Category: I, The Man Who’ll Conquer Both the Immortal Venerable and the Demon Empress

Chapter 105: Turmoil in Dàxīng, the Shark Dragon Gang Stirs

Dàxīng City, Calabash Alley.

Shi Hao reached the end of Calabash Alley, where a small residence, seemingly ordinary, stood.

Upon closer inspection, however, he noticed the weathered stone walls and the absence of other houses in the alley. Its secluded location, away from the main streets, made it a quiet and deserted spot, even children avoiding it.

The paint on the door was peeling, and two brass rings hung from a rusty, tiger-shaped knocker, the rings themselves still polished from frequent use.

Shi Hao lifted one of the rings and knocked three times, then five.

The door opened, and an old man, his back hunched, looked at him.

Then, without a word, he turned and walked inside.

Shi Hao silently followed him. The old man didn’t speak, and neither did he.

They passed through the house, emerging into another alley. Another door opened.

The old man gestured, and Shi Hao entered.

Shi Hao had already changed his appearance using the Evil Shadow Disguise Technique, his high forehead and hooked nose giving him a menacing aura.

The old man closed the door behind him.

Three women sat chatting under a mulberry tree in the courtyard. They glanced at him but didn’t react.

Shi Hao walked through the courtyard and entered the main hall, where a middle-aged man with a square face and broad shoulders stepped forward and bowed, “Are you Hao Xinghua, the ‘Mad Blade Hero’?”

Shi Hao returned the bow, “Indeed. And you are…?”

The man said, “I am Zhu Zheng, leader of Dark Thunder’s Xun Mu Branch.”

Shi Hao hadn’t expected to meet the leader of Dark Thunder’s Dàxīng City branch so soon.

He wasn’t familiar with Dark Thunder’s internal structure, but knowing Zhao Leitong was the leader of the Kan Shui Branch, and Fu Shiyuan the leader of the Li Huo Branch, he deduced that this Xun Mu Branch leader held a similar position, a powerful figure within Dark Thunder.

He guessed that Dark Thunder’s branches were named after the eight trigrams and five elements, with five to eight branch leaders. And with Dàxīng City’s strategic importance, it was natural for them to have a branch here.

He had assumed Lu Tong had only given him a contact within the branch, not expecting to meet the leader himself.

Shi Hao said, “It’s an honor. I’m not worthy of such a reception.”

Zhu Zheng chuckled, “Your name precedes you, Brother Hao. Thanks to you, we were able to obtain the God-Sealing Stone and escape Civilian Martial Ridge. And then you killed Chi Mu Heng and the Flying Scorpion Blade, truly living up to the title of ‘hero.’

“Although the Leopard Gate claimed Jiao Han died from a cultivation mishap, we know you were the one who killed him. It’s a pity the news didn’t spread. It would have further enhanced your reputation.”

Shi Hao knew the Ghost Extreme Sect was covering up the true cause of Jiao Han’s death. He hadn’t expected Zhu Zheng to know the truth.

Zhu Zheng invited him to sit down and said, “Miss Tong gave you a contact within our branch, so we could arrange a meeting. But I told them to bring you directly to me.”

Shi Hao said, “You’re too kind, Leader Zhu.”

They sat down, and Zhu Zheng brewed tea for them.

Shi Hao took a sip. It wasn’t particularly good tea, but he didn’t mind.

Zhu Zheng asked, “Is there anything I can do for you, Brother Hao?”

Shi Hao said, “I want to know about the recent events in Dàxīng City. The Leopard Gate’s collapse has caused chaos, which is understandable, but the situation seems to be escalating.

“Is the Ghost Extreme Sect involved?”

Zhu Zheng pondered, “We’re not sure if they’re directly involved, but the recent chaos is definitely connected to the Shark Dragon Gang.”

Shi Hao asked, surprised, “The Shark Dragon Gang? Why them?”

Of the three gangs and six societies, the Shark Dragon Gang was currently the strongest, although not powerful enough to control the entire city.

Zhu Zheng said, “Of the three gangs and six societies, the Ascending Heroes Gang is currently fighting the Mystic Virtue Society and the White Sword Society. But other gangs usually don’t interfere in such conflicts directly, at most scavenging from the losers after the battle is over.

“The gangs in Dàxīng City have been vying for power for years, but none have been able to dominate completely. This is due to the city’s unique power structure. And both the barbarian court and the Chongxian Sect prefer this balance of power and wouldn’t allow any single gang to control the city.”

Shi Hao said, “Do you know that the Ascending Heroes Gang is backed by the Zong Hai family, one of the four great barbarian families?”

Zhu Zheng said, “Of course. But the martial world has its own rules. Although the Zong Hai family can provide resources, they can’t interfere directly, and they won’t send their experts to fight for the Ascending Heroes Gang. Just like you killed Jiao Han, and the Ghost Extreme Sect had to retreat and abandon the Leopard Gate.

“In fact, I suspect that if the Ascending Heroes Gang truly dominated Dàxīng City, even with the Zong Hai family’s backing, the barbarian court would suppress them. They might even be targeted because of their powerful backing.”

Shi Hao was initially surprised, then nodded in understanding.

Zhu Zheng continued, “As for the Heaven and Earth Gang, the oldest of the three gangs, although weaker than the Shark Dragon Gang and the Ascending Heroes Gang, they’re not a concern. Their leader, Deng Haihan, is a cunning old fox who never takes risks. Although one of the three gangs, they never become powerful enough to attract unwanted attention.

“Knowing his style, although he enjoys watching other gangs fight, he wouldn’t instigate conflict himself. And we’re certain the current chaos originates from the Shark Dragon Gang. We suspect they’re planning something, although their motive is unclear. But why do you suspect the Ghost Extreme Sect? With the Leopard Gate gone, causing chaos in Dàxīng City will only create more enemies for them, and the demonic sects usually don’t operate so openly.”

Shi Hao said, “Although the demonic sects usually don’t act openly, they’re unscrupulous. I know that both the Ghost Extreme Sect and the barbarian court’s Ancestral Altar are planning something on Dragon Head Mountain during the next full moon. There’s bound to be a conflict, but I can’t see how the Ghost Extreme Sect can win.”

“It’s not that they lack powerful experts. This is clearly important to them, and they’ll definitely send their best. But the Ancestral Altar also has its own experts, and more importantly…”

Zhu Zheng frowned, “Although the Ancestral Altar is relatively unknown in the martial world, they have considerable influence and can mobilize troops. In a fortified city like Dàxīng, having lost the Leopard Gate, what can the Ghost Extreme Sect do against them?”

Shi Hao said, “That’s why I thought the Ghost Extreme Sect was behind the chaos in Dàxīng City, trying to create an opportunity for themselves. I didn’t expect it to be the Shark Dragon Gang.”

He lowered his voice, “Leader Zhu, do you think it’s possible that the Shark Dragon Gang is secretly working with the Ghost Extreme Sect?”

Zhu Zheng hesitated, “That… seems unlikely. What could the Ghost Extreme Sect possibly offer to convince Bei Tonghui, the leader of the Shark Dragon Gang, to oppose the Ancestral Altar? The Ancestral Altar represents the Mother Sky religion, not a martial arts sect. As long as you don’t provoke them, they don’t interfere in the affairs of the martial world.”

“To provoke them is to provoke the barbarian court, which, in these times, is tantamount to rebellion. The Ghost Extreme Sect is a secretive demonic sect. Even if they offend the Ancestral Altar, they can just disappear. But Bei Tonghui’s entire operation is based in Dàxīng City.”

He thought for a moment, then shook his head decisively, “It’s impossible.”

His certainty made Shi Hao doubt his own theory.

But then another thought struck him, “Leader Zhu, what kind of offer could convince Bei Tonghui to help the Ghost Extreme Sect, even risking the Shark Dragon Gang?”

Zhu Zheng lowered his voice, “Either an incredible opportunity, or a supreme-grade divine crystal.

“Bei Tonghui cultivates the Primordial Metal Bones technique, an external martial art. Such techniques reach their limit at the fourth rank. Advancing further requires a rare and exceptional opportunity. Bei Tonghui’s cultivation has stagnated for twenty years. If the Ghost Extreme Sect could help him reach the high ranks, he wouldn’t hesitate to sacrifice the Shark Dragon Gang.

“Once he becomes a high-rank expert, he could easily rebuild his power anywhere. Or perhaps a supreme-grade divine crystal like the Emperor Star, Longevity Star, Gouchen Star, or Houtu Star. Becoming a supernatural ability user with such a crystal would be equivalent to reaching the high ranks. But if the Ghost Extreme Sect had such an opportunity or a divine crystal like that, why would they give it to Bei Tonghui?”

“For any sect, a high-rank expert is a valuable asset. If I were the Ghost Extreme Sect, given the choice between controlling Dàxīng City and having a high-rank expert or a supreme-grade divine crystal, I would choose the latter.”

Shi Hao said solemnly, “But there’s one possibility that could make the Ghost Extreme Sect willing to offer such a valuable opportunity or a divine crystal to Bei Tonghui, even at great cost.”

Zhu Zheng frowned, “What kind of objective could be worth such a sacrifice?”

Shi Hao said calmly, “Someone told me that even demonic sects have their beliefs and principles. If it involves a belief they’ve pursued for millennia, a cause they’ve dedicated their lives to, anything is possible.”

Chapter 104: A Detestable Martial World

Shi Hao whispered in Zhuo Mulan’s ear, “Indeed, the entire Chongxian Sect is a cesspool covered in silk, its outward appearance glamorous, but rotten to the core. And you? What kind of woman are you?”

Zhuo Mulan, her beliefs shattered, her body defiled, under his deliberate manipulation, was falling into an abyss.

“More… more…” she writhed in his arms, her cries unrestrained, her body pressed against his, shamelessly begging, “I’m also rotten, I’m also a whore, more, more…”

How could she, living in such a corrupt environment, be truly virtuous?

If she were truly pure and righteous, how could she be like this, on her disciple’s bed, with her disciple’s lover?

She had abandoned all restraint, lost in a whirlwind of desire.

“You’re not,” the young man, however, held her close, his voice gentle and soothing, “I know you’re different. You’ve tried your best, and you’ve done well. I know you’ve been protecting Yuejiao, trying to create a pure and untainted world for her. You could have abused your power, exploited others, like the rest of them.

“But you didn’t. You remained true to your principles. That’s admirable.”

He praised her, encouraged her, his words like a balm to her wounded soul.

If his goal had been to utterly corrupt her, he could have continued, pushing her further into the abyss.

