◎I trust you, and you shouldn’t doubt me◎

“You!”

“Alright, alright,” seeing Luo Wanqing’s anger flare, Qin Jue quickly apologized, “it’s my fault. Just joking, but it really is sugar pills.”

“Next time you make such inappropriate jokes with me, don’t blame me for being impolite.”

Luo Wanqing withdrew her hand and said coldly, “Come here, help me repair my meridians.”

“Yes, yes, yes,” Qin Jue supported himself up from the table and followed behind Luo Wanqing, apologizing, “It’s my frivolity. But you gave me poison to eat? Why don’t I feel anything at all?”

“This poison has no sensation normally,” Luo Wanqing took off her shoes and got on the bed. Watching Qin Jue get on the bed, the two sat cross-legged facing each other. Luo Wanqing explained seriously, “But when the poison takes effect, there’s excruciating pain throughout the body, rotting from the inside out, and after half an hour, you become a pool of blood, suffering unbearably.”

“That terrifying?” Qin Jue asked seriously, “Then how do you detoxify it?”

“One antidote pill per month to expel the poison, completely expelled after seven months. As long as you harbor no intention to harm me, I’ll give you the medicine on time.” As Luo Wanqing spoke, she pressed her lips together and finally explained, “The matter of meridians is of great importance; I cannot casually entrust it to others.”

“Alright, understandable.” Qin Jue nodded, with a magnanimous appearance, “I’m a person of cultivation, I forgive you. I’ll let you know that there’s still a true feeling in the world. Come, give me your hands.”

As he spoke, he extended both hands toward Luo Wanqing. Luo Wanqing placed her hands in his palms and heard him say, “Close your eyes, first feel my true qi, then follow my true qi’s flow.”

As he spoke, Luo Wanqing felt a warm current flowing from Qin Jue’s hands. That warm current was very gentle, extremely delicate as it crawled through her meridians all the way, arriving at her dantian, guiding her true qi to slowly flow into the meridians.

That warm current was controlled very precisely. It stretched within her meridians, wrapping around her true qi, guiding it to the damaged parts of the meridians, slowly flowing through.

Luo Wanqing felt as if her entire being was soaked in warm water. Wherever the true qi passed, everything stretched and repaired.

“Listen to my incantation.” Qin Jue’s voice came from far away, “Embrace the primordial and maintain unity, qi is born in dantian, concentrate qi to achieve gentleness, sweep away dust and remove impurities…”

Qin Jue’s internal power seemed to originate from Daoist practices, grand and upright, completely different from Liu Xiniang’s path.

Luo Wanqing listened to Qin Jue’s words, following his requirements and guidance, carefully repairing the damaged meridians.

She didn’t know how much time had passed. When Qin Jue said “it’s enough,” she opened her eyes and found it was already midnight.

Only then did she realize that her entire body was like it had just been pulled from water, covered in perspiration. The person opposite her wasn’t much better off, face pale, looking like he’d collapse at a touch.

Yet his expression remained normal. Seeing her open her eyes, he smiled and said, “From now on, every night you can meditate like this on your own, progressing step by step. By the time we reach Eastern Capital, you’ll be able to repair your meridians.”

Luo Wanqing said nothing. She tested the meridians that had just been repaired and indeed found no problems.

Qin Jue observed her, and seeing she confirmed there were no issues, he pounded his waist and stretched lazily, “Learning it is good, I need to rest now. Your body is fine, but I’m a severely injured patient.”

“I’ll go to sleep outside.” Luo Wanqing heard this and rose.

Qin Jue grabbed her arm and shook his head, “I’m not so petty as to make a young lady keep watch through the night.”

As he spoke, Qin Jue lightly descended from the bed, touched the ground with his toes, and leaped to the window with a flip.

He leaned against the window frame, sitting with bent knees on the windowsill, lightly tapping his shoulder with his small fan, closing his eyes and saying, “Sleep.”

Luo Wanqing turned to glance at him. Moonlight fell on him, his white robes flowing with light, the red and white patchwork hair ribbon adorning his figure, the small fan in his hand lightly tapping his shoulder, his posture light and graceful, his bearing elegant and romantic.

Though she found him affected and pretentious, she had to admit that if not for his ordinary features, this scene would indeed be quite beautiful.

Luo Wanqing glanced at him once, then rose to briefly wash up, returned to bed, carefully arranged the bedding, and lay down comfortably.

Nearby, Qin Jue saw her sleeping so peacefully and opened his eyes, couldn’t help but laugh, cursing, “Heartless.”

Hearing these words, Luo Wanqing paused, remembering the poison she had given him earlier, and felt inexplicably uneasy. After thinking, she finally said, “What do you want?”

Qin Jue hadn’t expected her to respond and was somewhat surprised. After thinking, he said, “For now… safe arrival at Eastern Capital.”

Hearing this request, Luo Wanqing was silent for a moment. After a long while, she finally said, “You will reach Eastern Capital alive.”

“Hmm?”

Qin Jue curved his lips, “You’re certain?”

