Chapter 349 Forever, close in body and heart. Li Xian of the Flower Cage, the greatest of all time.
The Nebula Palace has undergone numerous changes and evolutions throughout history. Since the founding of the Great Yu Dynasty, it has maintained a somewhat detached relationship with the imperial court. In the mid-period, it submitted to the court, obeying orders but not summons. This continued into the Great Wu Dynasty, when it was renamed the Star-Picking Bureau, still obeying orders but not summons. Despite changes in the dynasty and the political landscape, the Star-Picking Bureau has endured.
Wen Caishang knew Xingyun Palace very well; her identity, background, and ancestral origins were closely related to the Great Yu Dynasty. However, the past was the past, and she rarely spoke of it. When talking about the "Martial Ancestor" of the Great Wu Dynasty, she was even more generous in her praise.
The two talked under the covers, their breaths mingling as they spoke. Every movement they made felt like a cat tickling their hearts, an indescribable, tender sensation. Their bodies were close, their hearts intertwined. Li Xian prided himself on being "honest," but in reality, he was far from honest. Wen Caishang was too ashamed to scold him, and given their close relationship, she let him have his way.
The carriage walls were open, and the moon and stars shone brightly. A gentle breeze rustled the willows, and snowflakes drifted lightly. A beautiful scene unfolded before our eyes.
Li Xian sighed, "Madam, I truly wish it could be like this forever." Wen Caishang rested her head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat, enjoying the closeness of their bodies. She was filled with emotion. Initially, perhaps driven by self-interest or other considerations, it was ultimately she who had carefully selected and nurtured Li Xian from the mire. Back then, he was young and inexperienced; now, though the inexperience had faded, he remained dashing and youthful. She had cultivated his martial arts, taught him various martial arts, and instilled in him the etiquette of aristocratic families. At the time, she had no ulterior motives; she only felt lonely, and having a young man to relieve her boredom was a good thing. Occasionally, when the mood struck, she would tease him, punish him, intimidate him… observing his reactions, listening to his elaborate attempts to please and flatter. Looking back now, she realized that the seeds of love had been planted then, though they had never sprouted or grown strong. This love, this destiny, was truly unexpected and full of twists of fate. Recalling that time now held a unique flavor, a joy and tranquility that others could hardly comprehend. To her surprise, Li Xian had already gained considerable power, and although he used insidious methods, he had eventually subdued her. This outrageous act filled her with resentment, but upon closer examination, she found it strangely alluring and secretly enjoyed it.
During their late-night chat, Wen Caishang suddenly became curious and asked, "Li Lang, what were your feelings when you first saw me?" Li Xian was taken aback, recalling the events at the manor. He remembered being trapped in a cage and wanting to escape and fly away, but now, the feeling was different. He said, "When I first saw you, Madam, you probably didn't notice me. That day, when you rode back to the manor, I was among the servants. I cautiously peeked up at you."
Having said that, he immediately began to retaliate for his past trembling and fearful behavior. Wen Caishang glared at him, feeling utterly helpless, and could only let him be. Li Xian continued, "At the time, I didn't dare to see Madam's face, I only caught a glimpse of her boots. I still remember the pattern, but it seems I've never seen Madam wear them again. I thought then that this Madam must be a beauty that could make fish sink and geese fall from the sky, a beauty that could shame the moon and flowers." Wen Caishang frowned slightly, her heart filled with joy upon hearing the praise. Then, she glared at him shyly, thinking, "You only dared to peek from afar back then, but now... you're scratching and grabbing me. This little scoundrel, he's using all sorts of dirty tricks on me." But then she felt a warmth on the sole of her foot, as it was being held in his hand. Every now and then, a tickle would make her shudder.
She said softly, "Then later, when they finally saw her properly, they must have been disappointed. They must have thought, 'What kind of lady is she? She's just ordinary. She's not exactly stunningly beautiful.' Li Xian said, 'On the contrary, stunningly beautiful women are far from enough in my opinion.' Wen Caishang smiled and asked, 'Then tell me, what would be enough?'"
