63: Chapter 63 The Dust Settles

"Aaaaaah!"

A sharp screeching roar almost pierced everyone's eardrums.

A sickly flush appeared on Su Xin's cheeks; it wasn't shyness, but rather her blood and Qi surging from extreme humiliation and rage.

Her snow-white dress fluttered despite the lack of wind, and the energy around her body exploded outward, completely reducing the remaining furniture in the room to dust.

"I will cut you into a thousand pieces!!"

She didn't even look at Zhang Shan standing in her way. She turned into a bolt of white lightning, moving in a bizarre arc as her soft sword followed like a maggot on a bone, stabbing toward Chen Fan once again!

Today, she must kill Chen Jinzhong!

This traitor, this lecher, this bastard who caused her Dao Heart to falter!

"The demoness has gone mad!"

Chen Fan's heart skipped a beat. He pushed off with his feet and retreated violently.

He didn't want to die.

And he especially didn't want to die at the hands of this crazy woman and then undergo Possession to be reborn as a woman.

That image was too much; he didn't dare think about it.

Seeing this, Zhang Shan gave a thunderous shout, his sword momentum rising again as he tried to intercept her.

But this time, Su Xin didn't bother fighting him at all. Her sword moves were entirely suicidal; she would rather be grazed by Zhang Shan's Sword Qi just to bring her blade before Chen Fan.

"Junior Brother Zhang, block her!"

Chen Fan shouted while dodging clumsily down the hallway.

"I'm trying!"

Zhang Shan was also drenched in sweat. He had never seen such a frenzied opponent; her swordsmanship had lost all form, leaving only the most primal killing intent.

One chased and one fled, while Zhang Shan did his best to restrain her from behind.

Under the pursuit and fighting of the three, the entire third floor of the Yihong Brothel was a mess.

The walls were carved with hideous gashes from Sword Qi, wood chips and dust flew everywhere, and the screams and cries from downstairs had long since turned into a chaotic mess.

This can't go on.

Chen Fan's thoughts raced.

Su Xin is Rank Seven, while he is only Rank Eight; he is a step behind in both speed and strength.

Although Zhang Shan can restrain her, it looks like he won't last much longer.

This demoness is dead set on killing him.

"Demoness!"

Chen Fan dodged a blade aimed at his neck by a hair's breadth.

He suddenly stopped in his tracks, no longer running, and instead turned to face the charging Su Xin.

"If you don't leave now, you really won't be able to!"

He channeled his Internal Energy, his voice drowning out all the noise.

"The main forces of the Prince's Mansion and the Righteous Alliance will be here any second!"

"When the two Rank Five experts arrive, you won't be able to escape even if you had wings!"

A flicker of struggle flashed in Su Xin's bloodshot Phoenix eyes.

Reason told her that Chen Jinzhong was right.

The commotion here was too great; experts would be drawn here soon.

But the humiliation and anger in her heart made her want nothing more than to tear the man before her into ten thousand pieces!

"Do you think I care?"

Su Xin ground her silver teeth, her sword momentum not pausing for a second.

"Even if I die, I'll kill you, you lecherous thief, first!"

Truly a lunatic.

I only took two looks, didn't I? I didn't even touch her.

Chen Fan cursed inwardly but could only continue to dodge.

As he dodged, he continued his psychological attack.

"Do you think dying is that simple? You are the White Lotus Sect Saintess and possess such refined beauty. If you fall into the hands of the Prince's Mansion, heh heh..."

Chen Fan didn't continue, but the meaning was already clear.

These words finally had an effect.

Su Xin's movements showed an imperceptible hesitation.

She understood, and thus became even more ashamed and furious.

Boom!

In the distance, an even more terrifying explosion rang out, as if the entire city were shaking.

That was the aftershock of Rank Five experts fighting.

Su Xin's heart sank.

Granny Duxin's side was likely in a bitter struggle as well.

She couldn't delay any longer.

"Chen Jinzhong!"

Su Xin suddenly sheathed her sword and drifted backward, creating distance from Chen Fan.

She stared at him intently, her venomous hatred almost manifesting physically.

"I, Su Xin, will remember today's humiliation."

"The next time we meet, I will pull out your tendons and skin you alive, making you beg for a life you cannot have and a death that will not come!"

As her words fell, she pulled a black pill from her bosom and swallowed it without hesitation.

A cloud of black Qi diffused from her body.

Her figure became blurred within the black Qi, finally turning into a streak of light that crashed through the window and vanished into the night.

"Trying to run?"

Zhang Shan was about to give chase.

"Don't pursue a desperate foe."

Chen Fan grabbed him.

The Medicinal Pill that demoness swallowed at the end clearly wasn't anything good; it was likely some secret method to stimulate her potential. If they chased her now, they would surely be the ones to suffer.

Only when that heart-palpitating aura completely vanished did Chen Fan breathe a long sigh of relief.

She's finally gone.

