Seeing that Fang Qiuyao could actually still stand up, both the man and the shrewish woman looked surprised. It had already been a whole cup of tea’s time, and the fact that this girl hadn’t passed out from the drug was already strange enough. They never imagined she’d still have the strength to get up.
“Miss Fang, what’s wrong?”
Seeing Fang Qiuyao’s pained expression, the old woman pretended to ask with concern. But Fang Qiuyao, who had already realized the danger, ignored her completely. Instead, she directly drew her White Rainbow Sword and slashed at the main door.
“Smack!”
The wooden door shattered on the spot, and Fang Qiuyao bolted out in a hurry. The three people inside the room were stunned all at once. They hadn’t expected this dumb girl to suddenly get clever, but they weren’t the least bit worried.
Once someone entered this courtyard, there was no getting out. Just as expected, the moment Fang Qiuyao burst out of the little cabin, she was greeted by more than ten burly men whose faces were twisted with leering smiles. They held all kinds of blunt weapons and nets in hand, clearly planning to capture her alive.
“Get out of my way!”
Fang Qiuyao shouted furiously, her White Rainbow Sword lashing toward the lead man with a sudden thrust.
“Ahhh!”
The man screamed miserably, clutching the wound on his chest as he staggered back, stabbed by her sword.
“Damn it! We’ve been burning incense in that room for so long, how is this girl still so full of energy?”
A big-bearded man nearby laughed loudly when he heard that. “Hahaha, Third Brother, maybe you're just not capable. Step aside, let me handle this chick."
As he spoke, he raised a heavy bronze hammer and swung it at Fang Qiuyao.
“Clang!”
The White Rainbow Sword moved like lightning and knocked the bronze hammer away in a flash. At the same time, Fang Qiuyao twisted her wrist, and the sword curved at an odd angle, arcing toward Big Beard’s neck. Fortunately for him, a young man behind him reacted quickly and yanked him back just in time, barely avoiding the killing blow.
Even so, a line of blood still showed on his neck.
“This one’s sharp…”
Big Beard reached up to touch the blood seeping from his neck, a trace of lingering fear showing in his face.
“Hah… hah…”
Seeing that her finishing move hadn’t killed him, Fang Qiuyao’s breathing turned chaotic, and she hurriedly activated the Heart Returning Technique to regulate it. Like most second-generation disciples in the Heart Returning Sect, Fang Qiuyao had already achieved mastery in her family’s Pure Heart Sword technique before joining the sect.
Moreover, she had practiced breathing techniques under her father's guidance since she was young, so her physical foundation was quite solid. In addition, the Heart Returning Technique not only repelled poison but also protected the heart. That was the only reason she could still wield her sword in this state.
“You useless trash! I told you to practice properly every day, but all you think about is drinking and whoring! Now look, even a little girl like that can’t be handled! Out of my way, all of you!”
Just as the burly men hesitated, a scholarly-looking youth came out from a northern-side room and yelled. Then he motioned inside the room behind him with a flattering smile.
“Boss Gu, these pieces of trash have embarrassed me in front of you.”
At the sound of the sycophantic voice, a knife-wielding man whose face was covered in acne strode out laughing heartily. “That little girl has some skills. Your men being beaten by her is no surprise."
“Yes, yes, that’s quite fortunate you came today to enjoy a drink at my place. Otherwise, I’d have seen this cooked duck fly away. I must trouble you to take her down and let these useless bastards see what a true expert looks like.”
“No trouble at all. I’ll lend you a hand—consider it payment for the wine.”
“Haha, Boss Gu, you’re too kind! I invited you, after all. If you’re willing to act, of course, there’ll be more benefits down the line.”
“Ha! You really know how things work. Watch carefully, then.”
With that, Boss Gu casually strolled toward Fang Qiuyao as if taking a leisurely walk in a courtyard. At this moment, Fang Qiuyao already felt her mind growing hazy, but her overwhelming desire to survive pushed her to continue holding on.
‘As long as I kill him... I still have a chance to escape.’
With this thought clear in her mind, Fang Qiuyao didn’t hesitate any longer. She gathered every ounce of her remaining strength and stabbed straight at Boss Gu.
‘White Rainbow Purple Lightning!’
This was the fastest move in her entire sword technique. As a white halo shimmered around the blade, the White Rainbow Sword shot forward like a bolt of lightning aimed at Boss Gu’s neck. Facing such a fierce attack, Boss Gu was completely unbothered.
He simply sidestepped calmly and easily dodged it. Then, with a swift motion, he drew the purple copper saber from his waist and jabbed the hilt into Fang Qiuyao’s belly.
“Ugh!”
She gave a muffled cry and dropped to one knee, clutching her gut. Her body had already been close to its limit, and with that strike, it now felt like her internal organs had been twisted together. At that same moment, Jiang Beiran, who had been watching from the rooftop all this time, saw three options appear before him.
