Protector Zhou sneered, "Don't follow me. If you want to collect the corpse, then stay close!"
My master slowed his pace, and I could clearly see the cold sweat on his forehead.
Madam Qing angrily said, "Protector Zhou, how dare you disobey the Palace Master's orders! Sect Leader Shi ordered you to release Miss Yun. If you still refuse to obey, don't blame me for being impolite!"
The master said, "What exactly do you want? Just release her, and I'll agree to anything you ask!"
"I don't want anything, I just want to take her away from here, and none of you are allowed to follow."
His sword plunged even deeper, and I gasped in pain.
The master looked anxious and worried, and his handsome face appeared somewhat haggard.
Where are you taking her?
"Where I take her is none of your business. Once I get what I want, I'll let her go."
I realized that he was probably prepared to fight to the death and planned to rebel against Jinbo Palace, and I was his token and shield. It seemed that I was not in any danger at the moment, but Jiang Chen was suffering more and more pain with every moment he delayed.
"Master, don't worry about me. Jiang Chen has been poisoned. Master, please quickly ask Madam Qing to detoxify him."
"Little Mo!"
"He won't kill me, Master, please hurry!"
Master turned to Madam Qing and said, "Qingyao, do you know what kind of poison Jiang Chen has been poisoned with? Go quickly and give him the antidote."
Madam Qing hesitated for a moment, then instructed the people behind her, "Follow Master Shi's orders. Once Protector Zhou leaves Liujin Island, he will no longer be a member of Jinbo Palace. Do not hold back!" With that, she strode into Wanxiao Pavilion. I breathed a sigh of relief and was finally at ease.
Protector Zhou coerced me to head towards the sea, with my master following closely behind, but not daring to get too close.
A small boat was moored under a rock on the beach. Protector Zhou pushed me onto it.
I was secretly anxious, wondering if he was heading out to sea or towards the fishing village. Once he boarded the boat, I feared my master wouldn't be able to keep up for a while.
The master suddenly shouted, "Release her. I know what you want. Her things have always been with me."
My master's words undoubtedly meant he wanted to take my place. A warm feeling seemed to slowly well up inside me.
Protector Zhou was taken aback, and asked in a low voice, "Is what he said true?"
I whispered, "Yes, my master keeps all my things, and I've also given him the sword manual."
At this moment, the only thing I can do is cooperate with my master and escape from his sword when he is distracted or distracted.
He remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.
"Release her, and I'll go with you to get it for her."
My master slowly walked over and threw the longsword in his hand to the ground. Protector Zhou did not stop him from stepping forward. I knew that he was weighing whether it was better to take me or my master hostage.
I secretly prepared myself, waiting for my master to approach so that I could seize the opportunity to escape once he made his move.
Suddenly, Protector Zhou shouted, "Take one more step forward, and I'll make my move!"
The master stopped and dared not take another step forward, and the situation became deadlocked once again.
Suddenly, a strange gust of wind came from behind my ears, like the rustling of countless fallen leaves when the autumn wind first rose. The sound was like some kind of hidden weapon.
I couldn't turn back, but Protector Zhou couldn't help but look back. In that split second, a long sword descended from the sky, deflecting the sword from my neck. Then, a tall figure stood before me. I squinted, as if in a dream.
"Xiao Mo, are you alright?"
The person who deflected Protector Zhou's longsword was actually Yun Zhou!
The setting sun was like a drunken dream, and his shoulders seemed to be covered with the glow of the sunset. In the hazy light and shadow, he looked so unreal.
Yunzhou always appears when I least expect it, leaving me with an unexpected surprise followed by endless melancholy and regret.
His sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes were still the same, but his gaze was different. I dared not delve into what was in them, and with a flustered heart, I looked away. When you've longed for and admired someone for so long, only to suddenly learn that he might be your brother, the strange and absurd feeling is indescribable.
I silently lowered my eyes, and what I saw was Protector Zhou lying on the ground two steps away from me. A very strange weapon had pierced his back, a semi-circular shape with sharp serrations, incredibly sharp, with flesh and blood still clinging to the blade. Blood kept gushing out, staining his entire back red. My heart churned, and I dared not look any longer.
Master and Madam Qing walked over quickly.
Madam Qing said coldly, "I never expected that he would dare to betray Jinbo Palace."
As she spoke, she bent down and removed the mask from Protector Zhou's face.
She was suddenly startled, exclaimed in surprise, and then looked up at her master and said, "He is not Protector Zhou, but Protector Zhou's son, Zhou Yicong!"
I was shocked. On this island, Palace Master Murong was a fake, and Protector Zhou was also a fake. Was Mother really just going to abandon this place?
The master exclaimed in surprise, "Why would he impersonate his own father? Where is Protector Zhou?"
Madam Qing shook her head: "I don't know. Three years ago, Protector Zhou suddenly put on a mask and said that he had accidentally disfigured his face while refining poison. Since his appearance and voice had not changed and no outsiders came to the island, we did not suspect anything."
The master asked, "He's been hit by this hidden weapon. Is there any hope of saving him?"
Madam Qing said, "This hidden weapon is called 'No Return,' created by the old Palace Master Murong, and it's also poisoned. I saw that he betrayed Jinbo Palace, so I didn't hold back and used all my strength. He's injured like this, I'm afraid there's no way to save him."
The master sighed, "It's such a pity to lose one's life for something."
As he spoke, he squatted down, took out the Jade Pill of the Xiaoyao Sect from his pocket and put it into Zhou Yicong's mouth, and then pressed several acupoints on his body.
A moment later, Zhou Yicong's eyelids twitched slightly. His master quickly supported his shoulders and asked:
Where is your father?