“Ah… my body is still too weak… just a few months of cultivation is far from enough.” The moment Lu Sheng halted his movements, agony surged through every muscle and bone.
Fortunately, the Jade Crane Skill continued circulating inner Qi through his body—thread-like currents spreading like a vast, healing web over every bruised and battered inch of flesh. As the Qi expanded and nourished him, the searing pain gradually shifted into a tingling itch — the unmistakable sensation of fresh tissue forming and wounds knitting shut.
The effect is astonishing… this kind of numbing itch only happens when the body is regenerating, Lu Sheng thought, confidence flickering in his darkened gaze.
He cast a brief glance at the corpses on the ground, then stepped into the narrow opening in the wall where Lin Shuanghuo had appeared moments ago.
The passage led into the backyard of another residence.
Dirt scattered with frantic footprints told the story ahead of him. Following their trail, Lu Sheng pushed deeper into the house—only to freeze where he stood.
Suspended from the roof beams was Lu Qingqing.
She hung unconscious, dressed in nothing more than thin, white undergarments. More than half of her lower cloth had been torn away, exposing tender, pale skin beneath. Her legs were forced apart and bound cruelly, leaving her in a degrading position. A ragged strip of fabric was the only thing shielding the most vulnerable part of her.
Her upper garments fared little better—barely enough cloth remained to cover the center of her chest.
If Lu Sheng had been even a moment later…
“Thankfully… thankfully…” He surged forward, shrugging off his outer coat and wrapping it around Lu Qingqing’s trembling body before gently lifting her down into his arms.
No one could ever learn what had happened here. If this incident was exposed, Lu Qingqing’s reputation would be destroyed beyond repair.
Lu Sheng made his decision swiftly—he would keep her captivity a secret.
In this era, a woman’s chastity was everything. Once a hint of such disgrace spread, who could guarantee that others would believe she had not been violated? There were even families who would drown a woman in a pig cage if she lost her purity before marriage.
Cradling Lu Qingqing in his arms, Lu Sheng lightly patted her cheek.
If only he could manipulate his inner Qi freely—perhaps like the inner force techniques he had heard of—he might be able to channel it into another’s body and aid in healing. Unfortunately, the Jade Crane Skill could not be projected outside himself; its power was confined strictly within his meridians.
After several attempts, Lu Qingqing finally stirred. Her eyes fluttered open, hazy and unfocused. The cold air against her skin brought sudden clarity—memories of being overpowered and bound by those thugs surged back to her mind.
Realizing her humiliating state, her entire body trembled. She looked at Lu Sheng, eyes rapidly reddening, tears pooling as though ready to spill.
“Hurry and get dressed! Our family’s men will be here any minute,” Lu Sheng urged. Uncle Zhao and the others would not take long to track them here.
Only a short time had passed since he confronted the Phantom Head brothers, which meant Qingqing still had a fragile chance to preserve her dignity.
Understanding Lu Sheng’s intention, Lu Qingqing’s expression shifted. She was no fool—she knew what was at stake. Clenching her teeth, she forced her weak body upright and hurried around the room, gathering what remained of her torn garments. Though many were beyond repair, she wore whatever she could to cover herself.
Some of her intimate areas still showed as she hastily put her clothing back on, but she had no time to care about such details. Sensitive to her embarrassment, Lu Sheng turned away, keeping his back to her until she was finished.
Only when Lu Qingqing whispered that she was dressed did he turn back around. Seeing his consideration, she let out a small sigh of relief. Though her cheeks remained slightly pink, it was much better than before.
“Big Bro, what about those thugs!?” she asked, vengeful fury flashing in her eyes.
“I killed them,” Lu Sheng replied in an even tone. “What about Little Eight? I didn’t see him.”
“I’m not sure… I didn’t see Little Eight here.” The words slipped out before she froze—mind suddenly catching up.
So many enemies. So many formidable martial artists. Yet her Big Bro killed them alone?
