"The mighty Dark River, swayed by a single sword?" Xie Qidao swung the Sleeping Dragon Sword in his hand, tracing a floral pattern in the air. "Ridiculous." He attempted to sheathe his sword and retreat, only to find the blade tethered by a thin silk thread.
Puppet Silk! Xie Qidao raised his blade to sever it, but the silk suddenly yanked backward, snatching the Sleeping Dragon Sword away. A graceful woman in white robes caught the sword, arching an eyebrow. "The Sleeping Dragon Sword is mine now."
Xie Qidao studied her, his brow furrowing slightly. "Young lady, do you realize the implications of your actions just now?"
"Does it mean you can kill me now?" The woman was none other than Bai Hehuai, the Miracle Healer from Medicine King Valley. Though her martial skills were modest, her mastery of Puppet Silk surpassed many disciples of Dark River.
"I'm afraid he won't get the chance, because I'll kill you first!" Mu Ci Ling charged forward, his Horse Chopping Sword at the ready.
Xie Qidao remained still. He knew this woman was allied with Su Zhe. Killing her would provoke Su Zhe—a poor trade. Letting Mu Ci Ling handle it was undoubtedly the wisest choice. Given Bai Hehuai's limited skills, Mu Ci Ling could end her with a single stroke.
What a pity. Xie Qidao shook his head faintly.
Bai Hehuai trembled with fear, her legs quivering, yet the hand gripping the Sleeping Dragon Sword remained steady. With a deft twist, she sent a sheet of rainwater spiraling upward—only for it to freeze instantly, encasing her in a protective shell of ice.
"Su Jinhui's Frosty Sword Qi?" Mu Ci Ling instinctively slowed his advance.
But the ice soon melted, dissolving into a dense white mist. Within moments, the fog enveloped everything within thirty feet of Bai Hehuai, clinging stubbornly to her like a shield. Mu Ci Ling inhaled lightly, then leaped back, retreating ten yards in an instant.
"This is the Wen Family's 'Thirty Feet of Barren Land'—one of the deadliest poison arrays in the world. This girl has some tricks up her sleeve. She knows the Dark River Su Family's techniques and can deploy the Wen Family's poisons," Xie Qidao remarked gravely. "A single breath of this toxin would kill an ordinary person within half an hour."
"Then we'll wait. I refuse to believe she won't come out eventually." Mu Ci Ling sheathed his Horse Chopping Sword and strode into a nearby tavern. The patrons inside had already frozen in terror; at his entrance, they scrambled for cover behind the counter. Unfazed, Mu Ci Ling took a seat at the table laden with the most dishes, tore off a chicken leg, poured himself a cup of wine, and began eating with relish. After being confined in a black coffin for so long, surviving on nothing but water and plain buns, this taste of meat was a rare indulgence. He devoured the chicken leg in no time.
Xie Qidao, however, lacked such leisure. He circled the mist slowly, searching for a breach. But the Wen Family's Thirty Feet of Barren Land proved far more impenetrable than he'd anticipated—flawless, save for the visible dissipation of the fog over time.
"Young lady, your Thirty Feet of Barren Land won't last much longer. Toss out the sword, and I'll spare your life," Xie Qidao intoned darkly."Who said I can't sustain it for long? Do you think I can only use Thirty Feet of Barren Land once? After one use, I have another. Today, I can keep you from getting within thirty feet of me all day!" Bai Hehuai declared loudly, though a trace of fear lingered in her heart. Thirty Feet of Barren Land was a defensive life-saving technique the Wen family used only in emergencies. At most, one person carried only one dose of the poisonous powder. Once this wave of white mist dissipated, she would have no backup plan left.
Su Muyu, hurry! Su Muyu, hurry! Bai Hehuai repeated silently in her mind.
Mu Ci Ling had already downed three cups of wine, and Xie Qidao circled three times before stopping with his blade raised. The white mist gradually dispersed.
An opening had appeared!
"Damn Su Muyu, always so late! I can't hold on anymore!" Bai Hehuai tossed the Sleeping Dragon Sword into the air. "Here, take the sword! Remember what you said earlier—don't kill me, don't kill me!"
Xie Qidao crouched slightly before leaping forward with his blade.
Mu Ci Ling reluctantly set down the chicken butt he was eating, wiping his mouth. "Well-fed and well-drunk, time to get back to work!"
A flawless white hand caught the Sleeping Dragon Sword midair, then spun it lightly, clashing with Xie Qidao's long blade before retreating with both sword and wielder back to Bai Hehuai's side.
"I'm a bit late, but I made it in time," Su Muyu said softly.
"Su Muyu, since both The Head and Su Jinhui have already relinquished the Sleeping Dragon Sword, whether it goes to the Xie Family or the Mu Family is none of your concern. Why interfere?" Xie Qidao said darkly.
"As long as the Sleeping Dragon Sword remains unclaimed, The Head is still The Head. Who the sword belongs to is still for The Head to decide," Su Muyu replied, lowering his head. "Please understand this, Uncle Qidao."
"Unfortunately, I never play by reason." Mu Ci Ling had somehow appeared behind Su Muyu and Bai Hehuai, his Horse Chopping Sword raised high before slashing downward.
"Danger!" Su Muyu wrapped an arm around Bai Hehuai's waist, swiftly changing his footing to dodge aside. But Mu Ci Ling's Horse Chopping Sword flicked upward, forcing Su Muyu to abandon the Sleeping Dragon Sword. With a swing of his blade, Mu Ci Ling hooked the sword toward himself. "Now that it's in my hands, don't even think about taking it back. Make way for me—"
"Move!"
Mu Ci Ling roared, swinging his Horse Chopping Sword down hard against the ground.
Su Muyu pulled Bai Hehuai far out of range as the slash sent a wave of rainwater surging forward. Xie Qidao blocked with his blade but was sent flying backward, crashing into a nearby tavern.
"Fight me!" Mu Ci Ling glared at Su Muyu. "Come on!" His Horse Chopping Sword lowered slightly as the fiery Crimson True Qi enveloped him once more.
Bai Hehuai's eyes widened. "Is this fair?"
"It's not," Su Muyu said, watching the Sleeping Dragon Sword in Mu Ci Ling's grip.
"If you won't fight me, then I'm leaving." Mu Ci Ling sheathed his Horse Chopping Sword, gripping the Sleeping Dragon Sword as he sprinted away.
It took Bai Hehuai a long moment to snap out of her daze. "Wait! You just let him take the Sleeping Dragon Sword? I risked my life to hold onto it for even a moment!"
"No need to chase him for now," Su Muyu said, shaking his head.
"Damn bastard." Xie Qidao emerged from the wreckage, looking disheveled but unharmed. It had to be admitted—the Xie Family's physical resilience was the strongest among the three families.Su Muyu stepped forward, blocking Bai Hehuai's path: "Uncle Qidao, I originally thought you wouldn't be involved in this matter."
"Go ask your damned brother!" Xie Qidao turned and chased after Mu Ci Ling in the direction she had left.
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