Chapter 268 The Madam is domineering, searching for her across thousands of miles; young man's life, do you dare to take it?

Wen Caishang used silkworms to seek silk, simultaneously healing her injuries and pursuing her lover. Her silkworm-skin-embroidered jade technique proved remarkably effective. She prepared ample silver, and a strange horse, Zhu Yue, pulled her fragrant jade carriage. The speed was astonishing, but because Li Xian was already far away, she only knew his approximate location. This resulted in considerable wasted time.

Between the carriages.

A jade table stood horizontally, and a fragrant curtain hung down. Her silk dress clung softly to her skin, hazy like gauze, both concealing and revealing. She was alluring and charming, her long hair piled up, secured with a silver hairpin, with two strands hanging loosely at her temples. Her left hand supported her head, and her fair toes were slightly raised. Though she was filled with rage, her face remained impassive; her alluring eyes were half-closed, and she internally practiced the Silk-Clad Jade Technique.

"That scoundrel has left me, making it difficult for me to practice that extraordinary skill. Qiuyue is dead, and I have no one else to choose from."

She suddenly opened her eyes. The Silkworm Garment Jade Inlay Technique was truly a marvel of the era, but its drawbacks were obvious. The further one progressed, the more necessary it became to practice with two people. One person would don the silkworm garment, while the other would cultivate its inner essence.

Piao Hu thought to himself, "If I capture him, what should I do with him? Cut off his legs? That would be a last resort, but it seems there's no better way. Alas, with his legs broken, he'll certainly lose some of his heroic spirit. But it would be best if he stayed by my side."

Suddenly, I recalled our past joys. On the pleasure boat, we cruised the river, and the sights and sounds along the way, the calligraphy and paintings, filled me with a sweet and infatuated feeling... I was so captivated by the pleasure that I was completely absorbed in it.

The past years have been wasted. Today is wonderful, like visiting a fairy palace, I linger and don't want to leave. Originally, with her beauty, having tasted the sweetness, she could have done whatever she wanted, seeking other men for pleasure and frolic. She only needed to nod, and even if the men of the world knew it would cost them their lives or their legs... they would still be eager to have her.

But she has always been a perfectionist.

Her ideal husband must possess good looks, talent, and affection… all three are indispensable. While men of exceptional looks and talent certainly exist, affection is extremely rare. Looking across the world, it's difficult to find someone who can stir Wen Caishang's affections. Her nature is such that she prioritizes self-interest over love. Her relationship with Li Xian was purely a matter of chance, a twist of fate.

In this way, no matter how good-looking or exceptionally talented others may be... it's all irrelevant. To experience that feeling again, one must completely capture Li Xian and keep him firmly by one's side.

Wen Caishang said, "He is still my Li Lang after all. It hurts me to cut off his legs. Oh well... I will learn a set of martial arts and strike the major acupoints on his feet. That way, he won't be able to use his legs anymore."

"I can cut off people's limbs and take their lives without batting an eye. But I just didn't want to hurt you, yet you left me. Humph, you don't know what's good for you."

With a hint of anger and resentment, it was as if Li Xian was right beside her, as she spoke with a reproachful tone.

She suddenly raised her hand and waved it lightly. The carriage immediately stopped, and she lifted the curtain and stepped down, a slight pang of sadness in her heart. In the past, at this time, Li Xian would always bring a jade stool and offer her a helping hand. Her lightness skill was superb; she could climb steep cliffs and precipices without needing any assistance. But this meticulous care pleased her greatly.

Wen Caishang was always extremely contradictory. She preferred nothing to something bad, so she ignored all the guards and countless suitors in the manor. She even forbade others to pursue her. She was served by Li Xian alone for two years, with meticulous care that subtly and gradually influenced her.

It possessed the fierceness of a raging storm and the gentle tenderness of a spring drizzle. Li Xian fled, yet his emotions remained undiminished. On the contrary, reminiscing about the past brought him great unease, his hatred and love growing stronger together.

She was impeccably dressed, a far cry from her former disheveled appearance. An air of nobility emanated from her; the light clinking of her hairpins and pearls produced a pleasant, tinkling sound. Her wide sleeves were adorned with exquisitely beautiful patterns. With a flick of her sleeve, the dirt in front of her seemed to tumble over.

