Chapter 198 ·Protect Her Peace for a Lifetime
Chapter 198: Protect Her Peace for a Lifetime
Inside the bath chamber of the National Preceptor’s residence.
Dense steam drifted through the air, like mist filling the entire room.
Ying Qianqian carefully supported Li Yunqing.
Watching Xiaolan skillfully and gently remove Li Yunqing’s blood-stained garments piece by piece—
only after all the inner layers were taken off did Ying Qianqian finally see the dark red marks covering Li Yunqing’s fair skin.
They were all injuries—wounds left behind after being suppressed by the overwhelming force of heavy weapons.
Dense and numerous, like the natural patterns of skin, spread across her entire body.
It looked as though a jade-white porcelain doll had been shattered completely, then pieced back together with strands of dark red blood.
Especially on her back, there was a fist-sized imprint, surrounded by dense bruising and blood stains.
Against her jade-like skin, it was particularly glaring.
Seeing this, Ying Qianqian’s nose suddenly stung, her hand trembling slightly as she gently touched the marks, murmuring, “Does it hurt?”
“When it hurt, I couldn’t think about it. Now I’m used to it—it doesn’t feel painful anymore.”
Li Yunqing replied softly, somewhat weak.
As her physique became more perfect, her senses grew increasingly sharp.
During battle, every injury naturally pierced to the bone in pain.
But it was precisely that deep, bone-aching sensation that made her more cautious, not daring to be careless.
It constantly reminded her—if she wished to avoid injury, she had to kill all enemies.
That was likely one of the advantages of a perfected physique—ever more sensitive perception.
Those opponents had all been Eighth Realm Kings; the disparity in strength was too great to reflect this.
But against ordinary enemies, or those not so vastly stronger, every movement could be sensed in advance by her body, allowing instinctive evasion or counterattack.
Just as a hand reflexively withdraws when pricked by a needle or burned—
a person with heightened sensitivity could react even before contact, their skin already sensing danger.
The more perfect the physique, the sharper the senses, and the faster the reaction.
In ordinary combat, relying solely on instinct, she could remain untouched, uninjured.
Unfortunately, a perfect physique did not mean a powerful body.
However, in Li Yunqing’s view, as her various physiques accumulated, her physical strength would gradually grow stronger.
At the very least, after her Dao Self, True Self, and Past Self merged, her physique already far surpassed that of ordinary people.
If those three selves were nurtured to perfection and fully unified, it would inevitably trigger a transformation.
“Miss… your hair…”
Xiaolan’s movements grew even gentler as she lifted Li Yunqing and slowly lowered her into the bath.
Her gaze lingered on Li Yunqing’s completely white hair.
Once jet-black and smooth, meticulously cared for—
now entirely white.
Just looking at it was heart-wrenching.
Li Yunqing’s eyes flickered as she looked at the panel.
“Lifespan: 17/∞”
Her lifespan had not changed, nor her age.
It was likely that the End Law within that strike was too terrifying, causing her hair to turn white instantly, something not easily reversed.
If not for the enhancement of her Dao bodies, her physical body might have collapsed entirely.
Thinking back, she felt a deep sense of relief.
It was precisely because of the layering of various physiques that she could be restored by the panel before death.
Dao bodies merged with the Dao—unless one possessed overwhelming power, it was impossible to annihilate her completely in an instant.
Otherwise, she would certainly have died under that final strike.
After all, it involved rules.
In Li Yunqing’s understanding, rules governed laws and were above them.
The End Law represented the conclusion of all things—heaven and earth, all phenomena, all beings, all laws.
The ultimate termination of everything.
Perhaps that was why that Peerless Sword was so terrifying.
“If there is an End Law, then there should also be an Origin Law, right?”
“The Peerless Sword is only an incomplete move. If I comprehend the Origin Law and perfect it… would it become even more terrifying? Would the cost not be so unbearable?”
“But how would one comprehend the Origin Law?”
This thought flashed through Li Yunqing’s mind.
She softly said, “It’s nothing. I’ll recover with time.”
With her Pure Yin Dao Body nourishing all things, her hair would likely return to normal over time.
The same applied to her injuries.
With the panel’s enhancement, if this battle had not been so dangerous, if her injuries had not been so severe, she would not have been this exhausted.
The suppression of Eighth Realm Kings was not something just anyone could endure.
An ordinary Sixth Realm cultivator would have long been crushed to death.
“Miss, if you’re tired, rest first. I’ll take care of you.”
Xiaolan’s voice carried a thick nasal tone as she dipped a cloth in water and gently wiped Li Yunqing’s body.
Not missing a single spot—meticulous and soft, as if caring for a piece of precious jade.
Clearly, such care was not something learned in a day or two.
Watching Li Yunqing allow herself to be handled without any reaction, Ying Qianqian felt her face flush slightly.
Especially when Xiaolan’s fingers, wet with water, brushed certain places—
Ying Qianqian’s heartbeat inexplicably quickened.
