Human Lives

Zhang Wuji's mother said that the more beautiful a woman is, the more she lies.

Li Fan only appreciates beauty, he isn't infatuated. How could he not see through this? Just now, this Huo Shan Molian or Huo Hongmian used an invisibility talisman to hide near him and the shopkeeper, throwing knives. She clearly intended to lure the Sha corpse away with the two of them, while she seized the opportunity to escape through the secret passage.

However, despite all her calculations, she was also startled by the scene of Li Fan unleashing eight sword dragons. She thought Li Fan was pretending to be weak to lure out a stronger opponent. He was instantly exposed, dispelled her invisibility, and admitted defeat. She returned the Kun that she had almost secretly tied up and tried to use a plea for apprenticeship as a pretext to save her life.

Li Fan snorted coldly, looking at the woman kneeling on the ground, unsure if she had truly surrendered or was still plotting to ambush him. He glanced back at the shopkeeper, who had been slammed into the wall and was now foaming at the mouth with his eyes rolling back. Then he turned his head to look outside the Dragon Gate Inn, beyond the wall.

The imperial guards sealing the gate also stirred, startled by the sword energy that had blown off the inn's roof, causing horses to neigh and creating chaos. But from afar, the bald Ji Chang's loud voice could be heard. It wouldn't take long to reorganize.

So Li Fan made a decisive move. He stuffed the Kun into his embrace, turned, and ran. He passed Xuan Niang, who was still kneeling on the ground in a daze, her blood-stained clothes torn open by the sword wind, revealing most of her fair shoulders and arms. He rushed towards the stairwell.

He flicked his finger, shooting out a weak Qi vortex of Qiankun Flying Dragon Sword towards the ground. It blasted away the tables, chairs, and stairs blocking his path, revealing the entrance to the basement's secret door and passage. Without hesitation, he leaped into the secret passage to escape.

He had no choice but to flee. Li Fan still had too little experience in fighting and contending with others; he couldn't control the intensity. He had been too nervous and unleashed his full power, expending all the True Qi in his Qi Sea!

If he were in a place like Yuanze, where spiritual energy was dense, he could replenish his Qi instantly with a breath. It wouldn't matter if he used it all up. But in this Human Dao, there wasn't much spiritual energy to replenish!

To put it bluntly, Li Fan was out of mana now. How could he fight a eunuch who might know the "Chrysanthemum Manual," eight guards with sabers, and twenty to thirty heavily armored mountain patrol guards with halberds and crossbows?

No wonder Daotong Xuanbao and the others had to practice the Overlord Body technique. At least Li Fan wouldn't be as helpless as he was now. Besides, cultivators need to train when their True Qi is abundant. If they always exhaust their True Qi fighting, how can they increase their cultivation?

In short, that dead eunuch who caused so many deaths, Li Fan remembered him. They would fight another day! Sooner or later, he would settle this blood debt at the Dragon Gate Inn! Today, he would use the stratagem of "golden cicada shedding its shell" and escape!

Profound Heaven Sword Intent: "The host indeed needs more experience. Fighting back and forth with a bunch of ants, and then claiming I trained you outside? Don't say I trained you."

Oh, come on! Sword Intent, are you back to your old self? Such a sharp tongue! Who knew the people in this place were so "simple and honest"! They just start chopping people! The amount of blood shed just now was shocking!

Profound Heaven Sword Intent: "When walking the Jianghu, it's always 'I cut you, you cut me.' What's so shocking about that? Strike first, strike last, suffer. Next time you encounter such a situation, host, pick out ten or eight of the strongest people and cut them down first. That will deter everyone, and no one will dare disturb your drinking."

Li Fan couldn't help but imagine a scene where a mad sword immortal suddenly burst into a tavern, shouting, "Don't disturb my quiet drinking!" while slaughtering everyone.

...Fine, when it comes to lunacy, these ants really can't compare to you sword immortals...

Profound Heaven Sword Intent: "Agreed. Of course."

