Dao Twelve: Resting with Closed Eyes, Slaying with Open Eyes!

"Disciple Li Wenying pays respects to the Heavenly Maiden." Upon recognizing the attire of the Heavenly Maiden Sect disciples, Tao Shen's wife felt a sudden pang of shock. She rose at once and bowed respectfully toward Yun Haitang. Others might not know, but Li Wenying knew all too well. This was the Heavenly Maiden! Any disciple of the Heavenly Maiden Sect who met her had to perform a grand salute. "There is no need for such ceremony, Madame Tao." Yun Haitang smiled faintly and looked Li Wenying up and down. Li Wenying was actually known now as Madame Tao-Li. She had once been a disciple of the Heavenly Maiden Sect, but later married Tao Shen and became Madame Tao. To disciples of the Heavenly Maiden Sect, even after marrying out, they remained disciples of the sect and maintained countless ties with it. Without that connection, Li Wenying could never have written to the Heavenly Maiden Sect seeking aid. However, Li Wenying had never expected the Heavenly Maiden herself to come in person. Though she had never met Yun Haitang, the Heavenly Maiden naturally had distinct attire and ornamentation, which Li Wenying recognized at a glance. "Husband, this is the current Heavenly Maiden," Li Wenying softly introduced to Tao Shen. A flicker of delight crossed Tao Shen's eyes, and he bowed in kind. "Greetings, Heavenly Maiden." Whatever else Tao Shen might not know about the Heavenly Maiden of the Heavenly Maiden Sect, he knew with absolute certainty that every generation's Heavenly Maiden was a martial artist of the Divine Strength Realm. Given the Tao family's current plight, for the Heavenly Maiden Sect to dispatch the Heavenly Maiden herself down the mountain left Tao Shen almost at a loss for how to express his gratitude. Lately, not a single other faction had paid the Tao family any heed. "The current Heavenly Maiden?" "She truly is extraordinary—a peerless beauty." "Tsk, tsk, the other disciples aren't bad either. The legendary Heavenly Maiden Sect truly lives up to its name." "These Heavenly Maiden Sect disciples are breathtakingly gorgeous, a feast for the eyes. If only..." Nearby, a group of itinerant martial artists spoke with brazen insolence, making several Heavenly Maiden Sect disciples frown. Though they often encountered strange looks when roaming the martial world, they usually operated in the vicinity of Zhanhai Prefecture. Who there would dare discuss the Heavenly Maiden Sect with such reckless abandon? Even Yun Haitang furrowed her brows. She cast a glance at Li Wenying and asked in a low voice, "Who are these itinerant martial artists?" Li Wenying replied somewhat awkwardly, "Heavenly Maiden, forgive us. These are martial artists recruited by the Tao family. With no one left at our disposal, we had no choice but to grit our teeth and hire them at great expense..." Before she could finish, Yun Haitang cut her off. "There is no need. Since we have come down the mountain, they will no longer be needed." As soon as Yun Haitang spoke, the faces of those itinerant martial artists darkened, and they began shouting, "What are you trying to pull? Burning bridges?" "Heh, don't think that just because your Heavenly Maiden Sect is a major sect, you can drive us off! Look who the Tao family offended! You think a few delicate women can solve the Tao family's troubles? You're dreaming!" "Without us, the Tao family might be wiped out tomorrow!" "A bunch of women—what could you ever accomplish?" These martial artists were mostly vulgar rogues. In their reckless ranting, they even uttered vile, intolerable remarks. Yun Haitang had no intention of indulging them. She was the Heavenly Maiden—she represented the entire Heavenly Maiden Sect. And so, Yun Haitang struck. *Swoosh!* A flash of sword light. *Squelch!* Several jets of blood spurted instantly. The martial artists who had spoken out of turn clutched their necks desperately, their eyes filled with disbelief. With several thuds, the corpses crashed to the floor. Dead! Having spent so much time beside "Dao Twelve," Yun Haitang seemed to have picked up some of his ways. No need for words; let the sword speak. If displeased, simply kill. Although this was Taoyuan Prefecture, where the Heavenly Maiden Sect's reach fell short, slaughtering a few petty martial artists was trivial. "Three breaths. Leave now, or stay here forever!" Yun Haitang sheathed her sword and spoke coldly. "Go!" At this moment, no one dared utter another word. The corpses lay