Chapter 108

Feng Yi silently drew the short sword, holding it in his hand, and said softly: "I know my virtue is lacking, my conduct irregular; no matter what you say about me, it's deserved. But if I want to kill you, why wait until now?"

Li Mochou's heart softened; she secretly blamed herself for treating him that way, but her feud with Lu Wushuang and Cheng Ying over family honor demanded a final settlement.

She glanced at Feng Yi, her gaze softening, she secretly sighed and smiled: "What do you mean? For your sake, I could spare Cheng Ying and not kill Lu Wushuang, but could they refrain from killing me to avenge themselves?"

At that moment, though Cheng Ying and Lu Wushuang spoke nothing, they both, from Li Mochou's expression and words, suddenly had a thought they'd never had before: "This demoness actually harbors special feelings for Feng Yi." Both grew more startled the more they thought about it.

Cheng Ying's heart was in great turmoil.

Lu Wushuang glared at Li Mochou and said: "You… you…"

Li Mochou laughed: "How so?"

Lu Wushuang bit his lip and shouted: "You're delusional; my whole family was slaughtered—I swear I cannot coexist with you."

Cheng Ying also said in a hoarse voice: "Exactly!" She suddenly pinched her sword formula, flicked her jade flute, assumed a graceful stance, and declared: "Why involve others in our grudge? Let's fight!"

"Good!" Li Mochou laughed: "You have some backbone, like something from the Old Heretic Huang's school. Very well, let me see how much of his true teachings you've mastered."

Saying this, she drew the whisk from her waist; though her former strength was gone, she still had more than enough to deal with these two.

Cheng Ying clenched her bright, shell-like teeth against her lower lip, solemnly said: "Li Mochou, today I avenge my sisters; it has nothing to do with my master. Even if I am no match for you, it's only because my training is shallow and I cannot grasp the subtlety of my master's supreme art—please do not disrespect my master!"

Seeing her solemn expression, Li Mochou burst into gleeful laughter, her laughter like pearls falling on a jade plate, like a cool breeze fluttering down from the ninth heaven.

Cheng Ying frowned: "Is this really funny?"

Li Mochou stopped laughing, the smile still lingering on her face, and said: "Old Heretic Huang once took six major disciples—either they fled together in rebellion, or he personally broke their legs and expelled them from the school; each met a violent end."

"What kind of master is that, worth dying for while still defending him?"

Cheng Ying shook her head: "A master's grace is profound; even sacrificing one's body cannot repay it. Since I cannot bring him glory, I also cannot tarnish his name."

Li Mochou saw her blend of charm and heroism, tenderness mixed with icy pride, and thought: "Old Heretic Huang, a true master of his generation, truly possesses extraordinary talent. Earlier, Mei Chaofeng betrayed the school yet blocked his Western Poison palm, shattering her own heart and lungs—such loyalty and devotion. This young girl, barely in her teens, is no different."

Lu Wushuang also chuckled and shouted: "Well said! We sisters will take you on together!" He stepped forward with his right foot, placing himself slightly ahead of Cheng Ying.

Cheng Ying stepped forward again, moving even further ahead.

Seeing the two women like this, Li Mochou couldn't help but laugh: "So young, yet such deep sisterly love, full of affection and righteousness. Very well, in light of this, I'll grant you three moves!"

The women had not yet faced each other when they heard "Three moves?" Suddenly Feng Yi coldly snorted: "How generous! Two little girls know they can't beat you yet keep their composure; you, famous for years, claiming to be the number one female hero of the martial world, yet lack magnanimity. Victory in martial arts, defeat in character—what's the point?"

Li Mochou suddenly turned her head, fixing her gaze on Feng Yi, who was chopping wood with her short sword; a sharp glint flashed in her eyes, but only for an instant. As her gaze shifted, she gave Cheng Ying a gentle smile and said softly: "You look at her with starry eyes, a face like spring blossoms—I felt my heart stir. If this girl is bewitched and willing to be your concubine, given your noble bearing, Hero Feng, could you really refuse to return the favor? Just give me a quick end—why waste time mocking here?"

Feng Yi sensed Li Mochou's laughter held a hint of teasing like pearls, and glanced at Cheng Ying.

