Eye techniques require a great deal of effort, and one cannot be careless when dealing with someone like the Pope.
In truth, even three days of meditation and concentration would not be enough. Having followed him for over a decade, he knew all too well how terrifying the person on the throne was.
However, time was running out. He had to act before Miao Feng returned from the Medicine Master Valley. Otherwise, even if Miao Feng didn't know his secret of going to the Medicine Master Valley to steal the Dragon Blood Pearl, she would still bring back that female healer to treat the King's injuries—once the King's injuries healed, there would be no more chance to strike!
However, the thought of Yakushi Valley suddenly conjured up a pair of clear, black and white eyes, gentle yet sorrowful. Meisuke… Meisuke… In a daze, he heard someone calling softly, and a pair of hands reached out to him.
"Get out!" Finally, unable to bear the gaze any longer, he shouted, "I'm not Mingjie!"
As soon as I opened my eyes, all the illusions vanished.
"Young Master Tong," someone whispered from outside the door, a trusted subordinate of the Shura Field, "the Eight Steeds have descended the mountain."
The Eight Steeds were a top-notch group of eight assassins he had personally trained, whose abilities surpassed even the Twelve Silver Wings. This time, all eight steeds were deployed to intercept Miao Feng, who was returning from the Medicine Master Valley. Even if that guy's martial arts were superb, it would be impossible for him to break through the encirclement safely within a few days.
Besides... he'll most likely be accompanied by that woman from Medicine Valley who doesn't know martial arts.
“If we cannot kill Miaofeng,” he coldly ordered, closing his eyes in the darkness, “then we must take the head of that female healer.”
"Yes!" the subordinate replied softly, then crawled away on his knees to take his leave.
He sat in the deepest part of the darkness, closed his eyes again, and focused his mind between them.
The golden needles at the back of his head throbbed faintly. Those eyes bulged out again, gazing at him serenely… Meisuke. Meisuke. That voice rang out again, near and far, igniting countless illusions along its path. Fire. Blood. Escape. An overwhelming darkness…
He finally couldn't take it anymore and punched the cold stone ground beside him, his whole body trembling slightly.
When Huo Zhanbai woke up, the sun was already high in the sky.
He was startled and immediately sat up—he had slept for so long! Mo'er's illness urgently needed to be treated back in Lin'an, and he had actually fallen into a deep sleep!
Liu Feifei's personal maid, Rouge Nu, brought in breakfast and slammed the plate down on the table, seemingly still angry: "Here, eat and then get out of here—I really don't know what Miss sees in you? You come and go as you please, you have no money or power, you're heartless and ungrateful, yet Miss still cares about you the most! She's truly bewitched."
Huo Zhanbai's face flushed red and then paled as the little girl spoke to him, and he felt that the lotus seed porridge in his mouth had lost its flavor: "I'm sorry."
"Heh... No need to apologize to me," Rouge Slave snorted. "It's all thanks to the last time your friends got drunk in the building and told Miss all sorts of things you've done over the past eight years. It was truly shocking! Miss was heartbroken after hearing it."
"Xia Qianyu..." Huo Zhanbai knew perfectly well which of his close friends were in this building, and he muttered through gritted teeth.
I've told them several times not to bring up what happened back then, but these big-mouthed guys still don't know what's good for them.
"A wealthy merchant from the Western Regions happened to arrive. That merchant had so much money he could kill someone, and he fell in love with you at first sight. His wife had died, and he wanted to remarry—thinking it was better than being a concubine, he agreed." After complaining, Rouge Girl left him, saying, "You eat by yourself, Miss is getting married early this morning!"
He stayed alone in his room and ate a few bites haphazardly. Suddenly, the sounds of drums and trumpets came from outside, creating a lively atmosphere.
He walked to the window, pushed it open, and looked down. He saw a procession of flower drummers approaching downstairs, their boxes and baskets stretching endlessly, creating a grand spectacle. A man of about forty years old, a Central Asian, rode a tall horse and stopped at the entrance of the Linglong Flower Realm. He had brown hair and blue eyes, and a wide beard that framed his face with a broad smile. Behind him, a group of servants and young men carried the betrothal gifts, and the sound of firecrackers exploding was almost deafening.
