Chapter 257 Finally Escaped, Will He Marry the Jade Maiden? The Madam Questions, Where Did the Double Pupils Come From?
The crane spread its wings, blotting out the sky, and held a crimson elixir in its beak. Its bright, piercing eyes curiously observed Li Xian.
"A guest comes from the clouds; please take the elixir from the crane."
Lü Dongzhi was bold and unrestrained.
His martial arts skills were unparalleled, and his tomb was magnificently laid out. Everyone believed that a significant inheritance was hidden deep within the tomb. Yet, he deliberately placed it outside the tomb.
People search for ancient tombs all for wealth and treasure. But he deliberately lets those who return empty-handed leave laden with riches. The crane, a creature of great spirit and wisdom, has lived here for generations, obeying the dying wish of Lü Dong. Seeing those who leave empty-handed, it carries cinnabar in its beak to escort them home.
As the saying goes, "A guest comes from the clouds; please take the elixir from the crane."
This implies that visiting the tomb is like being a guest. As a guest, how could one steal the host's treasures? Leaving the tomb empty-handed means one is indeed a "guest" of the tomb.
Since you are a "guest," please bring me the Crane's Elixir.
Lü Dongzhi had already revealed the location of the hidden treasure, but no one could fathom it. He had many disciples during his lifetime, but very few were truly open-minded and free-spirited. This carefree and ethereal quality was something no one could imitate even a fraction of.
Conversely...
Those tomb raiders, after cracking the mechanisms of the tombs, would inevitably collect famous paintings and treasures... Even thousands of years after Lü Dong's death, it was difficult to stop them. But they missed out on the best treasures.
Li Xian caught the crimson elixir, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Senior!" Without examining it closely, he slipped it into his sleeve. He then grabbed Wen Caishang and quickly fled.
Wen Caishang knew all too well that the "refined scholars of Nanyang" were extremely eccentric and defied common sense. That period of history was rife with conflict, chaos in etiquette and law, and bizarre ethical norms. There were noble scholars and brutal villains.
She was selfish by nature, yet when Li Xiande offered her the elixir, she had no intention of taking it. Instead, she was happy for him.
...
...
On the other hand...
Shen Pingping is an expert in tomb layout. He has robbed tombs and dug up corpses in Nanyang, Dayu, Dawu and even more ancient tombs.
The layout of tombs during the Nanyang period mainly included patterns such as "square tombs", "eight immortals tombs", and "nine dragon tombs".
The tomb here is clearly a "square tomb" layout. That is, the tomb is divided into four areas, representing the four directions and encompassing the four seas. Shen Pingping already knows that the tomb belongs to "Lü Dongzhi".
Although he had a thorough understanding of the layout of the tomb, his "erudition" was far inferior to that of Wen Caishang. He did not know much about "Lü Dongzhi".
He led the way and soon found the "Four Saints Cave". The cave entrance was tightly closed, and a strange odor emanated from it. He frowned slightly, but did not see "Zhao Zhiyuan".
Su Qiuwu said, "Could it be that she ran away again?"
Shen Pingping said, "No matter what, let's open the hole and take a look first."
"Logically speaking... it shouldn't be possible. The Four Saints Cave is already a dead end, and with Zhao Zhiyuan blocking the entrance, escape is extremely difficult!"
Shen Pingping fumbled around the mechanism, exploring the area around the cave entrance. It took him most of the day to finally open the cave door.
With a loud rumble, lead and mercury gushed out. Shen Pingping and Su Qiuwu dodged to the side, their breaths held and brows furrowed as they protected themselves. After a long while, the lead and mercury had all flowed out, and the scene within was naturally revealed.
Zhao Zhiyuan lay sprawled on the ground, his body swollen. Su Qiuwu untied the ribbon from his waist, threw it out, wrapped it around Zhao Zhiyuan's body, and pulled hard.
Zhao Zhiyuan was dragged out of the Four Saints Cave. He was already dead, and his body was covered in horrific injuries: an arrow in his chest, a knife wound in his abdomen, and burns on his skin... He must have been through an extremely brutal battle.
Su Qiuwu reported that he knew Zhao Zhiyuan's strength. He believed that Zhao Zhiyuan's injuries indicated that he must have been plotted against before his death, which prevented him from using his full strength.
