Chapter Sixty-Three: Severed Cultivation, Shattered Strength

Dugu Ming stepped steadily toward Ximen Xiaokun. Ximen Xiaokun had just witnessed Elder Wan, a master at the third level, unable to withstand even a single blow from Dugu Ming, shattered instantly into pieces. Terror chilled him to the core, and he actually lost control of his bladder.

At that moment, a murderous aura enveloped Dugu Ming, the force radiating from him pressing down on Ximen Xiaokun like a towering mountain. Dugu Ming locked his blood-red, demonic eyes onto Ximen Xiaokun.

"You... you, don't... come any closer... no... don't come any closer," Ximen Xiaokun stammered in terror.

"You—deserve—to—die." Dugu Ming strode up to Ximen Xiaokun, raised his arm, formed a fist, and struck down toward Ximen Xiaokun's crown.

He knew this punch would end Ximen Xiaokun's miserable life, and he knew countless troubles would follow, but he could not endure it any longer. No man with blood in his veins could endure such humiliation. Could one tolerate being bullied on one's own doorstep? Just as with Vietnam and the Philippines bullying China—how could one tolerate it? He made me uncomfortable; I shall make him pay. Kill, kill, kill—there’s only one word for people like him: kill.

Suddenly, with a loud crash, the glass of the luxurious private room at Golden Cauldron Pavilion shattered. Dugu Ming looked up quickly and saw two oddly dressed figures, a man and a woman, standing on the windowsill like gods surveying mortals. They addressed Dugu Ming, "Are you Dugu Ming?"

...

"Honey, honey, wake up—what happened?" Zhang Liming opened his eyes to see Liu Cuilan at his side, shaking him and crying out anxiously. Her usually unattractive face was now streaked with tears, making her appear heartbreakingly beautiful.

I believe any woman who weeps for her man, no matter how unattractive she may be, becomes the most beautiful star in the world at that moment.

"What happened?" Zhang Liming rubbed his head. "Where are Bai Hanwen and Zhang Hongtao? Are they alright?" He had just regained his senses and immediately asked about the safety of his friends.

"They're fine. They've escaped danger," replied Lin Xiaowen, standing behind Liu Cuilan. Yet she seemed different from her usual self—cold, distant, nothing like her usual warm and approachable demeanor.

"Who are you?" Zhang Liming asked, his instincts warning him that the person before him wasn’t quite Lin Xiaowen, despite having her exact face—the feeling was different.

"I'm Lin Xiaowen, who else could I be?" Suddenly, Lin Xiaowen reverted to her familiar gentle self, all traces of the earlier icy attitude gone.

Zhang Liming rubbed his eyes. Had he been mistaken? He wondered.

"What happened? What did you encounter? Why did you call me, and when I arrived you were all unconscious on the floor, foaming at the mouth? Tell me what happened," Liu Cuilan wiped her tears and questioned urgently. She truly loved Zhang Liming; seeing him in such agony had terrified her.

After Zhang Liming called Liu Cuilan, she was bewildered, but when no further sound came from his end, she sensed something was wrong. Thankfully, their phones were custom-designed, allowing Liu Cuilan to track Zhang Liming's location at any moment—a trivial precaution that proved life-saving.

Liu Cuilan saw that Zhang Liming was in his dorm room and decided to find him, taking Lin Xiaowen along just in case. She didn’t know why Zhang Liming had acted so, but she trusted him. It’s an advantage for girls—they can freely enter boys' dorms, while boys can’t enter girls’—alas.

Lin Xiaowen was equally confused when summoned, but after hearing Liu Cuilan's account, she realized something was wrong, and they hurried to Zhang Liming’s dorm.

When they arrived, the door was closed. They knocked and called for a long time, but no one answered. Lin Xiaowen asked Liu Cuilan if she was sure Zhang Liming was inside. Liu Cuilan checked her phone and nodded firmly.

Something’s wrong, Lin Xiaowen thought. She stepped back, and, to Liu Cuilan’s astonishment, kicked the door open with a loud crash.

No time for hesitation now, Lin Xiaowen said, "Enough surprise, let's hurry in and check."

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...

Liu Cuilan nodded, determination in her eyes, and rushed into the dorm. Thankfully, their room was at the corner of the building, so few people were around; otherwise, seeing Xuan Yuan Linwen in such a fierce state would have made headlines at Ning University by the next day.

Upon entering, Liu Cuilan saw Zhang Liming, Bai Hanwen, and Zhang Hongtao collapsed on the floor, foaming at the mouth, their bodies convulsing in pain even while unconscious.

"How could this happen?" Liu Cuilan was at a loss, never having encountered such a situation—understandably so, as anyone would be overwhelmed. Seeing her husband in such agony, Liu Cuilan’s heart broke, and tears streamed down her face.

Lin Xiaowen carefully closed the door, then rushed over at Liu Cuilan’s cry. Seeing the chaos, she too gasped, but as the noble Miss Xuan Yuan, she didn’t panic. She quickly knelt and checked the breath of the three, then breathed a sigh of relief.

"How are they?" Liu Cuilan asked.

"They’re still breathing; for now, they’re alright, but if this lasts, things could get worse," Lin Xiaowen said, frowning.

Liu Cuilan nearly fainted from fright. "What should we do?"

"The best thing is to get them out and find medical help." Lin Xiaowen dialed a number on her phone.

After a brief conversation, she hung up and spoke quietly to Liu Cuilan, "No matter what happens next, don’t panic, okay? Remember, I’ll always be your friend, Lin Xiaowen."

