With a “bang,” the last person fell. Tang Lici turned his sword blade, looking at everyone with a half-smile. More than ten people lay scattered on the ground, including Emei’s Master Wenxiu. He had fought with everyone for an hour, found opportunities to strike their pressure points one by one, achieving complete victory without bloodshed.

It seemed he was determined to fight a delaying battle, waiting until Miss Hong returned. How could he be allowed to have his way? Yu Konghou calculated in his heart – wanting to delay time yet not wanting to hurt people, how could there be such a convenient thing in the world? If you want to delay time, I’ll make you an enemy of the world. With his plan set, he coughed lightly, swept his sleeve, and said softly, “Young Master Tang, please enlighten me.”

Tang Lici smiled slightly. Seeing Yu Konghou float onto the scene, many people felt protective toward this delicate beauty. Zhang Hemo coughed heavily and said, “Miss Tao is frail and delicate. How can she fight such an evil person alone? Let us handle it!” He led the crowd onto the field, surrounding Tang Lici and Liu Yan completely. Yu Konghou smiled charmingly, “I’ll fight alongside Brother Zhang.”

Twenty to thirty Songshan Sect members surrounded Tang Lici. Yu Konghou’s eyes flowed as Tang Lici looked at him coldly. Yu Konghou held his five fingers in a loose grip – neither quite a fist nor quite a claw. It was undoubtedly some strange martial art.

Hearing “I’ll fight alongside Brother Zhang,” Zhang Hemo’s heart leaped, secretly determined not to let “Miss Tao” suffer the slightest harm. He gave a great shout and struck out with his “Mountain-Splitting Rock-Breaking” palm toward Tang Lici.

Tang Lici swept out with his five fingers, dissolving Zhang Hemo’s palm force, then lightly flicked his finger. A stream of finger wind struck directly at Qu Zhiqiang, a Songshan Sect disciple behind Zhang Hemo. Qu Zhiqiang blocked horizontally with his sword. With a “clang,” his long sword was knocked from his hand and struck his fellow disciple Fu San beside him. Fu San fell backward in response. After Qu Zhiqiang’s sword was knocked away, he managed to catch Fu San, momentarily stunned and not understanding what had happened.

Everyone’s expressions changed in shock. Tang Lici was so skilled – without many masters surrounding him, they probably couldn’t keep him here. Immediately, Qingcheng Sect’s Dongfang Jian, Nine Blade Gate’s Huo Chunfeng, and Flying Star Bright Moon Hand Li Hongchen all leaped out together, completely surrounding Tang Lici.

Cheng Yunpao frowned. These three had martial arts superior to Zhang Hemo’s. Though Yu Konghou was pretending to be Xi Fangtao and couldn’t fully display his unique martial arts, with four people plus Zhang Hemo joining forces, this wasn’t something that could be resolved by delaying tactics.

Meng Qinglei and Yu Furen looked at each other. With the situation developing to this point, they naturally didn’t believe Tang Lici was a House of Pleasure spy. But with Abbot Puzhu’s letter here and everyone emotionally agitated, Tang Lici had calmly admitted it and drawn his sword in response. In such circumstances, they really didn’t know whether to join the fight or wait quietly for the outcome.

Dongfang Jian’s sword drew circles and squares, following an agile and mysterious path. Huo Chunfeng’s “Ten Directions Nine Blades” was a fierce and mighty style. Flying Star Bright Moon Hand excelled in finger techniques. When the three surrounded him, they coordinated seamlessly. In an instant, blade, sword, and finger force surged, enveloping Tang Lici’s entire body.

Yu Konghou’s eyes shifted as another vicious plot arose. Seeing the Songshan Sect disciples also raising their swords to attack together, his figure floated and his sleeves swayed lightly. Those hands, adorned like a woman’s, drifted toward Tang Lici seemingly light and delicate. But the moment his palm shadow struck out, pearls suddenly flew from his sleeve, scattering in all directions.

“Ah!”

