Snow-jade-like blade light danced as it carved a bloody path. Fang Pingzhai, protected by his flying blades, charged hard from east to west toward Jiao Yu Town. Wherever he passed, fresh blood splattered, tents caught fire, and Ghost Peony’s demonic soul death warriors could hardly resist, retreating step by step. The inch-long snow blades danced more and more vigorously, like countless snowflakes swirling in chaotic dance, each petal devastating as falling petals. When displayed to the extreme, Fang Pingzhai’s yellow robes were almost invisible—only rolling snow-like blade light could be seen, with people wounded and fires starting around him, continuous cries of agony filling the air.
He wasn’t trying to charge through once and then retreat—he charged all the way toward Jiao Yu Town, his steps never pausing for a moment.
Beauty’s Residence! This was the place where Ghost Peony stirred up storms today, a conspiracy aimed at Liu Yan, and also a knot in his heart. Ten years ago, he had set up a drinking gathering here, toasting Meihua Yishu and Kuanglan Wuxing with a cup of poisoned wine. That poisoned wine had brought down Meihua Yishu, but couldn’t bring down Kuanglan Wuxing…
Fang Pingzhai’s thoughts became slightly dazed. That day after Third Brother was poisoned, he had struck him with a palm. His martial arts were far inferior to Third Brother’s, leaving him severely injured and near death—it was Seventh Brother who had saved his life. Later, Seventh Brother used the antidote for that cup of poisoned wine to make a deal with Third Brother, wanting him to kill Second Brother… All the changes had been so sudden—from deep brotherly affection to fraternal slaughter. Suddenly each other’s lives no longer mattered, and killing people became like killing chickens, without the slightest reluctance… Those past bonds of affection were blown away like wind, illusory, leaving not half a shadow.
Whose fault was it all? Was it his…
If he had known the outcome of everything, would he still have chosen those two cups of poisoned wine?
Questions of “what if” never have answers.
With a soft “clang,” Fang Pingzhai suddenly turned his head. A series of “clang clang clang clang” sounds followed, like wind chimes encountering a gust of wind, as more than ten snow blades circling around his body fell one after another. He drew back his sleeves and collected his blades, seeing demonic soul death warriors all around stepping aside as one person in a black robe stood leaning against a large tree. Beyond that tree, across the river, was Jiao Yu Town.
The black-robed person wore robes embroidered with peonies, had an ugly face, yet strangely emanated a fragrant aura throughout his body. Seeing Fang Pingzhai charging through the formation, he sarcastically curved the corner of his mouth. “Sixth Brother, what tremendous audacity you have.”
Fang Pingzhai waved his red fan and laughed heartily. “I’ve always been very audacious. Big Brother, is this really the first time you’ve known this? If I weren’t audacious, how would I have dared invite you all to drink ten years ago, and how would I have dared to poison the wine to kill people? It’s a great pity that the poison I used wasn’t ruthless enough—I didn’t manage to poison anyone to death, and only caused Second Brother’s death for nothing.” Under the high sky and bright clouds, his round face was full of smiles as he spoke eloquently, as if he were merely discussing the weather.
“Your little schemes—Seventh Brother and I are both very clear about them.” The black-robed Ghost Peony sneered coldly. “Let’s speak openly. You want to kill Zhu Yan. That cup of poisoned wine couldn’t kill him ten years ago, and you still can’t kill him ten years later. Even if you’ve learned Liu Yan’s sonic killing technique, you may not truly be able to kill Zhu Yan.” He said coldly, “Seventh Brother owes you a life-saving debt, and I’ve never wronged you. Even though you’ve injured my subordinates, I haven’t made a move against you. You want to kill Zhu Yan—Seventh Brother and I can both help you, as long as—”
“As long as I abandon my pitiful and wretched master and defect to you?” Fang Pingzhai waved his red fan. “Do I, Fang Pingzhai, truly have such value?” Ghost Peony raised his hand and pointed to the sky. “Do you know what I’m doing by setting up this Beauty’s Residence trap? I’ve set up an inescapable net and summoned martial world sects. I want to use Liu Yan’s head to command the great power of the world, and invite Sixth Brother you to drink a cup of wine.” He said word by word, “I guarantee this cup absolutely won’t be poisoned wine.”
Fang Pingzhai’s red fan stopped, pausing slightly. “You want to discuss heroics with me over wine?” Ghost Peony said grimly, “No, I want to discuss the world with you over wine—the world, not just the martial world…” He laughed toward the sky, his expression fierce and mournful. “Today I capture Liu Yan alive, and I grasp the martial world in my hands. Tomorrow when I contend for dominance over the world, even if it’s the true Dragon Emperor—what can he do to me? This great beautiful landscape with thousands of troops and ten thousand horses—Sixth Brother, will you share it with me?”
