One person: Starting with the Snow Drinking Blade

Nie Lingfeng almost instinctively roared out, his body moving faster than his mind, shooting out like a cannonball! He grabbed Feng Baobao's wrist, which was already halfway up her clothes, and touched a warm, smooth skin, startling him so much that he almost let go again.

Feng Baobao looked up, her eyes filled with complete confusion and innocence, seemingly utterly bewildered as to why he was so agitated: "What's wrong? I'm taking a shower. I feel sticky and uncomfortable."

"Go take a shower in the bathroom!!!" Nie Lingfeng's voice was distorted with shock and urgency. He dared not look anywhere else, only staring intently into Feng Baobao's eyes, while forcefully pressing her hand down and pulling the hem of her dress back into place. "You can't take it off here! Absolutely not!"

"It's hot," Feng Baobao blinked, stating the fact.

"Even if it's hot, you can't take your clothes off here!" Nie Lingfeng felt the veins on his forehead throbbing, his blood pressure about to exceed the limit. "Men and women are different! Men and women shouldn't touch each other! Don't you understand! You can't take off your clothes in front of a man!"

Feng Baobao looked at his face, which was flushed with anxiety, tilted her head and thought for a moment, seemingly trying to understand, then nodded: "I understand. Men shouldn't watch women take off their clothes."

"Yes! That's exactly right!" Nie Lingfeng breathed a sigh of relief, thinking she understood.

"Then turn around." Feng Baobao said matter-of-factly, her fingers starting to twitch again.

Nie Lingfeng: "..." He almost choked.

Taking a deep breath and forcibly suppressing the complex emotions churning in his chest, Nie Lingfeng stopped talking and grabbed Feng Baobao's shoulders, half-pushing and half-dragging her into the villa. Feng Baobao seemed to want to struggle, but Nie Lingfeng's strength was astonishing at this moment, practically "lifting" her into the house. He rushed to the bathroom door of the first-floor guest room, opened the frosted glass door, shoved her inside, and then slammed it shut with a "bang," locking the door handle from the outside.

After doing all this, he leaned against the cold door, only then realizing that his heart was still pounding wildly in his chest, making his ribs ache. That fleeting, breathtaking glimpse of white and curves was etched on his retina like a brand, replaying, magnifying, and lingering in his mind.

A strange, burning restlessness rose from his lower abdomen and instantly spread to every part of his body. It wasn't desire, or at least not entirely; it was more like a primal throbbing from the depths of his blood that had been forcibly awakened.

"Brother Feng?" Zhang Chulan peeked out from under the tree, his face still covered in sweat and dust, his eyes filled with confusion. "What's wrong? What did Sister Bao do again? Why is your face so red?"

"...It's nothing." Nie Lingfeng wiped his face, his hand finding it burning hot. He tried to keep his voice calm. "You...keep lying down. I'm going out for some fresh air."

He turned around almost as if fleeing, opened the villa door, and plunged into the sweltering, sticky air outside.

"Brother Feng, where are you going?" Zhang Chulan called from behind.

"Let's go up the mountain! Get some fresh air!" Nie Lingfeng said without turning his head, his voice ripped apart by the wind.

He started running wildly along the mountain road.

He wasn't using the Wind God Leg technique, but purely relying on physical strength, as if using this extreme physical exertion to suppress the inexplicable, surging heat within his body. The night wind swept across his face, carrying the dampness of the mountains and the scent of vegetation, but instead of calming him down, it was like a spark falling into the already turbulent sea of ​​emotions within his heart.

He rushed all the way to the top of the mountain.

The view was expansive, and the night wind was even stronger. Nie Lingfeng began to meditate, but the heat in his heart intensified, as if countless ants were crawling in his veins, or as if a flame was burning in his dantian. His blood flow accelerated, his body temperature rose, and even his breath became scorching.

He suddenly stood up, drew the Snow Drinking Blade from his back, and before he could even fully unwrap the cloth around the blade, he swung it into the void!

The Wind God Leg technique is integrated with the swordplay—catching the wind and capturing shadows! Torrential rain and raging wind! The divine wind howls! The sword light is as fast as a bolt of lightning, and the leg shadows are as fierce as a whirlwind. The two intertwine, stirring up a small storm on the mountaintop!

The power of the Cloud-Dispelling Palm technique flowed into the blade—flowing like water and drifting like clouds! Parting the clouds and adorning the moon! Overwhelming like mountains and seas! The blade wind became heavy and majestic, each swing accompanied by a muffled thunderous roar, the air compressed and exploded!

The chill of the Heavenly Frost Fist was infused with the intent of the blade—frost marks everywhere! Frost congeals, revealing its flaws! Frost and snow fly everywhere! The icy blue blade energy cuts across the land, and wherever it passes, the grass and trees are instantly covered with thick white frost, and then torn to pieces by the violent force that follows!

