Bai Suche's veil was snatched away, her expression only shifting slightly. Seeing Chi Yun's face flushed with anger, her eyes reddened slightly, revealing a hint of grievance and remorse as she whispered, "It's me."
"Heh, even better if it's you. If I don't chop your head off tonight, I'll change my name immediately—no longer Chi Yun, but 'Cuckold Turtle Yun'!" Chi Yun sneered coldly. "But for the daughter of the esteemed Bai Yuming to skulk around in a veil, following some absurd 'Revered Master,' and plotting to slaughter entire families—I truly wonder if your father would drop dead from rage if he knew of your deeds. But don’t worry, after you die, I won’t tell him a word about your actions, lest the entire Bai household dies young from sheer fury."
"I..." Bai Suche's face alternated between red and pale. "I..." The sword-wielding woman beside her cooed, "Sister Bai, ignore him! For the Revered Master, you’ve already sworn to abandon your past and stop at nothing! No need to waste words—kill him!" Bai Suche raised her head, while Chi Yun gripped his blade with a cold laugh. "Kill me? If you have the skill, come at me!" But Bai Suche commanded, "Sisters, this man is highly skilled. Five of you stay to hold him off—the rest, storm the Azure Fall Palace! Leave no one alive, man or beast!" At her words, the women shouted in agreement. Five remained while the others rushed past Chi Yun, charging straight into the pavilions and towers. Chi Yun erupted in fury. "You damned madwoman, pay with your life!" The Moon Crossing Ring sang through the air, aimed straight at Bai Suche’s chest.
Masked figures surged from the sides, flooding into the buildings of Azure Fall Palace. Silver needles rained from the treetops, but they couldn’t stem the tide. A shadow flickered—Shen Langhun blocked the path. Though he rarely wielded weapons, now he brandished a tree branch. Yet even this simple branch whipped through the air with fierce gusts, halting many in their tracks. The rest broke into the palace halls, only to find them empty. The vast Azure Fall Palace was like a deserted city. The leader’s heart chilled as she called out, "Everyone, be careful! This is a trap—they’re luring us in!"
"Even if it’s a trap, how else do you plan to break it?" one of the white-clad women sneered, flicking her sleeve as she dashed inside. The masked figures followed, and in moments, the pavilions and towers were overrun by white-robed women and masked intruders—yet still, no one was seen. The crowd, like a tide, began to churn in frustration, as if swinging a blade with all their might only to find the target vanished.
In the storm-swept night, the lifeless palace suddenly thickened with dense white mist. The fog, emerging from some unseen room, spread swiftly, seeping through door cracks, windows, and corridors until it engulfed the entire mountain. The figures of the white-clad women blurred into the mist, growing indistinct. Among the masked figures, someone shouted, "Beware poison!" while another cried, "Ambush!" Screams—"Ah!", "Aiya!", "Who’s there?!"—erupted, plunging the crowd into chaos. The clang of blades rang out as fighting broke out in the thick fog.
Outside in the woods, Chi Yun slashed relentlessly at his betrothed, Bai Suche. Hearing the chaos inside the palace, he suddenly let out a derisive laugh. "Damn it, Wan Yu Yuedan really is a scourge, hahahaha..."On the other side, Shen Langhun, who had also joined the fight, said calmly, "It's not that easy. Their pawns are all out, but have you seen where their commander is?"
Chi Yun stiffened momentarily before bursting into laughter. "Then do you know where that white-haired fox is hiding?"
Shen Langhun gave a faint smile. "Fair point. Let's capture your woman first, then we'll gather the rest later."
Chi Yun responded with a cold sneer, turning his blade toward Bai Suche. "Within ten moves, I'll take your life!"
Bai Suche bit her lower lip lightly and drew a short dagger from her sleeve, murmuring, "I... I truly wronged you, but... but... ah..." She sighed softly. "Today, I absolutely cannot die here."
"The man who let you flee the wedding and kill—was he the one you keep calling 'Revered Master'?" Chi Yun said icily. "After I kill you, I'll catch him someday and burn him as paper money for you. Then you can rest in peace."
"You really are heartless," Shen Langhun remarked dryly. "Don't worry, even if you're just bluffing and can't bring yourself to do it, I won't laugh at you."
