The lecherous monks passed by Han’s courtyard, heading in another direction.

Han listened carefully, gauging their distance from the women’s quarters.

When the time was right, he kicked open the door with a loud crash.

Startled by the noise, the monks turned to see Han standing there with a cold expression—and a signal flare rising into the sky.

The monks panicked, and a commotion erupted as another door was slammed open in the women’s quarters. Su Chang’an leaped out, though his appearance was peculiar: his face was flushed, his gaze dazed, yet he remained mostly lucid.

The incense in the women’s quarters was laced with something more potent than that in the men’s area—a concoction that dulled the senses and ignited unholy desires.

“Who are you to cause trouble in my Shan Shui Temple? Seize them!” roared the monk who had brought Han and the others inside.

The group split in two, half charging toward Han and the other half toward Su Chang’an.

For martial artists at the Meridian Stage, the distance of a few dozen meters was covered in mere strides.

“You idiots! How could such a mistake happen? If this gets exposed, you’ll all pay with your lives!”

Suddenly, the head monk, Neng Wu, soared into the air from another courtyard, landing directly in their midst.

He could fly.

Han’s heart sank. Without hesitation, he retreated into the room, smashing through the opposite wall to escape.

Running was the only option. Facing a group of Meridian Stage martial artists and an unknown cultivator would be suicidal.

However, no matter how fast Han ran, the monks chased faster.

They crashed through obstacles with brute force, closing in on Han relentlessly.

Neng Wu ignored Han, heading straight for Su Chang’an instead.

Han’s heart pounded wildly, cold sweat drenching him. The killing intent behind him was palpable.

Using his spiritual sense, he saw the monks closing in, their energy surging like boiling blood.

He could feel the heat and the sharp pain on his back.

This is it. I’m done.

Just as despair set in, a radiant sword energy slashed through the air.

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“Hmph. Daring to act unruly in my presence?”

The sword energy was terrifying, splitting three monks in half before they could react. One monk, due to his position, lost only an arm and part of his torso but still fell, screaming in agony.

Han’s eyes lit up. Without hesitation, he equipped his refined gloves and pounded the injured monk with relentless blows, finally beating him to death.

You thought chasing me was fun? I’ve been dying to kill one of you scumbags!

Ahead, Bai Ruoyue stood in the courtyard, dressed in pure white. She calmly sheathed her sword, the moonlight bathing her figure, giving her the ethereal appearance of a sword immortal.

Han froze, momentarily captivated.

Noticing his expression, Bai Ruoyue brushed a strand of black hair behind her ear and smirked. “Well, junior brother, how was that? Impressive, wasn’t it?”

“Senior sister…”

“No need to praise me.”

Please, praise me more!

“Could you not wait until the last second to save someone? It’s nerve-wracking.”

Bai Ruoyue gripped her sword tightly, resisting the urge to draw it again.

I’ll stab you for being such an infuriating disciple!

Han stepped out of the rubble, glancing toward Su Chang’an. The monks who had been pursuing him were already subdued by their senior brothers and sisters.

The fight had ended as quickly as it had begun. The strength of their group overwhelmed the Shan Shui Temple’s forces.

Some monks were left alive for questioning, as the situation required follow-up.

Among the captured were even a few young novices who, surprisingly, were also at the Flesh and Blood Stage of martial arts. Han hadn’t noticed them earlier in the day.

In the sky, Neng Wu saw the tide turning and shouted angrily, “Tai Bai Martial Hall? Fine, fine! Mark my words—you’ll regret this!”

With that, he turned to flee.

Live to fight another day.

But as Han watched, he noticed Neng Wu’s form was faint and illusory. He wasn’t flying with his physical body—it was his spirit.

Suddenly, the energy around Neng Wu’s path surged violently. A massive, glowing hand, several meters wide, materialized and seized him mid-flight.

“Agh! The Profound Palm of Heaven!”

Neng Wu screamed as his entire body, save for his head, was crushed. His remains were carried away by the glowing hand, vanishing beyond the temple grounds.

“Leave the rest to me. Bring your people and meet me tomorrow,” a woman’s voice echoed across the night, then faded into silence.

Han was dumbfounded. What kind of technique was that? Daoist magic?

“Senior sister, was that the expert you brought in?” Han asked.

“Indeed.”

“They’re incredible…”

A giant energy palm several meters wide? The expert herself must be as towering as a mountain.

“Senior sister, was Neng Wu really flying?”

“That was his spirit. A soul can move freely without the limitations of the physical body,” Bai Ruoyue explained.

Han had suspected as much.

“By the way, was that the Tai Bai Sword Technique you used earlier?”

“Yes, the Flying Swallow Chases the Moon technique.”

Han’s envy was palpable. Sword energy? That was beyond cool.

“You’re still building your foundation. The Tai Bai techniques won’t be as effective in your current state,” Bai Ruoyue reassured him. “When you reach the Organ Refinement Stage, you’ll get there.”

“That’s going to take forever…”

At that moment, Zhang Yuantao and the others approached, checking on Han.

“Fourth Brother, are you okay?”

Su Chang’an, still dressed as a woman, shook his head, his flushed face drawing muffled laughter from the group.

“The incense in the room was laced with something vile. No wonder the women fell victim to it so easily,” Su Chang’an explained.

Though brief, the battle left a noticeable impact. Han and his comrades had wiped out a den of evil, though it was clear the monks had used potent drugs to maintain control over their victims.

“The novices should be locked up,” Bai Ruoyue instructed. “The authorities will arrive shortly.”

“Was that expert connected to the authorities?”

Bai Ruoyue nodded.

Han raised an eyebrow. Didn’t you say we shouldn’t involve the authorities? You just wanted an excuse to fight, didn’t you!