Chapter 316: Women Planting Osmanthus

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Fenghuo Xizhuhou

Traveling north, Xu Fengnian encountered common folk from Xihe Prefecture. He heard many high-pitched folk songs and work chants, whose melodies were distinctly different from the refined music of the Central Plains. Their rustic words were deeply moving. There were old women giving advice, young girls yearning for marriage, men quarrying stones, and descendants mourning the dead. Usually, Xu Fengnian would stop and listen from afar to these unrefined, guttural songs, resembling calls to sheep and cattle, only resuming his northward journey when the music ended. He traveled unhurriedly, needing only to arrive at Da'e City in Baoping Prefecture at the precise time. Arriving too early and encountering the demonic Luo Yang might stir up trouble, proving to be a misfortune instead. Along this route, Xu Fengnian journeyed on a rough post road. Half a month later, he once again encountered the young couple traveling on horseback. After leaving the Wu Family Ruins, they had changed into sharp, practical attire. The man with the saber appeared even more dashing, and the woman with the sword had gained a touch of heroic spirit. Xu Fengnian's entry into Beimang had already seen him break through a crucial barrier, reaching the initial Vajra realm, a state coveted by all martial artists. He could easily assess the young wandering swordsman's qi, generally determining him to be at the threshold of the second or third rank. For a young master of his age, he was genuinely talented and promising. Even encountering a band of fifty seasoned horse bandits, he could easily defend himself. This was likely his confidence in daring to travel the Loess Plateau with a woman. Although Beimang was chaotic, it wasn't so chaotic that anyone traveling would end up dead in the wilderness. In Xu Fengnian's view, Beimang was increasingly resembling the Autumn period, where scholars gradually rose to power. With more rules, not everyone had the right to act recklessly.

Traveling north, he was never truly lonely, either drawing out the Autumn Sword Qi to form a rolling dragon wall or performing the "Immortal Caresses the Great Peak" with bare hands.

Taoist scriptures state that humans possess three treasures: Jing (essence), Qi (vital energy), and Shen (spirit). Jing and Qi are tangible, while Shen is transformative, through which the nature of ghosts and spirits can be understood. Leaving aside these seemingly abstruse concepts, simply put, among Jing, Qi, and Shen, Shen is considered the most precious, which is why there's the saying of land immortals whose spirits can wander outside their bodies. The way of the sword is diverse, broadly categorized into 'skillful sword' and 'conceptual sword'. The former focuses on perfecting sword moves, with the Wu Family Sword Tomb being the prime example. The latter emphasizes 'sword intent', and there are many who practice it. Sword intent, in essence, emphasizes spirit, and the same principle applies to martial arts in general. The power of a move, even if it looks 50-60% correct, is far less effective than one that captures 30-40% of its spirit. In Xu Fengnian's own understanding, 'nurturing spirit and forging intent' means pursuing an effect similar to 'collecting wind and gathering water' in geomancy. This newly comprehended "Immortal Caresses the Great Peak" technique was a stroke of spiritual insight, a masterful technique acquired by chance.

He felt a deep yearning in his heart.

These four simple characters, for a martial artist, were exceedingly difficult to achieve.

Innate talent, serendipity, and diligence—none could be lacking.

One scorching midday, Xu Fengnian found himself between laughter and tears, witnessing two acquaintances in dire straits. It was unclear if the couple's bad luck had reached its peak, but they had encountered a large force of over a hundred men, all wearing leather armor and carrying standard weapons, whose identity as either horse bandits or elite soldiers under Xiti's command was ambiguous. It was also the pampered young master's fault for being unfamiliar with common courtesy. After merely being provoked verbally by an armored leader, he immediately drew his saber, completely shaming the armored man. It wasn't enough to just cleave him off his horse during a charge; he ruthlessly delivered another blow. Had the scale armor not been superior to ordinary soft leather armor, the leader would have been killed instantly, which infuriated the entire group. On the plains, hunting and killing always prioritized practicality. They simply swarmed him, raining down arrows, and striking with sabers and spears, launching over a dozen waves of continuous attacks against the aristocratic youth who prided himself on his martial arts. Had he reached the Minor Grandmaster realm of the second rank, he could have escaped. Unfortunately, he had to both defend himself and protect the cumbersome woman, making him a target for constant harassment, like being slowly carved by a dull knife. Unable to withstand the relentless assault, his fighting spirit surged, and he again slew over a dozen soft-armored riders. Finally, an arrow pierced his shoulder. Before he could pull it out, a dozen horse nooses were skillfully thrown, dragging both him and his horse to the ground. The woman watched, tears streaming down her face like pear blossoms in the rain. Unfortunately, rescue was too late. After she was distracted, a burly leader struck her off her horse with a long spear. This half-military, half-bandit fellow still showed some restraint and pity, otherwise, a spear thrust could have killed her instantly. Of course, the woman's fate afterwards was surely worse than a quick death.

