Chapter 82 First Encounter [New] An Ordinary Handsome Man

Night fell, and the crescent moon hung in the sky.

A thin mist floated on the lake, and a large, leafy old banyan tree stood on the shore.

Fireflies, their colors a deep blue, flitted among the treetops.

A washed linen garment was draped over a rough bamboo frame, and a lean young man sat quietly in front of the fire, his back bare and one leg bent.

He was born with bright eyes and white teeth, sword-like eyebrows that slanted upwards into his temples, a high ponytail, and two wisps of hair falling down his forehead, making him both handsome and heroic.

Anyone who sees it will never forget it.

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Ding Peng would occasionally stir the fire to prevent the flickering flames from licking the hem of his clothes.

This garment was the result of his frail and sickly mother's painstaking efforts, painstakingly sewing it late into the night by the faint moonlight filtering through the window frame.

His mother's earnest admonitions still echoed in his ears: "The world outside is too chaotic, cough cough, your mother... cough cough, make Peng'er some decent clothes, so that those arrogant fellows won't treat you differently based on your status..."

He stared intently at the crackling flames, the flickering light illuminating his delicate features and reddening his sore eyes.

The Ding family's reputation and glory depend entirely on him; only by becoming famous throughout the martial arts world can he live up to his parents' expectations.

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"Splash—"

The sound of a big fish leaping out of the water.

Ding Peng glanced casually at the lake, then his expression suddenly froze, and he stared blankly at the scene before him.

The lake water reached above her waist. The woman had her back to Ding Peng, her cascading hair flowing freely, clinging wetly to her neck.

That exposed, honey-colored back, with its firm skin and smooth lines, resembled the back of a cheetah in full stretch. Water droplets meandered down the clearly defined spinal grooves and disappeared into the hazy curves underwater.

A delicate cinnabar mole stood out prominently against her honey-colored skin, perfectly positioned on the hollow of her neck.

She scooped up a handful of lake water with both hands and gently poured it onto the crook of her neck. Water droplets splashed, some kissing the vermilion mark, others leaping down her smooth shoulders.

Noticing the gaze behind her, she paused slightly as she splashed water. As if burned by the sight, Ding Peng's face turned as red as a boiled shrimp, and his heart pounded wildly.

He turned around abruptly, put his hand on his chest, took a breath, and suddenly realized that he was still shirtless. He picked up his damp outer shirt and stumbled up an old banyan tree.

Once he climbed onto the branches of the old banyan tree, he swung his legs restlessly, his figure obscured by the dense aerial roots and lush foliage.

To practice this move, "Meteor from Outer Space," he never even held a girl's hand.

Not to mention watching girls take a bath.

Ding Peng was so embarrassed that the tips of his ears turned bright red. He quickly put on his wet outer shirt, pulled his hands up to his collar, and was forced to listen to the splashing sounds of water.

Just a glance at someone's back is enough to make one's heart flutter. If one day one falls into a honey trap, are you going to cut off your head and let them laugh at you?

He closed his eyes in resignation, silently cursing himself for his lack of self-control. After a moment, Ding Peng gritted his teeth and made a firm decision:

Tomorrow, he must go to the waterfall and practice his swordsmanship ten times as much as he usually does.

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Just as he was lost in thought, suddenly, a plaintive melody drifted through the desolation and silence of the wilderness.

The music seemed both near and far, elusive and hard to grasp.

Like a datura flower in full bloom, its decadent beauty is shrouded in thick darkness, luring the soul into the underworld.

Listening to this piece of music, Ding Peng couldn't help but think of the strange tales told by storytellers.

A picture immediately flashed into his mind:

A beautiful woman, transformed from a fox spirit, seduced a scholar who had wandered into the desolate wilderness, and they spent a passionate night together. As dawn broke, the fox spirit departed contentedly, while the scholar had long since turned into a pile of pale, lifeless bones...

The night wind blew into his dripping coat, and a chill ran from his tailbone up his spine.

