With a soft “pop” sound, the bamboo staff was scorched black in one spot. Several white insects suddenly emerged from the center of the blue curved blade, writhing like snakes as they lunged toward Xue Xianzi’s back. Liu Yan kept his composure, and while Xue Xianzi was locked in confrontation with Yu Qifeng, his bamboo staff changed through seven or eight variations, each move targeting those insects. Though his hands lacked strength, his techniques remained. These poisonous insects, though terrifying, couldn’t withstand a poke from the bamboo staff. Lady Hongchan exclaimed “Eh!” and withdrew her blade. “You actually dare to make a move! What tremendous audacity!”
Liu Yan stood behind Xue Xianzi, supporting himself with his bamboo staff planted on the ground. The cracked, scorched staff head made him sway slightly. Even though he wore a human skin mask over his face, Lady Hongchan could see his expression remained unchanged. As long as Xue Xianzi stood here, he would stand behind him. If Lady Hongchan struck once, he would block once; if she struck twice, he would block twice. “Venerable Master Liu, you truly make me look at you with new eyes today.” Lady Hongchan laughed melodiously. “Originally I only took you for an embroidered pillow—a pretty boy with no substance! Who would have thought that after having your face skinned off, you’d become so loyal and righteous. Those little girls who wanted to live and die for you didn’t choose wrongly after all. But what a pity—you’re using your loyalty in the wrong place. He’s a good friend of your mortal enemy Young Master Tang. Isn’t he your enemy? Why are you desperately protecting him?” Liu Yan glanced at her indifferently. “Old hag!”
Lady Hongchan was stunned, then flew into a rage, slashing her blade toward his waist with a “whoosh.” She hated nothing more in life than people calling her old, and Liu Yan had deliberately stepped on her sore spot. Xue Xianzi, who had been staring intently at Yu Qifeng in their mutual standoff, suddenly showed his teeth in a smile upon hearing this. “Mm, heard something pleasant!” Seeing his mouth open, Yu Qifeng pointed forward with his fingers together, a stream of sword energy shooting from his fingertips. Though it lacked the pressure aura of a sharp blade, the close distance made it expansive and extremely formidable. Xue Xianzi flicked his sleeves, and Lady Hongchan suddenly saw Liu Yan under her blade covered by his white sleeve. Yu Qifeng, however, saw Xue Xianzi split from one into two, then two into three—in an instant transforming into dozens of different phantoms, causing him to freeze momentarily. Just as both opponents were stunned, two dull “thwack” sounds rang out as both spat out mouthfuls of fresh blood, struck by palms on their chests and backs respectively. Then Xue Xianzi laughed lightly, already floating away with Liu Yan.
With a “whoosh,” Yu Qifeng suppressed his internal injuries and struck a palm toward the direction Xue Xianzi had departed. Grass and trees fell flat, but the man had long since vanished without a trace. Lady Hongchan swayed and cried out, “Thousand Tracks Solitary Form Change!” Yu Qifeng gave a harsh laugh. “Remarkable!”
Xue Xianzi’s final move for injuring enemies had quite an impressive background. One person could transform into dozens of phantoms, each phantom being both illusory and real, all capable of striking and injuring people. This technique demanded extremely high requirements for a martial artist’s footwork, waist strength, and movement skills. Moreover, when executing the move, one had to rapidly channel internal energy. Unless one was a master among masters, no one would dare use it. If this move failed, one would often suffer cultivation deviation. That Xue Xianzi could execute such a dangerous ultimate technique with such apparent ease and graceful elegance was truly terrifying in terms of cultivation level.
“Truly worthy of being the number one eccentric guest of the martial world.” Lady Hongchan reached up to arrange her disheveled hair and sighed softly. Yu Qifeng, however, said hoarsely, “Judging by the palm force that injured you and me, although he executed the ‘Thousand Tracks Solitary Form Change,’ he was also injured. Otherwise, that palm strike would have been far more than just this.” Lady Hongchan smiled charmingly. “You’re right. Let’s pursue them.”
The two deployed their lightness skills and chased in the direction Xue Xianzi had fled.
Xue Xianzi lifted Liu Yan and quickly swept toward the deep forest. His figure flickered three times and flashed twice, already reaching the mountaintop. Upon reaching the summit, he set Liu Yan down. The two looked out and saw black smoke rising from the valley not far away, with faint sounds of commotion. They could see countless people running and leaping about within, causing both to freeze in surprise. Xue Xianzi stared intently into the distance. “Who’s causing trouble in the valley?” Liu Yan could vaguely make out a yellow figure gracefully moving among a group of black-clothed people. Wherever this yellow figure passed by a tent, the black tent would immediately catch fire, emitting thick black smoke—it was unclear what he used to start the fires.
“Such excellent skills, such excellent skills! What a pity—not a beauty.” Xue Xianzi’s eyes could see clearly as he clicked his tongue in amazement. “These tents are made of sulfur mulberry silk, waterproof and fireproof, difficult to damage with blades and swords, and ordinary flames cannot ignite them. Only intense fire that can melt refined steel can ignite sulfur mulberry silk. The temperature generated by this person’s hidden weapons striking and creating friction against the tents can actually ignite them, showing just how terrifying the speed of his projectiles truly is.” Upon hearing the words “hidden weapons,” Liu Yan’s heart jolted. It was Fang Pingzhai… He stared unblinkingly at the chaotic battle scene below. Fang Pingzhai had come—but where was Yu Tuan’er? Where was… where was she? They had actually come.
“Is this the new disciple you took in that Tang mentioned?” Xue Xianzi was still clicking his tongue in amazement. “I think your disciple is more than qualified to be your master. This flying blade technique has long since stood alone in the martial world. You came to Beauty’s Residence to find him? I’ll take you down there.” Liu Yan leaned on his bamboo staff, watching Fang Pingzhai’s steps as he charged through the formation. The bamboo staff was actually trembling slightly. “What is he doing?” Xue Xianzi gave him a heavy slap on the back of his head with a “smack.” “Are you stupid? Someone brought hundreds of dogs to set up an inescapable net to catch you, and the bottom of the valley is exactly the enemy’s main camp. He’s charging into the enemy formation naturally to eliminate disaster for you. Can’t you see that?” Liu Yan felt somewhat dizzy and swayed, saying in a low voice, “I… I always thought… he merely had ulterior motives…”
“Haha, how many people in this world don’t have ulterior motives? But that doesn’t necessarily mean people with ulterior motives are bad to you.” Xue Xianzi smiled broadly. “Being able to come to this place for you is not easy. Your disciple treats you very well.” Liu Yan nodded. “These people are Ghost Peony’s subordinates. Ghost Peony is the leader of the Seven Flowers Cloud Travelers and has close ties with the Romantic Shop. Today’s inescapable net probably isn’t aimed at just me alone.” Xue Xianzi sighed. “I only care about when I can eat fish head hotpot with Xiao Shui. After rescuing that scholar surnamed Lin, you’ll follow your disciple and leave, right?” Liu Yan nodded. Xue Xianzi laughed heartily. “Then let’s go save people.”
Both knew that Ghost Peony’s earth dogs were everywhere around them, so they dared not linger long on the mountaintop. Xue Xianzi once again lifted Liu Yan and quickly rushed toward the valley where Fang Pingzhai was located.