She blushed crimson from shame, her face as if veiled in a faint rosy glow, like a plum blossom drifting onto autumn frost and pure snow—fresh, elegant, beyond compare.

Feng Yi felt a surge of resolve and said: "What you say is true—I do like Miss Cheng, and there's nothing to hide about that.

But our entanglements run deep, and I cannot bring myself to kill you; moreover, your feud is truly irreconcilable, and I cannot mediate. All I can do is watch you fight it out!

Yet the two of you together are still younger than you, and you, coming from the Ancient Tomb, have night vision as clear as day—making this 'three moves' nothing but a pretense."

Cheng Ying bit her lip, staring at Feng Yi, seeming dazed. She never expected Feng Yi to so openly declare his fondness for her. Li Mochou gave Feng Yi a deep look, nodded, and said: "Not bad, but what's your high opinion?"

Feng Yi said: "Let's wait until tomorrow dawn, then have a fair contest—wouldn't that be better?"

Li Mochou snorted coldly: "Tomorrow you won't interfere?"

Feng Yi replied: "What could I interfere with? This grudge of yours demands one side die; you three are all strong-willed, I can't persuade you—aside from not helping either side, what else can I do?"

Seeing Feng Yi drop his frivolity and turn solemn, Li Mochou frowned slightly, thinking: "What medicine is this kid selling in his gourd?"

Lu Wushuang said calmly: "Surname Feng, you'd better not regret it!"

Feng Yi laughed: "Why would I regret it?"

Lu Wushuang said coldly: "What if my older sister dies?"

Cheng Ying said in a hoarse voice: "Younger sister, you need say nothing—death is my fate too."

Just as Lu Wushuang was about to curse Feng Yi to vent his anger, Li Mochou suddenly said: "A gentleman does not jest."

Feng Yi said: "I will never jest; whoever dies among you, I will not let her corpse lie exposed in the wilderness."

Hearing this, Li Mochou's peach blossom face flushed, her beautiful eyes sparkled, and she laughed: "Good, then let's rest a while and decide life and death tomorrow!" She picked up a stone in the temple and sat down slowly.

Cheng Ying and Lu Wushuang each carried their own thoughts, sat down, and gazed at Feng Yi.

Feng Yi said: "Don't wander off in thought; you two would be better off focusing on your own martial arts, studying them—perhaps you won't lose to Li Mochou after all."

Cheng Ying looked at Feng Yi, reflecting on his conduct, and a feeling arose: though the person remains the same, the emotion is no longer yesterday's. Thinking of this, she gritted her teeth and said: "Exactly, younger sister—we two might not be inferior to Li Mochou." She then lowered her voice and began to confer with Lu Wushuang.

Li Mochou viewed the two as insignificant, yet secretly found it amusing; having tasted the bitterness of love, she most loved to see lovebirds part, and suddenly a mischievous urge stirred in her heart.

Li Mochou smiled faintly and said to Feng Yi: "Master Feng, would you like me to tell Lingbo not to bother you? If Miss Cheng is willing, I'll spare her life tomorrow and let her be your wife—what do you think?"

Feng Yi replied lightly: "Whether I let someone become my wife is my own affair; no need for you to trouble yourself—it's just a pity you waste my sincere effort."

Li Mochou immediately fell silent.

Feng Yi also closed his eyes.

Actually he knew Li Mochou was right—she had seen through him: he simply enjoys befriending beautiful women, an indisputable fact.

You may say he loves deeply, yet it's not necessarily so.

Such behavior, put nicely, is called affectionate; put bluntly, it's a flirtatious radish.

Yet he has been this way in past and present lives.

Even Li Mochou, this demoness, has made his heart sway.

Since crossing over, he has killed countless, harmed many innocents—indeed he has no right to blame or punish Li Mochou, but since his martial skill surpasses hers, if he wants to kill her, he can just do so.

Think back: when Wan Zhenshan's eight disciples were, although he knew they were worthless, to outsiders they seemed good men, yet he still struck them down secretly, killing them all—what was he thinking then? Nothing!

Yet facing Li Mochou, why does he seek seemingly reasonable excuses that in truth hold no ground for him, to avoid killing her?