But he didn’t want to break her. If he continued, after he left, she would be truly lost, becoming the “Daoist whore” Su Mei had described.

That wasn’t who she truly was. It was just that Su Mei’s Butterfly Flower Finger and her manipulative techniques were too powerful, even for a disciplined and virtuous Daoist like Zhuo Mulan.

But that wasn’t what Shi Hao wanted. So, as she teetered on the brink of collapse, on the verge of utter depravity, he held her, comforted her, supported her.

He undid the Evil Shadow Disguise Technique, revealing his true face, and whispered words of encouragement and reassurance, reminding her of her inherent goodness, her integrity, her purity, like a lotus flower rising from the mud, untainted by its surroundings.

He combined the techniques Su Mei had taught him with those he had used on Du Yuejiao in Jin Prefecture.

But now, there was no deception, no lies. He used his wicked sincerity, his manipulative righteousness, to pull her back from the abyss.

---

A gentle breeze blew through the secluded courtyard. The rain had washed away the dust, the air fresh and clean.

Water flowed from a small stream into a pond, dragonflies skimming the surface.

White banners and mourning cloths adorned the Chongxian Sect’s main temple, its gates closed.

The death of an Immortal Warrior had cast a pall of grief over the entire monastery.

But in this quiet, secluded courtyard, a warmth blossomed, like the first flowers of spring—

As dusk approached, the setting sun cast a golden glow through the gauze curtains, illuminating the room.

Shi Hao opened his eyes. The beautiful Daoist nun, nestled in his arms, her face flushed, looked like a young girl experiencing love for the first time.

It had all been… strange. He had humiliated her, degraded her, and yet, somehow, she had willingly given herself to him.

She didn’t understand why. She only knew that he was… good, and she wanted to repay him, repay him for the pleasure, for the comfort, for the support, and then, things had… progressed.

Her only regret was that this was Yuejiao’s bed, Yuejiao’s room.

And Yuejiao was still missing, her fate unknown, while she, on her disciple’s bed, had done something she shouldn’t have, with her disciple’s lover.

“Don’t worry,” as if sensing her thoughts, Shi Hao held her close, his voice soft, “I’ll find Yuejiao. Although I don’t know what the Emerald Beauty wants, I’m sure Yuejiao is safe for now.”

Zhuo Mulan clung to him. Although she was twenty-eight, no longer a naive young girl, having lived a sheltered life of cultivation, she felt strangely vulnerable, as if she couldn’t survive without his touch, his protection.

Perhaps, within the seemingly pristine walls of the Chongxian Sect, she had never truly found peace.

She whispered, “What can I do to help?”

Shi Hao was about to say she didn’t need to do anything, then he realized that the Chongxian Sect’s resources would be wasted otherwise.

He asked for a favor.

In the evening, they got up. Zhuo Mulan sat before the mirror, and Shi Hao gently combed her hair.

There was a kitchen in the courtyard, rarely used but stocked with basic ingredients. Zhuo Mulan prepared a simple meal.

They were like a newlywed couple, the atmosphere strangely intimate.

After dinner, they strolled through the garden, then returned to the pavilion and made love again in Yuejiao’s room… They didn’t know why they chose that room again.

As darkness fell, Shi Hao prepared to leave. The beautiful Daoist nun escorted him to the gate.

---

Two more days passed uneventfully.

The chaos in Dàxīng City intensified, clearly orchestrated by someone behind the scenes.

The Chongxian Sect, for reasons unknown, began withdrawing their forces from the city.

The various factions, seizing the opportunity, fought for control, the situation further complicated by various incidents and provocations, the overall direction of events unclear.

Yue Ya’er’s position within the Ancestral Altar seemed to have been elevated. But Shi Hao’s main duty was still to act as her bodyguard at night, protecting her from assassins.

Several of the Ghost Extreme Sect’s “female ghosts” had been captured by Yue Ya’er, but the trails always went cold, the investigations hitting dead ends.

This was typical of the demonic sects. If they were so easily exposed, they would have been eradicated long ago.

And the three Evil Lotus factions were still searching for “Hao Xinghua” and Night Lily.

The Keeper of the Canon was too important, a treasure they couldn’t afford to lose.

However, even the Ghost Extreme Sect, having lost the Leopard Gate, couldn’t openly operate in Dàxīng City, let alone the weaker Evil Lotus factions.

Despite sending out their experts, finding Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan in such a vast city was like searching for a needle in a haystack.

That night, Shi Hao had a dream.

He dreamt of the full moon, of Dragon Head Mountain.

Bathed in moonlight, the mountain radiated a strange, cold light.

A girl’s scream echoed from deep within the mountain… It was Yuejiao’s voice.

Shi Hao woke up with a start, his expression grim.

He went to the window and looked out. The full moon hung in the sky, like a drawn bow, its silvery light casting long shadows across the land.

He looked at the bed, the sleeping Yue Ya’er’s face visible through the translucent curtains.

She was smiling in her sleep, her expression peaceful, lost in a pleasant dream.

Shi Hao looked back out the window, his expression darkening.

He knew that dream wasn’t ordinary.

His Daoist true energy was swirling rapidly, a sign of external demonic interference.

The Emerald Beauty… it was sending him a message.

It was threatening him, telling him that if he wanted to save Yuejiao, he had to go to Dragon Head Mountain on the night of the full moon.

According to legend, that was where the Emerald Beauty first appeared.

The next day, he told Xu Xiaoyan about his dream.

Xu Xiaoyan looked up at him, “What are you going to do?”

Shi Hao said resolutely, “I don’t know what the Emerald Beauty is planning, but I can’t just abandon Yuejiao.”

Xu Xiaoyan tilted her head, “But Dragon Head Mountain, the night of the full moon… it sounds ominous.”

Shi Hao smiled, “We’ll face whatever comes our way. Having entered the martial world, we have to be prepared for anything. Dàxīng City is a dangerous place. People die here every day. And yet, martial artists still flock here, seeking fame and fortune, willing to risk their lives.

“Perhaps… that’s the martial world.”

Xu Xiaoyan muttered, “A detestable martial world.”

Shi Hao looked at her and said, “By the way, there’s something I need you to do.”

Xu Xiaoyan thought for a moment, then smiled, “The sword Uncle Yan forged for you?”

Shi Hao, thinking, She’s so clever, nodded, “Yes, it should be ready by now. And I broke the sword I borrowed from him…”

Xu Xiaoyan chuckled, “That’s not a problem. He has plenty of swords.”

Xu Xiaoyan prepared to leave. Shi Hao asked Yue Ya’er for a horse, and after disguising herself, Xu Xiaoyan left the city.

Shi Hao also had somewhere to go—

Chapter 103: The Woman Who Gave Up

Guided by a young Daoist acolyte, Shi Hao passed through the mountain gate and headed up the mountain.

This was the main temple of the Chongxian Sect. Usually, many people would come here to pray or listen to sermons.

But today, the gates were closed, and the mountain was eerily quiet.

The rain had cleared the air, but a sense of oppression hung over Mount Qian Yuan.

Lu Jin, the Azure Dragon Immortal Warrior, had been the most powerful expert residing in Dàxīng City. His presence alone had kept the three gangs and six societies in check.

It had been a long time since the Chongxian Sect had lost such a powerful figure.

Their main temple was located far to the south. With Lu Jin gone, anxiety filled the air.

Although the Chongxian Sect claimed to be the orthodox leader of the Daoist sects, their reputation among the common people and the martial world was poor.

“Recluse Zhuo is in this courtyard,” the acolyte bowed and left.

Shi Hao entered the courtyard.

Female Daoist cultivators were relatively rare in the Chongxian Sect. And in this main temple, the quarters assigned to them were usually secluded.

Several parasol trees lined the elegant cobblestone path, and marble statues of phoenixes adorned the distant pavilion, adding to the courtyard’s serene atmosphere.

A rock garden, a small stream, two pavilions, and a red-lacquered waterside gazebo stood beside the pavilion.

Zhuo Mulan stood before the rock garden, holding a horsetail whisk, her face grim.

Shi Hao approached and bowed, “Greetings, Recluse Zhuo.”

With a flick of her wrist, the horsetail whisk transformed into a shower of sword light, each strand a sharp blade, sweeping towards Shi Hao.

Her attack was swift and merciless.

Shi Hao shouted, “Yuejiao…”

Zhuo Mulan’s whisk faltered.

Seizing the opportunity, Shi Hao, ignoring the fact that he wasn’t disguised, used the Soul Chasing Locking Steps, closing the distance instantly, and struck several of her acupoints with the Severing Meridian Burning Heart Finger.

Zhuo Mulan collapsed, and Shi Hao caught her.

Zhuo Mulan’s voice trembled, “You… you…”

Shi Hao smiled, his usual gentle demeanor now replaced by a cold menace, “It seems you’ve figured it out.”

Zhuo Mulan, in his arms, closed her eyes, tears welling up, “What… what are you going to do?”

Shi Hao smiled, “Don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything.”

He lifted her into his arms and carried her towards the pavilion adorned with phoenix statues. He entered, looked around, and then ascended the winding staircase.

The upper floor had two rooms, both open.

He entered one. Silk curtains hung from the canopy bed, the bedding neatly folded. A bronze mirror sat on the dressing table, and a colorful Daoist robe hung on a wooden clothes rack.

A tea set and some Daoist scriptures lay on the table, and a cabinet displayed various trinkets a young woman might enjoy.

He placed Zhuo Mulan on the bed and looked around, “Is this Yuejiao’s room?”

Zhuo Mulan’s voice was filled with hatred, “How dare you mention her name! What have you done to her?!”

Shi Hao realized he had come here in vain… Zhuo Mulan didn’t know where her disciple was.

He had called out “Yuejiao” earlier to make her hesitate, exploiting her concern for her disciple.

He sat beside her on the bed, his arm around her, and smiled, “When did you start suspecting me?” His fingers traced her skin beneath her robe.

Zhuo Mulan, fighting back the strange, tingling sensations, gritted her teeth, “It wasn’t difficult to guess. That villain used both demonic and Daoist techniques. Although I’ve never heard of such a thing, seeing it with my own eyes… I couldn’t deny it.”

“And thinking back, in Jin Prefecture, we didn’t suspect you of being the one who kidnapped Yuejiao because we made the same mistake. Disguises are common, but the one who took Yuejiao was a demonic cultivator, and you used pure Daoist techniques. Who would have thought that the villain who used demonic arts and the hero who used Daoist techniques were the same person?”

Shi Hao asked, “So you started suspecting me after returning here?”