Zhao Zhiyuan suddenly opened his eyes and angrily said, "Re-..." His expression was shocked, but he stood completely frozen, as if he were dead.
Shen Pingping laughed and said, "Great! Great!" She clapped her hands and cheered.
"Hmph!" Su Qiuwu flicked his sleeve and snorted coldly. He was skilled in scheming and plotting, and seeing Zhao Zhiyuan's death, he couldn't help but feel a sense of shared sorrow. He was terrified of Wen Caishang. They had met and fought several times, and although he was clearly stronger than her, he had failed every time and suffered heavy losses.
If an ordinary disciple died, so be it. But Zhao Zhiyuan was a dignified third-realm martial artist, even though he had just entered the third realm and was in a weakened state. It was only thanks to Li Xian, a first-realm martial artist, and Wen Caishang, a Qi-less cripple, that he was able to kill him.
Thinking about it carefully, I feel a chill.
Shen Pingping said awkwardly, "Brother Su, please don't misunderstand. I'm not gloating. It's just... it's just that Brother Zhao's death is excellent material for refining a 'Wrathful Corpse'."
"This kind of corpse must have suffered great fear and anger before it died, and died in endless resentment. The fact that it suddenly opened its eyes and mouth just now and spoke 'corpse words' is a message that it desperately wanted to reveal to the outside world."
"Hmm?" Su Qiuwu said, "He just used the word 'heavy,' what does 'heavy' mean?"
Even with his quick wit, how could he deduce anything from just the word "heavy"? He racked his brains but found no clues.
Just then, Li Quan and Qi Beidao arrived. Although they were unfamiliar with the tomb passage, their lightness skills were superb, and they were incredibly fast. They wandered around, circling a few times, and gradually figured it out.
Su Qiuwu explained the situation. Li Quan and Qi Beidao were both taken aback, their emotions a complex mix upon seeing Zhao Zhiyuan's gruesome death. Su Qiuwu, however, remained remarkably calm, thinking that with Zhao Zhiyuan's death, they had lost another valuable ally. At times like these, it was crucial to stay calm and devise a plan.
He then gathered everyone together and led them to a tomb chamber. Sitting on the coffin, they pieced together their individual clues, experiences, and various details.
Su Qiuwu asked, "You two are quite quick. I thought I would have to wait a few more days for you."
Li Quan said calmly, "We've heard that the witch possesses a map of a tomb. Naturally, we can't sit idly by."
"You possess maps?" Su Qiuwu paused, then his eyes lit up. "Really? How did you find out?"
Li Quan said, "Hmph, Su Qiuwu, stop pretending! You think you don't know what the messenger said?"
Su Qiuwu said, "How strange! I only rushed here because someone told me. But the messenger did not mention anything about the 'map'."
At this point, everyone felt something was amiss. Su Qiuwu said, "That Li Xian is extremely cunning, and Wen Caishang is extremely vicious... The two of them are in cahoots, adulterers, devising one strange and dangerous scheme after another!"
"Zhao Zhiyuan has fallen here; the two of them will surely escape again. If they really have a map, they'd better leave the tomb as soon as possible. And you two guard the exit...they..."
A sudden thought struck him, and he exclaimed, "Could it be...could it be...that messenger was Li Xian! He deliberately mentioned the map to provoke you into rushing here!"
"Ah!" Li Quan was greatly surprised.
Su Qiuwu said, "Why didn't you bring the servant back with you on your way?"
Qi Beidao's expression changed, and he said, "I...I said something was wrong a long time ago! I originally wanted to bring him along, but Brother Li refused, so I had to give up!"
Li Quan shook his head and said, "No...that's not right. This boy begged me to take him with me. If it were Li Xian, why would he make such a request?"
Su Qiuwu said coldly, "Tell me the details of the conversation!" Qi Beidao immediately recounted Li Xian's words in their entirety.
After hearing this, Su Qiuwu shook his head and sighed, "What a profound scheme, what a deep mind, what a clever way to go against the grain. It's probably...it's that Li Xian!"
He let out a heavy sigh, his back hunched, his dejection undeniable. He said:
"He knows that Li Quan harbors resentment towards me and Zhao Zhiyuan. Therefore, he proactively sought Li Quan's help, which Li Quan will surely refuse. In that case, he doesn't need to come along!"
