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Chapter 20: No More Nightmares

When Du Yuejiao awoke, she found herself in a small, enclosed space.

Her hands and feet were bound, and her body swayed with the rumbling of wheels.

She was being transported.

She didn’t know where she was being taken, but she no longer cared.

She stared into the empty darkness with empty eyes.

Her body still ached, but the pain was gradually numbed by the coldness in her heart.

She felt like she was adrift at sea, carried by a thin sheet of ice that could melt at any moment.

Surrounded by raging waves, escape was meaningless, hope was meaningless.

The scars covering her body and the shameful marks carved on her thighs were all that remained.

She was even afraid of the light, which would expose everything, revealing her shame to the world.

Noisy shouts, running footsteps, the haggling of merchants, soldiers yelling and driving away refugees – these sounds swirled around her.

But she simply stared into the darkness, her body swaying with the movement of the small space.

For a while, the sounds subsided.

But the rumbling of the wheels continued.

Gradually, the sounds returned, louder now, more wheels rumbling, some old and creaking.

Suddenly, the swaying stopped.

“Open it up!” a voice barked.

“Officer!” another voice pleaded, “My little sister died from illness. We don’t have money for a proper burial, so we’re just taking her to the mountains to bury her.”

“I said open it!” the soldier’s voice was laced with irritation, “How do we know what you’re carrying in there?”

“You’re right, officer, you’re right,” the voice replied.

Suddenly, chaos erupted. The girl’s body was jostled violently, bumping against the walls of the small space.

“Stop them! Stop them!” someone shouted, the voice quickly fading into the distance.

The cart sped up, bumping along the mountain roads. Sometimes the girl’s body would jolt as the cart passed over rocks and stones; sometimes she would be thrown from side to side.

Unconsciously, tears mixed with blood streamed from her eyes, staining the darkness.

She could have screamed for help at the market or at the city gates, attracting attention.

But she had given up on all hope.

The creaking sounds grew louder, and then, with a snap, the wood broke, and she tumbled within the small space.

“This cart is useless!” someone said. “I wonder what’s inside?”

“Who cares? As long as we get paid!” another voice replied, “Luckily, we’re almost there. Let’s just carry it the rest of the way.”

Her body was lifted and carried, the movement gentler than the previous jolting.

Then, the movement stopped. One of the men said, “We’ve brought it, sir.”

“Take it inside!” A cold voice, like a sharpened blade against a whetstone, commanded.

She was carried inside and placed somewhere.

The two men went outside, followed by the clinking of coins and their receding footsteps.

Suddenly, the cold voice barked, “Who’s there?”

A series of loud, rapid clanging sounds followed, along with the roar of flames, the sound of a sword cutting through wood, and the whoosh of wind.

The cold voice shouted angrily, “Who are you?”

Another voice, cold and arrogant, replied, “Demonic villain, you deserve to die!”

A resounding boom echoed, as if the earth itself trembled, followed by a muffled groan.

The sounds of shattering stone, falling trees, and a whistling sword indicated that the hooked-nosed villain was fighting a mysterious assailant.

The fight raged on, the sounds growing more intense, reaching a climax.

The roar of flames gradually subsided, replaced by the increasingly loud and continuous whistling of a sword.

A gust of wind swept through the air, snapping branches and leaves.

Then, the sound of a sword being sheathed, “You’re quite fast.”

Steady footsteps approached and stopped beside her.

A hand lifted the wooden lid, and with a bang, light flooded in.

The girl’s eyes remained blank and unfocused, listless, as if she had become a living corpse.

However, the surprised voice that followed startled her, “Miss Du?”

Realizing she had been recognized, her pupils slowly focused, her gaze landing on the man’s face.

It was a young man with a gentle and handsome face… It was the young master of Small Han Mountain City, the one she had ridiculed and belittled just days ago.

The girl screamed, curling up inside the wooden coffin, her hysterical cries sharp and piercing, laced with helpless sobs.

Her abused, scarred body, the marks carved on her legs, were all exposed to his gaze.

She had thought darkness was the deepest pain, but now she realized there was a deeper hell beneath it.

Just a few days ago, she had stood before him, sword in hand, mocking him as “cowardly unorthodox scum.”

Now, she was exposed to him like this. She wished she were dead.

She screamed and cried. The young man quickly took off his outer robe and covered her, lifting her from the coffin, his voice soft, “Miss Du, it’s alright now. I’ll get you out of here.” He turned and quickly sped away.

“Leave me alone!” the girl sobbed weakly in his arms, “Just leave me alone.”

Trees blurred past them, light and shadow flickering across their bodies.

The mountain wind rustled through the leaves, carrying away her fading sobs—

---

Shi Hao carried Du Yuejiao to a cave deep in the forest. In his arms, she weakly struggled, then continued crying silently.

He had already undone the Evil Shadow Disguise Technique.

He knew that true “disguise” wasn’t just about changing one’s appearance, but about becoming a different person entirely. That way, it was less likely to be detected.

He put his other persona aside and tried to see things from her perspective.

He found himself sympathizing with her. The person who had harmed and tortured her was truly despicable.

“Miss Du, your meridians are sealed. I’ll try my best to circulate your blood and energy and unblock your acupoints,” Shi Hao said gently.

He helped her sit up and sat behind her, his expression serious.

He draped his outer robe over her and channeled his true energy into her back, clearing her meridians.

This was something only orthodox Daoist internal energy cultivation could achieve.

Although there were countless martial arts styles, most sects couldn’t cultivate this kind of healing energy.

This was one of the unique aspects of Daoist internal elixir cultivation, and also one of the main reasons for the Daoist sects’ prominence in the martial world.

