Chapter 2, The Turmoil of the Ruined Temple

Yang Fei thought to himself: Could it be that she brought me here in the dead of night just to see this corpse? Reflecting on how I had just acted, it was truly embarrassing; I had indeed been as timid as a mouse. Seeing Mei Yunqing's half-smiling, half-mocking expression, which was full of derision, my spirits suddenly soared. I secretly resolved that I absolutely could not allow her to look down on me any longer. With newfound courage, I walked up to Mei Yunqing and asked: "Who is this person?"

Yang Fei gazed at her flower-like smile, lost in a daze, and inadvertently forgot to respond.

Although Mei Yunqing was reluctant to destroy Ding Xiaquan's corpse, faced with a formidable enemy, there was no time for hesitation. In the blink of an eye, Ding Xiaquan's body had transformed into dozens of pieces of flesh and blood, shooting towards that person. With a flash of movement, he returned to the temple, quietly landing behind that individual. The treasured sword transformed into a curtain of light, tightly enveloping that person. As long as his martial arts were slightly inferior, he would meet his end beneath the sword.

Yang Fei rushed over and then noticed that Mei Yunqing's face was pale, with bloodstains on his shoulders and the corners of his mouth. He had previously thought that Mei Yunqing could escape even if he couldn't win, and although his assessment was not wrong, he did not expect the injuries to be so severe

Yang Fei felt the person in his arms tremble slightly, thinking that she might be a bit cold. In a moment of distraction, he fed her too hastily, causing Mei Yunqing to cough. Yang Fei hurriedly set down the bowl and instinctively placed his hand on her chest, momentarily not realizing that such an action was overly intimate

Mei Yunqing wanted to struggle, but Yang Fei, with audacious boldness, held her tightly, leaving her unable to move even slightly, nor could she call out. The wonderful sensations that surged from her tongue continuously impacted her heart, and over time, she unexpectedly developed a sense of anticipation for Yang Fei's demands.

Mei Yunqing heard that although he spoke in a soft voice, his words were filled with a sense of utter heartbreak. She initially intended to comfort him, but then thought it best not to let him misunderstand again, and remained silent.

In a moment of desperation, Yang Fei could not fathom how things had come to this. With no other options, he decided to take matters into his own hands. He poured a small amount from each of the two bottles of powder and applied it to his own arm. One bottle was refreshingly cool, while the other was burning hot. Yang Fei made up his mind to apply the cool powder to Mei Yunqing.

Yang Fei was taken aback and hurriedly supported Mei Yunqing as they made their way toward the pitch-black forest

The wet clothing clung tightly to Mei Yunqing's delicate and exquisite figure. As Yang Fei reached out, he experienced a sensation he had never felt before, especially since the person before him was the one he cherished. After a long while, Yang Fei managed to retrieve several porcelain vials from Mei Yunqing's chest, but found no source of fire. He had to search further and, upon reaching her waist, discovered a pouch. Overjoyed, he reluctantly withdrew his hands from Mei Yunqing's body.

Suddenly recalling that Mei Yunqing had previously wanted to treat her own injuries, he hurriedly opened each of the medicine bottles on the table to check. There were four porcelain bottles, all of the same size and color: two containing powder, one containing ointment, and one containing pills. He only knew that Mei Yunqing had applied the powder earlier, but he did not know which bottle it was. If he used the wrong one, it could have adverse effects.

Mei Yunqing initially intended to refuse, but her entire body felt truly weak and powerless, making it impossible for her to take the medicine herself. Moreover, Yang Fei was acting out of good intentions, so she had no choice but to let him proceed. When Yang Fei brought the medicine bowl to her lips, she slightly parted her red lips, allowing him to feed her the medicine.

Yang Fei, who was initially suspicious and paranoid, became calm upon hearing Mei Yunqing's words. He pretended to be relaxed and said, "Afraid? Where am I afraid?"

Mei Yunqing's sword strike was both swift and urgent, not only subtly drawing the force of the assailant's fierce palm wind away to either side of her body, but also transforming into several points of cold plum blossoms aimed at the vital areas of the assailant. This was indeed the signature technique of the Plum Blossom Villa, known as "Jade Hand Breaking Plum." The assailant, caught off guard, found his palm strength completely ineffective. In a moment of inattention, he could only cross his palms in defense. With a clang, it seemed that the assailant wore a steel wrist guard, as Mei Yunqing's sword could not inflict any harm upon him.

At this moment, Mei Yunqing regained consciousness and saw Yang Fei treating her wounds. Forgetting her shyness, she softly said: "Please give me the pills from the bottle with green dots, and apply the ointment from the yellow bottle on my back."

Yang Fei thought to himself that no matter how precious it was, it could not compare to her. He followed her instructions, placing the medicine bottle on the table, and brought a bowl of clear water, dissolving it in the water. With one hand, he embraced Mei Yunqing's fragrant back, supporting her as she leaned against him.

Mei Yunqing executed a move called "Blossoming Plum Blossom". This technique is the most defensive stance in the Plum Blossom Sword Technique, effortlessly neutralizing the fierce claw attack of the opponent. She could not help but ponder who in the martial world possessed such formidable claw skills.

