【Sword Rises in the Deep Clouds】Episodes 1-5 Author: Purple House Demon Love

【Sword Rises in the Deep Clouds】
Author: Purple House Demon Love
Publisher: Hetu Culture

【Volume 1】Chapter 1: We Meet Again

Amidst the falling autumn rain, several figures swirled and danced on the cliff, locked in a fierce battle. The masked man in black, though fighting two against one, still had plenty of strength left. His fists and palms moved freely between the two sword shadows, and even unarmed, he still held the upper hand. On the other hand, the two women attacking him were panting heavily, sweating profusely. Although the older woman was at a disadvantage, she could still hold on, but the younger woman's swordsmanship was scattered, lacking any discernible pattern in her attacks and defenses. If it weren't for the fact that the opponent seemed unwilling to settle the score for the time being, the two women would probably have been defeated long ago.

Several fierce attacks were met with a flurry of punches and palms from the man, forcing her to retreat towards the edge of the cliff. The older woman was secretly alarmed. The sounds of battle from the distant houses gradually subsided, but the fire burned ever brighter. The increasing rain showed no sign of quelling the flames. Clearly, the people in her own village were no match for the sudden attack and had been defeated. The enemy, seemingly unwilling to leave any survivors and uninterested in the valuables of the manor, allowed the fire to spread uncontrollably.

Despite her desperate desire to fight her way back to the manor, she and her daughter, even working together, couldn't break through the man's defenses. Although she knew there was a significant difference in their skills, they had exchanged over a hundred blows, and she felt that the man was quite familiar with their fighting style. Suspicious and worried, she also had to protect her daughter, who was repeatedly failing in her attacks. Before she knew it, she had been forced to the edge of the cliff, a few more steps and she would fall off.

Seeing that he had cornered the two women and knew they could no longer overcome him, the man in black stopped. He glanced around, a strange glint in his eyes, the only part of his face exposed, a look that seemed to hold nostalgia or something else entirely. Finally, when his opponent stopped, the older woman, supporting her swaying daughter, felt an intense, overwhelming pain. The three had fought their way from the manor to this place, their opponent's skill far surpassing their own. The fierce battle had not only left them shaken but also drenched in sweat. The incessant rain had made it all the more unbearable; they hadn't felt it during the fight, but now, resting, they felt completely soaked. The mountain wind chilled them to the bone, making even their swords feel several times heavier, yet they still held them high, aiming at their opponents, unwilling to show weakness.

The older woman had her hair piled high in a bun, with a phoenix hairpin inserted at an angle, its wings spread as if about to take flight. She was clearly of high status and wealth. Her slightly round face had dark eyes and eyebrows, a straight nose, and cherry-like lips that seemed to be open but were actually closed. Her beauty exuded a noble and elegant air. Although she was soaked and somewhat disheveled, she still stood tall and graceful as she raised her sword to fight, displaying a dignified and solemn demeanor, and her aura was not at all inferior. But the sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl on the other side, a beautiful young woman, was not as composed as her mother. Her hair was soft and flowing, her lips red and her nose pink; her face and figure were almost identical to her mother's. Yet, her expression held a touch of naivety. Her dark, beautiful eyes stared at her opponent with fear. Her once radiant smile was now completely gone. The distant screams seemed to strike her heart like a heavy blow. Her delicate, almost translucent skin was now deathly pale, devoid of any color.

"Who...who are you? Why have you led a group to attack my Qilan Manor?" The older woman, though still maintaining a composed demeanor, betrayed her fear with a slightly trembling voice. After all, Qilan Manor was the head of the four manors of the Weitian Alliance. Although its reputation had declined significantly since the death of its lord, Ji Yuan, three years ago, the strength displayed by the opponent was truly formidable. Where in the martial world had such a powerful figure emerged?

Despite her repeated defeats, she had been trying to discern her opponent's martial arts style, but her enemy seemed to have anticipated this move as well. Their movements were as ordinary as those of a typical martial artist, and their punches and palm strikes were all well-known techniques like the Great Flood Fist and the Five Elements Palm. They relied solely on their profound internal energy to withstand her longsword, deliberately missing several openings that Shao Xueqian had intentionally revealed. Even though Shao Xueqian was a skilled swordswoman before marrying Ji Yuan, she was still struggling against this brute force and found it difficult to discern her opponent's true strength. Furthermore, having to protect her daughter, Shao Xueqian's attention was divided among four or five tenths of her, making it even harder to see through her opponent's martial arts.

It's said that Shao Xueqian's swordsmanship was not weak, and although her daughter Ji Mengying hadn't completed her apprenticeship, her swordsmanship foundation was also quite good. They shouldn't be so incompetent. However, firstly, this person's skill was truly superb; secondly, the opponent came without warning, and the battle began immediately. In her shock, Shao Xueqian could still maintain her composure, but Ji Mengying, flustered and confused, suffered a reduction in her skill.

More importantly, at this moment, the rain was pouring down. The opponent's fists and palms relied purely on power, and the rain did not pose an obstacle. However, the mother and daughter's swordsmanship relied on lightness and agility, and the rain suppressed their sword momentum slightly. Although it was only a slight difference, it wouldn't have much of an impact against an ordinary opponent. But now, the opponent was difficult to deal with, and even such a small difference caused problems. The two, who were already weaker, were at a greater disadvantage. In addition, the opponent knew the strengths and weaknesses of the mother and daughter's swordsmanship, making it even more difficult for them to gain the upper hand. Protecting her daughter, Shao Xueqian was alarmed. The other party was so composed, not only because they were adept at dealing with her and her daughter, but also because although the number of people they brought was far less than the guards of Qilan Manor, each of them was a skilled martial artist, a first or second-rate expert in the martial arts world. When did such a powerful force appear in the martial arts world? And why was there no prior warning?

Even so, Shao Xueqian's experience in the martial arts world was not easy, and she still managed to discern some clues about the enemy's origins.

Firstly, although the other party deliberately concealed their martial arts skills, apart from the leader, no one else could be so discreet. Although their origins were still unknown, it was clear that their martial arts skills were not passed down from a single master. If they were an organization, they were most likely not a long-established sect, but rather a mixed gang. Furthermore, everyone on the other side was dressed in black and masked, and they did not utter a single word during the battle, at most using hums to support each other. This made Shao Xueqian increasingly alarmed. Could it be that there was someone she knew among them? Otherwise, why would they be so cautious?

No matter how she tried to entice him, even when she had the upper hand, the other party remained silent, his every move revealing no weakness, making it impossible to force out his true skills. Shao Xueqian couldn't help but feel annoyed. If Ji Pingyi, the only son of the Ji family, hadn't been away training at the Junshan Sect, far away and not yet returned, the three of them working together, even if they couldn't defeat this person, could at least force him to use his true abilities. Why were they now in this situation, unable to guess the other party's true origins no matter how hard they tried?

The masked man in black didn't respond at all, only looking around the cliff, as if this place held some special meaning for him. Several times, Shao Xueqian wanted to fight desperately, even if she couldn't defeat the enemy, at least to let her daughter escape, but she couldn't find a trace. She couldn't help but feel sad. If Ji Yuan hadn't suffered from internal injuries that were difficult to heal and died too young, why would she have ended up in such a predicament?

Thinking of this, a sudden inspiration struck her. Shao Xueqian looked at the other person in disbelief, but after only one glance, she realized something was wrong. Although she had only caught a glimpse of that person back then, his figure and outline were completely different from the person in front of her. It seemed that even if that person had a different fate after falling off the cliff, he shouldn't look like this now that he had come to seek revenge. However, since she had doubts, she still asked, "Could it be... could it be that you have some connection with that lecherous thief Duan Ling from back then? Is that why you came to our manor seeking revenge?"

Hearing her mother say this, Ji Mengying, who was so tired that her legs were weak and she could hardly stand, was startled and stood up. Although the other person's body trembled when Shao Xueqian spoke, and two cold, lightning-like eyes shot straight at her, there was no discomfort in the deep resentment hidden in those eyes. Instead, there was a hint of mockery.

Although Ji Mengying couldn't discern the unspoken meaning in her gaze, she could tell from the increasing hesitation in her mother's expression that her mother's guess was wrong. However, given how shaken the other party was by these words, it was likely that this person was not entirely unrelated to Duan Ling's affair back then.

The key to the Mighty Alliance's rise to fame lay in the battle fifteen years ago. Duan Ling was originally a disciple of the Heavenly Gang Elder. After the Elder's death, he appeared in the martial world, relying on his superior martial arts skills to uphold justice. His reputation was originally not bad, but overnight he became a lecherous scoundrel who couldn't live without women. Unfortunately, the Heavenly Gang Elder's martial arts were inherited from the Wudang Taoist sect, but with its own unique techniques, making his attainments truly profound. Duan Ling received his true teachings, and although he was young and his skills were not yet deep, he had a good grasp of the Taoist techniques and could move freely and smoothly. He was truly unmatched in the martial world. If Ji Yuan and several sworn brothers of the Mighty Alliance hadn't joined forces and used the Golden Dragon Dagger, a family heirloom of Qilan Manor, to pierce Duan Ling's collarbone, rendering him unable to use his skills, it would have been difficult to force him to fall off the cliff.

The battle fifteen years ago took place here. Shao Xueqian fought alongside Ji Yuan and his wife. Although they were outnumbered, if Ji Yuan's Golden Dragon Dagger technique hadn't been a secret, Duan Ling would have been caught off guard and unable to defeat them, even with all six of them combined. Even though he fell into the valley and his fate was unknown, Shao Xueqian still felt a chill run down her spine when she thought about the battle.

Although they won that day, Duan Ling's counterattack was far more powerful than anyone expected. Ji Yuan, who was the first to be hit, almost had to take a palm strike to have two Golden Dragon Daggers pierce through Duan Ling's shoulders. As a result, his internal injuries were particularly severe. Although he didn't die from it, Duan Ling's hateful palm strike was one of the reasons for Ji Yuan's untimely death.

Recalling the past, Shao Xueqian couldn't help but shake her head inwardly. While the reason everyone surrounded and killed Duan Ling here was certainly out of a sense of duty and unwavering resolve, another reason was the "Nine-Turn Dragon Pearl," a rare fruit unique to this cliff.

This "Nine-Turn Dragon Pearl" ripens only once every ten years, is extremely cold in nature, and is a miraculous tonic. When Ji Mengying was born, she was weak and almost died. The son of Liu Hao, the second of Ji Yuan's sworn brothers, also suffered from the same ailment. Under the guidance of Shao Xueqian's close friend, the renowned physician Xin Wanyi, everyone came here to pick the "Nine-Turn Dragon Pearl." However, Duan Ling had already obtained and consumed the pearl before them, leaving only one in his hand. Whether for public or private reasons, everyone naturally had no choice but to give it their all.

After that battle, although the lecherous thief Duan Ling was forced to fall off a cliff and die, only one "Nine-Turn Dragon Pearl" remained, which was insufficient to feed the two young children. If Ji Yuan hadn't been the eldest brother and hadn't fought exceptionally hard against Duan Ling, resulting in serious injuries, and hadn't achieved this through a majority vote of the five sworn brothers, Ji Mengying might not have lived to this age! However, because of this, Liu Hao's son died young, and his wife also died of depression. As a result, the rift between Liu Hao and Ji Yuan among the brothers deepened. Although they weren't exactly strangers, they couldn't be as close as before.

In fact, Ji Mengying knew this much better than her mother, because when her uncles and aunts gathered when she was young, the look in her second uncle Liu Hao's eyes was so frightening. There was no gentle kindness towards a junior; instead, it was as if he might rush over and strangle her at any moment. Ji Mengying was most afraid of this second uncle. Every time he came, she would hide, fearing that one day he would really eat her alive.

At this point, the black-clad masked man's gaze towards the two women was as filled with barely concealed hatred and anger as it had been with Liu Hao that day. Only now, his resentment and disgust were even more undisguised. Just their eyes met,

and Ji Mengying felt as if she were being sucked in, involuntarily taking a step back. Little Fang secretly wondered if this man also harbored such an unresolved grudge against her family. Otherwise, why would he look at her and her mother with such venomous eyes? Seeing that the man didn't even utter a sound, his gaze filled with venom, the chilling light emanating from him startled even someone as composed as Shao Xueqian. She knew the enemy harbored deep hatred for her and her mother; if they fell into his hands, who knew what kind of torture they would suffer, perhaps even a fate worse than death.

Although Shao Xueqian was not afraid of death, she did not want to suffer such torture. Moreover, her daughter had been weak since birth, and now, at sixteen or seventeen, her health was not good. As a mother, she cherished her daughter even more, and her love for her daughter was so strong that she did not want her to fall into the hands of the enemy. She gritted her teeth secretly, knowing that at the last moment, she might have no choice but to seek death.

Seeing the flames growing brighter in the distance, the faint sounds of fighting and cursing gradually subsided, indicating that the battle in Qilan Manor was coming to an end. Shao Xueqian's last hope was extinguished. She protected her daughter and took another step back, feeling that there was a precipice behind her. Thinking that the "Nine-Turn Dragon Pearl" rooted upside down at the bottom of the cliff was in the soil and rocks beneath her feet

, she couldn't help but smile bitterly. If she had been able to seize the initiative before Duan Ling consumed it, and if Liu Hao and Ji Yuan had not been estranged, and the two had cooperated, Qilan Manor would not be in such a state now.

Suddenly, the man in black approached, his palms flashing as he struck the two women's vital points. The three of them were now crammed on the edge of the cliff, each step carefully placed. They were focused on their feet, fearing that a single misstep would send them tumbling off the cliff. The cliff was deep, and a fall would mean certain death. The man in black, with his stable stance, remained calm, but the two women were finding it difficult to join forces. Shao Xueqian, who was protecting her daughter behind her, had taken several blows and felt her blood surging in her chest, struggling to breathe due to the man in black's powerful internal energy.

Sensing the black-clad man's moves were not intended to kill, Shao Xueqian felt no joy. Although they hadn't exchanged a single word, the venom in his eyes told her that he harbored a deep hatred for her and her daughter. If they fell into his hands, their innocence would be lost, and unspeakable torture awaited them. Her longsword, however, was increasingly difficult to wield amidst the wind and rain and the enemy's attacks, making self-defense difficult, let alone escape.

Just as Shao Xueqian's heart was in turmoil, wondering whether she should force her daughter off the cliff—even death would be better than falling into enemy hands—she suddenly heard a cry of alarm behind her. Ji Mengying, in her retreat, had unknowingly slipped off the cliff. Although she managed to grab her mother's sash, it was too late to stop her fall. Before Shao Xueqian could react, she heard the sound of the sash tearing; Ji Mengying had fallen!

A tearing pain welled up in her chest. Although her heart was still struggling with whether to jump off the cliff with her daughter to avoid falling into enemy hands and suffering torture, her love for her daughter made this choice far too difficult. Upon seeing her daughter fall off the cliff, Shao Xueqian felt a pang of pain in her heart and her swordplay faltered. Suddenly, she felt a surge of energy rushing towards her chest. With only the thought of falling with her daughter in her heart, Shao Xueqian had no more will to live. She simply did not dodge or evade, but instead thrust her long sword back at the black-clad man's chest, adopting a posture of mutual destruction and death with the enemy.

The man in black had already gained the upper hand, and with one of his opponents already fallen off the cliff, there was no need for him to directly confront Shao Xueqian's desperate, self-destructive attack. Taking a few steps back or temporarily withdrawing his palm strike to regroup would have been easy. However, whether driven by deep hatred or some other reason, seemingly fearing that Shao Xueqian might also jump off the cliff like her daughter, he forcefully slapped his left palm away from the longsword, even risking a cut on his palm from the blade, rather than retreating even half a step. His right palm aimed straight for Shao Xueqian's chest, determined to capture her.

