Chapter 40 : Cangshan Sword Saint

Chapter 40: Cangshan Sword Saint

“Xiaolan, train well in martial arts. You must protect me, understand?”

As soon as they stepped into Mingyu Martial Hall, Li Yunqing spoke softly, reminding Xiaolan, “The greater the fame, the more trouble follows. You wouldn’t want your Miss to be abducted by bad men, would you?”

“Miss, don’t worry—I will definitely train hard!”

Xiaolan’s expression turned serious, clearly startled by her Miss’s words. She quickly added, “I’ve already gotten the basics of the fist technique down. I’ll definitely be able to protect you!”

“Mm, no slacking off!”

Li Yunqing raised her hand and pinched Xiaolan’s cheek, a faint smile appearing on her face.

Having grown up together, she also hoped Xiaolan could protect herself.

As her fame continued to grow, trouble would inevitably increase. Without strength, staying by her side would only make Xiaolan more vulnerable.

“Mm!”

Xiaolan nodded solemnly, supporting Li Yunqing’s arm as they headed toward the Medical Hall.

With the Blood Qi Pills her Miss had given her, her cultivation had not been slow.

She had no family—her Miss treated her better than a real sister. Naturally, she did not want anything to happen to her.

Moreover, she had noticed that even within the martial hall, wherever her Miss passed, the disciples would stare with burning gazes.

Her Miss’s charm was simply too great—it truly was dangerous.

“Creak!”

As soon as the courtyard gate of the Medical Hall was pushed open, Li Yunqing paused slightly.

At the wooden table before the house sat a figure.

Dressed in a black robe interwoven with golden cloud patterns, with shoulder adornments resembling a general’s armor—upright and imposing.

“You’re here?”

Hearing the sound, Jiang Jing turned his head, forcing a slight smile onto his stern face.

“Good morning.”

Li Yunqing responded, somewhat surprised.

Today was the agreed treatment day—but there was no need to arrive this early, was there?

His gaze lingered on Li Yunqing for a moment, his rigid face softening slightly.

His fingers unconsciously tapped the table as he said, “Let me tell you some good news—last night, for some reason, Jiang Yu broke his leg.”

“???”

Li Yunqing blinked.

Thinking back to Jiang Jing’s words yesterday—“I understand”—she suddenly realized.

This was no accident—it was clearly broken by someone.

“His strength…”

Thinking of the Jiang Family’s power, yet Jiang Jing had still come and gone freely, Li Yunqing’s brows moved slightly.

If this man were to enter her room in the middle of the night, could she really stop him?

“Fortunately, he’s not completely lawless.”

Li Yunqing felt a bit relieved.

The world was vast—there were all kinds of people.

In a large city like Qingzhou, those with status and background, even if vile at heart, would at least maintain decorum on the surface and care about their reputation.

It concerned family inheritance and their own lives—no one would ignore that.

After a moment’s thought, Li Yunqing spoke, “He is not a bad person.”

With that, she walked into the room, selecting herbs and beginning to refine medicine.

Jiang Yu was not bad. If not for his desire to marry her, she would not have minded interacting with him as a friend.

“I just don’t want him disturbing you again.”

Jiang Jing replied, his tone extremely serious despite his expression remaining unchanged.

If his leg hadn’t been broken, after the engagement, Jiang Yu would likely come to the Medical Hall every day.

And with the engagement, their relationship would only grow closer.

Just the thought of Jiang Yu holding Li Yunqing’s hand—or even embracing her—was something he could not tolerate.

Li Yunqing nodded slightly without replying, fully immersing herself in refining medicine.

Before her eyes, lines of text flowed like a stream.

“Medicine King Scripture experience +1.”

“Medicine King Scripture experience +1.”

Her progress these past few days had been significant. Just last night, she had completed the second tempering of her flesh.

Her skin now felt like soft yet resilient armor, becoming even more delicate and smooth—like ice jade, fair and lustrous.

Though still unable to resist sharp weapons, her strength had increased once more.

Her Spiritual Perception range had also expanded beyond five zhang—her power steadily rising.