Mei Yunqing felt her pretty face flush slightly. From childhood to adulthood, she had never encountered a man who had been so repeatedly frivolous with her. Although Yang Fei's gaze was not lecherous, it was still extremely disrespectful. Anger welled up in her heart as she scolded, "Hey, have you ever seen it or not?"

Mei Yunqing struck successfully; although her shoulder was in great pain, her heart was secretly delighted. However, at this moment, the sword had not yet been drawn, and the person behind her had already unleashed a palm strike through the air. Mei Yunqing was greatly alarmed and could not react in time, so she could only channel her energy to protect her heart meridian, intending to endure this palm strike head-on.

Meilan then said, "Miss, what exactly happened to you last night?"

Mei Yunqing had just been joking and arguing with Yang Fei, completely forgetting to check the situation inside the temple beforehand. At this moment, she gathered her energy and indeed heard a faint breath coming from behind the statue, clearly indicating the presence of an internal martial arts master. That person was straining to hold their breath; although they could not hold it for long, there was a pause of about half a moment between each inhalation and exhalation. Mei Yunqing thought to herself that this person's internal strength was likely not inferior to her own.

When the person saw Mei Yunqing with her shoulder exposed and the door wide open, he was overjoyed and, without any suspicion, reached out with his right claw to touch her shoulder. Just as he was feeling fortunate, he suddenly felt his hand slip, and the counterforce transmitted back to him. That claw, capable of shattering stone and gold, could not penetrate, while Mei Yunqing's precious sword was already at his chest. In a state of panic, he could not muster a follow-up move, only feeling a chill in his heart, followed by a scream as the sword light pierced through his back.

"Oh no," Yang Fei kicked something soft with his right foot and fell to the ground in a comical manner. Mei Yunqing could have easily reached out to catch him, but she deliberately chose not to help. When she saw him fall, covered in dirt and dust, she couldn't help but let out a chuckle.

Yang Fei said: "Of course, that day this person came to find the chief escort to entrust a delivery, and mysteriously spoke in the back hall for nearly two hours before coming out. I wonder what kind of delivery it was entrusted with"

In the blink of an eye, Mei Yunqing had leaped over a hundred zhang, following the path along which Yang Fei had fled, pursuing him closely. At the same time, she exerted her strength to dissipate the small portion of energy left within her by that person. Under normal circumstances, this would be a trivial matter, but at this moment, she was severely injured and fleeing for her life, forcing herself to suppress the pain.

Mei Yunqing was solely focused on pursuing Yang Fei, completely unaware that this path did not lead to Chang'an, but rather in the opposite direction. After running for a while, she felt her true energy waning, and her pace slowed down. At that moment, a figure burst out from the woods ahead; it was none other than Yang Fei, whom she had thought had escaped far away. A warm feeling unexpectedly arose in her heart, for Yang Fei had not abandoned her to flee alone. However, upon reflection, she realized that she was already at the end of her strength, and it would be extremely difficult for her to escape alone. Moreover, with Yang Fei, who possessed little martial skill, was it not akin to seeking death?

Yang Fei saw the two women enter the inn but did not acknowledge him. He was hesitating whether to go in or return to the Zhenwei Escort Agency when he suddenly heard Mei Lan quietly ask Mei Yunqing, "Miss, who is this person?" Although her voice was low, she deliberately made sure that Yang Fei, who was following behind them, could hear her. It was evident that Mei Lan, seeing Yang Fei's shabby attire and his apparent lack of martial skills, was not particularly courteous towards him.

Yang Fei came to his senses and saw Mei Yunqing fuming. Realizing the situation was dire, he hurriedly lowered his head to look at the corpse. Feeling a sense of dread, he did not dare to approach too closely, so he stood at a distance behind Mei Yunqing to observe.

Like a puppet washing away the bloodstains on her clothes and then drying them by the fire, an hour had passed in the blink of an eye. Mei Yunqing had fallen into a deep sleep, and Yang Fei draped her clothes over her. Unable to resist his drowsiness, he leaned against the head of the bed and fell into a deep sleep, facing Mei Yunqing's delicate face.

Yang Fei had never heard anyone refer to him as "Young Master Yang" before. Upon hearing Mei Yunqing say it with such indifference, he felt a surge of frustration in his heart. He would rather Mei Yunqing scold him as a little rascal or a petty rogue than hear her address him so politely as "Young Master Yang".

Yang Fei sat at the edge of the bed, which was merely a long wooden plank resting on two stones, quite simple in design. Mei Yunqing's pale face, somewhat frightening in its pallor, appeared lifeless. Her hair, soaked by the rain, fell loosely around her, and her curvaceous body trembled slightly. Although there was a fire burning in the room, she remained extremely cold.

Ah, Mei Yunqing spat out a mouthful of blood mist, dissipating much of the devastating force of the powerful palm strike. In the blink of an eye, her delicate body soared into the sky, carrying the corpse of the deceased, and she broke through the hole in the roof to escape.

A torrential downpour drenched the two individuals, leaving them looking like drowned rats. Perhaps Yang Fei was fortunate, as he did not take a wrong turn. Upon arriving at the foot of a small hill, he spotted a small wooden cabin. Guided by a faint light, Yang Fei found the door. He intended to knock with his foot, but applied a bit too much force, causing the door to creak open on its own.

