Chapter 43 : Mingyu Sect
Chapter 43: Mingyu Sect
“There’s nothing to discuss in this matter!”
Li Yunqing’s words were extremely firm, leaving not the slightest room for negotiation.
No matter how good the talent was, no matter how beautiful the person was—even if countless men cared for and cherished her—without the strength to protect herself, she was still nothing more than an enticing dish.
Anyone stronger than her had the ability to take a bite.
Touching, hugging, kissing… doing whatever they pleased.
Especially out in the wild mountains and barren wilderness, she was almost certain that if she encountered someone stronger than herself, then with her appearance and figure, she would inevitably be ravaged by men in all sorts of ways.
Just thinking about such a scene made her whole body feel uncomfortable and her scalp tingle.
Much less going out together with men.
Lu Xingzhou before her claimed to cultivate the path of utmost sincerity, but he was still a man, and a Qi Realm expert at that.
At that instant when he approached, her spiritual power had sensed it, yet she had been completely unable to react before her wrist was seized.
With her figure and looks, if they spent some time together, what if he could not restrain himself?
A shattered Sword Heart would not kill him. Even if he died, she would already have been ruined—what use would that be?
“Yunqing, if you are not at ease, I can escort you there!”
Jiang Jing suddenly spoke from the side. Though his voice was still hoarse, there was fiery intent in his eyes.
Hearing this, Xun Fei and Lu Xingzhou’s eyes both lit up.
Bringing the physician to Great Cangshan was the quickest and most convenient option. Otherwise, not only would going back and forth exhaust their master, it would also consume quite a bit of time.
Though horses could supposedly travel two thousand li in a day, that was their limit speed. No one traveled like that.
Going back would take two days, and coming again by carriage would take at least three.
If someone familiar could accompany and escort her, Li Yunqing should be willing to go to Great Cangshan.
“You say that as if you’re not a man too!”
Li Yunqing glanced at Jiang Jing, inwardly speechless.
Especially now that she knew Jiang Jing had thoughts about her, once she went out, she would practically be placing everything about herself into his hands.
How could she dare?
“I said there’s nothing to discuss. I don’t make house calls!”
Li Yunqing shook her head and said, “If you want treatment, then send him to the Martial Hall. If not, then please leave!”
Jiang Jing fell silent at once and instantly understood that Li Yunqing likewise did not trust him.
Thinking about it, that made sense. They had only known each other a few days. Though they had a transaction between them, it was only a transaction.
From beginning to end, aside from carefully and attentively treating his cold poison, Li Yunqing had shown almost no sense of closeness toward him.
Now that he thought about it, he really had been somewhat sentimental on his own, even imagining that if they traveled together, they could cultivate some feelings.
He had even wanted Li Yunqing to understand his feelings and break off her engagement with the Jiang Family.
But looking at Li Yunqing’s exquisitely delicate and charming face, Jiang Jing understood that this was not very likely.
Yet he still felt somewhat unwilling.
Ever since joining the Demon Suppression Division, he had often fought demons, monsters, and evil gods for his life, climbing upward step by step, until he had ultimately become the disciple of the Commander of the Demon Suppression Division.
In terms of status and position, throughout all of Qingzhou, he could be considered an important figure, and he had seen no few women.
But Li Yunqing was the first one whom he truly wanted to possess from the bottom of his heart.
Or rather, no man could ignore a woman like Li Yunqing.
“Since that is the case, then we will return and bring Master here!”
Lu Xingzhou did not press any further. Since they could not persuade Li Yunqing to go to Great Cangshan, they could only find a way to bring Master here.
Moreover, Li Yunqing possessed Innate Sword Bones. Though she was a woman, she still had an aptitude born for the sword.
Master would definitely want to take her as a disciple and leave behind his inheritance.
Thinking of this, Lu Xingzhou continued, “May I ask what preparations are needed for the detoxification?”
After speaking, Lu Xingzhou stared straight at Li Yunqing. Though there was nothing unusual in his eyes, his heart could not settle.
The first moment he saw Li Yunqing, he had been greatly astonished.
Having condensed the Sword Heart of utmost sincerity, he could not conceal his feelings at all, and could even clearly sense that trace of fondness in his heart.
Perhaps such a brief meeting had nothing to do with love, but was only the heartfelt fondness and goodwill one felt toward beautiful things.
But he also understood that all love grew continuously from this trace of fondness and goodwill.
Especially when Li Yunqing had lost her temper right to his face, not only had he not thought poorly of it, he had instead approved of it from the bottom of his heart.
A woman ought to cherish herself in exactly this way.
Moreover, for some unknown reason, seeing Li Yunqing throwing that little temper of hers, he felt no annoyance whatsoever, and instead could not help but feel delighted.
