Chapter 2: Misfortune and Fortunate Encounters

"Tonight, the guest originally scheduled for Yu Shi is Duan Min." The old ghost suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse and deep, quite pleasant to hear

Pei Qian was taken aback and said, "Then who was the person that followed me in the dark to the riverbank tonight?"

He no longer spoke, burying his head as he pulled the belt from Shui Lingyue's waist. Shui Lingyue exclaimed, "Villain, what are you doing?"

Even if Duan Min is cunning and treacherous, Shui Lingyue still believes that for Senior Sister Hua to kill him would be as easy as crushing an ant

The black-clad female assassin revealed a hint of surprise, not expecting that this traitor was unaware that Shui Zhongtian was his own father. Perhaps he was pretending on purpose. Wasn't he just vehemently denying that he was Duan Min?

Pei Qian coldly snorted, "I must retrieve the one hundred taels of silver notes that I lost!" His hands continuously removed the wet clothes clinging to the curves of Shui Lingyue's delicate body, revealing a bright red belly band and her snow-white skin

"Old Ghost—" Pei Qian was just about to take the initiative when he saw Old Ghost holding something in his left hand, resting it against his chest. In the palm of his hand was a round, pitch-black object, about the size of a watermelon, with faint sparks flickering on its surface.

In fact, this cannot be blamed on her. According to the past records of Duan Min that have been obtained, he is merely a master at the Condensation Stage. Although one cannot guard against the tricks of poison, it is evident that when he lies on the bed, completely unguarded, engaged in a passionate encounter, he cannot possibly have any defenses in this regard

"It is I." The old ghost's response is always simple and clear, yet it forever leaves Pei Qian puzzled.

Thus, he decided to give up. He pushed the door open and, with a swift strike of his palm, lit the candle on the table. Then, he glanced at his bed, blinked his eyes, and let out a piercing scream as he rushed out of the room, shouting, "Old ghost, what is on my bed?"

Fortunately, Pei Qian remained calm in the face of danger, swiftly throwing out the Flying Tiger Claw to grasp a sturdy green bamboo, thereby anchoring himself. He used the momentum to roll over and stagger a couple of steps before finally standing firm on the ground

At this thought, the black-clad female assassin felt an increasing disdain for Pei Qian and coldly said, "He is my father, are you afraid?"

Killing is hardly worth the effort; for a mere one hundred taels of silver and two bottles of worthless spring medicine, one nearly lost their own life. This is truly excessive! Pei Qian was enraged, his entire body radiating dazzling purple light as he soared through the air, charging fiercely towards the old ghost, behind him a vast expanse of bamboo forest lay in ruins.

At the moment Pei Qian leaped into the river, he had already calculated that the one pursuing him would undoubtedly be the slightly less skilled Shui Lingyue, while Hua Lingyao would utilize her spiritual perception to search for him on the river's surface, creating a three-dimensional pursuit situation against him

According to Lao Gui, the Ghost Prison Gate has always been passed down through a single lineage. However, Pei Qian does not believe it at all—believing is what gives rise to ghosts

Old Gui chuckled softly and said, "Aren't you living more and more comfortably? Just tonight, you even shot arrows with both hands."

In the moonlit mountain stream, a dark figure is reflected; apart from the huffing and puffing that emits black smoke from its mouth, no other colors can be found, resembling a smoky, charred diamond. Fortunately, there are no injuries on his body. Pei Qian could not help but feel grateful that he had never been lazy in the past seven years (at least he believed so), and he had also grasped the old ghost's temperament, which allowed him to react swiftly and escape a calamity.

Unbeknownst to her, the scolding from Shui Lingyue transformed into desperate cries for help, but soon she found even this meager power stripped away. Pei Qian firmly sealed her cherry-like lips with his own, and the whimpers that escaped from her throat further ignited the intense desire within him. If it were not for these two girls causing trouble, he should be lying on Miss Yu Shi's fragrant couch at this moment, indulging in the long-awaited first feast of his life.

