Chapter 132: A Beauty Strolls

Below, a robust man lay there with his eyes closed, his face filled with rapture.

Lu Yan watched with keen interest.

Just as Lu Yan was engrossed in the scene, the man’s body suddenly began to twitch and convulse violently. He was about to let out a roar, but the alluring woman pressed her hand over his mouth.

The man’s body twisted and struggled frantically. His skin turned a bloody crimson, and veins bulged out like countless earthworms. His lifeblood was in an uproar, but it was all in vain. Clearly, the man was merely a Limit-Breaking martial artist, while the alluring woman was at the Martial Marquis realm; he was completely unable to break free.

This process lasted for the duration of an incense stick. Then, a shocking scene occurred.

The bloody hue on the man’s skin faded rapidly, turning pale, and his once robust body began to shrivel. Finally, the man lay motionless, devoid of breath, like a dried corpse.

"Energy-siphoning technique? No, it’s 'plucking the yang to nourish the yin'."

Lu Yan felt a jolt of shock. It was his first time witnessing such a martial art.

Suddenly, the alluring woman’s gaze shifted to Lu Yan. Her expression was calm yet chilling as she said, "Does this friend enjoy watching so much? Why not come out and take a closer look?"

He had been discovered. Was it because he had been too agitated earlier, causing his energy to circulate too quickly and leak his presence? He hadn't kept his composure.

Since he had been exposed, Lu Yan didn't bother to hide. He pushed open the window, leaped back a dozen meters, and watched the woman openly.

"It really was you."

The woman whispered. To his surprise, she stood up, walked out of the bedroom, and approached Lu Yan completely naked. Her proud, alluring figure was fully exposed to his eyes.

Under the moonlight, the beauty strolled toward him. It reminded Lu Yan of an ancient poem: "Moonlight before the bed, suspected to be frost upon the ground."

"Is it beautiful?"

The alluring woman suddenly smiled, blooming like a rose.

"It is."

Lu Yan nodded. He meant it from the heart, and then, as if possessed, he added, "Your technique is good, too."

"Of course it is. Would you like to try it?"

The alluring woman smiled charmingly, not stopping as she continued to close the distance. Lu Yan could already smell a faint fragrance emanating from her.

Lu Yan glanced at the dried corpse of the man in the bedroom and said, "I have no desire to end up like that."

"Rest assured, I won't use my cultivation. I'll let you taste the most wonderful sensation in the world, as long as you don't speak of what you saw today."

The alluring woman said, moving closer still.

Lu Yan sighed. If he hadn't seen the man's fate, he might have truly wanted to test it to see why the man had worn such an expression. But now, he decided against it. When he met that female assassin in Qingyang City, he had feared she was hiding poison; this woman, however, was truly poisonous. He was wary.

*Swish!*

At that moment, the alluring woman struck. Her hands turned withered and flushed red, her nails elongating like blades, slashing toward Lu Yan’s throat.

But Lu Yan had been prepared. His hand became like a blade, slashing from bottom to top toward her wrist. She twisted her wrist, instantly changing her move with ghostly, astonishing speed, grabbing his arm. Her sharp nails felt like knives, trying to pierce his flesh.

But Lu Yan’s arms were incredibly tough; the woman couldn't pierce them at all.

Lu Yan unleashed his bone strength, vibrating his arm. The woman felt her fingers go numb and, with a *crackle*, retreated repeatedly. Her sharp nails tore a strip of fabric from Lu Yan’s sleeve, which fluttered to the ground. There wasn't even a scratch on Lu Yan’s skin.

The woman’s expression turned grave. Instead of advancing, she retreated over a dozen meters, putting distance between them.

"No more fighting, no more fighting. You are powerful, sir; I am impressed."

The woman waved her hands while keeping a close eye on Lu Yan, clearly ready to bolt from the house if he made another move.

*Martial Marquis, fourth level,* Lu Yan thought to himself.

This alluring woman looked young, but her cultivation was terrifyingly deep. It was likely related to that strange martial art. If he hadn't been strong enough, he would have been silenced.

