Chapter 766: Spring Orchids Bloom

Xie Xie Wanqing is none other than Lu Lu Xiaolan.

Ma Wu looked at Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang; if not for his warning last night, Ma Wu truly would not have thought that among the new recruits he was cultivating, one of them was actually Lu Lu Xiaolan.

Xie Xie Wanqing's singing voice was average—a matter of natural talent—but she came from a prominent family and was a young lady of the Lu household. The education she had received and her own life experiences were different from those of ordinary people, so her bearing and stage presence were naturally a cut above other singers.

Ma Wu felt a sense of intimacy when he heard her sing, not because of how profound her singing technique was, but because Lu Lu Xiaolan had once been Ma Wu's fiancée, and Ma Wu had often listened to her sing in the past.

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang had also given Ma Wu an important reminder: to send Xie Xie Wanqing a bouquet of orchids.

There were three pieces of information in that sentence: first, this person could use orchids to communicate; second, this person could use orchids as weapons; and third, this person's name contained the character "Lan" (Orchid).

Ma Wu had not understood the first two points; after all, he did not know that such a massive change had occurred in Lu Lu Xiaolan.

Ma Wu understood the third point.

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang's ghost servants dared not approach the famous singer's private room and could only take the initiative to seek Ma Wu's help. Ma Wu immediately realized that Lu Lu Xiaolan had made her move.

Originally, Ma Wu had found quite a few men and prepared to surround Lu Lu Xiaolan, but Lu Lu Xiaolan had struck first, disrupting Ma Wu's plan. Even if it was disrupted, he was not afraid; Ma Wu ordered a group of branch-hangers to guard the exit of the private room, not giving Lu Lu Xiaolan a chance to escape.

Lu Lu Xiaolan had no intention of fleeing either. With a flick of her fingertip, the orchid petals on the ground soared into the air, dancing around the private room like butterflies.

"Brother Wu, it's been so many years; have you ever thought of me?" Lu Lu Xiaolan smiled at Ma Wu.

"I have, I think of you every day," Ma Wu opened his arms toward Lu Lu Xiaolan. "Come, let Brother Wu give you a hug."

For a moment, Lu Lu Xiaolan truly wanted to walk over.

Because Ma Wu had used a Joy-Cultivation technique—"Dry Wood, Raging Fire."

Lu Lu Xiaolan really wanted Ma Wu to hold her right now, but if she were truly embraced, the next step would be "Joy-Fire Burning the Body."

The Lu Lu Xiaolan before him was not so easy to deal with. She manipulated the petals to cut a wound on her own face, and fresh blood slowly flowed down. Lu Lu Xiaolan used the pain to dissolve the technique of "Dry Wood, Raging Fire."

"Brother Wu, if you used any casual technique, I wouldn't be able to resist. Has your cultivation reached the Cloud-Ascension realm?" Lu Lu Xiaolan manipulated the orchids to linger around her, using the orchid fragrance to keep herself clear-headed.

Ma Wu said with a sincere face: "Lu Xiaolan, let's not talk about cultivation today; let's just reminisce about old times."

Lu Lu Xiaolan also looked at Ma Wu very sincerely: "Brother Wu, from the day we met until today, have you ever told me the truth?"

"Lu Xiaolan, just think carefully; which of my words wasn't the truth?"

Lu Lu Xiaolan's eyes turned red: "You said back then that you wanted to marry me; that sentence wasn't the truth."

Ma Wu's expression was miserable: "Is this my fault alone?"

Lu Lu Xiaolan thought about it carefully and felt that what Ma Wu said made sense: "I was also at fault; this matter cannot be blamed entirely on Brother Wu."

Watching Lu Lu Xiaolan's sour and miserable expression, Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang prepared to unleash a Sorrow-Cultivation technique—"Tearful Heart-Break."

This technique was extremely effective against people who were heartbroken, lost, fearful, or remorseful, because people in these states were very prone to shedding tears. Once they cried, they would experience the pain of a broken heart.

