Chapter 232 A Change of Attitude, Taking Control

The wilderness was dense with trees and lush foliage. Sunlight dappled the ground, and a stream murmured gently. Two people stood silently by the stream for a long time, their circumstances and attitudes having changed.

Wen Caishang was quite uncomfortable. Her ancestral silkworms had been taken away, leaving her with nothing to hold back, and her heart was like a cat scratching at its heart. Li Xian helped Wen Caishang up and said with a smile, "Madam is very understanding. I admire you."

Wen Caishang cursed, "You wicked servant!" She was very indignant, her expression resentful yet charming, and said, "You just know how to bully me. I can't even move now, and I don't know how much more humiliation I will have to suffer from you."

Li Xian said, "With such beauty as yours, I'm too busy protecting you to bear bullying you." Despite saying this, he still dared to act recklessly and played around with Wen Caishang for a while.

The relationship was quietly rebuilt. Wen Caishang said angrily and ashamedly, "You bastard, you're so bad!" She glared at him fiercely.

He thought of all his misfortunes and misfortunes. In the end… he didn’t fall into the hands of his enemies, but was defeated by this young man first. His past glory turned into temporary embarrassment, and he couldn’t save face.

Li Xian said, "Madam, let me clean your wounds first." He helped Wen Caishang to the stream and removed her white dress.

Wen Caishang blushed, her mood reflecting her circumstances. Seeing Li Xian meticulously washing her, his handsome features deeply moved her: "Li Xian is right. He doesn't owe me anything; it's I who have schemed against him the most."

Wen Caishang had four wounds: red and purple marks on both shoulders, bloodstains on her left leg, and bloodstains on her right arm. Ordinary external injuries heal very quickly and were showing signs of healing. However, the internal injuries remained in her body and were difficult to remove.

Li Xian carefully washed away the dirt and bloodstains from the wound. She helped Wen Caishang put on her clothes and searched around... She saw a vine hanging from a tree, so she plucked it down and rubbed it from side to side to soften the vine.

He picked up Wen Caishang and wrapped the vines around her waist. He bounced up and down a few times and asked, "Madam, is it tight?" Wen Caishang nodded, "You've got quite a few tricks up your sleeve."

Li Xian smiled and said, "Madam, have you forgotten that I come from a hunter's background? But..."

"Just what?" Wen Caishang asked.

Li Xian said mysteriously, "But... never mind, let's not talk about this."

"You!" Wen Caishang scolded, "Speak quickly."

Li Xian said, "Do you really want me to tell you?" Wen Caishang retorted angrily, "I command you to tell me quickly, you wicked servant."

Li Xian said, "Since you say I am a bad servant, then I am a bad servant. Since I am a bad servant... naturally I will not obey orders."

Wen Caishang gritted her teeth, furious. This guy had revealed his true nature and really needed to be taught a lesson. Li Xian said, "Unless..."

“Unless what?” Wen Caishang asked. Li Xian said, “Madam used to stab me with her sword as punishment. Now… if she can’t stab me with her sword, she can kiss me with her mouth, then I will tell you.”

He was naturally a womanizer, unrestrained and lawless. He spoke casually, but didn't take it seriously. He then continued on his way with his head down.

Wen Caishang's pretty face flushed red. In the past, she had treated Li Xian as her own, and kissing and hugging him was commonplace. But this "kiss" was different. Wen Caishang's thoughts were in turmoil, and she couldn't say whether she wanted it or not, but suddenly she thought: "There are pursuers behind us. Perhaps Li Xian and I will not be able to escape this calamity in the end. Why think too much?"

She kissed his cheek and said shyly, "What were you about to say? Hurry up and say it. I've kissed you, if you still don't tell me, I'll bite your ear!"

Li Xian was taken aback, suddenly realizing that although Wen Caishang lacked her usual clear-cut and composed demeanor, she was much more vibrant and lively. Li Xian smiled and said, "Then I can tell you."

"Madam, have you noticed that with me tied like this, you're perfectly secure whether climbing slopes or going down into pits? I haven't thrown you off."

