mysterious honeyed orifice. Enveloped in layers of tender flesh, his legs intertwined between her smooth, beautiful thighs. He indulged in playing with the corpse's high, firm breasts. After only a short while, Li Chao could no longer restrain himself. Overwhelmed by passion, his hot, scalding semen shot forcefully into her tender honeyed spot. His body succumbed to the faint warmth of the headless female corpse, swaying violently.
A sudden
knock on the door abruptly interrupted his erotic dream. Li Chao quickly got out of bed, noticing a large wet patch on his groin. He grabbed a cloth and hastily wiped himself before opening the door, still fully clothed. It was his master who had knocked, with a kind-looking old man standing behind him.
Li Chao greeted him briefly, but seeing Yun Kong's still stern expression, he said nothing more. The three went downstairs for breakfast. During the meal, they overheard the master talking with the old man and learned that the old man's surname was Xu, and he was the owner of Junlin Inn. When he was young, he was robbed by a group of bandits while traveling as a merchant, but was rescued by the wandering Taoist Master Yunkong. The two had been connected ever since and had kept in touch from time to time. Last night, he happened to be out, and the master had not informed him of his itinerary, so he was unable to greet him. Today, seeing him again, he couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion. However, the master did not mention a word about his trip to the capital to meet the emperor.
After having a few snacks, Boss Xu called his daughter, Cui'er, to the table. She appeared to be around sixteen years old, petite with a round face and bright, blinking eyes. Two small braids trailed behind her head, and the green jade bracelet on her wrist added to her lively charm. Her conversation was innocent and cheerful; she poured tea and helped everyone with their snacks. Li Chao felt she was like a girl next door, approachable and natural. Even his master, who had been frowning for days, was amused by her, and the four of them felt relaxed and at ease, their laughter filling the air. Finally, Yun Kong sent the two children off to play, which they were more than happy to do. Cui'er excitedly pulled Li Chao out the door.
The capital city was bustling with activity in the morning. The grandeur and clamor of the restaurants and taverns were undeniable, and the stalls lining the streets offered a variety of strange and unusual items. Cui'er chattered incessantly, and Li Chao, delighted, joined in the teasing. He was a quick-witted man, and he often left the girl both amused and exasperated.
Li Chao, in turn, genuinely liked this little sister, occasionally stealing glances at her charming appearance, finding her only endearing and adorable, without any other thoughts. As they talked, Cui'er pouted her cherry-red lips and said with a smile,
"Brother Li, it's so lively over there! Let's go see!"
With that, the two of them squeezed through the crowd to get a closer look.
Before them, on a wide, open plain, stood a fighting arena built of fine sandalwood. Though temporary, it was decorated with great grandeur inside and out. The arena was carpeted in a large red carpet, flanked by gleaming silver weapons of choice. A large red "喜" (double happiness) character adorned the center of a wooden frame in the background, and at the very top hung a plaque with the four large characters "威龙镖局" (Weilong Escort Agency). Two lines of couplets hung on either side of the arena: the left read, "A martial arts contest to find a husband, a timeless tale in the martial world," and the right, "A
contest of skills to find a son-in-law, heroes gather from afar in the capital." It was clear that the daughter of the Weilong Escort Agency was here to find a husband through martial arts. Weilong, Longmen, and Chengba were the three most famous escort agencies in the north at the time, with Chengba being the most powerful. Weilong was run by Yang Zhanpeng and his wife, descendants of the Yang family generals of the Northern Song Dynasty, skilled in the Yang family spear technique.
Because it was a time of war and chaos, the escort business was booming, as evidenced by the extravagant furnishings of the arena. However, while Wudang and Longmen had a past relationship, the other two sects had little interaction, so Li Chao was naturally unaware of this.
Cui'er, playing with her braids, asked with a smile, "Do you think the young lady from this escort agency is pretty?"
Li Chao gave her a few perfunctory replies while observing the scene below and above the stage. Dozens of burly escorts surrounded the audience, while the stage seemed to be fully prepared. To the left sat a couple, conversing. The middle-aged man was presumably Chief Escort Yang, and the woman appeared to be a young woman, but with a dignified appearance and a youthful air. Her demeanor was elegant and graceful, suggesting she was a well-bred lady from a prominent family who had married into the Yang household.
A moment later, the crowd grew noisy again. The eldest daughter of the Yang family, dressed in a yellow fur coat, strode onto the stage, attended by three maids. One of them carried a long spear, though the handle was thinner than usual, presumably for the convenience of a woman.
The crowd below pointed and whispered, praising the young lady highly. Several local ruffians were already excited and eager to try their luck.
Li Chao saw that she had a face like a peach blossom, a delicate face, and well-proportioned features. The ornaments between her layers of hair were small and exquisite, and the silver hairpin in her hair was even more translucent. Her eyes revealed a sense of pride as she walked unhurriedly to her parents' side with her bound feet.
Chief镖师 Yang then rose and stepped forward to greet the heroes from all sides. He then explained the reason for the marriage proposal and the rules of the martial arts competition. Finally, he announced loudly:
"In this arena, fists and feet are merciless, and life and death are determined by fate. My daughter is not talented, but if any heroes wish to come up to the stage, they must sign a life-or-death contract. If there are no objections, the competition will begin."
Before he finished speaking, a man wearing a bamboo hat and shabby clothes leaped onto the stage, made a few marks on the life-or-death contract, and then clasped his hands and lewdly said:
"Gentlemen, I have long admired Miss Yang, and today I am determined to become her son-in-law."
Miss Yang spat and gestured to her personal maidservant behind her who was holding a gun. The maidservant nodded, put down her weapon, and stepped forward and whispered:
"However, this gentleman must first pass my daughter's test."
The man was naturally very surprised, but eager for the beauty, he did not ask any questions. Without saying a word, he drew a large knife from the weapon rack and attacked. The maidservant was indeed skilled; she dodged left and right, letting the blade dance around her petite body. Despite the gasps from the audience, her movements remained steady.
In a short while, taking advantage of her opponent's momentary lapse in concentration, she kicked him off the stage. The man, however, landed headfirst on a rock and died instantly. The crowd, startled, fell silent and involuntarily took a few steps back.
Seeing this, the deceased brothers rushed onto the stage. The leader shouted,
"Since this young lady has killed our brothers, the Seven Ghosts of Beiling will show no mercy!"
Miss Yang sneered, untying the ribbon at her collar. Her fur coat fell to her feet, revealing a long red dress that draped her delicate body, revealing her alluring figure. Her breasts, seemingly about to burst forth, and her high, firm buttocks, accentuated her curvaceous figure, making her even more captivating within the crimson fabric.
She parted her lips slightly and said, "Today, this young lady will play a few moves with these stray dogs."
With that, she extended her delicate hand, gripped her silver spear, and leaped into the midst of the six men.
The six demons cried out, "Ah!" and brandished their weapons, attacking the beauty.
The young lady of the Yang family gave a sharp shout, swept her spear in a circle, and joined the fray. The Yang family's spear technique was renowned throughout the land, having slain countless bandits centuries ago, but it had become rare in the martial world in recent years. Li Chao,
of course, watched intently. She held the base of her spear, her thrusts long and varied, employing both feints and real attacks, both orthodox and unorthodox techniques; her advances were sharp, her retreats swift, her movements dangerous, her steps concise, as still as a mountain, as powerful as thunder. Although outnumbered, she always gained the upper hand. The six demons of Beiling were merely busy parrying; amidst the sparks of clashing weapons, the woman's graceful movements were mesmerizing.
Cui'er clapped her hands and laughed, "Look how amazing my sister is! I'm afraid even with your skills, you have no hope of winning."
Li Chao was also sighing when he suddenly heard someone behind him say, "Twenty years of Pear Blossom Spear, invincible under heaven, is that really true?"
He turned around and saw a handsome young man holding a paper fan. He had red lips and white teeth, and his eyebrows and eyes were delicate. Although his clothes were not dazzling, they exuded an air of nobility. Behind him were seven attendants, all of whom were handsome.
Hearing his words, Li Chao bowed and asked, "May I ask if you are also a martial artist?"
He smiled slightly and returned the bow, saying, "It's just that this Miss Yang is arrogant and haughty. If she were to fight against a master, she would probably lose her composure."
Li Chao didn't know what to say, but simply said, "Yang the镖头 (bodyguard) comes from a prestigious family. With proper training, this girl still has a bright future."
The young man shook his head and said, "The Yang family generals are renowned throughout history, and their spear skills are unparalleled. But Yang the镖头 only left behind the virtues of benevolence and righteousness."
Hearing his arrogant tone, Li Chao was about to retort when suddenly the crowd screamed again. The six men on the stage had been stabbed by spear tips and were now staggering about. On and off the stage, there were dead and wounded. Miss Yang indifferently withdrew her strength and gracefully walked to the side to drink tea. The six ghosts of Beiling, who had been thrown about, hurriedly gathered up their bodies, helped each other up, and left with their heads down.
Just as Chief Escort Yang was about to speak, Li Chao felt a surge of energy behind him, and the young man somersaulted onto the arena. He
clasped his hands in a salute and said, "This humble one is willing to give it a try."
Chief Escort Yang said, "As you just saw, swords and spears have no eyes. Please consider this carefully and sign a pledge."
The young man smiled and said, "No problem, but as you said, once I sign the pledge, my life is in the hands of fate. However, in a martial arts arena, fairness is paramount. If I injure your young lady, will you hold me responsible?"
As Chief Escort Yang hesitated, the young lady spoke up, "That's right. If you can injure me, I can't blame you."
The young man nodded in approval, picked up a pen, signed his name on the paper, and then used his inner strength to flick it at her with a "hiss." She felt the paper's force was too strong and quickly gathered her strength to grab it. Looking down, she saw a bloody scratch on her fair hand. She was both shocked and furious. When had she ever been bullied like this before? Naturally, she was filled with rage. She hastily signed her name, grabbed the gun handle, and lunged forward to stab.
The boy immediately retreated, letting the girl's spear flash like a shooting star or butterfly. He only occasionally used his folding fan to deflect the chilling spearhead. Strangely, this seemingly ordinary fan handled the seemingly indestructible Yang family spear with ease.
Li Chao realized that the fan was only slightly more sturdy than usual, but the boy's technique adapted to the spear's trajectory, avoiding direct confrontation and naturally deflecting the attacks. His nimble footwork, advancing and retreating with a touch of nonchalance, concealed deadly intent beneath a seemingly casual stride. The audience below found it captivating and cheered enthusiastically.
In a flash, the boy had retreated to the corner of the stage. The woman, seeing his attack, swiftly thrust her spear towards his chest. Suddenly, the boy vanished before her eyes. She cried out, "Oh no!" and desperately tried to parry, but all she saw was a blur before her eyes. She felt a muffled thud between her breasts, followed by excruciating pain that pierced her heart. She was thrown several meters backward, crashing heavily onto the stage. Her buttocks trembled, her long, white legs exposed from her skirt. Her embroidered shoes kicked wildly a few times, then her red lips parted, and she coughed up a mouthful of blood mixed with saliva.
The crowd erupted. Some pitied the woman, others clapped and cheered. The boy landed gracefully on the edge of the stage, flicked his wrist, and his folding fan snapped open, revealing the five characters "Clear Spring Flowing Over Rocks." Yang,
the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort), hurriedly stood up and said, "Since you have won, my daughter should be betrothed to you."
The young man didn't reply, but continued, "Yang Zhanpeng, the head镖师 of the Weilong镖局 (Weilong Escort Agency), although from a family of loyal officials, relies entirely on chivalry. His Yang family spear technique is far inferior to that of his predecessors, merely a name without substance. Madam Yang is the beloved daughter of Tao Shishi, a wealthy merchant from Jingmen, but she loves martial arts. She studied under the Emei Sect, and her Thousand-Mile Soul-Chasing Mandarin Duck Saber technique was feared far more than her husband's. As for this Miss Yang Wan, she and the daughter of the Longmen are known as the Twin Beauties of Beiying. She is decent-looking, but her martial arts are lacking."
Hearing himself being slandered like this... Yang, the镖头 (bodyguard/escort), changed his expression and said, "Although my martial arts are rudimentary and flawed, since you have already stepped onto the stage, I must keep my promise. If you
look down on the Yang family, please leave immediately." The young lady of the Yang family, who had been clinging to the stage, finally stood up, pushed away the maid who came to help her, and shouted, "You dog! Who wants to marry you? I'll make sure you die here today!"
With that, she brandished her spear, thrusting it forward. The young man smiled and said, "Now the competition is a life-or-death duel. I ask all the heroes to bear witness."
Although the girl's moves were much fiercer, she had clearly restrained herself after her previous experience, to guard against unforeseen circumstances. Seeing this, Li Chao knew that it would be more difficult for the young man to succeed, but given the disparity in their strength, he feared the young lady of the Yang family would suffer.
The young man no longer dodged, raising his fan to attack. Their weapons, one long and one short, clashed and intertwined, their figures flashing and swirling on the stage, their attacks rotating in the air. The girl's Yang family spear technique was exceptionally powerful, while the boy's fan movements were as gentle as water. Their speed increased with
each strike, pushing their physical limits. Li Chao couldn't help but wonder. He had once been fortunate enough to witness sparring between several major schools and his master at the foot of Wudang Mountain. Without instruction or practice, he couldn't possibly execute the techniques of each school, but with his photographic memory, he had a general impression of the movements.
The boy's martial arts style was eclectic; his hand techniques resembled the "human and ghost path" of the Kongtong school, while his footwork resembled the "snowflakes touching the ground" of the Kunlun school. Several wrist movements even resembled the swordplay of the foreign woman killed in the alley the previous night. Two rules in the martial arts world were well-known: one should not steal other schools' martial arts, and one should generally not switch schools. If he hadn't learned it by stealing, why was his style so inconsistent?
Just then, a woman's voice called out, "Watch your lower body!"
It was Madam Yang's warning. Yang Wan bent her knees and leaped into the air, skillfully dodging her opponent's sneak attack on her lower body. Her red skirt brushed against the young man's face, revealing a fragrant glimpse of her vulva beneath. Seeing the alluring sight of the girl's thighs, the young man chuckled and pointed his fan at Yang Wan's trembling cherry-like flesh. The girl felt as if something powdery had hit her pubic area, causing only a slight itch. Although she was both ashamed and annoyed, she dared not speak out due to her refined manners. She barely managed to regain her footing before charging forward again. This subtle change escaped the notice of all the onlookers. Madam Yang had already stood up and continued to loudly instruct her daughter.
Unbeknownst to them, the two had fought more than a dozen rounds on the stage. Sweat began to trickle down the girl's face, and her delicate neck flushed red. She felt the tingling sensation in her secret place gradually intensify, spreading from the many entrances to her vagina, but she had to grit her teeth and endure it.
In a martial arts contest, distraction is the worst thing; allowing this strange, shameful feeling to spread within her body would only make it difficult for her to concentrate. Li Chao also noticed that Yang Wan was acting strangely, but the young man's attacks were always brief, repeatedly missing her openings, as if waiting for something.
After a while, the damned pleasure in the girl's lower body had penetrated to the center of her clitoris, assaulting the thick walls of her uterus. She felt her vaginal fluids ripple in her cleft, and even her breasts were hitting her clothes under the stimulation.
The young man continued his attacks, enjoying the girl's strange, painful expression, and chuckled.
The girl had no strength to reply, and could only continue to endure the indescribable pleasure and entangle with her opponent. Seeing the situation was not right, Madam Yang, not knowing what had happened, nervously took a few steps forward.
The young man, observing this, said with a mocking tone, "I've long heard of the Yang family's reputation for loyalty and righteousness. Now that your daughter has signed the document, is there some outside help?"
The head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) Yang's heart trembled. Looking at the sea of people below, he silently prayed, "Wan'er, your parents cannot violate the code of the martial world." Seeing him wave for her to step back, Madam Yang, knowing her husband's temper, could only watch helplessly as her daughter suffered.
Cui'er interjected, "This boy is truly cunning, taking advantage of Master Yang's temper. It seems Miss Yang is in trouble."
Li Chao echoed. Suddenly, Miss Yang mustered all her strength and shouted,
"You lecherous thief, take this!"
She channeled all her power into the spear shaft and thrust it at the young man. Just as the young man was about to raise his fan to defend himself, suddenly, the girl swung her head back with a lion's head shake, her hair falling loose, and a silver hairpin in her bun emitted a beam of white light. The hairpin actually sprang out, aiming straight for the young man's vital point.
Before the crowd could even utter a shout, the boy, at such close range, managed to grab the hidden weapon, which only grazed the skin between his fingers and was firmly grasped. The girl, seeing this, was horrified. Having been so confident just moments before, the initial excitement had subsided, and her lower body was now overflowing with a torrent of pleasure. Her vulva gushed forth copious amounts of nectar, and she couldn't help but clutch her lower abdomen, panting heavily, her eyes half-closed, savoring the ecstasy.
She slowly squatted down, trying to suppress her unhealthy writhing, but the uncontrollable flow of fluids from her vagina continued, pushing her to the brink of climax. The boy watched silently as this unfolded before him, while the Yang couple were utterly bewildered, and the audience below murmured amongst themselves.
Overwhelmed by passion, the young girl shamelessly pulled aside the fabric of her skirt at the waist, reaching between her thighs to part the thick, dark forest of hair, spreading her tender petals, and gently caressing her swollen clitoris. Her entire body was flushed a beautiful pink, her delicate frame trembling, and she uttered muffled moans of pleasure.
The girl felt an indescribable pleasure throughout her body, especially the pressure on her clitoris, which brought a tsunami-like, overwhelming sensation. Her head sank lower and lower, lewdly continuing to caress her engorged vulva. The nectar seeping from her petals soaked her skirt. In the sunlight, her masturbation was clearly visible to everyone. Yang, the镖头 (bodyguard/escort), gritted his teeth in anger, while his wife turned her head away, unable to bear watching any longer.
The girl swayed her slender waist slightly, as if she were in the midst of a whirlpool of love and desire. Just as she was about to reach the center of the whirlpool, she felt her body being thrown into the air. She heard the sound of wind in her ears, opened her eyes, and saw the reversed crowd. Only then did she realize her shameful behavior. The feeling of humiliation stung her heart.
Just as the girl's body was about to hit the ground, she suddenly felt a chill below her crotch, followed by a sharp pain. Something cold had invaded her petals, and soon, her smooth buttocks and delicate petals were no longer separated; the last barrier had been torn away, and her thin hymen was instantly ripped open. Her vagina was intensely squeezed, and love juice mixed with the blood of her deflowered virginity gushed out from her petals. The girl groaned and trembled, and the air was instantly filled with the sounds of sex and the smell of sweat.
She managed to look down and saw that her delicate body was impaled on that silver spear. What was inserted into her abyss was not a burning phallus, but a cold spear tip. She wanted to scream, but no sound came out. Her tightly sealed vagina was forcefully forced open, each thrust bringing a tearing pain; but on the other hand, she felt an unprecedented fullness, and slowly forgot to resist.
It turned out that the boy had taken advantage of her moment of loss of control, snatched the silver spear, tossed his opponent into the air, and while the girl's body was suspended in mid-air, aimed at the deep crevice under her skirt, and inserted the spearhead into Yang Wan's vagina. Chief镖头 (head镖师) Yang and his wife were terrified. Desperate to save their daughter, they disregarded everything else and rushed forward. The maidservant, who had been close to the young assailant, also lunged at the attacking boy.
The boy's seven attendants immediately leaped into the air, creating a swirling cloud above the arena. Their exceptional lightness skills allowed them to move like celestial horses soaring through the sky. In mid-air, their sleeves flashed with light, and the镖师 below collapsed to the ground. Before the crowd could recover from their shock, the attendants descended from the sky, surrounding the boy.
Cui'er covered her eyes, unable to watch any longer. Li Chao also felt a pang of pity, but knowing that such a formidable opponent was at hand, he dared not act.
The seven on the platform joined forces to attack the Yang couple, while the maidservant, who had slipped through the net, broke through the formation and charged at the boy. Without turning his head, the young man hurled the silver hairpin he had snatched at the newcomer's face. Just as the maid was about to reach him, she inexplicably stopped. Thick blood gushed from her eyes, her eyeballs mixed with multicolored filth streaming down her face. Snot and saliva spilled from her contorted features, staining her clothes.
In truth, at the moment of impact, the needle of the hairpin pierced her eye socket, carrying brain matter, and flew through her skull from the back of her head. A wisp of the girl's soul had flown to the Western Paradise, but her slender feet still took a few more steps forward before her soulless body crashed hard onto the floor.
The Yang couple, facing seven people, though exerting all their strength, found it difficult to break through in a short time. It should be known that the combination of the Wudang Big Dipper Formation and the Quanzhen Heavenly Dipper Formation could, with precise and skillful coordination, multiply one's power several times over, equivalent to a top-tier master of the era. Naturally, the couple could not easily break the formation in a short time.
Due to her weight, Yang Wan's body slowly sank down. The sharp tip of the gun gradually pierced the girl's female organs, first the uterine wall at the bottom of her vagina, then her delicate uterus and bladder. The girl felt an overwhelming urge to urinate, but the gun barrel was firmly pressed against her vulva, squeezing the urethra.
The boy chuckled, twisting his wrist, and the gun barrel cruelly began to rotate inside the girl's body. She could no longer resist; foul-smelling urine seeped from the gap between the gun and her body, swirling down the handle and
trickling down. Undigested tea mixed with filth splashed onto the boy's hand, but he didn't care, laughing loudly. The girl felt the pain creeping upwards, a pain and fear she had never experienced before. The excruciating pain made her want to struggle, but her fair and delicate legs were powerless. She wanted to beg for mercy, but her slightly parted lips could not utter a sound.
The spear tip moved faster and faster, carelessly piercing her liver, then her stomach, before finally lodging itself at the junction of her lungs and trachea. Her body convulsed violently; she knew her breathing had stopped, her long, fragrant tongue would no longer bring her any air. Before the thousands of eyes below the stage, two streams of crystal tears flowed down her cheeks, making her appear even more pitiful.
Li Chao, still young and impetuous, could no longer contain his boiling rage at the sight of the girl's tragic state. What was the point of his martial arts training if not to punish evil? Gathering his inner energy, he leaped onto the fighting stage, drew a long sword, and charged at the boy.
The boy, who was toying with Yang Wan, exclaimed in surprise, "Oh!" and met the attack with a spear in one hand and a fan in the other. Li Chao wielded his sword with a series of swift, sweeping movements, employing techniques akin to a goddess scattering flowers or splitting mountains to seize treasure. His fierce killing intent immediately overwhelmed his opponent. Then, Li Chao's sword flashed like lightning, his figure swaying erratically from side to side. The boy could only see his blurry silhouette. Li Chao then followed with a few swift, swift thrusts, before unleashing his signature "Single Whip Throat-Strike," aimed directly at his opponent's throat.
The boy was naturally dazzled by this flurry of attacks, but his folding fan proved useful. With a "whoosh," he braced himself three inches below the sword tip, forcefully deflecting the sword with one hand. He then stepped back half a step, calmly unfolding his fan with a backhand. On the other side were the words "Clear Spring Flowing Over Rocks."
Just as Li Chao was about to fight again, the young man chuckled and sighed, "I didn't expect you to be a rising star of Wudang. You do indeed possess some youthful arrogance and chivalry. My apologies for not recognizing you sooner. But I'm afraid you won't be able to perform your heroic rescue of the beauty today."
Reminded of this, Li Chao looked up at the girl stuck in the gun. Due to the young man's swinging hand holding the gun during the previous exchange, her frail body had slumped further under the sharp point of the spear. Her throat was now completely blocked, and the oppressive feeling of suffocation raged at the girl's delicate neck. But Yang Wan's weakened body was experiencing one last sexual climax. The gun barrel, warmed by her own body heat, tore at her damaged internal organs. Her clitoris was pressed against by the hot metal, and excruciating pain shot up from her lower body, gradually evolving into ultimate pleasure.
In her blurred consciousness, she finally reached the center of the vortex, her whole body convulsing violently, her love juice gushing out like a spring, tears streaming down her face in the climax. Li Chao, fearing he might hurt the girl, dared not move again. The boy laughed excitedly a few times, then thrust upwards, the spearhead piercing the last line of defense in the girl's mouth, emerging from her cherry lips stained with blood.
Yang Wan's virgin body trembled violently, her delicate, pink legs stretched out, her slender arms twitched in the air, her slender waist swayed back and forth, and the two cherry-red nipples on her breasts swelled large. She wanted to enjoy this intoxicating pleasure a little longer, but the breath of life had already vanished. The girl could only stop breathing with infinite longing for the world. Her eyes were wide open, her nostrils flared slightly, saliva swirled on her chin, and her disheveled hair clung to her face with sweat. She seemed to recall how she had masturbated with an erection in her boudoir, how she had experienced the bliss of lovemaking in a thousand dreams, but now she had perished in the midst of a violent climax. She
could no longer enjoy the pleasures of the world. Not satisfied, the boy, in a heinous act, raised his hand and hurled the spear, pierced with the beautiful corpse, into the air. With a "crack," it embedded itself directly in the "Weilong Escort Agency" signboard. The girl's body twitched lifelessly a few times after the impact, then, as if sensing something, her anus gushed forth yellowish excrement, which collected and dripped down her bent thighs and calves. Impurities and undigested food were also prematurely released, filling the air with a suffocating, foul stench. Her body, clad in a vibrant, gossamer-red dress, swayed high in the air under the midday sun, her messy excrement dripping like a nearly dried-up waterfall, displayed before the silent sea of people below. The
Yang couple were filled with grief and rage. The head镖师 (escort leader) cried out, "Ah!" and his internal organs burst open. In his dazed state, one of the boys seized the opportunity to behead him. Seeing this scene, Madam Yang was filled with grief, but she knew she had to persevere in avenging her daughter and husband. She could only suppress her sorrow and fight with increasing ferocity.
The fan-wielding youth, seeing the clamor of voices below denouncing the violence, knew that even with his superior skills, he was outnumbered. So, with a whistle, he used his superb lightness skill to leap off the stage, stomping on the heads and shoulders of the crowd as he sped away. The other seven also sounded the retreat and hurriedly followed.
Madam Yang and Li Chao, unwilling to give up, naturally followed closely behind in a frenzy. Madam Yang's unparalleled lightness skill of the Emei School was like a fleeting fragrance in the shadows. Li Chao glanced at Cui'er in the crowd, seeing her anxious expression as she watched everything, and he stopped thinking; a sense of justice swelled in his mind.
Ten figures moved nimbly through the red walls and green tiles of the capital, covering several miles without them noticing. The houses gradually thinned out, and soon a lush bamboo grove came into view on the outskirts of the city.
The weather turned gloomy, thick clouds gathering, and faint rumbles of thunder could be heard intermittently.
Li Chao followed closely behind Madam Yang, chasing into the grove. After a while, they seemed to have reached the depths of the bamboo forest. Under the dark sky, the forest seemed to have lost its color, leaving only a black and white world.
Suddenly, he felt his flying body lose its balance, as if tripped by something. His walking body crashed heavily onto the ground. He tried to get up, but was struck on the back of the head, then felt a surge of blood in his throat. His head throbbed, and he lost consciousness.