Hua Lingyao flicked her fingers to release a strand of gentle azure energy, unbinding the meridian restrictions of Shui Lingyue. Lying motionless on the ground, Shui Lingyue gazed blankly at the night sky, numbly asking the book, "Why?"

Pei Qian shivered again and said with a bitter smile, "Then you can take on another obedient and well-behaved disciple, instead of spending all day scheming about how to torment me and drive me to my end"

There were no others, for the entire "Ghost Prison Gate" had only Old Ghost and the master-disciple pair of Pei Qian.

Pei Qian said casually, "I will defer to your wishes. However, I must say that your intelligence work is truly lacking!" After a pause, he pointed at Hua Lingyao's revealing attire that barely covered her ample bosom and added, "I will be waiting for you!" He then turned and walked into the dark, dense forest, quickly disappearing from sight

Hua Lingyao remained silent, while Shui Lingyue noticed her cloud sleeves gently swaying, with faint strands of azure light flowing through them

Pei Qian's true energy surged and circulated throughout his body, transforming into a protective aura that emitted wisps of purple mist. However, it was violently shaken by a powerful wave of energy, leaving it riddled with holes. He felt his internal organs twist and turn, and before his eyes, golden stars flashed chaotically. The more than ten Ice Heart Pills he had consumed earlier seemed to have been in vain, as his body was involuntarily thrown across the ravine and crashed into the bamboo forest

Shui Lingyue bit her lip tightly, suppressing the fear and tension deep within her heart, and said: "Kill me, I no longer wish to live"

If it were not for the fact that she herself was the one carrying out tonight's task, and both her father and Sister Hua were not particularly at ease, she would never have interrupted her cultivation to personally intervene for the sake of a mere Duan Min

Fortunately, after seven years of outsmarting, outmaneuvering, and enduring with the old ghost, he has indeed accumulated a wealth of valuable experience through repeated defeats and battles. He understands that the more challenging the situation, the less he can afford to show any signs of weakness or fear. Moreover, given that tonight's incident clearly involves the old ghost as well, he should be even more justified in his stance.

"What is it?" Pei Qian was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly changed color and said, "It's here again!" He leaped towards the ravine on the left side of the gray-tiled house, moving so swiftly that he was almost on par with Hua Lingyao, truly embodying the ancient saying that a cornered dog will jump over the wall

Shui Lingyue bit her silver teeth in frustration, glaring at Pei Qian with resentment. However, she found it strange that he neither killed her nor took the opportunity to escape, but instead sat leisurely there, enjoying the river breeze.

"Senior Sister?!" Shui Lingyue could hardly believe her ears, staring blankly at Hua Lingyao and asking, "You let him go?"

The dark and slender Emei, with its slightly trembling eyes overflowing with crystalline tears, the delicate and rosy nose, the full and luscious lips, and the proud and uplifted chest resembling that of a swan, rise and fall like the undulating waves of the jade river

The autumn wind whispers softly, the river weeps, and Shui Lingyue has never hated anyone as much as she does now. Even the most heinous traitors of the Red Flag Army pale in comparison to this demon that weighs upon her delicate body

Although they are fellow disciples and Hua Lingyao is only two years older than her, Shui Lingyue is well aware that her senior sister is truly the greatest talent of the Ancient Sword Pool in a thousand years. Not only is she exceptionally gifted and possesses extraordinary comprehension, but she also spent three years training in the sacred realm overseas. Upon her return, her cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, surpassing that of her father, Shui Zhongtian.

When the ethereal Shui Lingyue finally awakened, Pei Qian had already wrapped her outer garment around his waist, sitting contentedly against a birch tree, one hand idly toying with the crimson star orb that stood atop the snowy peak. Her delicate skin was marred with bite marks and bruises from the fierce battle, yet the fiery pain within her was far overshadowed by the sorrow in her heart

However, no matter how fast he was, he could not outpace the hands of the old ghost. Before Pei Qian could leap into the ravine, he heard a thunderous sound behind him, as a massive wave of air mixed with bright red flames and black smoke surged forth like a tidal wave.

