Luzhou Moon - Chapter 13
Seeing the sudden appearance of the Lonely Beauty Sword, the group was caught off guard and instantly injured by its aura. Just as Yue Ruzheng was about to seize the opportunity to flee, she suddenly felt a chill down her spine. The person who had attacked first had stealthily approached and placed a curved blade against her waist.
Yue Ruzheng paused, and several people around her, clutching their hand wounds, pressed their blades against Yue Ruzheng's neck, forcing her back to the side of the ancient tree.
The man behind her then withdrew his curved sword, turned around to stand in front of her, and said coldly, "You brat, I didn't expect you to be hiding in Nan Yandang. We've been searching for you for ages!"
Yue Ruzheng glanced at him sideways and saw that his face was slightly yellow and his hawk-like eyes flashed with coldness. It was Su Muchen from Bliss Valley. She wondered why they had found her at this time. Could it be that Mo Li had already made a move against her master and senior uncle?
Though uneasy, she maintained her composure, raising an eyebrow and saying, "What, did Mo Li send you to kidnap me again? Do you think my master will back down because of this?"
Su Mucheng chuckled sinisterly and said, "This time, we don't need you as a hostage! Do you think Jiang Shuying and Yu Hezhi's swordsmanship is so superb that our Valley Master can't do anything about it? Let me tell you the truth, the Valley Master made an agreement with Lian Haichao, the master of Seven Star Island, a few days ago. If he can raze Yinxi Xiaozhu to the ground, we will present him with the rare Gannan Dragon Heart Grass as a birthday gift. Yue Ruzheng, which do you think is more powerful, Yinxi Xiaozhu's swordsmanship or the Lian family's Forgetful Twin Swords?"
Yue Ruzheng felt a chill run down her spine, her fingertips slightly sweaty, but she sneered and said, "Is Mo Li really so incompetent that he needs to rely on the power of Seven Star Island? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at by the people of the martial arts world!"
"As long as Valley Master gets Jiang Shuying, who cares what others say!" Su Mucheng approached Yue Ruzheng, scanning her entire body, and said, "Your Yinxi Xiaozhu are so arrogant and never take others seriously. I want to see what kind of pathetic state Jiang Shuying will be in after Lian Haichao makes his move!" After saying that, he leaned close to Yue Ruzheng and laughed hoarsely.
Yue Ruzheng felt dizzy from the pungent smell emanating from him, and forced herself to breathe deeply to suppress the nausea. At that moment, Su Mucheng waved his hand behind him and said, "Take this girl back to Bliss Valley first, give those brothers a chance to avenge themselves."
Several people around her responded and pressed down on Yue Ruzheng's arms. Yue Ruzheng, her eyes lowered, was pushed forward a step. Su Mucheng stepped forward to snatch the Lonely Fragrance Sword from Yue Ruzheng's hand, but as he touched it, he suddenly felt a chilling sword aura rapidly spreading from the tip of the sword, rushing towards the web of his hand. While Su Mucheng was startled, Yue Ruzheng roared, her arms flying out, the sword light surging, drawing a cold white arc, forcing several people around her back a few steps. She then pushed off the tree trunk behind her with her left foot and leaped towards the edge of the forest.
Su Muchen, his face contorted with rage, brandished his curved blade and led his men in hot pursuit.
Yue Ruzheng gritted her teeth and slashed at the wild grass in front of her with her sword, rushing towards the steep slope outside the forest amidst the scattering blades of grass. Just then, she heard a sound approaching from behind. She turned to the side at the sound, and another silver dart flew past her, hitting the rock wall and scattering sparks.
Ignoring the pain in her foot wound, Yue Ruzheng darted up the rock face. Su Muchen caught up, slashing at Yue Ruzheng's back. Yue Ruzheng, leaning against the rock face, flipped and drew her sword, creating several circular patterns that entangled his blade. In the exchange, although Su Muchen's force was fierce, Yue Ruzheng's swordsmanship was fluid and continuous, forcing him to parry and preventing him from closing the distance.
But at that moment, she saw Tang Yanchu, dressed in a short blue cloth shirt, carrying a bamboo basket, coming from the valley behind the lush green trees.