Ding Peng's teeth chattered.

A beautiful woman suddenly appearing in the dead of night in the wilderness seems suspicious no matter how you look at it...

He swallowed nervously, goosebumps rising on his arms. He unconsciously gripped the hilt of his sword, finding his sense of security in the three-foot-long blade beside him.

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The music continued.

It resembles a moth trapped in a spider's web, struggling desperately but unable to escape the paralysis of the toxins, and can only slowly suffocate as the spider devours it.

"Something's not right! This piece of music is really weird!"

The fear hidden deep in his heart was amplified by the music, and Ding Peng keenly sensed the abnormality in his body. He covered his ears and barely managed to maintain his mental clarity.

At this critical moment, a clear and melodious voice abruptly cut short this eerie melody:

"I think you're tired of living. You dare to show off your pathetic tricks in front of me!"

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Ding Peng was startled and quickly peered through the gaps in the branches to see what was happening.

But then a black-clad man with unpredictable footwork appeared and in the blink of an eye, he had darted more than ten feet away from the shore, clearly a top-notch master of lightness skills in the martial arts world.

The woman bathing snorted coldly, then scooped up water with her wrist, causing a few crystal-clear water droplets to float to the surface.

She flicked her jade-like fingers, and a muffled groan was heard as the water droplet accurately struck the man in black's spine!

Caught off guard, the man in black fell heavily to the ground, his shakuhachi falling to the ground and rolling a long way.

Picking up the light blue silk dress, she instantly dressed herself neatly, her hem fluttering as she swept across the grass.

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Chun Lei spat out a mouthful of blood. His internal organs were severely injured, and he had no time to escape. He could only stubbornly stick out his neck and glare fiercely at the woman who was walking towards him.

You Mingjiang's lips curled slightly as he casually glanced at the location of the old banyan tree.

This glance sent shivers down Ding Peng's spine; he had the unsettling feeling that he had been seen through.

Barefoot on the cobblestones, she twirled a strand of wet hair between her fingers and murmured to herself, "Sigh, I never thought I'd stoop so low... to be assassinated by a nobody like you?"

"You!" Chunlei Yici's eyes widened in anger. "How dare you slander the noble Yi... uh!"

"What kind of lord are these Japanese bandits who dare to call themselves 'masters'!" A foot stomped on his face, shoving him into the mud on the beach.

Chunlei struggled twice, his eyes seemingly spitting fire, and opened his mouth to speak a string of broken Japanese.

Can't understand.

It seemed like he was cursing.

You Mingjiang raised his eyebrows and stomped harder, grinding his cheek in the mud.

Chunlei Yici's face was covered in mud: "..."

She didn't give him a chance to move at all.

Chunlei was furious and struggled violently, like a live fish that had fallen into a hot oil pan.

Oh, you dare to provoke her?

Not one to tolerate his temper, You Mingjiang slapped him several times across the face.

"..."

The Iga ninja was so badly slapped that he saw stars, and blood from his nose flowed down his bruised cheeks to his ears.

Several teeth were missing from his mouth, and his jaw was covered in bright red foam. After recovering slightly, he angrily switched to Mandarin, "How dare you! Do you know who I am?!"

He kicked him in the chest, and You Mingjiang said calmly:

"I should be saying that to you! How dare you run wild in the Central Plains?!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Chunlei Yiji, whose head and face were pressed to the ground, suddenly burst into wild laughter.

She raised an eyebrow: "What are you laughing at?"

He mumbled indistinctly, "I'm laughing at you for being a coward!"

You Mingjiang: "..."

Chun Lei then issued a challenge: "How about a fair and square duel? Surely the dignified Elder of Blackwood Cliff wouldn't be too afraid to accept the challenge?"

As a top-tier Iga ninja, he was ordered to assassinate You Mingjiang.

Bat Island, known as a "seaside den of iniquity," was isolated overseas and not under the control of the imperial court.

At that time, the Bat Prince already possessed the potential to lead the Central Plains.

