Zhu Yan was truly too strong. He was a prodigy born for martial arts. In Zhu Yan’s eyes, aside from martial arts and Xue Tao, nothing else existed, and it was precisely this focus that enabled him to develop such nearly inconceivable martial skills. The price, however, was terrible – countless innocent lives had perished at Zhu Yan’s hands, yet he never felt he was wrong.
The existence of someone like Zhu Yan in this world was a miracle, but wherever this miracle went, corpses piled up.
Zhu Yan’s entire body trembled slightly as the strange black qi around him slowly gathered, his complexion gradually darkening. The “Demon Spirit Pearl-Spitting Qi” channeled drop by drop into his hands, then flowed along his long halberd to the blade’s tip. He wanted to kill Yu Konghou, while Yu Konghou was calculating how to guide Zhu Yan to kill Tang Lici.
Everyone was making their own calculations. Powerful enemies, close friends, and brothers all transformed into one phrase at this time and place:
Life and death.
Tang Lici’s form moved gracefully. Even surrounded by Yu Qifeng, Master Qingxu, and Gui Mudan, his posture remained elegant. But Yu Qifeng’s sword wind grew increasingly fierce, the sticky force carried by Master Qingxu’s palms grew stronger, while Gui Mudan merely sparred without using his full strength. If this prolonged battle continued, Tang Lici would inevitably be outmatched, especially with Yu Konghou watching like a tiger behind him.
How could he achieve victory? While parrying attacks, Tang Lici’s gaze wandered. With four of the Seven-Flower Cloud Wanderers present, he couldn’t achieve a great victory, but he also couldn’t leave empty-handed. At minimum, he needed to know A’Shui’s whereabouts… His gaze swept across and saw Fang Pingzhai waving his fan nearby with a helpless expression. His red lips curved slightly as his form floated backward in retreat, instantly arriving beside Fang Pingzhai.
Most of Fang Pingzhai’s attention was focused on Zhu Yan. He harbored no hostility toward Tang Lici and naturally had no guard up against him. When Tang Lici suddenly retreated explosively, Fang Pingzhai was caught off guard. His thoughts raced like lightning, and he simply pretended to be caught unprepared and allowed himself to be captured. He heard Tang Lici chuckle softly by his ear, apparently quite disdainful of his half-willing, half-reluctant act. The two turned around, and both Gui Mudan and Yu Konghou were startled. Tang Lici’s palm gripped Fang Pingzhai’s neck firmly as a trickle of fresh blood flowed down his throat. “Miss Tao, if you move, I’ll snap one of his vertebrae. If you speak a word, I’ll break his neck.”
Yu Konghou’s expression changed slightly, anger rising from his heart. Before he could speak, Zhu Yan’s “Demon Spirit Pearl-Spitting Qi” had reached its peak. Yu Konghou’s concentration wavered slightly. Zhu Yan gave a great shout and swung his long halberd – a strike with no return! Yu Konghou staggered to avoid it. Zhu Yan swept his halberd like a staff, pursuing with horizontal and vertical strikes across three paths. His long halberd fused staff techniques with spear methods, its sweeping momentum absolutely magnificent. After taking the Crimson Ghost Nine Heart Pills, Yu Konghou’s true power had doubled in strength, but under Zhu Yan’s pressure influence he still appeared inadequate. Great hatred filled his heart – Tang Lici’s provocative words had caused him to reveal an opening, drawing Zhu Yan’s attack and leaving him in such an embarrassing state. Though Zhu Yan was the one striking now, the true culprit was Tang Lici!
Seeing Zhu Yan and Yu Konghou begin fighting, Tang Lici’s eyelashes lifted slightly as he looked toward Gui Mudan and the other two, smiling. “Do you want his life or not?” He shook Fang Pingzhai like a shield. Whether Yu Qifeng’s long sword thrust forward or Master Qingxu’s palm shadows attacked, he would use Fang Pingzhai to block them. Gui Mudan glared at Fang Pingzhai with extreme irritation. Fang Pingzhai’s face was full of helplessness – Tang Lici’s fingers gripped his throat so painfully it felt like death, and his stomach was already filled with regret for provoking this plague god. Now when Yu Qifeng’s sword thrust forward, he truly could only serve as a sword target.
“Release Sixth Brother!” Gui Mudan’s face was gloomy. “Release Sixth Brother, and I’ll let you leave.”
