Zhang Baitong's eyes widened in fury, and he no longer cared about Mu Wanfeng's attempts to stop him. The unfinished sentence burst from his mouth:
She is your own mother!
"My what?" The blatant sarcasm froze on Qiao Fenglang's face in an instant.
"Zhang Baitong, I respect you as a venerable elder of the martial arts world. But if you dare to speak nonsense and tarnish the reputation of the Qiao Clan, I will kill you!"
He tilted his head slightly and smiled coldly: "The decades-long feud between the Qiao Gang and the Qiong Cult must be settled today!"
He turned to leave, but a green shadow flashed and landed gracefully in front of him, blocking his way.
The smile had long since vanished from Baili Qingyi's eyes, replaced by sternness: "Old Master Zhang, please bring Master Mu into the manor first. Doctor Xuan can treat the two of them. You can leave this to me."
Qiao Fenglang glanced at Baili Qingyi dismissively, but his right hand, hidden behind his back, was already poised to attack: "Baili Qingyi, if you meddle in other people's business again, I can't guarantee what will happen to you."
Before he could finish speaking, with a whoosh, a gleaming sword appeared out of nowhere and was pressed against Qiao Fenglang's front, its tip still trembling slightly.
That sword was Qiao Fenglang's sword, but Baili Qingyi took it away with ease.
Holding the sword hilt in one hand, Baili Qingyi said slowly and deliberately, "If I were you, I would not act rashly."
Qiao Fenglang was slightly startled, then noticed that Baili Qingyi's aura was fluctuating unusually, and couldn't help but laugh and say, "What's wrong, Young Master Qingyi, your confidence seems rather weak."
Baili Qingyi looked at him with a half-smile: "It's enough to deal with you." He looked down at the thousands of people below the mountain and said in a calm voice: "Brothers, please be patient. Qingyi will give you an explanation."
These words immediately sparked whispers among the crowd. The young master in blue from Baili Prefecture was known for his absolute word; even the grass and trees seemed to know his authority. The power of his single sentence far surpassed that of their own gang leader's words.
"Baili Qingyi!" Qiao Fenglang began to show signs of impatience, but he laughed angrily: "Even if I cannot order the Qiao Gang members to kill Mu Wanfeng today, I will not fall into your hands. You, Baili Qingyi, do not have the ability to capture me now."
Baili Qingyi did not refute, but suddenly asked, "Is that a human skin mask on your face?"
"What?" Qiao Fenglang's jaw tightened, and his expression changed drastically.
"Because you could never have such a face, 'Traceless' owner."
Chapter Fifteen: The Golden Knife in its Sheath Still Has Blood Dried (Part Three)
Yin Wuxiao urged her horse forward, her ominous premonition growing larger and larger in her heart. Even from some distance, she could already hear the clamor of voices echoing through the valley.
It would be a lie to say she didn't want to know the reason for the Yin family's deaths that day. However, she always felt that she should know the reason, but she had never seriously investigated it, nor dared to investigate it.
A voice from the depths of her being told that today's events were inextricably linked to the bloodshed three years ago.
“Xiao’er,” Qiao Fenglang caught up from behind, “Why are you in such a hurry all of a sudden? I told you before…”
His voice was interrupted by the neighing of Yin Wuxiao's horse as he suddenly reined in his horse.
Yin Wuxiao narrowed his phoenix eyes and looked at the figure on the mountaintop in the sunlight.
In an instant, she felt her breathing and heartbeat stop.
“Brother Fenglang…”
"What?" Qiao Fenglang looked at her and responded in confusion.
Yin Wuxiao finally turned to look at him slowly, then turned back to look up at the sky.
“Two… Brother Fenglang…”
Qiao Fenglang was startled. He followed her gaze until he saw a figure exactly like himself, with a face exactly like his own.
Yin Wuxiao was somewhat dazed; in his memory, it seemed as if a small voice was saying the same thing:
"Hey, there are two Fenglang brothers!"