The heavens are unpredictable, and fortunes can change in an instant; this sentiment perfectly captures the current situation. A large mass of dark clouds has obscured the bright moon in the sky, plunging the world into sudden darkness. What is even more dire is that rain, the size of soybeans, is falling sporadically. Just moments ago, the sky was filled with stars, yet now it has begun to rain. Yang Fei curses the heavens, unaware that they are actually doing him a great favor. If it weren't for the absence of moonlight and the rain covering their tracks, the enemy would have caught up with them long ago. Rain, the size of soybeans, is falling sporadically. Just moments ago, the sky was filled with stars, yet now it has begun to rain. Yang Fei curses the heavens, unaware that they are actually doing him a great favor. If it weren't for the absence of moonlight and the rain covering their tracks, the enemy would have caught up with them long ago.

Mei Yunqing took a deep breath and said, "It's nothing, shall we go?" At this moment, she just wanted to leave this place that made her feel extremely awkward as soon as possible

Indeed, there were fire seeds, fire knives, flint, and fire sticks, all present. Yang Fei lit the fire stick, and the wooden house was instantly illuminated. In one corner of the room was a bed, and not far from the bed stood a wooden table, on which there was even an oil lamp. Yang Fei was overjoyed, lit the oil lamp, and carefully stored the fire seeds, finally getting a clear view of the situation in the room

At this moment, Yang Fei could no longer afford to admire her breathtaking beauty; he hesitated whether to remove her drenched outer garment, for if she were to catch a chill, it would only worsen her injuries, which would be even more disastrous

The person in front let out a cold, sinister laugh, and with a flick of their claws, aimed to grasp Mei Yunqing's face. If they could just hinder her for a moment, they would be able to encircle her again with the person who followed, leaving her with little hope of escape.

Mei Yunqing smiled gently and said, "That was my doing, so why are you thanking me?"

Yang Fei was well aware that she was being deliberate, yet seeing her enjoyment, he did not feel any pain from the fall. He got up, brushed off the dust from his clothes, kicked at the ground, and, unable to see clearly in the dim light of the temple, could not help but ask: "Miss Mei, what is this thing?"

Yang Fei said: "Perhaps seen, perhaps not seen"

Just as he was about to pursue, a dark shadow suddenly descended. Startled, he struck out with both palms, hitting the shadow, but it felt as soft as cotton, like striking a deflated leather bag. It was evidently a person. Realizing the gravity of the situation, he looked again and found it was indeed his companion. Even if he still had a breath left after taking those two blows, he would be thoroughly dead. With a silent sigh, he rushed out through the door.

A pile of firewood rose in the center of the wooden cabin, and Yang Fei felt a slight warmth above him. He removed his damp clothes and draped them over a makeshift wooden rack. Having lived a hard life since childhood, with both parents deceased, he was naturally well-acquainted with these daily necessities.

The masked man killed by Mei Yunqing with a single sword strike possessed formidable martial arts skills. Had it not been for Mei Yunqing's exceptional prowess and deep internal strength, her shoulder bones would likely have been shattered. However, at this moment, her condition is not much better; five deep claw marks on her shoulder are almost visible to the bone, with blood continuously gushing out, rendering her flesh and blood a gruesome sight.

Mei Yunqing was also choking quite badly. Once she calmed down, she lowered her head and gazed at Yang Fei's large hand resting on her chest, her pretty face already flushed red

Mei Yunqing was momentarily taken aback; she had never before been shouted at so loudly. For some reason, her heart felt a twinge of guilt, and she gently replied, "A real man should not be so timid as you are"

The person chased out of the dilapidated temple, and Mei Yunqing had already reached beyond the line of sight. Under the moonlight of https://www.hetushu.com, Mei Yunqing, dressed in plain white garments, could not be found at that moment. He thought to himself that she must be trying to escape back to Chang'an, but she was gravely injured and could hardly flee far. With a soft grunt, he pursued in the direction of Chang'an.

Mei Yunqing no longer questioned him, lost in her own thoughts: "Why did Bai Xiangtian previously say he did not know Ding Xiaoqian? Was he afraid of attracting trouble? If so, wouldn't that only lead to greater misfortune? Bai Xiangtian is known for being cautious and prudent in his dealings, always considering the consequences. How could he not understand this? Could it be that he intends to embezzle the cargo entrusted to him by Ding Xiaoqian? That seems unlikely as well; there have been cases of cargo owners passing away in the past, yet Zhenwei Escort Agency has an excellent reputation and always delivers the cargo as promised." As she pondered, she unconsciously leaned against a wooden beam behind her.

Yang Fei noticed a dark palm print on Mei Yunqing's back, and his heart ached. He hurriedly applied the ointment carefully to her injury. By the time he finished, he was already flushed and felt dry in his mouth and throat. Mei Yunqing's soft body leaned against him, feeling like a ball of raging fire. At just eighteen years old, he was in the prime of his youth, filled with vigor and desire. Moreover, just moments ago, he had been intimate with Mei Yunqing, and she had shown no signs of resistance. At this moment, he could no longer contain himself and leaned down to kiss her luscious, red lips.

At this moment, Mei Yunqing finally saw clearly the person who had launched the sneak attack. He was wearing a black scarf on his head and a black robe, and as he moved, the strong wind caused the wax candles to flicker erratically. Without waiting for the attacker to counter, Mei Yunqing let out a delicate shout, and the light of his sword flashed as several streams of sword energy shot through the air, directly targeting the man.

