Liuxin also knew a bit of this martial art. Together with Xu Qiao, they still put up a fight. Xie Tianhu had really mastered the stolen art, able to rely on speed and agility as well as extraordinary precision in every step. In Xie Tianhu's hands, that art was changed according to what he desired. Every move was deadly. It was how he killed everyone in Huofeng Lou without leaving a single living witness three years ago.
The Qingxiang girls fell to the ground one by one. The blow also hit Yue Songdai himself and couldn't immediately stand up again.
"Go inside!" Shen Xiru shouted.
But it was too late. Two more Qingxiang girls who fell, in addition to Liuxin and Jiaping were also hit by long-range punches, Shen Xiru was injured as well. Even though Xie Tianhu said that he didn't like to deal with younger people, today he already had the intention that there must be death.
Xie Tianhu came over to Xu Qiao, encircling her with a powerful dome of invisible energy. His eyes pierced the face of the daughter of the person he hated the most in life. Cold and without a hint of feeling, just like the look he had the other day when he first showed his true face in front of Xu Qiao.
"Today I gave you a chance to die easy but you failed to use it wisely, then I'd love to see you die slowly," Xie Tianhu said to the girl, the hatred in his tone was terrifying. "You look so much like your mother, too bad, the blood flowing in your body is that of Xu Chenghai."
Xie Tianhu scooped up a handful of dry leaves from a nearby bush, played it in his hand using his inner energy, then pointed it at Xu Qiao like dozens of small knives ready to slice through her skin. Xu Qiao couldn't escape because of Xie Tianhu's strong power, she could only protect her face with her two arms. Blood immediately flowed, the dry leaves really pierced through her clothes, wounded her skin like a thousand cuts.
"Wu-er," Xie Tianhu called her name out horribly after enjoying the scream, caught Xu Qiao by the neck, and lifted her up. He didn't use much force, apparently really wanted to make Xu Qiao die slowly.
"Xie-shu," Xu Qiao tried to speak. "Zhang Laoqianbei has passed the map directly to me. Do you want to know the secret?"
"What did you say?" Xie Tianhu asked. Xu Qiao's words meant something to him.
"That map is a treasure map," Xu Qiao said again, "I know it, Jinshui Gege also knows. We will take that precious treasure so that one day we can defeat you and avenge my family."
"Xie Tianhu," the voice of someone familiar to Xu Qiao and friends was suddenly heard, it was none other than Qin Liangjie's voice.
Xie Tianhu didn't have time to move any further, a spear suddenly shot towards him, forcing him to dodge and Xu Qiao managed to escape from his energy dome. The spear stabbed into the ground, along with a number of chess pieces that almost hit the several deadly blood paths on Xie Tianhu's body. Xie Tianhu didn't recognize the spear, but these chess pieces were familiar.
Qin Liangjie had already arrived there with Huang Yu, followed by Shangguan Ruyin. Behind them were also Liao Xian and Yin Xiuchen. It seems that the fireworks marks released by Yue Songdai were not a waste. The spear that was just thrown towards Xie Tianhu, naturally belonged to Qin Liangjie.
Shangguan Ruyin immediately rushed over to Xu Qiao, supporting her to the side with Yin Xiuchen. Liuxin, Shen Xiru, and Jiaping had also stepped aside and sat cross-legged to reduce their internal injuries. Yin Xiuchen passed a medicinal pill to Xu Qiao. Huang Yu, Qin Liangjie, and Liao Xian had already surrounded Xie Tianhu.
Killing the Qingxiang girls was easy for Xie Tianhu, but being surrounded by the descendants of Chailang, Bai Gu and Menggui didn't give him a chance to win with one move.
Huang Yu and his two friends led Xie Tianhu away from that place. Huang Yu blew a long whistle, trying to find Jinshui whom he expected not far away. Of course, he could immediately guess, if Xu Qiao was there, Jinshui would also be around. While Xie Tianhu always had Huang Zhe followed him like a loyal dog. The sound of clashing swords sounded in response, and the three descendants forced Xie Tianhu over there.
