Long Mengxian
Note: Long Mengxian is one of the female leads. Long Qingyun is not her biological father, and she will share a deep connection with Zhang Lingxiao in the future.
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The wooden gate of the stronghold was kicked into splinters by Zhang Lingxiao.
Behind it stood a stunning young girl—her face youthful and delicate, yet her figure already full and alluring.
She held a slender, finely crafted longsword, pressing it lightly against her fair neck as she glared fiercely toward the entrance.
"Junior Sister Mengxian, why are you here?" Zhang Yuyang asked in surprise.
"Yu… Senior Brother Yang? Is that really you? Have you come to save me?"
Hearing his voice, the girl lowered her sword slightly, her beautiful eyes lighting up with relief and joy.
Mengxian… such a familiar name.
Listening to their exchange, Zhang Lingxiao felt a flicker of recognition.
Mengxian… Long Mengxian…
Long—wasn't that the surname of Long Qingyun's beloved daughter?
Zhang Lingxiao had an excellent memory. Though he didn't recognize her face, he clearly recalled hearing this name from Zhang Yuyang before.
She was said to be ranked second on Qingyun Mountain's Beauty List—sixteen years old, and a Martial Artist at the middle stage of the Qi Martial Realm.
But that information was clearly outdated.
With a single glance, Zhang Lingxiao could tell that Long Mengxian had already reached the Perfection stage of the Qi Martial Realm—just one step away from breaking into the Lingwu Realm.
At her age, such cultivation could only be described as extraordinary—a true prodigy among her peers.
"We came to suppress bandits," Zhang Yuyang explained. "They've grown too rampant lately—even targeting my Zhang Family's Spirit Stone mine. So the Family Head sent Young Master and me to deal with them."
He paused before asking with concern,
"Junior Sister Mengxian, were you captured by these bandits? They didn't… do anything to you, did they?"
"Young Master…"
Long Mengxian murmured softly.
Her gaze had already locked onto Zhang Lingxiao.
She didn't hear a single word after that.
"You… are Zhang Lingxiao?!"
Her voice dropped, filled with cold resentment. In an instant, she raised her longsword and pointed it directly at his chest.
"Junior Sister Mengxian… what are you doing?" Zhang Yuyang froze in shock.
Zhang Lingxiao's lips curled slightly.
He already understood.
"Senior Brother Yu Yang, it's him!" Long Mengxian cried out, her voice trembling with fury. "The Young Master you speak of—he killed my father! He is my father's murderer!"
Her eyes burned with hatred.
The young man standing before her, wearing that faint, almost mocking smile—was her greatest enemy.
She had rushed back upon hearing the news, only to be intercepted by bandits along the way, nearly losing both her life and her dignity.
All of it… traced back to him.
"Zhang Lingxiao! A life for a life—a debt for a debt! Today, I will take your head to avenge my father!"
With a sharp cry, she thrust her sword forward.
"Don't!" Zhang Yuyang shouted.
"Overestimating yourself."
Zhang Lingxiao snorted coldly. He didn't even bother to dodge.
With her level of cultivation, she posed no threat to him whatsoever.
A faint tremor ran through his body as spiritual power surged outward.
Clang!
Her longsword was blasted from her grasp, spinning through the air before embedding itself deep into the wall behind her.
Without hesitation, Zhang Lingxiao struck out with a simple palm.
He showed no mercy.
Bang!
Long Mengxian's slender body was sent flying backward, crashing onto a large chair draped with animal hide.
"Brother Lingxiao!"
Just as Zhang Lingxiao summoned his Heavenly Demon Sword, preparing to end her life, Zhang Yuyang hurriedly stepped forward.
"Brother Lingxiao, show mercy!"
Zhang Lingxiao paused, glancing at him.
"Senior Brother Yu Yang, why should I show mercy? Is she your woman?"
Indeed, Long Mengxian was exceptionally beautiful—her appearance capable of toppling kingdoms.
But her talent was equally terrifying.
And more importantly… an irreconcilable grudge already existed between them.
Given Zhang Lingxiao's nature, the logical choice was clear—eliminate her completely and avoid future trouble.
Even unparalleled beauty could not outweigh that risk.
Zhang Yuyang hesitated, then lowered his voice.
"Brother Lingxiao… her Master is extremely protective and holds a high position in the sect. Many of our Zhang Family's disciples cultivate on Qingyun Mountain. I'm afraid… she may secretly make things difficult for them."
"Our family cannot withstand further turmoil."
Zhang Lingxiao nodded slightly.
"That's a valid concern," he admitted. "But who can guarantee that if I spare her today, she won't run back to her Master and cause even greater trouble?"
Zhang Yuyang fell silent.
Zhang Lingxiao wasn't wrong.
In the Martial Dao world, strength was everything. Mercy could easily become a fatal weakness.
"Zhang Lingxiao, kill me!"
Long Mengxian's voice rang out again, filled with hatred.
"If you don't kill me today, I will never let you go in the future!"
Zhang Lingxiao chuckled softly.
"You want to die? Fine—I'll grant your wish."
A cold, wicked smile spread across his face as he stepped toward her, killing intent surging.
"Wait."
A clear, icy voice suddenly echoed within his Sea of Consciousness.
It was Gu Yue Ningbing.
"What is it? Are you here to persuade me to spare her?" Zhang Lingxiao replied mentally.
"I'm not persuading you," she said calmly.
"But this girl possesses an exceptional Martial Dao physique. She is worth cultivating."
"She is compatible with the Reincarnation Creation Scripture."
"You already know—it consists of a main scripture and a supplementary one."
"If you teach her the supplementary scripture, her cultivation will directly benefit yours."
She paused briefly before continuing,
"However, her physique has yet to awaken. She still has three months before her sixteenth birthday."
"How you choose to proceed… is up to you."
As her voice faded, a stream of information flooded into Zhang Lingxiao's mind.
A technique—
Soul Locking Technique.
A mysterious secret art capable of sealing memories.
There was no need to guess where it came from.
"Supreme Yin Immortal Physique…" Zhang Lingxiao muttered inwardly.
"Killing her would indeed be a waste."
But then—
He shook his head.
Despite the temptation, the method left a bitter taste.
He could kill her without hesitation.
Or he could spare her.
But using such a technique to control her… that crossed a line he was unwilling to step over.
He did not claim to walk the righteous path. He would use ruthless means when necessary.
But this?
This was something he disdained.
Turning a person into a puppet—stripping away their will—
That was beneath him.
There were still three months.
He didn't need to make a decision now.
With that thought, Zhang Lingxiao slowly withdrew his Heavenly Demon Sword.
Looking down at her, his voice turned cold.
"I killed Long Qingyun because he was blinded by greed—like a snake trying to swallow an elephant."
"He coveted what I risked my life to obtain. He sought to kill for profit and obstruct the future of my Zhang Family."
"He brought about his own destruction."
He paused briefly.
"This Young Master will spare your life today."
"From now on, take care of yourself."
"But remember—"
"If you fail to appreciate this mercy… next time, I will not hesitate to kill you."