Yang Fei picked up Mei Yunqing's bloodstained clothes and said softly, "I will wash them clean; otherwise, how will you go out tomorrow morning?"

Yang Fei jumped up, genuinely startled. For a moment, he completely forgot that the person behind him was Mei Yunqing, and turned around to shout loudly: "What are you doing?"

Mei Yunqing felt a sharp pain in her left hand, knowing it must be due to the earlier cut that had burst open. Gritting her silver teeth, she launched a full-force attack against the person in front of her who was using claws.

The force of this slap was considerable. Yang Fei was sent flying away from Mei Yunqing, and when he got up again, his left cheek was already swollen, with blood seeping from the corner of his mouth. He stared at Mei Yunqing in astonishment, seemingly unaware that she had been perfectly fine just moments ago, and had turned so cold-hearted so quickly.

Yang Fei reached out to touch his left cheek, and indeed the swelling had subsided, with a refreshing sensation emanating from that area. He knew that it must be Mei Yunqing who had applied medicine for him, and he repeatedly expressed his gratitude, saying: "Thank you, Miss Mei."

Mei Yunqing took a careful glance at his face and whispered, "The swelling has gone down." Remembering the events of last night, she felt a wave of embarrassment, and her charming face was instantly flushed with a rosy hue

The man chased for several miles and had reached the city wall of Chang'an, yet he did not see a trace of Mei Yunqing. He knew in his heart that she must have escaped in the opposite direction, and he could not help but curse inwardly. He was a well-known figure in the martial world, and this time he had launched a surprise attack, thinking it would be an easy capture. However, not only had he lost a companion, but he also allowed Mei Yunqing to escape. If this were to spread, it would not only greatly damage his reputation but also be difficult to explain to his superiors. He had already imagined dealing with Mei Yunqing a thousand times in his mind and then turned to rush towards the dilapidated temple.

Although Mei Yunqing could not see Yang Fei's face, she could tell from his shadow on the ground that he was trembling with fear. She secretly resented herself for allowing this coward to take advantage of her, and even more infuriating was the fact that she felt a flicker of attraction towards him. Unconsciously, she uttered a sarcastic remark: "There is no need to be afraid; there are no ghosts here"

The room fell silent as the fire in the center of the wooden house gradually burned down. Only then did Yang Fei pick up a few pieces of firewood and add them to the fire. He walked to the bedside, and Mei Yunqing initially thought he would act as he had just done, but she saw Yang Fei lift a few of his own garments from the bed and lay them over her body.

Yang Fei had lived in Chang'an for eight years and was already quite familiar with the surrounding terrain. He vaguely remembered that not far away there was a small hut used by a hunter for hunting, and he ran wildly in that direction based on his memory

With a loud shout, the person pushed forward with both palms, and a fierce gust of wind surged forth, extinguishing the candlelight. Ding Xiaoqian's corpse flew towards Mei Yunqing, and then the palms crossed, transforming into claws. The figure bent as if a clay ball was being shot towards Mei Yunqing, with the claw aimed directly at her throat.

At this moment, the inn is cold and desolate, with no guests present, only the innkeeper Sun dozing at the counter and a servant cleaning. Mei Yunqing turned to glance at Yang Fei and saw the look of inferiority in his eyes, which made her feel quite sympathetic. She scolded Mei Lan, saying: "Xiao Lan, you must not be rude to Young Master Yang. If it weren't for Young Master Yang saving me last night, you probably wouldn't be able to see me now."

Mei Yunqing's delicate body trembled violently, as a disorienting sensation came from her ears, an inexplicable tingling feeling. Yang Fei's newly grown stubble brushed against her left cheek, making her feel as if she had been conquered by a man. The last remnants of her modesty and shyness had long been cast aside, and all she desired was to quietly lie in this man's embrace, allowing him to cherish and protect her

Mei Yunqing said lightly: "It's nothing, just a few minor injuries. A bit of meditation will suffice. Xiaolan, please escort Young Master Yang back first." After saying this, she turned around and bowed to Yang Fei, saying: "Thank you."

On the second morning, Yang Fei woke up, not because he had slept enough, but because the morning fog was quite heavy, the fire in the room had gone out, and he was only wearing a pair of shorts, having been awakened by the cold.

Mei Yunqing watched his lonely and dejected figure, feeling a twinge of reluctance in her heart. She wanted to call out and keep him, but felt it inappropriate, so she said to Mei Lan, "Xiao Lan, please escort him back to the Zhenwei Escort Agency." At this moment, her mind was in turmoil; recalling what had happened last night, she felt a hint of affection for Yang Fei, yet overwhelmingly disliked him. Although deep down she hoped never to see him again, there was an unacknowledged desire to see him once more.

Later, that person let out a cold laugh and gathered all his internal energy, striking firmly at Mei Yunqing's back. He thought to himself, with all the power of my lifelong Yin-Yang Palm, you will either die or be left with half your life; what a pity for such a delicate and beautiful woman.

Yang Fei shook his head, following Mei Yunqing as they walked several dozen zhang away. Suddenly, he heard her ask, "Do you remember where my sword fell?"

