Turbid Garments Layered, New Uses Added; the Jade Maiden's Guilt, Pride Refusing to Yield
It was late May. Li Xian lay sprawled on the soft grass, breathing in the fresh breeze and basking in the sunshine. He listened to the lapping of the lake waves, the chirping of birds, and the drifting clouds—a wave of weariness washed over him.
He survived a life-or-death struggle, enduring hardship alone in the deep lake, persevering no matter how exhausted he became. When he finally escaped the lake, his heart was filled with passion and his Intent-Qi was sharp, overshadowing his physical exhaustion.
But he was already exhausted, his passion had faded, and all that remained was weariness. Li Xian's heart wound had healed by 30%, but his heart was as fragile as paper. The slightest disturbance could cause his heart to break and his heart to shatter. He still could not relax. He needed to rely on the Heart-Protecting Divine Intent to care for his delicate heart and help circulate his blood and qi.
Li Xian gritted his teeth and persevered, patting his thighs and arms, massaging acupoints to stimulate his mind, and said to himself, "I can't sleep yet—I need to recover at least 40% before I can take a short nap. And not for too long!" He turned the Wishful Jade Thumb Ring, feeling a cool sensation that soothed his heart. His drowsiness lessened slightly, but it didn't last long.
Li Xian sat leaning against a tree, his heart aching again from the climb. Even though his heart had slightly recovered, it was still a fatal injury. It was a miracle that he could run and walk and was still alive.
About half an hour.
The clouds had dispersed, and the sun hung high in the sky. It was noon, and the heat was oppressive. Li Xian looked at himself and saw that his clothes were torn and his skin was exposed, making him look no different from a wild man. He had just observed that there were no boats near Severed Palm Peak. The small boat that had brought him here had been washed away by the lake waves.
The River-Sinking Sword is broken— Li Xian, a martial artist at the Second Realm, must not touch water. His heart meridian is damaged, making him even more delicate than a newborn infant. When he uses his lightness skill, his blood surges violently, causing it to rush back into his heart meridian.
But they were trapped on the island.
Li Xian pondered, "My Five Organs Purge-Turbidity Revive-Yang Scripture Five Organs Turbidity Circulation and Meeting Yang' meridian is beneficial to the five organs. The five organs' ability to remove turbidity can strengthen the internal organs. However, the heart meridian is extremely delicate and can hardly bear even the weight of turbidity. Once the heart meridian recovers to about 50-60%, it may be able to Turbidity Transport a little and speed up the healing process."
"I once spoke with Sister Liuli, and she mentioned that the Nangong Clan possesses the ' Undying Scripture,' a martial art specifically for healing. Profound Dao Mountain has the ' Profound Radiance Breath,' capable of healing fatal injuries. The great clans and sects possess rich family traditions, and their vision, martial arts, talent, methods, and connections are all outstanding. They have their own ways to resolve various situations. As for me, a humble villager from a poor family, my methods are merely cobbled together from various sources. This comparison makes me seem rather pathetic."
Li Xian lightly rubbed his index finger together, turning the thumb ring, Wishful Treasure Sword grew larger on its own. Li Xian gripped the hilt, planted the sword on the ground, and stood up. He lightly flicked the blade, listening to its clear, ringing sound.
I was overjoyed to have acquired this precious sword. It was mysterious and hard, with exquisite patterns and a hollowed-out bell at the front of the hilt.
Li Xian turned the ring on his finger, and the bell responded in a the Unseen, emitting a soft "ring ring ring" sound. Then it changed size.
When the sword's blade enlarges, its weight increases. When the blade shrinks, its weight decreases. Li Xian guessed that the sword's mystery stemmed entirely from the "bell." However, the sword was completely seamless, appearing as a natural whole, without the slightest trace of craftsmanship.
