(Part One)
When Huo Xiaodi first saw him, he felt an urge to be angry. He tried hard to maintain a stern expression, but for some reason, he just couldn’t muster the anger. His round face stubbornly held its ground, yet his gaze softened involuntarily. A faint warmth surged in his heart without him realizing it.
Still, he kept his voice low and firm, saying, “It’s you? What do you want?”
Zhan Rifei smiled, his voice also lowered, “Naturally, I have something to ask Brother Huo for help.”
Huo Xiaodi stared wide-eyed, “You want me to help you? Help with what?”
Zhan Rifei replied, “I’d like to ask Brother Huo to loosen a few of the persistent plasters from the Jin Shitang, so they can wander around here for a bit.”
The corners of Huo Xiaodi’s mouth finally relaxed, revealing his charming rabbit teeth.
“What kind of characters come from Jin Shitang? Are you afraid of them?”
Zhan Rifei smiled wryly, “It’s not me who’s afraid of a ‘glimpse of a startled swan,’ but these plasters will inevitably stick, and I won’t be able to remove them.”
Huo Xiaodi raised an eyebrow, “Who’s coming? Is it the Huafengzi family, or the Yanziqing from Shili Slope?”
“Of course, it’s the five brothers from the Huafengzi family. I’ve heard that a biting fox will soon follow.”
Huo Xiaodi blinked slowly, “Why should I help you with this?”
Zhan Rifei maintained his gentle smile, though it seemed to carry a hint of mischief.
“Because I can help you deal with those two people by the hillside.”
Huo Xiaodi glared, “What? Do you think I can’t handle them?”
“It’s not that Brother Huo can’t handle them, but because I can’t remove those plasters.”
“So, this means we’re even?”
“Exactly, no one loses out.”
The two exchanged glances, and once again, they couldn’t help but smile at each other.
To outsiders, it was impossible to tell whether they truly believed each other’s reasons, even if they sounded quite reasonable.
Huo Xiaodi extended his hand, “Give it to me.”
Zhan Rifei was taken aback, “What?”
“Of course, the bamboo hat in your hand.” Huo Xiaodi glanced at him, “Since you want to play with the five brothers of Huafengzi, you must make it interesting.”
As he spoke, he placed the bamboo hat on his head and said leisurely, “The way to play with the Huafengzi brothers must be quite special. It’s a pity you won’t be there to watch.”
Zhan Rifei replied, “Brother Huo’s tricks will have to wait for the next time.”
Huo Xiaodi asked, “What, are you hoping for a next time?”
Zhan Rifei laughed, “That depends on whether Brother Huo has any other little troubles for me to handle.”
His expression turned serious again, “But if that fox comes, you must be very careful.”
Huo Xiaodi squinted, “Are you talking about the ‘ever-changing black demon fox’?”
Zhan Rifei confirmed, “Indeed, that’s the one.”
Huo Xiaodi grinned, “I’ve heard that this person’s lightness skill and disguise technique have reached an extraordinary level, so I can’t wait to meet him. However, if we’re talking about extraordinary, the lightness skill of Linglong Villa is probably not much worse.”
He laughed proudly, his rabbit teeth sparkling like jewels, as if Linglong Villa’s lightness skill was the ancestor of all practitioners.
Zhan Rifei couldn’t help but smile as well.
Just then, Huo Xiaodi suddenly focused, his expression turning serious.
“They’re here. They’ve already reached the mountain pass over there.”
As soon as he finished speaking, his body suddenly softened and became hazy.
In an instant, he vanished from sight.
Zhan Rifei looked at the spot where he had disappeared, and the smile at the corner of his mouth faded.
His expression remained calm, but his hand tightened around the hilt of his sword.
Had he known, even before he restrained Huo Xiaodi’s arm, that a fierce battle awaited him?
Unbeknownst to him, a light rain began to fall, drizzling down from the dark clouds.
Could it be that even the heavens had foreseen the outcome of this battle?
The jade bowl trembled slightly in the boy’s thin hand.
The green liquid inside continued to writhe.
The woman in green was growing impatient.
The boy glanced at her, then at the bowl in his hand.
The setting sun cast a shadow on his freckled face, making it appear somewhat dark.
Finally, he gritted his teeth, raised the jade bowl, and was about to drink it all down.
