Chapter Seventy-Six: The Hero Among Men

Dawn was just breaking.

In Room Three on the upper floor of Misty Rain Tower, Xia Xinyan slowly awakened.

Her eyes, clear as a lake, shimmered with confusion. She let her gaze wander around the chamber, finally coming to rest on the large bed draped with a red cotton quilt.

A sudden chill swept through Xia Xinyan’s heart. She sat up abruptly from the soft carpet, glancing warily at the bed.

There, sprawled across the mattress, were Yan Yun and Rou’er—two courtesans from Misty Rain Tower. Their jade-like bodies intertwined in careless abandon, the room thick with a strange, lingering scent.

Xia Xinyan’s delicate features flickered with uncertainty. She hurriedly checked her own body, and only after confirming she remained untouched did she breathe a silent sigh of relief.

She recalled her battle with Beiming Shang, the grievous wounds she suffered, and her desperate fall into Jade Moon Lake. She’d only had time to swallow a single Heaven-Mending Pill before she lost consciousness, its effects not spreading quickly enough to save her from sudden weakness as she reached the shore.

Bit by bit, memory returned—she remembered seeing Shi Yan standing by the lakeside. That was her last recollection before everything faded to black.

The next moment, Xia Xinyan felt something on her face. Reaching up, she pulled away a strip of cloth that had been covering her exquisite features—a cloth carrying the mixed scent of sweat. She wrinkled her nose in distaste, her confusion deepening.

What had happened?

She rose, casting a contemplative gaze at the two sleeping women on the bed. After a moment’s thought, she took a plain white handkerchief from her sleeve, covered her face once more, and went to the door. Pushing it open, she called softly, “Is anyone there?”

“Coming!” came the timely response of the madam.

Moments later, the madam who had brought Shi Yan to this very room bustled in with a beaming smile.

Upon entering, the woman glanced nervously at the bed, then suddenly exclaimed, “Oh my, where’s that young master?”

“Young master?” Xia Xinyan’s brows drew together, a strange light flashing in her eyes. “What place is this? Who brought me here?”

“You don’t remember anything, miss?” The madam stared at her, her heavily powdered face twisting with uncertainty. After giving Xia Xinyan a once-over, she suddenly tittered, “Miss, don’t tell me that young master enjoyed himself thoroughly, wiped his mouth, and then left? Ha, I have no idea who that young master is, so don’t come looking for trouble with me.”

Xia Xinyan’s expression turned cold. Her slender hand tapped lightly on the table in the room.

With a crash, the solid wood table shattered instantly, scattering splinters across the floor.

The madam turned ashen and nearly burst into tears, crying out in terror, “It’s not my fault! I didn’t do anything! Please, miss, spare me!”

“I’m asking you: what is this place? Who brought me here?” Xia Xinyan’s eyes brimmed with impatience.

“I’ll tell you everything…” the madam sobbed, recounting the events with a face full of fear, shaking her head repeatedly. “Miss, it really wasn’t my fault! Please forgive me!”

She assumed Xia Xinyan had been defiled by Shi Yan and, fearing for her own safety, pleaded desperately for mercy.

After hearing the tale, Xia Xinyan stood there in a daze, her gaze growing ever stranger.

Who on earth was that man? To bring me to a brothel, and then, with me right beside him, to indulge so brazenly in pleasure—what a lustful demon!

Xia Xinyan had absolute confidence in her own beauty. She had met countless men who coveted her looks and knew all too well the deadly allure she held for them. That was why she always veiled her face—to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Clearly, the man was a lecher, as proven by his bringing her to a brothel. Yet, despite his lasciviousness, he’d only bedded the two common courtesans and left her untouched.

Why?

A flicker of hidden anger flashed through Xia Xinyan’s mind along with her confusion.

Am I somehow less appealing than two brothel girls? Is he blind?

“It wasn’t my fault! Truly, it wasn’t!” the madam continued to wail, sneaking glances at Xia Xinyan. Tentatively, she ventured, “Miss, did that young man… do anything to you?”

Xia Xinyan’s eyes turned icy as she shot the madam a glance.

The madam felt as though plunged into an icy abyss, trembling all over and no longer daring to speak.

Xia Xinyan stood in silence for a while. As dawn broke, she leapt out the window just as Shi Yan had, disappearing from the early morning streets after only a few flickers of her shadow.

The madam stared dumbly after her, breathing a sigh of relief only after a long moment. Musing to herself, she murmured, “All my years as a madam, and I’ve never seen a woman with a figure like that. That young master must have saved an empire in his previous life, to have his way with such a peerless beauty…”

…

The Shi Family, Rocksolid Hall.

Shi Jian was beside himself with rage, roaring, “Find him! Search for him everywhere! Forget the Mo Family for now—everybody, find Shi Yan! If you can’t find him, don’t bother showing yourselves to me!”

Shi Tie, Shi Dang, Han Feng, and the other Shi Family experts hung their heads, faces clouded with gloom.

