Fated With Me

Wang Ming and Li Mochou rode donkeys along the main road at a leisurely pace. Ahead, two men respectfully led the donkeys by their ropes, and behind them followed seven or eight people.

Wang Ming was initially against riding a donkey. He felt the donkey's image clashed completely with his handsome and refined demeanor, practically ruining the aesthetic. He had never considered using a donkey as a mount before.

The journey to Jueqing Valley wasn't short, so he went to a nearby place selling horses to buy one as transportation for this trip.

He had already settled the price with the owner, but Li Mochou, who was beside him, had an objection.

She couldn't ride a horse and insisted on buying a donkey.

Wang Ming thought that since she grew up in the Ancient Tomb, it was normal for her not to know how to ride a horse, so he let her have her way.

As they traveled, Wang Ming gradually began to regret his decision.

The advantages of horses were their good looks and speed, which enhanced a person's temperament and image.

However, the disadvantage was the discomfort; they were very bumpy.

Compared to Li Mochou's donkey moving forward steadily and leisurely, riding a horse suddenly seemed less appealing.

So, when they reached the second town, he exchanged the horse for a donkey. Wang Ming wasn't in a hurry to get to Jueqing Valley, so why put himself through suffering?

The ones leading the donkeys, and those following behind, were the surrendered disciples of Jueqing Valley.

Led by this group, after a journey of half a month, they finally arrived at their destination – Jueqing Valley.

According to the information provided by the Jueqing Valley disciples, this was the entrance to Jueqing Valley.

Before Wang Ming stood a mountain wall covered in ivy, completely blanketed by green vegetation.

One of the surrendered Jueqing Valley disciples stepped forward, parted the hanging vines on the mountain wall, revealing a cave entrance, and then invited Wang Ming inside.

After confirming there was no danger, Wang Ming entered the cave with Li Mochou.

Upon entering, they walked straight for a few meters, then turned left for a few meters, and light appeared ahead.

Emerging, they found themselves in a dense banyan forest, giving a deep and tranquil impression.

Continuing onward, traces of human habitation gradually appeared – a small path paved with stones.

Walking along the path for a while, they saw human architecture. The buildings were primarily stilt houses. Upon closer inspection, the large plaque above the main gate bore the four characters "Water Lily Villa."

Around it were some scattered houses built of stone, quite simple and unpretentious.

Whether it was the stilt houses or the stone houses, they blended perfectly with the natural environment of the valley, without creating any sense of disharmony or abruptness.

"The architect is truly remarkable, perfectly integrating man-made structures with the natural environment, very much in line with the Daoist philosophy of the unity of heaven and man," Wang Ming said to Li Mochou, his young disciple beside him.

"I don't feel anything. What unity of heaven and man? These are just a few old houses with grass growing on them! What's so great about them," Li Mochou said dismissively.

She wasn't entirely wrong. The houses in Jueqing Valley had an astonishing amount of greenery; various walls were covered with vegetation, and some banyan branches even extended into the rooms.

You could say they were perfectly integrated with nature, or you could say they were old houses with grass growing on them.

It was like describing a person's aspirations: if you liked the person, you'd call them ambitious; if you didn't, you'd call them power-hungry; if you looked down on them, you'd call them unrealistic.

As Wang Ming and Li Mochou were admiring the unique scenery of Jueqing Valley, they didn't notice that the few Jueqing Valley captives beside them had already moved more than ten meters away.

They were still admiring the surroundings with Li Mochou, because Wang Ming had already mentally claimed all of this as his own and was therefore exceptionally pleased.

For many years, Wang Ming had been in a state of wandering and living under others' roofs. Today, he could finally have his own property, and he was naturally delighted.

Suddenly, Wang Ming's ears twitched slightly.

He then looked around and immediately realized the situation was not right. Those captives who had already put a significant distance between themselves and him.

At the same time, people were surrounding them from all sides. Some were holding swords and sabers, while others held specially made fishing nets.

Wang Ming said, "I remember your name is Chen Yongxiang, right? Who gave you the courage to oppose me?"

Chen Yongxiang replied, "Don't be arrogant. If you hadn't ambushed me from behind last time, you definitely wouldn't have broken the Fishing Net Formation."

Wang Ming also knew he was telling the truth. The Fishing Net Formation was very powerful. Even Zhou Botong twenty years later could only kneel under this formation; it was only later, with the acquisition of a certain pair of scissors, that he managed to break it.