"Alright," Liu Cuilan nodded, trusting both Zhang Liming and Lin Xiaowen, convinced Lin Xiaowen would never harm her.

"Now we just wait," Lin Xiaowen said, then found a seat.

In Lin Xiaowen's mind, two voices, identical in tone but distinctly different in feeling, echoed.

"Sister Lin Yun, when Grandpa Hei arrives, please help save them at our villa," said the soul hiding within Lin Xiaowen—her sister, Xuan Yuan Lin Yun. From their exchange, it was clear Lin Xiaowen had been calling Grandpa Hei.

Grandpa Hei was originally Lin Xiaowen’s personal bodyguard, always protecting her. But since Xuan Yuan Linwen insisted on living in the dorm, Grandpa Hei couldn’t conveniently guard her, being a man after all.

So Grandpa Hei stayed alone in their suburban villa, giving Dugu Ming the opportunity to approach Lin Xiaowen—otherwise, with Grandpa Hei around, Dugu Ming would have had no chance.

"Why should I save them?" the icy voice replied.

"Because among us, only you know medicine. Grandpa Hei is skilled in martial arts, but not in healing. Sister, your miraculous hands and peerless medical skills are their only hope," Xuan Yuan Linwen coaxed.

"I know I can save them, but why should I?" Xuan Yuan Lin Yun retorted coldly.

Linwen tried many ways to persuade her, but Lin Yun was adamant. Finally, Linwen resorted to provoking her. "Fine, save them or not, but if Brother Dugu Ming returns and learns you could have saved him but didn’t, he’ll hate you forever." With that, she relinquished control of the body.

After a while, whether it was Linwen’s words or Lin Yun’s genuine concern for Dugu Ming, or perhaps compassion for tear-streaked Liu Cuilan, Lin Yun took over and stood up.

Linwen saw her sister preparing to treat Zhang Liming and thought, Silly sister, I know your little secrets. You say you don't like Brother Dugu Ming, but why did I feel aroused when you and he were together? If you didn't like him, why would you feel that way? If you didn't, how could I sense it?

Thinking about this, Linwen blushed deeply. But it didn't matter; as a soul inhabiting this body, no one could see her blush—heehee. Brother Dugu Ming is remarkable, making both me and my sister fall for him at first sight. Who is he really? Someday I must ask, but regardless, he is my man, and I am forever his woman—heehee, so embarrassing, Linwen thought shyly.

Liu Cuilan noticed "Lin Xiaowen" suddenly stand and asked, "What’s wrong?"

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...

"Shut up." "Lin Xiaowen" snapped coldly.

Liu Cuilan fell silent, bewildered—this was clearly Lin Xiaowen, but after sitting for a while, she seemed like a different person, so harsh.

In truth, Lin Xiaowen was no longer herself; she was Lin Yun. Lin Xiaowen had surrendered control to her sister.

Lin Yun walked slowly to Zhang Liming’s side and said to Liu Cuilan, "If you want to save them, don’t speak." She reached out and checked Zhang Liming’s pulse. After a few minutes, Lin Yun produced a handful of silver needles from nowhere and began inserting them into Zhang Liming, from head to toe.

"Ah!" Liu Cuilan gasped, seeing Zhang Liming turned into a pincushion. She almost intervened, but recalling Lin Xiaowen’s earlier instructions and trusting her friend, she restrained herself, believing Lin Xiaowen would not harm her husband.

Lin Yun then applied the same treatment to Bai Hanwen and Zhang Hongtao, until they too were covered in needles.

Soon, Liu Cuilan noticed a dark substance oozing from the needles, staining them black. Zhang Liming and his friends seemed much relieved—their bodies ceased painful convulsions, and even in unconsciousness, they sighed contentedly. Clearly, the acupuncture was effective.

"Wait," Liu Cuilan wondered, "When did Lin Xiaowen learn acupuncture?" When all the needles had turned black, Lin Yun quietly said, "It’s done," quickly pulled out the needles, and threw them down the drain.

Suddenly, a dark figure flashed in through the window. "This is the seventh floor—how could anyone enter from the window?" Liu Cuilan was shocked yet again.

"Grandpa Hei, take them to the villa," Lin Yun instructed coldly.

Grandpa Hei nodded—he didn’t know what had happened, but he knew Lin Yun would never do anything harmful.

"Lin Xiaowen told me to bring you too," Lin Yun said to the dazed Liu Cuilan.

Liu Cuilan nodded instinctively, not realizing that if Lin Xiaowen had asked, then who was this person?

Lin Yun picked Liu Cuilan up; though Liu Cuilan was heavy, she was light as a feather to Lin Xiaowen. Grandpa Hei carried Zhang Liming in his left hand, Zhang Hongtao in his right, and Bai Hanwen under his arm.

Then the two leapt straight from the seventh floor, speeding toward the villa like the wind—no one saw their figures, only sensed a gust.

At the villa, Grandpa Hei laid Zhang Liming and his friends on beds. Liu Cuilan heard Zhang Liming cough and hurried to his side.

Zhang Liming awoke, and Liu Cuilan asked what had happened. Zhang Liming recounted everything, including Ximen Xiaokun’s invitation.

"Ximen Xiaokun," Lin Xiaowen, now herself again, growled angrily.

...

Dugu Ming carefully scrutinized the duo standing at the window. He was certain he did not know them. Suspicious, he asked, "I am Dugu Ming—who are you?"

"We are Duan Xiu and Can Gang. We’ve come for your life."