Li Xian said, "I know my knowledge is insufficient to describe it. Later, I consulted many miscellaneous books. I tried to find a single word or phrase in ancient dictionaries to describe your beauty. I searched all night! Madam, guess what happened next?"
Seeing Li Xian's beaming face, Wen Caishang knew his personality well; he was just saying something flattering again. But she always fell for it, and every time, she felt a surge of anticipation. She laughed, "I won't guess. You're just spouting witty remarks; how could I believe you?"
After a while, seeing that Li Xian really didn't say anything, she couldn't contain her curiosity and asked, "And then?"
Li Xian sighed, "Then it was dawn." Wen Caishang was taken aback, then burst into laughter and scolded, "You... I really don't know what to say to you. You're the only one who can make witty remarks sound so sweet." Li Xian said, "This is all Madam's fault. If your appearance were even slightly less, you would be the epitome of beauty that could make fish sink and geese fall from the sky, and the moon hide its face and flowers blush. Why did I have to spend the whole night reading books and end up with sore shoulders?"
Wen Caishang was in a great mood as she listened to Li Xian's various forms of praise, and her heart was filled with joy.
Li Xian asked curiously, "Madam... how do you feel about me?" Wen Caishang struggled for a moment, then said with resentment in her beautiful eyes, "Need I say more? You are a wicked servant who deceives his master, a bad husband. You should have some self-awareness. I wish I could hit you right now. Ah... your thieving hand, I really should chop it off."
Li Xian laughed, "Since you see me this way, Madam, I won't pretend anymore." He sniffed her hair, put his arm around her waist, and touched her shoulder... their actions were intimately intimate. Wen Caishang couldn't help but feel shy, but she was also extremely happy. Her figure and appearance were like a treasure; if no one discovered them, she would inevitably remain aloof and self-admiring.
The night is long.
The two played around for a while, whispering sweet nothings or discussing the various aspects of life in the martial world, what they had seen and heard. Outside, there was a gentle warmth from the charcoal, and inside, there were bedding and blankets. A gauze curtain hung from the roof of the carriage, and the four walls were open and spacious.
A gentle breeze lifted the gauze curtains, revealing that the bed was actually quite small. It was rather cramped for the two of them to share. The bedding was made of silk, providing excellent warmth and extreme comfort. Seeing the bright moon in the sky, Li Xian softly said, "My lady, sleep now, it's getting late." He then closed his eyes.
Wen Caishang nodded gently, her mind at ease. Sleepiness crept in, her eyelids grew heavy, and she was about to close her eyes and fall asleep. Suddenly, she opened her eyes again, all sleepiness gone, and glared hatefully at Li Xian. Seeing Li Xian sleeping peacefully, completely oblivious to everything, as if already in a dream, she gritted her teeth, knowing that this scoundrel was feigning seriousness and had definitely not fallen asleep, for he was currently the one causing her trouble.
Hearing a few more soft snores, she realized Li Xian was pretending to be asleep, and she was furious. Unwilling to back down, she closed her eyes and pretended to sleep as well. But every now and then, her eyebrows would furrow slightly, and she would lightly bite her red lips, inwardly cursing, "This brat is determined not to let me sleep peacefully. This bad boy…where did he learn this mannerism? He's making my life miserable. If he becomes more capable than me in the future, I…I'll inevitably be bullied by him."
His mind was restless, and he had no way to deal with Li Xian.
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The next day, Flying Dragon City was as bustling as ever. Qu Baitong, impersonating He Wentian, had successfully deceived everyone without making any mistakes. The city was orderly, and there were many visitors. Wen Caishang finally fell asleep as dawn approached. There was a brand-new quilt in the bottom cabinet of the carriage, which Li Xian helped her change. The old quilt was taken away to be washed and hung on a tree branch to dry. Li Xian found a place to practice martial arts, refining his skills with the Broken Demon Spear technique.
[The Remnant Spear]
[Proficiency: 8012/35000 Perfect]
[Proficiency +1]
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Li Xian's internal energy rippled like a lake, accumulating to a height of "one hundred and seven zhang." His movements were powerful and vigorous, his techniques controlled and precise, sharp and refined; his spear technique was so refined and flawless that not a single mistake was made.
