Wang Yuyan, the peerless beauty

“Using living people as fertilizer?”

While Duan Yu was still reeling from shock, the four of them had already reached the shore. At a glance, all one could see was a dazzling array of red and white camellias, with no buildings in sight. This was truly one of the most beautiful locations in The Great Wuxia.

No sooner had Tang Xuan and his companions set foot on land than the sound of footsteps reached their ears, and from the flower grove emerged a young maiden.

She wore a white dress, her skin smooth and lustrous like warm jade, with a gentle glow, lips as red as cherries without the need for rouge, radiantly beautiful as if dripping with dew. Two strands of hair framed her face, fluttering softly in the wind, lending her an even more captivating charm.

Her features were flawless, ethereal, as though untouched by the mortal world.

Wang Yuyan!

Tang Xuan’s eyes sparkled. Among all the beauties in The Great Wuxia, the “Fairy Sister” Wang Yuyan was one of the most stunning. Previously, at the Dashing Pass Martial Arts Gathering, he had encountered another great beauty from the game, Little Dragon Maiden, but unfortunately, her heart belonged to Yang Guo—she was already spoken for.

Though Wang Yuyan’s heart was with Murong Fu, their situation differed from that of Little Dragon Maiden and Yang Guo; Murong Fu’s sole focus was restoring his kingdom, with no mind for romance. This pair was unlikely to be together. Thus, Wang Yuyan was, in a sense, unattached.

Many players of The Great Wuxia set their hearts on winning the affections of such extraordinary beauties. Beyond these peerless women, the next most sought-after included Guo Fu, daughter of Guo Jing and Huang Rong; Gongsun Lue, daughter of the master of Loveless Valley; Zhong Ling, daughter of the lord of Myriad Tribulations Valley; and others—each a target for countless players.

Tang Xuan, however, already had several beautiful fans and tenants, as well as the close confidante Jiang Wanwan. He had never been particularly driven to pursue such beauties within the game.

But since these peerless maidens were destined to be courted by enterprising players sooner or later, why not take the initiative himself? So Tang Xuan mused.

“Fairy Sister!”

Upon seeing Wang Yuyan, Duan Yu was utterly entranced. The maiden before him looked exactly like the jade statue he had seen at the bottom of Limitless Valley—not a single feature was different. Yet, the statue held a seductive, soul-stealing allure, while the girl before him possessed an air of innocence amid her grace. In comparison, the statue seemed livelier than the living maiden.

Duan Yu’s heart pounded wildly.

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“Ever since that day in the stone cave, when I glimpsed the Fairy Sister, I have considered myself blessed by fortune! Who would have thought that today I could see her true face with my own eyes! Surely, the existence of fairies in this world is no empty tale!”

But just then, A’Bi’s call of “Cousin Miss” shattered Duan Yu’s fragile heart.

The young lady A’Bi referred to was none other than his half-sister, the daughter of his father and Li Qingluo—Wang Yuyan!

They had come precisely to see this cousin, and she was the very Fairy Sister?

His own half-sister?

Duan Yu’s heart broke into pieces.

Wang Yuyan stepped out from the flowers, delighted to see A’Zhu and A’Bi, and immediately asked, “A’Zhu, A’Bi, how is cousin these days?”

Her first words were of her beloved cousin Murong Fu.

As Murong Fu’s close maid, A’Bi replied, “Miss Wang, the young master is well, and his appetite is good.”

A’Zhu, however, felt conflicted—this cousin had become her own half-sister! They were of similar age, but A’Zhu did not know Wang Yuyan’s exact birthday, nor whether she herself was the elder or the younger. Had her flirtatious father had her first, or Wang Yuyan with her mother?

A’Zhu was about to step forward to acknowledge her sister when A’Bi suddenly exclaimed, “Ah! Madam has returned!”

Everyone turned to see a swift boat skimming across the lake toward them. In moments, it was near.

The boat’s prow was painted in a riot of colors, all flower motifs, and as it drew closer, it became clear they were all camellias.

A’Zhu and A’Bi grew nervous, bowing their heads in a show of deep respect—an instinctive reaction.

From the boat came a woman’s commanding voice: “Who dares trespass in Mandrake Manor? Have you not heard that any man who enters uninvited will have both legs cut off?”

She paused, then added, “Hmph, A’Zhu, A’Bi, was it you two little minxes who led people here? That Murong Fu never learns—always up to no good in secret.”

At the mention of Murong Fu, A’Zhu hurried to explain, “Madam, I am here for good reason, to pay respects at Mandrake Manor! My young master is away, and this matter truly has nothing to do with him.”

She refrained from adding that she was here to claim kinship with Wang Yuyan.

Such things could not be said publicly, for her half-sister bore the surname Wang, not Duan!

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Li Qingluo, now known as Madame Wang, was recognized by outsiders only as the mother of Miss Wang Yuyan of the Wang family.

Such matters were best left unspoken.

The woman in the cabin was indeed Madame Wang—Li Qingluo, who sneered, “Hmph, honeyed words!”

By now, the boat had docked. The sound of jade ornaments tinkling filled the air as pairs of young women in green emerged one after another. All were dressed as maids, each carrying a long sword. In an instant, cold blades gleamed like frost, reflecting both the light and the fragrance of the flowers—nine pairs in all.

Eighteen women formed two lines, swords at their waists, pointing upward at an angle. Once they were all in place, a middle-aged woman stepped from the boat.

She wore a pale yellow silk robe, her beauty evident despite the traces of time—she was still a lovely woman.

The middle-aged beauty swept a cold glance over Tang Xuan and Duan Yu. “Any man who enters my Mandrake Manor will have both feet severed, his eyes gouged out, and his tongue cut out!”

Duan Yu was startled—his father’s former lover was truly ruthless.

He recalled what Tang Xuan had said: not only were outsiders subjected to cruel punishments for trespassing, but even men from Dali, especially those surnamed Duan, would be captured by Madame Wang when she ventured out and used as fertilizer.

Tang Xuan regarded Madame Wang.

Li Qingluo’s beauty was still remarkable, though, like Huang Rong at Dashing Pass, age had kept her from being counted among the greatest beauties in The Great Wuxia.

Truth be told, Li Qingluo was extraordinary, mostly because of her formidable parents.

Her father, Wu Yazi, was the head of the Carefree Sect and master of the Northern Darkness Divine Art. Though now crippled, that technique was a supreme skill that could dominate the martial world once mastered. Wu Yazi was likely well-versed in the other arts of the sect as well.

Li Qingluo’s mother, Li Qiushui, was the imperial consort of Western Xia, her martial arts surpassing even top experts like Jiumozhi at the seventieth rank—she was a superlative master well above the eightieth level!

With peerless skills such as the Minor Formless Art and the Ripple Step, even the Northern Darkness Divine Art learned by Duan Yu had been passed down by Li Qiushui.

Clearly, Li Qiushui had whispered many secrets to Wu Yazi in their time together—otherwise, how else would he have obtained the Northern Darkness Divine Art?