Doubt flickered within her. The Lu Sheng she knew was a gentle, scholarly youth. Even if he had recently taken up martial arts, those men were seasoned killers—perhaps even her own master would struggle against them…
How could Big Bro have done it alone…?
“We’ll look for Little Eight on the way back. You done packing? Later, we’ll say we worked together to kill those men, understand? When I arrived, you were already fighting their disciples head-on,” Lu Sheng instructed, calmly aligning their story.
“Mm!”245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlDS3fM6ig
Lu Qingqing nodded firmly, fully aware of the consequences if the truth was revealed.
Yet, as she lowered her gaze, another thought pushed its way to the surface—Big Bro had just seen her nearly naked. A hot wave of humiliation washed over her. Her skin prickled with embarrassment, and she found it hard to meet his eyes. Her face flushed again as she quickly bowed her head.
Lu Sheng turned his attention to cleaning the room, erasing the last traces of their presence. He tucked away the rope that had bound her earlier.
Halfway through his task, hurried footsteps thundered into the neighboring yard, followed by Uncle Zhao’s group rushing in—and then a sharp cry of alarm cut through the air.
“It’s the Lin brothers—Severed Head Blade and Phantom Head Blade!” A veteran guard’s voice boomed, sending a ripple of agitation through the group before they fell into tense silence.
Uncle Zhao’s command followed swiftly: “Let’s find Young Master and Second Miss!”
“We’re alright!” Lu Sheng emerged from the shadows of the yard, supporting Lu Qingqing at his side.
Uncle Zhao stood at the center, clad in black martial robes, twin sabers clutched in his hands. The remaining guards fanned out to inspect the fallen bodies and secure the area.
“Brother Sheng! Good thing you’re alright!” Relief softened Uncle Zhao’s usually stern expression.
“This isn’t a place to talk. Let’s head back first.” His gaze shifted briefly to Lu Qingqing—keen, perceptive, and filled with unspoken understanding. Their disguises might deceive ordinary eyes, but not someone well-versed in the pugilist world like him.
Lu Sheng acknowledged with a nod. The Manor’s men had clearly reported the incident to the authorities already. With Lu Qingqing between them, the trio quickly regrouped with the guards, hailed a carriage, and began their hurried return. Some guards mounted horses or ran ahead, while a few stayed behind to coordinate with the yamen officials.
They did not slow until they reached the manor grounds.
The main gates were firmly shut behind them.
Inside the Main Hall, Lu Quanan, Second Mother, and several other family members were already waiting anxiously. After changing into fresh clothes, Lu Qingqing was escorted directly to meet them.
Lu Sheng did not accompany her. Instead, he quietly recounted the story to Uncle Zhao—though in the revised version, Lu Qingqing was locked in a desperate struggle with the enemy’s disciples when he arrived to help.
Afterward, using his injuries as a reasonable excuse, he withdrew to rest.
A physician soon arrived to examine him: torn muscles across multiple areas, hairline fractures in several bones, slight internal bleeding, and even a partial dislocation of the shoulder blades. The diagnosis went on and on.
Lu Sheng found himself increasingly irritated by the endless formalities—so many people questioning, inspecting, and confirming. A matter that should have been resolved swiftly dragged on for half the day.
Once everything was finally settled and he had washed up, Little Qiao—eyes still misty with worry—helped remove his outer coat and guided him onto the bed.
When the physician departed, Lu Sheng quietly assessed his condition. Surprisingly, he felt significantly recovered since their return. His spirit brimmed with vitality; his blood ran hot and strong. His body showed not even the faintest trace of having endured a brutal life-and-death clash.
The Jade Crane Skill’s healing capabilities, especially at its current level, were undeniably formidable.
He rested back against the pillows, hand absently rubbing his stomach—comfortably full from a hearty bowl of ginseng chicken soup. A soothing warmth spread through him, leaving his entire body relaxed and content.
