Chapter 640: Chapter 348: Always So, Close in Body and Heart. Li Xian of the Flower Cage, Greatest of All Time_4
Li Xian secretly felt fearful: "If it weren’t for the unique efficacy of the Five Viscera Avoiding Dross and Gathering Yang Scripture, which can enhance perception, I wouldn’t have been able to avoid the lady. The Silkworm Robe Mismatched Jade Technique is truly powerful and fierce." He took off the silk clothing, and stored it in the Heaven-Hiding Box.
He then circulated impurity, confirming there were no further oversights. He continued on his journey, the sky pitch black and cold enough to chill to the bone. Li Xian used Qi Circulation to fend off the cold, but with the wind blowing, he couldn’t help but miss the warmth of a cozy nest. Ear and Eye Sensing revealed to him that Wen Caishang had now given up resisting and closed her eyes for inner cultivation using the Silkworm Robe Mismatched Jade Technique.
Li Xian murmured: "The Flower Cage Sect is not a place for me to reside permanently, but I must return to the Water Altar once more. Sister Liuli treats me well, I can’t leave her unprotected. Li Xian, oh Li Xian... sometimes you’re too flirtatious."
Seeing the snowstorm brewing, he chose not to rush on the road, picking a place where the snow was somewhat less severe, chopped firewood, started a fire, and lay on the snow to sleep. The next morning, he got up early to continue the journey.
After traveling for another half a day, he passed a village. The roads were muddy, and Li Xian vaguely heard crying. As he approached, he discovered a family mourning for their beloved daughter, who had disappeared a few days ago when she was in her prime.
Li Xian was puzzled: "Could it be the Flower Cage Sect? The Flower Cage Sect doesn’t capture poor girls, so what is going on here?" As he listened more closely, he learned from snippets of conversation that the girl had disappeared two evenings ago while heading in the direction of "Red Heart City".
The family’s life was difficult, and losing their daughter was truly agonizing. Li Xian quietly vowed that if the opportunity arose, he would help them. He continued in the direction of Red Heart City.
He observed the details along the way. He was well aware of the Flower Cage Sect’s nature, rife with dubious characters committing crimes wherever they went, causing great harm. Although Li Xian lived among them, he refused to participate in their misdeeds.
Before long, he found a suspicious figure, keeping his head down while tracking him, deliberately increasing his footsteps. That person realized he was being followed, immediately fled using the "Pan Chang Step" technique. This confirmed his identity to Li Xian, who sneered and swiftly gave chase.
The person hurried in escape, unable to shake off Li Xian, sweat streaming down their face, so they tried to lead Li Xian back to their headquarters. They attempted to gather others to attack him. In the outskirts of Red Heart City, there was an abandoned temple, neglected for decades.
About a dozen members of the Flower Cage Sect had gathered there, lit a bonfire, and were having gruel for food. From inside the temple, the muffled sound of crying emerged from within a large copper bell. The members, after eating and drinking, patted their bellies and combined their efforts to lift the bell.
Inside, three women were imprisoned, all dressed in simple clothing, beautiful in appearance but of humble origin. As it turned out... the Flower Cage Sect’s rules were lax, after the Flying Dragon City incident, everyone had scattered. These members were quite lustful, happened to regroup, and wanted to capture women for their own pleasure.
However, knowing their abilities were limited, adhering to sect rules to capture well-born women would inevitably bring disaster, leading to pursuit and predicament. So they reckoned, it was better to pick the weak and vulnerable.
Thus, they violated sect rules, specifically targeting ordinary women, bullying common villagers. Right in the middle of eating, someone rushed back, saying that a nemesis was pursuing and not even "Pan Chang Step" could shake them off. Hearing this, everyone showed alarm, then cursed the man, accusing him of bringing trouble by leading the enemy to them.
Everyone was concerned with their own survival, too afraid to resist. But Li Xian was not about to let them go, barging into the temple to fight. The disciples had nowhere to escape or fight, lying on the ground in agony, wounded severely.
Li Xian untied the ropes of the several women, freeing them to return home. The women, too frightened to express gratitude, hurriedly fled while crying. At this point, a disciple recognized Li Xian, exclaiming, "Ah! Elder Li... Elder Li... you’ve flooded the Dragon King’s temple!"
Several raised their heads, recognizing Li Xian’s face, fawning excessively, saying, "Grandfather Li, Great Master Li, we’ve been waiting and hoping for you!" "Thank goodness you’re still alive. You’ve truly achieved something unprecedented!" "Our Flower Cage Sect should follow your example! As long as you give the word, we would face any danger without hesitation!"
Their words were extremely sincere, even carrying a tone of genuine admiration. Li Xian frowned slightly, curious and suspicious, asking, "I heard you say, I did something unprecedented? What is it that I did?"
The members raised their thumbs, saying, "Speaking of this, you are truly amazing! In the thousands of years of our Flower Cage Sect’s legacy, only you stand out as such a remarkable figure!"
Li Xian sensed an ominous premonition, replied, "Enough with the nonsense, hurry up and tell me!"
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