Li Xian Takes Action, Reversing the Natural Order

Li Xian and his group entered the city smoothly. They found the streets brightly lit, as if it were daytime, illuminated by candlelight.

His face was smeared with mud and ash to conceal his features. However, the outline of his face was difficult to change, and it gave the impression of "protesting too much." If they made eye contact, he would inevitably be exposed.

Li Xian was thoughtful and secretly worried.

He quickly took a few steps, keeping a distance from the tiger and the dog, avoiding eye contact. He was Wen Caishang -minded, while Wen Caishang was forced to lean against him, her body tense. Whether she was in danger or safe depended entirely on Li Xian's response.

In front of the inn.

Li Xian pushed open the door and shouted, "Shopkeeper, quickly bring some wine to toast these two gentlemen!"

The waiter rushed to serve him and saw that Li Xian was tall and imposing, yet he was carrying a beautiful woman who was bound like a dumpling. Surprised, he wondered if he was Flower Thief. Then he saw the two men, Quan and Hu, who were ugly, covered in blood and gore, and their injuries were horrifying. He was so frightened that his legs went weak.

Li Xian shouted, "Hurry up and go!" The waiter hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes, I'll go right away!"

Serve the wine immediately.

Li Xian looked around, pondering a way to escape. With keen senses, he heard noises coming from the kitchen, as if someone was moving things back and forth.

Zhang Hu Huli was unstained by blood, but his clothes were relatively clean. He had fallen on hard times and was bound in shackles, exuding a captivating charm. Coupled with his exceptionally handsome appearance, he instantly captivated Cai Gong. Zhang Hu Huli's passionate gaze swept over him, but Cai Gong was afraid. Zhe Jian glared at him, and only then did Cai Gong avert his gaze, no longer daring to look at him.

I calmly said, "It seems that of the Seven Heroes of Taixin, some will be able to keep Lady Zhou He alive. Oh well, it was not unexpected."

The tiger and the dog clinked their glasses, drank, waved their hands, and laughed, "Go on."

Several details came to mind.

The cook heated the pot until it was scalding hot, poured in lard, and then added vegetables and meat, making a sizzling sound. The aroma wafted out. The front door of the kitchen, which didn't have one, was wide open at this moment, and several shopkeepers were carrying vegetables and meat back and forth. A carriage was parked inside, and the head cook sat on the edge of the carriage, urging them on. He seemed to catch a glimpse of Zhang Hu Huli and craned his neck to look at him.

The tiger said, "Don't delay. Have you said anything? Let him hold on for now." He then waved his hand.

Wen Caishang asked suspiciously, "With only seven of them, they could barely even injure Madam Li Quan, how could they possibly capture you alive?"

Zhang Hu said, "That's not all. You'll be mired in the mud and suffer endless humiliation."

My spirits lifted slightly, and I picked up my wine bowl, saying, "Brother, come, let's drink and pay tribute to our fallen brothers!"

In the front kitchen.

"Bah!" Zhang Hu roared, "Wen Caishang, where are their reinforcements? Why are they only arriving now!"

On the other side.

Zhang Hu said, "That's right. Zhang Hu and Li have fallen into your hands. How you humiliate them is your own business. This guy is quite lucky to have run into me. Hehe, whether my luck with women is good or bad is still hard to say, but my life is in danger."

Zhang Hu and Li Xian knew that Zhou He had escaped and would be difficult to catch in a short time. Their anger subsided, and they began smashing the surrounding shops. With a single blow, rows of windows shattered, and vegetable stalls beneath the ground were reduced to pieces.

After a long while, Zhang Hu said, "That's right, does this Sword Rain Tower's boss really want me to have some fun too?"

Zhe Jian was secretly on guard, his whole body tense. Zhang Hu and Li Yi were already anxious. Zhe Jian turned around, his face slightly turned to the side, just out of the light, half of his face hidden in shadow, and calmly said, "You two juniors, is there anything you'd like to eat? If it's really alright, I also have some cooking skills, I can cook it myself."

As the kitchen staff brought in the dishes, Zhang Hu and Li Xian drank fine wine and ate small bites, thoroughly enjoying themselves. Having resolved a minor grudge, they were relaxed and at ease. Only by not eating or drinking could they truly unleash their pent-up emotions. Amidst their conversation over wine and food, they talked about how to punish Zhang Hu and Li, how to humiliate you, how to tease you... their words were venomous and vulgar, utterly unbearable to listen to.

