Li City

Liu Qiaolian had worked as a traveling merchant, frequently traveling between the north and south.

In the following days, with Liu Qiaolian guiding and accompanying him, Xia Daoming no longer had to worry about which road to take, and he no longer had to eat and sleep outdoors.

Every day, Liu Qiaolian would arrange the itinerary perfectly.

Whether it was a place to eat or a place to sleep, even the mode of transportation would have been changed from two fine horses to a carriage if Xia Daoming hadn't disagreed.

Riding a horse, with a beautiful woman serving him attentively, Xia Daoming felt like a young master out for a leisurely tour.

Not only that, but Liu Qiaolian, with her plump and graceful figure, unlike Ji Wenyue, was not inexperienced. She was charming and alluring, not shying away from Xia Daoming's shrewd gaze. Instead, she smiled flirtatiously at him without reservation, displaying her attractive figure, appearing as tempting as a ripe fruit ready to be plucked.

However, towards other men they encountered on the road, she was as cold as ice, showing no favor, as if they were all dead.

Alone together for seven days and seven nights, on a stormy night, Xia Daoming, having had a bit to drink, finally couldn't resist his male nature and stripped Liu Qiaolian, who had thrown herself into his arms, and played cards with her.

The next day, Liu Qiaolian acted as if nothing had happened, continuing to fulfill her duties as a maid. It was just that her walk was a bit awkward, and occasionally, when she looked at Xia Daoming's back, a hint of indescribable emotion flickered in the depths of her eyes.

As for Xia Daoming, having slept with her the night before, especially after seeing Liu Qiaolian solemnly cut off and collect the bloodstains on the bedding, he felt very guilty.

Seeing that she was dressed like a married woman, he had thought she was a widow or had suffered some misfortune. Therefore, he had no psychological burden when Liu Qiaolian threw herself into his arms last night, and he went along with playing cards with her.

As it turned out, she was still a virgin. Things had gotten out of hand!

If he were to take responsibility, he was currently like a rootless duckweed, with no plans to settle down and start a family. Moreover, he had only met Liu Qiaolian a few days ago, and there was no romantic feeling between them; at most, he was just lusting after her body.

If he didn't take responsibility, it would seem like he was a scumbag.

Therefore, Xia Daoming, who hadn't figured out how to deal with the aftermath, could only try his best to show goodwill to Liu Qiaolian, proactively offering to do things, at least so that Liu Qiaolian wouldn't think he was the kind of scumbag who would turn his back on someone after getting what he wanted.

As a result, Liu Qiaolian didn't appreciate it at all. She still meticulously performed her duties as a maid, showing none of the seductive tenderness from last night's card game.

Once, Xia Daoming was perhaps a bit too enthusiastic, and she even shed tears and knelt, saying that she absolutely could not disrupt their proper roles!

This made Xia Daoming feel very conflicted. It seemed like he had become the kind of scumbag who couldn't handle a one-night stand, where both parties agreed to go their separate ways afterward, but then insisted on pestering the other person!

A few days later, it was another stormy night.

Perhaps it was because of Xia Daoming's overly shrewd gaze during the day, or perhaps Liu Qiaolian had tasted forbidden fruit and had her own thoughts. After blowing out the lamp, she actively crawled into his bed.

The next day, Xia Daoming still felt guilty and wanted to offer some compensation.

But she still refused to accept it, no matter what.

Gradually, Xia Daoming became accustomed to Liu Qiaolian's role as a concubine maid.

The two of them would play cards every few days, which turned Xia Daoming's journey into a sensual one again.

The mountain road was winding and twisting, and they also had to avoid checkpoints guarded by bandits. After another ten days or so, the two finally arrived at Li City.

Li City was situated in a plain basin among the mountains. Its city walls were majestic and tall, far beyond what Black Stone City could compare to.

The giant wall stones were covered with mottled, dark brown dried bloodstains, silently narrating the city's long and vicissitudinous history.