After a while, Shi Hao withdrew his hand and gently helped Du Yuejiao lie down. He whispered, “Miss Du, that villain is a demonic cultivator. His methods of burning meridians and sealing acupoints are quite brutal. I can only help you recover slowly.”

He asked, “Shall I take you back to Ming Kun Monastery?”

Du Yuejiao, huddled under the robe, shook her head and whispered, “No… don’t.”

She didn’t want anyone to see her like this.

If she had a choice, she wished this man had never appeared.

Having cultivated the Chongxian Sect’s secret techniques, Du Yuejiao knew how formidable the villain’s methods were.

This young master had indeed helped her recover some of her internal energy, giving her a glimmer of hope.

As if understanding her feelings, the young master of Small Han Mountain City spoke softly, “Then rest here. Don’t worry, I’ll keep watch outside.”

The girl watched him leave the cave.

She curled up, pulling the robe tightly around her, covering her legs.

She saw his figure standing outside, his back to her, motionless.

Tears silently streamed down her face, her emotions a tangled mess.

This feeling of being protected brought her a sense of comfort and also a deep sense of guilt.

She slept soundly. She hadn’t slept so well in days.

For the past few nights, she had been forced into a restless sleep by the villain’s acupoint sealing technique, leaving her exhausted.

Later, she had a nightmare. The villain’s hooked nose, like a giant mountain, loomed over her.

She woke up in a cold sweat, trembling, the robe slipping from her shoulders.

Looking outside, it was dark, and the flickering light of a fire could be seen.

Wiping away the sweat, she crawled towards the cave entrance, fear and anxiety gripping her heart.

She clutched the robe to her chest, one hand subconsciously holding the edge of the robe, tightly covering the marks on her legs.

Peeking outside, she saw a pot on a bonfire, the aroma of meat wafting through the air.

The young man sat beside the fire, his back to her, his face gentle and bathed in the last rays of the setting sun.

She silently lay back down, curling up, watching the firelight at the cave entrance.

As darkness fell, the flames flickered and danced.

She could still see the gentle glow, reminding her that she had finally escaped the villain’s clutches.

Tears silently streamed down her face, her thoughts, along with the hope that had been frozen, slowly thawing.

After a while, the young master of Small Han Mountain City brought a burning torch into the cave, illuminating the space.

He carefully entered, carrying a bowl of broth.

He gently helped her sit up, not saying a word, not asking any questions.

He simply fed her, spoonful by spoonful. After she finished the broth, he channeled his true energy into her body, helping her recover her strength and internal energy.

Then, he helped her lie down again.

“I’ll keep watch outside,” he said, and left.

The gentle, warm glow, even after the sun had set, seemed to linger.

It covered the cave entrance, enveloping her sleep.

At least tonight, there would be no more nightmares…

---

She slept soundly that night, so deeply that even when daylight began to filter into the cave the next morning, she lingered in the sweet embrace of sleep, reluctant to wake up.

Perhaps, like someone who had been starving for a long time, even a coarse wowotou (steamed corn bun) tasted delicious.

At this moment, Du Yuejiao felt incredibly content just to be able to sleep peacefully in this cave.

Even though her bed was just a pile of dry grass the young man had gathered.

Even though her only covering was a simple robe.

After drinking another bowl of broth in the morning, she wrapped the robe around herself and, with Shi Hao’s help, slowly emerged from the cave into the sunlight.

The sky was clear and bright.

The warm sunlight bathed her body, lifting her spirits.

The robe he had given her was a simple, straight, wrap-around garment.

However, since Small Han Mountain City produced its own silk, the fabric was of high quality, soft against her skin.

Although it looked strange for a young woman to wear such a loose-fitting man’s robe, there was a certain beauty to it.

With Shi Hao’s help, she had recovered much of her strength and internal energy.

He accompanied her on a walk through the forest, helping her clear her mind.

They found a waterfall. In the evening, she bathed under the cascading water while Shi Hao kept watch outside.

After a long while, the sound of crying came from the direction of the waterfall.

Shi Hao, unsure of what had happened, quickly rushed over. He saw the girl sitting on the ground by the water, half-covered by the robe, crying as she scratched at her thigh with a sharp stone.

The area where the marks had been carved was now a bloody mess, the blood flowing into the stream.

She was hitting the wound with the sharp stone.

Shi Hao rushed over, pulled her into his arms, and whispered, “It’s alright… it’s alright… It’s really alright now.”

The girl dropped the stone, turned, and clung to him, sobbing uncontrollably.

Her cries were loud and heart-wrenching, as if she was releasing all the pain and humiliation she had endured.

Shi Hao held her tightly, like a protective eagle shielding its young, a pillar of strength, offering her comfort.

That night, the girl fell ill, her forehead burning with fever.

Even a ninth-rank Daoist cultivator, with their nascent internal elixir and having consumed a ninth-rank external elixir, rarely fell ill, let alone someone with an eighth-rank foundation like her.

However, that made her illness all the more troublesome.

It was likely because she had been holding everything in until her outburst that evening. Now, with her body and mind finally relaxed, she had succumbed to illness.

Shi Hao stayed by her side all night, caring for her, using his true energy to ease her suffering, never leaving her side.

Occasionally, she would wake up in her delirium and clutch his robe, like a child, refusing to let go.

Chapter 19: The Lavish Prison

The moment Du Yuejiao woke up, she didn’t see the hateful hooked nose, but a writhing mass of snakes.

Snakes of all sizes and patterns intertwined, terrifying her. She recoiled with a scream.

She had been released from the rack, but her hands and feet were still bound.

She bumped into the young man behind her. He leaned down, placed his hand on her shoulder, and said slowly, “I have to admit, you’re more resilient than I expected.