Lu Yan wondered whether to strike. But she was very close to the exit; if anything went wrong, she would dash out, and he wasn't confident he could finish her without alerting others. Besides, he held the leverage, not her; there was no need to kill her.

"Rest assured, I won't kill you," Lu Yan smiled and turned to leave.

"Sir, can you keep this a secret for me?" the woman asked.

"This is none of my business, and I am not a meddlesome person," Lu Yan replied, then added, "Next time you work, find another place. It’s too noisy at night; I can't sleep."

With that, he leaped back to his own bedroom.

At noon the next day, Lu Yan returned to the Mingxiang Mansion and met Zhao Sirong.

"Brother Lu, I have checked. My Zhao family’s Hidden Martial Pavilion does indeed house the 'Heart-Tempering Scripture'," Zhao Sirong said, getting straight to the point.

Lu Yan was overjoyed but didn't show it, offering only a faint smile. "Many thanks, Lady Sirong. But how might I be able to borrow the 'Heart-Tempering Scripture'?"

Zhao Sirong shook her head slightly. "It is difficult. The Hidden Martial Pavilion forbids outsiders from entering. Even for us members of the Zhao family, entry requires meeting certain conditions or having rendered service to the family."

"Furthermore, the Pavilion has three levels. The first level holds third-rate martial arts and miscellaneous books. The second level contains second-rate martial arts, books on materials, and some recipes for first-level martial food."

"The third level houses first-rate martial arts manuals, divine intent diagrams, some precious special martial arts, and second-level martial food recipes. The entry requirements become harder with each level, and the 'Heart-Tempering Scripture' is kept on the third level."

"I have access to the third level and could borrow the scripture, but the Zhao family rules are strict. No martial arts may be leaked privately. If discovered, the light punishment is having one's cultivation crippled, and the severe one is execution. I wish to help, but my hands are tied. Please forgive me, Brother Lu."

She looked apologetic. Lu Yan had saved her; logically, she should have copied it for him. But she dared not defy the rules carved into the very foundation of her clan.

"Are there no other ways? Can I purchase it from the Zhao family?" Lu Yan asked. If possible, he would spend any amount of silver. Compared to reaching the realm of an Inner-Strength Master, silver was just a worldly possession.

"No. The Zhao family has a policy: all third-rate martial arts are sold to the public, some second-rate ones are sold, but everything kept on the third level is strictly off-limits for sale." Zhao Sirong shook her head. Seeing Lu Yan’s disappointed expression, she added, "In the past, there was no way, but now, there is one."

"What way?" Lu Yan perked up.

"Battle merits," Zhao Sirong said. "To repel the demons and evil spirits, our family’s top brass has made a promise: as long as one has enough battle merits, everything except for a few core first-rate martial arts and the most precious exotic beasts can be exchanged."

"I’ve inquired, and while the 'Heart-Tempering Scripture' is on the third level, it has gone untouched for years. If you have enough battle merits, it can certainly be exchanged."

"And how many battle merits would that require?" Lu Yan asked.

"Using a first-rate martial art as a standard, 500 merits allow you to borrow it for half a year. I suspect the 'Heart-Tempering Scripture' costs no more than that," she replied.

*Only 500 merits?* Lu Yan felt a sense of relief. For others, it was hard, but for him, it wasn't impossible. He already had 90 merits; he only needed 410 more. They were just demons and monsters—he would simply kill them. It was a good thing he hadn't spent the 90 merits on food yesterday; keeping them had been useful.

"As long as you have enough merits, I will do everything in my power to help you obtain the scripture," Zhao Sirong promised, feeling guilty for not being able to do more.

"Many thanks, Lady Sirong. Could you also help me purchase more second-level martial food?" Lu Yan asked. Ten catties a day wasn't enough; not utilizing his connections wasn't his style.

"That is simple. Wait a moment, Brother Lu." Zhao Sirong stood up and left, returning shortly with a metal box. She handed Lu Yan a token. "Take this token when you buy food; there will be no limit to your daily purchase."

"And..." Zhao Sirong opened the box, revealing neatly packed dried martial food. "Here is one hundred catties of dried second-level martial food. Please accept it as a token of my gratitude for saving my life."

