Qiongying over there, even when her brother was beaten down by the Martial Venerable, her face didn't turn this pale.
"Can't you ever act normally when you come out?"
Twin Ann poked her head out and struggled to climb up.
"It's already quite an achievement that you didn't crash into the rock face while it was dark."
"Everyone's here?" Nangong Ling turned to the side and suddenly asked.
"They're behind, but it will probably take some time for them to break in. The Imperial Guards that Xiao Lianjue has stationed outside Yanwu Fort are not easy to deal with."
"Is that so?" He curled the corners of his lips. "Yanluo, stop."
Yanmolu pulled away and kicked away the soft sword in Xiao Lianjue's hand. The sword energy was not yet withdrawn, and Yanmolu did not block it. Just as that foot was about to be crippled, two peonies appeared out of thin air and blasted the thunderous figure away by 10 feet.
"Hmph, it's been a long time since I've had such a satisfying fight."
"If that's the case, then take another one of my moves!"
A dark shadow flew close to the top of Gemini An's head, resembling a bat yet sharp as a hawk, and swooped straight towards Xiao Lianjue!
No matter how fast Xiao Lianjue moved, he could only grab the sword before he had time to block. The eagle's claw was as fast as lightning. In an instant, there was only the cry of an eagle in the sky, the west wind was fierce, and the moonlit night was like blood.
That was Xiao Lianjue's eagle, which risked its life to save its master from losing a hand. Despite its loyalty, it ended up dying without a complete corpse.
Her peach blossom eyes were lowered, their light flickering and unfathomable, and the alluring aura emanating from her lips was like a ghostly attack.
"Han Xuanmo, isn't it Qu Haifeng you've always hated? If you keep getting in my way, don't blame me for being impolite."
"Polite? When have you, Crown Prince Xiao, ever been polite to anyone? Disobedient people are dealt with ruthlessly – that's your style." Han Xuanmo, having lost the initiative, stood with his hands behind his back, staring intently at Xiao Lianjue, afraid that a moment's distraction would cost him his life. "Wasn't it you who instigated Qu Haifeng's massacre at the wedding banquet? She dared to do that only because you were backing her up. One reason I kept an eye on Qu Haifeng was to probe your background, but you're truly ruthless. Once you're no longer of use, you don't care whether she lives or dies, pushing her away completely."
"Oh, what's the second one?" At this moment, Xiao Lianjue's voice was low and his killing intent was even stronger.
"Pretend you didn't know it was your doing. Luckily, your attention was on the capital at the time..."
"So you went to seek refuge with Nangong Ling when I approached Tianchen?"
"It's just a matter of each having their own needs; there's no question of whether or not someone is seeking refuge with another."
"Okay, very good."
Xiao Lianjue nodded, not angry but smiling. Looking up, it was as if the gates of hell had opened, and the red lotus flames that filled the sky and the earth were as alluring as blood.
Smoke and light filled the air, and in the cold night, he raised his hand and gave a command. In an instant, the firelight on the mountaintop surrounded Qingyantai, turning it into a deadly place.
With a flick of his wrist, Gemini An charged into the battlefield. His palm technique was excellent, and his palm strikes were sharp and accurate, taking down many people in the blink of an eye.
"Hey, that's not even enough to fill my teeth. Those born in the Central Plains are really pampered. Any soldier from the Seven Kingdoms of Lianshan could take on two of you."
The real martial arts experts are all behind Rong Cheng, you idiot! It was supposed to be a very tense atmosphere, but Shuangzi An was definitely here to cause trouble. He flew around once and wasn't satisfied, so he came back and dragged Yan Guhong into the mess. Judging from his appearance, he was originally coming for me, but when he saw Nangong Ling standing in front of me, he changed direction and stretched out his claws towards Yan Guhong.
The sound of swords clashing around me was a bit unsettling. Although I usually enjoy watching people wield weapons, that's only under the premise of friendly sparring where there's no killing intent. But these people are fighting for their lives, and no matter how audacious I am, I can't help but flinch.
"How long can the six Yama Kings and the Twins' unreasonable arguments last?"
