Fortune Made in Silence, Luo Feiyan Punished, Her Pride Scattered, Human Yellow Consumed

It was already evening.

Li Xian had obtained everything he desired. The next step was to clean up the mess. The Black-Faced Bat King's corpse reeked of foul odors, a result of his practice of Evil Dao martial arts and his long-term consumption of filthy and putrid substances. After death, maggots swarmed and decayed, black fluid oozing from his wounds, his body resembling an inflated sac. Li Xian suppressed his nausea and carefully searched the body during the burial, taking out all the gold, silver, treasures, and strange artifacts...

He filled the hole with soil, tamped it down firmly, and let out a soft breath. Li Xian thought to himself, "Although the body is buried, there are still signs of digging here. It's still easy for someone to see it."

He then took the River-Sinking Sword and chopped down branches, leaves, shrubs, and weeds, scattering them nearby to cover up all traces. He was always meticulous and cautious in his work, and so he did this... The Densewood Forest remained undisturbed, and no one knew that the Black-Faced Bat King was buried here. The Essence Treasure Yellow Nine Ginseng fell into Li Xian's hands.

Having settled all matters, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Xian turned the River-Sinking Sword over and examined its blade. He secretly felt that it was indeed a precious sword. He had just dug into the ground and wasted a lot of time, yet the blade was not dull at all. However, this action would eventually shorten the sword's lifespan and ruin its sharpness. There were already some scratches on the blade, greatly reducing its durability.

"Everything in this world is subject to constant wear and tear. The River-Sinking Sword is of exceptional quality, crafted by the master swordsmith Ouyezi. Even such a rare and precious sword is not immune to wear and tear. Unfortunately... repairing the scratches on the blade is extremely difficult. Only a master swordsmith like Ouyezi could accomplish this."

The precious sword was covered in dust, Li Xian unleashed a burst of energy, and it once again shone with a cold light.

Besides the three great treasures, the Black-Faced Bat King also possessed many miscellaneous items, which Li Xian had already released onto the grass nearby.

He immediately used the Black-Faced Bat King's black cloak as a sack to wrap all of his belongings, carried it on his back, and then picked up Luo Feiyan.

As expected of the "Golden Hairpin of the Embroidery City," her sleeping posture was serene and elegant. Every breath she took exuded charm. The Luo Household will surely cherish this descendant like a precious jewel.

Li Xian used his lightness skill to dart through the forest. A gentle breeze lifted Luo Feiyan's skirt. Her already disheveled clothes only added to her spring-like charm. Li Xian had no interest in observing her; he kept an eye on the outside world and watched Luo Feiyan's breathing.

Although his hands were bound, the martial arts he had just displayed were already formidable and extremely powerful. This simple restraint was not enough to capture him, but the length of Golden Leopard Tendon was limited, so he could only use a simple method to bind him. There was really no better way to capture him, so he had to make do for the time being.

Pay attention to her movements. If she shows any signs of waking up, administer the anesthetic again so she can sleep soundly again, which will benefit both of them. After walking for half an hour, they saw her eyebrows twitch slightly, as if she was waking up.

Li Xian immediately increased the anesthetic dosage and administered it to Luo Feiyan with water. Luo Feiyan, still half-asleep, opened her eyes and vaguely glimpsed Li Xian before her eyelids grew heavier again, and she fell back into a deep sleep.

Inside a cave.

Li Xian temporarily hid, covering the cave entrance with weeds, and began to sort through the miscellaneous items he had obtained.

A bat-patterned cloak... Seeing that the Black-Faced Bat King could neutralize the palm strike and protect himself by simply wrapping himself in it, Li Xian immediately guessed that although the Black-Faced Bat King was indeed powerful, this cloak must contain a hidden secret.

He then examined it closely, pondering its unusual features and wondering if he could use them. He found that the cloak was sticky on the outside and smooth on the inside, and extremely tough. Even with his immense strength, he could hardly tear it. The outer layer was made of black bat fur, which was so fine that if inhaled, it would prick the lungs, making it an extremely dangerous substance.

Li Xian secretly rejoiced. "Luckily, I didn't get entangled with him too much. This Black-Faced Bat King must still have other tricks up his sleeve!"

Inside is the skin of a venomous eel, which secretes venom and becomes sticky and lubricating, covering the entire body like a slippery snakeskin.

