# Chapter 108: Living Together with Senior Sister Duanmu
Zi Qian pressed her hand on her sword hilt and indeed made her move.
True qi was injected into the longsword, and the eleven inscriptions within the sword body were simultaneously activated, emitting a two-meter-long purple sword light.
"Whoosh!"
The sword light flashed, instantly stabbing in front of Huang Yanchen.
Zi Qian was a genius among assassins. Her eyesight, hearing, and speed all far exceeded those of martial artists at the same cultivation level.
Zi Qian understood even more clearly that she was facing a Xuan List martial artist. Therefore, she had to succeed in a single strike; otherwise, the one who would die was her.
Huang Yanchen had never expected Zi Qian to react so fiercely. When the sword in Zi Qian's hand was only three inches from her heart, she was still somewhat stunned.
Wasn't it just breaking down a door? Did it have to be a life-and-death confrontation?
Huang Yanchen was, after all, a Xuan List martial artist, far more powerful than Zi Qian. She quickly extended two fingers, forming a series of afterimages. Her two jade-like fingers steadily clamped down on Zi Qian's sword, neutralizing all of Zi Qian's power into nothingness.
"What are you doing? Trying to kill me?" Huang Yanchen's almond-shaped eyes carried a cold aura as she gently flicked her jade fingers.
A stream of true qi shot out from her fingertip, striking the sword tip.
"Slap!"
Zi Qian's arm ached, and a bloody crack split open on her tiger's mouth. The sword in her hand flew out and embedded itself in the wall.
"Zi Qian couldn't even block one move from Huang Yanchen."
Zhang Ruochen knew he had to act to save Zi Qian. He chose the optimal moment to strike. Just as Huang Yanchen flicked the sword away, Zhang Ruochen's palm struck her back.
"Boom!"
The full-force palm strike formed a powerful wave of true qi, spreading in all directions.
However, Huang Yanchen still stood upright on the spot, completely unmoving.
A faint wind force formed on her back, dissolving Zhang Ruochen's palm power into nothingness.
"So formidable! Once a Xuan List martial artist is on guard, even if she stands still and lets me attack, I can't harm her in the slightest. The gap is too great!" Zhang Ruochen shot a glance at Zi Qian, signaling her to flee quickly.
Zi Qian looked at Zhang Ruochen with some concern, knowing that Huang Yanchen was after her, and Zhang Ruochen should be safe. So, she turned into a purple shadow and flew out through the window.
To Zhang Ruochen's surprise, Huang Yanchen did not pursue Zi Qian.
Huang Yanchen's face was icy cold as she glared at Zhang Ruochen and said, "Lewd thief, using that trick again? Do you think you can still ambush me?"
Zhang Ruochen withdrew his palm and immediately stepped back, standing by the window where Zi Qian had escaped, preventing Huang Yanchen from continuing to chase after Zi Qian.
He was quite averse to the nickname "lewd thief" and said, "Senior Sister Huang, you should understand that I had no choice but to attack you. Since Junior Sister Zi has already left, and I am no match for you, if you wish to report this to the Academy Master, I am ready to go and confess my guilt at any time."
Seeing that Zhang Ruochen was being fairly honest, Huang Yanchen's mood improved slightly. "There's no need to report to the Academy Master. I'm not that petty. Just remember, don't casually bring women into Dragon Martial Hall in the future. Don't corrupt the atmosphere here. Hmph!"
With that, she picked up her sword and left, leaving behind a stunned Zhang Ruochen.
"She just let Zi Qian go?"
Zhang Ruochen still couldn't believe it. After all, Zi Qian was an assassin from the Underworld Gate, and Huang Yanchen was a direct disciple of the Western Courtyard's Academy Master. How could she possibly let Zi Qian go?
"Senior Sister Huang, you've decided to let Junior Sister Zi go?" Zhang Ruochen pursued the question.
Huang Yanchen turned around and said coldly, "Since I didn't catch you in the act today, I'll let you off this once. If there's a next time, I won't be lenient."
After watching Huang Yanchen leave completely, Zhang Ruochen suddenly realized — Huang Yanchen thought he and Zi Qian were having a secret affair.
It was just a misunderstanding!
"Thank goodness it was only a false alarm."
Zhang Ruochen let out a long sigh of relief. Then, as if remembering something, he immediately chased in the direction Zi Qian had fled.
When Zhang Ruochen caught up to Zi Qian, she was already about to escape the Western Courtyard.
So, Zhang Ruochen told Zi Qian exactly what Huang Yanchen had said.
Knowing it was just a misunderstanding, Zi Qian also relaxed. If Huang Yanchen had truly discovered her identity, she would have had no choice but to flee the Western Courtyard.
Since her identity hadn't been exposed, she could naturally leave the Western Courtyard.
If she left the Western Courtyard now, it would actually arouse Huang Yanchen's suspicion.
"That Senior Sister Huang has quite an imagination. Besides, even if I and you... had something going on, it wouldn't be any of her business, would it?" Zi Qian looked at Zhang Ruochen with a puzzled expression.
Zhang Ruochen remained very calm. "There is indeed a small misunderstanding between her and me. Or perhaps, it's not really a misunderstanding — I wronged her."
Zi Qian sneered, "I don't think it's a small misunderstanding at all. After all, Senior Sister Huang is a Xuan List martial artist with formidable cultivation. She wouldn't personally act over trivial matters."
Although Zi Qian's face showed no expression, there was a hint of displeasure in her eyes. She continued, "If she weren't genuinely concerned about what's going on between you and me, she would never have rashly barged into Yellow Number One and even smashed its door to pieces."
