Chapter 266 Making a fortune in silence, punishing Luo Nu, arrogance completely dissipated, consuming the Yellow Elixir

It was already evening.

Li Xian had obtained everything he desired. The next step was the cleanup. The Black-Faced Bat King's corpse reeked of foul odors, a result of his practice of unorthodox martial arts and his long-term consumption of filthy and putrid substances. After death, it was infested with maggots and decayed, black fluid oozing from its wounds, its body resembling an inflated sac. Li Xian suppressed his nausea and, while burying it, carefully searched the area, taking out all the gold, silver, treasures, and strange artifacts…

He filled the hole with soil, tamped it down firmly, and let out a soft breath. Li Xian thought to himself, "Although the body is buried, there are still signs of digging here. It's still easy for someone to see it."

He then took the River-Sinking Sword and chopped down branches, leaves, shrubs, and weeds, scattering them nearby to cover up all traces. He was always meticulous and cautious, and so he did it... The dense forest concealed the fact that the Black-Faced Bat King was buried there. The precious Yellow Ginseng fell into Li Xian's hands.

Having settled all matters, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Li Xian turned the Chenjiang Sword over and examined its blade. He secretly felt that it was indeed a precious sword; digging and digging in the ground just now had been a great waste, yet the blade had not dulled in the slightest. However, this action had ultimately shortened the sword's lifespan and ruined its sharpness; the blade already had some scratches, greatly reducing its durability.

"Everything in the world is subject to wear and tear. The Chenjiang Sword is of excellent quality, forged by the master swordsmith Ou Yezi. Even such a rare and precious sword is not immune to wear and tear. Unfortunately... it is very difficult to repair the scratches on the blade. Only a master swordsmith like Ou Yezi can do it."

The precious sword was covered in dust, but Li Xian used his Qi to create a tremor, and it once again shone with a cold light.

Besides the three great treasures, the Black-Faced Bat King also possessed many miscellaneous items, which Li Xian had already released back onto the grass.

He immediately used the Black-Faced Bat King's black cloak as a sack, wrapped all his belongings in it, and carried it on his back. Then he picked up Luo Feiyan.

As expected of the "Golden Hairpin of the Embroidered City," her sleeping posture was serene and elegant. Every breath she took exuded charm. The Luo family, having such a descendant, will surely cherish her like a precious jewel.

Li Xian used his lightness skill to dart through the forest. A gentle breeze lifted Luo Feiyan's skirt. Her already disheveled clothes only added to her spring-like allure. Li Xian had no interest in observing her surroundings; he kept an eye on the outside world and watched Luo Feiyan's breathing.

Although his hands were bound, the martial arts he had just displayed were already formidable and extremely powerful. Such simple bindings would be insufficient to capture him, but the length of the Golden Leopard's tendons was limited, so only a simple restraint was possible. Having no better plan to capture him, they had no choice but to make do for now.

Keep an eye on her movements. If she shows any signs of waking up, administer the anesthetic again so she can sleep soundly again, which will benefit both of them. After walking for half an hour, they saw her eyebrows twitch slightly, as if she was about to wake up.

Li Xian immediately increased the anesthetic dosage and administered it to Luo Feiyan with water. Luo Feiyan, still half-asleep, opened her eyes and vaguely glimpsed Li Xian before her eyelids grew heavier again, and she fell back into a deep sleep.

Inside a cave.

Li Xian temporarily hid, covering the cave entrance with weeds. He then began to sort through the miscellaneous items he had collected.

A bat-patterned cloak... Seeing that the Black-Faced Bat King could neutralize the palm strike and protect himself by simply wrapping himself in it, Li Xian immediately guessed that while the Black-Faced Bat King was indeed powerful, this cloak must hold a secret.

He then carefully examined the cloak, pondering its unusual features and wondering if it could be used. He noticed that the cloak was sticky on the outside and smooth on the inside, making it extremely tough. Even with his immense strength, he couldn't tear it. The outer layer was made of black bat fur, a dense material that, when inhaled, could prick the lungs—a very potent remedy.

Li Xian secretly rejoiced: "Luckily, I didn't get entangled with him too much. This Black-Faced Bat King must still have some tricks up his sleeve, and he hasn't used them all!"

