A black figure leaped out from the crowd, catching Murong Xiao in mid-air and also withstanding Yi Chunjun's internal force. Everyone gasped in amazement, staring in stunned silence at this sudden turn of events.
Yi Chunjun stopped smiling, his brows furrowing coldly. "Who are you?"
"The Palace Master of Extinction".
A huge uproar ensued!
The Palace Master of Extinction Palace?! The one who captured Gao Tianjing? The one who revealed all the secrets? It was him who triggered this upheaval in the martial world!
Pei Junwu and Yi Chunjun's expressions both froze. It was him? Good, good timing. They had so many questions they needed to ask him, and he'd delivered himself right to their doorstep!
Xiao Yuan was startled and looked at him closely. He was wearing a fine black robe, and since the weather had turned warm, he was also wearing a thin cloak. Only his tall and muscular figure could be seen; everything else was hidden under the dense cloak.
He was wearing a strange, gleaming silver mask! It made it impossible to see his face, and even his hair was completely hidden inside the hood of his cloak.
He put Murong Xiao down. "You should learn from your senior brother. It's better not to be so arrogant," he said coldly.
Yi Chunjun sneered, "Is that so? In front of all the heroes and valiant men present, you beat me first, and then you come to lecture me."
The Palace Master of Extinction Palace leaped onto the stage and said briefly, "Fine! I'll defeat you in one move."
Yi Chunjun laughed heartily, "Come on!"
With a flick of his wrists, the Palace Master of Mieling Palace met Yi Chunjun's attack with a palm strike. With a loud thud, Yi Chunjun was pushed back several steps and coughed up a mouthful of blood.
He straightened up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his long fingers, relaxed his eyebrows, and smiled: "I lost." Then he turned and stepped off the stage.
Voices of doubt, screams, sighs, and gasps of surprise... all merged into a massive uproar! This is too unexpected! How could this be?!
Pei Junwu pursed his lips, a hint of doubt flashing in his deep black eyes.
Xiao Yuan was so shocked he couldn't breathe for a long time. How could this be? How could there be someone in the world who could defeat Yi Chunjun in one move? Impossible!
Impossible... yet it happened.
It's that eerie black-clad, masked man standing on the high platform!
Chapter 30 of "The Flower Smile": The Strange Wins.
Pei Junwu leaped up and flew out of the colorful pavilion, landing on the high platform like a banished immortal slowly descending from the clouds.
"Palace Master, I can't resist learning a few moves myself." His clear eyes were fixed on Palace Master Mieling, and a profound smile appeared on his lips.
The Palace Master of Mieling Palace chuckled, "Young Master Pei, I have no intention of challenging you and your fellow disciples. I simply cannot tolerate your junior brother's arrogant behavior. Please forgive any offense I may have caused. Let's proceed with the next match according to your plan."
Pei Junwu looked at him and said, "No rush. It would be a lifelong regret not to spar with a master like the Palace Master."
Before the Palace Master of Mieling Palace could speak, Tuoba Yuanxun kept gesturing below the stage. Pei Junwu looked at him, and Yuanxun mouthed: "Miss Xiao is really angry!"
Pei Junwu frowned, glanced back at the Palace Master of Mieling Palace, and clearly he had also seen Tuoba Yuanxun's lip movements. Instead, he raised his hand with a leisurely and carefree attitude: "Young Master Pei, if you have something to do, you may go ahead first. There is plenty of time for the two of us in the future."
The two jumped off the platform, and a sigh of disappointment rippled through the crowd.
As soon as Pei Junwu entered the pavilion, he saw that Xiao Juyuan's face was flushed and her eyes were unfocused, which was indeed a sign of reversed internal energy! He quickly stepped forward, picked her up, and worriedly checked her pulse. Fortunately, it wasn't too serious, but she still needed immediate help.
Why at this particular time?
Pei Junwu's eyes deepened; everything was too coincidental.
"What do we do now?" Pei Fuchong slapped his thigh and shouted in a low voice. "Young Master Hang has already gone up on stage."
As expected, Hang Yisu was already standing silently on the high platform, waiting for his opponent to take the stage.
The situation was clear: he needed to help Juyuan recover his inner energy, Yi Chunjun had suffered internal injuries, and the only ones who could fight were... Tuoba Shishu's three precious disciples. He pursed his lips; it didn't matter who went, they were definitely no match for Young Master Hang.
"I'll go," Tuoba Yuanxun said, eager to try.
Pei Junwu sighed inwardly; there was nothing he could do.
"No!"
Pei Junwu couldn't help but frown. It was her, Li Yuan'er! He looked at her, his expression hidden behind his mask, but his eyes were incredibly resolute. What did she want to do?
“The meritorious official cannot go.” Xiao Yuan stepped forward.
"Why? I'm the only man left." Tuoba Yuanxun took her hand. "I know you're better at martial arts than me, but I can't let you go. It's too dangerous."
Xiao Yuan looked at him like he was a child. “It’s not that I’m going because my kung fu is better than yours. Yuanxun, you are the third prince of Xixia. If you are knocked off the stage in public in the Central Plains, how will the prince’s face be preserved? If you get injured, your master will also have a hard time explaining to the prince.”
Yuan Xun looked at her with deep emotion: "Xiao Yuan..."
Xiao Yuan smiled slightly, somewhat self-deprecatingly: "Anyway, it's a fact that my kung fu isn't good. As a woman, I'm just going to lose."
"Then I'll go, he... he definitely wouldn't have the heart to hurt me." Yan Minyu said, a hint of shyness in her voice. Yuan'er looked at her, seeing this girlish side of her for the first time. Had she fallen for Young Master Hang?
"Alright, I'll go." Yuan'er smiled and nodded, leaving no room for further argument.
Just as she was about to turn around, her arm was grabbed. She turned around and saw Yi Chunjun's slightly annoyed look. His face was a little pale, and he looked handsome with his brows furrowed.
"Xiao Yuan...you absolutely cannot let yourself get hurt!"
Was he worried about her? Xiao Yuan smiled and nodded at him. Unbeknownst to her, their relationship had transcended mere mutual exploitation. He was right; they were both teacher and friend.
He sighed softly, patted her head, and ruffled her hair, his touch a mixture of affection and worry. His tender touch didn't make her resist; instead, it brought her an indescribable warmth and calmed her heart.