The people on stage decided the victor and exited.

Chuzheng jumped down directly: "I challenge Qi Yan."

"..."

The air seemed to quiet down.

Everyone looked at each other.

Qi Yan wasn’t ranked high, but... last time he was the one who demanded Chuzheng hand over Feng Hanyuan, and now Chuzheng came openly to teach him a lesson.

Qi Yan was called out, he had no choice but to go up.

The man got on stage swiftly, without any nonsense: "Landlord Fong, please."

Chuzheng placed one hand behind her back and looked coldly at the man opposite her; that gaze felt as if she didn’t even regard him.

Qi Yan: "..."

Qi Yan knew he had acted unkindly last time, but given another chance, he would still do the same; Feng Hanyuan just provoked so much hatred.

Qi Yan revealed his weapon and saw Chuzheng still unresponsive; unsure of what she was doing, he gritted his teeth and charged directly.

The match officially began once he advanced.

Qi Yan rushed forward swiftly; if Chuzheng didn’t move, she might not be able to dodge.

Everyone couldn’t help but feel tense.

Whoosh—

The blade grazed past Chuzheng’s body; she raised a hand to press on the blade’s spine, pushed down, tightly grasped the blade’s spine, and pulled it backward.

Qi Yan’s pupils widened slightly, quickly infusing the blade with Inner Strength.

The blade vibrated; Chuzheng let go of the spine, sidestepped, and shifted to Qi Yan’s side, elbowing him in the lower back.

The girl’s fighting style didn’t follow any pattern, not resembling the moves they knew from Fengman Building.

Yet Qi Yan had no counterattack ability; throughout, he was suppressed by Chuzheng, and she didn’t use any killing moves—just continually targeted him.

Those watching didn’t seem to feel it was very painful, but Qi Yan, being the one involved, knew how much it hurt.

Damn it!

This woman did it on purpose!

Chuzheng indeed did it on purpose, knowing some people don’t learn until it hurts.

You should thank me for not assuming a villain role; otherwise, you’d be done for!!

Chuzheng had her fun, finally kicking him off stage.

Everyone: "..."

I... damn it!

Chuzheng stood spiritedly on the stage and shouted: "Next, Yuan Xing."

If someone wants to challenge, you must get on stage; that’s the rule.

Yuan Xing ranked similarly to Qi Yan; having witnessed Qi Yan’s fate, his first reaction was to concede.

However, before Yuan Xing could speak, Chuzheng was already there, forcing him to retaliate.

Yuan Xing’s fate was identical to Qi Yan’s.

"Next..."

Chuzheng kept reading names.

She started from the lower ranks, fighting her way up.

Initially, people didn’t understand her motive, but as she faced more and more challengers, it became clear that these were the people who had previously blocked her.

"..."

There’s a saying, "Only small-minded people and women are hard to nurture."

Both are damn good at holding grudges!

-

After finishing off the last person, Chuzheng pulled out a booklet from her sleeve and checked it; it contained the names of everyone Xi Nan had investigated who had been involved that day.

Once confirmed no one was missed, Chuzheng closed the booklet and leapt off the stage, swaggering away.

Everyone: "..." That woman indeed holds grudges and even keeps them written down!

Although Chuzheng hadn’t challenged higher-ranked individuals, her name was already spreading; those in her grip couldn’t even last two moves.

Could her skills be weak?

Fengman Building suffered under Feng Hanyuan, but now it seems poised for revival under Fong Chuzheng.

"Cun Xin, do you remember what I said?" Liu Quchen stood afar, sleeve wrapped around him.

Cun Xin’s expression wasn’t great: "Manor Owner, her actions are rather extreme."

To challenge only those ranked lower, not daring to face any top-ranking rivals.

Liu Quchen glanced at his maid: "Do you have a strong bias against her?"

Cun Xin lowered her gaze: "It’s the Manor Owner who has excessive attention on her."

Liu Quchen was stunned momentarily, then smiled and shook his head: "There’re many matters lately; don’t dwell on them. Focus on your work."

"Understood."

Although Cun Xin disliked Chuzheng, apart from that one incident at the gate, she hadn’t made trouble for Chuzheng during other times.

-

Jinhua Saint didn’t know what he was doing at Shenwu Manor, but before the Clouds and Winds Tournament ended, he had to leave.

Since Man Yue required daily treatment from Jinhua Saint, she had to leave with him.

Chuzheng instructed Xi Nan and the others.

"If someone comes to find me, just say I died."

Xi Nan: "???"

What kind of operation is this?

According to time, Qi Peier’s people should have come long ago; unknown why they haven’t shown up yet.

Chuzheng departed with Man Yue alongside Jinhua Saint, not knowing where Feng Hanyuan was taken by Jinhua Saint; she didn’t see him.

Jinhua Saint’s residence wasn’t that of some reclusive immortal on a high mountain or a valley, but simply an ordinary village.

Returning home, villagers greeted him warmly.

"Hui Chun, prepare a room for them."

"Alright." Hui Chun cheerfully went to organize a room; Chuzheng watched her continuously haul items out, wondering if the room was packed with stuff?

Man Yue leaned against Chuzheng, cautiously watching the surroundings.

"Are we living here?"

"Yes, until your health improves."

"Have you found Yan Ya?"

"..." I don’t want to find him at all: "Not yet."

The boy fell silent, then suddenly spoke: "You don’t want to help me find him, do you?"

How could I not help you in finding him!!

It’s unfindable; what can I do?

What if he’s already done for himself!!

Chuzheng’s face was indifferent: "Think what you want, I can’t help that."

The boy: "..."

-

The courtyard where Jinhua Saint lived was simple; the next day, Chuzheng added quite a few items to make Man Yue more comfortable.

Man Yue remained indifferent most of the time, ignoring people, sitting alone, becoming defensive and sharp when anyone entered.

Night fell.

On the bed, the person curled into a ball, sweating heavily, brows knotted tightly, with a fearful expression as if dreaming of something terrifying.

In the dream was a pavilion.

In the pavilion, a child was tied with ropes, stretched wide into an "X."

Standing in front was an older boy.

"Brother..." The child looked fearfully at the person in front.

The older boy smiled and caressed the child’s cheek: "Little brother, don’t be afraid; it’ll be over soon."

Fear deepened in the child’s eyes, though he couldn’t struggle.

The older boy sighed, speaking with helplessness: "Today, while I was practicing, my teacher always said my Inner Strength flow was incorrect, so I wanted to see what exactly is right. You’ll help me, won’t you?"

The boy’s face showed anticipation, devoid of any malice. 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

But the child was pale with terror.

He always does this...

Always...

Kill him!

Kill him!

"Man Yue..."

"Man Yue."

Someone was calling him.

The dream world abruptly filled with dense fog; he couldn’t see anything, leaving only the sound in his ears.

"Man Yue, wake up."

The voice grew clearer.