Jiang Wansheng said, "It's too dark in the forest. There's an extremely steep hillside nearby. If you slip and fall, it'll be terrible."
Chu Tong said, "Wouldn't it be worse to wait to die here?" With that, she grabbed Jiang Wansheng, and the two cautiously moved forward. They hadn't gone far when the sounds of fighting grew closer. Chu Tong and Jiang Wansheng exchanged a glance, then turned and hid in the nearby bushes. Peeking through the gaps in the branches, they saw scattered torches ahead, and a dozen soldiers were chasing two men in black. The two men fought and retreated, getting closer and closer to where Chu Tong was hiding.
Chu Tong stared intently, and upon seeing the weapon in the black-clad man's hand, she exclaimed in a low voice, "Ah! These two are Brother Shi and Sister Chu!" It turned out that the two had been extremely anxious after being separated from Chu Tong. They had searched the vicinity for a long time without finding her, and the couple assumed that Chu Tong had been captured by patrolling soldiers, used as a spy, and executed in the street. Filled with guilt and resentment, they felt they had no face to face Yun Yinghuai and the Yun Ding Sect members, so they vowed to avenge Chu Tong by infiltrating the enemy camp to assassinate the Crown Prince. Just as the two infiltrated the Crown Prince's residence, a fire broke out in the camp, followed by shouts of "Catch the assassin!" The army was thrown into chaos, and the guards were doubled. Shi Yiqing and Chu Yue knew that another assassination attempt tonight would be impossible, so they abandoned the idea. Unexpectedly, their whereabouts were exposed just as they were about to leave the camp, attracting the pursuit of soldiers.
Chu Tong was naturally delighted to see his subordinates. Seeing the two men wielding their weapons and slaughtering the government troops as easily as cutting melons and vegetables, he couldn't help but laugh and say, "Once they've killed all those government troops, we'll go and join them."
Jiang Wansheng said, "Hero Shi and Heroine Chu are highly skilled in martial arts, so these few soldiers are nothing to fear. But if reinforcements arrive later, things will be very bad."
Chu Tong was about to say something when a loud, clear female voice shouted, "The assassin is there! Catch her and kill her without mercy!" As soon as the words were spoken, dozens more people surged forward. Chu Tong exclaimed anxiously, "Damn it, you were right! What are we going to do?" She looked around frantically, and suddenly spotted a familiar face at the back of the crowd. "Qian Ying!" Chu Tong whispered. Her eyes darted around, and she turned to Jiang Wansheng, saying, "I have a brilliant plan. We two can sneak over there, take that little vixen hostage, and we can escape." With that, she drew a dagger from her bosom and crouched low, quietly approaching Qian Ying.
Qian Ying, still seething with hatred after being rescued from the sedan chair, assumed that Yao Chutong was behind the assassins when she heard about their presence. She followed a group of men in pursuit. Standing under a large tree, she coldly watched the fighting in the distance, her resentment intensifying as she recalled Yao Chutong's humiliation at the martial arts tournament. Just then, a cold, menacing dagger was pressed against her neck, followed by a voice saying, "Haha, Qian Ying, you've fallen into my hands again!"
Qianying was shocked. Even though she reacted quickly, she pointed to the side with her right hand and shouted, "Look who's there?" Chutong couldn't help but look to the side. In that moment of distraction, Qianying bent her left arm and rammed into Chutong. Chutong couldn't dodge in time and was hit on the left side. She cried out in pain and the dagger slipped from her hand.
Chu Tong, feeling the pain, immediately flew into a rage and shouted, "Damn it! How dare you hit me!" With that, she lunged at Qian Ying. Qian Ying ran and shouted, "Help—" Before she could finish the word "help," Chu Tong caught up and grabbed Qian Ying's braid from behind, pulling her hard backward and dragging her to the ground.
Qianying struggled desperately to sit up, her mouth still open as if to cry for help. Chutong, enraged, grabbed a handful of dry twigs and leaves from the ground and shoved them into Qianying's mouth. Qianying coughed and struggled, kicking Chutong and scrambling to her feet to escape. Chutong wouldn't let her go, grabbing the back of her collar and pulling her backward. Qianying stumbled a few steps and fell backward, the two of them tumbling to the ground, wrestling like shrewish women in a fight.
