What he was singing – actually, including Yu Konghou, no one except Tang Lici understood. But the flute sound was melodious and the tune so easy on the ears. Hearing those scattered words like “deception… everything… desire… limits…” each person couldn’t help but imagine, their true qi and internal breath unconsciously following the rhythm of the flute.
“Heart wounded unto death, steadfastness also shatters, dreams cannot withstand flames, wounded ghosts weep in the deep night—” Liu Yan’s singing suddenly soared higher. Everyone’s hearts shook, their true qi boiling in unison, suffocating to the point of death. They heard him continue singing, “Wounds covered with sand and salt, no one can see, an angel’s arrow nails him to death in the dark-ness! That sacred flame, that demon-slaying feast, that jubilant human world, ah~~ the unjust jubilant human world, this is an unjust human world, this unjust, unjust, unfair human world ah——”
“Wah!” Zheng Yue was the first unable to withstand it, blood gushing as he staggered and fell. After Liu Yan’s voice opened up, it climbed steadily. His unrestrained explosive power made that line “this is an unjust human world” so shrill and tragic that it made Zheng Yue’s eardrums buzz and his true qi flow backward, severely injuring him. Qi Xing retreated seven steps, his face pale as death. Wen Baiyou, Xu Qingbo, Gu Xitan and others also had extremely wan faces.
Just as everyone was about to be injured, with a “crack,” the flute sound suddenly stopped. Liu Yan’s singing paused as he raised his head, only to see the copper flute in Tang Lici’s hands split in two, broken into sections. He was stunned. After a long while, he finally understood: A Li had also been stirred to boiling blood just now. This copper flute had already been cracked and playing it with true force was already strained. Unable to withstand his momentary excitement, when his hands exerted force, it broke again from the middle.
With the copper flute broken, everyone escaped death. Yu Konghou smiled. “Young Master Tang, you and Liu Yan truly have good friendship. What a fine song – we almost all perished under your sound-killing technique. Pity heaven doesn’t favor you. You should still surrender.”
Tang Lici threw the two sections of copper flute before Liu Yan. His figure suddenly flickered as he rushed to Yu Furen’s side. Everyone heard a “bang” as Yu Furen suddenly fell back three steps. Tang Lici flickered back, holding the Qingluo sword, his sleeves slightly swaying, still standing in the original spot.
His seizure of the sword from Yu Furen was so easy! Wen Baiyou, Gu Xitan and others all felt shocked. Cheng Yunpao’s gaze swept over and saw Yu Furen’s pressure points sealed without any anger, knowing he had half-complied. When Tang Lici struck to seize the sword, Yu Furen let him take it. Otherwise, with Yu Furen’s skills, how could seizing a sword be so easy?
The current situation was severe. Tang Lici’s copper flute was broken. If he relied on one sword’s might to delay time until Miss Hong returned, it was still a fool’s dream.
Since martial arts began in the martial world, probably no one had ever had such a crazy idea – to fight a dozen people alone for several days without sleep, rest, or defeat. Cheng Yunpao was anxious in his heart. With Yu Konghou nearby, he couldn’t show mercy, and didn’t know what method could help Tang Lici.
The copper flute was broken, his own martial arts destroyed – the sound-killing technique could no longer help him fend off enemies. Liu Yan sat on the ground, also full of anxiety. He was more anxious than Cheng Yunpao. Cheng Yunpao only worried that the Central Plains Sword Assembly’s campaign against the House of Pleasure would be frustrated and fail, while Liu Yan only cared about Tang Lici’s injuries.
But in front of others, as long as he wasn’t at an uncontrollable stage, wanting to see expressions of pain or haggardness on Tang Lici, or improper behavior – that was impossible.
“Don’t think that holding Qingluo will make any difference.” Zhang Hemo and others had already sent Master Wenxiu’s group back to Shenfeng Hall. Returning to see Tang Lici holding Qingluo, he gave a great shout of Songshan Wind-Breaking Fist and struck at Tang Lici. Wen Baiyou, Xu Qingbo and others all picked up their blades and swords again, attacking Tang Lici together.
