That damned charm.
Li Zhiming couldn’t help but steal a few extra glances at Mingzhu.
Truth be told, since arriving in this world, he had encountered fewer than three women who could surpass her.
However, Li Zhiming didn’t have many thoughts about the beauty before him; it was purely an appreciation of aesthetics. After the cautionary tale of Tian Yaoyao, he dared not easily step into the ocean of romantic entanglements again.
"Women only slow down the speed of my blade."
This saying was quite accurate. Li Zhiming agreed with it wholeheartedly now.
"Many thanks for the information, Senior Sister." Li Zhiming cupped his hands in a salute. "May I ask if carrying a disciple token allows me to enter the Third Level of Xuyuan?"
Li Zhiming asked this because he knew a disciple token allowed one to move freely within the upper levels of Xuyuan, but he wasn’t sure if he could delve deeper or if he would be stopped.
"You can," she replied. "Once you become a Patrol Disciple, holding a disciple token allows you to move freely in areas above the Fifth Level, provided you can withstand the Yin Demonic Dead Qi within. But why would you want to go to the Third Level of Xuyuan? You must know that the intensity of the Yin Demonic Dead Qi doubles with every level. Other disciples are desperate to stay on the first or second levels, and here you are, wanting to go deeper—are you not afraid of death?"
Mingzhu stared at Li Zhiming, her long eyelashes framing large, glistening eyes filled with curiosity.
"Just asking out of curiosity," he replied.
"You are severely injured right now; it will take at least a month to fully recover. Don’t go running around. Stay put on the First Level like a good disciple. When you are needed, the elders will naturally issue you tasks."
"Understood."
Watching Li Zhiming, Mingzhu sensed he wouldn't remain so content on the First Level, so she added a warning: "Although Patrol Disciples can freely enter the first four levels, each level is guarded. If your cultivation level isn't high enough, the guards will kindly send you back."
"Don't worry, Senior Sister. I barely escaped with my life; I'm not stupid enough to go down there and throw it away before my injuries have fully healed."
"Good, that’s the spirit." Mingzhu nodded in satisfaction, then reached up to rub the corner of her eye, her expression shifting subtly. "I have matters to attend to, I must be going."
Mingzhu waved her hand and turned to leave.
*Clang!*
Just as Li Zhiming sat down to have a cup of tea, a noise came from the doorway. He turned to look and saw that Mingzhu had collapsed to the floor.
"What’s going on?" Li Zhiming frowned and stood up to check on her.
He found the delicate beauty lying on the ground, her face pale and her expression filled with pain. Her limbs seemed to be beyond her control, flailing aimlessly as if she were enduring some kind of agony.
Li Zhiming was full of questions. Mingzhu had been fine just a moment ago—how did she collapse the second she turned around? Without overthinking it, he scooped her up and placed her on the bed.
"So hot." Li Zhiming rubbed his palms together. Mingzhu’s body was searing hot to the touch!
"What on earth?"
Li Zhiming reached out and pressed his fingers to her wrist, channeling his True Qi into her body in thousands of tiny strands.
"Her True Qi is scorching, and it's boiling. Why is this happening?"
Li Zhiming’s expression turned grim. If this continued, Mingzhu would literally be steamed alive. He was completely baffled. When Mingzhu fought Tian Yaoyao earlier, she had clearly used icy True Qi. Why was there not a trace of it left in her body, replaced entirely by scorching fiery True Qi?
"This is too anomalous."
The situation was beyond his ability to handle; he needed to get to the Second Level to call for help. Just as Li Zhiming turned to leave, a searing-hot hand grabbed his wrist.
"Junior Brother... help... help me."
Mingzhu opened her eyes, her breath shallow and her face flushed deep red; she felt as if she were being steamed.
"Senior Sister, how can I help you?"
"Take me... take me to the Third Level of Xuyuan!" Mingzhu gasped.
"The Third Level?"
"Yes!"
Li Zhiming didn't hesitate. He swept her up into his arms. He had been looking for an excuse to go to the Third Level anyway! With a life at stake, he didn't have the luxury of savoring the sensation of holding the soft beauty; he hurried toward the Second Level.
"Damn, isn't that Li Zhiming?"
"What’s the situation? Why is he carrying a beautiful woman?"
"She looks familiar... isn't that Senior Sister Mingzhu? Why is she on the First Level today? I recall she rarely appears here," someone remarked.
"Holy crap, since when did Li Zhiming know Senior Sister Mingzhu, and is that a bridal carry?!"
"Are they... together?"
"Damn it, why him?"
"Exactly, why him?"
"Didn't this Li Zhiming just earn merit by capturing an anomaly on the Second Level last night? Plenty of disciples earn merit; how is it that he gets to be so intimate with Senior Sister Mingzhu? I’m not convinced!"
The disciples and jailers on the First Level began to whisper and gossip. When Li Zhiming reached the entrance to the Second Level, the guards blocked his path.
"What are you doing?"
"Move! It's a matter of life and death!"
"Show us your disciple token!" they demanded.
The guards and the Patrol Disciples worked on a rotation. After spending enough time in Xuyuan, they would return to the Outer or Inner Sect, or to the designated living quarters around Xuyuan. These two had just been rotated in today, so they naturally didn't recognize Li Zhiming or Mingzhu.
Li Zhiming flashed his token. Upon seeing it, the guards lowered their weapons and let him through.
"Third Level, to the Third Level!" Li Zhiming ran swiftly with the beauty in his arms.
Mingzhu was breathing heavily. Her temperature had dropped slightly, but her expression remained one of agony. Subconsciously, she placed her hand against Li Zhiming’s solid chest and gripped it hard.
"Hiss..." Li Zhiming gasped in pain.
"Senior Sister, calm down! Stop clawing me!"
He looked down at the beauty in his arms; her small hands were clenched against his chest, her face twisted in pain.
"Fine, I'll forgive you this once."
Li Zhiming ignored the pain and kept running until he finally reached the entrance to the Third Level.
"Make way, let us through!"
The two guards at the Third Level recognized Li Zhiming and Mingzhu. Although they were confused as to why Li Zhiming was carrying her, they saw his urgency and moved aside to let them pass. After all, they knew Senior Sister Mingzhu lived on the Third Level.
"Damn it, don't bite me!"
Li Zhiming felt a sharp pain in his chest. Mingzhu had stopped scratching him and was now biting down!
"Are you a dog or something?"
Li Zhiming looked left and right, then chose a path at random and pressed deeper into the level.
"Senior Sister, stop biting! We're on the Third Level. Where do we go now?!" he asked, grimacing.
"My... my room..."
"Where is your room?"
"In... inside."
Mingzhu released his chest and pointed in a direction. Li Zhiming mustered all his strength and charged forward. Along the way, he kept a constant watch on the cells he passed. Each one possessed seals and prohibitions far stronger than those on the Second Level, along with locks made of much tougher mysterious iron!