Luo Wanqing closed her eyes and only answered, “I’m certain.”

In that dream, he not only would reach Eastern Capital, he would also have a bright future ahead, becoming the second Inspector of the Supervision Department.

But that was that dream. In that dream, there was no variable like her, no “Liu Xiniang” accompanying him like this.

She wasn’t sure if her existence would disturb his life.

But if she did disturb it…

Luo Wanqing momentarily didn’t know what would happen.

But thinking that nothing had happened yet, she decided not to overthink and closed her eyes to sleep.

She slept through the night until dawn. At daybreak, Luo Wanqing opened her eyes and saw Qin Jue already sitting at the table drinking tea.

He had changed into blue robes again, the wine gourd still at his waist, but the small fan in his hand had been put away.

“Everything’s packed, you check it over,” Qin Jue said while drinking tea. “If there’s no problem, after washing up and eating something, we need to set out. We have no travel permits or identity documents, so from now on we’ll take mountain paths, not entering cities unless necessary. If there’s anything else you need, prepare it quickly.”

As Qin Jue instructed, Luo Wanqing got up to look at what Qin Jue had packed. He seemed unreliable, but the things he prepared were very complete, including some things Luo Wanqing hadn’t even thought of, which he had already prepared.

Luo Wanqing nodded, then asked somewhat puzzled, “You seem to travel frequently?”

“Previously at home, I often followed family elders on journeys.” Qin Jue spoke as he put down his teacup, “My cooking skills also came from this.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing wasn’t surprised. These wealthy young masters from great families loved to tour the mountains and waters. Looking at Qin Jue’s manner, he should also frequently walk the jianghu, teach many things at home, not just a simple young master.

She didn’t say more, simply washed up, ate with Qin Jue, and left the city.

Shortly after leaving the city, just after climbing the mountain, Qin Jue began whimpering and complaining.

“Can’t do it, can’t do it,” by noon, he was like boneless, casually finding a tree to lean against, hugging the tree and wailing, “I can’t walk anymore, Helmsman Liu, please be kind and carry me?”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing turned back, looked down at the young man leaning against the tree, and said coldly, “Are you lame?”

“I’m injured,” Qin Jue looked shocked, “You wouldn’t expect an injured patient to walk with you to Eastern Capital, would you? Walking from the city to here is already my limit; I really can’t walk anymore. If I keep going, I’ll be ruined.”

“You’re not much good now either.” Luo Wanqing glared at him.

But thinking of how he helped her heal last night, and considering his injuries, she finally walked back, half-crouched in front of him, and said coldly, “Get on.”

“I knew Miss Liu was kind-hearted.”

Seeing this, Qin Jue quickly spoke sweetly, then got on Luo Wanqing’s back.

Luo Wanqing had prepared herself, knowing that carrying a man’s weight wouldn’t be easy, but she hadn’t expected that as soon as he got on, she would feel her legs could barely support them.

Noticing her stagger, Qin Jue adjusted his position, and Luo Wanqing immediately felt much lighter, couldn’t help but say, “You look thin, how are you so heavy?”

“Really?” Qin Jue clung to her shoulders, leaning his head over, puzzled, “You’ve been in the Salt Syndicate for so many years, there should have been plenty of fighting. Is your strength this small?”

Luo Wanqing choked, gritted her teeth to carry him, turned toward the direction he pointed, walking while saying, “Being a helmsman uses brains, not physical strength.”

“But your strength is too small, and you practice martial arts too.” Qin Jue reminded her. Getting these words, Luo Wanqing took a deep breath, decided to center her qi in her dantian, keep quiet, and treat him as a sandbag for training basic skills.

Liu Xiniang had also said her foundation was unstable, so she should practice whenever she found opportunities. Carrying him was also a form of training. So be it.

She carried Qin Jue and began climbing the mountain.

Qin Jue was quiet on her back for only a moment before he couldn’t help but start chatting, “Miss Liu, by the way, how old are you?”

“Twenty-three.”

Luo Wanqing gave Liu Xiniang’s age. Qin Jue was somewhat surprised, “Twenty-three? You don’t look it. So you’re older than me?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t respond. Qin Jue didn’t get an answer but wasn’t embarrassed, continuing, “I’m only twenty. Originally, I thought we could become sworn siblings, but looking at it now, we can only become sworn sisters and brothers?”

“Broad daylight, stop dreaming.”

“How is this dreaming? This is fate bringing us together across a thousand li,” Qin Jue said, talking to himself, “Should I call you sister from now on? Sister, are you tired of carrying me? Are you thirsty?”

“Sister, today the wind is gentle and the sun bright, the sky clear and the air fresh. When we reach town, shall we have a cup of wine?”

“Sister…”

“Say one more word and you can walk yourself.”

Luo Wanqing interrupted him. Qin Jue immediately fell silent, not daring to speak again.

But after a while, he started talking again, commenting on the mountain scenery, predicting the weather, discussing ancient and modern times, and expressing his feelings.

Luo Wanqing ignored him, treating him like the mountain birds; these birds were all like this, chattering endlessly.