Jiang Wansheng, hiding to the side, was dumbfounded. Having grown up in a secluded chamber, she had been taught to be well-mannered, dignified, and elegant. She had never seen such a scene before. She quietly grabbed a thick branch, wanting to help but unsure how to proceed. Fortunately, the soldiers were led to the other side of the forest by Shi and Chu, and everyone was engrossed in their battle, paying no attention to the commotion here.
Chu Tong and Qian Ying rolled around on the ground a few times, fighting their way into the bushes. At first, Qian Ying could hold her own against Chu Tong, but Chu Tong, having learned a few martial arts moves, quickly pinned Qian Ying down after a few rounds, saying triumphantly, "You little wench, how dare you challenge me? Today I'll show you how many eyes the Horse King has!" Then, turning to Jiang Wansheng, he said, "What are you standing there for? Pick up that dagger, bleed her a little, and see if she dares to misbehave again!"
Qianying was shocked and struggled desperately. She suddenly stood up and knocked Chutong to the ground. Chutong rolled to the side and suddenly felt her body rolling downwards involuntarily. Her heart sank and she grabbed Qianying's cloak in a panic. Qianying couldn't hold on and was pulled down by Chutong. There were two screams of pain as the two of them rolled down together.
The hillside was extremely high and steep. Chu Tong rolled until she was dizzy and disoriented, feeling her body constantly falling. She ran over countless flowers and grasses along the way, and several times she nearly crashed into trees and strange rocks, barely escaping with her life on the line by frantically rolling to the side. When she finally reached the bottom of the valley, she vomited everything in her stomach with a loud "whoosh." She felt terrified, and her legs were so weak that she had no strength left.
Chu Tong looked up and saw a pale moon hanging in the azure sky. She heard no sounds of battle, only the whistling wind. She sat for a while, then suddenly heard a faint groan coming from not far away. Chu Tong was immediately terrified, thinking, "Good heavens, could it be a ghost?" The groaning grew louder, and she mustered her courage to ask, "Who's there? Are you human or a ghost?"
Silence reigned all around. After a moment, a voice, filled with boundless resentment, echoed eerily: "I am a ghost! Yao Chutong! I've come to claim your life!"
Chu Tong was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "You are Qian Ying, a defeated opponent, yet you dare to come after me for my life?" As she spoke, she found a tree branch beside her to use as a cane, stood up unsteadily, and walked towards Qian Ying.
When she got closer to Qianying, she was shocked to see that Qianying's head was bleeding profusely, and there was a three-inch-long cut on her beautiful face. She was lying limply on the ground, writhing in pain.
Chu Tong asked, "Are you injured?" As she spoke, she poked Qian Ying's leg with a twig.
Qianying screamed, "Don't touch me!" Her eyes glared fiercely at Chutong.
Chu Tong sniffed and said, "Fine, I won't touch you then. You can lie there slowly. I'm leaving." She then limped away. Suddenly, Qian Ying said behind her, "Yao Chu Tong! I really hate you!"
Chu Tong was taken aback, then turned her head and said with a half-smile, "You hate me? Why?" After saying that, she walked back and sat down next to Qian Ying, patting her thigh and saying, "I'll listen to why you hate me first before I leave."
Qianying stared at Chutong for a long time, then suddenly giggled and said, "I do look a bit like you."
Chu Tong snorted and said, "I'm as beautiful as a flower. You're not bad either, but you're only a fraction of my looks."
Qianying glared at Chutong, then remained silent for a long while before saying, "I was originally a lowly maidservant outside the second gate. One day, I happened to see the Second Master, and I was stunned. He was like a god. I never imagined there could be such a handsome man in the world... If I could spend my whole life with him, it would be worth living... The Second Master stared at me intently from the moment he saw me, and afterwards, he always kept me by his side. He was cold to others, but he was very, very good to me, often gazing at me with tender affection. He personally taught me to write and taught me how to survive, letting me manage the Xie family's accounts with Steward Hong... At first, I was very happy. As long as the Second Master truly loved me, even without a title, even if I was just a lowly maidservant, I was willing to spend my whole life with him..."