One hundred catties of second-level dried martial food had a market value of 15,000 taels. As expected of the leading clan in Lingdong, they were generous.

"Then I shall not decline."

Lu Yan accepted it gracefully and bade her farewell.

Next, it was a matter of waiting. Waiting for the demons to attack, hunting them, and earning merits. As for going outside the city to hunt? That was out of the question—he didn't want to die. Not even Master-level experts dared to do that. Who knew how many terrifying monsters were hidden in the mountains beyond the city? If they were surrounded by a few Master-level demons or encountered an Demon King, even a Master would perish.

With sufficient martial food, the progress of his Cloud-Step technique accelerated significantly. And since that night with the alluring woman, he hadn't heard any strange sounds again.

Ten days later, after finishing the hundred catties of dried food, Lu Yan went to buy more. With the token Zhao Sirong gave him, he purchased fifty catties at a time. Of course, silver flowed out like water. Unfortunately, when he wandered the streets or markets, he used his Daoist senses but never discovered any "Dao Food."

One night, after scanning the night market in Lingwang City without success, Lu Yan returned to the tofu seller's home. Unexpectedly, he saw a figure leaping out from the neighbor's house—the alluring woman's home.

"It’s him, Zhao Hao."

Lu Yan was surprised. He had practiced the Sky Eagle Eye, and his vision was incredibly sharp; there was no way he was mistaken. That figure was definitely Zhao Hao. Although he was moving quickly, Lu Yan had caught a glimpse of his profile.

Seeming to sense something, Zhao Hao turned his head. Their eyes met, and Zhao Hao suddenly stopped, a flicker of murderous intent flashing deep within his gaze.

Just then, the sounds of a crowd came from the other side of the street. Zhao Hao hesitated for a moment before turning and disappearing into the darkness.

*Why was Zhao Hao coming out of that woman's room? Is he also one of her admirers?* Lu Yan wondered. It was possible. After all, given her charm, even he had almost succumbed.

Lu Yan didn't dwell on it, entering his room to consume his food and cultivate.

The night passed without incident.

Two days later, having nearly finished his rations, Lu Yan went out to purchase another fifty catties of second-level martial food. Fresh food shouldn't be bought in large quantities at once as it would lose its potency, unlike the dried variety.

When he returned home, he saw a crowd gathered in front of the tofu seller's house. Through the wall of people, he saw Zhou Xiang lying on the ground, his legs twisted, his face deathly pale. The tofu seller and her mother were kneeling beside him, looking terrified.

A burly man in his fifties stood nearby, looking down at the family with cold, chilling eyes.

"Tell me, where did that martial artist living in your house go?" the burly man demanded, his face filled with murderous rage. The tofu seller’s daughter was trembling, curled up in her mother’s arms.

"Sir, we truly don't know! The martial artist never tells us where he’s going. We are just simple folk, please, spare us!" the mother pleaded through tears.

"Then when will he be back?" the man pressed. The mother shook her head again.

"Useless," the man growled, his eyes chilling further.

"Don't hurt my mother!" The girl found some unknown courage, spreading her arms to shield her mother. "That Uncle Lu is a good person. He is kind; I don't believe he would kill anyone for no reason."

"You little brat, are you saying I’m not a good person, that I’m a villain? A mere peasant, daring to insult a Martial Marquis!" The man’s eyes grew fierce. He raised a hand as large as a palm-leaf fan and swiped it toward the girl.

He was a Martial Marquis. Even without using much force, if he struck, the girl’s fragile body would be dead or severely injured.

A cold light flashed in Lu Yan’s eyes. He moved like a ghost through the crowd, appearing in front of the girl, and slapped the burly man across the face.

The man was startled, quickly erupting with bone strength, stepping back, and unleashing a palm strike to meet Lu Yan’s.

*Bang!*

The man staggered back, his arm trembling uncontrollably.

*Slap!*

Lu Yan followed up and swung his palm again. It was as fast as lightning; the man couldn't dodge and was struck squarely on the face. He reeled back a dozen steps, landing heavily on his buttocks, his head buzzing, unable to regain his senses for a long time.