This is a dense forest.

There was no trace of it in the forest, but the soil turned over, revealing a wooden box. She used her palm to draw in the air, and the wooden box "plop"ed up from the ground and landed in her palm.

Wen Caishang gently blew away the dirt. The box had a hidden clasp, belonging to Li Xian. Unfastening the clasp revealed a set of silkworm clothes and a set of rope tools inside.

Folded neatly and arranged in an orderly fashion. Wen Caishang gently stroked it, her expression shifting between tenderness and anger. "This kid is truly clever. He guessed that my ability to find people comes from silkworms. I never told him about this, but he saw the silkworm array and the mysterious attraction between the silkworms. He must have guessed it from that."

"Therefore, as a precaution, all silk products are stored in boxes and buried in advance."

"Li Lang, Li Lang... you make me feel so conflicted. If I weren't so clever, I could easily find you. But then I wouldn't like you that much."

“You little rascal… you still have some conscience. You carefully folded these clothes and ropes, and they’re still perfectly intact. I suppose you cherished those days of pleasure with them. You didn’t just throw them away carelessly.”

She carefully put away the wooden box, her anger subsiding slightly. She boarded a carriage and continued her pursuit. She sneered, "You know how to hide a rope behind your clothes, but you could never have imagined that I had already wrapped silkworms in your hair."

Xiaotu of Heshi Village is in the middle.

Every night, Wen Caishang would wrap silkworm threads around her hair. This seemingly casual act of hers would unexpectedly come in handy. The ancestral silkworm lay in her palm, sensing the silkworm threads in its presence.

The silk sold at the Silkworm Garment Pavilion all trace their origins to this "ancestral silkworm." The countless white silkworms in the mulberry garden are all descendants of this ancestral silkworm. Wen Caishang's miraculous tracking skill involved scattering the silk and then sensing and tracing its source.

Wen Caishang possessed a wide and profound knowledge of various subjects. She combined her intuition with the wisdom of the ancestral silkworm with her own intelligence. Through gradual analysis and observation, her enemies naturally found it difficult to escape. Once Wen Caishang resolved to kill, no one could escape.

The carriage moved along.

The closer the distance.

That day, they arrived at "Embroidery City". Wen Caishang remembered it vividly. Although she had not yet arrived at the city, she and Li Xian had sailed down the river and caught a glimpse of the city's fireworks from afar.

That day, their voices rang sweetly, intimately connected. The scenery along the way remained unforgettable. Every time she thought of it, she found it hard to let go, wishing she could remain immersed in it forever. She rode into the city, her magnificent horse and luxurious carriage immediately attracting the attention of onlookers.

The various families in the city all noticed and couldn't help but speculate among themselves. Wen Caishang paid no attention to it, but she sensed that Li Xian had stayed here for a long time.

"He fled from the north back to the south, and was quite familiar with the route. Therefore, this time he chose to return along the same route. That's clever... I'm certainly not as familiar with this area as he is."

Walking through the bustling city, I suddenly saw a red sign hanging there, which read: "The Lewd Demon, Flower-Filled Pavilion"...

The charges against her later were all compiled. Luo Feiyan suffered greatly as a result, but the list of names was not mentioned, for fear of damaging her reputation.

Wen Caishang glanced at the portrait, her brows furrowing slightly before a smile appeared. She knew then that "Hua Manlou" was Li Xian. The portrait described Li Xian as a rapist, abductor, and all sorts of evil deeds. She knew it must be a lie; Li Xian was certainly full of wicked schemes and had tormented her terribly, far from being honest. But she did know he was kind, humble, and adhered to his principles…

How could an ordinary woman be worthy of his lustful desires, leading to her rape and abduction? She wanted to find out the reason, but suddenly noticed an old man in black among the crowd. A quick glance told her he was quite formidable. She thought, "This man stares at the portrait for so long, his eyes filled with hatred. Could he have a grudge against Li Lang? Given the presence of this red-listed official, there's no need to think too much; I know something's fishy."

"Hmph! My beloved Li Lang, how dare you hold a grudge against me? You have quite the nerve."

She closed the carriage curtain, calming her mind and focusing her energy. The luxury car remained parked on the street, motionless.

