Chapter Nine, The Unfillable Grievance

Four individuals swaggered through the streets and alleys, flirting and bantering with beautiful women, finding great amusement in their antics

The two individuals lay entwined, their bodies intertwined, savoring the harmonious essence following their union.

Xiang Shaolong felt a deep sense of guilt and uttered an apology.

As those warriors saw Xiang Shaolong rush in, they all jumped up and drew their long swords, while Lian Jin remained composed, a hint of disdainful smile at the corner of his mouth, coldly watching him

Xiang Shaolong secretly cursed in his heart, yet spoke with neither arrogance nor servility: "What Shaolong practices is the art of killing, not the skills of a game for sparring and competition"

A loud shout echoed from the door as Tao Fang and more than ten warriors rushed in, forcing the people from the Jin faction to retreat to the other side, creating a standoff between the two opposing forces

Li Shan and the others changed their expressions, clearly indicating that this young master Yuan was not to be underestimated, and even they could not provoke him

Regardless of the hardships, he is determined to use the most ruthless methods, resorting to any means necessary to bring about the demise of Shao Yuanjun, in order to clear the grievances of the pitiful Su Nu.

Does he really believe that he can steadily defeat Lian Jin without any rivals

The three of them changed color together

Only her enchanting body can provide him with a refuge from the harsh era where power and force reign supreme

For the first time in his life, the flames of vengeance blazed fiercely.

Continuing to wield the sword with ease, he executed the Mozi sword technique passed down from the grand master Mozi, striking fiercely against the sword of the warrior attacking from the right side

Xiang Shaolong felt a pang of sorrow in his heart and let out a sigh

Xiang Shaolong's eyes flashed with a fierce light as he stared at him without any hesitation, causing even someone as domineering as Young Master Sun to feel a chill in his heart

The beautiful maiden's face flushed, and she hurriedly lowered her head, though she was no longer as frightened. In a moment, she glanced at him again, unable to suppress her racing heart, secretly thinking how handsome this man was, and what was most remarkable were his eyes, which were filled with righteous spirit. Heaven! Why did I have to encounter such a man in this place?

Tao Fang looked at him for a while, then suddenly laughed and said: "You are truly a person of deep feelings and strong loyalty, but this matter has nothing to do with you. Among the twelve servants, Wu Hei and I are the two most trusted by the master, and we have always been like fire and water. This time, Wu Hei has been spreading rumors, saying that I fabricated the story of you single-handedly resisting eight hundred bandits because I lost over a hundred horses. Now, being forced by the master, I have no choice but to use you as a flag for the sword sacrifice to Lian Jin. Shao Long must fight for my honor in this matter." He then laughed and said: "Just now, you took down nearly ten guards of Young Master Sun in front of Lian Jin all by yourself. This is not a bad thing at all, as this incident will surely reach the master's ears, and it will make him see you in a new light. As long as you win against Lian Jin again, that will be the time for you and me to rule the world together."

The matchmaker had a favorable impression of Xiang Shaolong and sighed, saying: "Master Xiang is indeed a heroic figure, but is it truly worth it to completely sacrifice one's future and life like this? All that Lord Shaoyuan desires is the chastity of Su Nu. Wouldn't it be the same for Master Xiang to come find Su Nu later to fulfill their romantic dreams together?"

Xiang Shaolong looked at the slender fingers of Su Nu, resembling jade onions, and listened to the indulgent banter of Li Shan and the other three couples. His chest was filled with an unquenchable resentment. He leaned close to Su Nu's ear and said softly: "Rest assured! I will never disrespect you like they do. We are merely chatting and drinking, alright?"

With a clear sound of "clang!", the shadow of the sword of Jin vanished, contracting and expanding, transforming into another ball of sword flowers, chasing like a meteor.