Li Xian casually brandished the sword, thinking that it had been submerged in the lake for who knows how long. Although it was covered in rust when he first saw it, it easily rusted away. This showed that the sword was made of extraordinary material and had great durability, surpassing even the "River-Sinking Sword" and the "Azure-Violet Sword." It was a pity that it lacked the ability to Water Manipulation and could not be used to walk on rivers.
However, the ability to extend and retract at will and recall at will is even rarer.
Seeing the lush greenery in the mountains, he wielded his Wishful Treasure Sword and searched for medicinal herbs along the way. Li Xian had been taught by his wife to identify the properties of herbs. Wen Caishang once said that the world is vast and all things can be medicines. No matter how learned you are, it is difficult to identify them all. When you encounter herbs that are difficult to identify, you must smell their aroma, observe their color, and understand their properties—just like appreciating a martial art.
However, it requires a substantial accumulation of knowledge. This is extremely difficult for Li Xian to achieve. Wen Caishang's medical skills are exceptionally advanced; she can readily combine various medicinal properties at will. Li Xian could learn even a fraction of her skills. Later, after being taught by the "Ghost Doctor," he could identify the medicinal properties of herbs and benefit from the Ghost-Vein Four Absolutes.
Su Fuyou's missionary work was relatively short-lived, and Li Xian's medical skills were still shallow, making it difficult for him to heal people invisibly with his "unpredictable and mysterious" abilities. On one hand, he borrowed Wen Caishang's teachings on identifying herbs and determining their properties, and on the other hand, he used the Ghost-Vein Four Absolutes to corroborate his findings. He searched for herbs that could heal the heart.
The Severed Palm Peak is densely vegetated and has long been uninhabited. It is a place where herbs thrive, but the path is difficult to traverse, and the obstruction of branches adds to the difficulty. Li Xian should not make any big movements; jumping, Running, punching, or charging will all affect his heart meridian and injure him.
Traveling along mountain paths inevitably involves many obstacles. However, years of experience in mountain travel have allowed him to find easier trails, often carved out by wild animals. After walking for half an hour, Li Xian coughed and sat down against a tree.
Three herbs were found: Blood-Healing Grass), Essence-Restoring Root), Redflower Ginseng). Although they do not have the effect of healing heart wounds, they can help nourish the body and restore vitality. Hexuecao is mild in Blood-Healing Grass and has the effect of Blood Slowing and softening blood. Essence-Restoring Root strengthens vital energy, Redflower Ginseng nourishes the body.
Li Xian had read the "Medical Heart Scripture," which recorded his medical insights and covered the principles of medication, but he dared not try it recklessly. So, to be on the safe side, he first followed Wen Caishang's method and did his best to nourish his heart meridian.
Li Xian rested for two hours. He gathered tree branches and dry grass, laid out a simple soft bed, and then tried to make a fire to keep warm. He had a tinderbox on him, but it was soaked in water and could no longer be used.
Holding a dry twig, he carefully wielded the "Waning Sun Blood-Draining Sword." He stopped as soon as a tiny spark appeared at the tip of the twig, then gently blew on the spark with dry twigs until black smoke rose and a flame appeared, before adding smaller twigs and firewood.
The firelight warms the body and soul.
It was nearly dusk. Li Xian said, "My physical abilities are limited, so let's leave it at that for today!" He then began to eat the Blood-Healing Grass and the Essence-Restoring Root. The two herbs were bitter and astringent, but they were indeed effective. After Consumption them, he felt slightly better.
Redflower Ginseng is potent and contains some toxicity. Li Xian buried it in charcoal, roasted it until it was scalding hot, and then Consumption it. It tasted slightly sweet and had a lingering fragrance, similar to sweet potatoes grown in the ground.
[Skill Consumption, proficiency +1]
Anything that enters the body will have its efficacy increased by 80%. Li Xian's body is warm, so even though he eats a variety of herbs, the effects are not bad.
The body is restored, the mind is healed, and symptoms of weakness and coldness are relieved.