Suddenly, it felt as if a gentle force pushed him.
A calm and composed voice said, “It’s no big deal if you don’t drink this bowl.”
A hand reached out, and with a gentle motion, the jade bowl was somehow in that hand.
The boy stumbled slightly as he was pushed, and his battered arm was grasped by another hand.
The eyes of the man in green suddenly narrowed.
No one had ever acted against him without him sensing it beforehand. Now, someone had done just that, without any warning.
His eyes sparkled with intensity. The round knife at his waist let out a soft, sharp whistle.
In the light rain and mist, a figure appeared.
A man in black.
The man in black wore a long sword at his waist.
His appearance was as subtle as the rain and mist, seemingly coming from nowhere.
The boy’s arm was held in his hand.
The boy had never seen this person before, but he felt he looked very familiar. He had been surrounded by the man in green and the woman, and somehow, this person stepped into the circle.
The misty rain enveloped everything, making it hazy, yet it still allowed the three nearby to see his jade-like demeanor and calm composure.
The eyes of the woman in green suddenly brightened.
With a charming smile, she seemed not to be very angry at the actions of the young man in black.
“Who are you, young master, that you wish to meddle with the treasures of the Cold Water Palace?”
The young man in black did not answer her question.
“Are you the Moon Envoy of the Cold Water Palace, under the Sun and Moon’s wind and clouds?”
The woman in green chuckled lightly.
Her laughter, like her person, was filled with a primitive, seductive wickedness.
“It seems you know quite a bit about the Cold Water Palace.”
Her eyes had softened to the point of almost spilling tears.
“Using such means against a defenseless child, do you not fear tarnishing the reputation of the Cold Water Palace?”
The woman in green continued to smile seductively.
“Why, young master, upon our first meeting, do you choose to scold me so harshly?”
As she spoke, she stepped closer.
“He is the lifeblood that my grandmother has longed for day and night; how could I bear to be heavy-handed? As for this medicine, he has been accustomed to drinking it since childhood. If he doesn’t drink it, how could he have lived until now?”
Her soft, charming eyes finally swept over the boy, “Am I not right?”
Even though he was hiding behind the young man in black, the boy couldn’t help but shrink back.
The young man in black raised the jade bowl, sniffed it slightly, and smiled faintly, “A poison that penetrates the bone and heart; it truly is a good medicine.”
With a flick of his right hand, the green liquid in the jade bowl splashed to the ground, leaving only a faint white smoke that quickly vanished into the rain and mist.
The eyes of the man in green narrowed again.
Looking at the black-clad figure before him, a sudden wicked eagerness appeared in his dead eyes, as if he had seen bloodthirsty bats.
Meanwhile, the woman in green wore an indescribable expression of disappointment.
“Do you intend to be enemies with the Cold Water Palace? Do you truly wish to engage in battle with me?”
The young man in black sighed lightly.
“I do not wish to be enemies with your esteemed palace.”
Yet, a heroic spirit suddenly shone in his eyes, piercing through the dark rain and mist.
“However, sometimes, everyone does things contrary to their wishes.”
The woman in green ceased her inquiries.
The pale sun had sunk below the horizon, behind the clouds.
Their conversation had reached its end.
Taking a step back, she raised her hand.
Her weapon was in hand.
In her grasp was something soft and transparent, indistinct and unclear, vaguely resembling a long whip.
“Young master, this object is called ‘Longing.’ You are well-read and knowledgeable; you must know the origin of its name.”
The young man in black remained calm and unhurried, “I have heard that ‘Longing’ is the Cold Water Palace’s primary weapon. Since you wield ‘Longing,’ you must indeed be the Moon Envoy under the Cold Water Matriarch.”
He glanced at the man in green.
“Then this must be the Sun Envoy.”
The man in green asked coldly, “How did you figure that out?”
The young man in black replied, “What I noticed was your knife.”
The man in green fell silent.
—The four envoys of the Cold Water Palace, under the Cold Water Matriarch, wield unique weapons, all starting with the character ‘Long.’
—The curved knife he carried was indeed the famous knife of the Cold Water Palace, “Changhong Guanri.”
The woman in green smiled charmingly. Her smile seemed to carry countless charms.
