Zhong Lingxiu rested for a day at the Bai family’s estate—good food and drink, two changes of clothes, and the comfort of squatting on a proper toilet.
After roaming the jianghu, she had long suspected that people in that world often suffered from constipation. Then again, most of them were careless and relieved themselves anywhere, so perhaps they never had such troubles.
Having resolved her bodily needs and gotten a good sleep, she felt her condition had mostly stabilized and began considering her next move.
She had already exposed her martial arts lineage, and her skill level had probably been assessed. Tian Boguang would certainly think he could handle her. Proud and self-assured in his martial prowess, he might have avoided the three elder nuns of the Hengshan Sect, but he definitely wouldn’t keep dodging her.
In other words, he was unlikely to run away. Instead, he would want to seize her and teach her a lesson.
Coincidentally, Zhong Lingxiu had the same idea.
She knew her martial arts couldn’t match Tian Boguang’s. If a fight broke out, she’d be at a disadvantage, and any slip could mean serious injury or even death. The most rational strategy would be to retreat to the mountains and continue training until her skills improved.
But she was unwilling.
Focusing solely on cultivation was fine—wholeheartedly, without distraction—but time passed swiftly on the mountain; sixty years would pass in the blink of an eye.
Outside the mountains? Not to mention sixty years, even six months were enough for villains to ruin the lives of new victims.
Zhong Lingxiu chose not to back down and resolved to fight Tian Boguang to the bitter end.
She felt no attachment to the soft beds and warm comforts of the Bai household and politely took her leave.
Old Master Bai was grateful she saved his daughter and even more grateful for the fire she set that preserved the family’s reputation. He presented her with five hundred taels of silver as a token of thanks.
It wasn’t a small sum—but it came with conditions.
“My daughter was frightened by the fire at home and cannot thank you in person,” Old Master Bai hinted gently, silently pushing over a redwood tray. On it were five small gold ingots—discreet and easy to carry—some silver coins enough to buy clothes, horses, and medicine, and one hundred copper coins, perfect for daily tea and small tips.
Such thoughtfulness made it hard to refuse.
Zhong Lingxiu considered for a moment and accepted sensibly: “I was just helping to put out the fire, no need for such generosity.”
Old Master Bai smiled warmly and said many kind words about “young heroes” and “promising disciples from a reputable family.”
Zhong Lingxiu feigned the innocence of her age and devoured an entire plate of pastries in one go.
So, her departure bundle grew to include many delicate cakes and sweets.
It was a gift from her benefactor—she accepted all without refusal. Then, she climbed over the wall and left without leaving any trace behind.
Outside, the main street was bustling with noise.
Zhong Lingxiu casually found a tea stall and ordered a bowl of Eight Treasures Tea, sipping the hot brew while gathering information. The favorite haunts of jianghu folk were limited—taverns, teahouses, brothels, and martial arts schools. They also frequented famous local sights.
Tian Boguang certainly wasn’t sightseeing. He was either in a tavern or mingling in a brothel.
Since it was daytime and the brothels were closed, she decided to try her luck at the taverns first.
Luck was on her side. She spotted a sturdy man.
“Linghu Chong!” She approached the table by the wall with delight, glancing at the simple dishes and fragrant wine—at least fifty copper coins a cup.
“Master Yixiu…” Linghu Chong, noticing her attire, quickly corrected himself, “Junior Brother.”
Zhong Lingxiu, ever familiar, sat down. “What brings you to Runing?”
“Our master received a letter from Left Leader, so we were sent down the mountain to investigate the Demonic Sect’s movements. Second and third junior brothers went south, and I came ahead to deliver a family letter to the fourth junior brother here in Runing,” Linghu Chong explained. As the eldest disciple of Mount Hua, he had both skill and experience. From the age of eighteen, he often ran errands outside, but Hengshan’s nuns rarely left the mountain, let alone alone. He was curious and surprised. “Why are you alone and dressed like that?”
Zhong Lingxiu briefly explained her situation and then said, “I need an assistant. Would you help me?”
Tian Boguang’s bad reputation was well known—everyone wanted him dead. Plus, she had already prevented one tragedy, earning Linghu Chong’s admiration and longing. Without hesitation, he thumped his chest. “Junior Brother, since you think highly of me, I’m at your command.”
He drained his cup, wiped his mouth, and asked, “Where is he?”
Zhong Lingxiu didn’t answer but waved for two jugs of fine wine and several signature dishes. “I promised to treat you. I’ve got money now.” She pulled out a silver coin from her purse, weighed it, and felt it was enough to pay. She placed it calmly on the table. “Eat as much as you want. It’s going to get tough soon.”
Linghu Chong, a live-for-the-moment drinker, smiled. “Wine is all I need.”
He took care of all the drinks while Zhong Lingxiu ate heartily. They both enjoyed themselves.
“Sober up. I’ll find you tonight,” Zhong Lingxiu told the drunken man before sending him back to rest. She continued wandering the streets.
After checking all the famous taverns, there was no sign of Tian Boguang.
Looks like the brothel was his only option.
She asked for the inn where Linghu Chong stayed, went there, and called him out. “It’s dark. Let’s move.”
Linghu Chong was mostly sober by then, washed his face with cold water, and asked, “Where do we start?”
“The brothel,” she smiled. “Linghu Senior Brother’s lightness skill is decent, right?”
Linghu Chong blinked in disbelief. “Where?”
“The brothel,” she repeated. “You can eat, bathe, sleep, gather information, and blow off steam. It suits his personality perfectly.”
