Chu Li caressed Xiao Qi’s smooth, jade-like back while examining his own body thoughtfully.

　　 He noticed a strange feeling after his physical union with Xiao Qi. It was as though he could sense Xiao Qi’s presence. Even if Chu Li closed his eyes, he could sense that Xiao Qi was next to him. It felt like they had become one with each other as he could sense her emotions as well.

　　 Chu Li was not sure how this telepathic connection had formed between them but was very happy that it had happened.

　　 With this wonderful telepathic connection, he would be able to instantly appear by her side without having to use the All-Seeing Divine Power.

　　 Chu Li was mesmerized by her flawless, jade-like body and wished he could keep holding her in his arms so that he would not be separated from her for a moment. The comfort of a woman’s body was capable of bringing about a hero’s downfall since even heroes had a hard time resisting the charms of a beautiful woman. Indeed, the ancients were wise to have realized this truth.

　　 “Flutter…” The sound of flapping wings could suddenly be heard from outside the window.

　　 Through the Omniscient Mirror, Chu Li saw a small snowy-white bird standing outside the window. As he waved a hand to open the window, the little white bird hopped in spiritedly and landed on the bed while staring at Xiao Qi with its twinkling black eyes.

　　 When Xiao Qi stretched out a smooth pale arm, the embroidered quilt slid off her slender and graceful shoulders. Then, as her dark silky hair fell over her bare shoulders, the striking contrast between her jet-black hair and pale white shoulders was breathtakingly beautiful.

　　 She retrieved the tiny bamboo tube tied to the bird’s leg and then patted the little bird on the back.

　　 The snowy-white bird gave a loud chirp before shooting out of the window in a flash and vanishing from their sight.

　　 Through the Omniscient Mirror, Chu Li saw it charging directly into the sky and disappeared into the clouds like a white streak of light. Soon, it was out of his field of vision. It had been moving at a remarkably fast speed that was multiple times faster than any martial arts master’s light-body technique.

　　 “What an agile little creature,” Chu Li said with a sigh of admiration.

　　 Xiao Qi replied, “This is a special type of snow finch. It’s news about the High Duke’s Public House.”

　　 “What happened?” Chu Li frowned.

　　 He could sense that Xiao Qi was suddenly feeling down through their telepathic connection without using the Omniscient Mirror.

　　 Xiao Qi glanced at him but did not say anything.

　　 Chu Li smiled and asked, “What else is there that I cannot know about?”

　　 “It’s better for you not to know about this.” Xiao Qi sighed lightly and slipped back into his arms to hug him tightly.

　　 After Xiao Qi had truly become a woman, Xiao Qi’s inner state was not the same as before. She was not as cool and indifferent as she used to be. Instead, she had come to be mindful of her personal gains and losses.

　　 Chu Li patted her bare shoulder. “Just tell me.”

　　 Xiao Qi sighed and said, “Two protectors of the High Duke’s Public House have been killed.”

　　 Chu Li frowned and asked, “Who did this!?”

　　 His tone was casual but emitted a hint of killing intent.

　　 Chu Li had always regarded the High Duke’s Public House as his first home and would never allow anyone to harm the people there. Killing the protectors of the High Duke’s Public House was no different than killing him, so he was determined to destroy the culprit.

　　 “… They’re not sure.” Xiao Qi sighed. “But it’s probably King An.”

　　 “Him…?” Chu Li’s expression turned serious as he muttered coldly, “He has finally run out of patience!”

　　 Chu Li had been thinking of ways to divert King An’s attention and had even asked Lu Yurong to carry out an assassination precisely because he wanted to prevent King An from harming the High Duke’s Public House.

　　 “Second Eldest Sister has decided to go back to the Imperial Residence,” Xiao Qi said.

　　 Chu Li replied, “She’s doing exactly what King An wants her to do!”

　　 “If Second Eldest Sister doesn’t go back, King An will continue to kill more protectors of the High Duke’s Public House,” Xiao Qi said. “She doesn’t want to be a burden to the High Duke’s Public House.”

　　 “Then, what will happen after she goes back?” As Chu Li thought about this, a surge of killing intent rose in his heart. He wished he could kill King An immediately and undo everything that had taken place so that Xiao Shi and the High Duke’s Public House could enjoy safe and peaceful lives.

　　 “I suppose Second Eldest Sister is really going to become King An’s wife then,” Xiao Qi said with a frown.

　　 Chu Li laughed coldly and muttered, “Ultimately, King An still wants to kill me!”

　　 Xiao Qi asked, “He’s not doing this out of lust for Second Eldest Sister’s beauty?”

　　 “All men are lustful creatures,” Chu Li replied with a scornful laugh. “Of course, he’s lusting after the second lady, but there are many ways to get the second lady to give in to him. However, he has decided to use such drastic means because he still wants to provoke me after all.”

