Is This the Legendary Baby-Faced Girl...

With increased vigilance, the pressure from the second strike by the figure in black became much more manageable for Zhong Wen. He even had a faint feeling that the attacker's speed seemed to be slowing down.

Zhong Wen continued to dodge the black-clad figure's attacks using his "Cloud-Soaring Immortal Steps," occasionally using the "Flower Shifting and Jade Receiving" technique to redirect the assailant's strikes. While the difference in their levels of cultivation was significant, Zhong Wen managed to avoid severe injuries.

Although the situation was still heavily skewed against him, Zhong Wen was temporarily not in immediate danger of losing his life. Moreover, as he continued to evade and maneuver, he deepened his understanding of the "Cloud-Soaring Immortal Steps."

After several exchanges, the black-clad figure's speed gradually decreased, and the power of their sword strikes was far weaker than when they had initially confronted Zhong Wen.

Could it be that... there's something wrong with his body? Zhong Wen speculated silently.

Unable to make progress, the figure in black started to grow impatient. Suddenly, they accelerated, closing the distance between them and Zhong Wen, and their longsword erupted with an unprecedented aura.

This is bad; this guy's going all out!

The gap in their strength was difficult to hide, and the magnificence of this sword strike left Zhong Wen with an overwhelming sense of despair.

Am I going to be the first protagonist in history to die a miserable death within a week of transmigrating? I'm not willing!

As he faced the imminent danger of death, Zhong Wen's brain raced, searching for the slightest glimmer of hope.

Suddenly, he had a bright idea and shouted, "Come into my bowl!!"

A portable alchemy furnace abruptly appeared in Zhong Wen's hand, its four legs facing him, and its mouth opening towards the incoming sword.

"Clang!"

The longsword pierced into the alchemy furnace, and the spiritual energy on the sword dispersed along the edges of the furnace, completely nullified.

Zhong Wen had expected that even if he blocked the sword, he would be thrown a great distance away. However, to his surprise, the alchemy furnace was able to absorb most of the force, and he only staggered back a few steps without feeling any discomfort. He was overjoyed.

What an amazing treasure!

At that moment, he realized the exceptional nature of this top-tier alchemy furnace.

The figure in black, who had been on the verge of victory, was taken aback by the sudden appearance of the alchemy furnace. They were sent flying several steps back by the shockwave of the sword's rebound effect. When they tried to approach again, they felt weak all over, swaying unsteadily.

This is my chance!

Zhong Wen saw that the figure in black was in poor shape. Without further hesitation, he activated the "Cloud-Soaring Immortal Steps" and quickly appeared at the figure's side.

The figure in black was surprised and tried to lift their sword to defend themselves, but they felt a sharp pain throughout their body, unable to muster any strength. They could only watch helplessly as Zhong Wen's finger pointed at their waist.

One Yang Finger!

"Clang!"

The longsword fell to the ground, and the black-clad person looked at Zhong Wen with a gaze full of unwillingness. Then, they slowly collapsed onto the ground, and their body felt numb, unable to move a single finger.

Seeing his opponent fall, Zhong Wen was still uneasy. He stepped forward and used the One Yang Finger several times on the black-clad person's body before finally stopping, panting heavily.

It was his first encounter with danger after transmigrating, and he had almost lost his life. After a long while, Zhong Wen's heart was still pounding crazily.

He took a deep breath and approached the black-clad person, squatting down and reaching out to remove the black cloth that covered the face.

A beautiful face appeared before Zhong Wen's eyes.

It turned out to be a woman!

Zhong Wen was so shocked that his jaw nearly dropped.

The black-clothed girl lay on the ground, her pale face carrying a hint of baby fat, and her beautiful eyes stared fiercely at Zhong Wen. She seemed to want to intimidate him, but she couldn't evoke any fear. Instead, she appeared somewhat... cute.

Seeing a beautiful woman, Zhong Wen's murderous intent vanished in an instant.

Sighing at himself, he asked, "Who are you? Why did you ambush me?"

The black-clothed girl continued to glare at Zhong Wen, her eyes filled with stubbornness and defiance, but she didn't respond to his questions.

"You can ignore me, but if I'm not mistaken, you were already injured, and the injuries seem quite severe," Zhong Wen sighed. "Moreover, after our fight just now, your condition has worsened. If you don't get timely treatment, you might not survive for long."

The black-clothed girl remained silent but her eyes revealed a hint of sadness.

"Although you almost killed me, I don't kill women," Zhong Wen said softly. "Since you're unwilling to talk to me, please at least tell me, are you hiding in the mountains because of me, Zhong Wen, or are you here for something related to the Drifting Petal Palace? If your target isn't me, I'll let you go. What do you say?"

