Love and Sword

Yan Shao galloped across the desert, heading straight for the Ghost Valley Alliance. However, he was stopped by a few men in black, who mocked him for thinking he could go alone to rescue someone from the alliance. Yan Shao, though, proudly declared that there was no formation he couldn't break. After a few simple moves, he effortlessly broke the formation.

Tang Wu took Yan Shao to the Cold Pond, hoping the chilling waters could temporarily suppress the poison within him. He also informed Yan Shao that the poison had been inside Rong Shukuang for a long time, which meant someone had poisoned her. Suddenly, people from the Ghost Valley Alliance arrived in pursuit. Yan Shao hurriedly emerged from the Cold Pond, rushing back to hide with Rong Shukuang, protecting her in his arms.

When Lin Shaoci arrived, it caused quite a stir. Tang Yingluo quickly reminded him to check that Rong Shukuang was unharmed, assuring him that he could now feel at ease. Lin Shaoci rushed to find Rong Shukuang but was interrupted by Shen Zuitian’s laughter. Shen Zuitian mocked Yu Linglong, saying that someone like her was willing to be controlled by Lin Shaoci, which only proved that Lin Shaoci's status was quite high.

Rong Shukuang brought many things with her, intending to propose to Yan Shao. She hoped to get Yan Shao to sign a marriage contract, claiming that she wanted to marry him. In reality, she wanted him to protect her safety. Yan Shao, who was always elusive, feared that if he left one day, he might not be able to find anyone. To his surprise, he signed the contract.

This matter was brought before the old Manor Master and others. Liu An explained her actions, saying that ever since Rong Shukuang returned, she noticed many differences in her behavior. To test her, Liu An had intentionally used Liliang Grass. While the red rashes and symptoms from the past appeared again, there were still many differences. Lin Shaoci recalled the scar on Rong Shukuang's arm from their youth, and sure enough, upon inspection, the scar was still there.

Rong Shukuang smelled the smoke and suddenly felt a rush of heat throughout her body. Despite drinking several cups of water, the discomfort didn’t go away. She had no choice but to seek out Yan Shao. Without saying a word, she leaned into him, making an intimate gesture. Yan Shao pushed her away, and upon checking her pulse, he discovered that Rong Shukuang had been poisoned again. Rong Shukuang regretted it and blamed Yan Shao for saving her.

Rong Shukuang colluded with Shen Zuitian, intending to capture all the martial artists who had come this time and establish Yuchi Manor as the unrivaled power. Shen Zuitian suddenly felt that the girl before him was somewhat terrifying—he had never seen someone who appeared delicate on the surface but was more ruthless than anyone else. Lin Wanci believed in the law of the jungle. Those so-called righteous sects were all hypocritical.

Rong Shukuang reached out to Yan Shao, hoping he would hand over the flower ball. Just as Yan Shao extended his hand, he suddenly tossed the flower ball into the air. Instantly, the ball scattered into countless petals, leaving everyone in shock. The members of the Ghost Valley Alliance who had been preparing to set the place on fire were immediately subdued by people Yan Shao had secretly arranged in advance.

Yan Shao went to the prison to find the captured young boy and accurately revealed his background. His name was Shangguan Tong, originally an orphan wandering the streets. He was taken in by the Junshan Sect and became the disciple of the sect leader. However, he later killed his master and defected, leading to a manhunt against him across the martial world. With no place to go, he disguised himself and sought refuge with the Guigu Alliance.

Yan Shao knew that both Rong Shukuang and Lin Shaoci had their own agendas. In order to uncover the truth about what she wanted to know, she needed to earn money. So, she created a type of crossbow and named it "Meteor Fire." Her goal was to refine it into a successful product and sell it for profit. After multiple trials, both Rong Shukuang and Tang Yingluo, who had been helping with the experiments, ended up with smoke coming out of their mouths due to the device.