While the sniper attack unfolded on the snowy plains of Wūlǐyàsūtái, on the distant summit of Kunlun Mountain, Tóu slowly opened his eyes.
"It's time to act." Miào Huǒ was already waiting in the darkness, avoiding eye contact with the pair of luminous eyes hidden in the depths of darkness. He bowed his head, staring at Tóu's toes, "Tomorrow morning, the High Priest will go to the mountaintop paradise. Only Míng Lì will accompany him, Mìaò Kōng and Mìaò Shuǐ won't be present, and Miào Fēng hasn't returned yet."
"Probably, the Eight Steeds have intercepted Miào Fēng." Tóu's eyes gleamed, raising his hand to tightly grip the blood-dripping sword by his side. His voice was deep, "As long as he hasn't returned, things will be much easier—according to the plan, take action when the High Priest passes through the glacier."
"Yes." Miào Huǒ nodded and silently withdrew.
Sitting alone in the darkness, Tóu's eyes gradually closed again.
If Miào Fēng was indeed intercepted by the Eight Steeds, then, how was the female physician fairing now?
Sitting in the darkest corner, images of that beautiful head being swiftly severed by a long blade flashed before his eyes. In that instant, he instinctively clenched the sword, and his fingers trembled slightly from the exertion, as if feeling a bone-chilling fear.
Fear of what? The order was clearly given by himself.
He absolutely couldn't allow Miào Fēng to return with the doctor to save that devil. Anyone who sought to protect that demon must be eliminated—Gods blocking gods, Buddhas blocking Buddhas, without mercy! Yet... why was there always a voice in his heart subtly reminding him that it would be a frightful decision?
"Míng Jiè... I swear, I won't let you stay in the darkness any longer."
The eyes with a certain brightness surfaced in his mind again, staring at him with annoying concern and tenderness.
He exerted great effort to control his thoughts, preventing himself from falling into this inexplicable chaos. With pale, slender fingers, he gently traced the blood-stained sword resting on his knees, feeling the cold edge— the blade, coated with the powder of dragon blood pearls, emitted a faint red glow, as if the blood trough was densely filled with the powder of dragon blood pearls.
With a sword like this, he could slay all gods and demons.
He sat in the dark, listening to the cries and killings coming from the adjacent Beast World, his lips silently forming an arc.
High Priest... tomorrow will be your day of death!
He abruptly opened his eyes, and the purple light radiated from his eyes, shining in the dark night like a demonic specter.
Simultaneously with the sniper attack on the snowy plains of Wūlǐyàsūtái, a white bird traversed the vast snowy forest and arrived at the Medicine Master Valley.
"Ga—," evidently familiar with the terrain, the white bird flew directly to Xia's Garden, passing through the bead curtain, and landed on the shelf, calling loudly in hopes of immediately attracting the attention of the mistress.
After calling for quite some time, only a maid who hadn't had enough sleep came out, yawning, "What's making such a racket? Huh?"
Frost recognized this white bird, blurting out in surprise. The Snow Hawk hopped onto her shoulder, carefully grasping her shoulder with small movements, constantly lifting its claw to indicate her to look at the cloth tied above.
"Hey, is this a letter from your mistress to the Valley Master?" Frost rubbed her eyes, finally seeing clearly and murmured, "But she's not in the valley; it'll take a while for her to come back."
"Gu?" The Snow Hawk seemed to understand her words, pecking the cloth tied to its leg with its beak and carrying it over.
"Green ant new brewed wine, red mud small stove. Coming late, snow in the sky, care for a cup? ——Returning north soon, waiting with warmed wine. Bai."
Those few lines made Frost burst into laughter.
"Oh, it looks like Master Huo Seven really intends to come back here?" She was delighted and folded the cloth, "No wonder before leaving, the Valley Master instructed us to bury some Smiling Red Dust under the plum tree—We thought he had cured his illness and would forget about this place!"
"Ga." Hearing the words Smiling Red Dust, the Snow Hawk jumped a little, its black-bean-like eyes turning, revealing an expression of desire.
"However, the Valley Master went to Kunlun recently to treat the High Priest. It might be a while before she comes back." Frost touched the Snow Hawk's feathers, sighing, "That's such a long journey... I hope that Miào Fēng can really protect the Valley Master."
The Snow Hawk showed a worried expression, suddenly jumped onto the table, and picked up a brush, looking back at Frost.
"Do you want to write a reply?" Frost was taken aback.
On the wasteland, blood blossomed like fireworks.
After sustaining for an hour, the Tian Luo Array finally shattered. In the moment the array broke, four bodies fell in four different directions. Without waiting for the remaining individuals to react, Miào Fēng instantly moved, and the sword in his hand pointed at the throat of the fifth person.
"Speak, what plans does the Tóu faction have for sending you here?" A terrifying killing intent condensed in his eyes. The blade slowly descended, slicing open the main blood vessels along the collarbones, "If you don't talk, I'll peel your skin off."
The assassins from the Shura Arena were known for their resilience, and none understood this better than him.
Therefore, he couldn't afford to be merciful.
"Heh." However, Yún Fú's eyes showed no fear. A mocking smile appeared on his lips, "Fēng, I don't understand. Why would someone like you willingly become the High Priest's dog?"
"Why would you become Tóu's dog?" Miào Fēng remained indifferent, "There's no need for either of us to understand."
"Speak, what are Tóu's plans?" The tip of the sword had already severed the two major tendons beneath the collarbones, "If you don't want to be skinned."
Yún Fú suddenly burst into laughter. In the midst of laughter, his complexion rapidly turned gray.
"Fēng, it seems... you've been away from the Shura Arena for too long..." A line of blue blood seeped from the corner of his mouth, and the last assassin slowly fell, coldly laughing, "You... forgot 'Throat Seal,' didn't you?"
Yún Fú lay on the snowy ground, quickly and tranquilly succumbing to death, a mocking smile still lingering.
Miào Fēng was stunned. Such a swift death clearly exceeded his control. Yes! Throat Seal! He had actually forgotten that every assassin from the Shura Arena concealed a 'Throat Seal' in their teeth!
He reluctantly put down his sword, gazing blankly at the chaotic corpses on the snow. These people were, in fact, his kind.
Miào Fēng's breath stabilized. He raised his hand to cover his chest, spat out a mouthful of blood—defeating the Eight Steeds required the use of forbidden arts such as the Demonic Splitting Technique. However, the intense backlash from using such a forbidden technique left him severely injured.
Using the sword as a crutch, he walked towards the west with difficulty. The female physician should be at Wūlǐyàsūtái by now, right?
However, before he could go three steps, his gaze suddenly focused—
"Footprints! Next to the tracks left by Xue Ziyue's departure, there are unexpectedly another set of shallow footprints!"
He abruptly turned around, scanning the snowy ground after the fierce battle. The tip of his sword swept across the snow, forcefully clearing away the remaining snow. There were five bodies on the snow, and with the addition of the earlier copper jug with its throat cut by a sword and the one chased to death under the snow, there were a total of seven—his face turned pale in an instant: one body was missing!
Feipian? In the previous round of attacks, the Feipian that he had forced to retreat was still alive?
The sounds of the bloody battle behind were no longer audible, and Xue Ziyue ran directionless in the wind and snow.