"He has died, now you have something to do." The old ghost said leisurely, "Haven't you always complained about how boring life is? Now the opportunity and the book club have arrived."

Shui Lingyue saw this shameless person waste more than ten Ice Heart Pills that her father had spent ten years refining, and she couldn't help but feel both heartbroken and furious. She said, "Do you still want to deceive me? We have already received intelligence and know that you have been assigned to the Cloud Military Academy as a deputy lecturer of the fifth rank, and you are to take office tomorrow"

He appeared to be in his forties, dressed in a long black robe, with a tall and slender figure that seemed to conceal a terrifying power within his frail body. Fairly speaking, the old ghost did not resemble a ghost; his features were strikingly handsome, with a pair of cold, deep-set eyes slightly closed beneath his knife-like brows, exuding a calm and lonely demeanor, much like an iceberg floating in the North Sea, leaving one forever unable to discern what lies hidden beneath the surface.

Two sets of Tianhong, a bottle of the secret recipe "Ice Heart Pill" from Gujian Lake, three quivers of arrows for the Chuan Yun crossbow, a poisoned dagger used for committing suicide in case of mission failure, as well as several small items such as scattered silver and copper coins. Pei Qian continuously emptied all the belongings from the black-clad female assassin's body, tossing them into the torn black veil, preparing to pack them up and take them away later. Finally, he took a copper plate from the girl's embrace and squeezed it hard on her violently trembling snow peak, asking: "Little girl, what is your name?"

As expected, the old ghost stood in front of the gray-blue tiled house, seemingly certain that Pei Qian would return at this time

At the end of the mountain forest lies a tranquil and secluded little canyon, where various types of bamboo grow abundantly, forming a natural barrier that conceals several gray-tiled houses deep within the canyon

Hua Lingyao walked into the birch forest, suddenly unfurling her cloud-like sleeves. The leaves from the branches fluttered down, gently covering the exposed jade-like body of Shui Lingyue.

No! Shui Lingyue looked at the ancient sword Qinghong, which was slanted in the mud, and gritted her teeth as she said: "I will personally kill him!"

However, upon seeing Shui Lingyue's disdainful gaze, Pei Qian felt an immense sense of humiliation. He immediately cast aside Gu Jiantan and Shui Zhongtian, sneering, "The one who should be afraid now is not me, but you"

If Pei Qian did not know who this person with the surname Duan was, perhaps he would not be so angry. The problem is, it is difficult for him not to know.

Pei Qian let out a sigh of relief, lowered his posture, and with a smile on his face, slowly leaned closer to the old ghost and asked, "Is it over?"

Hua Lingyao crouched down beside Shui Lingyue and whispered, "Before his defection, he secretly poisoned Uncle Qing Er. We have invited all the poison experts we could find, but none were effective. After we set out, General Pang was forced to agree to the conditions set by this villain in order to save Uncle Qing Er, allowing him to live for an additional thirty days in exchange for the antidote. Due to the severe damage to the intelligence network of Taiyang Prefecture, we were unable to receive this information in time."

After a rapid and precise calculation by his brain, Pei Qian realized that he had no chance of luck whatsoever. The anger on his face instantly transformed into helpless grievance. He raised his tightly clenched fist high and sighed, saying: "Alright, I admit that this afternoon I secretly opened the safe and took your banknotes."

"Silly girl," seeing the Ice Heart Pill as a reason, Pei Qian decided to give Shui Lingyue another chance for a sudden realization. "Even I have heard that Duan Minyuan is heavily guarded at the Embroidered Uniform Guard's office in Taiyang Prefecture. How could he come to Yunchong Town for pleasure without even bringing a retinue?"

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Old Gui continued to enjoy his erhu skills, not responding. Pei Qian, exasperated, said: "Why did you put him on my bed? If it were a beautiful woman, that would be one thing, but it's a dead ugly creature!"

