What Was on the Second Floor?

Li Xingluo looked at Xiao Yi Xian, who was worried about him, tears welling in her eyes, and smiled faintly.

"I'm fine!"

Li Xingluo shifted his gaze from Xiao Yi Xian to Mu She, who was still standing and hadn't fallen. He couldn't tell whether he was dead or alive.

Standing beside Li Xingluo, Xiao Yi Xian watched Mu She as well. She saw that the Dou Qi shroud around him had dissipated, which meant his defenses had at least been broken through.

The iron rod slipped from Mu She's hand and hit the ground with a clang. Then, with difficulty, he took a step toward Li Xingluo and Xiao Yi Xian.

He raised a hand and pointed at Li Xingluo, his voice faint. "You win!"

After those words, Mu She crashed to the ground. Li Xingluo could no longer hold on either; his body swayed, and he nearly fell. Fortunately, Xiao Yi Xian was quick to catch him.

Looking at Mu She, who had breathed his last, Li Xingluo thought that taking on a Two-Star Dou Shi as an Eight-Star Dou Zhe had been too much of a stretch. Fortunately, seeing that Xiao Yi Xian was unharmed put his mind somewhat at ease.

Just then, a streak of cold light shot toward Li Xingluo from outside the damaged camp gate.

With his back turned and his injuries, Li Xingluo failed to notice it. But Xiao Yi Xian caught it out of the corner of her eye. It was too fast.

Xiao Yi Xian had no time to think. She shoved Li Xingluo aside, and the cold light struck. She flew forward and crashed onto the steps, a vivid streak of blood on her left shoulder revealing what had just happened.

Worry flooded Li Xingluo's face. He got up and rushed to Xiao Yi Xian to check her injuries.

"Xiao Yi Xian..."

Blood seeped from Xiao Yi Xian's left shoulder, and her face had grown somewhat pale from the loss of blood.

Seeing the worry in Li Xingluo's eyes, Xiao Yi Xian felt a warmth in her heart despite her injury.

Although it hurt badly, Xiao Yi Xian still smiled and gently shook her head.

"Well, well, what a pair of star-crossed lovers. Tsk, tsk, tsk. This little beauty really is quite a looker."

A man appeared from the camp gate, leering. He carried a weapon much like Mu She's.

A murderous glint flashed in Li Xingluo's eyes. He slowly rose to his feet, tightening his grip on his sword.

Seeing the murderous look on Li Xingluo's face, the newcomer was delighted and burst into loud laughter.

"Kid, you're already completely spent. You still think you can fight me?"

"Is that so? If I'm not mistaken, you're Gan Mu, the Wolf Head Mercenary Group's second-in-command, right?"

"Oh? You actually know who I am. Not bad, not bad."

Gan Mu didn't take Li Xingluo seriously at all. He had lain in wait for so long, and at last he'd caught his chance. Li Xingluo had risen from an obscure mercenary to where he was now, so he was bound to have something valuable on him.

"Kid, don't look at me like that. Don't worry, I won't make it painful for you. As for the little beauty beside you, I'll enjoy her properly on your behalf."

Li Xingluo knew full well that Gan Mu was the most lecherous man in the Wolf Head Mercenary Group. How many people in Green Mountain Town had fallen victim to him?

The bastard was obviously trying to take advantage of the situation. But Gan Mu had misjudged things—and made a grave mistake.

A bone-chilling cold emanated from Li Xingluo, and the killing intent in his eyes grew even more intense.

"You deserve to die!"

"Hahaha!"

Gan Mu threw his head back and laughed, not taking Li Xingluo seriously at all.

A shadow flashed by. Before Gan Mu could react, he felt a chill at his neck. His weapon fell to the ground, and he clutched at his throat with both hands.

He tried to stop the air in his throat from escaping, but no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn't draw in a breath.

Disbelief spread across his face. He slowly turned to look at Li Xingluo, who had appeared behind him, his eyes filled with terror.

He managed to force out a few broken words. "How... could this be?!"

A spray of blood burst from Gan Mu's mouth, and he collapsed, unwilling to accept his fate.

Having spent the last of his Dou Qi, Li Xingluo could no longer stay on his feet. He dropped to one knee.

Seeing this, Xiao Yi Xian ignored her own injury and ran to help him up. Li Xingluo turned to her and smiled, shaking his head to show that he was fine.

"Xiao Lan!"

Xiao Yi Xian called out, and Xiao Lan came swiftly from the night. The two climbed onto Xiao Lan's back, and she beat her wings and vanished into the darkness.

When Li Xingluo woke again, he found himself lying on a simple bamboo bed.

He sat up and looked around the room. It was clean and tidy, with little in it. But then he remembered Xiao Yi Xian was injured, and quickly hurried outside.

"You're awake?"

A bandage to stop the bleeding was still wrapped around Xiao Yi Xian's left shoulder. When she saw Li Xingluo come out, she smiled.

Noticing Li Xingluo staring at her left shoulder, Xiao Yi Xian knew he was worried about her and reassured him, "I'm fine. It doesn't hurt anymore."

Xiao Yi Xian even tried to raise her arm to show him she was all right, but the movement tugged at her wound. She winced, letting out a "Hiss..."

"And you say you're fine."

Looking at this headstrong girl, Li Xingluo felt a surge of admiration.

"Really, I'm fine. I've already put medicine on it. Oh, you must be hungry. I'll get you something to eat."

Xiao Yi Xian got up to fetch him some food, but Li Xingluo stopped her.

"Where is it? I can get it. You should rest and recover. You got that wound because of me."

Xiao Yi Xian smiled and pointed to the thatched hut beside them. Watching Li Xingluo's retreating figure, she felt inexplicably at ease.

Ever since her adoptive parents had left, no one had ever looked at her kindly, let alone shown her any care.

But this person truly cared about her. Still, the thought of her adoptive parents turned Xiao Yi Xian's cheerful heart a little melancholy.

For several days, Li Xingluo did nothing but cultivate and take care of Xiao Yi Xian.

Perhaps it was because of his intense battle, but in just ten days, Li Xingluo broke through to Dou Shi.

Night fell. While Li Xingluo was cultivating, a red light pulled him into the space.

It really was only after reaching a major cultivation realm that he could enter again. Having been there once already, Li Xingluo felt at ease in the space.

The barrier leading to the second floor vanished on its own. Excited and eager to explore the unknown, Li Xingluo carefully stepped onto the stairs leading up to the second floor.

When he reached the second floor, Li Xingluo found that it wasn't much different from the first. Only after searching around did he find a hidden compartment.

Li Xingluo tugged on the ring, but nothing happened. What was going on? Hadn't the first one opened with just a gentle pull?

Completely baffled, Li Xingluo lowered his head and pondered. Did he need something to trigger it?

There wasn't even a hint. At a loss, Li Xingluo decided to try again, but the hidden compartment still wouldn't budge.

That was strange. Li Xingluo stroked his chin, thinking as he examined the compartment.

Suddenly, his eyes lit up. This hidden compartment was slightly different from the one on the first floor: there was a faint palm print on it. A pillar blocked some of the light, so Li Xingluo hadn't noticed it at first.

Could that be the key to opening the compartment? Li Xingluo looked at the palm print, then at his own hand.

He decided to give it a try. What if it worked?

Li Xingluo pressed his palm against the print on the compartment, but nothing happened. He was at a loss as to what to do when—

Dou Qi flowed from his palm into the imprint, and the hidden compartment showed the faintest sign of moving.

As if he'd found the combination to a lock, Li Xingluo was thrilled. He directed more Dou Qi into it, and the compartment slowly opened as the energy flowed in.