Martial Arts: The Secret Villain Starting from Huashan

Xu Xingchen's chest was solid and warm, as if he was Gongsun Lue'e's most solid support in the darkness. His heartbeat was steady and strong, and every beat seemed to convey a sense of security and confidence to Gongsun Lue'e.

At this moment, Gongsun Lue'e felt surrounded by an incomparable sense of security, which came from Xu Xingchen's deep care and protection. Gongsun Lue'e's two mountains were tightly pressed against Xu Xingchen's chest.

Gongsun Lu'e's delicate body was tightly attached to Xu Xingchen, as if in this embrace she could find a safe haven, in which she could escape from all the disturbances and dangers of the outside world and temporarily forget the fear and uneasiness in her heart.

Her pair of delicate and slender hands tightly grasped Xu Xingchen's clothes, and her fingers trembled slightly, not only out of fear of the terrible thing in front of her, but also out of deep dependence on Xu Xingchen.

It seemed as if Xu Xingchen was her only support in the darkness and her most solid backing when facing the unknown and danger. The existence of Xu Xingchen made Gongsun Lu'e feel an unprecedented sense of security and determination.

At this moment, Xu Xingchen deeply felt Gongsun Lu'e's fear. He could almost hear her accelerated heartbeat and disordered breathing. He quickly used his broad chest to block her fear.

His arms gently but firmly wrapped around Gongsun Lu'e's shoulders. Those arms seemed to be a symbol of guardianship, conveying endless strength and courage. Xu Xingchen's palms gently patted her jade back, his movements full of tenderness and care.

"Miss Gongsun, don't be afraid, I'm here."

At the same time, Xu Xingchen whispered softly.

His voice was low and full of tenderness, and his words were like a warm spring breeze, blowing away the haze in Gongsun Lu'e's heart. His words were simple but powerful, and every word was like a reassurance, gradually stabilizing Gongsun Lu'e's emotions.

Gongsun Lu'e unconsciously snuggled in Xu Xingchen's arms, feeling the warmth and sense of security coming from him. Her breathing gradually stabilized, but she still stared at Qiu Ganchi nervously.

She could feel the firmness and strength of Xu Xingchen's body beside her, which gradually brought back her courage. She knew that as long as Xu Xingchen was by her side, no matter what terror and challenges she faced, she would have the courage to face them.

Xu Xingchen knew very well the source of Gongsun Lu'e's fear. The reason she was afraid was because she suddenly saw Qiu Ganchi's hideous face with vicious eyes in this dark cave.

Qiu Ganchi's image looked particularly terrifying in the dim light and shadow. The malice in his eyes made people shudder, as if he was exactly like an evil ghost that had just crawled out of endless hell.

Such an image would be extremely terrifying for anyone, let alone a young woman like Gongsun Lu'e.

Xu Xingchen knew in his heart that Gongsun Lu'e's reaction was very natural. Anyone would feel fear when seeing a figure like Qiu Ganchi for the first time. This fear was not because Gongsun Lu'e was timid, but an instinctive reaction of humans when facing unknown dangers.

When Gongsun Lu'e slowly recovered from the sudden fear, she realized that in her extreme fear, she had subconsciously thrown herself into Xu Xingchen's warm arms.

This realization caused a subtle change in Gongsun Lue'e's mood. Her delicate face, which had been pale due to fear, now showed a faint blush.

The blush was not only due to shyness, but also because she suddenly realized that Xu Xingchen's broad chest and warm embrace brought her not only a sense of security, but also an indescribable heartbeat.

Xu Xingchen's warm embrace was like her safe haven, allowing her to temporarily forget all her fears and anxieties. Gongsun Lu'e's heartbeat quickened a bit at this moment, and she felt a sweetness and warmth she had never felt before.

When Xu Xingchen and Gongsun Lue'e's eyes met, they separated awkwardly. Gongsun Lue'e also felt a subtle change, her heartbeat was accelerating, but she tried to make her breathing steady.

At this time, Qiu Ganchi looked up and down at Gongsun Lue'e in front of him, his eyes sweeping across her like a sharp blade, as if he wanted to see through her. However, he suddenly smiled sadly.

