The Bootlicking Antagonist Only Wants to Survive, but the Female Lead Refuses to Follow the Usual Plot

Chapter 283 The Blade is Close at Hand

Zhao Ritian erupted completely, shouting, “Unyielding! Unyielding! I absolutely refuse to yield!”

Pan Meifeng leaped into the air and struck down with a palm from above.

Zhao Ritian’s expression changed drastically. He wanted to counterattack with all his might, but it was too late.

His whole body slammed into the ground with a resounding thud. It felt like a massive mountain had pressed down on him.

“Ahhh—!”

Lu Chengwen and Long Aotian exchanged glances, each wiping the sweat that had formed on their foreheads.

This palm strike created a circular pit around Zhao Ritian. The sound of bones shattering echoed ceaselessly from his body, making it clear that the old lady was not holding back.

Pan Meifeng withdrew her palm.

Zhao Ritian slowly struggled to rise, supporting himself with his trembling arms against the ground. Yet when he lifted his head, the ferocity in his eyes was fully unveiled.

The senior brothers turned back to see Pan Meifeng seated again, her expression even graver than before.

“I’ve gauged the weight of you all now,” she said coldly.

She added, “He once told me that those with exceptional potential should not have their martial destiny severed prematurely. Zhao Ritian, you indeed have such potential, but I dislike you. Today, I will destroy your cultivation. Go back and start over. Perhaps, ten years from now, it will finally be your time to rise to prominence.”

Zhao Ritian stood up shakily, his body marred by fractures and blood soaking through his clothes.

“I will never forget today’s lesson!” he said through gritted teeth. “Senior, take good care of yourself. One day, I will return to visit you again!”

Pan Meifeng scoffed. “Are you forcing me to eradicate you completely?”

Zhao Ritian said nothing more. With clenched teeth, he hunched low and bolted away.

Lu Chengwen suddenly remembered something and grabbed his bag. “Hey! Your bag! Your stuff! Your bag—slow down… Your bag!”

Pan Meifeng turned her gaze toward Long Aotian.

Long Aotian dropped to one knee, his face pale. “Master’s wife! I am my master’s disciple! Please… don’t cripple me…”

“Your master put in some effort to strengthen your Four Gates,” Pan Meifeng said calmly. “You’ve learned a lot and are no weaker than Zhao Ritian. Today, I’ve suppressed him for you, but I cannot suppress his age. One day, he will inevitably be your rival. Go back. If you try to leave the mountain tonight, I will break your legs.”

Long Aotian, relieved, immediately kowtowed and excused himself.

Luo Shiyin turned back to glance at Lu Chengwen, who was still standing there holding Zhao Ritian’s bag in a daze, not even noticing her.

Frustrated, Luo Shiyin turned to leave.

“Luo Shiyin, stay behind,” Pan Meifeng said.

Long Aotian froze. “Master’s wife, she’s mine…”

“I know. It’s obvious,” Pan Meifeng said. “She possesses the Five-Colored Illusionary Eyes and a unique dual cultivation physique. I plan to train her a bit before sending her back. Otherwise, relying on those superficial techniques, she’ll be of little use in the future.”

Long Aotian was overjoyed.

Right! Master’s wife, Pan Meifeng, also known as the Seven-Colored Phoenix, was famous for her abilities. With her guidance, Luo Shiyin’s cultivation would surely improve by leaps and bounds… and then some.

“Thank my master’s wife!” Long Aotian urged.

Luo Shiyin, feeling conflicted, slowly knelt on one knee. “Thank you, Senior.”

Long Aotian turned to Qi Meishao. “Let’s go.”

Pan Meifeng called out, “You two, come with me.”

Thatched Cottage

Inside the small cottage, Pan Meifeng sat on the bed while Lu Chengwen and Luo Shiyin stood awkwardly nearby.

“Lu Chengwen, you’re something else. You even dared to get involved with your senior brother’s woman.”

Lu Chengwen looked aggrieved. “It’s really a misunderstanding! She accidentally ingested the Desire Woman Pill. Without the antidote… things could’ve ended badly.”

Pan Meifeng raised an eyebrow. “And where did you get that Desire Woman Pill?”@@novelbin@@

“I…”

Lu Chengwen thought to himself, If I told you it was a system reward, would you kill me on the spot?

“I don’t even know. I didn’t even realize what it was called at first.”

Pan Meifeng’s gaze sharpened. “Don’t you dare use it to harm others.”

“I wouldn’t dare! So far, I haven’t harmed a single person! While I may not be a saint, I wouldn’t stoop to such lowly behavior.”

“Good.” Pan Meifeng nodded. “Your master didn’t teach you any techniques, not because he didn’t want to, but because you couldn’t handle them back then. At the time, you had just entered the Four Gates and hadn’t stabilized yet. Later, you gave away the True Essence Pill, which damaged your dantian.”

“If I’m not mistaken, this girl helped you repair your dantian, didn’t she?”

Lu Chengwen scratched his head, while Luo Shiyin blushed deeply and turned her head away, unable to look at anyone.

Pan Meifeng snorted. “Why are you both pretending to be innocent now? Weren’t you two quite… enthusiastic yesterday? One was flying high, and the other was gritting their teeth. What’s changed? Suddenly learned to be shy?”