Mei Yunqing gently trembled, coming to her senses, and hurriedly picked up her bodice to awkwardly cover her chest. She intended to rise and break free, but heard Yang Hetu say: "You lean on my shoulder, and I can apply the ointment on your back."

Mei Yunqing said: "Forget it, I will send someone to look for you later. You have been busy all night and must be tired."

Yang Fei first poured out some of the powder and applied it to the edges of a wound. This medicinal powder was remarkably effective, and the wound quickly began to scab over. He felt a sense of reassurance and poured out a little more than half to apply to the five claw marks, and the bleeding immediately stopped.

Mei Yunqing took a final breath of strength, moving through the forest alongside Yang Fei. The thorns were everywhere in the woods, occasionally snagging the hem of Mei Yunqing's dress. Coupled with the dim light, their progress was further slowed. After more than half an hour, the moonlight ahead became bright, and they had already reached the edge of that grove.

Yang Fei hurriedly withdrew his hand and stammered, "Miss Mei, yes, I am sorry." It would have been better if he had said nothing; by uttering these words, he only deepened the embarrassment, and Mei Yunqing truly wished she could find a hole to hide in.

Yang Fei felt a surge of anxiety; if it were a minor injury, he could still manage to treat it, but with Mei Yunqing's injury being so severe, he truly did not know what to do.

At the moment of self-pity, a forceful push came, and Yang Fei landed steadily on the ground, without even a scratch on his skin, and was already a hundred zhang away from the dilapidated temple. It turned out that Mei Yunqing had skillfully exerted a combination of forces in this push, including a forward thrust and a sideways push, and of course, there was also an intention to frighten Yang Fei; otherwise, how could he have been thrown so high.

Yang Fei, momentarily unable to hear clearly, was suddenly startled by a flash of fire. Upon seeing the corpse of Ding Xiaoqquan on the ground, he was taken aback and turned to flee. It was the first time in his life that he had encountered a dead body, and naturally, he was extremely frightened. In that instant, his only thought was to escape as quickly as possible, the farther the better. However, just as he ran out of the dilapidated temple, he remembered that Mei Yunqing was still inside. When he turned back to look, he saw her, having somehow found a candle, seriously examining the corpse.

Yang Fei silently followed behind her, turned around to close the door properly, and quietly said a few words. Mei Yunqing looked quite puzzled and asked, "What are you talking about?"

Yang Fei felt embarrassed, realizing that he had indeed been too timid. Upon hearing Mei Yunqing's soft and gentle words, his resolve had already softened halfway, and the anger had long since vanished. Gathering his courage, he squatted down to closely examine that lifeless face. Suddenly, he slapped his thigh and exclaimed excitedly: "I have seen it, I have seen it"

Mei Yunqing understood the implication of her words and, recalling the events of last night, felt a faint blush rise to her cheeks

Mei Yunqing knew that the martial arts of the person behind her were half a notch higher than her own. If it were a one-on-one fight, she might be able to use strategy to win. However, given the current situation, it was absolutely impossible. If she hesitated even slightly, she would surely lose her life tonight. As her thoughts raced, she exchanged a few moves, her delicate body swaying, gathering strength in her shoulders, revealing a flaw as she faced the person's dual claws.

Yang Fei felt the jade-like body in his arms become scorching hot, and his heartbeat quickened. Unable to resist, he lowered his head to kiss the tender and smooth face of Mei Yunqing. However, just at that moment, Mei Yunqing happened to raise her head, and this kiss landed on her earlobe, causing his cheek to press against her delicate face.

After a long while, gusts of cold wind swept in through the door. Yang Fei got up, closed the door, and found his body trembling slightly from the cold. He walked to the bedside and gently touched Mei Yunqing's delicate body, only to feel that she was also shivering lightly. He thought to himself that it would be best to start a fire right away; otherwise, it would be quite disastrous if the beauty turned into an ice beauty.

Mei Yunqing carefully observed the situation in the temple. The temple was quite simple; two wooden beams supported a roof that seemed on the verge of collapse. Behind the incense altar stood a mud platform, about a person's height, on which the Earth God was enshrined. Due to years of neglect, the gold paint on the Earth God had mostly worn away, revealing the clay underneath. Behind the Earth God was a mud wall, and if someone were to hide here, they would have to do so in the narrow gap between the statue and the wall, with no other place to conceal themselves.

Yang Fei said: "I am grateful to the owner of this house; otherwise, we would have had to sleep outdoors last night"

He had no means to ignite a fire; he only knew that Mei Yunqing carried embers with her, yet he was unaware of where she concealed them. He called out twice, "Miss Mei," but received no response. After a moment of daze, he softly murmured, "Miss Mei, Miss Mei, it is not my intention to take advantage of you; it is truly a matter of necessity, and I apologize for the offense." As he spoke, he began to explore the delicate form of Mei Yunqing.

Although Mei Yunqing was expressing her gratitude to him for the first time, Yang Fei felt no joy upon hearing her words. Mei Yunqing's tone was cold, as if she were addressing a complete stranger. Disappointment filled his heart, and he took another deep look at her, only to see that her gaze held no affection for him, as if he were a dead man. It was hard to believe that he had just saved her life. At that moment, he felt both disappointed and heartbroken, and in a dispirited manner, he said: "No need, Miss Mei, Miss Xiaolan, I will return by myself." He had not even entered the door, and after speaking, without waiting for the two women to respond, he turned and left.

