Chapter 1, purely a misunderstanding

On the bright surface of the bronze mirror is reflected the face of a young man who is not yet twenty years old. From the mirror's perspective, this face appears somewhat pale and thin, not particularly handsome, but just barely acceptable.

The woman in black was momentarily taken aback, then her eyes filled with hatred and disdain as she said: "You, with the surname Duan, have caused the deaths of so many of our brothers and sisters, yet you dare to act without taking responsibility, wearing a human skin for nothing!"

Pei Qian rolled to the corner of the bed, evading the female assassin's blade, and shouted: "Killing is nothing more than a head hitting the ground!"

He did not expect the quilt on him to withstand a crossbow capable of piercing a three-finger-thick iron plate, and he shouted angrily: "Even if I stole your banknotes, there is no need to shoot me with arrows at this moment!"

For Pei Qian, he is destined to forever remember this night. Not only did he personally experience the enchanting taste of the clouds and rain of Wushan for the first time, but it was also the first time he encountered a deadly surprise attack from an assassin

The female assassin was enraged, casually placing Miss Yu Shi into the side armchair, and scolded, "No way!" The sword moved with agility, stabbing towards Pei Qian's chest, vowing to dig out the heart of this scoundrel to see what color it was!

In that brief moment of distraction, the assassin shouldered the crossbow, drew a three-foot-long ancient sword of blue hue from behind, and swiftly entered the room. The sword's edge rang and trembled like a blue rainbow, aiming directly at Pei Qiangguang's nearly bare chest.

Thinking of her senior sister still on the riverbank, the black-clad female assassin was overwhelmed with sorrow, feeling waves of dizziness and chest tightness. Chilled river water was poured into her stomach in large gulps, and her consciousness gradually became hazy

A wave of immense humiliation and indignation suddenly engulfed the heart of the black-clad female assassin—her precious first kiss, which she had cherished for sixteen years, was brutally taken away by this young man who resembled a skinny monkey. Moreover, the other party was a detestable traitor ranked seventh on the Ancient Sword Pool's kill list

"Laozi is a traitor?" Pei Qian glanced at the black-clad female assassin tucked under his arm and spat out a mouthful of river water onto the ground, saying, "Bah, you are the true rebels against the court!"

He suddenly closed his mouth, astonished to discover that the man in the painting bore such a striking resemblance to himself, both in appearance and demeanor, perhaps by seventy or eighty percent. Especially on such a dark and gloomy night, no one would doubt that they were the same person. The only obvious difference was that this rascal had two patches of beard on his lips, while he himself was as smooth as a peeled egg.

Suddenly, she felt a chill run through her body, as Pei Qian's hands slipped under her clothing, tearing and groping at the same time

The spring water of Xiaohan flows with thirteen swords, Pei Qian gazed at the sword edge that shimmered with brilliant blue light, no longer describable as having a head as large as a basin. This girl is actually a direct descendant of the Ancient Sword Pool!

As they swam closer, the shadows of the grass swayed gently, and the water was calm and still, yet there was no sign of Pei Qian. The black-clad female assassin expressed her disappointment, saying: "He must have fled in a panic, causing his waist shawl to come loose and get caught in the grass."

Oh? Almost simultaneously, both Pei Qian on the bed and the assassin at the window let out a surprised grunt through their noses. As for the young lady Yu Shi in Pei Qian's arms, she gave a soft moan, seemingly fainting, though it was unclear whether it was genuine or feigned.

The black-clad female assassin believed that she would undoubtedly meet her demise in this person's hands, so she closed her eyes and remained silent.

My goodness! Pei Qian was so frightened that his soul seemed to leave his body, and he grabbed the pillow from the bed to defend himself.

What a surprise, truly a surprise. Pei Qian suddenly realized that the young man in the portrait was indeed the target that the two girls from Gujian Pool were determined to assassinate. Unfortunately, he had become an unwitting substitute in this deadly scheme.

First, he is shameless, even pulling the quilt off himself; second, he is selfish and indifferent, carelessly casting aside the woman with whom he has just shared intimate moments; and the last and most important point: this utterly shameless and despicable scoundrel actually compares her to jealous clients, failing to recognize that he is also a girl, and a beautiful one at that, revered by his fellow disciples as if she were a goddess.

