Chapter 172: Silk and Jade, Wrapping Oneself in a Cocoon
It turns out that Qiuyue is extremely jealous. More than ten days ago, after being scolded by her wife, she knew that her position was insecure and that she would be replaced by Li Xian sooner or later.
At that time, he would be in a desolate situation, with no one to care for him, and the sudden change would be hard to accept. In his moment of despair, he thought of the considerable wealth he had accumulated over the years. If he left the estate and settled elsewhere, he could live a comfortable life.
He then had the idea of escaping.
Qiu Yue had served the lady for over ten years and knew all her secrets. She actually found a good opportunity to leave silently while the lady was in seclusion. If she hadn't encountered the Flower Cage Gate, she might have been able to escape to a faraway place.
But Qiuyue, secluded in the manor, was short-sighted. She only knew that the lady was formidable, but not how. Isolated from the world and pampered, she gradually forgot the dangers outside. Her strength was mediocre, and so was her temperament.
This seemingly reckless gamble was, in reality, a dead end. Even without encountering the Flower Cage Gate, there would certainly be other obstacles. Moreover, if the Madam wanted revenge, no matter how far she fled, she would undoubtedly die. It's just that she was foolish and unaware of this, making one wrong step after another.
Unfortunately, he was caught by the Flower Cage Gate.
Upon hearing this, Li Xian led Qiu Yue to another place where no one was around. His brow furrowed, he stared at Qiu Yue. "You snuck out?"
"Yes." Qiuyue realized she had been exposed and admitted it dejectedly.
Li Xian said, "With your martial arts skills, how dare you escape? What secret do you know?"
Qiu Yue vaguely said, "If I tell you, will you let me go?" Li Xian hesitated. If Qiu Yue betrayed his wife, she would be doomed. Even if Li Xian didn't act, someone else would. Qiu Yue was blind to the situation; her womanly views were utterly foolish. She still believed she had a way out.
Li Xiannian thought that Qiu Yue had served the lady for many years, seemingly with high status, but in reality, she was pitiful. His own situation was similar. Although he disliked Qiu Yue, he felt a pang of pity and said, "I can make your passing quick."
"You...you're so resolute!" Qiu Yue trembled all over: "Really...really...you won't let me go?"
"You're too stupid!"
Li Xian said, "I would be happy to see you escape successfully. But... can you really escape Madam's pursuit? If I let you go, you will surely fall into Madam's hands within three days. How can you expect to have a good time then? I have witnessed Madam's methods. Giving you a quick death is already my mercy."
Qiu Yue's legs gave way, and she knelt on the ground. She was filled with regret; her impulsive actions and hot blood had faded, and now she felt like she was in an ice cave.
Knowing she couldn't survive, she went into a frenzy. Afterwards, she looked at Li Xian, recalling his words, her gaze flickering between light and shadow.
"Alright, I'll tell you the secret. Please just give me a quick death." Qiu Yue said, "The reason I dared to escape at this moment is because... right now, Madam is unable to move."
"Unable to move?" Li Xian recalled the initial scene of the "Azure Palm". Qiu Yue said, "Hmph, you pretty boy, after I die, you will definitely take my place and help Madam cultivate the 'Silkworm Robe Jade Inlaid Skill'."
"I'll tell you anyway. The Silkworm Jade Inlay Technique is a martial art above the highest level. It's a remarkable skill, but the method of practicing it is quite strange."
"It does not require tempering of the hands and feet, nor practice of moves; it is all achieved through 'internal cultivation.' However, without external assistance, this skill will not advance but regress."
"Truly a miraculous skill," Li Xian muttered. Like a silkworm spinning silk, this skill requires internal cultivation and locking the body in place; only then can progress be made. The Azure Silk Palm is named after the "Jiang" (river), but its method of circulating Qi can be traced back to the "Silkworm Silk Jade Inlay Skill." Qi is condensed like silk, coiling and interlocking.