Mei Yunqing was unaware of that person's intentions, nor did she know whether that person was an enemy or a friend. As her thoughts raced, she lightly coughed and pulled the dazed Yang Fei, saying: "Let us go." Before her words were finished, they had already reached the entrance of the dilapidated temple.

Mei Yunqing said: "Who is the owner of this wooden house? I really need to thank him properly"

Yang Fei thought to himself that Mei Yunqing truly did not wish for his life, feeling grateful in his heart. He got up and intended to turn back to help, but upon hearing the fierce sounds of fighting from within the temple, he realized that returning would be futile and only a burden. As the master of a manor, Mei Yunqing possessed exceptional martial skills; if she could not defeat her opponents, at least she could escape. At this moment, it was best for him to heed Mei Yunqing's advice and flee quickly. Having made up his mind, he hurried down the small path in front of the temple. Not far ahead, he spotted a grove of trees and, with a sudden thought, concealed himself within the forest, planning to wait for Mei Yunqing to emerge so they could escape together.

Mei Yunqing nonchalantly said: "A dead body." As she spoke, she took out a fire stick from her bag.

In the deep of night, Mei Yunqing went to great lengths to bring him here, precisely to verify whether Ding Xiaoqian had ever been to the Zhenwei Escort Agency. It was evident that Yang Fei remained calm and unperturbed, which infuriated her. In a fit of anger, she pushed Yang Fei forward towards her.

Mei Yunqing's vital energy was completely exhausted, her limbs felt weak and numb, and she could no longer hold on, fainting away.

Yang Fei touched from head to toe, and then from toe back to head. Although he was compelled to do so, it was clearly an act of taking advantage. If Mei Yun were to awaken at this moment, she would likely have already succumbed to shame and anger.

Yang Fei approached her and whispered, "Mei, Miss Mei, are you alright?"

Yang Fei nodded and said, "It seems I have seen it before"

Yang Fei pondered for a long time, placing Mei Yunqing's belongings on the table. He then took off his nearly dried clothes and spread them out on the bed. Gently, he supported Mei Yunqing, leaning her against his chest, and extended his trembling hands to remove her wet clothes that clung to her body.

In the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged dozens of moves. Mei Yunqing felt a sense of certainty in her heart. Although this person's internal strength was greater than her own, his martial skills were inferior. She believed that within a hundred moves, she would surely be able to defeat him; otherwise, that masked man would not have chosen to engage in such a direct confrontation.

The current situation is truly too embarrassing, and for the first time in her life, she is so intimately close to a man. Her entire body feels weak and numb, as if she is about to melt into Yang Fei. She can only gently close her beautiful eyes, avoiding the gaze of Yang Fei, which is filled with tenderness.

Meilan turned around and snorted, saying: "I asked the young lady, why should I need your answer." She reacted this way because Yang Fei had interrupted Meiyunqing's words.

The room was shrouded in darkness. Yang Fei called out several times, and seeing that no one responded, he unceremoniously made his way inside. He found a wooden bed and placed Mei Yunqing upon it. At that moment, he was completely exhausted and fell to the ground, unable to rise again.

With a delicate reprimand, Mei Yunqing transformed her sword into scattered cold plum blossoms. In the darkness, it turned into a sky full of cold light. As her left palm struck out, she had already exchanged a palm with the person who came later, her graceful figure also floated up with the force of the palm.

Revealing a pair of long, elegant legs, Mei Yunqing was left with only a not-so-wet belly band and undergarments. Yang Fei's heart raced wildly, almost unable to restrain himself from leaning down to kiss her. He could only secretly gather his thoughts and lay Mei Yunqing down on his dried clothes, having put in considerable effort.

Yang Fei thought to himself: You are the owner of the estate, of course you can send someone to look for me; it is only a small ruffian from the Zhenwei Escort Agency like me who would think to seek you out personally

Yang Fei said: "The day before yesterday." He recalled again, saying: "In the afternoon of the day before yesterday, you saw a black mole the size of a yellow bean under his right ear. It is rare for someone to have such a large mole in such a prominent position. My cousin Fu Jun even talked to me about it for half an hour.

However, Mei Yunqing, who was in front of him, seemed to have disappeared. He hurriedly got up, but his hands and feet felt numb, and he almost fell. When he finally pushed the door open and stepped outside, he saw Mei Yunqing standing in front of the house. Upon seeing him, she unexpectedly let out a soft laugh.

Yang Fei, aware of his humble status, did not take offense and replied, "I am Yang Fei, from the Zhenwei Escort Agency"

Mei Yunqing knew early on that he would not go far. Seeing him turn back, she felt quite pleased and smiled at him, saying: "Have you seen this person?"

In a state of utter confusion, she could only gently pat Mei Yunqing's jade-like arm. After being tossed around for quite some time, Mei Yunqing had begun to regain some awareness. With a light pat, she immediately stirred awake, opening her beautiful eyes, only to find Yang Fei completely naked before her. Looking at herself, although she wasn't fully exposed, her condition was hardly any better. She reached out, intending to slap Yang Fei, but her arm felt weak and powerless. Overcome with shame and anger, she fainted again.

