"The body is still too weak... A few months of training is still far from enough." As Lu Sheng stopped, he instantly felt pain all over.

Luckily the constantly circulating Jade Crane Skill inner qi had spread countless silk threads about like a spider web, linking to every painful spot in his body.

As inner qi continually nourished those areas, the original agony transformed into traces of numb itchiness instead.

"Incredible effects indeed. This numb feeling should be wounds mending with new flesh growing."

Lu Sheng guessed inwardly.

Glancing at the corpses on the ground, he walked out the same hole Lin Shuang Huo entered from earlier.

The other side of the hole was another family's backyard.

Entering the yard, Lu Sheng scanned the ground briefly before following the footprints toward that family's house.

The moment he stepped inside, his expression froze at the sight before him.

Hanging from the ceiling beam was Lu Qing Qing wearing only a shred of white undergarment. Her entire body exposed.

The girl had fainted. Her panties were also stripped halfway, revealing snowy tender buttocks. Her legs were even spread apart and tied up, splayed open in a humiliating posture.

If not for a small cloth scrap, one could almost glimpse her vital region.

Over half her upper body was also exposed. Only the twin peaks had a little cloth covering them.

It was evident that if Lu Sheng had been a tiny bit later, Lin Shuang Huo would've already had his way completely.

"Luckily made it..."

Lu Sheng hastily took off his outer robe to wrap Lu Qing Qing's body before lowering her down.

This matter couldn't be known by others. Otherwise Lu Qing Qing's reputation would be ruined.

Lu Sheng decided to conceal the truth of her capture.

In this era, if a young maiden encountered something like this and people found out, who could guarantee Lu Qing Qing's chastity hadn't already been violated?

A maiden's purity was extremely crucial now.

Girls who lost innocence before marriage might even get drowned alive in certain families.

Carrying Lu Qing Qing, Lu Sheng gently patted her face a few times.

If only inner qi could be freely manipulated, he pondered using inner force to heal others like he heard of before.

But his Jade Crane Skill was motionless.

After repeated smacks over some time, Lu Qing Qing finally weakly regained hazy consciousness.

Dazed after just waking, it took her a while to react when feeling chilled all over her body. Then she suddenly recalled being ambushed unconscious by those villains and subsequently getting bound up.

Her current abnormal state made her shiver all over. Realizing what happened, she stared fixedly at Lu Sheng as tears brimmed her eyes, about to spill out any second...

"Get dressed quickly. The family will arrive soon."

Lu Sheng urged. Zhao Bo and the rest should find this place very shortly.

From when he entered to battling the Demon Sabers, not much time had actually passed. Just enough buffering time for Lu Qing Qing.

Lu Qing Qing's expression froze before swiftly grasping something. She wasn't stupid. Hearing there was still hope of recovering the situation, she hastily braced her limp body to gather her torn clothes about the room. Though some were too damaged to wear properly.

She couldn't care less about indecent exposure while changing now.

Lu Sheng consciously turned his back. Only facing her again after she finished dressing.

Seeing big brother's thoughtfulness, Lu Qing Qing also relaxed somewhat. Her face was still a little red but much better than before.

"Big brother, what about those villains?"

Hatred colored her face.

"I killed them."

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Lu Sheng calmly replied.

"What about little Xiao Ba? I didn't see him anywhere."

"Not sure... Didn't see Xiao Ba around."

Right after answering, Lu Qing Qing suddenly reacted. Stunned rigid.

So many people. Multiple experts. Yet big brother handled it alone?

She found that hard to believe.

In her memories, Lu Sheng always had the image of a gentle refined gentleman. Though he only started recently, those men's profound martial arts even her master might not necessarily handle...

How could big brother accomplish it alone...?

"We'll search for Xiao Ba later. Cleaned up properly? Later just say we joined hands killing them. Understand? I arrived to find you embroiled in bitter fighting with their disciples."

Lu Sheng planned to collude their stories.

Lu Qing Qing knew the stakes now so didn't inquire further, solemnly nodding in agreement.

But picturing her probably fully nude body seen by big brother, an indescribable shame crept into her heart.

It felt like standing here with him was akin to wearing nothing.

Thinking so, her cheeks reddened again as she hastily lowered her head.

Lu Sheng tidied up the room's traces and evidence for a bit. Collecting the binding ropes.

When half completed, Zhao Bo and the rest finally came.

Hurried footsteps rushed into the neighboring yard.

Followed by shocked shouting.

"It's Severed Head and Twin Fire Demon Sabers!" An older guard suddenly yelled loudly.

Everyone grew boisterous before fading to silence.

Only then did Zhao Bo's voice ring out again. "Search for our young lord and second miss."

"We're fine!"

Lu Sheng brought Lu Qing Qing back to the previous yard.

Zhao Bo in black formfitting attire wielded dual sabers while standing at the yard's center.

The other guards split up combing through the yard's condition and corpses.

