Chapter 11: Better a Beast Than a Beast!

“Clang!”

The young woman’s sharp knife fell to the ground.

“Wu-wu!”

At the moment the knife hit the ground, the young woman suddenly turned and embraced Xia Daoming, bursting into uncontrollable sobs.

Feeling the softness in his arms, especially the dazzlingly pale, tender flesh visible as he looked down, Xia Daoming—who had just moments ago killed with decisive precision—suddenly felt utterly flustered.

Yet, in the end, he could not bring himself to push her away.

“Forgive me, Master, your servant lost control… Ah!” After a long while, her emotions gradually calmed; then, as if suddenly remembering something, she quickly released him, bowed her head, and apologized to Xia Daoming.

But mid-sentence, she felt a coolness on her chest—and screamed like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, instinctively clutching her full, proud breasts with both hands.

Xia Daoming stared at the young woman’s flustered, embarrassed gesture of covering her chest, and fell silent.

Just moments ago, she had clung to him tightly, unwilling to let go!

Now she’s screaming and clutching her chest—what’s this about?

“I’ll step aside for a moment!” Though inwardly bewildered, Xia Daoming still spoke with polite restraint.

“Ah! Master, don’t go!” Seeing Xia Daoming turn to leave, the young woman suddenly cried out in panic.

“I forgot there are dead bodies here. Why don’t you go to the side hall to tidy up? I’ll stay behind to clean up.” Xia Daoming halted, turning his back to her.

“Master has saved me twice. My life already belongs to you. As long as you don’t find me a blight to your eyes, there’s no need for you to avoid me.” The young woman said.

Seeing the young woman’s clear intent to repay him with her body, Xia Daoming was startled and quickly said: “To act bravely for justice is simply what we cultivators must do. Lady, don’t give it another thought.”

“I am Liu Qiaolian. Master may call me Lian’er.” The young woman said.

“So you are Lady Liu. Between men and women, propriety must be observed. Please go to the side hall to tidy yourself.” Xia Daoming continued to face away from Liu Qiaolian.

Liu Qiaolian cast a complex glance at Xia Daoming’s back, bowed, and said: “Yes, Master.”

With that, Liu Qiaolian walked to the corner of the temple wall, picked up a discarded bundle, and headed toward the dilapidated side hall.

After Liu Qiaolian left, Xia Daoming began disposing of the corpses.

Before dragging the bodies outside to hastily bury them, Xia Daoming naturally didn’t forget to search them.

To his surprise, on the three Wu Masters—the green-eyed man and the others—he found over a thousand taels in silver notes and loose silver.

More than a month ago, he had killed six Wu Masters from Baiyao Hall, one of whom was a fifth-rank Great Wu Master—and he’d only taken a thousand taels in silver notes.

Of course, he hadn’t counted the four San Yuan Gui Xue Pills.

Even if he had, given their cultivation level and number, they still paled in comparison to the green-eyed man and his two companions.

When Xia Daoming finished disposing of the three corpses and returned to the main hall, he saw Liu Qiaolian standing quietly before the corpse of the young man with the pockmarked face.

Clad in a dark blue martial robe, her full, slender waist was perfectly outlined; her jet-black hair was tied in a simple Yunyun bun—elegant and dignified, yet still radiating mature allure.

Hearing footsteps, Liu Qiaolian quickly turned and bowed to Xia Daoming: “Lian’er greets Master.”

“Lady, no need for formalities. How will you handle him?” Xia Daoming asked.

“His name is Liu Zhong. He is my cousin. But since the Liu Family Village was slaughtered, he has become the only relative I have left in this world.

I treated him as my own younger brother, devoted all I had to help him cultivate, hoping one day he would achieve something in the martial path and avenge our family’s blood.

But fate played cruel tricks. The person I cherished most, to save his own life, first shoved me into the Bloodfeather Eagle, then pushed me into the hands of those villains.”

At this, glistening tears silently traced down Liu Qiaolian’s delicate skin.

Her watery eyes held nothing but sorrow and confusion, stirring an irresistible urge to comfort her.

“Yet Master, though you are no kin or relation to me, saved me twice. I have nothing to repay you with—may I serve you for the rest of my life as your slave? Please take me in!” Saying this, Liu Qiaolian bowed deeply.

“I already said—acting bravely for justice is simply what we cultivators must do. Lady, don’t dwell on it, and certainly not on this talk of serving me as a slave.” Xia Daoming was startled and quickly replied.

“Does Master find my humble beauty repulsive?” Liu Qiaolian looked up at Xia Daoming, her face filled with sorrow.

“Of course not. If you’re humble beauty, then there are no beautiful women in this world.” Xia Daoming replied without hesitation.

“Is Master afraid I’m doing this because I want you to avenge my family?” Liu Qiaolian asked again.