And he was still better than birds, occasionally saying something pleasant to hear, which she could listen to for entertainment.

The two traveled mountain paths, walking during the day and resting at night.

On the first night of rest, Qin Jue spoke about her blade technique.

“Where did your blade technique come from?”

“My family.” Luo Wanqing completely took on Liu Xiniang’s identity, calmly saying, “My family’s blade technique.”

“No wonder it’s so crude.” Qin Jue commented, then said, “But it’s sufficient. As long as it’s blade technique you’re willing to accept, it can all be used by you. Whether blade or sword, most importantly, you completely accept it, understand clearly the reason for gripping it.”

“Reason?”

Luo Wanqing turned back, puzzled. Qin Jue picked up a twig, “Unity of heart and mind, qi not leaking outward, only then can you become one with your weapon. Where your mind can reach is where your blade edge can go.”

As he spoke, Qin Jue looked back at her, “The stronger your will to do something, the harder your blade edge becomes. Blades are different from swords. Blades follow the kingly way, where the blade goes, nothing cannot be cut. So when you swing that blade, you must have no distracting thoughts, no hesitation. Only this way can you properly hold the blade.”

Qin Jue gestured with his chin toward a blade they had seized from the Fengyu Pavilion people. Luo Wanqing walked over and picked up the blade.

Qin Jue smiled, “You don’t need to practice anything else now, just practice drawing the blade. Practice that first strike well, understand clearly your reason for drawing the blade.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing didn’t overthink.

Her reason for drawing the blade was simple. In her mind appeared Jiang Shaoyan’s final retreating figure.

Killing him, making him die miserably, making him experience all the pain she had experienced – this was all her conviction.

She gripped the blade, repeating the most mechanical motion over and over, fantasizing about that one strike cutting off that person’s head.

Qin Jue reclined on one side, quietly watching and saying, “Too much murderous intent, but extremely domineering, unstoppably sharp. You’re indeed suited for blade practice.”

Luo Wanqing paid no attention. Qin Jue cracked sunflower seeds, seemingly making casual conversation, “What was your first time killing for?”

“To see someone.”

“See him for what?”

“To ask him to help me kill someone.”

This made Qin Jue somewhat confused, “What does this mean?”

Luo Wanqing didn’t speak. Seeing she wouldn’t answer, Qin Jue thought and asked again, “So your killing this person, was it ultimately for seeing that person, or for killing that person?”

Before he finished speaking, Luo Wanqing struck down with one blade. The blade edge came sharp and fierce, but Qin Jue didn’t move a muscle, smiling as he watched Luo Wanqing.

The blade stopped at Qin Jue’s forehead. Luo Wanqing calmly spoke, “For myself.”

Every night, Luo Wanqing practiced the simplest blade swings, and during the day, she carried Qin Jue on the road.

From the first day Qin Jue got on her back, he seemed to lose his legs, never wanting to walk again. Every day shamelessly insisting that Luo Wanqing carry him.

At first, Luo Wanqing wanted to hit him, but later got used to it.

His weight was strange. Logically, carrying a person would become increasingly heavy with time as strength failed. But his weight remained the same burden throughout the day of carrying. It wouldn’t become so heavy as to be unbearable, but it was not without sensation.

After carrying him for several days, one day, when she went to move stones back to build a fire pit, she discovered that the stones she previously found difficult to move were now easily lifted. She suddenly felt that carrying him wasn’t a bad thing.

The two traveled day and night like this for over half a month, covering most of the journey.

One morning, with Qin Jue on her back, they saw a town in the distance. He sighed and couldn’t help saying, “My wine is almost finished, I want to drink.”

Luo Wanqing ignored him and continued forward. Qin Jue said again, “Want to eat roasted chicken, want to buy new clothes, want to buy pastries…”

“Stop wanting,” Luo Wanqing heard his intention to enter the city. “Entering the city is too troublesome, wastes time.”

Speaking, Luo Wanqing remembered his “great achievements” from their last city visit, and couldn’t help saying, “You spent a whole day shopping!”

“Then you go!” Qin Jue immediately said, “I’ll wait on the outskirts, you just buy what I need and bring it back.”

“Not going.”

Luo Wanqing refused without hesitation.

Qin Jue wrapped his arms around her neck, began leaning his head over to look at her face, coaxing, “Miss Liu, Helmsman Liu, Sister Liu? Please be kind and help me buy some things. I really can’t stand these wilderness days anymore, and you also need to buy things, and also…”

“Fine.”

Luo Wanqing was annoyed by his pestering. Thinking that lamp oil was running low and her shoes were worn through, she finally spoke, “I’ll go buy them. Wait here for me.”

“Great, here’s the list.” Qin Jue handed her a densely written paper, gratefully saying, “Thank you.”

Luo Wanqing expressionlessly took the paper, stuffed it in her bosom, put him down, noted the location, and then turned toward the town.

The gold beads had long been confiscated and were on her person; no need to ask Qin Jue for them.

During these days, she and Qin Jue had seriously learned to identify directions, so finding her way back wouldn’t be a problem.