At this point, Qianying's voice suddenly became hoarse: "But later I realized that it was all just wishful thinking on my part! Second Master often had people make snacks for me, saying, 'These are your favorites, eat more,' and would even prepare fine wine to drink with me, but I didn't like drinking or eating snacks at all! The only time Second Master got drunk, he held me and cried uncontrollably, saying, 'I'm sorry, Chutong, I'm sorry!' The way he looked at me was like he was looking at someone else. My heart turned cold..."
Chu Tong sighed deeply, opened her mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.
Qianying chuckled, "Later, if I did something right or pleased him, he would say, 'You're just as clever as her.' If I didn't, he would sigh and say, 'If only she were here.' I'm Qianying, not Chutong. Second Master only ever thinks of your name! I've hated you ever since then, I wish I could tear you to pieces!" As she spoke, her laughter grew louder and louder until tears streamed down her face.
Chu Tong thought to herself, "Although Qian Ying is hateful, she's also a pitiful person." She comforted her aloud, "Actually, you're not bad either..."
Before she could finish speaking, Qian Ying looked at her with eyes like a venomous snake and said, "At the martial arts tournament, the moment you appeared, Second Master's eyes never left you... I never knew he had such eyes, but he had no choice but to kill you. Watching him draw his sword against you, I felt an indescribable sense of pleasure... Yao Chutong, I will kill you today!"
As soon as Qian Ying finished speaking, she hurled something with all her might. A sharp "crack" was heard, followed by a piercing whistle, and a dazzling white light shot into the sky. Chu Tong's expression immediately changed. Qian Ying laughed loudly, "A large force will be arriving soon! Yao Chu Tong, you're dead! This will be your burial ground! Hahahaha!"
Chu Tong stared coldly at Qian Ying. Suddenly, she bent down and pulled out the dagger from Qian Ying's waist. She whispered in her ear, "I used to think you and I looked a little alike, but actually, you and I don't look alike at all." With that, she plunged the dagger into Qian Ying's left chest with a "thud."
Qianying's eyes widened, seemingly unable to believe that Chutong would dare to kill someone. She struggled a few times, then her head lolled to the side and she died. Chutong expressionlessly pulled out the dagger, wiped the blood on Qianying's body, sheathed it, and tied it to her waist. She stood up, kicked Qianying, and muttered, "Stupid woman, you don't have even a fraction of my intelligence. Hmph, I'll send you to the Western Paradise first."
After saying this, she leaned on her cane and looked around, muttering, "If a large group of people really comes soon, I'm afraid I'll die without a burial place. It's best to leave quickly." Just then, she heard a still voice behind her: "Who's there?"
Chu Tong turned around abruptly and saw a tall, handsome man standing not far behind her. His face was striking, and his piercing, stern eyes were sharp and intelligent. Chu Tong exclaimed "Ah!" and dropped her crutch, limping over to him. "It's me, my little husband!"
Yun Yinghuai was taken aback. He saw a disheveled woman running towards him, but her voice was unmistakably familiar. The woman threw herself into his arms, raised her dirty little face, and grinned, saying, "Amitabha, you've been saved! Little husband, am I dreaming?"
Yun Yinghuai was taken aback at first, then burst into laughter. He lifted Chu Tong up and spun her around, then stopped, coughing repeatedly. After catching his breath, he asked, "Xing'er, what are you doing here?"
Chu Tong frowned and said, "Young husband, what happened to you?" She looked closely and noticed the scarlet spots around Yun Yinghuai's mouth. She exclaimed in surprise, "You're injured!"
Yun Yinghuai shook his head and smiled, "It's alright." Then he frowned slightly and said, "I only came because I saw the fireworks. Soldiers will be here soon, so we should leave quickly." Chu Tong nodded, and Yun Yinghuai took her hand, and the two walked deeper into the woods.
Chu Tong couldn't help but ask, "Young master, what are you doing in this forest?"
Yun Yinghuai said, "I originally intended to take Xie Linghui's head, but after arriving at Chongmen Pass, I unexpectedly encountered the Six Heroes of Fengcheng. It turns out that these six people had been secretly following Xie Linghui all the way to avenge their master, waiting for the right moment to take his life. We hit it off immediately and decided to assassinate him tonight, set fire to the Zhou army's supplies and the Crown Prince's residence, and take the heads of Xie Linghui and the Crown Prince of Great Zhou while everyone was in chaos."