The matchmaker cast a flirtatious glance at Xiang Shaolong, approached him from behind, leaned in, pressing her soft bosom against his back, and whispered between them: "Master Xiang is the first esteemed guest of the Pure Maiden. If it weren't for Master Li and the others presenting Lord Wu's signboard, I wouldn't have allowed this well-behaved daughter to accompany Master Xiang without proper training. Considering this, if the Pure Maiden has offended you in any way, Master Xiang must be magnanimous and forgive us." She smiled and left.

Shu Er raised her delicate face, adorned with pear blossoms and rain, and after giving him a deep glance, she hurried into the inner residence

The maiden cried out, "No!" as she desperately clung to Xiang Shaolong, weeping, evoking a deep sense of compassion for her delicate beauty

Wu Shixuan and Tao Fang exchanged a glance, both perplexed by his joy and confidence

Half-naked, Shu Er climbed up and cried as she threw herself into Xiang Shaolong's arms

Xiang Shaolong also felt a stir in his heart, but recalling his promise, he hurriedly suppressed his desire

Lian Jin intentionally brushed past and smiled, saying: "Your swordsmanship is quite good, but it lacks refinement; being able to withstand ten of my strikes is already quite remarkable." He then strode away.

The primary task at hand is to establish one's own position within the Wu family, as there is no other way forward.

Lian Jin's eyes flashed with surprise as he stood up tall, positioning himself in front of the young master. When Shu Er saw Xiang Shaolong coming to her rescue, she, fueled by an unknown surge of strength, pushed the young master down, crying as she ran towards Xiang Shaolong

Xiang Shaolong had never seen anyone more extravagant than himself

Lian Jin extended his foot to lift her, and she immediately fell to the ground, being stepped on by Lian Jin on her bare back, unable to move any longer

Lian Jin and more than ten other warriors sat nearby, smiling as they watched this appalling act of violence

Xiang Shaolong pondered why prostitutes are referred to as the oldest profession, with the same scenes and methods recurring over time. However, he wondered why, when he used to frequent bars and engage with hostesses, he never considered the moral implications, yet now felt a vague sense of discomfort about it

Xiang Shaolong's fist struck the table, splintering the wood into fragments, and his rage surged like molten lava

Seeing this, Xiang Shaolong was so enraged that he nearly breathed fire. With a sweeping sword strike, he deflected the five swords that were attacking him. Then, as the sword transformed, two more individuals were immediately splattered with blood and fell back.

The four individuals, feeling disinterested at this point, hurriedly departed

Li Shan stood up, holding the woman in his arms, and gasped, "The spring night is fleeting; why don't we each go to our rooms to enjoy ourselves? Brother Xiang, do remember the appointment with Master Tao tonight"

Li Shan and Han Dong exchanged a helpless glance and explained to Xiang Shaolong: "Shaoyuan Jun is the son of Pingyuan Jun, who passed away last year. All of his vast estate has fallen into his hands, and even our master must be wary of him. The king also shows him favor out of respect for Pingyuan Jun. If we were to clash with him, not to mention whether we could defeat his swordsmen, even if we did win, our master would not spare us. Brother Xiang, we did not anticipate such a disheartening situation."

Li Shan smiled and said: "The beauties of Handan are famously easy to approach. With Brother Xiang's talents, all it takes is a little gesture, and I guarantee the beauties will line up waiting for him to choose."

Xiang Shaolong furrowed his brows, beginning to understand why Yuan Zong wished to change this world. Alas! But what ability do I have to fulfill his dream? At most, I can only offer a bit more tenderness, compassion, and love to these unfortunate women who have fallen into the plight of prostitution. With this thought in mind, he had already embraced the three into a luxurious mansion.

Xiang Shaolong embraced the burning and helpless body of Su Nu, his blood surging, and coldly snorted: "One person does the deed, one person bears the consequences. You all leave immediately, and it will be as if nothing has happened."

The modest maiden shyly remarked: "Perhaps it is due to their influence that my desires have been stirred, or maybe I have fallen in love with the young master; I am unable to distinguish between the two!"