Shen Pingping and Qi Beidao exclaimed in surprise, "No wonder they've been so difficult to catch despite their constant escapes. They're truly extremely troublesome!"
Li Quan's face turned ashen. Even the most foolish man, after this reminder and careful consideration, noticed the discrepancy. Li Xian had fled from him three times; such a humiliation… it was a fight to the death!
Su Qiuwu was utterly dejected, no longer able to blame Li Quan for his stupidity. Upon reflection, he realized that Li Quan's arrogance and manipulative nature had sown discord within the Sword-Seeking Alliance. Li Xian, cunning and shrewd, had exploited this discord to secure his own survival.
Li Quan was indeed stupid and clumsy. But Li Xian was also extremely powerful, and he may have brushed past him several times along the way.
The four rallied their spirits. They chased after them to the side peak, only to find a vast expanse of green, a boundless expanse with no trace of Li Xian or Wen Caishang.
He thought that if the two of them had a map, they might be able to escape Tiger Cry Ridge. His temples suddenly turned white, his whole body trembled with cold, and his spirits were dampened.
Su Qiuwu said, "The Sword-Slaying Alliance... has failed."
"Lady Broken Sword?"
"Adulterous couple... Given time, the adulterer might become even more formidable than the adulteress!"
Silence fell upon the crowd. The air was thick with the howling of the wind and the cries of cranes; utterly bewildered and helpless. They had lost their way and were now trapped in a predicament. Bad luck meant a lifetime of hardship…
They suffered heavy losses, and Zhao Zhiyuan was killed. They no longer had the courage to pursue them into the forest. If they could not find a map, they would have to live off the people in this mountain range.
...
...
On the other hand...
Li Xian and Wen Caishang left the mountain where the tomb was located. The humid weather made them sweat profusely after walking only a few miles.
Li Xian was suffering from numerous injuries and was in considerable distress. He sat down to rest on a vine, supported by two others.
Li Xian said, "Madam, although we have escaped the pursuit, I... I didn't get a map, so we will have to continue wandering in the vast forest."
Wen Caishang's heart sank, yet a faint joy lingered within her. She said, "Li Lang...we're just unlucky, there's nothing we can do about it. From now on...we'll...we'll...be good to each other..." Her pretty face flushed slightly.
Li Xian suddenly said, "Ah... my chest hurts so much. Madam, please rub it for me." Wen Caishang's beautiful eyes widened with concern, guessing that her sword strike had deeply wounded Li Xian. Overwhelmed with regret, she quickly reached out to touch it.
The moment her long, slender, white fingers reached into her chest, she touched a roll of animal hide. She took it out and examined it; it was a corner of a map of the Tomb Mountain, the Mysterious Mountain Range, and Tiger Cry Ridge.
The map meticulously records the mountain's contours, the locations of resting forests, streams, and dangerous areas to avoid. Following this map, one can surely escape the mountains and truly escape to heaven!
Wen Caishang was overjoyed and said coquettishly, "You brat, you dare to lie to me!" Li Xian smiled and said, "I wanted to give Madam a surprise."
Wen Caishang said, "I hate it when people lie to me. If you lie to me again, see if I'll still talk to you!" Her words were charming and gentle. Li Xian smiled and said, "I won't dare to do it again, please don't be angry, Madam."
"Alright," Wen Caishang said softly, "How could I blame you? You...you've done so much for me, I'm so grateful. Let's get out of the forest quickly!"
Li Xian and Wen Caishang rested for a while. They followed the map, which said, "The terrain here is very chaotic, disturbing the stars and directions. You cannot rely on your sense of direction."
"We need to follow the earth's veins. The ridges of the earth are the veins, the flowing water is the network..."
Li Xian and Wen Caishang traveled for several miles. As dusk fell, they reached a grove where they could rest. The sky was filled with brilliant stars, the moon shone brightly over the fields, and the stars illuminated all the trees.
Li Xian thought to himself, "Since my wife suffered a setback, I have gone through many ups and downs, fighting enemies, seeking refuge, and searching for treasures in tombs... I am quite exhausted. Although I have escaped the predicament, I expect that Su Qiuwu and the others will have difficulty catching up. But... the more critical the moment, the more I must not let my guard down!"