It was only when he had become accustomed to these two entirely different experiences several years later that he realized all of this had begun to change from that evening onward

Let you chase me again! Having resolved everything, Pei Qian appeared before the black-clad female assassin with the demeanor of a victor, completely unconcerned about his sudden exposure, feeling quite pleased as he sheathed his dagger.

Certainly, the heavens were also secretly assisting, causing a distinguished guest who was originally scheduled to meet with Miss Yu Shi tonight to cancel at the last minute, rescheduling for the evening of the third day of next month. Prior to this, all of Miss Yu Shi's appointments had been fully booked, leaving no opportunity for a last-minute arrangement.

The white-clad female assassin arrived at the riverbank, her delicate brows slightly furrowed, as she slowly closed her pair of bright eyes that sparkled like stars. In her mind's eye, the scene of the nearby river surface appeared instantly. However, when her spiritual perception reached three zhang beneath the river surface, the image in her mind became increasingly blurred, yet she still could not find any trace of Pei Qian.

It was a misunderstanding, purely a misunderstanding! He exclaimed uncontrollably, "You have the wrong person!"

He resorted to his old tricks, grabbing two middle-aged men who were holding their drinks but not drinking, and unceremoniously throwing them towards the incoming whip shadows

Yu Shileng was taken aback, unable to comprehend what a man could do in her bed besides undressing and loosening his clothes

At this moment, he was not at all in the mood to ponder such profound questions of life; he was only thinking about who was secretly in love with Miss Yu Shi, to the extent that they were seething with anger and wanted to hire an assassin to kill every guest who had shared her bed

As she sank down, a sharp, poisoned dagger was firmly pressed against her lower abdomen

He set down the bronze mirror and grasped the delicate hand of Yu Shi, who was about to untie her belt, and said with a smile: "This cannot be undone"

The sound of "bang bang" echoed, and the more than ten thugs fell to the ground one after another, while two female assassins swiftly pursued them out of the house

In the twenty-one poisoned crossbow bolts, seven pierced through the floorboards and the ceiling, embedding themselves into the blue bricks below. Seven others were lodged in the wall, with only a small portion of the arrow shafts protruding. The remaining seven were all pinched by Pei Qian using his fingers and toes, and he even remembered to hold one in his mouth.

At this moment, the Dark Fragrance Pavilion is at its liveliest, with the warm hall on the ground floor filled with guests and young ladies enjoying the flower wine. Although everyone is well-versed in the pleasures of the scene, they could not help but be taken aback when they saw Pei Qian rushing down the stairs completely naked.

At present, the black-clad female assassin executed the ancient sword technique known as "Gazing Through Autumn Waters," moving stealthily at the bottom of the river, as agile as a fish gliding through shallow waters. In no time, she had traversed over five miles, faintly spotting a large red shawl floating among a cluster of aquatic plants ahead, which was the very shawl that Pei Qian had snatched from the courtesan to cover her modesty.

She secretly cursed this insensitive thin monkey while forcing a smile to extinguish the burning candle by the bed

Isn't there a saying: "Shaking a mountain is easy, but shaking the bandits within the mountain is difficult"? Who doesn't know that these desperate rebels are ruthless and merciless, and getting involved with them is akin to delivering business to the coffin maker.

At this moment, the owner of the face is doing his utmost to widen his pair of exceptionally bright eyes, yet he still has to regretfully admit: although small as beans, they may easily attract attention, but seem to struggle to win the favor of young ladies

Suddenly, it felt as if something soft and plump was pressed against her cherry-like lips, and a precious stream of clarity flowed gently down her throat, instantly alleviating the tightness in her chest, as if she had come back to life from the gates of hell

You are most aware of the things you have done! Accompanied by a voice as cold as ice, a girl in white, her face veiled in black, broke through the window and struck at Pei Qian's face with her left hand, her fingers slicing like a knife.

Pei Qian did not respond, but instead took a scroll of painting from the arms of the black-clad female assassin and, with great interest, unfurled it, asking: "What is this?"

