Chapter 49: The Terrifying Presence

"I don't know either. When my foster parents sold me to the Lu family, they told me that I wasn't their biological child. I was found by the Lu River, and there was this character '洛' on me. That's why my surname is Luo!"

Lu Li's body trembled slightly. It seemed that there was an earth-shattering secret on Luo Xiao Zhao's body. The character '洛' was undoubtedly the creation of a terrifying existence.

Thinking about what Luo Xiao Zhao had said, Lu Li easily thought of a melodramatic plot. A couple being pursued, in desperation, had to place their own newborn daughter into the Luo River, allowing her to drift away.

Before letting go of their daughter, they marked her with the character '洛' to identify her later. Subsequently, a downstream couple coincidentally found the infant.

Melodramatic or not?

Previously, others had seen the '洛' character on Luo Xiao Zhao, but nothing unusual happened. Lu Li's mother had personally witnessed it, as well as Luo Xiao Zhao's foster parents and the old woman responsible for buying young maids for the Lu Mansion.

Since nothing had happened to them, how could the current significance of the '洛' character be explained?

There were probably only two possibilities: either Lu Li was a martial artist, and the previous observers were ordinary people, making the '洛' character relevant only to martial artists, or Luo Xiao Zhao, who couldn't cultivate before, could now cultivate and had become a martial artist, revealing the power of the '洛' character.

Regardless, now that Lu Li was aware that the '洛' character was not ordinary, he needed to be vigilant in advance.

"Xiaozhao, from now on, you must not let anyone see this '洛' character! Do you understand?"

"Yes, I'll follow Young Master's instructions!"

"If you encountered problems in your cultivation, tell me specifically what happened!"

"Young Master, please watch!"

Luo Xiao Zhao sat in front of Lu Li and began to cultivate. After a while, she called out to him.

"Young Master, did you see it? That '洛' character feels so hot!"

Lu Li dared not look at the '洛' character. Its captivating power could be terrifying if one's attention slipped. 

"Xiaozhao, you mentioned it's hot. Can I touch it with my hand?"

"Young Master, please go ahead!"

With his eyes closed, Lu Li placed his hand on Luo Xiao Zhao's back. The '洛' character was located on her lower back, slightly to the left of the spine.

When Lu Li's hand touched Luo Xiao Zhao's back, her silky smooth skin made Lu Li's hand tremble slightly.

"This girl has such beautiful skin!"

Lu Li couldn't help but murmur. He continued to run his hand down Luo Xiao Zhao's spine, and when he reached her lower back, he shifted slightly to the left. His palm landed directly on the '洛' character.

A burning sensation enveloped him, like placing his hand in warm water, hot but not scalding.

Suddenly, a shimmering light flashed. The hand on Luo Xiao Zhao's back felt as if struck by lightning. Lu Li sensed a massive energy entering his body through his arm, rushing towards his dantian along the meridians.

"Not good!"

Lu Li quickly withdrew his hand, but he found that there was a tremendous suction force between his hand and Luo Xiao Zhao's skin, making it impossible to move a fraction.

The force quickly attacked Lu Li's dantian. If his dantian was damaged, it could result in the destruction of his cultivation. The consequences could range from a waste of his cultivation to losing his life today.

One word, yet so terrifying. Lu Li felt like he was practically seeking death at this moment.

But just as the force was about to strike Lu Li's dantian, it unexpectedly bypassed the area around his dantian through the meridians, making a full circle and then retracting.

"What's going on? Could this force feel that it had no ill intent towards Xiaozhao, so it retreated? Does this force have some kind of consciousness?"

By now, Lu Li could withdraw his hand. He felt drenched in cold sweat. In that instant, beads of sweat had soaked through his clothes.

"Xiaozhao, put on your clothes! Everything is fine now!"

"Yes, Young Master, my clothes are back on!"

Lu Li finally opened his eyes. At this moment, Luo Xiao Zhao turned around.

"Other than the '洛' character feeling a bit warm, did anything else happen?"

"Not at all!"

"That's good. Remember what I said. Don't let anyone, especially martial artists, see this '洛' character. Also, don't discuss your background with anyone!"

"Yes, I will follow Young Master's instructions. Only my foster parents and Young Master know about my background."

"Good girl!"

Lu Li pinched Xiao Zhao's nose affectionately and let her leave.

There must be some profound secret hidden on Luo Xiao Zhao's body. Lu Li did not dwell on it much. The '洛' character evidently harbored no ill intent towards Luo Xiao Zhao; it was more like protecting her. Therefore, there was no need to worry.

"I wonder what kind of formidable individual can write such a character. How terrifying can cultivators become when they reach the peak in this world?"

"Xiao Qing, prepare hot water for Young Master!"

With his body soaked in cold sweat, Lu Li took a refreshing hot bath, enjoying Xiao Qing's attentive service. Her hands were calloused, in contrast to Luo Xiao Zhao's delicate ones.

"Young Master, when can I start practicing?"

Massaging Lu Li's shoulders, Xiao Qing asked again.

"Today, endure half an hour of horse stance again!"

"Young Master..."

Xiao Qing almost cried. Her almond eyes were teary, evoking sympathy.

Lu Li, unkindly, pinched her face. It felt genuinely comfortable.

"If you can't endure hardship, how can you become a martial artist? Haven't you heard that one must endure hardship to achieve greatness?"

"I'll go do the horse stance now!"

Watching this girl head to the courtyard under the scorching sun, Lu Li couldn't help but laugh. This young master truly knew how to push people to their limits. The path of martial arts was not easy; it required a strong will and endurance.

Of course, Lu Li completely ignored the fact that he himself had just soaked in a hot bath.

After putting on his clothes, Lu Li began practicing his knife skills. At the Seventh Meridian realm, he could now consecutively use the first two strikes of the "断浪七刀."

Seeing Lu Li fully engrossed in his knife practice, Chen Axiu looked at Xiao Qing, who was about to faint under the sun, and couldn't help but chuckle. This young master was truly adept at tormenting people, turning such a delicate maid into someone with trembling legs.

While Lu Li was immersed in his knife practice, suddenly, his body floated towards Xiao Qing. Xiao Qing, unable to endure any longer, fainted in Lu Li's arms. Lu Li's senses, honed to the Seventh Meridian realm, could

 perceive everything happening around him.

Even the subtle changes in Xiao Qing's breathing did not escape Lu Li's notice.

"Young Master, how do you find Xiao Qing?"

"Her will is alright, but her body is too weak. She hasn't even stood for half an hour. When she wakes up, teach her body techniques and archery!"

Lu Li entrusted Xiao Qing to Axiu, returning to his knife practice while consuming Spirit Qi Pills. This routine continued in a loop.