The rain gradually ceased as the group moved to the rear of Beauty Abode to observe the fire. In the darkness, raging flames engulfed nearly half the valley, reducing the tents, trees, and even abandoned weapons below to unrecognizable ashes. Wenxiu Shitai and Dacheng Chanshi exchanged horrified glances—this was no ordinary fire. How had Tang Lici managed to ignite something of such intensity?
Cheng Yunpao frowned deeply and quietly asked Tang Lici how he had arrived in time. Gazing at the inferno, Tang Lici's eyes shimmered with an almost playful light as he smiled faintly.
Descending from Good Cloud Mountain, he had rushed toward Jiaoyu Town and encountered the Demon Soul Death Warriors under Gui Mudan's command. Seizing one early on, he disguised himself in black robes and infiltrated their ranks. He witnessed Fang Pingzhai's chaotic disruption of the death warriors' formation, as well as Xue Xianzi and Liu Yan sneaking down from the woods, capturing two warriors, donning their attire, and slipping into the tents. When Xue Xianzi left Liu Yan with the human skin and letter, only to be intercepted and captured by Gui Mudan and his two companions, Tang Lici stood nearby. Later, when Gui Mudan ordered Hongchan Niangzi to track Liu Yan with the dogs, he followed Yu Qifeng, waiting for a chance to rescue them. Though Tang Lici's martial prowess surpassed Yu Qifeng's, defeating him in mere moments was no easy feat. A sudden ambush allowed him only to snatch the letter from Yu Qifeng's grasp—rescuing Xue Xianzi proved impossible. Instead of retaliating with his sword, Yu Qifeng grabbed Xue Xianzi and swiftly retreated into the cellar. Weighing priorities, Tang Lici abandoned Xue Xianzi and turned to pursue Hongchan Niangzi. Yet when she led the dogs to the tent where Liu Yan had been, they found five bodies inside—Liu Yan had vanished without a trace.
At this point in the retelling, Cheng Yunpao couldn't help but interject—why would Xue Xianzi aid a demon like Liu Yan? Tang Lici's expression remained gentle. "Senior Xue Xianzi likely intended to bring Liu Yan here for judgment but was intercepted by the Dissolute Shop's forces. I imagine he preferred letting Liu Yan escape rather than fall into their hands, hence his self-sacrifice." Cheng Yunpao's respect deepened. "Truly worthy of Xue Xianzi. We cannot allow him to remain in their clutches—where has Yu Qifeng taken him?" Holding the white umbrella, Tang Lici stepped to the edge of the slope, rainwater glistening on his silver hair. "The Dissolute Shop excels at ambushes. Rather than charging blindly into the cellar, it's wiser to startle the snake. With the fire burning so fiercely, I suspect they've already moved Xue Xianzi."
"Who set this fire?" Wenxiu Shitai stared into the sea of flames. "Was it you?" Tang Lici bowed slightly to her, smiling. "Indeed." Suspicion flickered in her eyes. "How did you manage it?" His gaze darkened as it swept over the valley, devoid of pity. "Gui Mudan had camped here for some time, relying on the valley's concave terrain and dense surrounding woods for concealment. The tents stored provisions, and earlier disturbances had toppled many, exposing barrels of oil and liquor. Under cover of heavy rain and darkness, we poured the oil and spirits across the ground. With the area flooded and most Demon Soul Death Warriors preoccupied encircling your group in the woods, no one noticed.""And then?" Wenxiu Shitai asked. "How did you start the fire?" Tang Lici smiled faintly and took out an object from his sleeve—a small, silvery-gray stone. With a flick of his wrist, he drew Little Peach Red and shaved off a thin layer of the ore before tossing it to the ground. A loud "bang" echoed as a burst of white flames suddenly erupted, accompanied by a faint explosion. Everyone scrambled back in shock, watching as the tiny stone ignited violently in the puddle on the ground, instantly scorching the surrounding rocks and changing their color!
"What... what is this?" Wenxiu Shitai had never seen anything that could catch fire upon contact with water. The group exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions growing increasingly awed as they looked at Tang Lici, who merely smiled and said, "When I ordered everyone to charge out, I secretly shot a piece of this ore down into the valley. The friction from its landing caused it to ignite upon hitting the water, setting the vegetable oil ablaze. That's all." Wenxiu Shitai let out a bitter laugh. "So when Gui Mudan saw his position burning, he assumed you had hidden forces lying in wait at the valley's base and fled in haste." Tang Lici nodded, his expression indifferent. He took no pride in the act of arson, but in the eyes of those trapped outside Beauty Abode, Tang Lici now possessed unfathomable, almost supernatural abilities—his prestige far surpassing that of the absent Xifang Tao.
