Night. On the outskirts of Henghai Provincial City.

In a laboratory filled with the stench of blood and disarray, yet cluttered with various instruments and equipment.

Sun Li and Zhang Yi were bound hand and foot to iron chairs. They watched a man on an iron bed struggle and scream in agony, their lovely faces pale and their delicate bodies quivering with fear.

"Miss Zhang, there's no need to be afraid. It will be your turn very soon."

At that moment, a playful male voice came from behind them.

The two women turned their heads, their eyes widening in shock.

With a trembling voice, Sun Li asked, "Are you... Zeng Xin from the final match of the Martial Heaven Grand Ceremony?"

Zeng Xin merely smiled faintly, saying nothing.

Sun Li suddenly struggled violently and yelled, "What do you want with us? Why did you capture us?!"

"How on earth did we offend you?!"

Zeng Xin still said nothing, only staring thoughtfully at the iron bed before him.

The so-called iron bed was actually a four-legged platform welded from stainless steel. By then, the platform was stained red with fresh blood, much like a butcher's slaughtering stool that had not yet been washed clean.

The man lying on it had stopped struggling. He was foaming at the mouth, his life force gradually fading.

"Sir, it's a failure," said a man in a white lab coat standing behind a screen. "Subject number 468's data does not meet the standards."

Zeng Xin shook his head regretfully. "We have enough Medicine Corpses already; there's nowhere to put them. Take the body and burn it."

"Yes, sir!"

A short while later, two men clad in protective suits entered the lab. One carried a stretcher, while the other held a body bag. They approached the platform and deftly began gathering the severed limbs and chunks of flesh into the body bag. Then, they turned on a hose and washed down the platform, quickly returning it to a clean and even shiny state.

At this point, Sun Li and Zhang Yi were deathly pale. They had been on the verge of vomiting several times, struggling and crying out with all their might. That morning, the two had gone to the market to buy groceries. On their way back, they were discussing what delicious meal to cook to help Luo Xiu recuperate when they unexpectedly got into a car accident. When they woke up, they found themselves in this hellish place.

Clearly, it was an abduction.

Sun Li's eyes reddened with anger as she cursed, "You beast! You sick pervert! What the hell do you want?!"

"I'm telling you, I have a very good relationship with Luo Xiu. If he finds out you've bullied me, you're done for!"

"If you know what's good for you, let us go right now!"

Zeng Xin, who had been expressionless, let out a sneer when he heard the name "Luo Xiu." He paid no attention to Sun Li, as if she didn't exist, and instead looked meaningfully at Zhang Yi.

In truth, his target was only Zhang Yi. As for Sun Li, she was just an extra, acquired incidentally. However, she wasn't completely useless, as Sun Li had her uses too.

"Daughter of the City Lord, now it's your turn."

"No... please, no!"

Zhang Yi's eyes filled with panic, and she desperately shook her head. She would rather be killed outright than endure such torture. But she was still carried by two men in white lab coats to the platform, where they secured her limbs.

After a moment, one of the men fetched a syringe and looked at Zeng Xin with an inquisitive gaze.

Zeng Xin nodded.

As the serum was injected into her body, Zhang Yi let out a heart-wrenching scream. Purple veins, resembling the roots of plants, surfaced on her snow-white skin. Soon, she passed out from the pain. Afterward, the two men in white lab coats took up their scalpels and began to operate.

Meanwhile, Zeng Xin turned to Sun Li with a faint smile. "As for you, rest assured, we won't do that to you."

"After all, you are the Duan Family's young mistress. That status alone makes you worth a lot of money."

"Therefore, you can only pray that the Duan Family is willing to pay for you. Otherwise, to keep our secret, we'll have no choice but to place you on that iron platform as well."

***

「Night.」

In a small villa at Feiyun Villa.

Luo Xiu slowly stepped out from the main hall and looked at Ye Ningxue, who was sitting cross-legged and meditating in the courtyard. A smile appeared on his face.

If he had only wanted to teach Ye Ningxue some skills before, without truly considering her his disciple, then now, in his mind, she had become his true successor. Faced with a disciple willing to give everything for him, what more could a master ask for? Besides, he had thought it through. If he were to die soon, all his skills would be lost with him. Therefore, finding a successor wasn't a bad idea at all.