The desolate mountain had no path, overgrown with weeds and debris, and riddled with strange rocks and pits. Every step was extremely difficult. Wen Caishang exclaimed in surprise, "It's really true."

Li Xian said, "That's natural, because... when I used to go hunting in the mountains, the tigers were extremely ferocious. Sometimes, the wooden arrows I made myself were at the wrong angle and couldn't even cut through the tiger's skin."

Wen Caishang listened intently, "And then?"

Li Xian said, "That's why, unless I'm short of money, I won't risk shooting tigers. Nine out of ten times I go into the mountains, I shoot wild boars. Wild boars are smelly, very cunning, and have thick skin."

"But there are a lot of them. Generally speaking... when I go to hunt wild boars, I almost never come back empty-handed."

Wen Caishang said, "That's true. When hunting in Xiong Hu Mountain, wild boars are rampant. I'm too lazy to shoot them."

Li Xian said, "I'm a hunter from the mountains, I don't carry myself around like a sack of meat. Every time I shoot a wild boar, I can only carry it on my back. But wild boars are heavy, how can I carry them?"

“I saw that Dad was carrying the load with great difficulty, and he often fell down when he encountered bumpy and muddy roads. So I came up with a solution: to use what was available and tear down branches and vines from the mountains.”

"First, twirl it three times to the left, then seven times to the right... Slowly, the vines will become soft. Then I'll tie the vines around my waist, pass them through the wild boar's legs, wrap them around its waist, and finally tighten them..."

"Hehe, no matter how much I jump around, the wild boar stays firmly on my back, I can't shake it off."

"You're quite clever." Wen Caishang nodded, then suddenly paused, and scolded, "Well, you've gone through all that trouble, are you taking me for a wild boar!"

"Hahaha," Li Xian laughed.

Wen Caishang was furious. "I'll bite your ear!" she snapped, sticking her head out to bite. Li Xian cried out in pain as he climbed the mountain, "Spare me, Madam, spare me!"

"You're too awful, you can't be let off lightly." Wen Caishang scolded, "How dare you compare me to a wild boar, humph!" But after a moment of anger, she reflected on it and found that she had never experienced this feeling before.

A subtle, sweet feeling welled up in my heart.

Wen Caishang scolded, "I've never seen any hunter's family give birth to such a bad thing as you."

Li Xian said, "Can you see it now?"

Wen Caishang said with a charming air, "I not only saw it, but I was also humiliated by him."

"Who! Whoever dares to insult Madam, I, Li Xian, will be the first to fight them to the death!" Li Xian declared righteously.

"You're crying 'stop thief!' You're not being honest at all," Wen Caishang said with a laugh.

...

...

Li Xian was carefree and unrestrained, with witty remarks. In finding joy amidst hardship, he completely made Wen Caishang forget her predicament. The two walked in the mountains and fields, with no one around, chatting and laughing, even more so than before.

at night.

After a long and arduous journey, Li Xian finally came across a decent-looking cave. The cave was dark inside, but the feng shui was excellent. There were natural stone benches, making it a perfect place to rest.

Li Xian said, "The wild boar is coming down." He untied the rope and lowered Wen Caishang down. Wen Caishang said angrily, "You dare to tease me!" She bit Li Xian's shoulder, but didn't use any force.

There was a stone bench in the cave. Wen Caishang sat on it, leaning against the stone wall, barely managing to sit up.

Li Xian lit a fire and roasted meat, the aroma filling the air. Wen Caishang asked, "You wretched servant, have you figured out how to escape?"

Li Xian shook his head and said, "I haven't decided yet, but I won't just abandon you."

"That sounds nice." The firelight cast a red glow, making it hard to tell whether it was from the fire or her face, but Wen Caishang looked quite pretty.

Wen Caishang asked, "So what are your plans next?"

Li Xian said, "The world is vast, there is always a way out." He took out a map, examined the terrain, and seeing that he had reached the edge of the map, said, "Before escaping, we need to understand the terrain. Right now... we need to get a new map."

"Once we get the map, we need to enter the city. The city is full of spies, so it won't be easy," Wen Caishang said with a frown.