He didn't know how much time had passed before he groggily awoke. He felt sore all over and couldn't move; his acupoints had likely been sealed with extremely force. He then saw himself lying sideways in a corner of a narrow, flat area. Judging from the muddy ground beneath him, the drizzle had been falling for quite some time.
On the flat ground, Madam Yang and the handsome young man each stood in one corner, their faces flushed, suggesting they had been fighting for some time. The other seven were nowhere to be seen. With a "whoosh," the beautiful young woman drew her pair of swords, and the young man, with a feint and a fan in hand, met her attack in his usual manner.
In a flash, the two launched themselves forward, their weapons weaving through the layers of leaves and branches in the drizzling rain. Li Chao carefully observed Madam Yang's graceful figure. She wore a long blue dress in the misty rain, her figure sculpted and translucent against her fair skin. Although her face was haggard and sorrowful, this captivating aura added to her charm. Li Chao had seen many young beauties, but this mature allure was something he had never experienced before.
The Emei swordsmanship is first-rate, and Madam Yang's Mandarin Duck Knife Technique naturally incorporates its strengths, combining both strength and gentleness. Although it involves slashing and thrusting with the blade, the extension and retraction of the blade do not lose the mystery of swordsmanship. The boy's folding fan seems too weak at this moment, and he is in danger amidst the rain of blade shadows and scratches.
Seeing this, the lady, with a flurry of movements, unleashed a series of graceful, sweeping strokes, like a gentle breeze rustling through the moon, snowflakes drifting through the clouds, a thousand peaks vying for beauty, and ten thousand streams converging, forcing the boy higher and higher. He could only use his hands and feet to climb up the bamboo joints during the gaps in her attacks. The lady's beautiful, graceful figure followed closely behind, using the moisture in the air to unleash a series of powerful, sweeping strokes, like a dragon soaring through the sky, a crane flying across the heavens. The boy's folding fan couldn't keep up. Seeing her opponent's frantic movements, the lady secretly exclaimed, "Good!" She channeled all her inner energy into the double-edged sword in her right hand, seized the opportunity, and unleashed the Emei Sect's signature Wild Goose Flight Sword Technique. In the surging air currents, the returning wind brushing
against the willow branches finally broke through her opponent's defense, and the sharp blade struck the boy's chest. The boy didn't even utter a sound, his body went limp, and he fell from the height, crashing and rattling through the dense branches a few times before landing headfirst on the ground behind the bamboo leaves. Just then, a dazzling flash of lightning was followed by
a deafening roar of thunder, and a torrential downpour began, the terrifying rumble echoing through the bamboo forest. Madam Yang sheathed her sword and gracefully descended the branches to the ground, walking briskly towards Li Chao.
Li Chao's heart pounded wildly, but as Madam Yang drew near, her faint fragrance eased his mind somewhat.
Madam Yang knelt down and whispered comfortingly, "Little hero, don't be afraid, I'm here to help you."
Her delicate hands groped over Li Chao's sparsely soiled body, her brows furrowed, deep in thought.
Finally, she took a breath, secretly channeling her energy, searching for a breakthrough in Li Chao's meridians. Suddenly, another clap of thunder roared, and in the blinding flashes of lightning, Li Chao saw a figure behind Madam Yang. He tried to call out, but his mute acupoints were locked, rendering him unable to move. Madam Yang was carefully releasing the acupoints, but by the time she realized the situation had changed, it was too late.
The evil figure stood behind her, drew a short knife, and viciously plunged it into the lady's back.
Chapter 3
Just as the short knife was about to touch the lady's back, the young man suddenly froze, a half-smile on his face, completely stunned. Suddenly, Li Chao saw a flash of white light before his eyes, and the young man was kicked in the forehead by the sudden figure, flying several feet backward before crashing heavily to the ground, splashing water droplets. Amidst the splashing water, his long hair was kicked open, the black strands scattered in all directions.
Li Chao looked closely and realized that the young man's delicate skin was even more like white jade. This was no handsome young master; he was clearly a budding beauty. Before he could recover from the shock, just as the white figure was about to grab him, a sudden buzzing sound came from the sky and earth. Looking up, he saw that in the dark and secluded woods, there was a swarm of bees, their formation orderly, as if they were in battle.
Clearly trained, the thick swarm of bees immediately enveloped the group, leaving no gaps. Through the flickering bees, three young women stood before them. The first two were dressed in Miao attire. The leading Miao girl carried a strangely shaped wooden staff, had a curved knife at her waist, and was barefoot, wearing a light blue silk short dress that revealed her flawless legs. She wore a deerskin hat adorned with rabbit fur, from which two strings of red jade beads dangled. Her hair was parted in two sections, and a leopard tooth necklace hung around her neck. Her face was sweet, and her smile was radiant.
Although the light was dim, she appeared fair and rosy, like a delicate pink camellia, utterly charming. The girl beside her was also dressed in the typical Miao girl's short skirt attire, a round-necked, open-fronted, narrow-sleeved blue cloth top, with three strips of black cloth lining the elbows, over which she wore a white garment. The white garment peeked out from under the collar and chest, and a white scarf was crossed around her forehead, with a black scarf wrapped over the white scarf, creating a striking contrast. However, the rattan whip
she held added a touch of heroism. Behind them was a tall, voluptuous figure, dressed like a noblewoman from a Western watercolor painting. Immediately afterward, the young guards from before also appeared behind them, eager to attack.
At that moment, a cold, girlish voice came from the white figure behind Li Chao.
"So it's the Miao Jiang's Bee-Controlling Technique, truly living up to its reputation."
The lovely Miao girl in front giggled, "This young lady is my friend, but please, sister, spare her life."
Madam Yang said in a sorrowful voice, "This man is extremely cruel, almost wiping out my entire family. If you wish to save her, you must first ask me for the Mandarin Duck Swords in my hand."
The Miao girl said solemnly, "Although I do not know your grudges, the rules of the Central Plains martial arts world have always been one-on-one combat. Now you are using your numbers to bully the few, which seems unorthodox."
To be honest, although the girl disguised as a man's method of killing was cruel, after all, the two sides had a life-or-death pact beforehand. In terms of skill, there was nothing that violated the general rules of the competition. It was Li Chao's side that was taking advantage of the situation, which seemed truly unethical.
The girl in white said, "Seeking revenge is your business, but your suspicious behavior in the capital isn't new. I'm just curious about your identities."
The Miao woman continued, "You've been paying close attention to our movements; doesn't your background, sister, also raise some questions? But since you have no intention of getting involved in your grudges, please release this young lady first."
The esoteric arts of the southwestern border have always been the nemesis of many Central Plains masters—strange, mysterious, and unfathomable. Now, under the pervasive influence of the enemy's bee-controlling technique, even someone with three heads and six arms would be trapped. Even if they managed to break through, they would be badly injured and unable to withstand the combined attack of two or three people. The girl in white had no choice but to remain silent, allowing the seven servants to rescue their master before her eyes.
The Miao woman let out a loud whistle, raised her slender arm, and took out a small bottle covered in honey. Countless bees, as if receiving a signal, buzzed and transformed into a thick line, obediently returning to their master and circling around the bottle's opening.
The girl in white then turned to Madam Yang and said, "Madam, I'm afraid we can't avenge you today. Please take good care of yourself. We, your juniors, will entertain these friends. Please go back and attend to your affairs."
Li Chao gazed at the girl's body as she spoke. Her exquisite figure, draped in a snow-white veil, was graceful and alluring. Li Chao suddenly felt a sense of familiarity. Yes, the same deep eyes beneath the veil, the same attire—only the cold, aloof white replaced the solemn elegance of the crimson. Her every move lacked warmth. Her demeanor was strikingly similar to the girl murdered in the alley that night.
Madam Yang wondered, "Why doesn't this girl want me here? Wouldn't my presence add to their strength?"
The girl in white continued, "In any case, I did help you, Madam. Now I simply wish to meet these friends alone. Please do me this favor."
Though her words were earnest, they possessed an irresistible power. Since the young woman had put it this way, Madam Yang had no choice but to bow to the two young men and say,
"Heroic young men, rising stars. If fate allows us to meet again in the future, I will certainly repay your kindness in saving me today."
With that, she used the light-footed grace of the Emei sect to gracefully leave the woods.
Li Chao, of course, became suspicious. He and she were complete strangers, yet she had singled him out as her helper. He couldn't refuse, so he could only wait and see. Li Chao pondered: It seems this young woman is somewhat connected to the girl from last time. Someone who could force the Shaolin Temple to use assassins must be no ordinary person. None of these people have any deep-seated hatred for him; if a fight breaks out, who knows how much trouble it will cause.
The girl in white addressed the group opposite her, saying, "You've all traveled far and wide to reach the Central Plains; surely you wouldn't just leave after a quick look at the scenery?"
The Miao girl at the head of the group giggled, "Sister is right. The divine skills of the two of you just now broadened my horizons. If I'm fortunate enough to learn the ultimate techniques of the Central Plains masters today, I'd certainly be willing to experience them firsthand."
The girl in white, Li Chao, gave her a wink, and Li Chao eagerly replied, "Yes, yes, it's getting late anyway. Why don't we all go back and rest, conserve our energy, and then arrange another time in a few days—"
Before she could finish speaking, with a "whoosh," the girl beside her rose and rushed forward, her white figure flashing with dazzling light—it was the Free and Easy Wandering technique. The Miao girl wielding the whip immediately moved to the front, unleashing her Serpent Whip Technique. Sand and stones flew everywhere, and the girl in white felt a gust of wind hitting her face, with countless whip shadows dancing wildly before her eyes.
The girl immediately drew a silver flute from her sleeve and unleashed her own unique skill, weaving through the whip array. Her flute playing was exceptionally graceful, like scattered snowflakes, her demeanor as elegant as a poem on the wind and moon, yet she remained incredibly nimble amidst the whip's flashes, sometimes like a raging storm, sometimes like a sudden downpour.
Li Chao was watching with rapt attention when he suddenly noticed the Miao girl who had led the group standing right beside him.
Startled, Li Chao smiled wryly at her,
"What bad luck! We don't need to fight, do we?"
The girl was amused, tilting her head and grinning,
"Young hero, no need to be modest!" With
a "Hey!" she lunged forward, staff in hand.
Li Chao, still dazed from the shock, naturally didn't want to fight, so he picked up the longsword he had dropped and used the Mysterious Sword Technique to parry.
On the other side, they had already been locked in combat for dozens of rounds. On the surface, the supple whip was dazzling, whipping the debris on the ground into a chaotic mess. In reality, the white-clad girl's flute techniques were relentless and continuous, without a moment's respite, leaving her enemy no chance to strike. Meanwhile, her ethereal hand movements were waiting for the opportune moment to deliver a decisive blow.
Li Chao was playing a cat-and-mouse game with his opponent. Although the girl's staff techniques were bizarre and unpredictable, Li Chao remained alert and patiently defended. As a result, the girl, who didn't need a death match to begin with, unconsciously slowed down her pace. This back-and-forth made them look more like martial arts siblings practicing their routines on a boring afternoon.
However, the battle on the white-clad girl's side was becoming increasingly difficult. Seeing her opponent begin to show signs of fatigue, she unleashed a flurry of attacks, employing a series of techniques including "Playing the Flute on the River," "Flowers Bloom to Reveal the Buddha," "Purple Qi Comes from the East," "Meteor Chasing the Moon," "Flying Swallow Through the Willows," "Zhong Kui Gouging Out Eyes," and "Meteor Falling." The Miao girl could only pant heavily, using her whip techniques, known as "Clouds Across the Western Ridge," to defend her
position amidst the howling wind. The weather was beginning to clear; the warm sunlight, filtering through the leaves and sparsely scattering across the forest, carried the fragrance of post-rain earth, creating a languid atmosphere. The Miao girl, wielding her long whip, knew she couldn't continue like this and prepared to use poison.
But with her opponent's masterful flute playing, how could she possibly find a chance? Suddenly, an idea struck her. She leaped into the air, landing behind the girl in white, and with a flick of her fingers, she was about to unleash a deadly dart—a deadly poison from the Miao region. Forged from cold steel and infused with the venom of insects and snakes, this weapon, once it struck its target, would cause the skin to fester and die.
But just then, the clouds in her direction parted, and a blinding ray of sunlight instantly pierced her eyes, slowing her reaction. The girl in white, startled, quickly dodged. Although the dart flew from her arm, its power and accuracy were diminished; the two darts merely grazed past her with a breathtaking thud. The darts struck the tree trunk, scorching for a few moments, melting away a large chunk of bark.
The girl in white, of course, was well aware of the subtleties of poisons used in the Southwest, but she hadn't expected such lightning speed or such potent toxicity. Had it not been for the sun's protection, she would have been killed instantly. Before she could think, she seized the opportunity and slammed the silver flute into the Miao woman's right wrist, which was holding the whip. With a snap, the Miao woman's wrist bone broke. Before she could even scream, the whip slipped from her grasp, and the girl in white swiftly turned around, her slender body springing forward. Her powerful leg technique struck the Miao woman squarely in the eyebrow. The Miao woman groaned, rolled backward, and fell to the ground. Before she could sit up, the girl in white, her muscles trembling, delivered a side kick to the Miao woman's back, sending her flying with a thud against a large tree. The fallen leaves fluttered down around her, swirling like colorful butterflies.
The severely injured Miao woman did not give up. The girl in white had excellent eyesight and saw her raise her left hand amidst the drifting leaves, revealing two chillingly sharp, bone-piercing nails. Face to face, she could see clearly. The girl channeled her inner energy into her arm, using her flute to shield the incoming weapons. With a swift sweep, the two poisoned nails struck the flute with a "clang," immediately changing direction and striking the Miao woman's already exhausted body.
A cry of "Ah!" rang out as the bone-piercing nails struck her precisely in the small area of her red, grape-like nipples and the surrounding bright red areolas. The Miao girl felt a sharp pain in her chest, followed by a blushing and moaning. Her slender waist and jade-like buttocks swayed back and forth against the tree trunk, making the treetops sway. She no longer had the strength to retrieve the antidote, and after a few symbolic struggles, her lower body went limp, and she slowly slid down to the tree roots. Beneath her silk-embroidered pleated skirt, her smooth, warm, and pitifully beautiful legs kicked, then gradually weakened, parted, and the drug took effect. She trembled a few times, her head lolled to the side, and she sat down completely. Thick black blood gushed from her face, her eyes rolled back, her lips slightly parted, and she felt a sudden darkness engulf her. Her chest heaved, and she collapsed, lifeless.
Li Chao, realizing the situation was dire, saw his companion dead and knew he might not be able to handle it. He slithered away, trying to retreat from the battle. But at that moment, although Li Chao wouldn't make things difficult for her, the girl in white had already blocked his way.
The Miao woman said sullenly, "You've already killed one person today, do you still want to take my life?"
Before anyone could answer, the Miao goddess waved her staff, and everyone's vision was instantly enveloped in a green mist—the Azure Silkworm Gu poison they had used for cover during their escape. Although it wouldn't kill, it would inevitably irritate their nose and mouth for a short time.
In their dazed state, Li Chao heard the Miao woman's voice: "Ten days later, retrieve the sword from the Welcoming Guests Teahouse in the west of the city."
He only felt the other person breathing softly in his ear, but there was no intention to harm him. After a while, the smoke gradually dissipated. Li Chao was relieved to see that he and the girl in white were both unharmed and showed no signs of poisoning. However, his precious sword was indeed missing. Although it wasn't some rare treasure, for a martial artist, having their weapon taken away was a great disgrace. It seemed he would have to go and meet that little nemesis again in ten days.
At this moment, the Russian girl in front of them was smiling at them, seemingly intending to have a duel. Li Chao was about to turn and slip away when the girl in white gently pushed him forward with her flowing sleeve, and he stumbled out.
The Russian girl gestured, apparently not understanding Chinese. The girl in white laughed and said,
"I want to find an open place to spar with our Wudang young hero. Why don't you go quickly?"
She then pointed to a wide-open flat area not far away beyond the mountain valley. The Russian girl nodded in agreement, and Li Chao, knowing he couldn't refuse, reluctantly followed.
Meanwhile,
the tragic scene of the Yang family's near-annihilation quickly alerted the authorities, and a large number of soldiers arrived at the scene, completely surrounding it. Around the arena, the bodies of dozens of members of the escort agency lay scattered about; most of those still alive could only groan on the spot, while some kind-hearted onlookers helped treat the wounded. Soon, a torrential downpour began, the cold wind howling and tearing, creating a desolate atmosphere in the vast expanse of sky and earth.
At this moment, amidst the muddy water, the sound of hoofbeats echoed, and the dispersing crowd parted to make way. Amidst the swirling rain, a handsome officer in a brocade red robe rode atop a white horse. His features were sharply defined, his brows exuding a commanding presence. Before the horse had even come to a complete stop, he leaped down with remarkable agility.
This man, named Huang Xiaoyu, was a military commander of the Ming court. Although young, he was a lay disciple of Shaolin Temple before joining the army. Due to his exceptional talent, he quickly rose through the ranks and now oversees security affairs in the capital. His sister is the beloved concubine of the Ninth Prince, a high-ranking official. Perhaps in such chaotic times, his wisdom would be even more apparent. After carefully questioning the officers present, he gave them a few instructions, then went up to the platform. Gathering his inner energy, he unleashed a Shaolin technique as swift as floating clouds, leaping over Yang Wan's pitiful, beautiful corpse impaled on the wooden plaque by a spear. With a single fist gripping the spear shaft, he swiftly pulled the spear and corpse down together.
Upon landing on the ground, he laid the body flat and examined it carefully. Yang Wan's eyes were slightly closed, her red lips tightly gripping the protruding spearhead. Her brows were furrowed, and her disheveled hair almost completely obscured her originally delicate face. Due to the rain and her thin clothing, her jade-like body was partially visible, her full breasts swollen and prominent. The filth from her lower body had been mostly washed away, and her long, fair, and translucent legs, covered by her red skirt, were unnaturally turned inward, her thighs pressing tightly against the cold spear shaft. Her embroidered shoe on her left foot had fallen off, and her delicate toes were pointing straight out, as if still struggling.
Seeing this, Huang Xiaoyu couldn't help but feel puzzled. Logically speaking, when a woman uses martial arts, even if it means risking her life, she would definitely be careful to protect her private parts. Even if it means her death, she would never allow the enemy's fatal blow to be delivered to her most intimate area.
And frankly, even if there was intent to harass, unless one was truly a master of martial arts, it would be extremely difficult to kill an enemy by inserting a long object into their groin during a fight. He decided to stop thinking about it and ordered his men to clean up the scene and properly escort the girl's body to the yamen for examination.
Stepping down from the platform, he found the maid lying among the corpses below. Her bloodied head was covered with a cloth, and her skirt was somehow lifted, exposing her still-developing pink legs. Passing soldiers would occasionally steal glances at her. Xiao Yu sighed, remembering her loyalty to her master, and with a clang, drew his sword. With a flick of the tip, the long skirt gracefully covered her alluring body.
The beautiful Russian girl before Li Chao had long, curly golden hair. Her lovely face was framed by provocative emerald eyes. Her snow-white skin shone brightly in the dark woods, and her tall, voluptuous figure was even more alluring beneath her ornate, flowing embroidered evening gown.
She gave a cold laugh and flashed a fancy sword, a style favored in European combat. The blade was slender and flexible, with only a metal hilt protecting the back of the hand. The tip of the sword gleamed brightly in the thin air.
Li Chao, of course, knew nothing of Western martial arts and was momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
The girl in white, sitting on a treetop, secretly amused by Li Chao's comical expression. With a snap, she broke off a branch and tossed it to him. Li Chao caught it, thinking: "My master said that all martial arts practitioners, if they truly understand the principles, are essentially the same. With a formidable enemy before me, I must learn as I fight."
Thinking this, he gestured to his opponent that they could begin. In a martial arts exchange like those in the Central Plains, Li Chao using a tree branch against a sword would clearly be a sign of disrespect. However, Russians are inherently bold and open-minded, and in a life-or-death duel, weapons can be chosen according to personal preference. The girl nodded slightly, her longsword pointing at her opponent. After a moment's hesitation, she suddenly attacked, her sword
piercing straight to the center of his body. Seeing the opponent's fierce attack, the chilling force astounding, and the astonishing power, Li Chao didn't try to meet it head-on. He abandoned all thoughts, focused his energy, and used a footwork technique to dodge the girl's attack. Without pausing, the girl let out a delicate shout and launched a series of attacks, like a sudden downpour on a calm lake, rising and falling rapidly, chillingly powerful. Li Chao had already fought many fierce battles that day and was still injured, so his condition was naturally very low. He feared most encountering an opponent with a forceful style.
European girls are generally much stronger than Eastern girls, and although he couldn't understand the fencing techniques used by the girl before him, he could sense that she had practiced from a young age and was extremely skilled with weapons. To subdue his opponent, Li Chao needed to make full use of the pitiful branch in his hand.
So, Li Chao used the internal energy of the Earth Profound Technique to gather his remaining strength, while simultaneously using the branch as a sword to unleash the Wudang Three Pure Ones Sword Technique, employing gentle internal force to neutralize his opponent's fierce onslaught. The Russian girl, witnessing Chinese martial arts for the first time, was incredibly excited, but instead of rushing forward, she withdrew a third of her strength and
retreated swiftly. Seeing his opponent's strange retreat, Li Chao dared not blindly charge. Instead, he switched to the Heaven-Splitting Sword Technique, hoping to overwhelm his opponent with masculine energy. This change seemed to work; the girl's parries became much more frequent, and beads of sweat appeared on her forehead.
At this moment, the white-clad girl on the branch clearly saw that no matter how the Russian girl advanced or retreated, she would immediately change direction whenever she approached the nearby babbling brook, leading Li Chao in another direction. She couldn't help but become suspicious.
After fighting for a while longer, the Russian girl was already panting heavily. Seizing the opportunity, Li Chao swiftly shifted his position, closing in on the girl. She seemed startled, slipping awkwardly among the fallen leaves. Caught off guard, Li Chao's branch nearly touched her muscular chest. However, she feigned an attack, using the momentum of her fall to curve her longsword into a crescent moon shape, the tip aimed at Li Chao's face. Li Chao, completely unprepared, managed to twist his head, but the sharp blade still managed to cut his right eye. The girl,
gloating, was then suddenly confronted by Li Chao, who, like a raging bull, channeled the force of his Falling Autumn Fist into the branch, stabbing it fiercely into her heart. It's often said that according to the techniques of the Central Plains martial arts, after a successful strike, one should immediately attack or defend. However, in Slavic duels, every move is clearly defined; after one strikes, the other must wait for recovery before restarting.
Caught off guard, the Russian girl was immediately struck squarely by Li Chao's blade. With a "crack," the branch flew off in several streams. A sudden tightness in her chest caused her to stagger back a few steps. Just as she regained her footing, she coughed up a mouthful of blood onto her elegant yellow dress. Li Chao, of course, was also covered in blood, unable to open his right eye. After catching his breath, the girl cursed a few times, pounded her chest, and charged again.
Li Chao inwardly groaned; without a weapon, he could only continue to parry with his Lingyun Hand technique. After a short while, blood loss had left him utterly weak.
Seeing the situation turning against him, the girl in white spoke up, "I wonder if the young heroes of Wudang would like to see me, a lotus emerging from the water, looking beautiful?!"
Her silvery voice carried a hint of sarcasm. Westerners don't have a rule of silence during matches; those around can shout as they please. The Russian girl, wanting to end the fight quickly so she could deal with another opponent, naturally ignored them.
Li Chao used his breathing technique, tumbling and dodging towards the nearby stream. Sure enough, he noticed his opponent slowing down, trying to use his flower sword to drive him out of the area. Li Chao then realized that his opponent was likely unable to swim, hence his fear of falling into the river. Blood was still flowing freely, and his mind was becoming increasingly hazy. If he continued, he would surely die before this Western girl's sword could strike.
He was a quick-witted man; given the opportunity, a solution wasn't hard to come by. In desperation, he had no choice but to resort to this tactic.
In an instant, Li Chao used the Dragon Soaring Across the Seas technique, circling around the girl's body. The Russian girl's fencing technique was straightforward and direct. Seeing Li Chao, barely clinging to life, suddenly become disoriented and confused, she assumed her opponent possessed a resurrection ability. In her panic, her attacks became even more ruthless, forcefully thrusting her sword through her opponent's defenses. Li Chao effortlessly dodged with a fish-like leap, even giving her a nonchalant grin. The girl, naturally enraged by his mockery, charged forward recklessly.
Li Chao was actually out of ammunition, only managing to hold on using his powerful technique, the Boundless Technique. Seeing the girl's attacks, he methodically dodged while continuing to weave in front of her. As Li Chao's speed decreased, the girl knew he was about to open a gap, and her anxiety grew increasingly frantic. She didn't realize the sand beneath her feet was gradually becoming damp, focusing solely on her opponent's attacks.
As he moved, Li Chao glanced behind him out of the corner of his eye, then saw the girl before him burning with rage and determination. He knew his chance had come. He deliberately created an opening, but the Russian girl wasn't about to let it slip by. She thrust her sword at Li Chao's chest.
With nowhere to retreat, Li Chao simply turned, dodging the sword, and crouched down to strike. He swept his leg across her lower body with a sweeping kick. The cobblestones on the ground were slippery, and the girl lost her balance. Even in the chaos, she managed to stab Li Chao's arm with her sword. Li Chao gritted his teeth, enduring the pain, and grabbed her sleeve, using his waist strength to throw them both into the river.
The Russian girl then realized Li Chao's intention. Before she could even cry out, with a "plop," the two figures plunged into the water. The icy water rushed into Li Chao's mouth and nose, the rushing current swirling around their bodies. The world seemed to instantly freeze.
Li Chao had played in the clear streams at the foot of Wudang Mountain since childhood, and was therefore very confident in his swimming skills. However, in this frigid rapid, he was seriously injured and bleeding profusely, and felt he could hardly hold on. Fortunately, his opponent was indeed not a strong swimmer, and wearing a heavy dress, her body naturally sank heavily upon contact with the water.
However, she was tall and had grown up in the cold of Northern Europe, so she was not afraid of the low temperature. For a time, although she was only blowing bubbles and struggling wildly, she held onto Li Chao tightly and could not break free. In this frozen eddy, Li Chao could clearly feel the Russian girl's smooth and plump body writhing and kicking against his chest like a water snake. Strands of her hair brushed against Li Chao's face, her high breasts heaved rapidly, and her pert buttocks pressed against Li Chao's penis. Her movements aroused Li Chao, and using his swimming skills, he held her body tightly and began to writhe unconsciously.
The night was deep, crows cried, and the moon shone brightly. Inside the imposing Ministry of Justice, passing through the deep palace walls, Huang Xiaoyu and several subordinates hurried into a low-ceilinged room. Several corpses were neatly arranged on a large wooden bed inside. He ordered Wu Yong beside him to light a candle, then lifted one of the shrouds, revealing Yang Wan's body, still with a silver spear embedded in it.
Xiaoyu first gently pressed his fingers against the corpse; it was completely stiff, with slight fading at the pressure point.
He laid the body on its side, lifted its clothes, and saw purplish-red marks on its flat back. Only its chest showed bruises, but its ribs were intact, indicating it hadn't suffered any serious injuries before the blow.