The longsword was deflected by his palm strike, and feeling the palm aimed directly at her chest, Shao Xueqian suddenly awoke. The opponent's moves were still unremarkable, but the unusual torrent in his palm was strangely familiar—it was the "Endless Torrent" palm technique, unique to Shi Jian, the third brother of the Weitian Alliance!

Although Shi Jian and Liu Hao had always been on good terms, and since the incident years ago, there had been growing disagreements between them and Ji Yuan, Shao Xueqian never expected that Shi Jian would actually turn against her!

"You…" Overwhelmed with bitterness, she didn't know what to say. Shao Xueqian's longsword flew from her hand, aimed directly at the black-clad man's chest, while she retreated hastily. Since it was Shi Jian who had made the move, aside from being a righteous person, his intelligence told her that such internal strife must be completely eradicated, leaving no trace. If she fell into his hands, she would likely face torture and still not escape. It was better to jump off the cliff; perhaps there would still be a glimmer of hope!

Unexpectedly, Shao Xueqian was so resolute. The man in black couldn't grab her in time, so he simply unleashed his palm force, a fiery torrent aimed directly at Shao Xueqian's chest. While in mid-air, Shao Xueqian felt a sharp pain in her chest and spat out a mouthful of blood. This was only because there was already some distance between them. Although the man in black used the Splitting Palm, the force of his palm inevitably diminished, and only 80% of the force remained when it struck Shao Xueqian's chest. Otherwise, with the domineering and powerful force of the "Endless Torrent" palm, it might have killed her.

Seeing Shao Xueqian plummeting down the cliff, her last glance at him filled with shock and rage, the man in black turned away angrily, throwing the longsword he had been holding to the side with his left hand. His long-planned scheme had failed at the last moment, and his anger burned even brighter. If it weren't for Shao Xueqian's ruthless final strike, though he wanted to capture her, he wouldn't have been willing to risk his life. She wouldn't have had the chance.

Although he couldn't unleash his full power in that strike, Shao Xueqian had taken the blow, and without immediate help, her life would have been hanging by a thread. It was a pity he hadn't been able to capture her and vent his pent-up anger of over a decade.

Her foot slipped and she plummeted down the cliff face. Ji Mengying was startled. Although she was a woman of the martial world who didn't care much about her life while traveling, she was still young and unwilling to die so easily. Her heart was filled with panic, but her eyes remained pressed against the cliff face, hoping to grab onto some grass or branches to at least slow her fall.

Unfortunately, the cliff was steep. Although it wasn't a sheer drop, the cliff face was smooth as a mirror. Apart from the plants at the bottom, there was not a single blade of grass. In her moment of crisis, Ji Mengying saw a dark cave in the cliff face, with a faint light flowing inside. She quickly cried for help, but her voice had barely left her lips when she fell even deeper. She didn't know if her cry had even reached the cave.

Suddenly, a dark shadow flew out of the cave entrance and coiled towards Ji Mengying like a serpent. Its speed was unavoidable, and Ji Mengying, who was terrified of snakes and insects, didn't even have time to scream before the shadow wrapped around her slender waist. However, the fall was too rapid. Even after realizing the shadow was just a long vine, and knowing it was her only chance of survival, Ji Mengying relaxed and didn't struggle. She continued to plummet downwards, even being pulled towards the mountain wall by the force of the tug.

Just as Ji Mengying's left palm was placed against the wall, trying to reduce the impact, and her right hand, holding a long sword, was unsure where to put it, the vine around her waist changed. Ji Mengying felt an unusual force coming from her waist, which somehow reduced the force of her fall and lessened the momentum of her impact with the mountain wall.

Although her experience in the martial world was limited, Ji Mengying had practiced martial arts since childhood, making her reactions much faster than the average person. Using the force of the vines, she pushed off the cliff face with her left hand and both feet, propelling herself upwards. With the help of the vines around her waist, she quickly ascended, reaching the cave entrance in one breath. Releasing her longsword, Ji Mengying was startled. While she had practiced this "ladder to heaven" lightness skill before, she had never experienced such speed and ease. She never expected it to save her life.

Before she could even see who was helping her in the cave, she heard a sound from the cliff. Ji Mengying jerked her head down, her soul nearly leaving her body. After she fell, her mother also fell. She didn't know if she had jumped because she was heartbroken for her daughter, or if she had been forced to fall by the enemy.

As her mother fell before her, Ji Mengying caught a glimpse of her mother. Terrified, she was completely disoriented. Shao Xueqian's beautiful eyes were tightly closed, her face ashen, a trace of blood glistening on her lips—clearly she had taken a heavy blow and might already be unconscious. Even if she were in perfect condition, with her martial arts skills, she couldn't possibly save her mother, let alone be left weak and powerless after the shock. Ji Mengying was so frightened she almost cried, unable to even utter a sound.

Just then, the vine around her waist suddenly moved. Before Ji Mengying could react, she was thrown aside. Panicked, she saw her mother right in front of her and instinctively grabbed Shao Xueqian's waist, only to find the vine still firmly wrapped around her waist, that strange force returning.

Just like the Heavenly Ladder lightness skill from before, but whether she had practiced it before and was now even more adept, or whether her strength was flowing more smoothly because of her mother's concern, she couldn't tell. Holding the unconscious Shao Xueqian, Ji Mengying returned to the cave entrance, feeling her limbs grow increasingly weak. She lay there, panting, her heart overflowing with joy. She had finally saved her mother. For a moment, she didn't know whether to laugh or cry, simply lying there limply, unable to utter a single word. After

catching her breath for a long time, Ji Mengying finally regained her composure and remembered she should thank the person who had saved her. She turned and bowed towards the cave, "I am Ji Mengying of Qilan Manor. Thank you... thank you for saving my life. I will repay you in the future."

"Qilan Manor?" The person's voice seemed somewhat surprised. Ji Mengying then noticed that the vines that had been wrapped around her waist had silently retreated back into the cave, stopping abruptly at her words. She was quite startled; judging from the person's words, could it be that there was some grudge against her family? In the past, she would not have been afraid, but now that her home was destroyed, if she encountered an opponent here, Ji Mengying really didn't know what to do. Fortunately, after a while, the person in the cave continued, his voice as calm and even as the retracted vines, "The other person is seriously injured. Do you think we should bring her in? It's raining heavily outside."

Hearing the person in the cave say this, Ji Mengying realized that she felt a chill on her body. The autumn rain that had been falling was gradually getting heavier. Her mother, who had fainted with her eyes closed, also seemed to be affected by the cold and was trembling. She hurriedly helped her mother up and hid in the cave.

Hiding in the cave, Ji Mengying shivered involuntarily. Although her internal energy wasn't particularly strong, it was still enough to withstand the autumn chill. However, the fierce battle on the cliff earlier, with the enemy deliberately exhausting her and her mother's strength for a swift capture, coupled with the two uses of lightness skill to climb the Heavenly Ladder—which, while saving her and her mother's lives, had clearly depleted her inner strength—made Ji Mengying feel weak and unable to muster any more internal energy. She looked worriedly at her mother, wondering if Shao Xueqian would catch a cold.

These thoughts swirled in her mind for a long time before Ji Mengying finally turned around to see what the person in the cave looked like.

The cave was dark, and it took Ji Mengying a while to adjust. When she finally saw what was inside, she was startled. The person in the cave was dressed in green, sitting cross-legged among withered branches and weeds. Their clothes were tattered, and their hair and beard were extremely long, obscuring half of their face, indicating they had been living there for quite some time.

What was particularly frightening was the man's face, covered in scars, not from swords or knives, but rather from what appeared to be marks from friction among the grass and twigs. His original features were almost unrecognizable, only his eyes remained bright and normal. If it weren't for the vines scattered around him, reminding Ji Mengying that she and her mother would likely not have survived without his intervention, this terrifying appearance would have made Ji Mengying want to scream for help.

However, the man seemed aware of his frightening appearance. Although he saw Ji Mengying retreat in fright, he didn't do anything. Instead, he reached out and pressed his hand in the air, signaling her to calm down. Only when Ji Mengying stopped did he release his hand from the vines, let out a soft sigh, and retreat about ten steps into the depths of the cave before sitting down again, making room for Ji Mengying to come in.
"Come in a little closer. This cave isn't deep. Even if you're not afraid of the cold, if you back out any further, you might fall and I might not be able to catch you in time."

"Uh... I'm sorry... Mengying was being rude." She secretly stuck out her tongue, knowing her actions were rather impolite. However, the other party seemed to know this and didn't seem to hold it against her. Ji Mengying helped her mother sit closer and bowed to the person again. "May I ask how you address me, senior?"

The person rolled his eyes, seemingly unwilling to answer Ji Mengying's question, and took a deep breath. He looked at Shao Xueqian beside him. "Miss, your surname is Ji? Then what is this Madam Ji's relationship to you?"

"She is... she is my mother..." Turning her head, she saw that her mother was still unconscious. Ji Mengying reached out and pressed her mother's wrist pulse. She felt that the pulse was rapid and unstable, indicating severe internal injuries, and she was startled.

Although she knew her opponent possessed formidable internal strength, and her mother had been protecting her the entire time, hindering her from fully utilizing the agile and fluid advantages of her swordsmanship, directly confronting the enemy's powerful internal energy would inevitably result in serious injuries. However

, she hadn't expected it to be this severe. Unfortunately, Ji Mengying was limited by her age and frail health from childhood; even with a solid foundation in internal energy, her skill was insufficient, leaving her powerless to help. "What should we do?" Startled by her mother's pulse, Ji Mengying was now terrified. Her brother was out and difficult to contact, and most of her old family relatives had perished. She had no one to rely on. "Senior… is there any way to save my mother?"

"I can't help it." Ji Mengying's words had barely left her lips when the man swiftly followed up. "I can't save her right now."

"But...but..." Ji Mengying was shocked that the man had so quickly rejected her hopes. Tears streamed down her face. She was about to kneel down and beg the man when vines wrapped around her, preventing her from kneeling. She heard the man's slow voice, "Take a good look...As a member of Qilan Manor, you should be able to tell what this is. How can I possibly use my powers to save someone in this state?"

Hearing this, Ji Mengying raised her head, her tear-filled eyes seeing the man clearly. She saw two lifelike dragon heads on his shoulders. Ji Mengying had seen those things countless times since she was a child, and she immediately recognized them as the family's Golden Dragon Thorns.

Knowing that the family heirloom Golden Dragon Dagger was no ordinary weapon, and given that it had pierced the vital area of the collarbone, combined with the secret techniques of Qilan Manor, the victim's internal energy was severely restricted. Even with ten percent of his power, he could only unleash three or four tenths at most. She wondered what this person had done to be injured by the Golden Dragon Dagger, trapped here, and how long he had been without seeing the light of day.

Thinking of this, Ji Mengying realized that the vines that had wrapped around her waist, while incredibly agile, were rather weak. If not for their subtle and skillful maneuvering, employing techniques that mimicked the Taoist principle of using external force to neutralize internal energy, they probably wouldn't have been able to save her and her daughter.

It seemed that this person, after being struck by the Golden Dragon Dagger, was unable to exert any force and could only focus on the subtle manipulation of his strength. These vines were convenient for plucking and retrieving objects, but when it came to using internal energy to save someone, that was a genuine skill with no room for trickery, something he could hardly accomplish in his current state.

"How about we make a deal?" Seeing Ji Mengying standing there, unsure of what to do, the man chuckled bitterly. "If you help me remove this Golden Dragon Thorn, I will help you save your mother. To be honest, this Golden Dragon Thorn is removed using a secret technique. If it weren't for the Qilan Manor's unique method of removing thorns, I might damage her meridians if I forcibly removed it, making it impossible to save her."

"This...this..." Knowing that what the man said was true, Ji Mengying, being a member of Qilan Manor, naturally knew the power of this family's inherited technique. However, this man's identity was unknown, and having been injured by his elders with the Golden Dragon Thorn, he was probably not a good person. If she casually removed the Golden Dragon Thorn and got rid of the leech clinging to him, he would be like a dragon released from its cage, and who knew what kind of trouble he would cause?

But compared to that unseen future, Shao Xueqian's brows were furrowed and her face contorted in pain, indicating the severity of her internal injuries. Ji Mengying had thought long and hard, but had no other choice; even if it meant drinking poison to quench her thirst, it was the only option.

"Since that's the case, Mengying will remove this thorn for you, Senior. But... but afterwards, please, Senior, do not stray onto the evil path..."

"You are truly adorable." The man shook his head, a bitter smile playing on his lips, which even his beard couldn't conceal. He clearly found Ji Mengying's words laughable, yet his gaze remained gentle.

"If I were a good person, I wouldn't have strayed onto the evil path if I didn't tell you; if I were a bad person, I would make promises lightly and break them easily, and afterwards, even you, young lady, couldn't do anything about it. You actually believed such a pointless question and answer. I suppose the elders in your family, like the old man from Jiyuan... must be quite troubled by your naivety, right? This kind of

behavior won't do for navigating the world..." "This..." Ji Mengying's face turned red as she was mocked before she could even finish her sentence. She had no words to refute him. Her family had long known about her naive nature, but her mother was always protective of her and would only talk to her about it. Besides, Ji Mengying's naivety hadn't caused any major mistakes yet, so others would just chuckle at most and not really take it seriously. Naturally, she didn't want to change, but every time someone brought it up to her face, she would blush with shame and anger.

At this moment, Ji Mengying was at a loss for what to do. With her meager skills, she was more than capable of protecting herself from the cold, but far from being able to use them to save someone. Right now, she could only rely on the man before her to help her mother. However, he had explicitly stated that he might go back on his word, making Ji Mengying even more hesitant to make a decision. She stood there, stunned, her eyes darting back and forth between

the man and her mother, unsure what to do. Seeing her still considering, the man shook his head, seemingly disliking the young girl's indecisive nature. But such a young girl, with no experience in the martial world, was hardly someone to be expected to make quick decisions. Although he kept shaking his head and smiling wryly, there was little mockery in his eyes, but rather amusement. He slowly stood up and walked to Ji Mengying's side. "Young lady, think it over carefully. Let me take your mother's pulse first, shall I?"

"Yes." She nodded and made way for him. Firstly, as a member of the martial arts world, she didn't place as much importance on the distinction between men and women as a moralist, and wouldn't avoid even physical contact like the plague. Secondly, Ji Mengying was preoccupied with her own grief and didn't have much free time to pay attention to this person's actions. More importantly, having someone accompany her in worrying about her mother's injuries gave Ji Mengying a sense of security, so she wouldn't resist.

"Hmm? This is..." The person had barely placed their fingers on Shao Xueqian's fair wrist when they let out a soft "hmm," drawing Ji Mengying's attention away from her wandering thoughts. Seeing the hesitation in the person's eyes, she tilted her head and asked, "Senior... how is Mother's injury?"

"This injury..." Seeing Ji Mengying's worried face, the person barely managed to suppress their habit of shaking their head and waved their hand to reassure her. "Although your mother was struck hard, it seems she wasn't completely destroyed by the force. The opponent must have struck from a distance, so she only received about 50% of the force. To be honest... although the injury is severe, it can still last for a day or two. However, this injury... is strange... it's actually the force of 'Endless Torrent,' which is quite peculiar... Little girl, has Shi Jian been injured in the past few years? How has his skill progressed?"

"It's... it's 'Endless Torrent'?" Upon hearing this man's words, Ji Mengying was startled. Even without much experience, she knew that "Endless Torrent" was her third uncle Shi Jian's unique palm technique, extremely domineering and powerful. Could the masked man in black be her third uncle?

However, upon closer thought, Ji Mengying realized something was amiss. Leaving aside the fact that Shi Jian had recently traveled beyond the Great Wall to handle some matters with an old friend—a fact well-known in the martial world—their physiques alone were different. Shi Jian had a unique appearance, his body not as robust as that of ordinary martial artists, even shorter than her. The man in black, on the other hand, was of normal build. Such a difference in physique couldn't be faked by mere disguise.