The successful leader laughed wildly, demonstrating superb horsemanship. Leaning sideways from his horse, he extended an arm, scooping up the frail woman who was struggling weakly after having her wind knocked out. He held his spear in one hand and gripped her neck against his chest with the other. He tugged the reins, deliberately stopping his horse and circling around, demonstrating his dominance to the red-faced, enraged young master on the ground. Xihe Prefecture was vast, filled with swirling yellow sand and rolling ravines. Xu Fengnian squatted on a slope, chewing a dried green date, watching the entire lopsided battle. He felt it was a pity for the handsome young master from the Southern Dynasty. Clearly, the youth was an inexperienced novice in combat. With his combat skills and substantial strength, he could have easily protected her and fled. Even if they couldn't completely shake off pursuit, as long as they didn't get fully encircled, there would have been far more room for maneuver. When martial artists from the pugilistic world faced armored military soldiers, many so-called 'enemies of a hundred' or even 'enemies of a thousand' rarely possessed the sword immortal's demeanor of Li Chungang, who would stand his ground against armored forces without retreating. The vast majority fought and retreated, wearing down their opponents only when facing a few deadly foes head-on. Such skirmishes were still largely accepted in the pugilistic world.

Xu Fengnian speculated that this high-born young master had likely heard too many stirring legends of predecessors, making him single-minded, which was why the hundred cavalrymen had exhausted him with a not-so-clever method. Xu Fengnian's eyesight was now excellent, and he could discern that the man's moves and techniques were remarkably brilliant, full of ingenious variations. On a chessboard, this would be akin to possessing many novel, uncirculated opening patterns. Even some widely circulated, traditional moves would develop variations in his hands, indicating that this person either had guidance from a renowned master or possessed extraordinary innate talent. In a one-on-one fight against someone of equal cultivation, he would have a high chance of winning. However, true life in the pugilistic world often involved wild punches killing masters, and brutal gang assaults overcoming heroes. Life in the jianghu was a bloody business where one's head was constantly on the line. No one would allow you to progress systematically like playing chess; they would have long thrown away the chessboard and punched you in the nose.

Xu Fengnian, hunched like a leopard, stealthily moved and stopped near a small mound about a hundred paces away. He saw the scale-armored leader throw the woman from his arms onto the ground, then dismount and kick her in the chest. The woman, who only practiced martial arts for health, almost fainted on the spot, curling up and gasping for air like a pathetic fish thrown ashore, her face pale. The scale-armored man squatted down, grabbed a large lock of the woman's black hair, shook it, and looked towards the well-dressed, presumptuous young master from out of town. The latter had already been trussed up like a zongzi by horse ropes, with several iron chains tied to his limbs, pulled taut and suspended in the air by four groups of men. Some hot-tempered riders, after dismounting, either spat on him or used their saber scabbards to strike the handsome young master's face. After such a fierce battle, with over twenty brothers dead, everyone's eyes were bloodshot. Living in the vast desert, on one hand, human lives were cheap, and killing for plunder was common. But on the other hand, their own brothers were invaluable—not so much due to camaraderie, but because a careless mistake could lead to being devoured by stronger forces. This group had achieved their current standing by repeatedly having the "big fish eat the small fish." With dozens of men, one could be a local lord; with a hundred, even the official army would have headaches. If they had eight hundred or a thousand men, they wouldn't be horse bandits anymore; they'd go directly to the royal court and claim a military general's position. This was an unwritten rule in Xihe Prefecture: reaching three hundred men meant one could swagger into the prefectural city where the Marshal sat, getting whatever they wanted. In short, the more brothers you brought, the higher the official position you'd be given.