As he hesitated, the door creaked open, and a thin, hunched old man entered, his face rough with wrinkles suggesting he was over sixty. He was originally the top coroner in the capital, having served in the Ministry of Justice for many years. He had meticulously unraveled many sensational cases from among corpses, and now, retired, he had come tonight at Huang Xiaoyu's invitation to help analyze the case.
The old man first lifted the girl's skirt, probing along her cold, hard legs to her secluded private parts. He took out a thin, short silver bar and, at the junction of his penis and flesh, turned the girl's pink labia from side to side, overturning the layers of flesh that enveloped them. He gestured for Xiaoyu to lean closer, and used the silver bar to tease a pearl-sized, erect bud inside her vagina.
Huang Xiaoyu shook his head and smiled, "Please enlighten me with your opinion, sir."
The old man then straightened up and spoke, "Although I am not well-versed in martial arts, after many years in this profession, I understand that such a vicious killing move could only succeed when the victim is mentally out of control. This young lady's body shows no signs of serious injury or poisoning, and pressing her lower abdomen reveals no thick discharge or urine leakage, so it shouldn't be a gastrointestinal issue. However, her perineum is abnormally swollen, clearly a sign of sexual intercourse."
Xiaoyu continued, "Indeed, truly worthy of being called a reincarnation of Song Ci. Logically, a lady of such noble birth would never have engaged in sexual intercourse before marriage. But since ancient times, I've never heard of such a killing method in any competition. I truly don't know the intricacies involved."
The old man then said, "Long ago, the Flower Rascals of the Western Regions..." The esoteric Buddhist arts of the Mo clan once possessed a poison specifically designed to harm women skilled in martial arts, called the "Ten Thousand Flowers Essence-Sucking Pill." No matter how strong a woman was, as long as the powder was sprinkled on her private parts, it would drive her mad. For virgins, the sensations were even more lethal.
Huang Xiaoyu said, "I never imagined such a strange and powerful thing existed, yet no one in the martial arts world had ever mentioned it."
The old man replied, "This bewitching trick has never been used in the Central Plains; it was probably lost long ago. I never expected it to reappear today."
After seeing the visitor off, Huang Xiaoyu returned alone to his quarters in the Ministry of Justice. A beautiful woman dressed in magnificent attire had been waiting for him in the room for some time. She was none other than Xiaoyu's elder sister, the Ninth Princess. As a princess, her jeweled clothing naturally exuded an elegant air. The siblings exchanged pleasantries.
The princess inquired about recent events in the capital region from Xiao Yu, then said to him, "These days, in the north, Hong Chengchou's army is engaged in a decisive battle with the Manchus at Songshan and Jinzhou, the outcome of which is uncertain. In the south, Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong's armies are advancing rapidly, and the court is caught in a two-front war, the situation extremely precarious. Within the capital, turmoil is brewing, with the power struggle between the Ninth Prince and the Prince of Cheng raging beneath the surface. We must proceed with extreme caution."
Huang Xiao Yu replied, "Recently, there have been frequent reports of the Manchus and rebel armies, and even barbarian tribes..." "There are intelligence reports that people have infiltrated the capital, and the Ministry of Justice and the Eastern and Western Depots within the Ming court are both vying for credit. If today's events are related to this, it further indicates that countless experts are involved, and a bloody massacre is probably inevitable."
The Princess said, "The matter of Manchu spies is already common knowledge. They may soon pose a threat to the Emperor and important officials in the court. Whoever can wipe out these bandits and achieve great merit will determine the Prince's future. We cannot let the Eastern and Western Depots get ahead of us."
Xiao Yu nodded thoughtfully. After his sister, he went to the window and gazed at the bright moon, lost in thought on this clear night.
In the rushing river, two bodies, already growing cold, swirled together, their movements erratic. Li Chao, aroused by their earlier intimacy, felt his urges growing stronger. He couldn't resist pulling back the girl's heavy skirt, clamping his legs around her shapely belly, and reaching under her skirt to caress her. She didn't seem to resist; instead, her proud, high breasts trembled slightly.
Through the force of the water, Li Chao could freely flip them over in this weightless space, experiencing sensations unattainable on land. After a while, feeling he couldn't hold back any longer, Li Chao unzipped his pants, gripped his hard penis, and thrust it into the girl's tender opening. Sexual pleasure inevitably drains energy, but Li Chao had no strength left to continue. In this ever-changing space, he could only linger on the girl's pubic hair.
Unexpectedly, he suddenly felt his penis being firmly grasped by five fingers, the fingernails constantly scraping against his engorged penis, the tender flesh squeezed between the fingers. Li Chao felt as if he had suddenly found support, letting the other person's skillful hands caress him.
In the blink of an eye, the girl suddenly pushed Li Chao's penis into her honey hole. The moment it touched the folds of her clitoris, Li Chao's scrotum erupted like a volcano, an unbearable itching sensation in his lower body, and his love juices gushed in like raindrops. But the Russian girl didn't know how to hold her breath, and was already on the verge of death. When she helped Li Chao like that, she only felt a burning sensation in her genitals, her waist swayed involuntarily, she convulsed a few times, and then she fell into darkness.
Li Chao also felt the other person's dying spasms a few times, and then his body went numb, but the semen that had been accumulating for so long continued to ravage the Russian girl's empty body. Li Chao embraced the lifeless, voluptuous body, reveling in the frozen space until he lost consciousness.
It seemed like a long time had passed when Li Chao was awakened by a warm current. He felt as if he were lying on the ground. Opening his eyes, he saw a girl in white sitting on a tree stump by the warm campfire, carefully examining a handkerchief. Li Chao propped himself up; his wounds still throbbed, but they were properly bandaged, though he felt listless.
Beside the girl lay the curled-up body of a Russian girl, her face purple, her body stiff, lying silently on the ground. Her vest had been removed, revealing a snow-white undergarment, her swollen breasts seemingly still savoring the uncontrollable climax.
Seeing Li Chao stand up, the woman in white turned to him and said, "I never expected Wudang to have such a rising star."
Li Chao spread his hands and said, "I don't want to kill anyone; it's just that you're interested in them."
The woman in white ignored him, but stood up and handed him a handkerchief, saying, "Take a look at this Russian girl's background."
Li Chao took the handkerchief; the writing on it had been blurred by water, but the Chinese character "王" (Wang) could be vaguely seen at the top. Judging from the dark characters, it was a formal official document.
Li Chao asked, puzzled, "How can you tell?"
The woman sighed, "Russia was originally far from the Ming Dynasty, and there had been little contact between the two for many years. However, in recent years, it has been expanding eastward and has always coveted the northern territories of the Ming Dynasty."
Li Chao only knew that the Manchus had already pacified Mongolia and Goryeo and were gradually encroaching on the Ming Dynasty's borders; only now did he realize that there was someone else lurking in the shadows.
The young girl frowned and continued, "Her purpose in coming to the Central Plains further confirms the possibility that there are people within the court colluding with the Manchus and even Russia, and the Miao cult has also been drawn into this struggle."
Li Chao, watching her speak, felt that her flowing robes, bathed in moonlight, made her appear elegant and ethereal, her captivating beauty breathtaking. Aside from a slight interest in martial arts, he spent his days waiting for meals after practicing, paying little attention to national affairs. He found it somewhat amusing that a young girl could be so concerned with and knowledgeable about state matters, yet he also felt a touch of fear towards this beautiful yet enigmatic girl.
Li Chao leaned against a tree stump, his head drooping, and said, "You don't need to tell me all this."
The girl in white stood up and said, "Your Wudang's sudden appearance in the capital is probably related to this."
Only then did Li Chao understand why she had asked him to stay. It was to find out the details of Wudang. And all those people who died today had been manipulated by her, and she had seen through them without much effort.
Li Chao shivered, feigning nonchalance as he stammered, "You planned everything, but that Miao girl got away. Just wait until she gets those little cuties and leaves dozens of marks on your face."
The girl in white whispered, "Too bad, she might not even make it ten miles."
Li Chao was startled, the grass falling from his mouth. The girl glanced at him, then continued smugly, "No one survives the Soul-Chasing Throat-Locking Ring." Li Chao
's deduction was now completely confirmed. The image of the girl lying on the ground, humiliated, when the woman in purple strangled her opponent with the copper ring that night was still vivid in his mind. He knew it was best not to mess with the person beside him now.
Soon, the drowsy Li Chao drifted off to sleep. In a daze, he heard the melodious sound of a flute, its graceful tune echoing through the dense forest. The celestial music lingered, its soothing notes rippling the clear water and enchanting the nightingales' joyful dance. A sorrow welled in his eyes, rising to his brow with each tremor of the flute, a poignant sadness as if suppressing a torrent of tears. The flute's melody lingered in his dream, so dreamlike now.
The phosphorescent light of the stars dotted the black night sky. In this small grove, amidst the crackling of burning firewood, the two spent the night by the glowing campfire.
Chapter Four.
Li Chao felt a flush spread across his face, his cheeks slightly burning. Reluctantly, he opened his eyes, realizing in the blinding sunlight that it was almost noon. He felt much better after his sleep. He rose and looked around, finding only himself amidst the lush, verdant air, nestled among the trees. The Russian girl's body was long gone, leaving no trace in the forest's hue.
He stretched and noticed a few words sparsely drawn on the fine sand: "A lifetime of flute playing in the evening breeze, forgetting the long separation from the world." The delicate strokes seemed to silently convey the imagery of the flute music that had lingered in his mind the previous night. Even Li Chao, who rarely touched books, was moved. In the capital, the
official residence of Zhou Renfu, the Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, was bustling with activity, adorned with lanterns and decorations.
The Tang poet Bai Juyi had once described a grand feast: "The wine vessels overflow with nine kinds of wine, eight hundred delicacies from land and sea are laid out, oranges from Dongting Lake are split open, and fish from Tianchi Lake are sliced."
Huang Xiaoyu marveled at the extravagance of the banquet before him. Inside the magnificent hall, amidst the elegant strains of ancient music, high-ranking officials and nobles were indulging in a feast laid out on dozens of tables. At this moment, a radiant woman appeared before him. She was tall and slender, with slightly narrowed eyes like crescent moons, a pert nose, thin and red lips, and a long, flowing dress that exuded elegance.
Xiao Yu rose and bowed, saying, "Your Highness has been busy with the war against the Manchus in the north these past few days and has been unable to spare time for official duties. He specially sent me to congratulate Lord Zhou on his sixtieth birthday. Today, I am also fortunate to have the opportunity to taste Madam's culinary skills; I am truly blessed."
The woman returned the bow with a flick of her sleeve and said softly, "The Hetian jade brought by Lord Huang must be a priceless treasure. The ink painting is naturally formed; it is truly an eye-opener."
Huang Xiao Yu continued, "Lord Zhou is from Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Madam's Zhejiang cuisine today is exquisite, elegant, and the dishes are fresh, tender, crisp, and refreshing. It is clear that a lot of thought was put into it. Especially the West Lake sweet and sour fish, it is truly unforgettable."
This beautiful woman was named Zi Ji, Zhou Renfu's beloved concubine. Among the concubines of high-ranking officials in the Ming court, there were naturally many who were beautiful and talented, but she was the only one who could personally cook and possessed exceptional culinary skills. Therefore, she earned the reputation of being a "beautiful cook" in Kyoto.
Hearing Xiao Yu's praise, she smiled and said, "I knew Lord Huang was also a connoisseur of fine food."
With that, she gracefully pointed to the table with her slender, jade-like hand and said, "Dongpo pork, West Lake vinegar fish, and Longjing shrimp are all renowned dishes, and braising, stewing, simmering, and simmering are all indispensable. This West Lake vinegar fish requires starving the fish for one or two days to firm the flesh and allow it to expel all the grass and muddy taste. The cooking time must be strictly controlled to maintain its freshness, resulting in a dish with a bright red color, tender flesh, and a perfect balance of sourness and sweetness." "It's sweet and delicious, like eating crab meat."
Seeing her interest piqued, Xiao Yu whispered, "My sister asked me to remind you that Manchu and rebel spies have infiltrated the capital and may make a move soon. Lord Zhou's health has always been poor, so you must be extra careful."
Zi Ji replied, "I've heard about it before; I'll be cautious."
Zi Ji was once a maid in the Nangong family of Jiangnan. She was hunted down for secretly learning her master's family's illusionary magic techniques and eventually ended up as a maid in the Ninth Prince's mansion in the capital. Over time, her outstanding talent and beauty came to the attention of the Ninth Prince's wife.
Zhou Renfu was once the Grand Tutor of the current Emperor, and Chongzhen had always treated him with great respect. The prince and princess knew that Zhou had a fondness for food, so they devised a plan to recommend him to the emperor, which worked perfectly, effectively planting a spy. Many people know the rest of this story, but only Xiao Yu and her brother knew the beginning.
In truth, Xiao Yu had always admired her intelligence, but fearing it would arouse suspicion, she refrained from speaking much with her. Instead, she went to talk to the ailing Lord Zhou. Although the Ninth Prince was very cautious, Xiao Yu felt that this was, after all, the capital city, and even if the villain possessed extraordinary abilities, he could hardly threaten the safety of an honest official. Moreover, Zi Ji was no ordinary woman, so she shouldn't worry too much.
Perhaps because he had been so focused on chasing the murderer on the way here, Li Chao only noticed a lake far to the east of the main road when he arrived at the outskirts of the city. Rows of wooden buildings of varying heights were nestled on the shimmering water, seemingly simple, but the surrounding waterscape gave it a secluded, idyllic feel, a truly delightful and charming scene.
Before he could think, a cry of "Help! Help!" rang out. Li Chao immediately sprang to his senses, using his lightness skill to follow the sound. He saw a middle-aged man, his face covered in blood and his clothes torn to shreds, limping and running from the direction of the wooden building. A young woman in pink was chasing after him.
The man, seeing Li Chao, immediately perked up, stumbling and shouting as he ran. In an instant, the woman in pink was behind him, her hand flashing out, her fingers aimed straight for the back of his head. Fortunately, the man had some martial arts skills; he managed to deflect several blows, though he was sent flying two or three meters away, his life spared.
Li Chao quickly rushed over, casually using the soft hand technique of Tai Chi to easily neutralize the woman's eagle claw attack. The two exchanged only a brief blow before retreating to a safe distance. Because of her thin clothing, the girl's thick, black hair could be clearly seen cascading over her smooth, bare back, revealing her delicate breasts and slender waist. Her pretty face was heavily made up, making her breathtakingly beautiful.
The man scrambled to his feet and grabbed Li Chao's hand, saying, "Young brother, please save me! I was just passing by and came to Warm Spring Pavilion hoping to enjoy a night of pleasure, but this girl is shouting and trying to kill me."
Li Chao thought to himself: So that's a brothel. No wonder my master made me practice martial arts diligently; even a courtesan is so skilled.
With that thought, he cupped his hands and joked, "Uncle, if you buy pleasure without paying, I'll have to seek justice for this girl."
The man panicked upon hearing this and hurriedly said, "We already agreed on a price, but who knew—"
A blur of pink shadows flashed before Li Chao's eyes as the girl stretched out her five fingers, hissing and dancing through the air, dazzling him. Over these few battles, Li Chao's experience in the martial world had grown considerably, especially in his encounter with the Russian girl. He had gained some insights into how to deal with fierce opponents. So, he used his breathing technique, employing his old method, and drew eight steps of the "Lingbo" footwork, letting the "whoosh" of claws whirl around his ears.
Seeing that no matter how fast she increased her pace, the girl couldn't catch him, knowing her plan had failed, she let out a delicate shout, gracefully extending her waist, moving from side to side like a fairy. Her smooth, white arms swayed like willow branches in front of Li Chao's body. As they exchanged blows, Li Chao's nostrils were filled with her fragrant body scent, her shapely breasts were indescribably alluring, and her naturally beautiful legs were even more alluring.
Li Chao was watching with drooling desire when he suddenly felt a piercing pain in his left arm, followed by gradual numbness.
"He must be poisoned!"
Li Chao concentrated his strength, trying to disrupt the girl's attack with the power of the Falling Autumn Fist. Unfortunately, she pressed her advantage, her vicious claws greedily intent on killing Li Chao. Before long, he could feel the poison spreading rapidly to his shoulder.
Continuing to fight back would undoubtedly accelerate the poison's penetration, but the girl was becoming increasingly aggressive, and Li Chao had no chance to retreat.
At the critical moment, a sword shadow flashed from behind her, the move light and graceful, clearly a woman's technique.
Li Chao thought she had gained two more helpers and was about to despair when the pink-clad girl's beautiful body dodged to the side, and the sword arc missed its mark.
Li Chao looked closely and saw that the newcomers were indeed two women. Although both were outstanding in appearance, the one on the left who drew the sword had a gentle and tender appearance, which aroused a sense of longing in those who saw her, while the one on the right remained still, her delicate brows revealing a heroic spirit, possessing a chivalrous yet tender temperament.
The girl on his right raised her slender hand, turning her sword's direction, and the precious sword was "swish" into Li Chao's hand.
Unexpectedly, two stunningly beautiful allies had arrived, and Li Chao's morale soared. He immediately mustered his strength, took a step forward, and unleashed the Heaven-Splitting Sword Technique, switching from defense to offense.
The girl in pink was immediately put on the defensive. In the martial world, one could only fight bare-handed against a bladed weapon if they were a level higher than their opponent. Moreover, she had only managed to gain the upper hand through her unusual technique; in terms of true skill, Li Chao, this orthodox disciple, was indeed superior to her. With this fighting style, it was no wonder she was destined to lose.
After another dozen or so rounds, the girl in pink suddenly dodged backward like a ghost, turned, and with hooked fingers, lunged at the girl with a mournful expression on her left. Seeing this, Li Chao immediately brandished his sword and thrust it towards her back, trying to force her to stop. Unexpectedly, the girl on the left flicked her sleeve, taking the blow head-on. Their internal energies clashed, and the woman in pink was involuntarily thrown back a step.
With a "snap," Li Chao couldn't stop in time; the sharp tip of her sword mercilessly pierced through the girl's full breasts. At this moment, her seductive claws were almost touching the woman's face. The four remained locked in a stalemate, glistening drops of blood trickling from the beauty's breasts down the sword tip. Her delicate lips parted slightly, her pearly teeth biting her cherry lips, trembling slightly. Her smooth, delicate tongue protruded, and her brows furrowed in pain.
With a "whoosh," the sword was withdrawn from her curvaceous body. The girl's legs buckled, and she collapsed heavily to the ground. At this moment, she seemed to feel even greater pain. Her full, smooth body swayed seductively like a twisted candy, her round, firm breasts almost deformed from the ravages. The dust on the ground was etched with streaks from her torment, and saliva and blood smeared the ground.
Unexpectedly, the fallen girl leaped up with a "whoosh," yelling and reaching out to stab Li Chao. Li Chao saw a hand flash behind her and decided not to waste his strength, remaining motionless. He saw the girl on his right lightly flick her sleeve, her slender hand pressing down on the girl's head. The Emei Heavenly Gang Thunder Palm, one of the Thirteen Deadly Forms of the Lingyang True Sect's Internal Kung Fu, was unleashed, its internal force like a raging thunderbolt, sending it into the pink-clad woman's head.
This time, she didn't utter a sound. Her delicate, smooth face rested lifelessly on Li Chao's shoulder, and then her alluring body slumped to the ground at Li Chao's feet with a muffled groan, completely losing the strength to move.
Li Chao stepped over the beautiful corpse, bowed to the girl who had struck him, and said, "Li Chao, a disciple of Wudang, greets the head of Emei."
She chuckled and exchanged a smile with the girl beside her, saying, "Young hero, you have sharp eyes, but I'm not sure how to phrase 'seen'."
In truth, this clever Li Chao's deception wasn't difficult. He had learned from the boy disguised as a boy that Madam Yang was a disciple of the Emei sect, and he had just witnessed her techniques yesterday. Therefore, when the two of them exchanged a few blows, the style was strikingly similar to Madam Yang's subtly fragrant moves, naturally not escaping Li Chao's notice. Furthermore, the meaning of the sect leader's ring on the girl's right hand when she killed the enemy was self-evident.
Since she was the sect leader, she couldn't possibly be ignorant of even the basic routines of Wudang; there was no need for him to hide it.
Li Chao chuckled self-deprecatingly, "You and my master once visited Wudang, but back then I was just a servant, so of course I didn't notice."
To be honest, it was common for martial arts sects to visit each other and exchange sparring skills. Li Chao seemed to recall Wudang and Emei having done so when he was young. This young woman's succession as sect leader was likely due to her master's favor; he had mentored her since childhood. Unfortunately, Abbess Dingyi was naturally quiet and rarely took her disciples out of the mountains after she grew old, so the two sects had little contact afterward.
Although Li Chao had no recollection of her, his fabrication was spot on. However, he hadn't heard of Abbess Dingyi's passing as Emei's sect leader, and wondered how she had managed to succeed her.
The girl on the left answered before being asked, "Young hero, you may not know, but Abbess Dingyi is quite old and has been in seclusion for cultivation. Therefore, my senior sister Ji Minying is temporarily taking over the affairs of the sect. I am Ling Cai'er, it's a pleasure to meet you."
The middle-aged man then stepped forward to thank them, adding, "I'm a businessman, why would I want to drink this wine for free?"
Li Chao played with his exquisitely handcrafted sleeve, saying, "I'm afraid this sleeve of yours could be used as collateral for some change."
Ji Minying said unhappily, "Those who live a carefree life in brothels are not good people."
Seeing that he had angered the heroine, the man quickly thanked her a few more times and then ran away. At this moment, Ling Cai'er bent down and began to grope the fragrant body of the girl in pink. Li Chao secretly watched her and saw her untie the ribbon around the corpse's waist and pull out a bottle from the fabric covering her rounded belly.
Then, she took the pink-clad woman's already stiff and cold hand and used her fingernails to scratch a bloody mark on the woman's own neck. Soon, a bruise appeared on the slightly reddened neck. Ling Cai'er then opened the bottle and sprinkled the powder onto the wound. Quickly, the wound returned to its normal color.
After testing it, she stood up, handed the bottle forward, and said, "Young Master Li should find this useful."
Li Chao secretly admired her; not only did she have a keen eye for the injury on his hand, but her method of finding the antidote was also extremely skillful.
Ji Minying laughed, "After all, she's just a minor character, far from reaching the level of perfect harmony between person and poison. Otherwise, why would she leave an antidote on herself for the enemy?"
Ling Cai'er chimed in, "We two have important matters to attend to. We've met today, but there will be many opportunities to meet again in the future."
Li Chao thanked her, saying, "I will repay your life-saving grace in the future.
I will return the sword to the sect leader now." Unexpectedly, Ji Minying didn't take the sword. Instead, she gracefully drew a few strokes and, without anyone noticing, steadily returned the hilt to Li Chao's hand. In fact, although Ji Minying was the acting sect leader, she was about the same age as Li Chao. The skill she displayed earlier, killing the woman in pink with a single blow, and now, was something that could only be achieved with considerable skill. Even an outstanding individual like Li Chao had to admit that she was truly a person of extraordinary martial arts talent.
Ji Minying said, "It's not a very good sword. Without a weapon for self-defense, it's inconvenient to travel the martial world. Please lend this sword to the young hero for now."
Li Chao could only bow and thank her. The three walked a few miles together before parting ways. It was already midday. After settling the kitchen, Zi Ji, accompanied by her three maids, Qing Yue, Qing Hua, and Qing Shuang, went to the study. She left the three maids to wait outside while she went in alone. Among the many gifts, she found the beautiful jade, caressing it with delight, finding it warm and comfortable against her fingers.
Because of Lord Zhou's health, she hadn't had sex in a long time. Unconsciously, she pressed the jade against her exquisite, fair body, kneading it like a seasoned lover. Inside the study, the intoxicating friction ignited a passion that intensified. First, it ravaged Zi Ji's flawless, firm breasts; then the heat reached her flat stomach, her smooth, flawless skin flushing red. Soft moans escaped her lips as her body writhed from the tickling sensation, radiating waves of intense pleasure.
After a moment of preparation, Zi Ji knew she couldn't escape. She hurriedly lifted her skirt and, between her fair legs, inserted the jade into her tender, inviting cavern. A warm current involuntarily flowed from her vagina, and under the tingling, tingling stimulation, a sense of relaxed comfort spread throughout her limbs.
The three maids waited for their mistress in the courtyard. A short while later, Qingxia felt an urgent need to urinate and left on her own, bypassing the garden's halls and pavilions, and pushed open the door to the outhouse. Having been busy all day, she only realized how swollen her lower abdomen was when she squatted down. She quickly pulled up her skirt and felt a warm stream of urine gushing from her bladder and flowing down her urethra.
Just as she was feeling the discomfort and the urine was about to flow out, she suddenly felt a whooshing sound beside her ear. Before she could react, a silver needle silently pierced her right ear. Under Zi Ji's tutelage, the three sisters all possessed a foundation in martial arts. Even if they couldn't protect themselves, they could at least defend themselves and call for help in times of danger. Unfortunately, the murderer chose the perfect moment.
Blood gushed from Qingxia's ear, and the girl's body writhed in agony, her legs twitching and grinding against the ground. Urine spurted out with a series of spurts, filling the air with a pungent, fishy odor. Seeing her still flailing hands, seemingly trying to resist, the murderer gave her no chance, forcefully twisting the silver needle piercing her brain, causing colorful brain matter to flow out of her ear canal. The girl lost consciousness. Xiuqin's delicate body twitched and kicked a few more times, disheveling her already removed clothes, before finally collapsing limply in her own pool of urine.
Seeing that Qingxia hadn't returned, Qinghua gestured for her to go check on her. She walked to the outhouse, pushed open the door, and there lay Qingxia's distorted body on the muddy ground, her mangled head unrecognizable.
She opened her mouth to scream, but felt a thick arm clamp down on her neck from behind. Her frail body was violently lifted upwards by an irresistible force, and a crisp "crack" was heard—the girl's throat was ripped apart. In the instant her body and head lost contact, her buttocks instinctively leaned back, feeling a hard object pressing against her lower body, and then she felt nothing more.
The other person gently turned her body over and saw blood seeping from Qinghua's pearly teeth, her rolled-up white eyes staring blankly at the sky. With a "thud," she was thrown onto Qingxia's body, lying face down on top of her.
Qingyue, seeing that the two hadn't returned for a long time, became a little nervous. However, her master had instructed her not to disturb her appreciation of the gift, and she dared not inspect it herself now, so she planned to call the butler to discuss it. So she glanced around, and seeing no movement, quickened her pace and went outside.
At that moment, Zi Ji couldn't help but shiver, but this wasn't entirely due to the pleasure of sex, because she could clearly feel a cold needle tip pressed against her delicate neck. She slowly turned around and, without realizing it, a beautiful young woman was standing beside her, holding a hairpin to her.
Her heart felt as if it would leap out of her full breasts, and her body instantly went numb. She heard the woman say, "I apologize for disturbing your enjoyment, Madam. I am only being paid. My guest wishes to choose a fine restaurant to meet with you, Madam, and discuss the world's finest cuisine. I hope you won't put me in a difficult position."
Zi Ji inwardly blamed herself. If she hadn't been so caught up in her love affair, how could the other woman have entered so easily? But someone who could move freely in the Zhou household was no ordinary person, yet why was she being allowed to leave instead of being killed? There was no clue in the other woman's tone.
