Su Yunyun frowned at the jade-colored monk's robe, pondering internally whether Ming Kong had swapped robes by accident or if he had sensed something amiss. If it was unintentional, his life was truly blessed, his fortune immense; but if intentional, this enemy was terrifying.
Regardless of his intention, this adversary could not be underestimated. "Miss, shall we pursue?" the round-faced woman asked.
Su Yunyun shook her head. "The Soul-Chasing Scent for a Thousand Miles is useless now." The round-faced woman snorted lightly.
"He has quite the luck, a strange fellow indeed. In this bitter cold, he still has the leisure to bathe!" It was now deep winter, and the temperature in Eastern Chu was significantly lower than in Great Yan.
Though their garments were thin, it was only because their inner Neili provided protection; ordinary people would bundle themselves in three layers or more. Her words startled Su Yunyun, and she suddenly understood—Ming Kong had detected her ploy!
How could he have known? Just moments ago, she had sensed someone observing her, poured all her Neili into detecting them, yet found nothing, dismissing it as a phantom; it seemed he truly possessed some strange means of seeing her from afar.
... She slowly turned her gaze across the surroundings.
The moonlight was like water, casting a hazy white veil over everything. Deep within the woods, in the shadows of the cliffs, he might still be concealed.
Her cultivation technique was unique, granting her acute senses. If anyone were truly spying, she would have noticed.
It seemed he had already moved far away. The round-faced woman inquired, "Miss, shall we return?" Su Yunyun pondered for a moment, then nodded.
"Let's go." She pointed her left finger toward the jade-colored robe. "Aunt Li, take this back with you." "What for?" the round-faced woman asked, bewildered.
Su Yunyun did not reply, turning to leave... After taking a few steps, she suddenly halted, turning back to gaze fixedly at the shimmering water surface where a bright moon lay reflected.
"Miss, is he hiding in the water?" The round-faced woman's eyes lit up. Su Yunyun shook her head.
"Can't say for sure." The round-faced woman quickly urged, "Then let's wait here for the night. At daybreak, we'll see where he flees!" Su Yunyun nodded.
"Better to be wrong than to let him go. This man survived a sword thrust to his meridian—he's troublesome.
Missing this chance will make it hard to find another." She recalled the preceding battle: under the strike of the Ice Jade Divine Sword, this man had managed to resist, even injuring her. His blade work was simply astonishing.
What was more infuriating was his utter cunning, being able to detect the Soul-Chasing Scent. Such a martial artist, whose intellect matched his prowess, could not be taken lightly.
She must strike while he was wounded and end his life. If this opportunity passed, and he retreated to Great Yan...
he would only return later, his martial arts improved, bringing endless trouble. She closed her eyes, vast as the ocean, and meticulously observed, allowing not the slightest disturbance of wind or grass to escape her notice.
............ Her eyes snapped open, brilliant and piercing.
She sensed being spied upon once more. It seemed he was indeed nearby; her gamble had paid off.
This monk's robe must be crucial, perhaps bestowed by an elder, carrying extraordinary significance. She looked up at the sky and said lightly, "It's getting late; it seems he's gone far.
Let's depart!" "Miss..." The round-faced woman was taken aback, hurriedly saying, "It's not too late to wait till dawn!" No matter what, they should stay until daybreak. Better to kill the innocent than let the guilty escape.
Perhaps they could truly catch Ming Kong. Even if Ming Kong had truly left, it wouldn't matter much.
Su Yunyun started walking outwards. "Let's go." The round-faced woman sighed helplessly, glancing at the other women.
Their expressions were unchanged, serene. Seeing this, she sighed again in resignation, bent down, and reached for the jade-colored robe.
Su Yunyun waved a hand dismissively. "Forget it.
A stinking man's thing. No need to take it." The round-faced woman nodded, listlessly following behind Su Yunyun.
They left the pool and entered a sparse wood to descend the mountain. The trees were scattered, only a few pines breaking the monotony, yet the moonlight barely penetrated the gloom.
It was dark and quiet; their steps landed lightly upon broken branches and dry leaves. Suddenly, Su Yunyun made a hand signal.
Half the group continued forward, while the other half stopped. The round-faced woman paused beside her, looking at her curiously.
Su Yunyun murmured softly, "He is near." The round-faced woman's eyes lit up, and she chuckled, "Is he hiding in the water?" Su Yunyun shook her head. "I don't know..." He will eventually come back for the robe." The round-faced woman nodded excitedly.
"Miss is brilliant! Good thing I didn't take his shabby clothes; they've become bait.
Let's see if he bites!" Su Yunyun said, "Aunt Li, you're celebrating too soon. He's extremely cunning; he might not fall for it." "No matter how cunning, he can't escape Miss's grasp!" The round-faced woman pouted disdainfully.