Chu Tong quickly asked, "Did you kill him?"
Yun Yinghuai glanced at Chu Tong and said, "I attacked him by surprise and stabbed him in the chest with my sword. I don't know if he lives or dies." Yun Yinghuai stopped there. Although he had stabbed Xie Linghui in a vital spot, he was also seriously injured. He barely managed to shake off the soldiers and escape into the valley. He saw smoke and knew that Zhou's army must have found their comrades, so he rushed over to provide support. He did not expect to encounter Chu Tong.
Chu Tong snorted and said, "I hope God will take him away!" Then she explained her situation and sighed, "We are at the bottom of the valley now, Brother Shi and Sister Chu are up above, plus Jiang Wansheng who doesn't know martial arts. I don't know if we can escape."
Yun Yinghuai was worried, but he comforted her, saying, "Shi Yiqing and Chu Yue are skilled in martial arts, and this valley is very large. They will definitely find a chance to escape. Wanmei..." He said this when he felt a sharp pinch on his waist. He smiled bitterly and changed his words, "Jiang Wansheng is always intelligent. Since someone will be waiting for her at the valley entrance early tomorrow morning, she should be safe and sound."
Just as Chu Tong was about to say something, she heard someone behind her say, "Instead of worrying about others, you should worry about yourselves. Tonight, you two are going to die!"
Yun Yinghuai and Chu Chu turned around abruptly. Yun Yinghuai had just used up too much internal energy and hadn't noticed that there were already four people standing behind them. Chu Tong took a closer look and couldn't help but gasp. Three of the four people looked very familiar: Zhou Xianheng, Bai Xiaolu, and Bai Zongtang!
Yun Yinghuai narrowed his eyes and pulled Chu Tong behind him. Chu Tong inwardly groaned, "This is terrible! What a twist of fate! My husband is injured! This is utterly awful!" Yun Yinghuai's heart sank. He thought to himself that in his current state, he might have a chance against two people, but against four of them working together, he was likely doomed! And his little girl, who was with him, didn't know martial arts; he could only fight desperately to have a slim chance of protecting her and helping her escape. Thinking of this, a powerful killing intent suddenly erupted from him, his gaze like cold lightning slowly sweeping across the faces of the four, sending chills down everyone's spines.
At this moment, Zhou Xianheng said in a sinister tone, "This trip was truly worthwhile. Not only did we capture the assassin, but we also received an extra hundred taels of gold!"
Bai Zongtang said, "That's right. You and I have just started serving under General Xie, and today we have the opportunity to make contributions. This is truly a great thing!" After saying that, he glared at Yun Yinghuai and sneered, "Yun Yinghuai, you humiliated me at the martial arts tournament that day, and today I will repay you tenfold!"
Chu Tong laughed and said, "Wonderful, wonderful! Sect Leader Bai is a real man. When he is not as skilled as others, he finds helpers to pester him relentlessly. He is not satisfied until he wins. Tsk tsk, his skin is as thick as a city wall. He really doesn't hold back at all."
Bai Zongtang's expression immediately changed, and Yun Yinghuai laughed loudly, "Well said, well said!" After saying that, he squeezed Chu Tong's small hand and said softly, "Xing'er, are you scared?"
Chu Tong shook his head and said loudly, "I'm not afraid! I, the dignified sect leader of Yunding Sect, have the world in my heart and roam the four seas. How could I be afraid of these few ninth-rate nobodies?" After saying that, he shook his head and shouted, "A true hero is one who is not afraid of death, while a cowardly rat cannot compete for supremacy!"
Yun Yinghuai smiled and said, "That's right. Sect Leader Yao is a unique figure in the martial arts world. She is an extraordinary woman. Even if Cangshan, Huolianshan, Tianyushan and Shiwan Mountain collapsed in front of her at the same time, she would not change her expression. How could she be afraid of a few clowns?" He paused and laughed loudly, "'A true hero is fearless and brave, while a cowardly rat cannot compete for supremacy.' Heh, I didn't expect you to be able to speak eloquently at this moment... and you are quite talented."