on the ground, and the reek of blood still hung thick in the air. What else could they say? The Heavenly Maiden Sect did not hesitate to kill! Such was the martial world—at all times, blades did the talking. The Heavenly Maiden Sect was not a power they could afford to provoke! And so, the Tao family's mourning hall swiftly fell quiet. "This..." Seeing this, Tao Shen opened his mouth, but said nothing in the end. In truth, he felt a slight sense of relief. Those itinerant martial artists varied wildly in character; keeping them in the Tao Manor had pros and cons. At times, they would even harass the maidservants, throwing the entire manor into disarray. Now, with the Heavenly Maiden Sect here, things were different. Those hired martial artists were no longer needed. Yet, seeing how ruthless and decisive the current Heavenly Maiden was, Tao Shen also felt his heart tighten slightly. "Husband, do not worry. The Heavenly Maiden has come to resolve the Tao Manor's troubles," Li Wenying murmured, reassuring Tao Shen. Tao Shen nodded, then ushered Yun Haitang into an adjoining guest hall. Inside the hall, the other Heavenly Maiden Sect disciples stood, while only Yun Haitang and Lu Changsheng were seated. Tao Shen could not quite discern Lu Changsheng's identity, so after a moment's deliberation, he asked, "Heavenly Maiden, this gentleman is...?" "This is Mister Dao, my Dao Protector." Li Wenying's heart jolted. A Dao Protector! Having come from the Heavenly Maiden Sect, she naturally understood what kind of figure the Heavenly Maiden's Dao Protector was. A figure upon whom the entire Heavenly Maiden Sect had to rely! This time, she truly had not imagined that not only would the Heavenly Maiden descend the mountain in person, but she would also bring her Dao Protector. "Husband, our Tao Manor is definitely saved this time!" Li Wenying said, her face flushed with excitement. "Tell me about the trouble the Tao Manor faces," Yun Haitang said calmly. "Disciples of our Heavenly Maiden Sect, even after marrying, remain disciples of our sect. When you encounter trouble, the sect will naturally help resolve it." She did not make absolute promises, but her descending the mountain in person was indisputable proof of the sect's stance. "Very well. The matter directly involves my daughter..." Tao Shen recounted the whole affair from beginning to end without holding anything back. It turned out that the faction they had offended was the Sand Dragon Sect! The Sand Dragon Sect was a major power, one of the foremost factions in Taoyuan Prefecture. The sect master of the Sand Dragon Sect had a son—the sole heir across three generations. Seeing that Tao Shen's daughter was fair, he had approached to harass her. A clash broke out, and in the chaos of cold blades, the Tao family guards accidentally killed the sect master's son. This invited sheer catastrophe. The Sand Dragon Sect master had only this single son in three generations of succession. With his son killed by the Tao family, how could he not seek revenge? Moreover, the Sand Dragon Sect toyed with them like a cat with mice, declaring threats that drove the Tao Manor to the brink of collapse step by step. Tao Shen's father had perished amidst the relentless bouts of terror. "Wait. The master of the Sand Dragon Sect didn't wipe out the Tao Manor immediately—there must be another reason, wouldn't you say?" "Does the Sand Dragon Sect want to swallow the Tao family's assets?" A sharp light glinted in Yun Haitang's eyes. She was not so easily fooled. "Indeed. The Sand Dragon Sect wants to swallow my Tao family's businesses whole," Tao Shen nodded. Yun Haitang understood. The Tao family's business holdings were vast and would be a massive boon to any faction. Many high-and-mighty factions, particularly sects, could not simply sit idly and deplete their reserves. Thus, they required businesses and estates. The Sand Dragon Sect had likely set its sights on the Tao family long ago. As for the death of the sect master's son, that might well have been an unexpected accident, something not even the sect master had anticipated. But the Sand Dragon Sect's ambition to swallow the Tao family was plain for all to see. Now Yun Haitang understood why the Tao Manor had been unable to secure protection from any faction, and why even Divine Strength Realm martial artists dared not intervene. The reason was simple: The Sand Dragon Sect was determined to have the Tao Manor! Anyone who intervened would offend the Sand Dragon Sect to the