Zhuo Mulan said, “I only suspected. Now I’m certain. What… what have you done to Yuejiao? Do whatever you want to me, just… leave her alone!”

Shi Hao sighed, his face changing, the gentle features replaced by the sharp, menacing visage of the “hooked-nosed villain.” He leaned in and kissed her, a sinister smile on his face, “You didn’t tell anyone about our little secret. That’s good. I’ll do whatever I want to you, but don’t worry, I won’t harm Yuejiao.

“In fact, I’m just as worried about her as you are.”

Zhuo Mulan said, “I don’t believe you.”

Shi Hao chuckled, “What don’t you believe? That I’ll harm you, or that I’m worried about Yuejiao? Well, there’s no point in hiding it now. Do you know what that doll that’s been following Yuejiao is?

“It’s called the Emerald Beauty, a mysterious and powerful artifact of the demonic sects. At least four factions are searching for it: the Ghost Extreme Sect, the Black Lotus Realm, the Moon Lotus Pavilion, and the Mirror Flower Water Moon Pavilion. And there might be others as well.

“I don’t know what it wants with Yuejiao, but it’s not safe for her to be near it. I know she’s gone, but if she left on her own, she would have sent you a message.

“The fact that even you don’t know where she is… it’s worrying.”

Zhuo Mulan’s body trembled under his touch, but her concern for her disciple made her endure the strange sensations, her face paling, “The Emerald Beauty? A demonic artifact?”

Yuejiao’s attachment to that doll had been excessive, carrying it everywhere, even keeping it by her bedside while she slept.

Now that she thought about it, the doll had indeed been creepy, and Yuejiao’s obsession with it, unnatural.

Shi Hao knew he had to come here.

If Zhuo Mulan knew where Yuejiao was, he could get a lead.

And if she didn’t, it was even more important for him to be here. That night, he had revealed his dual cultivation, and Zhuo Mulan, having had time to think about it, might have realized something was amiss with “Shi Hao.”

However, the humiliation of that night, her loss of control, would make her reluctant to speak of it.

But now, with her disciple missing, her concern for Yuejiao might override her shame, and she might reveal their “little secret,” alerting the Chongxian Sect.

He had to convince her that he hadn’t harmed Yuejiao, that he was also worried about her.

And he also had to… deepen their “little secret,” ensuring her silence.

So, he used the Butterfly Flower Finger on her again…

An hour later, Zhuo Mulan lay in his arms, her eyes closed, tears streaming down her face, a mixture of shame and… something else.

She had been violated by her disciple’s lover, on her disciple’s bed, losing all control, abandoning all restraint.

She knew she could never go back.

She had suspected him from the beginning, and after he had “walked into her trap,” she hadn’t told anyone, staying behind alone… Perhaps she had been hoping for this.

She had always been a virtuous and disciplined Daoist cultivator. How had she become this?

Was she truly, as he had said, no better than a brothel girl?

Shi Hao held her close, covered by Yuejiao’s blanket, his touch gentle, no longer using the Butterfly Flower Finger.

He asked, “I asked you to investigate the Yuan Dan Huo family. What did you find out?”

The beautiful Daoist nun, having abandoned all pretense of virtue, clung to him, seeking comfort, tears streaming down her face, “I knew… I knew all along. I knew what those people in the sect were doing, seizing land, exploiting the people.

“I knew they were all hypocrites, some preying on young women, others ruining families with their power. I knew all of this, but I pretended not to see.

“I wanted Yuejiao to believe she lived in a righteous environment. But this sect is rotten to the core. I watched Yuejiao grow up. I wanted to create a pure and untainted world for her, so I avoided all those dirty secrets, pretended they didn’t exist.

“But I knew… I knew they were all beyond redemption. But what could I do? I was powerless.”

Shi Hao sighed softly, “Do you know why Zhao Xian, the Peerless Sword, killed Lu Jin? Because Lu Jin was the one who slaughtered Zong Youbi’s family, the ‘Confucian Hero of Xun River.’ He earned that title through a lifetime of righteous deeds.

“But Lu Jin murdered his entire family, even violated his daughter. He thought he had eliminated all witnesses, but one survived, hidden by a magical weapon.

“Zhao Xian had no personal grudge against Lu Jin. He risked his life simply because… he couldn’t stand for such injustice.”

Zhuo Mulan trembled. Although she knew the lower ranks of the Chongxian Sect were corrupt, she had still believed the higher-ups were righteous, trying to maintain order and restore the sect’s honor.

But now, even Lu Jin, one of the Eight Immortal Warriors, had committed such a heinous act.

Her last shred of faith in the Chongxian Sect shattered—

Chapter 102: A 300-Year Wait

The girl ran through the forest.

Her feet pounded the soft earth, but her body trembled.

She collapsed onto a rock, sobbing uncontrollably.

Dark clouds gathered in the distance, and with a rumble of thunder, rain began to fall.

She looked up, the rain washing over her face, blurring her tears.

Drenched and shivering, she wandered aimlessly through the downpour.

The rain intensified, the sound of the storm filling the air.

The sky darkened, flashes of lightning illuminating the falling trees in the distance, brief flames extinguished by the rain.

Muddy water flowed over her embroidered shoes, down the mountainside.

She reached a deserted temple, its paper windows torn, cobwebs hanging from the rafters, dust covering the floor, incense ashes piled on the altar, mixed with dirt and debris.

Behind the altar, a faded statue of a judge of the underworld, holding a mace, its face ferocious and menacing, stared down at her.

She huddled in a corner, her mind hazy.

She dreamt of Brother Shi again, with that female thief and Yue Ya’er, the three of them entangled, their bodies writhing. They were trying to seduce him, tempt him.

She screamed, but he couldn’t hear her. They laughed at her, mocked her.

She tried to reach them, but they pushed her into the mud.

She lay there, sobbing, unable to distinguish dream from reality.

A voice whispered that she had lost her lover, that she was being bullied, because she was weak.

She looked up, the scene around her dissolving, darkness descending, an evil lotus blooming.

Suddenly, she was in a sinister, demonic temple—

The rain continued outside, the statue of the judge looming over her.

The doll, with its morning cloud bun and wooden hairpin, floated above the huddled girl, its black gemstone eyes gleaming with a sinister light, a dark aura emanating from its outstretched hands.

The girl fell into a deeper sleep, a strange, grey light washing over her face.

The doll silently floated out of the temple, landing on a rock by the entrance.

As it sat down, a cold wind swept through the air, and the rock, like polished jade, became clean and smooth.

It stretched out its small legs, clad in white and pink embroidered shoes, its hands clasped in its lap.

It looked at the storm raging outside, its black eyes, usually filled with a sinister light, now sad and mournful.

Master…

Three hundred years… It’s been three hundred years.

For three hundred years, its master hadn’t appeared, not a single word, not a single trace.

It had waited patiently, telling itself that its powerful master couldn’t have simply vanished.

It refused to accept that. It believed, deep down, that its master was still alive.

But now, it had to make a choice… It had to find a successor for its master, preserve the legacy of the Evil Lotus Sect.

It was running out of time.

Even after transforming itself, using all sorts of methods to prolong its existence, it couldn’t last much longer.

Tears welled up in its black eyes.

It raised its sleeve, trying to wipe them away, trying to be strong.

It told itself it couldn’t be so weak. It had to fulfill its duty, its responsibility, in its final moments.

It couldn’t let the Evil Lotus Sect’s legacy die with it. It had to choose a successor for its master… in the time it had left.

Tears streamed down its face, falling onto the rock, forming tiny jade beads that rolled off and dissolved in the rain-soaked earth.

But it couldn’t believe, couldn’t accept, that it would never see its master again.

It couldn’t accept that its master was truly gone.

As the wind and rain intensified, the doll curled up on the rock, hugging its legs, its soft sobs lost in the roar of the storm.

No one could hear its cries, a constant lament for three hundred years, a sorrow that never ceased.

---

Shi Hao couldn’t help but worry about Du Yuejiao.

Although he had mostly used her in Jin Prefecture, he couldn’t be completely indifferent to her well-being. She had been kind to him.

And he didn’t know the Emerald Beauty’s purpose in following her.

His mind, filled with worry, conjured up worst-case scenarios.

The demonic sects were known for their sinister and unpredictable methods.

Their rituals often required bizarre sacrifices.

Perhaps the Emerald Beauty was using Du Yuejiao as a sacrifice for some strange ritual, or perhaps just as a pawn in some twisted game… It was all possible.

That day, it rained heavily in Dàxīng City.

Shi Hao stood on the mountainside, looking at the distant, rain-shrouded horizon.

He felt a strange unease, a growing anxiety.

The chaos in Dàxīng City intensified with the storm.

Even the common people felt the growing unrest.

News of the imperial army’s defeat in the distant Changbai Mountains had emboldened rebellions across the land.

Even around Dàxīng City, several small uprisings, quickly suppressed, had erupted.

The constant movement of troops, however, indicated the barbarian court’s growing concern.

Some of Dàxīng City’s garrison had been redeployed. And with the Leopard Gate’s collapse, the other gangs were vying for control of their territory, further fueling the conflict.

The fighting between the Ascending Heroes Gang and the Mystic Virtue Society and the White Sword Society was particularly fierce.

The Ascending Heroes Gang, led by the ruthless Hu Qingxiong, whose “Five Tigers” were all mid-rank experts, was rumored to be backed by the Zong Hai family, one of the four great barbarian families.

Of the three gangs, the Ascending Heroes Gang was the youngest, having risen to prominence in just ten years, its rapid growth clearly aided by the Zong Hai family.

The Mystic Virtue Society and the White Sword Society, however, were long-established factions in Dàxīng City. Although not as powerful as the Ascending Heroes Gang, with its backing from a royal family, they were popular among the people.

The Ascending Heroes Gang wanted to eliminate them and become the undisputed rulers of Dàxīng City, but despite the bloodshed, the Mystic Virtue Society and the White Sword Society held their ground.

The conflict between the larger gangs inevitably spilled over into the lower ranks, and for several days, the city’s gutters were choked with corpses, blood mixing with sewage.

Whoever controlled Dàxīng City during these turbulent times would hold a significant advantage in the coming chaos.

When the Yang Dynasty fell, it was the Li family of the Sheng Dynasty, having seized control of Dàxīng City, who quickly rose to power and unified the land.

And geographically, controlling Dàxīng City provided a strategic advantage for attacking West Shu. During times of chaos, when the central plains were ravaged by war, West Shu, due to its remote location, often remained relatively peaceful, becoming a vital source of supplies.

