Une jeunesse errante

Chapitre 48

His gaze shifted slightly. To Li Ying's left was Lu Baoquan, who had appeared in the ancient pine forest posing as Lin Feng's men. Next to Lu Baoquan was a dashing young man, presumably Lu Baoquan's son, Lu Zhi. To Li Ying's right, on horseback, sat a refined scholar in his forties, quite similar to Bai Yiting. Next to the scholar was a handsome young warrior, wielding a longsword and carrying a golden bow and white feathers. This reminded Qing Jianyue of Cai Bo'an's description.

Li Ying has three trusted generals: Luo Buqun, Li Ying's strategist; Zhao Wuyang, the owner of Xingyue Ranch, Li Ying's breadwinner; and Lu Baoquan, also known as Lu Fang, the assassin's mastermind tonight, Li Ying's most powerful and skilled warrior. Then there are the two young men tonight: one is Lu Baoquan's son, Lu Youzhi, and the sharpshooter is Luo Buqun's son, Luo Xiang.

The young warrior carrying a golden bow and white feathers must be the sharpshooter Luo Xiang. The refined scholar next to him must be Luo Xiang's father, Luo Buqun, Li Ying's strategist.

Qing Jianyue's gaze struggled to return to Luo Buqun's face. It was him, no doubt about it. Luo Buqun, even if you turn to ashes, I will still recognize you. An intense hatred erupted from the depths of Qing Jianyue's locked heart, and his handsome face, which always radiated a pure smile, was shrouded in a cruel and ruthless aura.

Lu Qingcheng narrowed her long eyes slightly and said in a cold tone, "I wondered what Li Ying looked like. Turns out she's a hook-nosed eagle."

Li Ying laughed arrogantly, "Lu Qingcheng, surprised, aren't you? You could fool that fool, but you can't fool me. I saw through your tricks long ago. Tonight is the death of that fool, and it's also your death."

Lu Qingcheng snorted, "Li Ying, you seem to be too confident."

Li Ying sneered, "I know your strengths and weaknesses perfectly well. Your main force is all at Tianyi Ranch now, and the few people left behind in Lujiabao are just a piece of cake. After I kill you and take over this place, I'll turn around and eliminate Lei Yongxiang, who fought my foolish elder brother to a standstill."

Lu Qingcheng said in a deep voice, "Your plan is indeed perfect, but I'm afraid you can't kill me."

"Lu Qingcheng, I admire your ability to put on airs. However, I'd like to see how long you can last. Your injuries probably won't heal anytime soon," Li Ying laughed loudly.

Lu Qingcheng was furious. "Whoever kills that idiot who spews nonsense will receive a reward of ten copper coins."

Li Ying was immediately choked by her own laughter.

Everyone present, whether soldiers from Lu Family Fort or the Sky Eagle Sect, was stunned. Ten copper coins? Had Lu Qingcheng spoken out of anger? Who would kill someone for ten copper coins? No, Lu Qingcheng's words had barely left her lips when a white steed, as if driven by a raging storm, charged towards the enemy lines.

Cai Bo'an roared, "Jian Yue!"

The white rabbit exclaimed in surprise, "To risk killing someone for ten copper coins? Isn't that a bit too ridiculous?"

"Ten copper coins, stick your head out."

Qing Jianyue's murderous shouts echoed through the sky. The Lu family's side erupted in laughter.

Li Ying was so angry that her head was practically steaming, her face turning red, white, blue, yellow, green, black, and blue. "Lu Qingcheng, you dare to make fun of me even when you're about to die."

"Protect the Second Young Master."

Under Lu Baoquan's command, the Sky Eagle Cult warriors instantly erected a barrier in front of Li Ying's horse. Lu Baoquan's son, Lu Zhi, took the lead, fully focused on preparing to fight Qing Jianyue. Unexpectedly, Fei Yun flashed past him like a shooting star.

What?

Lu Zhi was shocked.

It was incredibly fast, so fast that no one could even blink. The Star Moon Blade unleashed a shower of starlight, enveloping Luo Buqun. Everyone held their breath. The weapons clashed violently, sparks flying, and a piercing sound echoed through the night sky. It was Luo Buqun's son, Luo Xiang, who, in the nick of time, caught Qing Jianyue's lightning-fast blade.

After the attack, Feiyun carried Qingjian Yue away in an instant. Luo Xiang shouted sharply, "Halt, you sneaky thief!" He spurred his horse, and his iron steed galloped off like a flood unleashed from its sheath.

Luo Buqun roared, his face ashen, "Xiang'er, be careful!"

Just as Luo Xiang was giving chase, Fei Yun suddenly appeared and disappeared in an instant, so fast that words could not describe it. Luo Xiang's expression changed slightly. Good heavens, how could it be so fast? But he was truly remarkable, as steady as Mount Tai, countering each move as it came, and in the blink of an eye, the two had exchanged more than a dozen moves.

People on both sides shouted encouragement, and for a moment the sounds of battle shook the heavens.