This was Zhong Wen's way of trapping her with words. If she admitted to being an enemy of the Drifting Petal Palace, he wouldn't spare her.

"Neither," the black-clothed girl hesitated for a moment and finally spoke.

"Huh?" Zhong Wen didn't react immediately. "Then why did you ambush me?"

"I... I thought you were... pursuers sent by the Bliss Gang," the black-clothed girl's pale cheeks flushed slightly.

Damn the Bliss Gang!

Zhong Wen felt like ten thousand mythical beasts were charging through his heart. If the black-clothed person had been a man, he would have given him a good slap and asked, "Do I look like a member of the Bliss Gang to you, given my handsome appearance?"

Facing a delicate girl, he couldn't resort to violence, so he could only blame the Bliss Gang for his anger.

"Why can't I be a person from the Qingfeng Mountain in your eyes?" Zhong Wen sighed.

"I asked around, and there was only the Drifting Petal Palace on Qingfeng Mountain, and there were no men in the palace. A man wandering around the mountain so late at night is most likely not a good person."

Zhong Wen was left speechless. He thought to himself, "I thought you were a unintelligent woman with big... no, quite flat breast, but your logic is surprisingly sound..."

"By the way, you're not the assassin who killed the deputy leader of the Bliss Gang during the day, are you?" Zhong Wen suddenly remembered his encounter earlier.

"Uh-huh." The black-clothed girl's breathing became more rapid, and her face grew paler. The pain from her injuries made it difficult for her to speak, and she could only make a nasal sound.

To be able to kill one Earth Realm expert and severely injured another, this girl was most likely also a cultivator at the Earth Realm level. If Zhong Wen treated her injuries and she turned against him, it would be...

Zhong Wen hesitated for a moment.

However, as he watched the beautiful girl's face contort in pain due to her injuries, he finally made up his mind.

I'm going to die at the hands of a woman in this lifetime sooner or later!

Zhong Wen used his left hand to support the girl's back, while his right hand was placed at her knee joint. He lifted the black-clad girl horizontally and gently laid her down on the stone bed.

"Take this." Zhong Wen offered a Revitalization Pill to the black-clad girl's lips.

She hesitated.

"If I truly wanted to harm you, what can you do?" Zhong Wen was both annoyed and amused.

The black-clad girl blushed, gave him an exasperated look, and obediently swallowed the pill.

A gentle medicinal force quickly spread throughout her body, alleviating some of her pain.

Zhong Wen extended his right hand and lightly placed it on the black-clad girl's wrist. She instinctively tried to retract her hand, but the One Yang Finger immobilized her.

"What kind of cultivation technique have you been practicing? It's chaotic!" Zhong Wen furrowed his brows, sensing the chaotic spiritual energy within the girl's body, her meridians riddled with damage. Despite her appearance of not yet reaching twenty, she already seemed to be withering away.

"This technique doesn't have a name; it's a method specifically used by the Ten Thousand Gold Tower to train assassins. It's advantageous because it allows for extremely fast cultivation," the black-clad girl whispered.

"Although it appears to cultivate quickly, it's essentially exploiting the human body's potential. I bet those assassins from your Ten Thousand Gold Tower won't live past thirty," Zhong Wen sneered.

"That's right," the black-clad girl responded despondently. "Only a few assassins can survive past twenty-five, and this technique can only be cultivated up to the Earth Realm. It's impossible to progress further. If you want to extend your lifespan through breakthroughs, it's also impossible."

"Then why do you continue to practice it? Are you foolish?"

"As long as I can kill that scoundrel Duan Changhong and avenge my family, what does it matter if I die?" The black-clad girl's eyes flashed with hatred, her voice suddenly becoming impassioned. "I'm just an ordinary person from a common family, and my entire family perished at the hands of that monster. Besides seeking revenge, what else can I do?"

Watching the girl's frenzy fueled by her hatred, Zhong Wen couldn't help but feel sympathy. In the eyes of cultivators, ordinary people were indeed like ants, and the current state of this world was not something a newcomer like him could change.

"Although I don't know this Duan Changhong you mentioned, if he's the leader of a criminal organization, seeking revenge is understandable. But since you've joined the assassin organization, I assume the Ten Thousand Gold Tower will also order you to assassinate others. Who will speak for those innocent lives?" Zhong Wen asked.

"I... I haven't killed anyone for the Ten Thousand Gold Tower yet," the black-clad girl's expression froze, and she stammered, "I escaped before completing my training to seek revenge against Duan Changhong."

