The Lord God is kneeling on the washboard again

From that day on, Xing Lanyue would make pills for the Duanmu family every once in a while.

At first, everyone in the Duanmu family was skeptical about her alchemy ability. However, when the first batch of pills was refined and showed extraordinary quality and efficacy, the entire Duanmu family was shocked.

Every time Xing Lanyue worked on the alchemy, she would close the door tightly and toil alone in the alchemy room specially prepared for her. The room was filled with strange aromas and curling smoke, filling people with curiosity and anticipation about the mysterious process.

Over time, thanks to the elixirs refined by Xing Lanyue, the Duanmu family's disciples made rapid progress in cultivation and greatly increased their strength. Their reputation in the outside world also grew, and they gradually became a remarkable family.

But even though Xing Lanyue brought such huge benefits to the Duanmu family, she still seemed out of place in the Duanmu family. She always kept to herself, was taciturn, and seemed indifferent to everything except alchemy.

Duanmu Jin repeatedly tried to learn the secrets of alchemy and her past from her, but she coldly refused each time. Over time, the people of the Duanmu family became both awed and distant towards her, but she seemed unconcerned, continuing to refine pills for the Duanmu family at her own pace.

Duanmu Jin walked out of the secret room, his face so gloomy that it looked like water could drip out of it. His steps were heavy, and each step seemed to be filled with endless worries and entanglements.

What he had just seen and heard in that secret place made him feel even more depressed. The secrets hidden in the darkness were like heavy shackles, weighing down his breath.

He looked up at the sky and sighed deeply. The sunlight on his face could not dispel the gloom in his heart.

Duanmu Jin unconsciously clenched his fists, secretly wondering how to deal with this complicated situation. Should he continue to hide those secrets, or choose to face them bravely?

He walked slowly, his figure gradually moving away in the long corridor, leaving behind silence and contemplation.

Meanwhile, in the Shadow Killing Tower, Shi Sang and Xing Xuanli were discussing important matters. Shi Sang teased Xing Xuanli, "Is your boyfriend no longer bothering you?"

Xing Xuanli rolled her eyes at her and said unhappily, "Don't talk nonsense. He's just been busy lately."

Shi Sang covered his mouth and laughed secretly: "Oh, you're still protecting him. I see, you are being eaten alive by him."

Xing Xuanli snorted lightly: "If you keep talking nonsense, I won't discuss this with you."

Shi Sang quickly waved his hands: "No, no, no, I won't say anything. Tell me quickly, what should we do next?"

Xing Xuanli then straightened her expression and said in a low voice, "According to the information I received, the other party has made a big move recently. We must prepare in advance."

Shi Sang frowned, thought for a moment and said, "Then in your opinion, how should we deploy it?"

Xing Xuanli's eyes were determined as she slowly said, "I already have a preliminary plan, but it needs further refinement. We need to..."

The two of them gathered together and seriously discussed their countermeasures. The atmosphere in the room gradually became tense and serious.

Xing Xuanli asked Shi Sang: "What do you think of Lin Luochuan? If you like him, I can help you get married."

Shi Sang's face instantly turned red, and he scolded: "Hey, Xuanli, don't talk nonsense! Who likes him?"

Xing Xuanli smiled and approached Shi Sang, jokingly saying, "Hey, look at your reaction, and you still say you don't like it?"

Shi Sang turned his head away and said stubbornly, "Really?! I just think he's... okay, nothing special."

Xing Xuanli didn't believe it and continued to tease her: "Then I don't care. Since you think it's okay, I will go and tell him to tie this red string for you two."

Shi Sang hurriedly grabbed Xing Xuanli and said anxiously, "No, no, no, if you really do this, I will ignore you from now on!"

Seeing that she was really anxious, Xing Xuanli restrained her smile and said seriously, "Okay, okay, I won't tease you anymore. But seriously, if you really have that idea, don't hide it. There is nothing we can't talk about between sisters."