There are two older brothers named Fenglang...
two……
A wave of dizziness washed over her, and a long-lost tide roared through her mind. She swayed, as if about to fall headfirst off the horse.
Qiao Fenglang reacted quickly, pulling Yin Wuxiao into his arms and lightly touching the horse's belly with his toes, landing steadily on the ground.
"Are you feeling unwell?" He suppressed the strange feeling in his heart, his face still filled with gentle pity.
Yin Wuxiao's hazy eyes met his, and instantly cleared. She gripped Qiao Fenglang's shirt tightly, shook her head, frowned, closed her eyes, and suppressed the shock that had surged into her heart just moments before.
Qiao Fenglang, who was on the mountaintop, had already discovered the identity of the newcomer, but he was not flustered. Instead, he looked at Baili Qingyi with a provocative expression: "Why aren't you guarding my Xiao'er? Why are you guarding me here?"
Baili Qingyi also took in the situation below the mountain not far away. He lowered his gaze slightly, but thrust the tip of his sword forward threateningly.
The other person trembled slightly, but their smile didn't fade.
The people in the valley finally noticed the change in the situation and turned their heads several times, all staring in disbelief: "Which one is the real one?" Even Fang Hongjing dared not make any rash moves.
Gazing at the composed expression before him, Baili Qingyi suddenly smiled faintly: "How about we ask Miss Yin to discern the truth?"
Both Qiao Fenglang's expressions changed.
The crowd whispered among themselves, agreeing repeatedly. The three hall masters and General Canghu exchanged glances and reached a consensus, all nodding in agreement.
Yin Wuxiao's position within the Qiao Gang could be described as both nonexistent and deeply entrenched. This stemmed from her mother's reputation as a chivalrous figure in the martial arts world, as well as the favors bestowed upon the Yin family by two generations of Qiao Gang leaders. Furthermore, the Yin family had provided considerable, both overt and covert, assistance to the Qiao Gang in the business world; it could be said that half of the Qiao Gang's livelihood depended on the Yin family. The eldest daughter of the Yin family, to a certain extent, held their livelihood in her hands. Even after her reappearance three years later, given her close relationship with the gang leader, those qualified to verify her identity would still not doubt her legitimacy.
Thousands of eyes instantly focused on Yin Wuxiao.
"I..." Yin Wuxiao was bewildered. She looked at Baili Qingyi with a wry smile. Did this man really have to put her out there? What good would it do him to do this?
Was he determined to find out the whole truth from her?
She first looked at the person in front of Baili Qingyi.
"Xiao'er..." That person's soft call was so familiar.
She then looked at the person beside her.
"Xiao'er." He called out calmly, but behind the calmness, a trace of uncertain fear spread from his chest to her body.
Yin Wuxiao was stunned.
Zhang Huangzhong couldn't help but look at Baili Qingyi again, trying to seek some affirmation.
Baili Qingyi's lips softened, and she stared at her intently, seemingly like everyone else, anticipating and curious about her answer.
A chill ran through her.
"This one is the real Steve Jobs."
After a while, she stretched out her finger and pointed at Qiao Fenglang, who had come with her. Her slender, jade-like fingertips trembled slightly in the breeze.
The chosen person smiled smugly, seemingly unsurprised.
The other one, however, maintained his smile, but his eyes suddenly turned icy cold.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
“I’m sure.” Yin Wuxiao took a deep breath and met his eyes.
“He is the real Joe,” she said, with the resolute determination of a moth drawn to a flame.
The other party suddenly burst into wild laughter, a series of laughs echoing through the valley.
Yin Wuxiao flinched slightly, only to be immediately pulled into Qiao Fenglang's embrace. She stiffened, not looking up, but subtly pulling away.
In an instant, crows flew everywhere, and two dark figures leaped out from nowhere, attacking Baili Qingyi on the mountaintop with their palms.
