Madam Wen wiped the longsword and returned it to her sleeve.

Li Xian was deeply astonished, involuntarily recalling various scenes of binding silk clothing and Yin Yang bathing. He had helped the lady remove her clothes, untie her belt, and comb her long hair... thinking of their intimacy, yet he had never seen a trace of the soft sword.

Not knowing where it was hidden beneath her garments.

Bear Lord's appearance was ugly, collapsing into the ground. Madam Wen, hearing the question, pondered for a moment. Li Xian indeed had the right to know and said, "The Dragon Appreciation Banquet and the Dragon Slaying Banquet are events concerning the dragon."

"A dragon's feast?" Li Xian was puzzled, "Is there really a dragon in this world?"

"Of course there is," Madam Wen replied. "The Great Wu's territory is vast, and there are hundreds of known dragon traces."

"Your progress with the Setting Sun Bloodsword is impressive; you will surely have the fortune to witness this great Dragon Appreciation Banquet."

As she spoke, Madam Wen furrowed her brow slightly and suddenly struck Bear Lord with a palm. The inner qi penetrated the ground, causing snow and sand to fly.

Bear Lord's clothes were torn to pieces, yet there were no limbs shattered or flesh mangled. As the smoke dissipated, a hole in the ground led to a distance, allowing him to escape.

Madam Wen mused, "Earth Melt Technique?"

Apparently, Bear Lord's heart was pierced, but he did not die instantly. Knowing he was no match for the lady, he pondered how to flee.

Throughout his decades in Jianghu, with continuous fortunate encounters, he acquired the [Earth Soaring Soup] recipe. Through years of pursuit, he consumed about seven or eight corresponding Essence Treasure, nearing the comprehension of the 'Earth Soaring Technique.'

But he didn't know where something went wrong. The Earth Soaring Technique turned into the Earth Melt Technique. This technique was quite useless, as when using the magic skill, one's body merged into the soil as if sinking into water.

However, the soil's rough texture limited his integration to the surface. Truly useless.

But since he had the Treasure Technique, he should research it carefully. Lord Bear delved into it intensely. Although the technique was useless on its own, combined with martial arts methods, it could have miraculous effects.

He mastered the "Earth Breaking Skill," a martial art of the Jiudou Sect known for digging and breaking holes. It transfers inner qi into the ground, applying some sort of shock to quickly excavate pits and holes.

Bear Lord combined the Treasure Technique with martial arts, feigning death on the ground. He used magic skills to merge into the earth and secretly employed Earth Breaking Skill to escape. Hence, he could fake death and escape underground.

It was his first time using it in his life, and it truly saved his life.

During the time spent talking, he had already fled afar. Li Xian asked, "Madam, shall we pursue?"

"Let him live," Madam Wen said.

Li Xian pondered what kind of temperament Madam Wen had; how could she easily forgive? It seemed Bear Lord was indeed quite formidable to escape from the lady's grasp. Yet... Madam Wen's tracking methods were extraordinary. Even when Qiuyue had buried bodies deep, she still found them. How did Bear Lord manage to escape...

"Bear Lord's martial arts skills are indeed impressive. But perhaps Madam couldn't track him due to reasons unrelated to martial arts prowess."

...

...

At dusk.

The nurses had all descended the mountain, gathering on the open ground in front of it. Ding Hu muttered, "Strange, strange, why haven't Madam and the others come down yet?"

Looking from afar.

The sun was setting over the western mountains, and night was approaching.

The most enjoyable part of mountain hunting was counting the beast captures upon descent. Every year, the nurses' beast captures, whether many or few, were reviewed by Madame.

Suddenly, the sound of horse hooves soared as Li Xian dashed out of the forest on horseback, Madam Wen close behind. The two whispered intimately to each other, Madam Wen's demeanor softening from her usual aloofness, a mix of playful affection evident in her eyes.

Soon after, Li Xian rode over to Ding Hu and said, "You all have worked hard. I just spoke with Madam. It's too late today, and counting the beast captures will take time. Why don't we..."

"Everyone bring the beast captures back to the manor and register with Uncle Xiang. Tonight, Madam allows you a night off, and the kitchen will set up a Hundred Beasts Banquet in the manor. Eat and drink to your heart's content."

The nurses cheered joyously and returned to the manor with their captures.

Soon, only Li Xian and Madam Wen remained at the site. Madam Wen smiled and said, "After three days of hunting, it should be clear who's won and who's lost." She opened her Shrinking Flesh Bag and poured out the captures.

