Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 569 Master and Disciple
"Wha...what?!"

Behind the distant mound.

Xie Wuwei almost popped his eyes out of their sockets!

His tightly clenched fist instantly loosened, his nails digging deep crescent-shaped marks into his palm, but he was completely unaware of it.

One second ago, he was at the peak of ecstasy, as if he had already touched the glory promised by his senior brother Xiong Ba—Li Xueqing, his greatest threat, was about to be reduced to dust!
His plan came to a perfect conclusion!

But the next second, the mysterious expert suddenly descended, not only blasting away the indestructible steel monster, but also sweeping away the dying Li Xueqing like a ghost!
The huge change was like a bucket of ice water poured over him from head to toe.

"It's over...it's all over..."

Xie Wuwei's lips trembled, his face was as pale as paper, and his body trembled slightly uncontrollably.

The plan is completely out of control!

Li Xueqing is not dead!
She was rescued!

A mysterious master who could instantly defeat the War Puppet Araki!

what does this mean?
This means an utter disaster!
Once Li Xueqing recovers and returns to the Hualong Gate... thinking of that vicious woman's methods, and knowing that she knew it was she who tipped her off...

Xie Wuwei felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head; the shadow of death had never loomed so vividly over him!
Just as Xie Wuwei was in a state of shock and utter confusion—

"boom!!!"

In the large crater not far away, soil and gravel suddenly exploded!

A heavy steel figure, carrying clouds of dust, leaped out like a demon god returning from hell!

It was Zhan Kui Huang Xingzi!
Its head, covered in bronze armor, slowly turned, and two dark red lights pierced through the swirling dust, locking onto the direction in which Li Xueqing had been rescued.

On the cheeks of the mask, the scorpion-like iron spikes opened and closed slightly, making a faint but unsettling "click" sound.

Its majestic body still stands tall like a mountain, and apart from the mud and grass stuck to its armor, there is not a single visible damage!
The mysterious expert's attack seemed to only hinder its killing move, but failed to shake the very foundation of its steel body.

A moment later, his dark red eyes flickered slightly.

Instead of pursuing the mysterious powerhouse whose aura had vanished into the distance, it suddenly turned its massive body, stirring up a foul gust of wind, like a giant beast merging into the night.

After several heavy ups and downs, it returned to Xie Wuwei's side, who was in a daze.

"senior!!"

Xie Wuwei grasped at the last straw, his voice sharp and distorted with extreme fear and urgency. He lunged forward, almost grabbing Huang Xingzi's cold arm guard:

"Chase them! Hurry and catch up! Please!"

"Li Xueqing must be killed! She cannot be allowed to leave alive! If she doesn't die, the consequences will be dire!"

"This is a huge threat to you, to me, and to Brother Xiong Ba's grand plan!"

Xie Wuwei stammered incoherently, his forehead dripping with cold sweat.

He knew all too well that even if Li Xueqing lost power in the Hualong Sect, she would still be a high-ranking elder!
Crushing an ordinary disciple like him would be easier than crushing an ant!
This is no longer a question of the future, but a matter of life and death!

However, faced with Xie Wuwei's desperate pleas, Zhan Kui Huang Xingzi stood silently like an unyielding iceberg.

The dark red eyes beneath the bronze-coated armor didn't even glance at him, as if he were just a meaningless wisp of air.

Its towering body remained motionless, with only a few wisps of steam occasionally escaping from the bronze tube at the back of its neck, proving the operation of its internal core.

Time passed in deathly silence, each second torturing Xie Wuwei's nerves like a slow, agonizing torture.

After a long pause, he forced a bitter smile that was more like a grimace, his voice dry and hoarse:

"Senior...you...you're not confident you can deal with the person who rescued her?"

"So be it...so be it..."

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the panic and resentment in his heart, and faced reality:
"Then...then let's quickly return to Dragon Transformation Island! And see Senior Brother Xiong Ba!"

"This matter must be reported immediately. Please make the decision, Senior Brother!"