These riders were typical Beimang people: shaved heads with a single braid at the back. The brawny scale-armored man tilted his head and wasted no words. The four groups of dismounted cavalrymen holding the chains understood his unspoken command and, with gruesome smiles, began a tug-of-war. Several scale-armored men who looked like leaders gathered, their eyes not entirely filled with malevolent cruelty, but clearly showing calculation and deliberation as they watched the spectacle and whispered among themselves. Perhaps they felt that since a deadly feud had been established, there was no need to consider reputation or consequences. In the desert, lives were like weeds, flourishing and withering each year, with no long-lasting continuity. They didn't care about the young master's identity or background, genuinely disbelieving that a powerful aristocratic clan from the Southern Dynasty could send forces to Xihe Prefecture for revenge. From four directions, four iron chains, held by over twenty people in total, were pulled with full force. Fortunately, the young man trapped in this deadly predicament possessed superior martial arts, though this only made his suffering more profound. One bandit leader, finding it not satisfying enough, had his subordinates mount their horses and added another iron chain around the man's neck, determined to carry out a bloody drawing-and-quartering by five horses.

Five horses pulled with all their might. The young master, facing a tragic end, had bloodshot eyes, and his wrists and ankles were chafed raw. Not to mention his fragile neck, from which he emitted a mournful roar like a dying beast. His entire body was consumed by surging vital energy. The chains vibrated like ripples in water, actually forcing the five horses to recoil a few steps. With a sudden burst of energy, the chains became as straight as spears, and the horses pulling them instantly dropped dead, torn apart. No one had expected this man, who was doomed to die, to be so resolute and brave. The scale-armored leader, enraged, took out his frustration on the woman, throwing her to the ground by her hair and entrusting her to his subordinates. He then personally mounted his horse and called for four brawny, trusted confidantes to deal with this formidable dying beast. The warhorses struggled forward. Blood gushed from the man's limbs and neck. If nothing intervened, his relatively weaker neck would surely be torn first, followed by his arms and legs. However, these bandits were skilled in this method; the riders responsible for pulling his five limbs applied their force deliberately, usually tearing off the hands first, then one leg, leaving the neck and the remaining leg to ensure the 'bloody feast' concluded perfectly.

This method was even more vicious and terrifying than impaling corpses with spears; it was a technique devised within the Beimang border military. Countless captives from the Liyang Dynasty had died from being torn apart by five horses. The only drawback was that the Beiliang Army preferred to fight to the death, leaving few survivors after battles. Furthermore, many small, unannounced skirmishes often occurred between the two armies' most elite crossbowmen and horsemen, with the Beiliang Army always having the advantage. Therefore, a captured Beiliang prisoner was a more precious and sought-after commodity at the Beimang royal court than any alluring woman, often selling for astonishingly high prices. For instance, the city lord of Liuxia City, Tao Qianzhi, who killed one Beiliang soldier every day—such actions, in the eyes of Beimang's high-ranking officials and nobles, weren't seen as killing people, but rather as squandering vast amounts of gold!

Beimang even had a law: killing a Beiliang soldier in battle would count as atonement for a major crime after one retired.

Just as the man was about to be torn apart, the five men on horseback instantly dropped dead, with no obvious wounds, simply falling straight from their horses, dying immediately. Several horse bandit leaders, who were qualified to wear scale armor, bravely approached for a look. They saw only tiny, transparent holes in the centers of the foreheads, as if pierced by small, sharp objects—an inexplicable and bizarre sight. Beimang people, regardless of wealth, believed in Buddhism and fate. While they might be devout Buddhists in ordinary times, they showed no hesitation when it came to killing. However, when disaster struck, even the most heinous criminals would become apprehensive, fearing they had truly angered the majestic clay Bodhisattvas and Buddhas. At this moment, the deaths of the five men were bizarre and beyond imagination. Even if it wasn't the work of an immortal, someone was clearly interfering. Losing over twenty men just to deal with one Southern Dynasty scion was an unbearable loss. Horse bandits came and went like the wind. Immediately, they dismounted. One meticulous scale-armored leader tried to secretly use his saber to kill the man and woman to eliminate future trouble, but an object instantly pierced his brow, splattering a barely perceptible line of blood. With this, no horse bandit dared to act again. They fled instantly, disappearing completely. With six legs (man and horse), escaping was swift.