“Patriarch, it’s my fault. I failed to protect Young Master Yan,” Han Feng said, lowering his head, his eyes dark and vengeful. “The Blood Hand’s medicine only lasts an hour. It should have worn off by now. I’ll have the Blood Hand’s head brought to you.”

“The Blood Hand cannot leave Skyfall City alive!” Shi Jian’s eyes were bloodshot and deadly. “But leave the Blood Hand for now—Shi Yan is our priority! Search everywhere! Even if you have to tear Skyfall City apart, find him! He carries the unique Martial Soul—he won’t die so easily. Search with everything you have!”

“A second Martial Soul?” Shi Tie and Shi Dang were stunned. Only now did they realize the true reason behind Shi Jian’s thunderous fury.

A dual Martial Soul was one in ten thousand—almost every dual Martial Soul cultivator would one day become a hero in their own right!

That was why Beiming Shang had arranged for Yin Kui and Jiu Shan to assist Beiming Ce.

A family member born with a dual Martial Soul was all but destined to become the future leader of the clan, driving it ever forward.

For such a figure to perish suddenly would be a devastating blow to any family.

“Brother, I’ll search for him myself!” Shi Tie, realizing the gravity of the matter, set his jaw and prepared to leave at once.

“Patriarch, Young Master Yan has returned,” Han Zhong suddenly announced, excitement lighting his face. “He’s unharmed and will be here at Rocksolid Hall any moment.”

“Hahaha!” Shi Jian threw his head back in laughter, his stormy visage clearing in an instant. “I knew that boy would be fine! See? He’s back safe and sound!”

Shi Tie and the others exchanged odd glances, silently thinking, Who was it just now, panicking as if he’d lost his own parents?

Soon after, Shi Yan entered Rocksolid Hall with calm composure. Upon arrival, he announced, “Mo Qi and Li Han are dead.”

“You killed them both?” Shi Tie stared at Shi Yan in disbelief. “Li Han was at the Human Rank! How could you have defeated him?”

“During the fight, I suddenly broke through to the Human Rank. After that, it was simple,” Shi Yan replied with a faint smile.

At these words, the Shi experts in the hall all stood frozen, mouths agape, staring at Shi Yan as if he were a marvel.

Shi Jian paused, then suddenly leapt to Shi Yan’s side, seizing his arm and probing his energy. Bursting into laughter once more, he exclaimed, “Heaven has truly favored the Shi family! I knew this boy was made of the right stuff! Seventeen years old, and already at the Human Rank! My painstaking efforts have not been in vain—one day, you’ll be a hero among men!”

“What about Mo Tuo?” Shi Yan pressed.

“Grievously wounded! He used a blood escape technique to flee back to the Mo Family. He won’t recover for three years, at least. He’s probably holed up there like a turtle, too afraid to show his face,” Shi Tie snorted, still frustrated. “If not for those two from the Illusory Pavilion failing to pursue, Mo Tuo wouldn’t have escaped. What a shame we couldn’t finish him off!”

“Still, it’s not a bad outcome. Mo Tuo is crippled, Mo Zhan and Mo Qi are dead, and the Mo Family has lost many of its finest. From today, they’re no longer fit to vie with the Shi Family! Hmph—now’s the time to press our advantage! Father, shall we strike in full force?” Shi Dang suggested.

“Convey my orders! All our outer city experts are to attack the Mo Family’s strongholds at once! In Skyfall City, strike immediately as well—leave their main compound for now, but hit everywhere else, and hit hard!” Shi Jian commanded.

…

The Zuo Family.

In a secret chamber, Chixiao looked haggard, a bitter smile on his lips.

Zuo Xu sipped his tea with a sigh. “Let it go. Who could have guessed that girl possessed the strength of the Heaven Rank? We’ll have to think of another way.”

“That girl’s true cultivation should be at the third level of a hundred tribulations, but her Martial Soul is peculiar. She appears able to draw on the power of her past life, briefly elevating herself to the Heaven Rank. Frightening! We’ve never seen such a Martial Soul here—no wonder the Endless Sea breeds wonders.”

Chixiao’s face was calm but resigned. “If she can instantly ascend to the Heaven Rank, there’s no one in Skyfall City who could easily wrest the map fragment from her. I don’t fear her, but I also don’t wish to risk mutual destruction. If that happened, my identity would be exposed, and that old fox Beiming Shang would surely catch on.”

“Let’s hope the Illusory Pavilion doesn’t realize it was us, or there’ll be real trouble,” Zuo Xu sighed.

“What should we tell the Shi Family?” Chixiao pondered aloud.

“I’ll speak with Shi Jian myself. Once this has blown over, I’ll send people to the Illusory Pavilion to seek cooperation. Alas, since that girl can ascend to the Heaven Rank in an instant, this is our only option.”

“Yes, there’s nothing else for it. Let’s hope she doesn’t hold a grudge against me… Ah, to target such a young girl—I can’t help but feel a little guilty.”

…

PS: Apologies, the third chapter will be uploaded after midnight. Next week is the last week before the book goes on sale, so I must push hard on the rankings. But the next chapter will still count as today’s; as long as we’re on both rankings tomorrow, I’ll deliver three chapters as promised!