Chapter Five: Compassion Among Those Who Suffer

Qin Beichen snorted and said, "I don't know how long you've been hiding or what you know, but this is my own business, and it's not for outsiders to meddle in." Zuo Yuanmin replied, "I may be young and not fully understand adult matters, but if you, Master Qin, intend to throw away the antidote that was bought with Miss Liu's life, I believe you are making a grave mistake."

Qin Beichen was filled with despair, and for reasons unknown, he suddenly thought of Liu Xinyue, a faint smile appeared on his face, as if he were resigned to his fate

Liu Xinyue cried and said: "Daughter believes that in the face of fate's manipulation, mother is also willing to sacrifice her life for father." Liu Huilie shouted: "Do not compare your father with this despicable brat!" Liu Xinyue replied: "Father, I only ask you one question: 'Can my life be exchanged for an antidote to the Seven-Day Blood Depletion Pill?'" Liu Huilie was both furious and agitated, momentarily at a loss for words.

Zuo Yuanmin said: "I know that Old Man Qin looks down on me, but I still want to say what I have to say. I do not know what kind of person qualifies as a hero, but anyone who causes the woman he loves to suffer and die is certainly a scoundrel and a bastard"

After a while, the woman in white composed herself, left the chest of the man in fine clothes, and turned back to say: "Father, I would like to discuss something with you." Liu Hui Lie's expression darkened as he replied: "I know what you want to say, no need to say it, there is nothing to discuss. At that time, the man surnamed Qin was lively and full of energy, and I, out of necessity, had that patience. Now, his life is already half gone; what does he have to negotiate with me? No discussion, no discussion."

Except for Zuo Yuanmin, the other two had been busy all night. After entering the room to rest, they soon fell into a deep sleep. Zuo Yuanmin stayed in the room, estimating that the other two must have fallen asleep, and hurriedly left the room, rushing out of the inn towards the direction of Qunfang Tower. He contemplated that even if he could truly become a disciple of Feng Junjie in the future, he at least needed to inform Yunmeng. As for whether he wanted Yunmeng to wait for him, that was something he dared not think about at this moment. He contemplated that even if he could truly become a disciple of Feng Junjie in the future, he at least needed to inform Yunmeng. As for whether he wanted Yunmeng to wait for him, that was something he dared not think about at this moment.

Liu Hui Lie continued, "Look at his face, it's ashen, his blood flow is insufficient, isn't it the case that the seven-day blood depletion and the toxicity are acting up?" The man in brocade shouted, "Xinyue, don't worry about me, we have finally..." Two men in ochre clothing surrounded him and launched a fierce attack, making it difficult for him to catch his breath and speak. The woman in white presented her long sword, countered with a strike, and shouted, "Enough, enough, step back! Step back! All of you, step back!" Her tone was filled with urgency. Liu Hui Lie shouted, "Everyone, stop for a moment!"

Zuo Yuanmin gazed at the bare stone wall and found nothing unusual, so he turned his attention to the oil lamp above. This time he observed it closely; although the flame was small, it flickered in a rather unnatural manner. Zuo Yuanmin suddenly thought, "Indeed, there is wind! There is a subtle airflow within this stone chamber!"

Zuo Yuanmin could not comprehend this feeling, and whenever he touched this deep place within his heart, he would feel an overwhelming sense of guilt towards his mother, which is why he never spoke of it and dared not even think about it. Therefore, the plight of Lu Yuting before him reminded him of Huo Butong, but this thought only flashed through his mind like a lightning bolt and quickly vanished. Because of this, he felt an even greater sense of emptiness and helplessness

The three of them followed the sound out of the west city gate, turning past a grove of trees, when the flute music suddenly intensified, and their actions quickened. Feng Feiyan thought to himself: "They cannot act in crowded places; once they drive the target out of the town, they will strike immediately." The flute's sound echoed from near and far, each note sharp and piercing, like a heart-wrenching lament, like the cries of ghosts and wolves. Feng Feiyan was suddenly startled: "These people are not weak in martial arts..." Feng Feiyan thought to himself: "They cannot act in crowded places; once they drive the target out of the town, they will strike immediately." The flute's sound echoed from near and far, each note sharp and piercing, like a heart-wrenching lament, like the cries of ghosts and wolves. Feng Feiyan was suddenly startled: "These people are not weak in martial arts..."

Zuo Yuanmin turned around, only to see Lu Yuting standing behind him, waving his hand vigorously in the direction of Feng Feiyan.

After a chaotic battle for a while, the man in the brocade robe seemed to have already sustained injuries, and his swordplay became increasingly sluggish, leading to a perilous situation. The woman in white immediately abandoned the other ochre-clad individuals and rushed to rescue the man in the brocade robe. Strangely, it appeared as if the woman in white had leprosy; as she approached, the nearest ochre-clad person immediately retreated, and when she moved away, they surrounded him again. The ochre-clad individuals seemed to be intentionally yielding, and the situation was quite evident.

The old man in the black robe, who had been watching from the sidelines, suddenly spoke: "I never expected that at this point, you could still injure my subordinate. Hehe, with your martial skills, it is indeed possible for you to become my son-in-law, but unfortunately..." He shook his head repeatedly and continued, "Unfortunately, our paths are different, and we cannot collaborate. Moreover, you have already been poisoned by my unique lethal toxin, and your life is now short.

Zuo Yuanmin also contemplated this issue. To be honest, whenever he thought of the word 'father,' what appeared in his mind was not the figure his mother spoke of while coaxing him to sleep, filled with countless heroic deeds from the past; nor was it the great hero with extraordinary swordsmanship and a deep-seated hatred for evil. Most of the time, what he recalled was actually his Uncle Huo.

The young girl seemed somewhat satisfied with such a response, spat at him, and said: "How could someone like you have seen a beauty of national renown? How do you know I don't qualify?" Zuo Yuanmin thought to himself: "My sister Yun only used the four characters 'national beauty and heavenly fragrance' to describe me, and she still thinks it's not enough!" He suddenly regretted saying such trivial things to a girl he didn't know, and awkwardly chuckled: "Yes, yes..." Upon hearing his agreement, the girl became even happier and asked: "Hey, what is your name?"

No matter what, Lu Yuting insisted on treating guests, which left Zuo Yuanmin feeling somewhat amused and exasperated. Feiyan, however, ignored him, called for the waiter, and ordered some beef pies, steamed buns, and two bowls of vegetable and meat soup. As Lu Yuting listened to her final order, he simply added, "Add one more serving and bring a pot of tea." The waiter acknowledged and left.

The man suddenly awoke with a start, his face flushing red. He stepped forward and clasped his hands, saying: "I am Lu Yuting, the third son of Lu Jianhong, the owner of this estate." Feng Feiyan and Zuo Yuanmin exclaimed in unison. Feng Feiyan questioned, "Are you really the third son of the estate owner, Lu?" The man replied in surprise, "Miss, do you recognize me?"

Seeing Feng Feiyan leave Zuo Yuanmin in a daze, Lu Yuting thought to himself: "I originally thought this young man with the surname Zuo appeared dull and reclusive, seemingly foolish and incapable of anything. It turns out he is quite eloquent and articulate; I must not underestimate him." He then added, "My brother Zuo is absolutely right; we must ensure that Miss Liu's heartfelt efforts do not go to waste."

The three of them, having no objections, set off in the direction of Bianjing. As Zuo Yuanmin was being escorted by Jiang and another person, he did not feel that the distance was great. However, now that they were walking through the night, he began to experience the hardships, especially since both Feng Feiyan and Lu Yuting had some martial arts training. Although they were also quite tired from the continuous journey, they were still able to maintain a certain pace. Zuo Yuanmin, unwilling to appear inferior, forced himself to keep up, but soon felt as if his feet had detached from his body. The places where he had been brutally beaten by Lu Yuting began to throb again, and he was drenched in sweat, gasping for breath. Despite the exhaustion, they continued to move forward at a steady pace, and Zuo Yuanmin, still reluctant to show weakness, struggled to keep up, only to feel his feet as if they were no longer part of him, while the pain from earlier assaults returned, leaving him in a state of profuse sweating and breathlessness.

Zuo Yuanmin could no longer concern himself with her; he stepped over her and headed straight for his own room. Upon entering, he saw that the broken window from yesterday still remained, yet the person he sought was nowhere to be found. Zuo Yuanmin was taken aback, and in an instant, the world spun around him, leaving him unsure of his own whereabouts

The girl said: "Zuo Yuanmin? So your surname is Zuo..." Zuo Yuanmin replied: "Is there anything strange about having the surname Zuo?" The girl pondered for a moment, then said: "No, nothing. My surname is Feng, as in Kaifeng. My father is named Feng Junjie."