death. And in Taoyuan Prefecture, who dared offend the Sand Dragon Sect? Seeing Yun Haitang hesitate, Li Wenying gritted her teeth and dropped to her knees. "I beg the Heavenly Maiden to save our Tao Manor!" "Husband, say something!" Li Wenying was frantic. The Tao Manor was at the brink of life and death, yet Tao Shen still clung to his reservations. Did he not realize that once the Sand Dragon Sect succeeded, not a single soul in the Tao family would be spared? Yun Haitang said nothing. She was waiting. Had she traveled a thousand li down the mountain, even willing to face a colossus like the Sand Dragon Sect, purely for a single disciple like Li Wenying? That was impossible. If they clashed with major powers for the sake of a single disciple, then no matter how deep the Heavenly Maiden Sect's foundation was, it would have been destroyed a hundred times over. What Yun Haitang had her sights on was the Tao Manor! Or rather, her goal was the same as the Sand Dragon Sect's: the Tao family's assets. With the Tao family's wealth, Yun Haitang would secure vast financial backing, making her position within the Heavenly Maiden Sect unshakable. She might even become one of the most powerful Heavenly Maidens in history. However, she differed from the Sand Dragon Sect. She needed the Tao family to submit willingly. After all, managing the businesses still required the Tao family's people; Yun Haitang saw that clearly. The Heavenly Maiden Sect was a martial sect; if they meddled directly in running commercial enterprises, it would only end in a complete mess. Time trickled by. Tao Shen finally made up his mind. He knew that whether the Tao Manor could survive this catastrophe rested entirely on this moment. Taking a deep breath, Tao Shen knelt on the floor and said, "The Tao family is willing to pledge our entire clan to the Heavenly Maiden Sect. I, Tao Shen, am willing to serve as the Heavenly Maiden's vanguard! I beg the Heavenly Maiden to take pity and save the hundred-odd lives of my Tao clan!" Yun Haitang smiled. In the end, Tao Shen had yielded. Naturally, Li Wenying's presence had played a part. A disciple of the Heavenly Maiden Sect who married out would always favor the sect in her heart to some degree. "Very good." "Tao Shen, Li Wenying, rise. The Heavenly Maiden Sect takes on this matter with the Sand Dragon Sect!" Tao Shen and Li Wenying were overjoyed. They immediately called out their daughter to pay respects to Yun Haitang together, and even requested that Yun Haitang accept her as a disciple. Yun Haitang did not look old, but she was already in her thirties. To become the Heavenly Maiden, how could one be too young? Martial artists simply possessed potent qi and blood, which kept signs of aging at bay. Tao Shen's daughter, Tao Jing, was indeed a natural beauty, so it was no wonder the Sand Dragon Sect master's only son had been tempted. Moreover, Tao Jing was clever and sharp, which pleased Yun Haitang. To put Tao Shen's mind at ease, Yun Haitang agreed to accept Tao Jing as her disciple. *Bang!* Just then, a muffled boom sounded outside. Immediately afterward, a coarse voice boomed, "Heh, you of the Heavenly Maiden Sect talk big! Can you really handle the Tao family's troubles?" The voice rolled through like thunder, its source indistinct, seeming to reverberate from all directions. Yun Haitang's expression changed slightly. She had only just broken through to the Divine Strength Realm. Her strength was enough to bully Refining Organs martial artists, but against fellow Divine Strength Realm experts—especially the veterans of the Sand Dragon Sect—she was not quite enough. Evidently, the speaker was definitely in the Divine Strength Realm, and most likely someone from the Sand Dragon Sect. Thus, she turned her gaze toward Lu Changsheng. Lu Changsheng looked up. He had remained quiet all this time. In fact, Tao Shen, his wife, and even Tao Jing had hardly paid him any attention. "Are you finished talking?" "Since you're done, it's time to get down to business." Lu Changsheng slowly rose to his feet. "I will trouble you then, Brother Dao." Yun Haitang knew what "business" meant to "Dao Twelve." What else could Dao Twelve's business be? Naturally, hacking people down! No matter how much Yun Haitang negotiated with Tao Shen in the Tao Manor, it was all useless chatter. Without first severing the Sand Dragon Sect's claws and making them feel pain, nothing could be accomplished. What "Dao Twelve" was about to do was the real business! "We trouble you, Mister Dao!" Tao Shen and Li Wenying hurriedly took Tao Jing and bowed toward Lu Changsheng. *Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!