"What a strange thing, but it's too disgusting. And... I don't find it very convenient to use, and it's too conspicuous to carry around."

It was abandoned deep inside a mountain cave.

The remaining miscellaneous items are: seven taels of loose silver, a narrow box for hiding things, a skull and bone set, poison powder, a flute, and sheet music...

The narrow box containing the "Essence-Treasure Tonic" originally contained lean meat, but it had all been eaten and drunk. The remaining Essence Soup contained the Heaven and Earth Essence.

Li Xian collapsed to the ground, poured out clean water to wash himself, and reached for the side pocket at his waist. Inside were two empty Heaven-Hiding Casket. Li Xian had not consumed Essence Treasure for a long time since drinking the "Golden Scale" beverage.

Now, only "fifty-nine strands" of the Heaven and Earth Essence remain within his body, which can be completely digested in a few days. Li Xian pondered, "Although I have obtained the Yellow Nine Ginseng again... according to the Golden Light Recipe, there are conditions before consuming this Essence Treasure. Otherwise, if the technique is impure, I don't know what kind of Art Path it is."

"It's time to replenish Essence Treasure's supplies."

Wen Caishang had told him that when traveling the Jianghu, if he was troubled by Essence Food or other worries, he should spend more time in large cities. The "large cities" she referred to were the mainstream ones. What did she mean by mainstream?

The Great Wu territory is vast, yet there is only a rough map of its borders. The map only depicts the general shape of the territory and marks some important towns.

Towns that appear in this "national map," regardless of size, can be considered "ordinary." The Great Martial Dynasty's gangs, towns, and Lineage are scattered throughout the land, their strange and unusual aspects unknown to most. Yet, the cities recorded in the national map are well-known to martial artists.

This clearly demonstrates its power.

The larger the city, the more abundant its resources.

If a major event occurs in the city, those in power will set up Great Ding, boil a large fire, and cook Essence Food, which will be distributed widely. If one has the ability, one can get a share of the spoils.

The events within each are magnificent and vast.

Li Xian meticulously sorted through his spoils. He carried the useful items with him and buried the useless ones on the spot. He couldn't help but sigh; while the abundant harvest was gratifying, carrying everything would be superfluous. But alas, he had no place to live, his heart adrift like a duckweed—where could he find peace?

Li Xian thought of Wen Caishang's ability to sheath her sword and vanish without a trace in an instant. If he could do that too, he would finally have a place to put all his belongings.

Night had fallen by then.

The Jianghu swordsmen, who usually traveled in twos and threes, began to disperse as night deepened. Fearing an encounter with the Black-Faced Bat King, they split into smaller groups of seven or eight.

Using the Terrain Map, Li Xian shrugged off from the others and led Luo Feiyan out of the mountains, sneaking into "Silk Family Town" east of Embroidery City.

Looking into the distance... cotton fields stretch for miles. The feng shui and climate here are ideal for cultivating cotton and fruits. Li Xian thought to himself, "Actually, just looking at the land and produce... even the Qiongtian Prefecture is richer than I was in my previous life. There are plenty of lands that yield three or two harvests a year, but most of the wealth flows into the pockets of the Aristocratic Clan families. In that respect, there's not much difference. Everyone is like this, and it probably won't change for thousands or even millions of years."

Seeing that Luo Feiyan was about to wake up again, he immediately fed her more anesthetic. Luo Feiyan said slowly, "Young Master Hua... where... is this..." and then gently fell asleep again.

The effects of the anesthetic, after being administered repeatedly, have significantly weakened. Li Xian estimates that he will only be unconscious for half an hour. He needs to find a way to completely eliminate the Luo Feiyan.

The town was quiet. All the shops were closed at night, except for a few inns. Li Xian first put Luo Feiyan Luo Feiyan his back, and sneaked into the room.

In this way, one can avoid being seen or heard by the waiter and the shopkeeper.

The furniture in the room was all made of "golden silk wood," which was very luxurious. Li Xian rented it for three days and spent seven taels of silver. It was not because he was rich and arrogant, but because he planned to leave Luo Feiyan here and would need the shop's staff to run errands later. Therefore, he spent a lot of money to ensure that no one dared to neglect him.