Although he possessed intelligence secrets about various martial arts sects, he lacked a most loyal sea escort; and since the imperial court had stopped cracking down on maritime smuggling, the treasures looted by Japanese pirates were difficult to liquidate, and he could not find buyers willing to take them on, while also worrying about the imperial navy's encirclement and suppression.

It wasn't until the Japanese pirates made contact with the Bat Prince that the two sides hit it off.

He not only helped the Japanese pirates sell their stolen goods, but also provided them with channels to sell the treasures they plundered; in return, the Japanese pirates escorted Bat Island and kidnapped martial arts masters for Bat Prince to interrogate them for secrets.

This black market supply chain is operating with great success.

Unfortunately, their good fortune didn't last long. You Mingjiang killed the Bat Prince and completely destroyed their sanctuary.

After taking over Bat Island, she transformed it into a salt field and fishing ground, and placed it under the trusteeship of the Palace of Bliss.

Even more terrifying, she cut off the Japanese pirates' sea route to Bat Island and is now meticulously piecing together the story.

The pirate leader, Ishida Saihikozaemon, realized that this elder of the Kuroki Cliff Law Enforcement Bureau, who came from a background of traveling medicine, was more difficult to deal with than they had imagined.

As Ishida Saihikozaemon's subordinate, Haruaki Iji had lost count of how many times he had heard her name.

"If we don't kill her, we will die."

Chun Lei Yici's actions at this moment were not for merit, but for survival. You Mingjiang had to die; otherwise, once their shady dealings were exposed, they would face not only the pursuit of the Central Plains martial arts world, but also the thunderous annihilation of the imperial navy.

At that time, it is likely that within half a year, everyone will have to go to the Six Doors and the Dali Temple to be executed, except for death!

Haruaki Ichiji clearly remembered Ishida Saihiko's instructions: "Either bring her back with her head, or die out there."

If he can't even handle a woman like this, then this Iga ninja might as well commit seppuku.

He had followed them all the way from Pingding Prefecture to here, and only then did he find this perfect opportunity, but unexpectedly...

When Chunlei's first plan failed, he devised another.

He resorted to provocation, challenging her to a life-or-death duel.

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Ding Peng, who was watching this scene, gasped and suddenly grabbed the tree branch beneath him.

From their conversation, he vaguely discerned that the man in black who had been trampled to the ground was a Japanese pirate, while the woman who had stepped on him was a powerful figure from Black Cliff. Although Black Cliff had always been criticized, the Japanese pirates were causing trouble in the coastal areas, and the people suffered greatly from their attacks. It was easy to tell who was good and who was evil.

The ability to instantly kill an enemy with a drawn sword is common among Japanese swordsmen; this woman, unarmed, would likely find it difficult to defend herself.

Kill him!

Don't fall for his provocation!

Ding Peng stared at the man in black, his hand slowly resting on the scabbard, his eyes flashing with intense hatred.

He was sweating with nervousness, while You Mingjiang was much more relaxed.

"Fine." She yawned, kicked Chunlei Yici in the stomach, sending him rolling far away. "Then I'll give you this chance."

Seeing is believing, and she wanted to witness the Iga ninja's most powerful killing techniques.

He picked up a thick tree branch over six feet long and weighed it in his hands, alternating between them.

① She gripped the thick branch with her left hand, made a reverse wrist flourish, and then handed it to her right hand, making a backhand flicking motion. She smiled with satisfaction, flipped her wrists with both hands to grip the thick branch, and enthusiastically assumed a defensive stance.

Smearing his muddy face, Chunlei Yiji scrambled to his feet. Seeing her lazy posture, he wanted to grind his teeth in frustration. As the top ninja of the Iga school, he hated You Mingjiang to the core for suffering such humiliation of seppuku.

The two were only a few steps apart, and Chun Lei Yici, itching to make a move, placed his hand on the scabbard.

Taking advantage of the moment she was fiddling with the branch, Chun Lei took a few quick steps, drew his sword, and unleashed a powerful slash at You Mingjiang.