“Sect Leader…”

Screams arose as three Songshan Sect disciples suddenly fell, blood gushing from their chests. Zhang Hemo was greatly shocked, leaped back to help one up, and struck his chest to extract a pearl. He immediately flew into a rage. “Tang Lici, what a vicious technique!”

Tang Lici was surrounded by blade, sword, and finger force. He gave a great shout and swung his sword in counterattack. The sound of “clang” was deafening, mixed with the sharp sound of breaking. Blood splattered as the four floated back in retreat. Everyone saw Dongfang Jian’s long sword had broken, Huo Chunfeng’s blade had a notch, and all three had blood at the corners of their mouths. Li Hongchen even had a long wound on his arm with blood flowing freely.

Earlier, Tang Lici had won without bloodshed, but now he was killing and drawing blood. Cheng Yunpao’s expression changed – with his eyesight, though he hadn’t clearly seen Yu Konghou’s sleeve pearls injuring people, he had glimpsed the pearl shadows and could guess Yu Konghou had played tricks. But Tang Lici injuring people would certainly arouse everyone’s righteous indignation, which would only be detrimental to him.

Why was he doing this?

Couldn’t he control his strength?

Or did he have other plans?

“Good skill!” Dongfang Jian’s long sword had broken, but he showed no anger. His cultivation was deep and he wasn’t easily moved. Huo Chunfeng was furious, while Li Hongchen, though wounded in the arm, knew Tang Lici could have severed his arm earlier but had shown mercy.

Why had he shown mercy?

Tang Lici still stood holding his sword. Though he held a sword stance, his posture was quite lazy. Despite Zhang Hemo’s murderous aura, he remained calm and composed.

Liu Yan’s pressure points remained unsealed. He watched Tang Lici fight the heroes with one sword in horror, his heart filled with regret, anger, worry, and anxiety. A Li should truly not know the severity of his internal injuries, otherwise he would never do such a thing – if this continued and something unexpected happened… if something unexpected happened…

If something unexpected happened, everything A Li had sought in his life would be for nothing.

The familial love he had pursued his whole life, his father’s recognition, his mother’s indulgence, including the glorious position of being the center of attention and his lofty status – all would be completely destroyed. Even those women who admired him would regret it, because at this moment he bore the name of a House of Pleasure spy, he had wounded martial world luminaries with his sword, and he had tacitly admitted to being the greatest conspiracy in this martial world upheaval.

Why did he tacitly admit it? Why did he delay the fight? No matter what plans he had in mind, he certainly didn’t know about his own near-death condition and couldn’t engage in such intense exertion. If he died, any plans would be in vain. How could he warn him? How could he tell him he couldn’t continue fighting?

Liu Yan watched Tang Lici’s sword light in terror as he continued fighting Dongfang Jian, Huo Chunfeng, Li Hongchen, Zhang Hemo and others. If he told him now that his internal injury was incurable, knowing A Li’s character, he would be greatly shocked and might do something crazy. But if he didn’t speak, what if something unexpected happened?

“Hold on!” Cheng Yunpao, who had been watching from the side, shouted sternly. Dongfang Jian, Huo Chunfeng, Li Hongchen and others paused and leaped back. Cheng Yunpao raised his sword and strode forward. With a “clang,” his long sword left its sheath. He said coolly to Tang Lici, “Are you really a House of Pleasure spy?”

Tang Lici’s gaze flowed but he didn’t answer.

“Very well.” Cheng Yunpao picked up his scabbard and threw it backward. “The vengeance for Chi Yun and Shao Yanping, the deception of half a year – today I’ll settle it all under the Desolate Frost Sword!” His words were cold. Dongfang Jian and the others were all injured and knew Cheng Yunpao’s swordsmanship was excellent, not necessarily inferior to Tang Lici’s, so they all withdrew to watch how the Central Plains Sword Assembly would purge its own spies.

Tang Lici glanced at Yu Konghou. As Dongfang Jian and others withdrew, Yu Konghou didn’t withdraw but still smiled charmingly. “I’ll join forces with Hero Cheng.”