She shook her head. "Third Uncle is alright… Although Mengying couldn't discern her third uncle's skill level, she had never heard of him being injured. His progress should be normal. Senior… this really is the 'Endless Torrent' palm technique, isn't it?"

"In terms of palm strike strength, it's true, but... the power is rather insufficient. Even if the opponent didn't intend to kill, it's too weak..." Shaking his head, the man seemed to know that Shi Jian's appearance was unique and difficult to impersonate. Especially judging from Ji Mengying's expression, she was not familiar with the enemy, so it must have been done by someone else. "Moreover, the force is rather impure, lacking the purity of Shi Jian himself. It must have been someone else who started practicing it halfway through..." "

Is that so? I see." Hearing what this man said, Ji Mengying couldn't help but sigh. Even if it was the slightest possibility, if this matter was indeed done by Shi Jian, she would be very upset. There is nothing in the world more painful for loved ones and more joyful for enemies than brothers fighting each other.

Moreover, judging from what this person said, the "Endless Torrent" palm technique that the man in black had secretly practiced was far less powerful than that of her third uncle. Only then did she feel relieved. After all, although her third uncle was small in stature, he practiced his martial arts diligently, and his palm technique was truly formidable. In terms of domineering power, few could rival him. Her mother was not known for her martial arts skills, so if she had really been hit by her third uncle, it would have been difficult to deal with.

"Don't relax so soon." Seeing Ji Mengying's expression, the person smiled bitterly. This was the worst thing about the younger generation; they never understood the importance of priorities. "Although this person's palm power is not as strong as Shi Jian's, his skill is profound, and he used it quite well. Moreover, this palm strike already contained the true power of the 'Endless Torrent,' with its domineering energy penetrating through the meridians, second only to me. If it is not dealt with soon, it will heal in time, but it will not be easy to recover one's original strength. The young lady should know the power of the 'Endless Torrent' much better than I do." "

"This...this..." Hearing this, Ji Mengying's nose tingled, and she almost burst into tears again.

Although she knew that this person's words were meant to force her to make a decision quickly, not to mention how difficult the decision was, just seeing her mother suffering like this, as a daughter, she couldn't help but feel heartbroken. She felt even more resentful towards the man in black: after all, what this person said was true. As a member of the Mighty Heaven Alliance, Ji Mengying naturally understood the ferocity of "Endless Torrent." Her mother had been distracted by her and taken this blow; it was already quite good that she hadn't died on the spot.

"Since that's the case, Mengying agrees to remove the thorn for you, senior." After thinking for a long time, Ji Mengying finally made her decision. She carefully reached out and pinched the golden dragon head, secretly using her family's secret technique to try to pull out the golden dragon thorn. However, she was weak and her body trembled uncontrollably. Even her hand, which was trying to pull out the thorn, trembled uncontrollably. It was quite frightening to see, and even the man couldn't help but shake his head. "Relax a bit! Relax, otherwise you'll damage my meridians and won't be able to save me!" He gently pressed down on Ji Mengying's delicate hand, removing it from the dragon head. Only then did Ji Mengying see that although his nails were quite long, his hands were clean and slender, not at all like someone who was unkempt and distressed. Only now did she realize that although his clothes were tattered and barely covered his body, he wasn't dirty. Could it be that even when trapped here, this person still had a way to clean himself?

"This...this is..."

Seeing Ji Mengying staring blankly at her hands, the man smiled slightly, as if he could see through her confusion. "Although this cave is small, it is full of winding paths and secluded spots. There is another world behind that big rock. Otherwise, if I were trapped here for too long, I would not only be unable to bear the filth, but I would also starve to death. If you can take your mother out from there, you might be able to find someone to treat her. However...I tried to go down the mountain once. Although there is a way down the mountain, it will take at least two or three days to reach a populated area. Your mother's injuries...may not be able to hold out."

"Yes..." Looking closely at the wound on the man's shoulder, Ji Mengying was shocked. Her heart was filled with worry, and even...a little pity. The pain of the golden dragon thorn piercing the bone must have been excruciating. Adding to the discomfort was the swelling on the person's shoulder, indicating that despite vigorous cleaning, the thorn had been difficult to remove for a long time. The thorn was embedded in the flesh, and the wound was oozing pus and blood; the suffering was truly unbearable. "How long... has this been going on?"

"Quite a while." The person let out a soft sigh and smiled, whether feigning calm or genuinely unconcerned about the injury, it was unclear. "Don't worry, every now and then I try to gently pull it out a little, until I don't damage any meridians. So although the thorn is deep, it's not completely embedded in the body. As long as you pull it out carefully, it won't break any bones. However, you'd better pull it out quickly and smoothly, otherwise, if the pain makes me faint, it might be too late to save me. Little girl, you should catch your breath first! If this continues, you might not be worried, but I am."

"I see..." Seeing that his expression didn't seem fake, although she knew that this person deserved this torture, after all, the elders who used it wouldn't use the Golden Dragon Dagger on just anyone, and only a wicked person would be imprisoned here, but the pain of the Golden Dragon Dagger piercing the bone was already unbearable, and it had been delayed for so long, just thinking about it made her feel pain. This person had already paid enough for whatever sins he had committed. Ji Mengying couldn't help but feel a surge of pity, and gently touched the wound with her slender hand, trying her best to slow down her movements, as if she wanted to soothe the pain.

[Volume 1] Chapter 2: Deeply Envious

Seeing Ji Mengying's gentleness, her eyes overflowing with pity, completely disregarding his potential enemy and treating him like a wounded little pet, her delicate touch inevitably aggravated his injury. However, after so much time had passed, he had grown accustomed to the pain. Though the pain caused him to twitch, he found Ji Mengying's movements even more gentle and skillful. A bitter smile played on his lips, but he said nothing more. After a long while, finally regaining his senses, Ji Mengying looked at him, thought for a moment, picked up a few larger leaves from the side, went outside to catch the rainwater, and then returned, using her hands to scoop water and gently wash the spot where the golden dragon had pierced his flesh.

The man didn't say much, patiently waiting for Ji Mengying's movements as she cleaned the area around the wound. Only when Ji Mengying carefully grasped the dragon's head with her slender hands did he speak: "Little girl, are you ready? If you pull it out badly, it won't just hurt me, it'll hurt your mother too!"

Ji Mengying gave him a slightly reproachful glare, inwardly cursing. Even if she didn't know what bad things this man had done in the past, just hearing his excessive words, she knew that being imprisoned here was almost certainly deserved. However, her mother's situation was urgent, and this man was her only savior. Plus, he had saved her life earlier, so a few teasing words were really nothing. "Senior, be careful...it hurts a lot..."

"Just pull it out. If there's pain, it's me who's in pain. Just be careful not to damage the meridians, after all...I still need to use my internal energy to heal your mother." As he spoke, the man not only slowed his voice, but Ji Mengying could also feel his body relaxing as much as possible, clearly to make it easier for her to pull out the thorn. She thought to herself: If you really want to break free from these constraints, why say so much? Creating pressure and making her so nervous does him absolutely no good. She gritted her teeth, exerted force, and pulled out the golden dragon thorn in one swift motion.

With a "pop," the golden dragon thorn was finally pulled out, bringing with it a spray of blood and a trace of yellow pus. Ji Mengying, who was holding her breath, almost got splashed with it. She gritted her teeth, thinking, "Thank goodness you didn't say anything more," and grabbed the other side of the dragon's head, pulling out both golden dragon thorns. Although he shuddered in pain when the thorns came out, he didn't utter a sound.

After finally pulling out both thorns, Ji Mengying breathed a sigh of relief. She raised her head to ask how the man was feeling, but was shocked to find that his eyes were closed, his facial muscles were contorted, and he had fainted from the pain. Blood was gushing from the wounds on his shoulders, mixed with yellow pus and blood, which looked quite frightening. It was clear that the two thorns had been inside him for a long time. Although he had deliberately pulled them out gently and they hadn't grown into the flesh, they had still been piercing the muscles and blood vessels from time to time. No wonder there was blood stasis and pus inside. Even she, as an observer, couldn't bear to watch. She really didn't know how this man had endured it.

But the bleeding wouldn't stop. Although the blood contained pus and was extremely filthy, Ji Mengying couldn't care less about the filth at this moment. Suppressing her nausea, she hurriedly took out her small dagger and cut open the wound to clean out the pus. She then took some clean water and washed the wound. After the pus and blood had finally stopped flowing, the bleeding from his shoulder wounds, though still present, seemed to have gradually stopped. It would likely heal completely after a period of rest. Ji Mengying wiped her face with her sleeve and realized that she was covered in cold sweat. Even her clothes were stained with pus and blood. She couldn't help but tear off the stained parts.

The sound of clothes being torn seemed to awaken the man. He opened his eyes slightly and saw Ji Mengying looking like she wanted to vomit but couldn't. She was tearing and cutting off the stained parts of her clothes, which were originally fine but were now in a mess. He smiled slightly as he silently circulated his internal energy to examine his internal condition. Although his meridians were still painful when he circulated his energy, and it felt like blood was flowing out just from circulating his energy, it was still much more comfortable than the previous feeling of his energy not flowing smoothly. The pain was so real that he felt that all the shackles had been removed.

Seeing that Ji Mengying had almost finished tearing away the filth, revealing glimpses of her underwear beneath the ripped clothes, the man breathed a sigh of relief, thinking: This little girl is really spoiled at home, she can't even tolerate a little dirt. She must have never been in the martial world before. "Have you finished? If you're done, let's get down to business. Have your mother sit with her back to me so I can use my internal energy to save her." "

Uh... yes, Mengying understands." Only then did Ji Mengying notice her appearance after being reminded by the man, and she immediately felt extremely embarrassed.

She had been so focused on removing the filth that she hadn't realized her clothes were barely covering her body. Although only part of her skin was exposed, her private parts were still completely covered. Ji Mengying, a young girl, had never been in such a situation before, and she was so ashamed that she didn't know what to do. She couldn't ask him to close his eyes, nor could she find other clothes to cover herself. What was worse, he was right. The reason she had removed the thorns for him was to save her seriously injured mother. Now, she was so focused on cleaning up the filth that she had completely forgotten the important matter. This was really wrong of her.

Carefully helping Shao Xueqian sit up, Ji Mengying watched anxiously as the man gently placed his arms and palms on Shao Xueqian's back. With just that movement, blood seeped from the wound on her shoulder again. Ji Mengying trembled involuntarily. Although she felt it was inappropriate to speak at this moment, after hesitating for a long time, she couldn't help but speak up: "Um, that… Senior, the Golden Dragon Thorn has just been removed from your body, shouldn't you… rest for a while?"

"Saving lives is the priority." The man glanced at Ji Mengying, his expression unreadable, a mixture of a smile and a scolding, making Ji Mengying blush. She knew saving lives was the priority, especially since the person about to be saved was her mother. However, this man had only just gotten rid of the leech, and he immediately wanted to use his internal energy to heal her mother. Ji Mengying felt that her request was excessive, but Shao Xueqian's condition couldn't be delayed any longer. Even though she saw the man bleeding from his wound as he used his internal energy, and her face contorted with pain, she still didn't dare ask him to stop and rest first. Although the Golden Dragon Thorn had just been pulled out, the pain on Shao Xueqian's face was gradually subsiding, and steam was rising from her head—long, straight, sparse, and unbroken. This showed that the person's skill was indeed not weak. Even after being seriously injured, saving Shao Xueqian's life was still a piece of cake. After a long time, when the pain on Shao Xueqian's face had completely subsided, her originally bloodless face gradually regained its color, even becoming somewhat red and hot. It was unclear whether this was due to the healing process or because the person had not controlled the amount of energy used, causing Shao Xueqian's internal injuries to heal but her body to become hot due to the excessive energy. In any case, there was no need to worry about the wound for the time being, and Ji Mengying's anxious heart was finally at ease.

"Senior...are you...alright?"

"I'm fine." He gritted his teeth and uttered the two words. Although his beard and hair were disheveled, his face was still pale, as if Shao Xueqian's pale face had been infected by him. Just by looking at how he didn't even wave his hand, Ji Mengying knew that although it seemed easy for him to use his internal energy to save people, he had actually used up a lot of his internal strength. In addition, his meridian injuries had not yet healed. No wonder he didn't even want to move his hands. Even his voice seemed to be forced out by the pain in his body.

"Really? But..." He gently laid his mother down on the ground, feeling the heat and burning sensation on Shao Xueqian's skin. Clearly, to suppress the overwhelming, domineering palm force within her, he had indeed exhausted a great deal of his power. However, the medicine wasn't right; it could only temporarily alleviate the injury. But if it could buy her some more time, that would be good enough. Since there was a way out here, once his mother could walk freely, they could slowly bring out ordinary doctors and precious medicines, and Shao Xueqian's health shouldn't be a problem. On the contrary...

"Senior, your shoulder wound is still bleeding. Shouldn't you rest first?"

"No, come here."

Hearing him mention her, Ji Mengying was already suspicious when the man gently placed his hand on her shoulder. Ji Mengying felt a surge of heat, realizing that she had also expended a lot of her power, and coupled with being soaked from the autumn rain and not having properly treated herself, she was likely to fall seriously ill. Although Shao Xueqian was in the same situation, her body had warmed up after being transferred power by this person. On the contrary, her condition was more serious. However, this person's condition might not be able to withstand such exhaustion. "Senior... Mengying can do it herself... Huh?"

As soon as she spoke, Ji Mengying felt something was wrong. The power he transferred was not strong, and it even felt weaker than usual. It was as if he hadn't transferred any power at all. She thought that he must have used all his strength when he rescued Shao Xueqian. However, her internal strength was solid, and she reacted to external forces. Although the person's power was weak, it just happened to trigger her internal potential. It warmed up from the depths of her body, gradually flowing through her meridians and combining with her original power. It circulated freely in her body, and her body gradually warmed up.

The original purpose was to transfer internal energy, but unless the two people's cultivation methods originated from the same source, the transfer of different energies into one would inevitably cause mutual wear and tear. Therefore, this method of transferring energy always consumed a lot of power. With such a consumption of power, he originally couldn't help Ji Mengying.

However, he didn't forcibly transfer his energy to her, but instead used a small amount of his own energy to trigger Ji Mengying's own potential, integrating it into her original energy. Energy born from the same source flowed smoothly without any stagnation. Ji Mengying felt warm and comfortable all over her body. Not only did the dampness and coldness in her body disappear, but her energy seemed to have improved by two or three tenths compared to before. She couldn't help but feel a little excited: it was a pity that she was weak in her childhood. Although she was able to grow up to this age with the help of the "Nine-Turn Dragon Pearl," the medicine could not ultimately make up for her weak innate talent. Ji Mengying's potential was much weaker than that of her peers. Otherwise, with the solid foundation of her internal energy cultivation, coupled with this person's method of triggering potential, the benefits she would have received would have been more than this.

"Phew, I see... Senior?" Having finally waited for him to finish circulating his energy, Ji Mengying felt a warm and comfortable sensation throughout her body. Just as she was feeling smug, she saw him close his eyes and faint. She didn't know if it was from overexerting

himself immediately after being freed from his restraints, or from the pain of his injuries flaring up again. Seeing blood still flowing from his shoulder wounds, Ji Mengying was startled. Looking around, she realized there was nothing around to bandage his wounds. The withered branches and leaves in the cave were out of the question, and the dirty scraps of cloth she had just cut would be even worse.

Gritting her teeth, Ji Mengying tore two long strips of cloth from her skirt and hurriedly wrapped them around his wounds. The bleeding seemed to have stopped, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She moved aside and sat down, letting Shao Xueqian lean against her. Looking at the unconscious man, she wondered what to do next.

First, she needed to consider this man's background. He was impaled by the Golden Dragon Thorn, and she didn't know if he was a member of the evil path. She was young and naive, but perhaps her mother would recognize him. However, thinking of Shao Xueqian waking up, Ji Mengying's heart was even more troubled. If this person was truly a demon, would freeing him from his shackles be considered raising a tiger to cause future trouble? Her mother was seriously injured, and given the circumstances, she truly had no other choice. She just didn't know if this reason would convince her mother. Watching the man turn his head to sleep, Ji Mengying felt her heart tremble, unable to clear her mind.

