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After watching Shi Feixuan leave, Yi Huawei turned to Shan Wanjing and said, "Let's go find a place to rest."

"Yes, Master."

Shan Wanjing quickly responded and followed her, leaping onto the shore. Only when her feet were firmly on the ground did she seem to fully come back to her senses, though her heart was still pounding with excitement.

Instead of choosing the large inns located near bustling streets, Yi Huawei led Shan Wanjing through several relatively quiet cobblestone alleyways.

Although Luoyang has suffered from war, its cultural heritage remains. Even in this secluded place, one can glimpse the former prosperity through the high walls, deep courtyards, and the occasional passing carriages. However, after nightfall, few pedestrians are seen, with only the scattered lights from the courtyards on both sides and the gradually brightening cold moon illuminating their path.

Finally, the two stopped in front of an inn called "Yunlai".

The inn's facade was unassuming, with black tiles and white walls, and two dim lanterns hanging in front of the door, bearing the inn's name. The lintel was slightly worn, but it was clean and tidy, giving it a rather tranquil feel.

Yi Huawei pushed open the slightly ajar elm door, the hinges creaking softly. Behind the counter, an elderly shopkeeper wearing a melon-shaped hat, who was keeping accounts with an abacus, looked up at the sound. Seeing the guests, he greeted them with a friendly, prosperous smile: "Gentlemen, are you here for a meal or to stay the night?"

"Check in. Two superior rooms."

Yi Huawei's words were concise and to the point.

"okay!"

The old innkeeper put down his abacus and opened his ledger: "There are two adjacent superior rooms left, quiet and bright. May I ask how many days you will stay, sir?"

"Stay for one night."

Shan Wanjing glanced at her master and put down a small piece of silver: "Prepare some hot water and send it to the room."

"No problem! I'll definitely make you both satisfied!"

The old shopkeeper took the silver, his smile widening, and quickly summoned a clever young shop assistant, about fourteen or fifteen years old:
"Shuanzi, quick, take these two distinguished guests to rooms number three and four! And immediately have the kitchen staff boil two large buckets of hot water and send them up!"

The waiter eagerly led the two through a small courtyard.

An old locust tree grows in the courtyard, and beneath it is a stone vat with several fish swimming in it. Moonlight filters through the gaps in the locust tree's branches and leaves, leaving dappled spots of light on the ground.

Upon reaching the second floor, the corridor was clean, and the floorboards creaked slightly, which only added to the tranquility.

Shuanzi deftly opened the doors to the two adjacent rooms: "Esteemed guests, this is the place. Please feel free to ask if you need anything!"

After saying that, he quickly went downstairs to prepare hot water.

Yi Huawei stood under the corridor and said to Shan Wanjing, "Don't dwell on today's events. Focus on consolidating your gains."

He was referring to the state she still needed to stabilize after absorbing the essence of the Evil Emperor's relic.

Shan Wanjing nodded: "Disciple understands. Master..."

She seemed to want to say something, such as about Shi Feixuan, about that discussion, about the future, but when the words reached her lips, she felt overwhelmed and didn't know where to begin. In the end, she only said softly, "Master, you should rest early too."

Yi Huawei glanced at her, seemingly able to see through the turmoil in her mind, and simply said, "The road must be taken one step at a time. Rest in peace."

After saying that, he turned around, pushed open the door, and entered room number three.

Shan Wanjing stood on the corridor, staring blankly at her master's closed door for a moment. A night breeze swept through the corridor, bringing a touch of coolness and calming her chaotic thoughts. She took a deep breath, pushed open the door to her room, and went inside.

As the old innkeeper had described, the room was indeed quite spacious and clean. It contained a bed, a table, a chair, and a cabinet—simple furnishings, but the bed was clean, the table was dust-free, and the window paper was adorned with brand-new paper-cut decorations. On the table sat an oil lamp, its flame small and steady, casting a soft glow.

I walked to the window, pushed open the wooden pane, and a cool, night-like breeze rushed into the room. Outside the window was the inn's backyard, where I could see the dark rooftops and the blurry shadows of trees in the distance. In the night sky, the Milky Way gradually appeared.

Soon, the young waiter and another servant carried up two large buckets of steaming hot water and poured them into the bathtub behind the screen. The steam filled the room, bringing a comfortable warmth.

"Please enjoy your meal, sir. Just ring the bell behind the door if you need anything." The waiter put down the bucket, respectfully withdrew, and closed the door behind him.