Cannonball? Pei Qian was taken aback. In his understanding, for the past three hundred years since the invention of gunpowder, the projectiles used have always been solid lead or iron balls that do not explode. However, based on his personal experience, this "cloud thunder" is not only hollow but also causes the shell to shatter into dozens of blade-like fragments, enough to cover an area of fifty zhang, with a power far surpassing that of traditional solid projectiles

Suddenly, he abruptly halted in mid-air, staring in astonishment at the old ghost's left hand, which was five zhang away. In his hand, there was another identical iron watermelon, except it was not lit.

Hua Lingyao said: "Yue'er, this is a necessary sacrifice— for Uncle Qing Er, for the great cause of the righteous army. Moreover, when the order was just received, I was not aware of what was happening here. Otherwise..."

Haha, it turns out it was you who was up to no good!" Pei Qian suddenly turned around, and thinking of that terrifying iron watermelon, he quickly changed the subject, saying: "Of course, you also helped me deal with that white-clad female killer, right?

Shui Lingyue cried out in terror, much like a sheep's powerless struggle before a hungry wolf. Soon, her belly band and bustier were stripped away by Pei Qian. Her petite and enchanting figure was fully exposed before the eyes of this villain.

As the veil is lifted, a stunningly beautiful face is revealed, with cheeks as white as snow and as delicate as frost, adorned with glistening droplets of water. It is unclear whether they are remnants of the river or tears that have fallen. Under the hazy moonlight, she resembles a pure white rose blooming in the night, exuding an enchanting charm that is dreamlike and ethereal

"Save some energy," Pei Qian said with a smile, admiring Shui Lingyue's figure. "You can't do anything right now. Of course, if you feel that what just happened was not enough and wish to continue, I can lend a hand with my sword."

So you let him go, allowing him to fetch the antidote to save Uncle Qing? Shui Lingyue looked at Hua Lingyao, a hint of a heartbreaking cold smile appearing at the corner of her lips: "What about me? What am I supposed to do?"

What is the bandit group in the mountains doing? They are a powerful rebel force centered around Yunzhong Mountain, occupying the surrounding six prefectures and nineteen counties. Their opposition to the imperial court has not been a matter of one or two days; they have committed countless heinous acts, including besieging cities, seizing land, killing officials, and beheading generals. What kind of good can come from being targeted by such a group?

This is the 'Thunder in the Clouds', a shell specifically designed for the Wuwei Divine Cannon. The old ghost regarded Pei Qian's actions as if they were invisible, and said lightly: 'Last year, on the southern battlefield where the court waged war against the Night Wolf Clan, it caused countless casualties and achieved remarkable feats.'

So what are you still hesitating about? Pei Qianyi, filled with ambition, mounts his horse and raises his spear, continuing the unfinished battles in the Dark Fragrance Studio

Compared to her, the first beauty of Anxiangzhai, Miss Yu Shi, can only be regarded as a crow standing in front of a swan, instantly losing its luster. Pei Qian felt a bit regretful; he should not have hastily shaved the cloud-like hair of the black-clad female assassin, at least he should have waited until he had admired the girl's stunning face.

Just now, the assassination attempts by Shui Lingyue and Hua Lingya tonight were nothing short of child's play. If it were not for his true cultivation being far beyond the condensed essence realm he displayed in front of Shui Lingyue, I believe his current appearance would be quite grim.

It is not me, "Old Ghost" played the erhu with great dedication, closing his eyes and saying, "I have no connection with the people of Gujian Lake."

Hua Lingyao bit her cherry lips and said calmly: "From this night onward, your ranking on the Must-Kill List of the Ancient Sword Pool will rise by three positions, and I will personally take responsibility for it"

Every time Pei Qian saw Lao Gui waiting for him at the door, he would feel a sense of dread in his heart. However, he still had to brace himself and move forward.

Pei Qian was very satisfied with tonight's gains, soaring through the dense, dark forest like a night hawk, still savoring the wonderful taste of the fusion with Shui Lingyue.

