The second update of the day is delivered! Dizzy, only managed to write a little over a thousand more characters. Faint pulse, heading to sleep now. Four updates tomorrow, afternoon and evening.

The contingent from Silver City had departed. With matters here concluded, Lord San Ye, who had initially been elated after soundly beating his great enemy, suddenly learned of an unacceptable hidden truth. The once lively spirit of his heart was suddenly shrouded in a lingering gloom.

But Lord San Ye was, after all, the commander in chief. He adjusted his mood and returned to the central camp to maintain order. After all, the recent battle had thrown the army’s forward deployment into disarray; only by adjusting things swiftly could the main force resume its march sooner.

Eagle Venerable, Ying Bokong, and the Young Master did not immediately return to the army. Ying Bokong, having just fought alone against the Seven Swords of Silver City, was using the combined force of the Seven Swords to perfect his Eagle Soaring Divine Skill. For the martial-arts-obsessed Ying Bokong, who desperately needed such opponents, this battle had been immensely beneficial.

Although he took a slight loss in the final exchange—facing the joint, life-and-death strike from the Seven Swords combined with Xiao Buyu—the overall outcome was still more gain than loss. Ying Bokong, always doing as he pleased, saw that affairs were settled and simply settled down on the spot to meditate, regulate his internal energy, and digest the gains from the recent fight.

The Young Master was similarly situated. In the time he had been in this world—barely six months in total—he had engaged in combat several times, but none could be considered a true grand battle. Only this decisive confrontation with Xiao Buyu was a genuine fight for life and death. Though this battle appeared simple, it held extraordinary significance for Jun Moxie; the profound arts and secret techniques from both his previous and current lives had nearly merged completely within this engagement!

Seeing Ying Bokong sitting silently to consolidate his experience, and knowing the main army would also need time to reorganize, the Young Master sat with him for a while.

Time was short. A messenger later arrived with orders: the sky was darkening, so they would camp where they were. The adjustments made by the Young Master and Ying Bokong were also concluded.

“Please wait a moment! You, you’re just leaving like that? What about us?” As Jun Moxie and Ying Bokong were rising to return, a crisp, timid voice called out.

The two turned back in surprise, only then remembering the two women inside the tea shed where Silver City was situated. When they first arrived, it seemed the women had been in some sort of dispute with the Xiao family…

Hearing the voice, the Young Master and Eagle Venerable both froze.

A green-clad girl stood awkwardly not far in front of them, twisting the hem of her clothes with both small hands. Her dark little face bore no trace of beauty; only her large, bright eyes were somewhat captivating. Otherwise, she was the very image of a country bumpkin, and one who seemed rather plain at that…

Jun Moxie felt certain he had never seen this girl before, yet somehow, upon seeing her now, a sense of familiarity stirred within him.

As the most exceptional assassin, the King of Assassins, Jun Moxie never overlooked the slightest doubt. Suddenly, a flash of insight struck him: the green-clad figure of Serpent Queen Qianxun crossed his mind. He couldn't explain why, but the Serpent Queen’s image seemed to faintly overlap with the girl before him. Yet, this seemed utterly preposterous!

At the same moment, Ying Bokong also thought of the Serpent Queen. The two exchanged a glance, seeing the same thought reflected in the other's eyes—Impossible.

The Serpent Queen they had seen in the Heaven’s Punishment Forest, though also clad in green and possessing a graceful figure, had a face that was quite stunningly beautiful. Furthermore, every move the Serpent Queen made exuded the flawless bearing of an absolute master; even a casual glance held the kingly air of one who surveyed all life. In human terms, that was the demeanor of a Supreme Expert! How could this rustic little girl compare?

“Who are you people? Why are you here?” Jun Moxie looked at her with suspicion. Although he had dismissed the idea that this person was Serpent Queen Qianxun, he couldn’t shake off the unease of seeing two young women alone in such a place.

“Sister and I are people from Tianxiang. We originally followed our family’s escorts out to purchase medicinal herbs, but we unexpectedly ran into a large number of savage beasts a few days ago, and they scattered us from the guards…” The green-clad girl said pitifully, “Sister and I barely managed to escape with our lives and fled here, only to encounter those despicable men who insisted on taking us as wives! When we refused, they tried to seize us by force—they were so vicious.”

As the green-clad girl spoke, although her tone remained sorrowful, Jun Moxie detected a subtle, strange flavor in her voice, almost as if it held a hint of amusement or disdain?