He even unconsciously used the casualness of "Creation Blade" and the unbridled arrogance of "Invincible in Ten Directions"!

The small plateau atop the mountain was utterly devastated. Trees as thick as bowls were snapped in half, their cuts smooth as mirrors, covered in frost; massive rocks were shredded to pieces by the force of the palm strikes and the energy of the blades; the turf was completely torn up, and the soil was churned up. Stone fragments and broken wood flew everywhere, frost and dust blending into one! The entire mountaintop looked as if it had been ravaged by a herd of ancient behemoths, or as if it had experienced a combination of a small thunderstorm and an avalanche.

Nie Lingfeng became increasingly arrogant and agitated the more he practiced.

The blade flashed faster and more ruthlessly. An unnatural, faint crimson tinge appeared in his eyes. The restlessness in his chest transformed into a violent, pure destructive urge.

He wanted to cut something.

It's not these lifeless trees and stones.

It is a living, breathing human being that bleeds, screams, and struggles.

The moment this thought slithered into his mind like a venomous snake, Nie Lingfeng broke out in a cold sweat and his movements suddenly froze.

"stop!!!"

He roared, forcefully reversing the flow of his inner energy and abruptly stopping the sword's momentum. The Snow Drinking Blade clattered as it plunged deep into the rock beside his feet, all the way to the hilt!

He knelt on one knee, his hands gripping the hilt of his sword, panting heavily. Sweat streamed down his forehead and temples, dripping onto the scorching rock with a soft hissing sound before instantly evaporating into white steam. Every pore on his body was steaming with intense white vapor, making him look as if he had just been pulled out of a steamer.

The most terrifying thing was his chest—the dark red Qilin tattoo, which was now radiating scorching heat. A faint red glow could be seen through his clothes. The lines seemed to come alive, wriggling slightly under his skin. A violent, fiery, and ancient aura emanated from it, resonating with his bloodline.

"What happened..." Nie Lingfeng looked down at his hands, which were bulging with veins and trembling slightly from overexertion, his voice hoarse. "A side effect of the Qilin Marrow? Or... was the Nie family's ancestral mad blood also brought along?"

He recalled Nie Feng's appearance when he was possessed by a demon in the comics: his eyes were bloodshot, he had lost all reason, and his mind was filled only with the instinct to kill, even his closest relatives could be killed.

"Intense emotional fluctuations, especially... under certain stimuli, can trigger this?" he muttered to himself, alarm bells ringing in his mind. "In the future, when facing those Four Madmen of Quanxing who specialize in manipulating emotions, I must be extremely careful... Once I truly lose my mind and go completely mad, with my current strength..."

He simply couldn't imagine the scene. Who could control him when he was completely mad and possessed unparalleled martial arts skills? Feng Baobao? Zhang Lingyu? Or would he have to call upon the Celestial Master?

Forcibly suppressing his surging blood and the lingering violent energy in his heart, Nie Lingfeng sat down cross-legged and placed the Snow Drinking Blade horizontally on his lap.

Close your eyes and silently recite the mantra of the Ice Heart Mantra in your mind:

"A pure heart remains unperturbed even when the sky falls. Amidst countless changes, one remains calm and serene..."

A cool sensation rose from the deepest part of the dantian, like the coldest spring in the mountains, flowing slowly along the broad meridians opened by the Xuanwu True Scripture. Wherever it passed, the fiery restlessness was gradually soothed, cooled, and suppressed. The "stillness" of the Ice Heart Technique and the "righteousness" of the Xuanwu True Scripture complemented each other, resulting in remarkable effects.

He gradually sank into a deep state of breathing regulation, forgetting himself and the world around him.

He didn't know how much time had passed, but when he opened his eyes again, the sky was already turning a pale white, and the faint morning light dispelled the last traces of night.

The mountaintop was a scene of devastation, resembling a disaster site.

Nie Lingfeng slowly got up and stretched his limbs. He felt refreshed, and the heat and violence that had almost devoured him last night had completely disappeared. His Ice Heart Technique was running smoothly, and his inner strength seemed to have become slightly purer as a result.

But he dared not relax for a moment. That thing was only temporarily suppressed, like a dormant volcano, still lurking deep within his bloodline, waiting to erupt again at any time.

"We must find a way to completely solve or control this..." he thought to himself, then pulled out the Snow Drinking Blade, carefully wrapped it in a cloth, slung it behind his back, and turned to walk towards the villa down the mountain.

When we returned to the villa, it was already broad daylight.

But the atmosphere inside the villa was so heavy it was almost palpable.

Xu San and Xu Si were both there. Xu San's face was ashen as he paced back and forth in the living room with his hands behind his back, each step heavy. Xu Si, on the other hand, was unusually not smiling. He leaned back on the sofa, his brows furrowed, the cigarette between his fingers burned to the end, the long ash hanging precariously.