The woman in white bit her lower lip and trembled as she asked, "What... when..." The old man in the black robe, who called himself Liu Hui Lie, replied, "Are you asking me when I poisoned him?" The woman in white nodded. Liu Hui Lie continued, "I really have to thank you for your great help. You stole my father's belongings, and that Qin, blinded by lust, would never have imagined you would give him poison to eat, would he?" The woman in white was taken aback and exclaimed, "You switched the items?" Liu Hui Lie said, "I really have to thank you for your great help. You stole my father's belongings, and that Qin, blinded by lust, would never have imagined you would give him poison to eat, would he?" The woman in white was taken aback and exclaimed, "You switched the items?"

Zuo Yuanmin said: "So what do you want? Do you intend to hide down here for a lifetime?" At that moment, a voice came from above the well: "Zuo Yuanmin, is that you? Are you down there?" Zuo Yuanmin looked at the hesitant face of the person and momentarily did not dare to respond.

The leader among the men in ochre robes said, "Master Liu promised to give you the antidote, but he did not promise to spare your life!" As he spoke, he swung his knife to strike. Qin Beichen lowered his body and countered with a sword, saying, "Despicable!" The man sidestepped and dodged, while the other two immediately moved in to assist. Qin Beichen was furious, and with a swift motion, he thrust two swords towards the faces of the two men. However, it seemed that the ochre-robed men had already coordinated their strategy; from the very beginning, they had resolved to engage in a war of attrition, circling around and doing everything possible to provoke him.

Just as the moment seemed to drag on, a sudden sound of "bang" was heard. The man in ochre, who was about to strike Qin Beichen with his knife, suddenly let out a muffled groan and stumbled back several feet. Seizing the opportunity, Qin Beichen retreated and focused his gaze, only to see a young girl swinging her fists, darting between the other two men with remarkable speed and formidable power. The two men in ochre were shouting loudly, calling out incessantly.

Zuo Yuanmin opened his mouth to respond: "I ... ... " The man quickly interrupted, saying: "Don't make a sound." Zuo Yuanmin, enduring the pain throughout his body, said: "She is my companion; she and her father came to help Master Lu ... ... " The man replied: "I don't believe you; in any case, don't speak for now."

Zuo Yuanmin felt a subtle sense of unease, yet Feng Lu and the others were full of enthusiasm and could not be dissuaded. With no other choice, Zuo Yuanmin reluctantly decided to accompany them. The three hurried back to their rooms to gather their belongings and then left the inn. Fortunately, although the sound of the flute was coming from two directions, it was still discernible as gradually moving southward, and it was almost inaudible. Zuo Yuanmin thought to himself that it would be best if it became completely inaudible, as that would spare them from playing this game of chivalry. However, fate did not align with their wishes; just as Feng Feiyan was about to give up, the flute sound circled back from the southwest. The three hurried back to their rooms to gather their belongings and then left the inn. Fortunately, although the sound of the flute was coming from two directions, it was still discernible as gradually moving southward, and it was almost inaudible. Zuo Yuanmin thought to himself that it would be best if it became completely inaudible, as that would spare them from playing this game of chivalry. However, fate did not align with their wishes; just as Feng Feiyan was about to give up, the flute sound circled back from the southwest. Feng Feiyan was overjoyed and whispered, "Chase!" Following the sound of the flute, they headed straight northwest.

Returning to the inn where Feng Luy and Lu Yuting were staying, the sky had already darkened. The fatigue of a day and a night made him fall asleep immediately. Soon, Feng Feiyan and Lu Yuting came to knock on the door. Zuo Yuanmin declined the proposal for a night outing, citing discomfort. Feng Feiyan, feeling helpless, had no choice but to go out with Lu Yuting. When they returned in the middle of the night, Feng Feiyan thoughtfully brought back some snacks for Zuo Yuanmin. Zuo Yuanmin gratefully accepted them, wrapped himself in the quilt, and quickly fell asleep again. Feng Feiyan, feeling helpless, had no choice but to go out with Lu Yuting. When they returned in the middle of the night, Feng Feiyan thoughtfully brought back some snacks for Zuo Yuanmin. Zuo Yuanmin gratefully accepted them, wrapped himself in the quilt, and quickly fell asleep again

Lu Yuting was skeptical and asked, "Then you all..." Feng Feiyan smiled and said, "You can rest assured, we are not on the same side as them. My father said that although Uncle Wang has captured your father, as long as he cannot find what he wants, your father's life is not in danger. However, your father and your two brothers will inevitably suffer some minor hardships. At this moment, you want to ask who my father is, right? Sigh, actually, I have asked my father this too. I asked him, since he knows that Master Lu is in danger, why doesn't he simply step in to rescue him? My father said that he and Uncle Wang share a bond of brotherhood, and since he is carrying out the orders of the alliance leader, it would not be appropriate for him to intervene directly. However, it is possible for him to secretly help the Lu family.

Zuo Yuanmin did not dare to linger for even a moment, rolling and crawling, constantly changing positions. Fortunately, the basement was dimly lit, and the oil lamp had been left in the cave and not taken out. That person threw several stones in succession but could not hit Zuo Yuanmin, who was also out of breath from exhaustion. Zuo Yuanmin quickly shouted, "Hey! Stop! You have mistaken the person; I am here to save you."

The man pondered for a moment before saying, "Alright, you go ahead, take your time, but don't try any tricks." Zuo Yuanmin sighed and slowly moved forward, calling out to the corridor, "Miss Feng, I am coming up." Feng Feiyan replied, "What are you doing down there? Why won't you respond no matter how much I call? Hurry up and come up."

Zuo Yuanmin realized that he had indeed misunderstood. He thought to himself: "It is useless to say anything more now; once he goes outside, everything will naturally become clear." Without further thought, he stepped out of the cave.

The girl with the surname Feng said irritably: "Alright, I will tell you! My name is Feng Feiyan. My father is quite famous in the martial world, as the saying goes: 'Better to meet the King of Hell than to encounter Feng Junjie.' Feng Junjie is my father. And also: 'The Three Southern Masters: Qian Kun, Ding Pan, and Feng Junjie.' You really haven't heard of any of these?"

Feng Feiyan noticed that he couldn't keep up, and several times deliberately slowed down to wait for him. Although Lu Yuting was somewhat reluctant, the protagonist was Feng Feiyan; she was willing to wait, and Lu Yuting did not dare to oppose her

Feng Feiyan was overjoyed and said, "My father and I have an understanding: if we get separated anywhere, we will meet at the largest town nearby. My father will search for me one by one." Luo Yuanmin felt secretly pleased and thought, "Then we would have returned to the starting point." He said, "The largest town nearby can only be Bianjing."

The man in fine clothes knew that her words were not unfounded, yet he did not know how to comfort her. He could only hold her in his arms, gently patting her back repeatedly. Liu Hui Lie's expression was grim, and he deliberately cleared his throat a few times, but the two of them pretended not to hear.

When the person just returned to the ground, he was preoccupied with concerns for his parents' safety, thus he paid no attention to Feng Feiyan. At this moment, Feng Feiyan called out to him particularly loudly. Upon seeing a beautiful young girl, he suddenly became stiff all over, like a wooden sculpture, unable to move, his eyes fixed on her. His manner of staring was indeed quite rude, but Feng Feiyan, confident in her looks, noticed that he seemed dazed. Besides a hint of anger, she felt a sense of pride. She asked, "Hey, who are you? Seeing how concerned you are about this estate, are you from the Lu family estate?"

There was just one condition that Feng Feiyan had not made clear, which was that when her father spoke to her, he hoped that Feng Feiyan could find a man who would be willing to join the Feng family. This way, the tradition of keeping the Fierce Fire Fist within the family could be maintained. Of course, when Zuo Yuanmin first met her, she felt embarrassed to discuss these matters openly. The reason she blurted it out at this moment was, on one hand, to keep Zuo Yuanmin around, and on the other hand, because Zuo Yuanmin quite matched the image of the ideal man in her mind, though she could not fully comprehend it at that moment. Of course, when Zuo Yuanmin first met her, she felt embarrassed to discuss these matters openly. The reason she blurted it out at this moment was, on one hand, to keep Zuo Yuanmin around, and on the other hand, because Zuo Yuanmin quite matched the image of the ideal man in her mind, though she could not fully comprehend it at that moment.

Apart from Lu Jianhong and his son, no one else knew about this matter. Lu Jianhong was exceptionally skilled at keeping secrets, to the extent that he did not even allow his son's biological mother to know. Thus, Lu Yuting became the only oversight in the Lu family, which further illustrates Lu Jianhong's meticulousness and indeed helped him preserve the Lu family's lineage

With a skeptical attitude, Zuo Yuanmin returned to the stone chamber. He observed that the walls of the chamber were constructed from large stone bricks, each measuring approximately two to three feet square, and were smooth and even. Above, the ceiling was supported by massive square beams, upon which long stone slabs were laid, while the ground beneath was covered with ordinary lime bricks. It was evident that considerable effort had been invested in the construction of this stone chamber. One could sit or lie down comfortably inside without feeling discomfort or excessive dampness. If there were provisions for drinking water and food, it would not be difficult to stay here for a year or more.