The Five Viscera's Elimination of Turbidity and Meeting of Yang Meridians, the Crane's Delivery of the Crimson Jade Pill, the Imperial Sword's Recipe... many insights, temporarily buried in my heart. I wholeheartedly study the map, deducing how to travel.
The next day.
The sky is clear and bright.
Li Xian's water pouch and food supplies were all empty. However, the place was still close to the tomb, and if Su Qiuwu chased after it at all costs, he might happen to run into it.
They endured hunger and hardship, and forced themselves to walk more than ten miles of mountain road.
After passing two resting forests, they saw the mysterious mountain range like a vast ocean, and the resting forests like remote islands. They were already dozens of miles away from the tomb mountain. Su Qiuwu and his companions did not have a map, so the probability of finding this place was extremely small, and they no longer needed to worry.
That night, he was finally able to get a good rest. Li Xian cut down some soft grass and felled some Apocynum venetum trees to make a simple wooden bed, which he then laid out with soft grass.
A campfire was burning nearby.
Li Xian, with Wen Caishang in his arms, felt the gentle breeze through the forest as they gazed at the bright moon and stars. No longer threatened with death, after their hasty escape, they found peace in their hearts.
He was overthinking things. Ever since he transmigrated, he had been constantly thinking about his situation, his status, and how to survive. Although he had repeatedly overcome obstacles, fatigue had been accumulating in his heart.
Looking at the star chart, Li Xian felt increasingly drowsy. He closed his eyes and fell asleep. Wen Caishang noticed that Li Xian was not saying anything annoying or making suggestive remarks today, which she found quite strange.
She suddenly thought, "Without his help, even if I had ten lives, I would be dead. He is exceptionally talented and handsome. I didn't misjudge him. He is extraordinary and, although young, very intelligent. His quick wit and composure make me rely on him."
Like sweet honey, she cherished him dearly. Her fingers brushed his hair, caressed his cheek, and her beautiful eyes shimmered with affection.
"...But...but he's so dishonest! He lied to me before, he lies to me now...I don't know how many times he's lied to me. He...he risked his life to save me, is it because he loves me? He once said he loved me so much, that he dreamed about me, is he lying to me too?"
My mind was in turmoil. I stared at Li Xian for a long time, yet I felt no sleepiness. The more I pondered, the more confused I became, and I was also filled with anxiety about gains and losses.
Li Xian slept until noon the next day. When he woke up, he said with annoyance, "I woke up late! I woke up late!" He had originally planned to collect dew to drink on the way.
Wen Caishang thought a lot last night and didn't sleep at all. After dawn, she pretended to fall asleep and lay down next to Li Xian.
Wen Caishang's beautiful eyes were filled with complex emotions. She suddenly asked, "Little Fairy, you slept so soundly last night. Did you have any dreams?"
Li Xian chuckled casually, "My dream has come true! There's no need to dream anymore!" He stretched, feeling quite comfortable. The scent of his hair lingered on his chest.
Wen Caishang scolded, "I'm asking you the truth, you're not allowed to talk nonsense." Her tone was serious, she really wanted to know.
Li Xian didn't think too much and truthfully said, "I was too tired last night and didn't dream." Wen Caishang thought to herself, "I was by your side last night and you didn't dream about me either. You...you...could you have really been lying to me before?" Her face turned slightly pale.
Li Xian asked with concern, "Madam, are you injured?" He checked her pulse to assess her injuries. Wen Caishang was initially heartbroken, but seeing Li Xian's attentive care, she felt a surge of sweetness.
"It's alright, let's leave quickly," Wen Caishang said.
Li Xian took out a map, wielded the Sunken River Sword, and began clearing a path through the trees. The remaining journey was still fraught with danger in the dense forest, but there were occasional resting groves.
Respond calmly.
They traveled more than ten miles a day, and continued like this for several days.
Li Xian and Wen Caishang's clothes were scratched and torn by tree branches. They mended them, rested occasionally, and then continued on their way.
Li Xian's sword wound had scabbed over, and his arm wound was gradually healing. It was already 30% healed. Wen Caishang gathered herbs from the forest, brewed a medicinal ointment, and helped Li Xian apply it.
Her fingers were fair and slender, and she would gently tease them as she applied the medicine. Her beautiful eyes held a spring-like longing, which was truly captivating. Li Xianyin sensed that Wen Caishang was different; she possessed a more delicate and charming femininity.
