Time passed, though how long was unknown.
Cheng Yunpao was the first to awaken. Opening his eyes, he saw a stretch of dark cave wall. The cave’s stone walls were covered with water droplets, very damp, yet there were no mosquitoes around him, and he caught the fresh fragrance of herbs at his nose. He gathered a breath of true energy and was astonished to discover that someone had fed him some medicine—though his internal injuries were not yet fully healed, his inner breath was already flowing freely. Sitting up, Cheng Yunpao saw an incense burner placed on the black rock at the cave entrance. In the burner, a stick of golden medicinal incense was releasing the last wisps of lingering smoke, and a jade bottle lay on the ground.
The jade bottle was of transparent, lustrous jade—one could tell at a glance it was no ordinary object.
The surroundings were quiet with no one in sight.
Gu Xitan lay beside him. Cheng Yunpao checked his pulse and knew that Gu Xitan had also been fed healing medicine and was no longer in mortal danger.
Besides this, the cave floor was covered with dried blood—no one knew whose blood it was, but judging by the amount of bleeding, if it had come from one person, they would surely have died long ago. There were traces of where someone had lain on the ground, but no corpses. Cheng Yunpao vaguely remembered seeing Kuanglan Wuxing gripping Zheng Yue’s neck, then “Ten Thousand Li Peach Blossoms” flying through the air to catch Kuanglan Wuxing’s neck.
What happened after that?
Cheng Yunpao supported himself against the cave wall and stood up, slowly walking to the incense burner. This incense burner and jade bottle—such precious and magnificent objects—must have been left by Tang Lici. Since he had left the two senior and junior brothers here, the crisis had obviously been resolved, but where was Tang Lici? Where were Zheng Yue and Kuanglan Wuxing? Zheng Yue, he…
Zheng Yue had risked his life to save them—was he… still alive?
A low moan came from the ground as Gu Xitan awakened. Before even opening his eyes, he first called out “Young Master Zheng…”
Cheng Yunpao helped him up. Gu Xitan opened his eyes and saw the cave floor covered with blood. “Senior Brother, Young Master Zheng, he…”
Cheng Yunpao contemplated for a moment, then slowly shook his head.
Although “Ten Thousand Li Peach Blossoms” had caught Kuanglan Wuxing at the time, with Kuanglan Wuxing’s finger strength, he didn’t need to actually grip Zheng Yue’s neck—when he grasped from a distance, Zheng Yue’s neck bones had already been completely shattered.
Gu Xitan coughed hoarsely. “Then Kuanglan Wuxing… what about him?”
Cheng Yunpao didn’t know what had happened to Kuanglan Wuxing either. He picked up the jade bottle from the ground. Inside were two pale green pills that looked quite attractive, but not knowing whether the medicine Tang Lici had left was healing pills or poison, Cheng Yunpao hesitated for a moment before putting it in his clothing pouch. The two each regulated their breathing, and half an hour later, prepared to return to the Central Plains Sword Association’s camp.
In the forest where the Central Plains Sword Association had made camp, a wooden table was placed in front of Miss Hong’s tent.
Wanyu Yuedan and Miss Hong sat facing each other. Exquisite pastries were arranged on the table, but neither had touched them.
Bi Lianyi had been carried back by Xu Qingbo, but his injuries were extremely severe. Biluo Palace was treating his wounds—the poison of the “Northern Cold Potion” had damaged his meridians and true energy, making healing extremely difficult. Wanyu Yuedan sat quietly, Miss Hong also sat quietly. The two sat there as leaves fell rustling down, landing on their clothes and hair, neither speaking nor moving. Tie Jing and He Yan’er didn’t dare approach, and even the guards beside Miss Hong fell silent as cicadas, unconsciously stepping back several zhang.
“Miss Hong, that demon… demon head… from the Romantic Shop has come out.”
Qi Xing quietly reported from a distance.
Miss Hong and Wanyu Yuedan both looked up. Though Wanyu Yuedan couldn’t see, he also gazed toward the direction of the approaching figure in the forest.