The lake breeze was quite cold at night.
Li Xian, taking care of his own body, found that the healing process was significantly faster thanks to the nourishment of the herbs. He was overjoyed, thinking, "With the blessing of these Consumption, even though my heart wound is extremely difficult to heal, I don't need heavenly materials and earthly treasures and precious herbs to gradually recover. These Consumption may seem ordinary, but they are truly a blessing from heaven."
The night was long, the birds slept peacefully, and the lake fish remained calm. Although Li Xian was extremely tired, he dared not go to sleep. He could neither practice martial arts, nor read scriptures, nor study medicine. He was bored and restless, finding it difficult to have any peace and quiet.
He simply took stock of the miscellaneous items: the Medical Ethics Scripture, the Medical Heart Scripture, the Candle Decree, the Jade-Water Pearl, the Flicked-Finger Golden Light Book, and paper contracts.
Jade ornaments, Lady's silver hairpin--
He discovered some strange oddities that hadn't been thrown away. He was delighted and casually picked up a few to examine. Among them was a bamboo flute, carved by Nangong Liuli. Nangong Liuli came from a powerful family and was the eldest daughter of a noble family. She was very knowledgeable, and her skills in music, calligraphy, painting, embroidery, and connoisseurship far surpassed those of Li Xian. Her archery was also quite good.
Li Xian took out his flute and began to play. Through constant exposure, he began to play quite well, producing a melodious and pleasant sound, but he was far from Initiation.
Li Xian sighed, "Compared to noble ladies from powerful families, I seem like a brute who only knows martial arts. Zhao Ranran's calligraphy is quite remarkable, Sister Liuli's talent is also profound, and Gu Nianjun's learning is astonishing. Apart from martial arts, my other skills are very shallow."
Suddenly remembering his strengths, Intestine-Turning Narrow Passage, "I don't need to favor one over the other. In Feng Shui Geomancy and geomancy, and the Five Elements and Eight Trigrams, I am slightly better than Sister Liuli. But in other areas, I am far inferior. My desire to study these many other subjects is not to be pretentious or show off my talents. I am not naturally inclined to associate with powerful and aristocratic families. I only wish to appreciate culture and broaden my horizons."
He played a few more tunes, which, though melodious, sounded rather shallow and mediocre. Li Xian then picked up a wooden horse, no bigger than the palm of his hand. He twisted its tail, and it could walk on all fours, lifelike and with an extremely intricate mechanism. Li Xian had exchanged it for thirty copper coins from a disciple of the Flower Cage Sect.
With nothing else to do, Li Xian searched again. Suddenly, he took out a red brocade pouch, untied it, and inside was indeed a pair of private trousers. They were exquisitely made of light silk, with gold thread as the drawstring, the red and gold colors complementing each other. They were as light as gauze and almost transparent.
The intention wasn't to conceal, but rather to enhance. The brocade pouch was already quite small, yet this intimate garment was completely preserved inside. This demonstrates an outrageous stinginess in the use of materials. A faint fragrance of the lady's perfume still lingered. Li Xian asked curiously, "How did this end up here? It must have been accidentally mixed in with the silver when we captured the lady and took the opportunity to extort money. Oh well—I'll return it to her when we meet again."
He put everything back in its bag and tied the opening tightly. Li Xian sighed deeply, "If only I had a Mustard Void Demon Garment among all this junk I carry," he thought.
Li Xian was fond of collecting odds and ends. He had many pockets and pouches all over his body. Nangong Liuli knew his nature and wanted to travel the world, so she was always willing to use some of his belongings. Therefore, whenever she helped Li Xian bathe and change, she would retrieve her embroidery and add it to his pouches.
Although Li Xian had many miscellaneous items, they were mostly small things that didn't hinder his movement or fighting. Sometimes, when he came across something he liked, he would casually hide it in his sleeve pocket or breast pocket—accumulating them in this way. Sometimes he would take them out, but only when he thought of them.