Using Sorrow-Cultivation to manipulate and Demon-Cultivation to slaughter was Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang's habitual tactic; it even allowed him to escape from He He Haiqin. Now that Demon-Cultivation could not be used, Ma Wu was still there. As long as the two had enough tacit understanding, they would have the certainty of winning in one strike.

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang rehearsed the entire tactic and calmly launched the technique, first magnifying Lu Lu Xiaolan's emotions.

He thought Lu Lu Xiaolan would cry until her heart broke, but he did not expect that Lu Lu Xiaolan would not shed a single tear; instead, a bellyful of rage burned up. The petals in the room increased several times over, riding the wild wind and dancing like snow.

This was Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang's misjudgment. Lu Lu Xiaolan's sour and miserable face was faked; she only had hatred for Ma Wu. The tears held in her eyes had not deceived Ma Wu, but they had deceived Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang.

The situation in the private room was extremely dangerous. Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang shrank his head into his collar, intending to flee outside the private room. Just as he reached the door,

Hundreds and thousands of orchid petals struck Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang's body like sharp blades.

Thanks to his woolen overcoat being able to withstand it, he suffered no fatal wounds, but everywhere the woolen overcoat could not protect—his hands, feet, and scalp—was a mess of blood.

These orchid petals were not only sharp but also highly toxic. Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang's whole body was numb, his vision was blurred, and every breath required a great deal of effort.

The door of the private room was sealed shut by petals. Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang could not rush out. Zhang Zhang Guanshi brought the branch-hangers forward, wanting to pull Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang, but Ma Wu shouted: "Retreat! Don't throw your lives away!"

Zhang Zhang Guanshi had the cultivation of the third layer of the Earth-Skin realm; in ordinary situations, he could be considered an expert.

But the current situation was not ordinary. Once he rushed up, including the few branch-hangers he brought, they would be sent away together the moment they crossed paths with Lu Lu Xiaolan.

In Ma Wu's impression, when he last saw Lu Lu Xiaolan, she was only a Specter-Cultivator of less than the fifth layer. After not seeing her for a period of time, how had she changed so much?

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang could not rush out, and the ghost servants could not exert any effect in the private room.

There were a few ghost servants wandering outside the private room, but they dared not approach.

Before Ma Wu came, he had heard the ghost servants say that there was something hidden in the private room that made them afraid. Where exactly was this thing hidden?

Lu Lu Xiaolan saw through Ma Wu's thoughts and laughed: "Brother Wu, are you trying to find the magic treasure and let Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang help you make a move?

You'd better stop looking. You are the famous Fifth Master of Puluo Prefecture; to deal with a weak woman like me, do you still need Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang's help? Let's have a fair and square fight."

The petals flew like snowflakes, instantly surrounding Ma Wu. Ma Wu had no way to judge at what time or from which direction the petals would strike.

But Joy-Cultivation combat did not require that much judgment. Ma Wu's eye corners lifted, staring at the petals as he scanned the circle.

The originally orderly orchid petals suddenly lost their formation, colliding in pairs and twisting together.

This was a Joy-Cultivation technique: "Lonely Seeking a Mate."

Under the urging of the technique, all the orchid petals were unwilling to be lonely, scrambling to stick to the surrounding orchid petals, two by two, sticking tightly together. Only one orchid petal could not find a partner and struggled to stick to the fake flower on the table.

The sudden move caught Lu Lu Xiaolan off guard. These orchid petals were very important to her. She controlled her intent,

attempting to let the petals break free from the technique. Ma Wu exerted force suddenly, and the collision and friction between the petals immediately intensified.

This was a Joy-Cultivation technique: "Unable to Stop Desiring." Hundreds and thousands of petals tore and cut each other, shattering all over the floor.

Lu Lu Xiaolan quickly withdrew the orchid petals; if she continued to let Ma Wu unleash the technique, she herself would suffer heavy injuries.

Once the petals were concentrated, Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang had a chance to escape. He quickly left the private room, but the situation Ma Wu had to face was extremely severe.