He knew that he had no way out.

From the moment he boarded Xiong Ba's ship, he could only go down a dark path.

Now, his only way out is to return to Xiong Ba's side as soon as possible, beg for his senior brother's protection, and tell him all about the crisis.

This time, Arakawa finally reacted.

Its massive body turned slightly toward Xie Wuwei, its dark red gaze seemingly lingering on him for a moment before it took heavy steps toward Dragon Transformation Island.

Xie Wuwei dared not delay for the slightest, like a frightened bird, closely following the steel figure that exuded a cold aura.

The two quickly disappeared into the deep night.

……

The other side.

Silver Wing Marquis Shi Danqin clutched her chest in excruciating pain, her face as pale as paper, with traces of dark blood still remaining at the corner of her mouth.

He stared intently at the direction where Li Xueqing disappeared and the huge figure of the war puppet Huang Xingzi as he left, his turbid eyes filled with the palpitation of surviving a disaster and an even deeper sense of turmoil.

"Cough...cough..."

He coughed up several mouthfuls of blood, his voice hoarse and heavy, trembling with disbelief:
"The person who rescued that poisonous woman... that... that person is definitely not a third-rank official! It's... a second-rank official!"

"He is definitely a top-tier expert at the second-grade level!"

This conclusion sent chills down his spine.

What does it mean that a second-rank master would be willing to risk everything for Li Xueqing's birth?
This means that Li Xueqing's background is far more terrifying than he imagined!
The forces behind her are likely powerful enough to shake the imperial court!
"A venomous woman who harbors resentment towards the imperial court and has a second-rank expert backing her up..."

Shi Danqin grew increasingly terrified as she thought about it, a chill creeping up her spine:

"This is... a great calamity for the nation!"

He seemed to already see the bloodshed and turmoil that would ensue in the imperial court in the future.

The intense fear and immense responsibility almost suffocated him.

This is no place to linger!

That mysterious second-rank expert and the terrifying steel monster could turn back at any moment!

"Let's go! Let's go!"

Shi Danqin took a deep breath, her voice hoarse but carrying an undeniable command.

He endured the excruciating pain of his displaced internal organs, staggered around, and fled desperately towards Dongzhou City without looking back, wanting only to leave this land of death as soon as possible and report the shocking events of the night to the imperial court.

The surviving military officers were already terrified by the series of misfortunes. Seeing the Marquis fleeing for his life, they followed him like stray dogs, scrambling and stumbling as the group disappeared into the darkness leading into the city in a sorry state.

………………

The world is spinning!

My whole body aches!

A tearing, excruciating pain!

Consciousness was like being drowning in the cold, deep sea; every time it struggled to rise, it was violently dragged back by the omnipresent, excruciating pain throughout its body.

Li Xueqing felt like a rag doll whose skeleton had been dismantled and repeatedly cut with a dull knife.

Each weak breath aggravated the wounds in his chest and limbs, causing suffocating spasms.

She struggled, bit by bit, to break free from the boundless darkness and pain.

My vision was blurry, and it took a while to focus.

The dim, flickering firelight outlined the shape of a simple cave, with damp rock walls and a strong, pungent smell of blood and bitter herbs filling the air.

Beneath her lay cold rocks, covered with some dry grass, but the rough texture still rubbed against her numerous wounds, causing sharp, stinging pain.

She tried to move her finger, and immediately felt a jolt of electric pain throughout her body.

Cold sweat instantly soaked through his forehead.

Her gaze moved with difficulty, finally settling on a corner of the cave.

A hunched figure stood with his back to her, head bowed before a stone mortar, holding a pestle, pounding the herbs steadily and rhythmically, stroke after stroke.

"Tap...tap...tap..."

The monotonous impact echoed in the silent cave, bringing an eerie sense of tranquility.

Li Xueqing felt a moment of disorientation, as if she had returned to many years ago...

But then, the memories of the time before I fell into a coma came rushing into my mind like a flood bursting its banks!

