Chapter 66

Shen Tang was stunned.

When other people’s legs get better, who doesn't use them to scheme against their opponents first? Your legs are better, and the first thing you do is use them for this?

No, his legs aren't fully healed; he can only walk slowly and can't move around recklessly... What exactly is he trying to do...

While Shen Tang was letting her imagination run wild, Lu Xingzhou applied a little force to his hands, pulling her up as well, standing face-to-face.

Seeing Shen Tang’s dazed expression, Lu Xingzhou couldn't help but laugh, leaning into her ear: "What, Sister forgot that you can stand too?"

Leaning in like this, his breath was ticklish. Shen Tang, who thought she was used to their intimacy, shrank back subconsciously, her face quickly turning crimson.

Even her voice became weak and soft subconsciously: "What... exactly are you trying to do..."

Lu Xingzhou didn't advance, just wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her gently: "You said... wait for me to stand up together. I don't want any other reward, just let me hug you... not the kind of support for healing legs, just a hug..."

Shen Tang quieted down.

There had already been too many intentional or unintentional hugs between them. If this was called a reward, it was almost like having nothing.

But for some reason, yesterday when they hugged in a ball when he almost fell, they both clearly felt nothing, but today, just standing quietly and hugging gently, the heart rate skyrocketed, jumping faster and faster.

Shen Tang had almost forgotten when she said to wait for him to stand up together, and she had never thought about what this sentence meant in his heart. But she could feel the tranquility in his heart, as if he had completely let go of some obsession...

Her hands hanging at her sides moved, and she slowly wrapped them around his waist, actively hugging him, and whispered: "This kind of reward is complete, isn't it?"

Lu Xingzhou didn't speak, just hugged her quietly, feeling the rhythm of her heartbeat.

Shen Tang’s forehead rested gently on his shoulder, as if whispering: "Xingzhou, do you know... the day you first met me, I was sitting on the edge of a cliff..."

Lu Xingzhou said "Hmm": "What about it?"

"You and A Nuo thought I was seeking death and spoke up to stop me, and later thought it was a misunderstanding." Shen Tang said in a low voice: "Actually, you are both extraordinary people, and your intuition is terrifyingly accurate. You could both feel the sense of seeking death at the same time; it might not have been a misunderstanding..."

Lu Xingzhou didn't speak. This was true; his and A Nuo’s intuition were both very accurate. One person’s feeling might be wrong, but if the master and apprentice could both feel the sense of her seeking death, then it was probably true. At the very least, her back at that time was very desolate and melancholy.

"That period was the lowest point of my mood. I had doubted the meaning of my existence countless times, sitting on the cliff edge watching the white clouds and changing dogs, and a thought would pop into my heart from time to time... if I fell, would it be the end of it."

Lu Xingzhou finally spoke: "You are not allowed to think like that in the future..."

"But ever since I met you, I haven't thought like that again." Shen Tang whispered: "People only have that feeling when they are desperate. As long as there is a little hope, no one wants to think that way. And having you is hope."

As she said this, as if she had made up her mind, she suddenly raised her head and actively pecked his cheek.

Then she quickly pushed him away, took half a step back, and smiled beautifully: "That reward was too light; this is the reward... only get this much, don't be greedy."

Seeing the nervousness hidden in her smile, Lu Xingzhou took half a step forward.

Shen Tang, who was incomparably domineering in battle, was actually scared back by this small half-step, hooked onto her own wheelchair, and fell down.

Lu Xingzhou leaned down and also pecked her forehead gently: "According to your theory, this is complete..."

He stood up straight again quickly and smiled: "This time it wasn't a sneak attack."

Shen Tang’s face was as bright as clouds, her lips slightly pouted, and her eyes were full of shy annoyance.

Lu Xingzhou sat back in his wheelchair and turned to go out: "It’s almost dawn... Rest well for a bit. After lunch, we will set off for the county, sneaking in under the name of the City Lord’s entourage... If we feel the timing is right after scouting, the night will be the time to counterattack the Incense Burning Tower."

Shen Tang was stunned: "So fast? Your legs aren't even fully healed..."

"Speed is the essence of war. The Incense Burning Tower won't expect us to come so fast. Don't wait for them to make arrangements and increase the difficulty in vain. As for my legs..." Lu Xingzhou rolled to the door and laughed: "Who knows if there will be a surprise by then."

The door opened, and as if predicting it, he reached out and grabbed A Nuo, who was about to fall in, into his arms and left like a ball.

One could vaguely hear his scolding as he went away: "I knew you were eavesdropping, I knew you were eavesdropping. With such good cultivation talent, is that all you use it for?"

A Nuo’s response was righteous: "If you go ask Sister Yuanyao, she will also tell you that cultivation is used for this!"

"Yo, it’s already Sister Yuanyao?"

"At least Sister Yuanyao really rubs the faces she likes, unlike some people who clearly like them to death but dare not move."

"I kissed today..."

"Eww~ tell me more..."

"Go, go, you’re just a child."

Shen Tang’s cheeks were burning, feeling like they were about to catch fire.

Dugu Qingli stood in front of her, expressionless. Shen Tang seemed a bit afraid to look at her and whispered: "Qingli, I..."

Immediately, she didn't know what she wanted to say and closed her mouth again. Should I say that I really feel like I like him now, but he likes you, and I’m stealing your man? That’s not right; I was here first, and you even told me to try to become the person in his heart.

Dugu Qingli didn't know why either. She clearly liked the pair before, but now she felt strangely unhappy looking at them. But she didn't say this, just stiffened her face and said: "He is much calmer than you. He knows that business is at hand, and he has gone out to find Sheng Yuanyao again. Only you are still blushing at this time. Take it easy, I am responsible for your safety, don't ruin my mission!"