Lu Lu Xiaolan's combat method did not rely entirely on petals. She suddenly closed in, turning her arms into flower leaves, and tightly wrapped Ma Wu in her arms.

Ma Wu used the Joy-Cultivation technique "Soul-Destroying, Bone-Eroding," wanting to make Lu Lu Xiaolan's body go soft.

The flower leaves only softened for a moment, but they wrapped even tighter than before. Ma Wu felt his bones were about to break.

He wanted to use the technique of "Flirting and Teasing" to make Lu Lu Xiaolan's hands soften a bit, but Lu Lu Xiaolan tightened the flower leaves again, and Ma Wu's technique could not be unleashed.

What other technique could be used?

"Joy-Fire Burning the Body" was the most effective, but this technique required a great deal of preparation. Ma Wu was being strangled by the flower leaves until he was almost out of breath; he had no ability to brew Joy-Fire at all.

Complex techniques like this were definitely not to be counted on, and simple basic techniques were also difficult to unleash. Ma Wu wanted to make Lu Lu Xiaolan's blood vessels burst, but Lu Lu Xiaolan's blue veins jumped, and she exerted force, breaking a few of Ma Wu's ribs. The "Blood-Surging" technique also failed.

Ma Wu's consciousness was blurred, and seeing he could not hold on, Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang ran back into the private room.

He believed that this time, there must be a tacit understanding between him and Ma Wu.

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang cried out toward Lu Lu Xiaolan. Lu Lu Xiaolan's intent relaxed slightly, letting Ma Wu catch a breath. Taking this opportunity,

Ma Wu immediately brewed Joy-Fire.

Ma Wu had caught his breath, but Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang's situation was not good.

A root hair drilled out from under Lu Lu Xiaolan's feet, instantly wrapping around Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang's leg.

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang gritted his teeth and sobbed a few times; this was the Sorrow-Cultivation technique "Swallowing Sobs."

Looking at Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang's pitiful appearance, Lu Lu Xiaolan's heart softened. Just as she was about to let Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang go, her gaze suddenly became dull, her face also lost its expression, and she stood straight on the spot.

Since she wanted to kill Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang, Lu Lu Xiaolan naturally had a way to restrain Sorrow-Cultivation techniques.

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang shouted: "Not good, Spring Orchids Bloom!"

What bloom?

How to bloom?

Ma Wu widened his eyes; the so-called blooming was actually the literal meaning.

A bright spring orchid bloomed on top of Lu Lu Xiaolan's head, the yellow flower heart standing upright on her head, the white petals hanging down on her cheeks.

She did not cry, nor did she laugh; she had no emotions, only one thought left: she continuously tightened the flower leaves and root hairs; she wanted to strangle Ma Wu and Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang to death together.

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang's expression was ferocious; the root hairs wrapped around him circle by circle, almost reaching his neck.

Ma Wu's expression was even more ferocious; he exerted force amidst the flower leaves, his bloodshot eyeballs looking as if they were about to jump out of their sockets.

Whoosh~

The flower stamen suddenly caught fire.

Taking advantage of the brief gap when Lu Lu Xiaolan shed tears and bloomed, Ma Wu finally used the technique of "Joy-Fire Burning the Body."

As the equipment used by plants for reproduction, the flower stamen was the first to be hit by the technique. Joy-Fire was extremely difficult to extinguish; the flames followed the stamen and burned to the petals, then turned to burn on Lu Lu Xiaolan's head.

Under the intense pain, Lu Lu Xiaolan sobered up and hurriedly extinguished the fire. Ma Wu and Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang took this opportunity to run out of the famous singer's private room.

Outside the door, having left the magic treasure's control range, Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang released his ghost servants, immediately feeling confident.

He first found two medical-cultivator ghost servants, one to detoxify himself and the other to treat Ma Wu's injuries.

Next, he divided the ghost servants into two rows, waiting for Lu Lu Xiaolan to come out and fight.