Feng Yi imagined it was because he had developed a bond with Li Mochou beyond ordinary man-woman relations, but later he thought perhaps it was simply because she is too beautiful. If it were something like the five ugly freaks of the borderlands, he would have dispatched them with a flick of the wrist, not even blinking.

And as Li Mochou just said, wanting to exterminate her entire clan—does he truly harbor such intent?

Feng Yi pondered carefully: his feelings toward Li Mochou stem only from her past and her connection with Hong Lingbo; even if he notices, he does not wish to dwell on it.

Yet he has encountered Cheng Ying; whether he likes her for her beauty, her temperament, or the male urge to possess, his heart has stirred again.

But Cheng Ying and Li Mochou also have an irreconcilable deep hatred. Even if I had shameless spirit and great ability, how could I make them resolve their enmity and live in harmony? This incident is too coincidental, continuous, and challenging; no matter how high Feng Yi's martial arts, I can only sigh inwardly: "Feng Yi, when you're present you can suppress them from fighting, but how can you keep them from bearing hatred in their hearts? When you're absent, this matter must ultimately be settled."

Ah, Old Man Under the Moon, damn it, couldn't you tie their red strings all over my body? Then wouldn't nothing happen?

Unfortunately, this is a delusion; Lu Zhan yuan appeared too early, and he also came too late.

For now he could only have each of the three calm their impulsive anger, settle down, and fight another round; ultimately he would decide the next move based on the situation.

If the two sides were to start fighting immediately, he feared that Li Mochou, in her anger, would directly kill the two girls, which is absolutely not what he wanted.

If he forcibly stopped them, it would be meaningless.

In the end, it was still useless.

By the next day, the heavy snow like goose feathers turned into small snowflakes.

Li Mochou gazed at Feng Yi for a long while, then turned to look out the window; when the sky grew bright, she said, "The wind and snow have stopped now—come on, you two!" She flicked her horsetail whisk a few times and leapt out the door.

Cheng Ying and Lu Wushuang exchanged a glance, their bodies elongated, sleeves fluttering, and they swiftly followed Li Mochou out of the temple.

Li Mochou said, "Make your move."

With a sudden swish, a curved blade was planted in the snow before Lu Wushuang.

In the blink of an eye, Feng Yi stood silently to one side and said, "I misplaced Miss Lu's sword—use this one!"

Lu Wushuang was not polite either; she reached out, grabbed it, gave it a shake in the wind, and it emitted a "wang-wang" hum.

Upon closer look, everyone saw that the blade was actually a flexible sword.

This kind of soft yet sharp weapon truly tests one's foundation; Lu Wushuang had already set life and death aside, so without further thought she brandished the flexible blade and coldly told Li Mochou, "We need not stand on ceremony!"

As for Li Mochou, whose skill was high and courage great, she likewise paid no heed, letting out a delighted laugh: "Fine, let's begin!"

Cheng Ying swayed her body, a green light flashed from her sleeve, and the jade flute shot forth, bending and twisting as it thrust straight at the major acupoints on Li Mochou's chest.

This thrust perfectly captured the subtlety of the jade-flute sword technique; Li Mochou recognized its danger and, in that instant, swept her left hand out, intending to seize it just as she had the previous night.

Lu Wushuang gave a light shout, and her blood blade swept out, heading straight for Li Mochou's wrist.

Li Mochou dared not block such a sharp weapon head‑on and hastily pulled her hand back. However, Lu Wushuang's martial arts were her own teachings, so every variation of speed, slowness, advance, retreat, and curvature was perfectly clear to her.

Yet Cheng Ying was ultimately a disciple of the Eastern Heretic; Li Mochou had once suffered a great loss at Huang Yaoshi's hands, fearing the opponent might have some strange trick, so she decided to mainly observe and not rush for victory.

Although Cheng Ying had personally received several supreme arts from Huang Yaoshi, her internal strength was limited and her timing insufficient; though the flute followed her body and every move targeted the opponent's vital points, aiming to strike where the enemy must defend, it would not allow Lu Wushuang to be defeated in a single move. The three exchanged over thirty moves in rapid succession.