Feng Baobao sat on the floor, leaning against the sofa, her arms wrapped around her bent knees, burying her face deeply in them. Her usually straight back was now slightly hunched, and she curled up into a small ball, motionless. A rare emotion called "helplessness" and "frustration" enveloped her like a tangible gray fog.

Nie Lingfeng's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly walked into the living room: "What's wrong? What happened? What's wrong with Bao'er...?"

Xu Si took a deep drag on his cigarette, forcefully stubbing it out in the crystal ashtray on the coffee table with a soft "sizzle." He looked up at Nie Lingfeng, his eyes filled with barely suppressed anger and frustration, and squeezed out a sentence through clenched teeth:

"That little bastard Zhang Chulan—he ran away!"

Nie Lingfeng was taken aback. This scene did indeed appear in the original plot, but he hadn't expected it to be triggered at this time and in this way. He quickly adjusted his expression, feigning surprise: "He ran away? Why? Wasn't he in special training?"

"Why?!" Xu San abruptly stopped, turned around, and his eyes behind his glasses were slightly red with anger. He pointed at Feng Baobao, who was curled up on the ground, his voice trembling as he tried to control himself, "Ask her! Ask her properly what she's done!"

Feng Baobao's body seemed to tremble slightly, and she buried her head even deeper.

Nie Lingfeng walked over to Feng Baobao, squatted down, and tried to soften his voice: "Sister Baobao, what's wrong? Tell me, why did Zhang Chulan run away?"

Feng Baobao slowly, little by little, raised her head.

Her face was expressionless, but her usually vacant eyes now clearly reflected confusion, grievance, and a rare hint of helplessness, the bewilderment of a child who had done something wrong. Her eyes were slightly red, but there were no tears.

"Xiao Feng," she said, looking at Nie Lingfeng, her voice soft and slightly nasal, "Zhang Chulan has run away."

"I know why he ran away."

"He practices kung fu, he practices 'Old Farmer's Kung Fu'." Feng Baobao said slowly, her speech slower than usual, as if she was trying to recall and organize her thoughts. "He practiced for many days, but the qi in his body kept going astray. Sometimes it would go to places it shouldn't, and he would be in pain and sweating, and his progress would be slow."

She paused, then continued, "I looked at it for a long time and thought about it for a long time. I remembered what Lao Si said before... Virgins have a strong temper and an unsettled mind, so they are prone to going astray in their practice and becoming possessed by demons."

Nie Lingfeng's eyelids twitched, and the ominous premonition in his heart grew stronger: "So...?"

"So, I thought I'd help him resolve his 'virginity' issue." Feng Baobao's logic was frighteningly clear. "Once it's resolved, his anger will subside, his mind will be at peace, and he won't easily go astray in his practice."

Nie Lingfeng felt his throat go dry: "How...how did you help him solve it?"

"I'm following Lao Si's example," Feng Baobao said. "Sometimes when Lao Si is tired, he'll order 'takeout.' It's like... a woman who wears very little clothing, gives massages, and makes you feel comfortable. Lao Si says it's a proper massage that can relax you."

Xu Si: "!!!"

Xu San: "Xu Si!!! I'll kill you!!! What kind of nonsense have you been teaching the baby all this time?!"

Like an enraged lion, Xu San pounced on Xu Si on the sofa, grabbing his neck tightly with both hands and shaking him violently! Xu Si's eyes rolled back as he struggled, forcing out a protest from his throat:

"Cough cough... Third brother, let me explain! I just... I was so tired after a client meeting that I casually mentioned ordering a massage! I meant a proper one! A proper blind massage! Who knew she... she remembered it and misunderstood! I'm innocent!!!"

"You're completely innocent! You're the one who caused the baby to turn out like this!"

"Let go! I'm going to die! I'm really going to die!"

Nie Lingfeng rushed forward and, with great effort, managed to pull the enraged Xu San away from Xu Si. Xu Si coughed for a long time, clutching his neck, before finally catching his breath, his face still flushed with shock.

Nie Lingfeng squatted back down in front of Feng Baobao, rubbing his throbbing temples: "Baobao, so what happened? You ordered... takeout?"

"Mm." Feng Baobao nodded. "I used Lao Si's phone to find that number and called. I gave them the address, asked for the two best technicians, and paid them extra to come quickly."

Nie Lingfeng: "..."

"Then, the takeout arrived. It came in a small car, by two older women, dressed... well, very lightly, but smelling very good," Feng Baobao recalled. "Zhang Chulan opened the door. He glanced at the two women, and his face instantly turned bright red, as if it were about to bleed. He asked me, 'Sister Baobao, what... what does this mean?'"

I said, "I'll help you solve your virginity problem, so your training won't go astray."