The old man in black was named "Black-Faced Venerable King." He was a figure from the Blood Pool and Flesh Forest, and was the master of the Black-Faced Bat King.

It turns out that... the Black-Faced Bat King had coincidentally obtained the "Yellow Nine Ginseng." He currently lacked the corresponding recipe and felt useless. Therefore, he wrote to his master, intending to offer it to him in exchange for other benefits.

But no sooner had the letter been sent than he was besieged. Trapped in the wilderness, he could no longer communicate and eventually died. The Black-Faced King was overjoyed to receive the letter and wrote back several times, but received no reply.

Unable to contain himself, he went to find it himself. He saw on the red notice: "The Black-Faced Bat King has been slain."

He was deeply saddened to learn of his disciple's death. He also knew that the execution of the Black-Faced Bat King was related to the Luo family. He suspected that the Yellow Essence Treasure might be in the Luo family's possession.

So they prepared a coffin and went to visit the Luo family. Intending to cause a scene, they naturally resisted, with several elders joining forces to deal with the situation. Although they could restrain the Black-Faced King, they couldn't capture him.

After a long and fierce battle, the Black-Faced Venerable King laughed loudly: "The Luo family killed my disciple, this matter will not be resolved easily. If you do not give me an explanation, let's see who dies!"

He leaped away, his lightness skill so exceptional that no one in the Luo family could catch him. The Luo family's "Embroidered Dream Light Gauze Step" perfectly embodies the subtle beauty of lightness and agility. However, speed is not their strength, making them truly difficult to defeat.

Afterwards, the Black-Faced King visited and harassed them several times. The Luo family, harboring murderous intent, set up an ambush. It was surprisingly effective, and they almost managed to trap the Black-Faced King.

At the critical moment, the Black-Faced Venerable King used "Art of Earthly Fusion" combined with "Earthly Dragon and Snake Steps" to avert the danger. The Luo family's formation was useless and could not be held back.

The Black-Faced King became even more audacious, harassing them several times. He even intended to capture members of the Luo family, drain their blood, and throw them into the courtyard.

The Luo family, utterly helpless and furious, was unwilling to fight the Black-Faced King any longer. They invited him to discuss the situation and explained the circumstances. They told the Black-Faced King that the one who killed the Black-Faced Bat King was definitely not a member of the Luo family.

He was a casual customer named "Hua Man Lou".

The Luo family was also searching. The Black-Faced King, not entirely convinced, went to investigate alone. The Luo family's treasure was lost, and they had unwittingly provoked a powerful figure. He was utterly frustrated, realizing that talking about this matter wouldn't end anything.

The Black-Faced King was no pushover. But the Luo family wasn't necessarily afraid, so they discussed the matter and found the Black-Faced Bat King's corpse. Then they sought out the Black-Faced King again to analyze the situation on the spot.

From Luo Feiyan's words, Luo Xiangxiang deduced the location where the Black-faced Bat King hid his corpse.

The Luo family secretly excavated the body. They transported it back to the outer courtyard and erected a shelter to house it. They then sent out a signal to invite the Black-Faced King to discuss matters.

At this very moment...

The Black-Faced King accepted the invitation and was preparing to head to the Luo family when he was encountered by Wen Caishang. Their meeting seemed preordained, and the timing was perfect.

The Black-Faced King was already 60% convinced. He then went to keep the appointment. Wen Caishang lifted the carriage curtain and watched him leave, thinking, "This concerns Li Lang, I should follow him."

They drove the carriage slowly towards the Luo family residence. Upon seeing the Black-Faced King arrive, two clan elders personally greeted him.

The Black-Faced King flicked his sleeve and sneered, "Hmph, what else do we have to say? The hatred for killing my disciple is irreconcilable. Let's settle this with our skills!"

Luo Hanting, an elder of the Luo clan, cupped his hands and smiled, saying, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger. There is a misunderstanding. Please come in."

The Black-Faced King said, "Hmph, no matter what tricks you use, you can't stop me. Let's see what other strange things you're planning!"

The group then entered the Luo residence.

On the open, flat ground stood a pergola. Around it stood the head of the Luo family, Luo Mantang; elders of the Luo family, Luo Xiangxiang and Luo San; and the Luo family's beauty, Luo Feiyan…

There were about four or five people.

