Over a hundred miles away in Wucheng.
Li Daoqiang's group checked into the finest inn.
After settling in, Li Daoqiang went to Little Dragon Girl's room.
"Chief, why are you here?" Huanhuan stood in the room, a puzzled look on her delicate face.
Beside her, Little Dragon Girl also looked over.
Her calm, serene eyes conveyed the same question.
"I'm here to help Miss Long expel the sword qi. Huanhuan, why are you here?" Li Daoqiang said calmly and unhurriedly.
"Miss Long is injured and it's inconvenient for her. Huanhuan came to help," Huanhuan replied naturally.
"Mm, then you can go back now." Li Daoqiang gave a slight nod, as if accepting her explanation.
"Chief, why not let Huanhuan do it? My Heavenly Demon Art is about to reach the seventeenth layer. With a bit more time, I'm sure I can help Miss Long expel the sword qi," Huanhuan said with sincere expression.
Little Dragon Girl's eyes flickered slightly, as if tempted.
"No need. It would be too troublesome with you, and who knows how long it would take. Go back now." Li Daoqiang said flatly without hesitation.
"Oh, alright then. Huanhuan will take her leave. But Chief, don't stay too long—a man and woman alone in a room doesn't sound good." Huanhuan gave a playful smile, then ran out of the room.
Li Daoqiang's brow twitched. This little vixen.
She actually dared to meddle in his affairs.
But this was an inevitable outcome of the competition he'd tacitly allowed, so he had to endure it.
"Heh, this Huanhuan, always so mischievous and reckless with her words. She's the Holy Maiden of the Yincai Sect, used to speaking sharply. Miss Long, please don't mind her." Li Daoqiang laughed magnanimously.
Little Dragon Girl shook her head, indicating she didn't mind.
But she had taken those words to heart.
With a calm yet firm tone, she said, "Miss Huanhuan is right. It's not appropriate for the Chief to stay long in my room."
"Haha, this girl Huanhuan really is..." Li Daoqiang laughed dismissively, then changed the subject with curiosity: "What did Huanhuan talk to you about just now?"
"Nothing much. She just asked me some things." Little Dragon Girl shook her head, not hiding anything.
"She's always like that. Whenever she meets someone outstanding, she wants to know everything about them." Li Daoqiang said casually, his tone carrying a hint of affection, as if speaking of a mischievous little girl who never grew up.
But inwardly, he had a good idea.
Huanhuan had probably already extracted a lot of information from Little Dragon Girl.
"Alright, let's start expelling the sword qi." Li Daoqiang's tone turned slightly serious.
"I'm in your care, Chief." Little Dragon Girl nodded.
A few breaths later, Little Dragon Girl sat on a stool, with Li Daoqiang behind her.
He extended both palms, pressing them against her soft back.
His large hands covered half of her back.
Even through the fabric of her clothes, he could feel the astonishing smoothness and warmth.
The sensation was no less than with Wang Yuyan or Huang Xuemei.
Little Dragon Girl instinctively leaned forward, uncomfortable, a trace of unease flickering in her clear eyes.
"Miss Long, circumstances require haste. Forgive the intrusion. But rest assured, though I, Li Daoqiang, have never claimed to be a good man, I would never deliberately take advantage of a woman. I hold only admiration for you, nothing more." Li Daoqiang said with righteous solemnity.
Little Dragon Girl hesitated, recalling that the man behind her had saved her twice and never overstepped.
Suppressing her discomfort, she silently nodded.
Li Daoqiang's expression remained unchanged as he channeled his inner energy.
A surge of pure, blazing true essence, carrying intense heat, entered Little Dragon Girl's body through her back.
She felt a warmth at her back, and a sense of fullness spread through her entire body.
At the same time, her limbs inexplicably grew weak.
Li Daoqiang had no other intentions, focusing solely on using his power to help Little Dragon Girl expel the sword qi.
Under his immense strength and extremely precise control, the sword qi was gradually driven out.
To ensure Little Dragon Girl's safety and avoid damaging her meridians or constitution, Li Daoqiang proceeded with utmost caution.
Without any carelessness, he moved slowly.
Slowly, slowly...
"Chief, can you go faster?"
"Miss Long, this can't be rushed. We must proceed carefully and slowly."
...
"Chief, I can handle the rest myself."
"How can that be? We're so close to finishing—how can we stop now? Don't worry, though I'm a bit tired, I can still manage."
...
After more than two full hours and three rounds of discussion, Little Dragon Girl was covered in a thin layer of sweat. A faint, sweet fragrance spread through the air.
Her usually pale, translucent complexion had taken on a rosy hue.
A faint mist of moisture appeared in her eyes, along with a rare hint of shyness.
Finally, Li Daoqiang withdrew his power. Even his forehead was slightly damp, showing a hint of fatigue.
He said seriously, "This Nian Lian Dan, the leader of the Prairie Demon Sect's Huajian Sect, really has some troublesome sword qi cultivated from his Huajian demonic energy. He lives up to his reputation as a master. Fortunately, it hasn't harmed your foundation, Miss Long."
Little Dragon Girl couldn't help but breathe a quiet sigh of relief. Struggling against the warm, languid feeling in her limbs, she lowered her head, suppressing her unnatural emotions, and said, "Thank you, Chief."
