The exchange with Hua Yi was, in reality, devoid of any substantive content; the two stood firm in their respective positions, each insisting the fault lay with the other.

Hua Yi naturally clung to the fact that their own Helmsman and Hall Master were slain by Ye Wen, never ceasing her accusations. Meanwhile, Ye Wen adamantly maintained that Lu Tian was the first to attack the Shu Mountain disciples, and subsequently sneaked into the Shu Mountain sect's gate under the cover of night, engaging in acts befitting a thief on the beam, thoroughly humiliating the sect, which naturally led to the ensuing consequences.

"Then why did you kill our Gang’s Helmsman Feng as well?"

"The martial contest between Wei Peng and myself was inherently a life-and-death matter. I dueled Helmsman Wei one-on-one, witnessed by countless people, and I employed no foul tricks. It was merely that in the heat of a duel to the death, I didn't hold back my strength in time."

Ye Wen simply maintained it was a fair duel with Wei Peng; as for whether he lived or died, he scarcely cared. In the Jianghu, one must be prepared to lose their life at any moment. If Hua Yi couldn't grasp such a simple truth, then all her years spent wandering the martial world were in vain.

The two exchanged words back and forth, but ultimately, neither could convince the other. At best, they achieved momentary triumph in verbal sparring, which would soon be countered by the opponent.

Wasting the better part of the midnight hours, Hua Yi finally departed in a huff. Ye Wen offered no farewell, instead returning to his couch to meditate and practice his skills. Within this branch cabin of the Tianle Gang, he dared not even sleep, substituting it entirely with seated cultivation. Fortunately, he had just begun practicing his Qi Sword Finger, and countless meridians in both arms remained unblocked, so he was certainly not short of things to do.

The meridians in his right hand required no further strenuous effort; it was the meridians of the left hand that needed careful honing. Once the left-hand meridians were opened, he could unleash the Qi Sword Finger with both hands. While it might not match the sheer power of the Six Meridian Divine Sword, the difference would be limited. After all, both techniques projected vital energy to attack enemies from a distance; the Qi Sword Finger expelled columns of Qi, whereas the Six Meridian Divine Sword manifested sword Qi.

Of course, each of the Six Meridian Divine Sword’s six stances came with a unique corresponding sword technique, an advantage over the Qi Sword Finger. Thus, after practicing the Qi Sword Finger, Ye Wen grew even more desirous of the Six Meridian Divine Sword.

"More importantly, once I master a sword Qi technique like the Six Meridian Divine Sword, I won't need to carry a long sword on my person all day!"

At that time, with a mere wave of his hand or stretch of his fingers, he could achieve the effect of a long sword. Unless he acquired some divine weapon, carrying an ordinary long sword would truly be unnecessary.

Glancing at the ring on his hand, Ye Wen wondered how many years it would take to cultivate that technique to the point where the ring—with its capriciously unpredictable nature—would be truly useful.

"Before I even manage to manifest my own sword Qi technique, this divine art hasn't shown itself yet..."

He secretly shook his head, muttered a curse against tempting fate, and returned to his struggle with the meridians in his left hand.

As he was in enemy territory, he practiced his skills with extreme caution, daring not to expend too much internal energy. After cultivating for a while, he would circulate his energy to restore his power.

Repeating this cycle several times, a faint layer of purple mist perpetually clung to him. Unknowing onlookers might have mistaken it for an immortal descending to the mortal realm.

However, seated on the roof of the opposite building was a woman dressed in white. Hua Yi had been there for a while, propping her chin on her hand and gazing at Ye Wen's room, her thoughts utterly inscrutable.

She had since changed out of her previous attire; not only were shoes, socks, and undergarments all back in place, but the outer robe had also been replaced with ordinary clothing, completely concealing her exquisite physique.

She continuously fiddled with two ribbons of unknown length. One end of each ribbon was tied to something indistinct, seemingly made of metal and possessing holes. As she manipulated the ribbons, the holes would emit melodious sounds. Now, as Hua Yi played with the two ribbons, the objects began to sing, vaguely forming a piece of music—winding and low, like a lonely woman seeking someone to confide in.

Ye Wen, deep in his energy circulation, naturally heard the music. The sound was rare and strange, unsure of the instrument producing it, yet quite pleasant. After listening for a moment, Ye Wen dismissed the sound.