After a moment, Wenxiu Shitai was the first to take her leave, leading the Emei disciples away. Since Liu Yan had left a letter proposing an exchange of medicine for surrender, she would lead her disciples in focused cultivation until the appointed date, when they would head straight for the Snow Eagle Abode atop Jueling Peak. The various sects dispersed slowly, each carrying gratitude toward Tang Lici in their hearts. Cheng Yunpao finally found the opportunity to ask where Tang Lici had been all this time.
Tang Lici simply replied that he had gone to Bianjing and suffered minor injuries, requiring a period of rest. He made no mention of the events at Huijing Mountain's Moonlight Tower. Cheng Yunpao pressed no further, his mood settling as he exhaled a long sigh. "It's good that you're back." Tang Lici understood the unspoken meaning in his words and gave him a sidelong glance. Cheng Yunpao nodded slightly—the two shared a tacit understanding. Dong Hubi snorted and clapped Tang Lici on the shoulder. "Little Tang, the two of us aren't fools, but we can't guarantee the same for the rest of the martial world. Why the two of us are here tonight is something only heaven, earth, you, and I know." Tang Lici remained composed, offering a faint smile. "Now that we're out of danger and everyone is exhausted, let's find a place to rest as soon as possible." The group quickly gathered their belongings and set off toward the mountains.
Liu Yan sat quietly in the tent, lost in thought, until the flap was suddenly lifted. A man in yellow robes and wielding a red fan swaggered in, waving the fan flamboyantly. "As expected, you're here, as expected, you're spacing out again, and as expected, you're wearing that face that looks like it wants to be crushed by the rocks outside. Hmm... Master—you really do wander all over the place, making it impossible for your disciple to find you even if I searched to the ends of the earth! Luckily, I'm clever enough to realize you wouldn’t run off to the mountains to get yourself killed, and lo and behold, I was right."
Liu Yan stared blankly at the red fan waving before his eyes. After a long pause, he slightly parted his lips but found himself at a loss for words.
He had never trusted Fang Pingzhai.
And yet, Fang Pingzhai had saved him multiple times."Oh dear, Master, there's no need for tears in your eyes. I know your disciple is loyal to the sovereign, devoted to the country, reveres teachers and values morality, and is also exceptionally intelligent—rare in this world. But these are innate qualities of mine, so you needn't be moved to tears. I understand that deep down, Master, you have a gentle heart and a kind nature. Though you may not treat me well, still..." Fang Pingzhai rambled on while waving his red fan at Liu Yan, then suddenly paused. He noticed Liu Yan's eyes were slightly red. Though he had been spouting nonsense, he had nearly made Liu Yan cry. "Oh dear," he exclaimed again.
Neither spoke further. Liu Yan avoided looking at Fang Pingzhai, who circled him a few times before changing the subject. "Master, this is no place to linger. Let’s leave first, and then we can reminisce, alright?" Liu Yan gave a slight nod, and Fang Pingzhai carried him on his back, slipping out from behind the tent and disappearing into the dense forest.
"What about Tuan'er?" Liu Yan asked quietly. Fang Pingzhai replied, "Oh! Aren’t you going to ask first about your beloved—that stunningly beautiful, tender-hearted A Shui, the one who haunts your thoughts whether you see her or not?" Liu Yan remained silent. After a while, he asked again, "What about Tuan'er?" Fang Pingzhai shook his head. "You—really are like a father doting on his daughter. My esteemed martial aunt is doing well. She’s with your beloved, who is currently her romantic rival and future stepmother. The most unbelievable part is they actually get along splendidly. My martial aunt truly has a remarkable temperament. They’re outside the Beauty Abode. Your beloved is quite bold—she actually rescued Young Master Lin from the Dissolute Shop. Right now, they’re all with that crowd from the Central Plains Sword Association. I was supposed to join them, but with so many experts gathered there, one more or less makes no difference. Going would be pointless."
Liu Yan fell silent again. Learning that Yu Tuan'er and A Shui were safe, he had nothing more to say. That A Shui had saved Lin Bu didn’t surprise him—she was that kind of woman. Capable of great deeds, yet... never happy. Fang Pingzhai carried him for over ten li until there was no chance the pursuers could catch up, then suddenly asked, "I have just one question—where exactly are you and I supposed to go?"
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