There was no turning back now. She could only put down the jade, straighten her clothes and headdress, and reply, "It seems I cannot refuse."
Inside the Junlin Inn's private room,
Daoist Yun Kong had been pondering for a long time. Li Chao saw that his master's tea had gone cold and was about to change the water when Yun Kong stopped him. Earlier, Li Chao had recounted his experiences over the past few days in detail, from the alleyway to his encounters in the woods, without concealing anything.
He knew that although he would be punished, the changing situation terrified him. He knew that any wrong step would lead to the utter destruction of Wudang, so he had no choice but to be honest with his master.
Yun Kong suddenly stroked his beard and laughed heartily. He tapped the tea table lightly and said:
"You should be punished for acting without authorization and disobeying your master's orders. However, in chaotic times, people are often powerless to change their fate, and as a newcomer to the martial world, you are even more vulnerable. Moreover, you were able to uphold justice and defeat powerful enemies
, which is enough to uphold the honor of Wudang. Among the people you mentioned, although their origins are mysterious and they each possess unique abilities, ultimately, their fate is often determined by the cycle of fate. Alas, perhaps I am overthinking things. You mentioned earlier the change of leadership at Emei Sect. I did hear Master Dingyi mention Ji Minying in person. Many people praise her as a leading figure among the younger generation of renowned martial arts sects, possessing great talent. I hope you will learn from her."
Li Chao was relieved that his master did not blame him. Yun Kong continued, "Tonight we will enter the palace to meet Emperor Chongzhen. This matter must not be revealed to Boss Xu or Cui'er. Moreover, since we are together, we cannot act on our own."
Li Chao had long noticed that his master had never told them the purpose of their trip to the capital, but of course he would not say it. Although his trip to the capital was originally for an audience with the emperor, Li Chao couldn't help but get excited upon hearing this. For an ordinary person, entering the palace was harder than climbing to heaven; the magnificent and opulent atmosphere of the imperial family would surely broaden his horizons.
Knowing he couldn't show his curiosity, Li Chao deliberately mimicked the white-clad woman's tone, speaking solemnly, "I've heard that although the Ming Dynasty is in grave danger, Emperor Chongzhen is indeed a diligent emperor, wholeheartedly devoted to reviving the Ming Dynasty. I wonder what Master's opinion of him is?"
Yun Kong had never seen his disciple so serious, wondering what had gotten into him, but still replied, "The founding emperor of the Ming Dynasty and many meritorious officials came from the Ming Cult. Ming Cult followers have had connections with the third-generation disciples of my sect's founder, Master Zhang. The imperial court has also shown favor to Wudang on several occasions. Logically, we should repay this kindness."
This anecdote was widely circulated in the martial arts world, and Li Chao naturally knew it. Yun Kong stood up and continued,
"Since I followed my master on his adventures in the martial world, braving wind and rain, several decades have passed in the blink of an eye. I should be enjoying my retirement, but now I don't know how long I'll have to fight."
Li Chao couldn't help but reminisce, and blurted out,
"A lifetime of flute playing in the evening breeze, forgetting the long separation from the martial world."
Suddenly, he looked up and found his master looking at him strangely, then patted his head,
"It's true that three days apart is like a scholar; could it be that my disciple will also produce a master of iron-clad characters?"
The once bustling Songyue Tower's upper floor was empty, clearly booked. Zi Ji was led by the girl to a table facing the street and sat down. The waiter brewed tea and then retreated with the girl. Zi Ji felt that everything here was different from what she had seen before; the bright and clean windows exuded an elegant atmosphere, calming one's heart.
Although the bustling market was right next to the table, a screen displaying flowers and birds kept the peace undisturbed by the passersby. Suddenly, she noticed a handsome man sitting before her.
For a martial artist to be unable to recognize an opponent standing right in front of them meant only two things: either the opponent's lightness skill was exceptionally good, or the difference in strength was too great. Either way, it sent a chill down Zi Ji's spine.
The man politely said, "It is truly my honor that Madam has granted my humble request."
Hearing this, Zi Ji gracefully returned the greeting.
The man said, "Since the 'Beautiful Chef' has graced us with her presence, I would like to first have Madam taste this cup of tea."
Zi Ji replied, "Very well, very well. My ancestral home is in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. Its green color, fragrant aroma, mellow taste, and beautiful shape—this authentic West Lake Longjing tea shouldn't be difficult for me."
The man nodded in agreement, clapped his hands three times, and maids filed in. In no time, four exquisitely carved plates were placed on the small dining table, but the bowls and plates were completely empty.
Seeing Zi Ji's puzzled expression, the man smugly took a sip of fragrant tea and said,
"Madam must be very interested in my identity, so I will tell you frankly now. I am Altan, a prince of the Oirat Mongols. I have come to Mingdu today to prepare a dish unlike any other. I know your culinary skills are superb, so you are the only one who can help me fulfill my wish."
Zi Ji smiled and said, "So you are a prince of Mongolia. It is my pleasure to meet you. Food and sex are human nature, and I will not refuse Your Highness's wish. I just don't know what dishes Your Highness will prepare, and how I can assist you?" Altan
stood up and said, "Shandong cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, Jiangsu cuisine, and Cantonese cuisine are the four famous cuisines of China, and I have long admired them."
As he spoke, he pulled back the curtain on the wall, revealing a small suite in front, where pots, pans, and utensils were already arranged, and all the cooking utensils were complete. However, only cooking seasonings and other green onions, garlic, and vegetables were visible; there was no meat.
Altan asked, "Of these delicacies, which one does Madam prefer?"
Ziji replied, "I would choose Shandong cuisine's shredded pork with cold noodles, Sichuan cuisine's spicy diced chicken, Jiangsu cuisine's braised bamboo shoots, and Cantonese cuisine's pan-fried chicken wings. The ingredients are ordinary, and the dishes are not expensive, but they test the skill of the cooks and each one absorbs the essence of its respective cuisine. If a famous chef were to prepare them, I'm sure Your Highness would linger over them for days after tasting them."
Altan praised, "Good, good, good, Madam's words are exactly what I wanted. However, Madam was mistaken in saying that the ingredients were not expensive. Because today, the chef preparing these dishes will be a breathtakingly beautiful woman."
Ziji's scalp tingled. Although she had long anticipated that this was more likely to end badly, she hadn't expected this Mongolian prince to have such thoughts. She said sullenly, "..."
“I am but a weak woman, Your Highness, it is truly disgraceful to choose me to humiliate you.”
Altan chuckled. At this moment, a gaunt man held a silver plate and placed it in front of Zi Ji. On the plate were six or seven pairs of chopsticks, made of gold, silver, copper and other metals, and on the far side there was a pair of ordinary wooden chopsticks.
Altan sat down and said seriously, “Back then, our ancestor Genghis Khan led the Mongol cavalry to sweep across the Central Plains and destroy the Southern Song Dynasty. You Han people have always called us horsemen and barbarians. I have practiced various martial arts since I was a child. If today were to be a contest of horsemanship with you, Madam, or a tournament, even if I won, you would certainly not be convinced. However, Nangong’s Illusionary Spirit Technique is unique in the Central Plains martial arts world. Although you are not a top-tier master, if we were to compete here at this small table using only a pair of chopsticks, your skills should be more than adequate, and you wouldn’t say that you are weak and delicate.”
Ziji hadn’t expected him to know so much about her background. In fact, no matter what he said, she had no choice.
So she took out a pair of silver chopsticks, but Altan actually chose a pair of wooden chopsticks and smiled at her, as if to say: How about I give you another round? The man carrying the plate withdrew, and the maidservant put out water, lit firewood, and went downstairs. The large pavilion was left with only the two of them.
Altan raised his chopsticks and cupped his hands, saying, "Please, Madam."
Zi Ji, of course, wouldn't yield to him. She swiftly channeled her unique inner energy to her fingertips, gripped the silver chopsticks tightly, and with a single stroke, inscribed the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams pattern in front of her opponent's face, seizing the initiative. In terms of weaponry and martial arts, the Nangong family barely managed to squeeze into the third or fourth tier of the martial arts world, and had essentially disappeared from the scene in recent years.
However, their Phantom Spirit Technique, specifically designed for assassinating opponents on the small surface of a dining table, terrified many masters. Zi Ji had secretly learned her master's secret technique because her brother had been murdered, and she was eager for revenge. She then used the opportunity of seduction at a banquet to successfully kill her enemy. This martial art emphasizes speed over speed, incorporating the mysteries of the Five Elements' mutual generation and restraint into intricate routines, using frenzied speed to break through the opponent's defenses and achieve victory against overwhelming odds.
Altan, wielding chopsticks to meet his opponent's attack, was momentarily struck by the woman's lightning-fast, seemingly chaotic yet orderly movements. No matter how he changed his starting angle or position, she seemed to pinpoint his weaknesses.
The clattering of the chopsticks brought a lively atmosphere to the pavilion. The two fought with increasing intensity, the silver light emanating from Zi Ji's exquisite technique expanding before Altan's eyes. Their intertwined arms were a beautiful sight, yet, surprisingly, there wasn't a single spectator, not a single cheer. The listless crowd below remained oblivious, flowing by as if unaware of the spectacle.
Centuries ago, the once invincible Mongol army swept across Eurasia, crushing the European coalition and reaching the banks of the Danube. Altan certainly possessed this spirit of bravery, but as he himself said, his once formidable martial arts now felt awkward. Even if he could defend flawlessly, after a thousand rounds, Zi Ji could easily defeat him with her sheer strength. However, this would not only be beneath her dignity, but her frail body would also diminish the appeal of the prepared dish.
Suddenly, Zi Ji spread her legs wide, executing a "Double Flying Swallow" kick from under the tablecloth, striking her opponent's thick thighs with a series of sharp blows. Altan hurriedly raised his leg to meet the attack, attempting to deflect the blow. In this duel, Zi Ji was the weaker party, her lower body strength far inferior to Altan's. She was desperately using all four limbs to completely disrupt her opponent's mind. The face is ultimately a weakness; if she could find an opening, she could hope to defeat him with a single blow and create a miracle.
Altan was overwhelmed by the intense killing intent, large beads of sweat streaming down his face. Despite using all his strength, the tips of his opponent's silver chopsticks nearly pierced his eye sockets several times. Although the clattering of the tearing chopsticks had rendered him deaf, he remained calm and continued to fight while intently observing the techniques employed by Zi Ji's alluring body, visible beneath her flowing robes, searching for weaknesses.
Having weathered the most difficult period, Altan finally began to adapt to his opponent's speed, his use of hands and feet becoming much more skillful. He remained impassive, feigning weakness, barely managing to keep the chopsticks at bay. With this state of numbness, he wasn't worried about missing an opportunity to kill the beauty. However, although Zi Ji's attacks grew increasingly fierce, her chopstick techniques remained disciplined, still protecting her beautiful body.
Seeing this, Altan devised a plan, and in the delicate situation, he subtly revealed a central opening.
On the battlefield, feigning weakness to advance is an old trick, but now, in this face-to-face combat, so close they're practically rubbing their ears together, even if Altan is incredibly agile, he'd have no chance to defend himself with his chopsticks if faced with a powerful strike. Ziji, of course, wouldn't let this golden opportunity slip away. She
raised her chopsticks with all her might, aiming for her opponent's face. At this point, even the most skilled fighters in the world wouldn't doubt the outcome. Ziji's final strike of her Illusionary Spirit Technique seemed to gather eleven percent of her power, a sharp silver light surging towards her opponent's face. Altan roared, opening his mouth wide, lunging at Ziji's swift chopstick attack. With a sharp "crack," Altan actually allowed Ziji's silver chopsticks to pierce his mouth, then bit down hard on the chopsticks.
Suddenly, Zi Ji felt as if her hand, gripping the chopsticks, had been pierced by an irresistible force, and she could no longer hold them, incredibly unable to stop. Startled by this unexpected turn of events, Zi Ji naturally opened her thin lips and let out a soft "Ah," revealing a small gap between her pearly white teeth. Still reeling from the shock, she saw the chopsticks approaching her. Having exerted all her strength in the previous attack, she had no strength left to pull her hand back. Although Altan couldn't possibly have accumulated much energy at this moment, his innate superhuman strength allowed him to accurately thrust the chopsticks into Zi Ji's mouth amidst the chaos.
The chopsticks pierced her throat squarely, and excruciating pain erupted from her moist mouth, the agonizing agony causing her to faint instantly. In fact, Altan had also miraculously survived. If Zi Ji hadn't been exhausted from the battle, or if her biting ability hadn't been slightly compromised, he would undoubtedly be the one pierced by the chopsticks.
In the blink of an eye, the life-or-death struggle ended, and he silently prayed to heaven, feeling a surge of admiration for his dying opponent. A while later, Zi Ji slowly awoke from her pain. The chopsticks were still firmly lodged in her mouth, the bitter, salty taste of broken bones and flesh choking her as she swallowed. At this moment, her eyes were blurred with sweat, her chest stained with blood. Her most prized body felt as if it were being trampled by a thousand horses. Driven by her buttocks, her shapely legs twitched involuntarily, and the distinctive features of her rosy, delicate face began to contort unnaturally. Her breasts, glistening with blood, trembled and heaved.
Suddenly, perhaps due to the tightness in her chest from suffocation, Zi Ji coughed a few times, her brow furrowed. The movement of her head sent a sharp, electric shock-like pain through her throat wound. In this inhuman environment, Zi Ji could no longer control herself. Her mature and voluptuous body began to writhe, her buttocks rubbing against the stool with a creaking sound. Finally, she simply let go of the chopsticks, her plump forearms struggling to grip the table, her nails leaving ten deep marks on the surface.
This was not the worst of it; what was even more irritating was that the jade hole between her fragrant buttocks was beginning to brew a shy pleasure. This sweet desire became even more irresistible amidst the rolling pain. She could no longer free her hands to soothe the rising tingling sensation, and could only rely on her waist to press down lewdly to satisfy the swelling stimulation on her clitoris. Her kicking, beautiful legs rubbed against each other, trying to squeeze out some pleasure for herself at the end of her life through the friction of her heels.
Altan spat out the silver chopsticks he had in his mouth, but still held tightly the wooden chopsticks he had stuck in Zi Ji's mouth, giving her no chance. In just a moment, even a tough man like him was aroused by her shy and timid movements, his hard lower body making his pants bulge.
After a while, Zi Ji's eyes closed slightly, her breath growing weaker. Suddenly, she felt a comfortable warmth in her lower abdomen, which quickly spread down to her urethra. Was she about to lose control of her bladder?
Indeed, she hadn't relieved herself since breakfast, and the urge to urinate washed over her body.
Altan also noticed the change in her posture, seeing Zi Ji's expression become shy. Despite his conscious efforts to suppress it, his body was unconsciously stirring. He was a soldier who had killed many female generals on the battlefield, and he was no stranger to Zi Ji's dying reaction. He simply waited silently for her to make a move.
A strange thing happened. Murasaki's delicate, beautiful hand crushed the teacup in front of her with a loud crash. Her face turned ashen, her lips, still holding the chopsticks, twitched. Her crescent-shaped eyebrows furrowed, and her limbs, which had stopped convulsing, slowly returned to their original, graceful positions, trembling. The swaying of her hips gradually diminished, and her eyes, seemingly filled with both pain and pleasure, stared at the unsuspecting crowd outside the screen.
Altan's heart trembled. He knew that Murasaki had gathered her last strength, using her inner energy in her dying moments to forcefully suppress the urge to urinate while simultaneously restoring her normal appearance. He watched as Murasaki, with unwavering willpower, gradually erased the changes caused by the insertion of the trachea.
She gracefully placed her lotus feet below the platform, her hands elegantly placed in front of her. Despite the immense pain in her back, her beautiful face maintained a serene expression. Finally, she glanced at Altan with disdain, tilted her head slightly, and slowly closed her beautiful eyes, serene and dignified like a young lady entering a dream.
There was no dripping of urine, no painful struggle, but this time Altan's scalding semen still involuntarily overflowed, causing his robust body to shake the table loudly. After finishing, Altan stood up and bowed to Zi Ji's now-cold body. He had witnessed the tragic scene of a Han Chinese woman valuing her posture and dignity more than her own life. Although Zi Ji was very composed, he knew perfectly well the willpower required inside, and that this pain must have surpassed even his own.
Chapter Five
Cui'er quietly pushed open the door with a soft "creak," and found Li Chao, who was always grinning, actually engrossed in reading a thread-bound book. She secretly hid behind him and peered closer to see what it was—a book titled "Notes on Song Dynasty Poetry."
Li Chao then noticed a fragrant scent behind his ear and deliberately hummed in a low voice. Cui'er, who had intended to scare him, was startled herself first, and they started playfully bickering again. After a while, Li Chao noticed that it was getting dark, so the two went downstairs and sat down at a nearby noodle shop.
The warm noodles warmed them considerably as soon as they entered their stomachs. Cui'er, her delicate hand adorned with a jade bracelet, cupped her pretty face and blinked, smiling as she said,
"I wonder when our Wudang hero started to indulge in such refined pursuits? Has he fallen for some scholarly family's daughter and is now cramming on literature and history so he can impress his future in-laws with his highbrow knowledge."
Suddenly, Li Chao noticed a familiar figure flash by in the crowd. He immediately stood up, drew his sword, and took a few steps, but the figure disappeared into the nearby market, vanishing from sight.
Cui'er caught up, asking curiously, "Who was that?"
Li Chao simply shook his head, thinking: That girl seemed like the boy disguised as a man from that day. It's a pity she was dressed as a man then; if she had been wearing clothes, I might not have been able to tell.
Under the dim lights of the night, Boss Xu and Cui'er had escorted the master and his apprentice through several streets. Cui'er kept her head down and remained silent the entire way; Li Chao knew she was still angry that he hadn't told her they were leaving that evening. Although their farewell was heartfelt, they were getting further and further from the palace, and if they missed their audience, it would be too much for either of them.
Yun Kong had no choice but to stop and say goodbye, "Even a thousand-mile journey must end. I am deeply grateful for the hospitality shown to us by Mr. Xu and your daughter. If you ever need any help in the future, please come to Wudang Mountain; the disciples of Wudang will be there to assist you."
At this moment, Cui'er, her eyes red, handed over a set of clothes. Upon closer inspection, they shone with dazzling gold, not only exquisitely crafted but also made of very special materials. Boss Xu handed it to Li Chao, saying,
"This was a gift from a friend who traveled the trade routes. It's said to be able to deflect swords and blades. Young hero, you'll find it useful in the world of martial arts, braving wind and rain."
Yun Kong examined it closely and praised, "Excellent, excellent! It truly is a golden-threaded garment from the Western Regions. Legend says it's forged and drawn from cold steel from the seabed. Ordinary hidden weapons should be no problem."
Li Chao bowed and thanked him, immediately putting it on as underwear. He had only been at the inn for a few days, yet he constantly felt the genuine affection between the two men. Amidst the bustling crowds and the noisy clamor, watching their waving figures, even the surrounding glittering lights seemed blurred.
Led by a young eunuch outside the city gate, the master and disciple unknowingly disappeared into the vast, sea-like imperial city. There was no moonlight tonight, and the stars hid behind thick clouds. Thus, the magnificent imperial buildings around them were shrouded in darkness, making it even harder to breathe.
After walking for an unknown amount of time, Li Chao felt an increasing chill in the air, as if snow was about to fall from the silent sky. However, he had a feeling that there was an unsettling movement lurking behind the dim light and shadows. Could the elusive aura be that of a high-ranking imperial guard?
The two were led to a side room and sat for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before the chief eunuch, Eunuch Wang, led them to the still brightly lit study. Upon entering the room, the person sitting at the table, still holding a vermilion brush and reviewing memorials, was none other than Emperor Chongzhen. The figure standing beside him was impeccably dressed and must be a high-ranking official.
After the master and disciple finished bowing to the emperor, Li Chao also stood beside his master. Emperor Chongzhen was probably around thirty years old, but in the flickering candlelight, his face appeared very haggard, and he was occasionally panting, likely due to a long illness.
Emperor Chongzhen rose and stepped forward, saying, "I have long admired the chivalrous reputation of Master Yunkong of Wudang in the martial world, and have always longed to meet you. I am delighted to meet you now."
He took a sip from his cup and continued, "Master Yunkong must know that the Manchu invaders are a threat to the north, and the rebel Li Zicheng is causing chaos in the south. The Ming dynasty's foundation is now in imminent danger. I hope to join you in turning the tide and reviving the Ming. Tonight, I, Master Yunkong, and this Minister of War, Chen Xinjia, must have a thorough discussion of state affairs and devise ways to save the people." "Amidst fire and water."
Seeing his sincerity, Yun Kong said, "I have some knowledge of martial arts, but when it comes to matters of state, I dare not speak presumptuously."
Chen Xinjia replied, "You are too modest, Daoist. I invited you to the capital this time because I wanted to ask you about an important matter."
Before Chen could finish speaking, Yun Kong chuckled, cupped his hands, and said, "I have a small gift to present to His Majesty."
Li Chao wondered: Master clearly came empty-handed, so why is there a gift now?
Chongzhen sat down and said, "Oh, then I must see it for myself."
Wudang martial arts emphasize stillness like the autumn moon and movement like a whirlwind. Li Chao suddenly felt the surging internal energy within Yun Kong's body, the subtle manifestation of his power flowing through his master's meridians. As the internal energy of the Five Elements was being cultivated, Yun Kong's Taoist robe flew backward with a "whoosh," the powerful airflow blasting the door open. Two shrill screams followed, clearly the cries of young girls, then two muffled thuds.
Li Chao snapped out of his daze, quickly using the Heavenly Spin and the Flute Wind Guiding the Moon techniques, and flashed into the courtyard outside the room. At this moment, drums were beating loudly in the palace, soldiers were shouting and marching, weapons were clanging, and the glowing torches raised the surrounding temperature considerably. Soon, the courtyard was surrounded by hundreds of people, three or four deep. Li Chao looked closely and saw two masked figures huddled together on the white snow, dressed in pink ninja outfits. Their curvaceous figures clearly revealed them to be women. Both wore gloves and tightly gripped a thin, narrow, three-foot-six-inch single-edged curved sword, which appeared like a pool of clear water in the night, yet exuded a chilling murderous aura that sent shivers down
one's spine. At this moment, one of them took off her mask, revealing delicate features on her jade-like face. Two shallow dimples beside her white teeth and red lips were both charming and eye-catching. In particular, she wore a four-slit vest with embroidered hibiscus flowers on the front, back, and armpits, a contemporary style with yellow silk lining on both sides and a gold-plated silver belt around the waist, making her look noble, luxurious, and extremely beautiful.
She held her sword, her robes flowing, and bowed slightly, saying, "My daughter, Fujita Miyo, and my younger sister, Fujita Oriyo, serve under the Japanese sect of the Crescent Moon Sect. To be able to spar with the greatest martial arts master in China today, even death would be our greatest regret."
She spoke fluent Chinese. Her younger sister also removed her mask, revealing a face identical to her sister's, though slightly less beautiful.
Yun Kong returned the bow, saying, "The martial arts world of China is full of stars, each with their own strengths. I dare not claim to be the best, but to experience the ninjutsu of Japan has always been my wish."
Unauthorized trespassing within the Forbidden City was a capital offense, punishable by death. Even if Yun Kong didn't make things difficult for them, thousands of imperial guards would still chop them into mincemeat. However, to be frank, in the current martial arts world of the Central Plains, those who could rival Yun Kong were few and far between. These two young women had such an experience before their deaths, which was quite an achievement.
The heavy snow had created a breathtaking spectacle, a scene too beautiful to be captured in a painting, with snowflakes swirling and falling gently in the breeze. Chongzhen and Chen Xinjia also stepped outside, quietly observing the situation under the protection of the imperial guards.
Yun Kong tossed the Seven Star Sword back to Li Chao and said, "Although my martial arts are rudimentary and flawed, I am still your elder, so I cannot refuse. In this contest, I will forgo using my hands and feet, allowing you to attack at will."
As he spoke, he drew a circle in the snow with his foot, about the size of two embraces. "If we fight for fifty rounds, I will admit my inferiority. If I accidentally step out of the circle, I will also lose. If you win, I am willing to die with you, young lady. Of course, if that happens, it will be because my skills are not yet refined, not because the martial arts of the Central Plains are inferior."
Everyone present was greatly surprised. Although no one doubted the outcome of this killing, Yun Kong's way of yielding was still baffling. Not using his hands and feet was unprecedented, and if he failed, even if the soldiers rushed in and killed the two female ninjas, it would not only shame the Wudang sect, but also the prestige of the entire Ming Dynasty.
Emperor Chongzhen coughed a few times in the wind and said, "This suggestion is acceptable. I will bear witness. General Tu, loudly announce the number of rounds."
A burly military officer bowed and accepted the order.
The two sisters exchanged suspicious glances before taking their positions. Miyo's clear, endless eyes, like the autumn sky, flashed with murderous intent. With a sharp "Hey!" she raised her sword and slashed at the sky. The sword swirled and roared, drawing a strange trail on the snow. Her younger sister, Orio, followed suit.
The two pink figures were barely visible to the naked eye, which amazed the soldiers. Li Chao also thought that their speed was top-notch in the Central Plains, but it was still impossible to break their master's "Skillful Goose Soaring Through the Clouds" technique. In the
blink of an eye, an illusion cleaved through the void, and the two suddenly moved stealthily across each other. The strange sword shadows seemed to be glued together, their movements chilling. Even more terrifying was that, due to their similar appearances, the alternating, chaotic aura made it seem as if only one person was present.
Yun Kong used the Heavenly Gang Protective Technique, swaying left and right on the soft snow, the Eighteen Falling Steps instantly making the two's long bridge and waterfall-like moves disappear. After entangled for more than ten rounds, Fujita Miyo immediately withdrew from the battle and reorganized her attack. With lightning and wind, she soared into the air, and the two sisters immediately formed a pincer attack on Yun Kong.
Yun Kong nodded and said, "Your younger generation is commendable."
Feng Bai Canhe's figure also turned ninety degrees, supporting himself on one foot, and the rest of his body seemed to be possessed by a god, making the opponent's sharp swordsmanship cut in front of him. Although Yun Kong's movements were graceful and unrestrained, he couldn't help but admire it. The Dongying Ninjutsu could use terrain, objects, dark angles and other advantageous conditions to observe the subtle and know the opponent's weak points, which was insidious and unpredictable.
Night had fallen, and the white snow and the flickering torches created a strange interplay of light and shadow. They often exploited blind spots, making their moves opportunistically. If they encountered someone of equal skill, they would have already won. Seeing her efforts paying off, Zhidai immediately increased her sword speed, her blade flashing wildly at Yun Kong's waist, the intense light making everyone hold their breath.
General Tu had already reported thirty strikes. The Fujita sisters' graceful, delicate techniques blended seamlessly with the swirling snowflakes, their unrestrained swordplay dancing in the cold air of the large courtyard. Amidst the mercury-like movements, Miyo's lips curled into a satisfied smile.
Indeed, such a beautiful and captivating fight, even if it ultimately ended in death, would still bring considerable prestige to Japanese ninjutsu. Chen Xinjia also grew impatient, looking around anxiously. Fortunately, Chongzhen remained unperturbed, still smiling as he watched the fierce battle unfold.