Hua Yi played for a while, then, seeing no movement from the room—not even a window opening—she began to wonder if the fellow was asleep. But even if he were asleep, with his level of cultivation, he shouldn't be this lacking in vigilance, right?

"Perhaps his skill isn't as formidable as I thought?"

The moment this thought surfaced, Hua Yi bypassed the notion of immediately summoning Guo Nu and Pei Wei; instead, she felt an urge to properly teach this petty thief a lesson for repeatedly humiliating her.

With that thought, she gave a sharp flick of the ribbon in her hand. The object emitting the pleasant sound shot out with a swoosh towards the window of Ye Wen's room.

Ye Wen was circulating his energy, not dead. He naturally noticed the brazen projectile aimed at him. He inwardly remarked, "Looks like I have to leave tonight!"

He clapped both palms, employing no specific move, merely unleashing his inner force in a shockwave. The window pane, as if struck by a gale, violently flew open.

As the window opened wide, Ye Wen leaped directly out. Midway through the air, he spun once more. His Ti Yun Zong lightness skill had become increasingly fluid since his internal energy reached perfection. Employed now, even Hua Yi, seated on the opposite rooftop, couldn't help but praise, "What exquisite movement technique!"

While still airborne, Ye Wen formed a sword finger and tapped towards the ribbon. A bolt of purple energy instantly shot from his fingertip, striking the strange object at the end of the ribbon in a flash, emitting a metallic clang.

He had discerned that the object could produce music, which, combined with Elder Hua’s seductive arts and dance, was likely intended to maximize its power. In this immediate confrontation, a swift resolution was necessary. If he dragged it out, the outcome would be unpredictable.

Thus, his first move unleashed his full power in the Qi strike, aiming to destroy a musical instrument. Unexpectedly, the object proved incredibly tough. His Qi Sword Finger only managed to deform it; it didn't shatter entirely.

"Forget it, if it’s deformed, it shouldn't be able to produce the correct sounds anymore!"

He then tapped a nearby small tree and headed straight for the rooftop. The moment he settled his stance, he saw a white silhouette already floating towards him. She raised a hand, and the long ribbon immediately snaked towards him, accompanied by a sharp cry: "Why, Sect Leader Ye, would you destroy my beloved possession right at the start? My Master personally gifted it to me! How will you compensate me?" Ye Wen shook his arm, executing a thrusting punch from the Taizu Long Fist style, vibrating the ribbon away, then chuckled, "How about I buy you a new one..."

Unexpectedly, Hua Yi let out a soft cry. Her sleeves fluttered, and the two ribbons coiled and swam around Ye Wen like living spiritual snakes, seemingly ready to strike at any moment: "No sincerity whatsoever! I don't want you to buy me one..."

"Then what do you want..."

While speaking, Ye Wen’s eyes darted everywhere, searching for a suitable escape route. Yet, his intentions seemed to be seen through entirely by Elder Hua. The moment his gaze shifted, the two ribbons fluttered up and down directly in his line of sight, not only obstructing his view but also clearly showing that she had already set up an ambush waiting for him to flee. He certainly couldn't foolishly charge through that formation, could he?

"Since you destroyed my cherished object, you shall leave behind something important of yours..." Hua Yi smiled faintly, retracting the two ribbons. As the ribbons swiftly returned to her body, wrapping around her arms and waist, they did not behave like inanimate objects but instead floated and swayed like the feather robe of a descending celestial maiden.

Ye Wen knew this indicated Hua Yi was fully channeling her power, ready to strike at any moment; it didn't mean she was safe just because she had reeled in the ribbons. In fact, this made judging her attack vector even harder. Therefore, he dared not tentatively strike out, merely furrowing his brow as if deep in thought about what valuable item he could leave behind.

Seeing he remained silent, Hua Yi knew he was deliberately stalling for time to devise an escape plan. However, she didn't expose him. Instead, she flicked her sleeve, and another ribbon shot out, this one tipped with a chilling dagger, heading straight for Ye Wen's vital points.

"If you can't think of anything, perhaps you can leave this behind instead! This wicked thing scared me quite badly just now..."

Even before she finished speaking, a cold sweat broke out on Ye Wen's brow the moment her hand moved. He quickly leaped backward, only to find the short sword moving as if alive, twisting its trajectory to continue its assault on his body.