Luo Mantang said, "Brother!" He then said, "This is your disciple's corpse. Please take a look."

The Black-Faced King was startled and cautiously lifted the curtain. He saw the Black-Faced Bat King's corpse rotting, with black liquid flowing everywhere, a gruesome sight and a stench that filled the air.

Though its appearance is obscured, it is undoubtedly the Black-Faced Bat King. Because of the "Three Classics of Blood Refining," which involve consuming the blood of others, its blood is mixed. The Black-Faced Bat King nourishes its blood while harboring poison.

After death, the blood and toxins corrode the bones, muscles, and skin. This causes even faster decay, resulting in a flow of black fluid!

The Black-Faced King was overcome with grief. He wailed and wept bitterly. Luo Mantang said, "Brother, please accept my condolences!"

The Black-Faced King said, "Very well! My disciple's corpse is right here. You still dare to argue that it wasn't done by your Luo family!"

"I must avenge my disciple and retrieve the treasure for him! We shall fight to the death!"

The elders of the Luo family secretly formed an array, moving lightly to set up the formation. Luo Mantang waved his hand and said, "Wait. Brother, don't be hasty. The corpse is here, but it was not done by the Luo family. Our Luo family invited you here to present the facts, tell the truth, clear up misunderstandings, discuss cooperation, and seek a win-win situation."

Luo Mantang appeared to be middle-aged, but was well over a hundred years old. His words, spoken with measured tone and cadence, displayed the demeanor of a great man. He said, "Your Excellency is a wise man and also a master of martial arts."

"Now that the body is here, we can carefully deduce from the traces on the body how your disciple died and who your enemy was."

The Black-Faced King said, "Hmph!"

Luo Mantang stopped. Luo Hanting and Luo San carried the corpse into the sunlight. Under the sunlight, many of the injuries became visible.

Seeing that her skin and flesh were sticky and threaded with silk, the Black-Faced King recognized the move as a technique of the Luo family. "Still daring to argue? I think this move must have come from a woman. Tell her to come and die quickly."

Everyone present was skilled in martial arts; they observed the moves and deduced who had executed them. Luo Mantang had already examined the Black-Faced Bat King's corpse and prepared his words beforehand, saying:

"To be honest, my Luo family disciples did indeed fight your disciple. We used our family's martial arts to injure him, but we were unable to kill him."

The crowd examined the details again. The Black-Faced King nodded secretly, recognizing that the Black-Faced Bat King was using various techniques, such as "Transforming Canopy Technique" and "Probing Bone Technique," to counter this attack.

Although injured, he managed to subdue the woman with a counterattack. The Black-Faced King thought, "The woman who injured my disciple possesses considerable cultivation and profound expertise. Even within the Luo family, she would be extremely difficult to find. Could it be her?"

Without making a sound, he glanced at Luo Feiyan.

Luo Mantang said, "Your disciple's fatal injuries are in these two places." He pointed to several sword marks. The wounds were charred black from being burned by the Yang Fire.

Although the Black-Faced King's martial arts were powerful, it was still difficult to completely recreate the scene from that time. Moreover, the Black-Faced Bat King's corpse was decaying, and his flesh, internal organs, and other organs had all been damaged by being soaked in poisonous blood.

Luo Mantang's martial arts skills were no less than those of the Black-Faced King. However, his lightness skill was inferior, and he could not hold him back. After digging up the corpse, he pondered the wording and fabricated a more reasonable battle account.

This section will explain everything in detail. The Black-Faced King is now 80% convinced. Even so, although the Luo family did not directly kill the Black-Faced Bat King, it is still a great enmity. However, the Black-Faced King's repeated attacks were partly for revenge on behalf of his disciple, and partly for coveting the precious treasures.

The Black-Faced King said, "Hmph! If you hadn't coveted my disciple's treasure and injured him, how could such despicable people have killed him?! You all need to give an explanation for this matter. Otherwise, this is not over."

Luo Xiangxiang said, "It was clearly your disciple who killed members of my Luo family first. He stole the treasure, and we ordered a search for him. What wrong have we done?"

The Black-Faced King said, "Is that so? I received the letter, which said that you coveted my disciple's treasure, and when you failed to steal it, you became angry and ashamed."

