The caravan woman sat outside the chamber of the Fourth Lady when suddenly a Lust Devil approached her.
"The Fourth Lady wants to speak with you."
She entered the chamber, her steps cautious and respectful. Inside, the Fourth Young Lady sat upon her lavish throne, wrapped in a crimson gown with gold embroidery. Smoke from her long, ornate pipe curled upward like misty fingers.
She eyed the woman lazily and asked, "Tell me, any other information you have about their group?"
The caravan woman thought deeply. "Ah, yes. I heard them talking—their destination is Kunlun Sect."
The Fourth Young Lady exhaled a stream of fragrant smoke and looked up at the ceiling, a cunning smile forming.
"Kunlun, huh... So they'll enter Sichuan and then go to Qinghai. Sichuan is off-limits... Orthodox sect territory. I can't gather my people there—not with my Chongqing plan still unfolding. But Qinghai…"
She leaned back, the smoke dancing around her face as her eyes gleamed with dark calculation.
"I'll send word to Third Senior Sister about the Supreme Yang Physique. I know how obsessed she is with good-looking men. She'll use all her forces to capture him. But to do so, she'll have to defeat the Righteous Sword Heroine."
Her lips curled into a wicked grin.
"When the two of them exhaust themselves in battle, I'll make my move. I'll kill them both... then claim the prize for myself. If I deliver the Supreme Yang Physique to our master, I'll be taught the ultimate technique. I'll surpass even First Senior Sister."
She took another slow drag from her pipe and turned her attention toward the caravan woman.
"I must reward you for your information."
She handed her a wooden box.
"Inside is a powerful Yin Pill. Use it to dual cultivate and increase your qi. You may also pick five men from my collection. From now on, you're one of mine."
The caravan woman's lips twisted into a lustful smile as her eyes drifted to the pond. Glowing purple crystals bathed the chamber in a seductive hue. Dozens of beautiful, naked men lay unconscious around the pool, their bodies illuminated in the strange light.
"I will give you my utmost loyalty, Fourth Young Lady," she said.
She walked toward the pool, grabbed one of the unconscious men by the hair, and dragged him behind a velvet curtain, her eyes full of hunger. The Fourth Young Lady continued puffing her pipe in silence.
Meanwhile, in the inn...
Yu Meixian, Rin, and Lianzhen sat together in one of the reading rooms, the table before them lit by a soft candle glow.
Yu Meixian placed a parchment on the table. "I gathered information. Tomorrow is the last caravan going to Sichuan. After that, everything is on hold due to safety reasons."
Lianzhen asked, "Did you book our wagon?"
Yu Meixian smirked proudly. "Of course. I already secured it."
Rin narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "How? Everyone knows the situation in Chongqing. There's no way we got seats at the last minute unless you threatened someone."
Yu Meixian folded her arms with a scowl. "Excuse me? I would never! I simply offered them... protection."
Both Rin and Lianzhen said in unison, "Protection?"
She nodded. "Yes. I'm a renowned Unrestrained Stage master, the Righteous Sword Heroine! My reputation alone was enough. They offered our group a seat voluntarily in exchange for my protection."
Rin grumbled. "That... actually makes sense."
Lianzhen chuckled. "Alright then. Let's get some sleep."
Yu Meixian stood up. "Fine, I'll head to my room."
As she left, Rin turned to Lianzhen with a mischievous grin.
"Do you like Yu Meixian?"
"What are you talking about?" Lianzhen replied, his face turning red.
"Come on, tell me~!"
Lianzhen lightly flicked Rin on the head. "Don't meddle in adult matters. Go to sleep."
Rin grumbled again as he crawled onto his mattress, thoughts swirling with worry, ambition, and how to get stronger.
The next morning...
After breakfast, they made their way to the caravan gates.
Unlike the last time, this caravan manager greeted them with a warm smile. "It's our fortune to have the Righteous Sword Heroine traveling with us today."
She gestured toward the wagon. Rin felt a bit reassured compared to their last trip.
As they boarded, Lianzhen immediately entered meditation, his brows furrowing in deep focus.
Rin was about to ask something when Yu Meixian gently stopped him.
"Don't disturb him. He may be having an epiphany that leads to a breakthrough."
As the caravan rumbled forward, Rin turned to Yu Meixian. "Tell me… what's your goal? Me and my brother travel for revenge… to revive the Sima Clan. What about you?"
She stared out the small window of the wagon, her voice quiet and firm.
"I have two goals. First: to see the end of the Sword Dao. Second: to complete my master's martial art—The Seven Ring Sword Technique."
Rin's eyes widened. "Your master was… the Sword Queen, right? But it's been years. Her whereabouts are still unknown."
Yu Meixian's expression darkened. "She's dead."
Rin softened. "I'm sorry."
She shook her head. "She died trying to master the seventh ring. The Ring of Void. She challenged Namgong Chunying to prove her sword was supreme… and lost. She became obsessed to defeat empress sword technique of Namgong clan. Her obsession consumed her."
Her hands clenched in her lap. "She forced her breakthrough… and died from qi deviation. In her final moment, she told me—'complete my martial art.'"
Silence.
Rin asked, "What ring are you on now?"
Yu Meixian looked him in the eyes. "The Ring of Earth. The fourth."
Suddenly, the caravan stopped.
Yu Meixian and Rin stepped outside and saw a wide mountain pass before them, stretching into an open field.
Tension crackled in the air like lightning waiting to strike.
Two large groups of martial artists faced each other. On one side stood a fierce, muscular woman in tiger-skin robes—Blade Tigress—her presence like a roaring flame.
Behind her stood the Bandit Union guards of Chongqing.
On the opposite side, warriors from the four unorthodox powers: Blood Moon Sect, Devil Bone Sect, the Wu Clan, and the Evil Poison Sect.
The field trembled under the weight of killing intent.
Yu Meixian's eyes narrowed. "This is bad… A war might break out right here…"