These items were now listed one by one, including poison powder, darts, Heaven-Hiding Casket, a box containing both Heaven-and-Earth Casket, silver, and other items. Inside the Heaven-and-Earth Casket, there were still hundreds of strands of Silkworm Silk.
This inventory helped pass the time, and it wasn't boring. But as night deepened, Li Xian was suddenly startled. He examined the miscellaneous items in front of him, and although everything was complete, one extremely important item was missing: the Ghost Jade.
Li Xian searched frantically but found no trace of it. His brow furrowed as he pondered, "All my belongings are still here, and the Ghost Jade is securely fastened to my waist; it couldn't possibly have sunk into the lake. It must have fallen here during the battle when the rope was cut."
As darkness fell, Li Xian felt his strength returning and pondered, "If it were anything else, losing it wouldn't matter. But the Ghost Jade was a gift from my master, a token of my lineage. I've only had it for a little over a month, and I've already lost it—I've truly failed my master's trust."
He glanced at the sky and made up his mind. The sooner he found the jade, the more at ease he would feel. Although it was dark all around, his eyesight was excellent, and he could see clearly in the dark as usual. So he rubbed his thumb ring, Wishful Treasure Sword grew to half a zhang in length. He stood up, supporting himself with the Wishful Treasure Sword, and began to search for the Ghost Jade in the dark.
They cleared away the grass and felled branches, heading towards the center of the palm of the Severed Palm Peak. Li Xian first searched in conspicuous places, but found no trace of it. He then looked among the weeds. He searched in this way for an hour, but still found nothing.
His heart was throbbing with pain, so he returned to the campfire to rest. He saw that things had already happened, but he remained calm despite the urgency. He sat cross-legged to recuperate and gathered his various belongings together. His clothes were rotten and could no longer be worn, and he had nowhere to put his belongings, which made him extremely worried.
Li Xian suddenly thought, "Although I do not possess the Mustard Void Demon Garment, I do possess the Divine-Ghost Malevolent Garment. This robe is mysterious and unpredictable, capable of reversing Yin and Yang, disrupting the Five Elements, and obscuring the secrets of Heaven. Since it can obscure the foreshadowing, can it also disrupt vision? The Pure Astral Garment is tangible but intangible; can the two robes be used together?"
So they began their experiment. First, they covered the object with the Pure Astral Garment, then covered it with the Divine-Ghost Malevolent Garment. The Pure Astral Garment was formless and intangible, yet it was real. The Divine-Ghost Malevolent Garment was unpredictable and mysterious. When the two robes were combined, everything was shrouded in black mist, and no one else could see anything.
However, it lacks the "Void-Dispelling" property; although it can conceal its presence, it can also hide in empty spaces. Moreover, its ghostly aura is eerie, its yin Yin Qi is oppressive, and its menacing attire is captivating—making it even more difficult to look away. Li Xian Intestine-Turning Narrow Passage, "It seems that neither the Divine-Ghost Malevolent Garment nor the Pure Astral Garment is of any use. The Divine-Ghost Malevolent Garment is too menacing; once revealed, it is extremely conspicuous. That's it—if I only use a portion of it, would it be of any benefit?"
Li Xian looked at the Wishful Jade Thumb Ring and commanded some of the Divine-Ghost Malevolent Garment to wrap around it. He then saw a wisp of black energy clinging to and wrapping around the thumb ring, completely concealing it within. Li Xian then donned the Pure Astral-Qi Garment, layering two layers of Turbid Garment.
The Wishful Jade Thumb Ring vanished into thin air. Li Xian exclaimed with delight, "Although it's difficult to hide all the treasures, concealing the ring's existence will prevent others from coveting it."
He spent the entire night trying to study the wonders of the two Turbid Garment. Before he knew it, dawn was breaking. Li Xian turned his thumb ring, using the Ruyi Sword as Wishful Treasure Sword, and went off to search for herbs and Ghost Jade.