　　 “He’s hoping that you’ll try to assassinate him?” Xiao Qi asked while frowning. “So that the Emperor will kill you on his behalf?”

　　 Chu Li slowly nodded.

　　 He suddenly turned his head to look in the southwest direction and then shook his head as he said, “He’s even using a two-pronged approach by sending his people over!”

　　 Xiao Qi quickly reached for her clothing but Chu Li shook his head and said, “It’s okay. Leave this to me.”

　　 Xiao Qi withdrew her pale white arm.

　　 Chu Li put his clothes on and vanished instantly.

　　 Four elderly men soundlessly glided into the residence and gestured at one another before advancing slowly toward the bedchamber.

　　 They had white hair and piercing eyes while their cultivation levels were incredibly profound.

　　 Chu Li abruptly appeared behind one of the elders and struck a palm to the man’s back in an effortless and precise manner.

　　 The elder got hit before he could react or dodge the attack.

　　 “Bang!” The elder was sent flying away and could no longer move when he landed on the ground.

　　 The other three elders turned around and charged toward Chu Li.

　　 However, they became shocked and slowed down involuntarily when they felt an invisible force wrap around them and hindered their movements, as though it was trying to hold them in place.

　　 On the contrary, Chu Li suddenly increased his speed and appeared behind another elder in a ghostly manner.

　　 The elderly men’s movements had been restrained and hindered by the Heavenly Demonic Field, which caused their cultivation levels to be decreased by one level. On the other hand, Chu Li was completely in his element as he became even faster than usual since the Heavenly Demonic Field allowed him to move around them swiftly and adjust his speed to his liking.

　　 These four elders possessed over two hundred years of cultivation but were all forced to move in a slow and sluggish manner at that moment which made it easy for Chu Li to send them all flying away.

　　 His Heavenly Demonic Energy entered their bodies and devoured their inner energy.

　　 Chu Li struck them with his palm again and instantly absorbed their cultivation while the remaining Heavenly Demonic Power killed them on the spot and caused them to breathe their last.

　　 The entire process happened in the blink of an eye. Chu Li had effortlessly dealt with these four martial arts masters who had two hundred years of cultivation as though he was fighting with a bunch of innate masters.

　　 When he glided back into the room, Xiao Qi had already put on her gown, which concealed her slender figure, and was tidying her hair. “Did King An send those people here?”

　　 Chu Li nodded. “It seems like King An’s influence has increased significantly, so much so that he’s capable of dispatching four martial arts masters with over two hundred years of cultivation.”

　　 “Could it have been the Emperor instead?” Xiao Qi asked with a frown.

　　 Chu Li shook his head. “The Emperor won’t meddle in such affairs. These people are probably from some martial art sect or faction.”

　　 Every sect had its own Grandmasters. Normally, only martial arts masters below a hundred years old would move around in the world while those who had lived past a hundred years were supposed to live and cultivate in seclusion in their respective sects. This was an established rule that was commonly followed within the martial arts world. Nonetheless, such hidden masters would still appear during crucial moments.

　　 Grandmasters could usually live up to three hundred years, so those with over two hundred years of cultivation were usually top-notch masters who would be considered as the foundation of their sects. Clearly, King An had fulfilled some huge wish of these martial arts masters and had offered them plenty of benefits in order to send them to launch an attack on Chu Li.

　　 This also showed that King An had become extremely impatient. At this point, he was like a desperate gambler who would do anything at all to get his revenge against Chu Li.

　　 “Will Second Eldest Sister be in danger?” Xiao Qi asked while knitting her eyebrows together into a deep frown.

　　 If these martial arts masters had not come to assassinate Chu Li and had been sent to kidnap her second eldest sister instead, then their martial arts masters at the High Duke’s Public House would not be able to withstand such an attack. If King An was really being driven by lust, he might not necessarily wait for her second eldest sister to return to the Imperial Residence. Instead, he might actually try to do something to her while she was on her way back!

　　 Xiao Qi became anxious and restless when this thought occurred to her.

　　 Chu Li said, “Don’t worry. I’ll be able to sense it if anything happens to the second lady.”

　　 “I think I should go and stay by Second Eldest Sister’s side,” Xiao Qi replied.

　　 Xiao Qi could not trust Xiao Shi’s protectors to ensure her safety.

　　 Chu Li paused to think for a moment and then slowly nodded. “Might as well.”

　　 Xiao Qi’s current cultivation level was high and profound. After her physical union with him, her cultivation level had improved even more, so she would not have any problem dealing with two-hundred-year-old martial arts masters like these. Although she could not perfectly ensure Xiao Shi’s safety, he would be able to sense it if she needed his help, so he could still rush over to assist them in time.