Chapter 929 - 421: Beauty Beyond Compare, Life Too Fleeting—Gaining Martial Arts Once More to Shock and Slay the Despicable!

Chapter 929: Chapter 421: Beauty Beyond Compare, Life Too Fleeting—Gaining Martial Arts Once More to Shock and Slay the Despicable!

Li Xian was taken aback, thinking to himself that Brother Li Hengfeng truly enjoyed watching from the sidelines. Winning the affection of a beauty is certainly a joyous matter, but also quite the trouble. Li Xian admitted that he was by no means a gentleman; he had carnal desires and was naturally charming and suave, leading him to incur several emotional debts that entangled him in troubles, potentially threatening his life in the future. Although he intended to restrain himself, innate habits were hard to change, and he naturally exuded a graceful demeanor. During this time in Jade City, his status and circumstance were more suited for quiet advancement; thus, vying for affection and favor with women was not advisable.

Li Xian laughed and said, "Brother Li, I appreciate your kind intentions. However, I’ve already witnessed your flying and thieving skills. Are you also quite skilled in stealing hearts?"

Li Hengfeng chuckled and said, "Brother Li, I’m not bragging, but look at this face of mine. It may not be handsome, but it’s quite expressive. Over the years, there’s a code even in thievery, and it’s not all bad names in Jianghu. Somehow, I’ve unintentionally stolen a few hearts."

He lightly touched his face, feeling quite pleased. Li Hengfeng was tall and slender, with long limbs and swift movements. When thieving, he could leap across rooftops with elegance.

Li Hengfeng continued, "But the method I want to pass on isn’t about my skills in stealing beauty’s fragrances. This ability is unique to me, Li Hengfeng, and others are destined not to learn. Brother Li, although your looks are average, you have a decent build. Just shine where you excel, and surely there will be women adoring you. There’s no need to worry about that."

"However, even my high skills in stealing fragrances couldn’t win over the courtesan’s heart, but I’m aware of what I cannot achieve. The method I speak of relates to a secret."

Li Xian had no intention to inquire, but upon hearing the word "secret," he grew curious, thinking, "I’ve been in Jade City for half a year but lack information. Since there’s a secret, whether useful or not, there is no harm in listening." Thus he said, "Oh? Brother Li, please go on!"

Li Hengfeng said, "As thieves, before training martial arts, we first learn to control our breath. This method of holding breath and calming the mind allows us to come and go freely, hide in depths unknown to the enemy, and escape when the time is right. One time, I sneaked into Bi Xiao Long Dream Tower to steal the courtesan’s rouge."

"Honestly, what would a man like me do with rouge? It was merely to brag amongst my brothers after leaving the city, to accomplish a great feat. However, during the theft of the rouge, I unexpectedly overheard a secret about Tao Xiangrong. This Tao Xiangrong has a hidden emotional knot unknown to others."

Li Xian listened attentively, taking a small sip of wine, savoring the taste of the withered yellow grass root in his mouth. About the length of a finger, a gentle chew releases tangy juice, and after continued chewing, a hint of sweetness returns. This is the root of "withered yellow grass" commonly found on Evil Suppression Island. Upon digging up the red soil, one can find it. It’s something the prison officers of Evil Suppression Island eat with their wine to pass time.

Dipped in sweet black bean sauce, it has a unique flavor. Li Hengfeng lightly sipped fine wine, peeled the shell of a salted duck egg, took out the yolk, and consumed it in one bite, then drank a bowl of wine, saying, "Although Tao Xiangrong has a high position, she was born with a cursed fate! No matter her peerless beauty, extraordinary talent, or esteemed status, her life will ultimately be short-lived. She takes precious treasures daily to sustain her life. Yet when death comes, all is void, and she turns to a beautiful skeleton. All her life’s accomplishments, what meaning do they hold?"

Li Xian thought with regret, "How truly unfortunate, a woman with such heavenly gifts, yet fated to have a short life. To her, the world’s glory seems merely like passing clouds, just a fleeting sight." He asked, "What is the origin of Bi Xiao Long Dream Tower, can’t they cure her?"

Li Hengfeng said, "This is a matter of fate and is hard to cure. But it seems there might be a way to solve it in Jade City, though I only heard briefly and don’t understand it well. I think, Brother Li, if you could help solve it, or find out more and approach Tao Xiangrong, you might win her heart."

Li Xian thought, "I have no intention of approaching Tao Xiangrong, and even if I did, I wouldn’t want to scheme and manipulate emotions like this." He smiled and thanked but did not directly agree.

Li Hengfeng, having suffered in prison for a long time, found brief respite, drank some fine wine, and ate his appetizers, feeling refreshed and in good spirits. The matter of the courtesan, they only briefly touched upon before changing the topic. He began to boast about the carefree adventures of his past days as a thief in Jianghu.

He spoke animatedly, his eyebrows dancing with delight, but thinking of his current situation, he cursed under his breath, his gaze turning somber. The place was heavily guarded, and with the copper-studded boots he wore, there was absolutely no hope of escape.

He then expressed gratitude to Li Xian, acknowledging that he was caught by Li Xian and accepted his loss, receiving care from Li Xian as a gesture of Jianghu camaraderie. He was quite gallant, a man of genuine character, saying, "Brother Li, being here, I fear I will waste much time. The hardships here, to put it harshly, are such that I am uncertain if I will leave with my life."

Li Xian comforted him, "I am now a Gold Appraisal Guard and will patrol here in the future, I’ll certainly do my best to help you."

Li Hengfeng, lost in his thoughts, said, "To have only one brief encounter, and yet brother remembers me and has just helped me vent my anger. I’ve seen it all, but... in my state, I truly have little chance to repay." He raised his legs, the iron boots heavy, with copper studs deeply embedded into his leg muscles.

He grimaced in pain and then said, "Brother, my martial arts skills, would Brother Li be interested? Shall I teach you?"

Li Xian was taken aback, recalling how Li Hengfeng’s method of attaching to an enemy’s back and controlling their limbs was rather peculiar. However, in close combat, it held its own advantages. He was very curious as he loved martial arts, and if he encountered martial arts, he would surely not practice them but would definitely study the martial principles within. Naturally intrigued, he thought for a moment, that asking for martial arts now would be taking unfair advantage. Such conduct was distasteful to him as taking advantage of a hero in Jianghu wasn’t right. Thus he said, "Of course, I’m very interested, but martial arts are of great significance and should not be passed lightly. Brother Li, although you are momentarily in prison and feeling down, you shouldn’t give up. Martial Artists live long lives, and if you can leave prison one day, I will surely arrange a feast to send you out of the city. In Jianghu, you the notorious thief, will surely return once more."