Amidst the flashing blades, Zhuohua pushed Luo Wanchun out with a swift motion. Luo Wanchun staggered and felt a buzzing in her head.

With teary eyes, she looked up. The entrance was only three steps away. She knew who had pushed her and why.

Trembling, Luo Wanchun turned around, Zhuohua’s heart-wrenching voice pierced her ears like an iron fork.

“Go! Hurry, go!”

Luo Wanchun no longer cared about the killing intent around her. Her dazed eyes were fixed on Zhuohua.

Luo Wanchun shook her head repeatedly, unable to stop the hot tears from streaming down her face.

“Zhuohua.”

Luo Wanchun called out weakly.

Seeing that Luo Wanchun was unwilling to leave, Zhuohua angrily picked up a sword from the ground and placed it against her own neck, shouting, “Go! If you don’t leave today, I will die here. Go!!!”

The bloody wound on Zhuohua’s neck was glaring, staining her collar red. Luo Wanchun felt a pang of fear in her heart; she knew Zhuohua would really do it.

“Attack!”

Yan Zixu’s command did not cease, and the assassins around them, armed with knives and swords, slowly approached Luo Wanchun.

“Go! Go!”

Zhuohua screamed, hysterically threatening her.

Luo Wanchun’s mind was blank. Her surroundings faded to gray, and all she could see was Zhuohua—Zhuohua in her simple olive dress, with her collar gradually turning red.

Luo Wanchun did not know how she managed to run out. She had no recollection of the escape, but when she came to her senses, she had already left the Nether Sect, running frantically like a soulless puppet.

A stone tripped her, and she fell heavily to the ground. The profound pain that spread through her limbs completely broke her.

She lay on the ground, crying bitterly with despair, pounding the earth with helpless fists.

…

Zhou City, Mingfeng Inn.

Luo Wanchun curled up in the corner of the bed and told the whole story.

Shuiyang and Shi Zhao listened intently to everything.

“And after that? You didn’t go back?” Shuiyang asked.

Luo Wanchun lowered her misty eyes. “I went back. I tried to save her. I wanted to rescue her, but the Nether Sect is filled with experts. It’s the largest assassin organization in the Long Xia Kingdom. Every time, I barely escaped with my life.”

“Do you still want to go back?”

“Yes! As long as I’m not dead, I’ll keep going back. If one time doesn’t work, there’s a second time. If twice doesn’t work, then ten times. I must get her out! We promised each other that I would become a wandering hero, and she’d open a tavern to brew wine for me…”

Luo Wanchun’s voice choked up, and her eyes turned red with tears.

When they were in the Nether Sect, they often stole food and occasionally some wine to drink. Over time, Luo Wanchun grew fond of wine. On the rooftop, under the full moon, Zhuohua asked her what she wanted to do in the future. Luo Wanchun raised her wine jug and shouted to the moon.

“In the future, I want to become a wandering hero, bringing justice and wandering the world!”

Zhuohua echoed loudly, “Alright, you become a wandering hero, and I’ll open a tavern in Zhou City to brew wine for you.”

“Deal!”

“Deal!”

They hooked their pinkies and stamped the promise. It was settled, but…

Shuiyang stood up, walked over to Luo Wanchun, and opened her palm. A sword emitting a red glow appeared in her hand. Shuiyang spoke softly, “This sword is called ‘Zhuhua,’ symbolizing the presence of elegance through generations. It used to be a proud, glorious sword, but its wielder lost their pride and was left with sorrow, becoming a forgotten joke. This sword can significantly increase your power, making you the strongest in the martial world, even the entire land.”

The dead look in Luo Wanchun’s eyes instantly sparked to life. She reached out eagerly to grab it, but her hand passed through the glowing, translucent sword. Luo Wanchun looked at the sword, both puzzled and shocked.

Shuiyang chuckled lightly, “Taking this sword won’t be easy; there are conditions.”

“I’ll agree to any conditions!” Luo Wanchun replied without hesitation.

“What if it costs your life? Would you give that too?”

“Yes!”

Luo Wanchun’s unwavering determination stunned Shuiyang.

After a long pause, Shuiyang nodded, “Alright, Zhuhua is yours. You only have one day. Meet me tomorrow at the mountain top outside Zhou City.”

“Okay!”

Luo Wanchun’s eyes, bloodshot and resolute, were filled with longing for the sword.

The red glow on the sword gradually dissipated, and the sword’s transparent blade became solid.

Luo Wanchun, trembling with excitement, raised her hand and firmly grasped the sword.

Shuiyang took a few steps back.

This time, Luo Wanchun genuinely held the sword. A torrent of powerful, invigorating energy surged through her body, slowly healing her ghastly wounds. Her eyes were filled with fierce determination.

Fueled by hatred, that very night, she stormed into the Nether Sect alone.