Courtyard House: A System Connecting Two Worlds, Resources for the Nation

Standing in front of the carriage, Duan Yu opened his mouth and then closed it again, his ears already bright red.

Since leaving the Wuliang Sword Sect, he has experienced quite a lot.

If it were a conversation between the two of them, he could pour out all these new things and chat with the acting leader of the Xiaoyao Sect.

But now, with so many people in front of him, Zhao Pan'er's clear voice came from the carriage, and all the words he had prepared in his mind were instantly forgotten.

"Young Master Duan?"

Zhao Pan'er asked again.

Duan Yu then came to his senses and hurriedly cupped his hands towards the carriage: "Sect Leader Zhao, I... ah... I... I just wanted to ask... to inquire about your well-being, there's nothing... nothing urgent!"

Seeing Duan Yu's disgraceful behavior towards the people in the carriage in front of him, the person standing behind him, also wearing a dark green cloak, couldn't hold back any longer.

She suddenly threw off her cloak, revealing her face covered by a veil.

Although the veil covered half of her face, the barely concealed anger in her eyes was still very obvious.

Although her interactions with Duan Yu along the way didn't lead her to fall in love with him, she was still quite annoyed to see him stammering and distracted around other women.

"Duan Yu! Didn't you say you were coming with me to rescue Zhong Ling? How come you've completely forgotten about our mission now that you see this so-called acting sect leader in that car? Just how many 'good sisters' are you hiding in your heart?"

"give up!"

Tie Jianguo, who was still sitting in the carriage seat, raised the gun in his hand, and Duan Yu's face turned pale instantly.

He turned around abruptly, lowering his voice: "Miss Mu! Be careful what you say! The acting leader of the Xiaoyao Sect is inside this carriage; you must not offend him!"

"What kind of carefree sect is this? I've never heard of it!"

Seeing Duan Yu's nervous expression, Mu Wanqing not only didn't restrain herself, but instead stubbornly raised her chin: "You men, you can't resist a pretty woman. I've seen plenty of that in the martial world; this kind of woman is hardly respectable!"

Tie Jianguo gently loosened his grip on the reins and clicked the gun in his hand.

He knew how much his leader cared about these women, especially Zhao Pan'er, who was the legitimate Empress of the Song Dynasty in the world of Dream of Splendor!

If this were moved to this world, Mu Wanqing would have to bow and kowtow three times and nine times to the other person!

"Sister Mu, how can you say that about Sister Zhao? Isn't she some kind of improper woman?"

The carriage door was suddenly pushed open, and Zhong Ling's little head popped out.

Upon seeing her, Duan Yu's face immediately lit up with surprise and delight: "Miss Zhong, you were actually saved by Sect Leader Zhao! What a stroke of luck!"

Mu Wanqing also breathed a sigh of relief.

Although she is usually fierce towards Zhong Ling, there is still affection between them, otherwise she wouldn't have followed Duan Yu to rescue people.

But now, seeing Zhong Ling standing on the opposite side of him, just like Duan Yu, speaking up for that acting leader of the Xiaoyao Sect, her anger grew stronger and stronger.

"How long have you been wandering the martial world? How would you know how dangerous it is? Get down and come back with me! What if you get kidnapped? How will your family find you?"

Hearing Mu Wanqing's words, Zhong Ling shook her head vigorously: "I'm not going back! I want to adventure in the martial world with Brother Zhou and Sister Zhao!"

If she had joined Zhou Feng's team before because she was intimidated and forced by Zhao Pan'er, then now there was no trace of embarrassment on her face.

This carriage is so comfortable, even more comfortable than my soft bed at home!

The snacks that Sister Zhao and the others gave us were so delicious! They were the kind of treats Ling'er hadn't had in over a decade!

There were also noodles that could be cooked with just a little hot water, shrimp that were bigger than her head and appeared out of nowhere, and beef with a milky aroma...

Zhong Ling wished she could stay with Zhou Feng and the others for the rest of her life!

Anyway, Brother Zhou is highly skilled in martial arts, so there shouldn't be any danger if I follow them!

Seeing that Zhong Ling had rejected her again, Mu Wanqing was getting embarrassed. She took a few steps forward and said coldly, "Zhong Ling, if you don't come over here, don't blame me for telling your parents that you've been kidnapped by some damn Xiaoyao Sect. They'll come looking for you!"

"Sister Mu, I..."

Before Zhong Ling could finish speaking, a hand pressed down on her head and pushed her back into the carriage.