“Just prepare some medicinal ingredients.”
Li Yunqing replied, “As for the consultation fee, I will collect it from Sword Saint!”
The Sword Saint of Cangshan possessed extremely strong talent and strength. At only forty years old, he had already founded the path of the Sword Heart.
Though he was not a grandmaster of the Profound Realm, he was still one of those closest to the grandmaster level, with extremely great combat power. Ordinary grandmasters might not even dare receive his full-force sword strike head-on.
If she had the Sword Saint as backing, then breaking off the engagement afterward would also be safer.
As for her talent such as Innate Sword Bones, though it looked strong,
because she was a woman, in an age like this, no one would believe she would not marry. What kind of inheritance she would ultimately receive all depended on the breadth of her master’s mind.
Or rather, in an age like this, for women, no matter how extraordinary their talent, without strength, they were merely ornaments by men’s side.
At most, if their talent was better and they were more beautiful, they could bear children with extraordinary talent, making them more valuable and more sought after by men.
It was even highly possible that because their talent was too high, they would be seized by force.
Some men even took pleasure in collecting and toying with women of all sorts of beauty.
Whether one’s status was as exalted as a princess of a nation, or as powerful as a saintess of a sect or order, even women from the age of immortals and gods could not escape the fate of political marriage when faced with interests.
This was the sorrow belonging to women in this age.
“I will inform Master!”
Lu Xingzhou took out a yellowed book from his chest. “I offended you just now, so I will use this sword manual to apologize!”
After saying this, he gently placed the sword manual before Li Yunqing, then continued, “You possess Innate Sword Bones. If you cultivate swordsmanship, you will surely advance a thousand li in a single day.”
“This sword manual is not a secret art of our sect, but it is still a ranked sword technique.”
“Profound Yin Sword Art!”
Seeing the secret manual before her, Li Yunqing’s brows stirred slightly, somewhat surprised.
She herself possessed Frost Sword Intent and was also a woman, making her highly compatible with yin-attributed sword arts. Clearly, Lu Xingzhou was not stupid and did have some sincerity.
It was just that, toward someone who made unwelcome contact like this, she still did not have much goodwill.
He was even more hateful than Jiang Yu, who had climbed over her courtyard wall in the middle of the night.
“Let it end like this, then!”
Li Yunqing accepted the sword art and directly settled the matter, saving herself from further entanglements in the future.
“Miss Yunqing, Commandant Jiang, Hall Master Liu, farewell!”
Lu Xingzhou and Xun Fei cupped their fists, then left together.
“You still not leaving?”
Seeing that Jiang Jing still showed no intention of departing, Hall Master Liu frowned, somewhat disgusted. “I have something to say to Yunqing. Get lost!”
Jiang Jing: “……”
Expressionless, he rose to his feet, looked at Li Yunqing, then lightly tapped his toes and directly leapt over the courtyard wall, disappearing from sight.
‘So he also likes climbing over people’s walls!’
Li Yunqing was speechless. Still, since there was a transaction between them, and that Thousand-Year Cold Poison could help her cultivate rapidly, she did not bother with him too much.
“I really misjudged you!”
Hall Master Liu sighed lightly. “I never expected your talent to be so extraordinary.”
“Innate Sword Bones are enough to enter those hidden sects. It’s just that this sect’s sword arts are rather ordinary… forget it, I’ll explain it and you can choose for yourself.”
Hall Master Liu felt somewhat hesitant.
Women in this age already had it difficult. Even if they joined a sect and obtained its inheritance, they would still have to repay the sect in the future.
If one accepted the sect’s benefits, then for the sect’s interests in the future, one would either marry outward in an alliance marriage, or marry inward.
This was unavoidable.
For all living beings in this world, aside from one’s closest kin… no! Even closest kin would bow before interests.
Just like the Li Residence—Li Yansong could be considered fond of Li Yunqing, yet for the sake of the family, he would still make Li Yunqing enter a political marriage.
Being born into an ordinary commoner’s family would be even worse. Either one would be married off at a very young age, or sold off as a servant or maid.
This was probably the fate destined for women.
Such was the way of the world.
Thinking of this, Hall Master Liu softly said, “The truly powerful hidden sects all establish Martial Halls in the capital and other prosperous places to recruit disciples with excellent talent.”
“This sect is only a small sect. Though it is somewhat stronger than the sects of the martial world, it is not stronger by much!”
“There are no benefits gained for nothing in this world. If you enter a sect and receive its cultivation, then you must also contribute to the sect!”
“As a daughter of a family, there are some things you should understand!”
“And is a sect not simply another kind of family?”
At this point, Hall Master Liu paused slightly, as if giving Li Yunqing time to accept it.
Only after a long while did he solemnly ask,
“Are you willing to join Mingyu Sect?”