Zhang Ruochen naturally understood the implication in Zi Qian's words. "Senior Sister Huang has always had a deep prejudice against me. It's only natural that she reacted so intensely."
"I couldn't care less about your affairs." Zi Qian turned and walked away without looking back. "Be careful this next month. Your head belongs to me — don't let it fall to someone else's sword."
Zhang Ruochen watched Zi Qian's retreating figure, his expression turning serious.
Three million three hundred thousand silver coins — even a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial arts legend would be tempted. Such an expensive head would surely cause assassins from the Underworld Gate to compete for the chance to strike.
With his current cultivation, he could still handle assassins at the Yellow Extreme Realm Great Extreme Position. But what if an assassin at the Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Perfection, or even the Earth Extreme Realm, appeared?
His mind stirred, and he thought of a plan, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Returning to Dragon Martial Hall, Zhang Ruochen saw that the pavilion he had been living in at Yellow Number One had collapsed. After Huang Yanchen's sword strike had broken the door and two pillars, it had already been unstable. Now it had finally turned into rubble.
"Xiao Hei, come with me to Mysterious Number One."
Zhang Ruochen walked with his hands behind his back toward Mysterious Number One.
Xiao Hei followed behind Zhang Ruochen, walking on two legs, with a thick book tucked under his front paw.
Upon learning of Zhang Ruochen's purpose, Duanmu Xingling was somewhat surprised. "You want to stay here for a month?"
Zhang Ruochen naturally couldn't tell Duanmu Xingling that assassins would be coming for him in the next month and that he was seeking refuge with her.
Zhang Ruochen smiled bitterly. "Senior Sister Huang just demolished Yellow Number One. I'm now homeless, so I can only temporarily stay here with Senior Sister Duanmu. I just wonder if Senior Sister Duanmu is willing to take me in?"
Duanmu Xingling squinted her eyes, her heart blooming with joy. She thought to herself, "Sister Chen drove away that number one beauty among the new students, but it's benefited me. 'A pavilion near the water gets the moonlight first.' Sister Chen, this handsome prince who came knocking on my door, this junior sister will gladly accept."
"No trouble at all, not the slightest trouble."
Duanmu Xingling led Zhang Ruochen into Mysterious Number One.
Mysterious Number One was quite spacious. Duanmu Xingling quickly cleared out a room next to her own quarters. "Zhang Ruochen, you'll stay here from now on! I live next door. From now on, we should exchange more insights on martial arts."
"Although my martial realm is above yours, your sword realm is above mine. If you have time, I'll definitely seek your guidance on the methods of sword cultivation. By the way, don't you need to bring your luggage?"
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "I carry all my luggage with me."
Under Duanmu Xingling's shocked gaze, Zhang Ruochen took out pieces of luggage one by one from the Time-Space Crystal and placed them in the room.
"A space treasure?"
Duanmu Xingling stared at the Time-Space Crystal in Zhang Ruochen's hand, both surprised and envious.
Every space treasure was a priceless treasure.
"It counts as a space treasure." Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly, appearing nonchalant. "If Senior Sister Duanmu wants one, I can give you one."
"You have another space treasure?" Duanmu Xingling was even more shocked, her beautiful eyes widening. She felt Zhang Ruochen must be deceiving her.
First of all, it was already remarkable for a martial artist to obtain one space treasure. How could they possibly get a second?
Secondly, space treasures were so precious — how could they be casually given away?
Zhang Ruochen smiled mysteriously. "Does Senior Sister Duanmu want a space ring or a space bracelet?"
Duanmu Xingling caught the implication in Zhang Ruochen's words. Could it be that he really had more than one space treasure on him?
Duanmu Xingling stared intently at Zhang Ruochen's eyes, as if trying to gauge the truthfulness of his words. Seeing that Zhang Ruochen's expression was very serious and didn't seem like he was deceiving her, she finally smiled charmingly. "If possible, I'd like a space bracelet. Can you really produce another space treasure out of thin air?"
"Senior Sister Duanmu, come find me tonight, and I'll definitely give you a space jade bracelet." Zhang Ruochen said.
After all, he was taking refuge with Duanmu Xingling and might even need to rely on her power to deal with the assassins. Zhang Ruochen felt he should compensate her with something.
A space jade bracelet — for Zhang Ruochen, it would only take a short while to craft. But for Duanmu Xingling, it would be an invaluable treasure.
After Duanmu Xingling left, Zhang Ruochen began crafting the space jade bracelet.
First, he took out a jade bracelet of excellent quality and placed it on the table. Then, he began carving eight types of basic space inscriptions onto the jade bracelet.
In just a quarter of an hour, all eight basic inscriptions were successfully carved in one go.
The inner space of the space ring Zhang Ruochen had previously crafted was only twelve cubic meters. With his cultivation having increased by two minor realms, the inner space of the space bracelet he now crafted reached twenty-four cubic meters — exactly double the previous size.
Zhang Ruochen thought about it. Since he was crafting space treasures, he might as well make a few more.
An hour later, Zhang Ruochen had carved out two more storage bracelets and two storage rings, all with an inner space of twenty-four cubic meters.
Zhang Ruochen entered the inner space of the Time-Space Crystal, placed the three storage bracelets and two storage rings into the refining furnace, and began the refining process.
By nightfall, when Duanmu Xingling came to Zhang Ruochen's room again, Zhang Ruochen had already successfully refined all five space treasures.