The woman, her face etched with sorrow, saw the three men's greedy gazes. She lifted her head and glared at them fiercely. Her fingers lightly danced across the strings, and Hua Wu Que, at first, found the music delightful and melodious. But it quickly grew faster and more frantic, until a murderous aura filled the air.
As the woman played faster and faster, bursts of energy surged from her fingertips toward the three men. They hadn't expected such a move and were on the verge of being killed when Ghost Saint, in a desperate act, grabbed the nearby woman in green and hurled her forward. The woman, caught off guard, could not resist. Mid-flight, she exploded into a bloody mist.
Seizing this chance, Ghost Saint fled backward, shouting harshly, "A truly formidable Heaven Dragon Harmony! You, Demon Witch, rely on the Heaven Demon Lute to slaughter our righteous martial arts world! When I return and gather our martial arts brethren, I shall tear you limb from limb!"
Seeing the fiend escape, Fiery Fire Ancestor was terrified and fled as well.
Hua Wu Que muttered under his breath, "Good heavens! This is complete gear-crushing dominance! This Heaven Demon Lute is way too overpowered!"
Seeing the two fleeing, the woman didn't pursue them. She lowered her head, her fingers playing upon the strings. The music grew more urgent and faster, and with a “boom,” the nearby boulder exploded, sending a cloud of dust flying into the air. The woman didn't flinch. With a sorrowful expression, she said, "Father, mother, Xue Mei is unfilial. I've traveled to the ends of the earth, but I couldn't find my little brother. Perhaps... perhaps he's already joined you. Please wait for Xue Mei. After I kill all these wicked fiends, I'll come to you. You... don't leave Xue Mei alone... Wait for me..." She coughed up a mouthful of blood. It was clear that she had been injured before, and forcing the Heaven Demon Lute had worsened her wounds. Her body swayed, and she collapsed.
“Strange, this woman is unconscious now. This is the perfect time to do whatever I want. Why do I not have the slightest desire to take advantage of the situation?” Hua Wu Que looked at the woman's strong, valiant profile. After contemplating for a moment, he praised himself for being a true gentleman and gently scooped up the woman, using his energy to pick up the Heaven Demon Lute as well, and walked towards the city.
In the dead of night, Huang Xue Mei suddenly woke up from her bed, her eyes darting around the unfamiliar surroundings. She frowned, trying to recall what had happened. She remembered, then quickly surveyed the room. When she saw the Heaven Demon Lute on the table, she felt reassured.
"Miss, you truly open my eyes," Hua Wu Que said, watching the woman wake up. Instead of a normal woman's fear, she checked her belongings, only feeling relieved after confirming the safety of the Heaven Demon Lute. He found her irrational.
Huang Xue Mei turned and saw Hua Wu Que, sitting idly by, fanning himself and looking suave. She was startled that she hadn’t noticed him, and she felt a surge of suspicion. Raising an eyebrow, she said, "Thank you for your kindness, sir. I have important business to attend to. I must go." She tried to struggle to her feet, but halfway up, she groaned and fell back on the bed, her face contorted with pain. She clutched the edge of the bed, gritting her teeth, and forcibly stood up. She took two steps before swaying back and forth, then collapsed backward.
Hua Wu Que caught Huang Xue Mei and found her unconscious again. He found the woman incomprehensible. She was so severely injured, yet she still tried to force herself to move. Shaking his head, he placed her back on the bed.
In the morning, Hua Wu Que, who had spent the night sitting on the floor practicing his internal energy, stood up, mocking himself, “I’m worse than a beast,” before walking to the bed. He saw that Huang Xue Mei hadn’t yet woken up, and he couldn't resist leaning closer to take a look. As his eyes swept over her face, he saw her determined expression and suddenly felt that such a woman was truly rare. He subconsciously exclaimed, "How utterly adorable."
"What are you babbling about!?" Huang Xue Mei suddenly opened her eyes. It was the first time she'd ever been described as such, and she felt that this man was truly a pervert among perverts!
Caught red-handed, Hua Wu Que awkwardly turned around, pretending to be nonchalant as he picked up the teapot from the table, poured a cup of water, and brought it over to the bed. He tried to change the subject, saying softly, "Miss, don't move. You've been unconscious all night. Have some tea first. I'll ask the innkeeper to prepare some food." Then he turned and left.
Huang Xue Mei looked at the cup of water, her thoughts swirling. She had been unconscious all night, and the Heaven Demon Lute was nearby. If he wanted to take advantage of her, this pervert could have done so long ago. He wouldn't have gone to such lengths just for show. This pervert should be trustworthy. Forget it, she thought. First, she needed to recover her injuries. Then, she would think about her plans.
Huang Xue Mei accepted Hua Wu Que's attentive care with a clear conscience. But whenever she saw the pervert's face, she felt a strange sense of familiarity. She thought sadly of her poor little brother. If he were still alive, he would probably be about the same age as this pervert.