Volume 1, Chapter 34: Capturing Ling Qingxue

"It's over," Zhao Wujiang said calmly.

"You villain!" Li Yunrui raised a hand and slapped quickly toward Zhao Wujiang’s face, looking furious.

Zhao Wujiang, having anticipated this, caught her wrist, rendering her unable to move. "Many people have died. I did this for your own good. Are you stupid?"

Li Yunrui’s face flushed with anger. "With you here, what do I have to fear? You made me miss out on all the fun!"

However, this was exactly how Zhao Wujiang saw her; her reaction was quite something.

"Alright, alright, I'll make it up to you next time," Zhao Wujiang said offhandedly.

Li Yunrui, however, took him seriously. "Make it up to me? How are you going to do that?"

She leaned closer to Zhao Wujiang. After last night's provocation, it was clear that Zhao Wujiang was no longer as resistant to her as he had been before. Li Yunrui prepared to continue teasing him. If she kept this up, her future husband would surely love her forever.

But just as she drew near, her sharp nose twitched, and she caught a scent that did not belong to Zhao Wujiang.

"A woman's scent, Zhao Wujiang!"

[Damn! Does she have the nose of a dog?]

Zhao Wujiang was speechless. Just as he was trying to think of an explanation, a voice boomed from outside the room.

"Zhao Wujiang!" Before the person could be seen, his voice arrived first. The Sixth Prince, Li Yunyi, burst into the room in a flurry.

Upon seeing the two of them embracing, Li Yunyi shouted, "Let go of my sister! Zhao Wujiang, why are you kidnapping her?"

[Perfect timing, good brother!]

Zhao Wujiang immediately shifted the focus. "She can explain the details to you. There were assassins just now."

Li Yunyi was confused, but Li Yunrui stared at him with wide, almond-shaped eyes. She had been on the verge of forcing Zhao Wujiang to explain the scent of another woman on him, only to be interrupted by this foolish brother. Rage surged within her; she stood up, took a step forward, and grabbed Li Yunyi by the ear.

"I came here to hang out with Zhao Wujiang of my own accord. Does it even concern you, brother?"

"Ow, ow, ow..." Li Yunyi’s expression shifted immediately as his ear was pulled. He offered a fawning smile. "Yunrui, I was just worried about you..."

Li Yunyi had always doted on this sister, and he was equally afraid of her. He dared not say another word about the two of them and looked to Zhao Wujiang for help. "What was that about an assassin?"

"A female assassin just tried to harm the Princess."

This statement was enough to bypass the need to explain the scent of another woman on his body. As he spoke, Zhao Wujiang leapt out of the window. "I'm going to chase the assassin!"

"I'm going too!" Li Yunrui, seeing this, wanted to follow.

Li Yunyi blocked her path. "It’s too dangerous, don't go."

"Then you go help Zhao Wujiang!" Li Yunrui frowned. "Go!"

"Tsk..." Li Yunyi shook his head. "Zhao Wujiang has the Heavenly Sword; what is there to fear from an assassin?"

"He got the Heavenly Sword?" Li Yunrui covered her small mouth in surprise. Zhao Wujiang had actually managed to seize the Heavenly Sword from the Sword Casting Bureau? She had seen with her own eyes the carnage outside the bureau. If it was like that outside, it must have been even more dangerous inside. She couldn't help but imagine the scene of Zhao Wujiang fighting off a crowd, displaying his overwhelming dominance.

"How did he get it? Tell me!" Li Yunyi asked with a look of admiration.

Li Yunyi’s face twitched. He thought about it, but didn't know how to describe it. Playing dead, crawling in the shadows, getting close to the Sword Nurturing Pond, and then dripping a bit of blood on the sword until it flew into his hand on its own... It didn't seem necessary to explain the details, so Li Yunyi began to boast about his own experiences instead.

"You weren't there, you don't know how dangerous it was..."

Li Yunyi still felt a lingering fear as he slowly recounted the cruelty of the battle for the Heavenly Sword to his sister.

As Li Yunrui listened to her brother describe the thrilling scenes, she realized that she had been very wilful. The reason Zhao Wujiang didn't want her to follow was because it was truly too dangerous; a single mistake could have buried her in the Sword Nurturing Pond.

"I must say, the courage and composure Zhao Wujiang showed truly exceeded my expectations..."

Li Yunyi also sighed. "He is not the licentious, arrogant, and self-important man the rumors claim. On the contrary, he is cautious and follows his own principles. Looking at it this way... perhaps... Father has been far too prejudiced against him..."

Li Yunrui nodded in agreement. "And he is a gentleman."

At the very least, despite her constant teasing, he had never forced himself upon her. That alone made him better than any other man!

Elsewhere.

Zhao Wujiang was in full pursuit of Ling Qingxue.

"Strike while the iron is hot. This woman won't get far!"

"You like helping Long Zhan, do you? Once I ravage you, let's see if Long Zhan still wants you!"

A short distance ahead.

Having been exposed by Zhao Wujiang and blinded by the light of the tyrannical Heavenly Sword, Ling Qingxue had leapt out of the inn. However, she did not flee toward the center of the capital. She could no longer use her illusions, and with this face, she would easily be recognized, immediately drawing the attention of the Imperial guards.