Zhou Feng sighed softly and walked out.

He was still inside looking at the I Ching analysis, but Mu Wanqing's endless provocations made him feel like he was just asking for trouble if he didn't step forward.

Although the other party was referring to Zhao Pan'er, Zhao Pan'er currently only knows the Lingbo Weibu (a martial arts technique) and has no experience in actual combat with others, so it is most appropriate for Zhou Feng to take over.

Bai Ling also pulled out the pistol from her waist.

If Zhou Feng is soft-hearted and can't bring himself to harm the other party, she will directly teach that woman a lesson!

Although Zhao Pan'er and she belong to two different worlds, and their younger sister is naturally divided into two camps, if the other party humiliates Zhao Pan'er, it is humiliating all the women in Zhou Feng's backyard, and she will not stand idly by!

"Does Miss Mu have a grudge against my Xiaoyao Sect? Why do you repeatedly utter hurtful words?"

The moment Zhou Feng stepped out of the carriage, he activated his Lingbo Weibu technique at full power, and his whole body seemed to be carried by the wind as he walked in an arc.

His white robe billowed like clouds in the sunlight, and when it landed on the ground, he stood exactly three feet in front of Mu Wanqing.

Duan Yu, standing to the side, widened his eyes in astonishment and muttered to himself, "This...this is actually the Lingbo Weibu? Brother Zhou truly is a direct disciple of the Xiaoyao Sect, to have mastered the Lingbo Weibu to such a high level in such a short time!"

When Mu Wanqing saw that there was another person in front of her, she was a little nervous, but not afraid at all.

She snorted coldly, placed her right hand on the hilt of her sword, and glanced at Zhou Feng from head to toe: "What? I spoke a few words of truth, and your Xiaoyao Sect gets angry and embarrassed?"

Zhou Feng's expression remained unchanged as he looked indifferently at Mu Wanqing: "Whether it's the truth or not, you know in your heart. If you don't give me an explanation today, please forgive my rudeness."

"offend?"

Mu Wanqing curled her lip in disdain. She was the type of person who would respond better to gentle persuasion than force, and now that Zhou Feng was directly questioning her to her face, it only made her more stubborn!

Although she knew in her heart that what she said might have gone too far, the conversation had reached a heated point, and in a moment of anger, she sneered, "I'm telling the truth! As a woman, riding in the same carriage with a man, behaving without any restraint, and even abducting Zhong Ling, you..."

Before she could finish speaking, Zhou Feng suddenly moved.

Noticing Zhou Feng's action, Mu Wanqing's pupils suddenly contracted.

She could only notice that the other person's robes swayed, and their speed was faster than any light-footed skill she had ever seen!

In the blink of an eye, her right hand, which had just touched the hilt of the sword and had not yet drawn it, was grasped by a warm hand.

The force from that palm wasn't great, but the moment it touched her wrist's Neiguan acupoint, it trapped her in place, making her unable to move.

A warm, suction-like force emanated from the hand that was holding her, flowing along her meridians and continuously drawing away her internal energy.

Mu Wanqing instinctively tried to use her internal energy to resist, but she found that the more she used her internal energy, the faster it was absorbed.

In less than a minute, the internal energy she had painstakingly cultivated for over a decade surged into the hand that was holding him, like water released from a dam.

Helpless, she lost more and more strength, and her hand holding the sword began to go numb, causing the sword to fall from her hand.

"You...you are a star..."

Mu Wanqing's voice trembled, and the shock in her eyes was palpable.

"I told you, I'm a disciple of the Free and Unfettered Sect, and I have absolutely no connection with the Starry Sky Immortal!"

Zhou Feng retorted irritably, explaining that using the Northern Darkness Divine Art outside had its downsides, as it would always be mistaken by others as a disciple of the Starry Constellation Sect.

He wouldn't even bother pretending to be a heartless ingrate like Ding Chunqiu, who played with his master's wife and killed his master.

Noticing Mu Wanqing's horrified gaze and Zhou Feng's actions, Duan Yu could easily guess what kind of technique he was using.

But the Northern Darkness Divine Art and the Lingbo Steps were clearly taught to Zhao Pan'er by him, so how did Zhou Feng learn them so quickly?

"Brother Zhou! Brother Zhou, please have mercy! Although Miss Mu's words were a bit harsh, she's just straightforward and didn't mean to offend us!"

Seeing Mu Wanqing with her pulse point held, Duan Yu naturally knew that she had been absorbed by the Beiming Divine Art, but he dared not say whether his unreliable Beiming Divine Art could affect Zhou Feng!

