Long Wanted To Do This!

The sword finger attacked, and Xiang Yuan stepped forward, taking a direct hit from Sima Qingyan.

Instantly, true qi entered his body like sharp swords piercing his chest. He couldn't help but grunt. Using the "Formless Body" technique from Myriad Forms Body Tempering, he shifted his acupoints, ensuring the injury wouldn't be crippling, and he wasn't heavily wounded by the single blow.

Xiang Yuan pressed forward. Under Sima Qingyan's ghost-like gaze, his heart was as calm as still water. He channeled the momentum of a meteor and, with his Primordial Spirit full of energy, once again wielded his palm as a blade, unleashing Lone Star Chasing Moon.

This time, however, Sima Qingyan's center was completely exposed. She was too late to retract her hand and block, and could only watch as Xiang Yuan's palm blade struck her right chest.

The force penetrated flesh and blood, reaching her heart and lungs. She barely managed to circulate her true qi to dissipate the force, staggering backward repeatedly. She lowered her head and coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Sima Qingyan was a realm higher, her true qi protecting her body. She still had the strength to fight after taking a blow. In Xiang Yuan's eyes, her health bar was incredibly long.

"As expected of a young lady from a wealthy family, well-fed and well-rested since childhood. Her foundation is exceptionally strong!" Xiang Yuan raised his hand blade and waved it, his gaze dropping, pointedly staring at Sima Qingyan's chest.

Sima Qingyan was furious. She respected him as a man, so why was he spewing obscenities, as if his personality had suddenly changed?

She figured he was doing it intentionally, putting on an act to enrage her.

Seeing this tactic worked, Xiang Yuan raised his hand, sniffed under his nose, and said with a look of intoxication, "Wonderful, it even smells fragrant."

Pfft!

Sima Qingyan immediately spat out another mouthful of blood. Regardless of whether it was intentional or not, she was truly enraged. She drew a half-circle with her palm, switched to a sword finger, and thrust directly at Xiang Yuan's brow.

Xiang Yuan ducked, no longer the cold-blooded, decisive, and ruthless fighter who left no room for retreat. He crouched and dodged past Sima Qingyan's right side.

His mindset changed, and so did his aura and techniques, leaving Sima Qingyan completely bewildered. She felt as if she were fighting a different opponent.

Xiang Yuan dodged Sima Qingyan and swapped positions with her. He taunted, "Miss Sima's footwork is in disarray. I assume it's due to the weakness in your right arm and the knife wound to your right chest. Don't panic, I'll add another cut to your left chest to balance things out, and I guarantee it'll be cured by medicine."

Sima Qingyan was so angry she almost turned into smoke. Just as she was about to step forward, her expression suddenly changed.

Because they had switched positions, Xiang Yuan kicked the fallen longsword into his hand. He flicked it, creating a sword flower, his eyes filled with the joy of regaining something lost.

He had wanted to do this for a long time!

The situation had reversed, and now Xiang Yuan held the advantage with his sharp weapon. Sima Qingyan dared not be careless any longer. She regretted playing it safe, having missed the best opportunity to defeat Xiang Yuan. She also regretted being provoked by a few words, losing her composure and allowing him to pick up her weapon through carelessness.

Seeing that even her schemes were outmatched, she felt indignant. Her chest heaved violently, and a dull ache pulsed on her right side.

"Don't get cocky. You're skilled with blades, but you won't master the longsword. Wielding a weapon without proper skill will only lead to a faster defeat," Sima Qingyan suppressed her pain, verbally belittling Xiang Yuan while admonishing herself.

The outcome was still undecided. She absolutely could not lose her formation again, or she would truly lose.

"That's not necessarily true. Your injured body is weak, your right hand is crippled, your true qi is unbalanced, and your reactions are slow. Not a single move you make is decent. And you think you can win against me!"

Xiang Yuan narrowed his eyes, recalling the image of Sima Qingyan's sword dance ultimate technique. His head throbbed unbearably. He let out a low roar, and the longsword in his palm moved like a swimming fish, drawing a mesmerizing and dreamy sword move.

"How is this possible..."

Recognizing the lineage of her sect, Sima Qingyan stood frozen. In a daze, her proud will to win was trampled into the mud and ground repeatedly.

He wasn't a disciple of the sect, yet he learned seventy to eighty percent of the essence just by looking, surpassing my years of hard training...

She had lost.

When she came to her senses, the familiar longsword was at her throat. A chill swept over her, her skin stung, and a faint bloodline appeared, letting out a wisp of crimson.

"My sword has no eyes. Dare to move, and I'll chop off your dog head!" Xiang Yuan threatened coldly.

Sima Qingyan was indignant, gritting her teeth, "Shameless! This is clearly my sword, which you stole..."

"Mine!"

Xiang Yuan stated with certainty, ignoring Sima Qingyan's displeased expression, and questioned, "Where are Xiao He and Xu Jixian? What method did you use to abduct them? When did you become a disciple of the Yellow Springs Dao? Is your father, Sima Changhui, a Demon from the Yellow Springs Dao? Tell me everything. Dare to lie..."

"It's a dark and windy night, and tonight you and I will have a pleasant time. A beauty like you, I can have eight times a night!" Xiao He interjected.

"That's right, exactly."

Xiang Yuan nodded in agreement, then his expression suddenly changed as he looked in the direction of the voice.

In his sight, Xiao He and Xu Jixian were unharmed, and Wang Wenxu had joined them.

Xiang Yuan's expression was strange. Being a jester didn't affect his normal intelligence, just the angle from which it was applied. He sidestepped behind Sima Qingyan, holding his longsword at her neck, preventing the three from approaching.

