Benevolent to the End

The four assassins were soaking wet, probably having sneaked in from under the ship. It was unclear what kind of Cultivation Method they used, but they were not detected by Divine Sense!

They were using a professional four-person combined sword formation, their fish-gut short swords even blackened with ink to obscure their Sword Light. Moreover, their movements and coordination were almost flawless, as if they were perfectly synchronized! They were definitely professional assassins!

They surrounded Liu Qing, attacking from both sides and from both front and back with a flurry of sword thrusts. Even though Liu Qing possessed the cultivation of the Golden Core realm, judging from the way he wielded the pair of snake-tooth daggers, he was also a skilled martial artist.

Suddenly attacked by four assassins, he was quite overwhelmed and had to keep an eye on the seriously injured Ding Suo. In the rush, he didn't have a chance to cast spells or incantations, and for a moment, he was in grave danger!

Fortunately, Li Fan had already arrived. Although this combined sword formation was a death sentence for those trapped inside, from the outside it appeared that all four of them were moving around with their backs exposed, revealing numerous openings.

His mind raced, and he scanned the area below, identifying four human figures. Following his gaze, the Fagui Sword darted down, its blade flashing left and right, circling the group before severing the four assassins' limbs, preparing to capture them alive!

Just then, a loud roar suddenly came from the opposite bank of the river.

"Stop! Damn it! Anyone who dares to hit my girl is dead!"

Then a silver throwing knife, like a meteor breaking the dawn, a comet falling to earth, hurtled straight towards them! The roar was still echoing on the riverbank when the bodies of the four assassins were all smashed into pieces, scattered and cracked, killed in an instant!

Li Fan and Liu Qing's expressions changed drastically.

You've already captured them all, and you're going to silence them?

Then Li Fan saw a bald, bearded man in a black robe, his chest covered in thick chest hair, riding the waves and leaping onto the treasure ship with great fanfare. With a loud bang, he jumped onto the ship, almost smashing a hole in it.

"Qingqing! Are you alright? Brother Tian, I'm here to save you!"

"Hmph! Yuan Tianxiao, look what you've done!" Liu Qing was so angry her nose was crooked. She pointed at the bald man and yelled, "Get the hell out of here!"

"Alright, alright! Qingqing, don't be angry! I'll leave right now! I'll go kill all those bastards who messed with you to get revenge for you!" The bald, burly man turned to leave, then turned back and asked, "Uh... who are these people? Who offended you this time?"

"It wasn't anyone..." Li Fan said grimly, picking up the broken limbs of the man in black from the ground to examine them. "These are Mechanical Puppet from Ink Bamboo Mountain. No wonder my Divine Sense couldn't detect them..."

"What! Mechanical Puppet! Aren't those only disciples of Ink Bamboo Mountain able to use?! By the way, who are you, kid, spouting nonsense like this! Qingqing! Who is this Xiao Bai?!" The bald man shouted angrily, spreading his arms like a mother hen to block Li Fan and Liu Qing.

Li Fan rolled his eyes, too lazy to deal with this troublesome brat, and first took out the ink line and pills to check Ding Suo's injuries.

He was lucky to survive, but he was clearly struck by a cursed sword. The wound was protruding from his stomach, a stab wound to the abdomen, with massive bleeding, probably from eating wontons. It was fortunate that he was at the Golden Core stage, and his Dao body had finally upgraded; otherwise, with such an internal and external wound, it would have been a struggle to save his life.

"Get out of here! Go find that vixen!" Liu Qing was furious. She kicked the big man aside and came over to check on Ding Suo's injuries.

"Qingqing, please let me explain! It wasn't me who went to see her. She knew I was injured and came to visit me. There's really nothing between us. You're the only one in my heart, Qingqing!" The bald man shamelessly stuck to her, even squatting down between Liu Qing and Li Fan, his butt sticking out and almost knocking Li Fan away.

Li Fan, "... Senior Sister, if you keep torturing Brother Ding like this, he'll die."

