Li Xian feigned composure as he bent down to examine Qiuyue's corpse. The 'Blood Seal Throat' poison acted swiftly, leading to immediate death when it reached the cardiac meridian. However, there were no visible abnormalities on the outside.

Li Xian knew very well that if he showed any flaws, Madam Wen would suspect his disloyalty. After a moment, he said, "There are no wounds on her body. Could it be suicide?"

"Qiuyue had no reason. She would never enter the deep mountains and old forests. She must have betrayed Madam Wen, intending to take advantage of... Madam's inconvenience to escape the manor. But upon reaching this place, she regretted it. Terrified of Madam's punishment, she ultimately decided to end her life here."

"Suicide?" Madam Wen laughed and said, "Then tell me, if it was suicide, who buried her?"

"This..." Li Xian couldn't answer. Madam Wen was not easily deceived.

With a flick of her palm, Madam Wen generated a breeze that lifted Qiuyue's sleeves and skirt, revealing traces of rope bindings. She remarked:

"Although Qiuyue has no external wounds, there are rope marks on her hands and feet. She was apprehended before death. This method of binding, forcing one to lie prone with arms and legs twisted, is typical of the Flower Cage Sect."

With her vast knowledge of Jianghu techniques, Madam Wen could easily discern the telltale signs. Fortunately, Li Xian had shown compassion and used poison, leaving very few traces.

"She doesn't seem the type to endure humiliation and poison herself to death," Madam Wen said, frowning.

Li Xian said, "Madam, I suspect her death is related to the Flower Cage Sect. But I have already slain all the Flower Cage Sect villains at the time. And in these desolate suburbs, it will be difficult to find any other traces."

Madam Wen nodded. Her pursuit of Qiuyue was to exact severe punishment: first, to vent her anger, and second, to warn Li Xian that if he betrayed her, she could find him even to the ends of the earth.

Thirdly... the secret of the Silkworm Robe Mismatched Jade Technique must not be leaked. She has many enemies, and if everyone knew about this weakness, how could she live peacefully in the future?

"Madam, could it be that the Flower Cage Sect did it to silence her?" Li Xian asked cautiously.

"That must be it." Even with Madam Wen's formidable abilities, it was difficult to discern what happened that day. Moreover, there were indeed rope bindings from the Flower Cage Sect on Qiuyue's body, and no external injuries...

It appears that Qiuyue was tied up, force-fed poison by the Flower Cage Sect, causing her death, and then transported elsewhere for burial.

Only this explanation is barely plausible.

"The Flower Cage Sect does not kill women. But with so many disciples, it's hard to keep everyone in line." Madam Wen turned to ask, "Why did you strangle the Flower Cage Sect back then?"

Li Xian immediately recounted the matter with Lin Aoshan. When Madam Wen heard the name Lin Aoshan, she felt a touch of displeasure. But upon learning that Li Xian risked danger due to a fine of three thousand taels and teamed up with Lin Aoshan, her displeasure faded away.

"If that's the case, this matter is settled, and there is no need to pursue it further." Madam Wen turned and left. Li Xian hesitated for a moment before following suit.

Leaving only Qiuyue's remains, exposed and desolate in the wilderness, truly pitiful. Over a decade of master-servant relationship weighs as light as a feather.

Back at the manor.

With her mind at ease, Madam Wen was in a good mood, practicing swordplay together with Li Xian, refining their skills.

Later that afternoon.

Ding Hu assumed the position of Nursing Home Commander, while Li Xian moved into the inner courtyard to become the Sword Holder, residing close to Madam, with only a few steps separating their rooms.

Madam ordered the cauldron to be fired up again, taking two days to prepare the Essence Food. Li Xian received two pieces of Essence Meat, consuming one on the spot and placing the other into the Heaven-Hiding Box.

This piece of Essence Meat contained over a hundred strands of essence. Upon consumption, it was fortified and transformed into one hundred and fifty strands, with Li Xian retaining over thirty strands... enough to digest for more than half a month.

The next day.

At the Martial Captain Hall.

Li Xian's voice boomed like thunder, his entire body gleaming with black light, as if coated in iron and silver, impervious.

[Essence Food]

[Skill Level: 32/100]

[Iron Copper Body]

[Skill Level: 1253/50000 Peak!]

[Setting Sun Bloodsword·Second Layer]

[Skill Level: 569/5000 Minor Achievement]

[Thunderbolt Finger]

[Skill Level: 11/1200 Mastery]

...