Feng Baobao's voice lowered, filled with obvious confusion: "Then, he got even angrier. His eyes widened, and the veins on his neck bulged. He yelled at me, 'Feng Baobao! What do you take me for!' Then...then he pushed aside the two older girls and rushed out without looking back. I called him, but he ignored me and ran so fast that he disappeared from sight in an instant."

After she finished speaking, she buried her face in her knees again, her voice muffled and filled with indescribable frustration: "I messed it up... I messed it up... Xu San said we must keep an eye on him and not let him get away... I messed it up... Zhang Chulan got angry and ran away... I messed it up..."

Looking at this girl who was usually so powerful that she inspired fear, but now looked like a lost child because she had messed up the "mission," Nie Lingfeng felt a gentle touch on the softest part of his heart.

He reached out and gently patted Feng Baobao's thin shoulder.

"It's alright, Sister Bao'er." His voice was gentle yet firm. "He didn't run away; he's just temporarily lost. We're partners; we'll be going to travel a long way together and do many things together. If our partner gets lost, we'll go find him and bring him home."

Feng Baobao slowly raised her head, a faint light returning to her eyes: "Find it back?"

"Yes." Nie Lingfeng stood up and held out his hand to her. "Bring him back. Let him know that there are some paths you can't wander off on alone."

Feng Baobao looked at Nie Lingfeng's outstretched hand, then at the serious expression on his face. The confusion and frustration in her eyes gradually faded, replaced by a pure and determined look.

"Yes!" She nodded emphatically, grasped Nie Lingfeng's hand, used it for support to stand up, and tightly gripped his arm. "Grab it back!"

She grabbed Nie Lingfeng and headed for the door: "Let's go! Let's go now!"

After taking a couple of steps, he realized that Nie Lingfeng hadn't moved.

"Let's go!" she said, turning around with an urgent look in her eyes.

"Where did he go?" Nie Lingfeng asked, pointing to the open mountains and fields outside. "Do you know where he ran off to?"

Feng Baobao was stunned. She blinked, thought carefully for a moment, then her shoulders slumped down, and her voice lowered: "I...don't know..."

Just then, Xu San's phone rang. He took a few deep breaths, barely calming his rage, and walked to the window to answer the call.

After a brief call, he hung up, his face still grim, but he had regained his usual composure. He walked back to the living room, adjusted his glasses, and his gaze behind the lenses became sharp.

"Found it." Xu San's voice was cold. "It's in the Tianxia Society."

"The World Alliance?" Nie Lingfeng raised an eyebrow. "Where is Feng Zhenghao?"

"Yes." Xu San nodded. "After Zhang Chulan left the villa, he used the last of his cash to take a taxi back to the city, heading straight for the headquarters of Tianxia Group. Our people checked the nearby surveillance footage and confirmed that he had been inside the building for more than three hours. Now, he should have been 'invited' in by Feng Zhenghao as a 'guest'."

Feng Baobao's eyes suddenly lit up again, and she shook Nie Lingfeng's arm vigorously: "Tianxia Hui! Let's go! To Tianxia Hui!"

Nie Lingfeng stumbled as she pulled him: "Sister Bao'er, slow down... Fourth Brother, this matter..."

Xu Si rubbed his still throbbing neck, stood up irritably, straightened his disheveled collar, and a dangerous glint flashed in his eyes: "Go! Of course I'll go! That bastard Zhang Chulan, daring to run away like that, and causing Bao Bao to be in such a state... When I catch him, I'll definitely give him a good 'lesson' and teach him a lesson!"

Xu San walked silently to the door and picked up the car keys.

The four quickly got into the black SUV. Xu San started the engine and floored the accelerator. The high-performance SUV roared, like a black cheetah, and sped out of the villa gate, over the gravel road, heading towards the city.

In the car, Feng Baobao clung tightly to the back of the passenger seat, her face almost pressed against the window, her eyes fixed on the rapidly receding scenery ahead, muttering softly to herself over and over again:

"Zhang Chulan... don't run... I'll bring you back... don't run..."

Nie Lingfeng leaned back in the seat, looking out the window. The dark clouds on the horizon gradually dispersed, revealing a corner of azure sky, and sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on the winding mountain road.

The World Society, Feng Zhenghao, Feng Shayan, and that intelligence broker Canglong...

Before the grand Luo Tian ceremony, an unexpected appetizer was served.

He reached out and touched the Snow Drinking Blade wrapped in coarse cloth on his back. The familiar coolness of the scabbard seeped through the fabric, bringing his mind, which had been somewhat agitated by the commotion of the previous night and the current disturbances, back to the tranquility of the Ice Heart Technique.

Hopefully, this trip to the World Society won't require drawing my sword.

But if you absolutely have to pull it out...

A faint, sharp glint flashed in Nie Lingfeng's eyes.