Liu Qing rubbed her temples, suppressing her anger. The veins on her temples were throbbing. "Qingyue, please excuse this. This scoundrel is my husband..."

"Hey--I don't need your introduction! I'll do it myself!" Yuan Tianxiao waved his hand, turned and glared at Li Fan, "Listen up, kid! I am Yuan Tianxiao Tianmen Peak! Stay away from my girl, cough cough! Stay away from my... well... jewel, or I'll beat you so badly your own mother won't recognize you, you hear me!"

"Yuan Tianxiao!" Liu Qing roared, and in a fit of rage, he grabbed the bald man, hoisted him over his head, and threw him into the river.

Li Fan, "..."

This must be the scorpion-tailed white ape I saw back then. I never imagined Senior Sister Liu Qing's Dao Companion would be such an idiot...

I never imagined that Senior Sister Liu Qing would be so violent. And she got tricked just for casually buying a bowl of wontons; she didn't even check it before serving it, almost killing her teammates. She's definitely a bit dim-witted...

But after a whole night of hard work, Ding Suo was saved. He was such a shy and honest man; he ate a bowl of wontons before being disemboweled, and didn't wake up until noon the next day. He even thought about apologizing for falling asleep while keeping watch...

Fortunately, the Yu Family brothers saw the luminous talisman Liu Qing had sent and rushed back to provide support. It turned out they hadn't gone far; they had only searched the outskirts of East River Prefecture and learned that the River Patrol Guard had indeed acted on a whim, hastily deploying troops to block the river. It seemed that this was not an official action by the Li Country, but rather that the centurion had deliberately delayed three times before notifying the guards.

However, the reason why the other party wanted to block Jiang's fleet's path remains unknown.

Jiang Liuqing had come out to help the Chamber of Commerce, but unexpectedly encountered such a distressing situation. To the point that someone had cursed the wontons she had bought, and she hadn't even noticed it after a whole day of work. These many lapses in composure had truly infuriated Jiang Liuqing. Moreover, she had sent someone to the fishing village to find the wonton seller, but of course, they couldn't find anyone there.

It seems this trip has been anything but smooth sailing.

Li Fan didn't make any progress either. He examined the curl of hair that Kun had spat out; the runes had been burned away after the spell was triggered once, so he couldn't figure out what it was.

Profound Heaven Sword Intent had never seen such a secret technique where a shadow rises up to assassinate; after all, he was usually the one who struck first...

However, it also said that although this kind of harmful curse is not a righteous path, it is really very effective and very common in the Central Land. Not to mention that the Beichen Sword Sect has been wiped out for five hundred years, it itself has not traveled the world for a long time since it became the sect leader, and it really cannot recognize these left-hand techniques that are specifically aimed at Golden Core cultivators.

That's right, it's specifically designed for the Golden Core Stage. After all, once you reach the Nascent Soul Realm, as long as your Nascent Soul Stage and spirit are unimpeded, your physical body can be repaired and replaced at will.

Moreover, those who travel the martial world in their daily lives rarely see those powerful figures who guard a region, but Golden Core cultivators are really, really common.

Whether you are a true or false Golden Core, a genuine Daoist master, or someone who deceives others through dual cultivation, a formal disciple of Three Great Sects, a head of a powerful family, a hastily trained immortal soldier from the Immortal Palace, or a demon who has transformed into human form after achieving the Golden Core stage, those who venture into the martial world seeking opportunities and working for their sects are basically laborers at the Golden Core level. The struggles and battles at this stage are the most intense and frequent.

At the Golden Core stage, one's defensive capabilities are already like copper skin and iron bones, far surpassing the superhuman level of ordinary people. If Li Fan could still think of using crossbows and similar tools to kill Golden Core cultivator, how could the many clever people of the Central Plains not consider countermeasures?

Therefore, the witchcraft, sorcery, prophecy, and curses of the Central Plains flourished along with the rise of immortal arts. They became almost indispensable methods for intrigue, power struggles, mistresses rising to power, and murder. The methods of harming others were indeed endless and impossible to guard against.