Ten ghost servants stood in the first row; they were all Martial-Cultivators and Body-Cultivators, preparing for close combat.

Six ghost servants stood in the second row; there were two Literary-Cultivators, one Thought-Cultivator, two Virtue-Cultivators, and one Cold-Cultivator, preparing for long-range combat.

There was also one Traveling-Cultivator and one Virtue-Cultivator standing to the side, waiting to provide support.

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang even specially called over a Dispute-Cultivator ghost servant, preparing to go up and provoke the battle.

Lu Lu Xiaolan was still burning inside. She looked at Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang and Ma Wu with a ferocious expression, gritting her teeth and saying: "Are you afraid? Come in and keep fighting!"

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang shook his head: "I object, I'm not going in. If you have the ability, burn down the Xiaoyao Dock!"

Ma Wu shouted from the side: "Why burn down the Xiaoyao Dock?"

A little dew appeared on Lu Lu Xiaolan's body, slowly extinguishing the Joy-Fire.

Ma Wu was very surprised; he did not expect Lu Lu Xiaolan to actually be able to suppress the Joy-Fire.

The two sides fell into a stalemate. Before finding Lu Lu Xiaolan's magic treasure, Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang could not rush in.

Lu Lu Xiaolan dared not walk out; once she went out, she definitely could not beat Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang and Ma Wu.

Ma Wu scanned the furnishings in the private room through the door. Just now he had been busy fighting and had no time to look more. This time he looked carefully, and a vase caught his attention.

There were twelve famous singer private rooms in the Xiaoyao Dock, and the furnishings and layout of each room were different, but this vase should not be something from the private room.

Ma Wu had done all kinds of business, including porcelain.

The style of this vase was the same as other vases in the famous singer's private room, and ordinary people could not tell the difference from the outside, but Ma Wu could tell.

The body and glaze of this vase were very rare; porcelain of this quality should not appear in a famous singer's private room.

This thing should be the magic treasure that restricted the ghost servants!

Ma Wu intended to rush into the private room and seize the vase.

Before he could take a step, Lu Lu Xiaolan suddenly hugged the vase and rushed out.

In an instant, the ghost servants around Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang fled in all directions, leaving Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang on the spot.

Lu Lu Xiaolan did not linger in the fight. The territory outside the private room was too open, and the range affected by the vase was very limited. Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang had plenty of ways to entangle her.

She rushed through the corridor, passed the large dance floor, and arrived at the back door of the Xiaoyao Dock. Just as she was about to escape, she used half a day's strength, but her legs could not step out.

Her legs were entangled. Nearly transparent silk threads, from her knees down, had wrapped her legs together.

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang had let a Craft-Cultivator ghost servant arrive at the back door one step ahead and set up a trap.

Because the move was hasty, the trap was a bit rough. Lu Lu Xiaolan used a little force and broke free from the silk threads.

Relying on this brief delay, Ma Wu caught up from behind and grabbed Lu Lu Xiaolan's wrist.

Lu Lu Xiaolan felt intense pain in her wrist, feeling as if her flesh and blood were about to detach from her bones.

Joy-Cultivation technique: "Rubbing Powder, Turning Vermilion."

Under the intense pain, the vase in Lu Lu Xiaolan's hand dropped and was steadily caught by Ma Wu.

Lu Lu Xiaolan wanted to snatch back the vase, but saw that Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang had already arrived at Ma Wu's side.

Six ghost servants surrounded Lu Lu Xiaolan in the blink of an eye. Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang grinned and cried out loud; the ghost servants were furious, and their combat power surged.

Sorrow-Cultivation technique: "Grief and Indignation Combined."

Lu Lu Xiaolan realized she could not escape.

She looked at Ma Wu: "Ma Ma Junyang, even if I leave my life here today, I will take you with me!"

Ma Wu held the vase and beckoned to Lu Lu Xiaolan: "Come, let me see how you take me with you."

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang said: "Reminding you one more time, don't underestimate her."