However, Fujita Oriyo harbored greater ambitions. Her once bright, star-like eyes suddenly shimmered like autumn waters, and in the midst of the stalemate
, she unleashed a flurry of straight slashes, horizontal cuts, thrusts, and diagonal strikes. Her diving posture transformed into a chilling flash of blade light, the ghostly marks of her blade forcing Yun Kong to nearly retreat from the circle. Amidst her soft panting, her radiant body enveloped Yun Kong near the boundary of the circle, her slender, jade-like hands wielding her curved sword with incredible agility, her graceful form pressing against him seductively. Although she wore a ninja outfit that concealed her curves, her exquisite figure, with its delicate, almost translucent breasts, was still alluring through the blade, making one's mouth water. Li Chao, a passionate young man, was naturally captivated.
In the instant the female ninja shifted her slender waist, her beautiful legs crossed, subtly revealing her taut navel, adding to her allure and captivating charm. Zhidai grinned maliciously, and her small navel twitched, her pink muscles bulging as a hidden weapon flew out with a "whoosh."
Everyone only saw a flash of white light from her abdomen, and before they could even cry out, Yun Kong laughed heartily. First, he used Night Bat to dodge the attack by ducking into an open space, then used Immortal Pointing the Way to stabilize himself. This tactic was a common assassination method used by Japanese female ninjas, sacrificing their beauty to briefly confuse the enemy before delivering the fatal blow. Even a master like Yun Kong, free from distractions, was susceptible to this, no wonder he was so successful.
Seeing her sister fail, Fujita Miyo immediately charged forward with the force of a setting sun, aiming straight for Yun Kong's head. Wudang defensive techniques are inherently about sealing off and blocking, using the opponent's force against them, and striking first after the opponent has moved. Miyo saw the opening in Yun Kong's movements, but she didn't understand the underlying principles. With this frenzied attack, Yun Kong's body vanished after the flash of her blade.
This was quite a shock. She hurriedly raised her sword to defend herself, trying to get help, but unfortunately, Zhidai made the same mistake and followed her sister into the fray.
Yun Kong's flash wasn't an earth-遁 (earth-遁 is a type of magic or magic), but rather a spinning circle at dozens of times the previous speed, creating a thousand piles of snow that firmly trapped the Fusang ninja within its original range. At this moment, General Tu's voice was already calling out "Forty, Forty-one," but the two sisters, fooled by Yun Kong's actions, had their previously clear minds nowhere to be found.
Surrounded by copper and iron walls, dazzling to the eye, they couldn't distinguish the location of their opponents, and of course, they didn't know where they were. In their panic, the two could only swing their short swords like a torrential downpour to try to protect themselves. The Fujita sisters fought more and more frantically, hoping to prolong their lives with a frenzied assassination. Their own movements had long exceeded their limits, and amidst the bizarre and dazzling light, they only vaguely felt swords clashing against them, and the familiar figure in front of them seemed to be themselves.
However, those watching clearly saw that the two Japanese girls were actually fighting on their own, and their fighting was getting more and more ferocious. General Tu had already counted to "forty-six, forty-seven." Although Yun Kong's performance was amazing, Fujita and the others were about to win in this farcical scene. Li Chao and Chen Xinjia's hearts were pounding, and Chongzhen's eyes also showed unease.
Just as "forty-eight" was uttered, Yun Kong swept past their eyes with a sweeping, snow-white light. The two girls, who were already out of their minds, didn't care about anything else. They both unleashed a thunderous attack, their domineering killing intent determined to shatter their opponents. Fujita Miyo was about to stab Yun Kong, breaking through a sliver of life, but what was terrifying was that after the sharp edge of the short sword pierced in silently, Yun Kong's figure inexplicably faded away in that instant, and what she had stabbed was clearly a girl's soft, boneless breast.
Suddenly, she felt a sharp, agonizing pain in her lower abdomen. Her face turned deathly pale, and she coughed up a mouthful of blood. Looking down, she saw a sharp knife deeply embedded in her stomach. Barely managing to lift her head, she saw the curved blade in her hand embedded precisely in the deep cleavage between her sister's beautiful breasts. Zhi Dai, her face flushed crimson, stared at her in utter horror, while her sister's slender, graceful hand still gripped the hilt of the knife embedded in her body.
Then, Yun Kong's voice rang out from mid-air: "One move each, exactly fifty. General Tu, you forgot to count?"
The onlookers finally reacted, and a deafening cheer resounded through the night sky. This jubilation overwhelmed even the imperial guards, and even Emperor Chongzhen and Chen Xinjia couldn't help but clap and cheer in celebration. Yun Kong's series of brilliant and decisive attacks were breathtaking. The so-called principles of Yin and Yang, the origin of Tai Chi, the five elements of the mind, and the six harmonies of intention—the ability to defeat the enemy without using moves, and the certainty of victory through moves…
Li Chao exclaimed in admiration: "It's rare to see Master in action. Although he wasn't dealing with some grandmaster of unparalleled skill, the essence of martial arts he displayed is truly unforgettable."
The two pitiful Japanese girls, their bodies trembling in the biting wind, simultaneously released their grip amidst the snowflakes, falling backward with a "thud" onto the thick snow, splashing up a hazy white spray.
Fujita Oriyo was stabbed in the heart, the wound severe. Her cheeks burned as blood gushed from the wound on her chest, and she quickly fell unconscious. Her half-closed, alluring eyes gradually lost their light. Her slender, graceful legs rubbed back and forth on the snow, blood quickly seeping into her overflowing vulva. But she was too weak; the trembling of her supple waist slowed to a feeble pace.
Miyo, on the other hand, endured far greater pain. The agony of seppuku wouldn't subside quickly. After only a short while, she couldn't help but let out a low, shameful moan. Her fair, pretty face furrowed, her eyes closed, her body, tormented by loneliness, writhed and writhed on the ground, her beautiful legs and full, elastic buttocks kicking lewdly from side to side.
Soon, she felt her blood-stained underpants being kicked down to her thighs, revealing the girl's private parts between her thick, soft pubic hair. She was half-turned, her delicate body revealing a pair of pretty dimples, her face a mixture of pain and pleasure as she inserted her fingers into her vagina. Her slender fingers, after a short while at her clitoris, began to overflow with vaginal fluid. Her glistening breasts rubbed even harder against the snow, her round, white buttocks responding to the movements of her fingers, a testament to her burning desire.
Suddenly, she let out a soft laugh, revealing her moist cherry lips, and abruptly rose to her feet, throwing herself onto her already stiff sister. The tip of the knife was thrust out from her captivating waist. Meidai's face twitched, then her eyes flashed with a strange light. She then embraced Zhidai's corpse, both bowing down. Xiuqin's high, fragrant buttocks wiggled seductively a few times before slowly going limp.
Yun Kong and his apprentice followed Chongzhen and Chen Xinjia back to their room.
As soon as Chongzhen sat down, he nodded in admiration, saying, "Master Zhang created the Wudang internal martial arts divine skill after observing the 'snake and magpie fighting,' leading the way for a century. Today, the Daoist Master defeated the Japanese ninjas with a technique without moves, demonstrating the ultimate skill of the Central Plains martial arts to the world. It is truly admirable."
Chen Xinjia also said, "It is indeed an eye-opener. Defeating the enemy in an instant, subduing them without fighting. It is truly an unparalleled gift."
Yun Kong laughed and said, "Your Majesty, Lord Chen, you flatter me. It is just a small trick, not worth mentioning. Lord Chen just said he had something to ask you. Please speak freely."
At this moment, a faint cough came from outside the door. Chongzhen also coughed twice and picked up the cup on the table to take a few sips.
Seeing this, Chen Xinjia turned to Yun Kong and said, "Anyway, it's getting late. Please stay in the palace for a few days, Daoist. We'll have many state affairs to discuss with you later."
Yun Kong glanced at Chongzhen's cup and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I will do my best. Your Majesty seems to be unwell. You're using this cordyceps to nourish your kidneys and replenish your essence."
Chongzhen said, "Oh, I don't know if it can cure the root cause, but I have to attend court early tomorrow. Using this cordyceps will make me feel better the next day."
Li Chao and his master followed Eunuch Wang to the bedroom. After thanking him, they closed the doors and windows.
As Li Chao helped his master tidy his clothes, he said, "Master's skill just now was truly amazing. I wonder when I'll be able to learn even a fraction of it."
Yun Kong shook his head and said, "Based on your judgment, do you think those two Japanese girls could move freely within the Forbidden City?"
Li Chao suddenly realized, "In terms of lightness skill and movement techniques, they're probably slightly below second-rate figures from the Central Plains. Even with their superb and unique ninjutsu, it would be impossible for them to escape the blockade of the Imperial Guards. Master means—"
“Indeed, this is Chongzhen deliberately setting a trap to test the strength of our Wudang Sect. As its master, I certainly don’t need to be polite. Moreover, there’s someone else watching the show tonight.”
Li Chaoqi said, “I also sensed it, but why haven’t I seen Master or any of Chongzhen’s people come to kill her?”
Yun Kong glanced out the window and said, “It’s unimaginable that a Japanese girl could infiltrate the capital without an inside traitor. This friend’s methods come from the Central Plains. Letting her go is Chongzhen’s way of hoping to follow the trail. If I’m not mistaken, there are probably two or three of the most agile brothers in the Imperial Guards catching her.”
Inside the study, Chongzhen unfolded the message sent by the messenger outside the door and said with satisfaction, “Thank goodness, thank goodness, Yao Jing has bypassed the Qing army’s defenses and arrived outside Jinzhou City. Judging from the time, she can enter the Songshan Camp tonight and meet the Governor-General of Jiliao, Hong Chengchou.”
Yao Jing, whose title was Princess Nanyang, was Chongzhen’s younger sister and was once the late emperor’s favorite. Although born into the Han imperial family, she was a disciple of Lingxuzi of the Diancang School, practicing martial arts from a young age, possessing extraordinary skills and exceptional alertness.
Chen Xinjia sighed, "If it weren't for this chaotic world, who would have thought a princess of the nation would risk such a great deal? I hope Lord Hong can understand His Majesty's good intentions."
Chongzhen stroked his cup and said, "There are too many examples of the Qing dogs sowing discord between us, the emperor and his ministers, ultimately leading to the disintegration of the situation. I have never doubted Lord Hong's loyalty, but recently, Wu Sangui has repeatedly submitted secret reports to him, urging him to lift the siege of Jinzhou as soon as possible. Isn't this exactly playing into the Manchus's trap? This time, I've sent my younger sister to oversee the operation, hoping she can proceed cautiously and steadily.
Yaojing is exceptionally intelligent and will surely fulfill her mission." "The identities of those two Japanese women must be thoroughly investigated; no clue should be overlooked."
Chen Xinjia shook his head and replied, "I've heard that Empress Meisho of Japan has just passed away. Perhaps the newly enthroned ruler is also quite interested in the territory of our Great Ming. If that's the case, restoring the nation will be even more difficult."
Chongzhen and Chen Xinjia, strategizing in the warm palace of the capital, had no idea that a thousand miles away, near the Songshan camp, on a desolate mountain where the wind howled, a Mongolian warrior, huddled in a ball, was cursing for Princess Nanyang.
This short, stocky, Hu-za-like man was named Nuomuqi, originally a fierce general under the Ming army, but forced by circumstances to surrender to the Manchus. He had no other hobbies, but his greatest skill was using his large steel sword to kill beautiful female generals on the battlefield; many Manchu heroines had perished at his hands. He was decisive and accurate in his attacks, and after succeeding, he would enjoy himself on the corpse.
However, this ruthless man seemed to be getting his comeuppance tonight. Forget about the soft embrace of a beautiful woman; the barren mountaintop only had a few large rocks. If he continued to endure the northwest wind, his robust frame would freeze solid. If he lit a fire for warmth, the thousands of Ming soldiers below would immediately riddle him with arrows. Besides, Jirhalang and Princess Qiyue had both instructed him to conceal himself properly; even if he only shivered violently and alerted the attackers, he would lose his chance to redeem himself.
Just as he was lamenting his misery and expressing his bitterness of being dependent on others, a cunning black shadow finally appeared on the southern mountaintop. The full moon hung high in the sky, and the opponent moved cautiously through the ravines under its light. Fortunately, I have sharp eyes, and the mountain was originally empty, making it so easy to spot. Judging from the movement, the opponent was no ordinary person. Fortunately, Jirhalang had instructed that he should kill without mercy; with the enemy in the open and us in the shadows, it wasn't difficult. Nomuqi hid behind a large rock, holding his breath and waiting cautiously.
Not long after, the dark figure climbed the earthen slope where he was crouching. His opponent's black face was covered by a black cloth, and her beautiful figure, revealed by her night clothes, clearly indicated she was a woman. Although she was crouching with her head down, her clear, cold eyes scanned the surrounding movements, exuding an indescribable air of elegance and grace.
Nomuqi was overjoyed; it was indeed a beautiful woman. However, he would never let lust cloud his judgment and ruin his plans. He grabbed his beloved large steel knife from beside him and carefully gathered his strength. Once the woman was within his reach, he yelled "Ha!" and, in the silvery moonlight, swung it with all his might at her body.
The entire valley was utterly silent; a single sound could not be heard. Imagine a burly man shouting like that when someone is off guard—a coward would have been scared to death long ago, and there would have been no need to fight. The woman was also terrified; her legs went weak, and she was momentarily powerless to resist.
With a "crack," Nomuqi's steel knife struck the masked woman's shoulder accurately. The girl cried out in pain and fell to the ground. How could she still have the strength to cry out after such a powerful blow? And why did that sound...? Nomuqi looked anxiously and realized that in his haste, he had grabbed the knife upside down; it was the hilt that had hit her, and the gleaming blade was pointing directly at him.
In complete darkness, mistakes were inevitable, but it didn't matter if he couldn't deal with the other person; she was now firmly gripping the hilt and thrusting it at him. At such close range, Nomuqi had no choice but to release his grip and dodge. Perhaps the woman had exerted too much force, as the heavy broadsword flew from her hand, rolling down the hillside with several clanging sounds of metal clashing against stone.
Nomuqi was unaware that the masked woman was none other than Zhu Yaoqing, the imperial sister of Emperor Chongzhen. The Battle of Songshan involved several major forces of the Qing and Ming armies, their forces intertwined and mutually encircling each other. Deepest inside was Zu Dashou's army, defending Jinzhou, while Hong Chengchou, Wu Sangui, and others stationed at Songshan were engaged in fierce fighting with the Qing army besieging Jinzhou, while they were also surrounded by Manchu troops. Therefore, Princess Nanyang, wanting to personally deliver Chongzhen's secret edict to Hong, Wu, and others, could only choose such a secluded time and utilize the complex terrain to traverse the blockade. She never expected this person to emerge from the last mountain peak.
The two jumped away with a "ha!" Yao Jing had regained her composure, her slender fingers lightly brushing her hair, her long, black hair flowing like a waterfall. She slowly removed the veil from her face. Unfortunately, the light was insufficient to see clearly, but her face appeared delicate and refined, with a noble air between her arched eyebrows. If her looks were only above average, her impeccable, graceful figure was enough to conquer Nuomuqi, who had been lonely all night and was eager for romantic thoughts.
Yao Jing touched her shoulder; the wet liquid had soaked through her clothes. If the blade's head hadn't struck the ground, dissipating much of the force, at least several of her shoulder blades would have been broken…
She asked in a pained, delicate voice, "Who goes there?"
For safety's sake, Chongzhen hadn't mentioned the envoy's identity or arrival date in his secret letter to Hong Chengchou. Therefore, if this person was indeed a Ming soldier guarding the mountain, he couldn't easily harm him. However, this Nomuqi, though clumsy in his actions, still retained much of the Mongol spirit. He had already lost face by ambushing and blundering; if he were to impersonate a Ming soldier, his reputation would be ruined.
So he simply cleared his throat, raised his head, and said, "I am Nomuqi, a sixth-rank assault officer under Zu Dashou, the Ming Dynasty's garrison commander of Jinzhou, and now an ordinary soldier under Jirhalang, the Right Wing Commander appointed by the Qing Dynasty."
This announcement almost killed him. The Ming Dynasty princess swiftly drew a protective dagger from her sleeve. Nomuqi, a seasoned and experienced warrior, felt that her demeanor was vastly different from any girl he had fought before. Under the piercing moonlight in the night sky, like a black velvet curtain, he felt as if he had entered a magical, lifeless world, experiencing a blissful, ethereal feeling, like a deity soaring through the heavens.
Yao Jing, with her signature "Clouds Return to the Blue Sea, Geese Disappear into the Azure Sky" footwork, assumed the Five Elements Fighting Formation, quietly awaiting her opponent's attack. Nomuqi, though raised on the northern grasslands, had become acquainted with the Han Chinese soldiers of the former Ming army and knew some Han martial arts. It seemed this girl's starting stance was not from any of the major schools. However, since the girl had taken the initiative, he wouldn't stand on ceremony. He spat into his palm, rubbed it a few times, then assumed his fighting stance, brandishing his iron fist, and charged forward.
Upon first exchange, Nomuqi sensed that her opponent's strength and power were inferior to those of the female generals who had previously fallen to his blade. However, her movements were fluid and graceful, deftly dissipating her formidable strength with her dagger, and throughout the fight, her form remained elegant. Her slender figure, clad in tight clothing, blended into the night, tumbling and leaping, yet her upper body never touched the ground.
Nomuqi, originally a Ming army ally, usually dealt with valiant women from beyond the Great Wall. He couldn't help but think: although I can't see her face clearly, her silhouette amidst the reeds is truly exquisite; even I, a master of seduction, feel a pang of sympathy.
In the blink of an eye, Yaojing had accelerated her attack, the white light in her hand growing increasingly unstoppable, a breathtaking stream of blades cascading down from above. Seeing his life was in danger, in a panic, whether by quick thinking or lust, Nuomuqi used all his strength to open his iron wrists and perform a double embrace. His two irresistible steel arms snapped tightly onto the princess's sweaty body.
This move, "Black Bear Embracing Melon," was not found in martial arts manuals. Just as Yaojing was about to succeed, she smelled a foul stench of sweat. That enormous thing was so indecently wrapped around her dreamlike body. She was filled with shame, anger, and disgust. The dagger she thrust down lost its power, only managing to cut a gash in his clothes. Nuomuqi,
however, was unwilling to let go of the girl's voluptuous body. Besides, if he loosened his grip, what was in her hands was no joke. So, the man and woman remained entwined on the desolate mountaintop, rubbing and arguing, appearing from afar like a young couple enjoying a romantic moment.
A pounding heartbeat echoed between Yao Jing's alluring breasts, while a captivating aura emanated from her thighs, soothing his yearning body. Suddenly, the heartbeat quickened dramatically. Nuo Muqi opened his eyes and realized they had unknowingly moved to the edge of a cliff. Nuo Muqi panicked, slipped, and two screams echoed through the quiet valley as their intertwined bodies tumbled down the cliff.
Nuo Muqi clung to her desperately. The world spun around them, the entire mountainside and the vast sky seemingly rising and falling, crashing against countless rocks and debris on the cliff face. They rolled for a long time down a slope before finally coming to rest beside a large rock. Blood gushed from Nuo Muqi's face, and he felt as if he had lost all sensation.
After lying there for a while, Nuo Muqi felt himself being gently pushed aside. He struggled to sit up and realized he was lying on top of Yao Jing's pitiful body. Yao Jing laboriously stretched out her arms, her alluring waist twisting as she crawled a few feet before her writhing body relaxed, her disheveled head lolling to the side, and she fell silent. Nuo Muqi sat for a while, panting heavily, before going to check on her. He placed his finger on her; the beauty was indeed lifeless.
Nuo Muqi picked up the exquisite, beautiful corpse, feeling the lingering fragrance and undiminished allure. There were no bloodstains or wounds on her body, but a touch to her ribs revealed broken bones, clearly indicating severe internal injuries. In terms of martial arts, he had only managed to avoid being injured by her through experience and brute force; he hadn't expected her to ultimately shield him, saving him from certain death. They
were now only about a hundred feet above the ground, and the faces of the Ming soldiers patrolling below were clearly visible in the firelight. Fortunately, Nomuqi possessed superhuman strength. He fastened Yaoqing's clothes, tore several strips of cloth from his own body, tied them to her body, and carefully climbed back up along a gentler slope of rocks.
This job working under the Ming army was uncomfortable, and he couldn't afford any mistakes, but with a beautiful woman by his side, he had the motivation. When he reached the top of the cliff, the sun was already just above the horizon. Nomuqi put down the body and took a short nap before continuing his journey to collect his reward.
Dawn had broken, the north wind was howling, and the air was bitterly cold. The sun had peeked out from the horizon. Amidst the sound of bugles, the Qing army soldiers were changing shifts in an orderly fashion, their uniformity inspiring awe. Jirhalang had already eaten and, after inspecting the area, returned to his tent to carefully study the map.
"Qiyue greets the Imperial Uncle."
Jirhalang looked up and saw a young woman bowing to him. Beneath her pretty and delicate figure were long, slender eyebrows, and a pair of bright, sparkling eyes that were deep and captivating. Her nose was perfectly proportioned and subtly hooked, and especially her full, slightly upturned, red lips. Such a beauty possessed an indescribable calm and depth in her eyes, brimming with wisdom, displaying a remarkable strength and grace.
“Our Princess Qiyue is up so early! Come and have some Xinjiang snacks.”
“I have good news first. Nomqi stayed up all night and finally fulfilled his mission.”
“Ah?”
Jirhalang put down what he was doing, dismissed his attendants, and quickly stepped forward, asking, “How is the Ming Dynasty princess?”
Qiyue’s lips curled into a mischievous smile, and she waved for someone to bring Nomqi in.
Nomuqi arrived at the tent, bowed to the prince and princess, and recounted the events of the previous night. He glossed over his own frantic actions, embellishing the details of his heroic kill of Yaoqing.
Jirhalang, still not entirely convinced, asked, "Are you certain it was Princess Nanyang of the Ming court?"
Upon hearing that he had killed a princess, Nomuqi was both surprised and delighted, yet secretly regretted missing out on a great opportunity. Qiyue had the princess brought in. Yaoqing's beautiful, watery eyes were wide open, and her limbs were already stiffening. Jirhalang personally examined her, and Qiyue ordered Nomuqi to leave. She searched Yaoqing's clothes thoroughly, finding only the princess's seal, but no other important items.
Jirhalang laughed heartily: "I never imagined that such a noble Ming princess would perish at our hands. If this were to spread, the morale of the Ming army would suffer a heavy blow, and the conquest of the mere Jinzhou would be just around the corner."
Qi Yue focused her gaze, pursed her lips and smiled playfully. She extended her flawless white hand and clapped it three times. A young girl entered through the tent flap, her graceful steps light and delicate. She was quite intelligent and pretty, her slender figure draped in a light red gauze. Although she was dressed in a delicate and graceful manner, her brows could not hide a hint of amorous charm that was captivating and enchanting.
Qi Yue introduced, "This beautiful woman before us is named Xiang Ling. She is the beloved disciple of the Crystal Saintess, the head of the Eastern Court of the Persian Gus Odu Church. She has come here specifically to lend us a hand."
Jirhalang said "Oh," and then asked, "Since she is a woman from another tribe, why does she look like a Han Chinese?"
Qi Yue continued, "Not only that, do you think she bears any resemblance to the Ming Dynasty princess lying on the ground?"
Jirhalang leaned forward to examine her closely and nodded in agreement.
Xiangling spoke to Jirhalang in a soft, melodious voice, "Your Highness, you may not know this, but I have been traveling with my parents by sea to Persia since I was a child. Unfortunately, we were intercepted by pirates, but fortunately, my master rescued us. Since then, I have dedicated myself to the Papacy. This time, I have returned to the Central Plains on my master's orders, and I will do my utmost to help the General and the Princess achieve a great victory at Songshan."
Jirhalang stretched his limbs and said, "You want her to impersonate the princess and infiltrate the Ming army? I'm afraid that may not be feasible. Not to mention that there are differences in appearance,
she will give herself away when questioned." Qiyue smiled without saying a word, and Xiangling explained, "General, please rest assured, the Princess has long known Zhu Yaojing's temperament, preferences, tone, actions, and even physical characteristics to me. We even know the arrow wound on her arm that she suffered when she was hunting as a child. As for the facial features, they can be slightly modified with a disguise pill."
Qiyue walked to the princess's corpse, bent down, and pulled up her sleeve. There was indeed a faint scar on her swollen forearm. Jirhalang felt a chill run down his spine: No wonder she knew where he was. It seemed that she had planted an informant around Chongzhen many years ago, and today's abduction of the princess was just the first step in her entire scheme.
Qi Yue straightened up confidently and said, "Uncle, please don't worry. Although her face-changing skills are not as good as my sister Qi Yun's, she won't easily give herself away. Xiang Ling's 'Peach Blossom Soul-Stirring Veil' and the 'Soul-Transmitting Sound' technique, as well as other spells such as the Life-Chasing Silver Needle, Thunder Talisman, and Thousand Demons Howling at Night, can all come in handy when needed."
After Xiang Ling took her leave, Qi Yue had someone call Nuo Muqi up. With her long, seductive eyes narrowed, she said, "Nuo Muqi, didn't you regret not enjoying this enchanting beauty last night? I'll give you a chance. Do you want it?"
Looking at the beautiful corpse of Princess Nanyang, with her breasts and buttocks fully exposed, Nuo Muqi was so excited that he swallowed hard. In his lustful state, he nodded haphazardly and agreed a few times before carrying the beauty away.
Jirhalang smiled bitterly, "After all, she's a princess of a country. It seems a bit improper."
Qi Yue sat down and took a sip of tea. "So many of our sisters died at his hands. I won't let Nomchi get away with this."
Jirhalang couldn't fathom his intelligent niece, so he scratched his head and said, "People say Dorgon has the talent of an emperor, but now I think of Princess Minmin Temur from the late Yuan Dynasty. She was equally intelligent yet confident and arrogant. If she weren't a woman, the position of crown prince would definitely belong to you."
A hint of jealousy and sadness appeared in Qi Yue's eyes. "Don't even mention entrusting her with important responsibilities. If he could spare me a little of the care he gives to that mentally unstable Qi Yun, I would be content."
The four princes that Huang Taiji particularly favored were Prince Li (Daishan), Prince Zheng (Jirhalang), Prince Rui (Dorgon), Prince Yu (Dodo), and Prince Su (Haoge). Jirgalang was granted the title of Prince Zhengxian. Nurhaci, the founding emperor of the Qing dynasty, had five brothers, and Jirgalang was the sixth son of his third brother.
Nurhaci's eighth son was Huang Taiji, making Jirgalang Qiyue's uncle. Although Prince Zheng had spent his life on the battlefield, he was ultimately a close relative of the imperial clan, not a direct descendant. He was already content to be favored and granted the title of prince by Huang Taiji. This time, the emperor sent Princess Qiyue to his military camp ostensibly for training, but Jirgalang couldn't help but suspect she was a pawn used by the emperor to monitor him. Fortunately, he had no ambition for imperial power and naturally didn't take it seriously. It was common knowledge among the Manchu nobility that Huang Taiji favored Qiyun and distanced himself from Qiyue.