This must be the wealthy merchant from the Western Regions.
Marrying a courtesan is hardly a glorious thing, yet this foreign merchant flaunted it without restraint, clearly showing his extreme affection for Liu Feifei. The madam, having received an unknown sum of money, finally released this cash cow, weeping as she helped the courtesan, her head veiled in red, out of the house.
Just before being placed in the sedan chair, the bride, intentionally or unintentionally, turned back and glanced at her room through the gap in her veil.
There, a man in white stood by the window, tall and straight like a jade tree in the wind.
Goodbye, Bai.
"What? You're feeling sad seeing your old flame getting married?" Someone teased him suddenly, and a hand patted him on the shoulder.
Who? They had quietly entered the room without him noticing. Startled, Huo Zhanbai immediately leaned to the right, rushing to grab the medicine pouch on the bedside table, his Ink Soul Sword already drawn from its sheath in his right hand.
"Stop!" Just as he drew his sword, he heard the other person shout, "It's me!"
"Asaba?" He paused, his sword tip halting, and stammered.
The young man in brocade robes was also startled. He hurriedly grabbed a silver candlestick and held it in front of him, letting out a long breath: "I heard from Insect Mother that you arrived in Yangzhou last night and stayed here, so I came to check on you first thing this morning—Seventh Brother, what's wrong with you!"
When Dingjian Pavilion was first established, it appointed four renowned swordsmen as protectors. Later, this was increased to eight, all of whom were elites from various sects and schools in the Central Plains martial arts world. Xia Qianyu, however, was the only son of the Sword Sect Master of Huashan Sect, one year older than Huo Zhanbai, and ranked fourth among the eight swordsmen. Although born into a prestigious family, he was naturally unrestrained and dissolute, often frequenting brothels, and remained unmarried to this day.
He was the one who dragged me here the first time I came here.
"I'm sorry." He gave an awkward smile and sheathed his sword. "I was too nervous."
Xia Qianyu put down the candlestick, frowned, and said, "That medicine should be ready by now, shouldn't it?"
"Alright." Huo Zhanbai smiled and let out a breath.
Xia Qianyu also breathed a sigh of relief: "It's finally better—if it hadn't gotten better, I think you would have gone crazy."
“I think you’re the one who’s gone mad,” Huo Zhanbai retorted, not backing down an inch from his drinking buddy. “You’re already in your thirties, and you’re still hanging around in this place—don’t you see that Lao San already has a son?”
"Don't compare me to that old man Wei Fengxing," Xia Qianyu scoffed. "I'm still young and handsome."
Among the eight swordsmen of Dingjian Pavilion, Wei Fengxing, known as the "Jade Tree Gentleman," and Xia Qianyu, known as the "White Feather Sword," are the most romantic. The two have been traveling the martial world together since they were young, leaving behind many romantic tales as they wield their swords.
However, eight years ago, Wei Fengxing suddenly changed his mind, disappearing from the martial arts world without a trace, refusing to acknowledge his former cronies, and reportedly getting married and becoming a good husband. Xia Qianyu, all alone, couldn't help but feel resentful of being abandoned, and harbored deep hatred for him.
"It's rare that you're back alive, let's have a good get-together tonight!" He punched Huo Zhanbai lightly. "It's been almost a year since any of us have seen each other."
The Eight Swordsmen were sworn brothers who, after being recruited to the Dingjian Pavilion, joined forces to accomplish many great feats, making outstanding contributions to maintaining order in the Central Plains martial arts world and resisting the invasion of the Western Demonic Sect. However, since Xu Chonghua was killed, only seven of the Eight Great Swordsmen remain, and their prestige has declined ever since.
"Sorry, I have something urgent to attend to." Huo Zhanbai waved the medicine pouch in his hand.
We've arrived in Yangzhou, can we open it now? He eagerly untied the brocade pouch, but a look of surprise flashed in his eyes—there were no pills inside!
Inside was only a hairpin, a letter, and a smaller brocade pouch.
The hairpin was pinned to the envelope; he recognized it as the purple jade hairpin that Xue Ziye often wore in her hair. A line of text was written on it: "At the behest of my esteemed teacher, Liao Qingran, of the Ancient Magnolia Academy outside the West Gate of Yangzhou."