Between her and Wei Yuzhi, whose spiritual power was truly higher?
As the footsteps drew closer, An Jiu tightened her grip on the dagger, ready for a desperate fight at any moment.
Several people walked under the tree. Wei Yuzhi suddenly stopped, “We have an uninvited guest.”
An Jiu’s heart skipped a beat.
Looking down through the branches, she saw two figures. One was about forty years old, standing eight feet tall with a sturdy build. His fair face was framed by a neatly trimmed beard that formed a small braid under his chin. This strange appearance somehow suited him perfectly, giving him a scholarly air despite his rugged looks. The other was Wei Yuzhi in his elegant blue robe.
He was now looking back towards a rockery in the distance.
An Jiu frowned. If he hadn’t detected her, it must be Lou Mingyue!
Dozens of shadows converged from all directions. Some rushed to protect Wei Yuzhi and Fan Yunchao, while others headed towards the rockery to capture the intruder.
An Jiu wondered: Do these people also take orders from Wei Yuzhi? Is Fan Yunchao not a Liao spy, but someone from Piaomiao Manor? Or is the entire Piaomiao Manor serving Liao?
This must be why the Crane-Controlling Army previously took action against Piaomiao Manor.
The rockery offered little hiding space. Staying inside would mean certain capture. Lou Mingyue knew escaping from over twenty fourth-rank fighters alone would be difficult, but she had to try.
When she heard Wei Yuzhi’s voice earlier, Lou Mingyue knew she had been exposed.
She slowly walked out of the rockery, releasing her killing intent. Her eighth-rank spiritual power dominated the scene. Everyone was poised to attack, but no one dared to make a move.
They weren’t in a hurry, as reinforcements were coming. But for Lou Mingyue, she had to act fast! The eight elite guards could arrive at any moment.
Lou Mingyue’s sword sprang from her waist, its light like a splash of snow in midsummer, swift as the wind. Where the cold blade passed, blood rained. In the blink of an eye, several men were dead or wounded.
“Lou Mingyue,” Wei Yuzhi’s voice was soft, tinged with amusement. “Capture her, dead or alive.”
Hearing this, Fan Yunchao raised his hand in a killing gesture. One of his men joined the fight and relayed the order to the other guards, “No mercy!”
An Jiu observed the battle. Lou Mingyue’s swordplay was fierce, holding her own against over twenty attackers. But escaping immediately was impossible.
The enemy had eight personal guards, who for some unknown reason weren’t present. It was uncertain whether Lou Mingyue could escape before they arrived. Should she intervene?
An Jiu hesitated for a moment, and then her spiritual power instantly locked onto the people below the tree. Simultaneously, she leapt down, heading straight for Wei Yuzhi.
These men, stunned by her transcendent spiritual power, were momentarily blank-minded.
Wei Yuzhi snapped out of it quickly, drawing his sword to resist. Unfortunately, An Jiu’s refined body made her far superior.
With his sword only halfway out of its sheath, her cold blade was already at his throat.
“Tell them to stop,” An Jiu’s icy voice came from behind his neck.
Fan Yunchao was the first to react. A flash of surprise crossed his face before he immediately shouted, “Everyone, stop!”
“Move back fifty paces!” An Jiu commanded.
Fan Yunchao nodded, and the crowd slowly retreated.
Lou Mingyue flew to An Jiu’s side. An Jiu swiftly elbowed Wei Yuzhi unconscious and tossed him to her. The two quickly withdrew from the Fan mansion.
Once outside, Lou Mingyue immediately sounded a whistle.
This was the retreat signal.
In no time, five more figures were seen running on Pan Lou Street.
Sui Yunzhu asked, “What happened?”
“We were discovered,” Lou Mingyue replied.
Everyone felt a sense of frustration. Was the enemy too strong, or were they too weak? To be exposed at the initial observation stage… He couldn’t help but wonder if An Jiu’s entry had led to their discovery, considering Lou Mingyue’s previous solo reconnaissance had gone smoothly.
Lou Mingyue looked back, noticing An Jiu hadn’t followed. She tossed Wei Yuzhi to Sui Yunzhu, “This is the Second Master of Piaomiao Manor. Deal with him as you see fit.”
“Lou Er!” Sui Yunzhu slowed down.
The others realized she was going back for Mei Shisi. Li Qingzhi angrily said, “It’s all her fault. Don’t bother with her!”
Others might not know, but Sui Yunzhu was well aware that Wei Yuzhi possessed transcendent spiritual power. He wasn’t easy to capture, at least not for Lou Mingyue. Could it be…
Sui Yunzhu looked back. The street was empty, Lou Mingyue’s figure long gone.
“Let’s head back first. Although the mission went awry, capturing him is a great achievement!” Sui Yunzhu understood that those with high spiritual power rarely lose consciousness easily. He tightly bound Wei Yuzhi with ropes before feeling at ease.
Hearing this, the group didn’t linger, racing back to the Crane-Controlling Institute with all their might.
…
Meanwhile, a ninth-rank expert blocked An Jiu’s path.
An Jiu wasn’t fast on foot. She had concealed her presence, hoping to take a shortcut through Pan Lou, but was unexpectedly cornered in a back alley!
In the dark, narrow alley, the two were only about twenty paces apart. The old man blocking the alley entrance had a hunched figure, leaning on a dark green cane. However, his eyes gleamed with a sharp light, as if he could kill an opponent in an instant.
“This old man doesn’t like fighting young ones. Be a good girl and surrender. No need for both of us to struggle,” the old man said.
“How did you find me?” An Jiu didn’t believe a true transcendent expert would serve others.
“You’ve got some skills, little one. But this old man relies on this to find people.” His finger, like a withered branch, pointed to his nose. “Even if you never wear rouge or powder, I can still identify you.”
No wonder only he, out of the eight experts, had pursued her.
An Jiu slowly approached, hands grasping the swords at her sides. Her spiritual power instantly locked onto the old man as she drew her blades and attacked.
Unlike those with internal energy, her movements weren’t light. Each step of her charge was packed with immense power, like a hurricane carrying cold light, delivering a thunderous strike.
By the time the old man extracted a sliver of rationality from her spiritual assault, the twin blades were already at his throat. Without thinking, he instinctively parried with his cane.
The weapons clashed, the massive impact force producing dazzling sparks.
Nearby, the sounds of revelry and music from Pan Lou could be heard. The building’s lights were bright and peaceful, while in the dark alley, killing intent surged. Even the wind seemed to grow wilder as it passed through, howling in the narrow passage.
Without internal energy, An Jiu was at a disadvantage in such a contest of strength. She raised her leg to kick, but the old man slightly dodged.
Her kick missed, but she spun with the momentum, attacking again with her dual blades.
This assault, carrying a tidal wave of killing intent, actually forced a ninth-rank expert to gasp for breath!
The old man was inwardly terrified. This girl was comparable to the legendary martial maniac “Madman”, but different. The Madman would try to force opponents to use their ultimate moves, while this girl’s eyes held only “kill”, leaving no room for anything else.