Qiongying is responsible for keeping an eye on Yuan'er. His elder brother is currently locked in a fierce battle with Wu Zun, while Cang Zhe and Zhuan Lun Wang are attacking Feng Moru, who seems on the verge of defeat but has been relentlessly pursuing him. Yan Moluo just had a clash with Xiao Lianjue and, although he escaped unscathed, he has still expended a lot of energy. The remaining Chu Jiang Wang and Qin Guang Wang, without Nangong Ling's orders, are standing motionless behind me. Li Yu and his attendant are below Qingyan Terrace, unaware of the current situation. As for Yan Hailan, she's just there for the fun and has no fighting ability whatsoever. Besides, it's unclear what her and Yan Guhong's intentions are in appearing at this time.
It's really strange. I don't know where Nangong Ling has taken Tianqi from the Seven Star Tower, as well as the people from the Four Halls, Twelve Towers, and Twenty-Four Pavilions. Also, Xiangrui and the others are nowhere to be seen, and not a single person from the Moonless Palace is missing.
"Lian'er, come here."
The person who had been standing in front of me suddenly turned around, reached out and took my hand. Even at this hour, he could still smile!
Chapter 144
Author's Note: I'm so worried, I'll post this chapter first and continue this afternoon.
"Bah! What kind of people are you? How dare you block your grandfather's path! Where is that brat Nangong Ling? Hand him over! How dare he kick down the gate of Meishi Manor? Does he have a death wish?!"
A sudden, clear whistle shook the heavens and the earth, causing the mountain rocks to tremble uncontrollably.
It felt like a heavy stone was pressing down on my chest, and a sweet taste came over my throat. I felt dizzy and lightheaded. I tried to grab the person next to me but missed. When I looked up, I saw that they had run to cover my son's ears.
Besides the Martial Venerable, the only other person in the world with such profound internal strength is the Old Smoker from the Nine Heavens and Eight Eccentrics. The Old Smoker possesses extremely high martial arts skills, but he is a person who doesn't like to care about worldly affairs and has no interest in the troubles of the martial world. His only hobby is probably fighting with others. However, as his skills have become more and more profound, his opponents have naturally become fewer and fewer. So in recent years, he has stayed in his Plum Stone Manor and has hardly come out. His sudden appearance now is truly surprising.
That's not all. The three-foot-long red silk ribbon following behind him was like a dancing snake, winding and swift as the wind, and it was about to touch the old ghost's clothes in the blink of an eye.
"Damn it, he's a persistent ghost!" the old ghost cursed, his hands never stopping as he flicked his pipe forward as if he were holding a long sword.
"You old devil, you ruined my martial arts contest to find a husband back then, driving everyone away and then refusing to marry me, making everyone think I was unwanted and turning me into a laughing stock. You're lucky to have given up your life to accompany my precious youth!"
"Damn it, who told you I was here?!"
Even the matchmaker Lu Tianyu has been summoned. What's going on?
I squinted, my chest tight, when I heard a roar that made my eardrums throb.
"We didn't invite you two here to watch your performance."
Nangong Ling flew over, turning the deadly red silk into a soft, yielding object with one hand, and holding the golden-sheathed pipe between his fingers with the other. The two old men were both stunned, never expecting that their skills would be so easily neutralized by a mere youth.
Who is it?
As the sound came out, Old Ghost's hand had already touched Nangong Ling's shoulder. Instead of dodging, the latter met the touch. Old Ghost was startled again, as if he had touched a thorn. He quickly withdrew his hand and ran away. As expected of an old hand, he withdrew cleanly and without any dishevelment.
"Young hero, you are so young yet possess extraordinary skills. May I ask which school you studied under?"
"When I was young, I was fortunate to receive guidance from a respected person surnamed Wu, who was my teacher."
"No wonder, so you're the kid that Martial Venerable snatched from the Nangong family?"
After saying that, his expression suddenly changed, his eyes flashed with a fierce light, and he swung the pole at Nangong Ling.
"Old man, don't rush to settle scores with me. There is also a reclusive master here today who will surely suit your taste."
"Who?" The old man held up his pipe, looking as if to say, "If you dare to fool me, I'll chop you to death with this pipe."
Nangong Ling pointed, and it wasn't Xiao Lianjue or Feng Moru, but my eldest brother who was riding on horseback with an indifferent expression.
Old Gui glanced in that direction and said, "The Rong family? They do bear some resemblance to Rong Zhi back then."
He moved like a swallow soaring through the air, arriving before Rong Cheng's horse in the blink of an eye. With a single blow, he broke both of the horse's legs, and the white horse collapsed with a mournful neigh. Rong Cheng, his face expressionless, leaped into the air, flicked open his long sleeves to reveal a short knife, and simultaneously launched six plum blossom darts with his other hand, each aimed at one of the six vital acupoints: Baihui, Yamen, Tanzhong, Juque, Mingmen, and Yongquan.
