In the bamboo hut not far away.
Li Daoqiang naturally didn't know that his mother-in-law had already resolved one of his goals. After coaxing Wang Yuyan for a bit, he told her to focus on cultivation and strive to master her own power as soon as possible.
Although Wang Yuyan had no interest in cultivation, her mindset had changed considerably, and she obediently went to cultivate. Li Daoqiang, meanwhile, turned his attention to the Great Bandit System.
His bandit points had increased by over five million.
This came from Ding Chunqiu and the others joining. The only slight pity was that Ding Chunqiu wasn't considered a top-tier expert. But thinking about it, that made sense. In terms of true strength, Ding Chunqiu wasn't much stronger than Duan Yanqing or Murong Fu. His main threat was his poison, a major nuisance. One careless move and you'd fall victim, so ordinary grandmaster-level experts were usually at a disadvantage against him. Even top-tier experts had to stay alert and not take him lightly.
This was largely thanks to Xiaoyaozi, who hadn't taught Ding Chunqiu the true core techniques of the Xiaoyao Sect. Otherwise, with his talent and age, he could have reached the top-tier level.
For Li Daoqiang now, over five million bandit points seemed insignificant. The gain wasn't huge. But at his level, the real harvest went far beyond the points themselves. Besides Ding Chunqiu, a grandmaster-level expert and poison master, it also resolved the issue with Su Xinghe and his disciples. Barring surprises, Su Xinghe and the others were already in his pocket.
More importantly, there were the potential assets, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling. Once a member of Black Dragon Village, always a member. They couldn't escape. Li Daoqiang had high hopes for these two. There was also Jiumozhi, a captive with great potential. As for Ou Jinghao, he was another potential asset, but there was no rush; he could be handled slowly.
Add in the most important one, Wang Yuyan. This trip to Gushou Mountain would yield at least thirty to forty million bandit points, with enormous potential for further exploitation. Overall, it was very worthwhile. Opportunities for such a rich haul would be hard to come by again.
He sat quietly for a while, summarizing the gains and making plans for deeper exploitation. Perhaps because the news had already spread, no one else came to the Broken Chess Game in the following time.
Dozens of miles away from Gushou Mountain.
Murong Fu could no longer hold back, his face turning gloomy. His heart was a mix of complexity and frustration. He had once again run into Li Daoqiang, gaining nothing and being toyed with like a puppet. He was sick of this situation. Earlier, perhaps out of consideration for his cousin Yuyan, Li Daoqiang hadn't made things difficult for him and let him leave first. It seemed fine, but what difference did it make? He deeply realized one thing: Cousin Yuyan was indeed a Wang, not a Murong. The gap was huge.
"Send a message. Ask when they'll start. Urge them." After a moment of thought, Murong Fu said in a low voice. The two retainers behind him immediately acknowledged.
On another road.
Duan Yu and the others politely bid farewell to Xuan Nan and his group. With no outsiders around, Duan Yu couldn't help but sigh, his expression complex and somewhat fearful. "I never thought attending a chess game invitation would lead to such twists and turns. Li Daoqiang is truly..."
"Your Highness, it's best not to discuss such experts lightly," a scholar-like figure behind Duan Yu suddenly said seriously.
Duan Yu paused, looked at his four guards, and saw the same expression on their faces. He nodded helplessly, feeling a bit listless. "Alright, I won't say anything." Though he disliked martial arts, he understood the status of peerless experts. Saying nothing was best.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he looked at the two women beside him and said with concern, "Wan Mei, Ling Mei, you've seen the dangers of the martial world this time. Don't think about running out to play casually anymore." This time, if his two newly recognized biological sisters hadn't insisted on coming along, he definitely wouldn't have brought them.
Then his face stiffened. He frowned and called out, "Wan Mei, Ling Mei."
The two women snapped out of it, blinking their different but equally beautiful eyes, looking at Duan Yu in confusion. Duan Yu felt helpless, even more curious and puzzled. Both sisters had been lost in thought, as if deeply engrossed in something. It was normal for Wan Mei, with her cold personality and tendency to keep things to herself. But Ling Mei was usually lively and had never been like this.
"Wan Mei, Ling Mei, what were you thinking about? So absorbed!" Duan Yu asked with some concern.
Mu Wanqing and Zhong Ling exchanged a glance. Mu Wanqing looked away, refusing to look at anyone, maintaining a silent demeanor. Zhong Ling blushed a little, blinking her large, spirited eyes, and said coquettishly, "I wasn't thinking about anything."
"Really?" Duan Yu didn't believe it and found it even more suspicious. Zhong Ling, embarrassed by his gaze, acted like a little girl caught doing something wrong, pouting repeatedly, "Alright, really nothing. Ask Sister Mu."