Lian Jin shouted, "You have some nerve! How dare you be disrespectful to Young Master Ting Wei? Kneel before me."

Xiang Shaolong looked at Li Shan and the others, only to see that these three men were using both their hands and mouths, performing various indecent actions on the woman in their arms, completely engrossed. He苦笑道: "Right now, I just want to leave and do not wish to witness the tragic events happening here."

Xiang Shaolong was taken aback

Xiang Shaolong did not carry his wooden sword with him due to its weight, but how could he, having undergone the most scientific and rigorous training, be afraid of these people? Taking advantage of the opponent's unsteady formation, he charged into the group of warriors, striking one of them in a vulnerable spot where the long sword could not reach, delivering a heavy punch to the opponent's chest, and swiftly seizing the long sword from him.

A slender man in his forties came out to greet, saying: "Welcome, Master Xiang, to your esteemed presence. Gentlemen, please proceed to the private room on the second floor."

Only the high crown atop the head is embedded with two rows of twelve similarly sized purple jewels, sparkling brilliantly

Lian Jin suddenly leaned over and whispered a few words in Wu Tingwei's ear

Lian Jin let out a cold laugh, yet did not pursue.

The matchmaker smiled before speaking: "Tell me, has any woman ever deceived you? Have you ever encountered a man more handsome and affectionate than Master Xiang?"

This wealthy merchant, with a corpulent figure, lay sprawled on the couch like a mountain of flesh, nestled in the embrace of a beautiful woman who was attending to his ear cleaning, while four other women meticulously groomed his fingernails and toenails. Such an extravagant display would likely befit even an emperor.

The maiden hung her head in silence

At the sound of "bang!", the man's mouth was split open, and before the long sword even hit the ground, he had already received a kick to his lower region, letting out a terrible scream as he fell to his knees

Xiang Shaolong understood that Lian Jin had received the news and wanted to compete with him in swordsmanship before King Zhao Xiaocheng, so he was unwilling to engage in combat with him at this time

The text appears to be a series of symbols or placeholders and does not contain any translatable content.

Xiang Shaolong smiled gently at her

At that moment, a knock on the door was heard, and Chun Ying's voice came through, saying: "Master Xiang, Mr. Tao has sent us to assist you with your bath and changing of clothes"

Yuan Zong is correct; only by unifying all nations can we have the opportunity to change everything and bring forth the ideal laws.

Wu Shixiu fixed his gaze on him for a moment, then suddenly laughed heartily, saying: "What an interesting child! The king has always wished for a Zhao person to humiliate Lian Jin, to restore a bit of face for our Zhao state. Good! Let me, Wu Shixiu, arrange a banquet. If you can defeat Lian Jin in front of the king, I will return you the Tingfang family."

Wu Shi sneered and said, "What is the difference between the two?"

Stop!

Two samurai let out a sinister laugh and reached out to block him

The maiden exclaimed, "Ah!" her charming face drained of color, her whole body trembling, resembling a lamb awaiting slaughter

Just as I was about to step out the door, the matchmaker entered with a sorrowful expression and said: "Esteemed gentlemen, I find myself in a very difficult situation!"

Young Master Sun approached Lian Jin, his eyes gleaming with malice. Ignoring Tao Fang, he pointed at Xiang Shaolong and said: "What are you? It is nothing for me to toy with your woman."

Li Shan and others responded with laughter, while the matchmaker swayed her ample hips and walked out

Shu Er sat up happily and said, "This time, let Shu Er serve you wholeheartedly"

Tao Fangpei smiled and said: "https://mhetushu.com is just a misunderstanding, Shaolong probably doesn't know that it is Young Master Sun who has come!"