With a clear sword cry, Tang Lici’s sword light flashed, blocking everyone’s moves one by one. Qingluo emanated faint green sword light, neither warm nor fierce, still delaying the battle.
Yu Konghou’s thoughts turned as he picked up Qingxuzi’s chipped sword from the ground and thrust it toward Tang Lici. Midway through the thrust, pretending to be delicate and powerless, he turned the blade aside and suddenly stabbed toward Liu Yan.
With a crisp “clang,” the steel sword broke. Yu Konghou floated back in retreat while Tang Lici returned his sword to parry. Qingluo’s edge far exceeded common iron, cutting through the broken blade with one stroke. But just as he swung his sword to break the blade, Huo Chunfeng’s Mountain-Breaking Saber broke through the defense and carved a shallow wound on his back.
Zhang Hemo’s spirits lifted. Xu Qingbo turned his sword edge, and the two followed suit, attacking Liu Yan together. At this point, they had long forgotten martial world rules and righteousness. Any method that could harm Tang Lici could be employed without hesitation. Previously when practicing martial arts, they worried their moves weren’t grand and magnificent enough. Now they only regretted they weren’t fierce and vicious enough.
With a “clang,” Qingluo forced back Huo Chunfeng’s blade. Tang Lici swept his sleeve and struck back with his palm, shocking Zhang Hemo away. But Gu Xitan and Cheng Yunpao both thrust their swords together. The senior and junior brothers shared the same spirit – when their swords struck together, sword qi surged and blade light suddenly exploded.
Tang Lici couldn’t parry in time. He grabbed Liu Yan and lunged forward while his other hand raised the red silk. With a “chi” sound of tearing fabric, the Flying Red Insect Silk tore again. The two sword edges carved two more bloody marks on Tang Lici’s back.
Landing, releasing the person, turning around – Tang Lici was bathed in blood over half his body, yet his expression remained composed. Facing an irreversible situation, he still had no intention of retreating.
Cheng Yunpao wounded Tang Lici with his sword and smiled bitterly in his heart. This sword wasn’t his wish, yet he had to do it. Gu Xitan’s sword was stained with blood, but his heart was very confused. He wasn’t certain whether Tang Lici was someone who deserved killing. After wounding someone with his sword, he couldn’t thrust forward anymore.
But Xu Qingbo, Zhang Hemo and others were wildly joyful in their hearts, their moves becoming increasingly fierce. The situation suddenly became chaotic. Yu Konghou saw his chance and struck out with a palm directly at the crown of Liu Yan’s head.
With a “bang,” Tang Lici indeed returned his palm to parry. Yu Konghou revealed a smile, pushing out his palm’s true force with full strength. The two palms pressed against palms, actually forming a contest of internal power.
Zhang Hemo and others were greatly shocked. How could Miss Tao’s delicate body compete in palm strength with Tang Lici? Yu Konghou’s previously bitten tongue was still bleeding. Now he pretended to have a pale face with blood at the corner of his mouth, his body swaying as if about to fall. Everyone shouted in unison, blades and swords striking toward Tang Lici. Liu Yan’s face suddenly turned deathly pale as several muffled sounds rang out—
Fresh blood sprayed like mist.
Blood flowers bloomed across the sandy ground.
Tang Lici’s right hand opposed the palm while he discarded Qingluo with his left hand, grasping the sword blades of Wen Baiyou and Xu Qingbo with his bare hands. Gripping swords with empty hands, those twisted blades carved deep wounds in his palms, blood flowing down the swords.
Huo Chunfeng’s blade struck Tang Lici’s right arm that was opposing Yu Konghou’s palm, staining his white robe with blood. Cheng Yunpao and Gu Xitan held their double swords, stopping just at Tang Lici’s robes. Meng Qinglei, Dong Hubi, and Qi Xing stood to the side – they had already struck but all withdrew their momentum.
Wen Baiyou and Xu Qingbo’s swords were both destroyed. They struggled to withdraw their swords as Tang Lici released his grip to let them retreat. Yu Konghou pretended to sway as if about to fall, but his palm force was overwhelming. Meng Qinglei, Cheng Yunpao and others knew something was wrong but couldn’t help. Liu Yan’s terrifying face was completely bloodless, looking even more terrifying.
