Whispers of Fate (Shui Long Yin)

"Old Senior!" Ren Qingchou suddenly bellowed, "What is your name?"

Outside, Xue Xianzi laughed with effortless charm, "My surname is Zhong."

"I'll remember that!" Ren Qingchou turned and sprinted deeper into the tunnel, shouting, "I'll remember that!"

The roar shook heaven and earth, causing loose soil to cascade down the hillside again. Yu Konghou made no move to pursue—with Ren Qingchou's severe injuries, any attempt to rescue Wen Hui would be a fool's errand. He was in no hurry. Wounded himself, he cherished his body too much to attack Xue Xianzi directly, content to stand by and watch the grave being dug with an amused smile.

Gui Mudan, having failed to kill Ren Qingchou, felt his pride wounded. Anger surged within him as he turned and lunged at Xue Xianzi. Xue Xianzi had been engaged in a fluid skirmish with Zhu Yan, maintaining an air of ease despite the increasing heaviness in his movements, weighed down by the invasive "Essence of Demon's Pearl Spit." As Gui Mudan pivoted back toward him, Xue Xianzi's figure blurred once more, pushing the "Thousand Traces Lone Form Shift" to its limits. Under Gui Mudan's ruthless and ferocious palm strikes, he had no choice but to counter with his full "True Power."

At that moment, Zhao Zhen's grave was being unearthed inch by inch, the hard white earth crumbling bit by bit under the picks and chisels of the Red and White Clothed Servants. Rage flared in Xue Xianzi's heart. With a thunderous shout, he unleashed a rapid succession of palm strikes—a single, seamless motion like a sunbeam piercing the sky! Zhu Yan swept his halberd in a wild arc, but Xue Xianzi let out a long cry and met it with a dual-palm strike. A resonant "hum" vibrated through the halberd before it exploded into countless fragments with a deafening "bang!" The moment Xue Xianzi shattered the weapon, Zhu Yan's left hand shot out like lightning, the "Essence of Demon's Pearl Spit" grazing Xue Xianzi's shoulder and tearing open five bloody gashes. Gui Mudan roared with laughter, striking at Xue Xianzi's back with a swift "Ghostly Weeping." Unfazed, Xue Xianzi did not retreat—instead, he pressed forward, landing a palm strike on Zhu Yan's chest just as Zhu Yan's fingers raked his shoulder. As Gui Mudan's vicious palm descended toward his back, Xue Xianzi twisted away, lashing out behind him. In one fluid motion, their palms collided with a resounding "boom," and Xue Xianzi broke free, soaring like a snow-white bird straight toward Zhao Zhen's grave. Gui Mudan grabbed at his fluttering sleeve but was forced back a step. Yet he sneered at Xue Xianzi, his expression dripping with contempt.

A trickle of blood stained Zhu Yan's lips, but his injuries were minor. Yu Konghou watched with delight—Xue Xianzi had expended too much "True Power" in that rapid succession of "Thousand Traces Lone Form Shift" maneuvers. Earlier, he had forced Gui Mudan back three steps; now, it was only one. Soon, his palm strength would falter entirely against Gui Mudan's. And while Zhu Yan's wounds were light, the "Essence of Demon's Pearl Spit" on Xue Xianzi's shoulder was a fatal injury in the making.

Yu Konghou was in no hurry at all. Smiling, he watched as Xue Xianzi flicked his sleeves, sending the grave-digging women tumbling to the ground. Zhu Yan, now disarmed, wore an expression of terrifying intensity. Gui Mudan, however, stepped back—he knew that by shattering the halberd, Xue Xianzi had awakened the deepest, most savage fury within Zhu Yan.

A scorching whirlwind suddenly spiraled through the valley. The broken "Lonely Branch Like Snow" withered in the heat, spinning in the wind until, moments later, they ignited one by one. Against the black night sky, a dozen flaming white blossoms danced in the air, creating a spectacle of eerie beauty. Xue Xianzi landed atop Zhao Zhen's grave, while Zhu Yan stood sideways, hands clasped behind his back. His demeanor, once lost in confusion, rage, and instability, had now settled into eerie calm.It was an eerie calm, as if his eyes, heart, and hands had aligned into a single thread. He wasn’t looking at Xue Xianzi, yet everyone knew Xue Xianzi lay within the web woven by this thread. His gaze and intent formed a line, and this line fractured into a net—anything caught within it became his prey.

He was like a colossal spider, and Xue Xianzi was the white moth ensnared in his web.

White flowers burned in the wind, their flaming petals drifting down like embers.

Xue Xianzi stood atop the grave mound, the five wounds on his shoulders bleeding ceaselessly, the injuries charred black. The Essence of Demon's Pearl Spit was corroding his Inner Energy . His usual smile was absent, replaced by an unyielding, striking handsomeness. Hongchan Niangzi staggered back, her heart seething with venom, yet even she couldn’t help a flutter of longing at his bearing. She thought to herself that if this scoundrel were captured, she must claim him for herself.