The sword light was imbued with immense killing intent; this was a deadly, ultimate technique that was far beyond what a weak woman like her could withstand.

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That's right, Chun Lei Yici is going to kill her!

He wanted to dismember her body and throw it into the lake to feed the fish, in order to vent his hatred!

Ding Peng, who was hiding in the old banyan tree, saw that things were not going well and was about to draw his sword to help.

Before he could even jump down from the tree, You Mingjiang made his move!

She dodged and slashed horizontally, using a thick branch to cut off his wrist, seizing the opening where his elbow was injured, and leaped to strike at the top of his head!

This move was none other than General Yu Chuntong's unique skill, "Lost Void Strike"!

With a "clang," the thick tree branch in You Mingjiang's hand broke in two, and his sword also broke in two.

Chunlei Yici looked bitter, stiffly turned around, and stood there motionless.

A line of blood started flowing from his forehead, winding down to his lower abdomen, and then...

"Sizzle sizzle sizzle—" Spring Thunder Iga exploded from the middle, spraying blood mist!

You Mingjiang swiftly retreated, thus avoiding getting his hands dirty with blood.

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This woman has such fast movements and such strong martial arts skills!

Ding Peng was stunned.

He was from northern Hebei. Black Cliff was located near Pingding Prefecture. He had heard a lot about the elders of Black Cliff, all of whom were highly skilled in martial arts, but he had never met them.

At this moment, he couldn't help but feel uneasy:

With his meteoric power, if he were to face her, would he have a fighting chance?

As he was lost in thought, You Mingjiang tore off two strips of cloth, wrapped them tightly around his hands, and dragged the corpse away from the lakeside, directly to the old banyan tree.

People should be mindful of public morality.

Do not throw trash into the lake.

She covered her nose, took out a bottle of corpse-dissolving powder from her spatial storage, and poured some powder along the bloodline. As the powder landed on the corpse, it immediately hissed and emitted a thick, pale yellow mist.

Ding Peng sat high on a tree branch, witnessing the entire scene clearly. The night breeze was pleasantly cool, but Ding Peng felt a chill run down his spine.

Beneath his feet lay a horrifying scene of decaying corpses; anyone who saw it would likely feel a chill run down their spine.

The previous daydreams vanished without a trace.

He suddenly remembered the Sun Moon Cult that the storyteller had told him about. He had heard that the people in that cult acted eccentrically and regarded the righteous path as their mortal enemy. Regardless of whether there was any enmity between them, if they met on a narrow road, they would not leave any survivors.

Thinking of this, Ding Peng broke out in a cold sweat, his hands and feet trembling uncontrollably. Although he had achieved considerable success recently, he had never encountered such a formidable enemy as her.

It would be a lie to say I wasn't scared.

"What a hassle."

The woman under the tree muttered softly, her hands clasped around her waist. She tilted her head back and shrugged her aching shoulders and neck with a crackling sound.

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The moonlight illuminated her face.

With a round, pink face, lychee-shaped eyes, a small, upturned nose that looked as smooth as if it were covered in powder, and lips that were slightly upturned even when she wasn't smiling, she could be described as beautiful and pleasing.

"Aren't you leaving yet?"

A lazy voice rang out, and Ding Peng froze, looking towards the old banyan tree.

The woman curled her lips into a smile and looked directly at where he was hiding: "Do you want to wait until I've finished dissolving him before you do it?"

We've been discovered!

He was startled and hurriedly tried to stand up, forgetting that he was on a tree branch. He lost his footing and fell off the branch.

He fell hard on his buttocks, and his tailbone hurt terribly, making it impossible for him to stand up.

Snap.

The footsteps drew closer, and he looked up nervously at the approaching person.

The woman walked up to him at a leisurely pace.

The stench of blood was impossible to conceal...

His stomach was churning. Ding Peng struggled to get up, but his body seemed to be frozen in place by Sun Wukong's spell, unable to move at all.