Chen Yongxiang shouted, "Charge! Avenge our Valley Master!"

Instantly, the people surrounding Wang Ming began to move, holding fishing nets and continuously shifting their positions.

Li Mochou, having suffered from the Fishing Net Formation before, became anxious as soon as she saw them setting up the formation, fearing being trapped again. She immediately intended to use her Lightness Skill to fly away.

The result?

She had barely left the ground by two meters when a team of people jumped out from behind the Fishing Net Formation, wielding a fishing net. They descended from the sky and firmly ensnared Li Mochou, trapping her tightly.

Ugh!

Her figure, hidden beneath her wide robes, was clearly outlined by the net. She fell to the ground with an expression of utter mortification.

Wang Ming didn't pay much attention to Li Mochou's current situation. She was just a young girl in her teens; what was there to see?

Capturing Li Mochou right at the start boosted the confidence of these people. When they had first heard that Valley Master Gongsun had been killed by this person, they had been somewhat apprehensive.

Those among them who had seen Wang Ming in action had stayed behind the Fishing Net Formation, hiding far away. The people in front were simply ignorant and fearless.

They had only heard Chen Yongxiang and the others say that the Valley Master was ambushed and killed by a thief, and they were ordered to kill the thief to avenge the Valley Master.

Now that Li Mochou, armed within the formation, had been captured, the scholar-like man in the formation with empty hands was even easier to deal with.

The fishing net was made of twisted gold and steel wires. Each net was about ten feet square and adorned with golden knives and sharp swords to stab and defend against enemies. Where the nets overlapped, magnets were attached to absorb the enemy's metal projectiles.

When facing an enemy, sixteen people would form a formation. Each group of four would hold one fishing net, directed by the formation leader. They could move horizontally, vertically, diagonally, or flat, constantly shifting to narrow the encirclement and force the enemy to surrender.

Chen Yongxiang and his men weren't particularly loyal to Gongsun Zhi. It was because the Valley Master and the Senior Disciple had both been killed by Wang Ming, making him the most qualified person to inherit Jueqing Valley.

Coupled with the Fishing Net Formation, which he had learned to set up since childhood and possessed immense confidence in, Chen Yongxiang believed no one could escape unless attacked from behind.

Chen Yongxiang said menacingly, "Attack!"

He could already see himself wearing fine robes, addressed as Valley Master Chen in the future. All he needed to do was deal with this person.

Chen Yongxiang exclaimed, "Haha! You thief who only knows how to sneak attack, surrender! Otherwise, I'll kill your disciple."

Wang Ming stared at him coldly.

A lecherous expression suddenly appeared on Chen Yongxiang's face. "I've changed my mind. Your female disciple is so lovely; it would be a waste to kill her like this. If you don't surrender, I'll make sure you witness your female disciple in a passionate embrace. Haha!!!" With that, he reached out to grab the fallen Li Mochou, intending to put his words into action.

"Sky Full of Flowers Scattering Gold Coins!"

Wang Ming leaped upwards.

Instantly, a multitude of copper coins shot out rapidly from all directions of his body.

Each coin was imbued with dense Innate True Qi, giving it the penetrative power to split stone and pierce metal.

In a flash, the area around Wang Ming became clear. Each person had a copper coin embedded in their forehead.

"Your hidden weapons, how can you use them within the Fishing Net Formation?" Chen Yongxiang was extremely panicked by this sudden reversal of fortune.

"It's truly terrifying not to be cultured. Magnets attract iron, what does copper have to do with it?"

"My lord! I was wrong. You are magnanimous; I am not worth your effort." Chen Yongxiang was very pragmatic. Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, he immediately knelt and kowtowed for mercy.

Wang Ming ignored him and went to untie Li Mochou, whose eyes were filled with murderous intent.

"My lord, please forgive my disrespect, Little Chen. I can be your lackey, your dog."

With that, he transitioned from kowtowing to crawling on all fours.

"Woof woof!!!!!"

Wang Ming's mouth twitched slightly at the spectacle before him.

"Sigh! Don't worry, I'm not that petty. I forgive you."

After saying that, with a benevolent smile, He said to Li Mochou beside him, "He's all yours. Do as you please."

He patted her shoulder and walked directly off the battlefield.

Then...

A scream echoed from behind him.

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