If it were her, being cared for so intimately would likely make her flustered.
Yet Li Yunqing merely furrowed her brows slightly at first, then paid it no mind.
Clearly, she was already accustomed to such care.
“Xiaolan, should I help?”
Ying Qianqian’s heart pounded, her voice slightly unsteady.
Li Yunqing’s body was flawless, like jade carved to perfection.
Compared to her, Ying Qianqian felt full of imperfections.
Not large enough here, not full or round enough there—even her skin was not as fair and smooth.
A certain impulse rose within her to try.
“No need, Miss Qianqian. I can handle it.”
Xiaolan refused without hesitation.
Then, after carefully checking that Li Yunqing had already fallen asleep, she explained softly, “Miss has fallen asleep. You don’t know how to control your strength—you might wake her.”
Hearing that possessive refusal, Ying Qianqian felt a faint sense of loss.
If Li Yunqing had not been so injured, she truly would have liked to try.
“Alright…”
Seeing Li Yunqing asleep, Ying Qianqian did not argue.
Xiaolan was right—she had never cared for someone before. If she mishandled it, she might worsen the injuries.
This was perhaps the difference between wandering martial artists and noble daughters.
Wandering cultivators rarely had such close maids, nor such delicate care.
Meanwhile, noble daughters were attended to meticulously from a young age.
Ying Qianqian, raised under her mother’s care, had never experienced such things.
Li Yunqing slept for two full days.
Only on the morning of the third day did she slowly awaken.
As soon as she sat up, she saw Xiaolan and Ying Qianqian asleep at her bedside.
Sensing her movement, Xiaolan woke instantly, her face lighting up.
“Miss, you’re awake?”
“Mm.”
Li Yunqing nodded, then glanced at Ying Qianqian.
“You didn’t go rest?”
“You slept for two days. We were worried.”
Xiaolan replied, “There are also many people waiting in the courtyard.”
Two days without waking—if not for her stable aura, others would have already been alarmed.
Even so, the courtyard was now filled with people.
Li Yunqing swept her divine sense outward and saw everything clearly.
Her family, old acquaintances from Qingzhou, the Sword God, the Sword Saint, and even the Emperor of Great Xia.
“Go tell them I’ve awakened and am fine. But I need to recuperate, so I won’t meet them. Tell them to disperse.”
Hearing this, Xiaolan immediately went out.
In the courtyard, Di Qing, the Sword God, the Sword Saint, and more than twenty others stood waiting.
Every face was heavy with emotion.
Especially the Sword God and Sword Saint—
as her masters, they had only been able to watch her fight alone.
Unable to help at all.
Such a role as master filled them with shame.
“Creak!”
The door opened.
Xiaolan stepped out and loudly declared:
“Miss has awakened. She’s not in serious condition!”
“Miss says—today there are invaders. Tomorrow there will be even stronger ones. Instead of waiting here, you should hurry and grow stronger!”
“Miss says she needs to rest and won’t meet anyone. You may all leave!”
Then she paused, clearly displeased, and added:
“So many of you, and you rely entirely on my Miss to open the path?”
“My Miss is human too. She gets tired!”
“How can you put everything on her shoulders alone?”
“She’s already exhausted. Don’t disturb her without reason!”
With that, Xiaolan turned and slammed the door shut.
The courtyard fell into absolute silence.
Everyone wore expressions of awkward silence.
No one had expected a mere maid to scold them so directly—
even with the Emperor present.
Watching through her divine sense, Li Yunqing could not help but smile.
But thinking about it, it was true—
they needed pressure.
She was saving herself, not bearing everything alone.
“These days, I’ll focus on recovery and comprehending laws and rules.”
“As for opening the path… that will be left to them.”
With that thought, Li Yunqing relaxed.
Her inner world was shattered—it would take time to recover.
Opening a new path was not something to rush.
In the courtyard, people gradually left.
The Path Pioneer only opened the way.
How the path was walked—that was for all beings to decide.
What path suited this world?
What path suited all people?
That required collective exploration—not reliance on one person.
Thinking back to Li Yunqing’s lone battle against nine Kings, everyone felt ashamed.
A single woman had slain nine Kings—
while they, strong men, could only watch helplessly.
How could they not feel ashamed?
Soon, only Li Shuo and Gu Yuan remained.
“Why are you still here?”
Li Shuo looked at Gu Yuan, puzzled.
As her brother, it made sense for him to stay.
But what was this little kid doing here?
Gu Yuan looked up at him.
His expression was solemn, his voice firm with unprecedented determination.
“Fat Sister saved me once, protected me once.”
“A drop of kindness should be repaid with a spring.”
“I, Gu Yuan, will protect her peace for a lifetime!”
Li Shuo: “???”
Was this something a child could even say?
“Suit yourself.” Li Shuo shook his head.
If not for the fact that this was a child—
he might have thought this was someone scheming for his sister.