Qiu Yue continued, “After Madam acquired this extraordinary skill, I helped her practice it. I bound her entire body with a special silkworm rope. Her body was like a silkworm cocoon, internally cultivating martial arts. However, the deeper one cultivates this martial art, the more difficult it becomes. When Madam was practicing the first level, she could easily break free. But as her level deepened, it became increasingly difficult to break free, and her movements became less free. Although she deliberately concealed it, I became suspicious after spending a long time with her.”
"It's like a silkworm. When it first spins its silk, the cocoon isn't very entangled, and it can be abandoned at any time. But... as it continues to spin silk and entangle itself, the cocoon becomes tighter and tighter, and eventually it becomes trapped in its own cocoon. It's then very difficult to break free."
"I am faced with a dilemma. If I give up my practice, my attainments will inevitably decline and become difficult to maintain. If I continue to practice, I will be trapped in a cocoon."
At this point, Qiuyue said with jealousy, "If it weren't for you, I could have acted with impunity in the manor because of this special status. But recently you... you've even been able to bathe with the madam. The madam and you no longer mind physical contact. The next step... will definitely be you... Thinking of this, how could I not run away?"
"Do you really think that once I'm useless, I'll just be neglected? That the madam will cut out my tongue, cripple my legs, and leave me idle in the manor!"
Qiu Yue cried hysterically, "I didn't betray you, Madam, but I had no choice. You drove me to my death!"
Qiu Yue said in despair, "My fate is sealed. Li Xian, I am you today. Since you know this secret, you will inevitably repeat the same mistake one day."
Li Xian said, “What you say makes sense. Although you hate me for forcing you to your death, I am no longer angry with you. The reason I am not letting you go today is because I am afraid that if you are captured by the madam, you will turn around and bite me. Otherwise... I really want to see if you can truly escape.”
"No need," Qiuyue said. "I've figured it out. Escape is impossible. I forgot Madam's abilities and tried to escape while she was in seclusion. Just give me a quick death."
Li Xian said, "Alright, this is a blood-sealing technique. I will use my internal energy to propel it. Relax your mind, and you will die in three breaths."
Qiu Yue nodded, resigned to her fate. The poison entered her body, her eyelids grew heavy, and she died. Li Xian sighed deeply, filled with emotion. Since arriving at the manor, Pang Long had disappeared, Qiu Yue had died…
Yihezhuang has undergone a major transformation.
"Qiuyue's death cannot be entirely blamed on her stupidity. Qiuyue was right in saying one thing. She today could be me tomorrow. If I do not want to repeat the same mistake, then... I should try my best to improve my strength and look for opportunities."
"But Qiuyue hates me to the core. We need to carefully consider how much of this conversation was true and how much was false. We can't believe it all."
"Her body still needs to be properly disposed of."
Li Xian thought to himself.
...
...
An abandoned mansion.
Yesterday's fierce battle resulted in the complete annihilation of the Flower Cage Sect's thugs, with seven constables injured. Purely in terms of martial arts, the Flower Cage Sect's thugs were more powerful than any of the constables.
However, the Martial Guard had a large and powerful force, and their officers were equipped with armor. They coordinated perfectly and struck first, thus achieving a great victory.
The heads of the thugs were removed one by one. Lin Aoshan stood with her hands on her hips, smiling broadly; this was a great achievement. She had just inherited the title, possessing a high position but lacking real power and prestige.
Although the contribution was small, it was still valuable.
"Brother Li, thank you so much for this!" Lin Aoshan said with a smile.
"Eliminating evil is my duty. Cooperating with the Sky Patrol Division to wipe out the bandit's den is also an obligation," Li Xian said with a smile.
It was already dawn.
Blood stained the grass, and corpses littered the ground. Li Xian knew that tigers roamed the mountains, and if the corpses weren't dealt with, they would only benefit the tigers, allowing them to grow fat. This would also harm others.
So he ordered that a pit be dug on the spot and the more than ten corpses buried. Gu Shuntong's corpse was burned to ashes; since he had already consumed spirit essence, burying his corpse would still attract demons.
After cleaning up the scene, they crossed the wild mountains and headed towards Qingning County. The constables removed their armor; their clothes were completely soaked. Luo Xia was in high spirits; it was her nature to enjoy swords and blood. With a wave of her hand, she rewarded each constable with an ounce of silver, stirring up their fighting spirit.