That day, Ghost Jade disappeared without a trace, but they found Redflower Ginseng, Heart-Enhancing Fruit, and South-Returning Leaf —herbs that nourish the body and heart. These herbs are inherently difficult to cure heart problems. Historically, damage to the heart has resulted in either death or coma. Ordinary herbs are extremely difficult to cure, let alone be effective.
Li Xian was strengthened by "Consumption" and had the Heart-Protecting Divine Intent to keep him alive. He could use even ordinary herbs. He drank common medicines as if they were precious treasures. The effects were not obvious after one or two days, but the changes were obvious after three or four days.
As time goes by.
Li Xian's heart pulse was warm, and sometimes he could feel it beating. At this point, he could take a short nap, but Li Xian was extremely tired, and when he closed his eyes, he would fall into a deep sleep. He was afraid that if he overslept, his heart injury would relapse.
He searched for herbs for four days. Although Severed Palm Peak was vast, the amount of herbs available on a single peak was ultimately limited. He consumed all the herbs within his reach that were related to the heart meridian, either raw or cooked. Li Xian then sought out medicines that could nourish the body and replenish qi. He consumed any that were beneficial to his health and had a mild nature.
They searched for food by groping their way through the mountains.
Li Xian's cough, rest, and weakness gradually subsided. As long as she refrained from reckless actions, her emotional distress stabilized considerably.
However, despite searching the entire Severed Palm Peak, he could not find any trace of the Ghost Jade.
That day, Li Xian climbed to the summit of Middle Finger Peak. He saw bloodstains everywhere, but the "Ghost Jade" was nowhere to be found. He sat down and sighed, "Could it really have fallen into the lake? The lake is vast; if it fell in, how could I possibly find it? It's quite possible it was swallowed by a giant creature at the bottom of the lake long ago."
Suddenly, he noticed bloodstains on the ground, and vaguely saw the imprint of Ghost Jade. Li Xian frowned and examined it closely for a moment. He guessed that the bloodstains were not yet dry, and the Ghost Jade had fallen into the blood, thus forming this imprint.
Li Xian frowned repeatedly. Had the Ghost Jade fallen here and been snatched away by birds or beasts? He looked up and saw seagulls circling overhead. It was quite possible. Upon closer inspection, he saw a bloody footprint.
The footprints were very light, yet the patterns were exquisite. Li Xian pondered, "These footprints definitely didn't come from me. Before my blood dried, someone stepped here and took the Ghost Jade. This person—it must be Zhao Zairan without a doubt!"
Upon understanding this, Li Xian's heart sank, and he clenched his fists. "This woman is the most formidable opponent I have ever encountered. My Archery are rendered useless, and my Swordsmanship is utterly defeated. Now that she has taken the Ghost Jade —I will definitely demand it back from her in the future!"
This matter is not over yet!
As the perilous battle scene flashed before his eyes, Li Xian analyzed the pros and cons and felt increasingly impressed by Zhao Zaizai's strength. Instead, he abandoned distracting thoughts and focused on healing his injuries.
That's just his nature; he becomes more courageous with each setback.
Meanwhile, on the other side...
Zhao Zairan and her entourage concluded their journey Perfection and chose a day to leave Swallowing Water City. Before departing, Zhao Zaizai gazed at the lake, her mind a jumble of thoughts. She took out the Ghost Jade, pondering, "Should I not have killed him? If he truly was the successor of the Ghost Doctor, then our meeting through the Mayfly Abode would be perfectly reasonable. Senior Su Fuyou saved my life, yet I killed his descendant—I can't understand this matter for now."
Let's think about it another day.
Her mind was in turmoil, her thoughts wandering. Although she had many insights, they were not easy to digest in a short time. The martial arts travelers, their injuries fully healed, left Swallowing Water City together. They parted ways at a fork in the road.