Shan Wanjing bolted the door, walked behind the screen, and tested the water temperature with her fingers—it was just right. She loosened her hair, letting it fall freely, and slowly removed her clothes, which were stained with dust and sweat. Immersing herself in the warm water, a feeling of comfort instantly enveloped her entire body, making her let out a satisfied sigh.

The hot water seemed to wash away the weariness and tension of the past few days, as well as the various mental shocks she had experienced today. Shan Wanjing leaned against the tub, closed her eyes, and the figure and words of her master Yi Huawei, Shi Feixuan's questioning and contemplation, the small boat on the Luo River, that desolate poem... all these scenes floated into her mind.

In particular, her master's discourse on "the world belongs to all people" and "going with the flow" kept echoing in her mind. She found that her understanding of her master seemed to have deepened, which was not only about his unparalleled martial arts skills and superior wisdom, but also about his incomparably grand vision and broad mind.

As she pondered, her thoughts drifted away, her cheeks flushing slightly from the steam, whether from the water's temperature or from some quietly brewing emotion within her that she herself couldn't quite grasp. She remained immersed in the water until it gradually cooled, at which point she suddenly realized what was happening.

As the night deepens, everything becomes silent.

...............

The next morning, the sky was slightly bright.

Shan Wanjing had already woken up and finished washing up in her room, changing into a light blue martial arts outfit. The fabric was the finest Jiangnan silk, tailored to fit her body, showing off her exquisite figure while maintaining the agility of a martial artist. Over this, she wore a moon-white gauze robe, the cuffs and collar embroidered with delicate Dongming School wave patterns in silver thread, which shimmered softly with her movements. Her ink-black hair was loosely tied up with a jade hairpin, with a few strands hanging down her neck, further highlighting her snow-white skin and exquisite features.

After a thorough night of meditation, Shan Wanjing felt refreshed and her eyes shone brightly. Her surging internal energy flowed freely, indicating that she had initially stabilized the essence of the Evil Emperor's Relic. After finishing her toilette, Shan Wanjing quietly approached the door of the adjacent room, number three in the Heavenly tier. Listening intently, she heard deep, steady breathing inside; her master was clearly still sound asleep. Not daring to disturb her, she softly said from outside the door, "Master, this disciple will go downstairs now."

There was no response from inside the room, only the sound of even breathing. Shan Wanjing knew that her master's cultivation was profound, having long since reached the realm of complete control; when she slept, she was truly asleep, but would be awakened by any disturbance from the outside world. Her tranquility indicated that she was extremely at ease with her surroundings. She smiled slightly, turned, and gracefully went downstairs.

The inn's lobby was quite quiet in the early morning. Only two early-rising merchants sat in a corner, talking quietly, while the waiter, Shuanzi, was yawning on the counter. Seeing Shan Wanjing come downstairs, he quickly stood up straight, forcing a smile: "Miss, you're up very early. Breakfast is ready. Shall I bring it to your room?"

"Let's eat in the lobby, something light is fine."

Shan Wanjing nodded and chose a relatively clean-looking table by the window to sit down.

"Please wait!"

Shuanzi responded and quickly walked towards the kitchen.

Just then, an indescribable, subtle feeling, like tiny ice spikes, quietly pierced Shan Wanjing's heart.

It wasn't a sound, nor a smell, but rather an intuition purely stemming from murderous intent. It was difficult to pinpoint exactly what she sensed; her heart suddenly tightened, as if she were being quietly enveloped by an invisible yet cold and sticky net, causing ripples to spread across Shan Wanjing's calm and undisturbed mental state.

Almost instinctively, Shan Wanjing's spirit suddenly surged to an unprecedented limit! The vast true energy within her body instantly filled her eight extraordinary meridians, circulating endlessly.

In an instant, the entire hall, as she perceived it, became "bright"!
It wasn't that someone lit the lamps; rather, with her inner energy fully activated, her senses were heightened exponentially. As her gaze swept across the scene, the fine wood grain on the beams and pillars, the remaining dust and debris on the ground after sweeping, and even the tiny specks of moisture floating in the air, all became crystal clear to her. The entire world became incredibly "clear and exquisite." This was the astonishing transformation in her spiritual perception and power brought about by completely refining and absorbing the essence of the Evil Emperor's Relic!