Duan Yu instinctively glanced at Mu Wanqing, shrank his neck, and immediately backed off. He didn't have the courage to press Wan Mei. Zhong Ling smiled playfully, but then her smile faded. Mu Wanqing was also looking at her. Her face fell, and she lowered her head, pretending to be invisible.
Mu Wanqing, too preoccupied to think about other things, glared at Duan Yu and Zhong Ling, then casually glanced toward Gushou Mountain. A deep complexity rose within her. The next moment, it turned into determination. Bastard, don't think you can just let this go.
The next morning.
Duan Yu and the others were in a panic.
"Have you found her?" Duan Yu asked anxiously as several people hurried over.
"Your Highness, not yet. But for now, you needn't worry too much. Miss Wanqing likely left on her own. She shouldn't be in danger in the short term," one person said confidently.
"And in the long term?" Zhong Ling's small face was also filled with worry.
The man paused, thought for a moment, and comforted, "Miss Wanqing probably hasn't gone far. We'll search further."
"Good, good, good. We must find Wan Mei," Duan Yu nodded repeatedly.
...
At Gushou Mountain.
Everything was packed up, ready to return to Black Dragon Village. Su Xinghe and his disciples were also in the group. Yesterday afternoon, Li Qingluo had told Li Daoqiang about Su Xinghe and his disciples joining Black Dragon Village. Li Daoqiang naturally had no objections. It caused no stir, as if it were only natural. His bandit points increased by over five million, now reaching around one hundred million.
Just as the group left Gushou Mountain, Li Daoqiang's eyes flickered with interest. "You all continue. I'll be back shortly."
He said it casually, gave Wang Yuyan a reassuring look, then leaped into the air and vanished in an instant. Everyone was startled, scanning the surroundings but finding no trace. Jiumozhi, Ding Chunqiu, and the others were secretly horrified. Especially Jiumozhi, whose regret had mostly faded. Not fighting was for the best. With Li Daoqiang's lightness skill, he couldn't escape, not even a chance.
On a main road over a dozen miles away.
A figure in a black dress, with an excellent figure and a cold, aloof demeanor, had an extremely beautiful face set with determination and stubbornness, heading toward Gushou Mountain. Suddenly, her vision blurred, and she felt her body lighten, a moment of dizziness.
"Ah~!"
She instinctively gasped, cried out softly, and flailed her limbs. In a breath, she landed back on her feet, wide-eyed and shaken. Then she saw a figure she had 'thought' about countless times recently. After a moment of shock, her face reddened, and she angrily scolded, "Lecher."
"Heh." Li Daoqiang's smile grew more amused. "Little girl, you dare speak to me like that?"
"Why wouldn't I? I'm not afraid of death. If you dare do it, I dare say it." Mu Wanqing lifted her swan-like neck stubbornly, showing no fear.
Li Daoqiang chuckled inwardly, then sighed slightly. In this world, some people fear death and would do anything to survive. Others aren't afraid at all. The fearless are the most troublesome, especially when they're a rare beauty. Of course, since he had provoked this, he wasn't afraid of trouble, just needed to put in a bit more thought.
He shifted his thoughts and smiled, "Alright, what are you here to see me about?"
"I'm not..." Mu Wanqing instinctively wanted to deny it but stopped herself. She was here to settle accounts with Li Daoqiang. "I'm here to settle accounts with you."
"Hahaha." Li Daoqiang laughed as if hearing something funny. He stopped only when Mu Wanqing could barely take it, then said with amusement, "You're here to settle accounts with me? For what?"
"Hmph, don't try to deny what happened that day." Mu Wanqing was both anxious and embarrassed, wanting to stomp her foot and even more to draw her sword and stab a few times.
"That day? Oh~!" Li Daoqiang seemed to recall, smiling. "How do you want to settle it? Your strength is so poor. Could it be you want me to take responsibility and marry you?"
Mu Wanqing's snow-white, jade-like face flushed crimson. She drew her sword and thrust it at him. "Lecher, I'll kill you."
Li Daoqiang casually tossed her sword aside, grabbed her slender wrist with one hand, making her go limp and unable to move. He wasn't angry; instead, his smile grew. "Alright, I'll call you Wanqing. No more nonsense. Two paths, Wanqing, you choose."
Mu Wanqing's pale neck turned red, her face full of shame and urgency, with a hint of grievance. Her clear, spring-like eyes stubbornly glared at the bastard before her. But she listened carefully.
"First, you leave on your own. From now on, we have nothing to do with each other. I naturally won't make things difficult for you. Second, marry me, Li Daoqiang, and become one of my wives."
Li Daoqiang's expression calmed, and he spoke very succinctly. His tone carried a hint of seriousness, making Mu Wanqing suddenly calm down, realizing the bastard meant what he said.
(Chapter 1.) ...