She trudged through the knee-deep snow, one mile, two miles... The wind and snow repeatedly pushed her down, and the true qi that Miao Feng had infused into her was slowly fading. She felt her chest congealing with ice again, unable to breathe, and stumbled, falling into the deep snow.
Faintly seeing greenery in front of her, hearing the distant camel bell—was that Uliassutai?
The oasis known as the "Land of Many Willow Trees" in the Gobi?
She used the last of her strength to prop up her body with both hands, gritting her teeth and moving inch by inch towards that direction. She needed to get there faster... Otherwise, the wind and snow would freeze her halfway.
"Oh, still able to move?" Suddenly, she heard a cold laugh, and a foot mercilessly stepped on her hand, "Judging by your complexion, you can't hold on much longer, right?"
A person in white landed beside her, wearing a mask and emitting a cold laugh—it was actually a woman.
"Consider it my mercy, not letting you suffer any longer," the pursuing Feipian also had injuries, evident from the trembling in her hand holding the sword and her steady breath, "I'll cut off your head and report to Tóu!"
Tóu? In that moment, Xue Ziyue lifted her head like being electrocuted, looking towards the direction of Kunlun in the far west.
Mingjie, is it really you... who sent someone to kill me?
A bitter smile appeared at the corner of her mouth as she watched the bright sword swiftly descending towards her, her hand reaching towards her waist but already too late.
"Ding!" Suddenly, a strange light flashed through the wind.
Miao Feng felt a sudden tremor in the person he was holding, as if a great force had come from Xue Ziyue's waist. He felt shaken, unable to maintain his stance, and fell into the snow while still holding her. At the same moment, Feipian let out a cry of agony, as if struck by a terrifying force, and was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, landing lifelessly.
In the blink of an eye, everything happened, and even someone like Miao Feng couldn't understand what had just occurred. He lay in the snow, watching the woman in his arms open her eyes quietly.
"Are you alright?" He, rare in holding back his smile, was amazed.
"That was close..." Xue Ziyue's face was pale, exhaling a breath, "Did you really not care about your life? You even risked it to save me?"
She was still weakly breathing, extremely clear-minded. She put down her hand that had been pressing against a concealed mechanism, opening her eyes and smiling slyly at him—He was stunned by this smile: just now... just now, was her seemingly lifeless state just a pretense? She actually saved him!
"Hey, are you okay?" However, she weakly asked back, her fingers circling around his shoulder and touching the wound on his back, "It's a deep wound... you need to bandage it quickly... you didn't defend yourself at all just now. Did you really want to sacrifice yourself to save me?"
"Stormy Pear Blossom Needle?" His gaze fell on the empty mechanism on her waist, and he exclaimed involuntarily.
—This was clearly a top-secret concealed weapon of the Tang Clan in Shu, but it had disappeared from the martial world since Tang Que's death. How could it appear here?
"It, it's something that someone mortgaged to me as a diagnosis fee... I'm fine..." Xue Ziyue murmured weakly, her face turning pale, "But, can you... please stand up quickly?"
"S-Sorry." Realizing that he was pressing her and preventing her from breathing, Miao Feng's face showed a awkward expression. He released his hands, propped up on the snowy ground, and tried to stand up. However, as soon as he moved, a mouthful of blood sprayed out, and everything in front of him suddenly turned black.
"Ah?!" Xue Ziyue exclaimed in shock, "Miao Feng!"
When he woke up, the sky was already completely dark.
The wind was whistling in his ears, snow falling on his face piece by piece, but his body felt warm.
His wounds had been bandaged, and the pain had significantly eased. Had he been saved? Except for the Grandmaster, no one had ever saved him in all these years. This time, he had actually been saved by someone else? He looked down in confusion, seeing the lynx fur wrapped around him, and the freezing purple-clothed woman next to him.
"Gu Master Xue!" He exclaimed, quickly picking her up from the snow.
She had already fainted from the cold, her lips were purple, and her hands and feet were icy. He untied the lynx fur and wrapped her in it, pressing his hands against her back's spiritual acupoint to dispel the cold. However, after a fierce battle, he was severely injured, and his internal energy circulation was not as smooth as usual. After a long time, she still didn't wake up. Miao Feng felt anxious, the smile on his face gradually disappeared, and he just tightly held Xue Ziyue in his arms.
Her body temperature was still very low, her complexion gradually paled, and she curled up her body tightly, resisting the bone-chilling cold inside and out. Her lips without any blood color were tightly closed, and snowflakes covered the corners of her eyes and eyebrows. Her breath gradually weakened.
"Gu Master Xue!" He shook her shoulders in panic, "Wake up!"
He remembered how he had persuaded her to leave the valley: she cared about his life and didn't want to see him die, so she took the risk to leave the Medicine Master Valley with him—even though he was just a stranger. And on the way back, with various life and death changes, he, who was supposed to protect her, was repeatedly saved by a woman who didn't know martial arts.
She slept in the snow, her cheeks and hands freezing like ice. In that moment, he felt a kind of fear that hadn't appeared since he entered the Brightness Palace more than ten years ago. Almost madly, he pushed the Mu Chunfeng technique to the extreme, continuously sending internal energy into that cold body.
"Xue Huai..." Finally, the person in his arms let out a murmured sigh, shrank her body, and said, "So cold."
Miao Feng suddenly froze.
Xue Huai... Was this the name of that boy under the ice? —The boy from the same village as Tóu.
In fact, the first time she asked about Tóu, he was secretly vigilant. Years of training allowed him to conceal the truth with an unchanged expression. After going to that village with her, he became even more certain of her past identity—Yes, many years ago, he had seen her!
The night of blood and fire reappeared before his eyes. The snow in the dark night fluttered and whirled. He silently closed his eyes.
How many years had it been? Since the first mission after entering the Shura Arena, how many years had passed? The initial reluctance and guilt when killing had long been gone, and he could even smile while crushing someone's heart.
So much blood and bodies stacked together, soaking his first half of life.
For slaughter, he had long been completely numb. However, precisely because of her appearance, he felt that burning pain and the almost tearing struggle of choice once again.
The night of the massacre vividly appeared before his eyes—
Blood.
Blazing fire.
A continuous wail.
Houses fiercely burning.
And numerous men, women, and children fleeing...
A teenage boy and girl stumbled hand in hand towards the village outskirts, chased by Tóu brought out from a dark house by the sect leader, screaming hoarsely.
"Feng, bring him back," the sect leader sat on the throne, pointing towards the boy with a gemstone ring on his hand, "My Tóu."
"Yes." At fifteen, he put down the blood-soaked sword with a slight smile and chased after them.
—Yes. That boy was the sect leader's target this time, a person who might be more useful than himself in the future. Therefore, he must not be let go.
The sect leader sneered coldly from behind: "Everyone has long abandoned you, Tóu. Why bother chasing?"
The boy suddenly stopped as if struck by lightning, standing on the ice, shoulders shaking gradually, seemingly despairing. He shouted loudly, "Xiao Ye! Xue Huai! Wait for me! Wait for me..."—However, the fleeing figures didn't look back.
He caught up, grabbing the boy's shoulder, smiling, "Tóu, everyone has abandoned you. Only the sect leader needs you. Come with us."