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Are you afraid of me?

You Mingjiang bent down and curiously approached his face.

What a delicate face.

With sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, red lips and white teeth, he looked weak and as if he had seen a ghost and was about to faint at any moment.

"..."

Ding Peng's pupils shrank suddenly, and his mind felt like it was filled with mush.

Is he going to die?

In that life-or-death moment, an unprecedented will to survive ignited his fighting spirit, and he hardened his heart and made a decision to fight her to the death!

Despite not knowing whether he could defeat the opponent, Ding Peng, with bloodshot eyes, drew his sword with a "snap"!

But she was even faster!

Before he even had a chance to draw his sword, the sword, which was only half an inch from its sheath, was forcefully pushed back into the scabbard!

After a brief exchange, she had already figured it out: this kid was just a greenhorn.

It's still a beautiful young melon vine.

Provided that her bottom line is not crossed, she is usually very tolerant of beautiful women and will let it go for now.

Frozen in his sword-drawing stance, Ding Peng shuddered. Fear dominated his vision, slowing down every detail of her movements. He saw her, like a tabby cat hunting birds, eagerly reaching out and precisely pinching his face.

His throat felt bitter, and he leaned back desperately, like a startled rabbit about to kick a hawk.

But his dodge was too weak, and You Mingjiang grabbed his cheek.

Perhaps driven by shame, Ding Peng bit down on her tiger's mouth without thinking!

You Mingjiang raised her eyebrows slightly, and with the thumb of her other hand, she poked precisely at the tip of his sword.

"Ugh!" Ding Peng leaned forward in pain, his head hitting the ground, clutching his abdomen and convulsing uncontrollably.

You Mingjiang said calmly, "Do you want to die?"

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He looked as if he had been pulled out of the water, his clothes sticking wetly to his skin.

Ding Peng closed his eyes and gently shook his head.

He hasn't even made a name for himself yet, how can he die!

Her father's dying words and her mother's loving gaze echoed in her mind. Her eyes welled up with tears, and a single, glistening tear rolled down her cheek.

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After tilting his head and looking at him for a while, You Mingjiang held his shoulders with both hands, helped him straighten up, and wiped away his tears with her sleeve.

The wiping was a little too forceful, leaving faint red finger marks on his pretty face. Not knowing what trick she was up to this time, Ding Peng didn't resist, just stared at her blankly.

But then she asked, "Just now...you saw everything?"

Ding Peng pursed his lips nervously, unable to deny it at all.

According to the rules of Blackwood Cliff, if you see something you shouldn't have seen, shouldn't you gouge out your own eyes as an apology?

But if he really goes blind, can he still master the "Meteor Shower" technique?

What do you want?

"What do I want?" She chuckled softly. "According to the rules of the underworld, if someone sees something they shouldn't, they'll have their eyes gouged out as a warning to others."

He really was going to gouge out his own eyes.

Sensing his fear, she smiled and said, "Just kidding, you didn't see anything today."

"I..." Ding Peng hesitated for a moment.

What did she mean by not seeing? Murder or bathing?

You Mingjiang said calmly, "Could it be that you intend to betray me?"

Ding Peng's face flushed red: "No...!"

The Japanese pirates were burning, killing, and looting at sea, so why would he do something like spying? But after stammering for a long time, he only managed to utter a single word: "No."

.

You Mingjiang was amused by his clumsiness.

Ding Peng stared blankly at her smiling face, speechless.

He saw the shimmering starlight reflected in her clear, bright eyes, and he also caught a faint scent of purple gromwell.

He was completely mesmerized.

"Alright, forget about today's events, and don't mention it to anyone," You Mingjiang emphasized again.

Regardless of the other party's stance, as long as they are not scum or beasts, and as long as they are not her enemies, she does not want to drive them to the brink of extinction.

Bullying the weak is not her creed.

His gentle attitude softened his resistance, and Ding Peng couldn't help but nod: "Okay."