The Southern Dynasty woman named Lu Chen, not knowing why, was dazed for a moment before realizing she had survived the ordeal. Crying, she rose and ran to the young master, a family friend. She painstakingly untied the chains, especially around his neck, which was a shocking, bloody mess. Just looking at it caused her immense pain. She suppressed her sobs, sat cross-legged beside him, tore off her sleeve, and bandaged several of his exposed wounds. The woman, truly made of water, cried without ceasing, softly calling his name, "Zhong Gui," over and over, fearing he would die there and she would lack the courage to live alone. How could she, a frail woman more skilled with an embroidery needle than a sword, travel thousands of miles back alone? Besides, if he died, what joy would there be in her living?

The young master, having narrowly escaped death, slowly took a breath. After exhaling a large, turbid breath, he forced a smile and said with difficulty, "I won't die."

After recalling his flying sword, "Morning Dew," Xu Fengnian had intended to leave. However, seeing a lone rider in the distance still stubbornly maintaining a lookout posture, he had no choice but to patiently remain, ensuring his 'good deed' was thoroughly completed. He again controlled his sword from his sleeve, assassinating the unfortunate bandit. Then, listening close to the ground, he confirmed that the remaining bandits had finally resigned themselves to their fate and scattered. Xu Fengnian quietly stood up and was about to walk away with his satchel, considering it a chance encounter where he acted heroically. He had no expectation of the woman offering herself to him, nor of the aristocratic young man bowing in gratitude. Such displays of camaraderie were too affected to bear scrutiny. He rummaged, pulled out his last few dates, and popped them into his mouth. He saw the swordsman, who could no longer be so carefree, still slumped on the ground, supported by the woman, bleeding profusely. The woman, however, was not skilled in treating external injuries, and was helpless, only sobbing. The man, with a promising future, naturally didn't want to die in the wilderness. Yet, his cries to heaven and earth went unanswered. Sitting there desolately, his face was contorted like a demon's, whether from pain or sorrow over his fate. The woman watched, heartbroken and filled with regret. She deeply regretted having politely refused his attempts to share a bed with her on several occasions during their journey, due to her modesty. If she had known this would happen, what harm would it have been to give her purity to him?

Xu Fengnian saw that after the arrogant man was brought low, he had a brief resurgence of vitality, but then his Jing, Qi, and Shen began to dissipate again, showing signs of imminent death without timely treatment. Frowning, Xu Fengnian had no choice but to emerge from the small mound, reveal himself, and pretend to be a passerby encountering injustice. He trotted towards the couple, forcing an impeccably panicked and nervous expression. The young master's eyes, already cloudy, momentarily flashed with a keen glint upon seeing Xu Fengnian. Only after finding no flaw did his expression return to stillness. However, one hand gently rested on a chain. Xu Fengnian squatted in front of them, took off his satchel, and turned his back to the couple who had survived the disaster. The man seemed to be battling some thoughts, but ultimately did not use the chain as a weapon to kill this kind passerby. As if oblivious to everything, Xu Fengnian merely quickly pulled a porcelain bottle from his satchel, brought from Dunhuang City. It contained a soft, inky black ointment, unnamed, capable of mending tendons, rejoining bones, and regenerating flesh. The ointment was like watered-down grease, very viscous. Even with the bottle inverted, it didn't pour out but slowly dripped, like water droplets sliding off a lotus leaf. The young master of the Zhong clan watched with a cold gaze as the black ointment was dripped onto the wounds of his hands and feet. A refreshing coolness permeated his bones, an indescribable comfort. Because he recognized the quality of the item, he was all the more shaken. How could this stranger, who could only afford fake secret manuals for a few coppers, possess a bottle of ointment worth one or two hundred gold?

