120: Do you like strong-willed women?

Although the Black Robed Man sensed Red Silk's powerful Eight-Star Dou Ling aura, the ferocity in his eyes did not diminish, and he sneered, "What if she's an Eight-Star Dou Ling? The effects of my Soul Devouring Pill haven't worn off yet! Even if I have to fight to a mutual destruction today, I'll drag you all down with me!"

His palms surged with purplish-black Dou Qi, and he slammed them towards the ground.

"Netherworld Ghost Bind!"

The ground suddenly cracked open, and dozens of pitch-black ghost hands burst forth, coiling around Red Silk's legs like venomous snakes!

Red Silk snorted coldly, Lightning Light exploded from her toes, and her figure shot into the air like an electric current, actually using the momentum in mid-air to turn back and unleash a sword strike!

"Shocking Thunder Slash!"

"Chh—!"

The lightning sword qi, like a silver dragon piercing the sky, instantly split open the Black Robed Man's protective Dou Qi, tearing a grotesque bloody wound across his chest!

The Black Robed Man staggered backward, looking down at his bleeding chest in disbelief.

"How is this possible? My Netherworld Ghost Hands were actually broken by a single sword strike?!"

Red Silk landed, her sword tip pointing diagonally at the ground, Lightning Light leaping on the blade. Although she had consumed a lot of Dou Qi from her previous escape, dealing with an opponent who forcibly raised his cultivation level with pills was still effortless for her.

"Within five moves, I'll take your life."

She said indifferently.

The Black Robed Man roared in fury and lunged forward, his purplish-black Dou Qi transforming into a giant axe that chopped down!

Red Silk neither dodged nor evaded; Lightning Light suddenly condensed in her left palm, and she actually caught the axe blade with her bare hand!

"Thunder Hand!"

"Crack!"

The giant Dou Qi axe was crushed by force, and Red Silk's right-hand sword blade, like a venomous snake flicking its tongue, instantly pierced through the Black Robed Man's throat!

"Uh... gu..."

The Black Robed Man's eyes widened, and blood gushed from his throat.

Jiang Donghua clapped from the side.

"Senior Sister is mighty!"

Before his words finished, the Black Robed Man, in his death throes, suddenly shot a poisonous needle from his sleeve!

Red Silk didn't even turn her head; a Lightning Light barrier automatically appeared, and the poisonous needle bounced off with a "ding."

She swung her sword back.

"Swish!"

The Black Robed Man's head flew off, and his headless corpse crashed to the ground.

Jiang Donghua looked at Red Silk's clean and decisive killing method, sighing inwardly.

"This Senior Sister is really ruthless! But this skill, this aura, tsk, why does it feel a bit cool?"

As he was lost in thought, Red Silk had already flicked the blood from her sword, tilted her head, glanced at him, and said indifferently.

"Aren't you coming over to loot the bodies?"

Jiang Donghua was stunned, then reacted quickly, jogging over, still muttering.

"Senior Sister, why does your tone sound like bandits dividing spoils?"

Red Silk's lips curled slightly, looking at him with a half-smile.

"What, do you have an opinion?"

Jiang Donghua immediately shook his head.

"No! Absolutely not! Senior Sister is wise and mighty; coarse work like looting bodies, of course, must be done by me!"

Red Silk snorted lightly, ignoring him, and turned to walk towards the Black Robed Man's corpse. A flash of Lightning Light on her fingertip, she directly entered the opponent's storage ring and skillfully began to search.

Jiang Donghua, meanwhile, squatted beside the other three Dou Ling corpses, muttering softly as he rummaged.

"Sigh, these days, it's not easy being a villain; even after dying, you still get your pockets searched."

Red Silk ignored him, quickly plundered the Black Robed Man's storage ring, and stood up, saying.

"Let's go; this place is not suitable for long stays."

Jiang Donghua nodded, and the two quickly left the battlefield, their figures soon disappearing into the dense forest.

After running a distance, Jiang Donghua couldn't help but ask.