"Bah!" Chi Yun swung his blade, the edge slicing through the air with a shrill, ringing sound as it lunged toward Bai Suche. Bai Suche, a noblewoman with formidable training, raised her dagger to block. With a crisp clang , the Moon Crossing Ring shattered upon impact, the broken halves grazing past her face and leaving two deep gashes on her neck, blood gushing instantly. Chi Yun sneered. "So you stole the Severing Discipline Blade from the Bai family..." Bai Suche pressed the broken blade to her chest. "Yes. When I left home, I... I had already decided—I would never marry you in this lifetime." Though her voice was soft, her resolve was firm. The four women surrounding her shouted in unison, "Compared to the Revered Master, this man is nothing but mud and weeds! Kill him, Sister Bai!" As they cried out, blades, swords, and hidden weapons flew toward Chi Yun, who parried swiftly. Bai Suche's Severing Discipline Blade struck mercilessly, and just as the battle reached its peak, crimson plum blossoms suddenly swirled through the air like embers bursting into flame. A figure clad in red robes, with long black hair, approached unhurriedly. At the same time, the branch in Shen Langhun's hand snapped abruptly, and as the broken twig flew past his face, a figure in dark purple robes, hair obscuring their eyes, appeared before him, wielding an eight-foot-long sword covered in rust.
Chi Yun and Shen Langhun exchanged a glance. With a series of metallic clangs, they deflected the incoming attacks and retreated several steps, standing back-to-back.
Plum Blossom Numerology.
Raging Orchid No Trace.
The mountain wind howled, lifting the strands of hair covering Raging Orchid No Trace's eyes. Plum Blossom Numerology's sleeves billowed, the red blossoms fluttering unpredictably in the dark night like scattered drops of blood.
Not far away, the sounds of battle cries echoed, crossing multiple rooftops yet remaining distinct.
Cheng Yunpao stood facing the empty gate, while Wan Yu Yuedan sat quietly nearby.
"What kind of trap have you set?" Cheng Yunpao's right hand, resting on his sword hilt, slowly withdrew. "Why can't they cross that gate?" The "gate" he referred to was a wooden door ten zhang away from Wan Yu Yuedan's courtyard entrance, connecting the front mountain's flower corridor to the rear courtyard."I hid that door," Wan Yu Yuedan's delicate and handsome brows relaxed slightly. "The corridor before that door has a formation, and I released mist over the front mountain. They couldn't see the corridor's path, so running along it wouldn't lead them to the door." Cheng Yunpao slowly turned around. "Just that simple?" Wan Yu Yuedan replied, "Just that simple." Cheng Yunpao asked, "What about the fierce cries of battle?" Wan Yu Yuedan explained, "In the mist, visibility was poor, and they happened to be wearing masks, making it impossible to recognize each other. I had our people blend in, shouting and causing chaos to disrupt their morale. If anyone strayed alone into a dead end, we captured them." Cheng Yunpao said indifferently, "Again, just that simple?" Wan Yu Yuedan smiled faintly. "Again, just that simple." He sighed softly. "The masked men cannot be killed. If I kill even one, I'd be falling into someone else's trap." Cheng Yunpao's brows furrowed briefly before relaxing. "So, the masked pipa player drove these masked men up the mountain just to deliver them for you to kill?" Wan Yu Yuedan said, "The Dissolute Shop has only appeared in the Martial Arts World for three years—it's impossible for them to cultivate so many assassins. Since the attackers wear different attire and follow different schools, they must be guests under the influence of the Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pill." He sighed again. "Since they come from various sects, killing one would make an enemy of one sect, killing two would make two sects our mortal foes. And once they're dead, how could I prove they had secretly taken forbidden drugs, forcing me to kill them? So..."