Inside is the skin of a venomous eel, which secretes venom and is sticky and lubricating, covering the entire body like a slippery snakeskin.

"What a strange thing, but it's too disgusting. Besides... I don't find it very convenient to use, and it's too conspicuous to carry around."

It was abandoned deep in the cave.

The remaining miscellaneous items are: seven taels of loose silver, a narrow box for hiding things, a skull and bone set, poison powder, a flute, and sheet music…

The narrow box containing the "essence soup" held a treasure trove of food. It should have contained the finest meat, but that had already been consumed. The remaining broth contained the very essence of heaven and earth.

Li Xian collapsed to the ground, rinsing himself with water. He reached for the side pouch at his waist. Inside were two empty storage boxes. Li Xian hadn't consumed any precious treasures for quite some time since drinking the "Golden Scales" beverage.

Now, only "fifty-nine strands" of the essence of heaven and earth remain in his body, which can be completely digested in a few days. Li Xian pondered, "Although I have obtained the Yellow Nine Ginseng again... according to the Golden Light Recipe, there are conditions before consuming this treasure. Otherwise, if the technique is impure, I don't know what kind of technique it is."

"It's time to replenish Jingbao's resources."

Wen Caishang had told him that when traveling the world, if he was troubled by food or other worries, he should wander around large cities. The "large cities" she referred to were the mainstream ones. What does "mainstream" mean?

The Great Wu territory is vast, yet there is only a rough map of its borders. The map only depicts the general shape of the territory and marks some important towns.

Towns, regardless of size, that appear in this "national map" can be considered "ordinary." The Great Wu Dynasty's gangs, towns, and families are scattered throughout the land. Their strange and unusual aspects are beyond the knowledge of most. Yet, the cities recorded in the national map are well-known among martial artists.

This clearly demonstrates its power.

The larger the city, the more abundant its resources.

If a major event occurs in the city, those in power will set up a large cauldron, boil a large fire, and cook fine food, which will be distributed widely. If one has the ability, one can get a share of the spoils.

The matters within each are magnificent and vast.

Li Xian meticulously sorted through his spoils. He carried the useful items with him and buried the useless ones on the spot. He couldn't help but sigh; while the abundant harvest was gratifying, carrying everything would be superfluous. Yet, he had no place to call home, his heart adrift like a duckweed—where could he find peace?

Li Xian wondered how Wen Caishang could sheath her sword and vanish without a trace in an instant. If he could do that too, he would finally have a place to put all his belongings.

It was already night.

The wandering travelers, who usually traveled in small groups, began to disperse as night deepened. Fearing an encounter with the Black-Faced Bat King, they split into smaller groups of seven or eight people each.

Using the map, Li Xian shrugged off from the others and led Luo Feiyan out of the mountains, sneaking into "Silk Family Town" east of Embroidery City.

Looking into the distance… cotton fields stretch for miles. The feng shui and climate here are ideal for cultivating cotton and melons. Li Xian thought to himself, “Actually, just looking at the land and produce… even the poorest region is richer than I was in my previous life. There are plenty of lands that yield three or two harvests a year, but most of the wealth flows into the pockets of powerful families. In that respect, there’s not much difference. Everyone is like this, and it probably won’t change for thousands or millions of years.”

Seeing that Luo Feiyan was about to wake up again, he immediately fed her more anesthetic. Luo Feiyan said softly, "Young Master Hua...where...is this..." and then gently fell asleep again.

The effects of the anesthetic, after being administered repeatedly, were noticeably weakening. Li Xian estimated that the person would only be unconscious for half an hour. He needed to find a way to completely eliminate the rofi smoke.

The town was quiet. All the shops were closed for the night, except for a few inns. Li Xian first put Luo Feiyan down, then went into an inn alone to rent a room. After going upstairs, he climbed out of the window, carried Luo Feiyan on his back, and sneaked into the room.

In this way, one can avoid being seen by the waiters and the shopkeeper.

The furniture in the room was all made of "golden silk wood," making it extremely luxurious. Li Xian rented it for three days, spending seven taels of silver. This wasn't because he was rich and arrogant, but because he planned to leave Luo Feiyan here and would need the shop's staff to run errands later, hence his extravagant spending to ensure that no one dared to neglect him.