The matchmaker cast a somewhat disdainful glance at Li Shanyi, then turned to Xiang Shaolong and said: "I do not know who leaked the news, but Lord Shaoyuan has just arrived at the palace brothel with more than ten family generals, specifically demanding that Su Nu be handed over to him immediately"

Shu Er set aside her worries and resolutely said, "If anything were to happen to Xiang Lang, I would certainly follow him to the underworld and sacrifice myself for him."

Xiang Shaolong was overjoyed and secretly thought that if he did not beat Lian Jin into another black-faced deity, the three characters of Xiang Shaolong would have to be written in reverse from then on

The maiden of great wonder actively wrapped her arms around his neck and said, "Young master, you seem to be preoccupied with thoughts!"

Xiang Shaolong felt a pang of reluctance in his heart; just as he was about to speak, Hong Niangzi pushed Su Nu into his arms, making her sit on his lap

Tao Fang also advised from the side, "Quickly apologize to Young Master Sun!"

Tao Fang is eager to offer his advice

Wu's expression softened slightly, yet he still appeared unsatisfied, articulating each word: "I cannot simply instruct you to kill a few of my subordinates to ascertain whether you truly possess genuine skills"

The matchmaker sighed and said: "No one in Handan can provoke Lord Shao Yuan now, it is only to blame for the beauty of Su Nu being too famous. Su Nu, come with me!"

The sound of jingling bells echoed from the corridor outside the curtain, followed by a fragrant breeze. Three young ladies, clad only in light veils and possessing considerable beauty, entered with smiling faces, seating themselves in the laps of Li Shan and the other two. However, their flirtatious glances were directed towards Xiang Shaolong, clearly indicating that their affections were more inclined towards him.

Xiang Shaolong was feeling a surge of anger. He was not a meek person, but due to the circumstances, he had endured the bullying of the tyrant Shao Yuanjun. Now, thinking that someone had the audacity to come and provoke him, he charged into the room like a mad tiger

Lian Jin swiftly kicked aside Shu Er, and with a flick of his hand, drew his long sword from its sheath. Suddenly, the sword's brilliance surged forth, aiming directly at Xiang Shaolong.

The yellow robe draped over the body is adorned with dazzling pearls, exuding luxury and elegance, while the belt at the waist sparkles with the interplay of gold leaf and silver flakes

This is an era where power is the only principle; only by riding on the heads of others can one dominate their own fate and protect the women they love

The platform is elevated three stories high, with eighteen warriors arranged on either side of the steps below. For the faint-hearted, merely witnessing such a display is enough to instill fear and despair.

Xiang Shaolong calmed down, secretly astonished that he was about to be cursed by Tao Fang. Little did he know that after dismissing his subordinates, Tao Fang kindly sat down beside him and sighed, saying: "Now my fate is tied to yours. If you lose to Lian Jin, I will have no face left to stay in the Wu family."

Others may still hold the ideals of loyalty to the monarch and patriotism, willingly sacrificing their lives, but Xiang Shaolong would never blindly obey anyone. This is because he had no connection to this era at all until more than half a year ago

When Xiao Long jumped up, he was already face to face with Lian Jin, their gazes clashing.

The maiden was momentarily taken aback, and finally raised her head to look at the strange man who was in close contact with her.

Returning to the other pavilion, Xiang Shaolong had just intended to sneak away to find Shu Er, when he was intercepted at the main entrance by Li Shan and two other particularly congenial warriors, who forcibly pulled him away, claiming they wanted to welcome him.

Xiang Shaolong did not expect the opponent's swordsmanship to be so exquisite, showcasing the essence of Mozi's sword technique, transforming skill into clumsiness, and striking out with a single sword.

Li Shan and others stared wide-eyed, greedily gazing at the magnificent scenery of her figure wrapped in sheer fabric, with its undulating peaks and valleys

Four people sat down on the floor in the parlor. After the maid and the librarian brought in food and wine, a woman named Hong Niang's mother entered. Although she was somewhat past her prime, she had made a deliberate effort to dress up, and with her well-maintained figure and captivating charm, she remained quite alluring and enticing. Upon seeing the remarkably handsome Xiang Shaolong, she greeted him with particular warmth, smiling seductively, "Su Nu will come immediately to accompany Master Xiang. Would the three gentlemen like to try something new?"

