n

n

n

n“Black nightshade, Angelica root, ground-ivy, Chinese iris, skullcaps…”

n“Young Master, the medicinal herbs you requested are all here!”

nLu Fan was basking in the sun in the courtyard, engaging in a solo game of chess after having some porridge, when he heard Ni Yu squeal with excitement from outside.

nOutside the courtyard…

nNi Yu pushed the door open. She was carrying a big black wok on her back and basketfuls of medicinal herbs in her hands. Huffing and puffing away, she hurried in.

nLu Fan raised his brows. He folded up his sleeves and laid down a pawn.

nNi Yu dumped the wok on the ground as she struggled to catch her breath.

n“Young Master, the wok and these medical herbs cost two silver taels and three silver coins altogether,”

nNi Yu said as she wiped the sweat off her forehead.

n“That was fast.” Lu Fan smiled.

nIndeed, food was an effective motivation to get the young girl to run errands.

n“Fine, let’s go to Lake Island.”

n“Don’t you want to eat as you cultivate? I’ll teach you,”

nLu Fan said.

n“Yes!”

nNi Yu’s eyes beamed. Picking up the wok and carrying the medicinal herbs, she was huffing and puffing again as she left Lu Manor for Lake Island.

n******

nThe sound of galloping hoofs ripped through the air.

nClad in armor, Lu Changkong furrowed his brows as he stood watching above the city gate.

nFrom afar, a figure was fast approaching on horseback, leaving a cloud of dust behind as the horse galloped across the plains.

nSometime later, the figure arrived at the gates of Beiluo City.

n“Castellan Lu, I came with His Majesty’s edict.”

nOn the horse sat a smartly dressed senior official. Cupping his fist in his hand, he announced his arrival to Lu Changkong, who was watching from above. One of his hands held a scroll of Imperial Edict.

nLu Changkong dared not be the least bit disrespectful upon hearing that.

nThe city gates opened slowly. The senior official rode in.

nLu Changkong recognized him. He was Emperor Yu Wenxiu’s favorite official and also an extremely skillful martial arts practitioner.

n“Castellan Lu, may I know where your son is? His Majesty has an edict…for him,”

nThe senior official said with a smile.

nHe carried not a trace of arrogance despite his status as the emperor’s favorite official. After all, he was an experienced and sophisticated individual.

n“Fan’er is physically impaired and is recuperating at Lake Island. Why don’t you come with me to the island to see him?”

nLu Changkong replied.

n“I’ll have to trouble you then, Castellan Lu.” The senior official let out a piercing chuckle.

nLu Changkong instructed Luo Yue to guard the city walls and asked for Luo Cheng. Together, they left for Lake Island.

n******

nDrunken Dragon City.

nAn armored Jiang Li solemnly received the Imperial Edict.

n“Have Yuanchi and Tong’an cities fallen into the enemy’s hands?”

nJiang Li asked with a sigh.

n“His Majesty has high expectations of you, Castellan Jiang. He hopes that you won’t disappoint him,”

nThe official said.

nJiang Li respectfully cupped his fist in his hand. He ordered his servants to give the official some silver pieces before escorting him off to rest for the day.

nShortly after the official left…

nAn elegant woman appeared behind Jiang Li. With her head bowed low, the woman said,

n“Sir, according to the latest news, the Overlord has returned to the West County alive and is rallying his army to destroy the Mohist City of Traps in Eastern Lake.”

nWith his hands behind his back, Jiang Li narrowed his eyes.

n“Mo Beike managed to strategize for everything but failed when it came to the Overlord. Or perhaps it wasn’t so much a failure. Rather, something completely unforeseen has happened to the Overlord,”

nJiang Li said slowly.

nThe woman looked up as if a sudden thought had occurred to her. Shock rippled across her beautiful face.

n“Sir, if Mo Beike managed to strategize for everything, could he have foreseen that you’d station troops to guard the cities of Yuanchi and Tong’an as well?”

nJiang Li showed an aloof smile.

n“Who knows? This is a game between the Mohist and the Imperial Advisor.”

n“However, Mo Beike is one of the few people in the world who knows my weakness. So, Chi Lian, protect Pingnan well,”

nJiang Li said.

nChi Lian was the name of the woman—a woman who was like a raging fire.

nA resolute look appeared on her gorgeous face.

n“I will, with my life!”

n******

nBeiluo Lake Island.

nIn the gentle lake breeze, the chrysanthemums swayed gently, with their bright blooming flowers smiling at the sun. Some Spirit Qi was consumed.

nUnder the dancing chrysanthemums…

nMo Liuqi slowly opened his eyes.

nSome distance away, the foxy maid of Young Master Lu sat hugging her legs, watching the shimmering waters of the lake. Tears stained her alluring face.

nShe had sensed the Qi that her Young Master had mentioned.

nShe had reached the Qi Core Realm, with one wisp of Spirit Qi. She had met Lu Fan’s standards.

n“Dad…Mum… I’ve become stronger.”

nYi Yue continued looking at the lake, her lips trembling slightly.

nMo Liuqi kept quiet. He had encountered way too many embittered, resentful individuals.

nHe stood up and stretched.

nFrom afar, Jing Yue, the swordsman from Sword Sect was still glowering at him with watchful eyes. How professional, Mo Liuqi mused.

nBut he was not planning to escape. Nor did he have the guts to. Young Master Lu’s erratic powers had stripped him of any courage to do so.

nThose were powers more bizarre than those of the Giant.

nSome distance away, Ning Zhao and Nie Changqing got up on their feet.

nA faint splash came from across the lake.

