Better a Beast Than Not a Beast!

"Clang!"

The sharp knife the young woman held high fell to the ground.

"Wuwuwu!"

The moment the knife hit the ground, the young woman suddenly turned and hugged Xia Daoming, sobbing uncontrollably.

Feeling the softness in her embrace, especially the alluring fair skin he could see when he looked down, Xia Daoming, who had just been so decisive and ruthless in killing, suddenly felt a bit flustered.

However, he was ultimately soft-hearted and didn't push the young woman away.

"I'm sorry, benefactor. This concubine… Ah!" After a long while, the young woman's emotions gradually calmed down. Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she quickly let go and bowed her head to apologize to Xia Daoming.

But halfway through her apology, she felt a cool sensation on her chest. She immediately let out a sharp cry, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and instinctively covered her proud chest with her hands.

Xia Daoming looked at the young woman's flustered and shy reaction as she covered her chest and couldn't help but feel speechless.

Just a moment ago, she was tightly holding onto him and wouldn't let go!

What was with the screaming and covering her chest now?

"I'll excuse myself for a moment!" Although he felt speechless, Xia Daoming said courteously.

"Ah! Benefactor, don't go!" Seeing Xia Daoming about to leave, the young woman suddenly cried out in alarm.

"I forgot there's a dead body here. How about you go to the side hall to tidy up? I'll stay here and clean up," Xia Daoming said, stopping and turning his back to the young woman.

"Benefactor has saved this concubine twice. This life of mine already belongs to Benefactor. As long as Benefactor doesn't find my presence offensive, there's nothing to avoid," the young woman said.

Xia Daoming was startled to see that the young woman seemed intent on repaying him with herself and quickly said, "It is our duty to act righteously. Madam need not take it to heart."

"This concubine is Liu Qiaolian. Benefactor may call me Lian'er," the young woman said.

"So you are Madam Liu. It is improper for men and women to touch. Madam should still go to the side hall to tidy up," Xia Daoming said, still with his back to Liu Qiaolian.

Liu Qiaolian cast a complex glance at Xia Daoming's retreating back, bowed, and said, "Yes, Benefactor."

With that, Liu Qiaolian walked to the corner of the Taoist temple's wall, picked up a bundle lying on the ground, and headed towards the dilapidated side hall.

After Liu Qiaolian left, Xia Daoming began to deal with the bodies.

Before dragging the bodies outside the Taoist temple to bury them hastily, Xia Daoming naturally didn't forget to search them.

To Xia Daoming's surprise, on the three Martial Masters, including the one with beady eyes, he found over a thousand taels of silver notes and loose silver.

And over a month ago, when he killed the six Martial Masters from the Hundred Herbs Hall, one of whom was a Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master, he only found a little over a thousand taels of silver notes.

Of course, Xia Daoming hadn't factored in those four Three Yuan Blood Return Pills.

But even if he had, considering their cultivation and numbers, they were still significantly inferior to the three Martial Masters, including the one with beady eyes.

When Xia Daoming finished dealing with the three corpses and returned to the main hall of the Taoist temple, he saw Liu Qiaolian standing quietly in front of the corpse of the pockmarked young man.

Her fitted green martial attire perfectly outlined her voluptuous waist. Her black hair was styled in a simple flowing cloud bun, exuding a dignified elegance that didn't detract from her mature charm.

Hearing footsteps, Liu Qiaolian quickly turned and bowed to Xia Daoming, "Lian'er greets Benefactor."

"Madam, there's no need for formalities. What about him?" Xia Daoming asked.

"He is Liu Zhong, my cousin. However, ever since the Liu Family Village was massacred, he has been the only family I have left in this world.

I also regard him as a younger brother, and I've poured all my resources into helping him cultivate martial arts, hoping that one day he could achieve something in martial arts and avenge our family's blood feud.

But fate plays cruel tricks. The person I considered my closest kin pushed me towards the Blood Feather Eagle with his own hands to save his life, and then pushed me towards those thugs."

As she spoke, crystal tears silently slid down Liu Qiaolian's delicate skin.

Her watery eyes were filled with desolation and confusion, evoking a deep sense of pity in anyone who saw them.

"On the contrary, Benefactor, though we are strangers, you have saved me twice. This concubine has no way to repay you. I will serve you as an ox or horse for the rest of my life. Please take me in!" Saying this, Liu Qiaolian bowed deeply.

"I've already said that it's our duty to act righteously. Madam need not take it to heart, let alone talk about repaying me as an ox or horse," Xia Daoming said, startled by her words.

"Does Benefactor dislike my humble appearance?" Liu Qiaolian looked up at Xia Daoming, her face filled with sorrow.

"Of course not. If you are of humble appearance, then there are no beautiful women in this world," Xia Daoming said without hesitation.

"Does Benefactor worry that by doing this, I expect you to avenge my family?" Liu Qiaolian asked again.

Xia Daoming was taken aback.

He hadn't even considered taking Liu Qiaolian in, so how could he think of such things?