But more importantly, she needed to quickly contact her elder brother who was learning martial arts at the Junshan Sect. Although those who roam the martial world don't distinguish between men and women... Even a woman should take responsibility when things are urgent, but Ji Mengying was young and facing such a major event for the first time. She only wanted to hide behind her mother or even her elder brother, never considering handling it herself. Especially since this time she was facing not only a mysterious and powerful enemy, but also someone possibly connected to her third uncle. Ji Mengying wanted absolutely nothing to do with such a complicated and chaotic situation, and would push the blame onto someone else if possible. A thought flickered in her mind: could the person in the cave be brought to her side? That would be another ally.

Finally hearing a slight change in the breathing beside her, Ji Mengying turned her head and saw that the person had woken up, smiling as they looked at the cloth wrapped around her shoulder. The smile was bitter and mocking, carrying an unfathomable meaning.

"Senior is awake?" Seeing the bitter smile on the person's face, Ji Mengying blushed. She knew that in her haste, she had hastily bandaged her wound, inevitably making some mistakes, but at that moment, she couldn't care less. However, judging from the mocking look on the man's face, he neither said much nor unwrapped the cloth to re-wrap the wound. It seemed that even if she had made a mistake, it couldn't be too serious. Or perhaps… he simply didn't have the strength to re-wrap the wound?

"Hmm…" She gently raised her arm, pressing on the wound. A slight pain was visible between her brows; even this simple movement seemed to aggravate the injury on her shoulder. Yet, she felt more joy than anything else. The man smiled, then turned to look at the still unconscious Shao Xueqian, a hint of cunning in his eyes. "Instead of worrying about me, you should worry about yourself, shouldn't you? Although you pulled out the Golden Dragon Thorn to save your mother, if she wakes up and sees me alive and kicking here, I wonder if she'll draw her sword and try to kill me? Little girl, would you like to put your sword away first?" Following

his advice, Ji Mengying put away her sword, looking at him with a hint of doubt. Although his hair and beard were thick and messy, obscuring his age, his voice suggested he wasn't very old. Why was he imprisoned here? "Senior..."

"Hmm?"

"Senior, why... are you here?" "

Ask your mother about it when she wakes up... It won't be anything good anyway, so you might as well regret it!"

"Anyway, it's already out, there's no time to regret it. You can't expect me to stab it back in, can you?" Shrugging, Ji Mengying playfully stuck out her tongue, feigning innocence. Her eyes involuntarily glanced at the discarded Golden Dragon Dagger. Although it was a family heirloom, the bloodstains on it were quite frightening, and Ji Mengying hesitated to put it away.

"It's best not to stab it back, but young lady, you'd better think about how to explain this to your mother. I wonder what her reaction will be when she wakes up and sees the Golden Dragon Dagger removed?" A

soft moan was heard during their conversation. The unconscious Shao Xueqian seemed to finally wake up, her eyes still closed as she pressed her hand to the side of her head. Clearly, the unhealed wounds inside her body were making it difficult for her to adjust, and she was temporarily unable to fully regain her senses. Seeing Ji Mengying frantically helping her mother sit up, the other woman remained silent, sitting leisurely beside her, waiting to see Shao Xueqian's reaction.

"Wh...what's wrong?" Opening her eyes, she was met with complete darkness. For a moment, she thought she had arrived in the underworld. It took Shao Xueqian a while to adjust to the darkness of the cave. Her beautiful eyes caught a few glimpses of starlight and moonlight filtering in, and she saw her daughter's face, which had finally relaxed from its tension. She felt a burning heat all over her body, yet also some unbearable pain. She then remembered that she had taken a blow from that person before falling off the cliff. The "Endless Torrent" palm strike was truly powerful. She didn't know how she had woken up.

But when Shao Xueqian saw her daughter's body, she was truly shocked. Although Ji Mengying's heart had finally settled, the tension from before was still lingering. Her cheeks were still flushed, and her eyes, finally relaxed, were brimming with tears. Her clothes were torn in many places, clearly ripped by human hands. Her undergarments were faintly visible, and even her skirt was torn in several places.

However, an even more terrifying thought arose when Shao Xueqian turned her head and saw the figure in the cave. Although the person's face was indistinct and his hair and beard were thick, the mocking and sarcastic look in his eyes was so familiar. In addition, the two bloodstained golden dragon thorns discarded to one side were gleaming in the moonlight. Shao Xueqian's gaze shifted, and she suddenly recognized the person, her heart filled with horror.

She jumped up and shielded her daughter behind her. Although her internal injuries were still there and she could not exert any strength, the jump alone made her feel her blood surging in her chest, and she saw stars. Even her legs and feet felt weak and sore. She still did not want her daughter to be exposed to that person's gaze. "Duan Ling, you villain... you are not dead?"

Seeing Duan Ling's lips twitch slightly, before he even spoke, he revealed a mocking smile. His appearance was still the same as before. Shao Xueqian felt a great bitterness in her heart. Back then, Duan Ling's martial arts were superb; even with the combined strength of the six of them, they only barely managed to defeat him. Now that he has lost the Golden Dragon Dagger, his power is not fully restored, and dealing with her and her mother would be a piece of cake. Besides… judging from Ji Mengying's appearance, could it be that this villain forced Ji Mengying to lose her virginity to him while she was unconscious? The more she thought about it, the more frightened and angry she became, but

her slender hands couldn't find the sword no matter what she did. Shao Xueqian could only glare at him fiercely. "You…you villain! How dare you attack Mengying? I…I will kill you!" Fueled by rage, Shao Xueqian stared at this man with furious eyes, her slender hands stiffly clenched into claws, ready to pounce and kill him with her claws, even if it cost her her life!

"Mother... what's wrong? It's alright, it's alright..." Hearing her mother call out "Duan Ling's" name, Ji Mengying was genuinely startled. Her body, protected by her mother, involuntarily shrank back. After all, as a woman, she had an instinctive aversion and fear towards lecherous thieves. Moreover, if it weren't for this person that day, Ji Yuan wouldn't have harbored resentment towards Liu Hao. However, in the end, this person had saved her and her mother's lives, and even at the cost of aggravating his injuries and bleeding profusely, he had managed to suppress Shao Xueqian's internal injuries. He was exhausted and weak, and unable to fight back for a short time. No matter how she looked at it, she should comfort her mother first. "Mengying, you..." Turning her head, she looked at her daughter in disbelief. Although she knew her daughter was outgoing, and if she had lost her virginity to this lecherous thief, she didn't know if he would even take her heart. But she didn't expect Ji Mengying to speak up for him so quickly.

Shao Xueqian was in pain and filled with regret. She gritted her teeth, barely managing to speak, and tears were almost streaming down

her face. "That villain... what did he do to you? Mengying, are you... hurt anywhere?" "No." Caught off guard by her mother's question, Ji Mengying was completely bewildered. Seeing her dazed expression, Shao Xueyu felt even more distressed. She pressed her hands on her shoulders and shook her violently, as if trying to wake her. The shaking made Ji Mengying flustered. Finally, her eyes met Duan Ling's mocking gaze. Remembering his reputation as a lecherous villain, she realized what her mother had misunderstood. "It's alright! Senior didn't do anything to Mengying. Um...

to suppress the injuries in Mother's body, I... I made a deal with Senior Duan to remove the Golden Dragon Thorn so that Senior Duan could heal Mother... Mother, he said you were struck by the 'Endless Torrent' palm strike, is that... true?" "

Are you really alright? That villain didn't touch you?" Hearing Ji Mengying say this, and after carefully looking at her daughter's face to confirm that her daughter hadn't lied to her, Shao Xueqian's heart was slightly relieved. However, she didn't answer her daughter's question, but instead looked her daughter up and down. Although her clothes were torn, it seemed she hadn't been forcibly removed. If she had truly lost her virginity, Ji Mengying would likely be in a different state. While she didn't believe Duan Ling hadn't intervened, she could only hope it was true. "Then Mengying... how did you end up like this?"

"This... this..." Remembering the frantic effort she'd made to remove the Golden Dragon Thorn from Duan Ling, Ji Mengying stuck out her tongue. "When I was removing the thorn from you, senior, blood spurted out and splashed onto my clothes. I quickly cleaned up the soiled areas, which is why I look like this... And you didn't break your promise; you didn't even rest after removing the Golden Dragon Thorn before treating my mother's injuries. How is my mother's health?"

"Is that really so?" Turning back to Duan Ling in disbelief, she saw the cloth wrapped around his shoulders, clearly torn from her daughter's skirt. The haphazard binding was something no experienced person would do; aside from her naive and clueless daughter, she'd never seen anyone else do it like that. Although Duan Ling was young back then, he'd spent some time in the martial world. If he had truly forcibly torn the cloth from Ji Mengying's skirt to bind her, it wouldn't have ended up like this. Shao Xueqian secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but still dared not lower her guard.

Just thinking that Duan Ling's power hadn't fully recovered after pulling out the Golden Dragon Thorn, and that his remaining skills were far superior to her and her daughter's combined strength, not to mention that he had been thrown off a cliff by Ji Yuan and others for committing heinous acts, putting aside the saying that old habits die hard, and a wolf that has eaten sheep won't change its nature, the deep hatred that had accumulated in his heart during their imprisonment for over a decade was as striking and indelible as the undried blood on the Golden Dragon Thorn. The thought of her and her daughter falling into his hands, and the unknown tortures they would suffer in the future, filled Shao Xueqian with resentment and anger. If she hadn't doted on Ji Mengying since childhood, even more than her son, she probably would have slapped her long ago.

"Mengying, you really are something else. You don't even know what's important. Who is this person? How could you just pull it out like that? Even if you don't know him, you should at least think about what kind of weapon the Golden Dragon Thorn is. Unless it's a formidable enemy, the people of the manor wouldn't use it for no reason. You... you're just reckless and act without thinking..." Shao Xueqian gently stroked her daughter's head. Although she was angry, her stroking was so gentle and without any hint of anger. Ji Mengying lowered her head to listen to her lecture, but the expression on her face didn't seem to show any real respect.

"Isn't that right? I told you long ago, this is how people from reputable sects are." Ignoring Shao Xueqian's angry glare as she turned to face him, Duan Ling continued calmly, "They don't even think about being the one saved; they just want to yell at the person first and vent their anger..."

"You think I want you to save me!" Hearing Duan Ling's words, Shao Xueqian's anger flared up. Although she remained cautious amidst her agitation, knowing she was no match for him and couldn't even touch his sword, making it difficult to even make a move, the words still burst from her mouth. After all, a chivalrous woman and a lecherous thief are two inherently opposite extremes. If she could see this man one day without getting angry, Shao Xueqian would have to admire her own profound self-control, comparable to a Buddhist master. "If Xueyu were still conscious, she would never let you, this villain, escape the confines of the Golden Dragon Thorn!"

"Yes, yes, yes." Interrupting Shao Xueqian, Duan Ling's expression remained calm and ordinary, as if he knew that such a demeanor would provoke Shao Xueqian's anger more than an agitated argument. "It would be best to quickly stab the Golden Dragon Thorn back in while I'm exhausted from saving people. That way, you'll be saved, and I'll remain trapped. Such a sure-fire way to make money is something only a righteous person would do!" "

You!"

"What? Did I say something wrong?"

Hearing her mother and Duan Ling about to argue again, Ji Mengying couldn't stand it. Even if removing the Golden Dragon Thorn and saving her mother were a conditional exchange, Duan Ling had ultimately saved her and her mother from falling off the cliff with the vines. A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring of gratitude. How could she be indifferent to the life-saving grace? She quickly stepped in front of her mother, separating the two. "Mother, don't be angry. Mengying was wrong, but my internal injuries haven't healed yet, so I mustn't get agitated. Senior, you also saved Mengying and Mother, and then exhausted your energy to save Mother. You should rest well and recover your strength."

"Mengying, what... what did you say?" Hearing Ji Mengying say this, even Shao Xueqian, who was burning with anger, couldn't help but be stunned. Qilan Manor was nearby, and she naturally knew that the mountain walls here were towering. If this cave wasn't at the bottom of the cliff, she and her daughter would probably have to thank Duan Ling for saving their lives. However, this person had a grudge against her family for more than ten years. The death of Liu Hao's son and the differences between Ji Yuan and Liu Hao could all be attributed to this person. Just thinking about how she and her daughter owed him two lives made Shao Xueqian even angrier. But she knew she shouldn't take her anger out on this person. She snorted and turned her head away, pretending not to want to talk to him.

"Alright, then I'll get some rest." In stark contrast to Shao Xueqian, Duan Ling's voice carried a hint of amusement, completely unlike his earlier argument with someone. His anger seemed entirely feigned, which only fueled Shao Xueqian's rage, yet she couldn't retaliate. She could only listen to him continue. "However, I have a question. If I'm not mistaken, Madam Ji's blow was indeed 'Endless Torrent.' Could it be that you and your daughter were knocked down by Shi Jian? Didn't Ji Yuan do anything about his sworn brother? What exactly happened on the cliff?"

Hearing Duan Ling's words, Shao Xueqian could no longer maintain her cold and angry demeanor. She squinted her beautiful eyes and sighed, her doubts growing stronger. Before falling off the cliff, when Shao Xueqian realized that the palm strike aimed at her was "Endless Torrent," she was genuinely startled. She thought it was Shi Jian, who was masked and hadn't wanted to reveal any trace of his power until he finally revealed his true abilities when he had no other choice but to capture her. She was so angry that she wanted to curse him out loud, but unfortunately, the palm force of "Endless Torrent" was too domineering and fierce. She fainted in mid-air and couldn't even speak, let alone curse him. But now, thinking about it carefully, she realized that there was something very wrong with it. Firstly, Shi Jian's unique physique and appearance made him difficult to impersonate. While most disguise techniques can make the face look real, it's hard to conceal the physique. Although Shi Jian was the strategist of the Mighty Heaven Alliance, he wasn't a master of disguise. Moreover, with his small and thin frame, even the most skilled disguise expert would have to surrender. Secondly, no one knew the power of "Endless Torrent" better than their relatives. If the person who came was really Shi Jian, even if he only used seventy or eighty percent of his strength in that palm strike, given the domineering nature of this technique, she probably wouldn't last long before Duan Ling came to her aid. She had indeed mistaken him for someone else when she was struck.

Normally, when it comes to fist and palm skills, it's a contest of power. If both sides are evenly matched, and if no method is used to distract the opponent's protective power, even if one or two blows are taken, the injury won't be too serious as long as it's not to a vital point. However, Shi Jian's "Endless Torrent" takes a different approach, focusing on overwhelming power. Even if both sides are evenly matched, taking a single blow will result in serious injury. Unless the person hit is at least two or three levels stronger than the one who strikes, it's impossible to get away unscathed from a single blow unless their own body can counteract the power of "Endless Torrent".

Although Shao Xueqian also practiced internal martial arts, when it came to profound skill, a woman was ultimately no match for a bearded man. Even though she had retreated when she was hit, she only received about seven or eight tenths of the force. But if it was truly the genuine "Endless Torrent," she probably wouldn't have simply fainted. However, the power and imposing manner were

unmistakable; there was no other palm technique besides "Endless Torrent." Shao Xueqian couldn't figure it out no matter how hard she tried, and even her voice betrayed doubt and hesitation. "The power and characteristics are indeed 'Endless Torrent,' but... that person's physique is normal, and his strength isn't as formidable as my third uncle's. He probably only has about seven or eight tenths of my third uncle's power. Most likely... someone stole the secrets of it

, right?" As soon as she said it, even Shao Xueqian herself didn't believe it. Stealing someone else's unique martial arts was a huge taboo in the martial arts world, especially since "Endless Torrent" was a secret to cultivating internal strength, not just a mere fist and palm technique. While external martial arts techniques can be learned by stealing, internal energy cultivation emphasizes the circulation of qi within the body. Even if one were to secretly observe someone meditating for ten or eight years, how could one possibly know how their internal energy is regulated, how their strength flows, or how it circulates throughout the body? Therefore, external martial arts techniques can be learned by stealing, but the methods of internal energy cultivation can never be learned by stealing.