Qin Jue was too troublesome. If he entered the city, he wouldn’t come out all day. For his miscellaneous stuff, she’d just buy the important things.

Luo Wanqing opened the paper and glanced at the densely written list in charcoal.

This person’s handwriting was extremely beautiful, elegant small script, pleasing to look at. To write so well even with charcoal – if using a brush, it should be even better. Clearly the product of careful upbringing from a great family, with grand heritage.

Only a man writing a small script…

Luo Wanqing thought of his temperament and found it normal.

She scanned the things listed above. As expected, they were all unreliable, but looking more carefully, she discovered he had written some medicinal herbs. These herbs seemed to be for nourishing yin, promoting blood circulation, removing blood stasis, and pain relief, commonly used for…

Luo Wanqing thought, her eyes falling on the three characters “menstrual belt.”

Her steps faltered slightly. Suddenly, the paper felt scorching hot, and she realized those medicines seemed to all be for relieving menstrual pain in women.

She had been in prison so long. At first, she still had her monthly cycle, which was very embarrassing and painful. Fortunately, her mother had bribed the guards and somehow managed to send in cotton cloth with lime, preserving that tiny bit of dignity.

Later, perhaps because it was too cold or she was too hungry, her monthly cycle stopped.

But Qin Jue probably didn’t know this, so he thoughtfully included it among these miscellaneous items.

Luo Wanqing held this long-missed, careful kindness momentarily at a loss. She suddenly almost wished this person would be colder to her – she might know better how to respond.

She held the paper, pressed her lips together, and finally put it in her bosom.

Then she stepped forward, collided with an oncoming woman, and while the other was unaware, smoothly lifted the travel documents from her sleeve.

After obtaining the documents, Luo Wanqing opened them to check the name, then entered the city with the documents.

She took Qin Jue’s list and shopped from one end of the city to the other.

Meanwhile, Qin Jue sat alone in the wilderness, shook his wine gourd, and listened to the sound of the little wine remaining, leisurely saying, “She’s been gone so long, still not coming out?”

As he spoke, four blade-wielders first emerged from the surrounding forest, followed by eight women holding various musical instruments, then a large group of black-clothed figures.

They surrounded Qin Jue alone in the center. Qin Jue glanced at them and laughed aloud, “The Left and Right Envoys haven’t come yet? Is Fengyu Pavilion declining? Given half a month, you only called these few people?”

“Qin Jue, without Liu Xiniang here, what are you being arrogant about?” The most imposing blade-wielder at the front said coldly, “If not for her, you’d be dead already.”

“Yes, I’m terrified.”

Qin Jue drained the wine from his gourd, smiled as he turned to look at everyone, “But Heaven’s Four Blades and Fate’s Eight Music are all here. I trust you all know who wants to kill me?”

“We know.” A red-clothed woman holding a pipa plucked a string, “When you reach the underworld, sister will tell you.”

“You’re not worthy to be my sister.” Qin Jue’s eyes turned cold. “Don’t seek death prematurely.”

Hearing this, the red-clothed woman’s expression instantly changed. She raised her hand and struck, the lute’s sound like blades rushing toward Qin Jue!

Qin Jue flipped and leaped up, toes lightly touching, landing steadily on the stone he’d been sitting on, but the stone behind him seemed to have been struck by a blade, instantly exploding.

Qin Jue hung in mid-air, raising his hand in a sweeping motion.

Wind immediately rose around them, trees swayed. Qin Jue’s wide sleeves billowed in the wind, two fingers held like a sword, an invisible sword qi pressed into the ground. The oppressive force spread silently outward in a circle with him at the center. He stared at everyone and smiled, “Starting to fight already? Are all your people here?”

“Dao Sect’s Formless Sword?!”

The red-clothed woman cried out in shock.

Qin Jue smiled, “Good eye.”

“You’re not Qin Jue?” The lead blade-wielder immediately realized.

Qin Jue tilted his head, not directly answering, only asking, “Who said someone who knows the Formless Sword can’t be Qin Jue? I’m a master with hidden depths. I’ll ask you one last time—”

Qin Jue’s expression suddenly turned cold, raising his voice, “This lord has waited so long, are all your people here?”

Luo Wanqing bought things very quickly. In less than half an hour, she rapidly bought everything on the list, carrying large and small packages out of the city.

Just outside the city, she heard a light call, “Left Envoy.”

Hearing this voice, Luo Wanqing stopped, her heartbeat immediately quickening.

Luo Wanqing had heard Liu Xiniang speak of Fengyu Pavilion’s structure. Fengyu Pavilion was divided into the Bright Pavilion and Dark Pavilion. The Dark Pavilion handled internal traitors and occasionally external matters, while the Bright Pavilion handled external assassination contracts.

Fengyu Pavilion was also divided by martial ability into Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow levels.