"Senior Sister, where are we going now?"

Red Silk's eyes flickered slightly, and she said indifferently.

"Find a safe place to divide the spoils."

Jiang Donghua's eyes lit up.

"Senior Sister is wise!"

Red Silk's lips curled almost imperceptibly, and she said nothing more, but her steps quickened. Her peripheral vision swept over Jiang Donghua, noticing that he was secretly staring at her, with a hint of... admiration in his eyes?

Surprise?

And even a bit of... excitement?

She raised an eyebrow, and a thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

"This guy, he actually likes this kind of thing?"

When she was in the Outer Academy, it wasn't that she hadn't tried other methods.

No matter how revealing she dressed, parading in front of him, he would at most blush and avoid her. No matter how delicately she pretended to be weak, calling him "Junior Brother~" in a sweet, coquettish voice, he would only give a dry laugh or two, perfunctorily.

But just now, when she cleaved the enemy with a sword and Lightning Light raged, his eyes were clearly astonishingly bright!

"Heh, so that's how it is."

Red Silk's lips curved into a playful arc, and she sneered inwardly.

"Likes strong women, does he? With my Eight-Star Dou Ling strength, I can't take down a mere Seven-Star Great Dou Master like you?"

"Doesn't respond to softness, only to toughness; so he likes to be forcefully taken!"

She paused in her steps, suddenly turned around, and stared directly at Jiang Donghua.

Jiang Donghua was lowering his head, rummaging through a storage ring, still muttering.

"I'm rich, I'm rich."

Unexpectedly, the light in front of him dimmed, and he looked up to meet Red Silk's half-smiling eyes.

"Se-Senior Sister?"

He instinctively took half a step back, inexplicably feeling as if he was being targeted by a fierce beast.

Red Silk didn't speak, just slowly approached, Lightning Light faintly flickering at her fingertips, making her cold and beautiful face appear even more dangerous.

Jiang Donghua swallowed, laughing dryly.

"Senior Sister, aren't we going to divide the spoils? How about we find a place first..."

Red Silk suddenly reached out and grabbed his wrist, the force neither light nor heavy, yet it rendered him immobile.

"Jiang Donghua."

Her voice was low, with a hint of playfulness.

"You enjoyed watching just now?"

Jiang Donghua.

"???"

His mind raced. What did he just watch?

Watch Senior Sister kill?

Watch Senior Sister loot bodies?

Or watch Senior Sister's lightning-flashing figure?

"I, I just thought Senior Sister was very impressive!"

He tried to explain.

Red Silk chuckled softly, her fingertip lightly tracing his wrist. The Lightning Light caused a slight sting on his skin, yet also a hint of numbness.

"You like watching strong women?"

"Then from now on, I'll let you watch to your heart's content."

With that, she released his hand and turned to leave, her figure graceful and decisive, leaving only a bewildered Jiang Donghua standing rooted to the spot.

What did this woman mean?!

Jiang Donghua froze for two seconds, then suddenly reacted, his face instantly flushing crimson.

"Holy crap! She couldn't be..."

Red Silk didn't look back, her voice carrying from a distance.

"What are you standing around for? Catch up."

Jiang Donghua.

"Yes! Senior Sister!"

He jogged to catch up, his mind in turmoil.

"It's over, I think I've been targeted."

Jiang Donghua followed behind Red Silk, secretly calculating in his mind.

"This woman is not normal."

He had always had a clear understanding of himself: his talent wasn't top-notch, but his afk system was an advantage; as long as he stayed low-key, he would eventually become a powerful figure.

Therefore, he had always kept his distance from the flamboyant female disciples in the Outer Academy.

After all, how could women compare to cultivation?

But this Senior Sister, ranked thirteenth on the inner academy strong ranking list, was clearly not comparable to those common, vulgar women.

"Eight-Star Dou Ling, cleaving enemies with a single sword, Lightning Light raging—she is indeed ridiculously strong."

He secretly glanced at Red Silk's back, feeling both admiration and wariness.

