The candlelight flickered, and the incense lingered in the air. Wen Caishang, with her charming deanor, remained true to her promise, rewarding Li Xian, enduring her shyness to serve him drinks.
Who knew, amidst the exchange of cups, the intermingling of emotions, eye contact flowing, desires barely contained. Coupled with the perilous journey, repeatedly trapped, repeatedly escaping danger. The bond forged through life and death was anything but ordinary.
With no one to disturb them, their feelings were expressed even more. Li Xian, with a handso face, full of Primordial Yang, forged a Pure Yang Body. Like a raging furnace, after drinking Tiger Wine, his Yang Qi emitted, even hotter.
Wen Caishang said, "Li Lang, are you sweating?" Her beautiful eyes gazing tenderly, her fingers gently swirling, playing with his chest.
A sudden mont of clarity, she thought, "I am fulfilling my promise, serving him. But how... did it beco like this? Am I to serve myself into it as well?"
Hurriedly rising, yet unable to stop reminiscing. Sotis shy, sotis angry, sotis annoyed, sotis pleased, feelings complex. Li Xian said, "Madam, you should drink too." He filled a glass, gently feeding it to her.
Wen Caishang, slightly intoxicated, her feelings swirling in her heart. Her heart sweet yet flustered, beyond her control, she thought, "Enough... enough... how can I resist him?" Letting her guard down, she allowed things to happen naturally.
They drank from the sa cup, their expressions intimate.
Suddenly, at this mont, the doors of the guesthouse opened. A group of people entered, noisy and disruptive, disturbing their elegance. Wen Caishang frowned, saying, "Ignore them."
Li Xian smiled and said, "To be safe, we should be cautious." He picked up Wen Caishang, placed her back in her original position, and said, "I’ll go and check. If there’s no problem, madam, please continue feeding wine."
Wen Caishang teased, "Hmph, miss this village, and there’s no inn. Don’t even think about it." Li Xian said, "Then I’ll return to that village, searching for that inn. As they say, ’you can escape the monk, but not the temple.’"
Wen Caishang scolded, "You cheeky boy." Yet she couldn’t help but feel so anticipation. Li Xian quietly opened the door, stealthily walked along the corridor, his eyes with Heavy Pupils, seeing through a layer of wooden walls, to the hall below.
More than five or six people ca, all wearing yellow clothes, with proud expressions, urging the shopkeeper to prepare als, hinting that a formidable figure would arrive shortly.
Li Xian thought, "I’m being hunted, listed on the Red List. Nearing the Wei Hu River, at such a critical mont, I mustn’t cause trouble. Avoid if possible." Confirming nothing was wrong, he was ready to return to the room.
Suddenly, a tiger’s roar was heard. The door was smashed to pieces by a single palm, and a large tiger body squeezed into the guesthouse. Its bloody mouth, ferocious fangs, its fur like needles, eyes like bronze furnaces. It was exceedingly strong and mighty.
Sitting atop it was soone. It was Zhang Hu, one of the four greats of the Taixin Sect! The disciples of the Tiger Luo Sect gathered around, respectfully urging the shopkeeper to serve wine and dishes.
Zhang Hu nodded and said, "Hmm." His gaze glanced upstairs, vaguely sensing a watchful eye.
Li Xian was startled, thinking, "Zhang Hu? Could they have moved so quickly, already tracking here? If so, the others should have surrounded the place. No... it doesn’t seem like it... I’ll observe further."
The Tiger Luo Sect disciple said, "Thanks to Master Zhang’s visit and exchange, our sect has benefited greatly. Why not stay a few more days, as there will be the rare spectacle of the Tiger Jump River in a few days."
Zhang Hu said, "I would like to stay longer, but I have pressing matters and cannot linger." The Tiger Luo Sect disciple said, "What a pity. We’ve ordered the food, please Master Zhang take a seat."
Zhang Hu said, "The hospitality of the Tiger Luo Sect is truly comndable. Your sect has generously lent this ’Flipping River Tiger’. Zhang Hu is grateful."
Then he sat down to eat and drink heartily.
As it turned out...
After a duel at the city gate, Zhang Hu’s beloved tiger died. Both his legs were broken, making movent extrely difficult. Without the help of the Tiger Beast, his strength diminished by ninety percent.