The Bright Pavilion had eight Heaven-level assassins. “Level” didn’t refer to one person, but rather the martial power level that could be achieved when on missions. For example, Heaven’s Four Blades – individually, they were only Mysterious level, but their combined Heaven Blade Formation could reach Heaven level. Among the eight assassin levels, only two people could reach the Heaven level with individual strength alone. These two were the Left and Right Envoys.

And Liu Xiniang was the Left Envoy.

Anyone who would call Luo Wanqing “Left Envoy” must be from Fengyu Pavilion. They had actually found her?

Luo Wanqing didn’t dare turn around. She calmly said, “Who sent you?”

“Long time no see, the Left Envoy’s voice has even changed.” The person behind laughed, praising, “Worthy of the Pavilion Master’s regard. Your current appearance – even if the Pavilion Master were here, he might not recognize you. Infiltrating the Supervision Department is within reach.”

“If you come looking for me a few more times, I won’t need to go.”

Luo Wanqing spoke coldly in the tone Liu Xiniang had taught her.

Fengyu Pavilion assassins rarely interacted with each other. As long as the visitor wasn’t the Pavilion Master Xiang Sizi, Liu Xiniang’s dealings with them were always cold, focused solely on missions, and only discussing missions. They would find it hard to detect the difference.

The other party indeed had no suspicion, only saying, “Left Envoy, rest assured. Silver Snake is only here on the Pavilion Master’s orders to inform you – today we’re surrounding and killing Qin Jue. Left Envoy, return a bit later.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing was stunned.

She turned around and saw a quite alluring young girl.

This woman was very thin, thin to the point of appearing somewhat harsh, with venomous, serpentine malice between her brows. She wore short-sleeved blue clothing, carried a slender black case on her back, wore snake bracelets on her wrists, and had her hair bound high with a silver snake hairpin. Her entire appearance seemed unlike that of a Central Plains person.

Luo Wanqing thought for a moment and recalled this person from the information Liu Xiniang had given her – Silver Snake, one of the rare Earth-level assassins, skilled with the Miao blade, just one step away from Heaven level.

Seeing Luo Wanqing turn around, revealing that completely scalded face, Silver Snake was stunned.

The burns had healed, with wrinkles pulling at the skin, making it impossible to discern the original facial features.

Silver Snake looked at that face, swallowed, then said, “Your face…”

“How many people came today?”

Luo Wanqing asked directly. Silver Snake hadn’t expected “Liu Xiniang” to ask this question, but considering “Liu Xiniang’s” rank, Silver Snake still answered ingratiatingly, “Thirty-two Mysterious-level assassins, the Four Blades and Eight Music all came.”

“Such a grand formation?” Luo Wanqing frowned. “Does Qin Jue require such complexity?”

“The Pavilion Master wants to ensure nothing goes wrong.” Silver Snake said respectfully, “Moreover, after the Left Envoy’s previous intervention, the Pavilion Master also worries… that the Left Envoy has other intentions.”

As Silver Snake said this, her eyes remained fixed on Luo Wanqing, her tone meaningful.

Luo Wanqing spoke directly, “You suspect me?”

“I wouldn’t dare,” Silver Snake immediately said, “Silver Snake is only relaying the Pavilion Master’s message, I wouldn’t dare question the Left Envoy.”

“Don’t use the Pavilion Master to pressure me.” Luo Wanqing suppressed her wildly beating heart, turned toward Qin Jue’s direction, and said coldly, “My loyalty to the Pavilion Master isn’t for you to judge.”

“Then please, Left Envoy, stay put.”

Silver Snake’s face turned cold as she raised her voice.

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing turned back, “What do you mean?”

“The Pavilion Master said,” Silver Snake stared at Luo Wanqing, “this assassination must be foolproof. Please remain here, Left Envoy. When news of Qin Jue’s death arrives, Silver Snake will naturally let the Left Envoy leave.”

“The Pavilion Master sent you to watch me?”

Luo Wanqing understood.

Silver Snake didn’t deny it, only saying, “Please forgive me, Left Envoy.”

Luo Wanqing said nothing. She knew Fengyu Pavilion suspected her.

Whether they suspected her of betraying as Liu Xiniang, or suspected she wasn’t Liu Xiniang at all, they ultimately suspected her.

She gripped her waist blade, pressing her lips without speaking.

Silver Snake stared at her quietly, not yielding an inch.

The best thing for her to do now was nothing – just wait here, which would be her optimal choice.

Qin Jue wouldn’t die. If she followed Fengyu Pavilion’s requirements, she wouldn’t anger them into further probing.

Fengyu Pavilion likely only suspected her of betrayal. As long as she proved she had no intention of forcibly saving Qin Jue, that would be sufficient.

If she acted for Qin Jue now, there was a high probability of exposing that she wasn’t Liu Xiniang, which would harm both herself and Liu Xiniang.

But would Qin Jue not die?

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help but look up in Qin Jue’s direction.

In that prophetic dream, she hadn’t existed. She didn’t know how Qin Jue had escaped.

But now, she knew very clearly that with Qin Jue’s current injuries and strength, facing thirty-two Mysterious-level assassins in siege, unless a master helped him, Qin Jue absolutely couldn’t survive.