“I am indeed the Moon Envoy. Young master, you are cultured and knowledgeable; you must know that ‘Longing’ grows stronger against the strong and weaker against the weak, changing endlessly, echoing Bai Letian’s line, ‘Longing is endless, hatred is endless. Hatred only ceases when one returns.’”
The word “hatred” that slipped from her lips was like a thousand melodies.
The man in green could no longer hold back a snort.
“Are you saying too much?”
The woman in green’s eyes sparkled, and she chuckled softly. The man’s words seemed to her like fleeting smoke.
Facing the young man in black, she continued, “You must already know that longing leaves no trace yet penetrates the bone. This ‘Longing’ surpasses tempered soft steel; you must be on guard.”
The young man in black listened to her describe the weapon’s wonders as if he were hearing a legend, showing neither great surprise nor alarm. His face remained calm and composed.
“Thank you for your guidance, miss.”
The woman in green smiled, “Actually, even if I didn’t say it, you would have known, wouldn’t you?”
She was charming and delicate, causing any man who saw her to feel weak to the bone, yet before the young man in black, it seemed her flirtation was wasted.
Her gentle gaze seemed to hit a stone wall, merging into the sea without any response.
His gaze toward her had never changed from beginning to end.
(Part Two)
Yet she seemed not to mind at all.
Her smile remained gentle.
It was as if no matter what the other party said or did, she would not feel sorrow. It was as if there was no woman in the world more beautiful, more understanding, or more delicate and considerate than her.
“Are you still unwilling to reveal your esteemed name, young master?”
The young man in black slowly released the boy’s hand.
“My name is probably not important in the eyes of the Cold Water Palace.”
“If you want to know, I am Zhan Rifei.”
He then looked at the man in green, whose eyes resembled those of a corpse.
“Isn’t the lady’s companion going to join in?”
The words of the man in green were as devoid of human emotion as his eyes.
“Under the orders of the Matriarch of the Cold Water Palace, we always fight alone. Are you afraid the Moon Envoy can’t handle you?”
Zhan Rifei did not respond.
He smiled.
He drew his sword.
—He finally drew his sword.
The blade was out of its sheath.
A cold light leaped from his side. The sword’s aura soared into the sky, its brilliance so bright that even the gloomy clouds above seemed to brighten.
The eyes of the Moon Envoy heated up.
The smile of the Moon Envoy froze. Even her breath caught in her throat.
“A fine sword! Is your name truly Zhan Rifei?”
Zhan Rifei smiled, “Why do you ask?”
The Moon Envoy’s gaze flickered, “This sword is a legendary weapon, always wielded by the capable. How could it be in the hands of an unknown in the martial world?”
Zhan Rifei replied, “You flatter me.”
The Moon Envoy’s smile returned, “May I take a closer look at such a divine weapon?”
Zhan Rifei saw her left hand wave, and she was already moving to attack.
A shadow, barely perceptible, moved silently, like a dragon in the sky, subtly reaching for the long sword in his hand.
Zhan Rifei’s heart sank, and he quickly retreated.
Though he held a sharp blade, how could a blade defend against an attack that was formless and invisible?
“Longing,” made of ice silkworm silk and forged from the Cold Water Palace’s mysterious iron, could not be severed even by a legendary weapon.
The Moon Envoy attacked with her left hand.
Her strike had been launched, but he could not see her weapon, nor could he hear the sound of her attack!
—If he couldn’t see her weapon, how could he discern her attack?
—If he couldn’t hear the sound of her movement, how could he tell where her attack was coming from?
The sky darkened further.
Suddenly, her earlier gentle voice echoed in his ears.
Longing, longing, “Longing leaves no trace yet penetrates the bone.”
What a line, “Longing leaves no trace yet penetrates the bone!”
In an instant, the Moon Envoy had seized the initiative!
Zhan Rifei’s thoughts raced.
In a split second, instead of retreating, he advanced, twisting his wrist, the cold light flashing as he swiftly thrust toward the Moon Envoy.
The icy sword aura reached her brow in an instant, the cold sensation already penetrating her skin.
—Even if she seized his sword, she would surely be injured by his relentless sword aura.
The Moon Envoy retreated swiftly.
With her right hand, she executed “Rao Zhi Rou,” while her left index finger was hooked, and the faint shadow turned in the air, making a soft sound as it aimed for the long sword in his hand.
Once it latched on, no one in the world could escape its entanglement.