But Li Mochou, having endured a hundred battles, possessed a solid foundation in the "Muscle‑Tendon Changing and Bone Forging Chapter" of the Nine Yin True Classic; over the past half‑year her internal power had largely recovered, her strength and intent united, intent and spirit merged, spirit complete and breath full, whereas Cheng Ying and Lu Wushuang revealed the shortcomings of their insufficient cultivation, breathing slightly hard.

Li Mochou chuckled and raised her voice: "Being able to exchange thirty moves with me is already something to be proud of." She flicked her horsetail whisk, which fell like a shower of silver rain—strange and unparalleled, mysterious and unfathomable—humming as it struck the blade of the blood sword.

Lu Wushuang's blade veered off; she hurriedly followed its motion, hoping to cleave the whisk, but the whisk was supple, and Li Mochou wielded it with divine mastery—no treasure blade or sharp sword could harm it, instead the blood blade became wrapped in Li Mochou's entwining internal force.

How could Lu Wushuang, with her limited cultivation, possibly break free?

Li Mochou was about to seize the blade when, unexpectedly, Cheng Ying surged forward like a gust of wind, a green light flashing, aiming straight for her throat.

Li Mochou twisted her body to dodge the jade flute and shouted sternly, "Let go!" Lu Wushuang's tiger‑mouth flared with pain, and the blood blade flew from her hand.

Cheng Ying's jade flute swept around the horsetail whisk and tapped toward Li Mochou's face. Taking advantage of the opening, Li Mochou hastily leaned back, but the flute brushed past, and the gust of wind scraping her cheeks caused a faint ache.

Li Mochou was both startled and angry, fearing damage to her appearance; she leapt backward, yet still called out, "What a splendid jade‑flute sword technique!"

Since mastering her sword art, Cheng Ying had never faced a true expert; she felt an indescribable tension, her whole mind and spirit focused on the essentials of the jade‑flute sword technique, leaving no time to speak. Seeing Li Mochou dodge, she could tell her master's transmitted sword art was extraordinarily profound, which bolstered her confidence, and she thrust again.

Li Mochou touched her cheek—thankfully unharmed—and gave a dry laugh, casually saying, "Girl, Huang Yaoshi's jade‑flute sword technique is famed throughout the world; if he himself were here, I would not dare to oppose his edge…" As she spoke, she swept the horsetail whisk horizontally, the attack fierce, its sound like tearing silk.

Seeing Lu Wushuang move to retrieve her blood blade not far away, Li Mochou gave a cold chuckle, retreated three steps, and swung her horsetail whisk toward Lu Wushuang's back.

It seemed this strike would surely fell Lu Wushuang, when a sudden gust sounded at her side and Cheng Ying's jade flute came forward to strike.

Li Mochou smirked inwardly; the horsetail whisk, which appeared aimed at Lu Wushuang, suddenly shifted toward Cheng Ying, bringing a swift wind that coiled around the jade flute like a spider's web, while her left hand flicked out a finger to tap lightly.

Executing these two moves in rapid succession, almost leaving no time to think, Lu Wushuang felt a chill at her back, lost consciousness, and collapsed to the ground at once.

Li Mochou had been renowned for years, having fought hundreds of battles big and small, whereas Cheng Ying and Lu Wushuang were merely novices just starting out; even if their skill stood roughly equal to hers, they could not necessarily win, let alone when the gap was actually vast.

Regarding this move of Cheng Ying's, it was Li Mochou's secret technique in her horsetail‑whisk art; though subtle, it was just right, disarming an opponent's weapon a hundred times without fail.

Cheng Ying felt a coiling internal force surge from her palm straight through her body, instantly numbing her all over as she staggered rightward, her footing unsteady. Li Mochou's green silhouette flashed; her left hand shot up like a poisonous snake raising its head, a lightning‑quick jab—Cheng Ying could not evade in time, felt a chill at her waist, and the jade flute flew from her grasp while she remained rooted.

Having subdued the two, Li Mochou caught sight from the corner of her eye of Feng Yi tilting his head back to drink, as if he were oblivious to everything.

She felt a hidden alarm, pondered for a long while but could not discern Feng Yi's intention; wishing to test him, she approached Lu Wushuang, kicked her viciously twice, bent down, and gritted her teeth, saying, "You lowly wretch, how do you wish to die?"

