Chapter 3: Crisis Approaches, A New Task!

The next day.

Noon.

The back hall, Mountain Dwelling Sword Tower.

After finishing breakfast and handling the villa's affairs, First Madam Liu Qingmei hurried over to check on her husband's condition.

"Reporting to the Madam, the medicine you provided has excellent efficacy; the Villa Master's condition has already improved, but..."

The doctor wore a troubled expression and bowed slightly while reporting.

Liu Qingmei knitted her brows, stared at the doctor, and asked with concern, "But what?"

"But... the Villa Master was already on the verge of death, and his Original Yang was depleted too severely in that battle. The people of the Demon Sect are ruthless; even with the efficacy of the Returning Yang Pill, I fear the Villa Master's condition will be very difficult to recover from. Even with excellent follow-up treatment, I am only afraid... I am only afraid..."

"Afraid of what? Finish your sentence!"

Liu Qingmei's heart skipped a beat.

The doctor lowered his head deeply, his voice trembling slightly as he said, "I am afraid... the Villa Master will also have his cultivation completely destroyed, and may even be unable to perform as a man!"

What? Liu Qingmei's expression changed! Cultivation completely destroyed, unable to perform as a man...

This was simply a double blow! Cangjian Villa, already in a precarious state, would likely face even greater difficulties and would even face the situation of having no successor! Since she married into Cangjian Villa, she had only given birth to one daughter for the Ye Family so far.

"Madam..."

At this moment.

Liu Qingmei could not help but feel incredibly distressed, her oval face turning pale and devoid of color.

Her footsteps staggered, and she nearly fainted.

Fortunately, she was supported in time by the maid behind her.

Suddenly.

Liu Qingmei thought of something.

She stared at the doctor, as if clutching at a straw, and asked urgently, "If there were more Returning Yang Pills, would there be room for my husband's illness to turn around?"

She remembered the system that was like an Outer Realm Heavenly Demon.

As a member of the righteous path, she knew that whenever you start taking things, you will have to pay even more in return!

But things had reached this point, and this system that had appeared out of thin air had become her only hope for now! She had checked yesterday; the Returning Yang Pill was for sale in the Xia Lu Black Market.

And it was not just the Returning Yang Pill; there were all sorts of martial arts manuals she had never even heard of, Youth Preserving Pills that allowed one to remain forever young, divine weapons and sharp blades, some clothing and ornaments she could not understand at all, and even an item called hair dye that could dye hair into various colors! Even more absurdly, there were actually bizarre pills called Breast Enhancement Pills, Giant Breast Pills, and Essence Storage Pills!

Dazzling and varied, all sorts of items she had never seen or heard of could be found in the Xia Lu Black Market.

This also made her more convinced.

This thing called a system that had suddenly appeared in her mind must be a product of an Outer Realm Heavenly Demon! Otherwise, how could such pills, which only demonic paths would favor, appear? But she had no way to get rid of it!

Facing Liu Qingmei's persistent questioning, the doctor pondered for a long time, wore a troubled expression, and finally shook his head helplessly.

Seeing the doctor's reaction.

Liu Qingmei froze for a moment, and then hot tears welled up in her eyes!

The sky over Cangjian Villa was about to collapse! And almost at the same time.

"First Madam, the gatekeeper reports that the Demon Character Sword Master of the Fengmo Sword Sect has brought people to our door to demand the Seal Demon Sword Technique manual, and has issued a challenge to our Cangjian Villa, threatening to take away our Asking Water Sword Art and store it in his Fengmo Sword Sect Library!"

A young woman in short, tight-fitting attire entered the room holding a precious sword and reported to Liu Qingmei.

Liu Qingmei was shocked upon hearing this.

"Take good care of the Villa Master!"

She said this to the doctor and the maids in the room.

Liu Qingmei turned around immediately, a touch of coldness appearing between her brows.

Cangjian Villa Master Ye Bufan had been seriously injured just last month in a decisive battle against the Divine Maiden of the Demonic Path's Sun Moon Divine Sect, Yin Hongling, and the Fengmo Sword Sect had chosen this time to come knocking.