After placing Luo Feiyan safely, Li Xian slipped out of the inn, searching for something to bind her tightly. He pondered, "I'll tie her up first, keep her confined for a few days, and then have someone find her. By then, I'll be long gone, blending into the vast sea of ​​people. Who would be able to find me?"

A martial artist's cultivation level enhances the rhythm within their body, drawing them closer to the heavens and earth. Second-level martial artists possess a multitude of techniques, making them extremely difficult to bind and capture. Even ordinary coarse hemp ropes, though strong… are easily escaped due to their simple material.

I fear it will be difficult to keep them imprisoned for long.

Li Xian wandered through the town, pondering how to trap Luo Feiyan and buy himself time to escape. He crossed a lake and came across the headquarters of a powerful gang.

The three large characters "Panhu Gang" on the plaque are depicted with dragons and phoenixes dancing, exuding a powerful aura.

Li Xian then thought that gang warfare was brutal and the forces were complex. While fighting and killing were commonplace, kidnapping and coercion also occurred. Therefore, many gangs must have unique secrets when it came to capturing and arresting people.

They may have items such as "tiger tendon rope" on hand.

He then tiptoed over the wall and sneaked in.

The hall was guarded and on guard, with small groups of people patrolling in small groups. They were all ordinary people, who had mastered a few martial arts moves and cultivated a little internal energy, but had not yet reached the level of "Eating Essence". Such a small gang or sect, which had dominated for many years, should not be underestimated. Perhaps one or two martial artists who had reached the level of "Eating Essence" could be found.

Li Xian stepped onto the Seven Star Steps, unleashing the secrets of the "Lightness Technique." His body moved with ethereal lightness, landing silently. Behind the hall lay a courtyard, teeming with red flowers and green trees, vibrant with life, featuring a lake and artificial hills… its atmosphere one of extreme extravagance and luxury.

"Such extravagance must have been achieved by plundering the people's wealth. This world is truly a place where some are dying of drought and others are dying of floods."

Li Xian moved nimbly through the crowd and came upon a residence. Laughter and chatter filled the air; men and women were playfully chasing and frolicking. Li Xian guessed it must be some kind of frivolous affair, and raised an eyebrow, repeatedly squeezing with his double pupils. The leader of the Panhu Gang, a portly man who had already reached the Essence Devouring Realm, was chasing and frolicking with several concubines.

The clothes were all disheveled and quite revealing. The furnishings in the room were quite unexpected.

Li Xian sighed, whether out of envy or regret, it was unclear. He looked away and began searching the prison cells, storerooms, and other areas. In one of the dungeons, he found a ten-zhang-long tiger sinew rope.

The years had passed. The tiger tendons had lost their elasticity, but they were still very strong. This kind of rope had the ability to "seal tendons and lock bones." Once firmly bound, the tendons were difficult to move and the bones were difficult to move, so naturally one could not move... Even those who practiced martial arts such as "bone shrinking skills" would find it difficult to break free. Li Xian figured it was more than enough, so he returned along the way and went straight to his room at the inn.

While Luo Feiyan was snoring, the tiger-tendon rope was put on, and using the technique of "wearing silkworm clothes," the rope was tied in a crisscross pattern. The wrists, elbows, ankles, and knees were all tightly bound, and then the hands and feet were folded back and tied together securely.

She was in a very sorry state by then.

Wearing silkworm clothing is a delicate process, and tiger sinew rope, as thin as a finger, differs greatly from "silk and jade rope." It's difficult to achieve a state where only the silkworm clothing is visible, without revealing the intricacies of the knots. Furthermore, due to the difference in rope quality, some complex knots cannot be used. However, it is certainly sufficient for the task.

Luo Feiyan frowned slightly, but the effects of the medicine were still present.

Li Xian suddenly thought, "When she wakes up and discovers the current situation, she will definitely want to kill me, skin me alive, and eat my flesh."

While at the Panhu Gang's headquarters, he casually grabbed a few walnuts. He pried open her lips and stuffed the walnuts into her cheeks, figuring she wouldn't be able to spit them out and speak. Then he placed her on the bed and covered her with the blankets.

Luo Feiyan frowned slightly, showing signs of waking up.