The sense of danger vanished in an instant, disappearing like a ghost, and the lobby seemed to return to its previous calm, with no trace of unease. However, Shan Wanjing dared not relax for a moment. Her eyes, sharp as an eagle's, scanned the floor, beams, and corners rapidly and meticulously.

With a slight frown, Shan Wanjing's gaze settled on the wooden floor not far in front of her. There, a tiny, extremely faint water stain, almost indistinguishable from dust, was almost impossible for her to spot without her enhanced eyesight. This stain... could not have been left by the innkeeper's cleaning; it looked more like a trace of dew brought in from the sole of a night traveler's boots from outside the window!
Just as her mind focused on that trace—

A blurry black shadow, like a ghost blending into the light and shadow, suddenly burst forth from the shadows of the roof beams overhead without warning! Its movement was as fast as a black lightning bolt tearing through the air, yet strangely, it barely made a sound.

Although Shan Wanjing was already on guard, the timing and movement of the assassin were too cunning and unpredictable! She was only just realizing that someone was attacking her when she was instantly caught in a strange vortex of energy that was almost irresistible.

The surrounding air seemed to be distorted by a strange force field—hundreds of tiny yet powerful forces, some pulling forward violently, others pressing down like mountains, interspersed with several cunning and ruthless lateral pulling and rotating forces. These various forces combined and intertwined, forming a vortex of true energy powerful enough to shatter an ordinary expert, making her feel as if she had fallen into the center of a raging whirlpool in the ocean, unable to control herself, her body instantly frozen in place!
Fortunately, she sensed the danger beforehand and had already gathered her inner energy. Otherwise, under the sudden attack of this strange force field, she would probably have lost her footing, staggered, and been at the mercy of others.

"Who are you, you cowardly rat! How dare you launch a sneak attack!"

In a flash, Shan Wanjing remained calm under pressure, letting out a chilling shout! Without thinking, she drew the fine steel short sword she always carried. This short sword was about twelve inches long, its blade gleaming with a cold, autumn-water-like light, clearly no ordinary weapon.

Faced with this overwhelming and eerie force and killing intent, Shan Wanjing did not retreat but advanced. With a twist of her slender waist, she slightly parted her feet into a bow stance, instantly settling firmly on the ground. At the same time, the immense Northern Darkness True Qi within her body erupted, rapidly circulating along a mysterious path. The short sword in her hand burst forth with dazzling light, gathering all her power, and thrust out with lightning speed!

This sword strike, straightforward and without any fancy moves, embodies the essence of speed, accuracy, and ruthlessness, and contains a vast and pure artistic conception. It is the essence of swordsmanship that Yi Huawei taught her based on her characteristics: to control complexity with simplicity and to overcome skill with force!
As she drew her sword, Shan Wanjing's sharp, sword-like gaze pierced through the interference of the distorted force field, aiming at and looking at the person approaching.

For a moment, due to the opponent's excessive speed and unpredictable movements, only a blurry black shadow could be seen, like a ghost without substance, merging with the distorted light.

At the very center of this blurry black shadow, a chilling and extremely sharp sword light was expanding rapidly before her eyes!

A sharp, invincible sword aura, seemingly capable of piercing through everything, had already penetrated through the sword's edge, its icy coldness locking onto her vital point between her brows!

Before the sword energy even arrived, the chilling aura made her stop breathing abruptly. Her entire body felt as if it were being pierced by countless fine ice needles, or as if sharp blades were touching her body, causing her waves of tearing pain!
The attackers are definitely top-tier assassins! Their strength far surpasses that of any enemy they have encountered before!

However, Shan Wanjing is no longer the same person she once was! Under Yi Huawei's careful tutelage over the past few months, her swordsmanship, internal strength, and knowledge have been completely transformed. In addition, she has begun to integrate the massive primordial essence of the Evil Emperor's Relic last night, and her power has increased by more than double.
Faced with this deadly strike that could kill even the most skilled martial artists, her mind raced, and in the nick of time, she determined the weakest point in her opponent's sword energy field! With a subtle tremor of her wrist, the tip of her thrusting short sword drew a tiny yet incredibly precise arc. Her Northern Darkness True Qi surged forth like a tide, not through direct confrontation, but through a technique of "disengagement," precisely striking the flank of that point of her opponent's sword light!

"Ding--!"

A crisp yet extremely brief sound of metal clashing rang out, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, but it was quickly swallowed up by the surging energy of the two people.