Moreover, when it comes to judging palm power, no one knows better than the person who was struck. Judging from this move, this person probably had already practiced another internal martial art before learning this skill, and their skill was quite considerable, which inevitably affected the power of this move. Although that person's palm power was not as pure as Shi Jian's, and even the power of "Endless Torrent" was not as strong as Shi Jian's, it still had at least seven or eight tenths of Shi Jian's power. It would be impossible to achieve this without receiving Shi Jian's true teachings.

However, Shi Jian's disciples are few. Although three or four people have received his true teachings, none of them have even reached 30% of his strength. Moreover, no one came to him with any skills already acquired. That person's palm strike was far stronger than Shi Jian's disciples. Could it be... could it be that Shi Jian's unique skills have been passed down to outsiders?

"My late father... passed away three years ago." Seeing Shao Xueqian's troubled expression, as if she were pondering the identity of the man in black, and even ignoring Duan Ling's question, Ji Mengying, though still somewhat timid, still took over the conversation. "My elder brother is studying away from home, otherwise Qilan Manor wouldn't have suffered so easily. However, that person's build is different from my third uncle's. Senior... you also know that my third uncle's appearance is definitely not something that anyone else could impersonate..."

"Besides..." She had just started talking to Duan Ling when she felt her mother's sharp gaze, clearly not wanting her to have any contact with this person. Ji Mengying shrugged, a bitter smile appearing on her face. Shao Xueqian seemed to have also realized that even though he had suppressed his internal injuries as a condition for removing the Golden Dragon Thorn, he had saved her and her mother's lives, which was a real favor. People in the martial arts world clearly distinguish between gratitude and resentment, and no matter what, they shouldn't be rude to each other. Therefore, she had nothing to say, but her eyes still burned with uncontrollable anger as she listened to Ji Mengying continue.

"Besides, my third uncle went to the border these days, saying an old friend invited him. He and my second uncle were traveling together and only parted ways at Jiayu Pass. Unless he grows wings, he can't possibly make it back in time. Everyone knows this, and... and among those who attacked, none of them had the same build as my third uncle. Logically speaking, my third uncle couldn't possibly be involved in this..."

Ji Mengying thought for a while and felt a headache coming on. "Endless Torrents" is an internal martial art, specializing in domineering and fierce techniques. It's a rare breed among orthodox martial arts, and she knows how difficult it is to master. Yet, judging from her mother's injuries, the other party has mastered this skill. Someone with this ability is definitely not a disciple of Shi Jian. Who could possibly have such attainments? She couldn't figure it out no matter how hard she thought about it.

"Going far away, everyone knows that..." Hearing Ji Mengying speak, Duan Ling, who had his head down, smiled slyly and uttered a few words in a low voice. After a long while, he finally raised his head, coldly scrutinizing the mother and daughter before him. "So, there's absolutely no one to protect you two right now?"

"You...you wicked villain, if you harbor any evil intentions, I'd rather die than let you have your way!" Meeting Duan Ling's gaze, Shao Xueqian shivered involuntarily. A surge of heat coursed through her body, a warm sensation coursing through her entire being. She held her daughter tightly, refusing to let go.

Thinking that this man was ultimately a lecherous villain, Shao Xueqian felt an even deeper chill. Neither she nor her daughter were strong enough to fight back. If this man truly harbored lustful thoughts, she feared she couldn't protect her daughter even if she risked her life. However, she couldn't show any weakness in front of him. Although it's said that one only realizes the value of life after death, having survived a brush with death, she didn't want to give up her life in vain. But if things came to this, she feared she would have no choice but to die to preserve her integrity.

"Mother..." Hearing her mother say this, Ji Mengying was also startled. However, the look in his eyes as he stared at her and her mother was truly frightening. She could feel Shao Xueqian's body burning up, as if she was being intensely aroused by his gaze. Even she couldn't help but feel afraid. She immediately understood that this man really was a lecherous thief. Even his gaze was so terrifying that Ji Mengying couldn't help but shrink back. After being rescued from the cliff, Ji Mengying felt for the first time that her elders might not have been mistaken when they used the Golden Dragon Thorn to deal with him and knock him off the cliff. "I do have evil intentions, but I don't need your help. I've already gotten what I wanted, since someone else has already done it."

Seeing Shao Xueqian's face flushed with excitement, and a hint of fear that she couldn't hide in her angry eyes, along with another trace of wavering that he desperately wanted to see, Duan Ling smiled faintly. "The group of people who knocked me off the cliff back then are now fighting amongst themselves. To me, this show is entertaining enough."

"You..." Hearing Duan Ling's mocking tone, Shao Xueqian was furious but speechless. The "Endless Torrent" palm strike was still firmly etched into her body. Even though Shi Jianren was outside the pass and not the one who came to attack, he was still involved. The theory of internal strife couldn't be refuted.

However, amidst her anger, Shao Xueqian felt a sense of relief and doubt. She was relieved that she and her daughter wouldn't have to worry about this lecherous thief's evil thoughts for a while, but she was also puzzled as to why this lecherous thief had changed his ways. " Supposedly, even though he's nearly forty, he's still beautiful and has a mature charm. His daughter is an absolute beauty. Could it be that he's been at the bottom of the cliff for over ten years, cultivating his mind and character to the point of losing interest in women?

" Duan Ling chuckled, his expression full of anticipation. "But if I could watch the show from your side, I might even be able to add fuel to the fire. That would be even more interesting. I'd really like to see if righteous people, when they're killing each other, will treat it the same way they treat evil figures—ignoring all the rules of the martial world and just attacking together whenever they want? Shi Jian prides himself on his wisdom and strategy. I'd really like to see how he'll explain this 'Endless Flood' thing."

Duan Ling chuckled, his eagerness to watch the show igniting Shao Xueyu's anger. But his words were so insightful that she was speechless for a moment. "...There's not much to explain."

Having finally calmed down, she subconsciously moved further away from him. She could almost feel the chill of the mountain wind and night dew outside the cave. If it weren't for the heat in her body, it was clear that the "Endless Torrent" palm strike and the power she had poured in were still fighting, and Shao Xueqian would have really been unable to withstand it.

She remained defiant, but dared not meet Duan Ling's smiling gaze. "My third uncle is outside the Great Wall, he's not even here. Even if his unique skills have leaked out, it's just a matter of inadequate security, it has nothing to do with any internal strife. Besides, you, Duan Ling, have committed many evils. Although more than ten years have passed, if you were to show your face outside, I'm afraid... you wouldn't live for more than a few days."

"Is that so? You really trust your Third Master Shi Jian." Duan Ling smiled faintly. "But don't worry, even if Duan Ling were to reappear in the martial world now, few people would recognize me. This is all thanks to you all: as long as I change my name, I can go anywhere in the world." "

Hmph!" With a cold snort, she glared at Duan Ling, but Shao Xueqian couldn't deny that what he said was true. Duan Ling was once a renowned handsome man, with an exceptionally elegant appearance. If he were dressed as a woman, with just a few graceful movements, his beauty and demeanor would surpass that of ordinary women. Now, however, his face was covered in scars, a sight too painful to behold. If it weren't for the Golden Dragon Thorn scattered on the ground and the knowledge that they were at the bottom of a cliff, even she probably wouldn't have guessed that the person before her was this man.

"Then... what exactly do you intend to do?" As soon as the words left her mouth, Shao Xueqian knew things were going badly. Putting aside the fact that whoever speaks first loses in negotiations, her words alone exposed her weakness, making her unable to stop him. It was tantamount to showing weakness. If he saw through her true nature, who knew what evil intentions this man might have?

"It's nothing." Duan Ling smiled, stretching his shoulders. The pain was still intense, but compared to the numbness when the Golden Dragon Thorn pierced him, this pain was much more comfortable. "Madam Ji's injuries won't heal quickly. Due to the Golden Dragon Thorn, my power has diminished considerably. I can only suppress

the power of 'Endless Torrent' for about ten days at most. If we don't find a renowned doctor to treat her during this period, her injuries will flare up, making it difficult to heal her. As for the young lady's martial arts and temperament, venturing into the martial world... it's truly dangerous. I just wanted to ask if you need bodyguards? For me, as long as there's a good show to watch, that's enough. You don't need to worry about anything else."

"Need you to accompany me? My Ji family can't afford such bodyguards." Hearing Duan Ling say this, Shao Xueqian was stunned for a moment, then gave him a cold laugh, thinking: The mother and daughter are powerless to resist. If he accompanies them, they might just be robbed by his own guards. But he dared not utter these words. If he were to truly arouse his lustful desires, it would be all over. At least… he would wait until he had recovered his strength to fight before saying such things. “Your brother Duan can go wherever he wants, and if you want to hide on the sidelines and watch the show, then so be it. Although Shao Xueqian cannot control you, she does not want you following her around like a swarming bee.”

“If you want to protect me, it’s not you, it’s your daughter.” Duan Ling smiled coldly, the sarcasm in his tone growing stronger, as if he had not spoken so frankly in a long time. "She helped me remove the Golden Dragon Thorn, so she's done me a favor, and I want to protect her. As for you, Madam Ji... whether you want me to protect you depends on my mood at the time. After all, you've done me no favor, and I have no power to protect you, a righteous heroine."

"Uh... Senior, then you..." Hearing Duan Ling bring up herself, Ji Mengying's delicate body trembled slightly. She looked at her mother and saw that although Shao Xueqian looked displeased, she didn't refute her. Obviously, it wasn't because she thought she could make the decision, but because she also knew the current situation. She and her mother really needed someone to protect them.

But back then, Duan Ling's lewdness wasn't just lustful; it was more like an instinct that he couldn't live without women. That kind of behavior made people turn pale at the mere mention of his name. It was impossible not to be afraid, and Ji Mengying couldn't even speak clearly.

"Don't worry, little girl, with the help of the 'Nine-Turn Dragon Pearl,' at least I can suppress myself now." "As if recalling the past, a smile mixed with bitterness appeared on Duan Ling's lips. "To be honest, this Golden Dragon Thorn has really been keeping me to myself for so long. At least helping you out this time can repay a favor, and there's also a good show to watch. I really don't want to let such a good deal slip by."

"Can you suppress it?" Hearing Duan Ling say this, Ji Mengying, who had grasped the key point, couldn't help but feel a little bewildered. Although she could understand what Duan Ling meant, the lecherous villain's evil deeds were due to wantonly bullying weak women, or relying on numbers, aphrodisiacs, or evil methods to deal with righteous heroines. No matter how you looked at it, it seemed to be driven by the mentality of bullying others by power. What did it have to do with "suppressing it"? However, she really didn't dare to ask any more questions. After all, she knew best what her mother's fear was like just now. Her innate instinct made her really afraid to say anything.

"Don't ask that. It's not something a woman should ask, or your mother will get angry again." Duan Ling smiled slightly, the sinister and chilling look on his face vanished without a trace, replaced by the same gentle and peaceful demeanor he had when she first entered the cave. "But young lady, will you agree or not? If you agree to come along, I promise you I'll behave properly and not do anything bad." *

You won't do anything bad? That's really difficult* Shao Xueqian cursed inwardly, but dared not say it aloud, fearing she would cause trouble.

In those days, Duan Ling was a tyrannical figure, feared by all the heroes and heroines of the martial world. Countless chivalrous men had pursued him relentlessly, but this man was highly skilled in martial arts and quick-witted. If he couldn't defeat him, he would always escape at the most opportune moment. Defeating him was easy, but capturing and killing him was difficult. Although the members of the Mighty Heaven Alliance had knocked him off the cliff that day, they were preoccupied with two things: first, the matter of the "Nine-Turn Spirit Pearl"; and second, he had used the method of falling off a cliff to escape pursuit countless times before, even with the Golden Dragon Thorn, it was still uncertain whether he had succeeded. It wasn't until several years later, when no news of him was heard in the martial world, that the entire martial arts world truly believed he was dead, attributing the great achievement to the Mighty Heaven Alliance, thus making them the dominant force in the martial world.

Although only two short years had passed between his notorious reputation and his forced fall off the cliff, countless martial arts heroes and heroines had been corrupted by him during that time. Shao Xueqian was the first to find it hard to believe that such a person could so easily reform.

Given the current situation, until she recovers, she truly has no choice but to rely on this person for protection in the short term. Facing her daughter's inquiring gaze, she felt an unbearable burning sensation within her body, realizing that "Endless Torrent" was more severe than she had imagined. Shao Xueqian's mind raced, and she finally managed to nod with difficulty. "Then... I'll trouble you, Senior."

Seeing her mother nod, Ji Mengying felt relieved and immediately agreed.

To her, Duan Ling's evil reputation was long gone; he was now merely a senior figure trapped here. Besides, if it weren't for his intervention, she and her mother would likely have perished on the cliff. Naturally, she wouldn't treat someone who had saved her life as a villain. However, the cave was inevitably damp. Although Duan Ling had brought in many broken branches and leaves, which had slightly reduced the dampness, it still felt uncomfortable. She really wanted to move the injured Shao Xueqian to a better place. "Senior said there's a hidden paradise behind the stone, so... should Mother go and rest there first?"

"It's better not to." Looking at the rain outside the cave, Duan Ling couldn't help but smile wryly. This little girl really thought that the so-called hidden paradise meant there was a house to live in behind the stone? How did Ji Yuan, the leader of the Mighty Heaven Alliance, raise such an innocent child? Not to mention him, even Shao Xueqian seemed to think her daughter's question was absurd, and shook her head, almost letting out a sigh. "Behind this stone is a valley, where there are indeed wild fruits, pheasants, or stream fish to eat, and no large beasts, otherwise I wouldn't be alive now. But..."

He shrugged weakly, as if the action alone caused Duan Ling considerable pain. After all, the Golden Dragon Thorn had been stuck in his body for more than ten years. Even though it had been removed according to the law, it would take more than a day or two for the wound to heal. However, he was not yet forty years old, and the methods passed down by the Heavenly Gang Elder for maintaining health and strength would likely not take too long for him to recover to the point where he could move freely again.

"With the injury on my shoulder, I can manage to pick fruit to catch fish, and gather branches and leaves to keep warm, but if I want to build a house to shelter myself... that's beyond my capabilities. I can usually sleep outdoors, but it rains quite heavily outside. It's better to stay in this cave than to get soaked. Rain in the mountains comes and goes quickly, so even if it's not refreshing, it will stop in a couple of days." "

Is that so..." Knowing she had made a joke again, Ji Mengying lowered her head. Actually, she should have realized that there wouldn't be any houses to stay in in this desolate wilderness. The man before her had a serious shoulder injury, so building a house was even less likely. It seemed they really had no choice but to stay in this cave. "Since that's the case, then so be it. How is Mother's injury? Should we find something to cover her up

so she doesn't catch a cold?" "No...no need..." Although she could feel the intense heat emanating from her body, the overwhelming power of the "Endless Torrent" was even greater than she had imagined, making her look like she might catch a cold, she would rather endure the cold than fall asleep peacefully in front of Duan Ling. If he were to attack her daughter while she was asleep, given Ji Mengying's naivety, she probably wouldn't even realize she was being harmed. Naturally, she was even more afraid that if she relaxed her guard, she might regret it when she woke up. "For now... this is fine... it's okay..."

Though she said it was okay, her voice sounded like it wasn't coming from her own mouth. Shao Xueqian felt dizzy and incredibly tired, and before she knew it, she had fallen asleep in her daughter's arms. Only then did Duan Ling let out a sigh of relief. His hand, which had been hanging down, moved slightly, and a vine retracted from behind Shao Xueqian. "Really, an injured person still tries to force herself. I don't know what she's thinking."