And the reason Fengyu Pavilion deployed so many people to kill Qin Jue was because they were wary of her, a Heaven-level assassin, turning traitor.

Perhaps, if she hadn’t mistaken Qin Jue for Jiushuang, the person Qin Jue chose to accompany him wouldn’t have been her.

In the previous life, Qin Jue might have chosen the most suitable person, and perhaps it was that person who accompanied him all the way to Eastern Capital.

If Qin Jue died, then she would have killed him.

She would have harmed an innocent person who shouldn’t have died for her selfish desires and vengeful grievances.

But so what?

Luo Wanqing looked away, telling herself that the path of revenge was always paved with corpses. What did one more Qin Jue matter?

As long as she could kill Jiang Shaoyan, what did it matter how many died?

Moreover, it was Qin Jue who had pretended to be Jiushuang, Qin Jue who had actively called to her; he was seeking his death.

However, after thinking this, her mind conjured that night and her promise.

“You will reach Eastern Capital alive.”

“I’m certain.”

The paper in her bosom suddenly became scorching, burning Luo Wanqing with unease.

Nearby, Silver Snake watched her expression and asked, puzzled, “Left Envoy?”

Luo Wanqing heard her voice and lifted her head.

In an instant, she made her decision.

Take a gamble.

She wanted to save Qin Jue, and she wanted to survive herself. She would gamble.

As long as she killed the woman before her, after disguising herself, since she wasn’t Liu Xiniang anyway, who could recognize her?

Even if Fengyu Pavilion suspected, as long as she didn’t give them opportunities, they couldn’t confirm anything. As long as they couldn’t confirm for one day, she’d have more time to maneuver. Once she entered the Supervision Department and gained their protection, perhaps new paths would open.

She couldn’t abandon Qin Jue so early, couldn’t let him die like this.

Her revenge was her own business. Without necessity, she shouldn’t casually implicate the innocent.

And if Qin Jue died, who knew how events would unfold?

Could she kill Jiang Shaoyan? If she couldn’t kill Jiang Shaoyan, without Qin Jue, would Jiang Shaoyan sit long and peacefully on the imperial throne?

Having thought this through, Luo Wanqing smiled at Silver Snake, “Must we sit here waiting the whole time? How long will it take them to kill him?”

“What does the Left Envoy mean?”

Silver Snake probed, somewhat unclear about Luo Wanqing’s meaning.

Luo Wanqing looked around and saw a subordinate with a tethered horse nearby, then said, “Let’s sit over there and chat. Have you been on missions recently?”

“Thanks to the Left Envoy’s blessing, I’ve been resting for a while, handling daily miscellaneous matters within the pavilion.”

Seeing she had no malicious intent, Silver Snake relaxed and walked with Luo Wanqing toward the roadside.

Luo Wanqing chatted with her while setting down all her belongings, making small talk with Silver Snake while secretly applying poison from her sleeve to her hand.

She first applied the antidote, and after it was absorbed, applied the poison.

When Silver Snake bent down to sit, Luo Wanqing suddenly drew her blade!

She had drawn her blade countless times these days, and her drawing speed was astonishingly fast. However, Silver Snake seemed prepared, turning her body to block with the black case on her back.

But Luo Wanqing’s focus wasn’t the blade. The moment Silver Snake moved, her poison-coated palm struck toward Silver Snake’s face. Silver Snake’s other hand swept up, and a venomous snake shot from her sleeve with its mouth agape!

Luo Wanqing immediately retreated. Silver Snake also quickly withdrew, holding the black case with one hand while a venomous snake coiled around her other hand. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly sensed something was wrong, immediately raising her hand to seal her acupoints, angrily looking up, “You used poison?!”

Luo Wanqing wasted no words, directly swinging her blade forward. Silver Snake crushed the black case in her hand, gripped her Miao blade with both hands, and fiercely clashed with Luo Wanqing’s blade.

“What does the Left Envoy mean?” Silver Snake looked coldly at Luo Wanqing.

Luo Wanqing met her gaze, calmly saying, “I mean to kill you.”

“Kill me?” Silver Snake laughed. The nearby venomous snake took the opportunity to bite Luo Wanqing. Luo Wanqing dodged sideways. Silver Snake gritted her teeth, “Then please, Left Envoy, enlighten me!”

As she spoke, Silver Snake gripped her blade with both hands and swung it toward Luo Wanqing.

The Miao blade was extremely long. Compared to Luo Wanqing’s blade, its defensive and offensive range was much larger. When Silver Snake swung once, Luo Wanqing couldn’t get close at all.

Logically, such a long blade should move quite slowly, but Silver Snake was different.

This long blade seemed weightless in her hands. Her blade-swinging movements were surprisingly fast, wave after wave, giving no breathing space.

“The Left Envoy seems not as formidable as the legends say.”

Seeing Luo Wanqing constantly defending, Silver Snake laughed aloud, “Never having fought the Left Envoy before, testing today shows nothing special. It seems this Left Envoy position should have someone else sitting in it.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Silver Snake leaped into the air and struck downward with force!