The concept of father is given to him by the mother

Feng Feiyan realized that she was playing the lute to a cow, and could not help but feel greatly disappointed. She sighed softly and thought to herself: "I, Feng Feiyan, pride myself on my martial arts and beauty, and my father is a top master renowned in the martial world. Yet, I happen to encounter someone who knows nothing of martial arts. Isn't that akin to Diao Chan meeting Zhang Fei, or a tiger biting a turtle"

Zuo Yuanmin said: "He..." Just as he was about to explain, unexpectedly, that person walked out of the corridor. Upon seeing the scene outside, he couldn't help but be taken aback, urgently shouting: "How did it become like this? Where is my father?" He ran with all his might, circling around the courtyard, while continuously calling out for his father and mother, ultimately heading towards the outer wall.

Zuo Yuanmin had never seen such a cheerful and innocent girl. For a moment, he was lost in thought, wondering: "I have been out for so long, Yun Jie must be very worried. Once I see that the seniors have all come out, I will bid them farewell and go home, right?" He thought of how the master of Lu had already been captured, and his father's situation was something his relatives might not even know about. It was just that he had encountered a friend of his father's by sheer coincidence, yet he had not been able to say a single word. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy.

After the great fire in Lujiacun, a pungent smell of焦味 permeated the air, combined with the lingering high temperatures, resembling a massive kiln that had just been stoked. Nevertheless, the two stepped in without hesitation. Sparks flew everywhere, and a haze of smoke filled the surroundings, accompanied by intermittent popping sounds reminiscent of frying beans. The environment became exceedingly eerie, and Feng Feiyan's mood was clearly affected, prompting him to quicken his pace and leave Luo Yuanmin behind.

The underground tunnel was not very deep; after slanting in for about 3 meters, it immediately turned to the right. After walking a few more steps, the passage suddenly widened, and the originally pitch-black underground corridor was suddenly illuminated. Zuo Yuanmin focused his gaze and discovered that he was in a stone chamber measuring 3 meters wide and deep, with a square recess on the inner stone wall, where an oil lamp was lit. Although the dim light was like a flickering candle, it was enough to barely make out the surroundings.

Feng Feiyan smiled and said, "You are truly useless; you even fall while walking." Zuo Yuanmin gave a sheepish smile, did not respond directly, and retorted, "What if you can't find your father?" Feng Feiyan replied, "It doesn't matter; I have lost him several times before. He is skilled in martial arts, so I am not worried."

The young girl’s face changed color as she hurriedly set down Zuo Yuanmin and dashed back into the fire scene. Zuo Yuanmin shouted, "Miss, Miss..." The girl seemed to be oblivious, rushing straight to the edge of the fire. However, the original path of flames had long been engulfed, and before her lay a sea of fire, the heat oppressive. The girl searched several places in succession, finding no gaps at all. After a while, she began to drag her feet back to Zuo Yuanmin, constantly looking back as she walked.

Lu Yuting felt somewhat relieved upon seeing Zuo Yuanmin, who had just been subjected to a severe beating by him. A sense of guilt arose within him, and he stepped forward with cupped hands, saying: "May I ask for the name of this young brother? I truly regret the misunderstanding earlier." Zuo Yuanmin returned the gesture and replied: "Not at all, my name is Zuo Yuanmin." He thought to himself: "If it were not for your father’s courage in standing up to Wang Shuzan despite the threat of his sharp blades, and for speaking on behalf of my father, I would not wish to linger here for even a moment."

Lu Yuting was overjoyed and said, "My father often mentions your esteemed name, saying that you possess both exceptional martial skills and a naturally chivalrous heart, which is truly rare. It is a pity that we have never met, and he often laments this. I never expected to encounter your daughter here today; I am truly honored, truly honored." This made Feng Feiyan's heart bloom with joy. However, as soon as he finished speaking, his expression suddenly turned somber, and he said, "It seems that it is destined for the Lu family to face this calamity, even... even..." He did not know how to continue. Feng Feiyan understood what he was trying to say and comforted him, saying, "Since this matter cannot be addressed openly, we can make it a covert rescue. Rest assured, hasn't my father already intervened?" But as soon as he finished speaking, his expression suddenly turned somber again, and he said, "It seems that it is destined for the Lu family to face this calamity, even... even..." He did not know how to continue. Feng Feiyan understood what he was trying to say and comforted him, saying, "Since this matter cannot be addressed openly, we can make it a covert rescue. Rest assured, hasn't my father already intervened?"

Unexpectedly, as soon as the person was freed, he immediately began to curse: "Villain, if you have the guts, just kill me too!" Zuo Yuanmin thought he was mistaking him for one of Wang Shuzan's gang, and did not take it to heart. He said, "I am not a bad person; I am here to help you." As he moved behind him to untie the bindings on his hands, he took a closer look and realized that he was leaning against a protruding rock, which had already worn the ropes around his wrists nearly to the breaking point. Zuo Yuanmin was overjoyed and helped him rub against the rock a few more times, forcefully snapping the ropes. He said, "I am not a bad person; I am here to help you." As he moved behind him to untie the bindings on his hands, he took a closer look and realized that he was leaning against a protruding rock, which had already worn the ropes around his wrists nearly to the breaking point. Zuo Yuanmin was overjoyed and helped him rub against the rock a few more times, forcefully snapping the ropes

The eloquence of the words left Qin Beichen in a cold sweat, speechless and at a loss for how to respond. Fei Yan was even more stunned, gazing blankly at Zuo Yuanmin, as if entranced by the vivid portrayal of how a man should be devoted and infatuated. It goes without saying that the first figure to catch her eye in that mental image was none other than the unremarkable Zuo Yuanmin, who possessed neither exceptional talent nor martial prowess.

As soon as the person separated his hands, he immediately went to free himself from the bindings on his feet. Zuo Yuanmin reached out to offer assistance, but the person coldly replied, "No need, who asked for your kindness!" With a few quick movements, he broke free and silently crawled out through the opening that Zuo Yuanmin had created.

In the dim light, Zuo Yuanmin noticed a youth-like figure curled up on the ground closest to the interior. The figure was struggling and twisting as if bound by someone. Zuo Yuanmin was taken aback; he had not intended to damage the stone bricks embedded in the wall. However, upon realizing that the person trapped inside could very well be a descendant of the Lu family, he could no longer hesitate. He hurriedly pried open and pushed down the stone bricks from the wall, trying to enlarge the opening as much as possible. The bricks fell heavily to the ground one by one, creating a muffled thud in the small stone chamber.

Early the next morning, as soon as Feng Feiyan got up, he went to knock on Zuo Yuanmin's door. Zuo Yuanmin had already been awake for six or seven hours, but he was reluctant to get out of bed. It was only when he heard Feng Feiyan calling him that he finally got out of bed to open the door

The man in splendid attire, Qin Beichen, shouted: "Xinyue, do not listen to your father. If we can never meet again, then I might as well be dead like a book." Liu Xinyue, tears streaming down her face, replied: "As long as Father is willing to grant the antidote, I will no longer see him from this moment on." Saying this, she turned her head away, turning her back to Qin Beichen. Liu Huilie, initially worried that the two would engage in a tearful farewell before parting, immediately decided to cut through the chaos upon hearing his daughter's words, and agreed: "Alright, it is settled then; you should make an oath."

Despite this, Zuo Yuanmin still dared not linger. The three arrived at the city gate, and the sky was already bright, having long passed the hour of Chen. Once inside the city, they first sought a guesthouse for lodging. Lu Yuting, having a few coins and several dozen taels of gold in his possession due to his father planning an escape route for him, decided to show generosity to Feng Feiyan by requesting three rooms from the innkeeper and even prepaying for the rooms of Feng and Zuo. Zuo Yuanmin thought about how he had toiled for Lu Yuting, only to inexplicably receive a beating from him in the end; even if he had been treated to food and drink for three days and nights without cost, he felt no guilt and accepted it without hesitation. Feng Feiyan, having followed her father since childhood, was already accustomed to being flattered and felt no embarrassment about it.

Zuo Yuanmin, due to her mother's need to avoid danger since childhood, never interacted with outsiders, resulting in a lack of peers her age. After her mother's passing, during the years spent with Yunmeng, she similarly had few opportunities for social interaction due to lifestyle habits. Finally, in the past six months at Qunfang Building, she managed to form a connection with a girl named Weici, who was only a few years younger than her, and they had some common topics to discuss. Unfortunately, just as they were becoming familiar with each other, they have now been separated again

Feng Feiyan said: "What are you doing? Are you out of your mind? I was just looking at the injury on your face. What happened? How did your face get like this? Are you hurt?" Zuo Yuanmin covered the painful spot with his hand and replied: "It's nothing, I just slipped and fell when I was about to go down."

The figure approached him without pause. Qin Beichen took a look and saw a strange boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old, and asked, "Young brother, was that you who made the sound just now?"