"You're turning black into white!" Luo San roared.

The Black-Faced King said, "Likewise!" Luo Mantang said, "Brother, there's no need to be angry. My Luo family also made a mistake in this matter. We called you here to discuss it and settle this matter."

Luo Mantang said again, "What do you want? Tell me." The Black-Faced King said, "It's simple... Hand over that woman from your Luo family. I'll burn her alive as a sacrifice for my good disciple."

Luo Xiangxiang said, "Dream on!" Luo Feiyan frowned.

The Black-Faced Venerable King said, "You won't hand it over? Then I'll take it myself!" He had been secretly gathering his energy for a long time, and suddenly he attacked, grabbing at Luo Feiyan with both hands.

He had already guessed that Luo Feiyan was responsible for the Black-Faced Bat King's numerous injuries. Luo Mantang took a step to the side, protecting Luo Feiyan. His palms were like caressing a light veil, the colorful silk protecting her completely.

Unable to break through, the Black-Faced King turned and retreated, sneering, "Can you protect her for a while, or forever? If you're so capable, why don't you bring this little girl along when you're having sex? Hahahaha."

Luo Feiyan's face turned ashen, and she was about to curse. Luo Mantang said, "Brother, what do you think of this?"

"Hua Manlou is a villain who rapes, plunders, and commits endless evil deeds. Whether he is opportunistic or uses dangerous tricks, he is the one who killed your disciple. My Luo family is also searching for clues about him, seeking justice for the innocent and speaking out for the weak."

"If we continue to waste our time, it will only benefit the wicked. Let them escape further and further away."

“Since you insist that the treasure belongs to you, brother, and I also insist that the treasure belongs to my Luo family, how about this… the treasure will be divided equally between the two of us.”

"Our Luo family has been searching for that Hua Man Lou for some time now. Given the current situation, let's unite against this villain and find him together. Our Luo family has spread our resources and has already found some clues. We'll share them with you, brother... and then we can consider this matter closed."

Both the Black-Faced Venerable King and Luo Mantang were fully aware of each other's desires and wants. The Black-Faced Venerable King was using the grief of his disciple's death as a pretext to seize the treasure. Luo Mantang was unwilling to waste his time, the Black-Faced Venerable King already knew about Huang Jiucan's situation and it was irreversible, and he didn't want to benefit Li Xian.

The Black-Faced King said, "Good!"

The Luo family members all breathed a sigh of relief, thinking that their patriarch was a master strategist with foresight and strategic vision; this was truly the best course of action. The Luo family, after all, had been somewhat unlucky.

The Black-Faced King said, "This kid's martial arts are unorthodox and of no particular style. Although they are of good quality, I doubt he has any powerful backers. If you and I join forces to capture him, we can easily take him down. Then we can share the treasures, clear our names, and make it a great and memorable event."

The sorrow of the scattered disciples vanished in an instant. Luo Mantang laughed and said, "Very good, very good." He then allowed Luo Xiangxiang to share the clues they had obtained with the Black-Faced King.

Luo Feiyan's emotions were complicated. Although she resented Li Xian's treachery, seeing the Black-Faced Venerable King take action himself, she guessed that he would not escape the fate of becoming a dried corpse, and she felt sad for him.

The two sides shook hands and made peace, as if their past grievances had been forgotten. Luo San cursed, "A mere wandering swordsman dares to lay his hands on this precious treasure. Hmph... He has no idea what he's getting himself into."

The Black-Faced King said, "If I find this child, I must burn him in flames as a sacrifice."

They all disliked Li Xian. Suddenly, they heard a strange sound, like someone sighing. They looked in the direction of the sound and were suddenly startled, speechless with astonishment.

Behind Luo Mantang stood a woman in white. She was beautiful and possessed unparalleled charm. She stood gracefully, and it was Wen Caishang. Wen Caishang had been listening intently as the crowd discussed how to deal with Li Xian.

Making no attempt to conceal her presence, she had been right behind Luo Mantang all along. Only when Wen Caishang sighed did everyone realize someone was there. Looking back... memories flooded back. They then discovered that this woman had indeed been behind them all along.

Such martial arts are astonishing!