—It was called “Longing.” Did it truly mean “hatred only ceases when one returns”?
Zhan Rifei’s original attack did not change; his wrist sank, still thrusting forward.
Unexpectedly, that shadow, which was barely visible, seemed to come alive, sinking along with him, still aiming for his long sword.
In a flash, the shadow reflected on the cold blade, and “Longing” had latched onto the sword’s body!
Then, an internal force surged like thunder, penetrating directly, forcefully trying to seize the sword. It was indeed the “Rao Zhi Rou” of the Cold Water Palace!
The Moon Envoy used “Longing” with her left hand to seize weapons, always hitting her mark, a renowned skill of the Cold Water Palace. At this moment, seeing her opponent was troublesome, her internal power of “Rao Zhi Rou” had reached its peak.
Little did she know, as “Longing” latched onto the opponent’s sword and exerted her strength to reclaim it, she discovered that there was not a trace of internal power attached to his long sword.
—Could it be that the enemy’s internal power had vanished without a trace in an instant?
As “Longing” latched on and seized, the long sword unexpectedly slipped from his hand, flying straight toward her!
The Moon Envoy’s mind raced, and her response was indeed swift. “Longing” turned its head, as if it were an extension of her arm, coiling the long sword and slashing at Zhan Rifei.
Little did she know, he was even faster. Using the momentum, he sidestepped, his right hand’s sword technique drawing in, already seizing the long sword, while his left hand lightly flicked, precisely at the moment when “Longing” turned its head, the old force just spent, and the new force not yet born.
With a clang, the “Longing” in the Moon Envoy’s left hand was struck as if hit by thunder, nearly slipping from her grasp.
He did not look back; his right hand, holding the long sword upside down, simultaneously blocked the Moon Envoy’s right hand’s “Rao Zhi Rou” force.
To onlookers, it appeared as if the Moon Envoy had first seized his long sword, only to immediately return it to him.
The “Rao Zhi Rou” driven “Longing” had, for the first time since its creation a hundred years ago, returned empty-handed.
The Moon Envoy’s charming laughter had vanished.
For a moment, she could not believe her eyes.
The speed of his response was truly beyond her expectations.
Zhan Rifei was also somewhat surprised.
His flick had not caused “Longing” to slip from her grasp. The Moon Envoy of the Cold Water Palace truly lived up to her reputation.
“Longing” was indeed too strange. Its formlessness made his strikes always a step slower than hers, making it difficult to seize the initiative.
He had previously intentionally let go of his long sword to be controlled by “Longing,” anticipating that the Moon Envoy would use “Longing” to manipulate the long sword, thus allowing him to discern “Longing’s” techniques and strive to take the lead. However, he did not expect the Moon Envoy’s internal power to be extraordinary; with that flick, he had not managed to make her weapon slip from her grasp.
Caught off guard, the Moon Envoy launched “Longing” again. Her right hand reached forward, and “Rao Zhi Rou” swiftly coiled around his long sword.
“Longing” turned mid-air, like a ghost, the whip’s tip darting toward the boy behind him, its speed as swift as lightning.
Zhan Rifei saw that his long sword was entangled by the Moon Envoy’s “Rao Zhi Rou,” and he could not save the boy in time; “Longing” had already swept past him. But in that fleeting moment, he could hear and discern the direction of the attack.
He did not look back; with a swift kick, he sent a stone flying backward, which struck the whip’s tip with a “pop.” “Longing” immediately lost its aim.
However, the Moon Envoy’s “Rao Zhi Rou” technique was already at a profound level; although “Longing” lost its aim, its momentum did not diminish. Somehow, it curved halfway and suddenly rose, darting in from the side.
This “Longing,” driven by “Rao Zhi Rou,” had become as elusive as a ghost, making it impossible to defend against.
Zhan Rifei’s body suddenly slowed!
“Longing” struck like a venomous snake, silently piercing into his back in the blink of an eye.
What happened next, in the eyes of the Moon Envoy, was like a flash of lightning, yet the outcome was something she could not predict or accept!
After being struck, Zhan Rifei did not stop; he surged forward, his long sword slicing through the air, and the thrust of “Longing” into his body was halted, allowing him to escape its grasp!
Blood splattered.
As “Longing” flew out from his back, the whip’s tip had already been soaked red with his blood.