The horrific scene at the Tan family's funeral hall, the Silver Wing Marquis's atrocities, the terrifying steel monster, the eerie storm of caltrops, the excruciating torture, and finally, the towering shadow of the giant sword that blotted out the sky...

Fear, despair, hatred... and a hint of bewilderment at surviving a catastrophe instantly seized her!

Almost instinctively, her fingers, extremely faint yet carrying an undeniable killing intent, laboriously reached into the depths of her sleeve.

There lies a colorless, odorless, and tasteless poison called "Qianji Yinhun".

Just then, the old woman pounding the medicine, without even raising her head, spoke clearly in a hoarse but calm voice, as if she had seen through all her thoughts:
"Save your energy."

“If you forcefully activate ‘Soul-Guiding’ now, it will only cause the last bit of life you’ve managed to hold on to to dissipate completely, and even a god couldn’t save you.”

Li Xueqing's body stiffened abruptly, as if she had been pierced by an invisible ice needle!

This old woman... not only knew she was going to poison someone, but she also pinpointed the exact name of the poison!

This is no ordinary thing!
The old woman stopped pounding the medicine and slowly turned around. The firelight illuminated her wrinkled face, yet the outline of her youth was still faintly visible.

She looked at Li Xueqing, a complex, almost sighing smile tugging at the corners of her lips:
"I taught you how to use poison."

Even if you've already graduated, you still know that no one knows a disciple better than their teacher. Who can hide your little schemes from you?

When that familiar yet unfamiliar face came into full view of Li Xueqing, she felt as if she had been struck by lightning!

Li Xueqing's pupils suddenly contracted to their maximum size, and her whole body trembled violently, causing her to groan in pain as the pain aggravated her wounds.
"Teacher...Master?!"

Li Xueqing's voice was dry, hoarse, and filled with an incredulous tremor:

"You...you're actually...still alive?!"

A complex mix of emotions welled up in Li Xueqing's eyes, and her heart was filled with mixed feelings.

In the end, being moved won out.

That face, which she thought was long gone, was now vividly appearing before her eyes, right when she was at her most wretched and on the verge of death.

This inevitably made her eyes start to well up with tears.

The old woman, leaning on a stone pestle, walked shakily to Li Xueqing's side and sat down.

In the firelight, the wrinkles on her face looked as if they had been carved by a knife and axe, each line filled with the vicissitudes of time.

What shocked Li Xueqing even more was that her master's face was shrouded in a thick, unyielding deathly aura. Although his eyes were still clear, they revealed an undisguised weariness and decay.

"Yeah, still alive."

The old woman's voice was soft and serene:

"However... it's almost time. The oil is running out and the lamp is burning out; my days are numbered."

She reached out her thin, bony hand and gently brushed aside the disheveled hair on Li Xueqing's forehead, damp with cold sweat, her movements carrying a long-lost tenderness that belonged to a mother:

"We were master and disciple, but our bond was shallow, and we had many disagreements in the past. I thought that before I died, I could just secretly take one last look at you, which would... put an end to my worries."

"Unexpectedly, God gave me another chance, allowing this old woman to... save you one more time. This fate is truly... not over yet."

Looking at the lingering deathly aura on her master's face and feeling the coldness of her fingertips, Li Xueqing felt a turmoil in her heart.

Guilt clung to her like a poisonous vine, almost suffocating her.

She recalled the times she had argued, quarreled, and left in a huff... It turned out that her master had been silently watching over her all along, and even at the end of his life, he had shielded her from a fatal attack!
The old woman smiled nonchalantly, a smile that held a worldly wisdom and a hint of barely perceptible regret:

"I've lived to my age; it's already a blessing from God."

"Besides..."

Her gaze drifted into the deep night outside the cave, as if she could see something much farther away:

"Heaven has been kind to me, even giving me the hope of... extending my lifespan."

"That old thief, the Saint of Thieves, is still alive. He personally came down from the mountain to organize a big operation to save people. Hey, even this old bone of mine got dragged along to make up the numbers."

