“Is the senior apprentice here? Yu Lian requests an audience!”
Not knowing how much time had passed, suddenly a melodious female voice came from outside the door.
“Come in!”
The door creaked open. Bai Yulian entered carrying a wooden tray, on which sat a porcelain pot emitting fragrant steam.
“Fearing that the senior apprentice might feel lonely late at night, Yulian specially prepared some snow frog and lotus seed porridge…”
Bai Yulian spoke softly, her face bearing a holy expression, like a compassionate bodhisattva. Yet every movement she made exuded a silent allure.
An angelic face paired with a seductive figure—such a woman was naturally most attractive to men.
“Hmm, just leave it there.”
Wu Ming waved his hand. A white jade skull howled and obediently flew to his palm, transforming into a jade talisman.
Witnessing this scene, Bai Yulian’s beautiful eyes flickered with curiosity: “Has my junior apprentice disturbed the senior’s cultivation?”
“Not at all. You actually came at just the right time!”
Wu Ming took the small bowl, sniffed it, and smiled: “You’ve put in quite some thought.”
He was certainly no fool. After years of cultivation in Fusang, his perception had sharpened. Whether there were any hidden tricks in the soup could not escape his nose and taste.
“If the senior enjoys it, that’s wonderful!”
Bai Yulian’s face lit up with boundless joy. Suddenly, her gaze fell upon the jade talisman, and with a show of innocent curiosity, she reached out: “Is this the legendary skull essence passed down in Maoshan? I’ve heard even my master doesn’t have one…”
Peng!
A flash of white light, and the talisman vanished directly into Wu Ming’s grasp, leaving Bai Yulian’s hand awkwardly suspended in midair.
“Haha… Since you’re also a disciple of Maoshan, are you interested in learning the method of cultivating the skull essence? I can naturally pass it on to you!”
Wu Ming smiled slightly, well aware of the truth of giving a sweet after a slap.
“Really?”
Bai Yulian was overjoyed and bowed deeply: “Thank you, senior apprentice, for passing on the technique!”
Seemingly by accident, she revealed a large expanse of smooth, white skin, her eyes glistening with moisture.
“Quickly rise!”
Wu Ming helped her up, his eyes carrying a hint of something unusual: “Actually, there’s one thing I’d like to ask of my junior apprentice…”
“What is it? Please just command your junior apprentice!” Bai Yulian replied in a coquettish tone, her voice slightly nasal.
“Oh! Nothing too important!”
Wu Ming chuckled: “It’s just that my mind feels rather muddled lately, and I’m unclear about many things. I wanted to ask you a few questions.”
“I see! Please ask anything, Senior Apprentice. I shall answer whatever I know, holding nothing back!”
Bai Yulian replied directly, feeling a mixture of slight disappointment and relief inside.
“Excellent… Then what year is it now?”
…
Wu Ming naturally wouldn’t be foolish enough to ask his real questions directly. Instead, he used his “amnesia” as a pretext, skillfully probing while cross-referencing what Hu Xin had told him. Gradually, the overall situation of the entire realm became increasingly clear in his mind.
“So it seems… This King Jie’s collection of weapons from across the land to forge the Twelve Golden Men holds deep significance?”
“Correct!”
Since it did not involve her own sect’s secrets, Bai Yulian was quite relaxed: “My niece heard from the leader of the Star River Sword Sect that the Twelve Golden Men were devised through the collaboration of experts from the Military, Legalist, and Mohist schools, further assisted by witchcraft techniques. It took decades of effort to develop this secret method. If successfully forged, they can eternally stabilize the land’s geomantic forces, prevent dragons from rising, protect the Shang dynasty’s imperial fortune, and enable King Jie himself to ascend as a deity, transcending the limits of an emperor to attain immortality!”
“So the Twelve Golden Men are actually a secret technique for controlling imperial fortune!”
Wu Ming nodded. As he was about to ask more, another sweet, coquettish voice came from outside the door: “Has my junior brother gone to sleep?”
Just hearing the voice sent a tingling sensation through one’s bones. However, Bai Yulian’s face changed dramatically, and she whispered urgently: “Oh no, it’s my master. She’ll kill me!”
“Senior sister, please wait a moment!”
Wu Ming raised his voice, then silently mouthed: “Go hide quickly!”
Bai Yulian looked around anxiously, suddenly smiled, and instead of heading to the wardrobe, she went straight to the bed, pulling the brocade quilt over herself.
Wu Ming was momentarily speechless before opening the door: “Senior sister, please come in!”
“The night air is chilly and thick with dew. I was truly concerned about my junior brother, so I made a special trip to check on you…”
Hong Lian Divine Mother stepped in: “It seems someone has been here recently?”
“No! I was just cultivating. Who could have come here?”
Wu Ming laughed heartily.
“Ah… Seeing you now reminds me of those days when we were fellow apprentices, as close as siblings…”
Hong Lian Divine Mother sat down, her eyes falling upon the snow frog and lotus seed porridge. A flash of displeasure crossed her face, gone as quickly as it appeared.
“It’s truly considerate of senior sister to come all the way here to check on me despite your illness. I’m deeply grateful!”
“Hmm!”
Hong Lian Divine Mother’s eyes flickered. Suddenly, she clutched her chest: “You didn’t mention it and I was fine, but now my heart still aches a bit. Would you rub it for me?”
With a flirtatious gaze, she approached the bed. Wu Ming nearly burst out laughing but managed to hold himself back: “This… wouldn’t be appropriate, would it?”
“What’s inappropriate? Back then, you…”
Determined to apply stronger tactics, Hong Lian Divine Mother threw herself onto the bed, intending to use her feminine charms to cast the Heavenly Maiden Enchantment Technique. Suddenly, she jumped up: “Who?”