"No... No!" The boy suddenly pushed him away madly, persistently chasing after the fleeing pair along the ice river. In a moment, they were only three zhang away. However, the two people continued running without looking back.
"Still want to chase?" He leaped out, smiling slightly at the bewildered peer, "Well then—"
His arm sank, and a palm struck the ice!
"Crack—" The thick ice suddenly cracked open, the fissure expanding like lightning. The ice river shattered in an instant, and the cold, dark river opened its huge mouth, swallowing the two fleeing teenagers on the ice!
"Now, it's over." He retracted his hand, smiling at the peer who was stunned, watching him slowly kneel in despair.
...
Over? Not yet.
Twelve years later, under the snowy night in the wilderness, the shadow of destiny once again enveloped him.
"Xue Huai... Cold." In the golden lynx fur, the woman curled up so tightly, her body trembling slightly, "So cold."
Miao Feng lowered his head, looking at the pale face expressing dependence, and suddenly felt a needle piercing deep into the depths of his heart. Endless sorrow and helplessness swept over him, almost breaking him—before he realized, a tear had already slid down from the corner of his eye, instantly freezing.
At the moment the first tear fell in fifteen years, the smile disappeared from his face.
He didn't know what this unprecedented feeling was all about; he just silently closed his eyes in the snowstorm.
He was originally a survivor of the Loulan royal family, witnessing the decline and extinction of his clan. Since being rescued by the sect leader from bandits, his life's goal had been reduced to one: he was just a sword in the hands of the sect leader. Born only for that person, and ready to die only for that person... without asking for reasons, without hesitation.
For so many years, he had been calm and peaceful, never wavering for a moment.
However... why did he feel this deep and hidden pain at this moment? Was he... regretting?
Did he regret staining his hands with so much blood, regret hurting the person in front of him?
He couldn't answer, just silently removed the lynx fur from his side and tightly embraced the exhausted female physician. In the lynx fur, the woman gradually regained vitality, her frozen body leaning tightly against his chest, trusting and relying on him completely—
Completely unaware that the hands of the person beside her were covered in blood.
The innkeeper's assistant of the Uliastai Station came out for a night patrol and witnessed a dreamlike scene:
In the snowfall, a figure in white staggered towards him, blue hair fluttering in the wind, clothes splattered with blood, and holding a golden fur. The person ran very fast, and in the moment he woke from his drowsiness, had already entered the city along the post road, disappearing into the willow forest.
"Heaven... is this a ghost?" The assistant muttered, rubbing his eyes and shining the lantern on the ground.
There, in the snow, were deep footprints, and next to the footprints, drops of blood were shocking.
When Xue Ziyue woke up, it was already dawn the next day.
This time, when she woke up, it wasn't in a carriage. She lay quietly on a kang, covered with three layers of quilts, her meridians warm and smooth. The room was warm with a burning fire. Outside the guesthouse, willows were green, and the green shade was continuous like gauze. Someone was playing the flute.
What surprised her was that this time, Miao Feng wasn't by her side.
Strange, where did he go?
"In summer days, in winter nights, after a hundred years, return to one's residence.
"In winter nights, in summer days. After a hundred years, return to one's room."
It was the "Song of the Silk Plant" —the familiar tune made her suddenly aware, and then she felt grateful. She understood that Miao Feng was using the most gentle way to advise her. The man who had always smiled, with concealed killing intent, could perceive others' inner emotions swiftly.
She got out of bed and walked to the window. However, the music suddenly stopped at the moment she opened the window, as if the flutist had fallen into silence at the same time.
After a moment, another melody began.
Opening the window, she saw the man in white playing the transverse flute in the willow forest. Miao Feng sat on a horizontal branch of a willow, leaning against the tree, slightly tilting his head, closing his eyes, and blowing a short flute. The enchanting and profound music flew out from his fingertips, dancing lightly in the wind, along with the white-clothed blue-haired figure.
The flute sounded strange, not like any tune from any place in the Central Plains, full of a mysterious sadness. As if someone under the sky was looking up and sighing deeply, or a bonfire was jumping in the night, reflecting the cheek of a dancing girl. Joyful yet melancholic, warm yet mysterious, as if water and fire were blending together.
For a moment, Xue Ziyue couldn't speak—was this a dream? In such a big sandstorm, there was a place like Uliastai, and in such lush willows, she could actually hear such beautiful flute music.
"Awake?" However, at the moment she opened the window, the flute stopped abruptly, and Miao Feng opened his eyes, "Rested well?"
She nodded awkwardly, suddenly feeling a kind of disappointment that shattered the dream.
"Then, after eating, let's hit the road." He looked at the sky and said, his
Miao Feng finally smiled faintly, raising the short flute in his hand, "No, this isn't a flute, it's a sheng, the musical instrument of our Western Region people. My sister taught me over a dozen ancient Loulan tunes before, but unfortunately, I've forgotten most of them."
He tilted his head slightly, looking towards the azure sky after the snow, sighing.
"At that time, my name was Yami..."
Those things had actually not been thought of for many years... For over a decade, he had rushed through the darkness, cutting through everything with his sword, willing to sacrifice his life to stop anyone unfavorable to the sect leader. Originally, such days were very calm and satisfying, right? Pure and firm, without doubt, without hesitation, and certainly without regret.
He didn't dwell on the past years because they were unnecessary.
But why, at this moment, did those long-forgotten things suddenly reappear so vividly?
"You can't go on like this," in a trance, a hand suddenly pressed on the bandages on his chest, Xue Ziye looked at him with concern, "Your internal energy and emotions are starting to become uncoordinated. This way, it's easy to go off track. Let me seal it temporarily with silver needles, just in case..."
"No need." Miao Feng suddenly frowned, stepping back as if scalded, suddenly lifting his head, locking eyes with her—
"Sect Master Xue," she saw him suddenly smile, speaking softly, "You'll regret this."
Startled by the dreamlike tone, Xue Ziye looked up at the person in front of her, hesitated for a moment, then smiled, "Perhaps... but that's a matter for the future. But now, what kind of doctor would I be if I left a patient unattended?"
He fell silent, no longer resisting, letting the healer handle his wounds, but his eyes were always fixed on the azure sky of the Western Regions.
The mountains were slowly receding, and the pure white snow on the mountaintop reflected a brilliant light like a crown of pearls.
—In three more days, they would arrive at Kunlun, right?
He couldn't help but lift the curtain, shouting in Hu language, commanding the carriage driver to speed up.
It had been twenty-five days since he was sent out of the palace, encountering accidents along the way, fortunately managing to return before the one-month deadline. However, he didn't know the current situation on the Bright Light side. Would Tóu... anticipate that I would bring back an acquaintance from the past?
But you probably don't remember anymore... After all, that night, I saw the Sect Master personally use three golden needles to seal all your memories, forcibly bringing you back to the palace as you knelt by the ice river.
If I hadn't knocked you unconscious at that time, you probably would have already jumped down with them, right?
At that time, you were really foolish...
——————
X. Assassination
As the female physician set out from Uliastai, an unprecedented and unparalleled assassination unfolded on the peak of Kunlun.
The sunlight had just touched the top of Kunlun Mountain, and the glacier on the summit refracted an incomparably brilliant light.
With a loud rumble, the accumulated snow on the mountaintop was shaken by a powerful force, roaring as it cascaded down, sliding along the ice wall like waves. All the followers in the palace were stunned, raising their heads to witness the unexpected turmoil at the peak.