Brushing the dust off his clothes, You Mingjiang stood up and smiled, "You're a promising young man."

Upon hearing this, Ding Peng's face turned red.

You Mingjiang smiled again.

The young man before me resembled a fawn, not only handsome but also with clear, endearing eyes.

At the very least, he won her favor.

She was backlit, the hazy light casting a soft glow behind her, and she extended her slender hand to him. "Here, get up."

.

Ding Peng stared at her blankly.

He wiped his sweaty hands on his clothes, and then, as if possessed, placed them in her palm. His palms were covered with thick calluses, the marks of years of martial arts training.

When he placed his hand in her palm, he felt a slight dizziness, as if he were walking on cotton.

I vaguely heard her say, "Oh dear, why is your coat still all wet?"

He doesn't remember how he answered.

All I remember is that You Mingjiang grabbed his hand.

Her hands were warm, probably because she had channeled some of her internal energy into him. He felt a surge of heat, and within a few breaths, his outer garment had dried.

The moonlight shone softly on her face, and Ding Peng suddenly felt that she was still very beautiful.

As for "Blackwood Cliff," it's like an incongruous, inferior label that simply cannot be attached to her soul.

He murmured, "Who are you?"

You Mingjiang smiled.

She suddenly released his hand.

Ding Peng staggered, sobering up from his tipsy state, and realized he had broken his promise.

He scratched his head, blushing, and said, "I'm sorry..."

You Mingjiang stretched.

I glanced at the area under the old banyan tree; after the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the corpse had already turned into liquid.

"It's alright." She replied dismissively, then turned and walked towards the lake. "I'm leaving. You'll regret it later."

Suddenly, Ding Peng called out from behind her. He hurriedly took two steps to catch up and called out, "Hey—my name is Ding Peng!"

You Mingjiang waved his hand with his back to Ding Peng without turning his head, it was unclear whether he heard him clearly.

With a "plop," she jumped into the lake and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Like dazzling fireworks, they arrive spectacularly and depart silently.

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The moonlight was like water, and the lake surface was bright and thin.

You Mingjiang emerged from the lake, carrying a fresh crucian carp in her hand.

There is also an old banyan tree here.

But it's so big, so tall, you can't see the top at a glance.

You Mingjiang swung the fish by the tail and slammed it against the tree trunk twice with all her might. Once the lively crucian carp stopped moving, she snapped off its head with a "crack," then used a knife to cut off the tail to bleed it. She scraped off the shiny silver scales with the back of the knife, then cut open the fish's belly, removed the internal organs, and finally cut along the spine and rinsed it clean with lightly salted water.

"..."

You Mingjiang wiped the knife, sliced ​​off a piece of sashimi as thin as a cicada's wing, and hesitantly put it into his mouth.

When she reorganized the businesses on Bat Island, she cut off the financial resources of many Japanese pirates. Some pirate leaders wanted to strike first, so they wanted her dead.

However, in her mind, this assassination should have been a grand and spectacular affair, utilizing all the assassination techniques of the Iga ninjas. The current situation, however, felt like children playing house, giving her a disconcerting feeling of being stretched thin.

It seemed he was held back by something and couldn't focus his full attention on dealing with her...

What could it be?

The translucent, pinkish fish meat rolled between her lips and teeth, its texture cool, smooth, and slippery. She chewed incessantly, and the more she chewed, the deeper her brows furrowed.

“…Ptooey!” You Mingjiang turned his head away and spat out the chewed fish paste with a “pui pui pui” sound.

She scooped up a few handfuls of cool water, rinsed her mouth, picked up the fish, glanced at it, and sighed softly, "Sigh, I still have to cook. I'll make a crucian carp and tofu soup then."

.

The old banyan tree had gnarled and twisted branches, and a small treehouse was built among the thickest branches. The treehouse was made of thick wood and was hidden by the dense canopy. The furnishings inside were simple, with only a low table, a few cushions, and a thick layer of dust.