Cheng Yunpao paused slightly but didn’t insist. With a humming sword cry, he thrust “Cold Sword Desolate Frost” toward Tang Lici. Yu Konghou’s long sleeves flew, appearing to have delicate jade palms that looked light and gentle. Cheng Yunpao, beside him, felt the sound of breaking air was strange when he thrust his sword – as if the invisible air in front suddenly became several times thicker. The force of this palm was beyond ordinary imagination.

“Cold Sword Desolate Frost” was the strongest move among Cheng Yunpao’s dozens of sword techniques. Yu Konghou observed and knew Cheng Yunpao’s move showed no mercy. Though he didn’t know if Cheng Yunpao truly believed Tang Lici was a spy, he needed to force Cheng Yunpao to show no mercy.

The powerful palm force swept through the space. If Cheng Yunpao didn’t use full strength with this sword, even his blade might not stay straight. He gave a great shout, “Ha!” The Desolate Frost sword’s radiance exploded, its tip striking out dozens of cold gleams, stabbing directly at all the vital points on Tang Lici’s upper body. Yu Konghou smiled slightly, following the momentum of the “Cold Sword Desolate Frost,” pushing out with joined palms while sweeping Tang Lici’s lower body escape route.

The combined attack of the two displayed such might. Everyone saw sword momentum stretching across like a rainbow, radiance flashing – completely different from the earlier momentum of Dongfang Jian’s three-man alliance. Like fierce wind and torrential rain, it seemed ready to swallow Tang Lici whole.

Tang Lici flicked his fingers lightly, three streams of finger wind pointing toward Cheng Yunpao’s sword edge, then leaped up to meet Yu Konghou’s seemingly light and delicate jade hands with his palm.

Everyone present was shocked to see Tang Lici ignore Cheng Yunpao’s brilliant sword and turn to face Yu Konghou directly. Zhang Hemo and Huo Chunfeng, thinking Tang Lici was determined to kill Yu Konghou, both shouted and struck toward Tang Lici.

With a “crack,” Tang Lici’s palms first met Yu Konghou’s. When their true forces touched, both used full strength. Tang Lici was originally slightly inferior, and having divided three finger forces to block Cheng Yunpao’s sword, his qi and blood immediately became disordered. Yu Konghou smiled charmingly, withdrew his palms, lightly bit his tongue to draw blood, spat fresh blood and staggered backward into the crowd.

Tang Lici blocked the cold sword with three fingers. With a clear “clang,” the Desolate Frost sword vibrated from his three fingers but its momentum didn’t decrease at all, still stabbing toward his chest. Cheng Yunpao knew Tang Lici was at a disadvantage in the chaotic battle, but at this moment he absolutely couldn’t show mercy with this sword, otherwise if Yu Konghou became suspicious, Tang Lici’s future actions would have many more troubles.

With a “whoosh” of blade cutting air, Huo Chunfeng and Zhang Hemo saw Yu Konghou injured and retreating. Their protective feelings stirred greatly and they struck with extra force. Tang Lici first received Yu Konghou’s palm, then blocked Cheng Yunpao’s sword with unchanged momentum, and now had blade and palm breaking through the air toward him. Suddenly blades and sword pressed against his body. Everyone gasped, expecting one of the three to succeed.

But suddenly red shadows blocked their sight. Zhang Hemo and Huo Chunfeng were obstructed, striking the red shadow. Huo Chunfeng’s blade suddenly flew back while Cheng Yunpao’s sword slashed down. Only a soft “chi” sound was heard as the red shadow developed a bean-sized hole but couldn’t be cut through.

As the red shadow fluttered down, everyone saw Tang Lici holding red silk. This strange red silk that had blocked blade, palm, and sword was tied within his clothing. When the weapons had struck together, he had suddenly pulled the red silk from his chest and spun to block the attacks. This object was impervious to blades and spears. As the red silk fell and weapons withdrew, Tang Lici remained – undefeated!