"What's happening?" The junior followers whispered, not understanding why such a thing was happening in the Heavenly Paradise so early in the morning.
"It's... Young Master Tóu!" A disciple from the Fighting Arena recognized the distant figure, blurting out in shock, "It's Young Master Tóu!"
"Young Master Tóu and the Sect Master are fighting?" Whispers of astonishment circulated, but the emotions in the voices were varied.
The low murmurs spread, filled with shock, fear, and even a trace of admiration and ecstasy—In the thirty years of the sect leader's rule over the Bright Light Palace, there had never been any rebel as powerful as Tóu! This time, would it overturn the throne?
Everyone looked up at the intertwined figures on the glacier, feeling dizzy and fascinated.
"What are you all looking at?" Suddenly, a stern shout rang out, making everyone turn back. A figure in a cyan robe floated over, with a bronze mask on his face—it was Miào Kōng, one of the Five Ming Sons.
This usually silent Ming Son, seeing the earth-shattering changes, seemed as if he didn't want to get involved at all. He just waved his hand to dismiss everyone, "All unrelated people, return to your rooms immediately, and don't take a single step out unless you want your heads to roll!"
"Yes!" Everyone obediently lowered their heads and retreated.
In the empty Twelve Quarters, only Miào Kōng remained.
"Why not go follow the Compassionate Father?" He turned his head, looking towards a distant figure on the attic that was closing the window, "Moon Saintess."
The woman on the high building cornered her mouth, revealing an indifferent smile, "I don't even want to watch."
The window closed heavily, and Miào Kōng, with great interest,
The window closed heavily, and Miào Kōng, with great interest, stared for a moment, confirming that the Khitan princess would not come out again, then turned his gaze away. On the adjacent attic, however, a pair of eager eyes were fixed on the decisive battle unfolding on the summit of Kunlun. As if eager to try, but finally forcibly restraining herself.
It was the Star Saintess, Śāro, the younger sister of the Sun Saintess, Ūma.
This former Khitan princess, after her uncle usurped the throne, was sent here to Kunlun with her sister. Suddenly turned from a princess into a discarded girl, it was no wonder that these two sisters harbored deep resentment—however, Ūma, after all, had a bolder disposition than her sister. Unlike Śāro, even if she witnessed her sister's rebellion being punished, she dared not show any resistance.
Miào Kōng touched the bronze mask on his face, sighed, "It seems there are indeed many people in the sect who prefer to stay out of things... But, are they really staying out? Or are they secretly plotting behind the scenes?"
Every person in the Bright Light Palace is extraordinary.
Walking with his hands behind his back, Miào Kōng strolled across the white jade bridge, heading towards the paradise at the summit. His mind rapidly turned, contemplating the next steps, and his expression changed constantly beneath the bronze mask. However, just as he approached the glacier near the summit, he suddenly shivered and took a step back—
Killing intent! The paradise was filled with an icy killing intent that made it hard to breathe!
Two figures moved like the wind through the pristine white snow, and the faint sound of metal clashing could be heard. From a distance, it seemed like neither side had the upper hand. The sect leader kept his head down, not making eye contact with his opponent but staring at Tóu's movements below his shoulders to predict the direction of his techniques.
The movements of both sides were at an extreme speed.
The paradise was in chaos, with over a dozen bodies lying on the ground, including the sect leader's guards and elite assassins from the Fighting Arena. Obviously, the two sides had been fighting for quite some time. As they soared over the glacier once again, Tóu suddenly raised his head, and his eyes emitted a sharp light like a drawn sword!
Eye technique! Everyone was startled; this formidable assassin, one of the best in the Bright Light Palace, had finally unleashed his ultimate skill!
But why did he choose to use this technique only now?
"A Thousand Folds!" In the instant his eyes opened, a sharp purple light burst forth.
—On all sides of the glacier, numerous identical eyes suddenly appeared!
The ice walls reflected and refracted, creating hundreds of shadows, and each pair of eyes emitted an incredibly sharp light in an instant—this ultimate eye technique, enhanced a hundredfold after reflecting off the ice walls, interwove into a trap that was unavoidable!
In a split second, the sect leader let out a loud cry, staggered backward, and spewed out a mouthful of blood, falling into his throne.
His limbs twitched, but in any case, he couldn't lift his hands anymore—during the moment when the eye technique was activated, he was hit directly, losing control of his body. His hands, unable to move; his feet, unable to lift. Watching the black-clad assassin approaching with a drawn sword, the sect leader suddenly pursed his lips and emitted a howl, summoning his most loyal guards.
Roars echoed from deep within the paradise, and a group of fierce mastiffs rushed out, biting towards Tóu's throat!
"How pitiful... Miao Feng hasn't returned yet, and Ming Li is held back by Miao Huo. Now you can only summon these beasts." Tóu turned with his sword, sneering. Just before the mastiffs pounced, he pointed his toes, rising from the glacier like lightning.
"How about it?" In just a moment, he landed back on the ice, slowly raising the blood-covered sword.
The blood covered the blade, completely blocking the light on the edge of the sword. Around were more than a dozen bodies lying haphazardly, all split in half by a single sword, some still twitching slightly.
In this so-called Paradise of Bliss, there was a strong smell of blood. The sect leader, who had returned to his throne, had blood on his shoulder and right ribs, breathing heavily, looking at the wreckage.
"To be honest, I've wanted to slaughter these beasts for a long time—don't you usually like to feed people to the dogs?" Tóu laughed softly, blowing away the blood droplets on the sword, "So, I left one specifically for you, for your funeral!"
He sneered, shook his wrist, and the blood on the sword trembled from the hilt to the tip, forming a fine line and splashing away. The bright edge of the sword reappeared on the ice, gleaming brightly.
The person on the throne struggled several times, trying to stand up but seemed to be controlled by an invisible force. In the end, he slumped down.
"Can't move, huh?" Watching the slightly trembling figure on the throne, Tóu revealed a mocking expression, "In addition to the eye technique, is there also a toxin acting up in your body? Strange, isn't it? You've always claimed to be immune to all poisons, so how did you fall for it?"
Tóu chuckled, "That's the medicinal effect of the Dragon Blood Pearl."
Hearing the three words "Dragon Blood Pearl," the person on the throne suddenly shivered, raising a finger towards Tóu, his throat emitting an indistinct low chant.
"How strange, where did I find the Dragon Blood Pearl?" Tóu sneered, tilting the sword to blow away the blood droplets, "Fool."
However, although he said this, he did not dare to relax his mental suppression on the old man on the throne—even if it was a case of going berserk, even if it was the poison of the dragon blood, the sect leader was still the sect leader! If he became even a bit careless, he might end up as a corpse on the spot.
He continued to gaze with his sword, and his eyes alternated between dark red, deep purple, and eerie green lights, mysterious and unpredictable.
"Do you think I'll kneel in front of you forever, like a dog?" Tóu stared at the elderly man with crane-like hair and youthful appearance, his eyes showing extreme disgust and malice, his voice as soft as a murmur, "Dream on."
Suddenly, he raised his hand, making a gesture as if slapping his own forehead!
As if pulled by an invisible thread, the sect leader's hand also gradually lifted, imprinting towards his own forehead.