Jinshui was still chasing Huang Zhe at the edge of the forest. He knew that he shouldn't leave Xu Qiao and the others carelessly, so when he saw Huang Zhe trying to lure him further away, he quickly turned around and returned to his original place. As he expected, Huang Zhe returned again, using Lin Xiaoyan as bait, threatening him several times, and troubling Jinshui for a while.
"Hua Jinshui, my master, and I have important business today, don't want to fight with you!" Huang Zhe immediately exclaimed when he heard Huang Yu's whistling sound.
"That person killed your parents, yet you worship him as your master, you really are a lowly human," Jinshui returned his words. "Today you have nothing to do with me, but I Hua Jinshui have some business with you."
Xie Tianhu and his three opponents had also arrived at the edge of the forest. Liao Xian and Huang Yu both surrounded Huang Zhe, Jinshui, and Qin Liangjie together and blocked Xie Tianhu.
"Hua Jinshui," Xie Tianhu called out to Jinshui, "You and your friends are just a bunch of deviant remnants, I really don't need to take care of you. But today you interfered again, I think I really need to learn a little. Seeing Wu-er cry over your death, also seems like something interesting."
Xie Tianhu's failed attempt to torture Xu Qiao just now made his hatred deepen even more. Jinshui knew that sooner or later he would have to fight the man, sooner might be better, so he drew his sword and attacked with all his might. Liao Xian helped him, leaving Huang Yu to face Huang Zhe alone.
"Dage, let Lin Guniang go," Huang Yu said to his brother, he was acting cautiously and didn't want to see her hurt, temporarily not even using a secret weapon for fear that Huang Zhe would use Lin Xiaoyan as a shield.
"You like her," Huang Zhe replied with a grin, one hand still holding Lin Xiaoyan. "Then what if she wants your life instead?"
He whispered something in Lin Xiaoyan's ear. The young girl was like a wooden doll, when she received an order, she immediately moved her hands together, performed a movement of beifeng qi, her father's specialty, then charged toward Huang Yu. Huang Zhe maliciously took cover behind her back, following her every move, occasionally flicking a secret needle, troubling his younger brother.
Lin Xiaoyan's one strike even managed to hit Huang Yu's stomach, although it was rather weak, it almost knocked Huang Yu off balance. But after all, Huang Yu had quite good combat experience, and can still swerve with fast movements and dodge downwards.
"Lin Guniang, forgive me," Huang Yu said softly, suddenly using an opportunity to grab Lin Xiaoyan's legs to pull her from Huang Zhe's grip, quickly embracing her to lead her away, while pressing some of her blood paths to knock her unconscious.
Huang Zhe gasped in surprise, did not expect his younger brother to act so boldly, and embraced Lin Tongtian's beloved daughter. He lost his shield of life as a result, only able to somersault backward when Huang Yu threw a number of chess pieces at him.
Xie Tianhu shot up into the trees, standing on the hefty branches, followed by his three opponents. They were fighting in the trees, mostly using qinggong abilities and the three descendants couldn't combine their strength.
Xie Tianhu stamped his feet, his body turned twice in the air, both hands filled with yin shou yang zhang energy, aimed directly at Jinshui, forcing him to clash while Qin Liangjie and Liao Xian were still quite far away. Jinshui was pushed back, and the tree branch under his feet broke, almost making him fall, both hands went numb, it was almost too late to master the situation and set his feet on another, safer branch.
"Tie mu shuang mo shu (ironwood twin moves)," Liao Xian shouted a signal to Qin Liangjie. Both of them played the same move, simultaneously attacking Xie Tianhu before he took a breath. Xie Tianhu managed to dodge the two of them with a sideways swerve. But the move just now was just a trap, giving Jinshui space to launch the next move, huo bing qi (ice fire punch). Xie Tianhu shook slightly with these successive attacks, for a moment his concentration was slightly broken.