As I said before,

The threat of demonic Devil Embryo is obvious, but the most dangerous and unpredictable thing in the Human Dao is the human heart.

"Hey! Little... Brother Li! Little Brother Li! Help me out! Please help me out! Hey! Hey--!"

Li Fan, who was standing guard at the bow of the ship, turned his head expressionlessly and looked up at Yuan Tianxiao.

"What are you trying to do now...?"

"Hey, hehe! Brother Li! Don't be so angry! I didn't know you were introduced by Sister Fuling! Don't worry! Fuling is the sister Qingqing raised since she was little! That's my sister! You're her friend! That's my friend, Brother Tian! Since we're all friends, I'll protect you from now on!"

Li Fan stared expressionlessly at the gorilla tied to the top of the mast, whose voice was incredibly loud.

What? Why is he tied to the mast? Who the hell knows? Didn't they say people's hearts are unpredictable...?

"Hey, Brother Li! I need your help with something, Brother Li!"

Being targeted and yelled at by this thing, Li Fan couldn't concentrate on figuring out what had happened during the previous attack. Frustrated, he flew up onto the mast and said, "Alright, I'll untie you."

"No, no, no! I tied this myself! It was so hard to tie it tight! Don't untie it!" Yuan Tianxiao shouted.

"Huh? You tied it yourself? Why?" Li Fan was speechless.

Yuan Tianxiao laughed heartily, "Kid, you don't even know this! Don't you have a girlfriend? Let me teach you! Whenever your wife gets angry, no matter what, it must be your own fault!"

"Then! I'll tie myself up and apologize to Qingqing! Once she calms down, feels sorry for me, and forgives me, she'll let me down and we'll make up! The higher I tie myself up, the more painful it will be for her to see!"

"Judging from your expression, you haven't regretted it at all, have you?"

"Why would I regret it! This time it was her fault! She left without saying goodbye, taking you all with her and leaving the mountain! She didn't even tell me! Aren't you worried about that?!"

Li Fan glanced at him sideways, "Didn't you go to see the 'vixen'...?"

"Hey! Don't use such nasty language! Her name is Sha Tang, okay? And there's nothing between us! I've been in seclusion for half a year, and she came to check if I was dead! It's just normal interaction between fellow cultivators! Qingqing has completely misunderstood! Besides, what's so great about a grown man having three wives and four concubines..."

"Excuse me, I didn't hear your last sentence because it was too soft. Could you repeat it louder?" Li Fan squinted.

"Hey kid, you're really pushing it... cough cough, alright alright, stop talking nonsense, I just need you to do me a small favor!"

"What? To plead for you and your senior sister?"

Yuan Tianxiao sneered, "Ha! I need your help to plead with her? Well, if you're so free, I don't mind. But I just need you to do me a small favor: reach under my robe, there are two round things..."

Li Fan gasped, "You fucking told me to come up here and help you catch your balls?!"

"Damn it! What do you mean, 'grab my balls'?! I've been yelling for ages, I'm dying of thirst! All you're doing is helping me get the wine jug out of my robe and have a couple of sips! Why are you being so lewd!"

"Then why are you shouting so loudly!"

Talking to this guy is exhausting, and Li Fan is also having a headache. He ripped open the guy's robe and took out two round wine jugs from his belt... Hmm?

Li Fan frowned, not staring at the other man's hairy chest, but at his clothes.

Yuan Tianxiao was wearing a black Daoist outfit made of human skin.

"What are you doing! Why aren't you feeding me the wine yet! Hey! You don't really want to tickle me, do you? My heart belongs to Qingqing!"

Li Fan squinted, unable to tell whether the guy was genuinely stupid or feigning madness. So he uncorked the jar and smelled it. This is...

Yuan Tianxiao laughed, "Hehe, what's wrong, kid? You're craving it too! This wine is a rare find Yuanzao Leishang, specially sourced from the Northern Lands! You recognize it, right? Well, have a couple of sips, or you might not have another chance..."