However, Zuo Yuanmin showed little interest. His concern for the Lu family was originally based on Lu Jianhong's loyalty to his father, but Lu Yuting's reaction gradually cooled his enthusiasm. He suddenly stood up and said, "It is a great honor for me to meet both of you tonight. Since there is nothing pressing at the moment, I would like to take my leave. Take care!" He turned to leave.

Zuo Yuanmin quickly said: "The best time to have fun in Bianjing City is at night. If we go now, the city gates will be wide open at the fifth watch, and we can find a place to rest for a while. In the evening, we will have the energy to explore everywhere." Feng Feiyan was overjoyed and asked, "Really? How do you know so much? Do you live in Bianjing?" Zuo Yuanmin replied, "I... I lived there for a while a few years ago."

Lu Yuting waved his hand and was about to go downstairs. As he lowered his head, he caught sight of Zuo Yuanmin and said, "Brother Zuo, so early? Excuse me, excuse me." He squeezed past him and quickly made his way to Feng Feiyan's seat. Zuo Yuanmin found his behavior somewhat amusing and leisurely walked over to the two of them. It was then that Lu Yuting exclaimed, "Oh right, shall we have breakfast together? This meal is on me." Feng Feiyan shot him a glance and replied, "This meal is for me to treat Zuo Yuanmin. If you like treating, save it for the next meal." Lu Yuting said, "That's fine, you treat him, and I'll treat you."

Zuo Yuanmin was taken aback and said, "Is Miss Yun not in the room?" The madam's expression changed, and she trembled as she replied, "Wha... what? You don't know where she went? Oh dear, don't scare me like that; I can't handle being frightened..."

The woman in white said coldly, "Very well." She stepped back a few paces, flipped her left hand, and drew out the hairpin that was inserted at the top of her head. With the pointed end facing inward, she pressed it against her neck. With a slight exertion, the tip of the pin pierced her skin, causing a trickle of blood to emerge. Liu Huilie and the man in brocade shouted in unison, "Xinyue, what are you doing?" The woman in white, Liu Xinyue, retreated further, and Liu Huilie and the man in brocade shouted again, "Xinyue, what are you doing?" Liu Xinyue retreated even more, loudly admonishing the two, "Neither of you move, don't come any closer." She then addressed Liu Huilie, saying, "Father, I have taken your daughter hostage, using her life as a bargaining chip to negotiate with you. I beg you to show mercy and hand over the antidote; your daughter will return with you." The man in brocade exclaimed, "Don't do this..."

Lu Yuting first expressed his agreement, as he had nowhere else to go. If he accompanied Feng Feiyan, he would inevitably encounter Feng Junjie in the end. Considering that Feng Junjie was willing to secretly assist them, perhaps he could find a way to covertly rescue his father and brothers. Moreover, Feng Feiyan was lively and charming, which stirred a feeling of infatuation within him. Perhaps, deep down, this latter reason was the primary motivation for his immediate consent.

Zuo Yuanmin felt around and thought: "I clearly saw that there were about ten people from the Lu family driven down here, yet there is not a single person in sight. It is evident that Jiang and the two seniors, as well as Feng Feiyan's father, have undoubtedly rescued them. I just do not know where they have taken them."

Unexpectedly, as he emerged from the cave, a shadow flashed before his eyes. Luo Yuanmin instinctively raised both hands to protect his head and face. Then, with a loud "bang," a sharp pain shot through his arm, and he was thrown out, not knowing how he had been ambushed. He crashed heavily against the stone wall, feeling as if all the bones in his body were about to shatter.

Zuo Yuanmin noticed the worry on her face and said, "Miss, you need not worry. Did you not say so yourself? Your father is highly skilled in martial arts and will be fine. Moreover, both Senior Jiang and Senior Yu are also very capable; they will look out for each other." The young girl rolled her eyes and suddenly smiled brightly, saying, "You are barely able to protect yourself, yet you are still thinking about others. I am not worried; I am just wondering if the remaining people of the Lu family can escape safely."

The three of them had just met for the first time and had exchanged greetings. Feng Feiyan then asked, "By the way, Brother Lu, where did you come from? How is it that Uncle Wang Zhan and his group searched for you for so long but couldn't find you?"

Zuo Yuanmin followed his words and stepped up. Before Feng Feiyan could fully emerge, she asked, "Did you see anything down there?" Zuo Yuanmin did not answer directly, instead countering with, "What about your father? Have you found them?" Feng Feiyan shook her head and said, "I searched the entire courtyard, but I didn't see a single shadow... Oh? Who is that person behind you?"

Zuo Yuanmin and others looked somewhat perplexed when they suddenly heard the man in brocade say, "Xinyue, you should leave quickly, don't worry about me." The woman in white drove away two men in ochre who had circled behind the man in brocade with a sword, saying, "Elder brother, you should leave first; they dare not harm me." One of the ochre-clad men, seeing the swordsmanship of the man in brocade weaken, boldly approached a little closer. Unexpectedly, the man in brocade suddenly became fierce, and with a "swish, swish" of two swords, he struck precisely at the man's chest. The ochre-clad man let out a loud cry and fell backward, while another ochre-clad man immediately filled the gap left by him.

Feng Feiyan was delighted and said, "Hurry, hurry, someone is offering a tour of the capital, which is truly wonderful. I have heard that Bianjing is a triple-layered city, prosperous and thriving, the best in the world. In such a lively place, how can one just pass by without entering?" Lu Yuting replied, "Indeed, my father took me there once when I was young. It has been a long time since I last visited, and I would like to see it again."

Not far ahead, a group of men in ochre robes, each wielding swords and sharp blades, were besieging a pair of men and women. The two fought side by side, both appearing to be around twenty-five years of age. The man was handsome, dressed in luxurious garments, exuding an air of wealth and nobility, while the woman was beautiful, clad in white, radiating a fresh and ethereal charm. Standing together, they were a sight that compelled onlookers to exclaim: "What a pair of talented man and beautiful woman, a celestial couple." Outside the circle of ochre-robed men, an old man in a black robe stood, his eyes fixed intently on the unfolding battle.

The young lady before me is of a similar age, which makes her feel three parts closer. Although she has a somewhat old-fashioned and arrogant demeanor, she saved me from the fire and thus saved my life. She seems to want to be friends and is asking for my name. If I do not respond, it would be my fault. Therefore, I clasped my fists and said: "My name is Zuo Yuanmin, but may I ask for your esteemed surname, Miss?"

This inn has two floors; the upper floor consists of guest rooms, while the lower floor houses a restaurant. Zuo Yuanmin came down the stairs and saw that all the tables and chairs were occupied. As he was searching for Feng Feiyan's figure, a woman suddenly stood up by a table near the window, waved her hand, and shouted, "I am here." Before Zuo Yuanmin could respond, someone behind him suddenly called out, "I see her, Miss Feng!"

Zuo Yuanmin noticed that his demeanor was quite different from just now, realizing that he had been moved by her words. Filled with joy, he simultaneously thought: "That Miss Liu is so devoted, she surely deserves a good reward. Although this vow is harsh, it ultimately comes from a person's mouth. As long as the two of them are united in heart, there will surely be a way to break it in the future."

Seeing that the opening was nearly large enough, Zuo Yuanmin moved the oil lamp into the dug-out hole. He first leaned his head in and spoke to the person trapped inside: "Don't panic, I am coming in, I am coming in." He crouched down and carefully squeezed himself inside. What he saw beyond the stone wall was another stone chamber, albeit smaller in scale, capable of accommodating at most five or six people. In the corner sat a person whose hands were bound behind his back, his feet also tied, and something was stuffed in his mouth to prevent him from making any sound. Observing the person's struggles and distress, Zuo Yuanmin hurriedly removed the gag from his mouth.

Liu Xinyue said: "Heaven above, I, Liu Xinyue, swear to the heavens that as long as my father hands over the antidote to Young Master Qin Beichen, I, Liu Xinyue, from this moment on, will never look at Young Master Qin again. If I break this vow, may I... may I be struck blind immediately, and in my next life... in my next life, may I never meet Young Master Qin again..." In order to gain her father's trust, she made what could be considered a deadly vow, and by the end, she was already in tears.

Qin Beichen unleashed a flurry of thirty to forty sword strikes, yet not a single one managed to touch his opponent's weapon. Frustrated and anxious, he took a deep breath, preparing to showcase his lifelong skills. However, before he could channel that breath into his dantian, he suddenly felt dizzy and nauseous, a shock running through his heart: "This is bad, could it be that the poison is attacking my heart, and I am about to die at the hands of these small minions?" Just then, he saw a man approaching from the right front, swinging a blade at him. In his dazed state, he instinctively thrust his sword forward. His strike lacked strength and deviated by a full six inches. The man in ochre robes was no novice; sensing the opportunity, he brought his blade down directly.

Zuo Yuanmin let out an "oh" and fell silent, gazing at the young lady before him. Although she was not much older than himself, she carried herself with an air of superiority, which he found somewhat amusing. The flickering flames of the fire illuminated her face, casting a rosy glow that made her look quite charming.