Angry at Su Qiuyu’s attitude, in a fit of rage, he left the others, heading alone to the Tiger Luo Sect. Although Taixin Sect and Tiger Luo Sect are distant, they have long had a spiritual connection. Disciples often visit for exchanges and competitions.
Su Qiuyu arrived at the sect, seeking a tiger mount. The Tiger Luo Sect welcod him with open arms, carefully selecting and sending him the ’Flipping River Tiger.’
Su Qiuyu trained with the tiger for several days, forming a slight bond. Constantly thinking of Li Quan, Wen Caishang, and others, eager to return to assist, venting his anger.
The Tiger Luo Sect sent people to see him off, and the disciples took the opportunity to curry favor, entering the guesthouse in advance to arrange things, leading to this scene.
Li Xian surmised a bit from the conversation, feeling sowhat relieved. He returned to the room, informing Wen Caishang of the situation. Wen Caishang, after hearing, collected her enthusiasm, a solemn expression on her face.
Li Xian said, "Madam, you stay in the room, I’ll go explore so more." Quietly sneaking out, observing the people in the hall.
Zhang Hu devoured tiger at, drank tiger wine. The accompanying Tiger Luo Sect disciples flattered and fawned, extrely respectful in their words.
After eating and drinking to his heart’s content, one disciple said, "Waiter, prepare two upper rooms for Master Zhang to stay. Serve him well, and there will be no shortage of reward."
Zhang Hu said, "No need to go to such expense!" The disciple said, "Master Zhang, this..."
Zhang Hu said, "This kind of guesthouse, how good can the rooms be? Narrow and cramped, no fun staying there."
"Ah!" the disciple exclaid, "It’s my oversight. I’ll find another guesthouse, ensuring Master Zhang stays comfortably."
Zhang Hu shook his head and said, "It’s already late, I still need to travel tomorrow. I’m too lazy to fuss, I’ll just sleep here!"
Zhang Hu said to the waiter, "You, don’t bla if I didn’t warn you, haha, if I fall asleep, my beloved tiger might be restless. If it eats your guests, don’t bla ."
The Flipping River Tiger’s breath was scorching. Its eyes glinting fiercely, drooling endlessly, clearly starving for so ti. It growled deeply, its sharp claws rubbing the ground. The waiter’s legs imdiately trembled, face full of terror.
The guesthouse shopkeeper pondered for a mont, hurried upstairs to inform the guests, refund their money, and asked them to leave, avoiding being bitten by the Tiger Beast. The guesthouse occupants, all terrified, hurried downstairs, passing by the tiger with fear.
Zhang Hu laughed heartily, feeling very pleased. Most of the guests had already left. Li Xian frowned and pondered, wanting to quietly leave through the back door.
Zhang Hu suddenly said loudly, "If I’m not mistaken, there’s a strong friend on the second floor, spying on stealthily, right?"
"What is it? Can’t bear to see , Zhang, huh?"
The Flipping River Tiger roared, its voice shaking the surroundings, the vicious sound rolling like thunder. Li Xian thought, "A Third Realm Martial Artist has a keen instinct, sensing hidden gazes. But Zhang Hu is extrely coarse; maybe he’s just putting on an act."
Zhang Hu heard no response and thought to himself, "Could it really be a hallucination?" He didn’t care, raising his drink to enjoy. He picked up a piece of tiger bone and tossed it to feed the fierce tiger beast.
The Tiger Luo Sect disciples looked at each other, all thinking they needed to show their loyalty. They shouted in unison, "Esteed senior upstairs, the esteed Zhang Hu from the Taixin Sect invites you, why not co down to et him?"
They then asked the shopkeeper, "Shopkeeper, is there anyone upstairs?" The shopkeeper dared not hide and inford them about the rooms occupied by Li Xian and Wen Caishang.
Three to five people tead up and went upstairs, intending to invite them personally. Li Xian and Wen Caishang exchanged a glance. At this critical mont, complications arose. Li Xian whispered a plan to Wen Caishang. Wen Caishang nodded, finding it feasible.
Wen Caishang sat steadily in the room, and Li Xian stood beside her. Both appeared calm and composed. Soon, there was a pounding on the door, as the Tiger Luo Sect disciples arrived in front of it.
"Esteed seniors inside, please co down for a drink!" the Tiger Luo Sect disciples called out loudly.
Hearing no response, they exchanged a glance. As they knocked, they secretly channeled their inner qi, and with a "bang," the door was broken open. Li Xian coldly said, "Courting death!" He picked up a teacup, filled it with tea, and tossed both the cup and the tea toward them.