The white flowers burned to ash, filling the sky with cinders. Behind Zhu Yan, a surge of Inner Energy unfurled, swirling the ashes into a tangible shape—gradually forming the semblance of wings. Xue Xianzi frowned. In his decades of roaming the martial world, he had never seen such a bizarre phenomenon.

Gui Mudan laughed loudly. "Third Brother has actually refined the Essence of Demon's Pearl Spit to this level? Could it be that, like the master who first created this sinister art, he possesses an innate resistance to its scorching flames?" Yu Konghou smiled faintly. "This move is called Ascension . I’ve seen it once before."

Gui Mudan’s voice turned sinister. "Oh? You’ve seen it? What was the result?"

"The result—was Second Brother’s death," Yu Konghou replied pleasantly. "Burned into a blackened, shriveled husk." Gui Mudan roared with laughter, yet Zhu Yan and Xue Xianzi remained silent, unmoved.

The grave-digging women paused in their work. The falling ashes carried traces of scorching Inner Energy , each speck searing the skin where it landed. Even the strands of Xue Xianzi’s white hair, dusted with ash, curled slightly from the heat. Yet his white robes remained immaculate, the embroidered characters on them still vivid and bright.

As the ashes settled, the wings behind Zhu Yan gradually faded from sight. The encircling Red and White Clothed Servants retreated step by step, the oppressive heat lingering despite the dissipating cinders. Xue Xianzi stood at the center of it all, his expression unreadable—but the corner of his sleeve began to smolder, wisps of smoke rising as if it might catch fire at any moment.

"Third Brother is serious with this move. It seems he intends to decide life and death in a single strike," Yu Konghou murmured softly. "Care to wager?"

"On what?" Gui Mudan sneered.

Yu Konghou flicked out a silver note from his sleeve. "This is Xue Xianzi’s ten-thousand-tael note. I bet Third Brother won’t kill him in one move."

Gui Mudan scoffed. "You overestimate Xue Xianzi far too much."

"Then Big Brother must be betting that Xue Xianzi will die under this strike," Yu Konghou said with a smile.

Gui Mudan nodded.

"Shall we wager?"

"Bet!" Gui Mudan spat coldly.

At that moment, Zhu Yan’s True Power surged to its peak. His left arm lifted slightly, fingers splayed toward Xue Xianzi from afar. The white sand on the ground suddenly billowed upward—with such force that Zhao Zhen’s grave trembled, the cracked opening shaking loose stones that tumbled one by one into the broken earth.Xue Xianzi pressed his palms together and pushed forward with no earth-shattering momentum, yet as his palms extended, the trembling sand and stones on the ground instantly stilled. Zhao Zhen’s grave stabilized under this motion, and the ground gradually divided into two distinct areas—one near Xue Xianzi, eerily calm, and the other near Zhu Yan, where sand and stones quivered incessantly, wisps of smoke rising from them.

The two stood five feet apart, locked in a midair contest of palm force. In this stalemate, Zhu Yan clearly held the upper hand. Blood gushed unceasingly from Xue Xianzi’s shoulder, and after a moment of deadlock, half of his white robe had already been stained crimson. Hongchan Niangzi watched, a hint of pity in her eyes, but far more schadenfreude.

Yu Konghou murmured, “Once Third Brother closes his fingers, life and death will be decided…” Before he could finish, Zhu Yan’s fingers abruptly clenched. With a thunderous explosion, sand and stones flew, smoke filled the air, and Zhao Zhen’s grave suddenly burst apart. Xue Xianzi leaped into the sky, then dove down—Zhu Yan’s strike had not been aimed at Xue Xianzi at all, but at Zhao Zhen’s grave! Yu Konghou and Gui Mudan were stunned for a moment before Yu Konghou laughed. “Third Brother is indeed not without cunning. Elder Brother, you’ve lost.”

With Zhao Zhen’s grave shattered, Xue Xianzi struck out in fury. Zhu Yan’s expression remained cold as ever as he unleashed a second palm strike. Xue Xianzi, bolstered by his downward momentum, slammed into Zhu Yan with full force. A deafening crash echoed as both were flung back a step—an even match. Yu Konghou laughed heartily, but Xue Xianzi paid no mind to the outcome of their clash, turning urgently back to Zhao Zhen’s grave. As the white smoke and dust settled, a skeletal figure was revealed amidst the wreckage. Xue Xianzi’s face paled, a fleeting sorrow crossing his features. Zhu Yan took two steps forward and unleashed his third palm strike—fingers splayed, Inner Energy surging behind him—still the technique of “Ascension”!

Xue Xianzi suddenly turned back. Zhu Yan’s figure shot forward in an instant, propelled by the immense True Power radiating from his body. His outstretched fingers resembled an unstoppable iron net, aiming for Xue Xianzi’s vital points! This was the true essence of “Ascension”! Xue Xianzi dared not dodge—beneath him lay Zhao Zhen’s bones. If he evaded, Zhu Yan’s grasp would seize the remains, and under the force of his palm, the bones would surely turn to dust in an instant! In that split second, Xue Xianzi executed the “Thousand Traces Lone Form Shift” once more, splitting into dozens of afterimages, each launching a lethal strike at Zhu Yan’s approaching figure. A rapid series of cracks and snaps rang out—Zhu Yan had been struck by at least a dozen heavy blows in an instant. Yet Gui Mudan smirked coldly; Xue Xianzi was at the end of his strength. Though these strikes had gravely wounded Zhu Yan, they could no longer halt “Ascension”!

