Gathering and Scattering Water and Fire

At a thought from Liu Yunshen, Li Zhong's copy of the Divine Bear Manual flipped open!

"So Qi Refinement is divided into the Initial Realm, Second Realm, and Third Realm, with each realm further divided into nine stages! Could the Yellow Sprout I just saw, along with the young master's internal-vision illusion, have been the First Realm?"

Liu Yunshen's eyes turned into Double Pupils once more, allowing him to see clearly in the darkness. He finished the hundred-page manual in an instant.

"There's nothing remarkable about this manual!"

After pondering in confusion for a while, Liu Yunshen opened Li Yi's copy of the Swift Leopard Codex again.

"Hmm! This one is an improvement over the previous one. After the first, second, and third realms of Qi Refinement, a few sects' secret codices also contain a Fourth Realm—the true 'Qi Refining Realm.' One gradually breaks free of the acquired breath of water and grain, the body becomes more efficient at absorbing the spiritual qi of heaven and earth, and once the inner qi is harmonized and the cauldron-furnace is forged, one can ascend to become an Earth Immortal, extending one's lifespan to three hundred years!"

"Trying to grasp too much only brings ruin. I'm still struggling in the First Realm, so I shouldn't think that far ahead!"

Liu Yunshen sighed and was about to continue cultivating when the surging inner qi suddenly became like a rising tide, rushing endlessly through his meridians. He was already a young man, and with his severe injuries, his inner power spiraled out of control as lust swelled violently within him. His face flushed crimson as he struggled without end!

Tan Cuicui was in the room next door. Liu Yunshen's Double Pupils seemed capable of seeing through walls! The girl's long hair was black as night and her neck slender; in Liu Yunshen's eyes at that moment, she was twice as lovely and pitiable!

The Six Desires of the Heart Demon lurking within Chang Yi's Sword Qi swept up Liu Yunshen's turbulent inner qi and gave rise to endless illusions!

"Ha!" Liu Yunshen let out a low beastly roar, buried his head and neck beneath the blanket, and drove his hands into his own arms like a wild beast's claws, leaving them covered in blood! His iron-like will had somehow endured the first assault!

"I've made it through!" Liu Yunshen was drenched in cold sweat and utterly spent, yet the qi in his meridians was boundless. A second wave was already gathering force.

"This is bad!!!"

"Blacksmith Tan's family has shown me kindness! How could I commit such a beastly act! Even if it means dying, so be it!!!!" Liu Yunshen howled in agony, clasping both hands around his own throat. At the very brink of life and death, he cut off his breath and fainted!

"Senior Brother Liu!"

Junior Sister!

Beneath the peach blossom tree, Liu Yunshen hurried over, calling joyfully to the girl beneath it.

The girl smiled shyly and murmured, "Y-you still call me Junior Sister! Didn't I already tell you my courtesy name?"

"Yu Wan!"

The girl's face turned scarlet. With a soft cry, she awoke, her face flushed and her heavy robes soaked through with sweat.

"My child, did you have another nightmare?"

"The Empress has arrived!"

In Weiyang Palace of the Han Dynasty, eunuchs and palace maids led the way before the Empress came to her daughter's bedside and slowly sat down. She gently stroked her daughter's sweat-covered face, her brows tightly furrowed. "Those cultivators are truly useless. They can't even disperse a mere Dream Demon, leaving my child to suffer for years!"

The girl's cheeks reddened as she nestled against the Empress's breast. "Mother! Don't!"

"Don't what?" The Empress was greatly alarmed. "Could it be... could that Yin Demon have, in your dreams, with my child..."

"Mother! What are you saying!" Anger appeared on the girl's face as she buried her head beneath the blanket.

"Yang Qingchan! You dare speak to your Empress Mother that way? You are becoming more and more insolent!"

The Emperor strode over in a rage. Yang Qingchan hid in her mother's arms with a terrified expression. The Empress gently pushed the Emperor away and smiled at her daughter. "Don't be afraid!"

"Mother! Your daughter is sleepy!"

"Mother will stay and keep you company!"

"Mother still has to help Father govern tomorrow. Your daughter isn't afraid—your daughter knows swordsmanship!" Yang Qingchan giggled and hugged the Water-Fire Twin Swords from the weapons rack to her chest.

There was no one beneath the peach blossom tree.

Liu Yunshen ran about in panic, calling again and again, "Yu Wan! Yu Wan! Where are you!"

"Senior Brother! I'm here!" Yang Qingchan called in an extremely soft voice.

Overjoyed, Liu Yunshen hurried toward her.

"Senior Brother, we have met in dreams for several years, but we have never truly seen one another. I fear... I fear that one day, when we meet, you will find me ugly..."

Yang Qingchan leaned an arm against the tree, her face full of melancholy.

Liu Yunshen gazed at the two longswords at her waist and murmured, "A man should become an Imperial Guard commander, and take Yang Qingchan as his wife!"

Yang Qingchan's face turned crimson as she handed him the Water Sword!

Liu Yunshen was overjoyed and gripped the treasured sword tightly.

"If one day, you become a faithless man!"

"I will submit myself beneath the sword!" Liu Yunshen swore to heaven. A bolt of thunder descended, splitting the dream in two!

"Senior Brother! Do not forget this promise!!"

"Junior Sister!"