Xie Tianhu strengthened his attack, mustering all of his inner strength, not wanting to lose to the hands of the three youths. He stretched out his two hands, forcing his three opponents to step back for a moment, giving himself the opportunity to chant another skill that brought a very suffocating air. His hands then formed strange movements. His legs seemed to be floating in the air.
Jinshui and the others did not remain silent, trying to compensate by using their signature techniques. But one by one the techniques were successfully broken by the opponent.
Xie Tianhu continued to develop strange moves, causing Jinshui and his friends to be overwhelmed, feeling a heaviness in their heads and finding it increasingly difficult to concentrate. Such a strange martial art, they'd never experienced it before, never even heard of. It was some form of heretical art Xie Tianhu learned, even their wuqing xue was utterly useless now.
Qin Liangjie was knocked down and vomited blood, unable to get back up quickly. Liao Xian stepped away from him, trying to think quickly to find a way to deal with such a formidable opponent.
Leaves and small branches flew down, Xie Tianhu grabbed three branches at once and threw them at Jinshui alone. One hit his leg, one hit his arm, and another almost hit his eye. Three very fatal points, Xie Tianhu had really calculated his aim, only the last one was slightly off the mark.
Jinshui actually deliberately let his legs and arms get hit by a branch, he even let go of the hilt of his sword so that Xie Tianhu thought he could no longer hold the weapon. However, Jinshui apparently had prepared all the inner energy Moying gave him, he quickly grabbed the hilt of the sword again and slashed it in the air without looking at the target, all just a reckless move.
There was the sound of cloth being torn. Xie Tianhu stopped hunting Liao Xian. Xuanlong Jian's slash just now managed to tear his sleeve, as well as leaving a wide gash there. The energy that had accumulated in that arm was dissipated in an instant.
Jinshui managed to land on the ground on his two feet, staggering for a bit but already strong enough when he once again faced the opponent. He wiped the blood at the corner of his lips with the back of his hand, then rubbed the body of the sword. His countenance was terrifying, his blade seemed to emit light, Xie Tianhu couldn't help but feel shocked too.
Along with a shouting sound, Jinshui slashed his sword once again, not at Xie Tianhu but at Huang Zhe who was still busy dealing with his younger brother's secret weapon attack. Huang Zhe immediately found a long gash running from his cheek, down to his arm that was too late to get up to protect his face, and also to his chest and shoulders. Not deep but immediately he felt a warm liquid seep into his clothes, followed by a painful sting.
Xie Tianhu still managed to use his energy to protect himself, but he even managed to stagger back a few steps. He really didn't think a Yumen descendant could have such strong energy.
Jinshui launched attacks like this between conscious and unconscious, resulting in even self-harm. He staggered once more, using the sword to support his weight. Xie Tianhu saw him clutching his chest in pain, he once again exerted his energy and prepared a final attack, but at that moment he felt that this fight had also injured his internal organs, continuing to attack might even take his life.
His goal was Xu Qiao and Liuxin. While the two girls were still intact, he was not willing to die, so this time he was forced to let go of Jinshui.
"Zhe-er, we leave now!"
Nothing could hinder the master and student, in a moment they had disappeared into the forest. Jinshui fell half-kneeling on the ground, holding his chest with one hand. Liao Xian approached, also Huang Yu who brought Lin Xiaoyan. Liao Xian quickly helped him to sit cross-legged for a moment, returning xuanlong sword to the scabbard.
--
They returned to the inn. Jinshui found Xu Qiao injured, he quickly approached and carried her into the room, and stood waiting in front of the room divider as Shen Xiru applied medicine to her wound. Huang Yu tried to revive Lin Xiaoyan while Liao Xian helped Qin Liangjie recover his energy and Yin Xiuchen helped Liuxin.