[Option 1: Rush in and kill all the thugs surrounding Fang Qiuyao. Completion reward: Twin Peaks Piercing the Ears (Mysterious Grade, Mid Tier)] [Option 2: Call loudly to alert the night patrol. Completion reward: Refined Iron Steel-Piercing Spear (Yellow Grade, Mid Tier)] [Option 3: Rescue Fang Qiuyao without hurting a single enemy. Completion reward: +1 Random Basic Attribute Point] ‘Option three’s definitely the most effortless… but why do I get the feeling it’s also the hardest?’
With a silent complaint in his heart, Jiang Beiran pulled two small black spheres from his Universe Ring. Down below, despair was written all over Fang Qiuyao’s face. Trapped with no way out, she felt deep regret.
She couldn’t understand how things had turned out this way. She only meant to help that old lady… how had she ended up like this? Meanwhile, the thugs were laughing heartily, slapping each other on the back and buttering up Boss Gu.
“Boss Gu really lives up to his name! One move and that chick’s done for… no one in the entire Falling Sunset Town can match that kind of skill!”
“Not just Falling Sunset Town! Even across all of Southern Luo Prefecture, Boss Gu could strut around sideways with that kind of power.”
“Sigh, if I could have just ten percent of Boss Gu’s skills in my life, I’d die happy!” …
As the sycophantic praise poured down like a storm, Boss Gu laughed with great satisfaction, clearly enjoying himself. Once all the flattery had run its course, the scholarly youth stepped forward and cupped his fists toward Boss Gu.
“Boss Gu truly has peerless martial skill. I’m deeply impressed.”
“That’s enough. It was just a little girl, a small matter. Not worth all that praise.”
Seeing that Boss Gu was done basking in praise, the scholar wasted no time. He turned and kicked Fang Qiuyao hard in the shoulder.
“You little bitch! You dared to hurt my brothers? Now I’ll show you how many eyes the Horse King Yama has!”
“Ha ha ha ha!”
The surrounding thugs roared with laughter at the scene. Fang Qiuyao, lying flat on the ground in terror, was already too scared to even think. Though she desperately wanted to crawl away, her body no longer responded.
‘Help me... please, someone help me…’
As the scholar raised his leg to kick her again, despair flooded Fang Qiuyao’s heart. Her silent cry echoed loudly in her mind.
“Boom!”
Just then, a puff of black smoke exploded outward.
“What the hell!?” the scholar shouted in alarm.
Although it was nighttime, moonlight allowed visibility, but now this thick black smoke snuffed out everything. Not only could he see nothing, even his own voice vanished from his ears.
Boss Gu furrowed his brows and tried to draw his purple copper saber to slice through the smoke—but halfway out, it was slammed back into the sheath by a great force.
‘So powerful!’
Startled, Boss Gu retreated several steps. Though there hadn’t been a real exchange of blows, he understood clearly—he was no match for this newcomer.
“I don't know which senior expert has arrived. I am Gu Louqing, Hall Master of the Yellow Gang. If there's been any offense, I beg for your forgiveness.”
Even though he couldn’t hear his own voice, Gu Louqing believed a true master could still hear him. So, to stay alive, he quickly revealed his identity in hopes of deterring the other party.
Silence.
There was no reply. But Gu Louqing dared not move even an inch and merely stood there, dumbfounded. Only when the black smoke gradually dispersed did Gu Louqing’s vision return.
At the same time, Zhang Jijin’s voice rang in his ear.
“Boss Gu, are you okay!?”
Relieved to have survived, Gu Louqing took a deep breath and answered, “I’m fine. What about the rest of you?” Zhang Jijin swiftly scanned the group.
Seeing that everyone seemed shaken but unharmed, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Everyone’s fine.”
“Boss! That little bitch’s gone!”
The bearded man Fang Qiuyao had wounded suddenly shouted. Upon hearing that, Gu Louqing immediately said, “Shut up! Can’t you see what's happened?
You've stirred up someone you shouldn't have.” The big bearded man clamped a hand over his mouth and nervously looked around. After a long moment with nothing else happening, Gu Louqing finally let out a sigh of relief.
“Seems that expert was giving me and the Yellow Gang a bit of face... letting us go this time.”
Only then did the others understand what had just occurred. They turned to Gu Louqing and thanked him repeatedly.
“If Boss Gu hadn’t been here today, we’d all be dead.”
Even someone as powerful as Boss Gu referred to the mysterious savior as a senior expert. The thugs had no doubts now—they’d just faced something way beyond them. Waving a hand to quiet them, Gu Louqing took a deep breath and said, “Be smarter next time when you kidnap someone.
Don’t just grab anyone off the street. Or one day, you won’t be so lucky.”