Do you think I'm praising you!

Then, the Kun in his arms coughed.

"Kun, you silly thing, what did you eat! Didn't you cry out when you were caught?"

Profound Heaven Sword Intent: "How does a fish cry?"

Stop talking nonsense!

Li Fan fled, pulling the Kun by its tail and shaking it upside down. He saw the Kun cough out some red powder.

What is this? Chili powder?

"Daoist priest, your fish ate all my rouge and powder," Huo Hongmian said softly. She was also using Qinggong, following him through the secret passage.

"So what? Are you going to stew it?" Li Fan actually wanted to beat her up, but he estimated that he couldn't win without Qi, so he just rolled his eyes.

"How dare I," Huo Hongmian blinked her long eyelashes, giving Li Fan a seductive look. "I just found this spirit fish so cute, so charming. I got greedy for a moment. I know I was wrong. Daoist priest, please spare me this once, won't you?"

Heh! Does she really think she can seduce him like this? Too naive! How many beautiful women has he seen? Although they were all on TV... Cough... But he wasn't interested in young girls! Come back and apologize sincerely when you're a 36D!

"Hmph!" Li Fan ignored her and ran ahead.

Huo Hongmian probably didn't expect her stunning beauty and soft apology to be ineffective. She was stunned for a moment, then gritted her teeth and followed him angrily.

The secret passage wasn't long, stretching from under the Dragon Gate Inn to a dry well a few alleys away. Li Fan channeled his True Qi to climb to the well opening. He peeked out, saw no one, and climbed out. He planned to head to the market to meet the other two boys.

Profound Heaven Sword Intent: "Host, your Qi should be almost recovered. Don't rush off. When the girl climbs up later, catch her off guard and stab her."

Huh? This... this isn't very good...

Profound Heaven Sword Intent: "Host, don't be too soft-hearted. That girl was following you all the way, her hand on her dagger, staring at your back. What is given must be returned. Listen to me. When she pops her head out, give her a sword strike."

Li Fan frowned. Perhaps this was how people interacted in this world. Even after the incident at the inn, it was too much to expect him to immediately abandon his values from a peaceful era and adapt to a kill-or-be-killed rhythm.

If that life-taking dead eunuch appeared before Li Fan, he might have unhesitatingly unleashed a sword storm. But for others, like the shopkeeper who had used Li Fan as a shield, or this ill-intentioned Huo Shan Molian, Li Fan felt that a good beating to vent his anger would suffice. Directly killing them seemed a bit excessive.

"Heh, little Daoist priest, I've already apologized. You're not going to ambush me at the well opening, are you?"

Unexpectedly, Huo Hongmian was clever and called out Sword Intent's thoughts from the bottom of the well.

Profound Heaven Sword Intent: "Does the host think she doesn't deserve to die just because she followed you without ambushing you from behind? Heh, she was using you as a scout, guarding against the first person to emerge from the well and be ambushed! This is the lack of Jianghu experience you have. Did you really think she had good intentions!"

This... Sword Intent, you think too... No, perhaps the hearts of people in this Human Dao are as treacherous as Profound Heaven Sword Intent says...

"Ahhh!"

Suddenly, Huo Hongmian's scream and sounds of fighting came from the bottom of the well, startling the hesitant Li Fan. He was about to peek.

Profound Heaven Sword Intent: "Don't move! If that girl is deliberately making noise, waiting for you to peek so she can attack, you'll be dead!"

Hiss... Is it that sinister! But the sounds of fighting from below don't sound fake...

Profound Heaven Sword Intent: "If the host really doesn't want to kill, then leave now. This girl is young but her mind is deep. Don't bother with her."

"Help!" Huo Hongmian's scream came from the well again.

Li Fan gritted his teeth and pushed the Kun in his hand towards the well opening. "Look! What's going on?"

The Kun stared and looked.

Kun: "Two women are fighting."

"Two women? Xuan Niang is chasing after me too?"