Seven Qingxiang girls were killed, including the four girls who were with Jiaping to meet Jinshui this morning. The rooms in Chunjie Kezhan were opened, Shen Xiru did not say anything about Xie Tianhu. She helped to provide medicine and asked the servants to bury the dead.
Xu Qiao's injuries were on both of her arms, not serious but she was bleeding quite a lot. Jinshui and Qin Liangjie injured quite badly, they needed to rest and recuperate for at least three days, and so did Liuxin. They all knew Xie Tianhu and Huang Zhe were also injured, and they did hope those master and disciple wouldn't come back and cause trouble for the next few days.
"Qin-xiong, aren't Zhu Guniang and Yanzi with you?" Huang Yu asked Qin Liangjie. "Why don't they come with you?"
"Zhu Guniang left two days ago, only saying she was going to see an old friend," Qin Liangjie replied. "She told us to continue the journey to Wansui Gu with Yanzi, and said she would catch up later."
"An old friend," Huang Yu repeated curiously. He didn't know if Zhu Baique had another old friend other than Nan Xinglie, Li Jue's wife who was found in Yiling that day and brought to Bai Tu Shanzhuang. "And Yanzi?"
"I already told that girl not to go too far, but after Zhu Guniang left, she met two men from Wansui Gu," Qin Liangjie said, "I don't know what she talked with them, she then told me she would help catch some Haitang Jian's disciples, and then just walked away. We were just about to look for her when we saw Liuxin Meimei's fireworks sign, then came over here quickly."
Yanzi has a bit of a grudge against the Haitang Jian Pai disciples, apart from being caught by them when she was at Bai Tu Shanzhuang, also because the sect's members were hostile to the Yumen descendants, including to Lin Jixuan. That poison girl and the Wansui Gu men went to capture some Haitang disciples just to vent her frustration.
"Lin Jixuan asked her to come with us to be of some use, instead she caused trouble," Huang Yu was annoyed. "Girl from Wansui Gu is indeed unreliable."
At that time Lin Xiaoyan had already opened her eyes, Huang Yu helped her sit on the lounger. The girl was unharmed, and she looked fine too, but her eyes were blank, her face was like a wooden doll that didn't care in the slightest about who was in front of her.
"Lin Guniang," Huang Yu tried to call her. "I am a friend of your brother, do you still remember me?"
Lin Xiaoyan didn't reply, didn't even react, only blinked once while still staring blankly. Huang Yu tried to check her pulse, and tried to wave his hands in front of her face, but the girl still didn't react.
Shangguan Ruyin passed baby Qin Yujiang to Qin Liangjie, then came closer and took Lin Xiaoyan from Huang Yu, trying to check out more. Lin Xiaoyan had completely turned into a living doll, she did not recognize anyone in the slightest. When Shangguan Ruyin tried to give her a piece of sweet cake, she just ate it without any change in expression.
"Must quickly find Yanzi," Qin Liangjie said. "She might be able to revive Lin Guniang."
"It's fine," Huang Yu said, "perhaps it will be better for her to be like this. At least she felt no pain, not remembering what happened at the Jianyin Bang headquarters."
--
That day Jinshui told Huang Yu about his previous meeting with Qingxiang Zhuang's master, Xi Xiaofeng, and mentioned that there might still be an important member of the previous generation of Yumen Jiao who was still alive. They then went to Shen Xiru to talk further.
Shen Xiru took the two to go to the tomb of the beloved, towards one of the tombstones that were in the front row. Unlike other tombstones which bear the name of the person buried in them, this one was empty, with no letters engraved on it. Jinshui had seen the empty tombstones when he arrived at the cemetery two days ago, but he didn't know why there was one without inscriptions.
"Zhuren told you about the possibility that your previous jiaozhu furen Gu Chenhui is still alive to you for one reason," Shen Xiru said to Jinshui and Huang Yu. "It's true that Zhuren knew Gu Chenhui, had seen her growing up, and sincerely wanted to help her if he were indeed in the hands of the enemy. But there is also one other reason."