The afterimages flickered like blossoms, vanishing in an instant. Zhu Yan’s fingers, like hooks of death, still aimed for Xue Xianzi’s throat. Xue Xianzi raised his arm to block, but Zhu Yan’s fingers clenched. A sickening crunch sounded as blood sprayed, splattering across the white robe—Xue Xianzi’s right arm bore five fresh gashes, deep enough to scrape bone, dripping with blood.

Blood trickled from Zhu Yan’s lips, his eyes slightly narrowed as he took another step forward, still advancing toward Xue Xianzi. Xue Xianzi’s expression remained unchanged. Zhu Yan swung his arm once more, and another thunderous explosion erupted. Sand and stones flew again, and amidst the swirling dust, blood sprayed three feet high, splattering onto Zhao Zhen’s toppled gravestone.The dust settled as Xue Xianzi collapsed before Zhao Zhen’s skeletal remains, his right hand gripping his wife’s arm bone tightly while his left pressed against his chest. The earlier strike from Zhu Yan had left five bloody gashes on his chest, narrowly missing his heart. Blood gushed from his shoulder, arm, and chest, turning the once dashing Xue Xianzi into a blood-soaked figure in moments. Yet he smiled, his handsome face still radiant like polished jade. “One more strike, and you won’t be able to hold on.”

Zhu Yan, clutching a torn piece of bloodied clothing, tossed it aside and replied in a low voice, “One more strike, and I’ll kill you.”

“You can’t kill me.” Xue Xianzi laughed cheerfully. “You’ve overexerted yourself just like I have. The ‘Essence of Demon's Pearl Spit’ may be a divine technique, but it doesn’t truly make one… invincible…”

Zhu Yan glared at him coldly, his eyes brimming with murderous fury. Slowly, he raised his palm, his Inner Energy circulating once more as his complexion darkened inch by inch. At that moment, Yu Konghou spoke, “Third Brother, stop.”

Zhu Yan ignored him, his terrifying aura entirely focused on Xue Xianzi. With a sudden movement, he unleashed the full force of his strike.

With a splatter, a rain of blood filled the air, drenching Xue Xianzi and the skeletal remains, staining his bloodied robes an even deeper crimson and turning the bones into a ghastly red. As the fabric settled, Xue Xianzi sat cross-legged, cradling the skeleton in his arms. His wounds were so numerous their origins were indistinguishable, and it was unclear whether his blood had run dry. Yet his grip on Zhao Zhen’s remains never loosened—despite his own grievous injuries, her bones remained intact.

Zhu Yan staggered back three feet, watching Xue Xianzi coldly. Xue Xianzi lowered his gaze, eyes closed, paying him no heed. Just as Gui Mudan was about to burst into laughter, a thud echoed—Zhu Yan collapsed backward, vomiting blood. The crowd froze. Yu Konghou motioned for the White-Clad Servants beside him to take Zhu Yan away for treatment, then walked slowly to Xue Xianzi’s side. “As expected of a senior master. What trick did you plant in those thirteen strikes?”

Xue Xianzi remained silent, holding Zhao Zhen tightly.

Yu Konghou bent down, pressing several acupoints on his back to stop the bleeding, and said softly, “Don’t think I’ll let you die as you wish—burning the poison flowers, releasing Ren Qingchou, fighting to exhaustion, secretly wounding Zhu Yan, clinging to Zhao Zhen’s bones… Did you really believe I’d let you die? Such a death would be far too heroic, far too satisfying.” He sealed several of Xue Xianzi’s blood vessels to prevent fatal blood loss, then continued word by word, “I will still feed Zhao Zhen’s bones to the dogs. But I’ll save you—dose you with poison, turn you into a Medicine person, and have you conquer the world for me… With your martial prowess and your renowned reputation, wouldn’t it be a shame to die like this?”

Xue Xianzi’s eyes snapped open. “You—!” Yu Konghou pried his fingers apart, wrenching Zhao Zhen’s remains from his grasp inch by inch, his lips curving into a tender, enchanting smile. “I never grant anyone’s wishes.” Rage surged through Xue Xianzi’s heart, and he spat a mouthful of blood with a choked cry. Yu Konghou smiled faintly. “Su Su, take Xue Xianzi away and guard him closely.” Bai Suche stepped forward to obey, then remarked coolly, “Yu Qifeng failed in his duty. Will the master not punish him?” Yu Konghou replied gently, “I’ll handle it. Su Su, you’re speaking out of turn.” Bai Suche fell silent, lifting Xue Xianzi from the ground and retreating to the side.Yu Konghou glanced around at the crowd. Everyone stared at the pools of blood and the silent white bones, remaining silent. Only he laughed alone, his laughter as graceful and captivating as one who could topple cities and kingdoms.