In the darkening sky, a red streak danced, resembling a blood-colored butterfly.
Zhan Rifei took a deep breath.
He finally—saw—!
(Part Three)
The Moon Envoy involuntarily let out a gasp!
She realized she had been tricked.
It turned out that the opponent had feigned a flaw, allowing her to strike him, but in reality, he had used this moment to infuse “Longing” with his blood, revealing its elusive form.
With her left palm channeling power through the long whip, “Longing” suddenly arched up, circling in a half-turn. Under the pressure of the soft yet forceful internal energy of “Rao Zhi Rou,” it emitted a sharp whistle.
The blood that had stained “Longing” scattered away under her internal force!
Once the blood dispersed, “Longing” could once again become formless and invisible.
But she was still a step too late.
Zhan Rifei only needed that brief moment when “Longing” arched.
Now that he could see her extraordinary weapon, she would never be able to seize the initiative from him again.
—There were probably very few people in this world who could take the initiative from him.
—His long-prepared initiative!
He leaped into the air.
With a sweep of his left hand, he grasped the whip’s tip of “Longing”! His right hand’s sword followed, slicing down toward “Longing.”
The Moon Envoy’s right hand unleashed “Rao Zhi Rou”!
After her right palm’s force was released, she realized she had made a second unforgivable mistake.
—The opponent’s lightning-fast sword strike was a feint!
Everything was meant to divert her “Rao Zhi Rou,” which could transition from softness to hardness without a gap.
Everything was aimed at separating her control over “Longing.”
The ultimate goal was to seize her “Longing.”
—Her formless, bone-penetrating “Longing.”
A chill ran down her spine in an instant.
For the first time, she felt terror.
Was it because Zhan Rifei’s hand, which had grasped her “Longing,” had delivered a remarkably clever yet sharp blow?
Though it was merely the internal force from the half-arch of “Longing,” the strike that came from his hand was not very strong, but it was enough.
Enough to make her left hand’s five fingers feel as if struck by lightning, leaving her momentarily numb.
The shadows were faint, the shadows were soaring!
The Moon Envoy’s mouth fell open as if she had seen a ghost. Her charming smile had been shattered by the scene before her.
“Longing,” her “Longing,” had slipped from her grasp!
The other end of “Longing” was now held in Zhan Rifei’s hand!
The end was stained with blood.
Amidst the myriad of shadows.
But the Moon Envoy could not see which shadow was the blade she had possessed since entering the Cold Water Palace.
—It was her turn to be unable to see her weapon.
Zhan Rifei was in the air, “Longing” darting like a dragon, silently approaching the Moon Envoy.
Though he could not wield “Rao Zhi Rou,” the internal force he used with “Longing” was not inferior to “Rao Zhi Rou”—for his every move mirrored the Moon Envoy’s earlier techniques.
The Moon Envoy could not see clearly.
Not only could she not see, but she also could not hear.
She could only circulate her energy, enveloping herself in the shadows of “Rao Zhi Rou,” allowing the indistinct shadow of “Longing” to swirl around her like a dense mist.
It seemed she could see life mocking her: it was her turn, the master of “Longing,” to experience the initiative of “Longing.”
After several exchanges, she felt somewhat breathless.
—At that moment, she could not tell whether it was the relentless initiative of “Longing” or the dense, low rain that was suffocating her.
She finally understood why Zhan Rifei did not entangle with her further; he was willing to endure injury to seize her weapon!
Her only hope was that the technique of “Rao Zhi Rou” could stop the advance of “Longing” with the force of mercury spilling on the ground.
But no matter how soft and dense “Rao Zhi Rou” was, it was ultimately tangible. And “Longing” was ultimately formless, the foremost weapon of the Cold Water Palace for a hundred years.
Somehow, this venomous, scorpion-like weapon finally penetrated her defenses.
In an instant, the Moon Envoy retreated several paces, her chest feeling as if it had been struck hard!
But for some reason, when “Longing” struck her, it seemed to pause for a moment. In that instant, this legendary weapon transformed from formless to tangible. “Rao Zhi Rou,” with its all-encompassing nature, swiftly coiled around “Longing” at a speed akin to mercury spilling.
Zhan Rifei unexpectedly released the whip and retreated swiftly, still blocking in front of the boy.