At this moment, he was still more than ten steps away from Lian Jin and that young master, with twelve fierce warriors standing in between like wolves and tigers. Just as Shu Er was about to fall into the clutches of that young master again, Xiang Shaolong twirled a flurry of sword flowers and rolled on the ground beneath the feet of several approaching warriors.

Wu Shixiong shouted loudly, raising his hand to silence Tao Fang. His already plump and indistinguishable features on his face scrunched together even more as he displeasedly said: "Although Lian Jin is indeed a rare talent, he is ultimately a person of the State of Wei, not of my kind. Therefore, I specifically instructed him to challenge you, so that our Zhao people could display their might. Now you actually shrink back at the critical moment, what more is there to say?"

The maiden gritted her teeth and looked up at him shyly, saying: "Young master, your kind intentions are appreciated, but I, Su Nu, have fallen to such a state today that you need not feel pity for me, as it serves no purpose. Here, anyone can freely pluck and break me at will."

The beautiful woman, with a pitiful demeanor, lowered her charming eyes and refused to lift her head even in death

At this moment, Li Shan hurriedly approached and said in a panic: "Su Nu, before meeting Shao Yuan Jun, made an excuse to change her clothes and groom herself, and hanged herself. Shao Yuan Jun was extremely furious and declared that he would seek misfortune for Brother Xiang."

Li Shan and others also spoke out to persuade.

The maiden exclaimed in astonishment: "Your thoughts are truly unlike those of others; the men who come here have never considered the hardships and sorrows of us maidens." She then whispered: "I am not deceiving you, my lord; rather, I genuinely wish for you to treat me with disrespect, just as your three friends do."

Those warriors had never encountered such a fighting style, and one by one, they were struck by swords in their waists and legs, staggering and falling.

At this moment, he finally understood why the beautiful silkworm girl would rather endure the pain of longing in separation than agree to come to Handan.

Indeed, Wu Tingwei nodded, glaring at him and said, "I will see how many good days you, this dog servant, have left to live." Enraged, he led the crowd away

The text appears to be a series of symbols or placeholders and does not contain any translatable content.

Xiang Shaolong and Shu Er were passionately making love on the floor of the room, entwined in a fervent embrace

Xiang Shaolong felt as if struck by a bolt from the blue, his hands and feet turned cold with anger, his gaze fixed and mouth agape, while tears uncontrollably streamed down from the corners of his eyes

Only to see Shu'er being embraced by a young nobleman in brocade, her upper garment pulled down to her waist, a pair of jade-like breasts being wantonly toyed with, yet she did not dare to resist, only weeping in sorrow

Xiang Shaolong let out a fierce shout, forcefully crashing between the two individuals. With an elbow strike and a knee thrust, the two immediately cried out in agony and fell to the ground

Xiang Shaolong gently kissed her lips and said, "Rest assured! I will definitely not lose."

The matchmaker sighed and chased after them

The exchange of thighs brought waves of intoxicating sensations, and through the sheer fabric, her evenly proportioned body was revealed, with her ample breasts and hips appearing both visible and concealed. Under the dazzling sight, Xiang Shaolong could not help but embrace her slender waist and plant a kiss on her fragrant face

Xiang Shaolong's eyes sparkled as he locked gazes with him, and with a slight smile, he said: "Since my master has such expectations of me, I shall compete with Lian Jin, but I cannot be restricted in the methods I use to defeat him"

When Xiang Shaolong and Tao Fang knelt down to pay their respects, Wu Shiqin sat up, waved away the maidservants, and his narrow eyes widened, shooting out two piercing glances directed at Xiang Shaolong. After scrutinizing him for a while, he coldly snorted: "Xiang Shaolong, why do you not dare to accept Lian Jin's challenge? Are you merely a figurehead, possessing only an appearance of might?"