Li Fan gave him a meaningful look, then poured the drink all over his head and face. "It smells like horse piss. Enjoy it yourself!"

Yuan Tianxiao just laughed loudly, "Hahaha! Good, good! That's great! That's great!"

At this moment, Liu Qing and the Yu Family brothers came onto the deck. "Qingyue, what has this bastard done to you again?"

"No, Fellow Daoist Yuan just wanted some wine." Li Fan glanced at Yuan Tianxiao and jumped down from the mast.

"Ignore him," Liu Qing glared at Yuan Tianxiao and said, "We've discussed it. There are too many ordinary people in the fleet, making it too conspicuous. We're already being watched, and it's too dangerous to go any further, so we've decided to return to the mountain."

Li Fan nodded; it was understandable.

The other side used curses, assassinations, and river sealing tactics, almost losing two Golden Core cultivators. It's possible that someone is secretly trying to use their Ink Bamboo Mountain caravan to stir up trouble and continue the conflict Li Country and Ink Bamboo Mountain.

Jiang Ji can only be described as incredibly unlucky, encountering one misfortune after another. But at least returning to the mountain now means he won't lose everything, wiping out his last remaining fortune.

"I will escort Brother Ding and the caravan back to the mountain. The Yu Family brothers plan to pursue Yuhengzi and Qingtingzi, and also inform the Abbot about our attack. Since the matter wasn't resolved even with the doctor's death, there might still be changes in Changsi City, and the sect might need more manpower to help," Liu Qing said. "I just wanted to ask Qingyue, who do you want to travel with? Are you going to Changsi City, or are you coming back to Ink Bamboo Mountain with me?"

"Senior sister, are you alright all by yourself...?" Li Fan realized what was happening and turned to look at the bald man on the mast.

Jiang Liuqing looked helpless. "Don't worry about me. That guy is a bit crazy, but he's quite capable. He'll naturally stay with me. My wife and I will keep an eye on him and ensure the safety of Brother Ding and Jiang's caravan."

"Qingqing, don't worry! With me here, no one can hurt you!" Yuan Tianxiao seized the opportunity to express his loyalty.

After considering it for a moment, Li Fan nodded, "In that case, I am willing to go to Changsi City. This trip was originally intended to witness the aura of the Central Plains and make friends with fellow disciples, so how can I give up halfway?"

So the group split up again, with Liu Qing and his wife, along with the injured Ding Suo, following the large treasure ship back to Ink Bamboo Mountain.

Li Fan then joined Yu Bianjiao and Yu Tenglong, a pair of muscular muscular men from Moyun Peak, on a flying sword heading north to Changsi City.

The three flew about thirty to fifty miles north when Li Fan struck up a conversation with a smile.

"Fellow Daoists Yu, there's something I must say upfront: I'm not actually that familiar with Qin Jianshi; we've only met a couple of times by chance."

Yu Bianjiao and Yu Tenglong exchanged a glance and said in unison, "We understand."

Li Fan was still smiling. "I wonder if Senior Brother Yu Danian is your nephew or niece?"

The two brothers remained silent, simply riding the clouds northward.

Li Fan, as if trying to make conversation, said, "I once heard that there is a famous wine in the Northern Lands of Kan Country called Yuanzao Leishang. It tastes like horse urine, is very strong, and feels like being struck by lightning. It is especially burning to the heart."

Fortunately, this kind of wine doesn't cause headaches or intoxication, so those who live on the edge, soldiers going into battle, and executioners sharpening their knives, all drink a bowl to bolster their courage when facing death. Their blood boils, their evil fire burns, making them perfect for killing.

Fellow Daoist Yuan has traveled all the way here, feigning madness and foolishness, going to great lengths just to invite me for a drink. Seniors, what do you think he means by this?"

So the Yu Family brothers pressed down on the cloud and stopped.