The two gazed at each other from afar as their figures vanished into a blaze of white light!

"Junior Sister! Junior Sister!"

"Young hero, your fever is gone! This rate of recovery is simply unheard of! My late master had reached the Third Realm of Qi Refinement. Once, when he suffered severe injuries, I guarded him at his side as his disciple. Master needed a full half month of recuperation before he recovered!"

Blacksmith Tan carefully took his pulse again, filled with delight. "Young hero, your nature is upright, and your eyes cannot tolerate the slightest evil! Perhaps you are truly a man of deep fortune and destiny!"

Tan Cuicui giggled. "Who is Young Master Liu's junior sister?"

Liu Yunshen's face reddened. His hand touched a sharp weapon at his side, and he drew it with a turn of his hand. It was the Water Sword from his dream. Stunned, he said, "What is going on!"

"What is it, young master?" Blacksmith Tan did not understand.

"Was it a dream? Was it real?" Liu Yunshen sighed for a long while. Then his stomach rumbled, and he rose with a smile. "Senior Tan! Is there anything to eat?"

A moment later, Liu Yunshen devoured a mountain-like pile of steamed buns weighing more than seven catties. Blacksmith Tan's entire family was left staring in stunned silence.

"Ah! I... you haven't eaten your fill yet, have you? I... here is some silver..."

Liu Yunshen took out the silver from Li Yi's bundle. Blacksmith Tan laughed and refused. "What are you saying? The more a young man can eat, the better!"

Blacksmith Tan's wife smiled. "When my husband first met you, young hero, he thought you were a refined scholar who would someday sit the imperial examinations and become top scholar. Who would have thought you were a true man capable of lifting a cauldron! Indeed, one cannot judge a person by appearance!"

"Bad news! Bad news!" The hooligan Zhang Er rushed into the house and spoke in a low voice beside Blacksmith Tan's ear.

Yet Liu Yunshen heard every word clearly. "The city constables have issued a wanted portrait? Just now?"

"Young hero, you're truly formidable!" Zhang Er was greatly startled. Blacksmith Tan's expression turned grave as he slapped the table with his large hand. "No need to fear. Young hero can stay in my home for a few days!"

"No. Since they have already issued a wanted notice, they will surely search the entire city!"

"Th-this... Father, quickly think of something!" Tan Cuicui looked anxious.

"Easy!" Liu Yunshen rose with a smile and extended his palm. The sharp inner-power aura along its edge slashed a wound more than half a foot long across his flawless white face, blood streaming down!

Tan Cuicui and Blacksmith Tan's wife cried out and recoiled to their feet.

Blacksmith Tan said admiringly, "What a man!"

"No wonder Young Master Liu is truly a youthful hero!"

Half an hour later, Blacksmith Tan's family pushed a wheelbarrow as they headed toward the city gate with Zhang Er and Liu Yunshen.

The gate captain carefully compared them with the portrait. "You! Come here!"

"Me!" A handsome scholar was dragged over by the soldiers. The captain compared him carefully, shook his head, snatched the money pouch from the scholar's arms, then kicked him away. "Get lost!"

"You bandits! I'll report you to the county office!! I'll report you!!"

"Heh! Report us however you like!" The gate captain sneered. Suddenly, he swept his gaze over the crowd and noticed Liu Yunshen. "His features are quite similar, but that scar..."

"What, never seen someone with a scar on his face?" Murderous intent radiated from Liu Yunshen as he raised his sword before his chest. The gate captain broke out in a cold sweat. Staring at the scar, he shook his head. "That is clearly a scar from several months ago, nearly healed! Besides, if he truly were a fugitive, how could he be so righteous and confident?"

"Are you done looking!!!" Liu Yunshen roared!

The gate captain shuddered, and the weapon in his hand fell to the ground. The soldiers all moved to draw their blades.

Zhang Er smiled. "This is my brother-in-law. He has always had a fiery temper. Brothers, please bear with him!"

The gate captain smiled. "Let them pass!"

After they had gone several li beyond the city, everyone let out a long breath.

Tan Cuicui could not help laughing. "Father! When Big Brother Liu shouted just now, those bastards were so frightened they didn't dare say a word!"

Blacksmith Tan's wife scolded her, "You're already such a grown girl. How can you speak such filthy words?"

"I know!" Tan Cuicui covered her mouth and smiled.

Blacksmith Tan's family spoke coldly, "Our daughter is right. Those beasts bully the good and fear the wicked every day. When they encounter a soft persimmon, they squeeze it for all it's worth. Not to mention a hero like young master—even if they encountered bandits or mountain brigands, they would flee at the very sight of them!"

Liu Yunshen's eyes changed into Double Pupils again. Looking back toward the city, he saw black qi soaring into the heavens!

"Senior Tan, Brother Zhang, you had best hide out in the countryside for a few days!"

"Why is that?"

"I truly have an uneasy feeling!" Liu Yunshen did not dare reveal what he was thinking. He only kept staring at that mass of "resentful qi." "Yes! Resentful qi! It seems to be an enormous resentment from nearly a hundred thousand people, resentment so immense it is almost impossible to dissolve!"

Blacksmith Tan saw him sigh and was about to ask further when a giant meteor wreathed in raging flames came crashing toward Yucheng County with unstoppable force!!!!