Dongran Lake lies a Wind-Courting Town ".
The Flower Thief from the Water Altar and the rescued women were temporarily housed here. However, the aftermath remained stalled. Nangong Xuanming, Bian Chengfeng, and others were preoccupied with finding Zhao Zaizai and had no interest in this place, only sending people to keep a close watch on it.
Upon returning to this place, the ropes binding the Flower Thief remained in place. Those with weaker martial arts skills, whose hands had been bound for a long time, suffered from stagnant blood, their arms turning purple and red, and experiencing unbearable pain. They knelt and kowtowed, begging to be untied for a moment, only to be insulted and kicked, subjected to the utmost humiliation.
Those with stronger martial arts skills and internal energy can secretly circulate their internal energy to promote Blood Qi, preventing their arms from necrosis. However, the pain and torment are still unavoidable. Elders such as Han Zisha, Ye Cheng, and Meng Han felt the pain, but could barely tolerate it. However, the blow to their self-esteem was also a daily torment.
The Flower Thief were housed in a cowshed and paraded through the streets daily on ropes. When the people heard of their evil deeds, they punched and kicked them, threw stones, and splashed excrement on them to vent their anger. Some people even took out rakes, intending to kill the Flower Thief with a single blow.
He was stopped.
Zhao Ranying and the others rushed back to Wind-Courting Town, pondering how to handle the aftermath. Nangong Xuanming, "These animals, if they rebel, will harm people. It's better to kill them."
Zhao Ran frowned again and said, "I promised them that if they surrendered, I would spare their lives. How can I go back on my word?"
Bian Bianyun said, "But we can't let them go, or we'll harm more people." Bian Chengfeng said, "We can't kill them, we can't let them go, what should we do if we just keep dragging this out?"
Bian Bianyun said, "Why don't the Nangong Clan do us a favor and take them in? They could be used as slaves or servants."
Nangong Xuanming said, "If my Nangong Clan wanted servants, a single notice would be enough to attract countless people. Why bother bringing back these sinful slaves from so far away? The cost of food, shipping, and labor along the way is immeasurable. Besides, using such people would be a disgrace to our family."
Everyone asked in unison, "Miss Zhao, what is your decision?" Seeing Zhao Zaizai's veiled face, her slender figure, and her ethereal beauty, they all envied the "Golden Boy," who was born with a destiny of wealth and honor.
Zhao Ranran didn't care about the lives or deaths of these people. She found it extremely annoying. She was arrogant and disdainful of the world. Even if she had a sudden realization, her innate pride couldn't be completely changed. She could only suppress her disgust and think of a foolproof plan. She said, "For ordinary disciples, first remove their power, then send them to the government. Whether to kill or spare them, whether to punish or cripple them, let the government decide."
"The disciples and elders of the Flower-Sealed Sect have committed grave sins, yet their power is immense. They cannot be dealt with lightly. They should be strictly bound and taken back to Wanghe Circuit, where we will discuss their next course of action."
Nangong Xuanming obeyed the order and immediately hired a swordsmith to suppress the Flower Thief before handing them over to the authorities. The night was filled with screams and wails, pleas for mercy, remorse, curses, and hatred. By the time the ordinary disciples had been dealt with, ninety percent of the Flower Thief had been eliminated.
A dozen or so elders Flower-Sealed thirty disciples were all heavily bound, stripped naked, and bald. They were restrained and dragged along, filled with despair and utter humiliation. Yet, their sins were indeed grave; to enjoy a moment of pleasure would mean paying for a lifetime of sin.
Within a few days, everything was prepared.
On this day, with everything settled, Nangong Wuwang rented a merchant ship and escorted the disciples and elders of the Flower-Sealed Sect onto the ship's hold. Inside were dozens of black iron cages, large enough to hold only those standing, with no place to squat or lie down.