After settling Luo Feiyan down, Li Xian sneaked out of the inn, searching for something to bind Luo Feiyan tightly. He pondered, "I'll tie her up first, keep her confined for a few days, and then have someone find her. By then, I'll be long gone, blending into the vast sea of people. Who will be able to find me?"

A martial artist's cultivation level increases the rhythm within their body, drawing them closer to the heavens and earth. Martial artists at the Second Realm possess a multitude of techniques, making them extremely difficult to bind and capture. Ordinary coarse hemp ropes, though tough... are easily escaped due to their simple material.

I fear it will be difficult to keep them imprisoned for long.

Li Xian wandered through the town, pondering how to trap Luo Feiyan and buy himself more time to escape. He passed a lake and came across the headquarters of a powerful gang.

The three large characters "Coiling Tiger Gang" on the plaque are depicted with dragons and phoenixes dancing, exuding a powerful aura.

Li Xian then thought that gang warfare was brutal and the forces were complex. Although fighting and killing were common, kidnapping and coercion also occurred. Therefore, many gangs must have unique secrets in capturing and arresting people.

They may have items such as "Tiger Sinew Rope" on hand.

He then tiptoed over the wall and sneaked in.

The hall was guarded and patrolled in small groups of three or five. They were all ordinary people, who had mastered a few martial arts moves and cultivated a little Inner Qi, but had not yet reached the Essence Consumption ". Such a small gang or sect, which had dominated for many years, should not be underestimated. Perhaps one or two martial artists who had reached the level of "Essence Consumption " could be found.

Li Xian stepped on the Seven-Star Step, unleashing the secrets of the "Light Formula." He was light and ethereal, landing silently. Behind the hall was a courtyard, planted with red flowers and green trees, full of vitality, with a lake and artificial hills... It exuded an extremely luxurious and extravagant atmosphere.

"Such extravagance must have been achieved by plundering the people's wealth; the world is truly a place where some are starving while others are drowning in floods."

Li Xian moved nimbly and came upon a residence. Laughter and chatter filled the air, with men and women playing and chasing each other. Li Xian guessed it must be some kind of trivial matter, raised an eyebrow, and kept opening his Double Pupils to look. The leader of the Coiling Tiger Gang, who was pot-bellied but had already Essence Consumption Realm, was chasing and playing with several concubines.

Their clothes were disheveled and quite revealing. The furnishings in the room were rather unusual.

Li Xian sighed, whether out of envy or regret, it was hard to tell. He looked away and searched through the prison cells, storerooms, and other places. In one of the dungeons, he found a ten-zhang-long Tiger Sinew Rope.

The rope had been there for a long time. The tiger tendons had lost their elasticity, but they were still very strong. This kind of rope had the ability to "Sinew-Sealing Bone-Locking". Since it was tightly bound, the tendons could not be moved and the bones could not be moved, so naturally one could not move... Even if one practiced martial arts such as "bone shrinking skills", it would be difficult to break free. Li Xian thought it was more than enough, so he returned along the way and went straight to his room at the inn.

While Luo Feiyan was snoring, the Tiger Sinew Rope was put on, and using the technique of "Silkworm Garment Draping," the rope was tied in a crisscross pattern. The wrists, elbows, ankles, and knees were all tightly bound, and then the hands and feet were folded back and tied together firmly.

She was in a very sorry state by then.

Silkworm Garment Draping is a delicate process. Tiger Sinew Rope is only as thick as a finger, which is quite different from "Silk Jade Cord". It is difficult to make the "silkworm clothing" visible without showing the details of the knots. Moreover, due to the difference in rope quality, some complex knots cannot be used. But it is indeed sufficient.

Luo Feiyan frowned slightly, but the effects of the medicine were still present.

Li Xian suddenly thought, "When she wakes up and discovers the current situation, she will definitely want to kill me, skin me alive, and eat my flesh."

While at the Coiling Tiger Gang's headquarters, he casually grabbed a few walnuts. He pried open her lips and stuffed the walnuts into her cheeks, figuring she wouldn't be able to spit them out or speak. Then he placed her on the bed and covered her with the blankets.

Luo Feiyan frowned slightly, showing signs of waking up.

Li Xian asked the waiter for paper and pen, and wrote, "Miss Luo, farewell. Don't worry, I'll only keep you here for a few days. Someone will come to rescue you then. No one knows about our affair, so please keep it a secret."