Flying Dragon City was bustling with activity, but Li Xian had no lingering attachment to it. Today, he resolved to spend more time with his wife and enjoy another night of blissful romance. He practiced his spear skills to his heart's content, and saw the snow and ice on Snow Lake melting, its waters a deep, emerald green, evoking a sense of spring warmth.
The mind moves as it wills, and the spear moves as it wills. The Ghost Python Spear plunges into the lake, teasing and playing with it. It unleashes the "Wraith Playing in the Water" move, manipulating the lake's waters at will. The Ghost Python Spear, supple as a long whip, sways in the water, stirring up ripples.
Suddenly, three loud "bangs" echoed as three sprays of water erupted from the lake's surface, their force and noise waking Wen Caishang. Though she was under someone else's control and imprisoned, her health cultivation, perfect appearance, countless precious medicinal baths, and unique secret techniques... her strength, stamina, and energy far surpassed those of others. Unable to sleep last night, she felt no weariness. She strained her waist, straightened her posture, and began to observe the mysteries of the Remnant Demon Spear.
Water splashed and cascaded down, sunlight slanting in and refracting into iridescent halos. Wen Caishang saw Li Xian's spear technique was sharp and powerful, his handsome appearance made even more striking by the surrounding scenery. She thought to herself, "Good lad... he's really getting more and more powerful. In my opinion, this spear technique might be related to the Demon and Monster Spear. Moreover, he has mastered it to perfection, his spear technique is seamless and natural. He not only possesses many unique qualities, but his martial arts talent alone has also made remarkable progress."
That day, Li Xian stayed by the Snow Lake, frolicking and practicing martial arts, keeping his wife company. The fish and beasts in the lake had tender, sweet, and non-fishy flesh. Li Xian caught fish, grilled and boiled them, and ate grilled fish and drank fish soup...it was very delicious.
Li Xian still had "Flick of the Finger Golden Light" and "Only My Heart Skill" that he had not yet mastered. Seeing that Wen Caishang was rarely obedient, he would stay by her side whenever he had free time. His martial arts had indeed become a little lax, but his progress in the Remnant Demon Spear was enormous. He digested what he had learned and absorbed his experience and lessons, accumulating [400] proficiency points every day.
Three days passed in this way. Li Xian enjoyed himself for over three days, relaxed and carefree, displaying his power and venting all his pent-up frustration. He had already repaid Wen Caishang's "Heartbreaking Sword" from the former "Azure Fragrance Pavilion." He secretly calculated that his departure was imminent. That day, while practicing his spear by the lake, he noticed a layer of frost on the surface of the snow-covered lake. Li Xian thought to himself, "It seems the power of the Yin-Yang Immortal Couple Sword is gradually dissipating. The spring scenery of Snow Lake is truly a result of the convergence of Yin and Yang, the alternation of hot and cold. It is currently mid-February, still winter. Once the sword technique's power has been fully developed, it will naturally transition from spring to winter, and the lake surface will freeze over again. In that case, I should also flee. If I linger any longer for this beauty, my end will be tragic."
Li Xian remained calm and returned to the carriage, embracing Wen Caishang. She smiled softly, but a hint of confidence crept into her eyes as she pleaded, "Li Lang, I've been very happy lately. Could you stay with me a few more days?"
Li Xian thought to himself, "If we stay a few more days, the Yin-Yang Sword aura will dissipate. Although you are still bound by various binding techniques, it will be difficult to break free. However, your abilities will undoubtedly increase, and who knows what methods you might use to subdue me without my noticing. In the past, when I helped you put on the silkworm robe, you were also unable to move. But your skills are unfathomable; you can take my life without even lifting a finger. To be on the safe side, we should leave first." He said, "Alright, I couldn't ask for more. My lady, let's stay here forever and never be apart."
Wen Caishang said, "That's perfect. I was so careless to be subdued by you, you little rascal. I'm completely immobilized now, and I've suffered terribly these past few days." She thought to herself, "Once the sword's momentum dissipates and the Yin and Yang energies no longer disrupt my martial arts, I'll first use 'Bewitching Eyes' to confuse his mind. This kid is too cautious. If his fingers were free, I could simply find an opportunity to gently tap his acupoints. Even if he's completely immobilized, I could easily subdue him. But he… he even subdued my fingers. Now, only 'Bewitching Eyes' will come in handy. I'll slowly seek other methods later."