Ma Wu did not underestimate Lu Lu Xiaolan; the opportunity he was waiting for was almost here.

The technique was prepared, and the ghost servants were all in position.

Lu Lu Xiaolan glimpsed the movement trend of all the ghost servants, repelling all six ghost servants within a few rounds, then turned to rush up and fight Ma Wu to the death.

At the moment of closing in, Lu Lu Xiaolan smiled.

She had not lost her mind.

Ma Wu was holding the vase in his hand. As long as Lu Lu Xiaolan approached Ma Wu, the ghost servants would not dare to follow.

Kill Ma Wu, snatch back the vase, and Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang definitely would not dare to approach.

Even if she could not eliminate Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang, she could at least retreat unscathed and avenge the grudge from back then. Suddenly, her back felt very cold, as if she had been stabbed by a knife.

Not just one knife.

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang released a group of ghost servants; some used weapons, some used techniques, and they dealt ruthless blows behind Lu Lu Xiaolan.

Why could these ghost servants approach Ma Wu?

Were they not afraid of the vase?

Wasn't Ma Wu holding the vase?

He was indeed holding a vase, which Zhang Zhang Guanshi had taken from another private room; its appearance was very similar to Lu Lu Xiaolan's magic treasure.

While Lu Lu Xiaolan and the ghost servants were fighting, the real vase had already been handed to Zhang Zhang Guanshi by Ma Wu, and Zhang Zhang Guanshi was currently sprinting toward the backstage of the large dance floor.

Lu Lu Xiaolan brandished her full-body flower leaves and petals, fighting fiercely with the ghost servants.

The more she fought, the more desperate she felt; her eyes gradually lost focus, her moves gradually slowed, and her expression became helpless and numb, just like Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang's.

Sorrow-Cultivation technique: "All Hopes Dashed."

Pfft!

A large amount of blood sprayed from the wounds on her body, and the blood was mixed with the fragrance of orchids.

Ma Wu used the "Blood-Surging" technique to send Lu Lu Xiaolan on her final journey.

Lu Lu Xiaolan, who had fallen to the ground, had no signs of life.

Ma Wu squatted on the ground and checked several times; Lu Lu Xiaolan was indeed dead.

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang sealed Lu Lu Xiaolan's soul in her corpse.

A burst of singing suddenly came, scaring the two of them into a shudder.

"Floating clouds disperse, the bright moon shines on people coming, reunion and perfection, drunk this morning~"

The singing came from the Xiaoyao Dock. Liao Liao Manqing had gone on stage to sing the warm-up song; her singing voice was still as suffocating as ever.

There were not many spectators under the stage; they felt uneasy in their hearts.

They could tell that something had happened at the Xiaoyao Dock; they could tell that the atmosphere was not right.

But even so, Liao Liao Manqing still sang very hard.

After one song, the audience calmed down a lot. Liao Liao Manqing used the lethality of pitch and rhythm to make people gradually forget the unease brought by fear.

The branch-hangers rushed over, and Ma Wu ordered: "Collect the corpse first; business still needs to be done."

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang sent ghost servants to scout everywhere; he was worried that Lu Lu Xiaolan still had helpers: "Assassinating me is also considered an important mission; logically speaking, there should be people providing support nearby."

Ma Wu said: "The person providing support to her might not dare to come out. When it's evening, I will go ask her myself."

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang said: "You mean Song Song Cuiqing? The one sleeping in your bed?"

Ma Wu was shocked: "You even know this?"

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang said: "She is indeed a person from the Inner Prefecture, pure-blooded, but it is impossible for her to do things for Lu Lu Xiaolan. Her status is far higher than Lu Lu Xiaolan's. She came to find you, and it should be out of sincerity."

,

While speaking, Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang turned his head and looked at the Xiaoyao Dock: "This is truly a good place, but it's a pity I should leave."

Ma Wu said: "You have already turned against the Inner Prefecture; where else can you go? Stay at the Xiaoyao Dock first."

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang shook his head: "I object, I don't want to implicate you, and you cannot protect me either. Parting ways here is the best choice."