"From the moment Liu Zhong pushed me towards the Blood Feather Eagle, I had already given up the idea of revenge. Later, Liu Zhong pushed me towards those thugs, and I felt utterly despairing.

Fortunately, Benefactor saved me once again, preventing me from being defiled. But I no longer know how to continue living my life, or why I am still alive. Wuwu!" As she spoke, Liu Qiaolian suddenly crouched down, covering her face, and burst into tears.

Seeing the woman crying so sadly and despairingly, Xia Daoming suddenly understood.

Liu Qiaolian's desire to serve him as an ox or horse was not just out of gratitude. It was because after experiencing a series of major blows, the resolve that had sustained her life had collapsed. She needed to find a reason, a goal, to give herself the courage to keep living.

If he refused her now, it would be akin to forcing her to die, or at the very least, forcing her to become a living corpse.

"Actually, my own life is also uncertain at the moment..." After a long pause, Xia Daoming finally said, unable to bear it.

"It's alright, it's alright. This servant has saved up some money over the years. Wherever Master wishes to settle, we can purchase some property there. Master can focus solely on practicing martial arts, and this servant will handle all the daily affairs.

Moreover, this servant is also familiar with some trade routes in the north and south. If the money is not enough, this servant can continue to work as a traveling merchant in the north and south." Seeing Xia Daoming's tone soften, Liu Qiaolian suddenly stopped crying and looked up.

Xia Daoming stared, dumbfounded, at Liu Qiaolian, who was weeping prettily, her words striking him so hard that his entire worldview was upended.

If he actually agreed to this, all those guys in his past life who freeloaded off their partners would seem incredibly weak compared to him!

"Ahem, Madam Liu, you really don't need to do this. This makes me..." After a long moment, Xia Daoming finally recovered and spoke.

"Master, you can just call this servant Lian'er. Furthermore, this servant has never been married, and I will never marry for the rest of my life. I only wish to serve Master to repay your two life-saving favors," Liu Qiaolian said quickly.

Xia Daoming felt a headache coming on.

Although he had saved this woman twice, the thought of him freeloading like this made him feel worse than a beast.

But if he refused, seeing the woman's current state, there was a high chance she would choose death to prove her resolve.

If that really happened, how could Xia Daoming bear it!

"If Master does not agree and allow this servant to repay this kindness with the rest of my life, then I would die with regrets even if I died right now!" Liu Qiaolian suddenly knelt down and said.

Damn it, just as I expected!

He thought about it. Saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda. If I don't go to hell, who will? If I'm worse than a beast, then so be it!

Seeing this, Xia Daoming sighed helplessly towards the heavens. "Lian'er, get up. Although we are now in a master-servant relationship, if you ever regret it and wish to leave, you can do so at any time."

"I, Liu Qiaolian, swear to repay my benefactor's two life-saving favors with the rest of my life. If I break this oath, may lightning strike me and may I never be reborn!" Upon hearing this, Liu Qiaolian not only did not get up but instead made her vow with a solemn expression.

"This..."

Xia Daoming wondered if he simply didn't understand the women of this world, or if Liu Qiaolian was an anomaly.

But no matter what, since things had reached this point, Xia Daoming could only accept.

"Lian'er, how should we handle him?" Xia Daoming brought up the old topic, but his address had changed.

"No matter what he did to me, we were siblings after all. This servant will go bury him now," Liu Qiaolian said.

"Mm!" Xia Daoming nodded and went to drag the corpse.

As it turned out, Liu Qiaolian insisted he was the Master and refused to let him do such a thing.

She wouldn't even let him dig the grave.

Xia Daoming had no choice but to let her have her way.

Since Xia Daoming agreed to take her in as a servant, Liu Qiaolian seemed to have found a new purpose and meaning in life.

After burying Liu Zhong, she began cleaning the Taoist temple, tidying Xia Daoming's bed, fetching water from the well in the back courtyard, and boiling water...

Seeing Liu Qiaolian busy with everything, Xia Daoming, who came from modern civilization, couldn't stand it and wanted to help, but Liu Qiaolian wouldn't allow it.

Xia Daoming had no choice but to sit and circulate his qi and blood, choosing to avert his eyes.

Night soon fell.

The Taoist temple was illuminated by a long-lost firelight.

Xia Daoming ate the dinner prepared by Liu Qiaolian while chatting with her intermittently.

Through their conversation, Xia Daoming learned that Liu Qiaolian, who looked like a young married woman, was actually a year younger than him. She was only twenty-three this year. Besides occasionally traveling north and south with Liu Zhong as a traveling merchant, she normally resided in Li City.

"You live in Li City! What a coincidence. I'm heading to Li City this time to seek apprenticeship at the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School. You must know about the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School, right?" Xia Daoming asked, surprised and delighted.

PS: During the new book period, please support us with your votes!

Today's update is complete. Thanks to the book friends Qiuzhishanguang, Qianmiduyou, Wangjigang, RPGfangshou, etc., for their rewards.