On the city walls, fully armed soldiers patrolled back and forth.

Xia Daoming and Liu Qiaolian paid the entry fee and entered Li City.

The main street connecting to the city gate was much wider, more prosperous, and livelier than Black Stone City.

Men and women in various attire brushed shoulders as they passed, with taverns, teahouses, brothels, casinos, pharmacies, and rice shops lining both sides, along with many street vendors.

The hawkers' cries and the weaving crowds almost made Xia Daoming think he had traveled to a prosperous era.

However, as Xia Daoming truly merged into the crowd and walked on the street, he discovered that beneath the prosperous and lively surface, there was desolation and misery everywhere.

There were beggars in ragged clothes, skin and bones from hunger, people selling their children and daughters, people selling themselves to bury their fathers, and corpses being thrown like dead dogs onto carts and pulled out of the city gates...

The alleys connecting to the main street were dark, narrow, and filled with filth.

In a small alley, people in unified gang uniforms were hacking at someone with knives, but the weaving crowd on the main street seemed to have grown accustomed to it, paying no extra attention.

A wry smile appeared on Xia Daoming's lips.

Mangzhou Prefecture was a border region, rampant with bandits and widespread famine. How could it possibly be a prosperous era?

Led by Liu Qiaolian, the two soon arrived at a street that looked relatively clean and where no beggars or refugees were visible.

The houses on both sides of the street were mostly semi-new and semi-old. Although there were no grand mansions, most of them were houses with small courtyards, which were much better than the dilapidated single-story houses in the small alleys Xia Daoming had seen along the way.

"This should be equivalent to the residential area of Li City's middle class," Xia Daoming thought to himself.

"Sui Mian Lane is one of the two streets under the jurisdiction of Flowing Cloud Workshop. Flowing Cloud Workshop is the territory controlled by the Situ Family," Liu Qiaolian explained as they walked.

"The Situ Family that the young man at the Crimson Flame Valley entrance mentioned?" Xia Daoming asked in surprise.

"That's right, the Situ Family. The Xu Family is the only Martial Dao Grandmaster family in Li City. Xu Shixiong is the outstanding disciple of the Xu Family who is widely expected to achieve Grandmaster status. He himself is a Seventh-Rank Great Martial Master, so naturally, he doesn't need to put the Situ Family in his eyes.

But in reality, the head of the Situ Family, Situ Zhongliang, is a Sixth-Rank Great Martial Master, which is already quite formidable in Li City. Moreover, the Situ Family has a deep friendship with the Ji Family in the neighboring Yongqing Ward, and they have always advanced and retreated together.

With the Situ Family stationed in Flowing Cloud Workshop, ordinary gang forces wouldn't dare to cause trouble. This servant bought a house here six years ago when she fled to Li City for peace and quiet," Liu Qiaolian said.

"The Ji Family? Are you referring to the Ji Family of Evergreen Hall?" Xia Daoming's expression became subtle.

"So, Master has also heard of the Ji Family of Evergreen Hall!" Liu Qiaolian showed a hint of surprise.

"Wow, what a coincidence!" Xia Daoming muttered to himself, nodding. "I've only heard of it, but I'm not very clear about the specifics."

"The Ji Family is much stronger than the Situ Family in terms of financial resources, manpower, and connections. The old master of the Ji Family is also a Seventh-Rank Great Martial Master, but unfortunately, he is already old, and his descendants are not outstanding. The highest they have reached is Fifth-Rank Great Martial Master, and so far, no one has achieved Sixth-Rank Great Martial Master."

The Ji Family is a major merchant of medicinal herbs, with considerable financial resources. They have recruited and cultivated many skilled individuals using their wealth, even hiring three Sixth-Rank Great Martial Masters as retainers. They are quite an influential force in Li City," Liu Qiaolian explained.

As they spoke, the two arrived at a house with two large locks on the door.

Liu Qiaolian took out a key and unlocked them.