From the withered forest of Piaoluo Mei Yuan, scattered with poisonous powder, Tang Lici emerged carrying someone horizontally in his arms, walking slowly.
Zheng Yue’s face was blue-purple, his throat bones shattered—he had long since died.
Tang Lici carried Zheng Yue’s corpse horizontally, walking to about one zhang away from the tent before slowly setting him down.
Miss Hong suddenly stood up. “Zheng Yue!”
Qi Xing, Xu Qingbo and the others were all extremely shocked and stunned, wanting to rush forward but deterred by Tang Lici’s evil reputation, not daring to act rashly. Seeing Zheng Yue’s disfigured corpse, they were filled with rage.
“Master Tang… Master Tang ambushed our Sword Association members, striking without mercy, ruthless and vicious.” Miss Hong stared at Tang Lici. “With Master Tang’s prestigious reputation, harming Young Hero Zheng seems like bullying the weak. Could it be that he discovered some shameful evil deed of yours, causing you to kill him to silence him, then bring him here to show off your power?”
“Little Hong really knows how to talk.” Tang Lici smiled slightly. “Kuanglan Wuxing practiced the ‘Rebirth Manual’—what tremendous power! Zheng Yue was recklessly bold, secretly entering the forbidden realm, and died when Kuanglan Wuxing crushed his neck.” He stood behind Zheng Yue’s corpse, his posture upright. “Old friends, Piaoluo Mei Yuan is full of mechanisms, with unfathomable divine power. For the sake of everyone’s lives and safety…” He stepped back, broke off a dry branch from a withered tree beside him, and slowly drew a horizontal line in the mud behind Zheng Yue’s corpse.
The line was very shallow, applied with uneven force—a very casual line.
Tang Lici was heard saying, “…you should be content with your station and careful in word and deed—if you cross this line, don’t blame Tang for bullying the weak and killing to silence.”
Behind Miss Hong, Dongfang Jian, Huo Chunfeng and others showed their anger. Someone was already pointing at Tang Lici in fury, saying, “Evil sect demon heads deserve to be eliminated by everyone! Young Hero Zheng sought benevolence and achieved benevolence—he’s truly a model for our generation! Why don’t you kneel down and kowtow to Young Hero Zheng, yet you still dare to show off here, spouting nonsense!” Others shouted, “Today let me experience Young Master Tang’s prowess!”
Tang Lici’s eyes lifted slightly. With a flick of his sleeve, a pure silver light flashed by, splitting the wooden table in front of Miss Hong in two. The pastries on the table were swept back by “Ten Thousand Li Peach Blossoms.” With this wave of his hand, the several people standing near Miss Hong were caught off guard. If it had swept toward Miss Hong’s neck, she would probably have been separated from her head. Tang Lici caught the plate of green tea plum blossom cakes and slowly looked toward those young heroes who wanted to “experience Young Master Tang’s prowess.” Those few had already shut their mouths, and seeing his gaze sweep over, they couldn’t help but shrink behind others. He was heard sighing, “Huikong Hall’s plum blossom cakes aren’t as delicate and soft as those made by Kuhang Residence—they don’t taste good.”
He placed the plum blossom cakes and plate beside Zheng Yue, not taking the Central Plains Sword Association’s grand formation seriously at all, and turned to leave.
Wanyu Yuedan listened to his every move. Miss Hong also said nothing more. Only after Tang Lici had departed did she say in a hoarse voice, “Properly prepare Young Hero Zheng’s body for burial. Hero Meng, according to what Tang… Tang Lici said, Zheng Yue encountered Kuanglan Wuxing, so where exactly are Hero Cheng and Young Hero Gu now? Have they also met with foul play? You and Sect Leader Dongfang should quickly search the nearby mountain forests. If they haven’t met with foul play, they may also need assistance.”
Seeing Zheng Yue’s corpse lying on the ground, Meng Qinglei was extremely shocked. He didn’t know how Zheng Yue had entered Piaoluo Mei Yuan. Last night, Cheng Yunpao and Gu Xitan hadn’t returned—something major must have happened. But Tang Lici’s sudden appearance was also very strange… Though his mind was in turmoil, the life and death of Cheng Yunpao and Gu Xitan was a major matter, so he immediately selected several people and left with Dongfang Jian.