Luo Wanqing didn’t dare take it head-on, rolling on the ground. The long blade instantly swept across her entire back, leaving a bloody mess.

Silver Snake’s eyes lit up, immediately pressing her advantage, striking downward blow after blow, excitedly saying, “Vulnerable! If I’d known you had this little ability, I should have killed you long ago! What a waste having me stay at Earth level so long. Die! You die!”

Her attacks became increasingly fierce, almost frenzied. The poison from earlier seemed not to affect her, not slowing her even slightly.

Luo Wanqing was barely holding on. After this injury, her movements immediately slowed considerably. Soon, she sustained new wounds.

This wouldn’t work. She couldn’t continue like this.

Luo Wanqing forced herself to calm down and observe her opponent’s patterns.

Continuing to evade like this, she was like a frog being slowly boiled, destined to be worn down by this madwoman.

“Blades follow the kingly way, where the blade goes, nothing cannot be cut.”

Qin Jue’s voice echoed in her mind, and she suddenly realized her problem.

Yes, blades follow the kingly way. How could she keep dodging?

Every time she evaded, she was hiding her blade’s edge. Silver Snake’s bold, sweeping attacks – this was true blade-way.

Thinking this, without another word, when Silver Snake swung her blade, instead of dodging again, she turned defense to offense, striking back with one blade toward Silver Snake!

Silver Snake’s blade swept toward her vital points while her blade cut toward Silver Snake’s arm. Silver Snake’s expression changed slightly, quickly pulling back her blade to block Luo Wanqing’s strike.

The moment Luo Wanqing pressed against Silver Snake’s blade, she immediately sensed something was wrong.

Silver Snake’s blade was somewhat lighter than hers. Logically, with Silver Snake’s blade being so much longer, it couldn’t be lighter than hers. The only explanation was that when forging the blade, Silver Snake wanted to combine speed, so she deliberately made the blade lighter.

So every attack of hers was a downward swing, creating natural momentum to compensate for the blade’s lightness.

Once departing from the top-down attack method, Silver Snake’s light blade weakness was immediately exposed, not daring to clash directly with her.

Though Liu Xiniang’s internal power was only half, Luo Wanqing still vaguely felt it wasn’t inferior to – no, was even stronger than Silver Snake’s.

If she struck with full force, she might well be able to shatter Silver Snake’s blade.

Thinking this, Luo Wanqing immediately changed strategy, no longer defending, striking blade after blade downward toward Silver Snake. Her blade wasn’t fast, but each strike was a powered, heavy blow. Silver Snake didn’t dare take them head-on, only retreating repeatedly, completely unable to get close to Luo Wanqing.

Seeing this, Luo Wanqing planned to press her advantage, gathering all her internal power in one surge, intending to focus it on her blade edge. However, in that instant, pain shot through her entire body. Luo Wanqing immediately stopped her movement, and in that brief moment, Silver Snake quickly turned defense to offense, striking viciously.

Luo Wanqing instinctively rolled sideways but was still carved off a piece of flesh by Silver Snake.

The shoulder where flesh was carved ached, but throughout her body, countless other points still throbbed with pain.

She trembled as she gripped her blade, clearly realizing this was a meridian problem.

Not meridian width, but certain positions where bones were misaligned, making those meridian sections extremely narrow. Internal power couldn’t flow smoothly. To maximize internal power circulation, unless those bone obstructions to meridians were ground down, it was impossible.

This was the bone restructuring Qin Jue had mentioned.

But she was out of time.

Silver Snake’s blade came increasingly close to her vital points, and Luo Wanqing’s breathing grew more rapid.

Her entire body was covered in cuts, escaping death again and again, until finally, Silver Snake swept horizontally toward her waist. Luo Wanqing blocked horizontally but was violently knocked away by Silver Snake, crashing hard to the ground.

She lay prone, covered in blood, her entire body in terrible pain.

Silver Snake panted as she sheathed her blade, saying coldly, “It’s over, Liu Xiniang. You’re weaker than I imagined.”

Luo Wanqing said nothing. Hearing “it’s over,” countless things and people flashed through her mind.

She couldn’t die.

She couldn’t die here.

She was already on the road to Eastern Capital, and she had already returned from Lingnan.

She had destroyed her face, abandoned her identity, lost her family, and reforged her meridians. She had walked to this day, absolutely not to lie here and be trampled.

“When you swing that blade, you must have no distracting thoughts, no hesitation. Only this way can you properly hold the blade.”

Qin Jue’s voice rang out. Luo Wanqing gripped her blade tightly.

In her mind were images of herself in prison, in mountains, under trees, by rivers, swinging her blade again and again.

She still had her blade.

She still had one strike!

Stand up, Luo Wanqing, stand up.

You cannot die here.

You promised that both Qin Jue and you would reach Eastern Capital.

Luo Wanqing gripped her blade edge, summoned true qi, supported herself, and suddenly stood up, charging toward Silver Snake, who was rushing at her!

They were both fast. In their sprint, Luo Wanqing completely unleashed her internal power without any restraint!