"Creak!"

The door was pushed open.

The first thing that greeted them was a courtyard, mostly paved with bricks and stones. It was also furnished with training equipment like stone locks, iron stakes, and sandbags.

On either side of the courtyard were two side rooms, and directly facing the main entrance were three main rooms and two attached rooms.

It was clear Liu Qiaolian had been away from home for quite some time. Weeds had grown between the cracks of the bricks and stones and in the corners of the courtyard. A layer of dust covered the doors and windows of the rooms.

Familiar sights met her eyes, and the memories she had deliberately suppressed in recent days flooded back.

In her mind's eye, she saw a young woman in a green dress watching with satisfaction as a young man sweated profusely while lifting stone locks.

But in the next moment, the young man's face transformed into a hideous, pockmarked one, and he pushed her towards a Blood Feather Eagle. The scene shifted again, and that familiar pockmarked face pushed her towards a man with a fleshy face and a lewd grin.

Tears began to roll down Liu Qiaolian's cheeks without her realizing it.

"Let's stay at an inn tonight. Tomorrow, we'll buy a new house. We'll find some time to sort out the things in this house, then sell it," Xia Daoming said softly as he walked over and gently pulled Liu Qiaolian into his embrace.

"Thank you, Master. This servant is fine. This servant will go into the house to pack some clothes and then we can stay at the inn," Liu Qiaolian said, wiping the tears from her eyes and giving Xia Daoming a bright smile.

Several days later.

Taiwu Ward, Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School.

Xia Daoming, dressed in a blue martial arts uniform, followed a burly, bearded man through the spacious outer training grounds. They passed through an arched gateway and walked along a covered corridor, arriving at the inner training grounds, which were surrounded by greenery and cool breezes.

Compared to the spectacular and bustling scene of the outer training grounds, the inner training grounds were very quiet.

Only a man who appeared even younger than Xia Daoming was sitting in the shade by the training grounds, circulating his vital energy and strength.

On the south side of the training grounds, on slightly elevated terrain, a pavilion had been built.

Behind the pavilion grew a large tree with a canopy like clouds, completely shading the pavilion.

Inside the pavilion, a man in his sixties with hair as sharp as a halberd and a powerful build was resting with his eyes closed.

He heard footsteps and slowly opened his eyes, looking towards Xia Daoming.

His gaze was stern and sharp, and Xia Daoming's heart tightened. He knew this was the master of the Hidden Dragon Martial Arts School, Liang Jingtang, a Sixth-Rank Great Martial Master.

The young man circulating his vital energy and strength also noticed the arrival of a stranger. He opened his eyes and cast a cold glance at Xia Daoming, then quickly closed them again, continuing to circulate his vital energy and strength.

"Master, I've brought him," Yuchi Xiao said, bowing to Liang Jingtang as he arrived at the pavilion.

Liang Jingtang nodded slightly at Yuchi Xiao, his gaze passing over him to rest on Xia Daoming.

"This young one, Xia Daoming, pays his respects to Master Liang," Xia Daoming said, quickly stepping forward to bow with clasped hands.

"I heard your cultivation technique is inherited from Qiu Zhiheng?" Liang Jingtang asked, a hint of weariness and remembrance flashing in his eyes.

"Reporting to the Master, I started practicing martial arts under Master Qiu when I was twelve years old," Xia Daoming replied, bowing.

Hearing that Xia Daoming had started practicing martial arts under Qiu Zhiheng at the age of twelve, Liang Jingtang's gaze towards him softened with a touch of paternal kindness.

"I am three years older than your Master Qiu. We practiced martial arts together, played together, and undertook missions together. Our friendship was very deep. It's a pity his talent was limited, and he offended a direct descendant of the Shi Family. Thirty years ago, he was forced to leave for the northern lands.

We haven't seen each other since, and I never expected to see a disciple he taught today! I wonder how he is doing?" Liang Jingtang asked.

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