The Moon Envoy collapsed into the embrace of the man in green, still bewildered.
—Zhan Rifei should not have paused. He should not have made such a low-level mistake.
—Even if “Rao Zhi Rou” had ensnared his “Longing,” he should not have given up immediately. How could he let go of the treasure he had fought so hard to seize?
—With his adaptability and wit, he should have been able to prevent such a low-level error in advance.
But in that fleeting moment, she finally understood.
Her expression turned grim. She did not want this to be true.
“You—so you have already—”
She struggled to articulate her words, but she could not catch her breath.
A familiar, soft smile crept back to her lips, but at that moment, it appeared unspeakably malicious.
(Part Four)
The gaze of the Moon Envoy, dressed in green, remained lifeless, devoid of any human emotion.
His eyes were not cold, yet they could send chills down one’s spine.
“Good skills!”
Like a startled swan, his round knife was drawn.
—The “Changhong Guanri” of the Cold Water Palace.
A white silk handkerchief lightly wiped the blade before being tossed to the ground.
“My knife has never been wiped unless it has seen blood. Today, I make an exception for you.”
“To be able to spar with you makes my journey to the Central Plains worthwhile. If ‘Changhong Guanri’ can match your ‘Zhan Lu,’ it would not tarnish the reputation of this weapon.”
He had been standing aside, yet he had already recognized the long sword in Zhan Rifei’s hand.
“I usually kill with a single strike. I want to see if you can withstand three of my moves.”
He grinned savagely.
“Because under my Cold Water Blade Technique, no one can take shortcuts.”
As his words fell, his attack was unleashed!
The knife’s momentum seemed incredibly slow.
The Moon Envoy gripped the knife with both hands, raising it high like a thunderclap on a clear day. The unity of man and blade was fierce and powerful, a swirling force that resonated with the knife’s momentum, instantly enveloping the heavens and the earth.
Zhan Rifei’s expression changed slightly. The Moon Envoy’s knife momentum, which appeared slow, was three strikes launched simultaneously!
The overwhelming knife force sealed the sky and closed the earth, three strikes rising and falling like waves, making it impossible to evade. Zhan Rifei especially could not retreat.
Behind him was the frail boy.
Faced with such a knife force, how could he respond?
With a “whoosh,” the boy standing behind Zhan Rifei felt his clothing tear. The powerful knife wind had knocked him backward, leaving him gasping for breath. His small body seemed like a solitary boat about to capsize in a storm.
The icy sharpness seemed to pierce his skin, sending goosebumps all over him. The Moon Envoy’s sharp internal force made his eyes feel as if they were glued shut, unable to open!
In the haze, he vaguely saw a flash of icy light rising from Zhan Rifei’s hand.
The boy had never imagined that there could be a light of ice in this world and that it could be so brilliant.
The knife and sword finally clashed!
It was a clear sound like that of ice and snow.
Yet this sound was so oppressive.
The boy was shaken by this not-so-loud sound, and he spat out a mouthful of blood. His chest felt as if struck by a heavy hammer, and his eyes rolled back as he fainted.
At the moment he lost consciousness, a hand had already grasped his arm.
In an instant, he felt an indescribable chill from that hand.
(Part Five)
Time passed, and the boy finally woke up. His head throbbed painfully.
He quickly realized that his arm was being held in Zhan Rifei’s left hand. His hand was cold.
Zhan Rifei still stood in front of him, his sword pointed at the ground.
The man in green remained opposite him, his knife also unsheathed, pointing at the ground.
These two seemed as if they had never moved.
The only change was that his Zhan Lu and the Changhong Guanri were both still drawn.
—Could it be that the outcome had already been decided?
—If the outcome had been decided, why had the knife and sword not returned to their sheaths?
The boy’s eyes looked around and noticed everything was tinted a faint red. He raised his sleeve to wipe his face and saw bloodstains on his sleeve. The color was light red, likely diluted by the rain.
Yet within the bloodstains on the cuff, there was a hint of black. A deep black.
This was not his blood.
—If it wasn’t his blood, then whose could it be?
The boy seemed to realize something, and his expression changed.
At that moment, he heard a cold snort.
It was the man in green across from him, coldly snorting.
His voice remained calm, yet it was still chilling.
“I didn’t expect you to be seriously injured and still dare to block my ‘Qianjun Zhanlong Jiao’!”