Lu Qingcheng watched for a while, then frowned and said unhappily, "This is too ridiculous."

Bai Yiting comforted him, "Fortress Master, there's no need to worry. Isn't Young Master Jianyue in a strong position right now?"

Lu Qingcheng shook her head and said, "He's just taking advantage of Feiyun's speed and trying to outsmart him. His internal strength is quite formidable, and since he's on the defensive, his energy isn't being used up as quickly as Jianyue's. Jianyue, on the other hand, is on the offensive. Before long, his strength will be exhausted, and if his opponent launches a counterattack, he'll be in big trouble."

Just as he had said, after dozens of battles, Kiyomi Tsuki gradually felt his strength waning and his mood became agitated. The two horses clashed, swords clashed, and Kiyomi Tsuki's Star Moon Sword was almost knocked away by his opponent.

What to do? If we can't defeat Luo Xiang, we can't kill Luo Buqun.

When Feiyun turned his head to face the enemy in the distance again, Qingjian Yue leaned down and whispered, "Feiyun, you are the king of horses. We absolutely cannot lose to them."

The white fox poked its head out from Kiyomi Tsuki's arms and barked loudly, "Master, this stupid horse dares to call itself king!"

Feiyun was furious and let out a startling screech, cursing: "You damned fox, watch out or I'll break your neck!"

The shouts suddenly stopped, replaced by gasps of amazement.

Feiyun, like a white dragon breaking free from the sea, roared and soared between heaven and earth, carrying an aura capable of destroying everything. Just as the two horses were about to cross paths, Feiyun let out a furious neigh, and Luo Xiang's iron steed, as if startled, stumbled and fell. In that instant, Qingjian Yue's Star Moon Sword drew a dazzling arc of light like a master painter's brush.

People felt like they were being taken away from breathing.

"Brother Xiang".

At the critical moment, a woman's scream, filled with terror, pierced Qing Jianyue's eardrums. It felt as if a knife had stabbed Qing Jianyue in the heart. The Star Moon Sword suddenly sank, passing Luo Xiang's neck, and with a soft thud, grazed Luo Xiang's shoulder and arm, sending a bead of blood flying... Flying Cloud carried Qing Jianyue away at breakneck speed.

Luo Xiang tumbled twice on the ground, and when he got up, his eyes flashed with a fierce light. Damn it! He took off his golden bow and white-feathered arrow, suddenly turned his body, and nocked an arrow. The white-feathered arrow shot out swiftly. Luo Xiang truly lived up to his title of sharpshooter; the arrow, like a streak of light, accurately struck Qing Jianyue in the back.

Thunderous cheers erupted from the Sky Eagle Sect, while everyone on the Lu Family Fortress side turned deathly pale.

Kiyomi felt a sharp pain in her back, and a bitter smile appeared on her lips. "This is the consequence of being merciful to the enemy."

One moment the Sky Eagle Cult was cheering thunderously, the next their cheers seemed to have been swept away by a gust of wind. The white-feathered arrow that had pierced Kiyomi's heart fell to the ground like a kite without a master, mercilessly trampled by Fei Yun. Despite the excruciating pain, Kiyomi was not taken away by the god of death.

What happened? Why didn't that arrow pierce my body? Qing Jianyue wondered, then suddenly remembered the black vest Lu Qingcheng had put on him before he left. Qing Jianyue felt as if he had been struck a heavy blow to the heart. This was a precious garment that could withstand weapons. Why?

Without a second thought, Luo Xiang raised his hand, and another arrow shot out like a meteor striking the moon. Both the Lu Family Fortress and the Sky Eagle Sect held their breath. A confident smile spread across Luo Xiang's face, but that smile instantly turned to astonishment. A dazzling golden light suddenly intersected with his white-feathered arrow in mid-air. With a clang, the white-feathered arrow broke in two and fell into the dust, while the golden light also embedded itself in the soil.

It is a golden arrow.

Cheers resounded through the sky. Luo Xiang suddenly looked in the direction from which the golden arrow had been shot. It was Lu Qingcheng. He hadn't expected this young master of Lu Family Fortress to be so skilled. Luo Xiang's heart was filled with a sense of unwillingness to admit defeat. Suddenly, he took out another white-feathered arrow from his quiver, gently pulled back the bowstring, and with a loud whistling sound, the white-feathered arrow flew straight towards Lu Qingcheng.

Even as he drew his bow, Lu Qingcheng calmly took two more golden arrows, gently pulled back the bowstring, and the bow was fully drawn, shaped like a crescent moon. As the white-feathered arrow was released, Lu Qingcheng's arrow, also gleaming with golden light, sliced through the air, accurately striking down the white-feathered arrow. What happened next was something no one could have predicted. The instant the white-feathered arrow fell, the golden light did not perish with it, but whistled towards Luo Xiang's face. Luo Xiang was horrified and, in a panic, raised his iron bow to defend himself. With a "crack," the golden light pierced through the iron bow.

The parade ground was completely silent. That was incredible! Absolutely astonishing!