Would you like some walnuts?

"You... you... pervert! The muscles here are so developed, you..." Ma Shuanglong's face was deathly pale.

Xie Wujie picked up the dagger and gritted his teeth. "Just half a month ago, I was caught off guard by a demon spirit. I swore to the heavens that such a thing would never happen to me again. So every day, I train my gluteal muscles. Even if you shoot arrows at me, I can catch them between my cheeks. A mere dagger is nothing!"

Having been possessed by the undying phoenix demon was the greatest humiliation of Xie Wujie's life. As a modern man of iron will, he would never allow such disgrace to befall him twice.

"Brother Xie, how did you train this... Iron Butt Divine Skill?" Ma Shuanglong asked.

Xie Wujie let out a mocking laugh. "Do you have walnuts?"

"There are some on the table..." Ma Shuanglong replied, trembling.

Xie Wujie walked over, turned around, and his body began to tremble violently. In truth, he was shaking his electric hips so fiercely that even his face was quivering. Unbeknownst to him, everyone around was utterly stunned. The girl who had almost been violated was nearly petrified, her mouth so agape it could fit a whole apple.

In just three breaths, an entire plate of walnuts was crushed to dust!

Xie Wujie spoke with nonchalance, "That's how I train."

The moment Xie Wujie turned, Ma Shuanglong's face turned ashen. "Damn it, after a lifetime of wisdom, I end up dying at the hands of a lunatic..."

Ma Rulong stared in shock, his mouth slightly open.

"Hungry?" Xie Wujie kindly offered a piece of walnut to Ma Rulong's mouth. As soon as Ma Rulong caught a whiff, his eyes rolled back, and he spewed a mouthful of blood, dying on the spot.

"I can't take it anymore!" Ma Shuanglong suddenly crawled up from the ground and rammed himself headlong into a distant pillar. Blood splashed seven feet high, and he died instantly.

Xie Wujie glanced at the bandits crowding around him. Almost in unison, they clutched their backsides, wailing like wild dogs at a funeral, and scattered in panic.

The once-mighty Ma Family Fortress was wiped out by Xie Wujie's fearsome methods, leaving only the young maiden behind.

Xie Wujie said, "You're not leaving?"

"Where would I go? I have nowhere to go..." the woman replied.

Xie Wujie sighed and said nothing, heading straight to the warehouse. Upon entering, he found the Ma Family Fortress pitifully destitute. The warehouse was filled with tattered clothes, moldy grain, and a heap of dried meat.

The dried meat was particularly noticeable, but upon inspection, Xie Wujie realized it was rat meat. It was clear how hard life had been for the Ma Family.

Even Xie Wujie felt a pang of sympathy. In the corner, he found the luggage of the Song family—a wooden chest. Aside from the chest, there was nothing of value inside, just daily necessities: wooden combs, clothing, hairpins, and such.

Xie Wujie was disappointed. He had hoped to find a clue about Song Xiaoyu's whereabouts, but it seemed impossible.

Just as he was about to leave, he noticed the chest had a hidden compartment.

He tapped it, then grabbed the lid and smashed it open. From the hidden layer, a book fell to the ground.

The pages were yellowed, clearly aged. Xie Wujie opened the book and trembled with shock—it was the roster of the Undying Longevity Sect, listing eight guardians.

Third on the list was Song Zang, Old Master Song, father of Song Zhong and Song Xiao.

The other seven guardians were also recorded, along with their whereabouts.

Xie Wujie was overjoyed. He thought to himself that Song Xiaoyu must be seeking one of these guardians. If he searched for them as well, not only could he expand his own influence, but he could also reunite with Song Xiaoyu and the others—a win-win. He immediately hid the roster.

At that moment, the warehouse door creaked open. Xie Wujie turned and saw the lovely woman still lingering. She said, "Sir, everyone in the fortress has fled. I found some silver in the house. I plan to leave—let's split it half and half."

Xie Wujie glanced at her. "You keep it all. I still have some on me."

But the woman walked toward him, and Xie Wujie frowned without speaking as she tried to pull at his clothes.

"Please mind your manners, miss. I am not that kind of man," Xie Wujie said seriously.

"What are you thinking? I'm going to bandage your wounds. I've studied some medicine. If you don't treat these, scars will remain, and if they worsen, your life could be in danger!" she replied.

Xie Wujie understood and, with flair, removed his clothes. The woman quickly covered her face. "What are you doing?"

"Aren't you going to bandage my wounds? I'm cooperating," Xie Wujie said.

The woman scolded, "Bandaging you is right, but you don't need to take off your pants!"

"Oh, sorry, sorry. I lost my composure," Xie Wujie blushed, pulling his pants back on. He sat cross-legged as a cool sensation spread across his back.

"Bear with it. I just found some crude wound medicine in the fortress. It can treat the wounds, but it's very painful," the woman said.

"No worries, go ahead! Don't hold back!" Xie Wujie prided himself on his pain tolerance, but the medicine was so potent that he couldn't sit still as soon as it touched his wounds.

Cries, like pigs being butchered, echoed through the Ma Family Fortress.

Once his wounds were treated, Xie Wujie clasped his hands in thanks. "Miss, let's leave it at that. I must be on my way. Let us part here."

"Where are you going?" she asked. "By the way, my name is Dongmen Qianyun."

"Dongmen?" Xie Wujie was surprised. "What an unusual surname."

"That's a bit much. What does my surname have to do with you? What's yours?" Her lively eyes watched him.

"Xie."

Dongmen Qianyun giggled, "No need to thank me."

"Xie!"

"I said, no need to thank me!" Dongmen snapped.

Xie Wujie nearly spat blood. "I mean my surname is Xie!"

Dongmen Qianyun, embarrassed, said, "Would it kill you to say one more word? Well, your wounds are treated. You're good to go!" she said, rising.

Xie Wujie felt lighter and said, "Many thanks, miss. Now I can set out."

"But you haven't said where you're headed," Dongmen Qianyun pressed.

"I'm going to the capital," Xie Wujie replied with a smile.

The capital was near Tongzhou, which he could no longer stay in; the Golden Dragon had put a bounty of five thousand silver taels on his head, and wherever he went, someone would tail him.

He had considered going to Tea Province, but according to the map, it was too far. The capital was the most convenient.

Most importantly, one of the Undying Longevity Sect's guardians was hiding in the capital. Xie Wujie thought Song Xiaoyu and the others might be there, so he could meet them again.

Having accepted the sect's mission, Xie Wujie was determined to see it through.

Hearing Xie Wujie mention the capital, Dongmen Qianyun covered her mouth, "What a coincidence..."

"Don't tell me you're going to the capital too," Xie Wujie replied, sweating.

Dongmen said, "If you hadn't said it first, I'd have thought you were one of them. We're heading the same way—let's travel together!"

Dongmen Qianyun's big eyes blinked at Xie Wujie.

Xie Wujie laughed, "No, don't joke!"

"I'm not joking. I'm headed to the capital, but on the way, I ran into these bandits. My two guards were killed by them. It's been a hard journey—how could you let a weak woman like me travel alone?" Dongmen pleaded, drawing closer.

She thought to herself that men are all the same; a bit of coyness usually wins them over. This man seemed tough as steel, but he was still a man!

She couldn't help but imagine him bowing beneath her charms and laughed out loud.

"I could," Xie Wujie replied without hesitation.

"What?" Dongmen Qianyun was dumbfounded.