Dan Wanjing felt a slight numbness in her arm. The strange spiraling force contained in the opponent's sword energy had attempted to penetrate her meridians, but it was immediately neutralized by the more powerful and pure Northern Darkness True Qi within her body. The immense force transmitted from the tip of her sword caused the dark figure to pause noticeably, clearly indicating that the opponent had not expected her skill to be so profound and her reaction to be so swift and precise!
Missing its first strike, the dark figure retreated like a ghost, attempting to blend back into the shadows and seek another opportunity. Its movements were unpredictable, seemingly ignoring inertia, switching freely between extreme motion and stillness, leaving behind a trail of afterimages that were both real and illusory.

But would Shan Wanjing give him another chance to hide away?

"Want to leave? Stay!"

With a sharp shout, Shan Wanjing pressed her advantage, lightly touching the ground with her toes, and pounced forward like a shadow. The short sword in her hand shone even brighter, transforming into a series of sword shadows as dense as flowing water, yet carrying a sharp gust of wind, spreading like mercury across the ground, enveloping the dark figure relentlessly.

What she was using at this moment was not only the swordsmanship of the Dongming School, but also had more of the agility and grandeur of the sword principles passed down by Yi Huawei, and even a hint of the insightful and direct approach of the "Cihang Sword Manual".

The shadowy assassin was clearly taken aback! He was confident in his unparalleled Illusionary Demon Movement Technique and his uncanny Phantom Swordplay, combined with his Black Hand Demonic Art capable of creating a field of true energy. He believed that even a seasoned master would be unable to escape death in a surprise attack. But he never expected that this seemingly delicate young girl not only possessed unbelievably profound inner strength, far exceeding the limits of her age, but also had exquisite and profound swordsmanship. She could see through the feints and realities in his movements and power at a glance, always striking first and attacking the very points he was about to defend!
The two figures clashed rapidly in the hall, swords flashing and energy surging. The shadowy assassin's swordsmanship was ghostly; each strike came from an unbelievable angle, creating numerous afterimages that deceived the eye and mind. This was accompanied by a dark, demonic art that could twist and manipulate the opponent's energy, making it incredibly unpredictable. Often, a single thrust seemed aimed directly at the center, but in reality, it concealed seven or eight follow-up variations; seemingly targeting the upper body, its sharp energy subtly attacked the lower body. An ordinary expert caught in such an offensive would likely be overwhelmed, misled by the illusions, and ultimately killed by the silent, deadly strike.

However, Shan Wanjing displayed astonishing adaptability and combat talent. In the first few moves, she was still somewhat inexperienced, mainly relying on her powerful internal energy, far exceeding her opponent's expectations, to forcefully deflect and parry her opponent's cunning and vicious sword moves. But after a few moves, she gradually became familiar with her opponent's strange sword techniques and movement patterns, and her responses became increasingly composed.

Dan Wanjing's eyes were clear and bright, her mind highly focused. The spiritual awareness brought by the "Longevity Technique" and the nascent sword-heart clarity of the "Compassionate Sword Canon" allowed her to gradually see through the layers of illusions and directly grasp the essence of her opponent's sword moves. Her movements also became increasingly elusive and agile. Although not as unpredictable as her opponent's, they carried a sense of naturalness and foresight, always managing to evade deadly attacks at the last second and forcing her opponent to retreat and defend with a faster and more concentrated counterattack.

Especially the vast and seemingly inexhaustible true energy within her body; each sword strike carried an overwhelming and unstoppable force, causing the shadowy assassin's wrist to go numb, his blood to surge, and even the smooth operation of his Illusionary Demon Movement Technique to become slightly sluggish. This made him increasingly alarmed as the fight progressed!

In the blink of an eye, ten moves had passed!
The shadowy assassin felt the pressure increase dramatically! The girl's swordplay was becoming increasingly refined and sharp, as if she were using him as practice, her progress visibly rapid! Her pure and powerful sword energy flowed like a mighty river, relentlessly suppressing his unpredictable and ever-changing moves. He could barely use his swordsmanship, because his opponent was completely unaffected by the illusions and could always pinpoint his true location. The distorted force field created by his Black Hand Demonic Art was also greatly diminished by the opponent's extremely pure and powerful true energy.

He felt no longer like a venomous snake lying in ambush, but rather like someone caught in a tightening net of powerful internal energy and exquisite sword techniques! (End of Chapter)