Nangong Wuwang brought the elders in and shouted, "If you know what's good for you, go inside yourselves."
Upon seeing the cage, Ye Cheng, Han Zisha, Meng Han, Di Yidao, and the others knew it was a torture device. They had vaguely inquired that the journey by boat would take more than a month. To be bound and confined inside for months on end, the torture they endured was unimaginable.
Meng Han said, "Hero of the Nangong Clan, I have truly repented and will never rebel. Could you please grant me—grant me a slightly larger cage? At least enough to loosen my legs and lie down for a while."
Nangong Wuwang sneered, "The cage is already cast, it's hard to change. Hurry up and go in." Di Yidao said with dissatisfaction, "We don't even treat women like this when we capture them. Now that you've captured us, we're treated worse than livestock?!"
Nangong Wuwang said, "If you had even a little bit of courage, you'd be better than livestock. But most of you, like that Li Xian, are already dead!"
Driven into the cage, cramped and confined, they had to remain upright at all times. Nangong Wuwang closed the hatch, and then he heard many elders sighing deeply, filled with regret. But it was unclear whether they regretted becoming Flower Thief or regretted not fighting back fiercely.
The ship sailed for several days. After Zhao Zaizai told everyone about killing Li Xian, Bian Qiaoqiao's expression changed drastically, and a pang of sorrow rose in her heart. She felt sorry for Li Xian. She remembered their meeting under the moon, when he said he had a way to resolve the matter.
Unexpectedly, this is how it was resolved. She was innocent and romantic, with a straightforward personality. She thought that even if Li Xian was truly wicked, it was still incredibly rare for him to do this for the woman he loved. His deep affection and sincerity made it impossible for her to be angry.
She also felt that Zhao Zaizai was unreasonable, and a sense of fear crept into her heart, which led her to gradually distance herself from him. Bian Qiaoqiao admired Zhao Zairan very much, but apart from admiration, she was actually more compatible with Nangong Liuli in terms of temperament.
--
She found an opportunity and told Nangong Liuli about the fake marriage and Li Xian's death. At that moment, Nangong Liuli trembled all over, her pretty face turned pale, and suddenly all the color disappeared from her eyes. She then asked Bian Qiaoqiao to leave the house.
In her despair, she felt the injustice of the world and was filled with extreme resentment, wanting to kill Nangong Xuanming and Nangong Wuwang as soon as possible. But she absolutely refused to believe that Li Xian had died.
She was clever and resourceful. She took out a strand of hair from her brocade pouch, touched it to the ground and planted it. Seeing that the hair took root, she knew that Li Xian was not dead. Knowing the wonderful uses of Li Xian's hair, she would secretly pluck a few strands when they were playing and laughing together. Once she was sure that he was not dead, she would remove the hair, fearing that occupying a strand of hair would disturb Li Xian's actions.
She regained her composure and called Bian Qiaoqiao into the house. After a brief conversation, she excused herself, saying she was tired, and told Bian Qiaoqiao to go back to her room to rest. Bian Qiaoqiao was extremely worried, but seeing that Nangong Liuli, though sad, did not seem to be contemplating suicide, she went back to her room to rest.
Merchant ships sailed peacefully on the river.
In the stillness of the night, the full moon hung high, its silvery light shattering, and wine splattered on the river's surface. Nangong Liuli suddenly spoke to someone outside, "Does a dignified jade Jade Maiden also have the habit of spying?"
Zhao Zairan appeared, standing outside the door. Her shadow was cast on the window screen. "Regarding the matter of the fake marriage, I was indeed wrong. If you blame me, I have nothing to say."
She felt deeply guilty, but she couldn't bring herself to apologize. Having kept it bottled up inside for so long, she noticed Bian Qiaoqiao and Nangong Liuli talking today and decided to follow them.