Uncertain how much time had passed, a burst of laughter rang in his ears, and it was the young girl who said, "Hey, you little brat, why are you staring at me like that?" Zuo Yuanmin's face flushed, and he suddenly realized he had been lost in thought, his gaze lingering on the girl's face, resembling a frivolous youth. He didn't know what to say, quickly turning his head away. After a while, he heard the girl continue, "Hey, do you think I’m pretty?" Zuo Yuanmin was taken aback by her question and replied without thinking, "Even if the young lady is not a beauty of national renown, she is still one in a thousand." Having spent every day among women, he felt somewhat confident in his judgment of their looks.

The man in fine clothes said softly, "If I can only live for one day, then let it be that day. Let us make the most of this day. Even if I die, I will have no regrets." Yet he knew all too well that whether these people surrounding him could live for another day was still uncertain. How could they truly make the most of another day? He then heard the woman in white crying, "My father will not let you go..."

Zuo Yuanmin thought to himself: "I asked for your surname, yet you tell me your father's name, what is the meaning of that?" He then said: "So it turns out you are Miss Feng, I have yet to express my gratitude for your life-saving kindness." As he spoke, he stood upright and performed a deep bow to the ground. The young lady with the surname Feng, however, appeared somewhat displeased and paced back and forth, saying: "Oh dear, how is it that you know nothing at all?" Zuo Yuanmin asked in surprise: "What is it that I should know?"

Qin Beichen's expression was agitated, and he was momentarily at a loss for what to do. He then heard Liu Huilie calmly say, "Take the red pill first, and the black one six hours later." Upon hearing this, Liu Xinyue could no longer contain herself and burst into tears, covering her face as she ran away. Liu Huilie shouted, "Xinyue, where are you going?" Liu Xinyue seemed not to hear and ran off in a frenzy. Fearing an accident, Liu Huilie hurriedly chased after her. The other people in ochre robes, seeing this, helped the injured and followed suit. Liu Huilie shouted again, "Xinyue, where are you going?" Liu Xinyue seemed not to hear and ran off in a frenzy. Liu Huilie, fearing an accident, hurriedly chased after her. The other people in ochre robes, seeing this, helped the injured and followed suit.

In the early morning of Bianjing City, although the streets were bustling with pedestrians and the noise was already considerable, the sound of the flute was particularly unique; no matter how loud the surrounding noise was, it always managed to penetrate into people's ears

After a night of contemplation, Zuo Yuanmin had resolved to both wander the martial world and gather information about Yunmeng. The first step was to follow Feng Feiyan, so when she invited him to breakfast, it was a friendly gesture. Zuo Yuanmin set aside his earlier disdain for her, quickly changed his clothes, and went downstairs.

Feng Feiyan was unaware of his many considerations. Seeing him hesitate for a moment, he said: "What is there to consider? I said I would help you speak to my father, but that doesn't guarantee success. Why don't you stay and meet him first, alright? Also, what about your two senior friends? Isn't it a bit rude to leave without saying goodbye to them?"

Qin Beichen's expression changed, and he exclaimed, "What did you say?" Although Zuo Yuanmin felt a bit scared, she still forced herself to stand up straight and said earnestly, "Master Qin, I believe you heard me very clearly just now; that is exactly what I meant."

Qin Beichen thought: "Is it really like this? Xin Yue does not wish to look back at me, is it because she fears she cannot bear to part? She swore never to see me again, entrusting her hopes to the next life? If that is the case, then her heart was ten times more sorrowful than mine at that time, all for the sake of preserving my life?" He then squeezed the small oiled paper bag in his palm, suddenly recalling Liu Xin Yue's wish for him to live a hundred years, her words of happiness and joy, and his heart ached, tears welling up in his eyes. He thought: "The notion of a next life is ultimately vague, yet there is indeed someone as foolish as you..." Suddenly recalling Liu Xin Yue's wish for him to live a hundred years, her words of happiness and joy, his heart ached, tears welling up in his eyes. He thought: "The notion of a next life is ultimately vague, yet there is indeed someone as foolish as you..."

When Zuo Yuanmin arrived at the underground secret chamber, Lu Yuting had already freed her acupoints and was struggling to break free from her bindings. Lu Yuting was unaware of what was happening outside, which led her to mistakenly believe that Zuo Yuanmin was also there to trouble the Lu family

Lu Yuting's face suddenly flushed. He was originally reluctant to explain the reason behind it, but since Zuo Yuanmin had witnessed it firsthand, if he were to deliberately conceal it, it would appear that he was not being sincere. Thus, he said: "This is my father's deliberate arrangement." He then laid out the entire matter in detail.

Zuo Yuanmin was sensitive and empathetic, momentarily lost in his own emotions. Suddenly, a charming face came close, startling Zuo Yuanmin, who instinctively recoiled.

Zuo Yuanmin regarded the remarks of the crowd as mere noise, letting them enter through his right ear and exit through his left, hearing but not perceiving. Once the crowd dispersed, he gradually came to his senses, hearing the hurried footsteps outside, uncertain of their meaning, his heart in turmoil, pondering: "Is Yun Zhi coming to find me? Or is she simply taking this opportunity to leave me behind?" Regardless of the answer to this question, Yun Meng was indeed not here. After sitting in a daze for a while, Zuo Yuanmin began to pack some of his personal belongings. He initially intended to bid farewell to Wei Ci, but after some thought, he ultimately dismissed the idea. In the end, he chose not to say anything to anyone and quietly left through the back door.

The young man was Zuo Yuanmin. Seeing that Qin Beichen was actually about to throw away the antidote that Liu Xinyue had obtained at the cost of her life, he could not help but speak out to stop him. At that moment, he approached Qin Beichen and saw that he had a face like a jade crown and a graceful demeanor, which further increased his admiration. He then said: "Yes, Master Qin, it was I who spoke just now. If I have offended you in any way, I hope you will forgive me"

Liu Hui Lie said: "That's right, the one you stole is not the 'Bi Yi Pill', but the Seven-Day Blood Depletion Pill." The woman in white shouted: "Impossible..." Liu Hui Lie continued: "I dyed the white Seven-Day Blood Depletion Pill red, and since you have never eaten the Bi Yi Pill, how can you distinguish between the real and the fake?" The woman in white merely murmured: "It can't be... impossible..." Liu Hui Lie reiterated: "I dyed the white Seven-Day Blood Depletion Pill red, and since you have never eaten the Bi Yi Pill, how can you distinguish between the real and the fake?" The woman in white only murmured: "It can't be... impossible..."

Zuo Yuanmin said: "Old Master Qin feels that Miss Liu is too heartless, doesn't he?" Qin Beichen sighed and replied: "I certainly understand her intentions to protect me. As long as the green mountains remain, I will definitely work hard to find her in the future. But she actually made such a cruel vow, cutting off my hopes. Is it not tormenting me to ask me to live like this?"

Feng Feiyan said: "I do not recognize you, but just now when Uncle Wang Zhan's group captured your father, they were constantly searching for your whereabouts. However, your father did not reveal anything, and they were unable to find you. " Lu Yuting was taken aback and exclaimed: "Did my father really let them take him away?" Feng Feiyan glanced at Zuo Yuanmin and said: "Is that right?" Zuo Yuanmin nodded.

After a long while, I suddenly heard someone behind me whispering: "Oh no, it seems even Xiao Zuo doesn't know where Miss Yun has gone." "It's better for Mother to give up hope early; tomorrow we can buy a few more young girls and return to our original proper business as soon as possible." "I said long ago that using knives and guns would eventually lead to trouble; staying safe and sound in the village is not a bad thing..." The crowd was chattering away, discussing various opinions, and soon they dispersed.

Qin Beichen was taken aback and exclaimed, "Xinyue, you... how could you make such a poisonous vow? Do you really not wish to see me again in your next life?" Liu Xinyue did not respond directly; she threw her hairpin, which was a long sword, and covered her face with both hands, crying out, "Father! Why aren't you quickly giving him the antidote!"

The woman in white turned around angrily and said, "Father! Will you let me speak to him, is that acceptable?" Liu Hui Lie's old face tightened, and with a huff, he turned his head away.

Feng Feiyan said: "This is the unique mark of our Feng family. Whether it is direction and distance, or time and person, it can be represented with just a few strokes, which outsiders cannot discern." Zuo Yuanmin thought to himself: "So that's how it is"

Zuo Yuanmin was overjoyed and quickly took it down. Since the stone wall had opened a hole, there was a point of leverage. He reached his hand into the hole and found it completely empty; it turned out that behind this stone wall, there was actually another space.

The three of them engaged in casual conversation amidst the ruins of Lu's family. Before long, the moon reached its zenith, and Feng Feiyan waited anxiously, but his father still did not appear. He then suggested, "Let us leave first; it is not a solution to remain here indefinitely."