nFrightened by the splash, schools of fish darted away in the water, creating ripples on the lake surface. The birds on the island too instinctively flapped their wings and took flight.

nA wooden boat was approaching, rocking from side to side on the waters.

nIt slowly drifted to the island, carrying Lu Fan, who was seated in a wheelchair.

n“Young Master.”

nNie Changqing, Ni Yu, Jing Yue, and Yi Yue, who was some distance away, got up and bowed.

nMo Liuqi fixed his gaze on the boat and, after a moment of hesitation, bowed slightly too.

nLu Fan flashed a delightful smile.

n“Sister Ning, help me out… Ouch!”

nNi Yu’s feeble voice came from the boat.

nNing Zhao was taken by surprise. She hopped onto the boat and saw an anguished Ni Yu sprawled in front of an overturned black wok.

n“This girl…” Ning Zhao thought to herself fondly, the corners of her red lips twitching a little.

nShe helped Ni Yu off the boat and put the wok and medicinal herbs on the ground.

nLu Fan turned his gaze toward Mo Liuqi.

n“Not bad… It’s only been a day, and you’ve reached the Third Stage Qi Core Realm. You’re indeed someone who’s driven by will.”

nLu Fan praised.

nNing Zhao and Nie Changqing were dumfounded. To reach the Third Stage Qi Core Realm in one day was indeed a peculiarly disconcerting talent!

n“You’re too kind, Young Master Lu. I wonder if your promise still holds?”

nMo Liuqi said, his eyes shining bright.

n“My words always hold. Go then. Go bid farewell to your ‘Zhu,’”

nLu Fan replied with indifference, leaning back on the wheelchair and tapping his fingers lightly on the handle.

n“You’re unsuited to be a swordsman. If you go on being one, sooner or later, you’ll die a horrible death,”

nHe continued, looking at Mo Liuqi.

nSwordsmen were supposed to be ruthless, but Mo Liuqi was a compassionate man—and a fiercely compassionate one for that matter. People like him usually would not end up well.

nMo Liuqi kept quiet. Then, he took a step back and knelt down in front of Lu Fan.

n“I, Mo Liuqi, am one who can distinguish kindness from malice. I failed in my quest and deserved to die, but you spared my life. That was as good as giving me a new lease on life. My life is yours then,”

nMo Liuqi solemnly declared and kowtowed to Lu Fan.

nLu Fan remained in his wheelchair, his white garment billowing gently in the breeze.

nHe waved a hand.

n“Go then. Also, after you leave the island, go ask for your donkey at Lu Manor. Someone will return it to you.”

nMo Liuqi was taken aback and rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. The mention of his donkey had left him feeling embarrassed.

nNot only did he fail his mission to assassinate, but also he even had to trouble others to take care of that donkey of his. What an assassin he was.

nMo Liuqi left.

nHe disappeared into the thick mist in a small rowboat.

n“Young Master, are you letting him off just like this?”

nNie Changqing frowned.

n“Aren’t you afraid he might disappear for good?”

nJing Yue nodded in agreement. “Young Master, shall I go keep an eye on him?”

n“No need to.

n“He dare not,” Lu Fan answered slowly.

nHe reached out and flicked his fingers at a chrysanthemum some distance away. A petal instantaneously dropped and drifted toward his palm.

nHis gaze turned toward the wok and the basketfuls of medicinal herbs.

nNi Yu got herself a wok to refine her Qi Core. What a gourmet indeed.

nStrictly speaking, there were dedicated furnaces for Qi refinement.

nNonetheless, it was not specified that woks could not do the job.

nIn that case, why not whip up a hot meal with the wok first?

n******

nThe Mohist City of Traps in Eastern Lake was a small city in a lake situated atop the magnificent mountains at the borders of West County.

nWaterfalls poured down in torrents around the city, forming a natural barrier.

nThis was the renowned Mohist City of Traps of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

nIt was a city jointly built by the Mohist and the Jiguan School and was home and resting place to Mohist voyagers.

nBetween the mountains, the gushing waterfalls fell like silver curtains.

nA long narrow corridor led between the waterfalls, its banisters carved with intricate patterns, and its roof covered with green tiles. The scene was a charming and picturesque one.

nIn the middle of the corridor…

nA solitary figure stood, a long thin sword hanging from his waist.

nTall and imposing, he was smartly dressed, with his hair falling loosely from his forehead.

nHis countenance was frosty and unbending as if nothing in this world could move him.

nFootsteps came from behind but were quickly drowned by the gushing waterfalls.

nThe man with the frosty face turned around. It was a woman in red, half her face concealed by an ivory mask, revealing only her crimson lips.

n“Another quest, Zhu?”

nThe frosty-faced man said with indifference. Even his voice was icy cold, devoid of any emotion.

nThe woman in red stood next to him. She was at his shoulder height. Green ribbons fluttered under the powerful jets of gushing waters.

nThere was a glimmer in her eyes.

n“Liuqi accepted the quest, and he’s not coming back,”

nShe said with a slightly shaky voice.

nThe frosty-faced man did not say a word.

nThe atmosphere was awkward. Around them, the waterfalls continued to thunder.

n“Giant said the next quest is the last. You can’t run away from it.”

n“Upon completion, if you’re still alive, you’ll be a free man,”

nShe said gently.

nUpon hearing the word “free,” the frosty-faced man’s lips twitched slightly.

n“Sure.

n“What’s the quest?”

nThe woman in red gazed at the rushing waters. She could faintly see the young man who would always giggle like a fool whenever he saw her. She gently closed her eyes.

n“Guard the Mohist City of Traps…with your life.”

n