The two of them practiced the Jade Heart Sutra together, concentrating deeply as time slipped away unnoticed.
When they finally stopped, they realized an entire day and night had passed. Their progress was remarkable—Li Mochou had reached the seventh stage of the Jade Heart Sutra, leaving only the final two stages. However, thosest two stages were the most dangerous, with the risk of True Qi deviating at the slightest mistake. That was why Song Qingshu suggested halting their practice.
“Alright…” Li Mochou’s voice trembled slightly as she replied, aware that continuing would likely lead to inner demons taking root.
Song Qingshu nodded and helped guide her True Qi back to its proper cirction,pleting three full cycles before withdrawing his hand from her palm. “Rest for a bit. I’ll tell the innkeeper to send up some food. Once we’ve eaten, we can continue.”
The Jade Heart Sutra, being the most advanced martial art of the Ancient Tomb Sect, had taken even prodigies like Yang Guo and Xiao Longnu several months to master up to the sixth or seventh stage. For Li Mochou to reach this level in a single day and night wasrgely due to Song Qingshu’s guidance.
Of course, this effort also took a significant toll on him.
After instructing the innkeeper to prepare food and wine, he returned to the room and began meditating to recover his energy.
Li Mochou, still unclothed, noticed that Song Qingshu didn’t avoid her presence as he sat nearby, which filled her with fury. She was about to order him out but stopped upon seeing the exhaustion on his face. For reasons she couldn’t exin, her heart softened, and she held back her words.
<em>‘Once I’ve fully recovered, I’ll take your life. What’s the harm in letting you look a little longer?’</em> she thought bitterly, pulling the nket tightly around herself. It wasn’t that she didn’t want to dress, but knowing they’d soon resume training, she felt it would be even more humiliating to un*dress in front of him againter.
As her thoughts wandered back to their earlier practice, Li Mochou’s face showed a trace of confusion. Why had her reactions been so shameful during that time? Could she truly be a woman of such lowly instincts?
Her face darkened further upon noticing the dampness between her legs. Overwhelmed by anger, shame, and a hint of fear, her emotions churned like a turbulent sea.
“Stop overthinking. Focus on recovering,” Song Qingshu’s timely voice brought her back to reality. She nced up nervously, realizing he hadn’t turned to look at her, and sighed in relief.
<em>‘Hmph! Pretending to be a gentleman now, after all your shamelessness!’ </em>she thought disdainfully.
Li Mochou’s naturally extreme temperament red as she recalled how Song Qingshu might already know certain secrets about her b0dy. Her k!lling intent surged…
Yet suddenly, her face flushed deeply. She nced at him hesitantly, as if wanting to speak, but found herself unable to form the words. Frustrated, she endured in silence, her face burning red.
Just as she was nearing her breaking point, Song Qingshu stood up abruptly and headed for the door. “Why is it taking so long for the food to arrive? I’ll go check.”
Hearing the door close behind him, Li Mochou exhaled heavily. “No wonder so many women are drawn to this brat. He’s unexpectedly considerate,” she muttered.
Her gratitude stemmed from the fact that she hadn’t relieved herself during their day-and-night practice, and now she couldn’t hold it any longer…
The sound of water trickling behind the screen reached her ears. Her face alternated between rage and shame as she clenched her fists tightly. “I’ve lost all dignity in front of this man. If I fail to k!ll him, I won’t deserve to live!”
Meanwhile, dozens of miles away from Xueyue Town, a luxurious carriage sped down the post road. Inside, a nobleman dressed in finery read thetest report brought by carrier pigeon, his eyes gleaming with malice. His pale, slender hand clenched tightly, the veins on the back of it faintly visible. R?
“A lone man and woman, locked in a room for an entire day and night without stepping out once… Zhou Zhiruo, I’d love to see your reaction when you hear this news.”
“Faster! We must arrive before nightfall!” the noblemanmanded. The driver nodded grimly, expertly cracking his whip to push the horses to their limits.
Back in the inn, after eating, Song Qingshu and Li Mochou resumed practicing the Jade Heart Sutra. This time, Li Mochou was noticeably more at ease. Perhaps she had already resolved that once her injuries were healed, she would kill Song Qingshu without hesitation.
Despite the eighth and ninth stages of the Jade Heart Sutra being extremely obscure and perilous, Song Qingshu’s guidance ensured her progress was smooth. She could even feel her injuries gradually healing. While her heart filled with joy, a trace of mncholy also surfaced: the time to act was nearing.
Though their martial arts gap was vast, Li Mochou was confident she could k!ll Song Qingshu thanks to a wless n she had devised. The moment she mastered the Jade Heart Sutra and recovered her full strength, she intended to feign a Qi deviation, spitting blood and copsing backward as though on the brink of death.
Caught off guard, Song Qingshu would instinctively rush to catch her. Given her unclothed state, the moment his hands touched her skin, his brief distraction would give her the perfect chance to strike.