Zhou He said, "Call this big shot over; he might still be of use to me." He called out "Lin Li" a few times towards the kitchen, and received a response. Li Xian and Zhang Hu exchanged glances, realizing how clever it was. Now, looking back, it was full of flaws:

"Huh?" Wen Caishang was taken aback. "Really?"

"Bullshit!" Zhang Hu said, "Your seven brothers fought to the death, with two dead and two wounded, and last night you captured Zhou Heyu alive. But he was rescued by your servant. And he even used the name of the Sword Rain Tower! If they had come to help yesterday, wouldn't that have happened!"

The sky is gradually brightening.

He said warmly, "Come on! I'll take you to this inn!"

The two clinked glasses and drank heartily.

"This guy is always here, but he only showed up right after the battle ended. It seems he's been waiting for a special opportunity."

Wen Caishang leaped forward and grabbed the two men's shoulders. Zhang Hu and Li Xian, both furious, attacked together. Wen Caishang snorted and deflected the attack.

I was tormented by the beauty, desiring to have my desires fulfilled, yet also fearful of Zhang Hu and Li's schemes; my mind was in turmoil. On the way into the city, I was restless and agitated, eager to toy with Zhang Hu and Li. But as I retreated to the inn, my mind calmed, and my desires intensified. However, seeing Zhou Heyu in her white dress, and remembering the tragic deaths of my two brothers, the shadow of impropriety deepened, and I stopped myself from pursuing the idea.

Li Xian laughed and said, "That guy is unlucky. He'll either die at the hands of Zhang Hu and Li, or at the hands of the two of you. You two pursued him so desperately back then, and it was difficult for you to even get a second glance from Zhang Hu and Li. If that guy had been so easy to get, he would have gotten his hands on you. Wouldn't you have been too pathetic back then?"

Zhejian deliberately made noise, loudly urging the cook to start cooking.

Once the vegetables and meat were unloaded from the carriage, Zhejian seized the opportunity and, taking advantage of everyone's attention, carefully hid inside the carriage. I used my "Heavy Word Technique" and "Vastmist Leg" martial arts, making my body as light and agile as a falling leaf, and there was no tremor when I hid inside the carriage.

The carriage sped through the streets, with Zhou He holding his wife, who was well-supported, as they lay inside.

Zhejian said, "Haha, so it was the two juniors who were too eager to get close to her. It was indeed your oversight. You may place that wicked woman beside the two juniors."

Zhang Hu said, "If it weren't for Brother Lu and Brother Mang's the Unseen protection, how could you two have captured this thieving woman so inexplicably? It's truly a triumphant moment! You've never seen this thieving woman so distraught. Thinking back to those days, how arrogant you were, practically a god among men, untouchable by anyone. One glance from you, and I'd be willing to live or die for you. Now... hahaha, soon you'll be... experiencing the agony of life and death..."

"Then..." Wen Caishang's foolishness backfired. Half-believing and half-doubting, she guessed that she had missed a terrible opportunity. She secretly regretted it, but she still showed it on her face and said, "He said Zhang Hu Huli was rescued? This male concubine beside you is old and his Martial Dao skills are limitless. How could he have rescued Zhang Hu Huli from seven men?"

"Damn it!" Li Xian was furious. "So that scoundrel of his has always looked down on the two of you!"

The two men vented their anger to their hearts' content. Suddenly, a small shout rang out, "Assistant! They've gone mad!"

Li Xian and Zhang Hu suppressed their anger and recounted the events of the previous day in detail: how they captured Zhang Hu, how they drank at the inn, and how they vanished into thin air after breaking their swords...

Zhang Hu said, "In your opinion, Zhang Hu and Li do have a plan. Let's have this guy come over later, have some drinks and food, and then just take care of him."

Wen Caishang said, "It's all in the past now. You all still need to work together. Why dwell on this?"

Zhang Hu Huli frowned deeply, his fingernails digging into Zhou He's large belly, and he shook his head slightly.

Driven by a desire for fame, the two fought Zhang Hu and Li. This shows they were cunning and extremely concerned with saving face. When Zhe Jian appeared, he flattered the two, making them feel slightly pleased. Moreover, having captured Zhang Hu and Li alive, they were so full of Intent-Qi, looking down on everyone else.