Press the letter down and place it on the desk. With Luo Feiyan's eyesight, she should be able to see what's written in the letter.

He then wrote another letter. The letter was brief. "The Black-Faced Bat King is at the inn in Silk Family Town. Come quickly."

Li Xian carefully wrapped the letter and handed it to the waiter. He gave the waiter three taels of silver and solemnly instructed, "Deliver it to the Luo Household in three days. It's a matter of great importance. After it's done, you'll receive another ten taels of silver."

The waiter was overjoyed and showered him with flattery and praise. Li Xian smiled faintly; he was a habitual liar and had deceived others again. The "ten taels of silver" he mentioned was a lure. Three days later, he had already vanished.

After finishing his business, Li Xian hid outside the guest room, secretly observing... to see if Luo Feiyan could break free.

Luo Feiyan woke up slowly, feeling her eyelids suddenly become heavy. Her head throbbed, her hair was disheveled, and she was still groggy and couldn't make out what was happening.

"I killed the Black-Faced Bat King... then I fainted. What happened? Did the Black-Faced Bat King have a backup plan? Or was it that... Hua Manlou..."

As her memories gradually became clearer, she suddenly felt a chill run through her body. She realized that she had fainted because her acupoints had been pressed. Luo Feiyan felt a splitting headache again and gently shook her head, trying to rub her temples with her hands.

Luo Feiyan was taken aback. "I... it seems I can't move?" Her hands were tightly bound behind her back, her wrists were tightly bound, and her face changed drastically, filled with fear. She tried to move her hands and feet, but they were all tightly bound. She tried to speak, but her mind made it difficult to utter a word.

She said, "Hua Manlou! You scoundrel!" But her insults turned into vague words.

"I need to calm down... I feel like I'm tied up. There's no one in the room, haha. That Hua Manlou is extremely cunning. He disguised himself and sneaked into the crowd, hiding and concealing himself. I suspected he wasn't up to something, and sure enough, he harbored evil intentions. I... I was exhausted at the time, and I easily trusted this guy. But he never expected that the ropes couldn't bind me."

Luo Feiyan used the "Embroidered Body Art". This martial art is extremely powerful. Through slight vibrations of the body, the fabric of her clothes would flow. Any ordinary rope in the world could be easily untied by using this skill.

Li Xian was worried about this.

Luo Feiyan frowned, feeling utterly frustrated that her Embroidered Body Art was useless. After several attempts, the rope remained firmly in place. She exclaimed, "Could it be a specially made rigging?"

In Embroidery City, the Luo, Zhang, and Zhou families reign supreme, secretly vying for power. Zhang and Zhou possessed weapons specifically designed to subdue the Luo Household. Zhang's "Iron Ring Shackles" rendered the Luo Household Luo Household members helpless, while Zhou Family's "Red Sack" could capture them on the spot simply by covering them.

Luo Feiyan's face turned deathly pale. If this was the case, he must have a much bigger scheme behind it. Could it be that capturing her was to blackmail his Lineage? Or something else entirely?

Random thoughts suddenly arose, but they quickly subsided. She looked down at herself and saw that it was just an ordinary Tiger Sinew Rope. Its power lay not in the special tool, but in the unique method of binding.

turn out to be...

Although Luo Clan's Embroidered Body Art is powerful and unique, it is ultimately no match for the "Silkworm Garment Jade-Interlocking Art". Even though Li Xian simplified it a lot, its "internal cultivation method" is still more than enough for "capturing and seizing".

Luo Feiyan twisted her waist, feeling her hands and feet twisting backward. All her joints were tightly restrained. Even the most skilled martial artist would find it difficult to do anything under such restraint. She could only lie there obediently and await her fate.

She felt extremely aggrieved. There was a bronze mirror in her bedroom, and seeing her disheveled and miserable reflection, she felt incredibly ashamed and embarrassed. She was filled with resentment and cursed Li Xian countless times.

Martial arts proved useless, so he tried a simpler method: searching for the knot with his fingers. The knot was easy to reach, but extremely complex. He tried everything, but to no avail.

Feeling utterly dejected, she gave up completely. She waited for half an hour, but Li Xian never appeared. Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating her face.