Many martial arts had advanced. The Qi Lake, measuring twenty-five zhang, surged vigorously, hinting at a wave-like aura.

The Iron Copper Body practice reached its pinnacle, perfected to the utmost. The body was robust and sturdy, the Iron Lung resilient. Li Xian's breathing was like a flood, harmoniously resonating with the "Chest Drum Thunder Sound."

Enhancing the resonant strength of the Chest Drum Thunder Sound led to an increased lethality in the Thunderbolt Finger.

The vast domain of martial arts is expansive. Martial arts are also vast; the world of martial arts is full of oddities. Some martial arts share common paths and complement each other, amplifying their effects, unleashing staggering power.

This is especially common among the major Jianghu sects.

Even if outsiders manage to secretly learn a move or two, they rarely grasp the essence.

The "Iron Copper Body" and "Thunderbolt Finger" are both categorized as Miscellaneous Martial Arts.

But through an unexpected twist, they turned out to have commonalities within their methods.

The Iron Copper Body trains the lungs, and as the lungs rest in the chest, when the Chest Drum roars like thunder, the lungs vibrate, enhancing the Thunder Sound. This Thunder Sound, transmitted internally, boosts the lethal move of the Thunderbolt Finger...

A series of interconnected techniques combined, naturally resulting in formidable potency.

"Captain of Martial Arts."

Outside the hall, the constables were neatly dressed, armed with knives.

Li Xian smiled and said, "There's no need to be nervous. Perhaps the new County Magistrate has no intention of opposing us?"

Cao Kai's death had been over ten days ago. The Prefecture City was unpredictable, with various aristocratic families engaged in covert struggles. Li Xian couldn't discern the details.

But the new County Magistrate had already been decided. He was a young scion of the Yuwen Family in Prefecture City, just over twenty years old.

Having set out a few days earlier, estimated by the route, he was due to arrive today. The constables, seasoned by several incidents, were brimming with combat experience. Hearing of the County Magistrate's arrival, they remained vigilant, ready to act immediately upon Li Xian's command, to preemptively strike, execute his authority, without hesitation.

"Since you are newcomers, there should be new changes. Restrain your aggression and go practice martial arts in the outer courtyard. I will go greet the County Magistrate."

Li Xian said nonchalantly.

The constables looked at each other in dismay. Zhang Hou said, "Everyone, go train." Leading by example, he took the constables to practice martial arts.

At the city gate, ten steps away, there was a wooden shed.

Li Xian sat under the shed, cooling off while waiting for the County Magistrate, showing respect. Establishing good relations was always a plus. After waiting for a while, not knowing when the County Magistrate would arrive, he dragged over a small chair and started cracking melon seeds.

Today, the sun was just right, the sky clear, and the ground bright, with no clouds for miles.

Before he came, neither that County Captain Zhang Yiheng, nor the Chief Clerk, nor the aristocratic families dared to show their faces.

But once Li Xian arrived, the County Captain quickly caught up, his clothes and hat a bit disheveled. The other county officials were similarly put together.

They waited for the time it took for half an incense stick to burn.

The sound of horse hooves arose, and a carriage approached. The carriage had a round top and square body, styled after that of a prefecture city. But its color scheme was plain, clearly intended to be low-profile.

As the carriage stopped, down came a young man. He was of delicate appearance and quite youthful. This was the new County Magistrate: Yuwen Chengji. A less favored sibling from the Yuwen family.

Qingning County had been seeing a succession of deaths. The position of County Magistrate, after much competition, ultimately fell to the Yuwen family.

However, the place held inherent dangers, prompting the family, after much consideration, to temporarily send an outlying branch member, Yuwen Chengji, to test the waters and scout the situation.

Yuwen Chengji was filled with bitterness. Since he took office, he had been anxious and uneasy. It was rumored in the prefecture city that Qingning's Martial Captain, Li Xian, possessed three heads and six arms, a gaping bloody mouth, an aura of malevolence reaching the skies, eyes like copper bells, practically demonized beyond measure, devouring people.

On this journey for his appointment, Yuwen Chengji was accompanied only by three old servants, without any family or government soldiers. He was nearly alone in his venture.

As he stepped down from the carriage, his legs were almost weak. Should the Martial Captain come to kill him, how could he survive?

He wandered aimlessly, full of despair.

Li Xian approached with bold strides, smiling, "I presume this gentleman is the young lord of the Yuwen family, the new County Magistrate?"