Lu Yuting said, "No, the largest town nearby is Lanfeng." Zuo Yuanmin was taken aback, thinking, "Have these two old men really taken me this far?" Feng Feiyan said, "Is it really close to Bianjing from here? My father brought me from Lanfeng, and I have already seen Lanfeng. I really want to go to Bianjing and take a look!"

Upon hearing Feng Feiyan say this, Lu Yuting had nothing more to say and remarked: "It's not too close, but it's not too far either; it's about seventy to eighty li away." Feng Feiyan was greatly disappointed and replied: "That's so far! By the time we get there, it will be dawn, and will we even have the energy to wander around?"

Zuo Yuanmin said: "That's fine, but let me change my clothes first; I will be down shortly." Although Feng Feiyan was a woman, she was somewhat careless and thoughtless, much like a man. She had not considered why he would have a change of clothes when she had not seen him carrying any luggage. Wasn't it because he had retrieved them from Qunfang Building yesterday? She simply replied, "Alright, hurry down; I will wait for you," and then walked out of the room.

Zuo Yuanmin thought to himself, what is there to see? Lu Yuting then said, "Alright, alright, let us go see what has happened." Zuo Yuanmin replied, "But..." Feng Feiyan interjected, "What is there to hesitate about? Perhaps we might encounter some wrongdoing, and I, as a young lady, can justly uphold righteousness and punish evil. You can observe from the side and witness the methods of the Feng family." Feng Feiyan continued, "What is there to hesitate about? Perhaps we might encounter some wrongdoing, and I, as a young lady, can justly uphold righteousness and punish evil. You can observe from the side and witness the methods of the Feng family."

At that moment, a gentle female voice called out from above the well: "Zuo Yuanmin, are you down there?" It was Feng Feiyan calling to him from above.

"Who exactly is he? Is he crazy?" Zuo Yuanmin said, "I don't know who he is either, but I think he must be from the Lu family, right?" Looking at his back, this person appeared to be around seventeen or eighteen years old, with a handsome appearance, indeed a remarkable young man. However, at this moment, he was flustered and agitated, like a headless fly or an ant on a hot pan. It seems that in the face of drastic changes, even the strongest person cannot remain calm.

Qin Beichen was at a loss whether to laugh or cry, thinking to himself: "When a person is down on their luck, everything they do goes awry. I never expected that I, Qin Beichen, would actually be reduced to having a little brat lecture me." He said: "Alright, I understand. Little brother, this place is very dangerous; it is not a place for play. You should leave quickly."

The woman in white took out a silk handkerchief and carefully wiped away his sweat, speaking softly: "Elder brother, please listen to me, I wish for you to live a long life, safe and sound, to marry a good girl from a respectable family, and to forget me..." As she reached the end of her words, her voice gradually lowered, and she could no longer hold back her sobs.

In his urgency, he had no time to think carefully. Struggling to stand upright, he reached out his hands to support himself against the stone wall, only to realize that his left arm hurt as if it were broken. As his feet lost their footing, he fell again. All he could hear was the person shouting: "One kill breaks even, two kills make a profit!" It dawned on him that he had been repaid with ingratitude. In the midst of the chaos, he rolled away, and with a loud "thud," a heavy stone brick fell to the ground beside him, splattering debris that hit his face and hands. It was the very person he had just saved, now attacking him with the scattered stones on the ground. All he could hear was the person shouting: "One kill breaks even, two kills make a profit!" It dawned on him that he had been repaid with ingratitude. In the midst of the chaos, he rolled away, and with a loud "thud," a heavy stone brick fell to the ground beside him, splattering debris that hit his face and hands. It was the very person he had just saved, now attacking him with the scattered stones on the ground.

The four stone walls were smooth, with no points of force to be found. Coincidentally, there was only a small square opening where the oil lamp was placed. Left Yuanmin instinctively felt that this was a deliberate design. He removed the oil lamp and placed it at a distance on the other side, then reached in and pulled hard. With a "crack," the stone brick that bore the force loosened.

Hearing the shouts of the person who had been hiding in the underground chamber, gradually coming closer, and after a while returning to the courtyard, Feng Feiyan could not help but feel curious and asked, "Hey! This brother, you don't need to search anymore. I just looked several times, and there isn't a single person left in the Lu family village."

Caught in hesitation over whether to take the risk and continue tracking, a scream suddenly echoed from not far ahead, abruptly silencing the flute. Lu Yuting could not contain his excitement, pointing ahead and exclaiming, "They've been stopped, they've been stopped!" Feng Feiyan did not expect him to be so reckless and quickly pulled him back, whispering, "Keep your voice down!" No sooner had she spoken than the sounds of clashing weapons erupted ahead, ringing out in a cacophony.

Zuo Yuanmin shook his head and said, "I have no martial arts skills at all, and I rarely have the opportunity to hear these names from the martial world"

After listening to his explanation, Zuo Yuanmin couldn't help but recall his own experiences. Lu Jianhong had such a loving father who envisioned so much for him and shielded him from calamities, while he himself had no impression of his own father since he became aware of the world.

Zuo Yuanmin said: "My view is exactly the opposite. Miss Liu believes that if she does not make such a deadly vow, she cannot make her father believe it, nor can she make him believe it, and thus she cannot obtain the antidote. The reason she says 'if I do not see you, I will not see you' is because she fears that if she sees you, her mind will be thrown into chaos, and she will be unable to make any decisions. Furthermore, she swore that if she sees you in this life, she will not see you in the next life. This is because if her father obstructs them in this life, the chances of the two of you being together are very slim. Since there is no hope in this life, she places her hopes in the next life. Therefore, this vow is actually a subtle way of telling you that she wishes to continue the bond of this life with you in the next." He continued: "Miss Liu was so troubled at that time, yet she was able to think clearly in that moment and make such a judgment, which shows her intelligence. She is willing to exchange her freedom for the life of her beloved, and she vows to meet you again in the next life, which shows her deep affection. If you were to belittle her feelings again and throw away this antidote, Mr. Qin, to speak frankly, I believe you are not worthy of Miss Liu at all."

The man in the brocade robe turned pale, and the woman in white was even more visibly shaken, exclaiming, "Father! Are you saying... are you saying..." Overwhelmed by fear, she found herself unable to continue speaking. The old man in the black robe said, "Indeed, he has been poisoned by my 'Seven-Day Blood Depletion Pill.' If we count today, it is already the sixth day... Hey, Qin, don't blame me; after all, you chose to provoke the daughter of Liu Huilie, someone not to be trifled with!" The old man in the black robe reiterated, "Indeed, he has been poisoned by my 'Seven-Day Blood Depletion Pill.' If we count today, it is already the sixth day... Hey, Qin, don't blame me; after all, you chose to provoke the daughter of Liu Huilie, someone not to be trifled with!"

Qin Beichen gave a faint bitter smile and said, "Alright, you all are hiding there, as if you have seen everything from beginning to end, right?" He spoke to Zuo Yuanmin, saying, "Just now you also saw, Xinyue... Miss Liu, in the end, not only did she refuse to see me for the last time, but she also made a poisonous vow that involves the next life. If that is truly the case, then I do not wish to receive such a favor from her. A man should stand tall and firm; if death is to come, then so be it, but I will not live in a cowardly and pitiful manner."

Zuo Yuanmin was lost in thought, and his fatigue was instantly swept away. Arriving outside the Qunfang Building, it was already close to noon. Just as he was contemplating how to speak to Yunmeng, suddenly a shop assistant rushed to the entrance. Upon seeing Zuo Yuanmin, he appeared as if he had seen a ghost, immediately turning around and sprinting inside, shouting loudly. Zuo Yuanmin was not familiar with him and did not understand the significance of his reaction, so he continued into the entrance. There, he encountered the madam of the establishment coming out from the back hall, who greeted him with a smile and said: "Little Zuo, you are back! Has Miss Yun gone to the temple to pray? When will she return?" Zuo Yuanmin was not familiar with him and did not understand the significance of his reaction, so he continued into the entrance. There, he encountered the madam of the establishment coming out from the back hall, who greeted him with a smile and said: "Little Zuo, you are back! Has Miss Yun gone to the temple to pray? When will she return?"

The woman in white looked at the man in brocade again, her expression softening as she whispered, "Elder brother, it cannot be, but I hope you have peace and joy in this life, and that will satisfy me. I do not want... I do not want you to end up like my father said..." The man in brocade appeared flustered and said, "What do you want to do? We have finally... finally been able to be together... you must not..." He was both trying to comfort the woman in white and remain vigilant against the enemy's every move, sweating profusely.