Despite the setbacks Wen Caishang has experienced, her Silkworm Jade Inlay Technique has regressed, but her strength and foundation have only deepened. She has gathered the key ingredients of "refined treasures, techniques, and methods," making her even more unfathomable.

Luo Mantang was terrified and stumbled forward several times. He quickly composed himself and said, "This...this...this person..." He was filled with dread, as if a needle was stuck in his throat, and he could hardly speak clearly.

Wen Caishang said softly, "My young master has caused you all such trouble."

"Young Master?" The Black-Faced King was completely bewildered.

Wen Caishang said, "It is the Hua Manlou that you all mentioned."

Everyone was horrified. Luo Mantang hesitated, unable to believe that a mere passerby could possess such a beautiful master. His mind was in a daze.

Wen Caishang said, "Brother, are you saying that my disciple killed your disciple?"

The Black-Faced King felt a chill run down his spine. He had used this as a decree to blackmail and harass the Luo family. At this moment, he dared not nod. He thought, "This woman's sudden appearance suggests she possesses some kind of silent movement technique. I have the technique 'Earth Fusion.' Combined with martial arts, I should be able to protect myself. Why waste my energy?"

Summoning his courage, he replied, "Yes! You are his master? Then this matter needs to be..." but he still lacked confidence.

Everyone in Luo Mantang thought that this Black-Faced King was truly a bully who preyed on the weak and feared the strong. Although the Luo family was not weak, being harassed by him was indeed extremely annoying.

Wen Caishang said, "My disciple's mistake should be borne by me." The Black-Faced King felt somewhat relieved and asked, "How do you intend to take responsibility?"

Wen Caishang said, "Since my disciple killed your disciple, I will kill your disciple's master. This is the punishment I must bear."

“My young master is extremely disobedient, and I will discipline him more often. But if my young master wants to kill your disciple, you can only blame your disciple for being unlucky. If his death can bring a smile to my young master's face, I would be happy to do so.”

Everyone present paled. They all felt that this woman spoke softly and gently, yet was extremely domineering and fiercely protective of her lover. She treated the lives of others as if they were insignificant.

The Black-Faced King sneered, "Such arrogance! I won't keep you company!" He turned and fled, crawling on the ground like a snake.

Its speed was incredibly fast, yet strangely unpredictable, as if it could burrow underground. Wen Caishang spotted a spot, raised her palm, and inhaled. With a loud "boom," the Black-Faced Venerable King emerged from the ground, his face filled with astonishment.

The Black-Faced Venerable King said, "Again!" and continued his escape by diving underground. Wen Caishang flipped her hand and drew the Black-Faced Venerable King out from a distance.

No matter how he tried to escape, he could never escape the grasp of the universe. The Luo family members had fought the Black-Faced King several times and all felt that this move was unsolvable. Seeing Wen Caishang easily defuse it, they were all incredulous.

Wen Caishang said, "My young master only killed your disciple, yet you harbor such resentment. You should die now." Her palm strike surged, the energy penetrating the ground and shattering his heart, spleen, and skull. She killed him on the spot.

The Black-Faced King, unable to utilize his various techniques, was killed. The gap in strength was not merely a matter of "realm"; it was purely a difference in understanding of martial arts and individual skill. The difference in realm, compared to other factors, was actually smaller.

Wen Caishang looked up and glanced over.

Luo Mantang said urgently, "Senior, the matter of Hua Manlou must have been a mistake by my subordinates. The Luo family will definitely give you an explanation."

Wen Caishang asked, "Has he committed adultery or abduction?"

Luo San said, "Naturally, there isn't." Wen Caishang said, "Bring me the clues." The Devouring Qi Gu still had one leg and one head remaining. Her strength had not fully recovered, and after killing the Black-Faced Venerable King, her killing intent had been suppressed.

Luo Mantang presented the clues. Wen Caishang then requested detailed maps of the surrounding towns.

She pondered for a while: "Searching for Li Xian requires some planning. If we keep chasing after him, then I'll be no different from Su Qiuwu and the others."

It is anticipated that Li Xian may pass through Fanjing City and ride away on a strange horse overnight.

Then, guided by the ancestral silkworm.

Arriving at a vermilion gate, I gently knocked on the door.

(End of this chapter)