This journey turned out to be a false alarm, he thought. Second Sis did end up in danger, but not because of demons or monsters—just two murderous fugitives from years past.
He had been on edge earlier, recalling the strange phenomenon he encountered on that street. That tension had made him especially cautious.
Yet in the end, the danger came not from the supernatural… but from humans.
Eyes half-closed, he meticulously replayed the earlier battle in his mind.
From start to finish, my strikes could have been cleaner… more decisive. And if I’d used the numbing shockwave from the Black Tiger Saber’s roar more cleverly, maybe I could've avoided clashing with them head-on.
His brows knitted in reflection.
Facing opponents with raw physical superiority is truly difficult. As a saber practitioner, strength must never be my weakness. Perhaps I should seek an external-force martial art to bolster my power.
He had never trained in those disciplines—harsh techniques that tempered bone, flesh, and muscle into iron. An intriguing thought surfaced—
If the Modifier enhanced such techniques… what kind of monstrous strength would result?
…………
Lu Manor — Main Hall.
Lu Quanan sat at the head seat, expression dark and stern as his gaze bore into Lu Qingqing below. Beside him sat Second Mother, Third Mother, and the rest of the family; the entire household had assembled to demand a full accounting of the day’s events.
Lu Qingqing and Uncle Zhao stood at the center of attention, accompanied by several guards who had been present earlier.
Uncle Zhao concluded his report, tying together the narrative that Lu Sheng had crafted:245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggBTqSk0hT
“…and that is roughly how the situation unfolded.” He added smoothly, ensuring every detail aligned.
“As for the yamen, I’ve already made arrangements. All credit for this case belongs to Brother Sheng—no one will dare dispute it.” A proud smile lifted his features.245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZ02KvmCux
“Brother Sheng has always been passionate about martial arts, but I never expected him to slay Severed Head Blade and Phantom Head Blade! His talent is astonishing—truly a late bloomer!”
“With Little Sheng… I am very satisfied and relieved.” Lu Quanan’s rigid expression softened slightly; the actions of this dependable son had already cooled much of his earlier fury.
But as his attention shifted back to Lu Qingqing, his voice hardened once more.
“Little Qing, look at your Big Brother… then look at yourself. Aside from causing trouble for the family and burdening your brother, can’t you accomplish anything worthwhile?”245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsbs5l5Ivj
His words struck like a whip. “I sent you to learn martial arts, not to come back and make a spectacle!”
“Dad… I know I was wrong…” Guilt weighed heavily in her voice. If her Big Bro hadn’t arrived at that crucial moment, her life would have been ruined forever.
“You know your mistake? When have you not said that? And then? Nothing ever changes!”245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDTqZnyreg
Lu Quanan’s temper flared hotter the more he spoke.
“Once you recover, I’ll find a suitable family to marry you into. You’ll bear a son and finally learn some discipline!”
“NO!”245Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpNvcoXHzS
The moment the word “marry” was mentioned, Lu Qingqing erupted—like a startled cat with its tail stepped on—almost leaping from her seat.
“I don’t want to marry! No! Dad, I know I was wrong! From now on, I’ll help with the family affairs! I won’t cause any more trouble! Please trust me—this time, I mean it for real!”
Lu Qingqing’s voice trembled as she pleaded, but Lu Quanan did not spare her a single glance.
Instead, his attention shifted to the family physician who had just stepped into the hall.
“How are Little Sheng’s injuries?”
The physician—technically a distant relative of the Lu Clan who had been brought under their wing after the family’s rise in status—quickly bowed and answered:
“It’s nothing serious. Mostly superficial abrasions. With proper rest for about ten days to half a month, he should fully recover.”
Lu Quanan exhaled slowly, shoulders loosening with relief.
“Good. When that time comes, I will ask him again whether he still wishes to go to Mountain Edge City and continue his martial training.”
Even as he spoke, a faint hint of worry clouded his stern features.
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