"If... if it succeeds, we might be able to snatch back a few more years of life from the clutches of the King of Hell."

Upon hearing the name "Thief Saint," Li Xueqing felt as if she had been stung by a scorpion. The warmth in her eyes instantly froze, replaced by a chilling coldness and deep-seated disgust!

"Traitorous wretch! He deserves to die!"

The Thief Saint was a wanted criminal by the Great Yu Dynasty. He had offended the dignity of the Great Yu royal family and his crimes were unforgivable.

She couldn't help but feel displeased that her master was associating with such a scoundrel as the "Thief Saint".

The old woman watched her apprentice's expression change instantly, sighed deeply with helplessness, and shook her head wearily.
"You...you're still the same as always, you haven't changed at all."

Li Xueqing, however, was like a powder keg that had been ignited.

Despite her severe injuries, she gritted her teeth and straightened her back, her voice filled with a morbid excitement and an undeniable firmness:
"I am loyal to my emperor and love my country; my conscience is clear!"

"But you, Master! The court treated you well back then. You ate the emperor's food, so you should share the emperor's worries!"

"Your disciple sincerely invites you to join the Dragon Transformation Sect, to serve the country, and to share the emperor's burdens—that would be the highest honor!"

"But you...you'd rather live in seclusion than serve your country! How can you...do you deserve the Emperor's favor?!"

Li Xueqing became more and more agitated as she spoke, an unnatural blush rising on her pale face, her breathing becoming rapid, and the blood seeping from her wounds staining the bandages red.

The old woman waved her hand wearily:
"Okay, okay, I'm not going to say anymore."

Her eyes were filled with deep helplessness and a trace of pain; she seemed to have no strength left to argue.
“Every time we talk about these things, my master and I end up arguing like crazy.”

"Well... my old bones are not long for this world. This time, following the Thief Saint to risk my life is a matter of life and death."

"Perhaps... this is the last time we, master and disciple, will see each other."

"I... really don't want this last meeting to end in an argument."

Her voice lowered, carrying a heartbreaking sense of weariness.

After saying that, the old woman stopped looking at Li Xueqing, silently turned around, picked up the pestle again, and focused on pounding the medicine.

The "thump...thump...thump..." sound was exceptionally clear and heavy in the silent cave.

Li Xueqing's domineering aura, ignited by hatred and loyalty, deflated instantly like a punctured balloon upon hearing her master's weary, almost pleading words.

She stared blankly at her master's hunched back, the firelight outlining her thin frame and sparse white hair...

Li Xueqing was shocked to realize that her master had aged considerably!

So incredibly old!

The last time we met... that spirited master who could stand up to me so fiercely, it feels like it was just yesterday...

But that was almost twenty years ago... The ruthlessness of time and the guilt brought on by her own stubbornness overwhelmed her once again like a tide.

She opened her mouth, but in the end said nothing, and simply closed her eyes silently.

After an unknown amount of time, the sound of the pestle stopped.

The old woman, carrying a bowl of medicinal paste that emitted a strong, bitter smell, sat back down next to Li Xueqing.

With gentle yet skillful movements, she unwrapped several bandages on Li Xueqing's body that hadn't yet been treated with medicine, revealing gruesome, grotesque, and deep wounds that exposed the bone.

She used a piece of wood to pick up the paste and carefully applied it.

The medicine was potent, causing waves of burning pain, but amidst this agony, Li Xueqing felt a long-lost peace that came from the bottom of her heart.

It felt like stepping back into my childhood when I was sick, and my master would sit by my bedside like this, brewing and applying medicine for me...

How warm those memories are.

Only the sound of ointment being applied and the two people's soft breathing filled the cave.

The silence was no longer cold; instead, it was filled with a heavy and complex warmth.

Finally, the old woman broke the silence, her voice low and solemn:
"How did you get involved with that... monster?"

She paused, seemingly searching for the right words:

"That thing isn't even a living person. It's immune to all poisons, and its bones and muscles are like steel. It clearly only has the strength of a third-grade martial artist, but the combat power it can unleash is... comparable to a second-grade martial artist!"