Baili Qingyi's eyes lit up, and his wrists flicked, instantly conjuring up countless sword moves. The first to be attacked was still the "Traceless" master disguised as Qiao Fenglang. The man smiled slightly, his robes billowed open, and he lightly touched the rocks under his feet, retreating backward.
The two men in black who joined the attack made no attempt to cover themselves, focusing solely on Baili Qingyi, as if determined to leave their mark on him.
Yin Wuxiao let out a soft gasp and finally turned to look at Qiao Fenglang expectantly.
"Brother Fenglang..." Her voice held a hint of pleading.
However, Qiao Fenglang looked over her head, gazing into the distance, his tone icy: "I only agreed to send someone, not to help him personally. Besides, since Baili Qingyi is renowned throughout the martial world, is he afraid of not being able to handle a few weaklings?"
She was stunned.
She was wrong; she hadn't taken Qiao Fenglang's narrow-mindedness into account.
Baili Qingyi flew up like a blue flame, creating thousands of rays of light, one of which slashed sharply towards the "Traceless" master.
In the midst of the four-person melee, rocks flew up and dust swirled around. Yin Wuxiao couldn't see clearly what was happening, so he clenched his fist tightly, his fingertips digging deep into his palm.
With a loud bang, the four people were separated.
That sword energy had solidly penetrated the body of the "Traceless" master. A trace of blood seeped from the corner of his lips as he sneered, "Baili Qingyi, I still underestimated you."
Baili Qingyi sighed, "Today, I have no choice but to kill you." He gripped the hilt of his sword even tighter.
The owner of "Traceless" sneered with bloodshot eyes: "You think you can kill me just because you injured me?"
He suddenly pulled on his lower back, and a firework shot into the sky.
Baili Qingyi moved slightly, his eyes still fixed on the master of "Wuhen": "Even a Great Luo Golden Immortal cannot save your life today. You..." He paused, "...you have committed too many evils, I have no choice but to kill you."
The owner of "Traceless" stared at him for a long time, then suddenly burst into maniacal laughter: "Baili Qingyi, Baili Qingyi, you've figured it out, haven't you? You've figured out who I am, haven't you? What, you can't bear it?"
Baili Qingyi gripped her sword even tighter.
“I can’t bear it, but you should also know that I have never let a person who deserves to die go because I can’t bear it.”
The owner of "Traceless" froze with a smile. He slowly straightened up.
"Then let's fight to the death."
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a green shadow appeared.
"Who gave you permission to fight this pedantic fellow to the death?" Yin Bitong stood in front of the "Traceless" master, her five fingers pointing directly at Baili Qingyi like sharp blades.
No one could believe their eyes. When did this dazzlingly green man appear? How come there were so many people in the valley and not a single one noticed?
The owner of "Traceless" gasped for breath, supporting Yin Bitong's back with his hand, and laughed: "I know you won't stand by and watch me die."
Without turning his head, Yin Bitong gave Baili Qingyi a flippant smile: "Young Master Qingyi, I'm about to take someone away from you again. My apologies." He picked up the owner of "Wuhen" and, displaying his superb lightness skill, leaped over the mountainside.
Everyone was utterly astonished. This person was elusive and his lightness skill had reached a state of perfection, allowing him to come and go as he pleased. Under heaven, there was probably no one who could compare to him.
Besides Baili Qingyi and Qiao Fenglang, there were also top experts from the Qiao Clan present. They just watched helplessly as he rescued the person without any effort.
Throughout the entire process, Yin Wuxiao stared at Yin Bitong on the mountaintop in utter disbelief, while Yin Bitong never once glanced at her.
"Young Master Qingyi! Let's hurry and chase after him!" General Canghu roared, but he dared not move his feet. Without Baili Qingyi, even if they caught up, they would only be throwing their lives away.
However, Baili Qingyi showed no intention of pursuing them.