However, he didn't fully understand why the emperor would allow Qiyun to infiltrate Ming territory and risk her life as a noblewoman. Confused, he could only offer Qiyue simple comfort and send her out of the tent. Watching her departing figure, Jirhalang still harbored doubts about his niece's audacious plan. However, even if it failed, there would be no loss on the Manchurian side, so there was no need to stop her.
Nomuqi, gazing at this beautiful, delicate woman, had long been unable to resist. However, this rough man had no interest in romance. Yaoqing, raised in the royal family, naturally had a much better diet and upbringing than ordinary women. Even though she was no longer breathing, her fair skin and slender figure still stirred Nomuqi's heart.
He quickly stripped off her clothes, pulled out his penis, and rubbed it against her beautiful but pale and cold thighs. His tongue lightly licked Yaoqing's untouched bud, and his fingers clumsily traced patterns around her ravaged vulva.
After a while, his penis swelled, filled with a tingling, itchy sensation. Nomuqi, drunk on the princess's ample breasts, sucked faster and faster. His lustful volcano erupted quickly, and Nomuqi hastily thrust his hard, burning penis into the girl's private parts. After lingering for a moment inside, a gush of fluid spurted out. Nomuqi's thrusts became a whirlwind, quickly tearing the girl's barrier beyond recognition, causing it to leak out. Further probing, he
discovered his glans was blocked by something. Reluctantly, Nomuqi withdrew his penis and dug with his fingers; sure enough, it was a small lump. Just as he was about to examine it, it was snatched away by someone behind him.
Turning around, he saw it was the princess. Qiyue ignored the mess on it, unfolded it, looked at it, and then ordered the soldiers outside to carry the princess's body out for a proper burial.
Seeing Nomuqi's still unsatisfied expression, Qiyue laughed, "That's enough for you, but looking at you now, you won't be able to straighten your back for a month or two."
Qiyue left Nomuqi's tent, went to the back of the military camp, and handed Chongzhen's imperial edict to Xiangling.
Xiangling said, "That princess really had a bad idea. Luckily, you were quick-witted. It's just that the secret edict was tainted by this servant. I'll go wash it clean first."
So, Qiyue returned to her own tent alone. After resting for a while, she saw Xiangling enter with a woman.
Xiangling said, "This Miss Qin Yin is the daughter of a teacher at a nearby Han Chinese academy. She is exceptionally talented, and her ability to imitate handwriting is unparalleled within a hundred miles."
Qin Yin bowed and said, "This humble girl is willing to serve you, Your Highness."
Qiyue took the imperial edict from Xiangling's hand. Not only were the smudges gone, but the text itself had also disappeared without a trace, leaving only the seal.
Qin Yin said, "I may not have many other skills, but this ability to erase and alter characters is no challenge for me. To prevent forgery, Ming Dynasty officials had a set of special rules regarding the strokes of characters in their correspondence, which I am quite familiar with. Last time during the famine, it was thanks to Sister Xiangling that my family received relief, so Your Highness, please feel free to give any orders."
Qiyue praised her skill and took out several sheets of Chongzhen's handwriting, asking her to carefully study his stroke habits and practice on her own. After the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, seeing that Qin Yin had imitated the imperial edict so perfectly, Qi Yue dictated the text she was going to use to forge the edict. The gist was that it urged Hong Chengchou not to wait passively for the enemy, but to take the initiative and seize opportunities. Qi Yue's Chinese proficiency was already quite good, so her writing style and vocabulary perfectly matched Chongzhen's tone and vocabulary. With Qin Yin's guidance, even Chongzhen himself probably couldn't distinguish the forged edict from the real one.
Qi Yue had Qin Yin practice copying it alone inside, while she and Xiang Ling went outside.
Xiang Ling asked, "After it's done, I'll make her disappear, please rest assured, Princess."
Qi Yue waved her hand and smiled, "I'll still need her in the future, so I plan to keep her by my side. Besides, although she's Han Chinese, she deeply resents the Ming Dynasty officials' incompetence and debauchery. Killing someone isn't difficult, but it's rare to have her at my disposal."
After Qin Yin finished, Qi Yue washed Yao Jing's clothes and had Xiang Ling change into them, then escorted them all the way to the border between the two armies. Before parting, Xiangling specifically mentioned:
"Five years ago, your master traveled by sea to the Mediterranean, thousands of miles away, to challenge masters from various European countries to a duel at the Colosseum in ancient Rome. Judging by the timeline, she should be rounding the coast and arriving at the East China Sea Strait soon. Once she arrives, with her abilities, the princess's army will surely be invincible."
Qiyue happily replied, "I have missed your master ever since we parted."
However, she did not forget to add, "After entering the Ming army camp, you must be alert and adaptable to any situation."
Chapter Six
The next morning after the court session, Chongzhen still arranged to meet Yun Kong and his disciple at the usual place.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Chen Xinjia said, "The bodies of the two Japanese female ninjas have been examined. A detailed map of the Ming Dynasty's capital was found on their belts, indicating they came prepared."
Emperor Chongzhen stood up, coughed twice, and said, "Japanese pirates have been rampant along our southeastern coast since the founding of the Ming Dynasty. The court has repeatedly sent troops to quell the enemy, but the ambitions of the Japanese nobles have only grown, and they have intensified their encroachment on our territory. Back then, Toyotomi Hideyoshi even suddenly issued an order to send troops to Korea. The late emperor saw that his ambitions extended far beyond Korea; his ultimate goal was to conquer our Ming Dynasty. Later, the court's relief forces arrived in Korea and fought fiercely. The Japanese army suffered heavy casualties due to hunger and cold, but the Japanese pirates fought desperately, and in the end, we could only barely achieve a Pyrrhic victory."
Chen Xinjia continued, "Recently, Emperor Meisho of Japan passed away, and it seems that Emperor Komei will take action again at the beginning of his reign. We have already investigated and found that the three most famous ninja organizations in Japan are: the Iga ninjas, the Koga ninjas..." And the three sects of the Wind Demon Ninja. The Iga ninjas are employed by the government, and the two women belong to the Crescent Moon Mountain Demon, who are the most powerful henchmen of Iga. Therefore, it can be inferred that their trip was not just someone's whim to visit my palace, but rather an official probing action. "
Yun Kong said thoughtfully, "I didn't expect such a small island nation to have such arrogant ambitions. It is said that when Toyotomi Hideyoshi finally ended his life in Fushimi Castle, he left behind a farewell song: Withering with the dew, vanishing with the dew, this is my body." The past in Osaka is like a dream within a dream. In truth, even the most ambitious schemes ultimately crumble to nothingness, a lamentable and tragic end.
Li Chao thought to himself: "My master once said that the decline of the Ming Dynasty was caused by the reckless actions of previous incompetent rulers. Even if Emperor Chongzhen wanted to reverse it now, it would be extremely difficult. If history had had more diligent and wise rulers, the country wouldn't be in this state.
" Chongzhen had already received the Ministry of Justice's report about Zi Ji and others, saying, "To be honest, Master, recently some high-ranking officials in the capital have had their families kidnapped and killed by assassins. The origins of these people are likely chaotic, but without our own accomplices, two Japanese girls couldn't possibly know so much information. Therefore, I have dispatched the elite officers of the Eastern and Western Depots to pursue them relentlessly and bring the perpetrators to justice."
Yun Kong smiled and said, "Killing and intimidation are common tactics, but I dare say that among the high-ranking officials, there is no need to worry too much. " If too many people were killed, not to mention inciting hatred, their goal was to force the nobles and powerful officials to submit. If they were all dead, there would be no one to serve them in court. So they mostly killed family members to scare the timid and cowardly.
Just then, Yun Kong, for some reason, signaled Li Chao to step down. Li Chao was getting impatient, so he immediately kowtowed and left. On his way back to his room, in a pavilion in front of a pond, a woman was carefully painting a landscape. The white Xuan paper revealed a faint ink color, and the splashes of ink and the occasional blank spaces made him feel as if he had returned to the Wudang Mountains.
The girl turned around and saw Li Chao staring at her work in a daze, so she couldn't help but chuckle.
Just as Li Chao was about to leave, several maids came up with fruit and blocked his way. One of them asked,
"Princess, come and taste this fresh fruit from the south."
Upon hearing the other party's impressive background, Li Chao knew that leaving would be disastrous, so he turned back and said, "I am unaware of Your Highness's condition; I hope the princess will forgive me." The
princess smiled and invited him to the pavilion, asking, "I wonder if my ink painting is unsatisfactory?"
Li Chao honestly replied, "I only know how to scribble, but if I may be so bold as to say, behind this enchanting scenery lies only boundless loneliness, like ink spreading across paper."
Upon hearing this, the princess almost dropped her brush; it had struck a nerve. In truth, Li Chao was again making things up, but even though he had only been in the palace for less than a day, the imposing walls and fortified buildings would make anyone feel restless and bored after a while.
The princess nodded and said, "I see you are quite agile; are you a martial artist?" "
This princess is like a fairy on the water, blooming in clear, transparent blue water, pure and elegant, both noble and approachable. She looks a few years younger than me, yet her manner of speaking is unlike that of a woman her age," Li Chao replied.
"Li Chao of Wudang Sect, the princess is indeed exceptionally intelligent."
The princess gave an "oh," and continued painting, saying, "I know nothing about fighting and killing, but my sister Zhaoren is a martial arts fanatic. It's a pity she's not here, otherwise you would surely have a very pleasant conversation. But since you can understand the meaning of the painting, young hero, please help me take a look."
The two talked for a long time, looking at the painting, with Li Chao frequently making the princess smile. Before leaving, a maid named Xiao Bi told Li Chao that she was Princess Changping, and that she had been with the princess for so long, but had never seen her so happy.
Yun Kong asked, "Last time Your Majesty said you had something to ask me, please enlighten me."
Chongzhen smiled and said, "When the Ming Dynasty was established, the founding strategist Liu Bowen wrote the *Six Harmonies Heavenly Book*.
He was a man who could predict the past and the future by a hundred years, and his deeds are widely circulated among the people. However, this heavenly book later disappeared without a trace. In the current situation, I greatly need the guidance of this meritorious general from another era. Back then, the grand-disciple of Zhang Zhenren of Wudang was the leader of the Ming Cult, and many generals who fought alongside the late emperor had deep connections with Wudang. I wonder if you know anything about this book?"
Yun Kong replied, "Currently, there is no such book in my sect's collection, and Liu Zhenren was not a follower of the Ming Cult, so I truly do not know."
At this time, several days had passed since Zi Ji's disappearance, and Huang Xiaoyu's men had searched the capital thoroughly without finding any clues. Judging from the bodies of the maids, they were all killed with a single blow, so it was impossible to determine the sect or origin of the murderer.
Due to the resurgence of the Eastern and Western Depots, the Ministry of Justice's personnel were constantly hampered in their investigations. Whenever they encountered areas within Prince Cheng's sphere of influence, they were rendered helpless. Thus, after a busy day, he had little to show for it. As evening approached, he returned to Zhou Renfu's residence. Before entering, he summoned Wu Yong, handed him a list of high-ranking officials of the first and second ranks, and instructed him to increase patrols around their residences. If they were associated with the Ninth Prince, he was to add capable guards inside.
Watching Wu Yong accept the order and leave, he then went inside to sit down and eat. Having served in the officialdom for many years, Huang Xiaoyu was unusually clear-headed at this moment. The intelligence reports from his spies were indeed accurate; the Manchu, or Li Zicheng and Zhang Xianzhong's, spies in the capital had begun to act. As the official in charge of the capital's defenses, he had to give it his all. Moreover, once the enemy made their move, the previous situation of the enemy being in the dark while he was in the light would change. If he remained vigilant and relied on his years of cultivated network, he still had a good chance of uncovering the traitors. Unfortunately, Zi Ji was now in grave danger.
Thinking of this, he suddenly put down his chopsticks, took a few guards, and went to the room where the two maids' bodies were kept. He turned over Qingxia's twisted corpse, still reeking of urine. Huang Xiaoyu rolled up his sleeves, turned her face, frozen in blood, to the side, and a metallic tail was faintly visible in her ear canal.
Huang Xiaoyu immediately became suspicious, clenched his fist, raised his steel arm high, and slammed his two-pronged punch down hard on Qingxia's head. A cracking sound was heard as a large gash appeared along the midline of the girl's fragile skull. Since most of her brain matter had already drained away, only red and white blood seeped out.
Huang Xiaoyu clamped the wound shut and pulled hard, widening the opening further. The ear canal was clearly visible before his eyes, and sure enough, a silver needle was embedded in the flesh. Huang Xiaoyu picked up the needle and examined it under the flickering candlelight. A small character for "spring" was engraved on the needle.
After thinking for a while, he put away the murder weapon, went outside, found a chair at random, had the guards stand watch at the gate, and lay down. He had only intended to take a nap, but perhaps he was too tired, and he drifted off to sleep.
As dusk settled, above the brightly lit city walls, a pair of figures were soaring gracefully, embracing each other.
Huang Xiaoyu held tightly to Zi Ji's alluring waist, circling above the endless sea of people. Zi Ji, in his arms, had a strange glint in her eyes and a sly smile. After a while, they whispered sweet nothings, and then she said gently,
"Lord Huang, you must be hungry too. Which restaurant shall we go to? I'll personally cook some good dishes for you."
Huang Xiaoyu was delighted and said, "Great! But I especially love your stir-fried pork. Come, let's—"
Just then, he noticed something was wrong. Why were there so many thick, dark hairs growing on Zi Ji's arms, which should have been fair and smooth? A gust of cold wind blew by, and through a sliver of eyelids, Huang Xiaoyu saw Wu Yong and Lord Zhou staring at him in disbelief, while he found himself gripping Wu Yong's arm tightly.
Huang Xiaoyu nearly fell off his chair, but Wu Yong caught him.
As Wu Yong straightened his clothes, he whispered, "Reporting to you, sir, something has happened at Vice Minister Zhao's residence."
Xiaoyu immediately perked up, but still asked in a low voice, "Didn't you hear anything?"
"No, I just saw you were sound asleep."
Xiaoyu breathed a sigh of relief. "Then what are we waiting for? Come with me quickly."
After taking only a few steps, he heard Zhou Renfu's voice behind him: "Lord Huang, you've come to the wrong place. The door is this way."
When they arrived at the Zhao family residence of the Ministry of Rites, the gate and surrounding area were heavily guarded, with soldiers in long spears and armor patrolling back and forth. As soon as Xiaoyu entered the hall, a short, dark-skinned constable greeted him. There's a long-standing rumor that Xiao Yu has four highly skilled constables under his command. These four are stationed near the capital, appearing frequently, and are Xiao Yu's most capable assistants. This one is none other than Wu Datong, the "Drilling Cloud Hand.
" Datong said, "This humble official is incompetent; the thieves still managed to murder Lord Zhao's concubine."
Huang Xiaoyu first followed him to the side room to examine the scene, where they saw blood seeping from the thick quilt. Lifting the quilt, they saw a woman with a pair of beautiful, clear eyes, her legs curled up high, her body still not fully cooled. Xiao Yu brushed aside her disheveled hair and saw that the pressure point between her eyebrows was slightly blackened, indicating poisoning.
Xiao Yu then felt around on her forehead for a while and forcefully pulled out the needle that had been inserted into her brain. The same "Spring" character mark indicated that it was the same type of hidden weapon planted in Qingxia's head. However, this needle was poisoned, so after being injected, the victim could only struggle slightly for a moment, making it even more difficult to detect.
Several more days passed.
It was nearly dawn. In the increasingly crowded streets, a group of people hurried through the alleys, heading towards the Grand Tutor's mansion. This was the third murder that night. Although Huang Xiaoyu had made ample preparations, he hadn't expected his opponents to act so quickly and ruthlessly. Fortunately, the officers in the encirclement had captured a suspect in the chaos, which might become the breakthrough in the entire case.
Just as he stepped through the threshold, he saw more than a dozen warriors binding a masked woman dressed in night clothes tightly, guarding her in the hall. Bound by the ropes, the masked woman's female physical characteristics were clearly visible, and she occasionally writhed in discomfort. Huang Xiaoyu ripped off her mask with a "snap," revealing a girl of about ten years old, with dignified features and delicate eyes. Although young, she was clearly a beauty in the making. Just
as Huang Xiaoyu was about to approach and ask what was going on, the little girl moved her lips and spat out an iron nail. Although the arrow missed Xiao Yu, the guards on both sides were indeed terrified, shouting and ready to rush forward to beat her.
But Huang Xiao Yu chuckled and waved her hand, signaling to release her. Seeing Wu Yong's strange expression, Xiao Yu sighed, "With skills like that, how could you easily kill someone in a heavily guarded mansion? At best, you're just a female thief taking advantage of the chaos."
Hearing this, the girl jumped up and down dramatically, pointing at Xiao Yu's door and saying, "This official is so clever! I've told you so many times, I'm just here to take advantage, but you never believe me."
Wu Yong angrily said, "You're being insolent! Burglary deserves ten or eight years in jail!"
He was about to slap her when Xiao Yu stopped him, saying, "Why bother with her?" " It'll hurt your liver and lungs. Young lady, did you see the criminal's face? You know our government's policy: confess and you'll be severely punished, but resist and you'll be even more severely punished."
The little girl's eyes darted around, and she said smugly, "Since I'm not capable, I didn't see anything.
But sir, you might as well check what you're missing."
Xiao Yu thought she was joking, but suddenly he reached into his pocket and found that several official documents concerning serious criminals had vanished. This was no small matter. He grabbed the other woman by the collar and glared at her angrily.
The female thief smiled and shook her head, saying, "You're not going to lock me up for ten or eight years, are you? If you serve me well, maybe I'll be in a good mood and give you back a bill or two."
Xiao Yu had dealt with habitual thieves for many years and knew that after such a skill was used, there was often a way to immediately transfer the stolen goods. Therefore, searching her body was futile. So he had no choice but to order his men to take her away first, and he would deal with her later when he returned. At the same time, he personally drafted a report, presenting the evidence he had gathered to Emperor Chongzhen and the Ninth Prince.
One evening, Emperor Chongzhen summoned Zhao Yunkong and his apprentice again, and Chen Xinjia was also present this time.
Emperor Chongzhen took the initiative to say, "The assassin matter I mentioned to you a few days ago has yielded some results. The Ministry of Justice and the Eastern and Western Depots have both concluded that it is closely related to the Nuanchun Pavilion brothel outside the city. I have already ordered the area sealed off and am prepared to take action at any time."
Chen Xinjia invited Yun Kong to the table and said, "We believe the silver needle used in the murder belongs to the Nuanchun Pavilion, and our spies have also confirmed that the people there have been behaving unusually."
Li Chao listened and felt that the two men's analysis had omitted a lot of details, and this amount of evidence wouldn't reveal anything significant.
However, the Eastern and Western Depots were renowned for their efficiency both domestically and internationally, and their interrogation methods were extremely ruthless. When Emperor Chongzhen ascended the throne, he considered abolishing them, but later realized that keeping them was still very useful, especially now that people were in a state of panic, when cold-blooded and secretive methods were needed to salvage the situation.
Li Chao then spoke up, saying, "Your Majesty, Lord Chen, I passed by Nuanchun Pavilion on my way to the capital, and the people there were incredibly skilled, which was astonishing."
Upon hearing this, Chen Xinjia said, "Young brother, you've actually fought with them before. I was just about to suggest that Daoist Yunkong test their strength, but now it seems that with you on the case, I can rest assured."
Chongzhen said, "That's a good suggestion. If we send troops to encircle and suppress them, it will inevitably destroy the evidence of their crimes, which will also be detrimental to uncovering the mastermind. Daoist Yunkong, your esteemed disciple has a chance to make Wudang famous."
Li Chao secretly groaned, but Yunkong's face showed little worry, perhaps due to his great confidence in his disciple.
Chen Xinjia reassured him, "Don't be nervous. There are imperial guards outside Nuanchun Pavilion, and if things don't go smoothly, your fellow martial arts practitioners will come to your aid."
Following the same route as before, not far from the capital city gates, Li Chao arrived at a lake hidden by the woods beside the main road. Brothels are usually filled with vulgar women, but the scenery of Nuanchun Pavilion was surprisingly pleasant. The lake surface was as smooth as silk, calm yet seemingly impenetrable.
Although it was winter, the lake was shrouded in a misty haze, while new buds bloomed along the shore. Against the backdrop of the distant, faintly visible mountains, the entire scene possessed the ethereal and elegant atmosphere of traditional Chinese landscape painting. On the path leading to the wooden building, cherry blossoms painted the air with crimson and pink, their colors as brilliant as rosy clouds. A gentle breeze caused the petals to fall like cherry blossom rain, intoxicating one with the rich, textured scent of pollen.
Just then, Li Chao's thoughts were interrupted by a burst of giggles. Looking up, he saw a bright and beautiful young woman in a white dress sitting gracefully on a treetop, laughing heartily.
Li Chao had a premonition that he would encounter the white-clad girl playing the flute in this grove, but he didn't expect it to be so soon. Fortunately, judging from her expression and attitude, she didn't seem to have any ill intentions towards him, so he said in an annoyed tone,
"Can you stop jumping up people's trees all the time? What if you fall and hit the flowers and plants?"
The white figure gracefully landed. Although she was still veiled, her youthful beauty added a lot of charm to the secluded spring scenery.
Seeing her approach, Li Chao said angrily, "What's so funny about you assassins?" "
I can't believe the Wudang disciples, who just took advantage of a Russian girl a few days ago, are now enjoying themselves in this brothel."
Having found a sore spot, Li Chao gritted his teeth and said, shaking his head, "I have important business to attend to now. If I mess up the job, will your assassin group cover my food and lodging?"
"Is the trouble you're talking about her?"
"You're playing me again! There's no one in front of me!!"
“I was talking about the back.”
Li Chao turned around and saw a heavily made-up woman standing there. She stepped forward and bowed, saying, “I didn’t expect our little shop’s business to bother Sister Bingying. We haven’t had any customers for days.”
Only then did Li Chao realize her name was Bingying. He sneered, “I didn’t expect assassins to be afraid of being looked down upon by clients. Even your stage name is so pretentious. It’s just that this place with its beautiful scenery and lovely girls is deserted today. So it was you who did this.”
Bingying chuckled, probably finding Li Chao’s comical expression amusing. “Now that you know my name, you shouldn’t keep talking about killing. But you’re not wrong, it really is a good name. ‘A cold breeze, like ice, the moon shines through the clouds, and flowers cast shadows.’ It’s quite poetic.”
“This gentleman from Wudang once killed the most beautiful courtesan in our Yinong Pavilion. He must be an extraordinary person. Please follow me.”
With that, she pushed open the wooden door and went inside. The wooden building was neatly and comfortably furnished, with vibrant flowers, birds, fish, and insects perfectly complementing its secluded and beautiful atmosphere. After walking for a while, Li Chao realized that the furnishings were not arbitrary. The layers of screens, artificial hills, ponds, tables, and chairs were arranged according to the Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches of the Nine Palaces Flying Stars.
In this way, the rows of interconnected pavilions, no bigger than a bullet, not only seemed boundless, but the mysterious rooms could also confine ordinary guests.
At this moment, the girl stopped and said softly, "Please enjoy your meal in this room, sir. This 'Sanquanju' is a favorite of many high-ranking officials. The exquisite taste will surely make you linger."
Li Chao had anticipated that she would try to win him over, so he did not refuse. After bowing to thank the woman who led the way, he stepped into the room bearing the plaque of "Sanquanju".
Passing through the curtain, a breathtaking view unfolded before me: a steaming hot spring. The chill of winter instantly warmed me. Strange rocks jutted out from the bubbling, steaming water, which gushed forth in strings of crystal-clear, white droplets, carrying a faint sulfurous scent. A few hours of soaking would surely invigorate the body and prolong life.
First, a melodious ancient tune began to play, then the curtain opposite slowly parted, as if awakening a dream.
Three scantily clad young women rested peacefully on a wooden raft on the water, some sitting, some standing. One in the middle played a zither, her delicate fingers moving gracefully. A beautiful woman, her eyes sparkling with a hint of melancholy, walked across the shimmering water.
Beside her, another girl, leaning on her own beauty, silently embodied the misty Jiangnan region, the willows by West Lake, witnessing the full spectrum of human joys and sorrows. Li Chao saw the girl to the left of the musician use her swift, snow-like lightness skill, her fair figure appearing as if dripping onto a rock on the surface of a spring. She bowed and said,
"This humble servant is Qianwen. I wish to stroll with you, young hero, over these three springs, enjoying the hot spring water and reciting poetry in the breeze."
Li Chao, finding her words pleasant, also leaped onto one of the rocks and said,
"The young lady smiles silently, her graceful figure like a lingering memory from a past life."
Qianwen blushed slightly and smiled, "Although this spring is a sacred place for bathing, the water temperature rises at noon. Young hero, please be careful."
Li Chao glanced at his feet; gurgling water droplets were constantly seeping into the crevices of the rocks, and he felt the water temperature had indeed risen considerably. Li Chao thanked her, "Thank you for your concern, young lady. I will be mindful."
Amidst the rhythmic melody of "High Mountains and Flowing Water," the two figures grappled on the stones of the hot spring. These stones, too, were not randomly distributed, but rather a culmination of Tai Chi, Xingyi, and Bagua principles, each with its own path of life and death; only by moving according to these patterns could one maintain their footing.
Fortunately, the mysteries of the I Ching were already thoroughly understood by the Wudang disciples, so deciphering them was effortless. Li Chao unleashed several moves, "Boy Probing the Sea
" and "Immortal Opening the Gate," carving a path through the swirling mist, leaving Qianwen scrambling for cover. Bingying followed the maid to the top floor, who then departed alone. Bingying looked up and saw the plaque above the entrance that read "A Beautiful Woman," smiled, and entered. Upon entering, she was greeted by a fragrant aroma; the delicate and pure scent was truly captivating. On the nearby bed sat a beautiful woman. Her long, slender eyebrows framed eyes that shone like stars in the night sky, complemented by a delicate, pretty nose and two luscious, dewy lips. Her exquisite face radiated beauty.
The pink dress concealed her curvaceous figure, and the serene, ethereal beauty emanating from her seemed both noble and melancholic, creating an almost dreamlike atmosphere. With a soft laugh, she gracefully and playfully stepped off the bed and approached Bingying. Despite being a woman, her alluring display made even Bingying somewhat lose her composure.
With a smile, she extended her slender fingers and removed Bingying's veil, her cherry lips exhaling a seductive breath. "Sister Bing, it's been many years. I wonder how you've been?"
Bingying smiled wistfully and replied, "Still the same. Not as carefree as Sister Shiyun in this place of pleasure."
Shiyun smiled slightly, gently stroking Bingying's cheek, and said, "If it weren't for you sparing me back then, I certainly wouldn't be alive today."
Bingying pushed her arm away, walked to the window, and said, "Our lord said when we were young that those who serve him are only..." "We are destined to be among the elite, so only one of us can remain in the end. Back then, the seven of us sisters fought for two days and two nights in the Ximen Tower, and in the end, only you and I survived."
Shiyun hugged Bingying from behind, saying in a sorrowful voice, "Aying, back then, you couldn't bear to kill me because of our sisterly bond, and you helped me fake my death and escape."
