I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 158 Lingxi Jade

why me?
Chen Ming was puzzled. Was it because his temperament was too outstanding?

He had been very low-key; he hadn't said a word since the peony-loving girl appeared, yet she still took a liking to him at first sight.

Or perhaps, like Yu Haitang, she has ulterior motives towards me...

Whatever the reason, he's now in a very difficult situation.

He can't afford to offend either Qin Changyuan or Pan Dingqian right now.

Just as he was thinking about how to refuse, Pan Dingqian next to him burst into laughter, "Hahaha... Brother, you're really lucky with women. What are you still standing there for? Since this is Miss Peony's rule, I'm sure Qin Xiaosan won't do anything to spoil the mood."

Qin Changyuan's expression was not good, and a fierce glint flashed in his eyes. In the end, he held back and drank the wine in his glass in one gulp. "Let's go."

They left with their people.

Pan Dingqian laughed even more heartily, "Hurry up and go, don't keep Miss Peony waiting."

What could Chen Ming do? Under the envious gazes of others, he could only drink the wine on the tray and then follow the maid into the room.

"Please bathe and change your clothes, young master."

He was escorted by several young and beautiful maids to the inner room, where a large wooden tub was placed, already filled with water, which was still warm to the touch.

come all come...

Thinking of this famous saying, Chen Ming let the maids undress him and then soaked in the wooden tub for a comfortable bath.

After washing, change into a clean set of new clothes.

Then, led by the maid, they arrived at a boudoir. As soon as they entered, they smelled a fragrance that was both orchid and musk.

"Please have a seat, sir. The young lady will be here shortly."

The maid asked him to sit at the table, then left and closed the door behind her.

Chen Ming saw several plates of pastries on the table, which looked quite exquisite. He picked one up, took a bite, and found it tasted good, so he ate a few more pieces.

Suddenly, there were footsteps outside the door.

The door creaked open, and Peony Girl, draped in a thin veil, gracefully walked in. Her stunningly beautiful and aloof face, paired with her affectionate eyes, reminded him of a once-popular term from his past life: the ascetic type.

Seemingly abstinent, but actually seductive.

Few men can resist this contrast.

She sat down opposite Chen Ming, gently adjusted the wick of the oil lamp on the table, and parted her red lips slightly, "Do you know why I chose you?"

The confusion in Chen Ming's eyes instantly cleared, and he said, "I don't know."

A strange smile appeared on Peony Girl's lips. "I just want to see what kind of man can become Junior Sister Su's inner demon."

Junior Sister Su?
Chen Ming's mind went blank for a moment, and he suddenly realized where the vague sense of familiarity he felt about this woman came from.

It's Su Zhining.

Both have fair skin and delicate bones, and both possess a cool and aloof temperament.

Their eyes were contrasting: one was clear and innocent, the other gentle and affectionate.

Moreover, one is a naive and innocent disciple of the Heavenly Alliance who acts on behalf of Heaven. The other is a courtesan from a brothel.

No matter how vivid his imagination is, he would never connect these two people.

He swallowed hard. "The Junior Sister Su that you mentioned, could it be... Miss Su from the Heavenly Dao Alliance?"

Seeing his shocked expression, the Peony Girl's smile deepened. "Do you think that I, a courtesan, am unworthy to be the senior sister of the celestial fairy Su, who seems to have descended to earth?"

"Of course not... I just never expected it. How is Miss Su now?"

Chen Ming, of course, wouldn't admit it, and changed the subject.

Since Su Zhining's second defeat at his hands, she has not appeared again. No matter how he summons her, she does not respond.

I don't know where she went.

To be honest, he was still a little worried. Although Su Zhining was strong, she lacked experience in the martial arts world. In Jiangzhou City, where hidden talents were everywhere, it was not impossible for something to happen to her.

Instead of answering, the peony maiden asked a question, "Do you know what the cultivation technique we in the Heavenly Dao Alliance is called?"

Chen Ming shook his head.

He felt inexplicably nervous, sensing that he was about to hear a huge secret.

The Peony Maiden said, "The foundation of the Heavenly Dao Alliance is a technique called the Heavenly Heart Technique. When cultivated to the end, the Heavenly Heart becomes one's own heart, and one walks the Heavenly Dao as a person. Therefore, the name of our sect contains the words 'Heavenly Dao'."

"To master the Heavenly Heart Technique, one must possess a flawless and sincere heart. However, this technique has a major hurdle: even with secluded and arduous practice, one can never reach the third rank. This is because it cultivates the heart."

“Therefore, once a disciple of the Heavenly Dao Alliance reaches the fourth rank, he must enter the mortal world to temper his heart.” As she said this, the smile on her face became complicated. “Since you have been in contact with Junior Sister Su, you naturally know that she is simple and kind, and sometimes even a little foolish.”

Chen Ming remained silent; he couldn't very well speak of his junior sister like that in front of her.