Li Mochou had hidden three deadly Frozen Soul Silver Needles in her hair, invisible and unsuspected. These needles, coated with a poison ten times more potent than usual, were her trump card. Even a martial arts master wouldn’t escape death if struck.
Yet, as she imagined Song Qingshu’s impending demise, an inexplicable sadness arose in her heart. After all, this man had saved her life multiple times, yet here she was, repaying kindness with betrayal.
“Do you find my b0dy pleasing?” she asked suddenly, her voice carrying a mncholic undertone as she looked at the blindfolded man across from her.
Song Qingshu was momentarily stunned before replying with a gentle smile, “It’s nothing short of divine grace.”
Li Mochou’s face turned crimson. Taking a deep breath, she said, “Would you like to see it more clearly?”
“Hm?” Song Qingshu tilted his head curiously. “Is something wrong with you?”
“No,” she replied indifferently. “Can’t you tell if something is wrong just by looking?”
Song Qingshu forced a bitter smile. “Actually, I’ve kept my eyes closed the entire time.”
Li Mochou sneered coldly, clearly not believing him. “Oh? So the young master is a gentleman after all?”
Song Qingshu’s expression turned awkward. “I dare not im to be a gentleman. To be honest, I couldn’t resist taking a nce at first. But who would’ve thought that the fairy’s body would be so wless? My True Qi began to surge uncontrobly. Fearing it would affect treating your injuries, I quickly closed my eyes again.”
His tone was sincere, and his exnation seemed reasonable, which caused Li Mochou to believe him—at least by eighty percent. At first, she even felt a trace of gratitude. However, as the thought of him having seen her b0dy resurfaced, a murderous intent arose within her once more.
“A nce is still a nce, whether it’s one or ten thousand. Take off the blindfold over your eyes,” she finally resolved, her voice firm.
Li Mochou understood her wavering resolve. With Song Qingshu’s martial prowess, hesitation during an attack would only lead to failure. To ensure she had no room for retreat, she decided to burn all bridges and fully expose herself. That way, she could eliminate any hesitationter.
<em>‘So be it. I owe him a debt of gratitude. Letting him take a final look at this pure, unblemished b0dy as repayment before his death should suffice,’ </em>she sighed to herself.
“Are you really asking me to remove the blindfold?” Song Qingshu’s tone carried a hint of disbelief.
“Take it off.” Li Mochou blushed and gave a soft hum of affirmation.
Song Qingshu was not one of those overly proper schrs. He had already done his part by keeping his eyes closed earlier. Now that she had given him permission, he had no reason to feel guilty.
Deep down, Song Qingshu even entertained the thought that Li Mochou might have developed feelings for him. After all, he was dashing, a renowned martial artist, and had saved her life multiple times. This time, their physical contact furtherplicated things. It was only natural for her to harbor affection for him—or so he thought. Little did he realize he was already half a step into the underworld.
Meanwhile, the young noble d in luxurious garments arrived in Xueyue Town. The town’s scouts quickly approached to ry thetest developments, reporting that Song Qingshu had merely gone out to fetch food and drink before retreating back into his room, with Li Mochou remaining inside all along.
Hearing this, the noble sneered. “Lead the way. I’d like to see just how he’s indulging in his ‘pleasures.’”
In this era, most women in such situations would either walk away, burying their anger deep inside while pretending nothing had happened, or wait outside to confront the man once he emerged.
But this young noble, now revealed to be in fact a woman, was fiery and bold by nature. Growing up far removed from the Confucian customs of propriety, she gave little thought to decorum. Charging in recklessly, her demeanor mirrored that of a modern woman storming in to catch a cheater.
At that moment, Song Qingshu was staring nkly at the breathtaking scene before him, entirely oblivious to the noble charging straight for his room.
Li Mochou, feeling her cheeks flush under his gaze, was filled with a mix of shame and fury.<em> ‘Look all you want. You won’t live much longer anyway. The more distracted you are, the easier it will be for me to strike.’ </em>
Sensing that her Jade Heart Sutra was nearingpletion, Li Mochou began preparing to feign a Qi deviation andunch the Frozen Soul Silver Needles hidden in her hair.
“Song Qingshu! Acting so frivolously—how could you betray Zhou Zhiruo like this, and…”
Before the young noble could finish, the door to the room was kicked open, and she stormed in.
Li Mochou was startled. At this moment, her entire body was bare. If Song Qingshu saw her, she could rationalize it—after all, he had saved her life, and he was about to die anyway. But never in her wildest dreams did she expect another man to intrude and see her like this!
Her mind raced. As she was about to strike, her ns shifted, and without hesitation, she unleashed the Frozen Soul Silver Needles at the intruder instead. Compared to Song Qingshu, this unexpected man was now her greater target.
Having been poised to attack, her strike carried the full force of her preparation—an effort intended to ensure Song Qingshu’s demise. Now, driven by humiliation and hatred, the three Frozen Soul Silver Needles flew faster than she’d anticipated.
The young noble had barely stepped inside when a sh of silver light shot toward her. Before she could react, the three venomous needles were already upon her.
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