“Senior… Master…”
The quilt was pulled back, revealing Bai Yulian’s rather innocent gaze.
…
On the wild plains, a dozen riders galloped swiftly.
“Reporting to the master, after crossing two more mountains, we will reach the main camp of King Yimei!”
Bai Yulian, dressed in military attire, looked quite spirited.
“Hmm!”
Hong Lian Divine Mother nodded slightly, showing no trace of the previous night’s embarrassment.
“Hmm… Thanks to my junior apprentice. Another time, I shall pass on a few more techniques to you, ones that will benefit you for life!”
Wu Ming cackled beside her, causing Bai Yulian to shudder involuntarily, her eyes revealing fear: “No… no need!”
“Hmm? So afraid of me? Could it be that last night was too rough?”
Wu Ming inwardly chuckled, then rubbed his fingers together.
At this, both Hong Lian Divine Mother and Bai Yulian blushed slightly, lowering their heads.
“Ah? Someone is fleeing from King Yimei’s camp?”
Bai Yulian was the first to notice: “Let me go check!”
“Why bother? Let’s go together!”
Wu Ming spurred his horse forward, cresting a small hill. Immediately, he saw several sword beams and figures. The scene was clear: several men chasing two women, all possessing some martial arts or supernatural abilities. As the controller, Wu Ming instantly recognized them: “Reincarnators!?”
He immediately rode forward. As he drew closer, shouts reached his ears.
“Haha… Let’s see how much farther you can run. In the end, you’ll just die anyway. You two actually dare to resist the Sanshan Triad? You must be tired of living!”
“Brothers Qiao One, Two, and Three! I must have had the worst luck in eight lifetimes to end up in the same team as you. Your deaths don’t matter, but don’t drag us down with you!”
The woman shouting was extremely fiery, dressed in a swordswoman’s outfit. She occasionally fired off a few sword beams to block their enemies. Upon seeing Wu Ming’s group, her eyes lit up, and she rushed straight toward them.
“Sister Huang Ying, you run ahead first…”
Beside her was another woman she was supporting, frail and delicate. It was clear that without this woman slowing her down, she might still have a chance to escape.
“No need! I hate seeing this sort of thing the most. The Sanshan Triad especially likes bullying newcomers. If you fall into their hands, you’d be better off dead!”
Seeing the two women, Wu Ming revealed a knowing smile: “I’ve searched high and low without finding them, and now they come right to me without effort!”
He immediately spurred his horse, blocking the two women’s path.
“Esteemed Taoist Master, please save us sisters! The three behind us are vicious and evil men!”
Huang Ying immediately cried out.
Of course, this woman didn’t recognize Wu Ming’s current appearance, mistaking him for a local native. Compared to their first reincarnation mission, this woman had clearly changed a lot—the world-weariness in her demeanor had largely disappeared, though the beauty mark at the corner of her mouth remained, reminding Wu Ming of a scene from a dark cellar long ago.
The other woman she was helping was even more familiar to Wu Ming—none other than Li Xiuyun!
Seeing how disheveled and exhausted the girl looked, it was clear that without Huang Ying’s rescue, her delicate soul might already have flown far away.
“Never thought Huang Ying could survive this long. Judging from her current state, she must have cultivated martial arts and undergone physical transformation!”
Reincarnators, if they survived a few missions, even the weakest could become stronger. Wu Ming wasn’t too surprised by this.
The other three reincarnators chased up, seeing this group, they hesitated somewhat. One who seemed to be the leader shouted: “We’re handling affairs for King Yimei. If you don’t want to die, scram!”
King Yimei Han Hulin, one of the Thirteen Rebel Kings, was truly fearsome. Huang Ying’s heart sank, whispering to Li Xiuyun’s ear: “Little sister, once things go wrong, I’ll hold them off while you run!”
“No! If we must die, let’s die together!”
Li Xiuyun proved quite resolute.
Actually, for this rural farm girl, she still hadn’t fully grasped what was happening. She only knew that suddenly she had been transported from the Wu family fortress to this place. For an ordinary person, not going mad amidst such historical transmigration was already a miracle.
But she was also very clear about one thing—if not for Huang Ying’s protection, as an orphan, she wouldn’t survive in these chaotic times!
Not only would she not survive—before death, she might have to endure countless torments!
Better to just die and end it all!
Yet thinking about the clothes she hadn’t managed to deliver, her heart sank with sorrow.
“Dare you use King Yimei to intimidate us? Truly, your dog eyes are blind!”
Bai Yulian shouted angrily: “You useless trash, you don’t even recognize the Holy Mother Hong Lian’s presence?!”
“Hong Lian Divine Mother?!”
The Sanshan Triad exchanged glances, fully aware that Hong Lian Divine Mother held a status akin to an honored guest in Han Hulin’s army. Even the generals treated her with respect—certainly not someone they could compare to.
Qiao Da immediately stepped forward: “We were disrespectful and offended the Holy Mother’s presence. We deserve death! But these two women are also under King Yimei’s command. Now they’ve deserted, and we were ordered to capture them!”
“Since it’s a military order, ignorance excuses the offense!”
Hong Lian Divine Mother’s expression softened slightly, but Huang Ying sensed danger and quickly cried out: “Esteemed sisters… Your humble servant admired King Yimei’s noble virtues and joined his army. Who knew these people harbored ill intentions, attempting to seize my sister and me. When they failed to overpower us, they maliciously framed us. We had no choice but to flee. Please, Esteemed Sisters, see the truth!”
Seeing that Hong Lian Divine Mother and Bai Yulian were both women, she immediately hoped to find a way to plead for mercy through this connection.
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