Pei Qian let out a muffled groan as he collided with the wall, only to feel a chilling force from his left arm pressing in, his meridians felt as if they were being sliced by a knife, instantly numbing him, accompanied by a sharp pain in his chest and a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his lips

This is the true meaning of "opening"; with a single punch, the entire window flew out. A figure in black, masked and cloaked, hooked their feet onto the eaves, hanging upside down, and swiftly drew a black crossbow in hand, unleashing a barrage of twenty-one poisoned arrows with golden-green tips towards the bed beneath the low-hanging curtain.

She transferred the Qinghong ancient sword to her left hand, while her right hand reached into her sleeve, intending to retrieve the "Liantianhong" to report to her senior sister on the river. However, just as the black-clad female assassin's delicate hand grasped the pebble-sized "Liantianhong," the water below suddenly surged, and a large hand emerged from the thick, dark mud at the riverbed, swiftly gripping her ankle.

The cloaked female assassin nodded in acknowledgment, her luck shielding her as she leaped into the surging river, quickly sinking beneath the surface. The riverbed was shrouded in darkness; she focused her gaze and took out a "Snowfire" to illuminate her surroundings. This "Snowfire" resembled a jade scepter about a foot long, and with a gentle infusion of her vital energy, it emitted a brilliant green light, instantly revealing the scene within a radius of thirty feet.

The black-clad female assassin glared at Pei Qian with hatred, only to feel disheartened as she realized that his gaze was even more fierce and terrifying than her own. A chill ran through her heart as she said, "If you do not kill me immediately, you will surely regret it sooner or later"

In the corridor, more than ten thugs from Anxiang Studio, armed with knives, guns, and clubs, rushed over upon hearing the news, nearly colliding with Pei Qian. The leading thug, seeing Pei Qian, who was only wearing a belt and nothing else, couldn't help but pause and say: "You..."

She was filled with a mix of shock and anger, never imagining that she would be suffocated to death by a shameless scoundrel in the middle of the river. Yet, she found herself completely immobilized, unable even to bite a piece of flesh from the face of this little thief.

However, Pei Qian could no longer pay attention to these matters. In his arms, Miss Yu Shi was half-naked, loosening his clothing for him. Her movements were gentle yet swift, and she quickly removed Pei Qian's upper garment. Suddenly, she asked in surprise, "Young Master Pei, what is this?"

The black-clad female assassin was taken aback. Just as she attempted to kick and break free, an extremely sharp force surged into her body, instantly paralyzing her entire left leg and sealing its meridians. She hurriedly turned to draw her sword, but the technique "Duanxia Xiezhao" executed with her left hand holding the Xuelihuo was clearly inappropriate; it was not only soft and powerless but also awkward in posture. Not only did it fail to sever Pei Qian's left wrist, but she nearly injured her own right leg in the process. She hurriedly turned to draw her sword, but the technique "Duanxia Xiezhao" executed with her left hand holding the Xuelihuo was clearly inappropriate; it was not only soft and powerless but also awkward in posture. Not only did it fail to sever Pei Qian's left wrist, but she nearly injured her own right leg in the process

The assassin certainly did not expect that Pei Qian, even amidst the tumult, remained vigilant and avoided her determined barrage. What left Pei Qian utterly bewildered was that the one aiming a crossbow at him was not the old ghost come to settle scores, but rather a petite and delicate assassin.

As he approached the end of Flower Street, he glanced back with the corner of his eye and saw two figures, one black and one white, racing along the rooftops, getting closer and closer. He couldn't help but curse under his breath, "Damn it, I'm not your husband!" Thinking of himself being chased down the street like a rat by two female assassins while completely naked, his anger grew. He suddenly turned south at the intersection, and just a few steps ahead was a large river. He leaped into the water, holding his breath and sinking to the bottom.

Soon, Miss Yu Shi transformed her anger into joy, astonished to discover that this seemingly unremarkable young man was actually the renowned master of floral artistry. His exceptional skills were beyond anything she, the top performer of the Anxiang Studio, had ever seen, making her feel that her past days had been lived in vain

The woman in white held her breath and gracefully evaded the yellow mist, feeling a surge of murderous intent as she realized that this scoundrel actually dared to use spring medicine to plot against her. From her flowing sleeves, a black soft whip shot out, coiling around Pei He's neck.