Therefore, she could only run toward the rear of the Sword Casting Bureau. Behind the bureau was an alley leading to a small forest on the outskirts of the capital, where the dense mountain woods provided a perfect place to hide and heal. As long as she healed, she would have a chance to find Zhao Wujiang and take her revenge.

"Zhao Wujiang, just you wait!"

...

At the same time.

After Long Zhan finished helping Li Yunyi clean up the aftermath, he searched the area around the Sword Casting Bureau for Ling Qingxue but found no trace of her.

"Wait? Where is my Senior Sister?"

He went to the inn, as his Senior Sister had said earlier that Zhao Wujiang had emerged from there before the battle at the bureau broke out, and she had planned to ambush him. But Ling Qingxue was nowhere to be found.

As Long Zhan pondered, he looked toward the alley behind the Sword Casting Bureau. Could it be that she was worried about being recognized as the murderer in the capital, so she hid?

"Let's check the back alley..."

Long Zhan, wielding his water-blue King Sword, surged toward the alley with a profound aura. But as soon as he arrived, a middle-aged man in a brocade robe and a luxurious felt hat stepped around the corner. Beside him was a young servant who looked completely ordinary... yet Long Zhan's sword began to tremble, as if sensing danger.

"Who are you?" Long Zhan demanded.

"My master, Shen Hao. Where is the item the Eldest Princess asked you to bring?" the servant asked coldly.

Shen Hao?

Long Zhan’s eyes narrowed. The Eldest Princess had previously tasked him with bringing a brocade box to this alley. He never imagined that the recipient would be Shen Hao, the richest merchant in the world!

Long Zhan took out the box and handed it over. Shen Hao didn't reach for it, keeping his hands behind his back. Instead, the servant took the box, inspected it, and reported, "Master, the item has not been opened."

Only then did Shen Hao take the box and slowly open it. Inside was a letter, the contents of which made his eyes light up with joy.

Long Zhan witnessed everything. Legend had it that Shen Hao was wealthier than the empire itself. What kind of cooperation did he have with the Eldest Princess? If he could climb onto Shen Hao's line, would he ever lack for money or connections again? Since his Senior Sister was hiding, he would leave her be for now and get to know Shen Hao!

Long Zhan tucked his sword behind his back and bowed. "I am Long Zhan. I have long heard of Mr. Shen’s illustrious reputation..."

...

In the forest connected to the back alley of the Sword Casting Bureau.

Dusk was falling. The trees blocked much of the sunlight, making the woods dark. Ling Qingxue, her eyes injured, stumbled and fell to the ground, trembling in the darkness. Her face was deathly pale; she clearly had little strength left.

Just then, a palm strike came through the air, hitting her back from a cowardly angle. Ling Qingxue collapsed, terrified. She turned her head, but because of her injured eyes, she couldn't see the attacker clearly. However, the True Yang inner energy that penetrated her body felt familiar. It was exactly the same as the palm strike she had received last time!

"Zhao Wujiang! You despicable coward, fight me properly instead of ambushing me!"

Zhao Wujiang watched as Ling Qingxue swung her sword wildly. She didn't even notice her clothes being torn by branches, revealing glimpses of her snow-white skin. This woman had tried to harm him multiple times. Zhao Wujiang always repaid his debts, so he had to strike while she was vulnerable! However, Zhao Wujiang was a cautious man; he couldn't do it under his own name.

Seeing that she couldn't hit her target, Ling Qingxue grew even more frantic. "Zhao Wujiang, come out!"

But the next moment, she heard the sounds of a struggle. "What’s going on? Has that bastard been held up?"

She could only vaguely see a figure moving away. Through the blur, she heard Zhao Wujiang’s furious roar: "Long Zhan, consider yourself lucky today! But don't get cocky; I won't let you off!"

Then, Ling Qingxue heard the sound of footsteps retreating rapidly through the brush. It seemed Zhao Wujiang had fled.

Ling Qingxue breathed a sigh of relief. "My Junior Brother is here; I'm safe..."

She could no longer hide her injuries and collapsed onto a mountain rock. Under the moonlight, she looked tragically beautiful and heart-wrenchingly delicate.

Footsteps approached.

"Junior Brother, my eyes are injured. Help me back!"

Ling Qingxue looked up, seeing only a tall figure that resembled Long Zhan. The figure approached, supporting her, and a trickle of True Yang energy flowed into her body. She felt more at ease; the True Yang Heart Technique was both offensive and defensive, and its energy had remarkable healing properties.

But the next moment!

"Junior Brother, what are you doing!"

Ling Qingxue suddenly felt "Long Zhan" undressing her. She was injured and exhausted; she wanted to stop him but lacked the strength. She could only feel shame, anger, and resentment, her voice as thin as a mosquito's: "No..."

Long Zhan always tried to take advantage of her, and she had always managed to dodge him. But this time, she had no strength to resist.

She did not know that the person in front of her was not Long Zhan, but an excited Zhao Wujiang!