Miss used a small stratagem, and he fled in disarray. Moreover, his martial arts are inferior to Miss’s; lacking wisdom and strength, how could he contend with her?
Su Yunyun smiled and said no more. The two spoke in low, almost inaudible whispers...
Suddenly, her bright eyes flashed, and a figure appeared abruptly by the pool. Clad in a gray monk's robe, it billowed, the moonlight catching his body, his head seemingly gleaming.
The women recognized the monk Ming Kong instantly. They held their breath, slowly gathering their internal energy, preparing for a thunderous strike.
Li Muchen stood by the pool with his hands behind his back. After watching for a moment, he slowly turned toward the woods and laughed lightly, "Grandmaster Su, why hide and refuse to meet me openly?" Su Yunyun frowned, peering at him through the branches.
There was no sign of injury. She was certain she had pierced his chest.
Her senses were sharp; there could be no mistake. Even if he possessed some miraculous medicine, it shouldn't restore him so completely, instantly.
Thinking this, she calmed herself, slowly stepping out of the woods, the twelve women following closely behind. ............
Approaching Li Muchen, Su Yunyun stared intently at his face. Li Muchen smiled.
"Grandmaster Su is surprised I'm not dead, aren't you?" "Indeed," Su Yunyun nodded. Li Muchen touched his nose and smiled faintly.
"Buddhist teachings possess inconceivable divine powers. It is hard to explain." Su Yunyun's lips curled into a cold sneer.
"Playing the mystic!" Li Muchen chuckled. "Grandmaster Su pursues me relentlessly, determined to kill me?" "Undoubtedly," Su Yunyun nodded.
Li Muchen sighed, shaking his head helplessly. "I never wished to be your enemy, Grandmaster Su, but fate twists human affairs, and circumstances change.
I must offend you now!" He flashed suddenly, appearing behind Su Yunyun, his palm reaching out to seize her. Su Yunyun's lips curved into a knowing half-smile.
A cold light suddenly erupted from her left side, like a shooting star streaking toward Li Muchen's chest. Li Muchen's expression shifted slightly.
He retreated rapidly, as if a rope had yanked him hard from behind, instantly sliding two zhang away, breaking free from the encirclement of the Eight Elders' sisters... In another flash, he vanished deep into the woods.
"Pursue!" Su Yunyun drew her sword with her left hand, her beautiful face stern. Her usage of the left-hand sword was rare; outsiders did not know of it, yet today he managed to evade it.
A ripple stirred in her icy heart... giving rise to anger.
The round-faced woman quickly advised, "Miss, we shouldn't enter dense woods, perhaps..." "Pursue!" Su Yunyun stated firmly, flashing forward into the trees. The other women followed reluctantly, not believing he could cause any real trouble.
After they entered, there was no sound. Li Muchen had vanished without a trace.
"Miss?" The women looked toward Su Yunyun. Su Yunyun frowned in thought, sensing the surroundings, then shook her head.
"Did he sprout wings?" The round-faced woman was incredulous. Su Yunyun stood still for a moment, pondering, then said, "Let's go back!" "Miss, not searching anymore?" the round-faced woman asked.
Su Yunyun murmured, "Fine." The round-faced woman looked at her strangely. Miss was never one to be so lenient; she pursued vengeance relentlessly until death.
Why the sudden change of heart? Su Yunyun said, "He must have gotten far by now.
No use wasting effort." "Yes, Miss." The round-faced woman nodded dejectedly. The women began to move away.
Su Yunyun was in the center, and she waved her hand. They understood, yielding space and taking positions ahead of her to retreat.
"Zheng..." With the sound of a dragon's cry, the woods suddenly brightened. Amidst chilling sword light, a gray shadow flashed past.
Li Muchen drifted out like a piece of fluff, shattering the sword-light blockade, diving deeper into the forest. "Hmph!" Su Yunyun coldly smiled, her figure flickering as she gave chase immediately behind him.
The women, whose Qinggong was excellent, quickly followed, but when they burst out of the woods, the shadows of the two were nowhere in sight. All this happened in an instant; those who reacted slower might not have registered anything at all.
............ The women stopped at the edge of the woods, exchanging glances before turning to the round-faced woman.
She anxiously scanned the surroundings, not seeing any signal left by Miss. She considered for a moment.
"Granny Wang, I think we should wait a bit longer. Miss's martial arts are supreme; Monk Ming Kong cannot stir up trouble!" Granny Wang nodded.
"That's right." The women waited for a while, but there was no news, no movement, and Miss did not return. They grew somewhat anxious.
Although Miss was peerless in martial arts, she was still a lone woman. The round-faced woman's unease intensified, and she whispered, "Granny Wang, shall we send a signal?" "We shall." Granny Wang agreed.
The round-faced woman pulled out a thin tube from her embrace. Attached was a fine thread, which she pulled towards the sky.