Xu Fengnian rolled up his sleeves, wiped sweat from his forehead, and looked up, smiling with a pained expression, as if having made a difficult decision after an inner struggle. He handed the porcelain bottle to the woman named Lu Chen and said with a grimace, "This ointment is an ancestral secret recipe; one bottle can fetch quite a bit of silver. Apply it three times a day—morning, noon, and evening—and this young master will recover in less than half a month. Oh, by the way, I didn't get a chance to introduce myself at the Wu Family Sword Tomb ruins. My name is Xu Lang, also from the Southern Dynasty, living in Lion Lane, Hongye City."

Xu Fengnian hesitated slightly, then quietly added, "Aside from the ointment, this authentic handmade celestial sphere porcelain bottle is also worth some silver."

Lu Chen seemed to have heard quite a joke. Relieved, she broke into a tearful smile, wiped away the tears from her cheeks, and softly said, "When Young Master Zhong and I return, we will certainly visit Young Master Xu in Hongye City."

Hearing the three words "Young Master Zhong," which revealed his identity, a shadow crossed Zhong Gui's face, though it was deeply hidden. The hand that had previously loosened its grip on the chain now tightened again. Maintaining as calm an expression as possible, he ran one hand over his neck to stem the bleeding and lightly chuckled, "Naturally, I must express my gratitude to Young Master Xu for this life-saving kindness."

Xu Fengnian continued to play the role of a shrewd but not particularly intelligent itinerant scholar, smiling and saying, "Oh, I wouldn't dare claim such a thing."

Although the woman surnamed Lu came from a prominent official family in the Southern Dynasty, her several elder brothers bore the family's heavy responsibilities, so it wasn't her turn to personally experience turmoil. Her mind was relatively simple; her understanding of schemes, tricks, and human malice was limited to hearsay within her noble household, discussed by her elders and brothers as amusing anecdotes. Her perceptions were shallow. Naturally, she failed to detect Zhong Gui's subtle shifts in demeanor, nor could she see through Xu Fengnian's untraceable disguise. For children of prominent aristocratic families, like her and Zhong Gui, who were esteemed enough to be honored guests of the Xihe Prefecture Marshal, there was usually no need to concern themselves with the ill intentions of common folk. It was only due to today's unforeseen disaster that she felt particularly grateful.

Xu Fengnian asked, "Would you like me to escort the two of you?"

Lu Chen initially wanted to nod in agreement, but Zhong Gui shook his head and said, "No need."

The haughty demeanor of the aristocratic heir was fully evident at this moment. Lu Chen, unaware of the underlying meaning, simply thought Zhong Gui was too proud to accept. Seeing his resolute gaze and his insistence, she found it difficult to say anything further.

Xu Fengnian gave an embarrassed smile, cast a lingering glance at the porcelain bottle in Lu Chen's hand, and then stood up to take his leave.

Lu Chen actually found herself somewhat fond of this stranger's straightforward demeanor. Compared to the Southern Dynasty scholars she usually encountered, who would wag their tails for favors while pretending to be learned, he was far more pleasing to the eye.

She suddenly widened her eyes. Just as the man with the satchel stood up and turned, he was struck in the back by a chain, like a venomous snake uncoiled. He flew forward, collapsed, and lay motionless—most likely dead. She turned, staring blankly at Zhong Gui, her eyes filled with horror.

Zhong Gui said coldly, "You can witness this young master's plight. As for him, he doesn't have that fortune."

Lu Chen covered her mouth, her tears welling up like jade.

Zhong Gui seemed to sense his tone was too stiff and cold. He softened his voice slightly, ignoring the blood gushing from his neck due to the exertion of killing, and gently said, "This Xu Lang, he didn't appear early or late, but precisely when you and I were in trouble. There's an eighty to ninety percent chance he's a bandit in cahoots with those horse thieves, trying to play a long game to catch a bigger fish. Miss Lu, you are inexperienced in the ways of the world and don't know the dangers of the jianghu. Most desperadoes like him are extremely cunning, their methods as sophisticated as those of officialdom's sly foxes. To put it another way, we'd rather kill an innocent person by mistake than let a guilty one go."