"What will you do after you kill him?" Zhong Wen's question hit the girl's heart directly. "Will you go back to serve the Ten Thousand Gold Tower?"

"I..." The girl fell into silence for a long time and said in a low voice, "I don't know. Since my revenge failed, discussing these matters is meaningless. I know that I’m beyond rescue. I can only lament that the scoundrel lives on freely."

"If I can heal you, would you be willing to leave the Ten Thousand Gold Tower?" Zhong Wen asked.

"That’s... that’s impossible. You can't heal me." The black-clad girl didn't believe that a young man who appeared two years younger than herself could possess such abilities.

Men detest being told they "can't," especially when it comes from a beautiful woman looking down on them. Zhong Wen couldn't help but get angry, and he suddenly reached out to undo the girl's upper garment.

"What are you doing?" The black-clad girl turned pale with shock, thinking Zhong Wen was taking advantage of her.

"Why are you shouting? I'm going to treat you!" Zhong Wen tapped her forehead with his finger.

In just a few moves, the girl's waistband was removed, and her upper garment was pulled open, revealing her fair abdomen and the chest wrapped tightly in a white cloth strip. On her chest, there was a gray palm print, clearly the result of a heavy blow by Duan Changhong.

"I... I'm going to kill you," the black-clad girl blushed deeply, feeling embarrassed and furious, but she had no choice.

"What are you thinking? I'm helping you!" Zhong Wen tapped the girl's forehead again and then took out the gold needles used exclusively by the Valley Master of the Medicine King Valley from his ring.

This was the first time he had put the contents of a medical book into practice, so he had to be extremely focused and give it his all.

Soon, Zhong Wen inserted gold needles into the girl's chest, abdomen, and arms. At the same time, the force of the One Yang Finger continuously stimulated various acupoints on her body.

As time passed, after countless years, the "Soul-Seeking Golden Needles" and the “One Yang Finger” renowned throughout ancient times in the Medicine King Valley, were finally brought back to the world.

Simultaneously using acupuncture and the One Yang Finger technique put a tremendous burden on Zhong Wen, who had only recently opened his second meridian. As he treated the girl, he continuously popped "Revitalization Pills" into his mouth, causing beads of sweat to form on his forehead in no time.

"Damn, I'm exhausted."

The girl's injuries were extremely severe, and even with the supreme techniques of the Medicine King Valley, it took Zhong Wen half an hour to complete the treatment. Zhong Wen, drenched in sweat, sat down on the ground, almost on the verge of collapse.

Lying on the stone bed, the black-clad girl felt warm all over her body. To her astonishment, she discovered that vitality had once again returned to her body.

She had heard that the leader of the Ten Thousand Gold Tower had spent a fortune to hire several divine doctors to deal with the side effects of the nameless technique but had ultimately failed.

Yet the young man before her had achieved it!

Looking at the exhausted Zhong Wen, she didn't know whether to be grateful or say a few harsh words.

After a while, Zhong Wen popped another "Revitalization Pill" and a "Spirit Revival Pill" into his mouth and finally stood up. He dusted off his clothes, walked to the edge of the girl's bed, and said with a smile, "You've barely escaped death now. However, the nameless technique has caused deep damage to your body. To fully recover, you'll need some time for recuperation. Forget about the Bliss Gang or the Ten Thousand Gold Tower for now. Tonight, just get a good night's sleep."

Watching Zhong Wen's handsome face and his right hand slowly approaching, the black-clad girl couldn't help but feel nervous.

"You..." Before she could say anything, Zhong Wen's index finger had already touched just below her earlobe.

The black-clad girl felt her eyelids grow heavy, and soon she fell into a deep sleep.

Zhong Wen covered the girl with her upper cloak. He stared at her for a while, sighed, and then turned and left the cave.

Many people in his previous life considered the story of the Monkey King, Sun Wukong, immobilizing the Seven Fairy Maidens and stealing their peaches as a joke. Unexpectedly, he had now played the role of Sun Wukong.

Zhong Wen couldn't help but laugh at himself as he thought about it. He quickly ran back in the direction of the Medicine King Valley.

Being delayed by the black-clad girl had cost him quite some time, and it was almost midnight when he reached the library. He continued his joyful journey of collecting books.

"Found 'Spirit Tool Class' book Fundamental Alchemy Technique Volume One. Add it to the collection? Yes/No."

"Found 'Spirit Tool Class' book Fundamental Alchemy Technique Volume Two. Add it to the collection? Yes/No."

"Found 'Spirit Tool Class' book One Hundred Examples of Dan Furnace Refining.Add it to the collection? Yes/No."

