Fairy, I am truly a virtuous gentleman!

Summoning stars and ghosts to feast on wine, the mountain demons devour people in a chilling atmosphere.

That night.

Hundreds of miles east of the inner city of Luodu, in an unnamed mountain range.

Inside a dilapidated ancient temple, a bonfire burned quietly.

The woman, dressed in a gray-blue cloth, was leaning against the wall with her eyes closed, half-resting.

After a while, a series of hurried footsteps sounded.

"Finally arrived! I should be able to see the Heavenly Palace tomorrow. Damn, this trip was exhausting!"

"That's enough for the third one. It's tiring, but the pay is good too."

"That's right, I made quite a bit of money this time. Enough to take care of my wretched wife when I get back, and then I can go to the brothel and have some fun, hehe."

"Oh? I was thinking the same thing! Shall we go together then?"

"no problem……"

Accompanied by a series of vulgar and outrageous remarks, a group of burly men in straw raincoats entered the temple.

When they saw the woman and the flames in front of her, they were all taken aback, seemingly not expecting that there was anyone there.

The man in the lead narrowed his eyes and made a gesture without making a sound.

The others immediately understood and stopped talking. Instead, they each found a quiet corner and began to rest silently.

They were all skilled martial artists with profound inner strength; if they were placed in the mortal world, they would be grandmasters or powerful figures.

He usually treks through mountains and rivers, often fighting against wild beasts and bandits who block his way, and his body exudes a fierce and bloodthirsty aura.

Although he lacked the talent for cultivation and was far inferior to those true immortals, he could still rival some Qi Refining cultivators whose methods were not particularly effective.

As for the man in the lead, he was even more formidable.

His surname was Zhu, and he was the leader of this group. He not only had a talent for cultivation, but also relied on his family's inherited techniques to cultivate to the point of perfect Qi Refining.

The woman leaned against the wall, her eyes still closed, showing no sign of waking up at the arrival of others.

The men also tacitly remained silent, instead casting their varied gazes at the woman.

The woman appeared to be in her early twenties, with her long, flowing hair styled like that of a married woman.

With a slender waist, elegant hair, and graceful figure, the flickering firelight accentuated her incredibly smooth and snow-white skin, making her look like an enticing pastry, radiating an indescribable charm.

Even with her eyes closed, she remains alluring and captivating, her quiet serenity stirring a sense of longing within one.

The men in straw raincoats were a group of镖客 (bodyguards/escorts), working with a man surnamed Zhu to transport goods.

The days of escorting goods were particularly tedious and boring. Having already accumulated a lot of energy and desire, they were now like a pack of hungry wolves stalking their prey, staring intently at the woman.

"Hey, Chief Zhu, that young lady is damn beautiful! Anyway, we're in the middle of nowhere, so why don't we..."

Soon, someone couldn't contain themselves any longer and whispered to the man in the lead, swallowing hard.

His eyes held undisguised malice and evil.

Zhu, the镖头 (bodyguard), looked at it coldly but remained silent.

A moment later, the man scratched his scalp, laughed awkwardly, and retreated.

In fact, when Zhu the镖头 (bodyguard) saw the woman in plain clothes being completely unprepared, his first thought was the same as the man's.

However, his years of experience in escorting goods and his rich life experience made him calm down instantly and consider other possibilities.

This abandoned ancient temple was a resting place that their caravan had discovered by chance a few years ago.

Throughout all these escort missions, no one else had ever discovered this place, and there was no trace of anyone else having been here. Neither he nor his men had ever publicized it.

Therefore, this woman could not have come specifically for them.

But as everyone knows, this is an extremely dangerous world.

There are immortals and demons who look down upon all living beings, and there are monsters that wreak havoc on the earth.

The vast distances between cities and countries, the desolate mountains, and the countless dangers that lie ahead.

Let's not talk about those villains.

For example, those terrifying believers who worship external gods, corrupt monsters who make deals with demons, and the occasional spirit-transformed demons are all threats that are difficult to eradicate.

There are significant risks involved in walking alone outside.

Against this backdrop, women, children, and the elderly are even less likely to go out alone.

Why would this woman dare to do that?

Actually, you can understand this with just a little thought. The brothers aren't stupid, except for that guy who was blinded by lust just now.

Yeah, let's kick him out when we get back.

They were almost in the city. The money he had earned on this trip, plus his previous savings, was enough for him to move out of the outer city and buy a sizable house outside the inner city where land prices were high.

With a little more effort, one can prepare to attempt the Foundation Establishment stage. Once successful, one can join a Taoist academy as a scripture teacher or become a retainer of a noble family.

Whichever path you choose, you'll rise to prominence smoothly and enjoy wealth and honor.

So if possible, he didn't want to cause any unnecessary trouble... That was his original thought.

But after what that person had said, for some reason, Zhu Biaotou's heart began to stir with inexplicable desire, and his lust suddenly swelled.

Zhu, the镖头 (bodyguard), couldn't help but look towards the woman.

Bathed in the firelight, her skin, radiating a warm glow, was as captivating as ivory and precious jade.

Her curvaceous and alluring figure could not be concealed even by her simple and rough clothes.

Her figure reminded one of a ripe peach that matures in March or April, glistening with a few drops of misty dew in the soft morning sunlight, plump and large.

Zhu the镖头's breathing became heavier.

This woman is so alluring, she's almost intoxicating. She's not much different from the legendary, unattainable fairy maidens of the Purple Cloud Palace, who can only be approached by high-ranking officials and nobles.

Zhu, the镖头 (bodyguard), secretly took out a Bagua palm mirror from his waist and looked it at the woman. After a moment, the image in the mirror remained unchanged, and he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

This is a demon-revealing mirror that he bought at great expense. It is a high-grade talisman. Although the quality is not high, it can provide timely warnings to demons unless they are at least at the Foundation Establishment stage.

This place is only a few hundred miles from the inner city of Luodu. For them, it will only take a few days. Tomorrow they will be able to see the city wall and the Heavenly Palace that stand against the sky. It can already be considered to be under the feet of the Holy Emperor of Dali.

Furthermore, with the powerful and influential Grand Master in charge, and the inspectors of the Celestial Surveillance Bureau under his command patrolling day and night to eliminate evil spirits within the territory of Luodu.

Not to mention demons and monsters above the Foundation Establishment stage, there are almost none even at the Foundation Establishment stage.

At most, they are just some unrefined mountain spirits.

After much deliberation.

Finally, perhaps unable to control his desires, or perhaps having abstained from meat for too long, Zhu the镖头 (bodyguard) decided to cause trouble.

He stood up abruptly and walked towards the woman.

The men around them exchanged glances, some uneasy, some delighted.

Deep within their eyes, there was always a hint of excitement and violence, and no one dared to stop them.

If the boss wants to eat meat, then the brothers who follow him can at least get some soup, right?

"Girl? Girl? Wake up..."

Zhu, the镖头 (bodyguard), kept a distance from the other party, then called out softly and tentatively.