“Honestly, I don’t understand what you’re holding out for. As far as I know, your parents are also Chinese. You have Chinese blood, yet you’re suffering to protect the secrets of a barbarian family. Do you think that’s honorable? Noble?

“You don’t have to suffer. I can let you go. No one will know what you said tonight. You’re a beautiful young woman, and I’m willing to give you this opportunity, something I rarely offer. Now, just nod your head and tell me you’ll cooperate.”

The girl’s lips were tightly sealed, her eyes filled with fear.

She saw the writhing pile of snakes, the burning furnace with a red-hot branding iron resting on the coals.

She saw the table with various torture instruments, small but menacing tools like iron clamps and pliers.

“It seems you’re still determined to resist,” the young man with the hooked nose said, untying the knot at the back of her neck that held her thin garment in place.

She struggled, trying to preserve her last shred of modesty, but it was useless.

The garment was ripped away and tossed into the furnace, the flames flaring up.

She huddled on the floor, trying to cover herself with her back and legs.

The young man with the hooked nose scooped the snakes into a sack and slowly approached her.

“I’ll kill you!” the girl screamed, a desperate, hysterical threat.

The sack, filled with snakes, was placed over her head. Her terrified screams were chilling.

The young man with the hooked nose stepped back, watching the writhing sack coldly.

The snakes had been defanged.

Although they still had their fangs when he bought them, as the young master of Small Han Mountain City, he had access to hunters skilled in handling snakes.

He walked to the table, picked up one of the small torture instruments, and toyed with it casually as he watched the girl struggling and screaming inside the sack.

The loud, chaotic music continued from above, wave after wave.

Two more nights passed like this, and he still hadn’t learned anything.

---

Another night filled with the incessant music from above.

The girl was now tied to the wooden horse, face down, her hands and feet bound to its legs.

Suddenly, one of her hands twitched.

She woke up, but the hateful villain wasn’t there.

Perhaps he was delayed, or perhaps she had become slightly more resistant to his acupoint sealing technique and woke up earlier.

Whatever the reason, she was alone in the underground cell.

She realized this was her chance and used all her remaining strength.

Her wrists were chafed raw from the ropes, but she finally managed to free one hand.

Gritting her teeth, she shifted her body and, with her free hand, untied the other.

Gasping for breath, she sat up, not daring to waste a single moment.

She didn’t know when the villain would return.

Unable to reach her ankles, which were tied to the back legs of the wooden horse, she slowly inched backwards until she slid off, falling to the floor.

She landed on the cold, hard ground, her legs still tied to the wooden horse. She heard a cracking sound, perhaps a bone breaking.

But this pain was nothing compared to what she had endured these past few days.

She contorted her body and finally managed to untie the ropes around her ankles.

Looking down, she was naked, her body covered in bruises, the two vertical and two horizontal cuts on her thighs particularly gruesome.

One more cut, and it would form the character “正.”

She shuddered, the memories of the past few days filling her with terror.

She didn’t even know how she had endured it. The initial agony of having her muscles and tendons torn, followed by various forms of torture, had made her wish for death every moment.

She pulled herself up, using the wall for support. The torture instruments on the wooden table made her tremble just looking at them.

The disgusting, defanged snakes were still writhing in their cage in the corner, occasionally hissing.

The fire in the furnace had died out, but the large red candles on the lampstand beside the luxurious bed, likely replaced just before dawn, were still burning.

Her clothes had long been burned by the villain.

She limped to the bed, grabbed the crimson bedsheet, and wrapped it around herself.

Covered by the sheet, she slowly made her way to the door.

The door was closed, but thankfully, it wasn’t locked. She noticed the latch was on the inside, which puzzled her slightly.

This prison cell, filled with torture instruments, had a door that locked from the inside, as if it wasn’t meant to keep prisoners in, but rather to keep others out, perhaps for some activity with the prisoner.

She opened the door and climbed the stairs, each step a struggle due to her injured leg.

There were paintings on the walls, but in the dim light, she couldn’t make out what they depicted.

The music from above grew louder, along with laughter, both male and female.

Reaching the top of the stairs, she found another door. Fear gripped her, worried that it might be locked from the outside… but it wasn’t.

The latch was also on the inside. She opened the door and rushed out, the crimson bedsheet trailing behind her.

She ran through winding corridors, the sounds of music and laughter growing louder.

She burst into a large hall, brightly lit by red lanterns. The hall was filled with people seated at tables, the air thick with the smell of alcohol and noisy chatter.

“Help!” she cried, “Someone imprisoned me! Please help me report this to the authorities!”

People turned and looked at her, laughing. The men were dressed in fine clothes, while the women wore loose, revealing garments, some barely covered at all.

“What a beautiful girl!” A fat man reached out to touch her.

Du Yuejiao recoiled in fear, clutching the bedsheet tightly around her, trying to cover her thighs and the wounds on her legs. She turned, desperately seeking help, the laughing faces swirling around her like a carousel, as if they were watching some amusing spectacle.

She screamed, “Please, help me!”

Their laughter only intensified. A drunk man stumbled towards her, reaching for her face, “Such a pretty girl. I haven’t seen you here before.”

Suddenly, an arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close. A cold voice said, “She’s mine.”

Du Yuejiao’s heart sank at the sound of his voice. She didn’t even need to look up to “see” his hooked nose, his terrifying face.

“Tsk!” The fat man staggered away.

The cold, icy voice whispered in her ear, “You can keep running, it doesn’t matter. I’m guessing you’ve figured out where you are. I can let you go, just throw you out onto the street like this.

“Let everyone see a little Daoist nun from the Chongxian Sect, the woman they see as a celestial being, thrown naked out of this filthy place. Let them see the marks on your legs, let them guess why there are tally marks on your thighs.”