Chu Tong exclaimed in delight, "Young Master, this is the first time I've heard you say 'damn it'! These three words are ordinary, but when you, Hero Yun, utter them, they carry a unique and extraordinary air!" Then she added smugly, "Of course, this sect leader is exceptionally intelligent. Although I haven't read much, it's enough to rival years of hard study for others. My literary talent is truly remarkable! It's just a pity I'm a woman. Otherwise, if I participated in the imperial examinations, wouldn't becoming a Jinshi or a Hanlin scholar be a piece of cake? Passing ten or eight exams wouldn't be a problem." Chu Tong was spouting nonsense. While encouraging Yun Yinghuai, her mind raced, hoping to buy her some more time to come up with a perfect plan.
Yun Yinghuai couldn't help but laugh. He was originally worried about Chu Tong, but seeing how bold Chu Tong was, he thought that even a little girl could have the ambition to die for her country. What did he have to fear? In a short while, Chu Tong had aroused his madness. A few wildness was faintly revealed in his cold and murderous eyes.
Bai Xiaolu raised her eyebrows, gripped her sword, and leaped out, sneering, "Yao Chutong! Today is your death day! I will personally cut off your head to avenge my senior brother!"
Yao Chutong laughed, "Excellent! It's fair for a heroine to fight another heroine." Then she whispered to Yun Yinghuai, "I can use the 'Lotus Steps' footwork to stall Bai Xiaolu for a while, and maybe with some luck I can kill her with one strike. Husband, can you kill all the rest?"
Yun Yinghuai gritted her teeth and said, "We can probably kill two of them."
Chu Tong's eyes widened. "Only two can be killed? What about the last one?"
Yun Yinghuai, now seemingly nonchalant, patted Chu Tong on the shoulder and swore even more readily, saying, "To hell with it, kill whoever you can." He paused, then looked at Chu Tong and smiled, "If we can both get out of here alive, we'll get married right away. If we die, we'll be husband and wife in the next life."
Chu Tong stared intently at Yun Yinghuai's face, seeing the tenderness in his eyes, and couldn't help but smile happily, "That would be perfect." Before she finished speaking, Bai Xiaolu shouted, "Yao Chu Tong! Prepare to die!" and swung her long sword down.
Those who offend me will be punished.
Chu Tong dodged to the side, using the "Lotus Steps" footwork to flee, shouting, "Come on, let this sect leader experience the swordsmanship of the Nanhuai Sect!" She then ran into the depths of the forest. She thought to herself, "I just injured my leg, so I can't hold on for long. I need to find a way to 'chop' those four scoundrels." Just then, she suddenly heard the whoosh of wind, and a long sword flashed, aimed straight at her head. Chu Tong was startled and cried out, "My God!" She quickly ducked, rolled on the ground, got up, and continued running. Although her martial arts skills weren't high, she was agile, and the "Lotus Steps" footwork was extremely refined. Combined with the dim light in the forest at night, Bai Xiaolu couldn't catch her for a moment.
Chu Tong swayed left and right with Bai Xiaolu, her heart filled with anxiety. She felt her legs getting heavier and heavier, and couldn't help but curse inwardly. Suddenly, she had a flash of inspiration and shouted, "Bai Xiaolu, not only are you ugly, but your swordsmanship is also only ninth-rate!"
Bai Xiaolu had long hated Yao Chutong to the bone, and now she was even more furious. She shouted, "Yao Chutong! You bitch, stop talking nonsense here! Today I will tear you to pieces!"
Chu Tong chuckled, "Your swordsmanship is so poor, it's a disgrace to all the female warriors in the martial world! Standing idly by is not the style of this sect leader. I absolutely cannot remain indifferent to this matter. Today, let me teach you a move or two. From now on, you can tell everyone, 'The number one extraordinary woman in the martial world, Sect Leader Yao Chu Tong, personally taught me a few martial arts moves!' Haha, you'll have a chance to show off your skills and bring glory to your Nanhuai Sect!" As she spoke, she secretly drew the dagger from her waist, took a deep breath, and thought to herself, "Success or failure depends entirely on this!" Then she slowed her pace. Bai Xiaolu, consumed by anger, was overjoyed to see Chu Tong slowing down, assuming she was exhausted, and hurriedly began to run. At this moment, Chu Tong reached out and untied her cloak, then with her left hand, forcefully hurled it upwards, sending it crashing down on Bai Xiaolu's face!