Although its importance had diminished due to changes in climate, Dàxīng City was still considered a “land of destiny,” a place where dragons rose.

This made the Ascending Heroes Gang’s ambition to control the city clear. And whether the Zong Hai family, backing them, was simply trying to maintain stability for the barbarian court or had other motives, was uncertain.

The tension in Dàxīng City was palpable.

And yet, despite the bloodshed, even more martial artists flocked to the city, seeking fame and fortune, either becoming heroes or becoming corpses.

While the three gangs and six societies fought amongst themselves, the overall power balance remained relatively unchanged, but the smaller gangs and factions at the lower levels rose and fell quickly.

It rained for several days in Dàxīng City, the occasional glimpses of the moon, a thin crescent gradually waxing, approaching fullness.

Amidst this chaos, news that shook the entire martial world spread like wildfire:

Zhao Xian, the “Peerless Sword,” had killed Lu Jin, the “Azure Dragon Immortal Warrior.”

Zhao Xian, number nineteen on the Blacklist.

Lu Jin, one of the Eight Immortal Warriors of the Chongxian Sect.

No one knew the reason for their feud, and no one had believed Zhao Xian could defeat Lu Jin.

Although they were supposedly of similar strength, most believed Lu Jin to be the superior martial artist.

However, Zhao Xian had intercepted Lu Jin, and after ten exchanges, Lu Jin was dead, and Zhao Xian, severely injured, had escaped before the Chongxian Sect’s reinforcements arrived.

Those who witnessed the duel were stunned by its ferocity.

Those who didn’t could only express their regret at having missed it.

For the Chongxian Sect, the self-proclaimed orthodox leader of the Daoist sects, this was a devastating blow.

After all, even for a large sect like the Chongxian Sect, high-ranking experts weren’t easily replaceable. Lu Jin’s death significantly weakened their control over Dàxīng City.

That morning, Shi Hao, alone, arrived at the foot of Mount Qian Yuan…

Chapter 101: The Emerald Beauty and the Secret Canon

Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan met up.

Clutching her robe, Xu Xiaoyan exclaimed, “Where did you go? You lost them! And now that little lover of yours is looking for me!”

Shi Hao asked, “Where is she?”

Xu Xiaoyan pointed, “In that alley over there.”

Shi Hao rushed over but found no one, only the sword still embedded in the wall.

He searched the area but couldn’t find Du Yuejiao. The Emerald Beauty was also gone.

He sensed several people approaching. More members of the Evil Lotus factions were converging on their location.

He and Xu Xiaoyan quickly left. Along the way, he found some new clothes for her.

Back at Floating Cloud Monastery, Shi Hao paced back and forth in the courtyard.

Xu Xiaoyan, having returned to her original appearance and changed into a Daoist robe, watched him, hands on her hips, and snorted, “She’s just a Chongxian Sect prude. Why are you so worried?”

Shi Hao said thoughtfully, “Why is the Emerald Beauty following her? What’s its purpose?”

Xu Xiaoyan tilted her head, thinking, then said, “Perhaps it wants her to inherit the Secret Canon?”

Shi Hao looked at her, puzzled, “Secret Canon?”

Xu Xiaoyan lowered her hands, bent down, and sighed, “I’ll tell you the truth. You asked before why the three Evil Lotus factions, if they’re truly cooperating, aren’t focusing on restoring the complete Night Charm Demonic scriptures, but instead on finding the Emerald Beauty.”

Shi Hao turned to her and nodded, “Yes! Even if the Emerald Beauty is the key to the Demon Empress’s treasure, restoring the complete scriptures should be more important. Their obsession with the Emerald Beauty seems… illogical.”

Xu Xiaoyan said, “Because the Emerald Beauty might not just be the key to the treasure, but also to the Keeper of the Canon.”

Shi Hao asked, “Keeper of the Canon?”

Xu Xiaoyan said, “The Night Charm Demonic scriptures contain countless techniques, but for the demonic sects, written records are unsafe. What if someone betrays the sect? What if the scriptures are destroyed or stolen?”

“That’s why each demonic sect has a Keeper of the Canon! Unlike the Daoist sects, the demonic sects operate in secret. But this secrecy also makes them vulnerable to losing their traditions.”

Shi Hao nodded.

Xu Xiaoyan continued, “The Night Charm Demonic scriptures are the ‘revealed canon,’ containing various techniques. But there’s also a secret canon, the true and complete scriptures, not written down, but… embodied in a person, a hidden expert of the Evil Lotus Sect who never interferes in worldly affairs, never appears in public, their identity unknown even to most members, only the sect leader aware of their existence.”

“According to tradition, only when the sect leader dies unexpectedly, without choosing a successor, does the Keeper of the Canon appear, choosing the next sect leader and passing on the true teachings.”

“But for some reason, three hundred years ago, after the Demon Empress and the Holy Jade Immortal perished together, the Keeper of the Canon never appeared, never chose a successor for the Demon Empress.”

Shi Hao’s mind raced, “So, the Keeper of the Canon only appears when the sect leader dies without choosing a successor. If the sect leader is still alive, or has chosen a successor, the Keeper remains hidden?”

Xu Xiaoyan said, “That’s right. The Keeper of the Canon is bound by demonic essence. They’re forbidden from passing on the true teachings unless they’re certain the sect leader is dead and hasn’t chosen a successor. This is to prevent the sect from splintering. The Keeper’s purpose is to preserve the sect’s traditions, not to divide it.”

Shi Hao asked, “Is the Emerald Beauty the Keeper of the Canon?”

Xu Xiaoyan sighed, “It’s highly likely. After that battle three hundred years ago, the Demon Empress never reappeared. And for some reason, the Keeper of the Canon never chose a new leader for the Evil Lotus Sect.

“This is the main reason for the sect’s division. Without the true teachings, no one could become the rightful successor. And more importantly, with only the ‘revealed canon,’ the Night Charm Demonic scriptures, one can only cultivate to the fifth rank.”

“The current generation of leaders, Xuan Feng Huanzhi of the Black Lotus Realm, Yue Yaotai of the Moon Lotus Pavilion, and Sha Lingshan of the Mirror Flower Water Moon Pavilion, have all reached the peak of the fifth rank. To advance further, they either have to switch to external martial arts, like their predecessors, or obtain the true teachings from the Keeper.”

“But switching to external martial arts is a long and arduous process, as you know.”

Shi Hao said, “Daoist sects cultivate internal alchemy, while demonic sects refine demonic essence. Switching to external martial arts means starting from the ninth rank, training the body and breath. Even if they reach the fourth rank through years of arduous training, they’ll be older, their bodies changed, and their strength might not even be greater than what they could achieve by perfecting their fifth-rank techniques.”

Xu Xiaoyan said, “And each generation of leaders has been exceptional, hoping to be chosen by the Keeper, but for some reason, the Keeper never appeared.”

Shi Hao said, “Three hundred years… perhaps the Keeper died?”

Xu Xiaoyan shook her head, “If the Keeper died, the mid-rank experts of the Evil Lotus Sect would know. If such an accident occurred, they would abandon the Evil Lotus Sect and seek other traditions. But the Keeper is definitely still alive, just… hidden.”

Shi Hao thought, Perhaps the Keeper knows Su Mei is still alive.

According to tradition, if the sect leader wasn’t dead, the Keeper couldn’t choose a successor.

Xu Xiaoyan said, “But now the Keeper has appeared. The three leaders must believe the Emerald Beauty is the Keeper of the Canon, or at least connected to her.”

“This so-called alliance between the three factions is a joke. They’ve been fighting for so long; they can’t truly trust each other. They’re only cooperating because they know continued infighting will destroy them all. Whoever finds the Keeper will obtain the true teachings and become the rightful leader of the Evil Lotus Sect.”

“Although restoring the complete Night Charm Demonic scriptures would be beneficial to their disciples, it’s not as important to the three leaders, who are stuck at the peak of the fifth rank. Demonic cultivators are selfish and ambitious. They don’t really care about the complete scriptures.”

Shi Hao looked up and said thoughtfully, “I see. So why did the Keeper target me, and why is she with Du Yuejiao now?”

Xu Xiaoyan said, “I’m not sure. I’m guessing it’s because you’re so… unusual.”

She looked at him, “Your demonic techniques are clearly from the Evil Lotus Sect, but they’re also from the divided scriptures. If the Emerald Beauty is truly the Keeper, she might suspect you’re connected to the missing Demon Empress.

“But that’s not certain. Perhaps someone left the Evil Lotus Sect before the division, passing on their knowledge secretly. After all, the techniques you know are from the ‘revealed canon,’ not the secret techniques only known to the sect leader and recorded in the ‘secret canon.’

“But you’re a man, and you also have Daoist techniques. She must be puzzled. As for why she’s with Du Yuejiao now… I suspect she might be considering her as the next inheritor of the Evil Lotus Sect’s true teachings.”

Shi Hao asked, surprised, “But Yuejiao cultivates Daoist techniques…”

Xu Xiaoyan shook her head, “That’s not a problem for the Keeper. Dual cultivation is impossible… uh…” She glanced at Shi Hao.

“Theoretically impossible… but she could destroy Du Yuejiao’s Daoist foundation and then establish a demonic foundation for her, raising her directly to the ninth, eighth, or even seventh rank, before passing on the true teachings.”

“Of course, that’s the best-case scenario. Who knows what she’s actually planning?”

Shi Hao remained silent, lost in thought…

---

After nightfall, Shi Hao returned to the Jade Flower Courtyard.

He stayed in Yue Ya’er’s room again that night, acting as her bodyguard.

The next morning, he asked Yue Ya’er to check if Du Yuejiao had returned to the Chongxian Sect temple.

He was still worried about her.

He waited at the foot of the mountain, and Yue Ya’er soon returned.

“They said she didn’t return last night. They don’t know where she is,” Yue Ya’er said, crossing her arms and looking at him, “What happened between you two? Did she see you?”

Shi Hao looked up at the sky and stammered, “Well…”

Yue Ya’er asked, “Were you with that Xiao Yan girl when she saw you?”

Shi Hao looked down, “Well…”

Yue Ya’er, hands on her hips, exclaimed, “You were with her?!”

Shi Hao, thinking about it, realized that the scene Du Yuejiao had witnessed must have been… easily misinterpreted.

“Hmph, men!” Yue Ya’er said, rolling her eyes.

After they left, a slender figure watched them from a distant alley, her hands clenched so tightly that her nails dug into her palms.

Even they… even they were together.

How many girls were trying to steal her Brother Shi?

