Chapter 16

After refining the medicine, Chu Li pushed the door open and stepped out. The sun was shining brightly, and it had already been an hour.

The door of the west room also opened, and Zhao Ying stepped out, giving Chu Li a cold look and huffed, "Thank you, Senior Brother Chu!"

She could clearly feel the changes in her body. Her meridians had become more resilient, her internal energy flowed more smoothly, and her movements were more agile, with faster circulation.

With this, her martial arts skills had significantly improved, and she was confident she could pass the Eighth Rank test upon returning!

Chu Li smiled and said, "Let's have breakfast first, then continue on our journey."

"Okay," Zhao Ying nodded.

The waiter brought breakfast, and the two of them ate at the stone table in the courtyard before continuing on their way.

Leaving the city, the two spurred their horses to a gallop.

There were few people on the main road, and their horses ran very fast. Even at full speed, they could still talk to each other.

Chu Li told some interesting stories, quickly dispelling Zhao Ying's resentment, and they laughed and chatted again.

Chu Li, with his vast knowledge, could easily recount various anecdotes and martial arts lore, captivating Zhao Ying and making her forget herself.

By mid-morning, Chu Li suddenly stopped his horse, and Zhao Ying quickly reined in hers, turning back to ask, "Senior Brother Chu, what's wrong?"

Chu Li pointed to a range of mountains in the distance, "This is Tiger Mountain."

"What about Tiger Mountain?" Zhao Ying looked at the mountain range.

"Tiger Mountain has a Tiger Fort," Chu Li frowned. "It's a formidable bandit stronghold that robs passing travelers."

Zhao Ying was taken aback, "Will we encounter them?"

"We can't be too careful."

"What should we do? ... Take a detour?"

"There's only this road."

"Then let's go through!" Zhao Ying placed her hand on her sword. "What's the worst that can happen?"

Her martial arts skills had greatly improved, and she was eager to test her new strength, feeling no fear.

Chu Li shook his head, "Tiger Fort has innate experts."

Zhao Ying's face changed, and she released her sword.

Innate experts, they were no match. Innate experts can project their internal energy externally and transmit it through objects. No matter how strong her skills were, she had no chance of winning!

Even Senior Brother Chu, with his excellent swordsmanship, couldn't defeat an innate expert!

"Be careful, let's go."

"Really go through?"

"Should we turn back?"

"… Oh, okay."

Chu Li slowly rode his horse, entering Tiger Mountain. The dense forests on both sides gave way to towering peaks, creating a strategic location that was easy to defend but hard to attack, making it an ideal place for a bandit stronghold.

Chu Li said as he rode, "Junior Sister Zhao, once we engage in combat, don't hold back."

Zhao Ying hesitated.

Chu Li said, "If we don't finish them off, and an innate expert is provoked, it will be a big problem!"

"Okay," Zhao Ying nodded reluctantly.

After about fifteen minutes, Chu Li frowned and gave Zhao Ying a meaningful look. Zhao Ying nodded, understanding that there was an ambush ahead.

Chu Li reined in his horse and bowed, "Friends ahead, please show yourselves."

Zhao Ying drew her sword, ready to fight at any moment.

"Ha ha…" A loud laugh suddenly echoed.

The branches swayed, and six large men emerged from the forest, standing about ten meters away. Their heads were shiny, and their bald heads gleamed in the sunlight.

"Gentlemen," Chu Li bowed, "My wife and I have nothing of value and no money."

The six men's eyes all fell on Zhao Ying, scanning her beautiful face and curvaceous figure, their gazes becoming increasingly heated, as if they wanted to strip her naked and have their way with her right there.

Chu Li frowned, blocking their gaze with his horse and shielding Zhao Ying behind him.

Zhao Ying frowned, feeling extremely uncomfortable under their burning gazes.

"Boy, be sensible, hand over the beauty, and we'll spare your life!" The leader of the men looked at him coolly and said, "You don't deserve such a beauty!"

Chu Li frowned, "Gentlemen, in the martial world, we don't rob beauty, only wealth. That's the rule!"