“Just now, at the most critical moment, you arrived. Thanks to your arrival, those wicked men were all driven away!” The green-clad girl delivered the story of “Lone Maidens Encountering Ruffians, Young Heroes Suddenly Arrive to Save the Beauties” with dramatic flair and rising and falling action. “You are our sisters’ saviors.”

“Uh…” You mean that boy from the Xiao family wanted to take you as his wife?” Jun Moxie stared at the green-clad girl’s dark little face with astonishment, coughed twice, and said, “That… the Xiao family people… their… eye for beauty, it’s certainly unique. Extraordinary.”

“Not me! It was my sister!” The green-clad girl was both shy and angry, almost ready to unleash her profound arts right then and there, obliterate this detestable fellow into dust—or at least teach him a severe lesson!

“Oh, no wonder! Haha, I was just saying, no matter how starved for beauty the descendants of the Xiao family are, they wouldn’t be this indiscriminate. Well, what I meant was, you aren’t that unattractive.” Jun Moxie smiled in relief.

The slender, delicate body of the Serpent Queen actually trembled at the Young Master’s comment. This explanation was more infuriating than no explanation at all. This boy’s reputation as Tianxiang’s foremost rake was clearly not exaggerated; no wonder her sister disliked him so much.

She had initially thought this fellow possessed some degree of loyalty and manly integrity, fostering a bit of goodwill toward him. But now, seeing him judge based solely on appearance, all previous admiration vanished in an instant. She nearly ground her teeth, a supreme Beast King actually brought to the verge of tears by him.

Jun Moxie observed secretly, immediately relaxing. If this were truly the Serpent Queen, upon hearing his reckless rake-like behavior, she might either explode and fight him to the death or simply ignore it entirely. But she would never cry; that was the normal reaction of an ordinary young girl.

He didn't know that although the Serpent Queen was a supreme Beast King, she had only recently taken human form, less than twenty years ago. Everything had only begun after she took human shape; while she had had some sentience before, the gap compared to a normal person was vast. The current Serpent Queen, in terms of temperament, was at most the heart of an eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl. When she couldn't freely exert her true power, her capacity to endure might truly not surpass that of girls her own age.

This was, in fact, the fundamental difference between a Peak Ninth-Tier Profound Beast and a Beast King. That a Peak Tenth-Tier Profound Beast could only be a ‘beast,’ while a Tenth-Tier Peak Profound Beast could transform into a Beast King, was precisely because of this!

Does any woman not cherish her own appearance? Although the Serpent Queen knew in her heart that her current human face was an illusion, she felt deeply wronged.

Most men harbor the fantasy that they, being ordinary, could win the admiration or even the devoted love of a wealthy young lady or even a princess. Similarly, all women hope that even if they aren't dressed beautifully, a man will discover their inner beauty and like them for reasons other than their stunning looks.

Wealthy men always hope women approach them not for money; beautiful women always hope men approach them not for their looks…

They always believe this is what constitutes true love…

Uh, getting off track…

While everyone was talking, the white-clad girl, who had maintained a seated posture, finally stood up and walked slowly over. Even Ying Bokong, with his immense composure, couldn't help but be momentarily dazzled by the peerless grace of the white-clad girl when he first saw her.

It was as if the bright moon from the heavens had suddenly descended to the mortal realm.

Ying Bokong stared for a moment, then turned to look at Jun Moxie, thinking that this young man, with his shallow experience, must have never seen such a beautiful woman! He’ll probably make a fool of himself, at least stare dumbfounded, maybe even drool! Seeing that even the descendant of the Xiao family in Fengxue Silver City was tempted to seize her in marriage, one could only imagine this woman’s beauty.

If one absolutely had to compare, Guan Qinghan was certainly ethereally beautiful, but this woman possessed a transcendent elegance! Dugu Xiaoyi was pure and lovely, naive and charming, but this girl was the absolute beauty of the human world!

One person in the human world, with no equal in the heavens!

This white-clad girl was entirely worthy of that description!

Completely contrary to Ying Bokong's expectation, Jun Moxie’s expression remained calm at this moment, as if he hadn't even noticed this rare beauty; in his eyes, she was just an ordinary person.

Utterly unmoved!

This was certainly not an act. Deliberate posturing would never reveal such a natural expression.