Li Fan peeked and saw that it was true. Huo Hongmian had probably been focused on Li Fan the entire way, on guard. As a result, during the stalemate at the bottom of the well, she was attacked by Xuan Niang, who was like the mantis stalking the cicada, with the oriole behind. Huo Hongmian was knocked down, her golden saber falling on her, pinning her at the bottom of the dry well. Xuan Niang was choking her, half her face pressed into the dirt, kicking her legs desperately.

And Xuan Niang was also covered in blood and sweat, not caring that her clothes were torn by the sword wind, almost naked, with most of her body exposed, pressing down on Huo Hongmian. She let the girl scratch and claw at her body, leaving bloody marks. She probably wanted to risk her life to avenge Fourth Young Master, who died at the hands of Huo Hongmian's two subordinates, right?

Li Fan watched from the well opening, clicking his tongue. Witnessing a murder scene firsthand was truly terrifying.

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent states that the host can take this opportunity to stab them and take their heads. If you're really not interested in killing, then leave. Their life or death has nothing to do with you.'

Nothing to do with me... No, that's not right.

Li Fan suddenly frowned.

With the Profound Heaven Sword Intent's level of attainment, it should have detected Xuan Niang following them secretly from behind long ago, right? Just now, seeing that Li Fan couldn't be persuaded to attack Huo Hongmian, it advised him to stand by and watch, letting Xuan Niang succeed in her surprise attack, didn't it?

But why did it want that mixed-race girl dead?

There was no response from the sword intent. Meanwhile, Huo Hongmian at the bottom of the well was already crying rivers of tears, her eyes rolling back, her tongue sticking out. She looked like she was about to be choked to death!

Li Fan was getting a little angry. Sword intent, what are your plans! Don't hide anything! Speak quickly! It feels incredibly guilty to watch someone get choked to death! And the key is that the other party didn't really act after admitting defeat, did she? Sword intent, once you open the door to killing people's hearts, there are no bottom lines!

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent states, well, that's true... That girl looks a bit like the reincarnation of God Sect's Saintess. Host, wait a moment. If she is real, she will be protected by divine light when pushed to the brink of death, and her true soul will awaken.'

What if she's fake!

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent states, if she's fake, then she'll really die.'

Damn it! I knew it!

"Damn it! Killing children, my conscience can't accept it! Let her go!" Li Fan impulsively jumped into the well, kicking Xuan Niang in the waist, knocking the exhausted woman away. At the same time, he conjured a Dust Return Sword Qi in his hand, pointing it directly at Huo Hongmian, whose face was purplish-blue and who was gasping for breath while clutching her neck, preventing her from retaliating.

"Stop both of you! Haven't enough people died today! I didn't just come from an execution ground! I really can't stand watching this anymore! Stop fighting!

Whatever grudges you have, I'll let it slide for today. I don't care if you settle your scores later! But today ends here! No more killing in front of me!"

Li Fan was genuinely furious. Call him merciful, call him hypocritical, he was just sick of watching bloody murder scenes! He'd only been here a few days, how could his values change so quickly! He was the strongest here now, so things had to be done his way! Everyone stop!

Fortunately, neither woman resisted further, as they were both exhausted.

Xuan Niang lay on her back, her chest heaving as she breathed.

Huo Hongmian, coughing, wiped her snot and tears, shrinking in a corner and trembling.

But it was unclear if they had truly stopped fighting or were just acting.

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent states...'

"States your head!" Li Fan cursed. "You're both so beautiful, why don't you find a man, get married, and do something happy! All this killing! What the hell are you killing for!"

He took out some pills for replenishing qi and healing wounds that Fuling had prepared from his jade pendant and threw them all to Xuan Niang.

Then he grabbed Huo Hongmian, ignoring her startled, cat-like instinctive resistance and scratching. He half-dragged, half-hugged the girl, stomped on the well wall, and leaped out of the dry well with Huo Hongmian. He then dragged her for two more streets, so much so that Li Fan himself couldn't remember where the dry well was, before finally letting go.