"Traitor, may you die a miserable death!" The black-clad female assassin, having just regained her freedom, cursed through gritted teeth

"Senior Sister," the black-clad female assassin, who was only half a beat slower, caught up to the riverbank and, gazing at the vast river, asked anxiously: "In which direction did that little thief escape?"

The effects of "Jin Jun Today's Joy" took effect within her body as expected by Pei Qian, causing Miss Yu Shi to become overwhelmed with passion and ecstasy, unaware that this would indeed be the night of Pei Da Gongzi's loss of innocence

The white-clad female assassin flicked her soft whip, suddenly stiffening it like a spear to deflect the incoming projectile, aiming for Pei Qian's back.

Yu Shi is recognized as the most beautiful woman in Anxiang Studio of Yunchong Town. Pei Qian has secretly loved her for three whole years. In other words, Pei Qian, who was not yet seventeen at the time, had already begun racking his brains to find ways to get Miss Yu Shi into bed.

What is even more detestable is that the ancient Qinghong sword, which she regarded as her very life, along with the Xuelihuo used for illumination, has all fallen into Pei Qian's hands. She whimpered and struggled desperately, but her entire body was weak and powerless, unable even to bite her tongue to commit suicide

The belt is made of tanned cowhide and is unremarkable in itself. What Yu Shiwen inquired about were the bulging, disordered items hidden within the belt—a row of rusted large embroidery needles, a small porcelain bottle containing blood-activating and meridian-unblocking pills, a box of dark green wound ointment, a blue dagger, a small pouch of knockout powder, a blow dart less than half a finger long, and certain special occasion items such as a black mask and flying tiger claws

What is even more critical is that this "Twenty-One Star Cloud-Piercing Crossbow" is clearly the exclusive equipment of the "Mountain Bandits"

He reluctantly released the soft red lips of the black-clad female assassin, greedily inhaling a breath of fresh air. He leaped onto the riverbank, shook off the water droplets from his body, and walked towards the nearby mountains and forests.

At the critical moment when Pei Qian was shouting for a fierce battle, preparing to dig for his first pot of gold in life, the window on the second floor was opened

The black-clad female assassin's spirit lifted as she gripped her sword in her right hand and made her way through the dense aquatic vegetation. Her cultivation had just reached the Refining Spirit realm, which was significantly inferior to that of the white-clad female assassin. Unlike her senior sister, she was unable to utilize spiritual perception to employ the "Cold Pool Heart Shadow" technique to detect the situation within the grass. Therefore, she observed intently and cautiously, in order to guard against Pei lying in wait in the shadows for an opportunity to launch a surprise attack.

Pei Qiandan gathered his energy in the dantian, leaping out of the door of the Anxiang Studio and arriving on the bustling street.

To speak honestly, he likes women, and he prefers those who actively come to his bed. However, it is certainly not in the current situation, nor is it with a female assassin who exudes a murderous aura and lacks any semblance of humanity

The waves surged as Pei Qian emerged from beneath the river's surface, gazing intently at the scene on the shore. He was less than ten feet away from the intended landing spot, here at the upper reaches of the Yu River, ten miles west of Yunchong Town, and in a direction completely opposite to that of the white-clad female assassin's pursuit, making it temporarily safe.

Pei Qian lamented in despair, fully aware that under the bright daylight and the watchful eyes of the crowd, his Qinghong ancient sword could withstand at most thirty exchanges against the black-clad female assassin without falling into defeat; however, facing the white-clad female assassin and her soft whip, he would likely meet his end within three exchanges. It was truly a matter of losing face.

"Buzz—" Pei Qian's mind exploded, doubting whether he had heard correctly, and hurriedly asked: "What did you say? Who is the rebel? What have I done to wrong you?"

Pei Qian, in a fit of anger, scolded: "Blind to the truth, big eyes without brilliance, a dog’s eyes looking down on others! What is that surname Duan worth? How can he be compared to me?" The more he spoke, the angrier he became. He drew out a poisoned dagger and swiftly shaved the black-haired female assassin's head clean. Still unsatisfied, he said: "So, by shaving your head, does that mean you are guilty and trying to pretend to be a little nun?"