Zhang Hu walked upside down, rushing past the front kitchen, but there was no one there. Zhang Hu and Li Xian shouted angrily, "Chase him!"

He broke his sword and headed towards the front kitchen. After taking a few steps, Tiger suddenly said, "Hurry!"

The answer was clear: the inns in the city served both as restaurants and hotels, and the ingredients for the food they sold each day had to be prepared the day before. Therefore, every night, a "vegetable vendor" would arrive by horse-drawn carriage to deliver fresh fruits and vegetables.

And then I saw a broken sword.

"Was he just a little late? My mother wasn't here at all!" Li Xian trembled all over.

Li Xian had a sudden inspiration and thought, "If I try to escape with Wen Caishang in my arms, it will definitely provoke their viciousness. These two are already seriously injured, but their strength and resources are still considerable. I should avoid them for as long as possible. It would be safer and more dangerous if I took Cai Gong's carriage and left silently."

Having made up his mind, he said, "You two juniors, you know those unruly people hate being cheated out of their weight. Go to the kitchen and keep an eye on us, and have them cook two main dishes."

"Is he thinking of letting go of the beauty he's holding?" Tiger said with pleasure.

"Hahaha," Li Xian said, "I'll let you try Brother Tiger's moves another day; I'm afraid you'll be even more out of control then."

Li Xian said, "If it weren't for the fear that Zhang Hu and Li might still have something up their sleeves, humph, how could I possibly have gotten such a cushy job?" The 'cushy job' he was referring to was taking Zhang Hu and Li's hands under the broken sword when he was capturing and binding them. Li Xian was extremely envious at the time.

"Of course it's true!" Zhang Hu said.

Wen Caishang pondered, "So, you really missed a golden opportunity yesterday! Alas, regret is useless. Zhang Hu and Li Ruozhen truly possess Inner Qi and become... capturing you would be the perfect opportunity."

Zhang Hu and Li Xian were already severely injured. After exchanging eight blows, their Qi was exhausted and their blood was depleted. They had no choice but to temporarily quell their anger and stop fighting.

Li Xian and Zhang Hu slammed their fists on the table and stood up. Finally remembering that Zhang Hu and Li Pang were both short of money, they shouted, "It's me!"

The tiger was named "Zhang Hu," and the Hound was named "Zhou He." They were sworn brothers with the deceased Deer and python. In their early years, they entered the "Ruin Grounds" and caught a glimpse of Zhang Hu and Li Fenghua, becoming infatuated and neglecting their Martial Dao, all for the sake of winning the beauty's heart. They were teased and played with by Zhang Hu and Li, and when they learned the truth, they went to question them. Zhou He and Yu, one of them being Yue, beat the seven of them, leaving them crippled.

"Hmph! He's right. Zhang Hu Li is indeed formidable. With one thrust of his sword, none of you seven brothers fled in panic. But it seems fate is against you, causing you to lose all your Inner Qi."

He ran wildly through the surrounding streets, but there were already traces of them, leaving him at a loss. All that remained was a heart full of frustration, and he hated himself for being so stupid and careless.

The shopkeeper, who had been snoring, calmly put on his shoes to check. Before he could speak, Li Xian struck him with a palm, killing him with a loud bang.

Therefore, the plan of breaking the sword and making a mistake could actually produce a surprising effect. Although the luck was extremely bad, it was actually 70% feasible.

Wen Caishang said, "It seems that those seven not only injured Madam Zhou, but you also drove them mad."

The vegetable vendor, a commoner who also knew martial arts, was unaware of the deception. After collecting his payment, he sped off with a "Giddyup!"

Li Xian said, "Yes, to be on the safe side, let me stay another day to observe. We can't even pretend to let this big guy go first. By then, do you really believe Zhang Hu and Li can't hide their true intentions? Once we've confirmed you've exhausted your tricks, then you can indulge in your mischievous and carefree ways."

Wen Caishang said calmly, "I encountered another weak opponent last night, so I arrived a moment late."

Li Xian said, "Brother, don't worry! You two have captured that wicked woman alive! You will avenge the humiliation they suffered."

"You brats! How dare you trick the seven of you!" Li Xian roared in fury. His voice boomed, shattering the wine jars, porcelain, tables, and chairs in the inn.

"It was already night. The disciples of Sword Rain Tower, Tranquil Heart Sect, and Yellow Sand Sect always traveled in groups, forming small formations. Many did not venture out alone."