"But what was with her gaze? Why did it feel like she was eyeing prey?"

Jiang Donghua shivered, quickly averted his gaze, and silently chanted in his heart.

"Stay calm! Stay low-key! Absolutely cannot let her succeed during this training!"

He didn't want to be inexplicably taken in by this violent Senior Sister.

After all, his life motto was: Women only slow down my afk speed!

However, Red Silk seemed to sense his gaze. She paused, tilted her head slightly, and a meaningful smile played on her lips.

"Junior Brother, what are you thinking about?"

Jiang Donghua's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately put on an honest, simple expression.

"N-nothing, I just thought Senior Sister's sword strike just now was too cool!"

Red Silk chuckled softly, Lightning Light faintly flickering at her fingertips, her tone lazy.

"Is that so? Then do you want me to teach you?"

It's over, she's serious!

Why was she acting like she did when she pursued him before? He couldn't speak, only follow closely behind Red Silk.

Blood Crow City, one of the most chaotic cities on the edge of the Black-Corner Region, had towering, pitch-black city walls, covered in dried bloodstains and marks of sword and saber slashes.

At the city gate, two colossal stone sculptures of blood crows perched, their crimson eyes inlaid with some kind of demonic beast crystal core, glowing with an eerie Red Light in the dim illumination.

The city's streets were narrow and winding, with low, crowded buildings on both sides, mostly constructed from black stone and decaying wood. Dried beast bones and human bone ornaments hung from the eaves, swaying in the wind, emitting a chilling "clack" sound.

The air was filled with a pungent mix of blood, cheap alcohol, and some kind of decaying spice. Pedestrians were sparse on the streets, but each was wrapped in a black robe or mask, hurrying along with vigilant and sinister eyes.

Occasionally, cloaked figures squatted in corners, with a few bottles of strangely colored pills or blood-stained weapons laid out before them, selling in low, hoarse voices like venomous snakes hissing.

In the distance, a massive, dark-red pavilion stood in the city center, with a blood-colored bone flag hanging at its apex—the headquarters of the Bone Sect.

Jiang Donghua tightened his black robe and lowered his voice, saying.

"Senior Sister, this place is even more sinister than rumored."

Red Silk's expression was indifferent, her gaze sweeping across the street, Lightning Light faintly visible in her sleeve.

"The Black-Corner Region has no good places. Stay close to me and don't look around randomly."

The two moved forward along the shadows when suddenly, a hunched old man blocked their way, grinning to reveal a mouth full of black and yellow fangs.

"Two newcomers? Want to buy some good stuff?"

His withered hand opened, and in his palm was a pitch-black pill, its surface wriggling with strange blood-red threads.

Jiang Donghua's eyelid twitched; this thing clearly wasn't a legitimate pill!

Red Silk coldly glanced at the old man, a faint Lightning Light flickering in her sleeve.

"Scram."

The old man's face drastically changed. He stumbled backward, a hint of fear flashing in his cloudy eyes, then he lowered his head and squeezed into the crowd, disappearing from view.

Jiang Donghua let out a sigh of relief and whispered, "Sister, where do we go next?"

Red Silk looked towards the blood-colored pavilion in the city center and said indifferently, "The Bone Sect's territory. First, find a place to settle down, then gather information."

Jiang Donghua nodded, and their figures quickly merged into the shadows of Blood Crow City.

The hunched old man scurried through the dark alleys of Blood Crow City, finally stopping in front of a low stone house.

He looked left and right, confirming no one was following him, then carefully knocked on the door: three long, two short.

The door creaked open, revealing a sinister face.

"Black Tooth, what's with the panic? Did you see a ghost?"

The man leaned against the doorframe, lazily picking his earwax, a bit of dark brown grime still clinging to his fingertip.

"Third Master Gu, I just saw two unfamiliar faces on the street!"

Black Tooth lowered his voice, his eyes flickering with greed and fear.

"One is a beginner Great Dou Master, and the other is probably a Seven- or Eight-Star Great Dou Master!"