Lu Wushuang knew she could not escape this calamity this time, and resolutely declared, "I want to die together with you."

Li Mochou stared, then spat, "You're still dreaming beautifully!" She turned to Cheng Ying, pressed a hand to her chest, and coldly said, "Little miss, you are destined to be a heart‑broken soul sooner or later; I might as well grant you release."

Cheng Ying said, "Just get on with it!"

Seeing Cheng Ying show no fear, Li Mochou turned her head toward Feng Yi and suddenly said, "Sir Feng, you still have time to speak now! Your kindness toward me I will never forget in my lifetime."

Before Feng Yi could speak, Cheng Ying said, "You don't need to ask him!"

Li Mochou turned her head, and heard Cheng Ying speak woodenly: "How he treats me is his own affair. Since my parents died, my dearest relatives have been my aunt and uncle; you killed them, so I must take revenge."

"I say this not to put on an act for Feng Yi's presence, because I and he could never be together."

Feng Yi sighed, "Miss Cheng, your words pain me deeply."

"What if it doesn't hurt?" Cheng Ying gave a bleak smile: "Blame our meeting too late, destined to have no affinity."

Feng Yi's countenance suddenly changed as he looked toward Cheng Ying.

Cheng Ying's gaze shifted, and she silently looked toward the distance.

"Miss Cheng." Feng Yi said in a hoarse voice, "In my life, fate is not what matters; what matters is whether I want to."

Cheng Ying turned her head, fixed her gaze on him, and demanded, "On what basis? Are you forcing me?" Then she added, "Besides, what about Hong Lingbo? Since you have actually become husband and wife, you ought not to be of two minds."

A flicker of regret crossed Feng Yi's eyes as he said, "Actually I have long known we are unsuitable, yet I still wish to accompany you on a path that leads nowhere—though the time may be brief, it can make us unforgettable for a lifetime."

The playboy lines Feng Yi had learned in his past life sounded to Cheng Ying's ears like shameless nonsense, leaving her speechless, her heart filled with grievance, wishing she could burst into tears, and she sighed, "Feng Yi, a true man must keep his word; otherwise I will look down on you!"

Saying this, she turned to Li Mochou and said, "You still haven't made a move—what are you waiting for?"

Li Mochou replied coldly, "You look all delicate and timid, yet you are actually soft on the outside, firm within."

Having said that, she paused involuntarily, then continued, "All right, in view of this courage of yours, I will no longer pursue the matter of Lu Wushuang's betrayal of me."

Go far away, and if one day you feel your martial arts are sufficient, to kill me for revenge, spread the word in the martial world; as long as I'm not dead, I'll teach you anytime!" Having said that, he turned and left.

She ultimately did not want to kill the two women, which put Feng Yi in a difficult position.

Wait!

Feng Yi stepped forward, striking like lightning, and lightly tapped Cheng Ying and Lu Wushuang; both felt a warm current flow through their bodies, and their sealed acupoints were all released.

Li Mochou turned her face away, saying word by word: "How?"

Feng Yi said: "This is because you didn't kill them, it's your kindness, not because I stopped you. But even so, you cannot dispel their hatred for you; otherwise, how could Lu Wushuang have betrayed you?"

And he said to Lu Wushuang: "Give me the Five Poisons Secret Transmission, and I'll help you kill Li Mochou."

All three were startled.

Lu Wushuang glared at him, her face turning pale, while Li Mochou gave a half-angry, half-smiling remark: "It's about time!"

Feng Yi stretched out his hand: "Give it to me!"

Lu Wushuang saw Feng Yi's indifferent expression, then glanced at Cheng Ying, noticing her unusual expression; thinking of the great family grudge, she still took out a manuscript from her bosom and handed it to Feng Yi, saying: "This is the Five Poisons Secret Transmission; you must keep your word."

Feng Yi saw the book's scarlet-red cover, flipped two pages, and found the content exactly matched Li Mochou's handwritten copy; he slipped it into his bosom, looked at Li Mochou, his eyes flashing with bright light, and said: "Since I entered the martial world, I have always killed people to achieve my own goals and pursue profit; don't blame me."