As he spoke, he suddenly felt something was amiss. He sensed his internal energy surging violently as if his words had triggered a massive shock within his body.
He gasped, taking a step back, then another.
He was greatly alarmed! The “Qianjun Zhanlong Jiao,” when the internal forces of both sides clashed, instantly transformed into countless ice shards, piercing into the enemy’s body; it was his ultimate technique. But he hadn’t expected that during their internal clash, he had also been injured!
Zhan Rifei stood straight in the rain. The misty rain had soaked him completely. Blood continued to flow from his nose, mouth, and back, quickly diluted by the rain.
Yet his hand remained tightly gripping the boy’s hand. His body still shielded the boy.
The boy felt Zhan Rifei’s hand gradually turning as cold as ice.
Was it because of the chill of this rainy night, or because the person holding his hand had reached the end of his strength?
The Moon Envoy across from him felt nothing.
Perhaps, from Zhan Rifei’s calm expression, the man in green could see no sign of weakness.
“Even if I’m injured, I can still defeat you,” Zhan Rifei said word by word, “Let’s do it again. I’ll take your ‘Qianjun Zhanlong Jiao’!”
No one could withstand his “Qianjun Zhanlong Jiao.”
“Qianjun Zhanlong Jiao” was executed in three moves as one. Looking across the world, he truly could not think of any technique that could surpass its overwhelming might.
This young man in black was already severely injured, yet he still wanted to take on the “Qianjun Zhanlong Jiao” again. Was his body made of iron?
For the first time, a human emotion appeared in the Moon Envoy’s dead eyes, and it was fear.
Zhan Rifei looked at him, and his eyes also revealed a human emotion—a hint of mocking amusement.
Who could say that the gaze between these two was not another form of confrontation?
The man in green finally lacked the courage to unleash the “Qianjun Zhanlong Jiao” a second time.
He also no longer had the strength to do so.
His internal energy churned, crashing against his organs, threatening to make him vomit.
He could only retreat, taking the Moon Envoy with him.
To retreat meant defeat.
The people of the Cold Water Palace had never retreated before their enemies. It was as if his “Qianjun Zhanlong Jiao” had never been used a second time.
Yet he did not know if he could unleash his “Qianjun Zhanlong Jiao” again; just as he could not be certain whether Zhan Rifei would be unable to withstand his second strike.
And his injuries could not be delayed any longer; the Moon Envoy’s injuries could not be delayed either.
He could only leave.
The people of the Cold Water Palace had undergone rigorous training, knowing how to weigh the pros and cons. As the Moon Envoy, he understood this better than anyone.
With a gloomy expression, he left behind a single sentence before departing, a statement that burst forth from his tightly clenched teeth.
“I will come back to find you.”
Watching his figure disappear into the rain and mist, Zhan Rifei let out a gentle sigh.
He finally could not hold on any longer and collapsed to the ground, unable to rise again.
His back was already drenched in blood, evidently from forcibly breaking free from “Longing.” The ice silkworm silk forged “Longing” still had a segment embedded in his back, so when the boy gently struggled,
he slipped from Zhan Rifei’s grasp.
The boy’s expression had turned inexplicably cold. He did not move, merely watching Zhan Rifei’s struggle with indifference.
Though Zhan Rifei had fought against two to save him, in the boy’s small, delicate eyes, there was not a trace of gratitude or concern, only disdain.
Finally, he crouched down and gently extended a finger to Zhan Rifei’s back. His finger was immediately stained with blood.
Slowly, he brought that finger to his lips and tasted it.
As if verifying his thoughts, a hint of indifferent coldness appeared on his freckled face.
Zhan Rifei on the ground could not see his expression or hear his movements.
He continued to struggle to rise.
—Because he had something he must say to this boy.
The boy, crouching nearby, stood up, preparing to leave, when he suddenly heard the person on the ground whisper, “You—aren’t you going to leave? Don’t—let them catch you again. They’re not seriously injured; they will come back.”
He had intended to leave, but upon hearing Zhan Rifei’s words, he paused, a flicker of hesitation crossing his brow.
Time passed, and Zhan Rifei finally managed to struggle into a sitting position.
When he looked up, he saw the boy still standing there, dazed.
His tone had taken on a hint of sternness.
“Why haven’t you left yet?”