Miss Hong supported herself on the table to rise. She had originally been slender and delicate, pitifully graceful. With the table split in half by Tang Lici, when she leaned on it, the entire wooden table collapsed with a crash, and she swayed with it. Wanyu Yuedan promptly reached out to support her. Miss Hong lowered her head, concealing her dazed expression, and said a word of thanks.
The two returned to the tent together. In the tent, Bi Lianyi lay unconscious while Biluo Palace and Tie Jing guarded beside him. Seeing Wanyu Yuedan enter, they immediately stood up.
“Tie Jing.” Wanyu Yuedan said softly. “I need to speak a few words with Miss Hong.”
Tie Jing nodded, clearing out the idle people outside the tent to ensure that no one with ulterior motives could overhear what Wanyu Yuedan and Miss Hong were saying.
“Young Master Tang’s strike… was to show that ‘Ten Thousand Li Peach Blossoms’ is in his hands.” Miss Hong looked at Bi Lianyi’s pale complexion and said softly. “That indicates Yu Konghou is either dead or has lost power.”
“But he wants us to temporarily hold off breaking through Piaoluo Mei Yuan and remain inactive.” Wanyu Yuedan blinked his eyes. He was no longer the youth of before, yet still retained some youthful charm, speaking in gentle, soft tones. “Something must have changed within Piaoluo Mei Yuan… For instance… Kuanglan Wuxing killed Zheng Yue—what do you think about this master who stands supreme under heaven… is he dead or alive?”
Miss Hong smiled faintly. “Young Master Tang carried Young Hero Zheng back, indicating this matter is concluded.” She sighed. “Yu Konghou is gone, Kuanglan Wuxing is dead—why is Piaoluo Mei Yuan still unbreachable? This indicates there must be a third party behind this… or even a fourth party.”
“Gui Mudan went to the capital and hasn’t returned.” Wanyu Yuedan said. “Puzhu’s whereabouts are unknown, Liu Yan’s whereabouts are also unknown. These two people are of great importance to the Romantic Shop, yet the Romantic Shop has shown no movement so far—this is the first suspicious point.”
“The ‘Lamp-Calling Order’ has reemerged in the martial world. Wang Lingqiu lurked in Shaolin Temple for over twenty years—this man has a blood feud with Shaolin. Could he really have accomplished nothing? What exactly did he do? This is the second suspicious point.” Miss Hong continued.
“Gui Mudan colluded with Yu Konghou, killed the City-Breaking Eccentric and Yu Yuelongfei, manipulated Meihua Yishu and Kuanglan Wuxing… then forced Fang Pingzhai to rebel—a melody of Yin-Yang Gui Mudan, where did he come from, and what is he plotting? This is the third suspicious point.” Wanyu Yuedan said softly. “Or rather… the ‘Seven Flowers Cloud Wanderers’ were originally united brothers in harmony—what exactly happened to make them kill each other?”
Miss Hong said, “This is the most crucial point. They had a dispute, brothers turning against each other—what was the reason?” She slowly moved her eyelashes. “And what role did Master Liu play in all this?”
Wanyu Yuedan blinked, then blinked again. “Liu Yan?”
“Liu Yan.” Miss Hong said softly. “Gui Mudan and Yu Konghou killed the City-Breaking Eccentric and Yu Yuelongfei, poisoned Meihua Yishu and Kuanglan Wuxing, but without Liu Yan’s string-pulling life-controlling technique, Gui Mudan and Yu Konghou alone couldn’t have subdued Meihua Yishu and Kuanglan Wuxing. This indicates that on the day the Liren Residence brothers turned against each other, Master Liu was already involved. Afterward, the Romantic Shop was established, the Nine Heart Pills emerged, Master Liu stood alone, while Gui Mudan and Yu Konghou hid behind him…”
“The chaos began from this.”