Li Mochou smiled faintly: "My life is given by you and will be taken by you; that is fitting. Otherwise I would still not know how to treat you. Today, Hero Feng, to avenge your lover, if you can fulfill your wish, that would be good; then we would owe each other nothing."

Upon hearing this, both women showed strange expressions.

Feng Yi said coldly: "I want to ask you one thing."

Li Mochou laughed: "Go ahead."

Feng Yi asked: "Have you ever regretted your past deeds?"

Li Mochou stared straight at Feng Yi, Feng Yi also fixed his gaze on him, they locked eyes for a moment, Li Mochou laughed and said: "I, Li Mochou, have never regretted anything I've done in my life!"

She also couldn't help but sigh and say: "The only thing I regret is having met Lu Zhan yuan. Otherwise, I might have become a renowned heroine of the jianghu!"

Feng Yi gazed at her, took a step forward, his clothes and hair stirring without wind, he had already reached Li Mochou's face, his eyes turned cold, his left hand directly clamped her neck, lifting her up.

Li Mochou's eyes reddened from strain, she still coldly met his gaze; although she had no strength to resist, she also had no mind to resist.

Cheng Ying and Lu Wushuang watched Li Mochou's feet dangling in the air, her face reddened from strain, her legs straight, then turning as white as paper, her legs powerless.

After a long while, Feng Yi loosened his grip, "Thud... thump".

Li Mochou collapsed to the ground, limp and sprawled.

Lu Wushuang and Cheng Ying watched, their hearts shaken and spirits entranced, hardly able to believe their own eyes.

The two of them shifted, rushed to Li Mochou's side, felt her mouth and nose—no breath at all—then felt her pulse, not even a beat.

The two exchanged a glance, never expecting that Feng Yi had actually killed Li Mochou.

Lu Wushuang jumped back two steps, fixed her gaze on Feng Yi and said: "Did you really kill her? Or are you deceiving us with the turtle breath technique?"

Feng Yi said: "You can see if her body will turn cold and stiff!" As he spoke, he had already walked into the temple.

Lu Wushuang picked up Li Mochou's corpse and also entered the temple; outside it was cold, she needed to see if Li Mochou's body would turn cold and stiff.

She deliberately lit a fire before Li Mochou's corpse. However, as she touched it a few times, she felt Li Mochou's body gradually turning colder and increasingly stiff.

Lu Wushuang's eyes revealed a hint of bewilderment.

She initially thought Feng Yi was deceiving her, but now she realized her master was truly dead.

Although she had never forgotten the grudge of her slaughtered sect, upon seeing her master truly dead, her heart felt no joy at having avenged the great enemy. She stared blankly at Li Mochou's face, then turned her head to look at Cheng Ying.

Cheng Ying gazed at Feng Yi and slowly said: "Why did you kill her?"

Feng Yi answered truthfully: "I said it—I did it for you three. Actually, you three are all lovelorn souls; she is not utterly wicked, it's just fate playing tricks, resulting in this outcome."

And if I had not acted, you would spend your days in this hatred, unable to avenge with true ability even in a lifetime.

So let me do it—let's see if, after avenging this grudge, you will be happy or not.

The two women stared at him for a while, seeing he was not feigning, they exchanged glances, thinking Li Mochou had committed countless evils in her life; her death today was truly deserved, yet she was not innately vicious, only led astray by emotional obstacles, sinking deeper and deeper until she could not extricate herself; thinking of this, they could not help but feel pity.

Cheng Ying said: "Although she has killed countless people, Wushuang, she is still your master; we should give her a proper burial!"

Lu Wushuang felt a hint of sorrow in her heart and said: "Yes, although she treated me poorly, my uncle was indebted to her beforehand; despite her ruthlessness in the jianghu, she did not kill me and even let me become her disciple; although she did not pass on top-tier martial arts to me, senior sister Cheng Ying's guidance in martial arts she should also have known, and that counts as a kindness!"

She then bowed several times before Li Mochou, touched her face again, feeling it already icy cold; suddenly her eye sockets grew hot, and a few tears fell onto Li Mochou's face.

Feng Yi said: "She's dead—are you happy?"

Lu Wushuang silently shook her head.