Seeing Duan Ling withdraw his hand, Ji Mengying realized that he had tampered with her mother's body again. Although she hadn't noticed anything amiss, even after he had put her mother to sleep, she knew that for someone with internal injuries, rest and not worrying about other things were the most important things. She felt that his methods were too insidious and somewhat sinister, but she had nothing to say. She raised her head and saw that blood seemed to be seeping through the cloth wrapped around Duan Ling's shoulder again. Her voice trembled. "Senior, your shoulder... again..."

"It's alright." Duan Ling seemed to relax as well. "Moving a little to improve blood circulation is good for healing the wound. The wound was numb before, and if you don't move it much, it might cause problems before it heals. You should rest well too... I can see that you and your mother are tired, but her injury can't be delayed. At the latest, we'll have to go down the mountain to find a doctor. I know a few people..." "I

know some doctors too." Although she wanted to trust him, the "Endless Torrent" palm strike was extremely powerful, far exceeding the usual force. Medical matters are matters of life and death, and it's really hard to trust strangers. Moreover, Ji Mengying knew that Shao Xueqian was very wary of Duan Ling. Given her personality, she would never trust the doctor recommended by Duan Ling, since if the doctor added something strange to the medicine, it would be difficult for someone unfamiliar with medicine not to be deceived. Rather than letting the two of them clash again, it was better to find a doctor that both she and her mother could trust.

Fortunately, among Shao Xueqian's close friends was a highly skilled doctor, and the name of the goddess physician Xin Wanyi was widely known. There was no need to find another reason; otherwise, with Ji Mengying's knowledge, it would have been difficult to find another name to use as an excuse. "Aunt Xin Wanyi's medical skills are superb. Whenever anyone in the family has any illness, it is always Aunt Xin who comes to the rescue, and the medicine is always effective."

"Oh, it's her? In that case... well, this person is indeed quite capable in treating injuries and poisons." Duan Yangwei smiled, as if he had thought of something, but the complex thoughts hidden in his smile were beyond the comprehension of someone as naive as Ji Mengying.

[Volume 1] Chapter 3: Stories of an Old Friend

Supporting her mother, Ji Mengying and Duan Ling slowly approached Xin Wanyi's medical hut. Seeing the five large trees that seemed to symbolize the hut in the distance, Ji Mengying finally breathed a sigh of relief. Feeling Shao Xueqian swaying precariously in her arms, she tightened her grip. Looking down, she saw her mother's eyes were slightly unfocused, barely managing to stay conscious. Although her face was disguised and lacked true color, Shao Xueqian's weakness was evident in her eyes alone, suggesting a possible relapse of her injuries. Ji Mengying thought to herself, "Thankfully, we're near. Just a little longer and we'll be there; otherwise, something terrible might happen again."

As for Duan Ling beside her, although his face was covered in wounds and his clothes were unremarkable, his movements were natural and unpretentious, showing no sign of timidity or fear. Although his scarred face aroused both fear and suspicion, and many people looked at him and speculated along the way, his relaxed and carefree demeanor dispelled their doubts. At least no one dared to bully him because of his ugly appearance, which saved a lot of trouble.

On the other hand, although Shao Xueqian and Ji Mengying had disguised themselves, one was injured and her movements were inevitably somewhat weak, while the other was hesitant and cautious. Although she knew that the masked men in black were unlikely to know that she and her daughter were still alive, she could not hide her nervousness and her behavior was quite suspicious. If the enemy had not obviously not been guarding this road, it would have been difficult for them to travel without any danger. Fortunately, they had a skilled guard like Duan Ling. Although his injuries hadn't fully healed, and he might not be able to fight a true master for long, dealing with some petty thieves along the way was a piece of cake. His relaxed and carefree demeanor even gave Ji Mengying, who knew about his injuries, the illusion that even if the masked men in black attacked in a group, he could still protect her and her daughter. Ji Mengying felt more and more at ease looking at him, and even couldn't help but feel fortunate that having him as a protector would at least save her a lot of trouble and allow her to travel safely.

Before setting off, they never expected that the biggest problem would actually be with Shao Xueqian. Along the way, Shao Xueqian would either keep her eyes closed or start a noisy argument whenever she saw him, making it quite difficult for Ji Mengying, who was trying to mediate. However, it was also an eye-opener for her. After all, she had only ever seen her mother dignified and generous when managing the household and calm and sharp when fighting, but she had never seen her mother so out of control. Clearly, the grudge between the two sides back then was quite deep. Although Ji Mengying knew that a chivalrous woman and a lecherous thief were natural enemies, she found their verbal sparring quite entertaining.

However, their mutual dislike for each other created another problem. Logically, with such a skilled fighter by her side, even if Shao Xueqian's injuries worsened due to the fatigue of the journey, he could usually suppress them with his help. But Shao Xueqian had a terrible impression of Duan Ling; whenever she was conscious, she wouldn't allow him to touch a hair on her head, let alone use his internal energy to help her. Even when her injuries flared up, she stubbornly refused to acknowledge them, and no amount of persuasion from Ji Mengying could change her mind. Duan Ling, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy watching her torment herself. Although the journey had only taken six or seven days, it had left Ji Mengying exhausted and dizzy. Every night when she stayed at the inn, her whole body ached, and once she lay down, she felt like she never wanted to get up again.

In any other situation, even if Shao Xueqian resisted strongly and Duan Ling was eager to see the drama unfold, Ji Mengying could find a way. At most, she could use the favor of removing the thorn to persuade Duan Ling to force her. However, healing through internal energy was extremely dangerous. If Shao Xueqian truly refused and her mind wandered during the treatment, Duan Ling, whose injuries were not yet fully healed, could not forcefully suppress her resistance. If something went wrong, it would harm not just one person but both. Knowing the danger, Ji Mengying naturally dared not act rashly.

But along the way, Shao Xueqian was less and less conscious and more and more unconscious. When she was conscious, she was feverish and had difficulty breathing, suffering unimaginable pain. The more feverish she became, the more stubborn she became, refusing to let Duan Ling help her. Ji Mengying was powerless to help her, and she was truly exhausted along the way. If it weren't for Duan Ling protecting her and handling many miscellaneous matters for her, Ji Mengying would not have been able to hold on.

The strangest problem was yet to come. Originally, Shao Xueqian and Xin Wanyi were close friends. Ji Mengying could not recall ever seeing any conflict between them. They were always respectful and polite to each other. Given Xin Wanyi's excellent medical skills and the good relationship between their families, it was only natural for the injured Shao Xueqian to seek medical treatment from her. However, for some reason, when Ji Mengying suggested seeking treatment from Xin Wanyi, Duan Ling had no objection. On the contrary, Shao Xueqian hesitated, seemingly worried about something. If she could find someone else, she might not have wanted to come at all!

Slowly walking into the clinic, Ji Mengying saw Xin Wanyi holding a brush at her desk, writing rapidly. Her small regular script flowed smoothly from her brush, clearly pondering the problem of her injury. Inspiration was flowing freely. Ji Mengying had seen her like this before, so she did not disturb her. She helped her mother sit down in a chair and waited for Xin Wanyi, who was immersed in her medical thoughts, to come back to her senses.

"Sorry to keep you waiting." After finally coming to his senses, he saw two women in front of him, one sitting and one standing. The woman sitting had an ordinary face, but her eyes were weak. It was clear that she was injured. He didn't know if the injury was not serious enough to make her lose her color, or if she had changed her appearance. It seemed that it was more likely the latter.

Xin Wanyi smiled slightly, put away the paper and pen on the table, and beckoned the person to extend their wrist onto the table. She gently tapped the wrist pulse, and upon touching it, her brows furrowed, clearly indicating the severity of the injury. Ji Mengying couldn't help but feel anxious

at that expression. Although she knew she shouldn't disturb her, she still whispered, "Aunt Xin, please... save my mother... Mother is so badly injured... she's almost unconscious..." "Aunt Xin?" Feeling a little puzzled by the intimate address from the person in front of her, Xin Wanyi nodded, but her slender fingers still didn't leave Shao Xueqian's wrist pulse. The vibration from her fingertips gave her a sense of déjà vu. "Who are you, young lady? Do you know me?"

"Aunt Xin... Oh! It's Mengying!" Hearing Xin Wanyi's question, Ji Mengying was startled. It had only been a few months since they last met. Could it be that Xin Wanyi had already forgotten her and her mother? Or had Xin Wanyi also heard about the destruction of Qilan Manor, and to avoid trouble, she didn't even dare to acknowledge her close friends? A sense of dread crept into her heart.

Fortunately, she was quick-witted and immediately remembered that to avoid being noticed by those masked men in black, she and her mother had disguised themselves the whole way, fearing that revealing even the slightest trace would cause a major disaster. They had deliberately covered any recognizable features, so Xin Wanyi naturally couldn't recognize them at first.

She quickly wiped off the disguise from her face, restoring Shao Xueqian's true appearance. "Mengying and Mother deliberately altered their appearances to avoid being recognized, almost forgetting themselves. Aunt Xin, please look at Mother! She's badly injured and has had a hard time waking up the whole way, yet she's holding on..."

"Please...please..." Ji Mengying was still speaking when Shao Xueqian could no longer hold on. She forced her eyelids shut, barely managing to utter her last words. Her gaze towards Xin Wanyi was complex, but she was too weak to say anything more before finally fainting.

"To protect you, Xueyu, it would be difficult for her not to hold on!" Seeing that it was Ji Mengying and Shao Xueqian, Xin Wanyi finally felt relieved. Although she had practiced some martial arts, firstly, due to her innate physique, her skill was not profound; secondly, her reason for practicing martial arts was not for competition or to improve her health, but rather to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment of those with martial arts-related injuries. After all, the physique of martial artists differs from that of ordinary people, and their martial arts can more easily cause different physical reactions to the same illness. At least a basic understanding of this was necessary to prescribe the right medicine.

However, in the martial world, one inevitably gets tainted, and given Xin Wanyi's mediocre martial arts skills, she had to be even more careful. Although even the most arrogant martial artists rarely believed themselves to be invincible, even those who truly considered themselves the best in the world could not guarantee they wouldn't fall ill or get injured. Therefore, they usually dared not easily offend doctors, let alone a renowned physician like Xin Wanyi. If she could establish a good relationship, it would be an extra layer of protection for her life. But to avoid trouble, when treating martial artists, she still had to find out their background first.

Now that she had clearly identified Shao Xueqian, Xin Wanyi would never abandon her close friend in her time of need. Although she already knew of the destruction of Qilan Manor and was inevitably afraid of that powerful enemy of unknown origin, aside from the fact that a doctor's heart is like a parent's, just her relationship with Shao Xueqian alone was enough to know that she would be in trouble, and Xin Wanyi could not remain uninvolved.

However, as she took the pulse, Xin Wanyi's brows furrowed even more deeply. She didn't even look up when asked questions, focusing intently on the pulse. "It's 'Endless Torrent,' and it's at least fifty percent powerful. How is this possible? Didn't Master Shi go beyond the Great Wall?" "

Yes!" Hearing Xin Wanyi's question, Ji Mengying shrugged. In the past few days, besides taking care of her mother and mediating the quarrel between her mother and Duan Ling, all she could think about was this matter. However, the person's figure was too different from Shi Jian's, and judging from his movements, there was no trace of him stuffing foreign objects into his clothes or forcibly altering his figure. Even if she didn't know that Shi Jian had gone far away, she wouldn't have implicated him in this matter. "That person's figure is nothing like Third Uncle's, but Mother's kung fu is Third Uncle's... Not only me, but even Mother has been unable to understand this matter..."

"Hmm... Besides 'Endless Torrent,' there is another force coursing through Xueyu's meridians. It is this force that has suppressed the injury from 'Endless Torrent,' otherwise, given the domineering nature of 'Endless Torrent,' Xueyu probably wouldn't have made it this far. But it doesn't matter. Now that she's here, Wanyi will find a way to heal her internal injuries and give her a healthy mother sooner or later, and teach her not to be naughty anymore." She

raised her head and smiled gently at Ji Mengying, finally putting Ji Mengying's mind at ease. Although Xin Wanyi's appearance was only considered pretty, and far less beautiful than Ji Mengying and Shao Xueqian, in Ji Mengying's eyes at this moment, Aunt Xin was the most beautiful. That gentle smile made her feel weak all over, and the fatigue from the journey seemed to surge up. She slumped into the chair, and Xin Wanyi couldn't help but shake her head, "You brought Xueyu here, I don't know who is taking care of whom? You must be exhausted..." "

It's not just me, there's also Senior with us..." Hearing Xin Wanyi say this, Ji Mengying turned around sharply, but didn't see Duan Ling. She then remembered that although the Golden Dragon Thorn on Duan Ling's body had been removed, his injuries were healing very quickly. He must have some unique skills. But if Xin Wanyi had seen him, with this goddess doctor treating and prescribing medicine, his injuries would heal even faster, which should be considered a good thing.

Even disregarding this matter, Duan Ling's face was covered in wounds, making him unrecognizable. It was likely from the friction of his face against the ground or rocks when he fell off the cliff. Although she didn't know what Duan Ling's original appearance was like, she imagined it would be far better than it was now. If Xin Wanyi could take a look, restoring his former appearance wouldn't be bad; at least it would repay part of the debt she owed him for saving her life. "If it weren't for Senior's rescue, Mengying and Mother would probably be buried in the deep valley. But since Senior's face is injured, Aunt Xin, would you please take a look?"

"Sure, but we'll have to wait until Xueyu's injuries have improved a bit." Xin Wanyi frowned slightly, not taking Ji Mengying's words to heart. After all, there were priorities; compared to the disfigurement, Shao Xueqian's serious injuries should be treated first.

However, the suppressed energy within Shao Xueqian's body somehow felt quite familiar to her. But Xin Wanyi had only been practicing martial arts for a few years, and due to her limited skill and knowledge, she couldn't discern the origin of the senior Ji Mengying spoke of simply from the characteristics of the energy. Besides, this matter wasn't particularly important to her.

She picked up a pen and skillfully wrote down the prescription on the paper, softly reciting, "Luckily we're here. Little Mengying, you don't know, those five trees outside are 'Blood Toad Trees' transplanted from beyond the realm by our late master. Their fruit is the cure for the 'Endless Torrent' injury. Luckily, Third Master Shi doesn't know, otherwise, your Mighty Heaven Alliance might have been the first to attack..."

Suddenly, Xin Wanyi's delicate body trembled, as if she had discovered something absolutely impossible. The surging energy within Shao Xueqian's body felt increasingly familiar. She opened her eyes, wanting to ask Ji Mengying, but swallowed the words back. That person couldn't possibly still be alive. Her heart raced, and she barely managed to suppress the shock. "Follow my prescription first. Later, Wanyi will go and gather Blood Toad Fruit to resolve this ailment..."

As she spoke, she wrote. Just as she finished writing the prescription, Duan Ling's figure finally appeared at the door. She glanced at him, not even sure if she could see his face, but just the outline of his features caught her eye, and Xin Wanyi was suddenly startled. The brush in her hand fell to the ground, rolling across the table, the scattered ink almost staining the words she had already written. But the chaos was nothing compared to the chaos on Xin Wanyi's face. She was so shocked that her face turned deathly pale, and she was speechless for a moment. The atmosphere in the hut instantly froze, and even Ji Mengying was frightened.