He released her, but she collapsed limply to the floor.

The young man with the hooked nose laughed, picked her up, and spun her around, the crimson bedsheet swirling like blood.

The girl sobbed in his arms, the laughter of the hall echoing around her, endless and mocking.

Surrounded by bright lights and revelry, she had fallen into an abyss of darkness.

The young man with the hooked nose carried her back to the underground “prison.”

He threw her onto the bed, her body rolling across the luxurious sheets.

She lay there, staring blankly at the ornate ceiling.

Her tear-filled eyes were devoid of light.

Her sobs ceased, and the lavish, bridal chamber-like prison fell silent.

---

Shi Hao felt he had made a mistake somewhere.

He didn’t know whether he had succeeded or failed.

He had tortured her body, tormented her mind, given her a glimmer of hope, and then cruelly crushed it.

He had thought that this would break her, forcing her to reveal the information he wanted.

But now, it seemed she had indeed broken.

She lay on the bed, tears streaming down her face, motionless.

Even after her tears dried, her eyes remained open, empty and unfocused, bloodshot.

She didn’t respond to any of his questions.

She was alive, but like a corpse.

This wasn’t what he wanted at all.

To be fair, although this girl had clearly been targeting him from the start, he had saved her junior sister, and all he got in return was ridicule and suspicion. That alone was irritating.

But his grudge against her wasn’t enough to warrant killing her.

And now, she looked no different from a corpse.

He left her alone that night, only forcing her to drink a bowl of broth before dawn.

During the day, he simply left her there, unbound, unlocked, untouched.

But she remained motionless, without even the will to live.

He couldn’t get any information from her like this.

In the end, he had to seal her Jade Pillow acupoint, forcing her to sleep.

After putting Du Yuejiao to sleep, Shi Hao, still disguised with the Evil Shadow Disguise Technique, returned to the courtyard to meet with Old Qiu, Lu Tong, and the others from Dark Thunder.

Old Qiu asked, “Righteous Hao, how did the interrogation go?”

Shi Hao slowly shook his head, “That girl is tougher than I expected. I haven’t been able to get anything out of her yet.”

Lu Tong said softly, “We’ve received new intel. Even the barbarian emperor seems to be questioning the Yue Ke Tai family about this experiment, as well as the Chongxian Sect. It seems Ming Kun Monastery didn’t report the God-Sealing Experiment initially. At least one of the six elders of the Chongxian Sect is on their way to Jin Prefecture.”

Shi Hao was inwardly surprised. Dark Thunder’s network seemed larger than he had imagined, capable of grasping the movements of the barbarian court and the Chongxian Sect’s upper echelons to some extent.

He frowned. This matter was indeed no small thing.

Lu Tong continued, “And there’s a young lady from the Yue Ke Tai family, a daughter of Yue Ke Tai Ni Nan, named Yue Ya’er, who has also arrived in Jin Prefecture. I wonder if it’s also related to the God-Sealing Experiment.”

Shi Hao said, “It’s not.”

Old Qiu and Lu Tong looked at him.

Shi Hao clasped his hands behind his back, his expression darkening, “As far as I know, this Yue Ya’er seems to be here to investigate the recent surge in child abductions among the refugees. It has nothing to do with the God-Sealing Experiment.”

Lu Tong said in surprise, “We’ve also noticed this and have been investigating secretly, trying to find out which gang or villain is responsible for these heinous acts. But why would the barbarian court care about such a thing?”

Old Qiu said grimly, “If they truly cared, they wouldn’t be carrying out such large-scale construction projects in the central plains. The people are already suffering due to the wealthy landowners seizing their lands and abusing them. Now, they’re being conscripted for forced labor. Every canal built by the barbarian court is paved with countless lives.”

Lu Tong said softly, “The people in the central plains are truly suffering. Even in the remote West Shu Province, many common people are struggling to survive, let alone those who have lost their homes and families. Fleeing offers little hope, but staying is a death sentence.

“And yet, that barbarian emperor and his chancellor are still talking about ‘Jin-Xia Family Harmony.’”

Old Qiu sighed, “In the eyes of the barbarian court, the common people, without power or influence, are not even considered human. Their lives are worthless. This so-called ‘Jin-Xia Family Harmony’ is just a way to win over the local gentry and the treacherous sects in the martial world. Ultimately, their goal is to ‘use the Chinese against the Chinese.’”

Lu Tong said angrily, “It’s a pity there are so many treacherous villains in the martial world! Especially the Chongxian Sect, rising to power with the support of the barbarian court and suppressing the entire Central Plains martial world.”

Shi Hao pondered for a moment and suddenly said, “I need you to do me a favor.”

Chapter 18: Yue Ya’er

The girl in the flower dress stepped into the stone pavilion, the flower-patterned whip around her waist swaying like a playful tail along with her pleated skirt.

She smiled, “I just arrived and heard you were here, Sister Li Tong, so I came to see you.”

Shi Hao stood up, “Since the County Mistress has a distinguished guest, I’ll take my leave.”

County Mistress Li Tong hesitated, “But…”

The girl in the flower dress waved her hand, “No need, no need! You continue your gathering. I don’t want to interrupt.”

She smiled brightly, “Sister Li Tong, which family is this young master from? Are you two having a secret rendezvous in the back garden?”

County Mistress Li Tong chuckled, “If it were a secret rendezvous, would it be so easy for you to find us? This is Young Master Shi Hao, the young master of Small Han Mountain City.”

The girl in the flower dress suddenly realized, “So he’s the Shi Hao who displayed such impressive skills on Red Mountain the other day and saved you, Sister Li Tong? I heard about it on my way here. Hee hee, Sister Li Tong, a hero saving a beauty. Is this little banquet a prelude to pledging yourself to him?”