Tigers, bears, deer...

There were tens and twenties of each, dazzling. Among them, the most were bear beasts—Scale Armor Bears, Stone-Breaking Bears, Ferocious Gold Bears... all towering over two meters tall, robust and thick-furred.

"Little Immortal, come here," Madam Wen walked over to the Scale Armor Bear, and Li Xian handed over the Sinking River Sword.

The sword edge was sharp, and with a light stroke, it cut through the armor.

Underneath the bear's pelt, there were actually human bodies.

The Scale Armor Bear stood about two meters tall, with three human bodies inside the bear pelt. However, they were not complete forms, with joints twisted, stitched, and pieced together, bizarre shapes... fitting just right within the bear clothing.

Madam Wen said, "This Bear Lord and that Pot Immortal, they're of the same ilk. He's Pot Immortal's senior uncle."

"He likes to capture live people, soak them in special medicated baths, then distort their joints and dislocate their muscles and bones. He controls them using the Enchanting Soul Technique, hiding in the deep mountains to nurture many 'bear children,' setting up a Bear Array for future Dragon Slaying Banquet needs."

"It was just sheer luck that I stumbled upon this. He suffered a great loss, all his efforts were for naught."

"When you venture out in Jianghu in the future and encounter such people, try to avoid them. These demonic cultists will never achieve great things, but they're always extremely disgusting."

"All of them are 'Blood Pool and Flesh Forest' characters, and about eighty percent of these strange bears hunted today are like this; burn them all."

Li Xian carried all the strange bears to one spot, piling them up with dry wood and grass, then used the Setting Sun Bloodsword to slash out two sword beams, igniting the pyre.

The flames soared to the sky.

Madam Wen smiled and asked, "In this competition, who won?"

The remaining tigers and deer captures were not much different. Li Xian counted them all and laughed, "Madam, I won."

Madam Wen raised her eyebrows slightly, "Nonsense, the numbers of tigers and deer are about the same. You have two more tiger beasts than I do, but I have four more deer beasts than you. Where do you get the idea that you won?"

Li Xian said, "Did Madam forget about the colorful little deer we ate?"

The lady heard this, shook her head, and chuckled, saying, "You sly boy... with this reasoning, it seems you did win. What reward do you want, just say it?"

"I'll think it over carefully and tell Madam once we return to the manor," Li Xian said.

"Alright," Madam Wen nodded.

...

...

Yihetang Manor.

In the spacious open area, tables and chairs were set up. The back kitchen displayed culinary skills, turning wild game into delicious dishes.

The attendants ate to their heart's content.

Deep within the inner courtyard, Madam Wen asked again, "Have you decided what kind of reward you want?"

Li Xian knew that Madam's family had a vast wealth — martial arts, money, treasures, rare medicines, treasure artifacts... the list was endless. Obtaining any one of these would be immensely rewarding. He thought about wanting a lightweight skill to compensate for the gaps in his martial arts or perhaps upper or middle martial arts to broaden his horizons. Any one of these would be greatly useful.

However, on the way back to the manor, he pondered carefully. It seemed inappropriate, and he thought to himself, "If I ask for a martial arts secret manual, for treasure artifacts, for money and silver... but how do I gauge the scale of it. If the reward is too heavy, it might displease Madam, and I wouldn't get the treasure, only to receive barbs. If the reward is too light, it would be uninteresting. How about..."

Li Xian asked, "Madam, will you definitely grant what I want?"

Madam Wen crossed her legs, her slender waist like a willow, and said with interest, "Of course, what are you planning?"

"I want..." Li Xian smiled, "I want many things; on the road, I almost asked for martial arts secret manuals, for treasures and strange artifacts. But now, sitting before Madam, I only want one thing."

He mixed truth with falsehood, and falsehood with truth naturally. Li Xian prided himself on being honest, yet was inherently suave and charming. Flattering words to please women came easily to his lips, spoken with sincerity and moving authenticity. If not for this talent, even with his extraordinary aptitude, how could he make Madam change her stance step by step and foster feelings?

Madam Wen's lovely face turned slightly red, feeling a sense of romance, joy appearing on her brows. She asked softly, "Tell me."

"I want to hold Madam," Li Xian said sincerely.

Madam Wen's heart felt as if it was wrapped in honey. Seeing Li Xian's genuine expression, seemingly not false, she said, "We've bathed together many times, what harm in embracing? I want to reward you, this chance is rare, think a bit more."