“Do I, Fang Pingzhai, truly have such value?” Fang Pingzhai stared at Ghost Peony. “I stand alone with nothing—I’m not like Big Brother with thousands of death warriors, nor am I like Seventh Brother with his cunning and changeability. What use would you have for me?” Ghost Peony said ominously, “Sixth Brother is being too modest. What kind of person you are—Seventh Brother and I are both very clear. My wine awaits you at the top of Beauty’s Residence. Don’t let that cup of wine be fed to the dogs.” He waved his arm forcefully. “Clear the way!”
The surrounding demonic soul death warriors slowly retreated, clearing a path. Fang Pingzhai shook his head and sighed. “I thought I was already very far from the martial world, but unexpectedly it’s like ‘a room full of red maples blowing fallen leaves—being in the mountains without knowing the scenery!’ How lamentable, how laughable!” He waved his fan and departed, his back straight and bright, still heading toward Jiao Yu Town.
Ghost Peony watched his departing figure with a gloomy expression. In the desolate land covered with tents, there was complete deathly silence.
In the distance, Xue Xianzi was carrying Liu Yan as they rushed toward this place. Suddenly seeing the black-clothed death warriors part to both sides, clearing a path for Fang Pingzhai to pass through, this was completely unexpected. “Oh—the situation isn’t right. It looks like your disciple has made peace with the enemy and shaken hands in reconciliation.” Liu Yan said indifferently, “He won’t.” Xue Xianzi said, “Such confidence, but you don’t seem to understand your disciple very well either. I really don’t know where your confidence comes from.” Seeing the situation was wrong, he carried Liu Yan and hid in the dense forest, temporarily taking shelter.
The alternate route to Jiao Yu Town that didn’t go through He County had to wind around two hills. A’Shui and Yu Tuan’er walked slowly. Yu Tuan’er had lost her sword and was pretending to be an ignorant passing girl, chatting with A’Shui as they slowly made their way to Jiao Yu Town. Along the way, there were quite a few martial world people spurring their horses rapidly, and indeed very few people paid attention to these two girls on the road.
Before long, the two had entered Jiao Yu Town. They saw that most of the common people had already taken shelter, and those remaining inside and outside the small town were all martial world people. At this time, everyone was looking up toward the top of Beauty’s Residence, where they could see a person with both hands bound, hanging in the middle of the three golden characters “Beauty’s Residence.” It was a scholar in azure robes with an unfamiliar face that no one recognized. Upon seeing this, Yu Tuan’er let out a low cry and tugged at A’Shui’s sleeve. “The scholar surnamed Lin.” A’Shui’s heart jumped. This azure-robed scholar hanging from the roof was the Master Huang Xian who had shown kindness to Liu Yan and Yu Tuan’er. Seeing that he had been hung in mid-air yet his expression remained calm without any sign of struggling, she felt a slight admiration in her heart. She immediately took Yu Tuan’er’s sleeve and whispered, “Follow me.”
The two women, carrying children, walked toward the back door of Beauty’s Residence. Various sects and schools all took a few glances at these two people but didn’t pay much attention. Beauty’s Residence was guarded by Ghost Peony’s demonic soul death warriors above and below. A’Shui, carrying Fengfeng, walked to the back door and very naturally stepped inside. “Uncle Li! Uncle Li!”
Someone inside Beauty’s Residence responded, and A’Shui called out, “Today’s jade tip harvest wasn’t good. I went to the neighboring county but still couldn’t collect any.” The person inside Beauty’s Residence sighed. “If there aren’t any, there’s nothing we can do. Lately there have been all kinds of fierce and menacing customers… Yu Niang, come in and help me organize the vegetables, and kill all those fish to slice the meat.” A’Shui responded and pulled Yu Tuan’er inside. The demonic soul death warriors guarding the door saw that the two women looked decent and showed no signs of martial arts skills, so they didn’t obstruct them.
Yu Tuan’er was greatly puzzled. “You know people inside here?” A’Shui took her hand and walked with lowered head to sit in the courtyard outside the kitchen. The ground was piled with all kinds of vegetables, several basins of half-dead fish, and a large pile of unwashed beef tripe, creating a strange smell. Cooking was going on in the kitchen, and no one paid attention to who had actually entered. She rolled up her sleeves and began picking vegetables, her expression unchanged, smiling slightly. “I figured that in such a large Beauty’s Residence, there’s bound to be someone surnamed Li.” Yu Tuan’er was greatly shocked. “You… you don’t know people inside here? What is jade tip?” A’Shui said, “A type of rare white jade mushroom that’s very popular in Luoyang restaurants. I thought since the proprietor here came from Luoyang, he probably makes this kind of dish too. White jade mushrooms have to be picked from the mountains daily, and the quantity is small—they can’t be collected every day, so I gave it a try.” Yu Tuan’er sighed. “You’re really bold. What do we do now? Just sit here picking vegetables and killing fish?” A’Shui held Fengfeng while picking vegetables, which wasn’t very convenient. She thought briefly. “You hold Fengfeng and sit here helping. If anyone asks who you are, just say you’re Yu Niang’s cousin. Yu Niang had something to do today and couldn’t come, so you’re here helping in her place.” Yu Tuan’er frowned. “What about you?”