The teacup flew through the air, the tea spinning rapidly. Wen Caishang nodded and said softly, "Little Immortal, you’ve learned the essence of carrying the cauldron monster."
As the teacup reached near them, it shattered with a "crack," and the Tiger Luo Sect disciples were thrown backward, in a very sorry state.
"That Zhang Hu senior isn’t qualified to invite us down. But it’s quite coincidental; we want to invite him up for a drink."
Li Xian said loudly, "Quickly go down and say... there’s a lady who has been waiting for so ti, requesting him to co upstairs for a talk!"
The Tiger Luo Sect disciples looked at each other and quickly went to deliver the ssage.
"Which lady is so arrogant? Hmph! Besides Lady Zhe Jian, who else am I afraid of?" Zhang Hu puffed out his chest and said with a cold smile, "With such aggressive vigor, I shall go et you!" He mounted his tiger and went upstairs.
Arriving at the room, he saw Wen Caishang sitting calmly, with a gentle smile on her face. It was indeed Lady Zhe Jian. Filled with terror, he wanted to escape imdiately. Wen Caishang said, "A rare sight, where are you going? Why not have so wine before you leave?"
Zhang Hu felt a chill on his back, recalling the last ti they t, Wen Caishang had no inner qi and was severely injured. If she was bluffing, wouldn’t he miss the chance to capture her? He thought that at such a close distance, if Madam wanted to kill him, escape would be nearly impossible.
With death on either side, he entered the room cautiously and asked, "Wen Caishang, how co you are here?"
Wen Caishang smiled and said, "What do you think?" She picked up a wine cup, gently poured a cup of wine, and lightly pushed it towards him, smiling, "Please, have a drink."
Zhang Hu’s hair stood on end. The more gentle Wen Caishang appeared, the more frightened he beca. Daring not to refuse, his mind went blank as he picked up the wine cup dazedly and drank it, trembling.
Wen Caishang said, "Is it good?" Zhang Hu replied, "Good... good..."
Wen Caishang said, "Please drink more." Zhang Hu howled in despair, his eyes turning red, knowing today would not end well, he drank several more cups.
Wen Caishang said, "I had originally planned to go to the Tiger Luo Sect tomorrow to seek you out personally. Didn’t expect to et now. Please continue drinking."
Zhang Hu trembled and said, "To... to seek ? Where’s Li Quan? And Su Qiuyu?"
Wen Caishang laughed and said, "They are naturally dead. Otherwise, why would I co here over a thousand miles?"
"Ah!" Zhang Hu felt imnse sorrow, holding his head and crying bitterly. The grand Sword-Seeking Alliance ended in such a miserable manner.
Wen Caishang said, "I have grown weary of killing. Seating you for a drink is my way of asking you to enjoy food and drink, then end your life here."
"Thank you for Madam’s kindness, allowing to end my life!" Zhang Hu felt a pang of bitterness. He drank and ate by himself, occasionally crying out.
After clearing the table, Zhang Hu raised his palm and channeled his qi, intending to end himself. The Tiger Luo Sect disciples rushed in, saying fearfully, "Master Zhang, what’s the necessity of this? Even with grievances, let’s return to Tiger Luo Sect and resolve this!"
Zhang Hu sneered and said, "Return to Tiger Luo Sect to resolve? If you truly return to Tiger Luo Sect, even your Sect Master wouldn’t end well. Get lost quickly, or if I delay ending myself, it will be even more tragic!"
He kicked them away. His heavy palm struck his heart, and with a "bang," he ended his life at the scene.
Wen Caishang remained calm and composed, saying, "If anyone wants to drink, please take a seat." Although the Tiger Luo Sect disciples didn’t know Wen Caishang’s na, seeing her dignified and beautiful, and her ability to force a great expert to death in just a few words, they were all terrified.
"If you don’t drink, crawl back to your sect." Li Xian shouted.
"Y-Yes!" The Tiger Luo Sect disciples all knelt and fled, knees on the ground, but their escape was not slow.
Li Xian saw the tiger beast was vicious, its fangs bared. He swung his sword horizontally and killed the Flipping River Tiger on the spot!
"This place is filthy, Little Immortal, let’s find another place to stay." Wen Caishang said calmly.
Li Xian replied, "Yes, Madam."
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