Li Xian said, "Let's wait and see!" At this point, both of them felt a heavy weight in their hearts, knowing that they were in great danger and that it was impossible to predict whether they could escape.

Li Xian roasted the rabbit meat, shredded it, and fed it to Wen Caishang. Wen Caishang's eyes shimmered, and she suddenly asked, "Li Xian, if you die because of this, will you blame me?"

Li Xian smiled and said, "Madam, why are you so sorrowful?"

"Hmph." Wen Caishang turned her head away. She had always been strong and ruthless in her dealings with people and things, and with her high strength, her true nature had never been revealed. Now that she had lost all her strength, she felt helpless and instead reverted to her true nature, her thoughts becoming more and more numerous.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Li Xian helped Wen Caishang lie down. Wen Caishang was suffering from the "Marrow-Fixing Finger," her bones and tendons were firmly bound, and she could hardly move. Although she knew how to undo the finger, her internal energy was completely depleted.

A martial artist's internal energy, if replenished through timely rest, can slowly recover and gradually grow. However, the "Eating Qi Gu" resides in the Qi Lake, constantly sucking away at it. Therefore, Wen Caishang's Qi Lake is depleted and cannot be replenished.

She was well-versed in martial arts principles, but found the righteous path difficult, so she turned to a different route. She had Li Xian lay her down and then used techniques on her back, circulating his qi and massaging her to loosen her muscles and tendons.

It worked! After an hour of work, Wen Caishang could move her fingers. She predicted, "In a few more days, I will be able to walk without any problems."

“I persisted in daily massage, and could even use sword techniques. But the unorthodox method is still an unorthodox method. The power of the fixed marrow finger is hard to fully understand, and my strength has never been able to recover.”

Eventually, we will see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The sky grew dark. Li Xian gently patted Wen Caishang's back to help her fall asleep peacefully. He, meanwhile, practiced his legwork in the cave, never letting up.

[Through countless dangers and obstacles, my heart remains steadfast. Vast Leg Proficiency +26]

[Even if the sky falls and the earth collapses, I remain calm. Vast Leg Proficiency +28]

Li Xian's mastery of the first and second levels of the Sunset Blood Sword technique was nearing its peak. However, his immediate priority was to enhance his leg strength and speed. Therefore, he focused on practicing the Vast Expanse Leg technique.

Every kick brings progress.

[Vast Legs]

[Proficiency: 13598/20000 Perfect]

The slanting moon illuminates the cave.

Wen Caishang suddenly said, "In the world of martial arts, there are some leg techniques that can enhance leg strength, but they can never compare to 'lightness skill'."

"I possess numerous light-foot techniques, and their quality is quite good. But unfortunately, I am unable to move, so I can only offer verbal guidance. Would you be willing to listen?"

Li Xianxi said, "Please speak, Madam."

Wen Caishang scolded sweetly, "Now you're so respectful? Humph, I was planning to pass it on to you just like that, but now that you're angry, you'll have to serve me until I calm you down before I pass it on to you."

The words had barely left his mouth when he was taken aback. He wondered when he had ever spoken in such a tone.

Li Xian jokingly said, "Madam, you can rest assured." He then began to pat her back, rub her shoulders, and massage her legs. He spoke only pleasant words, making her feel lightheaded.

Wen Caishang sighed, "I've really been fooled by you. Look at you now, there's not a trace of your former home here. You've dared to deceive your master."

"Alright, I'll teach you this lightness skill. I'll explain it to you, and you can listen carefully. How much you can pick up depends on your comprehension."

"Go outside first and see if there are any stars."

Li Xian said, "Yes."

Wen Changchang said, "Alright, I will teach you the Seven Star Steps, a rare and quick-to-learn lightness skill. The so-called Seven Star Steps correspond to the seven stars of the Big Dipper in the sky, namely: Tian Shu, Tian Xuan, Tian Ji, Tian Quan, Yu Heng, Kai Yang, and Yao Guang.

"Go outside and find a place where you can see the stars. Practice as I have instructed. If you can master the basics in one night, and combine them with your excellent Qingfeng Leg and Vast Leg techniques, your speed will reach a new level."

(End of this chapter)