Li Xian asked the waiter for paper and pen and wrote: "Miss Luo, farewell. Don't worry, I'll only keep you here for a few days. Someone will come to rescue you then. No one knows about our affair, so please keep it a secret."

Press the letter down and place it on the desk. With Luo Feiyan's eyesight, she would surely be able to see what was written in the letter.

Then he wrote another letter. The letter was brief: "The Black-Faced Bat King is at the inn in Silk Town. Come quickly."

He wrapped the letter and handed it to the waiter. Li Xian paid three taels of silver and solemnly instructed, "Deliver it to the Luo family in three days. It's a matter of great importance. After it's done, you'll receive another ten taels of silver."

The waiter was overjoyed and showered him with flattery and praise. Li Xian smiled faintly; he was a habitual liar and had deceived others again. The "ten taels of silver" he mentioned was a lure. Three days later, he had already vanished.

After finishing his business, Li Xian hid outside the guest room, secretly observing... to see if Luo Feiyan could break free.

Luo Feiyan woke up slowly, feeling her eyelids suddenly become heavy. Her head throbbed, her hair was disheveled, and she was still groggy and couldn't make out what was happening.

"I killed the Black-Faced Bat King... and then I fainted. What happened? Did the Black-Faced Bat King have a backup plan? Or was it that Hua... Hua Manlou..."

As her memories gradually became clearer, a sudden chill ran through her body. She realized the reason for her unconsciousness was that she had been struck on acupoints. Luo Feiyan felt a splitting headache again, and gently shook her head, intending to rub her temples.

Luo Feiyan was taken aback: "I...it seems I can't move?" Her hands were tightly bound behind her back, her wrists bound, and her face changed drastically, filled with fear. She tried to move her hands and feet, but they were all tightly bound. She tried to speak, but her mind made it difficult to utter a word.

She said, "Hua Manlou! You scoundrel!" Her words of abuse were now mumbled and indistinct.

"I need to calm down... I feel like I'm tied up. There's no one in the room, haha. That Hua Manlou is extremely cunning. He disguised himself and sneaked into the crowd, hiding and concealing himself. I guessed he was up to no good and was indeed harboring evil intentions. I... I was also exhausted at the time and easily trusted this guy. But he could never have imagined that the ropes could not bind me."

Luo Feiyan used her "Embroidered Body Skill." This martial art is extremely powerful; through slight vibrations of the body, it causes the fabric of clothing to flow. Any ordinary rope in the world can be instantly untied by using this skill.

Li Xian was worried about this.

Luo Feiyan frowned, feeling utterly frustrated that her embroidered body technique was useless. Several attempts failed, but the rope remained firmly in place. She exclaimed, "Could it be a specially made rigging?"

In Xiucheng, the Luo, Zhang, and Zhou families reigned supreme. Secret struggles festered among them, and the Zhang and Zhou families possessed weapons specifically designed to subdue the Luo family. The Zhang family's "Iron Ring Cuffs" rendered the Luo family members helpless. The Zhou family's "Red Bag," simply covering a Luo family member, could also capture them on the spot.

Luo Feiyan's face turned deathly pale. If this was the case, he must have a much bigger scheme behind it. Could it be that capturing her was to blackmail his family? Or was it something else entirely?

A jumble of thoughts suddenly arose. But she quickly calmed down, looking down at herself, and saw that it was just an ordinary tiger tendon rope. Its power lay not in the special tool, but in the unique method of capture and binding.

turn out to be…

Although Luo's Embroidered Body Technique is powerful and unique, it is ultimately no match for the "Silkworm Garment Jade Inlay Technique." Even though Li Xian simplified it considerably, its "internal cultivation method" is still more than sufficient for "capturing, binding, and seizing."

Luo Feiyan twisted her waist, feeling her hands and feet twisting backward. All her joints were tightly restrained. Even the most skilled martial artist would find it difficult to do anything under such constraints. She could only lie there obediently, awaiting her fate.

She felt deeply aggrieved. There was a bronze mirror in her bedroom; seeing her disheveled and miserable reflection, she felt immense shame and embarrassment. Filled with resentment, she cursed Li Xian countless times.

Martial arts proved useless, so he tried a simpler method. He probed the knot with his fingers. The knot was easy to reach, but extremely complex; after numerous attempts, he still found nothing useful.