Tang Lici’s complexion had appeared slightly haggard before, but now it suddenly bloomed with radiance, his cheeks flushed with color, supremely beautiful. “I want to say one thing to Master Qingxu.” Gui Mudan sneered. “You two have never met – why should he speak with you?” Tang Lici smiled. “I only want to say one thing to him. After speaking, I’ll leave immediately.” Gui Mudan watched Tang Lici’s fingers – those snow-white, beautiful fingers were sinking bit by bit into Fang Pingzhai’s throat. Fang Pingzhai’s face was turning purple. Tang Lici needed only to apply a bit more force, and this carefree jianghu wanderer of Layered Petals and Heavy Flowers would breathe his last.
“Master Qingxu! Go speak one sentence with him!” Though Gui Mudan’s heart burned with rage, he still couldn’t bear to watch Fang Pingzhai die on the spot. He had other expectations for Fang Pingzhai, and besides, the friendship of the Seven-Flower Cloud Wanderers spanning over ten years was no empty thing. Brothers were still brothers – he could kill him with his own hands, but couldn’t let others do it.
The black-clothed, masked Master Qingxu slowly stepped forward, each step cautious. Tang Lici, holding Fang Pingzhai, advanced one step and whispered something. Master Qingxu froze. Tang Lici smiled at him. With a “bang,” dozens of palm shadows swept past. Master Qingxu cried out and flew backward headfirst, struck in the chest by a palm, blood spurting wildly as he collapsed to the ground. Gui Mudan and Yu Qifeng were stunned – they hadn’t expected Tang Lici would dare to attack and injure someone at such a moment. Yu Qifeng raised his sword to pursue, but Tang Lici had already retreated gracefully through the tunnel while holding Fang Pingzhai hostage. Gui Mudan roared in fury, “Don’t pursue! Come back here!”
Master Qingxu continuously coughed and spat blood. Yu Qifeng stood coldly to one side, apparently quite pleased by this misfortune. Earlier, when Shen Langhun faced two opponents, it was Master Qingxu who had used killing moves. When Tang Lici broke into the passage, aside from searching for A’Shui, he had deliberately sought to avenge that palm strike for Shen Langhun. Though he had entered the dark passage facing strong enemies from four directions without gaining advantage, he could still injure an enemy and retreat. Gui Mudan watched Zhu Yan and Yu Konghou fighting desperately, his heart’s fury burning ever fiercer. He gave a fierce whistle and drew his blade to slash at Zhu Yan.
Yu Konghou fought barehanded and gradually fell into disadvantage under Zhu Yan’s long halberd. The Demon Spirit Pearl-Spitting Qi was a terrifying lingering poison, and he dared not lightly provoke its edge. Though he saw Tang Lici retreat gracefully while holding Fang Pingzhai hostage, he had no spare attention to be distracted. When Gui Mudan’s blade came slashing down, he gave a great shout, his palm shadows erupting as he struck thirty-three consecutive palms at Zhu Yan’s neck. Zhu Yan spun his halberd around his waist, the blade light like snow as his Demon Spirit Pearl-Spitting Qi burst forth explosively. A series of explosive sounds rang out as both Gui Mudan and Yu Konghou were shocked backward, blood at the corners of their mouths.
Zhu Yan planted his long halberd in the ground, exuding an air of unmatched authority. Though he held the halberd with one arm, Gui Mudan’s blade had cleaved a bright gash into the weapon, and Yu Konghou’s palm hadn’t missed either, leaving a bright red palm print on Zhu Yan’s neck.
But he stood firm and unyielding, his angry hair wild and disheveled, like a war god bathed in fire who would never fall.
Yu Konghou covered his mouth and coughed quietly. He finally had a chance to ask again. “Cough, cough… what did you do to her?” Zhu Yan turned his blade tip, its snow-bright edge facing Yu Konghou. “She’s dead.” Yu Konghou coughed twice and spat out fresh blood. “How did she die? By your side, how could she have died?” Zhu Yan said coldly, “I killed her.”
Tang Lici retreated from Wangting Manor while holding Fang Pingzhai. Outside, dawn had broken with clear clouds and fresh wind. Seeing Tang Lici emerge, someone rustled down from a nearby tree, soaking wet with some fragments of ice clinging to him – it was Shen Langhun. While Tang Lici had been entangled with the Wind and Moon Store group, he had quietly infiltrated through another route, thoroughly searching Wangting Manor inside and out. Finding no trace of A’Shui, he had crawled out through the water prison’s passage and waited outside for Tang Lici. Now seeing Tang Lici not only escape unharmed but also capture someone, Shen Langhun was momentarily stunned. Seeing it was Fang Pingzhai, he spat.