County Mistress Li Tong blushed and said playfully, “You’ve been reading too many romance stories.”

Shi Hao attempted to excuse himself again. The girl in the flower dress, however, grabbed his arm, “Sit, sit, sit! Don’t let me interrupt your romantic moment. I was just passing by and wanted to join the fun.”

County Mistress Li Tong looked at Shi Hao and said, “Please sit, Young Master Shi. Don’t mind her.”

The girl in the flower dress said, “Yes, yes, yes, don’t mind me! Just mind her.”

The three of them sat down again, and a maidservant brought tableware for the girl in the flower dress.

County Mistress Li Tong looked at the group of martial artists guarding the garden gate and said, “Sister Yue, are those the Thunderclap Eighteen Riders from your brother’s entourage?

“I heard these eighteen riders are elite warriors chosen by your brother from among the royal clan, each riding an Yingzhao beast. Why did you bring them here? Is your brother also in Jin Prefecture?”

The girl in the flower dress pouted, “He doesn’t have time to come. He’s been having a headache dealing with those foolish Daoists from Ming Kun Monastery. It was just a secret experiment, but somehow the news leaked out and attracted that female thief. Now he has to rush back to the capital to explain why he kept such an important experiment from the court.”

County Mistress Li Tong asked, puzzled, “Experiment?”

The girl in the flower dress waved her hand dismissively, “Let’s not talk about that. My visit to Jin Prefecture has nothing to do with those matters. I’m here to supervise a Six Gates investigation. My brother was supposed to come himself, but he had to return to the capital, so he entrusted the task to me.

“Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so kind as to let me bring the Thunderclap Eighteen Riders.”

County Mistress Li Tong asked in surprise, “What kind of case requires you to personally supervise the investigation, Sister Yue?”

The girl in the flower dress lowered her voice, “It’s about the recent surge in children being stolen or abducted from refugees fleeing the central plains. Although the court doesn’t seem to care much, the numbers are alarming. The closer to Jin Prefecture, the more frequent these incidents become.

“Although my brother ordered the local Six Gates to step up their investigation, those useless fools haven’t found any clues so far. He was going to come and see for himself, but now he has to rush back to the capital, so he sent me instead.

“I can’t really do much, but my presence here will put some pressure on those Six Gates slackers.”

County Mistress Li Tong hesitated and said softly, “Perhaps I shouldn’t say this, but the current influx of refugees from the central plains is supposedly due to the court’s reconstruction of the Grand Canal. They’ve conscripted a large number of laborers, and many people have died from the harsh labor. That’s why they’re fleeing with their families.

“As long as the construction of the Grand Canal continues, these incidents are unavoidable, aren’t they?”

The girl in the flower dress tilted her head, “I don’t understand these things either. My brother also advised the Chancellor that although the Grand Canal will benefit future generations, it shouldn’t be built at this time. But the Chancellor told him to stay out of it. My brother told me secretly that there’s probably more to the Grand Canal project than meets the eye.”

She covered her mouth with both hands, “Oops, I shouldn’t have said that.” She stuck out her tongue.

She looked around, “By the way, isn’t Sister Yuejiao here?”

County Mistress Li Tong said, “Senior Sister is at Ming Kun Monastery.”

The girl in the flower dress shook her head again, “Those foolish Daoists from Ming Kun Monastery have really caused my family a lot of trouble this time.”

After a few more drinks, she stood up and said with a smile, “I won’t disturb your secret rendezvous in the back garden any longer. I have things to do. Hee hee.”

County Mistress Li Tong blushed, “Sister Yue, you’re talking nonsense again.”

The girl in the flower dress had already left like a gust of wind, the eighteen barbarian warriors following her out of the garden.

Shi Hao asked softly, “Who is that young lady, County Mistress?”

County Mistress Li Tong said helplessly, “That’s the daughter of the Yue Ke Tai family. The Yue Ke Tai family was one of the first royal families to intermarry with the Chinese. Both her and her brother’s mothers are Chinese. Although her surname is Yue Ke Tai, she goes by Yue and is called Yue Ya’er.”

Shi Hao suddenly understood, thinking, as expected of the Yue Ke Tai clan.

---

The muffled sounds of seductive music drifted faintly from above.

Du Yuejiao, now moved to the rack, had her arms spread and tied to the horizontal beam, her legs forced into a kneeling position by the angled wooden bar beneath them.

A finger pressed against her body, the force flowing through her meridians, unblocking the Jade Pillow acupoint.

She slowly regained consciousness, a face suddenly appearing before her eyes. The slightly hooked nose, not particularly prominent before, now seemed terrifying.

She instinctively struggled against the restraints, but it was futile.

She wore only a thin garment that barely covered her body.

Her delicate skin was flawless, except for a fresh, bloody cut on her thigh.

“Miss Du, I hope you won’t waste any more of our time,” the young man with the hooked nose said slowly, “I don’t need much information. Just tell me what I want to know, and I’ll let you go immediately.”

His tone was sincere, but how could she simply trust him?

She knew that she was only alive because he still needed information from her.

And even if she didn’t consider that, she would never compromise with such a villain.

“It seems you’re still quite resilient,” the young man with the hooked nose said, seemingly unconcerned, even slightly amused.

He grabbed her with his left hand and raised his right hand, extending a finger, its tip flickering with flames.

The small flame, although weak, filled her with terror. She thrashed against the restraints, her eyes wide with fear.

His finger touched her body, and she screamed. She writhed like a snake, the horizontal beam shaking with her struggles, the entire rack creaking and groaning.