Suddenly, the situation changed dramatically; with a loud "bang," a large hole was broken in the roof. A figure, carrying mud and tiles, charged towards Mei Yunqing with immense force. Instantly, a fierce wind swept through the dilapidated temple, the temperature rose sharply, and the bright moon in the sky generously poured its light through the broken roof, scorching like the blazing sun at noon.

Mei Yunqing waited for a while, and seeing that Yang Fei still remained silent, she grew impatient and asked again: "Have you seen it before or not?"

It is approximately ten li from here to Chang'an City. The two of them found the official road and flagged down a horse-drawn carriage returning to the city. After a short while, they had already returned to the city. The carriage stopped right in front of the inn. Just as they got off, Mei Lan, who had been waiting inside, came out to greet them. Her face was haggard, clearly showing that she had not slept all night. She anxiously asked, "Miss, where did you go all night? I went to that dilapidated temple to look for you, but all I found were broken bricks and tiles. I was truly worried that something had happened to you. I was really scared to death."

At this moment, he was filled with the warmth and fragrance of soft jade, gazing at the delicate face resting softly on his shoulder. Although his heart raced intensely, he knew that this was not the time for fanciful thoughts, so he embraced Mei Yunqing and walked out of the woods

With the moonlight re-emerging from behind the clouds, Yang Fei noticed that not only had the door of the dilapidated temple vanished, but one wall had also been breached, allowing countless beams of moonlight to pour in. A gust of cold wind swept through, producing a mournful sound, creating an atmosphere that was quite eerie and terrifying

Mei Yunqing felt as if she had suddenly emerged from an icy world into a blazing furnace, and her discomfort was self-evident. As she gradually regained her composure, she barely managed to fend off the subsequent onslaught from her opponent. A chill suddenly gripped her heart, for that person had already appeared like a ghost behind her. Two scorching waves of palm energy surged from behind, while the person in front showed no mercy, launching a pincer attack with claws from both directions. In an instant, the front claws and rear palms sealed off all her escape routes.

Yang Fei's words seemed to possess an infinite charm, causing Mei Yunqing to obediently rest her head on his shoulder. The two were bare and facing each other, their skin touching, perhaps the closest intimacy of any couple in the world could not surpass this

Along the way, Yang Feisheng was afraid of provoking Mei Yunqing, not daring to utter a word. He obediently followed her for the duration of half a stick of incense towards the southwest, and only then did they come across a dilapidated temple

Yang Fei was greatly shocked, realizing at that moment the severity of Mei Yunqing's injury, which far exceeded his expectations. He could see that the wound on her shoulder was continuously oozing blood, not only staining her clothing in front a deep red, but also splattering onto Yang Fei's own clothes

Although Yang Fei was treating injuries last night, there was a hint of taking advantage of others' misfortunes. Upon hearing Mei Yunqing's words, he felt quite embarrassed. He noticed that the hem of her dress, which had been torn by a branch yesterday, had been cleverly trimmed, and wearing it gave her a unique charm. He couldn't help but praise, "This outfit has been altered a bit, yet it remains so beautiful."

Meilan exclaimed, "Miss, were you with that foul Young Master Yang last night?" She initially intended to say 'foul man,' but upon seeing Mei Yunqing's cold expression, she swallowed her words and referred to him as Young Master Yang instead. However, she thought to herself that if this were to get out, it would likely greatly damage the young lady's reputation.

Yang Fei finally managed to shift his gaze from her jade-like legs and bosom to her left shoulder, which was simply shocking and unbearable to look at

The force exerted by Mei Yunqing was immense, propelling Yang Fei through the temple gate as if he were riding on clouds. He soared diagonally upward, reaching a height of about ten zhang before finally plummeting down. Terrified, he cried out, convinced that this was truly the end. In his heart, Mei Yunqing must have been filled with extreme hatred towards him; ostensibly wanting him to escape, in reality, she was endangering his life. Falling from such a height of over ten zhang, he would either die or be left severely injured, leaving him to wonder how he could possibly live on afterward.

Mei Yunqing no longer possessed that noble and elegant demeanor; her pale face, devoid of color, appeared even more wan and feeble under the moonlight. She extended her right hand to rest on Yang Fei's shoulder, struggling to support her swaying delicate body, and whispered, "Hurry, someone is chasing us, let's go through the woods." After saying this, she could not help but spout another mouthful of fresh blood.

"Sword." Yang Fei, in a fluster last night, hardly paid attention to these trivial matters, speculating: "Perhaps it is in the woods ahead." He then volunteered, saying: "Why don't we go in and have a look."

Yang Fei felt a chill run through his body, realizing that he was only wearing a pair of shorts. He hurried back into the house and closed the door. Upon seeing his clothes piled at the head of the bed, he quickly got dressed and then stepped outside.

Before the dilapidated temple had been breached, a gust of palm wind surged towards her from behind. Mei Yunqing had already gathered her energy in preparation, so how could she be unaware? With a sharp cry, she urged, "Run quickly." With her left hand, she forcefully pushed Yang Fei forward, hoping only that he would escape as far as possible. With a wave of her right hand, her sword was drawn from her waist and leapt into her grasp. Without even looking, she thrust it backward.

Mei Yunqing subtly showed a hint of joy and asked: "When?"

