Mistaken for Taking the Lead

Seeing Liu Ding like this, Liu Tao froze as well. "Why didn't you dodge?" In the past, it had never been easy for her to land a kick on Liu Ding.

"I-I couldn't dodge. That wouldn't have expressed my sincere apology." Liu Ding sucked in cold breaths through clenched teeth, finding it difficult even to speak.

"Forget it. You were immature back then too. Consider that kick my revenge." Liu Tao waved a hand. In truth, she rather sympathized with Liu Ding. Such a rosy-lipped, fair-faced, delicate little boy, and he was actually an idiot. What a waste.

Liu Ding had not expected Liu Tao to let him off so quickly. It seemed she was not truly that overbearing and heartless. If someone like Liu Ji had caught an opportunity like this, he would have given him a proper beating.

But that meant his plan to "get beaten up" had gone down the drain. No, he could not play the friendship card with her. He had to keep playing the enemy card. So he said, "Of course it doesn't count. I did this because of that bet. Once I clear up the misunderstanding about my past lewd behavior, I can commit a real act of lewdness against you when you're willing."

"Get lost! A dog can't change its eating habits!" Liu Tao's chest heaved with anger. This little hooligan not only had no intention of reforming, he was actually planning to upgrade himself into a bigger hooligan. A girl might endure it, but her big sister would not. She threw another punch at him. "Fine, you want a beating, right? I'll grant your wish!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! Amid the sounds of battle qi bursting forth like drums beating on a battlefield, low, pained groans rang out continuously from the combat room.

Though furious, Liu Tao showed some restraint this time. She made Liu Ding suffer terribly without truly crippling him.

What she did not know was that Liu Ding's greatest pain came whenever her fists and kicks blasted open the Meridian Court in each meridian. The instant agony was simply unbearable, twisting his little face in pain.

As Liu Tao continued pummeling him, bruises spread across Liu Ding's body.

Bang! Another vicious blow landed. Under the impact of Cauldron Qi, Liu Ding finally reached his limit. He collapsed limply to the ground and waved a feeble hand. "Enough, enough. I can't take it anymore."

"You think it's over just because you say so? I haven't had enough fun yet!" Liu Tao said viciously, though she did not strike again.

"Then continue tomorrow." Liu Ding was weak with pain. "I'll let you beat me until you're satisfied, to show my sincere apology."

"Hmph, that sounds nice, but I don't believe you'll dare come again tomorrow." Liu Tao looked down at him.

"How about we make a bet? I'll come again tomorrow, and then you'll willingly let me commit another act of lewdness." Liu Ding, apparently not knowing when to quit, even winked toward a certain heaving area.

"Go die!" Liu Tao was about to lose her mind as she flew forward with a kick.

"Ah!" Liu Ding cried miserably. This time, he had no way to use Seven Stars Steps and took the hit head-on, baring his teeth in pain.

"You—" Liu Tao had wanted to ask if he was all right, but stopped herself. "Serves you right. You brought it on yourself."

"Let that kick count as you agreeing that I'll come again tomorrow." Enduring the pain, Liu Ding continued issuing his challenge.

"Can't be bothered with you." Liu Tao refused to take the bait. She pulled open the combat room door and was about to rush out when she suddenly saw a huge crowd packed outside.

To hide her embarrassment, Liu Tao pretended to stretch. "That beating felt so good."

She feigned composure, but before she had taken two steps, Liu Ding came out as well and stretched. "Getting beaten felt so good."

Huh? What was this supposed to mean? Was she being mistaken for taking the lead?

The combat room was soundproof, so the sounds that leaked out were faint and breathy, making them sound rather like moans. The crowd in the martial arts hall immediately felt that something about this scene was not right.

Those expressions were far too suggestive. Liu Tao instantly realized what they were thinking. Her pretty face flushed scarlet as she cried, "It's not what you think!"

"As expected of Sister Tao the Tyrant. That kind of force is just too much to handle." Liu Ding clicked his tongue, wearing a look of blissful intoxication.

"Little hooligan, how dare you spout nonsense! Do you believe I'll beat you again?" Liu Tao was going crazy. He was deliberately steering everyone's thoughts in the wrong direction.