Seeing her still lingering with fear, and a hint of wariness in her long, clear eyes despite her sorrow, Zhong Gui gently said, "If I die here, what will become of you? I can't bear to die; if I must, I have to see you home first."

Lu Chen's tears suddenly poured from her eyes, and she threw herself into Zhong Gui's embrace. The life or death of Xu Lang no longer weighed as heavily on her as it had at the first shocking moment.

Between life and death, sharing adversity—a woman accustomed to a life of wealth and leisure might not appreciate subtle, tender companionship. But how many could withstand having words like Zhong Gui's in such a scenario etched into their hearts? A few words far outweighed tens of thousands of pounds of sweet nothings exchanged during peaceful times.

Zhong Gui held her delicate body, a cold sneer on his lips and indifference in his eyes.

It was clear that this Zhong family descendant, who repaid kindness with malice, possessed not only formidable martial arts but also profound skill in seducing women.

However, this tender scene was interrupted by a few coughs. For the first time since meeting Xu Lang, Zhong Gui's face showed fear.

Xu Fengnian stood up, patted his sleeves, and murmured, "Being a good person is truly exhausting. No wonder Beimang is full of devils."

Seeing the man with the satchel and sword approaching expressionlessly, Zhong Gui's smile became forced, his imposing manner completely gone. Feigning remorse, he mumbled, "Young Master Xu, please don't take offense. It was I who acted rashly. It's just that Zhong Gui's identity is sensitive, and when traveling, I dare not be careless."

Zhong Gui saw the man's calm expression, devoid of even a hint of mockery, and knew things were bad. He quickly tried to remedy the situation: "My name is Zhong Gui, a descendant of the Zhong family in the Southern Dynasty. I can compensate you, offering Young Master Xu great wealth and prosperity. Your skills are exceptional, and with my Zhong family's support and assistance, you will surely rise to prominence!"

As he spoke, Zhong Gui's hand again tightened around a chain.

He wouldn't shed tears until he saw the coffin.

Xu Fengnian finally granted him a smile, saying, "Come on, try again and see if you can kill me."

At this moment, Zhong Gui found himself unable to strike or release. Never since birth had he felt such overwhelming shame and resentment, a feeling only slightly better than being dragged by five horses.

Zhong Gui had luckily returned from the underworld to the living, while Lu Chen had fallen from the living world into the underworld. She sat dazed at his side, her heart as cold as an ice cellar.

Xu Fengnian made a circular motion with one hand. Before his hand seemed to touch Zhong Gui's head, Zhong Gui himself sank into the ground, his head and limbs exploding simultaneously, as if smashed into a meat paste by a large hammer. It was even more gruesome than being torn apart by five horses.

Immortal Caresses the Peak.

It had more uses than just bestowing longevity.

Blood splattered all over Lu Chen, but she merely stared blankly, utterly unfazed.

She was naive, but not foolish.

Discerning the big picture from small details was almost a talent inherent to children of prominent families.

Xu Fengnian was about to draw another circle, intending for Lu Chen and Zhong Gui to become a pair of doomed lovers journeying together to the underworld. She suddenly looked up and asked, "I want to know if you were truly working with those horse bandits. Please, don't lie to me."

Xu Fengnian shook his head.

Her heart finally turned to ashes, and she waited calmly.

Xu Fengnian showed no pity for women, still initiating the "Immortal Caresses the Peak" stance. However, he was disturbed once more. She suddenly cried out with a heart-wrenching wail, "I don't want to die!"

Xu Fengnian walked towards her, covering a few paces. She slid back a few paces on the ground. Xu Fengnian stopped, squatted down, and extended his hand, saying, "Give me back the porcelain bottle."

Holding the small bottle, she dropped it as if it were burning hot. In her panic, her throw was inaccurate, but Xu Fengnian reached out and caught it with ease, then put it back into his satchel.