"You... you..." The old man's eyes stared at him, his lips moved, but no sound came out—however, it was apparent that he also possessed strong self-restraint. His hand, raised halfway, stopped in mid-air, trembling slightly, as if contending for control with the invisible thread.
"Stubborn old man..." Tóu cursed softly, concentrating all his mental power on his eyes, taking a step closer, staring int
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"Tóu... I've broken your eye technique!" Míng Lì's face bore a maniacal expression of triumph, the first time in over a decade he had managed to break Tóu's curse. He couldn't help but laugh, "I finally broke your eye technique! You've lost!"
Tóu, startled, swiftly retreated, drawing his sword for a swift and relentless strike.
Strangely, Míng Lì made no attempt to evade!
"A crack," a soft sound, as the approaching figure was cleanly severed at the waist.
But in that same moment, he had already closed in to a distance of merely a foot from Tóu. A set of concealed weapons flew from his hand—yet none of the six weapons were aimed at Tóu himself. Instead, in the air, they collided at peculiar angles, creating a sudden burst of purple smoke that enveloped them!
—At such a close range, there was no time to dodge.
"A snap," Míng Lì's body fell onto the glacier, cleaved in two. Yet, simultaneously, Tóu collapsed onto the ice, clutching his eyes!
The bloodied sword slipped from his hand, and he fell to the ground, writhing in unimaginable pain that surpassed the limits of his endurance. Lying on the glacier, he emitted a wretched scream!
What is this... what is this? His eyes, suddenly, could no longer see!
The pain pierced through his heart and lungs, almost shattering him in an instant.
"Foolish Tóu..." a familiar voice echoed as he writhed on the ice, full of affection and pity, "Did you think the throne of the Bright Light Palace could be overturned so easily?... How naive."
It was... It was the voice of the sect leader!
Tóu didn't lift his head, struggling to gather his focus, reaching out to grab the fallen sword while trying to determine the direction of the exit from the paradise.
—He must immediately descend the mountain and rendezvous with Míao Huǒ, or else...
"Hehe, still thinking of escaping?" At that very moment, as if discerning his intentions, something was tossed onto the ice with a clatter, a grotesque and angry head: "Still hoping for assistance from your companions? Hehe, that fool Míao Huǒ, how could he be a match for Míao Shuǐ? You really chose the wrong companion... my Tóu."
Míao Shuǐ? Was that woman, in the end, betraying them?
He tried to reach for the bloodied sword, but the excruciating pain from his eyes quickly eroded his sanity. Just as he managed to prop himself up, he fell heavily again, covering his eyes, muscles twitching uncontrollably.
"Giggling, look, even Tóu can't endure it," Míao Shuǐ's voice, soft and charming, sounded beside him, a smiling expression on her face, "Sect leader, the Seven-Star Begonia is truly well-deserved."
Seven-Star Begonia! Despite the pain, those words caused a shiver, a profound sense of despair penetrating his bones.
It was a toxin that no one had been able to unravel for a hundred years. It was said that twenty years ago, even the leader of the Pharmacy Valley, Master Línxià, pondered it for a month without being able to solve it, ultimately succumbing to the depletion of his mental faculties.
And the terrifying aspect was that those afflicted by this poison would experience a slow death, with the poison gradually corroding their bones.
The old man, with white hair, embraced the graceful beauty, bending down to observe the struggling traitor on the ground, sighing, "How regrettable, Tóu. I regarded you as my own eyes, and yet you betrayed me—strange, why would you dare to do this?"
The sect leader's eyes carried a cold sneer, "Could it be, you've already remembered your origins?"
—That sentence was a more cruel sword than the poison, causing the man on the ground to cease struggling in an instant.
Tóu trembled violently, lifting his head to stare at the sect leader. However, those eyes, usually ever-changing, had already lost their luster, now shrouded in a terrifying blood-red hue.
His own origins?... Could it be...!
"Fool, you haven't completely recovered your memory yet? Clearly, two out of the three golden needles have already loosened," the sect leader chuckled, his finger halting on the last golden needle at Tóu's heart, "The extermination of the Mójiā tribe... Have you completely forgotten? So, it turns out your betrayal wasn't for revenge but entirely due to your ambition?"
Tóu abruptly raised his head, blood-red eyes flashing with a glint of intense agony.
Mójiā tribe!
The name that Xue Zǐyè mentioned resounded clearly from the sect leader's mouth, as if burning into his heart like a fierce fire. In an instant, he almost couldn't feel the pain in his body. Another tearing sensation spread from his heart, making his entire body tremble.
"Turns out it's true..." the person who had been silent all along finally spoke in a hoarse voice, "Why?"
The King of the Cult tapped the icy surface with his golden staff, sneering, "Still asking why? The Mójiā tribe possesses the blood of demonic eyes. Since I have exclusive ownership of you, how could I let it spread to others?"
Suddenly, the person on the ground erupted, rushing towards the direction of the voice.
"Beast!" Filled with shock and anger, the heavily injured Tóu unleashed astonishing strength, as if the potent poison had lost its effect!
A pale blue wind swept through, and something unfolded in the snow. Tóu's final strike collided with an incredibly soft net—Míao Shuǐ stood there gracefully, opening her Heavenly Net Umbrella to shield the King of the Cult. The water-like flexible surface of the umbrella absorbed the impact of the last desperate attack, creating a cracking sound as it split open.
"To be wounded like this, and still be affected by the Seven-Star Begonia's poison, yet you can still move?" Míao Shuǐ chuckled, looking at her damaged umbrella with pity. "Truly worthy of being Tóu. However..." She lightly tapped his shoulder with the umbrella's tip, and with a crisp sound, a bone snapped, causing him to collapse heavily.
She continued to giggle, "However, that last strike depleted your remaining strength, didn't it? Now, unable to suppress the Seven-Star Begonia's poison, you'll only suffer even more."
Tóu lay on the snowy ground, breathing heavily. Though he clenched his teeth to suppress any groans, his muscles still convulsed uncontrollably. Míao Shuǐ continued to tap with the umbrella, sealing his eight major acupoints.
"Pitiful. Don't you want to die?" The King of the Cult looked at the fallen Tóu, smiling as he stroked his beard. "Beg me for mercy."
"Pah." Tóu sneered, spitting blood at him. "Kill me!"
The King of the Cult flicked his sleeve, avoiding the spurt of blood, and looked at the eyes that still resisted on the snowy ground. His expression gradually turned sinister. His hand covered Tóu's chest again, slowly probing the entrance of the golden needle, as he cruelly narrated, "Well then, I'll grant you mercy once again—before your death, let me remind you of everything from twelve years ago, Tóu!"
The King of the Cult's hand suddenly exerted force, and the blood-stained golden needle bounced out of the three acupoints at the back of Tóu's head, piercing into the white snow.
"Being like this is too lenient for you!" Lifting the traitor's chin with his sleeve, the King of the Cult's face gradually twisted into a sinister expression. "Tóu... my Tóu, letting you forget those memories was my mercy. Since you don't appreciate it, now, I've decided to retract that mercy. Let you savor those memories before your death!"
As the golden needle was pulled out, countless fragmented memories surged up from the dark abyss of his mind, instantly surrounding him.
