King of Hundred Victories Saber

Only to see an old man wearing a gray robe slowly walking over, his robe gently swaying with his steps, like flowing clouds.

The old man, with his white hair, had those silver threads shimmering in the dim light, yet he was full of vitality. His eyes glowed with the wisdom of seeing through everything, as if he could see through all things in the world.

"Who are you? Why did you bring me, Vermilion Bird, and White Tiger here?" Gong Simeng asked cautiously, while quietly gathering her Inner Strength, her aura faintly surging, ready to fight at any moment. If the old man made any move, she would strike without hesitation.

The old man smiled slightly, that smile like the warm sun in spring, dispelling some of the cold in Gong Simeng's heart: "Miss, don't panic. I mean no harm. I am the Valley Master of this Qingfeng Valley, having lived in seclusion here for many years. Recently, I sensed the turmoil in the Jianghu, especially the great danger facing the Auspicious Beasts Vermilion Bird and White Tiger, so I helped and brought you here."

Gong Simeng's vigilance slightly relaxed, but confusion still loomed like dark clouds: "Since you are in seclusion, why intervene in the matters of Jianghu?"

The old man's gaze looked into the distance, his expression solemn, as if he saw the bloody storms of the Jianghu's future: "These two Auspicious Beasts concern the fortune of Jianghu, their power can influence the entire Jianghu's situation. If they fall into the wrong hands, Jianghu will inevitably plunge into endless doom. Although I live in seclusion, I cannot sit idly by on such matters concerning all living beings. Your loyalty and righteousness in risking your life to protect the Auspicious Beasts impress me so I brought you along to take good care of you."

After hearing this, all of Gong Simeng's guardedness toward the old man vanished, gratitude surging in her eyes: "Thank you for your rescue, senior. But my friends, they must be very worried about me now."

The old man nodded, understanding in his gaze: "I know what's on your mind, but the outside is fraught with dangers, with the remnants of the Shadow Alliance still searching for your whereabouts. When Vermilion Bird and White Tiger recover, I will send you out. In the meantime, you can recuperate and also delve into some of the martial arts secrets of our valley, enhancing your own strength."

In the following days, Gong Simeng devoted herself to martial arts training with the old man in Qingfeng Valley.

The unique Inner Power Heart Method he taught was profound and intricate, exuding a mysterious atmosphere.

While practicing, Gong Simeng only felt some strange forces seemingly threading through her body, as if an invisible hand was guiding her to form a closer bond with Vermilion Bird and White Tiger.

This Heart Method seemed to build an ethereal yet firm invisible bridge between her and the Auspicious Beasts. With the help of the Auspicious Beasts' power, Gong Simeng felt her Power surging upwards like a rising tide. Her aptitude was exceptional, and her comprehension was extraordinary. Within just a few days, she grasped the essence of this Heart Method thoroughly, her strength growing like bamboo shoots in spring, growing higher and higher, her aura becoming increasingly stable and powerful.

However, beneath the surface of calm, undercurrents surged, concealing unknown dangers.

The several male disciples of the old man frequently and unwittingly cast their eyes on Gong Simeng.

Their gazes flickered with a chillingly inappropriate light, like hungry wolves eyeing a delicious prey.

Among them, a male disciple named Lin Fanhui, about thirty years old, appeared slightly thin, with pronounced cheekbones and sunken cheeks, his eyes showing a cunning glint, resembling a sly fox.

At night, the silence was reminiscent of unnerving dread, and occasionally he would perch all night outside Gong Simeng's window like a lurking ferocious wolf.

He occasionally spat on his fingers, with motions as light as a specter, silently poking through the paper window, his eyes glaring wide, staring fixedly at Gong Simeng's sleeping posture inside with a twisted, nauseating smile hanging on his lips, as if plotting some vicious plan.

This evening, the moon hid and the wind rose high, the thick darkness like a heavy quilt, tightly enveloping the whole world.

The surroundings were terrifyingly quiet, only the gentle breeze brushing against the leaves, making a faint "sasa" sound, as if whispering of unknown dangers.

Lin Fanhui, along with his fellow disciples Lu Tripod, Liu Xuan, Guan De, and Zhao Long, dressed in black, moved with ghostly stealth as they crept quietly towards Gong Simeng's dwelling.

Their eyes radiated greed and ferocity, like vicious beasts about to tear into their prey. Seizing the moment while Gong Simeng was in deep sleep, suddenly Lin Fanhui kicked through the paper window with a mighty thud, this sudden loud noise in the silent night resounding like a thunderous explosion beside one's ear.

They leaped in like a swarm of hungry vultures, unfurling a giant net "hualala," aimed at Vermilion Bird and White Tiger, the net in the night resembling a massive black cloud, pressing down with intimidation.

It turned out that during these days, they exploited the fact that Vermilion Bird and White Tiger were still under the poison of "Illusion Heart Powder" once administered by Liu Tingting, remaining unconscious and chaotic. Outwardly, they showed great concern for Gong Simeng, pretending to care and often sending small gifts sincerely, but in reality, they harbored evil intentions.

Secretly, they continued lacing the food of Vermilion Bird and White Tiger with "Illusion Heart Powder," even secretly mixing small amounts into Gong Simeng's meals. The poisonous dose was very subtle, hard to detect. Not only that, but they also taught Gong Simeng a set of seemingly intricate but actually evil beast-control techniques, under the guise of helping her communicate better with the Auspicious Beasts. But their true intent was to deceive Gong Simeng into unknowingly falling into their trap.