Safety

Chapter 25

Someone stepped forward, lifted his right hand, turned his palm over, and sure enough, there was a flame mark, neither ink nor brand, deeply imprinted in his skin and flesh, as if he were born with it.

Qingfeng gasped, gritting his teeth, and said, "How vicious."

I felt sad just watching, but thinking about the iron torture instruments that Qingyi had taken out earlier, I figured they wouldn't be any better used on people. It seems that once torture begins in the martial arts world, there's no distinction between the legitimate and the illegitimate; they just go all out.

Mo Li's gaze swept over the man's palm, and he suddenly spoke, "Qingfeng."

Qingfeng responded and immediately rushed over, standing in front of the formation, acting according to Mo Li's signals.

“Show your mark to all my friends from the Three Villages and Nine Schools.”

Qingfeng obeyed the order, turned his palm open, and showed his flame seal. He explained, "The seals of each hall of my teachings are different. This manor is directly under the Venerable One, and all its subordinates are given the Five Flames Seal. This person's palm seal only has three flames, so he must belong to another hall."

Someone on the other side couldn't stand it anymore. It was the same burly man who spoke like a thunderclap from nowhere. "What kind of nonsense is this? Even within the same sect, people are divided into three or five factions. It's just too much to bear."

Mo Li said calmly, "Your alliance is truly united, and we are inseparable. I greatly admire that."

Even the dead man in the coffin knew the sarcasm in those words. Everyone on the other side glared at them, but Wen De was not angry. He simply asked, "Since the Right Envoy has verified that this person is indeed a member of your sect, could you please explain your sect's previous plunder of the Grand Canal?"

Mo Li glanced at the person again, then quickly looked away.

"This man is not my subordinate, so what does he have to do with my manor? Mr. Wen has come to the wrong person." After saying that, he turned around and his voice was cold as it fell behind him. "Since you are a member of my sect, no matter which branch you belong to, you should know how to conduct yourself after defeat. Being humiliated in front of others like this, you can no longer be considered a brother of our sect."

The man, whose hands and feet were bound, had been silent since being pushed into the arena. But after hearing Mo Li's words, he suddenly trembled violently, raised his head, his face covered in blood, and stared in the direction Mo Li had left, making a hoarse sound in his throat.

Cheng Wei cried out, "Oh no!" and rushed towards him. Everyone was shocked and looked on, but it was too late to save him. The man's eyes were bloodshot and blood was flowing from the corner of his mouth. He had bitten his tongue and committed suicide on the spot.

Qingfeng followed Mo Li back with a livid face. The scene was tragic, and for a moment, everyone on both sides remained silent.

Since noon, more than half an hour has passed in the blink of an eye, and neither of the two groups has made a move yet, but there are already two corpses on the field. The Jin Chaotang massacre is still shrouded in mystery.

I felt saddened by what I saw, and the sunlight was so blinding that I involuntarily wanted to close my eyes. But in that moment of distraction, I suddenly heard my master Wende's voice again.

"Although this person is not under the Right Envoy's command, since he is a member of the Holy Flame Sect, we naturally have to seek justice from the Holy Flame Sect on behalf of Jin Chaotang. We ask the Right Envoy to give a clear answer as to who initiated this matter and whether it is related to the murder of Old Master Jin. The Right Envoy holds a high position in the Holy Flame Sect. If you cannot provide an explanation, who else can we turn to for guidance?"

My master usually speaks briefly, but it was rare for him to speak so eloquently. His voice was clear and melodious, and he spoke in one breath. Mo Li stopped in his tracks, turned to face him, and suddenly flicked his sleeve, responding loudly.

"Mr. Wen, are you declaring war on our sect by saying this?"

With that turn, his aura rose like a mountain, domineering and overwhelming. I was suddenly startled. Behind me, the thunderous shouts of the Holy Fire Cult members came. More than a hundred people raised their arms and shouted, their voices like thunder, exploding on the Tianshui Plain. The figures from the Three Villages and Nine Schools immediately raised their weapons, ready for battle. Dark clouds surged in the sky, and the two sides were about to clash. It looked like a battle was about to break out.