Feeling utterly dejected, she gave up completely. Half an hour passed, but Li Xian remained nowhere to be seen. Moonlight streamed through the window, illuminating her face.

She was speechless with frustration and resentment. She had thought during the day that there might be a glimmer of hope for a marriage agreement with Li Xian. But in the blink of an eye, she had fallen into the hands of villains.

She was seething with anger, waiting for the chance to unleash a torrential downpour. But the room was utterly silent, and she was unable to move; her loneliness was unimaginable. She was also deeply unsettled, unsure of Li Xian's purpose or whether he had accomplices. Now, unable to move, she was like a fish on a chopping board, at Li Xian's mercy—whether he slaughtered, cooked, boiled, or eaten—she could do as he pleased, unable to defy him in the slightest.

The more I think about it, the more terrified I become.

In a daze, he noticed a letter lying on a table some distance away. After reading its contents, he finally felt safe and landed. But the thought that someone who came to his rescue would find him in such a terrible state filled him with dread.

Wouldn't my reputation as a beautiful woman be completely ruined? I breathed a sigh of relief and then brought it up again.

Li Xian observed until midnight and saw Luo Feiyan looking exhausted and helpless, which made him feel a little relieved.

"This little vixen was quite arrogant at first, so it's good to teach her a lesson. Hmm... I hope she'll reflect on her actions."

Li Xian, harboring wicked intentions, found Luo Feiyan's frustrated and embarrassed state quite amusing. He immediately leaped away, traveling through the night. The next day, the death of the Black-Faced Bat King remained unknown. Wang Long and Ji Hui of Jingchun Mountain continued their search, filled with doubt.

With everyone working together to search the mountain, they should be able to find some clues. A few days ago, there were still reports of encounters with the Black-faced Bat King at night, but yesterday all traces of it had vanished.

Wang Long and Ji Hui felt increasingly urgent, worried that the Black-Faced Bat King had already escaped the encirclement and would be difficult to find again. It was indeed a pity that the treasure had flown away. The Black-Faced Bat King was not weak, and the fact that he had incurred the hatred of this villain was of utmost importance.

But upon closer reflection, it seemed unlikely. They were armed with maps, had a tight defense, and a large number of men. Moreover, the Black-Faced Bat King feared the scorching sun, which greatly restricted their ability to escape.

And so it went… anxiously searching while waiting in frustration. Luo Feiyan's hair was disheveled, and her clothes were torn. Unable to untangle this "silkworm garment," she felt the tiger tendon rope's power growing ever stronger.

They bound her bones and immobilized her body. She endured the agonizing wait, and if not for her inner energy to circulate her blood, she would have long since suffered from stagnant blood and injury. Li Xian had already departed gracefully and carefree, while she suffered endless torment.

And so on...

Two more days passed.

The Luo clan elders convened a clan meeting, but after several days without any news of the Black-Faced Bat King, they felt they had lost all hope.

During this time, the elders of the Luo clan have also been secretly searching. The matter of the precious treasure is of great importance, and requires careful planning from multiple angles.

Luo Xiangxiang, an elder of the Luo clan, was about to go out when she suddenly saw a person dressed as a shop assistant hesitating at the door, holding an envelope in his hand.

Luo Xiangxiang is a female clan elder. Women of the Luo family who reach the second level of martial arts are never to marry outside the clan. Those who excel hold a superior position within the clan, possessing both prestige and strength, and are thus elected as "clan elders."

"Elder" does not refer to seniority. For a family to continue its lineage, its rules must be well-established. Juniors should treat their elders with courtesy and respect, but not necessarily with reverence. Only those with both strength and seniority can be both respected and revered.

Luo Xiangxiang, who was once famous and still possessed a certain charm, said, "What are you doing, acting so suspiciously?" The waiter, trembling, explained the situation and handed over a letter.

Luo Xiangxiang took the letter and waved it casually, signaling him to leave. She opened the letter, and a single glance sent shivers down her spine. She closed the letter... took a few steps to catch up, grabbed the waiter's shoulder, and said coldly, "Where is the inn? Take me there immediately."

A cold glint flashed in her eyes, filled with intense excitement. If she could slay the Black-Faced Bat King, she would gain merit and rise even higher in her clan's status. Now that she had received the news, she needed to ascertain the situation as soon as possible.