His hands flew into action, immediately channeling the marvelous skill of Purple Qi Heaven's Net (Zi Qi Tian Luo).

Although Ye Wen employed many variations of Zi Qi Tian Luo, he hadn't abandoned its fundamental characteristic. Seeing the sword's swift approach, he instantly struck out a wave of Zi Qi Tian Luo. A net of purple energy formed, enveloping the short sword, which then abruptly halted in mid-air.

Hua Yi was momentarily stunned, then recalled that this was Ye Wen’s technique for remotely manipulating objects. Previously, he hadn't exerted his full strength, so the potent energy was not apparent. Now, operating at full capacity, Hua Yi clearly saw the purple energy net.

"What a marvelous skill, though I wonder what it's called..."

Ye Wen laughed loudly and casually replied, "A mere trick; Elder Hua overestimates it." While chatting pleasantly with Hua Yi, he secretly slammed his palm down, then flipped it up sharply. A Tianle Gang disciple sleeping in the nearby thicket beneath the tree hadn't grasped what was happening before the long sword he was clutching was drawn from its scabbard.

Without waiting for Hua Yi to notice, Ye Wen flipped his palm again, then suddenly made a gesture of swinging his arm back and pulling. As Hua Yi wondered what trick Ye Wen was attempting now, she suddenly sensed the sound of sharp blades piercing the air behind her. Recalling Ye Wen's supposedly miraculous ability to summon objects from afar, Hua Yi, without turning, guessed that a weapon was flying toward her back.

She neither dodged nor looked, merely letting the ribbons covering her body twitch violently. One ribbon danced ceaselessly behind her, not only moving gracefully but also thoroughly shielding all her vital spots. In an instant, the long sword struck the ribbon with a ding, being repelled far away.

The ease with which the long sword was batted away startled Hua Yi. Though her body remained still, she tensed, fully alert, anticipating the sword's strike. She had expected that under her full power, the sword would shatter against her defense, but instead, it was repelled with minimal contact. The feeling was akin to steeling oneself to withstand a full-force blow, only to have the opponent gently touch one's back—it was profoundly unsettling.

She was unaware that Ye Wen’s remote object manipulation was merely a facade, capable of scaring onlookers but possessing a killing power close to zero. Even martial artists of a slightly lower tier would not fear it, let alone experts of their caliber.

Ye Wen only used this move to divide Hua Yi's attention. While she was fully focused on her rear, Ye Wen channeled his Qi Sword Finger once more. This time, he wasn't attacking remotely; instead, he leaped directly towards Hua Yi. As he passed the short sword, his finger slipped, and the Qi Sword on his right hand instantly severed the ribbon tethering the dagger. He found this object, which constantly aimed for his vital points, terribly irritating.

Then, closing the distance, he unleashed the Qi Sword Finger again near Hua Yi. Before she could react, a continuous sound of tearing silk filled the air. Subsequently, all the fluttering ribbons on Hua Yi’s person were shredded into pieces by Ye Wen using the Hui Feng Luo Yan Sword technique, adapted through his Qi Sword Finger.

This strike actually showed the mastery of the "One Sword Falls, Nine Geese Descend" realm within the Hui Feng Luo Yan Sword! In the blink of an eye, he executed countless stabs, each one slicing through a ribbon. Due to his mastery of this sword art, Ye Wen shouldn't have been able to manifest its subtle intricacies, but with his immense internal energy, he could force it through even without complete understanding. Though he couldn't achieve the spirit, he could approximate the form.

By the time Hua Yi recovered her senses, she realized that the ribbons protecting her had been utterly destroyed by this detestable man. Staring at the scraps still floating around her body, she was momentarily stunned, unsure how to respond. In all her years since entering the martial world, things had gone smoothly. Even if defeated, she could usually make her opponent suffer a setback before retreating gracefully. This was the first time an opponent had not only bested her but also destroyed her protective armaments.

While she was in shock, Ye Wen had already reached her. Seeing her daze, he smiled and said, "My apologies, Elder Hua! I ruined your treasure! Since I couldn't think of any compensation immediately, consider it a debt! I am staying in Shu Mountain anyway; Elder Hua is welcome to visit Shu Mountain and find me!"