"Even I have to put in some effort to deal with him!"

Li Xueqing knew that her master was referring to the war puppet, Huang Xingzi.

She shook her head blankly, her eyes filled with confusion and hatred.

She couldn't figure out where the monster came from either.

As the old woman continued to treat her wounds, she slowly said:

"However, I did see it following a disciple of the Transformation Dragon Sect."

Li Xueqing suddenly looked up!
The movement aggravated her wound, causing another sharp pain, but she paid no attention, her eyes flashing with a terrifying light!
The old woman said with certainty:
"Although that kid wasn't wearing a sect uniform, I would never mistake the aura of the Transformation Dragon Sect's techniques emanating from him."

Li Xueqing's heart started pounding!

The disciple of the Hualong Sect who claimed to have discovered Dugu Hen's whereabouts and tricked her away in the Tan family's old mansion!
The memory became clear instantly!

She eagerly inquired about the disciple's appearance.

The old woman carefully recalled and described the physical characteristics of the people she had seen one by one.

As her master spoke, the confusion in Li Xueqing's eyes quickly faded, replaced by a raging resentment as intense as a volcanic eruption, enough to incinerate everything!

That face... she'd seen it before!

At the port of Hualongmen!
Later... he joined Xiong Ba's Surveillance Hall!
"It's him! He's from the Inspection Bureau!!"

Li Xueqing's voice was like a chilling wind blowing from the deepest hell, filled with bone-deep hatred:
"He's one of Xiong Ba's men!!"

"It's Xiong Ba! It's that villain Xiong Ba who wants my life!!!"

Everything is connected!
What is this "lonely sorrow in a thatched hut"? What coincidence?
It's all a trap!

It was a series of deadly traps meticulously designed by Xiong Ba!

They took advantage of her feelings for the Tan family, the mission of the Silver Wing Marquis, and even more so, that terrifying steel monster!

The goal is to kill her!

"Xiong Ba...you villain! How dare you harm me?!"

Li Xueqing trembled with rage, her teeth grinding together, oblivious to the fact that her wounds were reopening. Her eyes were bloodshot with intense hatred, as if they were about to bleed!
The overwhelming killing intent almost burst through the cave!

Looking at her apprentice's ferocious appearance, the old woman's eyes filled with even more sorrow, and she sighed helplessly.

"Sigh... Your temperament is still too impatient and unstable."

"Otherwise, with your talent and the accumulation of these years, you should have already stepped into the second rank, or even condensed your own martial intent."

"Your achievements shouldn't stop here."

Her voice was filled with deep regret.

Li Xueqing was her most prized disciple, and also her only surviving disciple.

She had high hopes for it, but unfortunately, she was ultimately misled by her obsession.

Upon hearing this, Li Xueqing hissed like a cat whose tail had been stepped on:

"Master, you don't know."

"My feud with that Xiong Ba is already irreconcilable!"

"What's more... this time, he's also involved the Tan family!!"

Li Xueqing was orphaned at a young age and was adopted by her master.

She returned to her hometown to find her relatives after she grew up.

They discovered that all their relatives had died, with only one branch of the Tan family still alive.

Therefore, Li Xueqing poured all her love for her family into the Tan family.

But now, the Tan family has been brutally murdered.

The murderer, Dugu Hen, must die! The one who insulted the remains of the Tan family, Shi Danqin, must die!

Even if Xiong Ba uses the Tan family's scheme, he will still die!
Li Xueqing's face was twisted and ferocious with extreme hatred, like a vengeful demon crawling out of hell.

Looking at Li Xueqing's face, the old woman felt only a deep sense of powerlessness.

She was too old, too tired, the candle of her life flickering and about to go out. She was no longer able to shelter her apprentice from the wind and rain, nor could she resolve this raging sea of ​​hatred.

"Unfortunately, I have to leave early tomorrow morning and won't be able to help you anymore."