Yue Ruzheng's heart tightened, but her Lonely Fragrance Sword did not falter. Tang Yanchu also heard the sound of clashing swords, glanced at the steep slope, seemed surprised, and quickly walked towards them.
"Xiao Tang! Run!" Yue Ruzheng shouted, blocking Su Muchen's blade with her sword.
Tang Yanchu did not stop, but Su Muchen's men turned around at the sound. They had not noticed Tang Yanchu's disability and assumed she was also Yue Ruzheng's companion. One of them sneered, stepped off the steep slope, and leaped towards Tang Yanchu.
Yue Ruzheng was extremely anxious and eager to escape Su Muchen's entanglement, so she thrust her sword straight at his brow. Su Muchen deflected the attack with a flick of his blade, forcing her to the end of the mountain path instead.
At this moment, the man had already rushed in front of Tang Yanchu. Without a word, his blade flashed, aimed straight for Tang Yanchu's chest. Yue Ruzheng cried out in alarm, but Tang Yanchu dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding the blade. His movement caused his sleeves to flutter, startling the man. Realizing the young man had lost both arms, the man became even more determined to finish him off in one move, his blade slashing diagonally towards Tang Yanchu's waist. Tang Yanchu, however, unexpectedly leaned back, his movements so fast they were almost invisible. The man felt his swordsmanship was already fast enough, yet he couldn't even touch the young man's body. Enraged, he unleashed several more slashes, all aimed at Tang Yanchu's legs.
Tang Yanchu bent slightly backward, her right leg arcing out in a lightning-fast kick to his wrist. Using the momentum, she leaped backward, unleashing a flurry of kicks in mid-air. The man felt excruciating pain in his chest and shoulder, and in desperation, wildly swung his knife. Tang Yanchu then flipped her leg back, striking him squarely in the face. A sharp crack was heard as the man's nose bone fractured, and he screamed as he was thrown several meters away.
Seeing the situation was dire, Su Mucheng's other men quickly drew their swords and rushed towards them. Although Yue Ruzheng was surprised that Tang Yanchu knew martial arts, she was still worried that he couldn't handle being surrounded by so many people. She struck a rock with her palm and leaped forward. As soon as she landed, a tearing pain shot through her injured right foot, and she almost fell. She barely managed to stay upright by bracing herself with the tip of her sword.
Tang Yanchu darted to her side, shielding her with his body. Suddenly, he moved his shoulders and kicked her from behind. Yue Ruzheng, holding his shoulders, quickly turned around and saw that Su Muchen's curved sword had been struck by Tang Yanchu's kick. He couldn't stop in time and had to take a step back to regain his balance.
"Xiao Tang!..." She was filled with mixed emotions, both surprised and puzzled, as she looked at his still calm and composed face.
Su Muchen held his knife protectively, staring coldly at Tang Yanchu's empty sleeve, and said, "When did Yinxi Xiaozhu get such a person?"
Yue Ruzheng grabbed Tang Yanchu's shoulder and said sharply, "It's none of his business! He's not a member of Yinxi Xiaozhu! Make him leave!"
Su Muchen sneered several times, looking at Yue Ruzheng and saying, "If you still don't behave and anger me, I'll kill you and this cripple together today!"
Yue Ruzheng's right foot was throbbing with pain, and she relied entirely on Tang Yanchu for support. Struggling to control herself, she gripped her sword tightly, protecting Tang Yanchu, and gritted her teeth, saying, "I told you it's none of his business! He doesn't even know what Yinxi Xiaozhu is!"
"Alright! Since Miss Yue is so righteous, I'll see just how tough you really are!" Su Muchen gave a signal, and his men around him moved closer to Yue Ruzheng.
Yue Ruzheng's breathing became rapid. Tang Yanchu sensed her weakness, raised an eyebrow at Su Mucheng, and asked, "Are you from Bliss Valley?"
Su Muchen's lips twitched slightly as he said, "You brat, you really are talking nonsense. He clearly knows my background."
Tang Yanchu said calmly, "I'm not from Yinxi Xiaozhu; I've only heard her mention Jile Valley."
Yue Ruzheng looked at him, her heart pounding with anxiety. She didn't know why Tang Yanchu had been hiding the fact that he knew martial arts, nor did she know his background.