There were no new wounds on her body, but the technique he used to dislocate her joints and tear her muscles was more terrifying than whips or branding irons.

Her flesh felt like it was being pulled and twisted, her arms and legs contorted.

Her screams echoed through the lavish underground cell, muffled by the noise from above.

The young man with the hooked nose stepped back, watching coldly.

He was increasingly impressed by the Severing Meridian Burning Heart Finger. Used skillfully, this demonic technique could achieve a variety of effects.

He knew that fear had taken root in her heart. After a night of torture, he didn’t believe she could hold out much longer.

He recalled Yue Ya’er’s words from that afternoon.

The Yue Ke Tai clan had to answer to the court for conducting a secret experiment.

If Yue Ya’er was referring to the God-Sealing Experiment, what kind of experiment was it that even a “royal” family like the Yue Ke Tai clan had to explain to the court?

It seemed Dark Thunder’s information was accurate. This mysterious experiment was indeed a significant matter.

Shi Hao could tell that the “Eighteen Riders” Yue Ya’er had brought with her, even into the Marquis’ residence gardens, were no ordinary guards.

Each of them was an elite warrior. It would be nearly impossible to target Yue Ya’er under their protection.

Du Yuejiao was his only chance to obtain information about the God-Sealing Experiment.

His heart remained cold as he watched the girl scream and struggle on the rack, the cut on her thigh reopening and bleeding with her movements.

He watched her throughout the night, occasionally adding a few more touches with his finger.

He knew the agonizing pain of this torture. Before last night, he had foolishly tested it on himself, the pain making him want to bash his head against the wall.

There were no visible wounds, but his meridians twisted and contorted. This pain was far worse than any cuts or whips.

Initially, the girl tried to suppress her screams, but eventually, she could no longer hold back.

He continued until late into the night, then stopped, crouching before her and grabbing her hair.

He said coldly, “It’s about time you talked, Miss Du. I’ll say it again, just tell me what I want to know, and I’ll let you go.”

The girl gasped for breath but said nothing.

She was more resilient than he had expected.

He realized that, at least for tonight, his efforts had been in vain.

Although slightly surprised, he wasn’t worried…

---

The next morning, after returning to his residence, Shi Hao hadn’t rested long when a carriage stopped outside.

This time, it was Deng Liang, the young guild master of the Yuan Rong Merchant Guild, along with some of his friends, coming to find him.

Having nothing else to do, Shi Hao joined them for a stroll around the city. At noon, they went to a restaurant and drank quite a bit.

By now, the story of Shi Hao, the young master of Small Han Mountain City, saving the County Mistress on Red Mountain had spread throughout the city.

Especially within the circles of local landlords and gentry, although not particularly prominent, the story was widely known.

Shi Hao knew Deng Liang had been spreading the news.

Whether it was the royal clan, the Marquis’ residence, or the Six Gates, no one trusted each other.

Especially within the circles of landlords and gentry, they were even more aware of the underlying currents.

By letting everyone know that the young master of Small Han Mountain City had saved the County Mistress, the Marquis’ residence would have to show some restraint, and the Six Gates wouldn’t dare to act rashly… That was Deng Liang’s thinking.

Although Shi Hao didn’t want to attract too much attention, he knew Deng Liang was helping him.

“Brother Hao!” After a few drinks, Deng Liang pulled Shi Hao aside, “Tell me, who did you learn your martial arts from?”

Shi Hao smiled, “You won’t believe me even if I told you. It really was that old Daoist I met in the mountains.”

Deng Liang said, “Brother Hao, why are you hiding it even from me? I heard you practice Daoist internal energy cultivation. And I also heard that Daoist cultivation requires both internal and external elixirs. They say you’re eighth-rank, which means you’ve consumed at least two Daoist elixirs, the ninth and eighth ranks of the Nine Ranks Immortal Formula.

“That’s not something you can achieve by just learning from someone in the mountains.”

Shi Hao continued smiling, “You won’t believe me even if I tell you, so what can I do?”

They wouldn’t believe this explanation, and they would be even less likely to believe the truth.

Thinking back, the Holy Jade Immortal and the Enchanting Fire Witch were indeed terrifyingly powerful.

They had each given him a small portion of their foundational essence, and he had reached the eighth rank directly, bypassing the need to consume the ninth and eighth-rank elixirs.

If they hadn’t fought each other three hundred years ago, leading to their imprisonment in the Primordial Grotto Heaven, how could the barbarians have dominated China?

The others, now drunk, clamored to visit a brothel.

Deng Liang, his arm around Shi Hao’s shoulder, nudged him and tried to persuade him to join them.

Shi Hao smiled, “I’ll pass. I’m going back to rest.” He had a female prisoner to interrogate tonight; he didn’t have time for such frivolous pursuits.

After parting ways with them, Shi Hao walked back alone.

He thought to himself, “Two nights of dislocating her joints and tearing her muscles haven’t made her talk. Continuing with such methods probably won’t be effective.”

“Other physical injuries probably won’t work either. Since torture isn’t working, I might as well try some humiliation tactics and see how much she can withstand psychologically.”

He passed a market stall where a hunter from the mountains was selling medicinal wine, a bag containing a writhing snake beside him.

Shi Hao paused before the stall, lost in thought.

Chapter 17: Don’t Disappoint Me

—Magical Weapon: Earthly Valor Tiger

—Divine Crystal: Earthly Valor Star

—Effect: Grants a divine body and divine power for a short period, multiplying physical strength and power. Limited to one use per day.

—Remaining Uses: Four.

Back in his residence, Shi Hao examined the Earthly Valor Tiger again. As expected, the number of remaining uses had decreased by one.

Fortunately, he had relied on this magical weapon’s brute force; otherwise, capturing Du Yuejiao would have been much more difficult.