"You go too. Remember you're not always this lucky, encountering someone as soft-hearted as me. You've picked up a life! Go! Go wherever you need to go!"

Huo Hongmian looked at Li Fan with red eyes, still touching the handprints on her neck. She sniffled, put on her veil, turned, and disappeared into the crowd.

"Hoo... Damn it, what a mess..." In this broken world, Li Fan was also angered to the point of his head swelling.

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent states, I didn't expect it, host, you have quite a bit of chivalrous spirit... It reminds me of an old friend...'

Hmph, what, are you insulting me? And it's strange that you, a murderer , actually have friends... Wait, wait a minute! Don't change the subject! Huo Hongmian's situation, if she really is God Sect's Saintess, what will happen if she awakens?

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent states, what else can happen if you find God Sect's Saintess, of course, you'll help her reincarnate immediately. This time, host, you saved her life and forged a karmic connection. If that girl isn't the Saintess, it's fine. But if she ever awakens her past life's wisdom and starts cultivating herself, hehe, then it will be troublesome.'

Li Fan frowned. How could it be death either way? Don't leave things half-said, so what! What if she awakens and cultivates? Can she be faster than me?

'Profound Heaven Sword Intent states, it's not about comparing like that. God Sect's cultivation methods are different, specializing in Primordial Spirit. Therefore, even after reincarnation, most of their lifelong cultivation from their past life can be preserved. Over the years, God Sect's Saintess has likely already cultivated to the Immortal Ascension realm. Once she awakens, she could possibly become the fourth cultivator to achieve Dao Integration in this realm, after the Immortal Venerable Xuan Girl God Lord.

The last time God Sect's God Lord achieved Dao Integration, their divine might spread out, instantly killing half the population of God Sect. This interrupted their counter-attack on the twelve Central Plains kingdoms, leading to the current tripartite division.

So by the time my sect was in charge, God Sect didn't dare to keep their Saintess candidates at home. They were sent to the Central Plains to be raised freely, serving as spies to gather intelligence on the Central Plains while cultivating themselves. This way, if a Saintess were to achieve Dao Integration, it wouldn't harm God Sect's own foundation.

As for the Immortal Palace's Xuanmen side, the sect leaders and palace masters of various sects and factions have long had a tacit understanding to hunt down those suspected of being reincarnated Saintess. They would rather kill the wrong person than let them go. Of course, similar dirty tricks are not only used by God Sect; other sects have plenty more.

Host, do you think only martial artists kill innocents? The battles in the cultivation world are even more dangerous and ruthless. Ultimately, there's only one thing to say: the human heart is unfathomable...

However, if the host wants to be a free-spirited, chivalrous sword hero, there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, it suits my taste. But is saving the life of a Saintess more important, or is preserving the lives of the many mortals in the Human Dao a priority? Have you truly thought it through?

If the host has changed your mind, that girl hasn't gone far yet.'

Li Fan fell silent for a moment after listening. Strike first, suffer later...

Kun perched on Li Fan's head and patted his forehead.

'Kun states there's stinky tofu being sold over there.'

Sigh... I'm here agonizing over this moral dilemma, like the trolley problem, and you're thinking about food? But this stinky tofu smells pretty authentic...

So Li Fan made up his mind.

"Screw it! Who cares about Saintess! Besides, killing her means reincarnation. You haven't solved the fundamental problem after so many reincarnations! If you have to break the precepts, wait until I kill that eunuch!

In short, I've had enough fighting for today, I'm done, time for tea, that's it for today! Live for the moment! We'll talk about tomorrow's problems tomorrow! I said so!

Boss, ten skewers of stinky tofu!"

Seeing that Li Fan had made his decision, Profound Heaven Sword Intent stopped persuading him, retracted its sharpness, and released its divine sense, allowing Huo Hongmian to leave.