"Take one more step, and I'll kill her!"

"Little Yuan Brother, don't panic. Your elder brother can explain."

Xiao He took a step forward and hurriedly said, "You can't be so cruel to a flower and kill Miss Qingyan with a sword. She and I are deeply in love, and she... to tell you the truth, she's already carrying my child."

Sima Qingyan's face turned ashen, and she felt utterly terrible.

"Even better, one body and two lives."

Xiang Yuan tightened his grip on the sword, his gaze sweeping over the three 'strangers'. Seeing Xiao He grinning playfully, Xu Jixian's expression unchanged, and Wang Wenxu avoiding his gaze, he weighed the situation, and a plan began to form.

"Little Yuan Brother, I had no choice but to test you just now. To tell you the truth, I'm a secret agent of the Six Doors, carrying a secret imperial order to investigate a major case. I had to resort to this."

Xiao He put on a pained expression. "Last night, as I said, I know astronomy and geography, and I'm best at observing fate and sensing qi. The first time I saw you, I got the word 'destiny.' You and I truly have destiny."

I'm also a person of destiny?

Xiang Yuan's spirits lifted. Xiao He was his person of destiny, and he was Xiao He's person of destiny. This explanation perfectly matched what Old Daoist Quexin had said.

That's right, he knew it. His master's "person of destiny" couldn't possibly be a slacker jester!

This mastermind's style was more like it.

Xiang Yuan believed him by about thirty percent, but...

He glanced at the three people opposite him. They were all excellent actors, having completely fooled him and plotted against him. This couldn't be let go.

Whether you're the fated one or not, if your heart isn't at peace and your thoughts aren't clear, this isn't how you cultivate immortality.

"Fated one, huh? Kneel down and beg me!"

Thump! x2

The first sound was Xiao He kicking Xu Jixian to his knees. The second sound was Xiao He smoothly kneeling down.

"Little Yuan bro, I truly know I was wrong," Xiao He cried pitifully.

"Little Yuan bro, it wasn't easy for me either. For you, I not only lost my virginity to a female ghost, but I also wet my pants," Xu Jixian cried out indignantly.

What is this? I don't feel any sense of accomplishment. Why aren't you struggling?

Struggle! Show me your shame!

Xiang Yuan felt disgusted. His gaze swept over Wang Wenxu, whose face was flushed red, tears welling up in his eyes. He said mournfully, "Sir, Xiao He, Xu Jixian have wronged me. I wouldn't be sad if it were just them, but why have you wronged me too?"

Wang Wenxu was overcome with shame and couldn't speak coherently.

Because he was honest, Xiang Yuan wouldn't let go. His sorrowful words made those who heard them sad and those who saw him cry: "Sir, do you know that I was an orphan since I was young? When I met you, you became the image of a parent in my heart. I was overjoyed when I was accepted as your disciple. Just now, when you walked out of the formation gate and stood with those two, I lost my parents again. My heart is filled with grief, as if I'm dead!"

Wang Wenxu trembled all over, turned his body sideways, and raised his sleeve to cover his face, too ashamed to face Xiang Yuan after being spoken to like that.

"Little Yuan bro is absolutely right. Brother Xu and I are true villains, and you, our esteemed teacher, are a hypocrite. He is the most hateful among us!" Xiao He gritted his teeth, his face showing deep empathy.

Xu Jixian nodded repeatedly. "Sir's actions were truly hurtful. I can't even watch."

"You two shut up. Open the formation gate and let me out," Xiang Yuan said coldly.

"Little Yuan bro, let's chat a bit more. I'm being sincere. As long as you're willing to forgive me, just say the word, and I'll satisfy all your requests."

"Open the door!"

"It's that simple?"

"From now on, we go our separate ways."

"..."

No one spoke in the field. After a moment, Wang Wenxu waved his hand and dismantled the formation, opening the gate of life to let Xiang Yuan leave.

Xiang Yuan, holding his hostage, slowly retreated, and soon, his figure disappeared into the night.

Xiao He didn't pursue. He stood up, brushed the dust off his knees, and sighed, "It's time to test true feelings again... That's right, since I've shown my true colors, it's all my own doing."

Xu Jixian nodded. Wang Wenxu picked up the 'People Have Intentions' from the ground, looking lost and muttering, clearly extremely ashamed.

"Esteemed teacher, Little Yuan bro was just speaking casually. You're an old hand, how could you fall for his tricks?"

"I have cultivated myself my whole life, yet I have failed the righteous path. I am ashamed before the sages and feel deeply remorseful."

That's right. What he wanted was your remorse. Be careful in the future, don't let him drain you dry.

Xiao He raised an eyebrow, feeling that he had truly recognized Xiang Yuan tonight. Like him, he was a promising candidate with no shame, destined for great things in the Imperial City Guard.

A figure stumbled over, it was Sima Qingyan. She looked at Xiao He with a dark expression. "I've done what you asked. Can I have the item now?"

"That won't do. I must have you, Sima Qingyan, like a bee desires honey, like a fish desires water. How can I let you go so easily?"

Xiao He smirked. "You didn't handle this matter well. My request was for you to defeat Little Yuan bro. Not only did you lose, but you were also taken hostage by him. Do one more thing for me in the future, the last thing, and I promise to give you the item. I keep my word."

You said the same thing last time!

Sima Qingyan snorted coldly and left, supporting her injured arm.

"Qingyan, it's late at night, and evil spirits roam. Why don't we travel together?"

Xiao He happily followed. "Recently, disciples of the Yellow Springs Dao have been attacking. If we encounter you, my mysterious senior sister, it's hard to guarantee they won't have ideas. Brother Xu and I will be your escorts..."