She trembled with rage…

Chapter 100: “You’re Not Worthy!”

The two women stared at the hooked-nosed young man.

The woman in the crimson robe, holding the jade lotus, her eyes blazing with killing intent, her demeanor far more aggressive than Huan Tingting’s, said, “Such arrogance. I, Zhu Ping, the ‘Crimson Lotus Fiery Blaze,’ would like to experience the skills of the ‘Mad Blade Hero’ firsthand and see what makes you so confident.”

Huan Tingting sighed softly and looked at the young man, “For Xiao Yan’s sake, if you surrender now, we’ll spare your life and bring you before the Pavilion Lord.”

The young man with the hooked nose sneered, his hands behind his back, “Kill me? The two of you?” He was indeed in a bad mood today.

Huan Tingting and Zhu Ping had never seen a seventh-rank martial artist challenge two sixth-rank experts simultaneously.

Seventh-rank was still considered low-level. Martial artists at this level usually couldn’t even project their true energy externally, and even if they could, it was only for a brief moment.

Yet, this low-rank martial artist, facing two mid-rank experts, dared to tell them to “get lost.”

Even Huan Tingting, the Black Heart Enchantress, frowned, her eyes glinting with killing intent.

In the demonic sects, sentimentality was a weakness.

Her earlier offer had been exceptionally lenient.

Huan Tingting and Zhu Ping attacked simultaneously, one from the left, the other from the right.

Huan Tingting drew a thin sword, not very long, but as she moved, it wove a tapestry of starlight, a beautiful and mesmerizing display, yet also an illusion, like graceful maidens dancing in the air, their movements concealing deadly intent.

Zhu Ping, holding the jade lotus, unleashed a wave of crimson flames, a technique that seemed more like sorcery than martial arts. Of course, demonic techniques, fueled by otherworldly energies, were often bizarre and unpredictable.

The hooked-nosed young man, however, didn’t even look at them.

He suddenly drew his sword, a circle of light expanding outwards.

Space warped around them, distorting their attacks.

They recognized the Violet Vortex Blade Technique. Even with a seventh-rank foundation, combined with the Unfettered Demon’s Boundless Art, it was a formidable technique.

But that wasn’t the most unsettling part. It was as if the young man could anticipate their every move… even without looking at them.

He seemed to perceive every detail, every subtle shift in their movements.

Huan Tingting felt her sword rain being subtly disrupted by the young man’s sword intent, a swirling vortex pulling at her demonic energy.

Zhu Ping also felt her flames being drawn towards the young man’s side, inexplicably redirected towards Huan Tingting.

Huan Tingting, despite her higher cultivation, was forced to change her technique, her sword flashing, the swirling starlight dissipating as she deflected the incoming flames.

The young man flickered and appeared behind Zhu Ping.

Soul Chasing Locking Steps? Zhu Ping thought, alarmed.

They knew of this technique, but they couldn’t use it… It belonged to the Mirror Flower Water Moon Pavilion’s portion of the scriptures.

However, recognizing it as an Evil Lotus Sect technique, Zhu Ping, without turning around, spun, her body transforming into a fiery dragon.

In an instant, she had located the young man’s position, flames roaring towards him.

The young man flickered, appearing beside her again, his sword flashing, a combination of sharp sword energy and swirling flames – the Severing Meridian Burning Heart Sword, enhanced by the Mysterious Charm Technique.

Empowered by the Azure Origin Demonic Source, his demonic energy had increased, and this strike, swift and powerful, caught Zhu Ping off guard.

Huan Tingting also attacked, appearing behind the young man, her sword thrusting towards his back.

At the same time, Zhu Ping, forced to defend herself, her movements stiff and awkward, swung the jade lotus, its flames crashing against his sword.

The young man, his footwork bizarre and unpredictable, dodged and weaved, his own flames dissipating as he somehow absorbed the demonic fire from the jade lotus and redirected it towards Huan Tingting’s throat.

With a flick of his left wrist, he deflected Huan Tingting’s sword towards Zhu Ping.

The two women, startled, reacted instantly. Huan Tingting abruptly stopped her attack, and Zhu Ping, changing her technique, deflected Huan Tingting’s sword with the jade lotus.

The sword snapped with a clang, followed by two more sounds.

The young man, grabbing both the hilt and the broken blade, lunged forward, blood spraying.

Another crash echoed as he was thrown backwards. The two women also flipped backwards, landing on the wall.

Zhu Ping, her right arm injured, her face pale, and Huan Tingting, her robe torn, a thin line of blood appearing on the exposed skin of her chest, stared at him in shock.

The young man landed, coughed up blood, then circulated his Daoist true energy, his injuries quickly healing.

He tossed the broken blade aside and looked up at the two women, a cold smile on his face.

His earlier encounter with Jiao Han in the Leopard Palace, having been forced to face a fifth-rank expert, although a desperate escape, had helped him understand the true power of his Primordial Energy.

Now, he was confident he could defeat these two.

Huan Tingting and Zhu Ping looked at him, their expressions changing.

In their brief exchange, they had confirmed he was indeed only seventh-rank.

He had avoided direct confrontations, knowing that with the difference in their cultivation levels, he would be quickly overwhelmed.

But strangely, no matter how unpredictable their attacks, he had anticipated their every move, dodging and weaving, using the Unfettered Demon’s Boundless Art and the Violet Vortex Blade Technique to redirect their attacks, making them waste their energy.

And now, they had both been injured by a low-rank martial artist.

Two sixth-rank experts injured by a seventh-rank… it was almost unbelievable.

Huan Tingting said calmly, “You’ve been injured by my palm strike. You can’t win.”

The hooked-nosed young man, his hands clasped behind him, sneered, “You’re the ones who are going to die.” A simple statement, yet his aura radiated an undeniable confidence.

Huan Tingting and Zhu Ping stared at him, skeptical.

Zhu Ping’s right arm was injured, which would undoubtedly affect her fighting ability.

Huan Tingting had a scratch on her left breast, a minor and somewhat embarrassing injury, but it wouldn’t significantly impact her combat prowess.

But this young man, a seventh-rank, having taken a palm strike from a sixth-rank expert, even if Huan Tingting had held back, should be severely injured.

Yet, he stood there, seemingly unharmed, his figure, partially obscured by the shadows of the setting sun, as steady and unyielding as a mountain.

Zhu Ping discreetly reached into her sleeve.

The young man, looking down at the ground, sneered, “Using magical weapons? Fine by me.” He reached into his robe.

Huan Tingting was startled. He had noticed her subtle movement, even though he hadn’t been looking at her, and her hand had been concealed by her sleeve?

Was this a seventh-rank martial artist? A chill ran down her spine.

She realized that even with magical weapons, against this young man’s uncanny perception and bizarre techniques, victory was uncertain.

Shi Hao, however, was bluffing.

He only had the Earthly Valor Tiger and the Moon Phase Ring, neither particularly effective against mid-rank experts.

And he didn’t know what kind of magical weapon Zhu Ping possessed, but it was unlikely to be weaker than his. And Huan Tingting might also have one.

But knowing the importance of “building momentum,” he had called out Zhu Ping’s subtle movement and, radiating his sword intent, projected an aura of confidence and dominance, as if daring them to attack.

Huan Tingting and Zhu Ping, feeling the pressure of his imposing aura, hesitated… This man was so mysterious and unpredictable, it wouldn’t be surprising if he possessed a powerful magical weapon.

The two sixth-rank experts of the Moon Lotus Pavilion didn’t dare act rashly.

Suddenly, Huan Tingting’s gaze shifted, “The Emerald Beauty is gone.”

Shi Hao and Zhu Ping looked. The doll, which had been sitting under the tree, had vanished.

---

In a quiet alley, a sword was embedded in a wall, its hilt trembling.

Du Yuejiao knelt on the ground, her hands supporting her, her body shaking.

Before her, a whip, like a snake, coiled around her arm.

Xu Xiaoyan gracefully picked up the robe that had fallen to the ground.

Although she had won, she felt even more ashamed than Du Yuejiao.

The oversized man’s robe had severely hampered her movements, almost costing her the fight.

She had been forced to take it off and fight naked… Just the thought made her blush.

She would never be able to marry now!

Her only consolation was that they had been alone.

Otherwise, she would rather die!

She quickly put the robe back on, her small figure swallowed by the garment.

Adjusting the lapels, she said, “I told you, it’s not my fault! If you’re looking for trouble, go find him!”

She leaped onto the wall and floated away.

Du Yuejiao pounded her fist on the ground, her frustration and despair overwhelming her.

She had lost. Not only had this ugly girl stolen her lover, but she had also been defeated in combat.

She was furious, her pride wounded.

Behind her, the doll, with its wooden hairpin and rainbow robe, slowly floated down, its black gemstone eyes gleaming with a sinister light, watching her…

Chapter 99: Blessing or Curse?

After several changes of direction, Shi Hao was certain they had lost their pursuers.

But he wasn’t taking any chances. They were hiding in a deserted garden, under the eaves of a building. He carefully placed Xu Xiaoyan on a stone step.

Looking down, he saw her face covered by his robe, her slender legs exposed. While carrying her, he had held her close, the robe covering her completely, but now, as she sat there, her legs curled up, the robe slipped, revealing glimpses of her… undergarments.

The girl, clutching the robe to her chest, peeked out, saw his gaze, blushed, and quickly jumped up, adjusting the robe to cover her legs.

She then bumped his chin with her head, “Pervert!”

Shi Hao chuckled, dodging her, “Hey, I was just helping you!”

Xu Xiaoyan snorted and turned away, “Still a pervert!”

Shi Hao thought, I’ve been quite fortunate these past few days. I saw Yue Ya’er naked last night, and just now, Xiaoyan was also… exposed.

Is this a blessing or a curse?

Xu Xiaoyan, clutching the robe to her chest, fumbled with the sleeves, finally managing to put it on.

The sleeves were too long, so she rolled them up, then crossed the lapels like a proper robe, her small figure enveloped in the oversized garment.

She sat back down on the steps, and Shi Hao sat beside her, “Those pursuers seemed to be all women. Were they from the Moon Lotus Pavilion or the Mirror Flower Water Moon Pavilion?”

Xu Xiaoyan said sadly, “Moon Lotus Pavilion. I don’t want to be enemies with them, but they won’t leave me alone.”

Shi Hao hadn’t used the Evil Shadow Disguise Technique. Looking at Xu Xiaoyan, although her disguised face was plain, her eyes were downcast, and she was biting her lip.

To wash away the floral scent that had been attracting their pursuers, she had submerged herself completely in the pond. Her hair was still wet.