Putting away the Earthly Valor Tiger, he took out the jade pendant he had snatched from Du Yuejiao’s wrist.

The circular pendant, crystal clear, contained mysterious water patterns intertwined to form a special rune.

He examined it with his divine sense.

—Magical Weapon: Moon Phase Ring

—Divine Crystal: Yin Divergence Star

—Effect: Briefly distorts space, creating multiple layers of diamond-shaped spatial fragments.

—Remaining Uses: Six.

Shi Hao thought to himself, “These divine crystal magical weapons can even distort space?”

He marveled at the power of these weapons. If he hadn’t also possessed a magical weapon, even if he had advanced to the seventh rank, he might have been killed instantly by such a technique if caught off guard.

He looked out the window.

It was now evening, and no one had disturbed him all afternoon.

He didn’t think Ming Kun Monastery would connect Du Yuejiao’s disappearance to him.

After all, the traces of the fight clearly indicated a demonic cultivator using fire techniques, completely different from his style on Red Mountain.

Two days ago, someone had attempted to kidnap County Mistress Li Tong, and today, an attacker had abducted Du Yuejiao.

As long as Ming Kun Monastery wasn’t foolish, they would connect the two incidents and conclude that the attacker who took Du Yuejiao was working with the previous assailants.

And he, having saved Li Tong, was inadvertently cleared of suspicion.

Even so, he had remained in his residence all afternoon, occasionally appearing at the courtyard gate.

Since he had scaled the wall and entered using the Evil Shadow Disguise Technique around noon, even if someone investigated, they would easily conclude he hadn’t left the house.

He hadn’t noticed anyone surveilling him, and no one had come to inquire.

It seemed Ming Kun Monastery hadn’t revealed Du Yuejiao’s abduction.

This was only natural, unless Zhuo Mulan truly didn’t care about her disciple’s life.

As darkness deepened, the crescent moon rose.

Shi Hao buried the Moon Phase Ring under a tree in the courtyard, slipped over the wall, and changed his appearance using the Evil Shadow Disguise Technique.

---

The girl slowly regained consciousness amidst a hazy daze and unbearable, tearing pain.

Her hands were tied, and she was suspended from a wooden beam in a dark cell.

Her legs were spread apart, each ankle tied to a rope connected to an iron pillar.

The hem of her colorful Daoist robe had been cut open, revealing her grey trousers.

As she woke up, she instinctively struggled, trying to free herself from the restraints.

However, several major acupoints along her meridians were blocked by a mysterious demonic energy, her dantian completely sealed, preventing her from using her internal energy.

If she were an ordinary martial artist, even with her meridians blocked, she would still possess considerable strength.

However, Daoist cultivators focused on internal elixir cultivation and didn’t train their physical bodies.

Although they appeared ethereal and didn’t have to worry about their figures becoming muscular from martial arts training, at this moment, unable to use her internal energy, she was no different from an ordinary girl.

She tried to remain calm. She didn’t know where she was. Faint music drifted down from above, a soft, seductive melody amidst the muffled sounds.

This was a prison cell, at least on the surface.

Various torture instruments lined the left wall: a wooden horse for restraining a person face down with their limbs tied to its legs, a rack for spreading a person’s limbs in a “大” shape, whips, candles, ropes, a furnace, branding irons, and more.

But strangely, red curtains draped from above, and on the right side was a luxurious bed with a dressing table beside it.

Despite the torture instruments, the entire cell, with its overall color scheme, had a strangely elegant, almost bridal chamber-like atmosphere.

Du Yuejiao couldn’t understand why a prison cell, clearly designed for interrogation and torture, would be decorated so lavishly.

She continued looking to the right and suddenly froze, struggling against her restraints.

In the right corner, the villain with the hooked nose sat calmly on a red sandalwood chair, watching her wake up and struggle.

“Miss Du!” The villain casually crossed his left leg over his right, gently swinging his foot.

His voice was cold and emotionless, “There’s no animosity between us, and I don’t want to make things difficult for you. I just need you to answer one question. If you answer, I’ll let you go and won’t harm you.”

He paused, and his voice, like a blade scraping against a whetstone, continued, “Otherwise, I have plenty of tools, and plenty of time. You’re a beautiful and virtuous young lady, a precious daughter. Why suffer such torment in this place?”

Du Yuejiao spat angrily, “I won’t tell you anything, no matter what you ask. Let me go! The Chongxian Sect won’t let you get away with this!”

Ignoring her desperate outburst, the young man stood up and approached her, his shadow stretching across the floor towards her.

He stopped before her, grabbed her chin, and smiled, his expression even more sinister and menacing, “I understand that your Ming Kun Monastery is conducting a certain experiment with the Yue Ke Tai clan, a prominent barbarian family. This experiment is called ‘God-Sealing.’

“I just need you to tell me what kind of experiment it is, and what conclusions you have reached.”

He slightly loosened his grip on her chin.

“Ptoo!” The girl tried to spit in his face, but he easily dodged it.

“It seems you’re unwilling to cooperate,” the young man said, reaching for the intricately tied sash around her waist.

“What are you doing? Let me go!” the girl shouted, her voice echoing through the cell.

“Even if you scream your lungs out, it’s useless,” the young man whispered in her ear, sneering. “Don’t worry, I’m not particularly interested in your precious body. But to encourage your cooperation, let’s play a game.

“Starting tonight, I will torture you. For every night you refuse to talk, I’ll carve a mark on your thigh. Let’s see how many marks it takes before you tell me what I want to know.

“Don’t disappoint me, Miss Du.”

He untied the sash. The girl’s sharp, terrified scream echoed through the cell, “Let me go!”