Ji Mengying had known from the beginning that Shao Xueqian and Duan Ling didn't get along. She didn't know if it was an innate animosity between a chivalrous woman and a lecherous thief, or if they had some prior conflict. However, since Xin Wanyi was Shao Xueqian's close friend, she figured Xin Wanyi wouldn't like someone Shao Xueqian disliked either. Therefore, Ji Mengying only referred to Xin Wanyi as a senior, not daring to reveal Duan Ling's name, intending to have Xin Wanyi heal Duan Ling's facial injuries first. She had assumed that since she hadn't mentioned his name and Duan Ling's face was so badly injured, even if Xin Wanyi had a keen eye, she wouldn't be able to recognize him. She thought that once his injuries were healed, she could explain herself properly, and given Xin Wanyi's affection for her and the fact that he had saved her life, she wouldn't hold it against her. Unexpectedly, Xin Wanyi seemed to have recognized Duan Ling without even seeing his face clearly, and was so shocked. Ji Mengying's eyes darted back and forth between Xin Wanyi and Duan Ling, unsure how to comfort her.

"How could it be... how could it be... it's you?" It seemed that with just a glance, she had already seen through the newcomer's identity. She finally managed to speak, her voice trembling, her eyes fixed on the newcomer as if trying to see through him. "Duan Ling... you're really still alive... you're not dead..."

"Yes... I'm indeed not dead." A bitter smile appeared on his lips, which, against his scarred face, looked somewhat sinister.

Although she had received Duan Ling's life-saving grace and witnessed him heal her mother, Ji Mengying trusted him implicitly. However, while she was fine when she was lucid, sometimes when she woke up early in the morning, her mind still foggy, seeing his face would startle even her. She would then think of asking Xin Wanyi to help him, otherwise, a man of the martial world wouldn't care much about a handsome face, and Duan Ling seemed unwilling to revert to his former appearance, showing no concern whatsoever. Ji Mengying really didn't dare to interfere! Judging from their appearance, their relationship was clearly much closer than she had imagined. If they started arguing here, Ji Mengying really didn't know what to do; it seemed like siding with either side wouldn't be right.

"As expected... it really is you... sob..." Hearing Duan Ling speak, Xin Wanyi's doubts vanished, even though she was only seven or eight parts certain when she saw the outline clearly. She shook her head in disbelief, swaying as she stood up. Ji Mengying, who had never seen her so distraught, couldn't help but reach out to support her. She felt that Aunt Xin's slender hand was cold, and whether from nervousness or surprise, she couldn't utter a single word of comfort.

Shaking off Ji Mengying's hand, Xin Wanyi rushed outside. Completely unprepared for Xin Wanyi's actions, Ji Mengying stood there stunned. She only felt Xin Wanyi's tears splash as she ran, and before she could avoid them, she was drenched. She stared blankly at Xin Wanyi's departing figure, wanting to rush out and bring her crying mother back, yet also worried about whether her mother was alright staying here.

"Xiao Mengying, take care of your mother. Go find the medicine according to the prescription first!" Seeing Xin Wanyi rush out with her face covered, Duan Ling sighed softly, waved his hand, and followed. His movements seemed slow, but they were as fast as a shooting star. In addition, Xin Wanyi did not have lightness skills. Although she had triggered her potential in her excitement and rushed out as fast as a galloping horse, so fast that Ji Mengying did not even have time to react, it seemed that catching up with Xin Wanyi would be an easy task. Ji Mengying was relieved and went to find the medicine.

When she rushed into the woods outside the hut, Xin Wanyi buried her face in her arms and leaned weakly against the tree, sobbing. Her petite body trembled with sobs. Duan Ling approached slowly from behind, his hand gently resting on her shoulder. The touch made her shudder, her sobs immediately ceasing. She struggled to suppress her trembling body, too afraid to turn around. Duan Ling let her remain like that for a long time, until Xin Wanyi tried to walk away. Then, he forcefully turned her around, pressing his entire body against hers, forcing her to lean against a tree to stand upright.

"You…you're not dead?" Her slender hand weakly rose, lightly touching the numerous wounds on his face. It felt incredibly rough; even the slightest skin contact felt like sandpaper to her fingers. How could she have been so badly injured?

"You…you really came back…back for revenge."

"Revenge?" Duan Ling smiled slightly, disregarding the close proximity—a contact that would be considered extremely impolite to anyone—and gently lifted Xin Wanyi's chin, forcing her to look directly into his eyes. "I came out to seek revenge, but... these enemies have nothing to do with you, the goddess healer. I... have no grudge against you."

"Nonsense!" As if trying to see if he was telling the truth, Xin Wanyi's tearful eyes pierced through people's hearts, sharp and unforgiving. A cruel smile appeared on her lips, her teeth seemingly biting her lip until it bled, and she didn't even avoid his rude hand. "With your intelligence, how could you not know... if Wanyi hadn't leaked the information, how would the Weitian Alliance have known when and where you went to collect the 'Nine-Turn Dragon Pearl'? How could they have set up such a convenient trap for you?

And how could Jiyuan have failed? The Golden Dragon Thorn hadn't even nailed you, this lecherous thief, to death! You still dare to say you have no grudge against Wanyi?"

"I know all that, but... Duan Ling still harbors no hatred whatsoever towards you, the goddess doctor." Seeing

the hatred in Xin Wanyi's eyes and her trembling hand on her face, though weak, Duan Ling smiled calmly, gently taking her soft hand in his. The feeling of holding her soft, delicate hand was quite comfortable. "You are Shao Xueqian's close friend, so it's only natural for you to do this. Duan Ling feels absolutely nothing about it... not at all. I don't feel betrayed, and I don't feel I should hate you, absolutely nothing." "

You..." Seeing his calm demeanor, the complete absence of hatred in his words and expression, his calm heart like still water, Xin Wanyi trembled, staring at his peaceful gaze in disbelief. Clearly, there was no need to worry that this person hated her for informing him, clearly he didn't seem to care about what happened back then at all, yet Xin Wanyi showed no sign of relaxation.

Her eyes widened, her voice trembling, showing no sign of calming down, a stark contrast to his composure. "You really don't hate me? Not even a little bit? Clearly... clearly it was me who prevented you from leaving the martial world for over ten years, whose name was forgotten in the martial arts world for over ten years, and who injured you like this, yet you... you don't even hate Wanyi?"

"Yes, not at all." Duan Ling's expression remained calm, his smile unchanged, his gaze lewdly appraising Xin Wanyi's delicate body. Although she was slender and petite, and her appearance was only delicate and pretty, not as alluring as the tall, curvaceous Shao Xueqian or Ji Mengying, he knew back then that the body beneath this goddess doctor's robe was truly exquisite and tempting, making one's mouth water and unable to put it down.

"The goddess doctor should hate me, after all, you saved Duan Ling from unconsciousness by the roadside back then, and you racked your brains to figure out the aphrodisiac in Duan Ling's body and tried every means to wake Duan Ling up. But the first thing I did when I woke up was to drag you to bed and rape you."

"Afterwards, the goddess physician worked hard to find a cure for Duan Ling, but before discovering the 'Nine-Turn Dragon Pearl,' Duan Ling would seize any opportunity to strip you naked, forcing you to have sex with him regardless of your wishes, leaving traces of our lovemaking throughout the entire medical hut. On the night before Duan Ling finally left to find the 'Nine-Turn Dragon Pearl,' he disregarded the goddess physician's moans and groans, making you wake up and faint repeatedly, not knowing how many times I made you climax. After finishing, I threw the goddess physician on the bed like a worn-out shoe and went to find medicine on my own. Thinking about it carefully, it was only natural for you, who had suffered such deep humiliation, to inform Shao Xueqian. Duan Ling didn't hate you at all..."

Hearing Duan Ling say this, the events of that year seemed to float before my eyes again. Xin Wanyi's eyes trembled with tears, as if she could see again the scene after she regained consciousness that day: the pools of filth on the bedsheets, the half-wet, half-dry evidence of lust on the table and chairs, the large clumps of semen on the terrazzo floor, the wet streaks from outside to inside the door… All of this reminded her of the horrific, lewd waves that had assaulted her in just a few days, from being taken to bed by him to finding the antidote to the aphrodisiac.

If it weren't for the shocking sight, it would be unimaginable for a woman to have been submerged in such a terrible tide of lust. Given Xin Wanyi's gentle nature and her medical training from a young age, she was exceptionally kind and compassionate. Knowing that Duan Ling had forcibly taken her precious virginity because of the aphrodisiac within her, and that he had taken her virginity day after day without any mercy—something she certainly didn't want—she would never have done such a thing.

Yet, he didn't even hate her! Completely unable to believe what Duan Ling was saying, but his calm expression told her that he truly didn't care about what had happened to her that day.

Xin Wanyi was overwhelmed with mixed emotions, her delicate heart pounding with a thousand emotions, unable to think clearly. Tears welled up in her eyes and gradually slid down her cheeks. "But you...you're so badly injured, yet...you still don't hate Wanyi. Don't you...really care at all?"

"Of course I don't care...not at all..." A smile appeared on his lips, which, in Xin Wanyi's tear-blurred eyes, seemed to possess a sinister, mocking air, as if he were ridiculing the bitterness she had accumulated over the years and the excitement she felt upon seeing him—all for naught. "So Wanyi doesn't need to worry, not at all...Duan Ling doesn't hate you at all...really..."

"You!"

Seeing Xin Wanyi's anger and anxiety, a vein throbbed on his forehead. Knowing she was about to explode, Duan Ling chuckled inwardly, his lips twitching slightly. "Thanks to the Goddess Doctor's prescription, Duan Ling was able to find the 'Nine-Turn Dragon Pearl' in time, suppressing the power of the lustful Gu within me. Now Duan Ling can control himself and won't be unable to survive without a woman like he was back then. I've finally recovered most of my normalcy. In fact, Duan Ling should thank you! How about... we settle this small score by tipping off the Goddess Doctor?"

Seeing his hateful, superior smile, as if he had completely controlled her thoughts, the bitterness she felt since he left seemed to have been thrown into the water, without any repayment. Xin Wanyi felt a chill in her heart, as if all her strength had been drained away, and a surge of hatred welled up within her. Leaning against the tree, trembling uncontrollably, she clung to the last shred of her sanity, letting her thoughts drift back to that day…

Looking at the unconscious man on the bed, Xin Wanyi took his pulse, her brows furrowing. Having just completed her apprenticeship, she had stayed in her master's abandoned medical hut after burying his remains. Though she hadn't yet made a name for herself in the medical world, her close friend, Shao Xueqian, known in the martial arts world as the "Cold Moon Fairy," always claimed she possessed the abilities of a divine physician.

While Xin Wanyi wasn't complacent, she couldn't help but feel a little self-satisfied. But the man she'd found by the roadside made her seriously doubt her own abilities.

When she first brought this man back, she was just itching to test her skills. Otherwise, with the help of her close friend "Cold Moon Fairy" Shao Xueqian's servants, bringing a grown man back to the medical hut alone would not have been an easy task. Unfortunately, the servants had to return to Qilan Manor these past few days, leaving Xin Wanyi to take care of him alone. It was quite a hardship for her!

It had been three days since she brought him back. When she took his pulse, she found it to be normal and strong, indicating that his internal strength was not weak. Moreover, he was so handsome. If Xin Wanyi hadn't been so dedicated to medicine, she might have been attracted to him! But putting all that aside, even though his pulse was normal and he didn't seem to be sick, he was unconscious and his brows were sometimes contorted. It was clear that he was enduring pain even while unconscious. It was impossible for his condition to be normal. Yet, as a doctor, she had no way of figuring out what was wrong with his body.

If it wasn't illness or injury, but rather a form of manipulation—specifically, a mystical art or Maoshan Taoist technique designed to target the mind—then it wouldn't be something a healer could handle. But no matter how she examined his pulse, it felt off. Xin Wanyi pondered carefully and finally discovered the problem.

Although she wasn't skilled in martial arts, as a healer, she inevitably encountered patients and injuries who possessed martial arts skills. Xin Wanyi had treated martial artists before, and with a focused mind, she immediately noticed that this person's internal strength was quite advanced, but there was a hidden force within him, concentrating all his energy in one place, unlike a normal person whose energy is dispersed throughout their limbs, or a martial artist whose energy circulates naturally and endlessly.

This method of concentrating one's internal energy in one place is of great benefit to martial artists when they are focused on fighting. Even bystanders, in times of emergency, will feel their internal strength surge, often enabling them to perform actions far beyond their usual level, such as escaping a fire or being chased by a wild beast. However, if this is done in ordinary times, without any respite, it is as if the body is constantly in motion without interruption, making it difficult to rest even in unconsciousness or sleep, which is extremely harmful to the body.

If this person did not practice a Taoist technique that skillfully draws upon the energy of heaven and earth, allowing them to barely maintain balance when dealing with the consumption, they would probably have already suffered a qi deviation. If it is not a special martial art, then it is the influence of poison or esoteric methods.

Thinking of this, Xin Wanyi couldn't help but feel excited. For a healer, besides the great vow to save lives, what excites them most is strange diseases or unusual poisons. This Gu technique originated in the Miao region and is extremely rare in the Central Plains. Although as a healer she would have some basic knowledge of it, even her master had rarely encountered anyone afflicted by Gu in her entire life, so her experience was naturally lacking. She couldn't help but feel eager to try it herself. She took a long needle and tried the method taught in the book, and indeed confirmed that the person was poisoned by Gu, but it was deeply entrenched and of a different kind she had never seen before. She tried several methods, but none were very effective, clearly indicating that the Gu poison afflicting this person was outside of what Xin Wanyi had learned. Although she repeatedly failed, Xin Wanyi became increasingly excited, but she was also surprised. Gu poison was a Miao people's art, and there was little exchange between the Central Plains and the Miao people, so there was little research on it. If Xin Wanyi's master hadn't traveled thousands of miles in her youth, traversing the north and south, she probably wouldn't have known its essence either.

The poison of Gu is far more potent than ordinary poisons, yet it is extremely adept at lying dormant. It can remain dormant within the body for a long time without taking effect, like a dragon lurking in the abyss. Once it comes into contact with something that triggers its effects, or if the Gu user deliberately induces it, it will either remain dormant or, once it does, be fatal. Often, both the Gu user and the victim suffer the same fate. Therefore, even the people of Miao territory are extremely cautious about using Gu. Unless there is a deep-seated hatred, they dare not use Gu poison casually, even during ordinary times. Their treasuring of Gu poison surpasses even that of the esteemed disciples of the Central Plains, who cherish their unique secret techniques. The methods of using Gu are also complex and difficult to discern.

However, the Gu poison this person suffered from was, firstly, not directly fatal, but had other effects on the body that she couldn't immediately understand; secondly, the method felt somewhat familiar to Xin Wanyi. It wasn't that she was truly familiar with the Gu user, but rather that this method of Gu preparation differed significantly from the methods used by the original Miao people. If the ingredients were different, it would resemble the methods used by poison users in the Central Plains much more.

The saying goes that medicine and poison share the same origin. As a doctor, Xin Wanyi was very familiar with the methods of poisoning in the Central Plains. Once she figured out the logic, she could see the abnormality. The method used by the perpetrator was not actually special. If it hadn't been mixed with a rare Gu poisoning technique in the Central Plains, it wouldn't have been able to trouble Xin Wanyi for the past few days.

Having figured out the other party's methods each day, the Gu poison no longer seemed special to Xin Wanyi. She easily found the prescription; even if she couldn't cure the Gu, waking the person up would be easy. However, the person who cast the Gu poison likely used rare and exotic medicines, but their methods were not very skillful, suggesting it was probably a scheme by a wealthy and powerful family.

Thinking of this, Xin Wanyi couldn't help but shudder. The wealthier the family, the more unimaginable their filth and corruption. The imperial palace, supreme in its nobility, was likely to be even more corrupt than anyone else. She hoped that curing the Gu poison wouldn't cause her any trouble.

While preparing the medicine to wake the person, she looked at the bloodstains taken from their body, and Xin Wanyi hesitated. With her knowledge, she had already figured out most of the ingredients of this Gu poison, but its purpose was still unclear. She had even developed two or three antidotes, but the one who cast the Gu used top-quality medicines; the formulas were simple yet potent. Although she had antidotes, each one required rare and precious elixirs—a skilled cook can't cook without ingredients. She couldn't solve this situation in a short time.