Therefore, instead of confronting Zhou Feng, he chose to plead for leniency, which might be a more reliable approach.

Zhong Ling, peeking her head out of the carriage, immediately saw Mu Wanqing's appearance and instantly thought of the Shennong Gang members. She quickly jumped down, ran over, tugged at Zhou Feng's sleeve, and cried out anxiously, "Brother Zhou, Sister Mu is my sister! She just speaks harshly, but she doesn't mean any harm. Besides, she came with Brother Duan to rescue me! Please, please let her go!"

Seeing the pleading look in the little girl's eyes, Zhou Feng sighed softly, rubbed her head with his other hand, and then let go with a cold snort.

At this moment, Mu Wanqing had lost all her previous stubbornness; her eyes were filled with fear and unease.

After Zhou Feng released her grip, Mu Wanqing staggered back a few steps, barely managing to stand by holding onto a tree trunk by the roadside.

Her gaze swept over her right wrist, where there was still a mark left from Zhou Feng's grip.

But none of that matters. What matters is that she has cultivated her inner strength for more than ten years, and now only two-tenths of it remains.

The entire dantian felt empty, as if it had been hollowed out!

The weakness in her body made it difficult for Mu Wanqing to even stand. She looked up at Zhou Feng and her lips moved a few times.

She still wanted to say something harsh, but she was only alive because of Duan Yu and Zhong Ling's pleas. What right did she have to speak?

After stammering for a long time, he finally managed to stammer out, "Who...who exactly are you people?"

"Didn't I say they were members of the Free and Unfettered Sect?"

Zhou Feng didn't even turn his head, and slowly walked towards the carriage.

As he boarded the vehicle, he paused slightly, turned his head, and added, "Miss Mu, arrogance is outdated. Today, I, Zhou, will teach you a lesson: in this world, words can bring disaster. When your martial arts skills are inferior, you must learn humility and silence, or you won't even know how you died!"

Zhou Feng's tone was very calm, but the killing intent contained within it made Mu Wanqing tremble involuntarily, and the hairs on her body stood on end.

Although Zhou Feng had only recently acquired martial arts skills and had not yet mastered them, the aura he had cultivated while holding a high position in the Dream of Splendor world, coupled with the many lives he had taken during his power grab, was something that a small-time martial artist like Mu Wanqing could not withstand.

Zhong Ling sighed softly, ran to Mu Wanqing's side, took her hand, and supported her arm.

"Sister Mu, you...sigh—Brother Zhou and Sister Zhao, they are actually very, very good people. Why did you say such things? But what he did to you did seem a bit too harsh...consider it punishment for your careless words! Don't be angry with them!"

Looking at the innocent expression on Zhong Ling's face, Mu Wanqing gave a bitter laugh.

Is this just a somewhat severe punishment?

After more than ten years of hard work cultivating his inner strength, only two-tenths remain!

I'm still angry with them...

She doesn't deserve that!

Zhong Ling was unaware of the changes in Mu Wanqing. She only saw that Brother Zhou, who used to wipe out entire families at the drop of a hat, spared Mu Wanqing's life because of her pleading, so she instinctively felt that he had shown mercy.

Of course, Zhou Feng did indeed show mercy; otherwise, draining Mu Wanqing dry would have been just a side effect.

After a long silence, Mu Wanqing sighed and said, "I...I understand."

What's done is done, what can she do now?

That proud demeanor of his had long since vanished.

Just as Zhong Ling was about to help him sit down to rest, the sound of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from ahead on the mountain road, followed by a hoarse and menacing shout: "Quickly chase after them! That brat and that bitch must be up ahead!"

The next second, four or five figures on horseback emerged from around the bend in the mountain path, each dressed in black and carrying weapons.

Leading the group were two old women, each holding a short knife.

There was a person on each of their left and right sides, one of whom was an old man with a white beard, holding an iron shovel horizontally in his hand.

The man on the right was a young man holding a long sword.

"That damn little bitch, we finally caught her!"

The old woman at the head of the group revealed a sinister smile.

Mu Wanqing, still leaning against the tree, didn't even reply. She raised her hand and, with a "whoosh," activated the mechanism attached to her wrist, shooting out a short arrow!

The swordsman was quick-witted and agile; he stepped directly in front of the old woman and deflected the short arrow.

"How dare you be so insolent! Leave that little bitch to me, you all go and kill the others!"