Impatient with the waiter's slow pace, she grabbed him by the collar and used her light-footed skill to dash away. She quickly arrived at the inn, having already ascertained the situation along the way. She immediately slipped into a guest room.

But the Black-Faced Bat King was nowhere to be seen. All that could be seen was the Embroidered City Hairpin, lying disheveled and bound on the bed. Upon seeing this, Luo Feiyan blushed crimson and wished she could disappear into the ground.

"I've lost all face!" she cried out inwardly. Luo Xiangxiang's expression was strange. She first looked around the house, but found no trace of her before approaching.

Luo Xiangxiang said, "Feiyan, what are you doing here? What happened?" When she saw Luo Feiyan's posture, her pretty face couldn't help but blush. But she quickly concealed it.

Luo Feiyan made two "ooh-ooh" sounds, unable to utter a word. Luo Xiangxiang was taken aback, pinched her chin, and with a flick of her wrist, several walnuts fell out, soaking the sheets and blankets with saliva. Luo Feiyan felt even more ashamed and hurriedly said, "Aunt Xiang... I... I've been tricked by bad people."

Seeing that her clothes were tattered, Luo Xiangxiang's expression changed: "Could it be..." Luo Feiyan quickly said: "No...no, it's not like that." Luo Xiangxiang said: "Really."

Luo Feiyan blushed and said, "Aunt Xiang...you might as well investigate." She was eager to prove her innocence. Luo Xiangxiang said, "Alright, I believe you. I received a letter today saying that the Black-Faced Bat King was here, but I didn't see him. Instead, I saw you tied up. Could it be the Black-Faced Bat King's doing?"

Luo Feiyan said arrogantly, "Black-faced Bat King? Hmph, I killed that guy long ago. Does he have the ability to bind me?"

Luo Xiangxiang knew Luo Feiyan was arrogant. She greatly admired this junior, but seeing her in such a disheveled state and with such haughty words, she suddenly felt that Luo Feiyan deserved this calamity.

Luo Xiangxiang asked, "You killed the Black-Faced Bat King, did they search you?" Luo Feiyan replied, "They were supposed to search me, but... but I was tricked by villains!"

Luo Xiangxiang asked, "Have you seen the precious Yellow Ginseng?" Luo Feiyan was taken aback. "What Yellow Ginseng?"

Luo Xiangxiang said, "My Luo family went to great lengths to kill the Black-Faced Bat King. Do you think it was just for fun? It was all for the sake of Huang Jingbao!"

"Ah!" Luo Feiyan said, "I...I don't know. No wonder...no wonder that guy treated me like that!"

Luo Xiangxiang said, "Alas! It's also our fault as elders. After several discussions, we were afraid that you would leak the secret, so we didn't tell you. We told you to report it immediately if you found any clues about the Black-Faced Bat King. But we never expected... that the villains would take advantage of the situation."

The two women discussed the matter carefully and both understood the situation. Luo Feiyan said angrily, "So Hua Manlou disguised himself for the sake of Huang."

Luo Xiangxiang slashed with her sword, cleaving through the tiger tendon rope. Luo Feiyan felt deeply annoyed and disappointed. Luo Xiangxiang saw that Luo Feiyan was a rare talent in the clan, capable of setbacks but not of losing her spirit. Luo Xiangxiang said, "Feiyan, although you were careless in this matter,... you shouldn't blame yourself entirely for the mistake."

"As the saying goes, shame is the mother of courage. You are about to enter the Yue Mountain Sword Sect for advanced training, so you must not be discouraged now."

Luo Feiyan said, "Alright! I will keep the matter of Yue Shan Sword Sect in mind and make proper preparations."

...

...

By the time the Luo family realized what was happening, Li Xian had already fled far away.

In the vast sea of ​​people, I will act as his shield.

Li Xian prepared to drink "Huang Jiu Shen" (Yellow Nine Ginseng). The method for drinking Huang Jiu Shen is as follows: starting at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), light a candle.

For every three millimeters the candle burns out, drink one strip of ginseng. Do not move or touch anything outside the glow of the candle. Once the candle has burned out completely, finish drinking the ginseng.

"Human yellow ninety-nine yellow nine ginseng... the golden light of the Dao enters my heart."

(End of this chapter)