After a while, Lu Yuting suddenly interjected, "My father also mentioned other methods of communication, such as carrier pigeons, signal fires, whistles, and flute sounds. Each sect has its own way." Zuo Yuanmin asked, "Is it like this flute sound now?" Lu Yuting replied, "What flute sound?" At this moment, Feng Feiyan also noticed and extended his right hand, using his index and ring fingers to gesture in front of Lu Yuting, saying, "You should not speak for now." He listened attentively and felt that the flute sounds were responding in two directions. At first glance, it seemed quite chaotic, but there appeared to be some underlying order. For instance, when the flute sound from a farther distance played, it always began with two short notes followed by a long one, while the closer side consistently started with one long note followed by two short ones. No matter how chaotic it seemed, the two sides never played simultaneously. In fact, there seemed to be some underlying order, such as when the flute sound from a farther distance played, it always began with two short notes followed by a long one, while the closer side consistently started with one long note followed by two short ones. No matter how chaotic it seemed, the two sides never played simultaneously.

Zuo Yuanmin quickly arrived outside Yunmeng's door. Without knocking, she barged in. The room appeared unchanged, but upon opening the wardrobe, she found that the lock on the hidden compartment was already undone, and the sandalwood jewelry box that Yunmeng had hidden inside was gone. On the dressing table, her favorite mahogany comb and lacquer powder box were also neatly put away, missing without a trace. The more Zuo Yuanmin looked, the more frightened she became, and she hurriedly turned to return to her own room. Unexpectedly, the old matron happened to arrive at Yunmeng's door, and in her panic, Zuo Yuanmin collided with her. The old matron, completely unaware, exclaimed "Oh dear!" and fell over, landing on her back.

At this point, Qin Beichen realized that only these three individuals had come and gone, and their intentions were clearly not good. He lowered his voice and shouted to Zuo Yuanmin and the other two, "Quickly step aside!" With a flick of his sword, he darted past the three, simultaneously saying, "Liu Hui is indeed shameless, speaking boldly yet lacking integrity!"

As Feng Feiyan entered the room, she immediately noticed the pastries she had bought the previous night sitting untouched on the side table. Feeling somewhat displeased, she asked, "Don't you like these pastries?" Left Yuanyin, upon hearing this, recalled the pastries and replied, "No, it's just that I was really tired. After you came back last night, I fell asleep right away. But now that I've had enough rest, I'm actually quite hungry." Sitting at the table, she reached for the pastry box. At this, Feng Feiyan's anger turned to joy, and she laughed, "Those pastries are stale; don't eat them. Let's go downstairs for breakfast instead."

It turned out that although those men in ochre robes were minor characters, they possessed considerable skills, which allowed them to pursue Qin Beichen and Liu Xinyue relentlessly. Feng Yiyan assessed the situation and decided to catch them off guard by injuring one of them first; the remaining two, no matter how fierce, would not be able to escape the shadow of her fists. The more Qin Beichen looked, the more astonished he became, unable to resist glancing back at the two on his left, suspecting that they might also be concealing their true abilities.

Zuo Yuanmin noticed her anxious expression, which did not seem feigned. He could no longer concern himself with what she wanted to say next and hurriedly left her behind, heading straight to Yunmeng's room upstairs. Behind him, he could only hear the madam loudly saying: "Miss Yun is with me, and there is still more than half a year left on her contract... Little Zuo... Little Zuo..."

Liu Hui Lie said: "Whether you believe it or not, I have the antidote here. Before sunset today, his life can still be saved. After sunset, even if he were to swallow ten or twenty antidotes, it would be of no use. You have seen the power of the Seven-Day Blood Depletion Pill before. If you do not believe it, feel free to continue supporting him. " In their conversation, the man in brocade injured another person in ochre clothing, but his complexion was pale, his steps unsteady, and he appeared quite unwell. If you do not believe it, feel free to continue supporting him. " In their conversation, the man in brocade injured another person in ochre clothing, but his complexion was pale, his steps unsteady, and he appeared quite unwell.

Lu Jianhong, having lost all hope without the support of his friends at the banquet, decided to hide. The thought of evasion naturally led him to seek the utmost secrecy, wanting as few people as possible to know of his whereabouts. Thus, he sent away all unrelated individuals, including the housekeeper, servants, and guards, to facilitate his concealment. However, he had no confidence in whether he could deceive Wang Shuzan, who was known for his resourcefulness. Therefore, he called his only remaining son into the secret chamber. To prevent the boy from inadvertently revealing his location in a moment of panic, he acupointed him, bound his hands, sealed his mouth, and then bricked up the secret door.

He could not help but intensify his efforts to move the stone bricks. Before long, a small hole appeared in the stone wall, just large enough for a person to squeeze through. At that moment, a rustling sound suddenly emerged from the hole, as if something alive was moving inside. Zuo Yuanmin dared not continue digging with his bare hands; he turned to fetch an oil lamp and slowly approached the hole, intending to take a closer look before proceeding.

The person snorted and said, "What ability do you, a mere child still reeking of milk, have to save me?" Zuo Yuanmin quickly explained, "Yes, I am indeed a child still reeking of milk, but what ability do I have to cause a ruckus at Lu Family Village?" The person was taken aback, seemingly finding his words quite reasonable.

Qin Beichen stood still for a moment, reaching out to take out a small oiled paper bag from his arms. After examining it for a while, he suddenly raised his hand, intending to throw it far away. Just then, he heard someone shout, "Wait!" Qin Beichen was taken aback, quickly scanning the surroundings with his eyes, and saw a small figure emerging from the grass on the slope ahead, rushing down the steep incline. Qin Beichen drew his long sword and shouted, "Who goes there?" Just then, he heard someone shout, "Wait!" Qin Beichen was taken aback, quickly scanning the surroundings with his eyes, and saw a small figure emerging from the grass on the slope ahead, rushing down the steep incline. Qin Beichen drew his long sword and shouted, "Who goes there?"

Not long after the food was served, Zuo Yuanmin was not polite and began to eat heartily. The three of them ate in silence for a while, when Zuo Yuanmin suddenly asked, "Miss Feng, how long do you plan to wait here in Bianjing?" Feng Feiyan replied, "I left some marks on the streets and corners last night. If my father sees them, he will naturally come looking for me." Zuo Yuanmin said, "So there is such a way to communicate."

Feng Feiyan has almost confirmed that this is a means of communication used by a certain gang in the martial arts world. In order to demonstrate that his knowledge indeed surpasses that of the two, he pretended to be mysterious and said: "This is a communication method among the gangs in the martial arts world. What do you think? Should we go over and take a look at the excitement?"

Lu Yuting noticed that he had arrived with Feng Feiyan, and thought that his father might also be a senior figure in the martial arts world. After a moment of chaotic thinking, he feared that there could be endless troubles ahead, which is why he asked this question. His main concern was how to approach the situation. However, upon hearing the person's name, he could not recall any skilled martial artist with the surname Zuo in the martial arts community, which eased his mind. He secretly thought, "Fortunately!" and thus lost interest in further inquiring about his family background.

Feng Feiyan blocked the way and said, "Why are you in such a hurry to leave? My father said he wants to meet you!" Zuo Yuanmin replied, "Please convey my message to the young lady, that I, Zuo Yuanmin, am not a person of the martial world. I appreciate the kindness, but I cannot accept it." He took a step to the right, intending to bypass Feng Feiyan. Feng Feiyan stepped back to the left and continued to block Zuo Yuanmin's path, saying, "Although you are not a person of the martial world at the moment, what if I could persuade my father to take you as a disciple?"

When Qin Beichen saw these people coming and going, he thought that Liu Xinyue had also returned. His face lit up with joy as he called out to the three behind him, "Xinyue! Xinyue!" The three individuals in ochre robes suddenly noticed that there were three more people beside Qin Beichen. They exchanged glances and then silently moved in to surround him.

Lu Jianhong feared that applying too much pressure on the acupoints would harm his own son, so Lu Yuting's sealed acupoints could be released by himself within three hours. Once the acupoints were released, he could gradually use the sharp edges of the stone wall to free himself from his restraints. However, this would take a considerable amount of time, and the crisis facing the Lu family would likely have passed by then

Zuo Yuanmin noticed that she was feeling downcast, unaware of the many thoughts in her mind. He thought she was worried about her father again and quickly said, "Miss Feng, if you are still concerned, should we move a bit closer to the fire scene to assist the elders and your father?" Feng Feiyan replied, "No need, my father wants me to wait here for him"

Feng Feiyan whispered, "By luck!" Upon seeing a high ground to the left ahead, where the grass grew taller than a person, he beckoned to the two on his left and moved towards that spot while keeping low. The three of them concealed themselves well and began to part the tall grass, peering forward stealthily.

Such thoughts continuously circled in his mind, yet if he truly became a disciple, he would have to part ways with Yunmeng immediately, not knowing when they would meet again. This dilemma left him momentarily unable to make a decision, plunging him into confusion.