Even if Pei Qian does not kill her, Shui Lingyue has already contemplated death. She only regrets being too arrogant, not having hidden a poison pill in her mouth like her fellow disciples, which would allow her to end this endless humiliation with a single bite at any moment

The sound of the zither came to an abrupt halt, signifying that the old ghost could once again free his hands to reveal that iron watermelon

Pei Qian retreated while searching for a rock formation sufficient for concealment, and said: "A soldier may be killed but must not be humiliated"

"This is a shell, and it is a new type of shell secretly designed by the Cloud Military Academy last year." Old Ghost said, "What I have in my hand is a replica, with power barely reaching thirty percent of its original. If the real Cloud Thunder were to explode beside you..."

Three years later, his son Duan Min betrayed the Red Flag Army and defected to the court. As a means of promotion, he presented a list of twenty-nine undercover personnel from the Red Flag Army, including those from Yunchong Town, to Ding Zhaoxiong, the head of the embroidered uniform officials in Taiyang Prefecture. This led to the near collapse of the intelligence network that the Red Flag Army had painstakingly built over more than a decade in Taiyang Prefecture, resulting in an unprecedented loss of elite intelligence operatives.

Pei Qian's head might have been soaked in the river for too long, causing a dull pain to arise. While cursing Duan Min, he tore off the veil that covered the face of the black-clad female assassin. To be honest, when he was in the water earlier, the veil was wrapped too tightly, and in his haste, he could only lift a corner to bring his mouth close. After battling with this foul girl for half the night, Pei Qian still did not know what she truly looked like

Thus, according to the prearranged plan, she was responsible for the assassination, while the white-clad female assassin was tasked with the follow-up. This was sufficient to eliminate both Duan Min and Yu Shi in Miss Yu's tent. Unfortunately, even the most perfect plans can encounter miscalculations; at least tonight, the assassin has become the captive of the prey, or more accurately, an exceptionally beautiful captive

The sound of buzzing echoed in Pei Qian's mind, perhaps due to the effect of the Ice Heart Pill, making his mind particularly sharp at this moment. He instinctively sensed that something seemed amiss here.

When she saw a graceful and enchanting white figure slowly walking from the riverbank towards the birch forest, her heart suddenly trembled, and she thought in disbelief: "This villain is actually waiting for Sister Hua!"

The black-clad female assassin gasped in shock, her eyes blazing with fury as she glared at Pei Qian, and whispered, "My senior sister will not allow you to survive tonight"

Old Ghost is not a true ghost; he is Pei Qian's master. Pei Qian has been under his tutelage for seven years, yet he still does not know Old Ghost's real name, nor does he understand the reason why Old Ghost took him in all those years ago

This matter originally had nothing to do with Pei Qian, who spends his days idly waiting for death. However, from the moment two female assassins burst into the Dark Fragrance Studio, he was destined to unwittingly take the blame for Duan Min.

Old Gui let out a grunt, and the iron watermelon in his hand suddenly vanished as if by magic. He sat down on the stone drum stool in front of the house, picked up the erhu from the stone table, and began to play it with a mournful tune, the sound being exceedingly unpleasant.

She did not continue speaking, and Shui Lingyue also lost the desire to listen. Suddenly, she drew the ancient sword Qinghong that Pei Qian had left in the forest and slashed it across her own jade neck.

Now the fragrant couch has been replaced by the cold, muddy ground, and the brocade quilt has turned into a dark, gloomy canopy. Fortunately, the enchanting beauty of the water spirit beneath me surpasses that of Miss Yu Shi by tenfold or more, enough to compensate for all these shortcomings

It is known that Gujian Pool is one of the nine major sects of Yunlu and is the only righteous sect that stands on the side of the bandits in the mountains. It is said that the number of disciples under its banner exceeds one thousand, with branch disciples spread throughout the southern and northern regions of Yunlu. In other words, even if Pei Qian were to flee thousands of miles away and then find a cave in the desolate mountains to hide himself, within half a month, he would certainly be dug out by the disciples and descendants of Gujian Pool, who would search three feet into the ground.