Clearly, they were seizing the opportunity to kick someone when they were down! Several years ago, the Fengmo Sword Sect, also a renowned sword sect in the pugilistic world, had issued a challenge to Cangjian Villa.

The losing side would have to personally hand over their sect-protecting sword manual to the other party for their collection.

This was a century-long feud between the two sects. But almost every time, Cangjian Villa had emerged victorious.

The last time was no exception; the Demon Character Sword Master of the Fengmo Sword Sect, Li Qingxiao, had lost to Ye Bufan by half a move.

This time, with the Villa Master injured, Li Qingxiao was clearly unwilling to stay quiet and had seized the opportunity to come for revenge! "Quickly summon all inner sect disciples to the Hidden Sword Plaza. Since they have come to our door, our Cangjian Villa cannot lose its etiquette."

"Find Ye Yin and have her come along with Feng Zhien!"

"Report to the clan Elders, ask the Elders to send people to oversee the battle, and if Qigu Ye Qingxian is at the ancestral hall, please ask her to come and assist!"

"..."

While heading toward the plaza, Liu Qingmei gave orders to the gatekeepers and servants in a swift and decisive manner.

Under her arrangements, the entire Cangjian Villa began to operate fully.

Countless disciples relayed messages to one another, heading to the plaza to prepare for the enemy.

Just as she was passing through a long corridor.

Liu Qingmei suddenly stopped, her brows knitted slightly, then smoothed out. She turned to look at the maid beside her and said expressionlessly, "Go to Qiyun Tower and invite the Second Young Master to come and watch the battle."

The maid was clearly stunned for a moment.

But she immediately understood who the Second Young Master was.

He was the Personal Disciple the First Madam had taken in yesterday!

Such a scene originally had nothing to do with Ning Mu.

In fact, Liu Qingmei had not even thought of his existence at all.

It was just that, a moment ago.

Her Xia-Lu A System had suddenly sent three tasks.

【Task One: Repel the invading enemy, cause Li Qingxiao to retreat with serious injuries, and boost our sect's prestige. Task Reward: 50 Xia Lu points, 200 Cultivation Points, 4 Low-grade Spirit Returning Pill Fragments! Task Failure: Cultivation regresses by one-tenth!】

【Low-grade Spirit Returning Pill: Can effectively restore a portion of internal energy; the specific degree of restoration depends on the injured person's Cultivation Points, physical strength, and other aspects!】

This task was very much to her liking.

She indeed had this intention! Moreover, the reward was exactly what she was in urgent need of at the moment.

However, the second task made her a bit hesitant.

But looking at the generous rewards, she still chose to accept it.

【Task Two: Make Ning Mu's identity as a Personal Disciple public, letting the disciples in the sect know that he is just like your own biological son. Task Reward: Up to 500 Xia Lu points and 300 Cultivation Points! Task Failure: No penalty!】

Merely by announcing his identity to the sect disciples, she could obtain ten times the Xia Lu points and far more Cultivation Points than Task One, and there was no penalty for failure.

For such tasks, she only hoped the more, the better.

Right now, her husband was bedridden, unconscious and unresponsive.

If she could improve her own strength, she could also better guard Cangjian Villa for her husband! However, she noticed the wording after the task rewards.

Up to...

In other words, the rewards for this task were very likely progressive.

According to the explanation previously given by the system, the higher the task completion rate, the higher the reward would be.

As for the completion rate... it depended on whether the Binding Companion felt comfortable and pleased during the task process.

In other words, if she valued Ning Mu more, Ning Mu's mood would be better, and the task completion rate would be higher?

This lady is being treated as a puppet by an Outer Realm Heavenly Demon to do tasks, and I still have to care about the mood of a stable hand?

Liu Qingmei frowned, speculating in her heart.

As for the third task, it was very difficult for her to accept.

But for the sake of the rewards, she had no choice but to force herself to complete it! 【Task Three: When no one is prepared, tell your Binding Companion Ning Mu in private that you like him very much! Task Reward: 100 Xia Lu points, 100 Cultivation Points, and 6 Spirit Returning Pill Fragments! Task Failure: Internal energy regresses by one-tenth, and husband Ye Bufan's injuries worsen by one-half! Please choose carefully!】

(End of this chapter)