Nangong Liuli said, "I don't blame you." Zhao Zairan was taken aback. Nangong Liuli continued, "Helping is a matter of friendship, not helping is one's right. Although I, Nangong Liuli, have met you a few times, I would never presume to be worthy of you, the Jade Maiden of the Profound Dao Mountain Zhao Clan. It was Nangong Xuanming and Nangong Wuwang to harm me. Your inaction was merely due to a lack of friendship, not enough to warrant your assistance. What is there to complain about?"
Zhao Ran frowned slightly and said seriously, "It's normal that you still resent me. I was indeed biased in this matter. As Jade Maiden, I have a duty to guide the world. I saw through Nangong Xuanming and the others' malicious schemes, yet I did not stop them, making me no different from them. You are angry that my methods are insidious—"
Nangong Liuli said calmly, "Miss Zhao, although you are Jade Maiden, do you really believe that everyone in the world is as you think and as you expect? Just because you think I, Nangong Liuli Nangong Liuli, am a narrow-minded and infatuated woman, does that mean I must be?"
Zhao Ranran remained silent, but gradually felt stifled. She sincerely apologized, having hesitated for a long time before arriving, but after being repeatedly ridiculed, her arrogance inevitably resurfaced. Nangong Liuli gazed at the moonlight and said, "With your abilities, you couldn't possibly catch him."
Zhao Ranran said, "He may not deserve to die, but once the sword is drawn, there's no going back."
Nangong Liuli said, "I mean, in terms of intelligence, you are not as good as him."
Zhao Ranran clenched her fists, feeling guilty and wanting to be honest to ease her conscience. However, having always been in a position of power, her arrogance was hard to suppress. Hearing these words, she couldn't help but feel angry. Feigning contempt, she said defiantly, "It's just cunning, not the right path. What's the point of talking about someone who's already dead? He may have had some flair among the Flower Thief. But he was just Flower Thief. My killing him might have been biased, but binding his hands and feet and making him pay for his crimes was Wu Cuo."
Zhao Zairan said arrogantly, "Moreover, if we really talk about talent, martial arts, ability, and intelligence, he is not as good as Nangong Xuanming. There are many people who are better than him." The implication was that he was not comparable to her.
Nangong Liuli scoffed, "He started as a hunter, and all his gains came from hard-fought battles. His martial arts are scattered and unstructured, yet he has mastered each style to its Peak Mastery. He borrowed money from all sides to build his empire, and his cultivation was arduous, making his current achievements unimaginable. If you were born into a poor family, could you have reached that level? Without these innate advantages and Lineage support—being fed Essence Soup and Essence Treasure from a young age, having access to advanced martial arts from the start, and being personally instructed by elders—you might not be his match. Even with your many advantages, you can't do anything to him for now; in the end, he'll be the one seeking you out."
Zhao Zaizai coldly replied, "There are no 'ifs.' I was born with it, so why should I abandon it? He was born without it, so how did he acquire it? All your 'ifs' are meaningless. If one day he could defeat me and say these words himself, I might listen. But that's impossible now; he's already dead by my My Sword." Finding no point in continuing the conversation, he turned and left.
Nangong Liuli's voice trailed off, "You can't kill him, but he will return. It's not impossible that day will come." Her tone was remarkably calm. This calmness greatly displeased Zhao Zaizai, who said, "Delusion has taken hold of him; he is already dead."
Zhao Ran suddenly stopped again, her arrogance ignited by this sudden attack, her disdain even greater than before. She thought to herself, "Even if I have been biased, it's not an unforgivable crime." Without turning back, she arrogantly declared, "If, by some miracle, he truly isn't dead, he'll be hiding in the mud. If he dares to seek me out, I won't kill him, but defeating him within three sword strikes is no difficult task." Her figure vanished.
Nangong Liuli said confidently in a soft voice, "The path of martial arts is boundless. He is trapped in the mire. You cannot kill him, and you are being schemed against without realizing it. Once he soars to the heavens, what will become of you, even if you are Jade Maiden?"