Wen Caishang thought, "This time I captured you, and I will repay you for the humiliation of these past few days." A cold feeling rose in her heart. But then she couldn't help but sigh, asking herself, "This is the first time in my life that I, Wen Caishang, have been captured. It is extremely humiliating, and I have actually been in this wretched state for a day. But after these past few days, I... I have a strange feeling. This boy has clearly treated me without any courtesy, but in the end, my anger always disappears without me realizing it, and I can't bear to punish or scold him. Although I always harden my heart to punish or scold him, in the end, my heart is still aching. Before this, I have never liked anyone else. Uncle Xiang, Qiuyue, Pang Long, and others, even if they died in front of me, I would be unmoved. But this boy has left me completely helpless. Is there really such a thing as divine retribution in this world?"
Looking at Li Xian, his gaze was as gentle as autumn water. The two slept together again that night, and the next day, at noon when the sun was high in the sky, Li Xian finally woke up. No matter how greedy he was, he had to make a choice. While Wen Caishang was fast asleep, he took out the ropes and used them to restrain her. Then he closed the carriage door, lit the heater, burned the charcoal, and left the carriage window slightly ajar.
He blew out the candles and neatly covered himself with the bedding. He planted a new strand of hair in one corner of the carriage, and two more outside the carriage to ensure a clear view and unobstructed access, so he could see Wen Caishang's condition at any time.
Then he fed the jade walnut back to Wen Caishang's mouth. With everything ready, he pushed the carriage to a level surface. After ensuring Wen Caishang's safety, he turned and fled. He ran for several miles, then suddenly felt a pang of longing and jumped onto a large tree, from which he could vaguely see the carriage.
Li Xian thought to himself, "My strength is still shallow, how dare I indulge in fleeting affections? Li Xian, you must work hard and persevere. When you can finally subdue the lady without resorting to these crooked methods, then you can keep her by your side. Whether you capture her or seize her, you can truly possess her, instead of me being dependent on her, suffering from her sharp sword, and being controlled by her. But after this parting, I wonder when I will see the lady's tender heart again."
It was mid-February, deep winter, the time of parting. Li Xian looked around for a moment longer, then finally hardened his heart and left. He ran all the way to a nearby path and found the white horse.
The white horse recognized Wen Caishang as its master, but treated Li Xian very gently. Li Xian stroked the horse's mane and sighed, "I have to leave today, but I can't take you with me. Stay here and someone will come to pick you up later."
He sent two wisps of inner energy towards Baima Ferry, fed the dried vegetables, and tied them to a large tree. Turning around, he left, leaping and bounding a few times, already gone from Xuecang Mountain. He ran back to Feilong City along the road.
He headed straight for Bixiang Pavilion and found Xiao Tuan enjoying herself, financially secure and of high status. Wen Caishang, on the other hand, seemed quite carefree while she was out. Li Xian pondered, "Given Madam's current state, even without the Yin-Yang Sword Technique, it won't be easy for her to escape this predicament. She once asked me to help her escape after Qiu Yue's betrayal. But once I got close, she used strange moves against me. I'll let her remain trapped for three more days to give me more time."
Sensing something, Wen Caishang had already woken up, muttering curses and her beautiful eyes filled with murderous intent. She clearly knew Li Xian had escaped. Li Xian bought pen and ink, hid in an alley, and wrote a letter: "The Madam has invited you, granting you an opportunity. Three days later, arrive here according to the map. A day earlier and the opportunity will not arrive; a day later and your life will be in danger. I earnestly hope you will obey this letter."
The handwriting was vigorous and clear, with each stroke, transition, and connection surpassing previous works, demonstrating a rapid improvement in skill. Li Xian folded the letter carefully, placed it in an envelope, and, fearing Xiao Tuan might not believe it, added a gold hairpin, which she had secretly taken from Wen Caishang's hair ornaments. Finally, she tucked in a plainly drawn map.