Luo Shiyin wanted to bury herself alive.

Lu Chengwen awkwardly scratched his head. “Master’s wife, please stop. I’ve already explained—it was a special situation. She accidentally drank water laced with the Desire Woman Pill, so I had no choice.”

Pan Meifeng chuckled. “From what I see, you two are quite compatible—your hearts and efforts align well.”

Lu Chengwen pleaded, “Master’s wife, please stop talking. I don’t mind, but Shiyin… Although she might have seemed wild yesterday, she’s actually very fragile. This whole incident has already put her under a lot of psychological pressure.”

He thought to himself, My dear ancestors! Please don’t bring this up again!

This girl might have been wild, but that was because she was poisoned! Normally, she’s very reserved.

She’s already been teetering on the edge, seeking death at every turn, as if she’s eager for someone to end her misery.

"If you keep mocking her, what if she really dies?"

"That would be quite a pity."

Luo Shiyin looked pitifully at Lu Chengwen, her delicate fingers tightly clutching the hem of her clothes, biting her lip, and staying silent.

“Fragile?” Pan Meifeng chuckled. “Lu Chengwen, you and your master are too naive when it comes to women. One day, she’ll consume you entirely without even spitting out the bones. Remember this: you mustn’t be too cruel to women, but you also can’t be too kind. If you hesitate just because of a pretty face, you’ll suffer for it later.”

“I... I understand. Thank you, Master’s Wife, for the advice.”

Pan Meifeng extended her hand, and three pieces of meteorite ice crystal floated into the air.

Stretching her palm out slowly, she clenched it tightly, compressing the three pieces into one.

“Meteorite ice crystal, a substance from beyond this world. Meteorites are rare, and for one to contain such an extraordinary energy crystal is even more so—like finding a needle in a haystack. You are fortunate. This meteor shower brought you three precious items.”

“But without internal power, you have no way to absorb and utilize them.”

Lu Chengwen nodded.

“Try using the technique I taught you,” Pan Meifeng instructed as she stood up. “Luo Shiyin, come with me.”

Lu Chengwen stayed behind to process the three meteorite ice crystals, while Luo Shiyin followed Pan Meifeng to the adjacent room.

Pan Meifeng waved her hand, and an invisible energy seemed to fill the entire room.

“We’re shielded here. He won’t hear us.”

Luo Shiyin was unsure of Pan Meifeng's intentions, so she simply stared at her.

“Do you like Lu Chengwen?”

Luo Shiyin was taken aback by the direct question and quickly shook her head. “N-no, I don’t like him.”

“Do you hate him, then?”

Luo Shiyin lowered her head, nodding slowly.

“I can kill him for you.”

Luo Shiyin raised her head, her eyes filled with disbelief. This old woman couldn’t be serious.

But it didn’t make sense! Weren’t you always partial to Lu Chengwen? Why now offer to kill him?

Pan Meifeng chuckled, tossing a dagger toward Luo Shiyin. “Or you can do it yourself. I promise, if you kill him, I won’t interfere, nor will I hold it against you.”

Pan Meifeng glanced toward the other room. “He’s already started absorbing the energy from the meteorite ice crystal. Killing him now would be like killing a defenseless vegetable. Go ahead.”

She gave Luo Shiyin a slight push.

Luo Shiyin, clutching the dagger, walked toward Lu Chengwen. Her hand rose slowly as she stood in front of him.

She saw the faint sheen of sweat on his forehead as he focused intensely on absorbing the crystal’s energy.

Memories began to flood her mind.

How she schemed to get him into his office, only to hit one obstacle after another...

How, when she was captured by Hun Tian Gang, Lu Chengwen eventually came to her rescue...

How, though she had tried to manipulate him, they ended up in a strange dimension thanks to a fragment of Hun Tian Gang’s soul. In that bizarre space, he chose to spare her...

How she pushed him off a cliff, yet he still saved her.

That was the first time he fed her the “Yu Nv Dan”... afterward...

The initial pain, followed by madness.

It was as though their bodies understood each other better than their words, leading them to weep silently in each other’s arms...

Why does fate torment someone as unfortunate as me?

I am merely a falcon for the Young Master—a tool!

I’m tasked with using my charm to eliminate his adversaries. When I return home, I serve as the Young Master’s maid until... that fateful day.

And yet, it’s him—Lu Chengwen.

Time and again, over and over...

Am I truly born to be despicable? Am I beyond redemption?

I should kill him! He ruined me!

He is the Young Master’s enemy! I am the Young Master’s bodyguard, his servant...

There’s no way I could ever like him! No way!

So, kill him—kill this man who has hurt me time and again. I won’t hesitate!

Never again!

Luo Shiyin gripped the dagger tightly, her eyes suddenly filled with rage. Both hands thrust forward violently!

The blade stopped just 0.01 centimeters from Lu Chengwen’s throat.

She froze.

Her hands trembled, and tears streamed down her face.

She didn’t understand—she could’ve killed him just now!

Why didn’t Pan Meifeng stop her?!

She should’ve swatted me away, taken the dagger!

Turning her head, she realized Pan Meifeng was no longer standing at the door.

Looking back at Lu Chengwen, who was still deep in concentration, Luo Shiyin found herself lost.

What should I do?