Third Master Gu paused, his brow furrowing slightly.

"Seven- or Eight-Star Great Dou Master? Are you sure?"

Black Tooth swallowed, giving a dry laugh.

"My strength is low, so I can only roughly sense it, but that woman's aura is powerful. One glare from her made my legs go weak. She's probably at least a master among Great Dou Masters!"

Third Master Gu clicked his tongue, a sinister light flashing in his eyes.

"A bit tricky!"

He stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, then suddenly grinned, revealing a few yellowed fangs.

"However, if I can refine their bones into armor, my Blood Bone Art might advance another level!"

Black Tooth nodded obsequiously.

"Third Master is brilliant! Those two look like fat sheep, especially that woman; she definitely has good stuff on her!"

Third Master Gu snorted coldly.

"Less flattery! You keep a close eye on them along the way and see where they settle down."

Black Tooth quickly responded, "Yes! Yes! I'll go now!"

Just as he turned to leave, Third Master Gu suddenly spoke again, "Wait."

Black Tooth froze, turning back with a fawning smile, "What else can I do for you, Third Master?"

Third Master Gu narrowed his eyes and said ominously, "If you lose them, you know the consequences."

A drop of cold sweat seeped from Black Tooth's forehead, and he gave a dry laugh, "I understand! I understand!"

With that, he bowed and quickly disappeared into the shadows of the alley.

Third Master Gu stared at his retreating back, a ruthless glint in his eyes.

"Seven- or Eight-Star Great Dou Master? Heh, in this Blood Crow City, even a Peak Great Dou Master has to grovel before me!"

He turned back into the house, dragged a pitch-black wooden box from under the bed, and lifted the lid. Inside, it was piled with eerie white bones, each one glowing with strange blood-colored patterns.

"With two more fresh bones, my Blood Bone Battle Armor will be complete!"

He licked his lips, his eyes gleaming with a sickly excitement.

In a dilapidated inn on the west side of Blood Crow City.

Jiang Donghua pushed open the creaking wooden door. Dust flew in the room, and spiderwebs clung to the corners. He frowned, "Sister, is this place even habitable?"

Red Silk glanced around and said indifferently, "For an inn in the Black-Corner Region, it's good enough if it can shield you from wind and rain."

Lightning Light flashed at her fingertip, instantly dispersing the dust on the bed. She then sat cross-legged, closing her eyes to meditate.

Jiang Donghua sighed, resignedly beginning to tidy the room.

"Sister, was there something wrong with that old man selling pills earlier?" he asked in a low voice while making the bed.

Red Silk didn't even lift her eyelids. "An Eight-Star Dou Practitioner can't cause much trouble."

Jiang Donghua nodded, but he still felt uneasy. "But this is the Black-Corner Region; it's easy to dodge an open spear, but hard to guard against a hidden arrow."

Red Silk opened her eyes and looked at him with a half-smile. "What, are you scared?"

Jiang Donghua gave a dry laugh. "How could I be! With Sister here, what do I have to fear?"

Red Silk snorted lightly, no longer paying him attention.

However, just as the two were talking, a hunched figure quietly flashed past the window.

Black Tooth crouched by the wall, ears perked, a sinister glint in his eyes.

"Found them..."

He grinned silently, revealing a mouthful of black and yellow fangs. Now, he just needed to wait here peacefully.

Third Master Gu stood in the shadows outside the inn, his eyes gleaming with greed and malice.

Behind him, six Two- or Three-Star Great Dou Masters stood in a line, their auras cold, their weapons glinting with a chilling light in the moonlight.

"Remember, keep the woman's body intact; I want her bones complete."

He licked his lips, his voice hoarse like a venomous snake's hiss.

"As for that brat, you can do whatever you want with him."

His subordinates grinned, nodding, their eyes filled with bloodthirsty excitement.

Inside the inn, Jiang Donghua stood by the bed, looking at the dilapidated wooden bed, barely large enough for two, with a conflicted expression.