He immediately found a high place, drew his bow and shot an arrow straight into the Bixiang Pavilion. Xiao Tuan was still in a daze when she suddenly saw an arrow fly by, grazing past her and embedding itself in the stone bricks. She was so frightened that her face turned pale, but she did not dodge or avoid it, instead covering her head and shrinking to the ground.
He kept muttering, "My life is over, my life is over. The lady is so powerful, but I have no martial arts skills. If a thief forces his way in, I'm sure I won't escape unscathed. This time, my enemies have finally come looking for me." He remained trembling for half an hour, and seeing that he was still alive, he dared to look around boldly.
Seeing the arrow half an inch away from her, with a letter hanging from its fletching, she picked it up and read it, then couldn't help but wonder: "The lady is bestowing upon me this opportunity? That's very strange. If it's true, why didn't the lady tell me herself that I needed to be given an arrow as a gift? If it's not true... could it be that some petty thief is trying to lure me out of the Jade Fragrance Pavilion to get rid of me?"
She smelled the envelope; it indeed carried Wen Caishang's unique 'orchid fragrance.' Inside was a gold hairpin, one that the lady had once worn. Xiao Tuan frowned and said, "The lady is so powerful; even the city lord of Flying Dragon City is no match for her. Who could possibly harm her? If she wanted to protect herself, even the most dangerous situation would be no problem. She's absolutely unharmed. Yes, my lady, who is she? A powerful figure, capable of breaking swords with a flick of her finger. Incomparably beautiful, this hairpin must have been a gift from her willingly."
"Although I don't know the intricacies of the matter, I only need to do as instructed. Besides, if you want to deal with me, this arrow is enough to kill me. Why bother with anything else? Or to capture me to threaten Madam? That's utter nonsense. Madam wouldn't even flinch. What use would capturing me, Xiao Tuan, be?"
She hid the envelope and counted on her fingers. Three days seemed like a long time, yet also a short one, and Wen Caishang had to wait patiently.
Li Xian thought to himself, "If Xiao Tuan sees Madam like this, wouldn't he be embarrassed? I'm actually looking forward to it. Before I leave, I'll even leave a small bow for Madam. Anyway, if I'm captured, Madam will definitely not let me go. Torture and abuse are inevitable. It's better to offend her more."
He had planned everything meticulously, ensuring Wen Caishang's arrangements were flawless, and then prepared to leave. He still had seventeen taels of silver left. He chose a small restaurant on the street, ordered some congee, vegetables, and braised meat, and ate a simple meal. After eating and drinking his fill, he stocked up on some dry rations and left Feilong City. As he exited the city gate, he looked back and saw the towering buildings and the prosperous city, and was filled with emotion.
Li Xian traveled southeast for over ten miles, encountering all sorts of people along the way—traveling merchants, wandering swordsmen, and scions of noble families—who all disappeared into the vast sea of people. Around dusk, he found a quiet place, purified himself, and practiced the [Five Organs Expelling Turbidity and Meeting Yang Meridian].
His martial arts manifested extraordinary power, his entire body shimmering with five-colored light, displaying remarkable divine abilities. Using the wondrous effects of the martial arts, Li Xian calmed his mind and sensed his surroundings. He discovered seventy-four strands of silkworm silk within his hair.
Li Xian secretly felt a lingering fear: "If it weren't for the unique effect of the Five Internal Organs' Expelling Turbidity and Meeting Yang Meridian, which can enhance perception, I would have had a hard time avoiding Madam for the rest of my life. That Silkworm Jade Inlay Technique is extremely powerful and formidable." He removed all the silkworm threads and put them into the Hidden Heaven Box.
He circulated his vital energy again to ensure there were no further oversights. Then he continued on his journey. The sky was pitch black, and the cold was biting. Li Xian circulated his Qi throughout his body to resist the cold, but as the cold wind blew, he felt a sudden longing for the warmth of his cozy home. Through his senses, he saw that Wen Caishang had given up struggling and was practicing the Silkworm Jade Inlay Technique with her eyes closed.
