In a serene courtyard, there was a strangely styled attic in the backhouse.

The attic’s door was tightly closed, with a pretty maid standing guard outside. Early in the morning, a noblewoman came in from outside.

The maid hurriedly greeted her, "Greetings, Madam."

It was none other than Madam Yu, who asked with concern, "How is it going? Has the food been delivered?"

Ju’Er softly replied, "It has been delivered, but hasn’t been much eaten."

Even during seclusion, food and drink are always necessary, delivered at a fixed time every day.

Yu Haitang hadn’t eaten much these past few days, although with her cultivation, not eating for half a month wouldn’t be much of an issue. Still, the situation was worrying.

Madam Yu said with concern, "This child never lets us rest easy."

Pan Zhiyuan’s warning still echoed in her ears. As the governor of a prefecture, he could make it impossible for her niece to stay in Jiangzhou.

Even though her husband was the Sect Leader of the Cangyue Sect, he wouldn’t defy Pan Zhiyuan for her. Cangyue Sect was not his alone to command.

Being expelled from Jiangzhou, would she wander around like before?

She was no longer the fearless woman she was over ten years ago; she had a husband and two children. She couldn’t abandon everything for her pitiful niece like in the past.

Madam Yu only hoped her niece would understand and not take that step...

Just as she was thinking, there was a sudden loud boom, and the entire attic shook.

She was startled, sensing an unusual disturbance from inside.

"Xiao’e?"

Madam Yu cried out and abruptly smashed open the door, barging in with force.

The specially made door was like paper in front of her; with one hit, it shattered entirely.

Inside the attic, she saw Yu Haitang, dressed in a white practice robe, lying on the ground, her face pale as paper, barely breathing.

"Xiao’e, how are you?"

Madam Yu rushed forward, gathered her up in her arms, and checked her pulse. Her heart sank; the pulse was intermittent, as if it could stop at any moment.

"Xiao’e, hold on."

With urgent desperation, she carried her niece out of the attic, flew up, and rushed to the location of the Cangyue Sect as fast as she could.

...

About ten miles outside Jiangzhou City, the Cangyue Sect was located in a place called Cangyue Mountain.

Madam Yu, surrounded by a swirl of white Gang Qi, spared no Gang Yuan in her flight, almost gliding over the ground, directly barging into the mountain gate of Cangyue Sect.

In no time, she found her husband, the Sect Leader, Ling Qiyang.

Ling Qiyang, seeing Yu Haitang in her arms, immediately realized the seriousness of the situation and personally invited the most skilled elder in medical skill within the sect.

After checking Yu Haitang’s pulse, the elder stated that her Gang Qi rampaged, her meridians were shattered, and medicines were ineffective. If not for her unique True Qi, which protected her heart meridian, she would have long perished.

"I am powerless. Sect Leader, please find someone more capable," the elder said, refusing to stay despite attempts to persuade him, and left.

Unwilling to give up, Madam Yu urged her husband to invite the most skilled doctors from Jiangzhou City.

After these famous doctors checked her pulse, they all expressed helplessness.

One doctor knew of a way to save her, involving several rare earthly treasures and a miraculous elixir from a certain sect.

However, these things were elusive, and the elixir was too far away to be of immediate help.

It was as if nothing was said.

In the end, Ling Qiyang gritted his teeth and went to invite the ancestor of the sect.

Unfortunately, even the all-powerful ancestor had no solution, managing only to pass a wisp of vitality to wake the perpetually unconscious Yu Haitang.

"This wisp of vitality can protect her heart meridian for three days. Perhaps you can take her to the Capital City to find that divine doctor; there might be a slight chance."

Ling Qiyang had no choice but to leave the seclusion place of the ancestor with his wife and Yu Haitang.

Madam Yu was already in despair; going to the Capital City was akin to walking into a trap. The Yu Family was there, after all.

She held her niece and broke into tears.

Ling Qiyang, seeing his wife so sorrowful, steeled his heart and said, "Let’s go to the Capital City. In any case, we must try; we can’t just wait here for death."

"Yes, let’s go to the Capital City!"

Madam Yu was not one to be weak, and hearing her husband’s words, wiped her tears and gathered herself again.

At that moment, Yu Haitang, with a weak yet determined voice, said, "I won’t go."

"Xiao’e, this is no time for stubbornness," Madam Yu persuaded earnestly.

"I know who can save me, right there in Jiangzhou City, Evergreen Hall... Ji Qianxing knows..." Yu Haitang, out of breath, spoke too much in one go.

...

An hour later, Madam Yu brought her niece to Evergreen Hall and, upon seeing Elder Sun, politely said, "Elder Sun, please take a look at my niece."

Elder Sun, upon seeing Yu Haitang’s condition, was visibly startled, with a peculiar look in his eyes, "What has happened with you..."

Yu Haitang regained consciousness again, mustering strength with a bitter smile, "I regret not listening to you earlier, and now I’ve succumbed to a Qi deviation. Please save me, Elder."

Elder Sun stepped forward to check her pulse.