“Yes, yes! We’ll definitely learn our lesson!”
The old woman who had tricked Fang Qiuyao was now so frightened she couldn’t even stand straight. They’d only been spared because the expert gave face to Boss Gu and the Yellow Gang. But what about tomorrow...?
She, who had orchestrated everything—how could she expect to survive if that master came looking?
“Are you trying to get me killed…”
Paying her no mind, Gu Louqing turned to Zhang Jijin and said, “Don’t go out for a while. Stay low at home. I’ll head back to the gang and try to find out which sect’s expert just arrived in Falling Sunset Town.”
Gu Louqing was a cautious man. Though they’d been spared for now, the grudge was there. Who could guarantee that master wouldn’t come looking again?
He had to be ready—and maybe even act first!
“Yes, yes. We’ll follow your orders, Boss Gu. We trust you completely.”
Zhang Jijin, already scared out of his wits, nodded rapidly.
“Alright. Go home.”
With a wave of his hand, Gu Louqing turned and left the courtyard. … On the other side, Fang Qiuyao—rescued—was still in a daze of disbelief.
‘I was saved? It was that coward… Senior Brother Jiang who saved me?!’
Mind running wild, she looked up from Jiang Beiran’s arms and stared blankly at his face behind the scorched cloth.
“Senior Brother, I…”
“Shh, don’t talk. You inhaled a drugged incense, and the poison’s already spread through your whole body. Rest for now. I’ll treat you once we’re somewhere safe.”
Hearing Jiang Beiran’s soft voice, all the tension in Fang Qiuyao melted away. A deep sense of safety filled her heart.
‘Sigh… If I had listened to Senior Brother earlier, none of this would’ve happened.’
“Senior Brother... I’m sorry…”
With those words, the mental tension holding her together finally released, and she slipped into a deep sleep. …
“No… no… no!”
In Room 3 of the Human-class section of the inn, Fang Qiuyao suddenly sat upright, drenched in sweat, her face full of panic as she looked around.
“It’s alright, it’s alright. I’m here, don’t be scared.”
Liu Ziqin quickly walked over to embrace her comfortingly.
“Sister Ziqin!”
Fang Qiuyao clung to her and began sobbing uncontrollably. Only then did she finally confirm—what happened last night wasn’t a dream. She had truly been saved by Senior Brother Jiang.
“It’s all over now. You’re safe.”
Liu Ziqin gently patted her back, softly soothing her. After crying for a good while, Fang Qiuyao took the embroidered handkerchief Liu Ziqin handed her and wiped away her tears.
“Wait here, I’ll go call Senior Brother Jiang.”
Seeing that Fang Qiuyao had calmed down, Liu Ziqin walked next door and knocked.
“Creak.”
Jiang Beiran opened the door and asked, “She’s awake?”
“Yes, just woke up.”
Liu Ziqin nodded.
“Good, let’s go see her.”
Jiang Beiran closed the door behind him and followed her into the room. Seeing Jiang Beiran enter, Fang Qiuyao hurriedly tried to get up—only to feel her body still too weak.
“Just lie down. Don’t move,” he said.
Fang Qiuyao nodded and lay back down.
“Give me your hand.”
Jiang Beiran sat by the bed and extended his own hand. When she slipped hers out of the covers, Jiang Beiran placed his fingers on her wrist and began checking her pulse. While he carefully inspected her pulse, Fang Qiuyao secretly glanced at him under the covers.
‘That’s odd… why didn't I notice before… how handsome Senior Brother is…’
In her eyes, Jiang Beiran now looked as if carved from jade, hairline neat as if cut with a blade, brows painted with ink, and his eyes like black pearls soaked in mercury—twin stars over a chiseled nose.
“Mm. It was only the usual incense. No other toxins.”
Letting go of her hand, Jiang Beiran pulled out three Clear Heart Pills from his Universe Ring and handed them to her.
“Take one per hour. You’ll be fully recovered after three.”
“Thank you, Senior Brother.”
Taking the pills, Fang Qiuyao clenched her other hand and said, “I was wrong, Senior Brother. I shouldn’t have ignored your warnings. And… said those things…”
After her words, three options appeared before Jiang Beiran’s eyes.
[Option 1: “It’s alright, it’s all in the past. I didn’t take it to heart.” Completion reward: Tenfold Divine Flash (Earth Grade, Low Tier)] [Option 2: “So now you know you were wrong?
See how wise your Senior Brother is now?” Completion reward: Six Yang Hexagrams Records (Mysterious Grade, High Tier)] [Option 3: “You don’t need to apologize. Do you know why I was able to appear just in time?
Because I was following you the whole time. The reason I didn’t stop you earlier was to teach you a lesson.” Completion reward: +1 Random Basic Skill Point] (End of Chapter)