Those... What were they? A dark room... hands bound by iron chains... the clear eyes in the dark night, silently staring at him. In the night of blood and fire, the silhouettes of two figures disappeared on the icy surface.
Those were... those were—
"No... no... Ah! Ah ah ah ah..." He let out a low and hoarse scream, rolling on the snow while his body was stained with blood—those overwhelming memories rushed into him in an instant, almost driving him insane!
Míao Shuǐ, holding her umbrella, shielded the King of the Cult from the wind and snow, her eyes also showing a fearful expression. The old man removed the golden needle from Tóu's chest, smiling as he awakened the sealed blood-colored memories, cruelly approaching—
"Tóu, have you forgotten? At that time, I brought you back on the verge of collapse and sealed your memories for you."
"Otherwise, you would have gone crazy. Wouldn't you?"
"Don't you want to remember what you did back then? To escape, you agreed to be my slave; to prove your loyalty, you followed my orders and joined the ranks of assassins... Hehe, the first time you killed, you were so scared, crying incessantly. Truly, a cowardly child... Who would have thought you would have the courage you do today?"
The demon's voice entered his ears, echoing with the memories resurfacing in his mind, revealing the true picture of that bloody night twelve years ago. Tóu was pinned to the snow by those memories, feeling waves of pain akin to being tortured.
Yes, yes... Remembered it all!
That night... that night of bloody slaughter, he was running, chasing those two people, his hands stained with fresh blood.
He was so afraid of death
He was so afraid of death, desperate for freedom, and bowed to the devil—then, forced to pick up a sword to kill his fellow villagers. Uncles, aunts, older brothers, and sisters dragged their children through the snow, emitting desperate and horrifying cries, chased by numerous killers from the Grand Illumination Palace, carrying blazing torches.
And he, covered in blood, sword in hand, blended among the killers. On that snowy night, the blood...
He suddenly howled, burying his head in his hands, shaking violently.
Why remember? Why recall such things!—Remembering such a self!
"Remember now, my pupil?" The King sneered with satisfaction, patting his shoulder, speaking affectionately into his ear, "Tian, you are the real murderer that night... even those two young lovers died because of you."
"You called her sister, right? I brought you back, but you still wanted to chase after her—do you know what you looked like back then? Chasing her with a bloody face, like a fierce ghost... She didn't even hear you calling her, just desperately trying to shake you off."
"In the end, that foolish girl and her little lover fell into the icy river together—frozen to death, alive."
The demon whispered in his ear, each word like an invisible knife, cruelly torturing him.
Twelve years had passed, and that night's snow and blood rushed in, bringing a strong smell of blood, shattering his last trace of courage.
So it was like this... It was like this! It's true... The memories that surfaced in the Medicine Master Valley, the clear eyes and the dead young man under the ice—all were real! She was Xiao Ye... She didn't lie to him.
Her eyes were so familiar, as if the White Mountains and Black Waters of the North struck a chord in the depths of his heart when he first saw them.
She was his sister... she was Xiao Ye!
He had been locked in darkness for seven years, abandoned by everyone, isolated from the world, and the only thing he could see was her eyes. Those eyes were full of care and advice, the only motivation for him to resist hunger and despair—they... How could he completely forget?
Tian screamed, trembling and kneeling on the snowy ground, unable to control his howls.
She once tried to stop him at all costs, just to prevent him from returning to this dark palace—but he ruthlessly knocked her down and left.
Originally, twelve years later, fate had given him a chance to find her again, bringing him back to that warm snow valley, pointing him to the way home. All he needed to do was choose to "believe," and he could regain the long-lost happiness. However, at that time, he was already cold and numb, never trusting anyone again. Tempted by the desire for power and blood, he once again ruthlessly pushed away the helping hand, embarking on this irreversible path.
That was the choice he made... He didn't hesitate to deceive and hurt her, unwilling to give up the struggle for freedom and power.
So, he ended up in his current situation.
It serves him right!
He suddenly laughed: So, his whole life was a struggle between desperately breaking free and helpless surrender? However, no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't break free.
All the murderous intent suddenly dissipated, and he felt an endless fatigue. Slowly closing his eyes, a bitter smile appeared on his lips.
Mi Shui looked on from the side, feeling shocked—had he been defeated? Tian no longer resisted, not even angry. Such a exhausted expression had never been seen on the face of this killer in the arena!
"Stop!" In the moment of his laughter, the King's hand swiftly reached out, grabbing his chin and ruthlessly striking his stomach.
A mouthful of blood sprayed from Tian's mouth, with a black pill mixed in. A throat-sealing pill?
The impact finally made him lose consciousness.
"Trying to commit suicide?" The King smiled in satisfaction. It seemed he had finally broken his will. He rotated his golden staff, saying, "But it's too cheap for you... You should enjoy the Seven-Star Sea Anemone poison a bit."
The bodies of the guard dogs on the side were scattered, leaving only a gray wolfhound still crouching in the distance, maintaining a vigilant posture. The King furrowed his white eyebrows, tapping the unconscious man with his golden staff. Murmuring, "Tian, you killed so many precious wolfhounds of mine and even sent Mingli to his death... So, before the poison takes effect, you can temporarily serve as my dog!"
"Will you imprison him in the Snow Prison?" Mi Shui asked with a trembling voice.
"Snow Prison? That's too cheap for him..." The King's eyes flashed with malicious light, tapping Tian's chest with the golden staff, "Since my precious wolfhounds are gone, I'll let him fill the cage!"
"Yes... yes, Your Majesty." Mi Shui trembled slightly, quickly bowed and curtsied, casting a charming smile at the King before retreating. Her waist swayed gracefully like a willow in the wind as she effortlessly lifted the unconscious Tian and glided down the glacier, disappearing in an instant.
"This little vixen..." Watching the departing woman, the King suddenly radiated a certain heat in his eyes. However, before he could decide when to invite her again to practice the secret technique of the Tantra, the surge of heat suddenly rushed to his dantian and triggered severe pain. The elderly man with white hair and youthful appearance bent over, coughing violently, unable to maintain the facade he had pretended for so long.
A mouthful of blood suddenly sprayed,
"Miaofeng..." The King gasped, eyes dull, murmuring, "Why haven't you come back!"
In the distance, snow fell silently, and a pair of eyes vanished in an instant.
Snow Concealment.
Miaokong, one of the Five Mingzi, had been silently watching from the sidelines, witnessing this heart-stopping rebellion.
Not appearing, not participating, as if he were just an outsider.
It seems... the current situation has exceeded his original estimates. Hopefully, the people from the Central Ding Sword Pavilion will act quickly—otherwise, once the King stabilizes the situation again, things will become tricky.
—
In the dark prison, located at the northern foot of Kunlun Mountain, never seeing sunlight, cold and damp.
Chains forged from black iron hung down one by one, locking the limbs of the black-clad youth, firmly nailing the unconscious person in the cage. Mi Shui lowered her head, carefully fastening the last collar around the pale and elegant neck—there was a light "crack," and the seams closed tightly. The person in a stupor had not yet awakened, but as if sensing a profound humiliation, he instinctively struggled slightly.
"Ha," the charming woman lowered her head, caressing the person now equipped with a dog collar, "Tian, you still lost."
Her breath wafted delicately onto the bloodied skin, and the awakening person gradually regained consciousness.