* At that moment, three figures darted into the Tao Manor from outside. Each radiated a formidable aura. Clearly, they were all martial artists of the Divine Strength Realm. The Sand Dragon Sect had finally arrived! Seeing "Dao Twelve" rise and walk silently toward the door, Tao Shen could not help but ask, "Heavenly Maiden, Mister Dao is only one man. Isn't this...?" Watching Dao Twelve go off alone to "handle business," Tao Shen and his wife could not help feeling apprehensive. Even though they knew Lu Changsheng was Yun Haitang's Dao Protector, knowing was one thing. Without having witnessed "Dao Twelve's" methods with their own eyes, how could they know just how terrifying he was? "Rest assured, nothing will go wrong." "Brother Dao can handle it." Yun Haitang was completely at ease. And so, the crowd watched Dao Twelve step outside, pace by steady pace. Dao Twelve did not walk far. The three Divine Strength Realm martial artists of the Sand Dragon Sect had already charged in, stopping about a dozen zhang away. "Hm? Just one person?" "You think one man can stop us?" "The Heavenly Maiden Sect is arrogant indeed! Instead of staying put in Zhanhai City, you dare reach your claws into Taoyuan Prefecture. Do you take our Sand Dragon Sect for pushovers?" The voices of the three Divine Strength Realm martial artists rolled through the Tao Manor, shaking the spirit and striking terror into hearts. Seeing that Lu Changsheng still did not say a word, the three Divine Strength Realm experts grew even more displeased. "Does the Heavenly Maiden Sect truly refuse to negotiate with our Sand Dragon Sect?" The three were growing enraged. They were, after all, the local powerhouses. Even a mighty dragon could not crush a local snake, let alone when the Heavenly Maiden Sect could hardly be considered a mighty dragon here. Lu Changsheng halted, stepping forward no further. "If you can walk up to me, I shall talk with you!" Yun Haitang's voice suddenly drifted into the three men's ears. "Hmph, arrogant!" "In that case, do not blame us!" "Kill!" A vicious gleam flashed in their eyes. Instantly, the three launched their attack. Qi and blood roared as their combined aura swept overwhelmingly toward Lu Changsheng like a tidal wave. Lu Changsheng stood quietly where he was. He liked this feeling. Schemes, factions, negotiations—none of it mattered to him. In the martial world, blades ultimately did the talking. *Clang!* In the next instant, Lu Changsheng drew his blade. A streak of blood-red radiance tore through the void. Not only that, but in the eyes of the three Sand Dragon Sect Divine Strength Realm martial artists, the surrounding sky darkened abruptly. It seemed as if the world had transformed into a vast, starry expanse. And amidst that starry sky, a colossal waterfall loomed faintly, vast and surging, piercing heaven and earth as it spanned the cosmos. The Starry Sky Waterfall! A starry sky waterfall plunging three thousand feet! When the waterfall crashed down with a thunderous roar, it unleashed incomparable power. At this very moment, the blood-red blade light slashed by Lu Changsheng seemed like that starry sky waterfall crashing down. Terrifying force detonated in an instant, crashing onto the three Sand Dragon Sect Divine Strength Realm martial artists. *Squelch!* The three men shuddered violently. Immediately, starting from their heads and splitting straight down, their bodies were cleft in two by the blade light in an instant. With several thuds, their corpses crashed to the ground, blood gushing forth like fountains. In the blink of an eye, a pungent stench of blood saturated the air. Lu Changsheng sheathed his blade and turned to walk back. It was as if slaying three Divine Strength Realm martial artists was merely a trivial trifle. "Business is concluded. You may resume talking." Lu Changsheng closed his eyes to rest his spirit once more, saying nothing further. This scene left Tao Shen and his wife slack-jawed, utterly dumbfounded and unable to believe their eyes. Distinguished Divine Strength Realm martial artists—three of them, who had nearly driven the Tao Manor to extinction—had died to a single strike! For a time, the entire Tao Manor fell into absolute silence. The crowd looked upon "Mister Dao" with boundless astonishment. Dao Twelve: closing his eyes, he rested his spirit; opening them, he slaughtered!