She was generous, but it was Li Xian who paid for it.
The four women, Lin, Luo, Zhao, and Wang, returned to the Martial Guard Hall. They drank water and ate bread. Their emotions gradually stabilized, and their disheveled hair was straightened.
Li Xian sent someone to inform the four major families to bring the four women home.
The four women looked at each other, hesitant to speak. They seemed unwilling to go home, yet had no choice but to.
Lin Qingwan's eyes were red, and she bowed and said, "Lord Li, I... I don't want to go home. I beg you to take me in. I know some embroidery, cooking, and sweeping. I just don't want to go home."
Li Xian asked, "Why?"
Lin Qingwan sobbed softly. Lin Aoshan said, "I understand this matter. Powerful families prioritize interests. Although the four families of Qingning have some influence locally, they are insignificant clans in the broader city."
"The clan's resources are limited, so only the direct descendants of the clan can come into contact with martial arts, undergo purification and nourishment, and seek to transcend the mortal realm. These clan women, though beautiful as flowers, are not free to do as they please. Now, after the Flower Cage Gate incident, it will be difficult for them to gain a foothold in the clan, and their future will be very difficult."
"I see," Li Xian said knowingly. "You seem to know quite a bit."
"Nonsense," Lin Aoshan said. "I am the young matriarch of the Lin family, and I know everything perfectly well. Many of the young talents in my clan are quite famous in the prefectural city. But when they see me, don't they have to obediently bow their heads and call me 'Grandma'?"
“When I give a lecture, even his father and grandfather have to listen carefully.”
Upon hearing this, all the women were filled with envy. Li Xian said, "This is simple. How about this... Sister Lin and I will personally escort them home."
"At that time... I'll trouble you, the matriarch of the Lin family, to say a few words yourself. I'll chime in a couple more times to make sure that family doesn't dare to act recklessly."
“If you are ever unhappy in the future, you can come to me. I have some shops and can arrange some jobs for you. Or you can come to the Martial Guard Hall to boil water and cook. But this is hard work, and you are all pampered. I'm afraid you won't be able to adapt.”
The women were deeply grateful upon hearing this. Lin Qingwan's beautiful eyes were touched, yet she also felt quite saddened. Lin Aoshan chided, "You certainly know how to use someone else's flower to present to the Buddha," but she agreed nonetheless.
And so, the group visited each family's home and escorted them back. Very few people knew about the Flower Cage Gate affair to begin with. With Li Xian and Lin Aoshan speaking up, the various families were happy to let the matter rest.
Upon arriving at the Wang family residence, as they escorted Madam Wang home, the concubine happened to be there as well. She gazed intently at Li Xian and Lin Aoshan, then suddenly exclaimed, "Ah!" and said, "Female..."
Lin Aoshan stepped forward and covered her mouth. Wang Shiping, the head of the Wang family, asked curiously, "Lord Xuanhou, what's wrong...?"
Lin Aoshan said, "I hit it off with this lady at first sight. You may all leave now; I'd like to chat with her about everyday things."
Wang Shiping was overjoyed and said, "Good, good, you two chat. Ah Yue, treat her well."
The beautiful concubine, named Xiuyue, nodded blankly. After everyone had dispersed, Lin Aoshan released her mouth and explained the reason.
When Xiuyue learned that the two were the culprits, she was both ashamed and shocked. She glanced at Li Xian several times, her expression gradually softening with a mixture of affection and joy. But when she relived that night, it seemed to have taken on a different flavor.
"Brother Li."
"I think it's best to confirm your identity as a lecherous thief. Looking around, I think you're quite suitable."
Lin Aoshan said meaningfully.
"That's not necessarily a bad thing. When I travel the world in the future, I can enjoy beautiful women and make money. The experience... is quite enjoyable," Li Xian said with a smile.
"Pah, pah, pah, you really want to be a lewd thief?" Lin Aoshan said, "Be careful, I'll have someone arrest you to make a good impression."
(End of this chapter)
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