C6 Be My Man.

Zi Shan's lips curled into a seductive smile as she spoke, "The name Loong Jiaoyang has been causing quite a stir lately. He's the only one in over a thousand years from the Righteous Qi Sect to attempt the assassination of their sect leader. It would certainly add a twist if you were this Loong Jiaoyang."

After a brief pause, her smile bloomed like a flower. "I am Zi Shan from the Profound Girl Sect. And you are?"

Loong Jiaoyang felt a surge of shock. He had never expected his savior to be affiliated with the Devil Dao.

"Loong Jiaoyang, what's with the daze? My mistress is speaking to you!" Xiaohong chided, clearly annoyed at his distraction.

Coming to his senses, Loong Jiaoyang replied, "I'm just a countryman. I fell from a cliff while hunting and was saved by an Old Senior who taught me the ways of cultivation. I belong to no sect."

"What Magic Spell do you practice?" inquired Zi Shan, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.

Faced with a member of the Devil Dao, Loong Jiaoyang dared not reveal his practice of the Righteousness Mantra. Instead, he invoked the Great Devil Heart Meridian and said, "The Old Senior never mentioned the name of the Magic Spell. He simply insisted on daily practice."

Observing the demonic aura of the Eight Trigrams surrounding Loong Jiaoyang, Zi Shan's laughter made her eyes crescent-shaped. "You're practicing a Devil Dao Magic Spell, just like me. Tell me, are you ready to repay your life debt now?"

"How should I repay you?" Loong Jiaoyang inquired eagerly.

Her lips curved into a mischievous grin. "Oh, it's quite simple. Become my man," Zi Shan proposed with a hint of playfulness.

Loong Jiaoyang stood agape, his plans to sever ties with Zi Shan after repaying her thrown into disarray by her audacious proposition.

The spacious carriage thundered down the mountain path, and after roughly an hour, it began to slow. As dawn broke, the early sun cast a crimson glow, setting the morning clouds ablaze with color.

With a forceful exclamation, the female carriage driver brought the horses to a halt.

"Saintess Zi Shan has returned! Why isn't the Mountain Sect gate open yet?" she bellowed with commanding presence.

Crackling echoed as the stone doors swung open, and the carriage surged forward, racing into the Profound Girl Sect.

Once the carriage came to a stop, Zi Shan turned to Loong Jiaoyang with a beaming smile. "Brother Yang, let me help you out."

Loong Jiaoyang blushed, unaccustomed to such closeness with a woman.

Xiaohong opened her mouth to speak but was silenced by Zi Shan's stern look. Loong Jiaoyang draped his arm over Zi Shan's slender shoulder, drawing her close. Her subtle, youthful scent wafted into his nostrils, sending his heart into disarray. He nearly succumbed to a raw desire but quickly recited the Righteousness Mantra to quell the stirring within.

As the carriage door swung open, the female driver and the middle-aged female knight were taken aback by the sight of Zi Shan and Loong Jiaoyang's intimate pose. Before they could voice their surprise, Zi Shan's piercing gaze swept over them, leaving them speechless.

"Zi Shan, you've finally returned! Did you have fun with the old senior?" A handsome young man with bright eyes and a warm smile approached the carriage.

Yet, upon seeing the close proximity of Zi Shan and Loong Jiaoyang, his warmth was replaced by a fierce glare. He fixed his gaze on Loong Jiaoyang, his voice icy. "Who are you? How dare you get so close to Zi Shan? Remove your filthy hands at once, or you'll regret ever being born!"

"And who might you be? It's none of your business that I'm close to my woman," Loong Jiaoyang retorted coolly, stunning the onlookers. Zi Shan's delicate face turned toward him; she had not expected him to speak so boldly.

Loong Jiaoyang was a man of resolve. If he was to play the role of Zi Shan's man and fend off unwelcome suitors, he needed to exude authority. How else would anyone believe in the authenticity of his relationship with Zi Shan?

Clang!

The dashing young man drew his long sword, and a pattern of eight trigrams materialized around him. Within this mystical formation, four divine beasts emerged, with the Azure Dragon in the eastern position becoming tangible, stretching about half a meter in length. This indicated that the youth was at the pinnacle of the Earth Stage.

The size of the divine beasts varied with the cultivator's power: at the early Earth Stage, they were palm-sized; at the mid-stage, as large as a human head; at the peak, half a meter; and at the Great Completion, a full meter.

"You scoundrel, what makes you think you can vie with me for a woman? Come down here and let's duel to the death!" the handsome youth bellowed furiously.

"Gao Bing, are you blind? Can't you see that my Brother Yang is wounded? How can he possibly duel you to the death?" Zi Shan retorted with a cold huff.

"Brother Yang? Zi Shan, remember who you are: the Saintess of the Profound Girl Sect, fated to be my bride. What's the meaning of bringing this man back?" Gao Bing's face turned a livid shade of anger.

"Fated to marry you? She's already with me; how could she possibly become your wife?" Loong Jiaoyang's words once again left everyone in shock.

Zi Shan gazed at Loong Jiaoyang, his face etched with seriousness. She was filled with regret for not having taught him how to properly play the part of her man back in the carriage.

Gao Bing was seething with murderous intent. As the Holy Son of the Profound Girl Sect, he was predestined to marry the Holy Maiden. Yet now, this upstart had claimed Zi Shan as his own. The green hat of dishonor was being forced upon him, and the fire of rage within him blazed uncontrollably.

Zi Shan was as stunning as she was haughty, always holding Gao Bing at arm's length. His persistent overtures had been consistently dismissed, fueling a growing resentment within him. However, as the sect master's daughter, he dared not express his discontent. He bided his time, waiting for the day he could marry Zi Shan, seize control of the Profound Girl Sect, and finally confront the proud woman who had subjected him to such indignity.

Despite Gao Bing's exceptional patience, he was still only eighteen, an age brimming with fiery youth, and the humiliation he faced had ignited his temper completely!

The middle-aged female knight sensed Gao Bing's boundless murderous intent and positioned herself in front of the carriage, cautioning, "Son of Gao Bing, within the Profound Girl Sect, the use of swords and sabers is forbidden. You mustn't break the sect's rules."

"You scoundrel, you dare to take my woman? Do you have the courage to face me on the Martial Practice Platform?" Gao Bing, sword in hand, challenged Loong Jiaoyang furiously.

"I am Loong Jiaoyang, a single soul! I accept your challenge, but I'm currently injured. How about we postpone our duel for a month?" Loong Jiaoyang proposed, unshaken by the threat.

"Fine, I'll grant you one month's time!" Gao Bing sheathed his sword and turned to Zi Shan with a frosty demand, "Zi Shan, you owe me an explanation for this!"

With anger seething, Gao Bing stormed off, leaving the onlooking disciples of the Profound Girl Sect to cast curious glances at Loong Jiaoyang and Zi Shan.

"Aunt Xuan, please take Loong Jiaoyang to the guest room to rest, and have a physician treat his wounds," Zi Shan instructed the middle-aged female knight, giving Loong Jiaoyang a few meaningful glances.

Once Gao Bing was out of sight, Loong Jiaoyang leaned in and whispered to Zi Shan, "Did my performance pass muster?"

With a smile that could bewitch, Zi Shan replied, "Exceptionally well, better than I could have imagined. But be warned, you've stirred up quite the storm."

"No worries. If it helps resolve your issue and repays the debt for saving my life, I'll face any trouble head-on," Loong Jiaoyang said with a chuckle.

"Go rest in the guest room for now; I'll come to check on you later," Zi Shan nodded, assisting Loong Jiaoyang down from the carriage herself.