Linghu Chong scratched his head. He was twenty but had never been to such places. Hesitant, he said, “Do we have to go? If Master knew, he’d make me kneel for three days.”
“You’re going to catch a thief, not to solicit,” Zhong Lingxiu was puzzled by his embarrassment. “If you don’t want to, you can just back me up.”
A true man wouldn’t send a girl into such a filthy place alone. Linghu Chong braced himself. “I’ll go.”
Zhong Lingxiu nodded in approval. “I’ve been tracking him for some time. We should recognize his appearance.”
Eager, Linghu Chong asked, “And then we attack?”
She shook her head. “I can’t beat him, and neither can you. To deal with this guy, it’s a battle of attrition.”
Under a dark moon and strong wind, the roof tiles gleamed.
Zhong Lingxiu lightly stepped along the ridge, the tiles barely making a sound, blending into the singing of birds and the bustling surroundings unnoticed.
Linghu Chong followed behind, unable to help but praise, “Haven’t seen you for a year, junior sister. Your lightness skill has improved a lot.”
“I think so too,” Zhong Lingxiu agreed wholeheartedly. Tian Boguang wasn’t easy to track—speed, lightness, and stability were all essential. Without realizing it, she had improved greatly. This was one of the reasons she insisted on fighting him. Practice was always easier for progress than closed-door cultivation.
“Found him.”
Like a storyline boss in a game, Tian Boguang predictably appeared on the third floor of a brothel.
She climbed a tree and chose a good vantage point to observe. He was unmasked, holding two girls while drinking.
Linghu Chong landed beside her and glanced over, then turned his face away. “Attack now?”
“Just as I thought, he’s waiting for me to find him,” Zhong Lingxiu nodded confidently. “He’s an old hand in the jianghu.”
Linghu Chong had only sparred with fellow disciples of the Five Mountains Sword Sects, never facing true jianghu folk. Eagerly, he said, “I’ll go deal with him.”
Zhong Lingxiu did not stop him, wanting to see their martial skill gap and silently memorize some saber techniques.
Linghu Chong’s style was different. Before striking, he shouted, “You lecherous villain, where do you think you’re going!” Then he brandished his longsword, a white rainbow piercing the sun, causing the two girls to scream and run off.
Tian Boguang was prepared, sitting motionless on a round stool. His saber flashes rained down like a storm, encasing the reckless Linghu Chong.
Linghu Chong was taken aback. He only knew Tian Boguang as a notorious lecher but hadn’t expected such exquisite and fierce saber skills. He dared not be careless and immediately used his prized “Phoenix Comes” technique, attempting to seize the initiative.
His longsword thrusts couldn’t reach Tian Boguang’s figure. The villain’s mouth curled into a mocking smile as his fast saber attacks surged with inner power like a wild gale. With three clangs of metal, Linghu Chong’s sword shattered into several pieces, leaving only the hilt in his hand.
His expression turned grim. Pushing off the round table with his legs, he jumped two steps back to the windowsill and fled without hesitation.
Tian Boguang’s face darkened and brightened unpredictably. He had only planned to deal with a little nun from Hengshan, intending to teach her a lesson, but now a young man from Mount Hua appeared. His skills looked decent—definitely a junior disciple. Could it be a deliberate alliance to trap him?
No, that couldn’t be right. If that were the case, why only send two kids out?
He decisively pursued.
Zhong Lingxiu appeared regretfully to back Linghu Chong with an attack from behind. “Run!”
Linghu Chong was always the one shielding his brothers and had rarely been supported like this. Feeling guilty and ready to grab a branch to fight back, Zhong Lingxiu had already scattered a handful of quicklime and jumped over the wall, running no slower than him.
He was instantly embarrassed, careful now, and retreated in another direction.
Tian Boguang ignored him and fixed his attention on Zhong Lingxiu, relentlessly chasing.
Worried, he immediately doubled back to support.
With superior lightness skill and inner power, Tian Boguang soon caught up. His blade shattered the dust and debris gathered on the eaves, slashing fiercely toward her back.
Zhong Lingxiu spun her sword in a circle, planting her feet and focusing.
“Why aren’t you running?” Tian Boguang sneered repeatedly. Since his rise to infamy, he hadn’t suffered such frustrating losses. Being toyed with by her repeatedly was intolerable. If he didn’t teach her a lesson, everyone would think he was easy prey.
Zhong Lingxiu said nothing. She still wore dark clothes, a wooden mask, and her headscarf tightly bound around her bun.
She exhaled gently, releasing all distractions. Her eyes held only the two of them.
The longsword swept out, its cold light falling sharply like a spring shower of apricot blossoms.
“Too slow.” Tian Boguang’s blade slid smoothly through the gaps between petals and stabbed toward the acupuncture point in her chest.
Zhong Lingxiu twisted her arm. The sword reversed, using Hengshan’s “Smiling Amid Flowers” technique to block. She stepped aside, twisted her body, and injected her internal energy. The longsword hummed as it drew a semicircle, forcing back his aggressive advance.
Linghu Chong couldn’t help but pause.
He had sparred with Yixiu only last year; both were only familiar with their own sect’s sword techniques and lacked real combat experience—on equal footing.
But over the past year, he had followed their master down the mountain multiple times, dealt with bandits, encountered Demonic Sect disciples, and had survived by the master’s protective formation—far removed from last year’s naivety.
Yet… when he looked at the girl on the roof ridge, he realized her swordsmanship had also advanced by leaps and bounds.
Her moves flowed smoothly, almost without visible transitions between techniques, raining down like a torrential storm. Even while under pressure, she remained calm and composed without a trace of disorder.
She had become this formidable?