Shi Sang sighed softly and whispered, "Actually, I can't really explain how I feel about him. It's just that every time I see him, I feel a little confused."

Xing Xuanli patted Shi Sang's shoulder and comforted him, "Don't worry, just let things take their course in life."

Shi Sang said, "Aren't we discussing important matters? Why are we talking about feelings?"

There was a hint of helplessness and anger on her face, and her eyes were full of confusion as she looked at Xing Xuanli.

Xing Xuanli was slightly startled, then she reacted and said apologetically, "Oh, I got off track. Let's get back to the point."

Shi Sang breathed a sigh of relief and said, "That's right. We can't let these irrelevant things delay our work."

The two smiled at each other, reorganized their thoughts, and focused their attention on the original important matters. The study was once again filled with a serious and earnest atmosphere of discussion.

Xing Xuanli discussed something with Shi Sang. After they finished discussing it, Xing Xuanli said goodbye to Shi Sang solemnly: "All the housekeeping in the building is in your hands."

Shi Sang nodded seriously: "Don't worry, you and I are good sisters, your business is my business?

Xing Xuanli smiled, turned around and left, then hurried back to the Regent's Palace.

Shi Sang looked at her back as she walked away, sighing sadly.

However, on the way, the moon was dark and the wind was strong, and the only sound on the silent road was her hurried footsteps. Suddenly, several men in black appeared like ghosts and blocked her way.

Xing Xuanli paused, her eyes instantly becoming fierce, and she shouted coldly, "Who are you? How dare you block my way!"

The man in black remained silent, but the weapon in his hand flashed coldly in the moonlight as he approached Xing Xuanli step by step.

Xing Xuanli's heart tightened, and she secretly tightened the sword in her hand, preparing to deal with the impending danger.

The leading man in black said, "I'm sorry, Princess Regent, but we are only following orders."

Xing Xuanli raised her eyebrows and shouted angrily, "On orders? On whose orders? How dare you do such a wicked thing on such a dark and windy night!"

The man in black remained silent, but his eyes became more ferocious. He tightened the weapon in his hand and made an attacking gesture.

The man in black said no more. At a command, the others rushed towards Xing Xuanli and Shi Sang. In an instant, swords flashed and shadows clashed, and the two sides were engaged in a fierce fight.

The night was as dark as ink, illuminated only by the occasional, cool moonlight, the fierce battle unfolding. Xing Xuanli, lithe and ghostly, dodged the attacks of the men in black, her sharp eyes searching for weaknesses and opportunities to strike back. Shi Sang, also a skilled martial artist with sharp moves, fought the men in black to a standstill.

Before the leader of the black-clad men fell, he widened his eyes, still pointing his finger at Xing Xuanli, and said in a trembling voice, "You..., you are Chi Ling..."

Xing Xuanli sneered: "Since you know that I am Chi Ling, you still dare to block my way. You are simply fearless!"

There was a sharp light in her eyes, as if it could instantly see through the man in black in front of her.

When the men in black heard the name "Chi Ling", their bodies trembled involuntarily, but they still pretended to be calm.

Xing Xuanli took a step forward, the sword in her hand flashing an icy light in the moonlight. "How dare you challenge me? Do you really think my name, Chi Ling, is for nothing?"

The men in black looked at each other, and one of them said stubbornly, "Chi Ling, today we are following orders. Even if it means death, we will never retreat."

Xing Xuanli sneered, "You are so loyal, but it's a pity that you followed the wrong master and chose the wrong path. Since you are so reckless, don't blame me for being rude!"

"Hmph, you overestimate your abilities!" Xing Xuanli swung the sword again, and another man in black fell in a pool of blood.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the remaining men in black became frightened and began to flee in all directions.

Xing Xuanli looked at their fleeing backs and said coldly, "Go back and tell your master that anyone who dares to provoke me, Chi Ling, will pay a heavy price!"