Duan Min, a renowned young general of the rebel Red Flag Army, is often referred to by the court as one of the key bandit leaders in the mountains. It is said that his father, Duan Tianliang, was a close friend and fellow disciple of the Red Flag Army's great leader, Pang Tianshuo, but unfortunately lost his life three years ago in a fierce battle during the court's siege of Yunchong Mountain.

She would rather be dead than endure this unspeakable and indelible humiliation. When a wave of excruciating pain surged through her body, she let out a cry of agony and, fortunate enough, finally lost consciousness.

Pei Qian stood up with a smile, slinging the packed spoils over his shoulder, and said: "Thank you!"

Such individuals must naturally be eliminated by the Red Flag Army. Therefore, they dispatched experts from Gujian Pool, vowing to take the head of this person and hang it on the flagpole in front of the Taoyang Prefecture's Embroidered Uniformed Envoy's office.

Similar dangers and tragic experiences are something Pei Qian encounters almost every three months. This frequency is not due to the mercy of the old ghost, but rather because he often requires a healing period of up to two and a half months after each experience. Consequently, the remaining half month becomes Pei Qian's carnival

A pool of crimson blood lay nearby, splattered in spots on the soil and fallen leaves. Her heart was suddenly torn apart, and she cried out in a hoarse voice: "Beast, I will surely kill you!"

Old Gui ignored him, focusing intently on the sound of the piano, which was akin to the cries of a slaughtered pig. Pei Qian turned his eyes and said, "Then I will go wash up and sleep." He tentatively walked towards his own room.

This was exactly what Pei Qian desired; he effortlessly dealt with Shui Lingyue and then left in full view of Hua Lingya, who had arrived shortly after. Now, he must return to the mountain to see the old ghost as soon as possible. Many answers that could not be obtained from Shui Lingyue could only be reasonably explained to him by the old ghost.

She had overheard the elders of the Ancient Sword Pool discussing in private that Hua Lingyao's cultivation would surpass the four great elders of the sect within two years, making her the second most powerful individual, second only to the sect leader, Han Zhongxue

"What opportunity?" Thinking of the corpse of that dead man Duan Min on the bed, Pei Qian involuntarily shivered and exclaimed, "I won't do it. You can forget about tricking me into doing those life-threatening deals!"

She felt Pei Qian subtly sucking on her jade peaks, caressing her neck, and...

Pei Qian felt a chill in his heart, knowing that Shui Zhongtian was one of the four elders of the Ancient Sword Pool, with profound cultivation akin to raging fire. If he were to find out that Pei Qian had bullied his daughter, the wisest course of action would be to jump into the river and drown before Shui Zhongtian could find him.

Hua Lingyao's gaze was as icy and clear as the waters of the Ancient Sword Pool, fixed upon Pei Qian's languid smile. She remained silent for a long time before finally saying indifferently: "You may leave"

Senior sister... Shui Lingyue was overwhelmed with shame and anger, tears streaming down her face, and she choked out, "Quickly kill him!"

Therefore, Pei Qian did not wish to kill Shui Lingyue. He poured a handful of Ice Heart Pills into his mouth, chewed them a few times, and swallowed them. Immediately, he felt a wonderfully comforting warmth rising from his lower abdomen, gradually spreading through his entire meridian system, making him feel completely at ease

Pei Qianman smiled indifferently, noticing that the front of the bronze medal was engraved with the emblem of the Ancient Sword Pool, while the back bore the three characters "Shui Lingyue." He held the bronze medal in his palm, tossing it up and catching it repeatedly, and said, "You are called Shui Lingyue, so what is your relationship with Shui Zhongtian?"

Before tonight, she was the pure and noble daughter of heaven. Yet, in less than half an hour, she was embraced, kissed, and had her hair shaved by a man who was still completely naked, while his filthy hands repeatedly reached into her bosom, wantonly kneading the sacred ground of a young girl

Ding! Hua Lingyao struck like lightning, sending the Qinghong ancient sword flying. Grasping Shui Lingyue's jade wrist, she said: "In thirty days—Yue'er, believe me: I will definitely kill him for you in thirty days!"