Instantly, a silver blossom burst overhead, scattering down like flakes of snow. Before the silver flowers had vanished, a long cry echoed from the horizon.
The women instantly relaxed, recognizing it as Su Yunyun's distinctive call. They broke into smiles.
The round-faced woman laughed, "Miss is determined to kill Ming Kong; since childhood, whoever she wanted dead has never escaped!" They huddled together, chattering, debating when the Eldest Miss would return after slaying Monk Ming Kong. But after a long while, Su Yunyun still did not return, and worry resurfaced.
The round-faced woman sighed in resignation and sent another signal. A silver blossom rose in the night sky, ascending extremely high, visible for tens of li.
Still no responding cry arrived. Su Yunyun gave no sign.
After another long pause without a sound, their faces darkened with apprehension. They were all deeply skilled in Neili; even miles away, they should have heard the long cry, yet there was silence.
Granny Wang frowned and asked, "What now, Martial Nephew Li?" The round-faced woman looked distressed, then suggested, "Shall we go look for them?" "Good. We'll head in the direction of Miss's last cry," Granny Wang said decisively.
The group utilized their Qinggong and sped west, searching for Su Yunyun. Deep down, they didn't truly believe Su Yunyun was in danger.
Her Ice Jade Divine Sword should make her almost invincible; a mere Monk Ming Kong was hardly a threat. Perhaps Miss had chased too far and couldn't see the signal.
They traveled west for over ten li, leaving Mount Hualing, still without sight of Su Yunyun. At this point, a sense of dread began to creep in.
They divided into four groups: three to search, and one to return to the nearest city to find people from Jade Cold Palace for assistance. They searched all night until dawn, but Su Yunyun’s figure remained unseen.
............ In a cave on Mount Hualing, the two sat cross-legged on dry grass.
One figure, clad in a gray monk's robe, kept his eyelids slightly lowered... his hands moved rapidly through seals; his hands were indistinct, visible only as a blur of motion—it was Li Muchen.
Su Yunyun sat cross-legged opposite him. Her snow-white inner robe was pristine, her skin like frost, and her eyes held a cold, sidelong gaze fixed on Li Muchen.
The two were separated by barely a step, close enough to hear each other breathe. Li Muchen had intentionally placed himself so near, wishing to see her flustered, but Su Yunyun showed no weakness.
Far from blushing, she stared straight at him, as if she had captured him, not the reverse. All her acupoints were sealed; Li Muchen felt secure in his advantage.
He had just employed the Great Bright King Scripture, easily subduing her, before quickly withdrawing its application. His Heart Pearl had increased, making his perception even sharper.
After using the Scripture this time, the feeling became much more pronounced: his state of mind grew cold and desolate, the world losing color, becoming nothing but black and white. He cautioned himself secretly.
His meditative practice, honed for over a decade, had taught him the grave danger of such a state of mind—a mental demon was no less destructive than succumbing to internal energy deviations during cultivation. It seemed the Great Bright King Scripture could not be used again, or it would be self-destruction.
Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind. The Scripture annihilated emotion and severed connection, but the Eighteen Hand Seals could generate every kind of feeling.
One extinguished, one birthed; they were perfect complements. No sooner thought than done, he began repeatedly forming the Eighteen Hand Seals.
Various emotions gradually surfaced, disrupting the cold, desolate state of mind, making his spirit lively and dynamic again. As emotions brewed and accumulated, they intensified, completely driving out the detached emptiness, like the sun melting ice.
His heart swelled with exhilaration. He executed the Eighteen Hand Seals faster and faster, unable to stop.
The emotions in his heart grew richer, as if he were drunk, almost losing control. Suddenly, there was a loud crack in his mind, and his vision went utterly black, like a dense curtain of night upon which the Big Dipper stars appeared.
Then, his sight burst into brilliant light, and another Heart Pearl formed. As the pearl solidified, although his eyes were closed, his Void Eye opened.
Everything before him was clear and bright, colors layered with depth, becoming vividly beautiful. Su Yunyun was opposite him, exhaling fragrant breaths, her expression captivating.
A surge of fire suddenly erupted from his lower abdomen, rushing to his head. An overwhelming desire surged like a tide, impossible to restrain.
He inwardly gasped that this was bad. He kept his eyes closed, reached out, and slapped Su Yunyun, stating in a deep voice, "Go quickly!" Su Yunyun's sealed acupoints instantly unlocked, and her internal energy returned, but she did not move.
She narrowed her eyes, staring at him. At this moment, his cheeks were flushed as if drunk, and his gray monk's robe billowed wildly.
Seeing him in this state—appearing to have lost control of his qi—how could she possibly miss such a golden opportunity? PS: This is the only update for now.
My sincere apologies to all patrons. (To be continued!)
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