"So we can't kill them." Cheng Yunpao's mind reeled. "Then tonight's battle—those who bleed must be from the Bihuo faction!" Wan Yu Yuedan's clear, bright eyes closed slightly. "Tonight's affair is just a fight to the death." Cheng Yunpao suddenly gripped his sword, drawing it three inches with a sharp sound before abruptly sitting back down. "If that's the case, why didn't you explain earlier?" Wan Yu Yuedan stood up, pressing lightly on the wall. A wooden panel slid aside, revealing a jade bottle about a foot tall, shaped like a wine jar. He carried it over, and before he even reached the table, Cheng Yunpao caught the faint, elegant aroma of wine. Wan Yu Yuedan placed the jade jar on the table, fumbled for Cheng Yunpao's teacup, and unsealed the lid, carelessly pouring the clear, water-like wine into the cup. The liquid splashed into the cup with a crisp sound, filling it to the brim but spilling all over the table. Cheng Yunpao took the jar and poured a cup for Wan Yu Yuedan. The room was filled with the intoxicating, exquisite fragrance of wine.Wan Yu Yuedan raised his cup and drank in one gulp. "What matter have I left unspoken?" Cheng Yunpao said, "Capturing alive without killing." Wan Yu Yuedan replied slowly, "Regardless of whether I kill or not, Cheng Daxia believes my ambition to dominate the martial world is unforgivable, isn't that so? Moreover, my restraint from killing does not stem from benevolence but necessity." Cheng Yunpao gave a slight start as Wan Yu Yuedan continued, "Since understanding is difficult to achieve, whether I mention capturing alive makes no difference. Besides, Cheng Daxia is injured—it would be better to sit quietly and recuperate." His tone was gentle, without the slightest hint of coercion, and entirely sincere. Cheng Yunpao drained his cup in one go. "With Azure Fall Palace acting this way, given the number of adversaries, capturing everyone alive is impossible. How can there be any chance of victory? Though you intend to return to Luoshui, if the entire palace perishes here, wouldn't that run counter to your original purpose?" Wan Yu Yuedan smiled faintly. "I have no intention of capturing everyone alive either. As long as not a single life is taken and the situation is controlled, my goal will be achieved." Cheng Yunpao's expression shifted slightly. "Then how do you plan to prevail?" Wan Yu Yuedan gave a shallow smile. "Victory does not rest with me. Tonight's battle is not Azure Fall Palace's alone." Cheng Yunpao frowned. "Tang Lici?" Wan Yu Yuedan lightly stroked the wine jar. "The masked Black Pipa, the white-clad women of a thousand flowers—only one deserves to die, isn't that so?"
As these words fell, a single pluck of a string resounded from Cat Sprout Peak opposite Green Peak Cliff. The clear note echoed through countless mountains and valleys. Cheng Yunpao started, then exhaled deeply. "That wasn't sound assassination. If he were to unleash such a technique from the high peaks, countless lives could be lost with a single note." Wan Yu Yuedan raised his empty cup to Cheng Yunpao, who poured him more wine. Wan Yu Yuedan remained as delicate and composed as ever, smiling with patience and calm. "Whether countless lives are lost or peace prevails depends entirely on how formidable Tang Lici's abilities truly are."
From the distant snowy peak, after that single note, the faint sound of a pipa began to play. Its melody was pure and profound, repeating the same phrase over and over, as if each pluck of the string softly posed the same question. The question was unclear—only the final, soul-stirring whisper could be heard, compelling listeners to focus intently on what the pipa's melody was asking, or perhaps questioning itself. The supremely sacred notes revealed a transcendent detachment, the calm and deliberate movements of the fingers suggesting the vast, steady presence of the player. It was like the gaze of a serene elder, standing alone atop the peak to question all living beings, not some ambitious madman of the mortal world.
Suddenly, the clamor of battle in the courtyard grew fiercer. Nearly frenzied voices could faintly be heard, as if the sacred notes had driven them to ecstatic madness, willing to die for those haunting strains. White-clad women shouted fiercely, their attacks growing more violent, striking down anyone suspicious around them without distinction.On Green Peak Cliff, Chi Yun and Shen Langhun stood back to back, their clothes and hair fluttering in the wind. As Plum Blossom Numerology approached slowly, the sound of plucked strings rose from Cat Sprout Peak, repeating over and over like raindrops falling from roof tiles into a lake, stirring ripples with each note. Each question posed by the strings seemed both the same and different. With each question, Plum Blossom Numerology took a step forward, and the wild hair of Raging Orchid No Trace grew calmer. As the strings questioned again, Chi Yun and Shen Langhun felt the surrounding sounds grow quieter, as if the mountain wind had stilled and the stars and moon had frozen. Between the mountains and rivers, beneath the sun and moon, only this stringed voice remained, softly asking an age-old, unsolvable riddle of the world.