Madam Yu watched anxiously from the side, and after a moment, this Doctor Sun remarked, "With injuries like yours, it’s a miracle you’ve not died on the spot. Your True Qi is extraordinarily unique to have sustained you this long. And the help of a master to stabilize your injury gave you the chance to come to me."

Madam Yu saw that he seemed to have witnessed it personally, and indeed he had superb medical skills, so she hurriedly asked, "Divine Healer, I beg you to save her life."

Elder Sun shook his head and said, "I can’t save her."

Her heart sank continuously as she listened.

Then she heard Elder Sun say, "I do know of someone who might be able to save her, it’s just..."

Madam Yu was overjoyed, "Who is it? Please, elder, tell me."

Elder Sun said, "Someone whose True Qi shares the same origin as hers might be able to help repair her damaged meridians. But at this moment, he may not be able to help her."

Yu Haitang was a bit lost as she heard his words and said, "In this world, I fear I am the only one left who cultivates this technique."

Could it be retribution?

In that valley, all the Mu Family members fell by her hand. Little did she expect that today, when she needed someone who had cultivated the same technique to save her life, there was no one to be found.

Elder Sun said, "That may not be the case. Think about it, have you ever taught this Cultivation Technique to anyone else?"

Yu Haitang was stunned, "Are you saying him? How is that possible?"

...

Inside the room, Chen Ming had one hand placed on Su Zhining’s back, eating snacks with the other. Suddenly, the "Mingfeng Sword" beside him let out a clear sword hum.

This was a warning!

Chen Ming put down the snack in his hand, grabbing the "Mingfeng Sword," which was vibrating more and more violently.

At this time, Su Zhining, who was resting her eyes, opened them and said, "The one coming is a Third Grade. Let go. If you run now, he might not catch up to you."

Chen Ming laughed and said, "There’s a saying in my hometown, live like a feather, die like a mountain. To die with you, my life would not have been in vain."

"Didn’t you say you wanted to find someone more beautiful than me after I die? Are you willing to just die like this?"

He looked outside the door and said loudly, "Su Zhining, you risked your life for me. How could I, Chen Ming, leave you at such a time? At most, it’s just death. Today, let’s be a pair of destined lovebirds."

"What a pair of destined lovebirds!"

An old voice came from outside the door, filled with regret, "In this world today, there are few men as deeply affectionate and unafraid of death as Young Master Chen. I did not originally wish to kill you, but life in Jianghu leaves one with no choice."

"Stop the chatter and make your move!"

Chen Ming glanced at Su Zhining on the bed, and the scabbard of the "Mingfeng Sword" flew out on its own. With a sword in hand, his heart had no further distractions.

After a few moments, nothing happened.

What’s going on?

Did they flee?

Or...

Chen Ming felt a bit uneasy, unable to suppress his speculation.

Could it be that Elder Sun finally couldn’t stand it and scared them away?

At this moment, a woman’s voice rang out, "Young Master Chen, no offense, I had no choice but to come uninvited. Just as I saw a vile guest at your door, I acted to subdue him. Please decide his fate."

What?

A Third Grade, subdued just like that, silently?

What kind of background does this woman have? What level of strength must she possess?

Second Grade, or First Grade?

A series of questions rang in Chen Ming’s mind, as he courteous replied, "I was unaware of the esteemed guest’s arrival, please forgive my failure to welcome you. Please, come in on your own accord."

The door creaked open.

A noble lady walked in, holding a person in her arms, with an old man kneeling on the floor beside her, his hair graying; he was the one who had wanted to kill him moments ago.

At this moment, this Third Grade was kneeling there with a face full of grievance, unable to move or even speak.

Without hesitation, Chen Ming’s "Mingfeng Sword" flew out and pierced the chest of the old man like lightning.

Such a Third Grade powerhouse, thus died on the spot.

The old man’s eyes glared in anger, dying without peace.

[You have slain a LV74 enemy, gaining 400,000 experience points]

Chen Ming saw such a notification, feeling elated inside.

This experience was like picking it up for free.

If he could kill another Third Grade, he’d have enough experience to break through to the Third Grade.

Madam Yu saw him suddenly kill someone, although she thought he was a bit too ruthless, she didn’t dwell on it much.

"Miss Yu?"

At this point, Chen Ming finally recognized the person in the noble lady’s arms as Yu Haitang and immediately realized the woman’s identity, "It turns out it is Madam Yu in person, please forgive my rudeness, junior apologize."

Madam Yu looked at the situation in the room, and even though she had just heard Elder Sun explain the situation, she could not help but be startled. This white-clothed woman’s appearance was not beneath her niece.

She got straight to the point, "When Erniang was cultivating carelessly, her True Qi ran amok, injuring her meridians, hovering at the line of life and death. Elder Sun said only you could save her. I could only come thick-skinned."

What on earth?

Chen Ming couldn’t help but glance at Su Zhining on the bed, then at Yu Haitang in Madam Yu’s arms, showing a pained expression, two at once, he really couldn’t handle this.

PS: Seeking monthly votes.