Liu Ruoxue

The Jinyang River, the largest waterway in Jinyang Prefecture, connects almost all the cities within the prefecture.

It serves as the economic and transportation artery of Jinyang Prefecture.

Under the afterglow of the setting sun, wisps of cold air rose from the wide river surface.

A hundred-zhang-long giant ship, flying the flag of the 'Liu Family Merchant Association', sailed downstream on the river.

On the deck at the bow, a beautiful woman wearing a sable fur cloak was admiring the sunset scenery.

Behind her stood two maids carrying swords, their gazes towards the woman in front filled with reverence and fervor.

This was because the woman was the helmswoman of the Liu Family Merchant Association, Liu Ruoxue, who was only twenty-four years old.

She had taken over the Liu Family Merchant Association at the age of nineteen.

In five years, she had led the Liu Family Merchant Association to become one of the top three in Jinyang Prefecture.

"Quick, look, there are two people at the Clear Water River entrance."

Suddenly, a startled cry broke the peaceful and serene scene.

"Look, they're coming towards our ship, stepping on the water. Such exquisite movement techniques."

Another exclamation.

Liu Ruoxue's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing across her face as she turned to look.

She saw a young man in a tattered Demon Suppressing Guard uniform and a woman wearing a faceless bronze mask and carrying a wine gourd, approaching her merchant ship by stepping on the water.

The guards on the ship orderly arrived on deck, drew their weapons, and stared sternly at the uninvited pair.

"Boatman, may we come aboard for a chat?"

Ye Xiaofan shouted loudly, channeling his Qi and Blood, from more than thirty zhang away from Liu Ruoxue's merchant ship.

The mini-dragon hid in his hair, revealing a pair of curious, dark, glistening eyes as it surveyed the surroundings.

After breaking through to the Body Refinement Eighth Layer, Ye Xiaofan didn't linger in the Inheritance Stone Tablet.

When he expressed his desire to leave, the mini-dragon, without a second thought, clung to his ear and followed him out.

This saved him a lot of effort.

They were lucky; as soon as they teleported out and surfaced, they spotted a large merchant ship.

So they chased after it.

If they could get on board, they could reach Jinyang City faster and find Commander Zuo.

"Let them come up."

Liu Ruoxue's clear and cold voice echoed in the guards' ears.

"Yes, Miss."

The captain of the guards, Liu Jie, responded, but he didn't order his men to put away their weapons.

A moment later, Ye Xiaofan and Tie Wuqing leaped onto the deck, nearly ten zhang high.

"Such agile movement."

Everyone on the ship marveled, praising them inwardly.

"Thank you, boatman. Is your ship heading to Jinyang City?"

Seeing dozens of guards warily eyeing him with weapons in hand, Ye Xiaofan displayed a harmless smile and cupped his fists in greeting.

Ye Xiaofan was unaware of the Liu Family Merchant Association, but Tie Wuqing knew of it.

It was a major merchant association in Jinyang Prefecture, backed by the aristocratic Liu Family.

"Yes, but I can't make the decision. My lady must agree."

Liu Jie returned the bow and replied.

"My name is Ye Xiaofan, and this is my friend Tie Wuqing. Please introduce us to your lady, brother."

Ye Xiaofan said with a smile.

"Follow me."

Liu Jie led Ye Xiaofan and Tie Wuqing towards the deck at the bow, surrounded by guards who kept a close watch.

It seemed as if any sudden move from Ye Xiaofan and Tie Wuqing would result in their weapons being drawn upon them.

Ye Xiaofan paid them no mind, while Tie Wuqing leisurely took a drink.

"Miss, these two are Ye Xiaofan and Tie Wuqing. They wish to travel to Jinyang City with us."

Liu Jie said softly as he approached Liu Ruoxue.

Liu Ruoxue nodded. The journey to Jinyang City was only an overnight trip from here, and bringing two more people wouldn't cause any issues.

Her gaze swept over Ye Xiaofan and Tie Wuqing.

Hmm?!

Their eyes met, and both Ye Xiaofan and Liu Ruoxue's pupils contracted slightly, their hearts jolting.

A strange feeling arose in both of them simultaneously.

They had never met before, so why did they feel such a sense of familiarity and closeness?

It seems the one-armed man didn't lie to me. This woman before me must be related by blood.

Ye Xiaofan quickly understood why he felt this way.

His mother was the youngest daughter of the previous Patriarch of the Liu family. Therefore, the person before him was likely his maternal uncle's daughter.

However, Ye Xiaofan had no intention of making overtures.

The Liu family was a prominent clan in Jinyang Prefecture. If they had wanted to acknowledge him, they would have done so long ago.