Bai Xiaolu was taken aback, but she was too fast to stop, and the cloak completely covered her head. In a flash, Chu Tong rushed over with a dagger, plunging it into Bai Xiaolu's chest, shouting, "This is the move I taught you! Do you remember it? Do you remember it?"
With each shout, she pulled out the dagger and stabbed it viciously into Bai Xiaolu's chest. Bai Xiaolu was powerless to resist and was stabbed seven or eight times in a row. Bai Xiaolu swayed twice and then fell straight down. Chu Tong gasped for breath, took two steps back and collapsed to the ground, her heart pounding like thunder.
Bai Xiaolu lay quietly on the ground, her cloak covering her body. In the dim moonlight, Chu Tong saw large patches of blood rapidly seeping into the cloak. She composed herself, slowly moved closer, and quickly pulled back the cloak covering Bai Xiaolu's face with two fingers. Bai Xiaolu's face was contorted with terror, her eyes wide open in fury, filled with intense resentment and hatred. She was already dead. Chu Tong, still shaken, murmured, "Thank goodness, thank goodness, she's dead, she's dead." At that moment, the faint sounds of fighting drifted from afar. Chu Tong was startled, thinking, "My husband is still fighting hard; I must go help him!" She picked up Bai Xiaolu's fallen sword and ran towards Yun Yinghuai.
Night fell, and a chilling wind swept through the valley, rustling the branches. A few scattered howls of wild beasts echoed through the woods, creating an eerie and terrifying atmosphere. Chu Tong, sword in hand, quietly hid behind a large tree. She witnessed a fierce battle; a corpse lay on the ground, and Yun Yinghuai, already exhausted and on the verge of collapse, stubbornly continued to fight. Bai Zongtang and Zhou Xianheng joined forces, pressing forward relentlessly, putting Yun Yinghuai in a perilous situation. Suddenly, Zhou Xianheng struck with a palm strike. Yun Yinghuai, unable to dodge, was struck squarely, flying seven or eight steps before collapsing and coughing up blood.
Chu Tong exclaimed, "My little husband!" She immediately ran over, hugged Yun Yinghuai, and cried out, "My little husband, what's wrong? Don't pretend to be dead and scare me!"
Yun Yinghuai spat out a mouthful of blood and laughed wildly, "Weak! Zhou Xianheng's palm strike is too weak! The leader of the Seven Sages of Peach Blossom Spring is nothing but a hollow title! It feels like a cotton ball hitting you!" As he spoke, he staggered to his feet, wiped the blood off his face, and said arrogantly, "Let's fight again!"
Zhou Xianheng's expression changed drastically. He had used seventy percent of his strength in that palm strike, intending to defeat Yun Yinghuai with one blow. He never expected that the other party would withstand the blow and still be able to get up!
Yun Yinghuai coldly said, "You were originally martial artists, but now that you've sided with Xie Linghui, you're nothing but lackeys of the Great Zhou Dynasty!" After a pause, he pointed at his opponent and said sternly, "Those who invade our land will be punished!"
Zhou Xianheng and Bai Zongtang's eyelids twitched violently. Yun Yinghuai, who was already so weak that a gust of wind could knock him over, now stood tall and proud, exuding a terrifying and intense killing intent. It was as if he could single-handedly hold off a thousand troops and slaughter them all. Looking into Yun Yinghuai's murderous eyes, everyone felt a chill run down their spines.
Yun Yinghuai pulled Chu Tong behind him and said, "Let her go. If you have any problems, come at me!"
Chu Tong hid behind Yun Yinghuai, feeling a sweet warmth in her heart. But then, thinking that Yun Yinghuai would likely die here today, tears welled up in her eyes. Yun Yinghuai looked at Chu Tong and laughed loudly, "What's there to be sad about? To die on the battlefield wrapped in a horse's hide is the highest honor for serving one's country! Today I killed Xie Linghui and wiped out many martial arts masters of the Great Zhou. Even if I die, I have no regrets. This life was worth it!"