Li Fan stopped, looking at the hairs on his arms that stood on end and a chill running down his spine, knowing that he had been captured by these two Divine Sense. He still smiled and said, "Senior Brother Yu and I went through the tribulation together, like sworn brothers who would die together. Since you two are Senior Brother Yu's elders, you are also my elders, Qingyue's elders. So please forgive me for asking such a question."

I have no idea where I have offended you two, that you would plot against me? To kill your own kind! Don't you have any conscience?!

Yu Bianjiao and Yu Tenglong turned around and looked at Li Fan from a distance, facing each other in a triangular formation.

Yu Bianjiao remained silent, while Yu Tenglong slowly spoke up, "Li Daoyou has probably misunderstood something. This isn't the place to talk. Why don't we go down and find a teahouse to chat?"

Li Fan smiled and shook his head. "I'm not going down with you. If I go, it won't just be two people, but four people attacking me at once. Whatever you have to say, let's talk it out openly here."

The Yu Family brothers were silent for a moment before asking, "How did you figure that out?"

Li Fan nodded. "Actually, I didn't see anything. I just deliberately chose you two, who can't keep a secret, to try and trick you. I just didn't expect that your ability to hold your temper is even worse than that of a young girl. No wonder Senior Brother Yu was willing to study under Lou Guan to hone his skills."

Yu Bianjiao erupted in anger, sprouting four arms in succession and roaring, "Hmph! Indeed cunning and precocious! See what I told you! This must be a case of self-dissolution and rebirth, otherwise no one in the world could cultivate to the Golden Core stage within half a year! What's the point of testing him! We must eliminate him now! Otherwise, we will never have another chance!"

Li Fan raised an eyebrow. "You said I'm a reincarnated genius... that's not entirely wrong, but for you to be so jealous and harm your fellow disciples over something like this, isn't that going a bit too far? And judging from what you're saying, those wontons really were prepared for me by Liu Qing, right?"

Yu Tenglong raised his hand,

"There's no need to try anymore. My brothers and I have no grudges against you, Li Daoyou, and we are not here for personal revenge. We came here with the other fellow Daoists simply to test your character, and we have no intention of killing you."

The only one to blame is Yuan Tianxiao for catching up at that moment. The truth would have been exposed sooner or later, but my brother and I were unwilling to take the risk.

Therefore, fellow Daoist, for the sake of the greater good, we cannot let you live any longer."

Li Fan looked at them and sighed, "You want me to die for the greater good, yet you won't even call me 'Junior Brother,' and you won't even tell me what that greater good means?"

We are now only nine feet apart, within sight of each other, under a clear blue sky. There is no way to avoid it. If we start fighting, there will be no way to survive. Where can I escape to? Let me die knowing why, at least.

Yu Bianjiao roared, "Blame it on the fact that you were born into the wrong family!"

Yu Tenglong quickly stopped him, "Brother, be careful what you say! Li Daoyou, this matter has far-reaching implications, and there's no turning back now. If we hesitate any longer, we risk defeat. Since things have come to this, we brothers will play the villains. We can only ask that you be reincarnated again."

If you wish to seek revenge in your next life, just come to Moyun Peak! We brothers will gladly oblige!

Li Fan glanced at Yu Tenglong, "Can't we just not fight?"

Yu Tenglong remained expressionless.

Then he looked at Yu Bianjiao and asked, "Is it alright to leave one hand?"

Yu Bianjiao's murderous intent was fully revealed.

Li Fan was at a loss, and could only let out a long sigh, "Damn it, a bunch of lunatics..."

Then he glared and roared, "I said that you are my elders because you are Senior Brother Yu's elders. How dare you attack your elders first!"

"I've gone to such lengths, haven't I done more than enough? If you still want to die, then go ahead and make your move!"

A sense of unease settled over them.

The next moment,

The Sword Light flashed,

Yu Bianjiao and Yu Tenglong's magical treasures had just taken off, and their true forms had not yet manifested.

The two men's heads had already been severed by Golden Dragon White Star.

Li Fan did indeed give his opponent a chance to strike before making his move.

It's just that his sword is faster.