A flute’s melody…
Suddenly, from beneath the dark cliffs, amidst the drifting white clouds, someone played a horizontal flute, its tune identical to the plucked strings from the opposite peak—still that same clear, questioning phrase. However, instead of repeating the same questioning melody endlessly, after softly restating the question twice, the flute’s tone lowered, its tempo slowed, as if gently posing the original question once more. Then, the melody rose again, like a lotus maiden shedding tears, like teardrops rippling across water. Layer upon layer, wave upon wave, the soft questioning and mournful lament drifted up from beneath the cliffs. A thousand mountains echoed the sound, each note like a tear, instantly stirring sorrow in the hearts of all who heard it. Those with weaker resolve found tears welling in their eyes, noses stinging, overcome by the urge to retreat somewhere secluded and weep in hushed despair.
When the flute sounded, the pipa from the opposite peak fell silent. Only the flute’s soft, mournful weeping remained. As the lingering notes of the gentle melody faded like the last of the tears, someone lightly plucked the pipa strings, as if shattering two or three fleeting dreams. Before the melody could rise, it abruptly ceased, vanishing without a trace.
On Green Peak Cliff, the movements of those present slowed. Thick white mist surged forth, drifting onto rooftops and temple eaves, soon obscuring all vision. The sounds of battle ceased.
Chi Yun and Shen Langhun faced Plum Blossom Numerology and Raging Orchid No Trace. With the pipa’s silence, the two stood motionless, like puppets whose strings had been cut. Bai Suche, holding her blade toward Chi Yun, whispered sharply, “Fall back!” The other four swiftly retreated into the forest at her command, Bai Suche following and disappearing among the trees. Chi Yun and Shen Langhun dared not let their guard down, focusing intently on their enemies’ every move, not daring to lose concentration for even a moment.
In this eerie, silent moment, a figure appeared on the Sky-Traversing Rope—gray robes, silver hair fluttering in the wind.
At the same time the figure appeared, a sudden, earth-shaking note pierced the heavens. Snow and ice from the peak’s summit cascaded downward, crashing toward the silver-haired man who was just about to reach the Crystal Grotto. A low cry escaped the lips of Chi Yun, Shen Langhun, Plum Blossom Numerology, and Raging Orchid No Trace, blood trickling from their mouths. Cheng Yunpao, already injured, coughed up a mouthful of blood onto the ground. Though Wan Yu Yuedan remained unharmed, his heart pounded violently, his vision spinning. With a clink, his wine cup struck the wine jar—and shattered.
The power of a single string—so immense!
Yet this note was not aimed at those on Green Peak Cliff, but at the silver-haired man!
The gray-robed, silver-haired figure was, of course, Tang Lici.
Though the sound assassination wounded all who heard it, its intended target remained utterly composed, unscathed!
He stepped onto the icy ground at the entrance of the Crystal Grotto. The avalanche of snow and shattered ice rushed past him, roaring with deafening force, yet none came within three feet of his body. From afar, it looked as though he alone walked against the raging tide of ice and snow, his sleeves brushing aside towering waves, stirring up swirling snow for miles—yet he stood unshaken, unmoved.Stepping onto the Crystal Cave, Tang Lici strode forward with hands clasped behind his back, ascending the collapsed boulders and ice chunks step by step toward the mountain peak. The Crystal Cave lay on the mountainside, while the one plucking the strings waited at the summit. His steps were measured, his aura tranquil as he climbed the icy path.
The few figures not yet swallowed by the white mist gazed at his receding figure from afar, but soon his gray robes blurred into the snowy expanse. The earth-shaking sound of the strings had also ceased. Suddenly, Plum Blossom Numerology and Raging Orchid No Trace moved—their figures swiftly retreating, as though obeying a new command. Yet when they reached the cliff's edge, they halted abruptly—Chi Yun and Shen Langhun snapped their gazes toward them—the Sky-Traversing Rope had snapped!
Had it been severed by the earlier avalanche, or had that single chord been meant to cut it all along?
With the path between Green Peak Cliff and the base of the mountain now severed, were these hundreds of people doomed to perish here together? Had the master of the strings ascended tonight not to conquer, but to annihilate? By severing the rope and cutting off all retreat, the only true victor would be the one who had never set foot on Green Peak Cliff.
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