These were, of course, unbearable memories, and hearing her sister mention them, Bingying's eyes also welled up with tears. "But we are powerless to change our fate. Today, only one of us can leave this room alive."
Shiyun released her grip and took a few steps back. As soon as Bingying turned around, Shiyun's water sleeves wrapped around her, and the force was so strong that she couldn't break free. The two of them rolled onto the bed together.
Bingying laughed, "Your martial arts have indeed improved considerably. If you had made a move just now, I would have been dead long ago.
Although you spared me, those who betray their lord must still die."
Shiyun ignored her, burying her flowing hair in Bingying's arms, and said softly, "Shiyun is repaying your kindness from back then. I don't want to make a big move here in this boudoir. Aying, smell this lingering fragrance."
"It's strange, of course, sister, don't keep me in suspense."
"Dream-Broken Flower Soul Powder, made from an unnamed wild animal from Goryeo, ground and mixed. It's ordinary and non-toxic, but if a girl's love fluid from the moment of intimacy comes into contact with it, she will die."
"Oh? Little sister, you're not trying to lure me in with a pretty boy, are you?"
Suddenly, Bingying felt a tingling sensation in her lower body. Looking down, she saw Shiyun's delicate fingers already roaming over her sensitive abdomen. This effortless caress held a tenderness and a hint of melancholy, the wet, affectionate touch sending waves of pleasure through her.
Bingying felt a chill run down her spine and cried out, "This Shiyun sister is a veteran of the pleasure quarters. Her skills in making love must be enough to make one lose their senses."
Shiyun looked up at her, her flushed face stirring her heart. At this moment, Bingying's already firm breasts were being gently caressed by Shiyun. Her delicate hands, imbued with inner strength, moved like serpents across her body, exploring every inch of her skin. The indescribable comfort she felt was intoxicating.
Then, Shiyun gently embraced Bingying's alluring neck, removed her own clothes, and smeared her pink nipples on Bingying's face. She then gently nibbled at Bingying's body. Bingying involuntarily tilted her head back slightly, struggling to resist the waves of pleasure.
Bingying inwardly groaned. This Shiyun was not only irresistibly skilled in bed, but women often had experience with masturbation, so they knew exactly where it felt best. Therefore, Shiyun had easily driven her to ecstasy. Fortunately, Shiyun
wasn't the only one enjoying this erotic fantasy. If she didn't switch to the offensive soon, once Shiyun aroused some of her fluids, she would immediately die from poisoning. Bingying, not to be outdone, lowered her head and licked Shiyun's breasts. Her small tongue lightly licked each nipple, her skillful tongue technique perfectly balanced with pressure, infused with a touch of yin and yang internal energy. With each pleasurable, alluring movement, Shiyun's body trembled, and she let out a soft moan.
The lower body is a woman's most sensitive spot during intercourse, so Bingying didn't hesitate. Her fingers gradually slid down Shiyun's warm curves, eventually reaching her equally full buttocks. She spread her fingers and patiently massaged the moist flesh, pressing her body against Shiyun's, a perfect union of feminine curves.
Then, Bingying gently lifted her leg and placed it on Shiyun's slender waist, her massage targeting the most sensitive spot between her legs. The heat and pleasure of the friction spread and raged through Shiyun's lower body, arousing her already sweaty body until it convulsed repeatedly.
Amidst the irritating pleasure, Shi Yun finally realized she had met her match. While her own ability to manipulate men was indeed superior, Bing Ying's skills in seducing men and displaying her allure were second to none, even back in Ximen Tower.
Moreover, over the years, Bing Ying had likely succeeded in seducing men countless times through sheer force of will in the bloody battles of life and death. Besides, this job, which relied on killing, required not only conquering the target but also maintaining one's sanity. Therefore, she was now truly in grave danger.
But Shi Yun was no pushover either. She immediately took deep breaths, relaxed her muscles, and channeled all her power through the "Ferocious Ghost Face" technique into her slender, rotating fingers. She tore open Bing Ying's underwear, and in the dim light, the girl's vulva and thick pubic hair, which had been quietly waiting around the entrance to her paradise, were exposed to her invincible hands. After teasing Bing Ying's shameful pubic hair, her long index finger slowly slipped inside
, stirring back and forth. Bing Ying, surprised by Shi Yun's speed and skillful manipulation, felt an unbearable, intense tingling sensation in her lower body, pushing her towards the abyss of pleasure.
This was Shi Yun's most prized technique, and many lecherous men who had enjoyed countless pleasures had willingly fallen at her feet.
However, Bingying quickly found her irreparable flaw. While Shiyun was using all her skills to satisfy him, she was also completely absorbed in the experience. She was only focused on arousing Shiyun's climax, completely unaware of her own already wetness. Therefore, this prostitute's tricks had reached their limit. Bingying chuckled, gently stroking Shiyun's long black hair. Taking advantage of Shiyun's momentum, she buried herself in Shiyun's soft body, relying only on her "Flower Dew Spreads Fragrance" true energy to lock her entrance, letting Shiyun do as she pleased.
In this boundless spring, Shiyun suddenly felt Bingying's previously trembling body begin to move rhythmically, her slender waist and fragrant hips responding to her advances. Shiyun felt a chill in her heart. She was no longer in the arms of a capital official, she couldn't let herself be intoxicated before the other person. But it was too late. Bingying returned all the energy Shiyun had poured into her body to her.
In her desperation, Shi Yun made numerous mistakes. Her smooth buttocks and delicate petals were no longer obstructed, and she could clearly feel the fluids from her lower body repeatedly ravaging her sensitive skin. Finally, the floodwaters burst forth from that small space. Shi Yun stiffened, twisting uncontrollably on the bed, letting out a soft cry as her whole body trembled violently. A large amount of lustful fluid gushed uncontrollably from her jade cave, as she desperately reached a sexual climax. This was no small matter; the surrounding toxins dissolved upon contact with the water, flowing along the girl's love fluids and corroding her internal organs.
Bing Ying held Shi Yun tightly as she struggled and turned, placing her caressing hand between her pained brows and eyes. After all, they were sisters who had spent every day together; she wanted to do her best to alleviate her suffering. After a while, Shi Yun was barely breathing, and blood trickled silently from the corner of her mouth.
At this moment, Shi Yun's starry eyes were half-open. She brought Xiao Zui close to Bing Ying's ear, and heard her laboriously touch Bing Ying's face, slowly saying,
"Even with this scar, sister, you are still ten times more beautiful than me."
Bing Ying didn't know what to say, but slowly wiped away the tears from the corners of Shi Yun's eyes. Shi Yun opened her mouth wide and finally uttered a few words, "I really hope, I really hope to hear you play the flute again."
Bing Ying lowered her head, about to answer her, when she saw that Shi Yun's eyes had already closed slightly and she had stopped breathing.
Slowly laying down her cold body, Bing Ying helped her sister tidy up her disheveled clothes, gently straightened her curled limbs, and finally covered her with a blanket. From a distance, Shi Yun looked like she was sleeping peacefully. This quiet expression meant that no one could disturb her, bully her, or take advantage of her anymore.
When she walked out of the room, Bing Ying found that her face was already covered in tears. This was the second time she had cried. Since the massacre at Ximen Tower years ago, on that night, she realized for the first time that her eyes were wet. From then on, she vowed never to shed a tear again, but today, she couldn't keep her word.
Even the sisters she had once saved had finally died at her hands. Perhaps this was the inevitable fate of those who were tools of killing.
Qianwen and Li Chao fought for more than ten rounds, and Qianwen was already showing signs of exhaustion. Amidst the subtle, melodious, and lingering music of the zither, Li Chao also felt that she was finding it increasingly difficult to defend herself. Her beautiful features were contorted in a disheveled state, and her cheeks were flushed with droplets of what could be sweat or water.
Li Chao gave her no chance to catch her breath, alternating between the Xuanwu Sword Technique and the Liangyi Sword Technique. The zither strings were also played more and more rapidly in response to Li Chao's movements. The force of their movements drew ripples on the pristine surface of the Baiyu River.
Amidst the flashing blades, two arcs crossed in mid-air before falling back onto the stones. The music abruptly stopped. Yunwen's previously charming and languid expression turned into one of twisted pain. Looking down at her thin, delicate robe, the pasted patterns were riddled with holes. Involuntarily, Yunwen bent over, clutching her lower abdomen. With this grip, blood gushed from her esophagus, followed by the slow, oozing of her colorful intestines. Soon, smeared, foul-smelling, yellowish fat dripped from her fingers onto her clothes, then trickled down her curves and into the hot spring water at her feet.
The girl's beautiful face gave a tragic smile, like petals scattering from a lotus flower. Her swaying body shook a few times, and
with a "plop," she collapsed into the spring. The boiling steam immediately obscured her gentle skin; only her tangled clothes and hair were visible, being cooked in the scalding liquid, instantly turning the clear water murky.
Li Chao turned around and saw another woman gracefully perched on the strange rock, her demeanor more elegant and refined than Qianwen's. A red veil adorned her like a peony shrouded in mist, yet she possessed a shy allure after revealing her beauty.
She said, "Qing'e dares to challenge you to another lesson in your skills, young hero."
Li Chao immediately returned the greeting, drawing his sword to challenge her.
After a few exchanges, Li Chao felt that Qing'e's skill was slightly superior, but within a hundred moves, she would likely suffer the same fate as Qianwen. But then, the music abruptly changed. The woman's fingers moved faster and faster, the melody becoming violent, bizarre, and utterly strange. The fight on the water was intensely focused, and Li Chao was unsettled by this strange, demonic sound.
In an instant, a high note rang out, and the woman, plucking the strings, flicked her sleeve, sending several silver needles flying. Li Chao had no choice but to switch from offense to defense. Using the protective barrier of his Heavenly Gang Body-Protecting Skill, he dodged and weaved. Faced with this unprecedented pincer attack, Li Chao felt he didn't have enough hands and feet to use; he only wanted to hold his position and observe the situation.
However, things didn't go as he expected. The notes of the Demonic Zither surged and intensified wildly in hundreds and thousands. The silver needles launched from the girl's flowing sleeves were like a celestial maiden scattering flowers, piercing through the mist flowing above the spring water and firmly embedding themselves in every defensive position that Li Chao had to pass through. Meanwhile
, Qing'e suddenly let out a few wild laughs, her sword flashing like a wolf, pouncing towards Li Chao's vitals. Just at the critical moment, a piercing scream suddenly rang out. Li Chao looked up and saw the girl playing the zither with her eyes rolled back, bleeding from her seven orifices—clearly suffering from severe internal injuries. Her alluring body slumped, and she collapsed onto the zither with a "snap." After a few chaotic notes, there was no more movement.
Seeing her sister ambushed, Qing'e let out a sharp cry, raised her nimble arm, and fiercely restrained Li Chao, displaying an aura of intent to chop her opponent into mincemeat. Li Chao's fingers somehow touched some mechanism on the sword hilt, and with a "whoosh," the sword unexpectedly split in two, transforming into two blades.
Seizing the opportunity, while Qing'e was stunned, Li Chao swiftly slashed forward, the cold light carving a diagonal line across the girl's delicate body. Qing'e, preoccupied with the flashing light, had no idea that the young man's weapon could multiply, and was completely unprepared. With a "hiss," her pale green dress tore along the path from her left shoulder to her right abdomen, and as steam rose, the fragile lower half of the veil slipped down.
Thus, the girl's red nipples, perched high on her full left breast, her fragrant abdomen, and the sparse pubic hair scattered around her private parts on her smooth thighs, revealing her entire fair and jade-like waist and legs.
Qing'e's sword-like eyebrows furrowed; she opened her mouth to cry out, but no sound came out. Her delicate, powerless upper body tilted slightly to the side and collapsed with a "plop," falling into the water and sinking before she could struggle.
Meanwhile, the still trembling lower body's heart, liver, spleen, and lungs gushed foully down the slope, the viscous entrails quickly bending her unruly legs. Finally, the remaining parts slowly lay prostrate on the stone surface, still twitching and writhing.
Li Chao quickly stepped onto the zither platform, where two people were lying on top. Li Chao pushed aside the girl playing the zither and helped the person trapped underneath him up. It turned out to be a monk in a kasaya, presumably struck by the woman's silver needles while trying to save him.
Following Ling Cai'er's old method, Li Chao found the antidote and fed it to him. Soon, the young monk slowly awoke, but his expression was strangely indescribable. Li Chao quickly thanked him and told him he was alright. Unexpectedly, she chuckled, her voice a girl's silvery bell. With a flick of her right hand, she tore something away like a Sichuan opera face-changing act. Upon closer inspection, the alluring figure was none other than the girl disguised as a man who had murdered Yang Wan that day.
Seeing a familiar look in her beautiful eyes, Li Chao assumed she was about to use another trick and hastily tossed her aside. Perhaps due to her lingering injuries, she collapsed to the ground, her body feeling numb and weak.
The other party angrily said, "Hey, hey, hey, is this how you Wudang treat your benefactors?"
Li Chao was at a loss for words after being lectured by her. Since she had no hostility, he helped her up and said,
"You Thousand-Faced Killer, even if you save me once, at most when you are taken to be executed, I will make a few more of our local 'Exploding Flour Fish' dishes to send you on your way."
She chuckled again, "You killed more people than I did today."
Li Chao was about to argue when a loud shout erupted outside, followed by the incessant clash of swords. The two rushed out to see what was happening.
The garden outside was indeed bustling with activity; dozens of figures were engaged in a fierce battle. Despite the large number of people, Li Chao immediately recognized the two beauties from Emei. Although they outnumbered each other, Ji Minying and Ling Cai'er's skills far surpassed their opponents. So Li Chao casually chose a tree stump to sit on, planning to treat them to a cheap and delicious meal afterward to thank them for lending him the sword.
Just as he was thinking this, someone tapped him on the shoulder from behind. Li Chao, assuming it was a disguised girl, said unhappily, "I haven't decided yet, but I'll treat you later."
But when he turned around, it was Bingying.
Seeing her red eyes, as if she had just been crying, Li Chao teased, "Oh dear, so you have something sad to say too."
Bingying ignored him, and the disguised girl also came over. "This little girl is really strange, why does she always wear a veil? Even I, the master of disguise, need to breathe."
She said this while wearing a cassock, which made Li Chao laugh out loud. He pretended to be serious and said,
"According to my deduction, there are only two possibilities: either she is extremely beautiful and is afraid of attracting unwanted attention; or she is not good-looking and is afraid of scaring the general public."
Bingying was already furious to see him with this woman, and being mocked and ridiculed by them for no reason made her even angrier. She was about to retort.
Suddenly, the girl's hands moved with lightning speed, using the Shaolin Dragon Claw Hand technique. With a few swift movements, she ripped off Bingying's veil. Bingying was furious, and the distance was too close; she was completely unprepared, and the girl easily succeeded.
Seeing her reach for the veil, Li Chao decided that without hesitation, he would laugh heartily upon seeing Bingying's face, making fun of her and venting his anger at being tricked last time. But as the veil fell away, a chilling aura of frost enveloped Bingying's delicate face. Her ethereal features, like moonlight reflected on clear water, framed her beautiful face. Beneath her crescent-shaped left eyebrow, a faint scar accentuated her haggard and sorrowful expression, a look that resonated deeply. Li Chao's smile froze on his face. Bingying's pale, weary, empty, and sorrowful aura struck him violently, leaving him disoriented.
Upon seeing him, and noticing his frozen expression of surprise and amusement, Bingying lowered her head and covered the scar on her left cheek, whispering four words:
"Ugly, isn't it?"
Seeing Li Chao's still bewildered expression, her already wet eyes blurred again. With tears in her eyes, Bingying nodded, then with all her might, slapped Li Chao hard across his astonished face.
Li Chao only heard a crisp sound, then felt dizzy for a moment, followed by a numbness on half his face. He saw a sky full of stars and stumbled, almost falling. When he looked up again, Bingying was nowhere to be seen; only the disguised girl's wide eyes were looking at him with concern.
The girl shook her head, turned around, and quickly disappeared into the depths of the dense forest. Before Li Chao could understand what had happened, he heard Ling Cai'er's malicious voice,
"That woman is really strange. One left, then that one left too."
Li Chao then came to his senses, covered his face, and returned the sword to Ji Minying. Ji Minying looked at his swollen face, held back for a moment, and then laughed.
Li Chao had caused trouble for himself and others, making a complete fool of himself, and wished he could turn around and run away. However, he still muttered,
"I wanted to invite you two to a good meal, but now I'm afraid I won't be able to eat for half a month."
Ling Cai'er stopped joking with him and said, "The Emperor sent us to help you sweep away Nuanchun Pavilion. The court is currently receiving a special envoy from Miao territory. Let's go back together and see if there's anything we can do to help."
Chapter Seven
The three of them walked and talked. Ji Minying asked,
"I wonder who that strange woman in the cassock is. She seems a bit odd."
Ling Cai'er replied, "It seems that Shaolin, like our two sects, has people in the capital."
The night before Li Chao arrived in the capital, he saw Shaolin people kill the woman in purple. So he said, "Sister Cai'er, did you perhaps see some master?"
This was actually quite cheesy, and even Ji Minying got goosebumps, but Ling Cai'er just smiled and said:
"That person was disguised, either for fun or to blend in with the crowd.
She was dressed as a monk and had clearly learned the Shaolin Dragon Claw Hand, indicating she intended to infiltrate the Shaolin monks. Of course, this also means there were more than just one or two Shaolin monks; otherwise, even a master of disguise wouldn't be able to stay."
Li Chao thought: "She knows more than one martial art; on the day of the marriage contest, she displayed both Kunlun and Kongtong techniques quite well."
Seeing that the two had already mentioned Chongzhen's meeting with a major sect, Li Chao tentatively asked, "Your Emei sect is usually very secluded; why have you made a trip to the capital this time?"
Ji Minying paused for a moment, then said, "Master Dingyi instructed us that a woman from a Persian cult might arrive in the Central Plains soon. Master fears this witch will commit many evils and wreak havoc on the Central Plains martial arts world, so she ordered us to come out of the mountains to guard against her." "
Li Chao asked curiously, "What kind of person is she that even the Abbess is so wary of?"
Ling Cai'er looked at him and said, "Not to mention Master, even the previous sect leaders had never seen this person. Two hundred years ago, she fought with our sect's Grandmaster Zhou Zhiruo in the Shaolin Temple's Sutra Pavilion. Grandmaster Zhou was already revered as the leader of the martial arts world at that time, but she only won by a single move. The demoness then boasted that she would definitely return to China two hundred years later and challenge the top masters of the Central Plains again."
Li Chao counted on his fingers and said, "Even if she was just a virgin back then, she is now a shrewd old woman over two hundred years old. With such cultivation, who can withstand her? We should all flee when disaster strikes."
Ji Minying continued, "It is said that no one knows her age. Grandmaster Zhou was nearly a hundred years old when she fought her. Afterwards, she disappeared without a trace. Everyone just thinks she was just making things up." "Unexpectedly, in the past fifty years, many people from the Central Plains who went to the Western Regions have heard that she has reappeared, but no one who saw her has ever returned alive."
Ling Cai'er continued, "It is rumored that she has been in seclusion in the Himalayas for over a hundred years, and possesses an ageless appearance and boundless magical power. Now that I think about it, it's quite terrifying."
Although their analysis was quite logical, Li Chao was somewhat skeptical, and also wary of this younger sister, Cai'er, perhaps disliking those smarter than himself who were pontificating here. So he didn't say much and changed the subject. High
-ranking officials gathered in the exquisitely carved hall, exuding a royal grandeur reminiscent of the sea and sky. Li Chao saw his master was also there, so he stood behind him. Looking ahead, he saw a man and a woman, both dressed as Miao people. The woman was none other than the Miao girl who had snatched his sword with a staff in the woods that day. From their conversation with Chongzhen, he learned that her name was Ajiao, the holy maiden of the Sun and Moon Sect of the Heavenly Demon Cult; the man dressed as a monk was the leader of the Black Mountain Sect, Tiger Monk.
Ajiao stepped forward, crossed her hands in front of her, and said solemnly, “Most of the Miao people in our region originated from the ancient ‘Sanmiao’ tribe of Yao and Shun, and then migrated continuously, settling in a remote corner of the southwest. Although we are all descendants of the Han Chinese, sharing the same bloodline, for thousands of years, you Han people have mostly regarded us as an uncivilized people who wear rattan and eat snakes and beasts. During the Wanli era, you even built a 300-mile-long border wall along the Miao region, stretching from Tongren to Baojing, keeping us out as if we were a raging flood. Meanwhile, local officials and gentry are corrupt, eunuchs wield power, and both the Han and Miao people live in dire straits.”
The more Chongzhen listened, the uglier his face became. He was well aware that the Miao people’s uprising was now unprecedentedly violent, but he was already overwhelmed by the fighting between the Manchus and the rebel army, so he hadn’t been able to attend to it much.
Ajiao turned to Ji Minying with a sinister smile and continued, "Speaking of the martial arts world of the Central Plains, they probably don't have a good impression of us. Whenever we are mentioned, words like 'poisonous miasma,' 'bewitching tricks,' 'evil villains,' and 'vicious arrogance' are always associated with us. That's why we've traveled thousands of miles here on the orders of our leader, hoping to exchange techniques with the top masters of the Central Plains and change the impression of the Ten Great Evil Cults in everyone's minds."
Ji Minying smiled and tapped her sword, replying, "You're too kind, young lady. So it's about a martial arts competition. We martial artists value making friends through martial arts. If it can broaden our horizons, I'm the first to offer my humble opinion."
Everyone below the stage pricked up their ears and watched intently. With the Heavenly Demon Sect sending representatives, a battle between the Han and Miao people seems inevitable. However, the challenger is a naive young girl. If a master from Yun Kong, a top imperial guard, or a senior leader from Shaolin, Kunlun, or Kongtong were to represent them, their chances of victory would be much higher, but the disparity in seniority would raise suspicions of unfairness.
Ji Minying is the most powerful among the new generation of martial artists. Her participation not only guarantees victory but also demonstrates respect, making her the most suitable choice.
Ajiao sighed, "If Sister Ji insists on the competition, I will have to admit defeat. When the leader came, he repeatedly warned that most of the sects in the Central Plains have no successors. Apart from the current leader of Emei, you can defeat everyone else."
As soon as these words came out, there was an uproar in the audience. Although there were only a few martial arts practitioners from Wudang and Emei present, the other royal nobles, powerful officials and high-ranking officials all knew that there were many masters among the rising stars of the major sects. Looking at the frail Miao girl in front of them, it should not be a problem to pick dozens of people to beat her.
Ji Minying said angrily, "Sure enough, you have quite the big mouth. To be honest, there are hundreds or even thousands of people in our righteous sects who are on par with you. Just name one, and we'll arrange a time to fight again."
Ajiao chuckled, her bright eyes revealing a charmingly embarrassed expression.
"Sister, don't be angry. This person is right here in the Golden Palace. The one I want to fight is the beautiful and charming Ling Cai'er beside you, with her radiant beauty."
Ling Cai'er, hearing that she had been chosen, naturally wouldn't refuse, and leisurely... With light, graceful steps, she drew her sword and replied, "Please specify the method, location, and venue for the duel."
Looking at Ajiao's confident expression, Li Chao thought to himself: "Your Demonic Sect's mysterious martial arts routines and cunning attack methods are indeed terrifying. However, you don't know that this celestial beauty, Cai'er, is not as skilled as her senior sister, but her unfathomable cunning is enough to give you a hard time. I was worried that Sister Ji's simple mind would be manipulated by you, but now that you've chosen a master of fighting poison with poison, I feel much more at ease."
Ajiao quickly returned the greeting, "In your eyes, the evil arts of the Miao region are what you fear most. Moreover, if we were to draw swords and spears, causing bloodshed, it would be too undignified. Furthermore, if I were to win by chance, you would suspect that I, a woman from the wilderness, possess some kind of sorcery. Therefore, I propose that we not use swords, but rather test our internal strength."
Seeing the puzzled expressions of Chongzhen and the other officials in the hall, Ajiao explained, "You Han people have a poem that says, 'Women lightly hang themselves, distinguishing chastity from promiscuity,' often executing young women by giving them three feet of white silk. The suffocating pain and pleasure can only be understood by those who have experienced it. For martial artists, the ability to hold their breath depends on the depth of their internal strength cultivation, which cannot be cheated and cannot be assisted by others. Therefore, I hope that Miss Ling can determine who is superior to me in this skill."
Everyone present was greatly surprised, and Chongzhen also found this idea extremely novel. They couldn't help but whisper among themselves.
Ajiao remained calm, lying on her back with her hands behind her back: "Of course, I know that with the foundation of Emei disciples, holding on for an hour shouldn't be a problem. Besides, everyone was on the verge of death, making it difficult to judge who would die first. As we all know, in such a suffocating moment, incontinence is inevitable. Tibetan medicine has a nine-ingredient antelope horn pill, which is a good diuretic. As long as the two people drink a lot of water before going on stage and then take this medicine, it can ensure accurate judgment at that time. Whoever can't hold on first will have to put the other down, and the loser will have to stay on the silk and wait to die."
The crowd around her erupted in chatter. Li Chao suddenly became nervous. In the forest, Ajiao had been hit by Bingying's Soul-Chasing Throat-Locking Ring, and she survived. This meant that she could use her internal energy to walk for more than half an hour in harsh conditions to find a way to untie the ring. This ability to hold her breath would undoubtedly make her a match for Ling Cai'er's current abilities.
Chongzhen gestured for silence from the audience and said, "Since the Miao Holy Maiden has made this suggestion, we should respect our guest's wishes. We will settle this matter tomorrow morning in the Imperial Garden using this route. If there are no objections, let's proceed as planned."
Ajiao had already recognized Li Chao, glancing at him indifferently, her features exquisitely sculpted. Li Chao remembered he needed to go to the Yingke Teahouse in the west of the city to retrieve his sword from her that night, so he returned her a wink.
On the way back to his room, Li Chao recounted his concerns to Yun Kong.
Yun Kong stroked his beard and shook his head, saying, "It seems she possesses such miraculous abilities at such a young age. It's a pity that their skills aren't used on the battlefield to defend against foreign enemies, but rather for fighting each other."
Li Chao asked, "After all, Ling Cai'er represents all the martial arts sects of China. Doesn't Master want to find a way to help her?"
Yun Kong sighed helplessly, "That's precisely why cheating is more shameful than failure. Besides, it's unrealistic to expect to learn new techniques in just a few hours. Back then, the Yuan Mongol nobles imprisoned the six major sects in Wan'an Temple, and even after learning all our techniques, they still couldn't achieve peak martial arts skills. This is because internal martial arts are the basic foundation, allowing no falsehoods and impossible to achieve in a short time. In the competition, Miss Ling will probably only be able to rely on luck."
Unbeknownst to them, night fell. Li Chao made an excuse and slipped out of the palace alone.
As night descended and the moon cast its shimmering shadows, the people passing by transformed into ethereal figures weaving through the streets. Gazing at the shimmering lights of the bustling city, Li Chao recalled the girls he had met in the past few days. Cui'er was like the girl next door, a playmate with whom he could talk about anything;
Ji Minying was spirited and chivalrous, always making him feel at ease and trusting; Ling Cai'er was gentle and quiet, yet deeply calculating and enigmatic;
Bingying was sometimes cold and ruthless, extremely cunning, yet at other times she was genuinely affectionate, playful yet incredibly sensitive. For some reason, he felt he was always being led by her side. However, back at the Warm Spring Pavilion, she was clearly heartbroken, and he had added fuel to the fire. It was truly inappropriate to treat a girl who had saved him like that. He would definitely apologize to her in person next time he saw her.
