Master of Strange Dao

Yu Ziqing's eyes were filled with pity.

If she had known that the village chief was capable of embroidering on fragile dried leaves long ago without breaking them.

She would probably be kneeling on the ground, hugging his legs, begging for guidance.

After watching a game of chess, Xia Shuang was disastrously defeated. Yet she lay on the ground as if she had won, gasping heavily and laughing like Er Han, lacking any image.

Well, this concept of pressure-increasing training was also blown out by Yu Ziqing.

Day by day, the blood pressure soared. Slowly increasing the stakes until when tormented to the point of peak blood pressure, one could remain calm, unaffected in judgment or strength control—only then would one be considered qualified.

Chess was just a casually cited example.

According to the examples set by Yu Ziqing, using dust to create easily breakable chess pieces was just the beginning.

Advancing further, one would use bubbles. Holding a bubble without popping it, carrying and setting it down without breaking it—breaking meant the loss of that chess piece.

The next game not only trained strength control but also tempered one's temperament and required winning the game. The entire process forbade the use of any powers, purely physical movements, which was actually very difficult.

Playing tricks to torment others was easy.

It was just unexpected that now Xia Shuang was actively seeking out this torment.

The village chief stood up, looking at Xia Shuang who had fallen to the ground with a chuckle.

"The more restless and agitated you become, the more thoroughly you will lose. Not bad, today you only crushed seventeen chess pieces."

The village chief looked at Yu Ziqing, intact and in good condition, which was excellent.

The village chief turned and went into the locust forest.

Xia Shuang got up from the ground, rubbing her arms.

"Is this how you usually train on Jinlan Mountain?"

"You can't handle a little trouble like this? How many times have you been beaten?"

"I've sparred with the village chief four times now!" Xia Shuang stubbornly refused to admit she was beaten, insisting it was sparring.

"Only four times and you're already struggling? You're an Eighth Tier master after all.

My foolish little brother has been beaten from childhood, breaking arms, legs, and ribs frequently.

He has been left breathless and nearly killed multiple times.

You're still jumping around because the village chief showed mercy, considering you're a guest."

Xia Shuang hesitated, then asked.

"So, I heard from Xi Yang that there's a rumor outside.

A Seventh Tier Body Cultivator from your Jinlan Mountain beat a Ninth Tier Strong to death.

Is that true?"

"Yes."

"Was it the village chief who did it?"

"Yes."

"So, does your Jinlan Mountain really have a Ninth Tier Body Cultivator?"

"Yes, so I did warn you to follow my words when you came, otherwise, you might be killed. You didn't believe me."

"..."

Xia Shuang's features nearly crumpled together.

How could I believe such an outrageous thing?

She had just had her desire for battle stirred in Dali and was holding back her energy with nowhere to expend it, just happening to come here for sparring.

Who would have thought she would almost be killed by a Seventh Tier Body Cultivator one day?

If it weren't for the fact that she was basically dead already, she wouldn't be able to stand talking here today.

It's just that the people of Jinlan Mountain are inexplicably messing up this power hierarchy.

"Alright, the village chief always likes to teach others. If you're sincere, there will be plenty of opportunities to continue getting beaten. Come with me to take care of some real business first."

Yu Ziqing took Xia Shuang to the south of Jinlan Mountain.

Han Dong was still standing like a flag, in front of Ba's grave, clutching the Sword Seal, motionless.

Upon seeing Yu Ziqing returning, Han Dong's demeanor shifted.

"Did you find out everything? Do I need to kill anyone?"

As Han Dong spoke, the Black Sword, planted at the edge of the locust forest, trembled slightly.

Xia Shuang, who had followed Yu Ziqing, immediately turned pale and stopped in her tracks, not daring to move.

The black cat's ears perked up as it burrowed under Yu Ziqing's arm, clinging tightly to him without letting go.

Just the mere slight tremble of the Black Sword made Xia Shuang feel as though she had died once already.

The faintly emitting murderous aura and a thread of presence made her realize that her physically proud body was as fragile as paper in front of him.

"It's okay, Brother Dong, the person is already dead, and the matter has been clarified. Let's calm down first.

This is a physician I invited, extremely professional."

Upon hearing this, Han Dong immediately dispersed his Sword Seal, and the murderous aura around him dissipated as well.

He said somewhat awkwardly,

"So it was a physician, please have a seat."

Han Dong went to fetch a stone table and chairs, setting them in front of the tomb.

Yu Ziqing watched him move clumsily and somewhat insensitively to social norms, struggling to suppress a laugh.

"Let's bring out your wife first."

"Oh, okay..."

The tomb cracked open, and a blue lotus rose from the ground.

As the blue lotus bloomed, it revealed an ice coffin inside.

At that moment, that somewhat elusive strange power also dissipated.

Han Dong heard Ba's voice again.

"She said that a few days ago, suddenly, her consciousness became very clear, as if a string that had been tied to her had dissipated, and now she feels very awake."

Xia Shuang looked curiously at Ba inside the ice coffin and then at Han Dong.

Han Dong gestured invitingly.

"Much appreciated."

Xia Shuang placed one hand on the ice coffin, her body surged with yin qi, and after a moment,

"I feel she is recovering well, and the environment here is quite suitable for her recuperation.

It seems there's no major problem."

Yu Ziqing took out a box and handed it to Han Dong.

"Look at this, it's something I came across unexpectedly."

Han Dong opened the box, inside was a long, sharp, dried-up finger.

"This is one of her missing fingers; I didn't expect it to still be around."

"I think that person might have used this to place a curse on your wife."

As Han Dong opened the box, the finger turned into a stream of light, entered the ice coffin, and disappeared.

Xia Shuang sensed again and shook her head.

"It looks like there's nothing I need to do, she definitely has no problems now and can gradually recover on her own."

"Thank you." Han Dong quickly expressed his gratitude.

Xia Shuang pointed at Yu Ziqing and said,

"You should thank my Little Uncle Master; I didn't do anything."

"Your coming here to confirm already helped a lot. Don't worry, I'll make sure the village chief spars with you a few more times."

"..." Xia Shuang frowned slightly, steadfastly denying, "That's called sparring! Sparring!"

"Ah right, right, sparring." Yu Ziqing waved his hand nonchalantly.

Watching Yu Ziqing's demeanor, Xia Shuang's blood pressure began to rise again.