Chapter 219: Baihu

Mu Feng was worried that the old bald donkey Jingxu might have accomplices or allies, so he did not dare to be careless and secretly raised his guard.

But after bursting out aboveground, he did not find any of the old bald donkey’s helpers. Instead, he unexpectedly saw Li Niang approaching with several people, calling his name loudly as she walked. Following behind her were some travelers lodging at the inn; even the elderly and frail innkeeper and his wife had actually come along.

“Young Master Mu Feng, are you alright?”

Seeing Mu Feng, Li Niang quickly rushed over, her face full of concern. Her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had been crying recently. “After waiting for half an incense stick’s time at the inn at the foot of the mountain and seeing that you still hadn’t come down, I had to beg them to come up with me to help. Thankfully, you finally came out safely; otherwise, if anything had happened to you, how could I ever face your mother again?”

Perhaps from nervousness, perhaps from climbing desperately, Li Niang was gasping for breath, beads of sweat forming on her forehead, with a few stray strands of hair messily falling over her face. Her originally tidy clothes were torn by tree branches in her haste, faintly revealing a patch of delicate, fair skin. Her figure was full yet slender, her slim waist and high, rounded rear forming a sharp contrast. Her every movement was gentle, soft, carrying an air of a mature woman’s charm. Seen up close, her fair, elastic skin seemed as if it could be squeezed to release moisture with just a light press.

What a watery woman!

After a quick glance, Mu Feng averted his eyes from Li Niang, but suddenly recalled a phrase he had once read in an ancient book: men are like mountains, women are like water. Men may be strong, but they can dissolve in water; women may be soft, so they need the embrace of mountains.

Such a naturally charming, watery woman—no wonder she had mesmerized that young scoundrel Mu Qingyuan!

Remembering that young scoundrel Mu Qingyuan, Mu Feng kept his distance from this watery woman Li Niang and said indifferently, “I’m fine. The evil bald monks in the temple are all dead.”

Mu Feng took off the monk robe he was wearing, wrapped the heavy Black Inscription Heavy Sword in it, and slung it over his back again. Then, without looking back, he strode away.

“Um, Young Master Mu Feng, wait a moment!” Before he had gone far, Li Niang hurriedly pursued him.

Seeing her block his path, Mu Feng had no choice but to stop. He did not speak, remaining silent, only furrowing his brow slightly.

“Young Master Mu Feng, I thought… I thought…”

A hint of shyness appeared on Li Niang’s face. She paused, then gathering her courage, continued, “You are heading to Jiangling Prefecture to study, and I am returning to Jiangling to visit family—we happen to be going the same way. Young Master Mu Feng, could you… let me ride in your carriage with you? This time, if you hadn’t arrived in time, I would have been too ashamed to face anyone. It’s still a long way from here to Jiangling Prefecture, and I’m truly afraid of encountering any more villains on the road.”

Recalling the fate of being locked in the underground cage, Li Niang’s eyes reddened. As she spoke, tears streamed down her face, making her appear pitiable.

Seeing her pitiable, desperate pleading, the innkeeper and the others all looked over. A chubby merchant among the group moved his lips, took a few steps forward, initially intending to straightforwardly offer Li Niang a ride in his carriage. But after hesitating a moment, he swallowed the words he was about to say, fearing it might seem too forward. The group exchanged glances, envying Mu Feng’s luck with women.

“Sorry, it’s not convenient!”

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, Mu Feng coldly rejected her outright. “Men and women should maintain distance, my apologies. The evil monks in the temple have all been killed by me; there won’t be any more danger. Of course, if you’re still worried, you could stay at the inn at the foot of the mountain for a few days, send someone to notify Mu Manor, and have a team of guards escort you home for your visit.”

As soon as the words were spoken, Mu Feng unhesitatingly continued forward, walking swiftly. Soon, he disappeared into the thick night, carrying the heavy sword on his back.

To coldly reject the desperate pleas of a weak woman—was Mu Feng even a man?

People whispered among themselves, some even feeling indignant.

The chubby merchant, who had been ready to speak earlier, strode over. After bowing politely, he said to the seemingly pitiable Li Niang, “What a rude, cold-hearted fellow. Miss, don’t worry, ride in my carriage. Although we aren’t cultivators, we travel through the Southern Borderlands year-round. Ordinary thieves, even eight or ten of them, couldn’t get close to us. I guarantee you’ll be safe all the way.”

“Get lost!”

The chubby merchant pretended to be courteous, disapproving of Mu Feng’s rudeness, but inwardly he was overjoyed, thinking about how to enjoy this unexpected romantic encounter. To his surprise, no sooner had he finished speaking than a cold snort reached his ears. Looking up, he saw that Li Niang, who had been in tears just moments before, now had a cold expression, even gritting her teeth—there was not a trace of her earlier pitiable appearance left.

“Uh, miss, you…”

The chubby merchant thought he might be seeing things and rubbed his eyes. Before he could take a closer look, suddenly, a sharp pain shot through his chest. Looking down, he saw a sharp dagger had been brutally stabbed into him.

The cold-faced Li Niang had turned hostile in the blink of an eye.

“Look out, grab your weapons!”

“Run, run fast!”

…

Witnessing the unexpected turn of events, the other merchants in the group were both shocked and angry, quickly reacting.

Unfortunately, it was too late. The innkeeper and his wife, who had been standing behind them all along, suddenly sprang into action, each pulling a crossbow from their robes. After a volley of crossbow arrows, all the merchants fell to the ground, dead in an instant, their bodies turning dark. Clearly, the crossbow arrows were coated with a terrifying poison. After succeeding, they quickly dragged the bodies into a nearby bush to conceal them, working deftly.

“Baihu, everything has been taken care of.”

After inspecting the area and confirming that no clues were left behind, the old woman was the first to approach the merciless Li Niang, bowing as she reported.

“Good, well done. The two of you, burn this temple to the ground.” Li Niang’s expression was cold as she issued the order in a low voice.

Cruel and ruthless, killing without batting an eye—there was not a trace of her usual gentle, watery demeanor left!

“Yes!”

Seeing her gloomy expression, the innkeeper and his wife did not dare to say more and quickly set to work. Soon, the mountain temple was set ablaze.

“Mu Feng, even this couldn’t trap you. Are you just too alert by nature, or…”

Gazing into the distant darkness, Li Niang’s expression grew increasingly somber.

To get close to Mu Feng and complete the mission assigned by her superiors, she had gone to great lengths this time, even risking posing as an ordinary woman to let Jingxu and the other bald monks capture her, staging a pitiable chance encounter. Who would have thought that, in the end, she still couldn’t hook Mu Feng? All her previous efforts were wasted!

“Hmph, Mu Feng, I refuse to believe I can’t handle a mere scholar like you!”

After a long while, Li Niang let out a cold snort and quickly departed, vanishing into the vast night.