The peony maiden continued, “Since ancient times, the purer something is, the easier it is to be corrupted. In this mortal world, how easy is it to maintain a pure and innocent heart? Once one’s Dao heart is clouded, one is naturally not qualified to inherit the Dao lineage of the Heavenly Dao Alliance.”

Upon hearing this, Chen Ming suddenly realized what was going on.

Therefore, this Peony Girl's Daoist heart was corrupted during her training trip, which is why she has become like this.

No wonder the disciples of the Heavenly Dao Alliance always have to go out for training. They were assassinated so many times three hundred years ago, yet they still haven't changed. It turns out they have a compelling reason to go out for training.

He finally understood the Heavenly Dao Alliance's disciple training mechanism: after reaching the fourth rank, disciples were sent out for training. Those who failed, like the Peony Girl, became peripheral forces.

Only those who successfully complete the training can become core disciples.

Su Zhining's master asked her to follow him, which should also be a kind of training.

and many more……

Chen Ming suddenly remembered something and quickly asked, "What did you mean when you said that I've become Miss Su's inner demon?"

Seeing that he had finally realized what was going on, Peony Girl laughed, "That's exactly what I mean. If she can't figure it out herself, she'll end up like me."

Same as you?
Would she be so foolish as to become a courtesan in a brothel?
The girl, Peony, seemed to have guessed his thoughts from his eyes. Her smile vanished, and her eyes narrowed slightly. "You look down on prostitutes?"

Chen Ming felt a chill run down his spine and said seriously, "Of course not. In this world, everyone is equal in terms of human dignity; they just have different roles. Many prostitutes end up in this world because of the injustice of fate and because they have no other choice. You can't blame them. Nothing is more important than death; they have no other way to survive."

"A small number of people are driven by vanity and choose this profession voluntarily. That's understandable. Everyone has the right to choose their own profession, as long as they don't do anything immoral."

After hearing his words, the Peony Girl remained silent for a long time.

Chen Ming felt somewhat uneasy, as he couldn't sense any cultivation level from the peony-like girl. Either she was truly an ordinary person, or her strength far surpassed his.

He felt it was most likely the latter.

She herself has admitted that her Daoist heart has been clouded, so who knows if she might suddenly go mad and violently attack people.

It's better to be careful.

After a long while, the Peony Girl's gaze softened. "No wonder Junior Sister Su said you often have surprising remarks. Just because of what you just said, I want to give you a chance."

"this--"

Isn't that unnecessary?
Before he could finish speaking, Chen Ming found himself unable to move or utter a word.

This feeling was exactly the same as when I was subdued by Senior Shang at the Zhenhai Prince's Mansion.

Holy crap, what level of cultivation does she have?
Then the Peony Maiden said, "Junior Sister Su's talent is extremely rare even in our sect. Since joining, she has never been defeated. Among those of the same cultivation level, no one is her match, which has forged an invincible heart. Who would have thought that she would be defeated by you twice, just when she was at the most critical juncture of breaking through to the third rank? That's when her inner demons were born."

"Getting rid of this inner demon isn't difficult. Just make her kill you, and this calamity will be resolved. Are you willing to grant Junior Sister Su's wish and die for her?"

Of course not, no way.

Chen Ming couldn't speak, but could only open his eyes wide, revealing his emotions through his gaze.

The peony maiden continued, "I imagine you are naturally unwilling. However, Junior Sister Su is the most valued disciple of our sect by the Alliance Leader. Even if you are unwilling, the only option left is for you to die."

Chen Ming then realized why she had chosen him; it was to save Su Zhining.

Then what am I?
Did they come to us willingly?

She changed the subject, "However, this is a last resort. If she cannot defeat you with her own abilities, her Dao heart will not be able to be perfected and cleared, and will ultimately be flawed."

As they were talking, Chen Ming was led to the inner room and soon saw Su Zhining sitting cross-legged on the bed. It was obvious to the naked eye that something was wrong with her.

The mosquito net on the bed moved without any wind, and red veins rose from beneath the skin of her face. The qi around her body rose and fell with her breath, threatening to go out of control at any moment.

The scene startled him.

What Peony said was absolutely true; Su Zhining's condition was already quite precarious.

The peony maiden said, "There is another way to save her. Would you be willing to try?"

Can I say no?
Chen Ming was helpless. He couldn't even move a finger, and he couldn't use the sword jade containing the intent of the Shang Jian Flying Sword within his body.

He was placed on the bed against his will, sitting about a meter away from Su Zhining.

The peony maiden said, "As the saying goes, the one who tied the knot must untie it. Her inner demons were caused by you, and only you can untie them."

As she spoke, she took out two jade pendants from her bosom, gently stroking them, her face full of reluctance.

Finally, she placed the two jade pendants on Chen Ming and Su Zhining's foreheads respectively, saying, "These two jade pendants are Spirit Rhinoceros Jade, which can make you two feel connected. What you need to do is find a way to eliminate her inner demons..."

Chen Ming felt that her voice had become unreal...

(End of this chapter)