The man’s robe, although wrapped tightly around her waist, was loose at the neck, revealing her delicate collarbone and a hint of cleavage, suggesting a surprisingly well-developed figure.

“Pervert!” she said, turning to him, her disguised face contorted in a mock grimace, “You’re still looking? Even though I’m so ugly? You would even take advantage of someone like me?”

Her attempt to appear unattractive, however, only made her more appealing.

Shi Hao chuckled, “I told you, I think you look… charming.” He leaned closer, his voice teasing, “I’m not lying.”

Xu Xiaoyan clutched the robe to her chest, leaning back as he approached, her eyes wide.

Shi Hao, continuing his teasing, leaned in to kiss her, expecting her to shyly pull away.

“Brother… Brother Shi?” a weak, trembling voice called out.

They both turned… and saw Du Yuejiao.

She stood there, holding the doll, dressed in her crimson Daoist robe, her eyes wide with disbelief, tears welling up.

The setting sun cast a golden glow on her slender figure, her loneliness palpable.

“Yuejiao?” Shi Hao, startled by her sudden appearance, jumped up.

Tears streamed down Du Yuejiao’s face as she turned and fled, clutching the doll.

Shi Hao leaped onto the wall and gave chase. He saw her crimson robe disappear around a corner.

He followed, his speed increasing, then frowned… He couldn’t lock onto her energy flow.

It was a strange sensation, as if some force was blocking his Soul Chasing Locking Steps.

The Emerald Beauty, he thought, it must be that creepy doll.

He relied on the Soul Chasing Locking Steps to track people, but now, with the technique useless, and Du Yuejiao, desperate to escape, running through the streets and alleys, the distance between them increased.

She disappeared around another corner. He continued running, leaping onto rooftops, searching for her.

He saw a small figure flying away.

It was the doll.

---

Xu Xiaoyan, having been caught in a… compromising situation, was stunned.

Dressed only in a man’s robe, she couldn’t use her movement techniques to pursue them. She grimaced, then decided to leave, find some clothes, and then deal with this later.

She climbed onto the wall, barefoot, jumped down into a deserted alley, and walked away.

Suddenly, a woman with a drawn sword, her killing intent clear, blocked her path.

It was Du Yuejiao.

Xu Xiaoyan’s heart sank. Clutching the robe to her chest, she raised her other hand and said weakly, “Hi.”

Du Yuejiao, wiping away her tears, her face contorted in fury, approached her, sword in hand, “You witch! How dare you seduce my Brother Shi!”

Du Yuejiao, despite her usually sharp tongue, had been gentle and demure in front of her lover.

But now, seeing him with this… this ugly creature, her heart ached.

She refused to blame Shi Hao, convinced this witch must have used some kind of magic to seduce him.

Otherwise, why would he be with this… this ugly, crooked-mouthed girl, when she herself was so beautiful?

“Be careful what you say. I can sue you for slander!” Xu Xiaoyan retorted, her voice sharp, “I didn’t seduce him. He’s the one who’s been following me everywhere. Hee hee, if you can’t keep him, that’s your problem, not mine.”

Du Yuejiao’s anger flared. Her beautiful face twisted in rage as she swung her sword, unleashing a flurry of strikes towards Xu Xiaoyan.

Xu Xiaoyan, caught off guard, her left hand whipping outwards, barely managed to deflect the attack.

However, wearing the oversized man’s robe, its long sleeves hindering her movements, and without a belt to secure it, she struggled to defend herself, the robe slipping open, revealing her naked body beneath.

Du Yuejiao’s heart ached. Before parting ways with Shi Hao, she had practically thrown herself at him.

He had resisted her advances, speaking sweet words but not touching her. She had admired his restraint, seeing him as a virtuous gentleman, loving him even more.

But now, this ugly girl…

“So you’re that thief!” Du Yuejiao said sharply. She had fought this masked woman at the Yuan Dan Huo estate. Although her face had been covered, she recognized her whip.

This girl… this ugly girl…

To be inferior even to such an ugly creature… Du Yuejiao’s heart ached, her fury burning. She attacked with renewed ferocity, intending to kill her.

Xu Xiaoyan, dodging and leaping, retreated, “Hey, you’re attacking the wrong person! If you want to kill someone, kill that heartless man! Why are you attacking me?”

They were both seventh-rank, but although Du Yuejiao practiced orthodox Daoist techniques, Xu Xiaoyan’s style was more bizarre and unpredictable.

Xu Xiaoyan also cultivated Daoist internal energy, but her energy was unusually yin, and her techniques were more like those of the demonic sects.

This made her whip movements swift and unpredictable, her body flowing like water, then light as the wind, constantly changing.

Although hindered by the long sleeves and loose robe, occasionally tripping over it, and constantly risking exposure, she managed to hold her own against Du Yuejiao.

Xu Xiaoyan shouted, “I don’t want to fight you! Don’t force me!”

---

Shi Hao landed in a courtyard and saw the doll sitting under a crooked tree.

It sat there, as always, beautiful and pristine, its rainbow robe spotless, its presence unsettling.

He sensed two surges of energy rapidly approaching, but neither was Du Yuejiao’s.

He snorted, wiped his face, and his appearance changed instantly.

Two women landed on the wall behind him.

One was Huan Tingting, the Black Heart Enchantress. The other, dressed in a crimson robe, held a jade lotus, her figure curvaceous, her skin slightly tanned.

They looked at the young man’s back, then at the doll under the tree.

“The Emerald Beauty?” Huan Tingting whispered.

The object of their search had finally appeared.

They looked at the young man again. He wore a sword at his waist, his hands clasped behind him, as he slowly turned around.

His sharp, angular features, high forehead, and prominent hooked nose formed a memorable face.

Under their gazes, he said coldly, “I’m in a bad mood today. Get lost.”

Chapter 98: The Girl’s Nightmare

After washing up, Du Yuejiao leaned against the windowsill in her room, looking at the crescent moon.

In the late hours of the night, the already faint moonlight dimmed further, casting the distant mountains and trees in shadow.

Clearing her mind of all distractions, she gazed at the distant moon, her thoughts filled with a single person.

Brother Shi… where are you?

She sighed softly.

The lovesick girl closed the purple gauze curtains, turned, and went to her bed.

A Night Fragrance Pearl sat on her bedside table, its soft, warm glow, filtered through a yellow jade lampshade, illuminating the area around her bed.

She untied her sash, removed her colorful Daoist robe and grey trousers, and slipped under the covers, wearing her diamond-shaped chest covering embroidered with a magpie on a plum blossom branch, clutching the beautiful doll in her arms.

She didn’t know if it was just her imagination, but she felt that as long as she held the doll, she would have good dreams.

Tonight, she would dream of him again.

---

The next morning, the girl woke up with a start, clutching the doll, her face pale.

She had had a dream, a dream about Brother Shi, but not a pleasant one.

She dreamt that Brother Shi, Yue Ya’er, and that female thief, Night Lily, were together.

They were doing all sorts of… shameful things. She stood outside the window, pounding on the gauze curtains, screaming and shouting, but Brother Shi didn’t notice her.

Instead, Yue Ya’er and Night Lily, while seducing Brother Shi, smiled at her, mocking her, taunting her.

She cried and cried in her dream, watching as her lover did things with them that he had never done with her.

She woke up with tears streaming down her face.

She took a handkerchief, wiped her tears, and chuckled to herself.

It was just a dream. Why was she so upset?

But a sharp pain, like a knife twisting in her heart, lingered.

Although just a dream, it had felt so real.

She got up, washed up, and changed her clothes.

Her master, Zhuo Mulan, had gone to the Cave True Wonder Garden, where immortal ingredients were cultivated, and wouldn’t be back until tomorrow.

She was alone in the pavilion.

She ate some pastries, gathered her things, hugged the doll, and went downstairs to the small training ground.

Placing the doll in a corner, she began practicing her swordsmanship.

Her movements were sharp and precise, her sword intent fierce… She wanted to forget that horrible dream.

The beautiful doll watched her from the corner.

Suddenly, its head turned in an unnatural way.

Its small hands twitched, and it silently turned and flew away.

It reached the mountainside, where a woman in colorful attire and a dejected young man were walking towards Du Yuejiao’s pavilion.

“Don’t forget to thank your cousin properly. She went to great lengths to plead for your release last night,” the woman said, “Look at her, and look at you, a useless disgrace. I’m telling you, your cousin is a direct disciple of the Chongxian Sect and even knows the daughter of the Yue Ke Tai family. You have to be nice to her, cultivate a good relationship with her, so that in the future…”

The young man complained, “You shouldn’t have gone to her last night, Mother. It was my own fault.”

The woman poked him in the head, “Are you embarrassed now? Why didn’t you think of that before? You used to think you were so great, wanting to marry her. Look at you now, a useless wretch. You’re not worthy of her!”

“And you embarrassed me by going to that place and getting yourself arrested! I’m a respectable woman! I married your good-for-nothing father, and now I have a useless son like you! Don’t you dare misbehave again! Don’t you dare go to those places again!”

The young man, his head bowed under her relentless scolding and poking, didn’t dare to speak.

They reached a fork in the path, and a middle-aged Daoist priest in a yin-yang robe, holding a horsetail whisk, approached, “Madam, what brings you to the mountain today?”

Wan Shuxian smiled, “It’s Perfected Zheng! Alas, it’s all because of this useless son of mine.” She turned to Fang Yu, “Greet your Uncle Zheng.”

Fang Yu mumbled, “Greetings, Uncle Zheng.”

Perfected Zheng smiled, “Good! Good!” He looked at Wan Shuxian, “You’ve come at the right time, Madam. I just received that immortal ingredient you’ve been looking for. Do you have time to come and collect it?”

Wan Shuxian said, “Oh, you’ve gone through so much trouble for us, Perfected One. Our Brocade Cloud Sword Pavilion has relied on your assistance all these years.”

Perfected Zheng flicked his whisk, “Don’t mention it, Madam. Your husband and I were like brothers. After his unfortunate passing, it’s my duty to help you.”

Wan Shuxian turned to Fang Yu, “I’ll go with your Uncle Zheng to collect the ingredient. You go and thank your cousin. Behave yourself. And thank your Uncle Zheng. He’s helped us so much.”

Fang Yu mumbled, “Thank you, Uncle Zheng.”

Perfected Zheng smiled, “You’re welcome, nephew.” He turned to Wan Shuxian, “This way, Madam.”

Perfected Zheng and Wan Shuxian walked away, chatting.