The text appears to be a series of symbols or placeholders and does not contain any translatable content.

Shu Er said: "Xiang Lang! Shu Er is truly afraid that we will soon no longer have such joyful moments."

The scene of entering made his eyes widen even more

This time it was Xiang Shaolong who said in surprise: "Why do you have this idea?"

From another perspective, he is merely another form of courtesan, selling wisdom and swordsmanship.

Xiang Shaolong embraced Shu Er, suddenly realizing why even Jin dared to come knocking and show off his strength; it turned out he had the support of the grandson of the Wu family.

At this moment, Xiang Shaolong had somewhat grasped the temperament of this wealthy livestock magnate, and he said proudly: "The methods of killing are boundless, employing every means possible, leaving no stone unturned to eliminate the enemy. However, in martial arts competitions, it is merely a matter of whose swordsmanship is more beautiful and pleasing to the eye; it is more of a game than a battle, and that is an entirely different matter"

The atmosphere became extremely tense in an instant

The Pure Maiden suddenly kissed Xiang Shaolong heavily on the lips, her face displaying a resolute expression. She whispered in his ear, "Rest assured! The Pure Maiden has departed." She stood up, her expression blank, and said to the Matchmaker, "Daughter will follow Mother."

At this moment, the matchmaker entered with a tall, fair-skinned woman who was exceptionally beautiful and elegant, exuding a refined and graceful demeanor, indeed devoid of any hint of worldly vulgarity

Tao Fang saw the young master behind Lian Jin, and his expression changed dramatically as he said, "I did not know that Young Master Sun was here; please forgive me, Young Master Sun."

As Xiang Shaolong stepped into the garden of the residence, he sensed an unusual atmosphere. At the entrance stood two unfamiliar warriors, and from within the house came the faint sound of Shu'er crying.

Li Shanda was taken aback, pulling the courtesan back to the ground mat, and said in astonishment: "Hong Niangzi is the head of the official courtesans in Handan, who dares to make things difficult for you? Just say it, and we will stand up for you."

Lian Jin sneered and interjected, "It is his honor, indeed!"

Xiang Shaolong looked up to the sky and laughed long, saying: "The only one who can command me, Xiang Shaolong, is my master. If Young Master Sun finds me displeasing, then let him send someone to kill me!" He then lowered his head and said to Shu Er: "You should return to your room first"

When Xiang Shaolong attempted to block, warriors approached from both sides behind him, leaving him no choice but to retreat, first to fend off the enemy soldiers closing in from behind.

After gazing affectionately at Xiang Shaolong, she slowly walked away

Xiang Shaolong finally met Wu Shixiu in the side hall, a figure who bore no title of nobility yet wielded the power of one, controlling the economic lifeline of the Zhao state, a super-rich magnate who rose to prominence through livestock farming

Another warrior leaned over and said to him, "You must not think that we are just finding some faded flowers to make do with. This one we specifically found for Brother Xiang is the daughter of a nobleman, a stunning beauty. It is only unfortunate that her grandfather was not capable and offended the king, which is why she was demoted to a courtesan. I assure you, Brother Xiang will be satisfied."

At this moment, the young man in brocade had just withdrawn his hand from Shuer's lower garment, intending to remove Shuer's gauze skirt

The Bushido of Han Dong: "But today, Brother Xiang does not need to pick up women on the street; we have specially arranged for a few sweet girls to accompany you."

Xiang Shaolong smiled and said: "Rest assured! Tao Fang will go to Wu Shi to plead, stating that if his grandson and Lian Jin continue to harass and attack me, I will be defeated in the court competition due to my unsettled mind. Therefore, before the competition, you are safe."

Young Master Sun fixed a fierce gaze on Xiang Shaolong