The old woman's voice was filled with deep weariness and a sense of decline:

"It's not appropriate for me, an outsider, to interfere in the infighting within your Dragon Transformation Sect."

She paused, a hint of worry flashing in her cloudy eyes:
“But if you go back like this, covered in serious injuries and filled with hatred, you probably won’t be a match for Xiong Ba.”

These words were like ice water, instantly extinguishing some of Li Xueqing's frenzied flames.

She was suddenly startled, as if she had been awakened.

Yup!

She is now severely injured and has lost more than one-tenth of her fighting strength!

Even if she returned at her peak, what chance would she have against Xiong Ba, whose strength was unfathomable, who was immune to all poisons, and who possessed the war puppet Huang Xingzi?

Unless... she can break through!
He broke through to the second rank! And... he condensed his own powerful martial intent!

In fact, since being stripped of her position as an enforcement elder by the sect leader and no longer needing to regularly pass on her skills to the sect leader, her accumulated inner strength over the years has been unleashed, and she has truly touched the threshold of the second-grade realm!
Just one step away!
As for martial intent, she had long had a vague understanding of it, as if it were behind a thin veil, within reach yet impossible to break through!

But this "one foot" and "one layer" are like an insurmountable chasm, trapping and killing countless brilliant martial artists throughout their lives!
She is not reconciled!

I absolutely refuse to be trampled under Liang Jin's feet for the rest of my life! I am even more unwilling to die before I can avenge my great grudge!
The instinct for survival and the desire for revenge instantly overwhelmed pure anger.

Li Xueqing's eyes burned with longing, as if grasping at the last straw, she looked anxiously at her master:
"Master! You are experienced and have been through it all. Please guide your disciple!"

"How can I... successfully advance to the second rank? How can I... condense martial intent?"

This is her only hope of breaking the deadlock!

The old woman looked into her apprentice's eyes, at that familiar, burning desire for power, remained silent for a moment, then slowly shook her head and uttered two words:

"It's difficult for you..."

Li Xueqing was taken aback, not understanding what he meant:

"Difficult? Why is it difficult?"

"Your foundation is solid; you only lack the right opportunity!"

The old woman sighed, her gaze seemingly piercing through Li Xueqing's soul:
"Your heart is too restless. Your obsession is too deep. So deep that... it has made you extreme and narrow-minded, with only hatred and that vague 'righteousness' in your eyes."

"Your heart has long been turbulent and turbulent by these things. How can it reflect the ultimate principles of martial arts and condense pure 'intention'?"

Li Xueqing was startled and instinctively wanted to refute.

But looking into his master's all-knowing gaze, the words stuck in his throat.

"but……"

The old woman's tone shifted, carrying a final glimmer of hope:

"If you really want to change and seek a breakthrough, I can give you a suggestion."

"Perhaps... it can open a new window for you."

Li Xueqing's spirits lifted, like a drowning person spotting driftwood:

"Please enlighten me, Master! I am all ears!"

The old woman gazed at the deep night outside the cave, her voice ethereal:
"You can go and see the new world."

Upon hearing this, Li Xueqing was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter.

Her smile held a hint of bitterness and confusion:

“Master, I consider myself to have considerable experience. This world is vast, with its five lakes and four seas, famous mountains and great rivers, bustling cities and remote villages... Where have I not set foot?”

"Of all the things in the world, what has this disciple not seen?"

She didn't understand how seeing the world could help her break through her limitations.

The old woman slowly shook her head, her gaze deep and unfathomable.

“In the past, you were arrogant and only looked at the clouds in the sky. Your heart was filled with grand ambitions for the country, the emperor, and the state.”

"Having too high an eye and too big a heart will cause you to overlook the path beneath your feet and the scenery around you."

She paused, then pointed outside the cave:

"I suggest you stop, bend down, and take a good look at this 'lower ground,' look at what's 'right in front of you.' Look at the daily necessities of ordinary people, listen to the gossip of peddlers and laborers, and feel... the most authentic joys and sorrows of human life."