My nose is quite decent, my mouth is not the largest, and my ears, at least, have a fortunate appearance. Pei Qian stared at himself in the mirror, looking left and right, trying to find a reason that would make Miss Yu Shi fascinated by him. However, in the end, he could only reluctantly admit that tonight, being able to sleep in Miss Yu Shi's bed was entirely due to the little silver he had in his pocket.

The room was suddenly plunged into darkness. The melodious chirping of the oriole, the heavy gasps of breath, and the creaking moans of the bed all vividly illustrated the intensity of this fierce battle

Bang! The jade palm struck the pillow, producing a muffled sound. A wave of azure light spilled from the palm, rising in circles like ripples, instantly reducing the pillow to powder.

With a loud crash, he used his right shoulder to smash through the wall behind him, rolling into the adjacent room. The white-clad female assassin he encountered was at least a master from the Ancient Sword Pool who had broken through to the Golden Core realm. If he didn't make a quick escape, was he just waiting to die?

This is the busiest and most bustling street in the entire town of Yunchong after nightfall. On both sides of the street, there are a total of eight brothels, five taverns, and two pharmacies specializing in the treatment of venereal diseases.

Pei Qian did not feel that there was anything inappropriate. He casually grabbed a young lady's shawl and wrapped it around his waist as he fled, shouting: "Madam Boss, you must return the one hundred taels of silver to me tonight. Remember to have Miss Yu Shi accompany me for a drink to calm my nerves, and additionally pay three hundred taels for the medicine. Otherwise, I will report to the authorities and accuse you of harboring a female thief and plotting to harm me for money"

Fortunately, Pei Qian quickly removed his pants, dispelling her doubts. However, the black leather belt remained tightly wrapped around his waist, pressing uncomfortably against her delicate skin.

He rolled over on the spot, hearing a man's and a woman's exclamations from the bed. With deep apologies, he said, "I’m sorry, I’m just passing through, please continue..." He waved his hand and threw out a rusty "Carefree Divine Needle" to seal the hole in the wall he had just broken. Then, he bounced off and crashed through the door, rushing out.

Pei Qian pointed at his self-important face and said, "Take a good look, look closely—am I really the one with the surname Duan? Look, I don't have a mustache on my mouth!"

Tonight, he finally fulfilled his wish, shedding his clothes and lying on Yu Shi's bed. The price was a one-hundred-tael silver note and the severe consequences of being discovered by the old ghost, who, upon finding the silver notes missing from the secret cabinet, flew into a rage and pursued him through the streets.

The black-clad female assassin's body stiffened as Pei Qian emerged from behind her, swiftly pressing five vital points on her back with his fingers.

The white-clad female assassin retracted "Cold Pool Heart Shadow," opened her eyes, and said: "He has hidden at the bottom of the river; my celestial breath cannot trace him. However, based on the disturbances in the water, he should have fled eastward. You track along the riverbed while I monitor from the surface; we will advance together. Once we locate the thief sect, use 'Sky-Connecting Rainbow' to send a signal. We must eliminate him tonight"

Pei Qian was taken aback for a moment, shaking his head and saying, "It's utterly baffling!" He forcefully threw the black-clad female assassin into the woods, discarding the Qinghong ancient sword and the Xueli fire, then squatted down in front of her and asked, "Tell me, why do you want to kill me?"

"Damn it!" Upon hearing the dense sound of arrows piercing through the air from the 'Twenty-One Star Crossbow,' Pei Qian cursed inwardly, tightly embracing Yu Shi's warm body as he rolled towards the inner side of the bed, their limbs entangled as they accomplished their first human endeavor.

Because apart from this, Pei Qianshi truly cannot think of any reason why an assassin would target him. His background is simple and innocent, he is usually kind to others, and while he does not cause major troubles, he has minor issues; there is absolutely no reason for anyone to harbor such deep hatred towards him that they would want to kill him swiftly.

Seeing the bustling street filled with a throng of people and vehicles, Pei Qian disregarded the astonished gazes of onlookers. He leaped onto the roof of a carriage, then deftly sprang onto the head of a courtesan soliciting business by the roadside. With a series of agile movements, he covered a distance of over twenty zhang, showcasing the profound skills expected of a master at the凝元 level.