"Rule?" The man laughed, "What rule? In Tiger Mountain, Tiger Fort is the rule!"

Chu Li drew his sword, "Then there's nothing to talk about. Let me see your skills!"

"Boy, think carefully. Once you draw your sword, we won't hold back. We'll kill you, play with the beauty, and then kill her!" The man looked at Chu Li like a cat playing with a mouse. "If you don't draw your sword, the beauty can become the chief's wife and live."

"Hmph, boy, if you dare to draw your sword, we won't kill you. We'll break your limbs, cut out your tongue, and play with the beauty right in front of you!" Another man laughed.

Chu Li's eyes turned cold. They had played this cat-and-mouse game countless times, working in perfect harmony, and had harmed many people. Each of them deserved to die a hundred times!

"Enough!" Chu Li huffed, extending his sword, "Today, I will enforce justice!"

"Good boy!" The leader of the men sneered, "If you can still be so brave while watching us handle your beauty, I'll admire you. Go!"

Zhao Ying suddenly stepped in front of Chu Li, drawing her sword. As a guard, she couldn't let Senior Brother Chu take the lead!

Chu Li didn't push her away.

One of the men strode forward, his long saber gleaming with a cold light, exuding a faint bloody smell, clearly having killed many people.

"Hehe, beauty, big brother will be gentle with you!" He laughed lewdly and swung his saber, the blade like a silver ribbon, cold and menacing.

"Junior Sister, don't panic!" Chu Li said calmly, stepping forward, ready to help Zhao Ying at any moment.

Zhao Ying's heart steadied. Chu Li's voice had a strange power, and her anxiety vanished, calming her down.

She flicked her sword, moving lightly and gracefully, like a swallow facing a strong wind, dodging and striking at the right moment.

"Clang…" The saber and sword clashed. Zhao Ying's sword spun, and the man grunted, his shoulder hit by the sword, and his saber clattered to the ground.

She stood there, her bright eyes shining.

This beautiful strike boosted her confidence. The advanced Swallow Sword Technique was indeed powerful. The feeling of being as graceful as a swallow was truly wonderful, giving her the courage to face any challenge.

"The beauty has some skills!" The leader of the men stepped forward, guarding against Chu Li and Zhao Ying's counterattack, and only when his companions retreated did he sneer, "You're more capable than I thought, heh, interesting!"

Zhao Ying's confidence grew, and her eyes became sharp. She huffed, "A bunch of scoundrels, prepare to die!"

Chu Li sighed inwardly. She talked tough but was still too soft-hearted. If it were him, that man would have been dead already.

"I'll challenge the beauty's skills!" Another man stepped forward, holding a long saber and leering at her curvaceous figure, "Don't worry, beauty, I won't harm you!"

Zhao Ying huffed, "Watch my sword!"

Her sword moved lightly, gliding toward the man. The man's saber moved continuously, using a soft and supple style, completely different from the previous man's aggressive approach. It was like a spider's web, trying to entangle the swallow.

Zhao Ying's sword was light and agile, moving fast and slow, exchanging over twenty moves with the man in the blink of an eye.

Chu Li said calmly, "Junior Sister, don't rush."

Zhao Ying nodded slightly, calming her anxious heart and patiently engaging with the man, looking for his weaknesses.

Her eyes suddenly lit up, finding the man's flaw, and her sword moved swiftly.

The man grunted, his saber falling to the ground as he retreated.

Chu Li suddenly stepped forward, his sword flashing, and the man clutched his throat, falling to the ground, blood gushing out, and his eyes filled with hatred as he glared at Chu Li.

Chu Li gently shook his sword, removing the blood, and glanced at the others, "Anyone else?"

"You must die!" The leader of the men glared at Chu Li, gritting his teeth, "You'll be cut into pieces, and the beauty will be tortured to death, … If I were you, I'd slit my own throat now!"

Chu Li laughed, "A bunch of rabble, big talk!"

The man gritted his teeth and waved his hand, "Everyone, attack together!"

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