"As expected of Rong Zhi's son, he's ruthless!"
As soon as the two of them started fighting, I noticed Nangong Lingxiao's strange smile.
His body vanished like smoke, and in a flash, white bones emerged from lotus blossoms, transforming into butterflies. Only his icy, dark eyes remained, like the azure sky and the yellow springs, under the cold moon, a demon reborn.
"That kid Nangong Ling managed to force out the opium addict who hides in Meishi Manor all year round. He's got some nerve. The old opium addict is a ruthless killer."
A red shadow suddenly appeared before my eyes, without a sound.
"Who is that gaudily dressed man across from us? He has poison between his brows and looks like Bai Wuyan's disciple, but that old guy never took on a single proper disciple until his death."
"Hey, I don't know you."
Although Lu Tianyu was already middle-aged, she still retained her charm and was as charming as ever. At this moment, she was resting her arm on my shoulder, and her breath was indeed fragrant, but it made me even more dizzy.
"So you're the Rong Lian who's been causing trouble in the martial world?" She glared at me, exuding charm, but it was useless against me; I'm not a man. "You're quite pretty, and you've got quite a temper too. Not bad, you've got my old lady's style."
"Cough cough... What's that smell? Stay away from me..."
This smell is a bit off; it's making me dizzy.
"Matchmaker, the young master Jin Yu on the other side is more suitable for you to mess with. July Cherry Blossom versus Heart-Shattering Palm. If you beat him today, Moon Cherry Blossom can reclaim the number one spot on the Poison Ranking."
"Oh, I haven't even done anything yet, and you're already reluctant to let go? You really are a good husband. Why don't you consider me? I don't mind people saying we're an old cow eating young grass."
Nangong Ling smiled and said, "I don't mind."
Lu Tianyu pouted, but said nothing more. She turned the spear around, shook off three feet of red silk, and pointed it at Xiao Lianjue.
"Still feeling unwell?" He placed his hand on my back and channeled his inner energy into me, instantly dispelling the pent-up frustration in my chest.
"...I'm feeling better."
It turns out that the fragrance just now was from the July cherry blossoms. The fragrance of the July cherry blossoms is intoxicating and deadly. Although this poison is not as fragrant and seductive, it is terrifyingly insidious and can take a person's life without them even realizing it.
"Yes, Chu Jiang, Qin Guang, take Madam and Young Master to meet He Xiuqi, then immediately leave Yanwu Fort for Bieyun Mountain. Shuangziwei will be waiting there. Be careful. I don't need to reiterate the consequences if anything goes wrong, do I?"
Cool fingers traced my earlobe, the fingertips gentle, but the gaze was so sharp it was suffocating.
"I'm not allowing you to die, and... there are some things I haven't told you yet, so you can't be hurt..."
A glint of light flashed in his cold, dark eyes. He responded softly, released me, and turned away without looking back.
After descending Qingyan Terrace, just before leaving the bamboo forest, they saw Li Yu leading Xiangrui and the others quietly around into the bamboo forest, having somehow created a path.
"What is that?"
"With all six armies advancing, Xiao Lianjue will have no chance of escaping this time."
"Isn't he afraid that Xiao Zongjiu will wipe them all out in one fell swoop?"
"This idea might have been there before, but after what happened in Lianshan, I'm afraid even if he had a lot more courage, he wouldn't dare to take the risk."
"Madam, there's no need to worry. Besides, Smoker and Matchmaker are both here. After all, they're people from the martial arts world. If they don't side with the capital, why would they side with Xiling?"
Chu Jiang nodded, indicating his agreement with Qin Guang's statement.
I looked back, and the thick fog rose again, gradually receding into the distance. Behind me, a blood-red hue slowly disappeared into the vast night.
The situation inside Yanwu Fortress wasn't exactly clear either, but at least Yan Suqing was dealt with. When we arrived, Xiao Jinse was leading her men to attack back.
Seeing Ayu, he still looked as dull and thin as when they first met, but his spirits seemed pretty good. Speaking of his disappearance, it seemed that Wu Zun was behind it. In fact, he was just trying to cover it up. Perhaps Nangong Ling had already become suspicious when Senior Sister Zhiyu returned after being seriously injured.