Her waist twisted as her delicate body broke through the river water and submerged into the grass ahead. She reached out with the ancient sword Qinghong to lift her shawl, pondering: "In any case, it is undoubtedly true that the little thief has escaped eastward along the riverbed."

He was bare-bodied, without a knife or shoes, and on his legs lay a half-dead young woman named Yu Shi. The perilous situation was truly unprecedented in his life. In a moment of desperation, he forcefully threw the exquisitely sculpted body in his arms towards the assassin, exclaiming: "Is it not acceptable for me to return her to you?"

Before her words had finished, the white-clad female assassin leaped down from the corridor, striking towards Pei Qian's head with a palm.

The black-clad female assassin believed that nothing more tragic and terrifying could ever happen in the world. However, she soon realized she was mistaken; the nightmarish ordeal of this evening was only just beginning, and what would follow would far exceed her imagination

Suddenly, the black-clad female assassin's eyes glazed over, her face flushed red, and she was bubbling out air with a "gudu gudu" sound. It turned out that her meridians were restricted, preventing her from holding her breath underwater any longer, and she was unable to surface for air, on the verge of being suffocated to death.

Before the words had left his lips, Pei Qian suddenly leaned in closer, startling the female assassin in black, who instinctively asked, "What do you want to do?"

Pei Qian was desperately fighting his way through the chaotic banquet, feeling the ominous winds above. He dared not confront the white-clad female assassin's "Mist Wave Palm" head-on. Instead, he raised his hand and scattered a handful of fragrant, sweet, light yellow powder, saying: "Behold my 'Street Pounce Powder'... Oh dear, I’m sorry, I made a mistake. How could it be 'Enjoy Your Day Today'?"

Her pale wrist trembled slightly, and all around her were the shadows of whips, as if a black tempest had enveloped Pei Qian. No matter which direction this fellow tried to evade, it was a dead end.

The female assassin caught Yu Shi in her arms, her sword momentarily halted, falling gently in front of the bed. This was not her first time as an assassin; otherwise, such an important task would not have been assigned to her. However, it was undeniable that this young man, who resembled a thin monkey, was entirely different from the previous victims who had perished under her blade.

By the light of the moon, he saw that the scroll depicted a young man. "Is this your beloved?" he remarked disdainfully as he gazed at the figure in the painting, "Does he look a bit too unconventional? His eyes are so small, his ears so long, with a sharp mouth and a gaunt face... Hmm?"

Pei Qianshun followed Yu Shi's gaze and looked down, clearly noting that what piqued her curiosity was not the military tent half-concealed under the quilt, but rather the black belt a few inches above it.

The assassin in black angrily shouted: "That is your guilty conscience, having shaved your beard. Do you think that this will prevent us from finding you? What a daydream!"

The black-clad female assassin was clear-headed, involuntarily widening her eyes, only to see a pair of small, bean-like eyes rolling about, less than half an inch from her face. Their owner was sealing her cherry lips with his foul mouth, while simultaneously channeling strands of true energy into her, all the while embracing her slender waist as he swam back.

I will also give you one hundred taels in silver notes! Pei Qian deeply understands the principle of spending money to avert disaster, especially since this money was stolen from the old ghost, so he naturally feels no remorse in offering it as a gift.

The collection is diverse, with more than 20 items. Naturally, it includes essentials for occasions like tonight, such as "Iron-hearted Red" and "Enjoy Today to the Fullest." The former is for his own use, while the latter is specially prepared for Yu Shi. Both are treasures that Pei Qian casually pilfered from the old ghost's secret cabinet, and just a moment ago, he secretly added them to the two cups.

"No, no!" The female assassin's sword was faster than her words, executing three strikes in one breath, leaving Pei Qian flustered and in peril. "I will kill you, the traitor, to rid the world of this menace!"

"Unbelievable!" The female assassin, having launched two consecutive sword strikes, was unable to injure Pei Qian, and could not help but marvel at the agility of this slender figure.

She screamed in terror, "Villain, what do you want? Get away quickly..."

Pei Qian pushed through the crowd and sprinted towards the staircase, shouting: "Help! There are two female thieves trying to assault me!"