Ma Wu did not force him: "Before you leave, can you do me a favor? Take Lu Lu Xiaolan's soul away and make her a ghost servant for you."

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang thought about it: "I object, she is a monster created by the Great Totem, very likely carrying the Great Totem's mark; this would bring me great threats."

"Leaving her here is also a great threat to me. Since you don't want to keep her, let her vanish into thin air."

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang agreed. He followed Ma Wu to the warehouse. After testing Lu Lu Xiaolan's corpse again, Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang did not perceive a soul.

Ma Wu frowned: "Did her soul escape?"

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang shook his head: "It shouldn't have escaped. As a wandering soul, it is very difficult for her to break through my technique. She might have already vanished into thin air; souls reconstructed by the Great Totem are all very fragile."

Ma Wu was very curious, just that he had no chance to ask: "What exactly is the Great Totem?"

"It is a place for manufacturing monsters; I don't know much either."

Ma Wu thought about some things Luo Su Lijun had told him before: "The Great Totem you speak of, does it refer to the Great Melting Pot of Chaoge?"

Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang thought about how to describe it: "I feel they are different; the Great Totem is more ancient and more powerful, but it is incomplete and has always been undergoing repairs.

I don't know much about the Great Totem; most people who understand the Great Totem have had their memories stolen, but I believe you must have seen the Great Totem."

"I have seen it?" Ma Wu did not understand Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang's meaning: "I haven't even been to the Inner Prefecture; how could I have seen the Great Totem?"

"You are a Local Deity; you must have a Local Deity Seal."

"I do."

"The Local Deity Seal has a circular mark; that is the Great Totem," Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang clapped his hands, stood up, and said, "Farewell, friend."

In Taiming Town, in the basement of a two-story Western-style house, hung a massive spider web.

In the center of the spider web was a silk sac. Dabo Dabo Ensi cut his palm with a knife and continuously dripped blood into the silk sac.

The blood would disappear immediately upon reaching the silk sac. There seemed to be a creature inside the silk sac that was very good at sucking blood. A few minutes later, the silk sac squirmed, and Lu Lu Xiaolan's voice came from inside.

"I don't need you to save me; I can kill Ma Ma Junyang, and I can also kill Yuan Watch Yuan Youshang!"

Dabo Dabo Ensi bandaged his wound: "You can't kill anyone; these two people are not so easy to kill."

"That's because they were lucky! Even if you gave me one more helper, I could take their lives!"

"Giving you a helper is useless; Li Qi is coming."

"He's coming just in time," Lu Lu Xiaolan roared, "I'll kill him too!"

"Kill him?" Dabo Dabo Ensi laughed, "There are too many people who want to kill him; what makes you think you can succeed?"

"He killed my mother!" Lu Lu Xiaolan said with a trembling voice, "I want to avenge my mother!"

Dabo Dabo Ensi sighed long and said: "Having dealt with Li Qi so many times, I've finally understood: from the day you and your mother wanted to kill him, you should have been prepared to die at his hands."

Lu Lu Xiaolan shouted: "You are afraid of him, but I am not; you don't need to worry about my affairs either."

"Don't worry, I won't worry about it anymore. Even if some rumors are true, I've paid back what I owed you," Dabo Dabo Ensi tidied up his suitcase, "This is the last time I save you, Miss Lu. From now on, whether you live or die has nothing to do with me."

Dabo Dabo Ensi was leaving, and Lu Lu Xiaolan panicked: "Don't go, take me to the Inner Prefecture; I still have to go to the Great Totem, I can still come back to life!"

"If you have this ability, go yourself; if you don't have this ability, be a wandering ghost in Puluo Prefecture," Dabo Dabo Ensi put on his coat and picked up the suitcase, "I warned you before: the Great Totem is incomplete. You were lucky to escape once, so you should feel fortunate. Take care of yourself from now on."

PS: The Great Totem first appeared in Chapter 321. ===== CHAPTER 767 =====