Soon after, Yu Konghou gave a delicate cry and staggered backward. Blood traces appeared at the corner of Tang Lici’s lips. Though he was covered in wounds, he didn’t care at all. Earlier, because of the palm strength contest, holding a sword with one hand couldn’t parry close attacks, so he could only abandon the sword. Now Qingluo gleamed on the ground. Having abandoned it, he had no intention of picking it up again.
One couldn’t tell that such an evil person still had proud bones. Wen Baiyou’s heart stirred as he suddenly thought: This person never used killing moves from beginning to end. If he had used fierce killing moves early on, our side would probably already be littered with casualties. If he’s actually not the spy Abbot Puzhu mentioned, for us to surround and attack him like this – wouldn’t that be a great mistake? But if he’s not a spy, why did he kill Qingxuzi? And why did he admit it? Most importantly, why did he save Liu Yan?
The situation momentarily stalled. Tang Lici was already covered in wounds. Everyone, respecting their own status, wouldn’t strike again but surrounded him in a circle, watching him bleed continuously, all hoping he would admit defeat and surrender.
“A Li…” Liu Yan said hoarsely, “Give up…” He understood Tang Lici didn’t care about his wounds because his injuries could heal quickly. He always believed he would never be defeated. He even believed that no matter how injured he became, he absolutely wouldn’t die.
Give up…
Why go to such lengths?
Who are you fighting against? Against Yu Konghou? Against the entire martial world? Or just against yourself?
“Surrender!” Yu Konghou leaned against a nearby tree, saying gently, “You can’t save anyone – not Liu Yan, you can’t leave this place, you can’t even save yourself. Give up and surrender. Before the truth is completely investigated, I believe Abbot Puzhu and Master Wenxiu won’t immediately kill you. You still have some time to live.”
The wounds on Tang Lici’s body had gradually stopped bleeding. Hearing this, he smiled faintly. Before he could answer, someone called from afar, “That’s right, surrender!”
The speaker’s pronunciation was perfect and clear, with only scholarly air and no martial world flavor. Liu Yan shuddered as Tang Lici raised his head. They saw a group of people on horseback approaching through the forest, led by a man in black scholar’s robes – it was Jiao Shiqiao.
Yu Konghou’s expression changed. He saw the arrivals numbered about a hundred, surrounding Miss Hong in their midst. Miss Hong wore brocade and fine clothes, her expression quite cold. She raised her hand and pointed at Tang Lici. “Guards! Capture this villain!”
“Miss Hong?” Zhang Hemo and others cried out in shock.
Miss Hong smiled indifferently. Jiao Shiqiao stood before her horse. “This is the current Dynasty’s Princess Langya, acting on His Majesty’s sacred edict, leading one hundred and eighty imperial guards with special authority to investigate the Crimson Ghost Nine Heart Pills matter.” He displayed his token. “This humble one is Jiao Shiqiao, temporarily appointed as leader of these guards. We’ll take over the matter of capturing Tang Lici. You’ve all fought long and hard – you may withdraw.”
Everyone looked at each other. Cheng Yunpao let out a long sigh and was the first to withdraw. The others followed suit, watching the imperial guards completely surround Tang Lici and Liu Yan.
Tang Lici stared intently at the situation changing again. Suddenly he smiled slightly at Yu Konghou, grabbed Liu Yan, and in a flash of white, two guards at the front let out muffled groans and fell to the ground. Before the others could react, he had already broken through the encirclement.
Miss Hong shouted, “Pursue!”
Jiao Shiqiao and Yang Guihua both spurred their horses in urgent pursuit. Miss Hong turned back to the crowd and smiled faintly. “Tang Lici’s conspiracy is exposed and he has nowhere to hide. He’s no great threat. We should first return to Shenfeng Hall to discuss the House of Pleasure matter.”
Cheng Yunpao bowed to her. Miss Hong’s forces and the crowd then slowly returned to Shenfeng Hall together.