However, in those opened eyes, there was no vitality, only a mist of bloody red completely covering the irises! The awakened person immediately understood his current situation, looking around with a fierce expression in the darkness, hoarsely saying, "Mi Shui?"
He tried to stand up, but the chains on his limbs suddenly tightened, pulling him tightly, fixing him back to the ground in a crawling position.
"Tian, it's a pity. I actually wanted to help you guys... Why do you look more young and handsome than that old man?" Mi Shui covered her mouth, giggling with a sweet voice, raising her hand to caress his head, "But, since you and Miaohuo initiated the final move without informing me, excluding me like that."
Her hand suddenly exerted force, grabbing his hair, viciously staring at him, "Since you don't trust me, why should I stand with you guys!"
The collar made of black iron was clasped around Tian's neck. Her forceful pull almost broke his throat, yet he remained silent.
"Too bad... I originally wanted to join you in destroying the King, and then turn around to deal with you." The charming woman's eyes returned to seductive, caressing the eyes that had lost their luster, smiling sweetly, "After all, when you first entered the Shura Arena, sent to the paradise for the first time to enjoy the heavenly bliss, it was me who accompanied you through that memorable night... I really hate to see you die like this."
"Hmph." Tian closed his eyes, sneering, "Whore."
"A whore is still better than a dog." Miaoshui coldly released his hair, mocking him maliciously.
Tian, however, showed no anger. A nonchalant expression flashed across his pale face as he closed his eyes slightly. In an instant, all the anger and killing intent on him disappeared, as if the burnt-out ashes, no longer caring about all the torture and humiliation inflicted upon him, just silently waiting for the deadly poison to take away his life, bit by bit.
Seven-Star Petal, there is no antidote.
It is an extremely cruel poison that gradually erodes the human brain. The poisoned person loses a portion of their memory every day, and after seven days, they become a helpless idiot like a baby. After that, the suffering doesn't end; the potent poison further corrodes the body through the brain and spine, causing the muscles to rot away gradually.
Until it becomes a bare white skeleton, only then does the last breath cease.
"Want to die? Not so easy," Miaoshui sneered slightly, caressing his shoulders convulsing from the effects of the poison, "It's only the first day. The King said, before the Seven-Star Petal poison slowly takes effect, you have to be a dog who can never lift its head, until death."
Pausing for a moment, the woman giggled again with a charming tone, whispering softly in a bone-chilling manner:
"But, after I kill the King... maybe I'll be merciful and let you die sooner."
"So, you should actually help me, shouldn't you?"
――――――――――――――――――――――――――
A white bird flew over the Forbidden City, emitting a sharp whistle in the wind, with a purple handkerchief tied to its foot.
"The Valley Master has gone to the Kunlun Grand Illumination Palace."
The graceful and fresh characters, written on an old handkerchief used by Xue Ziye, flapped in the early spring breeze.
Heading south, flying towards the city with scattered clouds and willows.
Meanwhile, in Lin'an City, spring had just arrived, and the cold plum blossoms under Jiuyao Mountain were in full bloom, clear and cold as snow. Liao Qingran had just given a medicine to Qiu Shuiyin, the woman who had cried hysterically all night, finally falling into a deep sleep.
The room was filled with the fragrant smell of incense. Huo Zhanbai sat under the window, his hands covered in bloodstains, and a tiredness that couldn't be concealed on his face.
"Your hands need to be bandaged too." Liao Qingran, after observing him for a while, spoke with some pity.
Those bloodstains were scratched by Qiu Shuiyin when she had a fit last night—since she fell into a semi-mad state, she would lose control and scream hysterically, scratching and hitting anyone who tried to comfort her. Over the past few days, the maids in the mansion had been scared away by her violence, and no one dared to approach her.
In the end, it fell to Huo Zhanbai to take care of her.
Apart from Wei Fengxing, Liao Qingran saw a man show such patience and tolerance for the first time. No matter how the crazy woman tossed and turned, Huo Zhanbai always spoke gently and calmly, never showing the slightest impatience.
"You are a good man." The former Valley Master, sighed softly after bandaging his hands.
She swallowed the latter half of the sentence—Unfortunately, my disciple is not fortunate.
Huo Zhanbai just smiled, seemingly very tired, and didn't even bother with polite words, just looking at the white plum blossoms outside the window in a daze.
"The plum blossoms of the Medicine Valley should be blooming soon." Suddenly, he murmured, his voice without much fluctuation, "Why hasn't Xueyao returned yet? I wanted to return to the Medicine Valley with her before the plum blossoms withered—to keep the promise of having a drink under the blossoms. Unfortunately, that's no longer possible now."
Liao Qingran sighed, lowering her head, unable to bear looking at those vacant eyes.
She still remembered the enthusiasm and hope in this man's eyes that night when they set off from Jinling—on that night, he finally decided to unload the inexplicable burden he had been carrying for many years, abandoning the hopeless waiting of many years, and embracing a new life. When he said, "I miss her very much," his eyes even showed the excitement and shyness of a young man's first love, as if, after many years of deadened heart, he finally had a new yearning for life.
However, the claws of fate did not give him any chance, after he caught his breath, it once again completely defeated him!
She lost her son and went crazy suddenly.
You always come late... We missed a lifetime... In the semi-hysterical state, she looked at him with despair and sorrow, saying words that had never been spoken before. Such words instantly shattered all his reason.
She fell into madness after saying those words, so he couldn't leave anymore.
He couldn't return to that snowy valley, couldn't go to fulfill the appointment under the flowers. He stayed in the small courtyard under Jiuyao Mountain, whether willingly or not—such unswerving love and persistence would probably become a widely spread story in the martial arts world in the future, wouldn't it?
But, what a ridiculous and desolate life.
How laughable that he, who was already beyond the age of having dreams, had such a hope of grasping happiness again. Hence, it became a dream in vain, and leaving behind regrets seemed natural.
"Madam Qiu's illness is not a major problem. According to my prescription, taking the medicine every day should be enough. But whether she can recover depends on her destiny." Liao Qingran put away the medicine pillow and said indifferently, "Young Master Huo, I have done my best and should take my leave."
"This..." Huo Zhanbai stood up somewhat unexpectedly, for a moment feeling a bit at a loss.
It's not that he didn't know this healer would eventually leave—only, once she also left, the last trace of connection related to that woman in purple would be completely severed, right?
"Can Master Liao stay a few more days?" He mumbled a bit, feeling somewhat lost.
"No, pack up your things, and I'll leave tomorrow." Liao Qingran shook her head, a bit anxious, "I received a message from Fengxing yesterday, saying that Dingjian Pavilion is gathering the Eight Swords. He is going to the Kunlun Grand Illumination Palace. There is no one to take care of my baby at home, so I need to go back as soon as possible."
"Gathering the Eight Swords?" Huo Zhanbai was slightly surprised, realizing that it must be something serious, "Well then, Master Liao, you should hurry back."
Liao Qingran nodded, "Young Master Huo, take care of yourself."
In front of the courtyard, the plum blossoms were like snow, and the early spring wind was still biting.
In front of the courtyard, plum blossoms were like snow, and the early spring wind remained biting.