Since leaving the palace, I have been on the battlefield and witnessed the clash of armies. But at that time, my country was broken and I was lost and helpless. I felt that the flames of war were burning through me. It would be better if we died together. I did not feel panic. But now, I am surrounded by hundreds of martial arts practitioners. Every face is sharp and ruthless. The weapons in their hands are sharp and gleaming in the sun. Their killing intent is surging. Looking at Mo Li, although his face is covered by a mask, his eyes are extremely murderous. And my master Wen De, his wide robe billowing in the wind, is the same person I was in before I clashed palms with Mo Li in mid-air in the Ten Best Pavilion.

I was terrified and cried out "No!" as I ran toward the two of them, forgetting that the golden silk rope was still wrapped around my feet. As I ran, the chain stretched to its limit, and with a clang, my running motion turned into a lunge, and I was about to crash into them.

A flash of white light and a black shadow passed before my eyes at the same time, and the sound of wind approached. I couldn't help but close my eyes. Suddenly, I was pulled by two forces around my waist. When I opened my eyes again, sure enough, a black whip and a white robe sleeve were entangled around my waist. The two people's other hands were already joined together in the air with a sound like muffled thunder. I screamed in my heart.

Master, Mo Li, I'm here to stop you. Please, can you please not make me appear in such an unpleasant way every time?

...

Hai: On the way to 200,000 words, in the cold and gloomy weather, traveling all over the country with Ping An. Ping An, I'm so envious that you can be with such a handsome guy...

Chapter 65

Mo Li and Wen De moved with lightning speed. Their true energy surged at the point where their palms met, and the air currents shot out. I was so close, how could I possibly dodge? My skin felt like it was being cut by a knife, and I gritted my teeth in pain. Just when I was about to be shredded by the air currents, the two forces at my waist suddenly exerted their power together and flung me out. The force, like a raging storm, sent me flying into the air. Before I even landed, people from both sides rushed to snatch me away. I forced my eyes open and only caught a glimpse of a cyan and a black color intersecting. As I tried to steady myself, a whip shadow flew over and instantly swept me away.

All of this happened in the blink of an eye. When I finally landed, the scream I hadn't been able to utter before finally came out of my mouth: a short "Ah!"

Before me was Mo Li's masked profile. His gaze swept coldly over me without uttering a word. I roughly understood what he meant. I swallowed hard and secretly glanced at the field again. Qingyi and Chengping had already leaped back to their respective camps. Wende stood not far from us, his white robes fluttering, his true energy still not dissipated.

"Is this the female disciple from the Qingcheng Sect who was kidnapped?"

"Wasn't he said to have been killed?"

"To have survived, one must have already been defiled."

"Why is Alliance Leader Wen so concerned about a female disciple?"

"Could it be... ah!"

"Could it be... Good heavens!"

Whispers came from the other side, and my face turned red and then white. My vision went dark as Mo Li moved and stood in front of me. He was tall, so I fell into his shadow and could no longer see the eyes of those people.

All I could see was his tall, straight back. A sudden warmth filled my heart. I knew I shouldn't, but I couldn't help it. I lowered my head and felt a strange sense of peace amidst the noise.

“Right Envoy Mo, Ping’an is my last disciple. She is not skilled enough and is young and ignorant. Since you have brought her to Tianshui Ping today, may I take her back and discipline her properly?”

When I heard my master call my name, and then I remembered how he had gone deep into dangerous territory for me yesterday and almost been ambushed by traps, I couldn't help but feel sad. I raised my head and wanted to talk to him.

Mo Li spoke with his back to me, his body as still as a mountain.

"Qingfeng, take her downstairs."

Qingfeng immediately came over, and of course I refused. I wanted to tell him not to, and I also wanted to tell my master not to argue with Moli because of me. But Moli seemed to have eyes in the back of his head. With a slight flick of his fingers, he pressed my pressure point. My body went limp, and I could only watch him helplessly, unable to speak. Qingfeng supported me, only responded with a "yes," and was about to take me away.