Feng Yijie turned out to be a disciple of Wang Shuzan, which surprised Zuo Yuanmin as much as it did Lu Yuting. However, upon hearing Lu Yuting ask, "May I inquire about your esteemed father..." Feng Feiyan, filled with pride, replied, "My father is named Feng Junjie, and I am his only daughter, Feng Feiyan!" Lu Yuting was taken aback and exclaimed, "Is your father one of the South's Three Absolutes: the Fiery Fist Feng Junjie?" Feng Feiyan laughed, her charm captivating, and covered her mouth as she said, "I cannot claim the title of 'Divine Fist.'" She mimicked her father's tone while casting a glance at Zuo Yuanmin. She repeated, "My father is named Feng Junjie, and I am his only daughter, Feng Feiyan!" Lu Yuting was astonished again, asking, "Is your father one of the South's Three Absolutes: the Fiery Fist Feng Junjie?" Feng Feiyan laughed, her charm captivating, and covered her mouth as she said, "I cannot claim the title of 'Divine Fist.'" She mimicked her father's tone while casting a glance at Zuo Yuanmin. Zuo Yuanmin turned his head away, pretending not to see.

Zuo Yuanmin saw Feng Feiyan leaving quickly, her speed unlike that of ordinary people. Unable to catch up, he decided not to pursue her. Soon, a voice came from behind the wall, calling out: "Father, Father, where are you?" Zuo Yuanmin thought to himself: "What happened to her father? Is he missing?" His heart began to race uncontrollably. He hurriedly made his way around the wall and entered the courtyard, only to find that the pile of stones at the well had been moved, revealing a passage leading underground. Feng Feiyan was darting around, calling out loudly, but the surroundings were eerily silent, not a sound to be heard. He hurriedly made his way around the wall and entered the courtyard, only to find that the pile of stones at the well had been moved, revealing a passage leading underground. Feng Feiyan was darting around, calling out loudly, but the surroundings were eerily silent, not a sound to be heard.

Liu Hui Lie shouted, "Qin Bei Chen, as a grown man, you rely on a woman to save your life. At this moment and in this place, you have no room to speak!" With a long face, he continued to Liu Xin Yue, "Is it worth it to do this for a man?"

However, it is somewhat strange to say that the two were besieged by this group of people. The reason is that the man wielded a long sword, weaving in and out among the crowd, engaging in a genuine battle. In contrast, although the woman also wielded a long sword and was slashing about, the men in ochre clothing mostly retreated at the slightest contact, engaging with her for no more than three exchanges, resulting in a situation where the ochre-clad men were besieging the man in brocade, while the woman in white pursued and attacked the men in ochre.

Just as he was about to go and share this idea with Feng Feiyan, he took a step back and suddenly noticed his own shadow in front of him seemed to flicker for a moment. He initially thought nothing of it, but when he reached the entrance of the corridor, he suddenly pondered: "Strange, why is my shadow moving?" Just with this moment of hesitation, he saw his shadow in front of him appear to tremble once more.

The group of ochre-clad individuals paused upon hearing the sound, yet they still focused on the pair at the center. The woman in white supported the man in brocade and gently asked, "Elder brother, how are you feeling?" Before the brocade-clad man could respond, Liu Hui Lie interjected, "He is currently feeling dizzy and drowsy; if he doesn't receive the antidote, he might fall asleep and never wake up."

Upon hearing Feng Feiyan's words, Zuo Yuanmin felt a surge of emotion and thought: "Although my father, Zuo Yuanmin, possessed excellent martial skills, he has long since passed away. My second uncle and Uncle Huo are also no longer in this world. Even if I wish to carry on the martial legacy of the Zuo family, it is beyond my capability." He further contemplated: "In her lifetime, Sister Yun has cherished not only profound martial arts but also heroes with exceptional skills, like Yan Huchen, who is a prime example. If I were to return and follow her now, she might allow me to accompany her for a short while, but as time goes on, she would inevitably drive me away, just as she did tonight. Why would she want to send me away? She claims it is because I have grown up, and it would be inconvenient for me to continue serving her. But what inconvenience is there really? It is merely that I, Zuo Yuanmin, am just a servant, not the ideal man in Sister Yun's eyes." Although he had not truly seen Feng Junjie’s appearance, witnessing him save others demonstrated a chivalrous heart. With such a renowned reputation in the martial world, his skills must be formidable. If he could indeed become his disciple and learn his techniques, perhaps Yunmeng would come to like him.

Qin Beichen thought to himself: "Since my life is already short, there is no need to intimidate a child at this moment." He considered himself valiant and unyielding, possessing considerable courage. Just as he was about to speak and send the child away, two figures suddenly emerged from the grass on the slope ahead, one male and one female, rushing down. It was Feng Feiyan and Lu Yuting. As they arrived one after the other, Qin Beichen was taken aback and had not yet opened his mouth to inquire about the identity of the newcomers when Feng Feiyan had already spoken first: "He just wants to talk to you, why be so fierce?"

Liu Hui Lie was quite satisfied with the content of his daughter's vow and said, "Good!" He then took out a small oil paper package folded into a square from his pocket, holding it between his index and ring fingers. With a slight bend and release of his fingers, the oil paper package flew forward smoothly, neither fast nor slow, as if it were being pulled by a silk thread, gliding steadily through the air. With a "pop," it landed perfectly on Qin Bei Chen's chest, falling into his embrace. Just this one move made Feng Fei Yan, who was watching from the side, secretly applaud and feel deeply impressed.

The four individuals were deeply immersed in their own thoughts. After a while, Qin Beichen suddenly became alert and asked, "Who is it?" He raised his head to look towards the left front and lifted his long sword again. The other three came to their senses and indeed heard footsteps coming from the forest ahead. Three individuals in ochre clothing cautiously emerged; they were sent back by Liu Huilie to deal with Qin Beichen. The reason for sending only three people was twofold: first, to avoid raising suspicion in case the number of subordinates suddenly decreased, which might alert the daughter; second, even if Qin Beichen were to take the antidote immediately, its effects would not take place right away. As long as they could prevent Qin Beichen from escaping before sunset today, three people would be sufficient to deal with him.

In an instant, only Qin Beichen remained among the more than ten people. The leaves rustled softly, and the birds chirped in harmony from the branches, as if everything that had just occurred was merely a dream, as if nothing had ever happened at all

Although the fire at Lu Family Manor was fierce, it was an independent estate; the greater the fire, the faster the burning rate. Before long, the combustible materials were nearly consumed, and the flames gradually diminished. However, Jiang Yu'er and Feng Junjie had yet to appear. At this moment, even though Feng Feiyan still had faith in her father, she could not help but gradually lose it as time passed. Finally, unable to restrain herself, she took steps closer to Lu Family Manor, and Zuo Yuanmin followed closely behind her. Yet, Jiang Yu'er and Feng Junjie still did not show up. At this moment, even though Feng Feiyan still had faith in her father, she could not help but gradually lose it as time passed. Finally, unable to restrain herself, she took steps closer to Lu Family Manor, and Zuo Yuanmin followed closely behind her.

Zuo Yuanmin approached the corridor entrance, looking around but finding no abnormalities. He intended to call Feng Feiyan to take a look at the underground secret chamber, but when he looked up, she had mysteriously disappeared. Zuo Yuanmin abandoned the thought of inviting her to join him and quietly descended the steps along the corridor.

Upon hearing these words, both Zuo Lu and the other person were taken aback. Zuo Yuanmin said, "You... what did you say?" Feng Feiyan replied with a grin, "So, what do you think? Are you interested? Let me tell you a secret: up until now, my father has not accepted any disciples besides me! He often complains that he wishes I were a boy... because our Feng family's Fire Fist, when practiced to its fullest, is an extremely fierce and powerful martial art. Women cannot fully unleash its maximum potential. Alas, it is a pity that my mother passed away early, and my father refuses to remarry..." At this point, the implication was quite clear: Feng Junjie’s exceptional skills needed a male successor, and since he had no son, this heir must be sought from outside.

Liu Xinyue cried out, "Forgive my unfilial daughter!" With her eyes closed, she exerted force with her left hand, pushing the hairpin forward by another three points. Blood immediately flowed from the wound, running along the hairpin. Liu Huilie shouted, "Stop!" Liu Xinyue opened her eyes and asked, "Will you agree, Father?" Liu Huilie's face was as cold as frost, and he said, "I have one more condition." Liu Xinyue asked, "What condition?" Liu Huilie replied, "I will give the antidote to Qin Beichen, and you will return with me immediately, never to see him again, not even once!"

This principle is not difficult to understand. Consider the person who built the stone chamber; the effort they expended was precisely to prepare for unforeseen circumstances. Given the extraordinary times, it is only natural that a ventilation design was incorporated into this stone chamber for long-term planning. However, this stone chamber appears stark and bare, and aside from the entrance, there seems to be no other openings. As he approached the oil lamp, he noticed that the small flame, no larger than a soybean, occasionally tilted towards the inner stone wall. A thought crossed his mind: "Could it be that there is a ventilation hole behind this stone wall?"

Zuo Yuanmin thought to himself: "They cannot be considered senior friends; it is not a problem to leave without greeting them." However, since Feng Feiyan had provided him with another way out, he followed her lead and said: "That is true. But I wonder where you are headed now"