Two months later.
The vast desert was nothing but endless yellow sand.
The sand whirled like a tornado, spiraling higher and higher.
It was like ten thousand horses thundering forward, like raging waves crashing against the shore.
"Holy shit! Other people race horses, and here you are riding an ox."
The voice reached his ears amid the wind and sand.
Li Ping'an paid it no mind, gripping the ox's horns tightly.
Old Ox galloped on all four hooves, charging ever harder like a beast gone mad.
Behind Li Ping'an sat a woman.
She had a devilishly seductive figure, and her pale golden hair shone brilliantly.
A shawl embroidered with flowers draped over her legs, accentuating her flawless figure.
She wore dark leather boots and a strip of blue cloth wrapped around her head.
Dust covered her face, but it could not conceal her stunning beauty.
"But this ox really can run! I've never seen one this fast!" the woman shouted.
Half an hour later.
Old Ox stopped galloping and moved slowly through the desert.
Peace returned to the desert, and the setting sun, like a wheel of fire, gradually vanished into the dusk.
The woman let out a long breath and patted her ample bosom.
"Whew, thank goodness."
"Hey, where did you buy this ox? How can he run so fast in the desert?"
The woman sounded curious.
"Moo~"
Old Ox lowed indignantly.
"Look, why don't you just let me go? Whatever that bastard paid you, I'll pay triple. Isn't that enough?"
The woman's little mouth had not stopped the entire journey.
Her name was Pei Zhuxuan, and she was the target of Li Ping'an's current assignment.
Three months earlier, Pei Zhuxuan had married into a foreign merchant's family.
Her wedding night should have been a beautiful occasion of blooming flowers and a full moon.
Instead, Pei Zhuxuan had killed her husband and burned down the house.
Then she had disappeared in the Anbei Four Garrisons.
The family had approached the Spring Beauty Courtyard, and Ma Sanniang had given the assignment to Li Ping'an.
"As long as you let me go, I'll do anything you want~ I'll be yours for the rest of my life."
With her hands bound, Pei Zhuxuan pressed herself tightly against Li Ping'an's back.
Unmoved, Li Ping'an formed a thin layer of qi behind him, blocking her breast assault.
"Tell me, have you ever even touched a woman? You've certainly never experienced my tricks."
Li Ping'an remained unmoved, and they traveled for another half hour.
At last, an inn appeared ahead.
Of the inn's two doors, one was closed, and the other was closed too.
"Waiter, bring us something to eat and a pot of wine."
"Coming right up~"
Li Ping'an chose a seat near a corner.
He held a rope in one hand, leading Pei Zhuxuan behind him.
Perhaps because the wind and sand were especially fierce that day, the inn was particularly crowded.
Several attendants hurried back and forth, serving tea and dishes.
The moment Li Ping'an and Pei Zhuxuan appeared, they drew everyone's attention.
A woman like Pei Zhuxuan could hardly avoid attracting attention, but the real killer was the way she walked.
Her waist swayed with her graceful movements, offering tantalizing glimpses beneath her skirt.
The corners of Pei Zhuxuan's mouth lifted slightly as she discreetly swept her gaze over the people around her.
Even seated, she would not behave, raising her rope-bound hands.
She pouted pitifully, tears seeming to shimmer in her eyes.
She looked as though Li Ping'an had mistreated her and she was waiting for someone to rescue her.
Time ticked by, and at last someone stepped forward.
They were four burly men seated near the door, wearing short tunics with sabers hanging from their belts.
They strode toward Li Ping'an.
The man in front had two saber scars on his face and wore a faint, ambiguous smile.
Pei Zhuxuan smiled slyly, knowing her scheme had succeeded.
The leader cupped his hands briefly. "I am Wu Sheng, the Golden Saber. These three are my brothers. How should I address you?"
"Just a passerby. What can I do for you, Brother Wu?"
"I wouldn't presume to give you orders. But this young lady is as lovely as a flower. Why have you tied her up?"
Wu Sheng looked Pei Zhuxuan over and swallowed.
"I'm a Bounty Hunter. She's the criminal I'm taking back."
"Sir, don't listen to his nonsense. What Bounty Hunter?
"He's clearly a bastard who killed my husband and tried to rape me."
Pei Zhuxuan's acting was astonishing, her pitiful expression complemented by glistening tears.
Any man who saw her would feel a powerful urge to protect her.
Wu Sheng's gaze sharpened.
The air around them seemed to freeze, and everyone discreetly cast curious looks their way.
Li Ping'an smiled faintly. "This criminal is extremely cunning. Don't fall for her tricks, Brother Wu."
"I can judge the truth for myself. Release this young lady right now!"
The others surrounded Li Ping'an.
Each of the burly men was broad-shouldered and thick-waisted, standing there like a wall.
By contrast, Li Ping'an looked like an utterly unremarkable ordinary man.
Wu Sheng pressed his palm to the saber hilt at his waist, ready to draw and attack.
Yet the moment his palm touched the hilt, the back of his hand went numb.
Wu Sheng sucked in a sharp breath.
Li Ping'an's bamboo staff tapped the back of his hand. "Easy, my friend."
"You're asking for death!"
Enraged, Wu Sheng drew his saber with his other hand.
With a metallic ring, he delivered a backhand slash.
Li Ping'an lightly flicked the blade with a finger, producing a faint hum.
True qi reverberated, and the blade shattered like a mirror.
The powerful internal force drove Wu Sheng back several steps, his heart pounding.
Huff, huff, huff~
"Kill him!"
The companions behind Wu Sheng roared and prepared to charge together.
"Stop!"
Wu Sheng stopped his companions in time, panting heavily.
Then he cupped his hands and said shakily, "I had eyes but failed to recognize Mount Tai. My apologies, my apologies."
The strength his opponent had just displayed was far beyond his own.
He had shattered a saber with one finger.
Taking his life would probably require no more than a breath.
Li Ping'an sipped his wine. "No harm done."
Seeing that Li Ping'an would not pursue the matter, Wu Sheng hurried out of the inn with his brothers, scrambling blindly in their haste, not daring to linger another moment.
Everyone else in the inn was startled by Li Ping'an's display as well.
Forget harboring any crooked intentions-they did not even dare spare Pei Zhuxuan another glance.
"Tch~ A bunch of useless trash."
Pei Zhuxuan crossed her legs and shook her head disdainfully.
It was already late, so they could only spend the night at the inn.
"Tell me, don't you really want to experience my skills in bed?"
Lying on the bed, Pei Zhuxuan glanced at Li Ping'an, who was leaning against the wall in the corner.
"Are you planning to stand like that all night?"
"Yes. I generally don't sleep when I'm away."
Pei Zhuxuan sighed. "What a pity your eyes are ruined.
"My beauty trap doesn't work. Heaven truly wants me dead~"
Li Ping'an had no intention of engaging her in conversation.
Bored, Pei Zhuxuan twirled her hair. "If I'm taken back, living will definitely be worse than death.
"Those people are a bunch of complete perverts. I'd be better off ending it myself."
"Then I'll have to consider breaking your arms and legs," Li Ping'an suddenly said.
Pei Zhuxuan laughed, then abruptly asked, "Do you know why I killed my husband?"
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