Xing Xuanli sensed someone peeping in the dark and shouted sternly, "Come out! Don't hide."

Her voice echoed in the silent space, carrying an irresistible majesty. However, the surroundings remained dead silent, with only the rustling of leaves in the breeze.

Xing Xuanli frowned, her eyes growing colder as she shouted again, "If you don't come out, don't blame me for being rude!"

As Xing Xuanli finished speaking, a man in black walked out from the darkness. He held a folding fan in his hand, gently patted his palm, and said with a smile: "I didn't expect that the number one killer organization, Yingsha Chiling, would actually give up her career and become a cook for a man."

Xing Xuanli saw who was coming and sneered, "So it's you, my defeated opponent."

The man in black paused, his expression instantly darkening. “Don’t be so arrogant. It was just a momentary oversight on my part last time.”

Xing Xuanli raised an eyebrow and said, "A momentary negligence? Humph, if you lose, you lose. Why make excuses?"

The man in black gritted his teeth and suppressed the anger in his heart: "Things are different now. I won't let you succeed so easily this time."

"But you, Chi Ling, who was once feared by everyone, are willing to hide in the backyard." There was a hint of sarcasm and confusion in his words.

Xing Xuanli's expression turned cold, and she retorted, "What does this have to do with you? It's my freedom to make my own choice."

"Freedom?" He scoffed. "Once a legend in the martial arts world, now trapped in this tiny place. Is this what you call freedom?"

Xing Xuanli looked at him with a firm gaze and said, "I have found the life I really want here. This is something you cannot understand."

He shook his head and sighed, "It's such a pity that your abilities are buried like this."

Xing Xuanli clenched her fists and said sternly, "I don't need you to judge where I use my abilities. If you continue to talk nonsense, don't blame me for being rude!"

After saying this, Xing Xuanli instantly disappeared into the darkness.

She moved so fast that it was as if she had never appeared there. The man in black was left standing alone, staring at the direction she disappeared in with a complicated expression.

The wind rustled the leaves quietly. The man in black frowned, his mind etched in thought. Perhaps he was frustrated at not getting the result he wanted from Xing Xuanli, or perhaps he was lamenting the resolute departure of the once legendary figure.

Xing Xuanli, like a flash of lightning in the night, was already far away in a few moments. Her figure was slender, her clothes fluttering, and her heart was filled with disdain for the black-clad man's words. She knew her choice well and had no regrets about her current life. Regardless of what others thought, she had her own perseverance and faith.

In the darkness, Xing Xuanli's figure became farther and farther away, until it completely merged into the boundless night.

When she returned to the Regent's Palace, Yun Mohan (Nangong Han) was already sitting in the bedroom waiting for her.

Xing Xuanli stepped into the room and was slightly startled when she saw Yun Mohan.

Yun Mohan's expression looked uncertain under the candlelight. He fixed his eyes on Xing Xuanli and said, "Where have you been? You're back so late."

Xing Xuanli calmed herself down and replied, "I went out to do something. I'm sorry to have worried you."

Yun Mohan stood up and walked in front of Xing Xuanli, his tone carrying a hint of concern and reproach: "Next time you go out, tell me in advance, don't keep me waiting."

Xing Xuanli nodded gently: "I understand."

Yun Mohan looked at her slightly tired face and said softly, "You must be tired. Rest early."

Xing Xuanli responded, and the two of them walked towards the bed together.

Lying in bed, Xing Xuanli tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. Her mind kept replaying her encounter with the man in black tonight and the words he had said. Yun Mohan seemed to notice something was wrong with her and gently embraced her in his arms, asking softly, "What are you thinking about?"

Xing Xuanli hesitated for a moment, but decided to keep the events of tonight a secret, saying, "Nothing, just something on my mind."

Yun Mohan patted her back gently: "Go to sleep, I'm here, don't think too much."

With Yun Mohan's comfort, Xing Xuanli gradually relaxed and finally fell asleep.