"Hey, we agreed I'd come back tomorrow. You're not really going to do it here, are you? This concerns a man's dignity. I won't let you." Liu Ding hurriedly held up a hand.

"Fine, tomorrow! Tomorrow, I'll beat you until you can't get out of bed!" Liu Tao roared before turning and leaving.

"Even if you're strong, there's no need to keep bringing up beds." Liu Ding muttered, leaving a whole group of young men in the martial arts hall so shocked their jaws dropped before he leisurely headed home.

The moment he returned, Zhi'er noticed. She hurried forward to support him, examined him, and asked painfully, "Who did this? They were so ruthless."

"I'm fine." Liu Ding waved a hand.

"You still haven't answered me. It was Liu Tao, wasn't it?" Zhi'er looked at him.

"Huh, how did you know?" Liu Ding asked in surprise.

"Hmph, I knew it." Zhi'er flicked her sleeve and strode away in a huff.

Was she jealous? Only after returning to his little room and changing clothes through the pain did Liu Ding belatedly realize it.

Just as a feeling of happiness rose within him, there was a knock at the door. Zhi'er entered carrying a large basin. "You're badly injured, and all of them are around your meridians and Meridian Courts. Liu Tao must have done it deliberately. If they aren't repaired in time, your meridians could rupture and your channels could split. Don't provoke her again in the future."

"But I have you." Liu Ding grinned. Smelling the rich medicinal fragrance from the basin, he felt touched again. "What medicine is this? The scent is so strong."

"Du Meridian Fluid. It can quickly repair your damaged meridians. The ingredients are not easy to obtain: Bone Forging Root, Meridian Fusion Grass, and ferocious beast blood are all extremely precious. If I had not happened to have several of these medicinal ingredients in my collection, you would have been in serious trouble this time." Zhi'er frowned.

"Zhi'er is the best." Liu Ding smiled as he began removing his clothes.

"You take the medicinal bath yourself." Zhi'er's pretty face suddenly reddened as well. Pretending to be calm, she hurried out of the room and bit her lip. Honestly, doesn't he know men and women should keep their distance? He just takes off his clothes in front of me.

"Hiss!" The moment Liu Ding stepped into the medicinal bath, he sucked in a cold breath. "What a fierce medicine."

He sat down cross-legged. The bruised areas of his body felt as though they were being scorched by fire. Enduring the pain, he began forming hand seals and closed his eyes to meditate.

After every Small Heavenly Cycle, ripples spread across the surface of the medicinal fluid. Liu Ding felt the liquid in the basin gradually break down into streams of qi, which entered through his injured Meridian Courts and flowed into his limbs and bones.

With his eyes closed, Liu Ding could also feel his meridians becoming smoother. He began tempering his soul qi, a satisfied smile appearing on his little face.

The temporarily opened Meridian Courts merged into his Twelve Meridians as the medicinal fluid transformed into qi, nourishing his body and bones and condensing his soul qi.

As time passed, the ripples gradually calmed until the surface became still again. Liu Ding's face also slowly changed from pale to rosy.

Outside the window, the setting sun had turned crimson. The day came to an end amid this strange cultivation.

In the medicinal basin, Liu Ding felt the qi transformed from the medicine vanish completely. His hands formed a closing seal, and he suddenly opened his eyes. Faint traces of medicinal qi still flickered within them.

Slowly exhaling the turbid qi from his Dantian, Liu Ding abruptly stood up. Medicinal fluid flowed down his body, but it had already reverted to clear water.

Feeling the qi within his body once more, Liu Ding muttered, "The blocked Meridian Courts have been cleared. If I cultivate like this, breaking into the Five Soulforging Cauldrons realm will only be a matter of time, won't it?"

But he had only been happy for a moment when he felt the Meridian Courts that had just been opened gradually clogging up again.

"What's going on? Weren't they cleared?" Liu Ding said gloomily.

"You think you can clear your Meridian Courts in one go? How naive." At that moment, General Jiang's faint voice drifted out from the gathering darkness of evening.