Xiao Yi Xian's Decision

What did Mu Li's death have to do with her?

It wasn't like she had told him to go over. He had insisted on checking out what had happened.

Shameless. Absolutely shameless!

Xiao Yi Xian looked at Mu She. "Then what do you want?"

Mu She leered. "Of course, you marry me and bear me a few children."

"Keep dreaming!" Xiao Yi Xian trembled with rage, her face pale as paper, yet she bit down hard on her lip and refused to retreat even half a step.

The burly men behind Mu She broke into lewd laughter, and Scarface stepped forward.

Scarface reached for Xiao Yi Xian's arm. "It's your fortune that the captain has taken a liking to you. Don't refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!"

Screech—

The Qingping Sword tore through the air with a piercing shriek, so fast that it left behind only a cold streak of silver light.

Just as Scarface's hand was about to touch Xiao Yi Xian's sleeve, his entire arm was severed at the shoulder. Blood gushed out, splattering across the opposite wall like an ugly red plum blossom bursting into bloom.

"Aah—!!"

His scream shook dust from the roof. Scarface clutched his severed arm and rolled across the ground, spraying Mu She with droplets of blood.

Xiao Peng stood with his sword in hand, blood dripping from its tip. His gaze was colder than the chill moon beyond the window. "Get lost?"

Mu She flew into a rage at the sight and drew the saber at his waist.

Mu She's hand trembled around the hilt, though his face was twisted with ferocity. "You dare hurt my men? Today, I'll show you what the Wolf Head Mercenary Group is capable of!"

With a roar, he swung his saber down, the blade whistling through the air.

Xiao Peng did not even glance at the incoming saber. The Qingping Sword shot forth like a spirit serpent leaving its den, striking after yet arriving first.

Clang—

The crisp clash of metal rang out painfully against everyone's eardrums. Mu She's saber shattered inch by inch like rotten wood, fragments scattering everywhere.

At the same time, the entire arm holding the saber fell away. Blood sprayed out like a fountain, staining the bluestone beneath his feet red.

"Aah—!!"

Mu She's scream was even more shrill than Scarface's. Clutching his empty shoulder, he staggered backward, knocking over the herb rack in the corner of the courtyard. Medicinal herbs scattered across the ground, mixed with blood and grime.

"Get him! Avenge the boss!"

One burly man shouted first, then charged at Xiao Peng.

Before his roar had even faded, an invisible pressure suddenly surged from Xiao Peng's body. Like dark clouds crashing down without warning, it instantly engulfed the entire small courtyard.

The air seemed frozen. The burly men who had been about to rush forward felt as though invisible boulders were crushing them. Their raised feet halted midair, and the savagery on their faces was instantly replaced by terror.

Weapons clattered from some men's hands. Others had their legs buckle and fell directly to their knees. Some were even chattering their teeth, unable to muster the strength to look up at Xiao Peng.

"Th-this is..." Mu She collapsed onto the ground, using his remaining arm to brace himself as he tried to retreat.

A strange rasping sound escaped his throat, and his eyes were filled with disbelief.

Such pressure—an aura that only a Dou Wang could possess. How could this boy possibly...

Xiao Peng did not even spare them another glance. He simply walked to Xiao Yi Xian's side. "Are you afraid?"

Xiao Yi Xian shook her head and looked straight at the burly men struggling beneath the pressure. Her voice was soft, yet exceptionally resolute. "No."

She had seen the greed in Mu She's eyes, heard their lewd laughter clearly, and understood what she would have faced if Xiao Peng had not acted just now.

This suffocating pressure was not violence. It was the most direct form of protection.

The pressure around Xiao Peng surged like a tidal wave, invisible currents of force raging through the small courtyard.

The burly men pinned so thoroughly that they could not move were like ice and snow cast into a furnace, their bodies splitting apart inch by inch beneath the extreme pressure.

Clusters of blinding blood mist exploded where they stood, carrying a scorching stench as they splashed across broken walls and medicinal herbs.

Mu She watched helplessly as his companions turned into blood mist. The pupil in his remaining eye abruptly constricted, as if the horrifying sight were about to tear it apart.

He wanted to scream, to beg for mercy, but only rasping sounds like a broken bellows came from his throat. His remaining arm clawed deep bloody marks into the ground, yet he could not move even an inch.

The pressure followed him like a shadow, burrowing into his body through his seven orifices.

Mu She felt as though invisible giant hands were kneading and crushing his internal organs. His bones let out brittle cracks under the unbearable strain.

His final awareness rested on Xiao Peng's icy eyes. There was no hatred in them, no anger, not even the slightest ripple, as though he were merely brushing away an irritating speck of dust.

Pop—

Mu She's body suddenly swelled, then burst apart like a punctured blood sac. Crimson mist mingled with the blood mist already in the air, dyeing the entire stretch of bluestone red.

Xiao Yi Xian stood beside Xiao Peng, a tiny bead of splattered blood clinging to her eyelashes, yet she never closed her eyes.

She watched those evildoers vanish into nothingness and watched the blood mist in the air gradually disperse. There was no fear in her heart, only the calmness of dust settling at last.

Xiao Peng withdrew his pressure, and deathly silence returned to the small courtyard. Only the wind moaned as it passed through the shattered window lattice.

He turned to Xiao Yi Xian and saw that though her face was pale, her eyes were astonishingly bright.

Xiao Peng raised his hand and sheathed the Qingping Sword. With a casual wave, the courtyard returned to normal.

Xiao Yi Xian came back to her senses and looked at Xiao Peng. "Thank you, Xiao Peng. If it weren't for you, I would have died long ago. After what happened today, I've realized many things. I want to follow you. I want to become stronger."

"Becoming stronger isn't something you can just say." Xiao Peng's voice was calm, yet carried unquestionable seriousness. "You'll have to endure a great deal of hardship, sweat a great deal, and you may even get hurt."

Xiao Yi Xian nodded hard, her fingertips clenched so tightly they turned white. "I'm not afraid. I always used to think about hiding, but in the end, what was coming would still come. Only today did I understand that only when you have a sword in your own hand do you no longer have to fear others stealing your herb basket."

As she spoke, she lowered her head to look at the herbs scattered over the ground, their leaves soaked in blood. "I want to learn from you—not to beg for your protection, but to learn how to protect the things I want to protect."

Seeing how much Xiao Yi Xian had changed, Xiao Peng was somewhat surprised. He had not expected such a great change in her.

After thinking for a moment, Xiao Peng said to Xiao Yi Xian, "I can't take you with me. I have other things to do..."

Upon learning that Xiao Peng was unwilling to take her along, Xiao Yi Xian's face filled with disappointment.

Seeing her disappointed expression, Xiao Peng said, "But I can provide you with some things. As for the rest, you can only rely on yourself."

Xiao Yi Xian had not expected that, but she still chose to agree.

She secretly vowed that she would repay Xiao Peng in the future.

He had saved her twice. She would have no problem giving herself to Xiao Peng in return.

She just did not know whether Xiao Peng would be willing.

Xiao Peng took out a Storage Ring and placed some things he did not need inside. These things would be extremely useful to Xiao Yi Xian.

Xiao Peng handed the Storage Ring over, his fingertips inadvertently brushing against her hand. Xiao Yi Xian shrank back as if burned, but quickly accepted it all the same, clutching it tightly in her palm.