…

---

The next morning, Shi Hao returned to his residence, took a cold bath, and sat cross-legged in the courtyard, cultivating his internal energy.

His actions last night made him feel like a villain.

But he had to force himself to continue, his resolve unwavering.

He had to find out what this “God-Sealing Experiment” was.

According to the information from Dark Thunder, this experiment could potentially reshape the martial world, giving the barbarian court and the Chongxian Sect true control.

And deep down, the very name “God-Sealing” filled him with unease.

A light rain began to fall, bringing a touch of moisture to the courtyard.

Circulating both the Immortal Ice Technique and the Mysterious Charm Technique within him, Shi Hao felt a significant improvement in his power.

Yesterday’s fight with Du Yuejiao had greatly benefited his Mysterious Charm Technique.

And as the Mysterious Charm Technique improved, his Immortal Ice Technique also seemed to be stimulated, its power increasing in response, rising in tandem with the demonic art.

Cultivation was supposed to be a long and arduous process, requiring unwavering determination and constant effort.

Even without visible progress, one had to persevere, rain or shine, never giving up.

His rapid progress, feeling the increase in power almost constantly, was unusual.

Many people gave up on cultivation because they couldn’t experience this immediate “feedback.”

They trained diligently but felt no improvement. Over time, they began to doubt their abilities, leading to frustration and ultimately, giving up.

After all, cultivation was often a tedious and monotonous process.

Shi Hao’s experience was completely different. He didn’t know if it was because he was cultivating both Daoist and demonic arts simultaneously.

At noon, after having lunch, he went out for a stroll in the market.

As he returned to his residence, a luxurious carriage arrived. A steward from the Marquis’ residence invited him to the mansion.

Shi Hao naturally didn’t refuse the invitation. Or rather, with Small Han Mountain City’s status, he didn’t have the “right” to refuse.

However, the Marquis’ residence had sent a luxurious carriage to pick him up, instead of simply sending a messenger.

This was considered a sign of “respect” from the Marquis’ residence.

Shi Hao boarded the carriage, which traveled down the wide, official road, lined with willow trees, a road forbidden to ordinary people.

The carriage arrived at the Marquis’ residence, but instead of stopping at the main gate, it entered through a side gate.

After reaching the inner gardens, Shi Hao disembarked, and two maidservants greeted him.

He followed them into the garden, arriving at a pavilion over the lake.

County Mistress Li Tong, dressed in a green skirt, sat inside the pavilion and called out softly, “Master Shi!”

Shi Hao bowed, “Greetings, County Mistress.”

County Mistress Li Tong returned the gesture, her voice gentle, “There’s no need for such formalities, Master Shi. You are my savior. I have prepared a small banquet today to express my gratitude for saving my life on Red Mountain. Please, have a seat.”

Shi Hao said, “You’re too kind, County Mistress. I wouldn’t dare trouble you.”

County Mistress Li Tong smiled, “How can a small banquet repay the debt of saving my life? Please!”

Shi Hao entered the pavilion and sat down, looking around. The scenery was beautiful, with the lake shimmering in the distance.

Maidservants brought food and wine, but there were no guards in sight.

Shi Hao quickly assessed the situation. On the one hand, he knew the Marquis’ residence must have investigated Small Han Mountain City but hadn’t found anything suspicious… which was only natural.

After all, before this, he, the young master of Small Han Mountain City, had rarely left.

There was nothing unusual about his life so far, and Small Han Mountain City wasn’t a martial arts sect.

If they had found anything suspicious, even if County Mistress Li Tong wanted to hold a banquet for him in the Marquis’ residence gardens, the Marquis wouldn’t have allowed it.

On the other hand, County Mistress Li Tong probably didn’t know about Du Yuejiao’s disappearance yet.

The food and wine were served, and a maidservant poured him wine. County Mistress Li Tong raised her cup and said apologetically, “That day on Red Mountain, although you were present at the banquet, I didn’t attend to you properly. Please forgive me.”

Shi Hao said, “I’m just a simple man from the mountains. There’s no need for you to worry, County Mistress.”

They drank a few cups. County Mistress Li Tong’s eyes sparkled, and she said cheerfully, “I heard you were just a scholar, but you’ve hidden your martial arts skills well. It’s a good thing you did, otherwise I would have been in real trouble.”

Shi Hao smiled, “I am indeed a scholar. My martial arts training was just a chance encounter with a skilled master, a mere…” He suddenly turned his head.

A gust of wind swept through the garden gate.

More than a dozen tall, burly figures, clearly trained in external martial arts, entered in two rows, quickly taking positions that subtly surrounded the pavilion.

Shi Hao gripped his cup, his expression changing slightly.

He quickly turned back, his gaze fixed on County Mistress Li Tong’s neck, almost ready to strike and restrain her.

But she also looked surprised and asked a maidservant, “Who are those people?”

A giggle echoed, “Sister Li Tong, I’ve come to see you.”

Shi Hao looked over and saw a girl wearing a garland of flowers and a pleated dress, a flower-patterned whip around her waist.

She was delicate and petite, her laughter like tinkling bells as she floated in like a gentle breeze.

Since the Jin clan’s invasion, influenced by Chinese culture, most Jin girls wore similar clothing to Chinese girls, either wrap-around robes or jackets and skirts.

This girl, however, with flowers in her hair, flower ornaments all over her body, and a flower-patterned woolen dress, looked like a flower herself.

For a Jin girl, this attire was more “retro” than “traditional.”

As the flower-clad girl approached, County Mistress Li Tong hurriedly stood up, not daring to show any disrespect, “Sister Yue, when did you arrive in Jin Prefecture?”

Although she addressed her as “sister,” she quickly descended the pavilion steps to greet her.