Overwhelmed with emotion, Chu Tong wiped away her tears and exclaimed, "My little husband, if you dare to risk your life, I, Yao Chu Tong, dare to do the same! How could I abandon you and run away for my own life? Losing my head is nothing more than a scar the size of a bowl!" Yun Yinghuai laughed and said, "Good, good, it's a pity there's no wine here, otherwise the two of us would definitely drink several large bowls!"
Bai Zongtang sneered, "Why pretend to be a hero when you're about to die!" Chu Tong snorted, "Master Bai, aren't you worried about your precious daughter? She's already fallen under my blade. I'll send you on your way too, so you can have a reunion in the underworld." Bai Zongtang's expression changed instantly, and he cried out, "Lu'er!" before running into the depths of the forest.
Yun Yinghuai raised his chin and said to Zhou Xianheng, "Make your move!" Zhou Xianheng sneered and swung his palm, the wind from his palm striking Yun Yinghuai like a storm, fast and ruthless. Yun Yinghuai was severely injured, falling to the ground again and again, only to get up again and again. He was covered in blood, like a vengeful ghost crawling out of the eighteenth level of hell, his eyes filled with murderous intent, like a demon from hell. He said, "Zhou Xianheng, your palm strike is fucking weak, you've completely disgraced the Peach Blossom Sect!" Chu Tong was anxious, but she knew her martial arts were weak and she was afraid that she would be killed by Zhou Xianheng's palm strike as soon as she stepped forward, so she could only try to calm down and wait for an opportunity to strike.
A chill ran down Zhou Xianheng's spine. He roared and charged forward, striking Yun Yinghuai's head with a palm strike. Yun Yinghuai raised his left arm to block, but Zhou Xianheng's technique changed. He grabbed Yun Yinghuai's left arm and snapped it with a sharp crack! Yun Yinghuai laughed and struck Zhou Xianheng's chest with his right palm. This strike, imbued with all of Yun Yinghuai's inner strength, caused Zhou Xianheng to scream and collapse to the ground. Chu Tong stepped forward with her sword and plunged it into Zhou Xianheng's heart.
Yun Yinghuai, having exhausted all his strength, slid down against a large tree, panting heavily. Chu Tong rushed over, tears welling in her eyes, and asked, "My dear husband, how are you?"
Yun Yinghuai forced a smile and said, "I'm fine." After saying that, he coughed up a mouthful of blood, and after a moment, he said, "I have some medicine to treat internal injuries in my clothes. Can you take it out for me? I need to rest for a while before fighting Bai Zongtang again."
Chu Tong took out the medicine and fed it to Yun Yinghuai, saying, "You can leave that old turtle Bai Zongtang to me. I'll hold him off for a while."
Before she could finish speaking, she heard someone behind her say, "Yao Chutong! You killed my daughter, I will never forgive you! Give me your life!" This shout sent chills down Chutong's spine. She turned around abruptly and saw Bai Zongtang standing behind her, holding Bai Xiaolu's body in his arms, his expression ferocious and his eyes bloodshot.
Bai Zongtang carefully laid down Bai Xiaolu's body, stroked her face, and said softly, "Lu'er, you stay here and watch your father avenge you!" With that, he picked up his sword and walked towards Chu Tong. Chu Tong quickly grasped the sword, stood up, and although she tried her best to maintain a heroic posture, her legs were already trembling slightly. She forced a smile and said, "My dear husband, I... I'm going to fight now! Do you think I can win?"
Yun Yinghuai laughed heartily, but the movement aggravated her wound, causing her to wince in pain. She shouted, "You are the leader of the Cloud Peak Sect, a renowned heroine in the martial world, and a master of the Beauty Sword Technique. Of course you can win! Don't be fooled by the dark and windy night. I'm sure Bai Zongtang has already sensed the invisible domineering aura emanating from you, Sect Leader Yao!"
Chu Tong grinned and forced a smile, "Little husband, why are you starting to spout nonsense like me? Zhou Xianheng must have damaged your brain." But after hearing Yun Yinghuai's words, she became a little bolder. At this moment, Yun Yinghuai whispered, "Go ahead and use the Lotus Steps to stall for a while. I'll give you some pointers from the side. I believe that with my guidance and your intelligence, Sect Leader Yao, you'll definitely be able to sharpen your spear even if you're not very good at it!"