“This kid is truly a freak. I, an old man, was almost spellbound by a beauty of this caliber, yet he didn’t even bat an eyelid. Could it be that he exerted himself too much during that previous engagement and is now spent?!” Ying Bokong muttered to himself.

Jun Moxie wasn't entirely unmoved, but as the girl approached to offer thanks, Jun Moxie felt no sense of ‘gratitude’ whatsoever. Instead, he felt a bone-chilling coldness!

This white-clad girl was exquisitely beautiful, yes, but for some reason, she carried an inexplicable hostility. Even though she tried her best to conceal it, how could someone like Jun Moxie, who had lived two lifetimes amidst a thousand ambushes, fail to detect it?

This feeling… it was as if he had deeply offended her in the past. Could it be that his enemies from his past life had also crossed over? Impossible, right? Even if they had, no one knew he was Jun Xie…

Young Master Jun was truly quite puzzled.

“Miss possesses heavenly beauty, truly astonishing. May I ask your noble name, and why you have come to this place?” Jun Moxie smoothed things over, completely unable to detect any trace of profound energy fluctuation from the two sisters, and asked skillfully.

The green-clad girl had already answered this question. Jun Moxie deliberately asked it again to see if these two women would make such a low-level mistake.

“This humble one’s surname is Mei, Mei Xueyan. That is my younger sister, Mei Qianqian. Your humble sisters thank Young Master Jun for your timely assistance before.” The white-clad woman’s face flushed slightly as she replied softly.

“I merely happened upon the chance to settle some old scores with the Xiao family of Silver City; I did not intentionally offer aid! Miss need not be so polite. Ah, a fine name, Mei Xueyan… indeed, beautiful. A cold plum veiled in snow. Only a peerless beauty like yourself deserves such a beautiful name. Hmm, your sister’s name is also quite nice, Mei Qianqian. Haha… Mei Qianqian… Mei Qian Qian (No Money Money)?” Jun Moxie blurted out without thinking.

Mei Qianqian’s face went black; she absolutely longed to bite the Young Master Rake, to let him know that not everyone could be trifled with.

“Regardless of Young Master Jun’s intentions, the fact remains that you did save us sisters!” The white-clad girl replied in a gentle voice, not responding to Jun Moxie’s ‘No Money Money’ comment.

“Miss is too kind. Ah, how did you know my surname?” the Young Master asked back.

“That group of villains mentioned your name before. My sister and I are also from Tianxiang, so naturally, we know of Young Master’s identity,” the white-clad girl replied nonchalantly.

“You are also from Tianxiang… Ah, so we are fellow countrymen! Then there’s nothing more to say! Haha, Miss Mei, we truly have fate,” the Young Master seemed momentarily surprised, but his tone became increasingly familiar.

The white-clad girl secretly curled her lip. Fate? This old lady truly has too much ‘fate’ with you! So much fate that it will make you regret it for the rest of your life!

Next, the white-clad girl, Mei Xueyan, made a request: she hoped to accompany the army back to Tianxiang City.

Jun Moxie’s eyes shifted, and he agreed. He certainly had no lustful intent; for the Young Master, women—no matter how beautiful—only lasted a few years. As long as their figure was decent and their face passable, who cared about their face once the lights went out?

However, using this white-clad girl's unique, peerless beauty to irritate Guan Qinghan wouldn't be a bad idea.

If this provoked a sense of crisis in Guan Qinghan, leading to the possibility of him getting a ‘second bloom,’ wouldn't that be a wonderfully beautiful thing? As for whether these two girls had ulterior motives, it didn’t matter. Could two little girls who showed no trace of profound energy possibly stir up any great trouble?

He glanced at Ying Bokong, who pondered briefly, then nodded with certainty. Jun Moxie’s heart settled! If there was a powerhouse in this world he couldn't see through, that was forgivable. But if even a Supreme Expert like Ying Bokong couldn't see through them, that would be too ridiculous!

To deceive Ying Bokong, one would need at least the formidable power ranked in the top four among the Eight Great Supremes! Or perhaps even higher; after all, not everyone possessed the terrifying strength of Venerable Mei!

Besides, these two young girls looked younger than twenty. If they were both Supreme-level experts, then he—he would eat this old fellow Ying Bokong alive!

And so, sisters Mei Xueyan and Mei Qianqian were very comfortably invited into the carriage by Jun Moxie.

Late that very night, a strange incident occurred.