Huo Zhanbai plucked a branch and gazed at the plum blossoms for a while, feeling his heart in turmoil. To the Kunlun Grand Illumination Palace? What exactly had happened? Since Xu Chonghua's betrayal eight years ago, the Eight Swords had become the Seven Swords. The Central Ding Sword Sect and the Western Grand Illumination Palace no longer engaged in large-scale battles. Now, the old sect leader was suddenly summoning the Eight Swords. Could it be that something major had occurred?
Sighing deeply, he turned to look inside the window. Liao Qingran was giving the final examination to the sleeping woman. In the lingering scent of incense, the pale and exhausted face momentarily showed a rare moment of tranquility, regaining its usual elegance and otherworldliness.
He let out a silent sigh from his chest and lowered his head.
Qiu Shui... Qiu Shui, are we destined to be unable to let go of each other?
She was the person he had loved the most deeply in his life. However, after more than ten years of wind and frost, that bit of passion had gradually worn away. Now, he only felt endless fatigue and emptiness.
He strolled towards the deeper part of the courtyard when suddenly, a figure in green silently descended.
"Who?" Huo Zhanbai raised his eyebrows, and the Ink-soul Sword leaped out of its scabbard.
"It's me, Seventh Brother." The person in green raised his hand to stop him, laughing, "It's me, Qianyu."
"Qianyu?" Recognizing his youngest Eighth Brother, Huo Zhanbai breathed a sigh of relief, lowering his sword, "Why are you here?"
"The Sect Master has commanded me to summon you." Xia Qianyu, usually carefree, wore a serious expression as he slowly raised his hand, revealing the martial world command issued by the Ding Sword Sect in his palm. "According to reliable information: the Demon Cult has been in constant turmoil recently, the Holy Maiden Uma has been killed, and Tóng, who controls the Asura Arena, was captured after a failed rebellion. Now, the strength of the Demon Cult has been unprecedentedly weakened, presenting a perfect opportunity for complete annihilation!"
"Tóng rebelled?" Huo Zhanbai exclaimed, then realized—no wonder she fought desperately to seize the Dragon Blood Bead! It turns out she harbored intentions of betrayal early on, intending to use it to poison the Sect Master!
"Is the information reliable?" he inquired calmly, verifying the crucial intelligence.
"Reliable." Xia Qianyu lowered his head, reversed the sword hilt, and pressed it against his forehead. It was the gesture of acknowledgment among the Eight Swords, "It came from here."
Huo Zhanbai was suddenly stunned, and the plum blossom in his hand fell to the ground.
Could it be that the information was transmitted by that person? Is he, is he still alive?
"The Sect Master commands us seven to gather at the Ding Sword Sect within three days and head to Kunlun!" Xia Qianyu repeated the order.
Huo Zhanbai glanced at the sleeping woman inside the window, feeling worried. "And her?"
"My family is also in Lin'an. I can have Madam Qiu stay at our residence for a while," Xia Qianyu suggested, "This way, you can go without worries."
Huo Zhanbai hesitated, especially since Qiu Shuiyin's condition had just stabilized. How could he leave her alone?
"Seventh Brother, everyone in the world knows you are loyal and righteous— but this time, the extermination of the Demon Cult is a major event concerning the lifeblood of the martial world! Without saying more, this Tóng, I'm afraid, only you can be sure to deal with her." Xia Qianyu was unusually modest this time, looking straight at him and suddenly sneering, "If you don't go, then it's fine—at most, my fifth brother and I will sacrifice our lives at the Demon Cult. After all, countless people have already lost their lives for this matter, and a few more won't make a difference."
"No!" Huo Zhanbai blurted out—what if Wei Fengxing had an accident? How would he face his wife and child?
In the end, he sighed, placed his hand on the Ink-soul Sword, "Alright, I'll go."
"I knew you would go." Xia Qianyu breathed a sigh of relief, finally smiling, patting Huo Zhanbai's shoulder heavily, "Good brother!"
That afternoon, the two swordsmen left Lin'an on horseback, heading to the Ding Sword Sect to join the other five swords.
Under Jiuyao Mountain, the elegant house was empty, with only white plum blossoms scattered on the ground.
"Hoot, hoot." A white bird descended from the wind, its foot tied with a handkerchief, landing on the windowsill with an urgent chirp, but its owner never came out. It had brought important news from the distant north, yet its master was no longer here.
The seven top swordsmen of the Central Martial World were about to converge at the Ding Sword Sect, galloping on their horses in the chilly spring air, wielding their swords towards the Kunlun mountains in the west.
Snow Kite pecked off the handkerchief from its claw, hanging it on a plum branch, lingering for a long time.
The door finally creaked open, but the one who walked out was Liao Qingran, carrying a bundle on her shoulder. Yesterday afternoon, people from the Xia mansion had come to take Qiu Shuiyin away. Liao Qingran had carefully explained the medication and care methods before preparing to return to her home in Yangzhou.
However, upon seeing the handkerchief swaying in the wind on the plum branch, her gaze froze for a moment.
"The Valley Master has gone to the Grand Illumination Palace. Frost Red."
"Oops... that girl has gone mad! Sending her to Kunlun with her condition is like sending her to her death!" Liao Qingran was shocked, stood still for a moment, then couldn't care less about anything else, instructing her attendant, "We won't go back to Yangzhou for now! Hurry, intercept her!"
――――――――――――――――――――――――――
As Snow Kite returned a thousand miles to Lin'an, the owner of the handkerchief was gradually approaching the snow-covered Kunlun.
Xue Ziye looked at the increasingly towering mountain shapes outside the carriage, lost in thought. That child... that Lin'an child, Mo'er, was she healed now? What about that guy Huo Zhanbai, did he manage to invite the master? And did the master have other ways to treat such an illness?
She was somewhat troubled as she raised her head, gazing at the southern sky, as if hoping to find answers there.
"Are we almost there?" Touching the Sacred Fire Token in her arms, she murmured to Miaofeng, "Legend has it that Kunlun is the divine mountain at the western end, where the Queen Mother of the West resides—just like the Extreme Abyss is at the northern end."
"Xue Huai said that the sky there has seven different colors, with countless lights shimmering and floating on the ice..." Xue Ziye hugged her lynx fur, looking at the sky, murmuring, "Beautiful, just like a dream."
Miaofeng remained silent, lowering his head, not daring to meet her gaze.
For the first time, he wished he had never been involved in that massacre.
The bloody slaughter had passed for twelve years. However, the moment those teenage boy and girl disappeared from the ice, the image of their departure was still imprinted in his memory. If he had shown a bit more mercy at that time, perhaps the young man named Xue Huai would have already escaped with her? They could have fled from that village, headed to the icy ocean in the far north, and lived a hidden life thereafter.
But why, over so many years, did he never hesitate when he struck?
The wind blew in through the window, and he coughed slightly, feeling something hard in his heart cracking bit by bit.
"It's time to use the golden needles." Xue Ziye noticed him coughing, calculated the time, and took out a set of needles from beside her. However, Miaofeng pushed her hand away, indifferently saying, "From now on, Xue Valley Master should preserve her energy, prepared to be treated by the Demon King."
His face remained expressionless—ever since losing that smiling mask, this man had become a blank slate.
Xue Ziye looked at him and couldn't help but erupt.
"Why are you so unenlightened!" She threw the golden needles aside, leaned over to light his chest, and there was a kind of annoyed anger, "Is that Demon King
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