"What does the Right Envoy mean by this?" Wen De asked again, his voice now tinged with anger.

"Mr. Wen, if a battle breaks out on Tianshuiping, both sides will surely suffer countless casualties. Do you want to stay here safely and enjoy the spectacle? Or do you need her to lend a hand?"

Wen De remained silent, and Mo Li continued, "The golden silk cord on Ping An's foot is an indestructible divine object. I have left the only key in the manor and kept it safe. If Mr. Wen takes her back like this, do you intend for her to live with this chain for the rest of her life?"

Wende fell silent again.

Mo Li looked around behind him and said, “Mr. Wen, today’s situation is indeed not what I wanted, but it is a rare opportunity for us to settle our differences. Let’s have a battle right here on Tianshuiping!”

I was immobilized by pressure points, unable to even lift a finger. Qingfeng carried me backward, my eyes wide open, wishing they could speak.

I don't want to go down there! I want you all to listen to me! I want you all to stop!

At this moment, I feel an overwhelming longing for the days when I was a princess. All I had to do was say, "I don't want it," and everyone would have to kneel down and say, "Yes, Your Highness."

I stared straight at Mo Li, but he just had his back to me and didn't look at me at all. I tried my best to look at him, but the wind on the mountaintop was strong and suddenly blew up my wide sleeves, almost covering my face.

I was wearing light-colored clothes. Although Feili Village was a place where martial artists stayed, the clothes prepared for me were made of the finest material. The silky fabric brushed past my eyes and fell down. I was suddenly shocked. When I looked at the wide sleeves again, I saw a trace of blood.

Where did this bloodstain come from? I have no wounds on my body, yet the bloodstain is still bright red and moist, narrow and long, as if someone had run their fingers over it.

I opened my eyes abruptly, wanting to look at Mo Li again, but it was too late. I only heard Wen De's voice, "We agreed to meet here, and a battle is inevitable. However, on this Tianshui Plain, a melee will inevitably result in casualties on both sides. Since everything is still unclear, how about this: each of us will send three people, draw lots to determine the order, and the winner will be decided in three battles. If my side wins, please have the Right Envoy return safely and come with me down the mountain to Dinghai to help investigate the murder of the old leader of Jin Chao Hall."

Mo Li sneered, "What if I win?"

Wen De said in a deep voice, "I will immediately lead my men down the mountain, and from now on, no one from the Three Villages and Nine Schools will ever set foot in this mountain again."

Qingfeng carried me on his back, with several Holy Fire cultists protecting him. He moved swiftly, and in the blink of an eye, he was back on the path he had come from. Mo Li's last words were carried to my ears by the wind.

He said, "Okay! It's a deal."

I was terrified. I wanted to call Qingfeng to stop, to go back to Moli's side, to grab his hand and see what was wrong with him, but the shadows of the trees were flashing by, and I felt weak and powerless, unable to do anything.

Countless phantoms rushed and crashed before my eyes. Wen De floated in from outside the Pillow Water Pavilion, and Mo Li stood in front of my bed in the morning light. There were also phantoms from even further back, the back of my master with his robes fluttering in the wind on Qingcheng Mountain, and finally Mo Li's face that suddenly appeared before me three years later. Layer upon layer, they almost overwhelmed me.

These two men are probably the closest people to me in this world today, yet they stand facing each other with only one sentence: "A battle today is inevitable."

I want to turn back, but I can't. Even if I did turn back, what difference would it make? I can't stop them, I can't stop any of them, I can't stop any of the terrible scenes from happening, just like back then, I couldn't stop my brother from staining the imperial city with blood, and I couldn't stop Jifeng from disappearing into my life with the collapse of mountains and the cracking of the earth.

Qingfeng accelerated, speeding forward. Tianshuiping was already far behind us, nowhere to be seen. I slowly closed my eyes, my heart filled with extreme sorrow.