Just then, he arrived at the entrance of the Yingke Teahouse. A middle-aged man saw him approaching and immediately stepped forward to greet him. Li Chao looked him over and recognized him as the merchant who had been chased by the woman in pink at the Warm Spring Pavilion that day. It turned out he was also a martial artist; no wonder he had escaped. Before Li Chao could ask any questions, the two had already entered the inner room, where A Jiao was already sitting gracefully at the front, waiting for them.
The southern girl was petite, with slightly tanned skin, but her fresh and refined appearance, clever yet slightly shy, was truly captivating.
Ajiao poured tea for Li Chao and placed the sword on the table.
After Li Chao thanked her, she said, "I invited you here tonight, young hero Li, because I need your help with something."
Li Chao politely replied that he would do his best. Ajiao stood up, leaning against the windowsill, her captivating eyes sweeping to one side. She said softly, “Although I am a member of the Heavenly Demon Sect, my selection for membership was not my wish. You may not know how arduous and unbearable the lives of ordinary people on the southwestern border are. Originally, I served the sect leader hoping to fight against the oppressive local tyrants and corrupt officials, but the sect is often rife with bloodshed and infighting. Including that altar master, Tiger Head Monk, who came with me, many members hope to break away from the Ming Dynasty and establish their own sect. However, judging from their character, they could never achieve the peaceful world that our Sun and Moon Sect yearns for.”
Li Chao thought: This is truly interesting. Today I've encountered another young woman with such high ideals. He replied, “However, I am just a rough man, I don't understand anything. On your long journey to realize your great ideals, I can only cheer you on from the bottom of my heart and silently wish you well.”
"Young hero, you flatter me. You are a rising star of Wudang. Although you seem unrestrained and idle, your heart and martial arts skills are truly admirable. I've witnessed your kindness at the Yang Family Arena and along the roadside at Nuanchun Pavilion, so if you're willing, I think it's no problem."
Li Chao hadn't expected anyone to notice and evaluate his performance, and that the so-called merchant on credit was actually someone she had sent to test him.
Seeing that Li Chao remained silent, Anu quickly said, "Brother Xu Liu didn't mean to test you. When we first arrived in the capital, we knew that many forces, such as the Manchus and the Japanese, were secretly fighting here, so we visited places like Nuanchun Pavilion. But after searching around, we couldn't find any suitable friends. These diverse characters are nothing more than scheming and plotting for their own power and desires; they're not worth getting to know well."
At this moment, Ajiao walked into Li Chao's room. Li Chao smelled her delicate fragrance and heard her soft breathing. She said softly, "On my back is a map depicting the complex regions and borders of the southwestern frontier, clearly marking the locations of cities, terrain, and treasure troves. The location of the Six Directions Heavenly Book, coveted by your Emperor Chongzhen and written by the strategist Liu Bowen, is also on it."
With that, she turned and swiftly removed her clothes, revealing her fair, smooth, and lovely back. She stretched out her jade-like hands, put on her clothes, and turned back, saying, "There's a secret here; the map will only appear after we have intercourse."
Her delicate face flushed a captivating pink, and she whispered, "Young hero, please don't be offended. If I lose the duel, please be sure to keep this map. Take whatever items on it you find useful. If you truly have no intention of saving the Han and Miao people, please keep it safe and only hand it over to a capable ruler or wise man." "
Although the Joseon Dynasty certainly didn't have the ambition to be a savior, the suffering of the people in these chaotic times was palpable. On the way to the capital, one often saw corpses strewn across the fields. He was powerless to alleviate this suffering of hunger and lack of clothing, but there were always those who wished to create a paradise on earth.
He bowed to Ajiao and nodded in agreement. He wanted to say more, but since this woman was going to fight her friend the next day, he couldn't bring himself to speak. On the smoke-filled battlefield of Songshan,
Hong Chengchou was frantic, like an ant on a hot pan. Not long after, Ming soldiers dragged back another headless corpse. This female general under Dorgon, still breastfeeding, possessed such miraculous abilities, repeatedly taking the heads of generals amidst a million-strong army.
Just as he was anxiously wondering what to do, he heard a woman's voice, 'General, don't worry, I will immediately mount my horse and retrieve the enemy's head to present to you.'" "
This woman, fully armored, exuded a chilling aura, her eyes bright and clear. She was none other than Princess Nanyang, who had just arrived at the army camp.
Seeing her extraordinary bearing, possessing both the gentle grace of a woman and the calm ruthlessness of a warrior, Hong Chengchou quickly said,
'Princess, your noble frame is too precious to risk your life. These are nothing but small fry; our vanguard will handle them. Please rest assured.'
Xiangling, impersonating the princess, smiled without replying, mounted her horse, and galloped through the dust and the flashing swords of the Ming army without hesitation. Hong Chengchou knew she was a disciple of Diancang and possessed considerable martial arts skills, but the Qing army was no ordinary force. He immediately summoned Cao Bianjiao, the general of Liaodong, and gave him careful instructions to protect the princess.
Cao Bianjiao wasn't the most skilled among the generals, but years of military service had given him the ability to fire a rapid-fire arrow—a skill that could save lives in the blink of an eye during a duel." Under the blade.
Xiangling, spear in hand, hacked and slashed at Qing soldiers along the way, the battlefield filled with flying blood and screams.
She hadn't gone far when she saw a beautiful female general riding a horse, spear in hand, sitting gracefully on her saddle. She was dressed in a riot of colors, wearing a seven-star flower headdress, a gold-chained armor, a robe adorned with flowers, and leather boots with intricate gold stirrups.
She pointed her spear and said, "I never imagined a Han woman could possess such skill. I am Xiao Qinglian, under the command of Prince Dorgon of the Great Qing."
Xiangling had seen such a woman many times in the Qing army camps, so she knew how formidable she was. Fortunately, Xiangling had witnessed her spear technique and knew its secrets, so she was full of confidence and replied,
"Princess Zhu Yaoqing of Nanyang of the Great Ming Dynasty is willing to receive your divine skill." Seeing that it was a big fish, Xiao
Qinglian didn't want to harm her, and secretly planned to capture her alive and present her to the prince.
In the first clash, Xiangling felt a numbness in her hand, realizing her opponent's astonishing strength. In terms of martial arts, Qinglian was no match at all, but at that time, Diancang was already quite famous in the martial arts world, and it was hard to guarantee that many of the Ming soldiers watching from behind weren't disciples of that school. If she rashly used the fantastical magic of the Aodu sect, she would likely be immediately recognized as a fake. However, Diancang's martial arts were not meant for long-distance combat on the battlefield, and Xiao Qinglian wasn't yet proficient in its techniques. Therefore, it wasn't long before Xiao Qinglian... Having gained the upper hand, Xiangling had nowhere to escape, forced to dodge repeatedly. Seeing this, Cao Bianjiao quickly nocked an arrow, ready to shoot the enemy general should the situation spiral out of control.
Xiangling, seeing her opponent's increasing ferocity and the imminent threat of being thrown from her horse, deliberately feigned a misstep, throwing her spear and seemingly about to fall. Xiao Qinglian was overjoyed, spreading his fingers as if to capture her on horseback. However, Xiangling's Peach Blossom Soul-Shaking Veil increased her speed, allowing her to maintain her balance in mid-air despite the fall. Xiangling deflected her opponent's right hand, exhaling a few wisps of fragrance from her lips. Qinglian, unaware of her... What was she up to? Suddenly, everything blurred before her eyes, and Xiangling's two slender arms incredibly multiplied, changing from two to four, from four to sixteen, and then continuously evolving, as if a thousand-armed demon were simultaneously performing the movements of a thousand arms.
This "Thousand Demons Howling at Night" was a unique evil technique created by the Crystal Saintess, imitating insects like spiders and centipedes; even an opponent with three heads and six arms couldn't break it. Although Xiao Qinglian was a heroine, she had always been used to straightforward combat, fighting with spears and swords, and had never seen anything like this before. She panicked and lost her composure. Xiangling knocked away her spear, seized the opportunity to change her hand shape, and ripped her opponent off her horse. This force was not simple. It wasn't just a simple fall from a horse; the force of the impact was immense, like Mount Tai crashing down, all concentrated on Xiao Qinglian's body. With a muffled thud, the girl's torso was slammed to the ground. With a cry of pain, she coughed up blood, her plump buttocks, legs, waist, and jade-like breasts writhing and twisting on the sand, milk seeping from her swollen breasts and soaking her clothes. Xiangling, without a word, drew a dagger from her sleeve and, with a swift stroke, severed the beauty's head—its wide-open eyes and slightly parted lips—leaving only her alluring lower body writhing like a snake, legs kicking and thrashing, allowing the soldiers to trample on her flesh.
Seeing the princess holding the mangled head of an enemy female general, the Ming soldiers on both sides were greatly encouraged. Cao Bianjiao immediately led his troops in a counterattack. The Qing army, bewildered, had no choice but to sound the retreat. Xiangling's use of the heretical martial arts techniques was executed flawlessly within the time it took to land, and with the warhorse providing cover, not only was Cao Bianjiao, who was quite far away, completely unable to discern Xiangling's origins, but even a disciple of Diancang nearby would have been completely unable to identify her.
On a distant hilltop, Jirhalang, who was watching the battle, nodded repeatedly and praised Qi Yue, saying, "What a clever woman! No wonder her master was able to defeat masters from all over Eurasia in the Colosseum of ancient Rome. The generals who just returned from fighting the Kazakh cavalry all said that the entire Apennine Peninsula, and even the European royal families and the Roman Catholic Church, are shocked."
Qi Yue smiled and said, "She will soon return to the Central Plains to serve the Prince. Today, Xiangling killed Dorgon's favorite general, which also removed an obstacle for the Prince."
Just then, several Ming soldiers discovered Xiao Qinglian's still twitching and struggling corpse. They all stepped forward, bent down, and turned her over and over, playing with and caressing her, especially interested in the milk on her breasts, enjoying themselves immensely.
Jirhalang ordered his attendant to give him a bow and arrow, and after several shots, the Ming soldiers who were desecrating the corpse fell to the ground, struck by the arrows that could hit a target from a hundred paces away…
“Qinglian has rendered meritorious service to the Emperor. Even if he dies in battle, no one should be allowed to insult or disrespect him.”
The next day, before dawn, the imperial city was bustling with activity. Before them lay the verdant artificial mountains, towering ancient trees, and exquisite pavilions of the Jiangnan region of the north—Chongzhen’s imperial garden. Under the command of General Tu and Eunuch Wang, the chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department
, eunuchs and palace maids were setting up the venue for this special arena. In particular, the two gallows had to be properly placed, and the hanging silk chosen was much thicker than ordinary silk. Soon, cabinet ministers, princes and marquises, ministers and vice ministers of the six ministries of Personnel, Revenue, Rites, War, Justice, and Works, officials from the Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate, and many other high-ranking officials of the third rank or above in the capital filed in, and the once quiet and noble imperial garden suddenly became lively. Not only that, Emperor Chongzhen also issued an edict overnight, inviting foreign envoys in Beijing to watch the competition. This extravagant display and public announcement were intended to allow rising stars from the martial arts elites of China to shine in this strange contest during a time of hardship for the Ming Dynasty, thus showcasing the prestige of the Ming.
As the start time approached, the Ninth Prince and his consort, surrounded by ministers, finally arrived at their seats. The Ninth Prince was not young and somewhat overweight, but he moved with a leisurely pace and a clear mind. He also noticed that Prince Cheng was absent from the noisy crowd. At this moment, Emperor Chongzhen, accompanied by Princess Changping, arrived at the stage. The crowd immediately shouted "Long live the Emperor!" three times, their imposing aura sweeping across the heavens and earth. A surge of pride rose within Emperor Chongzhen. He glanced around before taking his seat. General Tu, seeing this, immediately beat the drum to announce the start of the competition.
Li Chao, standing behind his master, like many others, craned his neck, eagerly anticipating the appearance of the two. First to step onto the red carpet of the arena was Ajiao, the Holy Maiden of the Miao Jiang Heavenly Demon Sect. Just as when she was first seen in the forest, the young woman carried a wooden staff, barefoot, wearing a light blue silk short dress that revealed her flawless legs. She wore a deerskin hat adorned with rabbit fur, from which two strings of red jade beads dangled. Her hair was parted in two sections, and a leopard tooth necklace hung around her neck. Beneath her sweet face, a picturesque smile displayed a unique confidence and cuteness.
Ling Cai'er's attire gave off an elegant and warm feeling. White gauze and light silk, like a light mist, made her look ethereal and otherworldly. However, this beautiful woman with a clear and refined appearance was adorned with a few dewdrops, like a daffodil in the morning dew, inadvertently revealing a cautious, aloof, and proud nature.
As agreed, both of them, under surveillance, drank a large amount of water and took the Nine-Flavor Antelope Horn Pill face to face before going on stage.
To ensure a precise judgment, both women had to wear skirts and were forbidden from tampering with them. Therefore, after ascending the platform, they were inspected by palace maids.
Ling Cai'er removed her shoes and socks, revealing the translucent flesh of her insteps, with pale pink toenails resembling ten tiny flower petals. After this, iron chains were fastened to their wrists—tools used to punish condemned prisoners during executions. Since their bodies were suspended in the air, even a burly bandit with immense strength could not break free.
They then climbed the long ladders, placing white silk ribbons around their delicate necks. Under the gallows, yellow-robed guards placed tables beneath their skirts, each with a sheet of snow-white test paper. This paper, made of a special material, would immediately turn red upon contact with alkaline liquids such as urine, making it immediately clear who lost control of their bladder.
Seeing that the invited guests had arrived, Chen Xinjia walked to the large drum. With a loud bang, the guards simultaneously removed the wooden ladders from the feet of the two girls.
Ling Cai'er immediately closed her eyes and regulated her breathing, straightening her legs and channeling her true energy into her body through her fingertips, sealing seven major acupoints: Hua Gai, Tian Tu, Zhe Jin, Ri Yue, Qu Ze, Da Ling, and Cheng Fu. This Starfall Technique allows one to connect with the universe using other parts of the body after ceasing breathing, and temporarily slowing down meridian circulation is also to conserve energy. A Jiao had already consumed the divine substance Silver Ice Silkworm Silk before going on stage, so thanks to its nourishing properties, she didn't need to adjust her energy, and her expression was naturally very relaxed.
Several cups of tea's time passed, and the two breathtaking violets hung quietly upside down on their stands, silently facing the boundless sea of people below in the gentle breeze.
To ordinary people, it seemed like a draw, but Yun Kong could clearly see the different situations of the two sides: one was already relying on expending true energy to adjust their breathing, while the other was clearly using external aids to remain calm and composed. The Emei sect had already lost the first round.
At this point, due to the prolonged suffocation, the internal meridians were no longer functioning properly, and closing the acupoints was no longer feasible. Therefore, Ling Cai'er began to concentrate her energy, protect her mind, and recite the secret technique of the Flying Willow Dance. This was a unique concept newly created by Master Dingyi, intended to gather the remaining energy and use this extra time to find an opportunity. Ajiao also immediately closed her eyes, remaining motionless, using the protective abilities of the Miao Realm Ant Language Bamboo Silk to absorb the surrounding spiritual energy into her naturally alluring body.
However, Ling Cai'er ultimately had to exert her strength to break free from the predicament first; even the most spectacular Flying Willow Dance could not last long. Her previously silent body began to tremble imperceptibly, and her parched throat began to suffer the pain of the silk binding her. She opened her eyes a crack, and the bright surroundings began to dim—the initial signs of nutrient deprivation.
Not long after, Ling Cai'er closed her eyes again, her head buzzing and her ears ringing uncontrollably. Chongzhen and the others began to notice that beneath Ling Cai'er's flowing skirt, her delicate pink legs began to sway and bend slightly with the graceful movement of her waist. This trembling yet involuntary reaction was pitiful.
Li Chao inwardly cried out in alarm; this kicking motion was due to insufficient blood supply to the brain, causing intermittent spasms in her lower body. This indicated that Cai'er's internal energy had been almost completely depleted, and it wouldn't be long before she lost her resistance and struggled in agony like the other girls.
Hearing the faint gasps of surprise from below the stage, Ling Cai'er realized the shameful behavior of her lower body. Not only was this swaying improper, but continuing to move like this would only deplete her energy. However, no matter how hard she tried to control it, her two proud and alluring legs moved even more violently.
Ah Jiao felt a thin vein twitching repeatedly, indicating that she too was experiencing suffocating pain.
However, she was fully aware of her opponent's every move. Initially, she had worried that her foundation was weaker, but now that it was just a contest of stamina, her confidence naturally increased. Even so, her pale bronze skin began to flush, and her calves twitched a few times beneath her embroidered pleated skirt. Her lower body began to move back and forth, causing her slender body to sway.
Li Chao glanced back at Tiger Monk's expression, a cold glint of satisfaction in it. Analyzing Ajiao's words, this man hoped his Miao people would win to increase their bargaining power in negotiations with Chongzhen; however, the Sun and Moon Sect disagreed with him, and if Ajiao won, it would inevitably harm the Black Mountain Sect's interests. Chongzhen and Chen Xinjia were both staring intently at the stage, their expressions filled with worry. Li Chao suddenly noticed that Ji Minying was absent from the vast hall. Could it be that they had other plans within their ranks?
As she was thinking, Ling Cai'er's pale face began to turn purple, and a few veins appeared on her fair legs. The muscles in her hands and feet seemed to be twitching. This physiological change was the result of her initial timid kicking, which evolved into an impulsive movement. Her fair feet moved in a circular motion, as if riding a waterwheel. Her bright red eyebrows furrowed, her nostrils flared, and her thick lips pouted. Her tongue peeked out from between her white teeth, and her whole body was immersed in an annoying tremor.
In contrast, A Jiao's weak kicking, although it did not stop, did not change in frequency or amplitude, maintaining a relatively stable balance.
The Ninth Prince turned to the Princess and asked, "Why do prisoners always exhibit such absurd behaviors under hanging?"
The Princess replied, "You don't understand. After the trachea is severed, the brain relies on blood from the lower body to be transported upwards, just like when slaughtering chickens or ducks, the animals stretch their bodies."
Ling Cai'er's consciousness began to blur. Salty blood was seeping from the celluloid tissue near her hyoid muscle. She dared not open her eyes, for all she saw was dazzling light. Even more terrifying, the liquid filling her stomach, under the influence of the medicine, was continuously surging towards her bladder, causing excruciating discomfort in her cold lower abdomen.
She subconsciously twisted a few times, her long hair falling over her face, obscuring her beautiful features. In this state of agonizing life and death, she activated the Myriad Manifestations Gathering at the Source Heart Technique, forcibly stopping her body's movements, attempting to buy time and salvage the situation. The people below, watching this beautiful and ethereal young woman struggle so relentlessly on the brink of death, couldn't help but feel both pity and anxiety.
Ajiao was somewhat surprised by the tenacity of her opponent. Previously, when she strangled Han women, they had only offered slight resistance and twisted their bodies a few times. Although Ajiao's situation was better, like Cai'er, her lower abdomen was beginning to swell, her unruly intestines continuously spraying deadly fluids into her bladder.
Cai'er's internal energy had indeed alleviated the pain, but after prolonged oxygen deprivation, another unavoidable physiological phenomenon was quietly spreading. Her most satisfying yet parched vagina began to stir naturally, the pleasure of sex slowly drawing upon the girl's pure body. Ling Cai'er's mind was in turmoil, but unconsciously, her legs parted slightly, the warm inner thighs rubbing against her labia, and her pleasure organs opened and closed rhythmically in response.
Anu also began to thrust her hips, her smooth, exquisitely round buttocks breaking through her shame and rising and falling with her escalating desire. Her smooth calves swayed back and forth, and her soft, delicate body began to be ravaged by the burning lust. Even the Heavenly Demon's Qi Restoration technique could not stop the rampage of sex.
Cai'er had only resisted for a short while when her plump buttocks and arms began to give way. Her high breasts heaved rapidly due to exhaustion, and her delicate white clothes could not conceal the fiery movements of her body. Her slender waist began to harden, as if the stored power was being released. At this moment, the girl's defenses completely collapsed, and her stunning figure transformed into a frenzied willow catkin, dancing in the wind, making the wooden frame creak and groan.
Seeing Ling Cai'er swinging erratically in mid-air, all the officials below rose to their feet amidst shouts and pointing fingers. Emperor Chongzhen, unable to contain himself any longer, even dropped his teacup with a clatter, completely at a loss. Changping, seeing her father's pale face, knew Chongzhen's desire for victory, but to avoid worsening his condition, she ordered the palace maids to help the emperor back to the inner palace to rest. Under the influence
of some natural lubricant on the edge of her labia, Ajiao's erotic movements began to intensify. Her shapely, alluring legs began to kick aimlessly.
However, women from the southwest were generally more playful and cheerful than those from the Central Plains, so the shame she felt from these actions was far less intense than Ling Cai'er's. What gave her more hope was that her opponent had already fallen into this trap of infatuation, and neither could resist the inevitable demise.
Ling Cai'er's aching and limp lower body was still enduring inhuman ravaging, her wet, peach-like cavern stirring with abandon. Inside her wanton cunt, lustful fluids and urine mingled and mingled, and under the peeping sunlight, the wet spots on her snow-white silk trousers grew larger and larger, expanding and invading outwards.
Suddenly, Ajiao heard her opponent let out a soft moan. Glancing at Cai'er's lower abdomen out of the corner of her eye, she saw that her opponent, as expected, couldn't hold on any longer and collapsed under the repeated washing of urine and lustful fluids. Ling Cai'er felt an unbearable tingling sensation in her lower body, followed by a warm current overflowing from her urethra. Her vulva twitched, her taut, slightly bulging genitals trying to close, but unfortunately, the moisture was too abundant, and a few streaks of hot, yellowish urine and bodily fluids still managed to carve a path through the gaps in her flesh, swirling and sliding down her beautiful, clear thighs, towards her skirt.
Yun Kong and Hu Tou Tuo had already stood up. Both of them saw that Ling Cai'er's life was coming to an end and sighed. Li Chao had sharp eyes. He suddenly noticed a bright line of light flashing across the empty crowd above their heads, striking A Jiao's Tian Tu acupoint below her throat. The speed was so fast that only a martial artist could notice it.
A Jiao felt a numbness under her neck, as if her central point had been hit by a small, hard object. She coughed a few times, but before she could cry out, her warm lower abdomen, Dantian, was also sharply stabbed. The change happened so fast that she didn't even have time to react.
The enemy's attack was powerful and accurate. The acupoint where these two meridians intersect is a critical point in the body. The true energy that condenses in the meridians there is crucial. Once attacked, the body's defensive energy becomes chaotic. For a moment, the body's warm fluid boils in the bladder, rushing towards the excretory outlet like a ferocious beast.
However, Ah Jiao was no ordinary person. When her vital point was attacked without warning while she was immobilized, she immediately resorted to the most insidious and vicious techniques of suppressing yang and constricting tendons, and stagnating meridians—a self-inflicted wound to unleash her potential, intending to perish together with her opponent. Moreover, at this moment, the barely alive Ling Cai'er's incontinence had already reached her calves; if she could just hold on a little longer, she would almost succeed.
But what happened next was something no one could change. The third cold light struck Ah Jiao's perineum with pinpoint accuracy. This continuous yin energy, upon contact with her already swollen lower body, completely eroded the last bit of strength the girl had left. A torrent of urine and blood gushed from the girl's private parts like a thousand horses galloping, flowing straight down and spilling without hesitation beneath her skirt.
Ling Cai'er's bodily fluids had already left her fair ankles and were dripping down. However, in the morning breeze, air resistance saved the endangered Emei maiden; after all, a drop of water falls slower than a stream of water. A series of loud "splashing" sounds rang out as Ajiao's excrement soaked through the paper beneath her skirt, the scalding liquid splashing everywhere and then coalescing into several salty waterfalls around the table. Only then did Ling Cai'er's trickling stream shyly fall onto the white paper, creating several plum blossom-like patterns.
Everyone could see clearly that the outcome was decided, but no one had expected Ling Cai'er to come back to life at the last moment. Many officials were overjoyed, simply shouting and jumping for joy.
The Ninth Prince, though surprised, simply laughed and left the venue contentedly. Chen Xinjia quickly ordered the warriors to untie Cai'er, and everyone rushed onto the stage to rescue her. Li Chao leaped up from the spot, performed a few "Fairy Ape Offering Peaches" maneuvers, and jumped onto the arena, helping the soldiers rescue the girl's body, which had been subjected to immense torture.
Upon catching Cai'er's delicate body, Li Chao discovered she had no heartbeat or body temperature. Multicolored liquid splattered onto her white skirt, creating delicate, scattered droplets. Li Chao quickly reached out and manipulated several acupoints on her waist and abdomen, slowly helping her expel urine while continuously channeling his internal energy into her dying body.
Soon, the area around Li Chao's feet was covered in foul-smelling, dirty water, but he couldn't care less. He continued massaging her for a while until Cai'er's pulse gradually returned.
Yun Kong also came to the side, carefully taking her pulse, and said easily, "Don't worry, everyone. We'll take her back immediately to wash and recuperate. She should be fine."
The crowd felt much relieved.
Meanwhile, the audience below was in an uproar. Foreign envoys in Beijing paid their respects to the Chongzhen Emperor, who had just finished his rest, and the courtiers shouted "Long live the Emperor!" Upon learning the outcome, Chongzhen, who had been terrified, waved and looked radiant.
Li Chao glanced at the pitiful Ajiao still on the gallows. Her bright eyes, now dim, held a complex expression—was it sorrow, anger, relief, or despair? No one could say. Everyone was in a flurry of activity, and Li Chao was about to take advantage of the chaos to cut the silk and rescue Ajiao.
However, seeing Ajiao's gaze fixed on him, her eyes suddenly brightened like stars. A bitter smile flickered across her delicate face as she calmly refused Li Chao's offer of help. In truth, Anu's final act of magic had harmed both herself and others. After using it, she had severed her own tendons and damaged her internal organs; even if she were brought down, there would be no hope.
Suddenly, beads of fragrant sweat trickled down Ajiao's forehead, her shy and charming eyes relaxed in bliss. Amidst moans and groans, her beautifully slender, bronze-colored legs stiffened violently. Through the pleasurable mist, a final, intense spasm swept over her entire body. Soon, her bright, dazzling eyes lost their luster, her delicate nose stopped fluttering, her sweet little tongue darted out from her pretty lips, and the rise and fall of her supple breasts ceased. Her obedient arms draped demurely at her sides.
The girl, her body now exposed to the moist petals, was no longer tormented by agonizing pain, but instead opened its gates perfectly, releasing its last reserves of moisture, which trickled back to the earth. Her face, adorned with headdress and exuding a pure and natural charm, twitched one last time before peacefully resting on her frail shoulders. Her features, as always, were meticulously arranged, but the joy in them was gone.
[
The End
]

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【The Legend of the Bloodstained Moon】(1-7)

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