Xia Daoming paused, stunned.

He had never even considered taking her in—how could he have thought so far ahead?

“Ever since Liu Zhong shoved me into the Bloodfeather Eagle, I abandoned all thoughts of revenge. Then, when he shoved me into those villains, I lost all will to live.

Fortunately, Master saved me again, sparing me from dishonor—but now I don’t know how to go on living, or why I should live at all. Wu-wu!” As she spoke, Liu Qiaolian suddenly sank to the ground, covering her face and sobbing uncontrollably.

Watching the woman weep with such profound despair, Xia Daoming suddenly understood.

Liu Qiaolian’s offer to serve him as a slave wasn’t merely about repayment—it was that after successive devastating blows, the very reason she had clung to life had collapsed. She needed a purpose, a goal, to find the courage to keep living.

If he refused her now, even if he didn’t force her to die, he would force her into a living corpse.

“Actually… my own life has no direction either…” After a long silence, Xia Daoming finally spoke, unable to bear it.

“It’s fine, it’s fine. Your servant has saved some money over the years. Wherever Master wishes to settle, we can buy property there—Master need only focus on cultivation. All daily matters, I will handle.

Moreover, I know several trade routes between the north and south. If funds are insufficient, I can resume traveling as a merchant between the two regions.” Hearing Xia Daoming’s tone soften, Liu Qiaolian suddenly stopped crying, lifting her head.

Xia Daoming stared at Liu Qiaolian’s tear-streaked, heartbreakingly beautiful face, listening to her words, utterly stunned—his worldview had been completely overturned.

If he truly accepted this, then all those “soft-rice-eating” bastards from his past life would look like weaklings compared to him!

“Cough, cough… Lady Liu, you really don’t need to go this far—it makes me…” After a long while, Xia Daoming finally regained his composure and spoke.

“Master may call me Lian’er. Besides, I’ve never been married, and I will never marry—my only wish is to serve you for the rest of my life, to repay your two lifesaving deeds.” Liu Qiaolian quickly said.

Xia Daoming’s head ached.

Though he had saved this woman twice, the thought of living off her like this made him feel utterly monstrous.

But if he refused, judging by her expression, she would almost certainly kill herself to prove her resolve.

If that happened, how could he, Xia Daoming, bear it?

“If Master refuses, and I cannot repay this debt in my remaining life, I would die with my eyes wide open!” Liu Qiaolian suddenly knelt.

Damn it, Guorana !

Saving a life surpasses building seven-tiered pagodas. If not me, then who? If I’m a monster, then fine—I’ll be a monster!

Xia Daoming sighed inwardly, helplessly raising his eyes to the heavens: “Lian’er, rise. Though we are now master and servant, should you ever regret it and wish to leave, you are free to go at any time.”

“I, Liu Qiaolian, swear by my life to repay Master’s two lifesaving deeds. If I break this vow, may I be struck by fivefold thunder, doomed to eternal damnation!” Upon hearing this, Liu Qiaolian did not rise—instead, she solemnly swore.

“This…”

Xia Daoming didn’t know whether he simply didn’t understand women in this world—or whether Liu Qiaolian was an exception.

But no matter what, the situation had reached this point—he could only accept it.

“Lian’er, how will you handle him?” Xia Daoming brought up the old question, now with a changed address.

“No matter how he treated me, he was still my brother in some way. I’ll bury him now.” Liu Qiaolian said.

“Mm!” Xia Daoming nodded, moving to drag the corpse.

But Liu Qiaolian, calling him “Master,” adamantly refused to let him do such a task.

She wouldn’t even let him dig the grave.

Xia Daoming had no choice but to let her have her way.

Since Xia Daoming agreed to take her as his servant, Liu Qiaolian seemed to have regained her purpose and meaning in life.

After burying Liu Zhong, she began cleaning the temple, making up Xia Daoming’s bed, drawing water from the well behind the temple, boiling water…

Watching Liu Qiaolian rush about, Xia Daoming—who came from a modern civilized society—could not bear to stand idle and tried to help, but Liu Qiaolian would not allow it.

Helpless, Xia Daoming sat in meditation, circulating his qi and blood energy, choosing to ignore her.

Nightfall came quickly.

A long-absent firelight glowed within the temple.

Xia Daoming ate the dinner Liu Qiaolian had prepared, chatting with her casually.

Through conversation, Xia Daoming learned that Liu Qiaolian, who had once done hairdressing for wealthy ladies, was actually one year younger than him—only twenty-three. Besides occasionally traveling north and south with Liu Zhong, she had lived permanently in Li City.

“You live in Li City! What a coincidence—I’m heading there now to join the Qianjiao Martial Hall to study martial arts. You know the Qianjiao Martial Hall, right?” Xia Daoming exclaimed.

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