"It's nothing. Today I helped you, Miss Long, and someday you can help me in return." Li Daoqiang said with a light laugh.
Little Dragon Girl nodded, still facing away from him, and said earnestly, "I will."
"It's precisely because I believe you will that I keep helping you, Miss Long." Li Daoqiang said sincerely.
Though Little Dragon Girl disliked interacting with others, she couldn't help but feel a slight warmth in her heart.
She could clearly sense the trust in his words.
Li Daoqiang wasn't lying to her.
The unease in her heart lessened a bit.
"Alright, Miss Long, rest for now. I'll come to call you in the evening." Li Daoqiang said gently, without any intention of moving to face her, and turned to leave.
Hearing the door open and close again, Little Dragon Girl truly relaxed.
A deeper blush spread across her flawless face.
Then, she furrowed her brows slightly.
This feeling wasn't good.
She couldn't let it happen again.
But Chief Li was only helping her—it wasn't his fault.
She closed her eyes and began to adjust her breathing.
Outside the room.
As soon as he stepped out, the fatigue on Li Daoqiang's face vanished, along with the sweat.
He pondered the effectiveness of his approach.
So far, this method was working well.
It was almost the only way he could bridge the gap with Little Dragon Girl.
There was no other choice—Little Dragon Girl was simply too hard to win over.
She was impervious to all approaches, like water and fire.
Only through such forceful physical contact could he break through her distant indifference.
This time alone wouldn't be enough; it was just the beginning.
But he had time—no need to rush.
If twice wasn't enough, then three times; if three times failed, then four...
A flicker of coldness passed through his eyes as he sent a command to Kou Zhong in another room.
Kou Zhong acknowledged and immediately set to work.
Li Daoqiang paused, as if struck by a thought, then changed direction and headed toward Huanhuan's room next door.
Meanwhile.
Huanhuan sat with a calm expression, a faint frown on her face.
Finally finished. Did Li the Bandit really need that long to expel Nian Lian Dan's sword qi?
What was Li the Bandit up to?
Was he doing it on purpose?
Or did Little Dragon Girl have some other injury?
After a moment's thought, she set it aside and continued pondering how to outshine Little Dragon Girl.
From what she could see, Little Dragon Girl was detached, reclusive, and naive about the world.
It might be an act.
But there was an eighty percent chance it was genuine.
If so, dealing with someone like that would require more careful planning.
Just as she was refining her ideas, her gaze shifted toward the door.
"Huanhuan, come with me."
A voice reached her ears, and Huanhuan's eyes widened in irritation.
To Little Dragon Girl, it was "I."
To me, it's "this Chief."
She snorted, tempted to refuse, but still got up and went.
No choice.
Once outside, she put on a sweet, innocent smile and asked, "Chief, is something the matter?"
Li Daoqiang gestured with his eyes and headed out of the inn.
Huanhuan followed.
She asked a couple more times along the way, but Li Daoqiang only said flatly, "You'll see soon enough."
Before long, they arrived at a large fabric shop that also sold ready-made clothes.
Li Daoqiang spoke naturally, "Little Dragon Girl's clothes are a bit dirty. I want to buy her a set, but a man's taste differs from a woman's. So I brought you to pick something out."
Huanhuan's eyes widened as Li Daoqiang spoke.
By the end, she stared at him in disbelief.
"You... you want me to pick clothes for Little Dragon Girl?"
In her anger, she dropped the act, glaring at him through gritted teeth.
"Is there a problem?" Li Daoqiang asked, looking puzzled.
"Heh." Huanhuan laughed in fury. "What do you think? Would I, Huanhuan, ever pick clothes for another woman?"
"What's wrong with that?" Li Daoqiang frowned, genuinely confused.
Huanhuan's cheeks puffed up in anger, her teeth grinding audibly.
Sixty percent of it was an act, but she was genuinely furious.
She was competing with Little Dragon Girl, and Li Daoqiang was dragging her along to buy clothes for her rival.
This level of favoritism was beyond insulting.
It was worse than ignoring her—it infuriated her even more.
In all the history of the Yincai Sect's Holy Maidens, had any ever been treated like this?
It was a utter humiliation.
Unbearable. Unacceptable.
With a cold snort, she shot Li Daoqiang a hateful glare and turned to leave.
Li Daoqiang frowned deeper, as if puzzled.
Once Huanhuan's figure disappeared, a faint smile tugged at his lips. Interesting.
He stepped into the shop.
Soon, with plenty of silver, the entire shop buzzed with activity.
On the other side.
Huanhuan walked back toward the inn, her mind now calm but filled with suspicion.
Was Li the Bandit doing this on purpose?
Maybe not. With Little Dragon Girl around, it was natural for him to overlook her.
But the thought still made her fume.
Whether that bastard meant it or not, she couldn't let it slide.
She looked down at her delicate white shoes and felt the urge to hurl them away.
Bastard.
She stomped her foot heavily and continued toward the inn.
Every man who saw her along the way was left dumbstruck.
As for the women...
(Chapter 2. Thanks for the support. There will be a Chapter 3. From now on, two chapters a day will be the norm, and Chapter 3 will be an extra. No choice—I can't keep putting off the tigress.)