Translation: Stop kissing men.

Shen Tang regained a bit of her thinking and looked at Dugu Qingli’s cold face, saying carefully: "Qingli, if the State Preceptor knew you had a private affair with a demonic man, what would happen?"

Dugu Qingli’s eyes widened: "How can you slander someone’s innocence out of thin air?"

"I’m saying, if, if..."

"I don't know, I’ve never seen Master face such things. But Master seems to attach particular importance to the Yama Hall..." Dugu Qingli said here, also a bit confused: "Master has exterminated so many demonic paths, but I’ve never seen her have this attitude toward the Yama Hall. It’s so strange... Also, some of Lu Xingzhou’s techniques..."

Shen Tang wanted to say more but stopped. Actually, she really wanted to say, I was just making an analogy about you and a demonic man, I didn't say it was Lu Xingzhou... You are quite fast at substituting yourself in, and even expounding further and further...

She sighed: "You don't know how the State Preceptor is, but I know how the Emperor is..."

Dugu Qingli knew this time why she insisted on asking this "if." It turns out she was afraid of resistance at home and wanted to find reference opinions.

I not only protect you, but I also stand guard for you when you kiss, and finally, I have to be a reference for you, right?

Dugu Qingli said coldly: "Once a swordsman’s sword is drawn, it never returns. Where do all these twists and turns come from? The Imperial Extreme Startling World Scripture is really not a good cultivation technique."

Shen Tang: "..."

"Rest, you. Today, in the battle with the third-grade, both you and I have some internal injuries. We should recover to our best state as soon as possible." Dugu Qingli said indifferently: "The high-third-grade is indeed remarkable."

Indeed remarkable. Shen Tang and Dugu Qingli, who possess super-grade cultivation techniques, and are themselves gifted, find cross-realm challenges a common occurrence. Facing opponents one level higher, they can often win by themselves, and if they can't win, they can retreat unscathed, not afraid at all.

Demons and corpse puppets are different concepts, so we won't count them for now. Tonight, facing Zhu Lianfeng was perhaps the first time in their lives they joined forces to challenge an opponent one level higher, yet they couldn't gain any advantage at all. If the opponent hadn't been too contemptuous of Lu Xingzhou’s black flames, this battle might not have been won.

Even if they won, the opponent could fly, and they couldn't chase... In the end, they relied on Zhang Shaoyou’s hundred-mile flying sword to kill the opponent. Even without Zhang Shaoyou, they would have had to use Shen Qi; they couldn't kill him themselves.

The high-third-grade barrier is indeed extraordinary.

Shen Tang pondered: "On the surface, Zhu Lianfeng and Zhang Shaoyou, as the first and second protectors, are the strongest two among the protectors who can fight in the Incense Burning Tower. The third-grade who stayed behind don't have their level. But as a third-grade sect with a long history, they often hide old monsters who are in seclusion."

Dugu Qingli nodded. She understood this very well. There are many old monsters in the Tianyao Holy Land who live in seclusion and only seek breakthroughs; it’s not just her Master, a super-grade, who is suppressing the world.

However, judging by conventional standards, the highest is still only third-grade. In order to boost their reputation, sects will bring out any second-grade experts as a sign. The prestige of a second-grade sect is much greater than that of a third-grade one, and the benefits to the sect’s development are self-evident. No one would hide a second-grade expert just to scheme against people; it’s not worth the loss.

That is to say, there should be old monsters of high-third-grade or quasi-second-grade, but I don't know how many there will be.

In addition, although the main body of the Incense Burning Tower is alchemists, and the actual combat ability of alchemists is indeed quite funny, the level is there, and it cannot be truly ignored. Just a few talismans can make people very troubled.

Plus the sect-protecting array... So this counterattack, even if Zhang Shaoyou and others have joined their side, may still not be winnable.

As for the specifics, we have to observe a bit before making a conclusion. If we find that we really can't fight, we don't necessarily have to fight. Anyway, the Incense Burning Tower is now severely damaged, and Lu Xingzhou will naturally have many ways to slowly drag it down.

Hmm, anyway, there is Lu Xingzhou. Shen Tang found that she didn't need to think about anything; just close her eyes, recover from her injuries, and welcome the next battle in the best state...

At this moment, Lu Xingzhou was still in the Demon Suppression Division office.

It was already dawn, and Sheng Yuanyao hadn't slept all night, paying attention to this battle.

Zhu Lianfeng’s corpse was placed in the main hall of the Demon Suppression Division. Sheng Yuanyao paced back and forth with her hands behind her back, her expression very strange: "You really won, zero casualties, and no massacre?"

"Yes." Lu Xingzhou was all smiles, looking in a very good mood, not knowing if it was because he won the battle or because he kissed someone: "Since the City Lord doesn't want me to be too ruthless, I have to give you this face."

Sheng Yuanyao’s eyes became much kinder, and she whispered: "Thanks."

A Nuo turned his little head away, unable to bear looking.

Lu Xingzhou said: "We are going to the county today. Is the City Lord ready?"

Sheng Yuanyao looked seriously into Lu Xingzhou’s eyes: "I hope your so-called helping me investigate the demon case has real clues, and is not just using the name of the City Lord’s guard to sneak into Dongjiang County."

"I also need to verify the clues, I can't speak blindly now..." Lu Xingzhou smiled: "If the County Governor hosts a banquet to invite the City Lord to dinner tonight, would the City Lord mind bringing an extra guard?"

(End of this chapter)