Li Xian sighed, "The Flower Cage Gate is not a place I can stay permanently, but I still need to go back to the Water Altar. Sister Liuli has treated me well, and I can't leave her unattended. Li Xian, Li Xian... you are sometimes too fickle."
Seeing that the snowstorm was about to intensify, they decided not to rush their journey. Instead, they chose a place where the snowstorm was less severe, chopped firewood, started a fire, and lay down to sleep in the snow. They planned to set off again early the next morning.
After traveling for another half day, they passed through a village. The road was muddy, and Li Xian vaguely heard crying. He went closer to listen and learned that a family had lost their beloved daughter, a girl in the prime of her life, who had gone missing a few days earlier.
Li Xian was puzzled: "Could it be the Flower Cage Sect? The Flower Cage Sect doesn't arrest poor girls, so what's going on?" After listening more closely, he learned from a few words that the girl had disappeared two evenings ago on her way to "Red Heart City".
The farming family of four lived in poverty and were deeply grieving the loss of their beloved daughter. Li Xian silently vowed to help them if the opportunity arose. He continued traveling towards Red Heart City.
He observed the details along the way. He knew the nature of the Flower Cage Sect well; its members were of all sorts of people, committing crimes and causing great harm. Although Li Xian lived in the sect, he was unwilling to be corrupted by its ways.
He quickly spotted the suspicious figure, kept his head down, and deliberately increased the intensity of his footsteps. The man realized he was being followed and immediately fled, using the "Entangling Step" technique. In this way, Li Xian knew his identity even more clearly, sneered, and quickly followed.
The man hurriedly fled, but realizing he couldn't shake Li Xian off, he was covered in sweat and had no choice but to try to lure Li Xian back to his stronghold. They then devised a plan to attack him en masse. On the outskirts of Red Heart City stood a dilapidated temple, abandoned for decades.
About a dozen members of the Flower Cage Sect gathered here. They lit a bonfire and were eating porridge. Inside the dilapidated temple was a large bronze bell, from which faint cries could be heard. After the members had eaten and drunk their fill, they patted their bellies and together lifted the bronze bell.
Inside were three women, all dressed in simple clothes, beautiful in appearance, but of humble origins. It turned out that... the Flower Cage Sect had lax rules, and after the events in Flying Dragon City, the members had scattered. These few members were quite lecherous, and since they happened to meet, they wanted to capture women to relieve their lust.
However, knowing his own limited abilities, he realized that if he followed the sect's rules and captured a woman from a prestigious family, he would inevitably invite disaster and face a perilous pursuit. So, after much deliberation, he decided to target the weaker party.
He then broke the sect rules, targeting ordinary women and bullying ordinary villagers. As the group was eating, a man rushed back, saying that an enemy was following them and that even with his travel-ready skills, he couldn't shake him off. Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked. They then cursed the man, calling him a wicked scoundrel who had brought a wolf into their home.
Everyone was only concerned with their own survival, daring not to resist. But how could Li Xian let them go? He entered the dilapidated temple and began a brutal killing spree. The disciples had nowhere to run and nowhere to fight, so they all lay on the ground, groaning and screaming in pain, badly injured.
Li Xian untied the women and released them to go home. The women dared not thank him, and only ran away crying. At this moment, a disciple recognized Li Xian and exclaimed, "Ah! Elder Li...you...you've really messed things up!"
The group looked up and recognized Li Xian's face, then flattered him, saying, "Grandpa Li, Uncle Li, we've been waiting for you for so long! We're so glad you're alive! You've truly done something that's rare throughout history!" "Our Flower Cage Sect will take you as our role model! If you say the word, we'll go through fire and water for you!"
His words were so devout, almost sincere. Li Xian frowned slightly, asking with curiosity and suspicion, "I heard you say that I did something unprecedented in history? What was that unprecedented thing?"
The disciples gave a thumbs up and said, "Speaking of this, you are truly amazing! In the thousands of years of our Flower Cage Sect's heritage, only one person as remarkable as you has ever emerged!"
Li Xianyin had a bad feeling and said, "Stop talking nonsense and get to the point!"
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(End of this chapter)
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