Fang Yu walked towards his cousin’s pavilion but hesitated at the gate, pacing back and forth.

He sat down on a rock by the path, lost in thought. After a while, he saw something move in the bushes.

He stood up and looked, slightly surprised… Wasn’t that the doll his cousin had been carrying last night?

He walked towards it, intending to pick it up, but the doll strangely moved further away.

He followed it down the slope, into a bamboo grove, past a rock garden, and then heard voices from the other side.

The voices sounded familiar. He peeked around the rocks and saw a woman lying on a rock in the bamboo grove, her cries echoing.

“Madam, you’re so wonderful,” a man’s voice said. He had removed his yin-yang robe and was… engaged in an indecent act.

Fang Yu’s eyes widened, his fists clenching, his nails digging into his palms.

His eyes blazed with fury, but he silently turned and walked away…

---

That afternoon, Shi Hao found an excuse to leave the Jade Flower Courtyard and went to Floating Cloud Monastery, but Xu Xiaoyan wasn’t there.

Chen Yan’er told him that Xu Xiaoyan had left at noon and hadn’t returned yet.

He left the monastery and searched the surrounding area but couldn’t find her.

As evening approached, he finally saw her hurrying towards him, then suddenly turning into a side alley.

He wondered why she had changed direction.

Then he saw two women running towards the alley, looking around, clearly pursuing her.

He understood. He took a detour, quickened his pace, and intercepted them.

Xu Xiaoyan, disguised and startled by his sudden appearance, stepped back, then relaxed when she saw it was him, “You…”

Shi Hao grabbed her hand, “Let’s go!” He pulled her away, running.

As they ran, Xu Xiaoyan said, “I think someone’s following me.”

Shi Hao said, “You’re right. They are.” He paused, “Why didn’t you use the Void Traversing Brick?”

Xu Xiaoyan, her pace quickening, said, “I did, but they’re still following us.”

As they ran, Shi Hao used the Soul Chasing Locking Steps and his Primordial Energy to sense their pursuers.

They ran through streets and alleys, doubling back, and he sensed their pursuers passing them, separated by a wall.

However, he soon frowned again, grabbing Xu Xiaoyan and changing directions once more, their speed increasing.

The faint sound of pursuing wind could be heard. Shi Hao said, “That doesn’t make sense. We should have lost them.”

Xu Xiaoyan sniffed her sleeves, “At the market earlier, a little girl selling flowers fell down, and I helped her up. I smelled a strange fragrance from her flower basket.”

Shi Hao leaned closer and sniffed her shoulder, “There is a faint floral scent.”

Knowing they couldn’t outrun their pursuers like this, he grabbed Xu Xiaoyan’s hand, and they entered the garden of a large house. Seeing a small pond, he said, “Jump in and take off your clothes.”

Xu Xiaoyan said, “What?”

Shi Hao said, “Hurry!”

Xu Xiaoyan, resigned, jumped into the pond. Her clothes floated to the surface.

She emerged from the water, only her soft whip wrapped around her arm, one hand covering her breasts, the other her lower body, her body dripping wet, her face flushed.

Shi Hao removed his outer robe, wrapped it around her, lifted her into his arms, and leaped away.

Moments later, several women arrived at the pond, looking at the discarded clothes floating in the water.

One of them said, “Damn it, she escaped again.”

Another said, “She’s naked. She can’t have gone far. Search the area!”

The women scattered, searching the surrounding area.

Shi Hao, carrying Xu Xiaoyan, her head covered by his robe, ran through the streets and alleys.

Passersby, seeing the young man in martial attire carrying a bundled figure with exposed legs, shook their heads and stepped aside… Such indecent behavior.

Xu Xiaoyan, held tightly in his arms, didn’t dare move.

A young woman on a distant street looked at them, “Huh?”

Chapter 97: Pleading for Mercy

Shi Hao, his heart pounding, leaned against the wall and peeked into the main hall.

He saw Du Yuejiao, dressed in a beautiful green Daoist robe embroidered with bamboo flowers, sitting on a chair, holding a doll on her lap.

The pink and white rainbow robe, the wooden hairpin, the embroidered shoes… It was the Emerald Beauty.

And as he looked at the doll, he felt its black gemstone eyes, gleaming with a sinister light, looking back at him.

A chill ran down his spine.

He had been so relieved when the doll had disappeared.

But it had simply followed Yuejiao?

A sense of foreboding washed over him.

And the doll’s gaze, fixed on him, radiated malice.

He suddenly understood. This creepy doll had never intended to leave him.

It had simply taken a detour, using those close to him to reach him.

“Sister Yuejiao!” Yue Ya’er, her back to Shi Hao, sat at the head of the rosewood table, looking at Du Yuejiao, “What do you need my help with?”

Du Yuejiao said softly, “I need you to release someone.”

Yue Ya’er said, surprised, “Release someone?” She instinctively glanced back.

Du Yuejiao said, “This is my aunt, the acting head of the Brocade Cloud Sword Pavilion. Her son, my cousin, Fang Yu, was apparently captured by your men last night.”

A woman in elegant attire stepped forward and bowed, “My son is… unruly. I’ll discipline him when he returns. Please, Miss, show him mercy.”

Yue Ya’er, confused, looked at Du Yuejiao, “Fang Yu? Your cousin? Captured by my men?”

Du Yuejiao, slightly embarrassed, leaned closer and whispered, “My aunt said he was captured at a place called the Leopard Palace. I don’t know what kind of place that is, but his attendants were afraid to tell her what happened.

“They only knew he had been arrested by the authorities. They tried to have him released through his friends, but it didn’t work. They were afraid, so they finally told my aunt. She tried everything, using all her connections in the Chongxian Sect and the government, but no one could help.”

“Then she found out he was captured by your men, Miss Yue. No one in the city government dared to interfere. She heard I know you, so she came to me. I just found out about this and brought her here immediately.”

Yue Ya’er said, “Oh… I see.” She jumped up, walked outside, and snapped her fingers.

Two Jin warriors appeared and bowed, “Miss.”

Yue Ya’er asked, “Did we capture anyone last night?”

The two said, “We captured a few troublemakers.”

Yue Ya’er asked, “Was there one named Fang Yu, from… some pavilion?” She looked back.

Madam Wan quickly said, “Brocade Cloud Sword Pavilion!”

Yue Ya’er turned back to the two warriors, “Anyone surnamed Fang, from the Brocade Cloud Sword Pavilion?”

One of them said, “There was one. He was drunk and causing trouble, claiming to be the young master of the Brocade Cloud Sword Pavilion, boasting about his connections in the Chongxian Sect and the government, threatening us.

“He even tried to attack us, so our men beat him up and threw him in jail. He’s in the high-security cell.”

Yue Ya’er said, “Bring him here.” She returned to the hall.

Sitting back down, she whispered to Du Yuejiao, “Do you know what kind of place the Leopard Palace is?”

Du Yuejiao said hesitantly, “Well…” She had never heard of it before, but she could guess it wasn’t a respectable establishment.

Yue Ya’er leaned closer and whispered a few words in her ear. Du Yuejiao’s eyes widened.

Moments later, the two Jin warriors brought a young man into the hall.

Du Yuejiao looked at the young man and whispered, “Cousin…”

The young man, his head lowered, his demeanor dejected, didn’t dare look at her.

“You useless brat!” Madam Wan grabbed a stick and began beating him, “I told you to behave! I told you to stay away from those places! I told you to focus on your training! You never learn! You’re just like your good-for-nothing father, going to those places and getting yourself arrested!”

“Look at your cousin, seventh-rank at such a young age, and look at you, a useless waste! Why are you so incompetent?!”

Madam Wan, the acting head of the Brocade Cloud Sword Pavilion, herself a seventh-rank expert, although using a wooden stick, beat him mercilessly.

Fang Yu, terrified of his mother since childhood, cried and rolled on the floor, “I’m sorry, Mother! I won’t do it again!”

Madam Wan continued beating him, ignoring the others present, “Even a pig would be more useful than you! If I had another son, I would have let you die! At least a pig is just lazy, not a good-for-nothing like you!”

“And those useless friends of yours! Next time, I’ll let you rot in jail! Just like your father! And you dare to boast about being the young master of the pavilion? You have no shame!”

Du Yuejiao hurriedly pulled her away, pleading, “Aunt, please, stop it.”

Yue Ya’er chuckled, “Beat him! He deserves it! Any man who goes to a place like that is no good.”

Du Yuejiao, seeing her adding fuel to the fire, quickly said, “Sister Yue,” and pulled Madam Wan aside, trying to calm her down.

Madam Wan’s chest heaved with anger as Fang Yu huddled in a corner, crying.

After a few more curses, she finally threw the stick aside and thanked Yue Ya’er profusely, offering her a generous gift, then grabbed her son’s ear and dragged him away, still scolding him.

Du Yuejiao, embarrassed, exchanged a few words with Yue Ya’er and then quickly left.

---

After they left, Yue Ya’er smiled, “Your lover is gone.”

Shi Hao stepped out of the side room, looking out at the darkness, lost in thought.

Yue Ya’er, hands on her hips, asked, “Are you going to chase after her?”

Shi Hao’s mind raced. He did want to follow her, but with Du Yuejiao, her aunt, and her cousin together, he couldn’t do anything now.

And having agreed to be Yue Ya’er’s bodyguard, suddenly leaving would be suspicious.

I’ll discuss this with Xiaoyan tomorrow, he thought.

He turned and smiled, “No, let her go.”

Yue Ya’er looked at him skeptically.

That night, in her room, Yue Ya’er had her maidservants prepare a bedroll on the floor.

She said she was too scared to sleep alone after the assassination attempt, afraid that another assassin would attack her in her sleep.

Once bitten by a snake, twice shy of a rope. It was a reasonable explanation.

“No peeking!” The rustling of clothes came from behind the lowered bed curtains.

Shi Hao thought, I’ve already seen everything I shouldn’t have during your bath.

Does she really think I’ll forget what I saw just because she tells me to?

Outside, the crescent moon hung in the sky, its faint light illuminating the windowsill.

Yue Ya’er, lying in bed, wrapped in the red covers, turned to look at him.

After a while, she whispered, “Do you… not like Sister Yuejiao?”

Shi Hao lay on the floor, looking up at the ornate ceiling, illuminated by the faint moonlight filtering through the window.

“Do you still like her?” the girl’s voice was laced with anxiety.

Shi Hao closed his eyes, “Let’s just sleep.”

After a while, a soft “oh” came from behind the curtains.

---

Late into the night, Du Yuejiao returned to her quarters at the Chongxian Sect’s Dàxīng City temple.