With that, he prepared to leap away. However, before he could move, a ribbon—whose origin he couldn't fathom—emerged and tightly wrapped around his waist. Looking down, he saw it came from Hua Yi's left sleeve.

"Is this woman a spider demon? Are these ribbons endless?"

While muttering his complaint, he prepared to use his Qi Sword Finger to sever the ribbon. But before he could act, he felt a soft pressure on his lips, followed by a rush of sweet nectar filling his mouth, accompanied by an intoxicating fragrance that made one wish to be immersed forever, never to separate.

Fortunately, Ye Wen had remained cautious and hadn't relaxed his guard. His mind snapped back instantly. Staring wide-eyed at the delicate face incredibly close to his, he found the woman opposite him also staring back with wide, dark eyes.

"A free handout? Think I’m afraid of you?"

He roared internally, Ye Wen immediately thrust out his tongue, aggressively pursuing the young woman who was clearly startled by his sudden aggression. Once he saw the look of utter panic on Hua Yi's face, he strained his right hand, cutting the ribbon with his Qi Sword Finger, and simultaneously leaping outwards, declaring, "So this is what Elder Hua wanted! But this also counts as an important possession of mine, as no one has tasted it yet. Consider it repayment for all those ribbons!"

"Scoundrel!" Hua Yi was thrown into complete disarray by Ye Wen's counterattack. Her heart pounded fiercely, and her breathing grew shallow.

She had intended to sacrifice a small measure of allure to inflict a significant loss on him, yet she ended up being thoroughly taken advantage of: "That wicked thief actually stuck his tongue in!" Thinking of this, Hua Yi spat several times towards the side. But even spitting didn't quell her anger. Standing on the rooftop, she cursed for a long time before she felt slightly better.

By then, Ye Wen had long since fled. No matter how loudly she cursed, it was useless; it merely helped ease her mood. Turning to look at the gang members who had been alerted, Hua Yi resumed the stern demeanor of a superior, issued a couple of casual commands, and leaped down.

Her clash with Ye Wen had been instantaneous, lasting but a flash of lightning. From leaping out of the room to taking advantage of her and fleeing swiftly, the entire process took only the time it takes to drink a few cups of tea. Furthermore, the fight itself produced almost no sound. If the gang member whose sword Ye Wen stole hadn't woken up and seen it, perhaps no one would have known for much longer.

Guo Nu rushed over upon hearing that Hua Yi and Ye Wen had fought. Seeing Elder Hua stamping her foot and cursing incessantly, he knew she had suffered a heavy loss. He didn't press for details then, waiting until she came down to ask, "What happened?"

Hua Yi, perhaps thinking of something else, suddenly blushed and declared, "I failed to keep him!" before darting away without a trace.

Guo Nu assumed she was embarrassed at failing to detain Ye Wen and didn't think deeply about it. He looked in the direction Ye Wen had vanished and felt a sense of relief.

He had only intended to probe Ye Wen's capabilities when sending the invitation. Now that the visitor had come and the probing was done, figuring out how to conclude matters had become troublesome. This sudden disruption served as a neat conclusion.

He said to Pei Wei, "The business here is temporarily settled. It’s fine if Ye Wen returns to Shu Mountain. There won't be any conflict between our two sects during this period anyway! Tomorrow, you and I head to the Central Plains; that is the matter of vital importance for our Gang's survival!" With that, he returned directly to his room.

Meanwhile, Ye Wen, who had been moving nonstop since leaving Pingbei County using his lightness skill, felt a burning sensation all over his body, an abnormal discomfort. The evil fire in his lower abdomen raged hotter and hotter, and images from certain explicit educational films constantly flashed through his mind.

"Damn it, I fell into that woman's trap!"

He didn't need to think hard to understand what had happened. Hua Yi had administered some kind of drug during their kiss. Although he didn't know what the woman intended, the current situation was extremely frustrating. Looking around, he spotted a small waterfall nearby. The pool beneath it should help extinguish some of his fiery urges! Feeling fortunate that he had chosen the remote mountain paths, he immediately jumped into the water without removing his clothes, secretly vowing, "Stinking woman, wait until I see you next; you'll see how I deal with you!"

He didn't know that the woman he now hated so much was sitting in her private chambers, looking at the sachet in her hand and chuckling softly, "Let's see how I'll torment you, little thief, next time!"