Name: Li Yunqing

Lifespan: 15/∞

Skills: Zither, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting (Perfection)

Traits: Undistracted Mind, Vigorous Spirit, Photographic Memory, Naturally Endowed with Spiritual Grace, Eight Tones Enter the Soul, Unparalleled Comprehension

Mingyu Fist (Major Achievement 385/1000)

Traits: Ice-Like Skin and Jade-Like Bones, Clear Mind

Frost Sword Art (Mastery 543/3000)

Trait: Innate Sword Bones

Medicine King Scripture (Minor Achievement 367/3000)

Traits: Identify Medicine by Scent, Immunity to All Poisons

“Mingyu Fist is almost halfway!”

Glancing at its progress, Li Yunqing’s eyes brightened.

Once it reached perfection, another trait would be derived, and the speed of tempering her body would greatly increase.

After a while—

Holding the refined medicine, she turned to Jiang Jing, who was quietly seated, and said, “Lord Jiang, we can begin.”

Hearing her clear and pleasant voice, Jiang Jing seemed to snap back to his senses, withdrawing his gaze from her.

“Alright.”

His hoarse voice responded as he stood and entered the side room.

Though an entire hour had passed, it felt like only a moment to him.

So this was what it felt like to admire beauty—time itself seemed to vanish.

In the side room, Jiang Jing sat in a bathing tub, wearing only his inner garments.

A rich medicinal fragrance rose with the steam.

Even during the second treatment, his heartbeat quickened.

Especially the faint fragrance from Li Yunqing that lingered at his nose—it stirred an inexplicable joy within him.

“Circulate your True Qi and absorb the medicinal power. I’m starting.”

Li Yunqing’s expression was calm, her eyes focused—completely undistracted.

“Begin.”

Jiang Jing circulated his True Qi, slowly steadying his heartbeat.

Without hesitation, Li Yunqing raised her silver needles, moving swiftly.

In moments, needle after needle was inserted into Jiang Jing’s head and back, trembling slightly.

She did not stop. Taking another needle, she thrust it into an acupoint on his back.

“Hiss—”

At that instant, a terrifying chill surged through the needle and into her fingers, rushing into her body.

Instinctively, she activated the Medicine King Scripture, forming hand seals to guide the cold energy through her body, finally directing it into her Yin Spirit.

“Frost Sword Art experience +120.”

“Frost Sword Art (Mastery 663/3000) Trait: Innate Sword Bones.”

“Medicine King Scripture experience +300.”

“Medicine King Scripture (Minor Achievement 667/3000) Traits: Identify Medicine by Scent, Immunity to All Poisons.”

As her techniques circulated, her experience rapidly increased.

The force of the Medicine King Scripture flowed through her like a stream.

Wherever it passed, she felt her flesh being tempered rapidly.

A tingling, numb, and itching sensation swept through her entire body.

She clenched her teeth, her body tensing, glancing at Jiang Jing as she suppressed any sound.

“Buzz!”

Moments later, her body trembled slightly. Her skin became even more crystalline—

As smooth and delicate as white jade, yet soft and resilient.

Touching it lightly, even she could feel its tender suppleness.

“The third skin tempering is complete!”

“If I complete all nine temperings, my skin might truly become like jade!”

“So this is Ice-Like Skin and Jade-Like Bones?”

Feeling the transformation, Li Yunqing was somewhat surprised.

As her skin improved, her beauty continued to rise.

If she tempered her tendons and bones, perhaps her figure would become even more enchanting.

“If they can see but not touch… would it drive men mad?”

She pursed her lips in a faint smile, glancing at Jiang Jing, who was still circulating his technique, before removing the needles one by one.

“Tap!”

At that moment, footsteps sounded in the courtyard.

Soon after, Hall Master Liu’s voice rang out.

“Yunqing, a disciple of the Cangshan Sword Saint has come. Would you like to meet them?”

Li Yunqing paused, then turned and walked out of the room, looking toward the three figures in the courtyard.

Her thoughts moved swiftly.

“The Cangshan Sword Saint?”

“What do they want with me?”