She had escorted her aunt home, who had continued berating her cousin along the way.

As far as Du Yuejiao could remember, her aunt had always been like this.

Perhaps she just wants him to be better… Du Yuejiao thought, having never experienced such harsh treatment herself.

Having been sent to the Chongxian Sect at a young age, she had little memory of her own parents.

Her master had essentially become her mother figure.

She had two younger brothers, but she had never met them.

She was originally from Jiangzhe, but she had left at the age of three and never returned.

Later, she had received news of her mother’s death, but she had been training in the Kun Zhen Courtyard at the time, a secluded area within the Chongxian Sect where disciples weren’t allowed to leave until they reached a certain level of cultivation.

She had been too young then. By the time she reached the ninth rank and was allowed to leave, her mother had been dead for six months.

Although she had no real memories of her mother, she was closer to her aunt, Wan Shuxian, who had married into the Brocade Cloud Sword Pavilion, a Chongxian Sect affiliate located in Dàxīng City.

She remembered her cousin, Fang Yu, being quite different in his youth, diligent and dedicated to his training.

However, no matter how well he performed, her aunt always demanded more. Other children were always better, always more talented.

And any mistake, no matter how small, was met with harsh scolding and beatings, even in public.

Although Fang Yu was an eighth-rank martial artist, he still trembled whenever his mother picked up a stick.

And in the past few years, his martial arts progress had stagnated, even regressed, due to his association with bad company and his frequent visits to disreputable establishments. Du Yuejiao had heard rumors about his behavior.

In recent years, she had been cultivating at Ming Kun Monastery with her master and rarely returned to the Chongxian Sect’s main temple.

The few times she had returned and seen her aunt and cousin, she had only heard her aunt scolding Fang Yu, “Why can’t you be more like your cousin? Look at her, so talented, and look at you, useless…”

She always wanted to leave as quickly as possible…

Chapter 96: You Saw Nothing!

Grandmother Ba, sitting on the low platform, shook her head, “Absolutely not. Unless the Supreme Emperor personally intervenes, we can’t guarantee victory against her. And the Supreme Emperor cannot leave the capital for such a matter.”

“Even the Chancellor can’t be certain of victory, and the Emperor would need his imperial guards to even suppress her, let alone capture her. Besides, we’ve already lost the God-Sealing Stones, and who knows when we’ll be able to create more. And even if we do, whether they’re effective against a supreme-grade divine crystal like that is uncertain. We don’t have time to experiment.”

“Since we know the South Pole Longevity has appeared and been absorbed, let’s abandon that path. Focus on the task at hand. Recall all your agents to Dàxīng City. We have a battle ahead of us against the Ghost Extreme Sect.”

The woman in black said, “Yes, Grandmother.” She paused, then asked, “Why not involve the Chongxian Sect? They’re enemies of the demonic sects.”

Grandmother Ba, her eyes closed, her hands clasped in her lap, said, “The Chongxian Sect cannot be trusted.”

She said nothing more, and the woman in black quietly withdrew.

---

Shi Hao sat in the carriage, his head out the window, looking back.

He had felt a gaze on him back at the palace, a strange sensation, like an invisible eye watching him from the sky.

If he hadn’t been using the Sacred Heart Clear Mirror Technique, he might not have noticed it.

He remembered the feeling and now looked back, trying to find its source.

He vaguely saw a mysterious aura rising from the palace, enveloping Dragon Head Mountain.

Wispy white clouds drifted in the sky above the mountain.

Normally, they wouldn’t have seemed unusual.

But now, with his heightened senses, as he looked at Dragon Head Mountain, he saw the clouds forming the shape of a giant eye.

Was the eye watching the entire mountain? He wasn’t sure if it was real or just his imagination.

Back at the Jade Flower Courtyard, Yue Ya’er spent the afternoon working.

She had sent her men to gather information.

Reports piled up on her table.

“Help me with these,” she said, sitting at the table, her head resting on her hand, looking bored.

Many things, although seemingly glamorous, were often tedious in reality.

Just gathering and sorting through intelligence reports was a headache. And Yue Ya’er clearly lacked capable assistants.

Shi Hao wanted to suggest she ask Xu Xiaoyan for help, but he hesitated, thinking it was probably pointless.

From the various reports, their assessment had been correct.

The Leopard Gate was collapsing without their intervention.

News of Jiao Han’s death had spread, and within a single day, the Leopard Gate’s strongholds had been attacked, their members killed or scattered.

Many had fled before even being attacked, while others, those with valuable skills, had been recruited by other gangs.

“This is the martial world?” Yue Ya’er said, stunned, “It’s so… fast. I’ve witnessed conflicts between prominent families. When one family falls, the others cautiously test the waters, scheming and plotting, weighing their options. Weeks pass before anyone acts, and even then, the conflict is quickly suppressed by those in power.

“But in the martial world… it’s like everything changed overnight.”

Shi Hao shook his head, “That’s how it is in the martial world. We live on the edge of a blade. We don’t have the same constraints as those established families. We’re all just… wanderers, with nothing to lose but our lives. We either die, or we rise to the top.

“And the Leopard Gate’s weak foundation is also a factor. Everyone knew the other gangs would attack, so they all pounced, trying to grab the biggest piece of the pie. With the Ghost Extreme Sect unwilling to intervene, the Leopard Gate’s collapse was inevitable.”

Yue Ya’er leaned back and stretched, “Grandmother told me to eliminate the Leopard Gate, to cut off the Ghost Extreme Sect’s influence. But they’re already gone before I even had to do anything. I guess I have nothing to do for the next few days.”

She wore a beautiful, wool, pleated dress, a flower-patterned whip tied around her slender waist.

She stretched her arms, leaning back, the lines of her figure accentuated by the pink dress.

Shi Hao also sighed in relief. With the Leopard Gate gone, he and Xu Xiaoyan were much safer in Dàxīng City.

Yue Ya’er called for two maidservants, “Prepare a bath for me downstairs.”

“Yes, Miss,” the maidservants replied. After a while, they returned, “It’s ready, Miss.”

Shi Hao stood up, “I’ll go for a walk in the garden.”

“Wait!” Yue Ya’er put her hands on her hips, “What if an assassin attacks me while I’m bathing?”

Shi Hao said, “But…”

Yue Ya’er said, “Hmph, stay here! I’m paying you to be my bodyguard, not a gardener.”

Shi Hao: “…”

A screen stood in the room, dividing it. Shi Hao sat on one side.

Two lamps stood on the other side, their light casting shadows on the screen.

The screen, which had seemed opaque before, now, with the light behind it, revealed silhouettes.

He could see Yue Ya’er undressing, assisted by the two maidservants, the curves of her body clearly visible.

He saw her, her figure slender yet alluring, step onto a small wooden platform and then into the bath.

He quickly averted his gaze, his heart racing, but he couldn’t resist another glance.

The two maidservants, after gathering her discarded clothes, came around the screen, giggling as they looked at him.

“No peeking!” Yue Ya’er’s playful voice came from behind the screen.

Shi Hao sighed… If I don’t look, how can I protect you? And if I’m not protecting you, what am I doing here?

The sound of splashing water came from behind the screen, and Yue Ya’er giggled, “Tell me the truth, why won’t you go see Sister Yuejiao? She’s so fond of you.”

Shi Hao said, “I told you, I have things to do.”

Yue Ya’er, leaning against the edge of the bath, her face towards the screen, the light outlining her hair, said, “But it’s strange. What’s the conflict between seeing her and doing your… things? Or are you… hmph, are you hiding something from her?”

Shi Hao said, “No… don’t be ridiculous.”

Yue Ya’er, splashing in the bath, giggled, “By the way, no peeking! If you peek, I’ll tell Sister Yuejiao.”

Shi Hao wasn’t particularly interested in peeking.

But her repeated warnings only made him more curious, the temptation hard to resist.

They chatted through the screen. After a while, Yue Ya’er stepped out of the bath.

By the light of the lamps, Shi Hao saw her silhouette as she bent down, drying herself with a towel.

The faint light outlined her figure, her youthful beauty strangely alluring.

“Miss,” a maidservant entered, “Miss Du Yuejiao of the Chongxian Sect is here to see you.”

Yuejiao is here? Shi Hao turned, startled.

A surprised gasp came from behind the screen.

Shi Hao looked back and saw Yue Ya’er fall back into the bath with a splash, struggling to regain her composure. She looked up, her voice filled with surprise and anxiety, “Sister Yuejiao is here?”

Shi Hao thought, Why is she more nervous than I am?

Yue Ya’er said, “So late at night… why is she here? Does she… does she know something?”

The maidservant said, “Well…” She didn’t know what the “something” Yue Ya’er was referring to was.

Yue Ya’er asked again, “Is she alone?”

The maidservant said, “She’s with Madam Wan, her aunt, who is also the acting head of the Brocade Cloud Sword Pavilion.”

Yue Ya’er said, puzzled, “Oh…” She hurriedly climbed out of the bath, her foot slipping on the wet wooden platform. She fell, crashing into the screen, pulling it down with her.

Shi Hao quickly jumped back. Yue Ya’er, naked and dripping wet, lay sprawled on top of the fallen screen.

Shi Hao’s gaze lingered on her smooth back, her rounded buttocks, the curve of her breasts… She looked up at him, and then, with a scream, the maidservant quickly covered her with a towel.

After a flurry of activity, Yue Ya’er, having dressed upstairs, finally returned.

Her slightly damp hair hung loose around her shoulders, her delicate face flushed crimson.

She wore a yellow wrap-around silk dress embroidered with small crescent moons.

She stepped out of the pavilion, took a few deep breaths, then turned and glared at Shi Hao, her small fists clenched, “You saw nothing!”

Shi Hao said, his face impassive, “I saw nothing.”

Yue Ya’er turned her back to him, her chest heaving slightly, and then sighed softly in relief… He had seen nothing. That was good.

She swayed her hips, making the pleated yellow dress flutter, and then walked away, her steps light and graceful.

Having confirmed he had “seen nothing,” her mood seemed to have improved considerably.

Reaching a side room in the main hall, she said, “Wait for me here.”

She walked towards the main hall, her voice sweet and welcoming, “Sister Yuejiao, it’s so late. What brings you here?”

A girl’s apologetic voice came from the main hall, “I’m sorry to disturb you at this hour, but I need your help.”

Yue Ya’er said, “It’s no trouble at all, Sister Yuejiao. Anything for you. Please, have a seat… Oh, you’re still carrying that doll. You had it with you last time as well.”