Cheng Yunpao’s sword failed. He leaped back with his toes touching ground then leaped up again, striking out his second sword “Flute Sound Fine Rain.” Tang Lici, his qi and blood still unsettled from Yu Konghou’s palm force, blocked horizontally with his sword. With a clear “ding,” Qingxuzi’s sword chipped a piece of steel.

Yu Konghou staggered backward and lightly pushed Zhang Hemo’s shoulder from behind. Zhang Hemo understood and explosively struck out again. Tang Lici’s sword was damaged in his hand, with Liu Yan behind him unable to advance or retreat. Facing the renewed combined attack of Cheng Yunpao, Zhang Hemo, Huo Chunfeng, Li Hongchen and others, he flipped his wrist. Everyone saw the sword light sweep back toward his neck and immediately cried out “Ah,” thinking Tang Lici was about to cut his own throat.

The sword light stopped. Red lips and white teeth reflected the cold light.

Tang Lici held the sword horizontally to his lips. Cheng Yunpao’s expression suddenly changed and he leaped back. Zhang Hemo and others hadn’t awakened yet and still charged forward. Yu Konghou was greatly shocked and immediately circulated his qi to seal his acupoints. Suddenly a sword whistle arose like a phoenix crying and clouds moving. Zhang Hemo, bearing the brunt, immediately felt his ears ringing like thunder and his qi and blood churning. He immediately spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood with a “wah.”

Looking up in shock, he saw Huo Chunfeng, Li Hongchen and others around him all had blood at the corners of their mouths. Tang Lici’s horizontal sword blow had such power!

The attacking men slowly retreated. Tang Lici held the sword horizontally to his lips, his fingertip touching the blade. The sword-blowing sound then changed like music. With just a steel sword, he could blow variations of gong, shang, jue, zhi, yu tones on it, carrying fierce true qi. Among the watching crowd, those with insufficient skill couldn’t withstand it first and retreated step by step. Finally unable to bear it, they all turned and fled.

Yu Konghou resisted the musical sound, extremely annoyed in his heart. He had long guarded against Tang Lici’s sound-killing technique, determined to force Tang Lici to have no time to take out instruments to play. But unexpectedly, with the sword horizontal to his lips, he could still blow musical sounds.

The shrill and stirring sword-blowing sound shook half the mountain. Those with weaker skills left one after another. Soon only a dozen people remained, circulating their qi to resist while still surrounding him in a circle.

Yu Konghou quietly instructed Zhang Hemo to arrange men to intercept at the foot of the mountain and told him to first take the Emei Sect members and injured Songshan Sect disciples back to Shenfeng Hall for treatment. Zhang Hemo nodded repeatedly, completely convinced by “Miss Tao,” and immediately left with Huo Chunfeng and Li Hongchen.

Tang Lici continued blowing the sword. Those still present – Yu Konghou, Meng Qinglei, Yu Furen, Cheng Yunpao, Dongfang Jian, Qi Xing, Zheng Yue, Dong Hubi, Gu Xitan, Wen Baiyou, Xu Qingbo and others – completely surrounded him. White mist drifted on Haoyun Mountain. The sharp and fierce sword-blowing sound vibrated the white mist and spread far, like mountain spirits and tree demons singing in the deep mountain forests.

The surroundings became extremely quiet. Except for the demon-like sword-blowing sound, they could only hear the wind.

Yu Konghou’s eyes flowed. If this continued and Tang Lici could blow for several days, he might really delay until Miss Hong’s return. Though he had already shattered the token, if that girl truly returned after being invested, the situation would change again. He absolutely couldn’t let him blow for days and nights. But with the sound-killing technique before them, attacking wasn’t easy. Moreover, with so many people present, he couldn’t display abilities beyond “Xi Fangtao’s” identity. What method could break Tang Lici’s sound-killing technique?

Suddenly his heart heated. He quietly retreated a few steps and walked toward Fang Pingzhai, who sat watching the show with his “pressure points sealed,” transmitting his voice through qi: “Sixth Brother.”