"Did the master of Qingxiang Zhuang ever do one wrong thing to the Yumen, bringing this up so Jinshui can defend her in front of jiaozhu furen later?" asked Huang Yu.
"Not to Yumen, but the owner of Baiyu Shan," Shen Xiru replied. "Zhuren hopes that Gu Chenhui will not tell this matter to her mother."
"What matter?" asked Jinshui.
"This lover's grave is the result of dozens of years of zhuren's work, collecting the bones and ashes of all her father's lovers," Shen Xiru said, then pointed to the tombstone without letters. "This grave without writing is the grave of Miaoxie Xiaojie's biological mother, namely Wuyin Guniang (Miss Without Words) Bai Xiayi. Bai Xiayi is the younger sister of the owner Baiyu Shan and Gu Chenhui's aunt."
When he saw that there was a grave without letters among the graves of his lover, Jinshui already guessed that the tomb belonged to Miaoxie's birth mother, as well as the person who slaughtered Qianxiang Gu's entire residents overnight. And it was someone from Baiyu Shan.
"Bai Xiayi was not truly buried here, and the owner of Baiyu Shan would also not accept Bai Xiayi's name being engraved here," Shen Xiru said. "Therefore, our zhuren can only make an anonymous tombstone."
"I remember my master Chailang once told me, Bai Xiayi was Xi Junhao's fleeting love story," Huang Yu said, "she was the one killed Xi Junhao and all of his girls later, including her own daughter."
"However, Bai Xiayi was Miaoxie Xiaojie's mother. Without her, the tomb of the beloved would not be completed," Shen Xiru continued. "Thirteen years ago Zhuren took some of her ashes from Baiyu Shan, of course without the knowledge of the owner of Baiyu Shan. However, her actions were discovered by Gu Chenhui, of course, she was not happy that her aunt's ashes were also taken to be part of the tomb of the beloved."
"Thirteen years ago was when the Yumen headquarters was destroyed," said Huang Yu, "then did jiaozhu furen not have the chance to tell her mother then?"
"That's right," Shen Xiru said. "All these years zhuren thought Gu Chenhui was gone, and this secret would never reach the owner of Baiyu Shan. But knowing the possibility that Gu Chenhui was still alive, zhuren naturally couldn't help but care. Of course, zhuren hopes to make some merit so that this matter of retrieving the ashes does not bring trouble to our Qingxiang Zhuang."
"Thus Xi Zhuangzhu also asked me to convey to jiaozhu furen to take care of the entire Qingxiang Zhuang," said Jinshui, "as long as jiaozhu furen has a promise, then the matter of collecting the ashes will not involve any of you, everything will be borne by Xi Zhuangzhu alone."
"Hua Shaoxia said exactly right," Shen Xiru said. "We are here also hoping that Hua Shaoxia can save Gu Chenhui, then ask her not to make things difficult for Zhuren because of the ashes business."
"This matter is a family matter, I don't think I have the right to interfere," Jinshui said. "We descendants of course will try to find jiaozhu furen, rescue her if she is in trouble, and at most request for her to be able to accept Qingxiang Zhuang as a member of the Yumen. I don't know if Shen Guniang would mind joining our sect."
"We will all follow the arrangements of zhuren," Shen Xiru said, "if zhuren wants us to join the Yumen, of course, we will bow down to Hua Shaoxia and Huang Gongzi. It's just that we Qingxiang Zhuang are only made up of women, most of us can't even fight, afraid that it will only be a burden to Yumen."
"Shen Guniang is too humble," Huang Yu said, "I saw from the Qingxiang members to the youngest maid, all of them are light in action and their reflexes are also good, obviously they are all well-trained women. Of course, Qingxiang Zhuang will become a valuable part of us in the future."