...

It wasn't until the start of 1 am in the morning that Zhong Wen finished collecting nearly two hundred "Spirit Tool Class" books. The message he had been waiting for finally appeared on the panel:

"Collecting 'Spirit Tool Class' books has reached one hundred volumes. Congratulations, you have won the reaward: 1. Story King; 2. Great Qian Mineral Distribution Map; 3. Lethal Sword."

Damn, not the Story King again!

Zhong Wen couldn't help but feel a headache at this lingering option.

"Draw!"

"Congratulations, you have received the reward: Lethal Sword!"

Seeing that the result of the draw wasn't the first one, Zhong Wen breathed a sigh of relief. He quickly scanned the newly added "Spirit Tool Class" book, the Lethal Sword. It only contained one sword technique, emphasizing the gathering of all one's physical and mental power into a single sword strike, intending to kill with a single blow and then escape. It had a strong assassin style.

In terms of lethality, the Lethal Sword. was undoubtedly exceptional. However, its drawback was clear: if the first strike failed to kill, the practitioner would experience a certain degree of weakness. While the duration of weakness wasn't long, it could easily put the practitioner in a dangerous situation. This was one of the reasons why the Lethal Sword could only be classified as a Diamond-grade technique.

Before leaving, Zhong Wen didn't forget to fill the lake water into the cauldron in which he had almost lost his life.

If the top-quality cauldron had a spirit, it might regret saving him.

...

The black-clad girl woke up from her slumber, and it was already noon.

How long has it been since I haven’t had a nightmare?

Feeling the vigorous vitality within her, she felt as if she had crossed into another world.

She sat up from the stone bed and saw some fruits placed on the central stone table in the cave.

Walking to the table, she picked up a fruit and took a bite. The juice flowed down her throat. It was incredibly sweet.

Underneath the fruit, she found a note.

Moving the fruits aside, she saw three words written crookedly on the paper:

"Wait for me!"

The handwriting was crude, like that of a child.

Zhong Wen's handsome face appeared in the black-clad girl's mind.

What should I do with you?

Biting into the fruit, she felt extremely conflicted.

*****************************************************************

When Zhong Wen heard a knock on the door, he was in his room refining salt.

"Come in!" He assumed it was either Xiaodie or Liu Qiqi and responded without even looking up.

To his surprise, the one who entered after pushing the door was the usually emotionless Yin Ning'er. Except for the day when Zhong Wen had just awakened, this was the first time Yin Ning'er had actively appeared in his room, which made Zhong Wen feel somewhat unexpected.

"Good morning, Miss Yin. Is there something you need?" Zhong Wen greeted her with a smile.

"Mr. Zhong..." Yin Ning'er hesitated, seeming unsure of how to start.

"Just call me Zhong Wen," Zhong Wen said with a smile.

"Zhong Wen, I... I tried the method you mentioned yesterday, and the Nine-Leaf Spirit Grass indeed seems to have improved."

After Zhong Wen left, Yin Ning's curiosity got the better of her. She couldn't resist transplanting the Nine-Leaf Spirit Grass to a shaded area and trimming some of the lower branches. To her surprise, when she checked it this morning, there had been significant changes overnight. She was greatly surprised and couldn't help but hold Zhong Wen's cultivation skills in higher regard.

"It's my honor to be able to help Miss Yin," Zhong Wen replied humbly.

"How did you know the cultivation method for the Nine-Leaf Spirit Grass?" Yin Ning'er appeared cold on the surface, but once it came to spiritual herbs and alchemy, she couldn't control her curiosity.

"In the past few days, I've been recalling fragments of memories. Although I still don't know my true identity, I have a vague feeling that I used to be an alchemist or physician, and I also put a lot of effort into cultivating spiritual herbs," Zhong Wen gradually got used to attributing everything to his non existed memories.

"Really?" Yin Ning'er's eyes lit up. "Then, can I ask you some questions about spiritual herbs?"

"It's not a matter of asking me, I only remember some fragments. We can exchange ideas, and I'll certainly share what I know," Zhong Wen thought to himself that his homework had finally paid off.

Yin Ning'er had a cold personality, but once it came to topics she was interested in, she immediately turned into a curious child. She usually had no one to guide her, but in this discussion, Zhong Wen occasionally touched upon her points of interest. They ended up having a lively conversation, unable to stop.

It wasn't until lunchtime when a little girl pushed open the door that Yin Ning'er reluctantly left.

The Third Senior Sister smiled!

The little girl rubbed her eyes, suspecting that she might have been mistaken.