She was speechless with frustration and resentment. She had thought during the day that there might be a glimmer of hope for a marriage agreement with Li Xian, but in the blink of an eye, she had fallen into the hands of villains.

She was seething with anger, waiting for the chance to unleash a torrential downpour. But the room was eerily quiet, and she was unable to move; her loneliness was unimaginable. She was also deeply troubled, unsure of Li Xian's purpose or whether he had accomplices. Now, unable to move, she was like a fish on a chopping board, at Li Xian's mercy—whether he slaughtered, cooked, boiled, or eaten—she could not defy him in the slightest.

The more I think about it, the more terrified I become.

In a daze, he noticed a letter lying on a table some distance away. After reading its contents, he finally felt safe and landed. But the thought that someone who came to his rescue would find him in such a terrible state filled him with dread.

Wouldn't my reputation as a beautiful woman be completely ruined? With a forced sigh of relief, I brought it up again.

Li Xian observed until midnight and saw Luo Feiyan looking exhausted and helpless, which relieved him somewhat.

"That little vixen was incredibly arrogant at first; teaching her a lesson isn't bad. Hmm... hopefully she'll reflect on her actions."

Li Xian, harboring wicked intentions, found Luo Feiyan's frustrated and embarrassed state quite amusing. He immediately leaped away, traveling through the night. The day after he left, the death of the Black-Faced Bat King remained unknown. Wang Long and Ji Hui of Still Spring Mountain continued their search, filled with doubt.

With everyone working together to search the mountain, they should be able to find some clues. A few days ago, they could still hear traces of the Black-Faced Bat King at night, but yesterday he had completely disappeared.

Wang Long and Ji Hui felt increasingly urgent, worried that the Black-Faced Bat King had already escaped the encirclement and would be difficult to find again. It was indeed a pity that the Essence Treasure had flown away. The Black-Faced Bat King was not weak, and the fact that he had incurred the hatred of this thief was even more critical.

But upon closer reflection, it seemed unlikely. They were armed with Terrain Map, their defenses were tight, and they had a large force. Moreover, the Black-Faced Bat King feared the scorching sun, which greatly restricted their ability to escape. How could they have repeatedly managed to escape?

And so it went... anxiously searching while waiting in frustration. Luo Feiyan's hair was disheveled, and her clothes were torn. Unable to untie this "silkworm garment," she felt the Tiger Sinew Rope was even more formidable.

They bound her bones and immobilized her body. She endured the agonizing wait, and if it weren't for her Inner Qi that allowed her to circulate her blood, she would have long since suffered from stagnant blood and injuries. Li Xian had already departed gracefully and carefree, while she suffered endless torment.

And so on...

Two more days passed.

The Luo Clan elders convened a clan meeting, but after several days without any news of the Black-Faced Bat King, they felt they had lost all hope.

During this time, the elders of the Luo Clan have also been secretly searching. The matter of the Essence Treasure is of great importance and requires careful planning from multiple angles.

Luo Xiangxiang, an elder of the Luo Clan clan, was about to go out when she suddenly saw a person dressed as a shop assistant hesitating at the door, holding an envelope in his hand.

Luo Xiangxiang is a female elder of the Luo clan. Women of the Luo Lineage who reach the Second Martial Realm never marry outside the clan. Those who excel hold a superior position within the clan, possessing both prestige and strength, and are thus elected as "clan elders."

"Clan elder" does not refer to seniority. For Lineage to continue its lineage, its rules must be well-established. Juniors should treat their elders with courtesy and respect, but not necessarily with reverence. Only those with both strength and seniority can receive both respect and reverence.

Luo Xiangxiang, who was once renowned for her beauty and still retained her charm, said, "What are you doing, acting so suspiciously!" The waiter, trembling, explained the situation and handed over a letter.

Luo Xiangxiang took the letter and waved it away casually, signaling him to leave. She opened the letter, glanced at it, and was immediately River-Turner. She closed the letter... took a few steps to catch up, grabbed the waiter by the shoulder, and said coldly, "Where is the inn? Take me there immediately."

A cold glint flashed in her eyes, filled with extreme excitement. If she could slay the Black-Faced Bat King, she would gain merit and rise even higher in her clan's status. Now that she had the news, she needed to ascertain the situation as soon as possible.