"Xiao Xue, come here."

"Master!" Ye Ningxue's eyes brightened. She joyfully got up and ran to Luo Xiu. "Master, you can walk now?!"

Luo Xiu revealed a sly smile, glanced around, and whispered, "Actually, I've been fine for a while now; I was just pretending. But you can't tell Su Fox, or she won't take care of me. Understand?"

"Mhm!" Ye Ningxue nodded seriously. "Xiao Xue will definitely do as Master says!"

"Good girl." Luo Xiu reached out to pat her head, then said earnestly, "A true swordsman remains strong even without a sword. You can't only practice swordsmanship."

"Master is right!"

Luo Xiu thought for a moment. "I'll teach you a set of palm techniques first."

"Thank you, Master!"

Luo Xiu moved to the side and slowly assumed a stance.

"I'll demonstrate it for you once."

"Actually, this is a palm technique I created based on the Asura Fist."

"Asura Fist?" Ye Ningxue touched her chin. "Is that the same fist technique Master's wife used at the Martial Heaven Grand Ceremony?"

Luo Xiu nodded. "And this palm technique I created is called the Asura Palm."

"From now on, practice this every day while sensing the Spiritual Energy of heaven and earth. It should help you."

With that, he took a deep breath, sunk his Qi into his Dantian, and began to demonstrate, slowing his movements down significantly.

"Though the universe has its ways, ultimate peace has no form."

"The blazing sun shines high in the sky, casting aside the Asura Palm."

Ye Ningxue stood quietly to the side, her eyes filled with admiration. Luo Xiu was right in front of her demonstrating the technique, yet she felt as if he had merged with heaven and earth, becoming distant and remote. An intangible aura pulsed rhythmically around him, following his movements. It was filled with an indescribable sense of mystery, making him appear detached and otherworldly, as if he didn't exist in this world at all.

A short while later, Luo Xiu finished the demonstration and looked at Ye Ningxue.

Before she could speak, he said, "I know you haven't learned it, but that's not important. You need to memorize the movements first."

"Okay!"

"Now you try."

"Yes, Master."

Time ticked by.

Just as Luo Xiu was happily teaching his disciple the palm technique, the roar of an engine suddenly came from the villa's gate. Luo Xiu instantly recognized the sound of Su Shenyun's car returning. He jolted, and the otherworldly aura he had just exuded vanished in an instant, replaced by boundless panic.

"Quick, quick, Xiao Xue, go get the wheelchair!"

Without a word, Ye Ningxue turned and ran into the house. She quickly returned, holding Luo Xiu's wheelchair with both hands, her dazed little face full of seriousness.

However, just as Luo Xiu was about to sit down, Su Shenyun, who had just walked in, caught him in the act.

She looked at him with a mix of amusement and annoyance. "Someone is certainly up to mischief all day long."

"Er..." Luo Xiu gave an embarrassed laugh and forced an explanation. "I just asked Xiao Xue to help me up to see if I could walk. It seems I still can't. I'll probably need to stay in the wheelchair for a few more days."

"Right, Xiao Xue? Hmm?" After speaking, he glanced pointedly at Ye Ningxue.

Su Shenyun was speechless for a moment. But she wasn't in the mood to bicker about this now. Besides, she already knew he had been able to get up and move around for a while; he had been faking it all along.

Luo Xiu changed the subject. "Did you find Xiao Li and Xiao Yi?"

Su Shenyun sighed. "No."

Luo Xiu smiled. "I think they must just be out having fun..."

"They're in trouble," Su Shenyun interrupted. "I found their car. It was overturned on the side of the road."

Hearing this, Luo Xiu frowned.

Su Shenyun continued, "I've already contacted my colleagues at the Audit Bureau and asked for their help. They're investigating and searching now. I believe we'll have results soon."

Just then, the roar of another engine came from the villa's gate. A moment later, a somewhat chubby figure hurried into the courtyard.

Luo Xiu saw at a glance that it was Zhang Yong, the City Lord of Henghai Provincial City.

"Doctor Luo, I beg you, please help save my Xiao Yi!" Zhang Yong practically stumbled and scrambled over to Luo Xiu, nearly collapsing to his knees. "I truly have no other options, so I had to come to you!"

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