Chapter 19: The Leader

Sigh, women.

Already losing your temper?

Luo Jie crossed his arms, a mocking smirk on his face, utterly unmoved.

“No.”

“I saved Itachi out of kindness—how can Itachi repay me with betrayal?”

Mu Wanjing clenched her teeth and said coldly, “Before I studied under my master, I swore a deadly oath: if any man sees my face, I must either kill him or marry him.”

“Since Itachi’ve seen my face, don’t blame me for being ruthless—I’ll kill Itachi today!”

Her tone was absolute, leaving no room for negotiation.

Hearing this, Luo Jie was overjoyed.

Perfect!

Wait—could there really be such a lucky turn of events?

I never coerce anyone.

It’s always others who come to me willingly.

So Luo Jie stated the facts plainly.

“My martial arts aren’t ordinary—Itachi won’t find it easy to kill me.”

“Rather than plotting to kill me, why not just marry me?”

Upon hearing this, Mu Wanjing froze.

She scanned Luo Jie from head to toe.

She had to admit, Luo Jie’s appearance did please her eyes.

But then she remembered her master’s warning—that all men were worthless.

She couldn’t forget her master’s teachings.

Besides, this man was shamelessly bold.

Her heart was torn with conflict.

The icy mask on her face now showed a flicker of helplessness.

For a moment, she was at a loss, unsure what to do.

…

Just as Luo Jie and Mu Wanjing were speaking, a sudden clamor burst in from outside.

Luo Jie frowned, silently wondering.

What now?

Why does the Liangliang Sword Sect have trouble every single day?

Other reincarnated ones get surrounded by beauties.

What about me? I’m stuck handling this mess every day like a servant to the sect.

If this keeps up, by the time I go out for a little adventure, I might come back to find my home gone.

Thinking of this, Luo Jie turned to Mu Wanjing and said softly, “Rest well and heal. I’ll go sort out this chaos, then come back to talk with Itachi.”

He added, “Don’t think about running.”

“Everyone here is mine.”

Then he turned and strode out the door.

Outside, the disciples of the Liangliang Sword Sect were in chaos, their faces frantic, shouting loudly.

“Catch her! Don’t let her escape!”

The scene was pandemonium—shouts overlapping, pounding against the eardrums.

Luo Jie was utterly bewildered.

Who am I?

Where am I?

What am I doing here?

What the hell happened?

He grabbed a familiar disciple and asked, “What’s going on? Why all this noise?”

The disciple was panting, his face drenched in anxiety.

Seeing Luo Jie, he blurted out:

“Brother Luo, disaster! Left Uncle’s son has been kidnapped by a wicked woman!”

Hearing this, Luo Jie’s heart jolted.

What?

This is a thing?

Left Uncle’s son was kidnapped?

Are there child traffickers on Liangliang Mountain?

He narrowed his eyes, recalling one person.

Could it be her?

The leader’s old flame.

Ye Erniang, that madwoman?

If it truly is her,

then I’ll kill her outright.

Daring to cause trouble on my turf? She’s begging for death.

Luo Jie hurried out of Jianhugong and searched the area, soon spotting the woman dueling Zuo Zimu not far off.

The woman wore a pale green robe, her long hair wild and flowing; though in her forties, traces of her youthful beauty remained.

But three deep red scars marred each cheek, stretching from beneath her eyes to her jaw—grotesque and terrifying.

In her arms, she held a boy of two or three.

The child had a plump, round face, adorable in appearance, yet now terrified, tears welling in his eyes.

It was Zuo Zimu’s beloved son, Zuo Shanshan.

Over the past days, Luo Jie had met the boy a few times in Jianhugong—they’d even formed a small bond.

After all, birds of a feather: Luo Jie and Zuo Shanshan were both pure, innocent children.

Itachi wicked woman, how dare Itachi touch him? This feud is sealed—I’ll make Itachi pay today.

Luo Jie studied the woman, his heart tightening.

It really is her… that monster.

The second of the Four Evils: “Evil to the Core,” Ye Erniang.

Rumor had it she stole an infant every morning to toy with, then brutally murdered it at dusk—her cruelty was beyond description.

In Luo Jie’s eyes, though all Four Evils were despicable scum,

Ye Erniang and Yun Zhonghe were the worst.

One tortured children, the other preyed on women.

These two were the fighter jets of human scum.

In his view, they didn’t even deserve to be called human—they should be stripped of their humanity entirely.

At that moment, Zuo Zimu swung his sword in a furious thrust toward Ye Erniang.

Ye Erniang merely curled her lips into a sinister smile, the expression grotesque against her scarred face.

She lifted her hands slightly, slowly shifting Zuo Shanshan’s body forward.

That strike was powerful—if it continued, the blade’s tip would pierce the child’s tender flesh first.

How despicable!

Using a child as a shield!

At the last instant, Zuo Zimu’s skill and experience saved the day.

He flicked his wrist sharply, halting the thrust.

The sword tip trembled midair, tracing a graceful arc before changing direction to stab at Ye Erniang’s right shoulder.

But Ye Erniang paid no heed to the deadly strike—she didn’t dodge or retreat.

She simply shifted Zuo Shanshan’s body slightly, using the child as a shield to easily force Zuo Zimu back.

Zuo Zimu, frantic, thrust four rapid strikes at her upper, lower, left, and right.

Yet Ye Erniang, calm and composed, merely rotated her wrist slightly, moving Zuo Shanshan’s small frame just enough to force Zuo Zimu’s every lethal strike to halt halfway.

Zuo Shanshan, terrified by the scene, burst into loud sobs, the cries echoing across the open ground.

Hearing the child’s desperate cries,

Luo Jie’s heart stirred.

Trouble—the boy’s in danger.

Without hesitation, Luo Jie tapped his foot lightly and activated Lingbo Microstep.

In an instant, his figure became a phantom, leaving a trail of blurred afterimages in the air.

With this peerless lightness technique, his speed reached its peak.

Before anyone could even register his movement, he had already slipped like a ghost between Zuo Zimu and Ye Erniang.

Ye Erniang was lost in the delight of tormenting Zuo Zimu, utterly unaware of Luo Jie’s approach.

By the time she finally noticed, Luo Jie was already right before her.

Startled, she instinctively tried to move Zuo Shanshan back in front of her to block Luo Jie’s attack.

But Luo Jie’s speed was far too fast—before she could finish her motion, he stood before her.

Luo Jie extended his right hand, shooting out like lightning toward Zuo Shanshan.

Ye Erniang tried to dodge, but her body could not react in time beneath Luo Jie’s ghostlike movement.

As Ye Erniang stared in shock, Luo Jie reached out and firmly seized Zuo Shanshan.

He spun smoothly, using the subtle steps of Lingbo Weibu, retreating backward like a wisp of blue smoke.

In the blink of an eye, Luo Jie had carried Zuo Shanshan beyond Ye Erniang’s reach, landing steadily several zhang away.

Securely secured!

Perfectly escaped the danger zone!

(End of Chapter)