Su Muchen snorted, sized up Tang Yanchu, and said, "I don't care who you are, I'm taking this girl today. Since you're not from Yinxi Xiaozhu, get out of the way and stop talking nonsense!"
Tang Yanchu raised an eyebrow and said, "I don't think I need to take your orders."
Su Muchen laughed loudly, then pointed the tip of his knife at his face and said, "How arrogant! Believe me, I can break both your legs too!"
Tang Yanchu's face turned cold. Yue Ruzheng grabbed his shoulder and whispered, "Little Tang, don't argue with him!"
Tang Yanchu shook his head slightly, seeing Yue Ruzheng gritting her teeth, her face very pale. He took a deep breath, looked up at Su Mucheng, and said, "You can't take her away."
Su Mucheng's subordinate sneered from the side, "Kid, since you know we're from Bliss Valley, don't try to be a hero. You don't even have hands, yet you want to play the hero and save the damsel in distress?"
Tang Yanchu's lips curled slightly, her eyes turning icy cold as she slowly said, "This is Nan Yandang, not the territory of the Bliss Valley. You really are acting with impunity."
"Then let me show you the power of Bliss Valley!" Su Muchen's eyes flashed with malice, his curved blade aimed straight at Tang Yanchu's shoulder. Yue Ruzheng, holding Tang Yanchu's shoulder, used her Lonely Fragrance Sword to deflect the curved blade. The sword tip collided with the blade, and Su Muchen's internal strength was considerable, causing Yue Ruzheng to stagger backward. Seeing Su Muchen rush forward and bring another slash, Tang Yanchu swiftly pressed down on her shoulder, pulling Yue Ruzheng back a step to the side. As she moved swiftly to the side, she launched a flying kick at Su Muchen's face.
Su Muchen slashed with his curved blade, and Tang Yanchu told Yue Ruzheng to "step back" before leaping backward. Seeing his agility, Yue Ruzheng quickly dodged to the side. She saw him step on a rock, use the momentum to flip himself up, and meet Su Muchen's flying curved blade with a leg kick, slashing down at Su Muchen's neck.
Su Muchen's blade was already at Tang Yanchu's chest when he suddenly felt Tang Yanchu's body plummet. Su Muchen saw Tang Yanchu's right leg straighten and fall towards his neck, unable to stop himself, and was struck hard. He felt a sharp pain in his shoulder, roared, and slashed fiercely at Tang Yanchu's knee. Tang Yanchu dodged to the side. At this moment, Su Muchen's men turned their blades, abandoning Yue Ruzheng, and attacked the even more unpredictable Tang Yanchu.
Seeing them rushing towards Tang Yanchu, Yue Ruzheng became anxious. She tapped the rock wall behind her with the tip of her sword and flew straight towards them.
At this moment, Su Muchen unleashed several moves in quick succession, his blade swirling and drawing streaks of cold light as he slashed directly at Tang Yanchu. Yue Ruzheng was about to rush forward to protect her when she heard a sharp whoosh of wind behind her. She dodged, only to see a burst of white light erupt from behind, tearing through the air.
The white light flashed like lightning, carrying the force of wind and thunder, its chilling aura pressing towards Su Muchen's throat. Su Muchen's expression changed, his blade shifting as he hastily protected his throat. Unexpectedly, the white light suddenly split in two mid-air, crisscrossing, one stabbing towards his curved blade, the other grazing the waists of those around him.
Su Muchen felt the dazzling white light collide with the curved blade in his hand, and an extremely cold force forced him to retreat repeatedly, while the people around him were swept down by another white light. He sheathed his curved blade and steadied himself. At this moment, the two white lights suddenly turned back and landed in the sleeve of a woman not far away.
Yue Ruzheng was shocked by the scene just now. When she looked at the woman again, she saw that she was cold and her long sleeves were flowing. She was the same woman in the blue dress she had seen that morning.
Yue Ruzheng was surprised, and Tang Yanchu was also taken aback. He then took a few steps forward and stood in front of Yue Ruzheng.
The woman's eyes held a deep coldness as she slowly walked towards Su Muchen and the others. Su Muchen, his breathing rapid, stared at her and said in a hoarse voice, "The Twin Swords of Forgetfulness?! You're from Seven Star Island?"
Chapter Ten: His True Story Revealed, Turning the Tide