He spent his days traversing the mountains and fields, and his nights studying maps. With the maps in hand, the terrain of the mountains still loomed large, making it no easy task to step out of Tiger Cry Ridge.
It is by no means a time to rest easy.
Time flows on.
Five days have passed in the blink of an eye. The two have been together every day, and their expressions have become intimately close. Wen Caishang is sometimes a teacher and sometimes a seductress, while Li Xian is unrestrained and carefree. The journey has been anything but boring.
During the day.
Li Xian spotted black smoke in the distance and laughed, "Madam! It's cooking smoke. Finally, we can see some signs of human activity!"
Wen Caishang said, "Yes! It really wasn't easy."
Black smoke dissipated, and the forest fell silent. After a brief moment of joy, the two continued their journey together. The leeches were few in number here, but a poisonous flower was in full bloom. Its fragrance attracted venomous creatures such as snakes, scorpions, and spiders.
Suddenly, three corpses appeared hanging from a low tree in the distance. They were all men, dressed in silk robes, swaying gently in the breeze, and had been dead for two days.
Li Xian sighed, "Judging from their attire, these people must be merchants passing through who have mistakenly entered Tiger Cry Ridge. Moved by the mournful cries of the tigers, they have taken their own lives here."
Wen Caishang said, "Seeing them means we should be out of the woods soon!"
Li Xian nodded and said, "These accompanying merchants aren't very capable. They certainly won't be able to venture deep into the forest. It should take about two more days of travel before we can leave the forest."
Li Xian thought to himself, "My wife and I are dressed in tattered clothes and have no money. Since we've encountered you, we have no choice but to lend you our clothes. Hmm... consider this payment for helping you collect your corpses!"
As soon as he touched the corpse, he felt a surge in his sleeve. Li Xian became alert, took three steps back, and unleashed his Azure Palm strike from a distance.
With a "whoosh," poisonous insects, scorpions, bees... and many other venomous creatures scatter from the trouser legs and sleeves, making one's scalp tingle.
Tiger Cry Ridge is extremely treacherous. Countless snakes, insects, rats, ants, poisonous creatures, and wild beasts inhabit it. If a person dies here, they will immediately attract "man-eating ants." These ant-like beasts have extremely painful bites and are numerous.
Man-eating ants attract poisonous frogs, which in turn attract venomous snakes... and so on, naturally, the area beneath the robes becomes a breeding ground for filth and a den of snakes and rats.
Li Xian clapped his hands several times, scattering all the rats, ants, and poisonous creatures. Except for their heads, the three corpses had all turned into "red bones"—bones still covered with flesh and blood.
He pried open the mouths. The brainstem, tongue, and eyeballs... had all been devoured by poisonous insects. Li Xian tended to the three corpses one by one, driving away the poisonous insects and tearing off their clothes.
They dug a pit on the spot to bury them, cut down trees, and simply erected a wooden stele. Because the surnames and origins of the three people were unknown, the wooden stele was blank.
Li Xian carefully packed away the clothes. Following the map, he found a flat spot. A stream flowed nearby, making it safer than other places.
The "resting forest" is no longer here.
Li Xian inspected the spoils. There were three sets of "silk clothing," which, although crawled over by poisonous insects, smelled foul, and were stained with blood, were relatively intact.
They found another thirteen taels of silver. What a pleasant surprise! Li Xian said, "Madam, with this silver, we can have a good meal after we leave!"
Wen Caishang smiled gently, feeling happy as well.
Next came the waist tokens, jade pendants, and other items. Li Xian took what he needed, threw the three sets of clothes into the stream, and carefully washed them to remove the dirt.
Wen Caishang did not want to wear other people's clothes. Although the white dress was torn, it could still be worn for a few days.
The two of them finished cooking.
Two more days passed, and the sunlight slanted into the forest, warm and gentle. The moment we stepped out of Tiger Cry Ridge, a clear breeze blew, and we felt reborn.
It was late April, when spring was in full bloom. Li Xian was overjoyed and his spirits were high. No amount of danger could dampen his spirit. Here, his unparalleled brilliance was revealed.