Impatient with the waiter's slow pace, she grabbed him by the collar and used her light-footed skill to run away. She quickly arrived at the inn, having already ascertained the situation along the way. She immediately sneaked into a guest room.

But the Black-Faced Bat King was nowhere to be seen. All that could be seen was the Embroidery City Hairpin, lying on the bed in a disheveled state, bound up. When Luo Feiyan saw this, her face turned bright red, and she wanted to disappear into the ground.

"I've lost all face!" she cried out inwardly. Luo Xiangxiang's expression was strange. She first looked around the house, but found no trace of her before approaching.

Luo Xiangxiang said, "Feiyan, what are you doing here? What happened?" When she saw Luo Feiyan's posture, her pretty face couldn't help but blush, but she quickly concealed it.

Luo Feiyan made two "ooh-ooh" sounds, unable to speak. Luo Xiangxiang was taken aback, pinched her chin, and with a flick of her wrist, spat out several hard walnuts, which, moistened with saliva, soaked the sheets and blankets. Luo Feiyan felt even more ashamed and hurriedly said, "Aunt Xiang... I... I was tricked by a bad person."

Seeing her tattered clothes, Luo Xiangxiang's expression changed. "Could it be..." Luo Feiyan quickly said, "No... no, not at all." Luo Xiangxiang said, "Really?"

Luo Feiyan blushed and said, "Aunt Xiang... you might as well investigate." She was eager to prove her innocence. Luo Xiangxiang said, "Alright, I believe you. I received a letter today saying the Black-Faced Bat King was here, but I didn't see him. Instead, I saw you tied up. Could it be the Black-Faced Bat King's doing?"

Luo Feiyan said arrogantly, "Black-Faced Bat King? Hmph, I killed that guy long ago. Does he have the ability to bind me?"

Luo Xiangxiang knew that Luo Feiyan was arrogant. She admired this junior very much, but seeing that she was in such a sorry state and that her words were full of arrogance, she suddenly felt that she deserved this calamity.

Luo Xiangxiang asked, "You killed the Black-Faced Bat King, did they search you?" Luo Feiyan replied, "They were supposed to search me, but... but I was tricked by those villains!"

Luo Xiangxiang asked, "Have you seen the Essence Treasure Yellow Nine Ginseng?" Luo Feiyan was taken aback, "What Yellow Nine Ginseng?"

Luo Xiangxiang said, "My Luo Household expended tremendous effort to kill the Black-Faced Bat King. Do you think it was just for fun? It was all for the sake of Human Yellow Essence Treasure!"

"Ah!" Luo Feiyan exclaimed, "I... I don't know. No wonder... no wonder that guy treated me like that!"

Luo Xiangxiang said, "Alas! It's all our fault, elders. After several discussions, we were afraid that you would leak the secret, so we didn't tell you. We told you to report it immediately if you found any clues about the Black-Faced Bat King. But we never expected... that... the villains would take advantage of the situation."

The two women discussed the matter carefully and both understood the situation. Luo Feiyan said angrily, "So, Hua Manlou disguised himself all this way for Human Yellow."

Luo Xiangxiang slashed with her sword, cleaving through the Tiger Sinew Rope. Luo Feiyan felt deeply annoyed and disappointed. Luo Xiangxiang saw that Luo Feiyan was a rare talent in the clan, capable of setbacks but not of losing her Intent-Qi. Luo Xiangxiang said, "Feiyan, although you were careless in this matter,... you shouldn't blame yourself entirely."

"As the saying goes, shame breeds courage. You are about to enter the Mount Yue Sword Sect for intensive training; you must not give up now."

Luo Feiyan said, "Alright! I will keep the matter of the Mount Yue Sword Sect in mind and make proper preparations."

By the time the Luo Household realized what was happening, Li Xian had already fled far away.

In the vast sea of people, I act as his shield.

Li Xian prepared to drink "Yellow Nine Ginseng". The method of drinking Yellow Nine Ginseng is as follows: starting at Mao Shi (5-7 AM), light a candle.

For every three millimeters the candle burns out, drink one strip of ginseng. Do not move or touch anything outside the glow of the candle. Once the candle has burned out completely, finish drinking the ginseng.

"Human Yellow Ninety-Nine Yellow Nine Ginseng... the Technique Dao·Golden Light enters my heart."