It was as if Lu Chen's twenty years of cunning and shrewdness burst forth in an instant. Her voice trembling, she said, "Young Master Xu, what must I do for you not to kill me? I am the legitimate granddaughter of the Jia-class Lu family in the Southern Dynasty. I am different from Zhong Gui; I have no ambitions. I only wish to live well, marry, and raise children. As long as you don't kill me and don't defile my body, I am willing to serve you like an ox or horse for half a year. Furthermore, I promise that when I return to the Lu family, I will not mention a single word of today's events, only saying that Zhong Gui died at the hands of the hundred horse bandits."

Seeing the scholar-like man's lips curl into a faint, mocking smile, Lu Chen realized her slip-up and immediately changed her statement: "Just say that Zhong Gui died on his journey to the Xihe Prefecture Marshal's residence, and I knew nothing about it!"

As she spoke, her clear eyes rippled, sparkling with a newfound resolve. Biting her lip, she slowly said, "If you don't kill me, I will say that Zhong Gui and I had intimate relations. If the Zhong family doesn't believe it later and has a midwife inspect me, they won't find any flaws."

Her implication, clear to any man, was that she was willing to pay with her purity to save her life.

Xu Fengnian clicked his tongue, marveling at how human hearts could be more unfathomable than the heavens.

Seeing that he had no intention of suddenly killing her, Lu Chen reached up and smoothed a stray wisp of hair from her temple, continuing: "I dare not hope that Young Master will return to the Lu family with me. But since Young Master holds leverage, and my Lu family has a good reputation in the Southern Dynasty, we naturally cannot allow such a huge scandal to leak out, nor do we wish to offend the Zhong family because of this. Therefore, you need not worry that I won't be utterly obedient to you. You only need to control me from a distance. Lu Chen is willing to be your puppet. I believe that with Young Master's outstanding skills and intellect, you will surely find a method that both controls me and keeps you out of danger, a win-win solution."

Xu Fengnian reached for a date, found his pouch empty, and withdrew his hand. He then smiled and said, "You're very intelligent. How could a fop like Zhong Gui toy with you as if you were a fool?"

Lu Chen actually had the audacity to smile, mockingly saying, "It's not about Zhong Gui himself, but rather that the Zhong family's foundation surpasses that of the Lu family. Otherwise, how could a descendant from a branch family be considered a suitable match for a legitimate granddaughter of a Jia-class family?"

Xu Fengnian nodded, deeply agreeing. She was indeed a talented woman from an influential family.

Lu Chen's eyes instantly turned cold, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "You still want to kill me!"

Xu Fengnian, having just conceived a killing intent, asked curiously, "A woman's intuition?"

She retorted, "Isn't it?"

Before Xu Fengnian could make a move, Lu Chen stood up and, like a madwoman, charged at him, seeking her own death. She launched a series of disorganized punches and kicks, crying pitifully, "You bastard! You great devil! I'll fight you to the death!"

She babbled on, her curses and attacks as clumsy as each other, repeating only a few stale moves that were utterly ineffective.

Xu Fengnian slapped her fiercely, sending her flying and directly knocking her senseless. Looking at the crazy woman covering her face, he said, "Whether I kill you or not depends on your next actions. First, bury Zhong Gui, then come with me to the heart of Xihe Prefecture. I'll have a use for you there."

Lu Chen, as if granted a great pardon, her eyes lighting up, glanced at Zhong Gui's indistinct corpse and sneered, "It's better not to collect his body."

She instantly received another slap across the face, flipping her over and sending her crashing heavily onto the yellow sand, like a dust-colored sparrow.

Xu Fengnian sneered, "A cold-blooded man might stumble into good fortune and become a ruthless hero. But you, a woman, so heartless and unfeeling—is that supposed to be charming?"

Lu Chen lowered her head, her cheeks stinging from the slaps. She said timidly and submissively, "I know I was wrong."

Xu Fengnian used the "Immortal Caresses the Peak" technique to smash a large pit, serving as Zhong Gui's temporary grave. He watched her move the bloody remains into the pit piece by piece. He asked her about the Zhong and Lu families, and she answered each question without any fabrication.

During a pause, she cautiously asked, "Did Young Master repel those horse bandits?"

Xu Fengnian said nothing. He simply watched patiently as she gathered dirt to cover the pit, struggling to fill it. Even after, she didn't forget to jump and stomp on it, making the burial marks less obvious. Once she quieted down, she tilted