Li Xian said, "But... Madam..."

"Right now, that's the only thought I have, asking me to think of another reward is truly difficult. No matter how much I think, it's all for this one desire."

Madam Wen's smile deepened, adept in geomancy, ruthless in Jianghu ways, yet no one dared say romantic words to her. Even romantic words vary in quality. Touching the heart and stirring intentions are the rarest.

She teased, "You rascal, you're becoming more audacious. Fine, this little wish, can I not fulfill it for you?"

Her face slightly flushed, but her self-control was excellent, outsiders couldn't tell. She said, "Come then."

He felt wrapped in warmth, a broad and solid chest. The warm body temperature was a drug of dreams, a bit love-struck.

Li Xian also hugged the fragrant jade, the fragrance tantalizing his nose.

Madam Wen asked, "Are you satisfied?" Li Xian responded, "Madam, I want to go a step further."

Madam Wen coyly scolded, "No way." Turning away, yet with some reluctance.

Li Xian remained with a lingering fragrance. He guessed correctly that the so-called reward was just casually mentioned by Madam Wen to spur him on. If Li Xian asked, she might not refuse.

Middle martial arts, treasures and strange objects... how precious. Madam's wealth was abundant, but she wasn't one to give lightly. If Li Xian asked for these, it would be in vain. Instead, it would make Madam think, "This one values gain, even if loyal to me, yet not pure-hearted, mixed with interest calculations."

She would likely think this way.

If he didn't request anything, she also had reasons to be displeased.

The winter hunt had passed.

In the remaining days, there was no urgent matter. Li Xian practiced martial arts, strolled around the manor, and visited various places in Qingning County.

Though he didn't secure a reward, Madam's attitude evidently changed.

Early December.

On this day, Li Xian's Setting Sun Bloodsword's first and second layers were nearing their peak. Without restraint, they would soon reach the pinnacle.

Li Xian worried Madam might suspect, so apart from Dual Swords Unite, he no longer touched this sword technique. He privately focused all his energy on [Vast Leg].

The leg technique was ethereal, the martial arts gradually showing uniqueness. When the legs moved, clouds and mist veiled the vision, creating illusions.

The leg power grew. The combination of Vast Leg and Clear Wind Leg resulted in extremely fast movement speed.

[Vast Leg]

[Skill Level: 1096/3000 Minor Achievement]

Qi Lake forty-four zhang.

Li Xian rather enjoyed this kind of day, "Progress in tranquility, without wind or waves. As long as I settle things with Madam, many troubles can be resolved."

But seeing the towering, robust old tree within the manor, Li Xian's heart trembled; he still desired to stand tall and independent, not relying on others.

Strength is the only path!

Gratitude can be repaid, grievances avenged.

On this day.

Li Xian helped Madam Wen in seclusion and received the end-of-month funds. Just as he was about to exit the manor, suddenly heard a clamor: "Kid, kid... come here."

In the dense grass, Black Tai Sui was sitting atop a toad. Li Xian quickly stepped over, grabbed him, and asked, "Why are you out again?"

Black Tai Sui grumbled, "Ouch, gently, gently. Why such strength! I was curious about your progress. How are you two doing?"

"You're quite nosy." Li Xian smiled.

"Quick, tell me. Did you conquer that wicked woman?" Black Tai Sui asked curiously.

Without waiting for Li Xian's response, Black Tai Sui continued, "You're too shy, too honest. Clearly, there's been no progress; with a woman like that, you should boldly push forward, daring to unsheath your sword. Make her love and hate interwoven, unable to stop, longing for life and death. You... keep it up!"

Li Xian's lips twitched, "You sure know a lot. What are you?"

"Speaking of which, it all began in the distant Great Yu," Black Tai Sui said. "If you want to hear, I'll slowly tell you. Last time there was a flying thief, quite famous in the Jianghu, came to steal something..."

"We had a chat. Never in my life had I been so enthralled. I spoke of the glorious past of Lord Hei."

"He was very excited. But... got caught by that wicked woman. Damn, his tongue was cut, tendons wronged, hand and foot tendons pulled. Oh, the misery... now I'm also like you..."

Li Xian knew Black Tai Sui was full of nonsense, only listening for amusement, never believing lightly. But recalling the enslaved men of the Leisure Martial Pavilion, for safety, he said, "Stop! I don't want to hear it." He ran back to Yunxiang Pavilion, locking Black Tai Sui again.

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