It's been three years, why am I still powerless to do anything about it? Why!

~~ ...

Why is it so cold? Why, why, why...

Chapter 66

Qingfeng suddenly stopped, put me down, and then flipped my eyelids.

"Hey, are you not unconscious?"

He was so clumsy and rough that my eyelids hurt from being turned so hard, and I almost cried. Then I heard him yelling, "Did you press the acupoints too hard and cause her to faint because of the blocked blood and qi? Oh no, oh no, what if something happens to her? How am I supposed to explain this to the Lord?"

Those who were escorting us also spoke up, "She really fainted? Is this young girl really that weak?"

"She's Wende's last disciple, yet her kung fu is so poor. We should hurry back to the manor; any delays on the way might cause trouble."

Qingfeng said yes, then picked me up again and sped up, but this time everyone started talking.

"Why did His Majesty keep her here? And why did he put a golden silk cord on her?"

"Yes, this is something His Majesty always carries with him. Is there a special purpose in using it on her?"

"Look how anxious her master is to get her back. He even went to the manor alone yesterday. Is it because he's afraid of losing face today, or is there another reason...?"

"..."

"..."

I closed my eyes and listened to their back-and-forth conversation. Gradually, I became angry. Although I couldn't speak, I wanted to open my eyes and glare at them to show them the consequences of gossiping. But before I could even lift my eyelids, I heard a familiar voice.

It was Xiao Wei speaking; her voice came from afar and grew closer until she was right in front of him.

"Qingfeng, I'm here to meet you."

Qingfeng went up to her, her voice full of surprise, "Sister Xiaowei, you've come at the right time. Ping'an has fainted. I don't know if it's because His Majesty pressed too hard on her acupoints and blocked her blood and qi. Please release her acupoints first."

Thinking of the look in Xiao Wei's eyes when she watched me leave the village this morning, I didn't want to open my eyes anymore.

Anyway, everyone in this world dislikes me, especially this Xiao Wei, so why should I bother looking at her and making a fool of myself?

Xiao Wei walked over and spoke to Qing Feng, "Why did you acupuncture her pressure points, sir?"

"She lunged at the Venerable One and Wen De when they were exchanging blows, and was almost killed by the blow."

"The battle has already started on the platform?" Xiao Wei's voice was as indifferent as usual. Since I didn't want to open my eyes, I simply pretended to be unconscious and lay on Qingfeng's back without making a sound. Just listening quietly, I suddenly felt something was wrong, but I couldn't put my finger on what it was. In short, it felt very strange.

Qingfeng spoke with his back to me, “We all thought His Majesty was going to have a showdown with Wende, but after she pounced on him, they stopped. Afterwards, His Majesty asked me to bring her down. When I left, I heard Wende say that both sides should send three people, and the battle would be decided in three rounds. I don’t know what the situation is now.”

Someone chimed in, "What's there to worry about? His Majesty's divine skills are invincible. Yesterday, that fellow surnamed Wen suffered a loss in our village. With the addition of the red-robed and green-robed officials, we might already be victorious on Tianshui Plain."

Another person sighed, "What a pity, what a pity we were sent away and couldn't see the scene with our own eyes. We missed it. Hey, Miss Wei, did you come alone? No one with you?"

"Qingfeng, put her down and let me take a look at her first."

Upon hearing this, a sharp sound rang in my mind, as if a string had snapped. I opened my eyes in surprise, and Qingfeng was putting me down, bending over. His gaze met mine, and he exclaimed in surprise. Just as he was about to speak, his body suddenly stiffened, and a sharp light shone from his chest. Then he fell towards me.

My pressure points were sealed, and I couldn't dodge. He pinned me down on the spot. Looking up from his shoulder, I saw white light flying and heard several screams. The people who had been talking just now were caught off guard and had already fallen into pools of blood.

My body felt heavy, and hot blood gushed from Qingfeng's body, soaking my front. I was so overwhelmed that I could hardly breathe. I never imagined that this child would be so heavy.