With a faint "pfft," the bamboo cane blackened in one spot as several white worms suddenly wriggled out from the center of the blue curved saber, slithering like snakes toward Xue Xianzi's back. Liu Yan steadied himself. While Xue Xianzi and Yu Qifeng stood locked in confrontation, his bamboo cane shifted through seven or eight variations, each strike aimed at the worms. Though his arms lacked strength, his techniques remained intact—these venomous insects, fearsome as they were, couldn't withstand a single poke from the cane. Hongchan Niangzi let out a surprised "Oh?" and withdrew her blade. "You dare strike back! Such audacity!"
Standing behind Xue Xianzi, Liu Yan leaned on his bamboo cane, swaying slightly as the charred tip crumbled. Even through the human-face mask he wore, Hongchan Niangzi could see his expression remained utterly unchanged. As long as Xue Xianzi stood there, he would stand behind him—blocking one slash if she struck once, two if she struck twice. "Lord Liu, today you truly make me see you in a new light," Hongchan Niangzi giggled coquettishly. "I always thought you were just a pretty-faced dandy! Who knew that after having your face skinned, you'd grow a spine? Those silly girls who'd die for you weren't entirely wrong. Pity—your loyalty is misplaced. He's the close friend of your mortal enemy, Young Master Tang. Isn't he your foe? Why fight so hard to protect him?" Liu Yan cast her a faint glance. "Old hag."
Hongchan Niangzi stiffened, then erupted in fury, slashing horizontally at his waist. She despised nothing more than being called old, and Liu Yan had deliberately stomped on her sore spot. Xue Xianzi, who had been locked in a staring contest with Yu Qifeng, suddenly grinned at the remark. "Ah, finally some good words!" Yu Qifeng saw his lips part and immediately thrust two fingers forward, a burst of Sword Qi shooting through the air. Though lacking the edge of a true blade, at such close range, it was formidable in its sweeping force. Xue Xianzi flicked his sleeve, and in the blink of an eye, Hongchan Niangzi saw Liu Yan vanish beneath the white fabric, while Yu Qifeng watched Xue Xianzi split into two, then three—until dozens of distinct afterimages flickered before him. Both froze in shock. In that instant of hesitation, two dull "thuds" sounded as both spat blood, struck in the chest and back. Then, with a light chuckle, Xue Xianzi whisked Liu Yan away into the distance.
With a furious exhale, Yu Qifeng suppressed his internal injuries and sent a palm strike toward the direction Xue Xianzi had fled. Grass and trees flattened, but the figures were long gone. Hongchan Niangzi staggered, gasping, "Thousand Traces Lone Form Shift!" Yu Qifeng grunted. "Impressive."
Xue Xianzi's final move was legendary—one body splitting into dozens of illusions, each capable of delivering a strike, demanding unparalleled footwork, core strength, and agility from the practitioner. Executing it required explosive exertion of energy, making it a technique only the most elite dared attempt. Failure often led to qi deviation, yet Xue Xianzi had executed this perilous technique with effortless grace, his mastery truly terrifying.
"Truly worthy of being the Jianghu's number one eccentric," Hongchan Niangzi sighed softly, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. Yu Qifeng rasped, "Judging by the force of the strikes that wounded us, even after performing 'Thousand Traces Lone Form Shift,' he must have been injured. Otherwise, these blows would have been far worse." Hongchan Niangzi smiled sweetly. "True enough. Let's give chase."The two of them activated their lightness skills and chased in the direction Xue Xianzi had fled.
Xue Xianzi lifted Liu Yan and swiftly darted deep into the forest. After a few flickers of movement, they reached the mountaintop. Once there, he set Liu Yan down, and the two looked out to see thick black smoke rising from a valley not far away, accompanied by faint clamoring. Countless figures seemed to be rushing about within, leaving them momentarily stunned. Xue Xianzi narrowed his eyes to observe from afar. "Who's causing trouble in that valley?" Liu Yan could vaguely make out a yellow figure flitting gracefully among a group of black-clad individuals. Wherever the yellow figure passed, the black tents burst into flames, spewing dense smoke. It was unclear what he had used to ignite them.
"Impressive skills, truly impressive—what a shame he's not a beauty." Xue Xianzi watched with keen interest, clicking his tongue in admiration. "These tents are made of Sulfur Silkworm Silk—waterproof, fire-resistant, and impervious to blades. Ordinary flames can't burn them; only a fire hot enough to melt refined steel can ignite Sulfur Silkworm Silk. The friction from his hidden weapon striking the tents must have generated enough heat to set them ablaze. That speed is terrifying." At the mention of "hidden weapon," Liu Yan's heart jolted—Fang Pingzhai... His gaze remained fixed on the chaotic battle below. Fang Pingzhai had come... but what about Yu Tuan'er? Where... where was she? They had actually come.
"Isn't this the new disciple Xiao Tang mentioned you took in?" Xue Xianzi continued marveling. "Seems to me your disciple is more than qualified to be your master—his flying blade technique is already unmatched in the martial world. Did you come to Beauty Abode to find him? I'll take you down." Liu Yan leaned on his bamboo staff, watching Fang Pingzhai's advance through the enemy lines, his grip trembling slightly. "What is he doing?" Xue Xianzi smacked him hard on the back of the head with a loud thwack . "Are you stupid? Someone's gathered hundreds of dogs to set up an inescapable net to capture you. The valley below is the enemy's stronghold. He's charging into their ranks to eliminate the threat for you—can't you see that?" Liu Yan swayed dizzily, murmuring, "I... I always thought... he had ulterior motives..."
"Hah! How many people in this world don't have ulterior motives? But that doesn’t mean those with ulterior motives treat you poorly." Xue Xianzi grinned. "Coming here for you is no small feat. Your disciple cares deeply for you." Liu Yan nodded. "These men are under Gui Mudan's command. Gui Mudan is the leader of the Seven Cloud Traveling Guests and has close ties to the Dissolute Shop. Today's inescapable net likely isn't just for me alone." Xue Xianzi sighed. "All I care about is when I can take Xiao Shui out for fish head stew. Once we save that scholar Surname Lin, you'll follow your disciple, right?" Liu Yan nodded again, and Xue Xianzi laughed heartily. "Then let's go save him."
Knowing Gui Mudan's hounds were everywhere, the two dared not linger on the mountaintop. Xue Xianzi lifted Liu Yan once more and dashed toward the valley where Fang Pingzhai was.
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