“The mighty Dark River Sect, controlled by a single sword?” Xie Qidao flourished the Sleeping Dragon Sword in his hand, creating an elegant arc. “How laughable.” As he attempted to withdraw his sword and retreat, he discovered that a thin thread had ensnared the blade.
Puppet strings! Xie Qidao raised his blade to cut them, but the strings suddenly retracted, yanking the Sleeping Dragon Sword away. A beautiful young woman in white robes caught the sword, raising an eyebrow. “The Sleeping Dragon Sword is mine now.”
Xie Qidao studied the woman, his brow slightly furrowed. “Young lady, do you understand what your actions just now mean?”
“That you can kill me now?” The woman was none other than Bai Hehuai, the divine physician from Medicine King Valley. Though her martial arts weren’t exceptional, her mastery of puppet strings surpassed many Dark River disciples.
“I’m afraid he won’t have the chance because I’ll kill you first!” Mu Ciling charged forward, wielding his Mo Blade.
Xie Qidao remained motionless, knowing this woman was allied with Su Zhe. Killing her would anger Su Zhe—an unprofitable venture. Letting Mu Ciling handle it was most appropriate. With Bai Hehuai’s martial arts level, it would take Mu Ciling just one casual strike to end her life.
What a pity, Xie Qidao thought, shaking his head slightly.
Bai Hehuai was terrified, her legs trembling slightly, but the hand holding the Sleeping Dragon Sword remained perfectly steady. She gave it a gentle twist, and the rainwater from the ground rose, instantly freezing into ice that formed a protective barrier around her.
“Su Jinhui’s Frost Sword Energy?” Mu Ciling instinctively slowed his approach.
But the ice quickly melted, transforming into white mist. In an instant, the mist covered a three-zhang radius around Bai Hehuai. Strangely, the mist didn’t dissipate, instead forming a solid barrier with her at its center. Mu Ciling took a light breath, then leaped back ten zhang.
“This is the Wen family’s Three Zhang Death Zone, one of the world’s most impenetrable poison formations. This young woman has some skill—she knows our Dark River Su family’s martial arts and can deploy Wen family poisons.” Xie Qidao said gravely, “One breath of this poison kills ordinary people within half an hour.”
“Then we’ll wait. I don’t believe she can stay in there forever.” Mu Ciling sheathed his Mo Blade and walked into a nearby restaurant. The patrons were already frozen in terror, and upon seeing him enter, they scattered like rats, hiding behind the counter. Mu Ciling paid them no mind, settling at the most lavishly set table. He tore off a chicken leg, poured himself a cup of wine, and began eating with relish. After being confined in the black coffin for so long, surviving on water and steamed buns, he savored this rare taste of meat, quickly stripping the chicken leg clean.
Xie Qidao lacked such leisure. He circled the white mist slowly, searching for a weakness. But the Wen family’s Three Zhang Death Zone proved more impenetrable than he’d imagined, showing no gaps, though the mist was visibly dissipating bit by bit.
“Young lady, your Three Zhang Death Zone won’t last much longer. Throw out the sword, and I’ll spare your life,” Xie Qidao said deeply.
“Who says I can’t maintain it? You think I can only use the Three Zhang Death Zone once? After this one ends, I have another—I can keep you at bay all day!” Bai Hehuai declared boldly, though fear lurked in her heart. The Three Zhang Death Zone was the Wen family’s emergency defensive technique, and each person could only carry one dose of the poison powder. Once this mist dispersed, she would have no backup plan.
Su Muyu, hurry up! Su Muyu, please hurry! Bai Hehuai chanted internally.
Mu Ciling had finished three cups of wine, and Xie Qidao had completed three circles before stopping. The white mist gradually thinned.
A weakness appeared!
“Damn that Su Muyu, always so late! I can’t hold on!” Bai Hehuai threw the Sleeping Dragon Sword skyward. “Take the sword! Remember your promise—don’t kill me, please don’t kill me!”
Xie Qidao crouched slightly, gripping his blade as he leaped upward.
Mu Ciling reluctantly put down his chicken, wiping his mouth: “Back to work after a good meal!”
A pristine white hand caught the Sleeping Dragon Sword in mid-air, twirled it gently to parry Xie Qidao’s blade, and then retreated with its owner to Bai Hehuai’s side.
“I’m a bit late, but I made it,” Su Muyu said softly.
“Su Muyu, since both the Patriarch and Su Jinhui have given up on the Sleeping Dragon Sword, whether it goes to the Xie family or the Mu family is no longer your concern. Why persist?” Xie Qidao said gravely.
“As long as the Sleeping Dragon Sword remains unclaimed, the Patriarch remains Patriarch, and its ownership is still the Patriarch’s decision,” Su Muyu said, bowing her head. “Please understand this reasoning, Uncle Qidao.”
“Too bad I never care for a reason.” Mu Ciling had somehow appeared behind Su Muyu and Bai Hehuai, his Mo Blade raised high and sweeping down.
“Watch out!” Su Muyu grabbed Bai Hehuai’s waist, her footwork changing rapidly as she dodged aside. But Mu Ciling’s Mo Blade flicked upward, forcing Su Muyu to abandon the Sleeping Dragon Sword. He swung his blade, hooking the sword to himself. “Now that it’s in my hands, don’t think about taking it back. Make way—”
“Move aside!”
Mu Ciling roared, swinging his Mo Blade high before bringing it down forcefully.
Su Muyu retreated far away with Bai Hehuai. The blade strike sent rainwater flying, and when Xie Qidao tried to block it, he was sent crashing into the nearby restaurant.
“Fight me!” Mu Ciling glanced at Su Muyu. “Come on!” His Mo Blade lowered slightly as that flame-like red true qi surrounded him once again.
Bai Hehuai’s eyes widened: “Is this reasonable?”
“It’s not.” Su Muyu stared at the Sleeping Dragon Sword in Mu Ciling’s hand.
“If you’re too afraid to fight me, I’m leaving.” Mu Ciling sheathed his Mo Blade, grabbed the Sleeping Dragon Sword, and dashed away.
It took Bai Hehuai a moment to react: “Wait! You’re just letting him take the Sleeping Dragon Sword? I risked my life to protect it for those few moments!”
“There’s no need to chase him for now,” Su Muyu shook her head.
“Damn, bastard.” Xie Qidao emerged from the rubble, looking rather disheveled but uninjured—a testament to the Xie family’s superior physical constitution among the three families.
Su Muyu stepped forward, shielding Bai Hehuai: “Uncle Qidao, I didn’t think you would involve yourself in this matter.”
“Ask that damned brother of yours!” Xie Qidao turned and pursued in the direction Mu Ciling had fled.