"Master's wife, junior brother is so handsome!"

Song Xia chuckled: "You can't describe boys as pretty; you can say they're handsome or refined."

"He's so handsome! He's the most beautiful person I've ever seen! Will my junior brother become the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world?"

"What do you mean by first or first? There's no such thing as a unified standard for aesthetics. It's just some gimmicks created by those people in the underworld for their own benefit."

Ouyang Feng nodded seriously: "I think my master's wife is the most beautiful."

Ouyang Wanze's eyes widened: "Are you saying that the titles of 'Number One Beauty,' 'Number One Gentleman,' and 'Number One Master' are all self-proclaimed?"

"It's not necessarily a reputation they've built up themselves; it could be someone who's at odds with them, deliberately exaggerating the facts to annoy people. So, when you're out in the world, never blindly believe anything or anyone, even if you see it with your own eyes or hear it with your own ears—it could be false."

Ouyang Wan said with a sullen face, "Is the martial world so complicated? Then I don't want to leave Linghe Valley."

"Wandering the world is to broaden one's horizons and avoid being deceived in the future. However, there are too many dangers in the world. Staying in Linghe Valley and Linghe City is not so bad, at least it's safe."

Ouyang Feng frowned in disapproval: "How can you stay home just because you're afraid of danger? What's the point of practicing martial arts then? Junior Sister, you absolutely cannot slack off."

“Feng’er, staying at home doesn’t mean you can’t contribute to the sect, nor does it mean you can’t uphold justice. Linghe City also needs people to guard it. Can you say that your two senior uncles aren’t heroes?”

The two senior uncles that Song Xia mentioned were her senior brothers and sisters. They had practiced martial arts with Ouyang Zhen since childhood and were also adopted by Song Xia's father. However, due to their limited talent, they were only second-rate martial arts masters who usually handled the affairs of Linghe City.

Ouyang Feng realized he had spoken out of turn and bowed his head in apology: "Master's wife, I was wrong."

“You’re not entirely wrong. Martial arts practitioners should indeed be fearless and chivalrous. However, everyone is different. Chivalry doesn’t necessarily require force, nor does it require traveling the world. People oppressed by cults and the imperial court need help, just as the people of Linghe City right before our eyes need it. Helping people is not about superiority or inferiority. People have many ways of living.”

"Master's wife, I understand."

"Feng'er, your master's wife knows that you have always been righteous and have the world in your heart, but your master's wife wants to tell you that when you are doing the right thing, you need to ensure your own safety first. Only when you are safe can you save more people, do you understand?"

“Master’s wife, your disciple will follow your teachings.”

Song Xia sighed softly: "Whether it's your aptitude for martial arts or your pursuit of justice, your master's wife is at ease. The only problem is that you are too straightforward and don't know how to be flexible. Your master's wife is afraid that you will be deceived by others in the future. The world is dangerous, and right and wrong are not so clear. You can demand things of yourself, but you can't demand things of others. I hope you can remember this."

This was the first time Ouyang Feng had heard such teachings. Although he didn't quite understand them, he still kept them in mind because they were spoken by Song Xia.

"Huh, is Junior Brother about to wake up?" Ouyang Wan was still half asleep when she saw Yin Shihuai's eyelids twitch.

When Yin Shihuai woke up, he saw three pairs of concerned eyes. The shadow of his entire family being wiped out had not yet dissipated from his heart, so he shrank back in fear.

"Don't be afraid." Song Xia gently grasped his hand, her voice extremely gentle, making him unconsciously want to let his guard down.

"It's alright. From now on, we are your family, the Yin family... Wait until you grow up before you think about revenge, okay? I think your parents went to great lengths to protect you, and they still hope you can live peacefully. This is Linghe Valley. Have your parents told you about our sect?"

Yin Shihuai stared wide-eyed and nodded, hugging his knees, looking very uneasy.

"My name is Song Xia, and I am the deputy valley master of Linghe Valley. You can call me Master's wife from now on. They will be your senior brother and your second senior sister."

Ouyang Wan smiled brightly: "Junior brother, I will protect you from now on, don't be afraid."

Ouyang Feng, standing to the side, also nodded emphatically.

"Will I...will I implicate you?" Yin Shihuai looked at them anxiously, especially Song Xia.

“No.” Song Xia explained to him with a firm gaze, “Your Yin family suffered this disaster because you were unprepared. Our Linghe Valley is different. Moreover, those people did not find what they wanted from your Yin family, so they should not come to make things difficult for a child like you. Therefore, you do not need to feel guilty. Even if they come, our Linghe Valley is not to be trifled with.”

“That’s right!” Ouyang Wan clenched her little fist. “Master and Mistress are amazing.”

Yin Shihuai gritted his teeth: "Then do you know who the murderer who wiped out the Yin family is?"

Song Xia shook her head at his disappointed gaze: "I don't know, but as long as you do it, there will always be a trace. The most important thing for you now is to cheer up, work hard to become stronger, and there will always be a day when you can take revenge."

"Aren't you afraid that when that day comes, I will bring trouble to Linghe Valley?"

Song Xia vigorously rubbed his head: "Don't think so much at such a young age. It's not certain whether you'll be able to find someone in the future! Besides, I, Song Xia, am never afraid of trouble."

She didn't refer to Linghe Valley, but rather to herself, because she had decided to cultivate diligently and gradually take control of Linghe Valley's power.

Ouyang Zhen appears to be a hero and a righteous man, but in reality, he is just like those leaders and lords of the martial arts world, full of ambition and wanting to become the leader of the martial arts alliance.

Is it so easy to be the leader of the martial arts alliance? Not only is the imperial court eyeing it covetously, but evil cults are also constantly plotting against it. Not to mention that each of the righteous sects has its own ulterior motives. In her opinion, this so-called leader of the martial arts alliance is actually a trap, a trap that turns all the righteous sects against each other, a trap that muddies the whole world.

In her previous life, Ouyang Zhen dragged the entire Linghe Valley into trouble for the position of martial arts alliance leader. His domineering and stubborn nature meant he would not listen to her advice. Therefore, the only solution was for her to cultivate diligently and undermine Ouyang Zhen's authority in Linghe Valley.

Yin Shihuai's ears turned bright red from Song Xia's rubbing, and he finally let down his guard, feeling a sense of belonging to this place for the first time.

His teacher's wife's hands were so warm, just like his mother's. It's a pity he'll never see his mother again!

"Once you've recovered, your master's wife will take you to pay respects to the Yin family."

"Wasn't the Yin family's house completely burned down?"

"The people in the surrounding area who were once sheltered by the Yin family collected the remains of those who perished in the fire. Although it was impossible to tell who was who, they erected blank tombstones for each of them."

Yin Shihuai's eyes reddened, and he silently shed tears.

Ouyang Feng and Ouyang Wan were both orphans adopted by Linghe Valley. They didn't understand Yin Shihuai's sorrow, but they did understand his pain. Of the dozens of people in the Yin family, he was the only one left! The person behind it all was truly cruel.