Li Xueqing frowned, deep in thought.

Her master's words seemed to touch on something, yet they were shrouded in mist, preventing her from grasping the key point.

Seeing her apprentice's still bewildered expression, the old woman gently patted the back of her hand, her voice lowering, carrying a complex and indescribable tone:

“Back then, when you found the Tan family, I thought it was your salvation, that it would allow you to experience the warmth of an ordinary family.”

"But later I understood... The Tan family is ultimately just your cousin. You treat them like your own family and pour your heart and soul into them, but they... perhaps see you more as a mountain to climb on and a source of awe."

"You are too strong-willed and too independent. You never rely on anyone and never reveal your true vulnerability to anyone... like a hedgehog that hides itself in a hard shell."

The old woman's words struck Li Xueqing's heart like a heavy hammer.

She recalled the respectful yet distant, even fearful looks in the eyes of the Tan family members when they faced her... and felt a sharp pain in her heart.

"If you can..."

The old woman carefully chose her words, a hint of pity and expectation in her eyes:

"Try doing the opposite... perhaps then the dust that covers your heart can be brushed away, allowing you to see what you truly want and find an opportunity for a breakthrough."

Li Xueqing was completely confused, and her bewilderment only deepened:

"This disciple is... dull-witted, please enlighten me, Master!"

The old woman looked at the unyielding stubbornness in her apprentice's eyes, smiled helplessly, and finally said bluntly:
To put it simply... you can find a man.

"Go and experience it, something completely different from national righteousness and blood feuds... the love between men and women."

Li Xueqing bristled instantly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on!
She sat bolt upright, ignoring the excruciating pain from her wounds, her face filled with disbelief and intense resistance:

"The nation has not been restored, and the emperor has not been served; how can a disciple indulge in personal feelings?!"

"Besides..."

Her voice was resolute, carrying an undeniable pride and stubbornness:

"I, Li Xueqing, don't need men! I never have!"

She dedicated her entire life to that illusory cause of restoring her country.

Love?

In the face of matters of national importance, how ridiculous and insignificant love seems!
That's the kind of comfort only the weak need!

It is a stumbling block that prevents her from climbing to the pinnacle of martial arts!
Seeing her apprentice's expression, as if he had been greatly insulted, the last glimmer of light in the old woman's eyes dimmed, leaving only deep weariness and utter helplessness.

She let out a long, drawn-out sigh, as if she had used up her last bit of strength:
"Alas... I gaze upon the vast landscape, yet my thoughts remain distant; the most exquisite taste in life... is love."

"Isn't a nation made up of countless ordinary families and countless ordinary men and women?"

I know these words will be hard for you to hear, and even harder for you to understand.

"That's enough...that's enough..."

She slowly stood up, her hunched back stretching long in the firelight, filled with a sense of twilight and desolation.
"In the end, you have to walk your own path."

"Whether you go back immediately to seek revenge on Xiong Ba, or go somewhere else... it's up to you."

“Master, I… am really old, I can’t manage anymore, and I… can’t manage anymore.”

The old woman sighed.

She's really old and won't live much longer.

She still had to pursue the last chance to prolong her life, but she was powerless to change Li Xueqing's life path.

A long silence fell over the cave.

Only the soft crackling of the flames could be heard.

Li Xueqing stared blankly at her master's back as he walked deeper into the cave. His back was so thin and lonely, as if he might be swallowed by the darkness at any moment.

Her master's words stirred up a storm in her heart, a mixture of resistance, confusion, and even a hint of anger at being offended.

But more than anything, there was an indescribable sense of bewilderment and... a very faint wavering that she herself had not even noticed.

Ultimately, all the emotions transformed into a deeper, more ingrained hatred for the instigator!

She clenched her fists tightly, her nails digging into her palms again, her eyes burning with an inextinguishable flame of revenge, silently roaring in her heart:

"Xiong Ba! You just wait! Soon... very soon I will come back for you! We'll settle all our old and new scores!"

"But before that, I have some things to do..."

(End of this chapter)