After administering the medicine, she saw the man's brow furrow slightly as he gradually awoke. When he opened his eyes, Xin Wanyi was startled.

This man was handsome, yet afflicted by the Gu poison. She didn't know if he was unconscious due to the Gu's effects or had been tormented by the poison for a long time; his movements were weak and feeble. His dim gaze looked so weak and pitiful, not like someone around twenty years old, but like a newborn child, evoking pity.

To be honest, he resembled the small dogs and rabbits Xin Wanyi used to keep—soft and delicate, inspiring only tenderness and affection. Their eyes met, and the timidity and fragility in his eyes stirred an impulse within her to hold him close and shower him with tender care.

Ah… where was she thinking? True to her expertise as a doctor, Xin Wanyi quickly regained her composure after a brief lapse in attention. Putting aside the differences between men and women, such thoughts were truly inappropriate. Just look at this young, handsome man, his martial arts skills superb, while she herself wore simple clothes and a plain dress, her appearance at best merely pretty and delicate. Even compared to a beauty like Shao Xueyu, this man, if dressed as a woman and with a little makeup, would likely be even more alluring than herself. She sighed inwardly and softened her voice: "Is the young master feeling any better?"

"This...where is this..." Having just woken up, the man's pupils were still unfocused. Although he spoke, his eyes were not quite aligned. As a doctor, Xin Wanyi knew that he had just regained consciousness and was afraid that he could not even see himself clearly!

Even his voice was so weak and feeble, he must have suffered a lot. Her heart softened. "This is the clinic… Young Master has been asleep for several days, finally awake… Please rest well."

Before she could finish speaking, Xin Wanyi was startled. Upon hearing her voice, the man trembled uncontrollably, his still-dazed eyes suddenly reddening, and even his breathing became heavy. His agitated state made Xin Wanyi pause slightly. Sitting by the bed, she gently tapped his wrist pulse, only to find his body seemed to have become hot again. Startled, Xin Wanyi ignored his weak waving, unsure if he wanted her to leave or wanted to say something. She hurriedly reached out to check his forehead temperature, fearing something had gone wrong with the medicine she had just given him.

However, whether by observation, smell, or palpation, she couldn't see anything unusual in his body. He kept shaking his head, panting, seemingly unable to speak clearly. For a moment, she had no way to ask, and Xin Wanyi was stunned.

He should be fully conscious by now, and aside from the Gu poison, there shouldn't be any problems with his body. His agitation can only be attributed to psychological factors. Yet, this handsome man is someone she would never forget if she had seen him before. Xin Wanyi racked her brains but couldn't recall ever seeing him before. If they weren't old acquaintances, why would he react this way?

"Quick...get out...hurry...otherwise..." His breathing finally calmed down, and Xin Wanyi leaned closer to his face, ignoring the slightly disheveled strands of hair falling on his nose. The girl's fragrance filled her nostrils, and his voice gradually became sentences, mingling with the heat of his breath, making Xin Wanyi feel completely out of sorts.

Such hot breath would never happen under normal circumstances. What on earth had happened to this person? Thinking of his weak and feeble eyes just now, so pitiful and unsettling, Xin Wanyi forcibly stopped her feet from leaving, wanting to understand what he wanted to say and to take good care of him who was unwell.

"Hurry...hurry up and leave...otherwise...the Gu poison is about to take effect..."

"The Gu poison is about to take effect? What's going on?" Hearing this, Xin Wanyi's curiosity was piqued. Although she had read about Gu poison in books and heard her master mention some signs of being afflicted, this was the first time she had actually encountered someone afflicted with Gu. Seeing that the other person's Gu poison was about to take effect, although he earnestly urged her to leave, Xin Wanyi really didn't want to go. She really wanted to stay here and observe how the Gu poison would react when it took effect.

More importantly, from his words, it seemed that this person's Gu poison had taken effect before. He must have suffered from the pain of Gu poisoning several times. Although she felt a bit sorry for his pained expression, she would never gloat, but Xin Wanyi also wanted to hear him explain what was going on with the Gu in his body. Who was the master who cast the Gu poison?

Before she could even ask a question, she felt a sudden tightening in her hand. The man grabbed Xin Wanyi's wrist, pulled her, and with a cry of "Ouch!", she was dragged onto the bed. He pressed down on her, giving her no chance to escape.

This man had been unconscious for several days and had only just regained consciousness, so he shouldn't have been able to exert much force. However, firstly, he was skilled in martial arts, while Xin Wanyi was weak and powerless in comparison; secondly, Xin Wanyi was petite, and with his pull and pressure, her limbs were immediately immobilized. More importantly, the man seemed to possess an inexplicable strength, firmly controlling Xin Wanyi's body, leaving her no way to escape.

"What...what are you doing?" Xin Wanyi was terrified that this man would resort to violence the moment he woke up. His lewd methods were a stark contrast to his handsome appearance. She struggled desperately, but couldn't break free of his firm grip. Especially since his breath was hot, radiating from his mouth and nose, burning her face, and his body was scorching hot, the heat seeming to soften every pore. Xin Wanyi was so frightened she almost cried. She never imagined that saving someone would lead to such a disaster.

As a woman living alone, even knowing her appearance wasn't particularly outstanding and that there was nothing of value besides medical supplies, she wouldn't have been so careless. But this man was handsome, and his weakened state under the influence of the poison stirred a protective instinct in her. She never expected him to commit such a beastly act. Now, like meat on a chopping block, she was powerless to resist.

"No...no...this can't be...help me..."

"I'm...I'm sorry...I...I can't control...this Gu...ah..." Hearing Xin Wanyi's incessant cries, feeling her struggling and resisting beneath him, her fingernails scratching, causing some pain to her skin, but compared to the burning sensation within her body, the suffering from her struggles was so insignificant.

The man panted heavily, apologizing, but his body pressed against her delicate form with lust, his hands roaming over Xin Wanyi's slender body, searching for a way to escape. "Is...is it Gu?" Hearing him say this, the exasperated Xin Wanyi's body stiffened slightly. Although she immediately resumed her movements, the force of her gripping and resisting did not lessen at all, but since the other party had already pressed down on her, this slight relaxation only allowed him to penetrate her more deeply: if he hadn't also seemed to be struggling, making his movements somewhat awkward, given the difference in their physiques and strength, Xin Wanyi would probably have been subdued long ago.

Struggling and enduring the burning sensation emanating from him, Xin Wanyi watched his face contort, his hands and feet still ravaging her body, yet his eyes filled with sorrow. Her heart stirred. Recalling his words and the strange phenomena at the moment, his appearance was not merely lustful; it was as if he had been drugged with a potent aphrodisiac, making him instinctively want to find a woman to release his pent-up desires. He was powerless to resist. Could it be that the Gu poison planted in his body acted like a potent aphrodisiac when it took effect?

However, upon reflection, many questions were answered. Aphrodisiacs concentrate a person's desires, causing an uncontrollable surge of lust, which perfectly matched his condition. Furthermore, Xin Wanyi was quite self-aware; having always focused on studying medicine, she had never been considered a "beauty," her appearance at best merely delicate. Logically, she didn't possess the qualities to arouse such lust in men, so it was hard to imagine any other possibility besides the influence of aphrodisiacs.

Even so, a virgin's chastity cannot be so easily abandoned. She resisted desperately beneath him, knowing that he was also powerless to resist, so she did not resort to the vicious methods of scratching and poking with her nails. She continued to resist the invasion of his demonic hands. Xin Wanyi, who was so anxious that she was about to cry, felt that it was becoming more and more difficult to breathe. It was not because his strong body was pressing down on her breasts and making it difficult to breathe, but because his body heat was so intense that it penetrated her pores even through her clothes, spreading and burning throughout her body, making her feel hot all over.

At first, she didn't feel anything, but as her breathing became increasingly labored, it became harder and harder to exert her strength. In addition, there was a significant difference in their physiques. Although this man appeared handsome, his physique was outstanding even among ordinary men. Unfortunately, Xin Wanyi was petite, and after being suppressed by him, it became increasingly difficult for her to use her strength. To make matters worse, as his hot breath flowed into her body, it seemed to resonate with his desires. Under the attack from both inside and outside, Xin Wanyi felt increasingly weak and powerless. Even though she struggled desperately, she still felt his body getting closer and closer to her, and it became increasingly difficult to resist him.

Moreover, his methods of lust didn't stop there. It was unclear whether it was because the lustful curse had entered her body, making all sorts of provocative actions instinctive, or whether he had been under the curse for quite some time and, despite his mental resistance, his body had involuntarily become accustomed to these actions. Although Xin Wanyi's hair was disheveled and her clothes were in disarray during their entanglement, she managed to keep herself from being stripped off. But wherever the man's demonic hands touched, waves of unimaginable heat pierced her heart. Every touch made Xin Wanyi's delicate body tremble involuntarily. Even physical contact through her clothes was so irresistible. Xin Wanyi couldn't imagine whether she could maintain her resistance if he broke through this barrier.

In the struggle, Xin Wanyi couldn't help but pant heavily. Women's physical strength is inherently inferior to men's, and Xin Wanyi, lacking martial arts training, was delicate. This man, however, was quite skilled. Furthermore, Xin Wanyi's breathing quickened in her anxiety, and the man's scent filled her nostrils. It seemed even the lustful energy within the Gu (a type of venomous insect) was amplified by her sweat, making Xin Wanyi's body extremely uncomfortable. Her sweat-drenched body became even more sensitive, and she felt the man's intense need for her even more intensely, burning like wildfire within her.

However, the scene amidst this struggle was somewhat jarring. Although he couldn't resist the lustful Gu within him, constantly groping Xin Wanyi's delicate body, the heat of their flesh making her dizzy and almost unable to maintain her senses, he still kept apologizing. His apologies were accompanied by increasingly lewd and provocative actions. If Xin Wanyi hadn't been so panicked and unable to pay attention to anything else in her struggle, she might have been amused by this stark contrast.

But his apology only made things worse. His warm breath, emanating from his mouth, burned against Xin Wanyi's earlobe, making her heart flutter and her whole body tingle.

The more she moved, the weaker she felt, the more the surging heat within her assaulting her rational defenses, as if urging her to succumb to lust, abandon her protective instincts, and share a passionate encounter with the man. While it didn't truly shatter Xin Wanyi's virginity, it made her resistance increasingly fragile. His apology, seemingly whispering in her ear, stirred her heart. Unable to bear it any longer, Xin Wanyi finally opened her eyes, her beautiful, teary eyes glaring at him, intending to give him a good glare to make him back down.

But this one glare completely shattered Xin Wanyi's resistance! When she opened her eyes, filled with resentment, she saw him looking at her pitifully. His pleading gaze was so weak, filled with sorrow and guilt, as if he were begging for her mercy. A feeling that was both strange and familiar welled up in Xin Wanyi's chest. It was familiar because she had often seen this pitiful fragility in the eyes of the weak and sick, or even small animals like cats, dogs, and rabbits. But it was strange because this should never be the thought that a woman who desperately resists a man's lustful advances should have!

But this one glance warmed Xin Wanyi's heart. It was as if the person in front of her was no longer the lecherous demon who had been so disrespectful to her, but a wounded and weak child who only needed her care and pity. Especially when she thought about how he was under the influence of a lustful curse, and how even though he hated doing this, he couldn't suppress the instinctive needs driven by the curse, how long had he endured this torment of conflict between body and mind? Given his martial arts skills, it's truly remarkable that he collapsed by the roadside. Perhaps it was his own aversion to the physical and mental discomfort he caused himself!

She sighed inwardly. This man was truly pitiful. If he were just an ordinary child, it wouldn't be so bad, but he was a martial arts master, and so handsome at that. He must have been an invincible, successful young man in the past, but why was he suffering like this?

Especially his incomparably handsome face, paired with those hopeless, powerless eyes, evoked a profound sense of pity. Xin Wanyi couldn't help but feel that her pushing him away was a crime. His frail appearance was irresistible; his gaze seemed to pierce through to the heart, making one want to hold him in their arms, to cherish and protect him, rather than cruelly pushing him away.

Her heart softened, and so did her hands. The moment Xin Wanyi relaxed her grip, he seized the opportunity, pressing his entire body against hers, leaving her unable to resist. Only then did Xin Wanyi realize the gravity of the situation, but it was too late.

Although he was undeniably handsome, and although she couldn't help but feel pity for him, at this moment he was relentlessly taking advantage of her. No matter how gentle or pitying she was, she couldn't forget anything else. She gritted her teeth, avoiding his pitiful gaze, and let out a soft, strained groan.

"I...I'm sorry...it's my

fault..." "You..." Pressed and squeezed so tightly, Xin Wanyi felt the fire within her burn even brighter, almost unbearable even for her. Especially with that weak, feeble apology, her instinct to resist crumbled, leaving her utterly powerless.

Now she knew she most likely couldn't keep her body, and a sense of loss rose in her heart, along with a lingering, unresolved feeling. She unconsciously relaxed, letting the heat emanating from him burn into her body. She slowly opened her eyes, her voice soft and weak, as if she herself couldn't even hear it clearly, "Hey...you...who are you? Tell Wanyi...your name..."

"I...my name is Duan Ling..." Sensing that Xin Wanyi's resistance had ceased, the man pressed her down hard, his hands roaming over her delicate body. Whether it was his cleverness or genuine experience, he managed to undress her without damaging her clothes even in such close proximity. Xin Wanyi blushed deeply, but she was powerless to resist, forced to submit to his actions.

"So it's you!" Hearing him give his name, Xin Wanyi was truly startled. Even though her medical clinic had little to do with the martial arts world, she had a close friend, Shao Xueqian, who was renowned in the martial arts world. Through their conversations, she had become familiar with some famous figures in the martial arts world.

In recent years, Duan Ling had become a well-known figure. He debuted several years ago and challenged many famous masters in the martial arts world. Although he had won and lost, even when he lost, the difference in skill was only slight. Some famous masters in the martial arts world admired his martial arts skills. In particular, he was not arrogant because of his skills. In addition to challenging masters, he also did chivalrous deeds. Many gangs that caused trouble in their areas were taught a lesson by him. However, the martial arts world was full of hidden talents, and there were many masters who used their martial arts to do evil. It was not something that a few knights could suppress.

But this man is most infamous for what happened two years ago. Overnight, he went from a high-ranking chivalrous hero to a lecherous womanizer. He not only preyed on women who were powerless to resist, but even some female heroes of the martial arts world could not escape his clutches. Han Caidie, the "Fragrance Fairy" of Yun Shen Pavilion, who was as famous as "Cold Moon Fairy" Shao Xueqian, and Ming Xiazi of Junshan Sect both had their bodies ruined by him. What made Shao Xueqian especially indignant was that this man not only went far away after having his fill of food, but also said that he kept apologizing during the process. While he spoke with great remorse, he committed lewd acts against women. The more sincere he was, the more he enjoyed himself. He used this huge contrast to make women's hearts soften. This is what is called hypocrisy.

To be honest, when Duan Ling was acting chivalrously, he was highly praised by the martial arts world. This only deepened their hatred when he fell into depravity. Feeling deceived, they hunted him down with far more ruthlessness than they would any other lecherous villain—at least, that was the case for Shao Xueqian.

Although she was already married to Ji Yuan and had a child, and hadn't been tempted by him, she still believed him to be a young hero and had even considered recruiting him into the Weitian Alliance. The shattering of her idol made it even harder for Shao Xueqian to forgive him.

But now, it seemed that Duan Ling's insatiable lust and indiscriminate advances towards women weren't due to uncontrollable desire, but rather the influence of a lustful curse within him. Xin Wanyi felt a surge of pity, which even overwhelmed her instinct to protect her body.

She relaxed her resistance, letting his demonic hands tremble and penetrate her body. Before she knew it, he had taken off her coarse clothes and skirt. The feeling of their naked bodies touching was much stronger than when they were separated by a layer of clothing. Xin Wanyi could hardly bear it and almost groaned.

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