"Young Master! Great you're unharmed!" Zhao Bo's taut imposing manner swiftly abated seeing them intact.

"This isn't the place for discussion. First return before talking."

Finished, his gaze thoughtful, he glanced back at Lu Qing Qing. Though their concealment fooled ordinary folk, it wouldn't get past an old hand like him.

Lu Sheng nodded. Knowing manor people already reported to authorities, the three boarded a requisitioned carriage with the guards. Some riding horses or traveling by foot. Swiftly heading back the way they came.

They left some men behind to interface with the yamen staff.

Rushing back to the manor and tightly shutting the gates.

Inside the great hall, family elders like Lu Quan An and his second wife awaited with the rest of Lu Sheng's close kin.

After changing, Lu Qing Qing was also brought to the great hall. Lu Sheng didn't go.

He narrated the full events to Zhao Bo while replacing Lu Qing Qing's circumstances with her embroiled in bitter combat against their disciples when he arrived.

Citing injuries, he first returned to rest.

The family doctor also came over examining his wounds.

Multiple muscle strains, slight bone fractures, some internal hemorrhaging. Dislocated shoulder bones and more. Lu Sheng hated these kinds of prosecutorial hearings. Back and forth yap yap, a simple matter dragging out forever to conclude.

After cleaning up, little Xiao Qiao served him brimming with tears. Removing his outer garment so he could rest in bed.

Once the doctor left, Lu Sheng felt his injuries mostly recovered again after that brief time. Brimming with vigor and overflowing qi and blood without any hint of intense battle.

Jade Crane Skill's healing ability at peak stage was indeed formidable.

Lying in bed, Lu Sheng stroked his stomach just finished with a bowl of ginseng chicken soup. His entire body felt warm and comfortable.

"Just an empty scare this time.

Didn't expect what second sis stirred up to be no monsters or ghosts, but a pair of murderers from many years ago who were still at large."

He was terribly anxious beforehand precisely due to encountering something off on that street previously. Thus his exceptional carefulness.

But unexpectedly, the threat didn't stem from ghosts, but from villains instead.

Resting in bed, he carefully recollected his clashes earlier.

"From start to finish, there should still be room to simplify and streamline my movements. If I can adeptly utilize Black Tiger Saber Technique's subtle paralyzing shock from Tiger Howl, perhaps I could've avoided that final brute hard clash altogether."

His brows furrowed. Starting to reflect.

"When facing stronger opponents, it is rather problematic indeed. As a saber user, strength shouldn't be my weakness either. I should search for some external skills to bolster might."

He had yet to sample those hardy external skills. Unsure what effects they would possess after modifying them.

...

Lu Manor's Great Hall

Lu Quan An sat at the head seat. Face dark as he glared at Lu Qing Qing below.

His second wife and third wife etc surrounded him. Practically the whole huge family prosecutorial hearing everyone.

Lu Qing Qing along with Zhao Bo and some guards stood below.

"...That concludes the general circumstances."

Zhao Bo relayed the version Lu Sheng gave him with some added polish for everyone present.

"I've notified the yamen. This great achievement belongs to young master. No one can steal that credit." Saying so, Zhao Bo couldn't help smiling.

"Young Master is fond of martial arts. Who could've expected him to continuously slay Severed Head and Twin Fire Demons this time. Goes to show his present level is already outstanding. A great talent ripening late indeed!"

"I'm very satisfied with and reassured toward my son."

Lu Quan An's expression relaxed slightly. The earlier anger also comforted much thanks to this impressive son.

Looking now at Lu Qing Qing.

"My daughter, look at your elder brother, then look at yourself.

Other than stirring up trouble for the family and troubles for your brother, can you contribute anything proper around here?"

Lu Quan An's voice turned severe.

"I didn't send you out to study martial arts just to return and make trouble!"

"Father... your daughter knows her wrongs." Lu Qing Qing also felt regretful inside. If not for big brother's timely rescue this time, perhaps her entire life would be ruined from now on.

"You know your wrongs? Which time haven't you said that? What were the outcomes?"

Lu Quan An raged more the more he spoke.

"After recovering from injuries this time, I'll find you a match to marry out. Giving birth to a son or two might finally rein in that heart of yours."

"No!"

The instant Lu Qing Qing heard about marrying out, she nearly leapt up like a cat getting its tail stepped on.

"I don't want to marry! No! Father, your daughter was wrong. I will definitely contribute proper things for the family in the future! No more troubles! You can rest assured!

Really! This time is genuine!"

Lu Quan An ignored her to gaze at the doctor who just entered.

"How is my eldest son's condition?"

This doctor was also a distant relative of the Lu family who simply had a different role. Once the Lu manor grew prominent, they drew in their whole clan.

"Fine. Just some external wounds. Ten days to half a month of recuperation should cure it."

The doctor swiftly answered.

"Good to hear. We'll ask later if he still wants to go to Cliff City and study martial arts then."

Thinking of this, turmoil still lingered in Lu Quan An's heart.