He didn't need to go out of his way to forge a connection.

Tie Wuqing glanced at Liu Ruoxue before looking away. He had seen the Liu family's current pride and joy when she was still part of the family.

If you like this book, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.

However, there was no significant interaction between them, as she was merely the illegitimate daughter of a maid.

"I am Liu Ruoxue. May I ask where Young Master Ye and Miss Tie are from, and how you came to be out of the Clear Water River?"

After carefully observing Ye Xiaofan, Liu Ruoxue suppressed her inner confusion and asked.

Her voice was as clear and crisp as a mountain spring, no less so than Tie Wuqing's.

"My friend and I are from Qingyang County. We were attacked by demonic creatures on the way, which is why we ended up like this."

Liu Ruoxue nodded and didn't ask further questions.

But ripples had already begun to stir in her heart.

His surname was Ye, he was from Qingyang County, and he looked very much like her paternal aunt.

Ye Tianhe was in the Demon Suppression Division in Qingyang County. Her paternal aunt had followed him there and never returned.

"Captain Liu, please arrange two superior rooms for Young Master Zhang and Miss Li."

"Thank you, Miss Liu."

Ye Xiaofan thanked Liu Ruoxue and then followed Liu Jie into the cabin.

Little did Ye Xiaofan know, but as soon as he and Tie Wuqing left the deck, A white-bearded old man with a ruddy complexion appeared beside Liu Ruoxue.

"Ruoxue, why are you letting two people of unknown origin stay on the boat?"

"Third Grandfather, that person named Ye Xiaofan looks so much like our aunt."

"You mean your paternal aunt, Qingshuang?"

Liu Xingwen's eyes narrowed, and he quickly asked.

"Yes!"

"Impossible. Your paternal aunt died in the mouths of demonic creatures before she could even give birth to her child."

Liu Xingwen's expression shifted dramatically as he shook his head.

"But he really does look like her, especially those eyes. My aunt was always the kindest to me when I was little. How could I forget her appearance?"

Liu Ruoxue watched as the last sliver of light was swallowed by darkness, her voice seemingly filled with endless sorrow.

That night, In Qingyang County town.

"My dear, demonic creatures come out and cause trouble every night. What are we going to do?"

Under the dim oil lamp, a woman holding a sleeping child spoke with a face full of worry.

"Sigh, no one is allowed to leave the city now. Tomorrow, I'll go find Zhang San from the Black Market and see if he has any way for us to sneak out of Qingyang City."

Across from her, a middle-aged man with a broad, strong build, clearly a martial artist, sighed deeply after downing three bowls of wine, his eyes red.

"Who's there?"

Suddenly, the middle-aged man leaped up, shielding the woman behind him as he shouted towards the door.

"My dear..."

The woman held her child tightly, her body trembling uncontrollably from fear.

"It's alright, I'll protect you and the child."

Cold sweat beaded on the middle-aged man's forehead as he stared intently at the door.

He could see a figure approaching.

The door instantly shattered into pieces, and a ferocious wild boar demonic creature, about ten feet long, with red eyes, appeared before them.

"Ah~"

The next moment, two sharp, piercing screams tore through the night sky.

At this moment, twenty demonic creatures were slaughtering wantonly south of Qingyang County.

Beneath the county office, in a demonic den.

The County Magistrate sat sipping tea, appearing like a refined young scholar.

Below him, Xiao Qiaofeng, covered in wounds and with a depleted aura, glared at the County Magistrate.

"Commander Xiao, you've failed. You really can't bear to leave the Qingyang County you worked so hard to build."

The County Magistrate put down his teacup and looked at Xiao Qiaofeng, speaking in a calm tone.

Xiao Qiaofeng was speechless. He knew what the County Magistrate was referring to.

Ye Xiaofan had escaped from the County Magistrate's terrifying, evil grasp.

But this wasn't what he had intended.

His plan was to use Ye Xiaofan to draw the County Magistrate's attention, allowing him to seize the opportunity to escape.

Who could have predicted that the Mountain Lord would break through to the Qi Condensation stage at this time?

If he had known earlier, he would have chosen a different path.

Now that he was captured, what was the point of Ye Xiaofan escaping?

"I won't kill you. You will become the strongest demonic creature under my command. With your talent, perhaps in the future, you'll have a chance to become a high-level being like me."

"Hmph, kill me if you want. I will never become a demonic creature."

Xiao Qiaofeng's face contorted, and a trace of fear involuntarily appeared in his eyes.

"Heh heh, you will thank me. The longevity you humans desire, I can obtain with ease."

The County Magistrate walked up to Xiao Qiaofeng, lowered his head to look down at him, and smiled sinisterly.