Yang Fei was about to untie it when he suddenly heard Mei Yunqing let out a soft exclamation, which startled him and made him retract his hand. After a moment of silence, seeing that she was completely still, he finally mustered the courage to remove the waist pouch as if he were a thief.

Yang Fei noticed that Mei Yunqing's words were tinged with shyness, her face flushed with a rosy hue, and he felt a great joy in his heart. He picked up the medicine bottle that had just been applied to his wound and examined it closely. Indeed, there was a round blue dot at the bottom of the porcelain bottle. He couldn't help but secretly admire Mei Yunqing's cleverness. Finding the bottle with the green dot, he poured out a snow-white pill that emitted a faint fragrance. Fearing that the potency might not be sufficient, Yang Fei poured out two more pills. He intended to pour out a few more, but he heard Mei Yunqing say, "That's enough, this medicine is very precious." Finding the bottle with the green dot, he poured out a snow-white pill that emitted a faint fragrance. Fearing that the potency might not be sufficient, Yang Fei poured out two more pills. He intended to pour out a few more, but he heard Mei Yunqing say, "That's enough, this medicine is very precious."

Yang Fei gathered his remaining strength, cradling Mei Yunqing in his arms, carefully protecting her to prevent any sharp branches from injuring her delicate skin, as he made his way toward the light outside the forest

The force was exceedingly strange; upon entering the body, it was intensely scorching. Once it had entered, it transformed into a cold current, unexpectedly penetrating Mei Yunqing's lungs. By the time it was resolved, it had consumed nearly half of her internal energy.

That person suddenly turned around, their entire body covered in blood, resembling a vengeful spirit. The sound of clashing metal echoed, parrying her sword strikes one by one, conjuring a flurry of claw shadows, transforming defense into offense, and launching an attack towards Mei Yunqing

Yang Fei observed her deep in thought, her expression shifting between anger and annoyance, captivating to the extreme. He had already become entranced, momentarily forgetting to speak.

Mei Yunqing's sharply protruding chest rose and fell rapidly with her breath. Upon seeing the disheveled Yang Fei, she initially felt a twinge of regret, but it was soon replaced by a sense of vengeful pleasure and an inexplicable emptiness

Mei Yunqing leaned against the wooden beam, and suddenly her delicate body trembled as she looked at the seven small holes in the beam. These were caused by the Seven Swords Pursuing the Soul technique previously used by Nangong Bo. With a single sword strike, Nangong Bo unleashed his technique from beside Ding Xiaoqian's corpse, slicing through over a zhang, with all seven swords piercing into the wooden beam. At this moment, the corpse was merely a step away from the wooden beam, already positioned before the incense table. Mei Yunqing's heart sank; could it be that in the short hour since she left and returned, someone had come again and even moved the corpse? Perhaps the visitor had hidden upon seeing her.

Yang Fei nearly collapsed to the ground, as Ding Xiaoqian's lifeless, pale, and terrifyingly colorless face flashed just inches before him, scaring him to the point where he had lost his senses. At that moment, he heard Mei Yun's cold and icy voice say: "Look at it more carefully."

Mei Yunqing asked again: "Is it within the Zhenwei Escort Agency?"

A thought suddenly flashed through Mei Yunqing's mind: No, no, I absolutely cannot marry such a man. As this thought arose, her internal strength seemed to recover somewhat. She exerted herself to raise her right hand and with a "slap," struck Yang Fei's cheek.

Mei Yunqing said lightly: "I am perfectly fine. This matter is quite lengthy to discuss; let us talk more inside."

This wooden cabin serves as a temporary shelter for nearby hunters to rest and avoid the rain. Inside, all the necessary pots, bowls, and utensils are available, and in one corner, there is a large water tank and a bucket filled with clean water. Behind the door, there is a pile of dry firewood. Yang Fei was overjoyed, as he was unsure where to find something to start a fire.

Yang Fei just saw Mei Yunqing's gaze, and he felt that her eyes were filled with mockery. She was the mistress of a manor, while he was merely a small thug from the Zhenwei Escort Agency, foolishly dreaming of marrying her. This truly echoed Fu Jun's words: a toad wishing to eat swan meat. The more he thought about it, the more heartbroken he became, and for a moment, he was utterly despondent.

Mei Yunqing exclaimed, "Why does it seem like I have seen this before?"

Meilan felt that the young lady was acting rather strangely today, but she did not inquire further. She simply acknowledged and followed the instructions to catch up with Yang Fei, who had not yet walked far away

Yang Fei did not dare to be too presumptuous. Remembering that Mei Yunqing had previously asked him to apply medicine, he gently said: "You are also injured on your back; let me help you apply the medicine"

Yang Fei followed Mei Yunqing into the dilapidated temple, feeling a sense of trepidation. He truly could not understand why Mei Yunqing had brought him to this desolate place in the middle of the night. Was it merely for a breath of fresh air? This was certainly not the season for that, and besides, it was clear that Mei Yunqing had no such intention. Despite his fear, he could not let his beloved see it. He gently tugged at Mei Yunqing's collar and whispered, "Miss Mei, what is the purpose of our visit here?"

Mei Yunqing did not respond to him. Returning to the room, she remarked, "It is getting late; we should return to Chang'an."