There was a hint of loneliness and helplessness in that smile, as if at this moment, some softness beneath her fierce appearance was touched. Qiu Ganchi spoke slowly, his voice hoarse but unexpectedly gentle.

"Girl, you are so beautiful."

Gongsun Lu'e smiled back, her smile was calm and composed. Having recovered, she was no longer frightened by Qiu Ganchi's previous image. She took a light step forward.

Her posture was elegant and calm, as natural as the mountain breeze. Gongsun Lu'e bent slightly, bowed to Qiu Ganchi in front of her, and spoke softly.

"Hello, old senior."

Her voice was crisp and pleasant, as clear as a mountain spring, and her attitude was respectful yet firm.

"Hahaha……"

Hearing the sound, Qiu Ganchi suddenly burst into laughter. The laughter was high-pitched and sharp, echoing in the cave, forming an eerie echo. His voice sounded like both crying and laughing.

Filled with a weird and uneasy feeling, Qiu Ganchi looked up at the top of the cave. As the laughter continued, her expression gradually became complicated, and her voice carried an indescribable irony and self-mockery.

“Old senior? Hahaha… I’m fine, I’m fine, haha… haha…!”

In particular, Qiu Ganchi's laughter revealed a deep bitterness and helplessness, as if the name touched a string in his heart. After the laughter resounded for a while, Qiu Ganchi's laughter gradually subsided and finally turned into a low mutter.

When Qiu Ganchi lowered her head again and faced Gongsun Lue'e and Xu Xingchen, her face was full of anger. The anger seemed to be caused by being reminded of some past event that she did not want to recall, or perhaps it was because she was forced to face the reality.

Gongsun Lu'e originally thought that her politeness and respect could ease the atmosphere, but she did not expect Qiu Ganchi to have a strong reaction to her greeting. She saw Qiu Ganchi's face full of anger.

For a moment, Gongsun Lu'e couldn't help feeling panic in her heart, because she didn't understand what she had said that touched the mysterious old man's sore spot and made him so emotional.

In this uncertain and tense atmosphere, Gongsun Lu'e felt helpless. She looked back at Xu Xingchen, her eyes asking for help. She hoped that Xu Xingchen could give some instructions or use his wisdom to find a way to calm Qiu Ganchi's anger.

After Xu Xingchen received Gongsun Lu'e's gaze, he immediately understood her anxiety and request for help. He nodded slightly, signaling her to stay calm, then he stepped forward and spoke.

"Alright, Senior Qiu, you don't have to pretend that you intend to harm her. Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs. Even the most ferocious animal in the world won't harm its own flesh and blood."

"Even a tiger won't eat its own cubs?"

Upon hearing the voice, a look of confusion flashed across Gongsun Lu'e's delicate face. She didn't understand what Xu Xingchen beside her had just said, and she didn't understand why Xu Xingchen mentioned it at this time.

However, Qiu Ganchi ignored Xu Xingchen and suddenly spoke to Gongsun Lue'e.

"Girl, there is a cinnabar mark on your left waist, right?"

There was a deep insight in her voice, as if she could see through people's hearts.

When Gongsun Lu'e heard this, she felt as if she was hit hard in the heart. Her surprise was almost beyond words. She had never thought that in this cave far away from the world, there would be someone who thought he knew the secrets of her body, she thought to herself.

"Even my father may not know about this cinnabar mark on my body, so how could this mother-in-law who is hiding deep in the ground know so much? She also knows my birth date, so it seems that she must have a very close relationship with my family."

Gongsun Lu'e was filled with confusion and shock. She couldn't help but start thinking about the possible connection between Qiu Ganchi and herself, and why he knew such extremely private information, so she asked softly.

"Mother-in-law, you must know my father and my deceased mother, right?"

Qiu Ganchi was stunned, as if Gongsun Lue'e's words touched a chord in her heart. Complex emotions appeared on her ferocious face, and she spoke slowly.

"Your deceased mother?"

"Hahaha..., of course I know."