Just as Chu Tong was about to say something, Bai Zongtang's longsword slashed down from mid-air. Not daring to meet it head-on, she leaped to the right, using her escape techniques to run several feet. At that moment, Bai Zongtang's sword came again, but Yun Yinghuai said, "A second plum blossom!" Chu Tong quickly used a corresponding move, successfully blocking Bai Zongtang's sword strike. Bai Zongtang was furious and swung his sword downwards. Yun Yinghuai said, "Orchid and Artemisia burn together!" Chu Tong changed her move, perfectly blocking Bai Zongtang's sword wind.
After a few moves, Chu Tong gradually adapted. Although she lacked internal strength, her Qunfang Sword Technique was exquisite, and with Yun Yinghuai guiding her and preventing her from directly clashing with Bai Zongtang, she showed no signs of defeat for the time being. Yun Yinghuai thought with satisfaction, "This little girl is quite clever, it's a pity she's lazy, otherwise she would be a martial arts prodigy. Once she leads Bai Zongtang to me, I will use all my strength, and perhaps I can turn the tide."
Seeing that she could actually hold her own against the leader of the Nanhuai Sect, Chu Tong couldn't help but smugly say, "Young husband, do you think I can kill Bai Zongtang with one sword to show the might of the Yunding Sect?" Yun Yinghuai was immediately speechless, thinking to himself that this little girl was truly ignorant of her own limitations, and sure enough, she revealed her true nature as soon as she got cocky. But Bai Zongtang was furious. He was naturally filled with resentment at the loss of his beloved daughter, and now, provoked by Chu Tong's words, his attacks became even more ruthless. He thought to himself, "It's all because of that dog Yun Yinghuai's guidance. I'll kill him first, and then take this little bitch's life!" With that thought, he leaped up and stabbed at Yun Yinghuai.
Upon seeing Yun Yinghuai in trouble, Chu Tong rushed over immediately, but was a step too slow. The sword was aimed straight for Yun Yinghuai's vital point. Yun Yinghuai rolled to the side, and the sword pierced his left shoulder with a "shh." Yun Yinghuai groaned, and Bai Zongtang raised his sword to thrust again. Chu Tong's eyes turned red at this moment. She raised her sword with both hands and frantically slashed at Bai Zongtang, cursing wildly, "You bastard! Give me back my husband! You son of a bitch! Give me back my husband! Go to hell with your ancestors! Give me back my husband!"
At this point, Chu Tong's attacks had become completely disorganized. She slashed wildly at Bai Zongtang, jumping and leaping, spewing incoherent words, and somehow managed to create a terrifying aura. Bai Zongtang had no time to attack Yun Yinghuai anymore. He parried a few moves with his sword, saw an opening, and kicked Chu Tong. With a scream of pain, Chu Tong flew several steps away and fell heavily to the ground. She felt blood churning in her chest, and a sweet taste in her throat. She vomited a mouthful of blood and fainted from the pain.
Yun Yinghuai exclaimed, "Xing'er! How are you?" As she spoke, she leaned against a nearby tree to stand up.
Bai Zongtang sneered and turned to Yun Yinghuai, saying, "I'll kill you first!" With that, he raised his leg and kicked out at Yun Yinghuai! Yun Yinghuai didn't dodge. He grabbed Bai Zongtang's leg with his right hand and slammed his elbow into Bai Zongtang's abdomen. Bai Zongtang was shocked and lost his balance, falling to the ground. Yun Yinghuai then stomped hard on Bai Zongtang's chest. With a "crack," Bai Zongtang's sternum shattered. He convulsed a few times and then fell silent.
Yun Yinghuai's knees buckled, and he collapsed to the ground, crawling laboriously toward Chu Tong while calling out, "Xing'er, Xing'er, say something, are you still alive...?" He reached Chu Tong's side and grasped her small hand, but all his strength was exhausted. Just then, footsteps approached, as if someone had come to their side. Yun Yinghuai thought to himself, "So be it." He tightened his grip on Chu Tong's hand and then fainted.
Green tents hang down, red stoves are enclosed, and boats travel a thousand miles on snowy rivers.