"Sister, how about I sleep on the floor?" He gave two dry laughs, trying to back away.

Red Silk sat cross-legged on the edge of the bed, propping her chin with one hand, looking at him with a half-smile.

"What, do you dislike me?"

Jiang Donghua's scalp tingled, and he quickly waved his hands. "How could I! It's just that this bed is too small; I'm afraid I'll crowd Sister!"

Red Silk snorted lightly, a faint Lightning Light flickering at her fingertip, her tone lazy but brooking no refusal. "Stop talking nonsense, come up."

He roared internally, "What exactly does this woman want to do?! Before, it was just a test, now she's directly forcing me onto the bed?!"

But on the surface, he could only move over with a dry laugh, carefully sitting on the edge of the bed, half his butt suspended, afraid of touching Red Silk.

Red Silk glanced at him, then suddenly reached out and pulled.

"Ah! Sister, you—"

Jiang Donghua was caught off guard, stumbled, and fell directly onto the bed, half his body pressing against Red Silk's leg.

"S-Sister! This, this isn't appropriate, is it?!"

He fumbled to get up, but in his panic, his palm accidentally pressed against Red Silk's thigh.

The touch was warm, the muscles firm, with the slight tingling sensation characteristic of a Lightning-attribute Dou Master.

Jiang Donghua: "..."

Red Silk: "..."

The air instantly solidified.

Jiang Donghua stiffly looked up, meeting Red Silk's slightly narrowed eyes, his heart nearly stopping.

It's over, it's really over now.

Red Silk stared at him, a dangerous curve slowly forming at the corner of her mouth.

"Jiang Donghua, you're quite bold."

"Or are you having thoughts about Sister's beautiful legs? Just say so early, what wouldn't Sister agree to?"

Although Jiang Donghua inwardly felt that the sensation was indeed top-notch, he still spoke directly with righteous indignation, "Sister! Misunderstanding! Purely accidental! I—"

Whoosh!

Red Silk's eyes suddenly sharpened, and she abruptly raised her hand. A bolt of Lightning Light instantly shot out from her fingertip!

"Boom—!"

The Lightning Light pierced through the window, directly striking a sneaking Black Shadow outside the window, who let out a scream and fell to the ground!

Jiang Donghua: "???"

Red Silk gave a cold laugh, slowly stood up, Lightning Light swirling around her, radiating killing intent.

"Looks like some rats have come knocking."

Outside the inn, Third Master Gu's face drastically changed. He looked at his subordinate, who was charred black by the Lightning Light, a flash of shock and anger in his eyes.

"We've been discovered?!"

He gritted his teeth and roared, "Never mind! Attack directly!"

"Kill—!"

The six Great Dou Masters instantly erupted, their Dou Qi exploding, blades and swords flashing as they charged straight for the second floor of the inn!

Inside the inn, Jiang Donghua was still in a daze, but Red Silk had already grabbed his collar. With a flash of Lightning Light, the two instantly burst out through the window!

"Rumble—!"

Almost at the same moment, several fierce Dou Qi attacks shattered the entire bed!

Jiang Donghua was being carried by Red Silk in mid-air, the night wind howling. He looked down to see six Great Dou Masters, plus Third Master Gu, a Peak Seven-Star Great Dou Master, surrounding them below with murderous intent!

"I knew it! This crappy place is impossible to sleep soundly in!!"

Red Silk, however, gave a cold laugh, Lightning Light condensing at her fingertip, her fighting spirit boiling. "Perfect, time to stretch my muscles."

Third Master Gu looked up, staring coldly at Red Silk in mid-air, and sneered, "Little lass, you're quick to react! But tonight, you can't escape!"

Red Silk didn't bother with idle talk. With a flash of Lightning Light, her figure moved like lightning, instantly plunging into the enemy formation!

"Boom—!"

Lightning Light exploded, and a Two-Star Great Dou Master was directly sent flying, his chest charred black!

Third Master Gu's pupils contracted. "This woman is not right!"