Tang Lici released Fang Pingzhai. Fang Pingzhai covered the wound on his neck and shook his head. “You’re truly heartless. I help you escape, yet you give me five claw wounds. Five claw wounds would be fine, but you also coat your fingers with poison, ensuring I’ll have some scars, damaging my body and hurting my soul. You — proud, arrogant, reckless, cunning, and heartless — no wonder my master thinks of you constantly, unable to forget.”
Tang Lici said gently, “I rescued you – shouldn’t you be grateful?” Fang Pingzhai pointed at his nose. “You, you, you… you rescued me? I have hands and feet, nothing missing or broken. Whether I want to walk sideways, vertically, on my knees, or crawling – however I walk is fine. Where exactly did you see that you rescued me?” Tang Lici grabbed the hand pointing at his nose. “Without me, today you would have had an even harder time leaving Wangting Manor than I.” Fang Pingzhai sighed. “But you can’t claim all the credit either. Didn’t I rescue you too? I wouldn’t have died staying in Wangting Manor, but you certainly would have. From this perspective, you rescued me once, but I saved your life. You’re the master of Ten Thousand Apertures Studio, the National Uncle’s adopted son, Noble Consort Yun’s sworn brother. Your life is different from others’ – you’re covered in gold, silver, bronze, and iron, with auspicious qi and lucky phoenixes behind you, so—”
Tang Lici laughed and slowly released his hand. “So?” Fang Pingzhai extended his red fan toward him. “Hand it over.” Tang Lici made an “oh” sound. “What?” Fang Pingzhai said seriously, “Silver, of course. Saving your life – isn’t it worth ten thousand taels of silver? I’m short of money now, extremely poor. You owe me a favor, and as a great hero, you should naturally rob the rich to help the poor and assist the weak, so – hand over the money.” Shen Langhun chuckled with a “chi” sound. Tang Lici raised his hand to lightly stroke his gray hair. “I’ll give you one sentence.”
Hearing this, Fang Pingzhai flashed far backward. Earlier, Tang Lici had spoken “one sentence” to Master Qingxu, resulting in Master Qingxu being severely injured and collapsed. He couldn’t afford to hear such a sentence. Seeing him flee like a scared rabbit, Tang Lici smiled slightly. “At the foot of Fengming Mountain, in Jihe Valley, there’s an estate.” Fang Pingzhai made an “mm” sound. “Yours?” Tang Lici’s eyes smiled. “The estate spans ten li in all directions, with farmland, orchards, rivers, and wells – sufficient for self-sufficiency.” Fang Pingzhai waved his fan and paced two steps. “And then?” Tang Lici said, “And then… in the vast jianghu, very few people could find you – unless – I reveal your location.” Fang Pingzhai made another “mm” sound. “Very good. I accept this favor. The jianghu is boundless – if fated, we’ll meet again.” He waved his fan and departed leisurely.
Yellow robes and red fan were particularly conspicuous in the winter mountain forest. With the west wind and light snow, his red fan waved most elegantly. Among jianghu people walking the jianghu, how many could be as elegant as he?
Tang Lici gazed at Fang Pingzhai’s retreating figure. “You didn’t ask him about Liu Yan’s whereabouts?” Shen Langhun said flatly, “He wouldn’t tell.” Tang Lici smiled. “Next time you see Liu Yan, are you still determined to kill him?” Shen Langhun said flatly, “The vengeance of killing one’s wife cannot coexist under the same heaven.” Tang Lici changed the subject. “A’Shui isn’t at Wangting Manor?” Shen Langhun shook his head and produced a torn piece of clothing. “I found this piece of her clothing at the exit. She should have returned already.” Tang Lici raised his head as the sun began to rise. “You owe me one slash.” Shen Langhun made an “mm” sound, his gaze turning toward another stretch of forest. “I can sell my life for that slash until you think it’s enough.” Tang Lici asked slowly, “Can’t that slash offset the one you want to give Liu Yan?” Without looking at him, Shen Langhun still said flatly, “No.” Tang Lici asked again, “Even adding the Spring Mountain Beauty Hairpin, it still can’t?” Shen Langhun said, “No.”
Tang Lici shifted his gaze to look at the forest Shen Langhun was watching. “There will always be… a time when you think it can.” Shen Langhun gave a “heh” sound. “Regarding Liu Yan, you truly never give up hope.” The two stood resting briefly, then quickly deployed their movement techniques and returned to Chengfeng Town.