True qi, like an unrestrained flood, instantly surged through her meridians.

Insufficient? Widen them!

Obstructing? Flatten them!

In moments, true qi invaded her entire body, meridians exploded, obstructing bones suddenly cracked and were ground away. Blood bloomed around her entire body, and excruciating pain submerged her consciousness entirely. Her blade and Silver Snake’s blade crashed together violently, then, without any obstruction, instantly swept past Silver Snake’s blade edge. The long blade shattered instantly as Luo Wanqing’s blade smoothly cut through her head.

The moment the blade’s momentum disappeared, Luo Wanqing felt her entire body trembling with pain.

She felt everything before her was blood, all blood. She couldn’t think at all. Following instinct, she staggered and turned, picked up all her belongings, hung them on the horse, then took out a mask from her pack and put it on, gripping her blade as she mounted the horse.

She had previously disdained the miscellaneous items on Qin Jue’s list, but now suddenly discovered these random things might prove useful at unexpected moments.

She had no strength, her entire body sprawled on the horse, one hand holding the blade, one hand controlling the horse, charging toward Qin Jue’s direction.

She hoped he was alive.

She hoped every promise she made would come true, that every sacrifice would have meaning.

She rode her horse, galloping wildly.

Meanwhile, Qin Jue was already covered in blood from killing. He looked at the person he had deliberately left alive for interrogation, gripping a seized soft sword, one hand pointing the sword to the ground, the other behind his back, smiling, “Still won’t speak? Then let me ask a simpler question. You should have people arranged in the Supervision Department to kill me, right? Who?”

No one spoke. The red-clothed woman holding a pipa had only one string left on her instrument. She knelt on the ground, struggling to pluck the last string, but the soft sword explored like a spirit snake, coiling around her finger.

The woman looked up at the young man before her, graceful as an immortal yet covered in blood, hearing him ask, “Is it Liu Xiniang?”

The woman revealed a malicious smile, hoarsely saying, “A Dao Sect person with such a vicious heart, if your founding master knew…”

Before finishing, Qin Jue’s sword instantly cut through her finger tendons. The woman screamed, the sword resting at her throat. Qin Jue asked coldly, “Is it Liu Xiniang?”

The woman didn’t speak. In that instant, horse hooves sounded in the distance.

Qin Jue paused his movement, then revealed a smile.

“Forget it. Whether it is or not, I’ll know when she arrives. If I’m not mistaken—” Qin Jue swept his sword back into his sleeve, turned sideways, smiling, “She’s here to kill me, right?”

However, as his words fell, what met his eyes was a girl covered in blood.

She still wore the white clothes he had bought her, her face covered with a pure white mask painted with peach blossoms. Blood bloomed across the white garments in large patches like begonia colors, incomparably gorgeous.

Qin Jue instinctively sensed something was wrong, but still gripped his sword defensively. As the girl rode her horse, charging into the crowd toward him, he reflexively swung his sword, striking directly at her head.

However, she neither dodged nor avoided, reaching out her hand toward him. Seeing this, Qin Jue was shocked, his eyes widening as he forcibly stopped his sword intent.

In that moment of stunned hesitation, she grabbed his wrist, yanked him onto the horse, pulled his hand to her waist, and shouted, “Hold me tight!”

As she spoke, the woman swept her blade horizontally at Fengyu Pavilion’s people, broke through the crowd, and led him galloping away.

Even after breaking out of the crowd, Qin Jue still hadn’t reacted. He held Luo Wanqing in bewilderment. Only when they were completely clear did he respond, seeing Luo Wanqing covered in blood, he placed his hand on her pulse, urgently saying, “You restructured your bones? Are you mad?!”

“Qin Jue, let’s agree on something.”

Luo Wanqing confirmed they were safe, but she couldn’t hold on anymore. True qi leaked from her entire body, her vision growing darker.

She felt herself shivering with cold, blood churning in her chest, but thinking of Qin Jue’s sword earlier, she knew he had wanted to kill her.

At least in that instant, he had wanted to kill her!

This bastard – she had desperately returned to save him, and he had wanted to kill her!

Thinking this, Luo Wanqing spat out a mouthful of blood. Qin Jue quickly embraced her waist, pulled her close, sending true qi over, urgently saying, “Don’t speak first, control your true qi, don’t let it leak!”

“From now on I won’t interfere with you, and you don’t interfere with me,” Luo Wanqing trembled, curling in his embrace, “I trust you once, and you don’t doubt me, otherwise…”

Her breathing grew weaker, but she still gritted her teeth, “I’ll kill you!”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater]

Interview: “Someone like you, why would you fall for a person?”

Someone: “Because, every time she charges toward me, she looks so resolute, so desperate. Though they’re all her unintentional mistakes, they’re all my destined fate.”

[Mini Theater 2]

Facing his wife:

Someone: “Sister, sister, Sister Liu…”

Facing others:

Pipa woman: “On the road to the underworld, sister can tell you…”

Someone: “Want to be my sister? Seek death prematurely.”