He slumped onto the ground, feeling his entire body soaked in cold sweat.

Playing a game of cat and mouse with a furious Rank Seven Genius Martial Artist was truly too intense.

Fortunately, he had preserved his 'innocence.'

A moment later.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Several figures shot up from downstairs.

Leading them were Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing and the Mansion Captain Li Yi.

They were stunned to see the wreckage of the third floor, along with Chen Fan slumped on the ground and Zhang Shan standing guard with his sword.

"Where are the cultists?"

Li Yi stepped forward and asked urgently.

"Ran away."

Chen Fan pointed weakly at the large hole in the wall.

"And the Secret Manual?!"

Li Yi's voice was raspy as he stared intensely at Chen Fan.

Chen Fan didn't speak; he simply pulled the slightly worn, thread-bound book from his bosom and handed it over.

He had already memorized the drawings inside anyway.

This Secret Manual was now a hot potato; whoever wanted it could have it.

Li Yi snatched the Secret Manual and nervously flipped through it to check.

After confirming it was correct, his tense face finally broke into a look of wild joy.

"Good! Good! Good!"

He said 'good' three times, and his attitude toward Chen Fan became much more amiable.

"Kid, you've done a great service this time! The Prince will surely reward you handsomely!"

Song Yuanxing also walked over and patted Chen Fan and Zhang Shan on the shoulders, looking at them with approval.

"You two nephews remained undaunted in the face of danger, showing both wisdom and courage. You are truly the pride of our Righteous Path!"

Just then, a guard from the Prince's Mansion hurried upstairs.

"Reporting to the Captain and Sect Head Song!"

"Granny Duxin has been suppressed and killed by the Head Steward and several Elders!"

"The White Lotus Sect strongholds within the city have all been uprooted. Only the Saintess Su Xin and a few others managed to escape in the chaos!"

As soon as these words were spoken, all the Righteous Alliance Disciples present erupted into earth-shattering cheers.

They won!

This encirclement and suppression against the White Lotus Sect was a complete victory!

...

For the next few days, the entire Xiushan City was immersed in the joy of victory.

The Xiushan Prince's Mansion held a grand banquet, inviting all the heroes of the Righteous Alliance who participated in the battle.

As the primary contributor to the recovery of the Secret Manual, Chen Fan naturally received rewards from the Mansion.

Thirty taels of gold.

Neither more nor less, it was exactly the amount he had previously paid the Mansion as compensation.

Chen Fan didn't care about this at all.

Money is just a worldly Possession.

His true harvest was that bizarre drawing imprinted in his mind.

After the banquet, the mission to clear out the remnants of the White Lotus Sect continued.

Song Yuanxing ordered the Disciples of various sects to continue patrolling the city to prevent any stragglers from escaping.

Thus, Chen Fan, Zhang Shan, and several Senior and Junior Brothers from the Longxing Sect lived a carefree life of patrolling the streets by day and spending money by night.

Yihong Brothel.

It was still that same upper room they had smashed to pieces, but it had now been newly renovated.

Chen Fan sat with his legs crossed, leisurely sipping wine.

Beside him, several beautiful women surrounded him, their flirtatious laughter never ceasing.

On the other side, Zhang Shan sat upright and stiff, his face as red as a monkey's butt.

A bold girl fed a peeled grape to his lips.

"Young Hero Zhang, come on, open your mouth."

Zhang Shan's whole body was stiff as he waved his hands repeatedly.

"No... no need... I'll do it myself..."

The surrounding Longxing Sect Disciples burst into laughter.

Chen Fan smiled at the scene.

This martial arts Genius has high talent, but in this regard, he's still too green.

This won't do. As the saying goes, heroes deserve beauties.

"Junior Brother Zhang, when you come out to play, you have to let loose."

Chen Fan raised his wine cup and toasted him from afar.

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do, understand?"

Over the next few days, under the 'careful guidance' of Chen Fan and the other Disciples, Zhang Shan finally began to let go.

From his initial restraint and blushing, he eventually reached the point where he could chat with the girls without changing his expression.

Later on, he could even take the initiative to pick up a wine cup and, mimicking Chen Fan, have a girl on each arm.

Although his movements were still a bit stiff, he already had the early form of a young nobleman.

This evening.

The group came to Yihong Brothel once again.

Zhang Shan walked into the main hall with familiarity and gave a casual wave to the Madam.

"Bring all your best girls here."

He paused and then added another sentence.

"And bring a jar of your best Huadiao Wine."

The Madam couldn't stop smiling as she hurried to make arrangements.

The surrounding Longxing Sect Disciples were all dumbfounded.

Was... was this still the same Zhang Shan who avoided women?

Chen Fan looked at Zhang Shan's composed manner and nodded with satisfaction.

A student worth teaching.

Just then, Zhang Shan suddenly turned his head and gave Chen Fan a meaningful smile.

"Senior Brother Chen."

"Tonight, it's my treat."