With his disheveled hair, thick beard, flushed cheeks, and surprisingly bright eyes, Hu Tiehua frowned but could only endure it. If he hadn't been chased so desperately by four young girls, he really wouldn't want to be hiding here like a stray dog.

This little treehouse was built by him and Chu Liuxiang when they were children, and they named it "Doghouse".

It had been abandoned for over twenty years, but now it had become the only hiding place for Master Hu.

Hu Tiehua felt he had never been so disheveled in his life. The wound on his right shoulder was still bleeding, staining his clothes red: "Ouch, this young lady really went all out."

He cursed under his breath, pulled a gourd from his waist, and took a swig.

The liquor slid down my throat, but it couldn't quell the irritation in my heart.

Early this morning, Hu Tiehua was drinking at the wine shop when four young girls walked in. They sat down next to him and challenged him to a drinking contest.

He thought it was just a normal lively scene, but he never imagined that these girls were harboring malicious intentions.

They enthusiastically urged him to drink, and while he wasn't paying attention, they slipped a sleeping potion into the wine jug, showering him with sweet words to lower his guard. As a result, the moment the drugged wine entered his throat, all his strength was instantly drained. By the time he realized he'd been tricked, his body was already beyond his control. Unwilling to simply wait for his fate, Hu Tiehua forcibly circulated his internal energy, managing to break through their encirclement.

However, he was drugged and injured, so he could only sit slumped in the filthy "doghouse".

Thinking of this, his stomach suddenly rumbled.

Hu Tiehua then remembered that after realizing he had been drugged, he immediately vomited, emptying his stomach. Come to think of it, he hadn't eaten anything properly all day. There couldn't possibly be any wild fruit to eat on this banyan tree; he was truly incredibly unlucky.

Suddenly, he heard the sound of dry branches breaking under the tree.

Hu Tiehua held his breath and quickly tucked the empty wine gourd back into his waistband.

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Beneath the old banyan tree, a clay pot rested on a pile of stones. You Mingjiang blew on a tinderbox to light the dry branches at the bottom of the pot, and orange-red flames crackled and popped out.

Once the pan was sizzling hot, she dropped the fish into the hot oil and fried it until golden brown. Then she added lightly salted water, a few slices of ginger, a piece of scallion, and some small cubes of tofu. She covered the pot with the lid and let it simmer and bubble on the fire.

The fresh aroma rose with the steam, spreading through the lush canopy of trees.

Hu Tiehua's nose twitched, and his eyes lit up immediately—it was fish soup!

He peered down through the small window of the "doghouse".

Not far away, a woman dressed in a light blue silk robe was sitting by a small fire. The fish soup in the casserole was boiling and turning a thick white, with tofu cubes floating in the soup.

Hu Tiehua swallowed hard, his stomach growling even louder.

This damn crucian carp and tofu soup, how can it smell so good?!

Being trapped in a tree is bad enough, but to have to smell such delicious fish soup and not be able to drink it...

This is pure torture!

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Suddenly, a series of footsteps approached from afar.

You Mingjiang didn't even lift his eyelids, slowly stirring the fish soup in the casserole.

The visitors were four beautiful young girls, each as lovely as a flower.

They surrounded You Mingjiang in a fan shape.

“Sister,” the girl with the big eyes spoke up, her voice gentle and sweet, “have you seen a disheveled man? He has a cut on his shoulder…”

Hu Tiehua, who was eavesdropping in the "doghouse," had a bad feeling.

.

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Author's Note: [Good Luck Lotus] ① Action Reference: Qi Jiguang's "Xin You Sword Technique"

[Good Luck Lotus] Shakuhachi: Originating in the Han and Tang dynasties, it was transmitted to Japan during the Southern Song dynasty.

[Good Luck Lotus] Ishida Saihikozaemon: A master swordsman from Japan in "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang"; Haruichi Ichiji is the number one ninja of the Iga school of Japan. He committed seppuku after failing to assassinate Chu Liuxiang (and was defeated by Chu in one move).