Wen Caishang, confident in her extensive experience in the martial world, had been pursued by countless talented and promising individuals in the past. Among them were many from powerful clans and top-tier sects… but she found none of them worthy of her attention. If we were to speak of potential and talent, several of them stood out.
But he couldn't win her over.
Having witnessed Li Xian's full appearance, his perfect features were already a rare talent, but with the addition of his double pupils... If he were to learn that martial art, combining martial arts and physical transformation, who in the world could rival him? He couldn't help but compare everyone he met with Li Xian.
Thinking back to Li Xian's rise from menial servant to guard, guard captain, and military officer... he gradually built his power. He hadn't seemed like much before, but looking back now, he was incredibly formidable.
He stared at her intently for a long time, sometimes frowning, sometimes relaxing. He murmured and sighed, "If I had known you would make me so miserable, I wouldn't have trained you in the first place. But then again, if I hadn't trained you, how could I have survived this ordeal? I... I'm out of danger, but for some reason, my heart is in turmoil... extremely turmoil."
I am extremely frustrated; this feeling is hard to describe.
It was noon.
Li Xian saw the dirt road and followed it. As evening approached, he came upon a peaceful mountain village with wisps of smoke rising from its chimneys. He then encountered an old man carrying firewood on his back, humming a mountain song as he hurried home.
Taking advantage of the situation, Li Xian struck up a conversation and spent ten copper coins to secure a place to stay for the night in the woodshed. Inside the woodshed, the old man helped lay out straw mats, and Li Xian and Wen Caishang lay down.
They all felt fortunate, having no other desires in that moment.
Li Xian pulled Wen Caishang close and said, "Madam, do you know of a force called 'Huangfu Mountain'?"
Wen Caishang said, "Why are you asking this? Your hands are wandering, you deserve a beating!" She gently slapped Li Xian's hand away. But Li Xian's annoyingly flirtatious gesture somehow dispelled some of her annoyance.
Li Xian said, "I was just asking."
Wen Caishang said, "I do know Huangfu Mountain, but it's not called Huangfu Mountain anymore."
"What's it called?" Li Xian asked.
Wen Caishang said, "Huangfu Mountain is an extremely ancient power that has survived the rise, fall, and changes of dynasties. Such a power has its own formidable strengths."
"During the Great Yu era... Huangfu Mountain underwent a transformation. This event was quite famous; after the transformation, Huangfu Mountain changed its name and became known as..."
"Daoxuan Mountain."
"Daoxuan Mountain?" Li Xian had vaguely heard of it.
Wen Caishang said, "That's right! Daoxuan Mountain's martial arts are perfect, with a history of thousands of years. The depth of its foundation is unimaginable."
"This sect is extremely favored by the heavens. Every thousand years, a 'Golden Boy' and a 'Jade Maiden' will be born, leading Daoxuan Mountain to its peak."
Li Xian asked, "Golden Boy and Jade Girl? Are they very powerful?"
Wen Caishang flashed her sword with arrogance and said, "Of course they are powerful. They appear only once in a thousand years, and few can rival them. And your generation happens to have a golden boy and a jade girl. If you calculate their age... they are a few years older than you."
Li Xian thought to himself, "The golden boy and jade girl are blessed by heaven, which is enviable. But they have nothing to do with me. I'll ask someone who is relevant to me." He said, "Is there a Zhao family lineage in that Daoxuan Mountain?"
Wen Caishang said, "You've learned quite a bit since your trip to the ancient tomb. There is indeed a Zhao family lineage on Daoxuan Mountain, which is also the Jade Maiden lineage."
"The jade maiden who has been born today has the surname Zhao."
Wen Caishang's long, flowing hair was bathed in the bright moonlight, which accentuated her elegant figure. She said, "What... are you coveting that beautiful maiden? With your talent, you might be able to impress her."
Li Xian suddenly felt a chill run through her body, sensing a faint killing intent: "Madam is joking, I was just curious."
Wen Caishang said calmly, "Alright, you've finished asking me questions, now it's my turn to ask you."
Her waist was like a water snake, her black hair flowing with fragrance, and she coiled herself around him. Her beautiful eyes seemed to hold sorrow and resentment, as she softly said, "My love, your double pupils have deceived me so badly..."
(This is a combined chapter; there will likely be a large update later, so please be patient, readers.)
(End of this chapter)
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