She had ultimately been raised from a little girl into a maiden by Li Mochou—how could she be happy? Feng Yi sighed deeply and said: "Man is not grass or wood; who can be devoid of feeling!" He then added: "If she were alive, would you still seek revenge?"

Lu Wushuang and Cheng Ying were startled, Lu Wushuang rose and shouted angrily: "You're deceiving me?"

Feng Yi laughed and said: "How am I deceiving you? She's dead beyond revival—except that I have the ability to bring the dead back to life!"

Lu Wushuang and Cheng Ying's hearts jolted; the two again checked Li Mochou's breath and heartbeat, her body beginning to stiffen—she was indeed dead. Could there truly be a way to bring the dead back to life? Feng Yi knew what they were thinking and said: "If she has been dead for an hour, I can revive her; after more time passes, it will be impossible. Whether to save her or not is up to you to decide."

Lu Wushuang and Cheng Ying alternated between astonishment and gloom.

Lu Wushuang's face turned as white as death, her hands clenched tightly into fists, her fingertips digging deep into the flesh, blood seeping out between her clenched fingers.

Cheng Ying watched from the side, let out a faint sigh, and said: "She just subdued us without delivering a lethal blow; let us repay her with a life!"

Feng Yi looked at Lu Wushuang, who snorted: "You little brat, too crafty. What if she had just killed us?"

Feng Yi gave a slight smile: "If I did not permit it, she could not have killed anyone."

The two women exchanged a glance; Lu Wushuang's gaze fell again on Li Mochou's face, and she said to Feng Yi: "Then let's see your means of bringing the dead back to life!"

Feng Yi finally relaxed his breath, fearing the two might disagree, truly anxious. He immediately proceeded with the rescue, circulating the Divine Illumination Technique, his hands pressing on Li Mochou's chest.

The two women shuddered all over, their faces flushed like the sunset's rosy clouds—after all, that's the chest—Lu Wushuang shouted: "You're taking advantage of her!"

Feng Yi watched the women's expressions; even though he had anticipated this, he had choked Li Mochou to cut off her breath; if he had further beaten her to rupture her meridians, he would still need to undress her for treatment.

Now being watched by the two women, he felt truly embarrassed, as if he had nowhere to put his hands or feet, and could only say: "As a healer, one does not avoid gender!"

Seeing Feng Yi somewhat embarrassed, the two women felt amused inside, their faces showing a smug expression.

Feng Yi pressed on Li Mochou's chest, inhaling and exhaling; in the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, a flush of color rose on Li Mochou's pale face; the two women leaned in to examine her, felt her pulse, and Cheng Ying sighed: "She has a pulse."

Lu Wushuang stared fixedly at Li Mochou, and in her mind flashed like lightning many people—her parents, servants, maidservants, their faces alternating between joy and worry.

Cheng Ying guessed what she was thinking, tugged Lu Wushuang's sleeve, and whispered, "Let's go; from now on we won't see her again."

Lu Wushuang gave an affirmative hum.

The two turned and walked away.

Feng Yi immediately called out, "Miss Cheng!"

Cheng Ying kept walking without stopping.

Feng Yi watched the two recede, feeling both angry and anxious, but at this moment he had not yet completed his rescue of Li Mochou, so he could not give chase; he couldn't help thinking, "What is this? Could it really be that I can only choose one? Is it so hard to have both?" Seeing her disappear before his eyes, he couldn't help calling out, "Miss Cheng, do you truly have not even a hint of fondness for me?"

For days, he had pondered this question over and over in his heart; now he could no longer hold back, and he blurted it out.

Because he knew Cheng Ying liked Yang Guo from the original story, and this time he had met her earlier than Yang Guo did, so what about him?

He wanted to know that answer!

Even if there is no future, this is still a man's competitive spirit! Cheng Ying stopped in her steps, turned to glance at him, and said, "If I like you, what then? If I don't like you, what then?"

Do you really want me to be your concubine?

Or am I, Cheng Ying, destined to be merely a servant in your eyes?

You say you don't believe in fate, but I do!

We are simply not fated to be together; from now on I will never see you again.

Saying this, her face turned as pale as death, and she fled with Lu Wushuang.

(End of chapter)