"Yes… yes…" Yuwen Chengji, following his family's teachings, was told not to flaunt his family background openly upon reaching Qingning. He hurriedly returned the greeting and asked, "Who… who are you?"

"I am the Martial Captain, Li Xian," Li Xian replied.

"Ah!" Yuwen Chengji exclaimed in surprise, "You… you are Li Xian?!"

To his surprise, this Martial Captain was not at all fierce; rather, he was extraordinarily handsome. With a red mole between his brows, majestic and noble, truly rare.

"You… you…" Yuwen Chengji said, "Aren't you supposed to be terrifying in appearance, with three heads and six arms, a mass murderer with a pocked face and a mouth large enough to swallow people?"

"Nonsense!" Zhang Yiheng yelled angrily, "Ignorant child, do you dare insult Lord Martial Captain?!" He pretended to draw his sword.

Yuwen Chengji recoiled his neck. Being young and well-off, he lacked understanding of interpersonal dealings. Only after speaking did he realize he had offended someone.

He also felt that it was indeed frustrating to be berated as "nonsense" by a County Captain.

Li Xian laughed, "No harm done. I see that this young man had no intent to offend. It's all just innocence and candor, no need to make a fuss."

"Yes, yes." Zhang Yiheng took a step back.

"Lord County Magistrate, please, you are new to Qingning and must be unfamiliar with this place."

"I am a native of Qingning and can introduce you to the local customs."

Li Xian said amicably.

The group walked into the street, where the hustle and bustle gradually dispelled their fears. Although Yuwen Chengji was frivolous, he was not stupid. He already knew that many rumors were incorrect; this Martial Captain was rather approachable.

Li Xian asked, "Young Lord Yuwen, I've never been to the prefecture city; I wonder how lively it is. Could you tell me about it?"

"The prefecture city…" Yuwen Chengji said, "It's truly… indescribable, with seven rivers converging into one city, and the canals extending outwards. Hundred-foot-tall buildings are everywhere, with prosperous and thriving businesses."

"Many capable people and famous scholars gather there, martial arts schools and sects, beautiful women, rare treasures, and talented elites. It's bustling with excitement."

Speaking with enthusiasm, his tone grew animated.

"Such a magnificent scene, I indeed wish to see it," Li Xian remarked with longing.

"Oh?" Yuwen Chengji said, "If you want to go, in more than a month, it would be the perfect opportunity."

"Why is that?" Li Xian asked.

"During that time, there will be the Tianjiao Multi-layer Banquet. The aristocratic families come together to host it. The lively scene is a rare sight in years. You can also witness the feats of talented elites."

"According to reports… on this banquet, there will be treasure artifacts appearing!"

"However, to attend the banquet, you need an invitation. Without one, there's no chance." Yuwen Chengji envisioned eagerly.

Li Xian asked, "The Tianjiao Multi-layer Banquet?" Though curious, he didn't dwell on it, and asked again, "By the way, you mentioned earlier that I have three heads and six arms, terrifying and hideous. Do people in the prefecture city really say that about me?"

"Uh…" Yuwen Chengji looked embarrassed, "I am truly sorry, I misspoke. I hope Lord Martial Captain will not take offense. I was merely repeating rumors, with no intent to offend you."

"I understand that." Li Xian said with curiosity, "Feel free to tell me honestly, what is my reputation like in the prefecture city?"

Yuwen Chengji responded truthfully, "Since you wish to know, I will say. But these are merely rumors, and I am just repeating them."

"The prefecture city says… you are ugly in appearance, unreasonable. That you dominate Qingning County, oppress the people, causing them to suffer."

"They also say you have a foul stench that inspires fear. You harbor criminals and commit numerous misdeeds. People in the prefecture call you the Evil Captain, treating you as a great threat."

"Cao family genius Cao Xiuxiu declared… that you only bully the weak and rely on your master to cause trouble. The courtesan Ji Yanhong of Immortal Smoke Tower said whoever defeats you greatly and avenges her grievances, she will personally perform a melody for them."

"The little princess of the Chu family once discussed this topic at a Chu family banquet. At the time, she disdainfully said: 'Stop talking about this person; even hearing his name is overwhelmingly unpleasant. Anyone who continues will be asked to leave,' or words to that effect."

Li Xian asked, "Why are all these evaluations from women?"

"Ah?" Yuwen Chengji sheepishly said, "I only pay attention to women, especially beautiful ones."

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