What he was actually singing, apart from Tang Lici, no one—including Yu Konghou—could truly understand. Yet the flute's melody was gentle, the tune so easily captivating, and as fragments of words like "deceit... all... desire... limit..." drifted through the air, each listener's mind involuntarily conjured images, their inner energy unconsciously circulating to the rhythm of the flute.
"Heart wounded as death, even steadfastness shatters, dreams cannot withstand the flames, the wailing of the wounded ghosts in the dead of night—" Liu Yan's voice suddenly soared, jolting everyone's hearts. Their inner energy surged uncontrollably, suffocating them to the brink of death. He continued to sing, "Wounds smeared with sand salt, unseen by any, the angel's arrow nails him in the d-a-r-k-n-e-s-s! That holy flame, that demon-slaying feast, that jubilant world, ah~~ the unjustly jubilant world, this is an unjust world, this unfair, unfair, unfair world—"
"Ugh!" Zheng Yue was the first to collapse, vomiting blood as he staggered and fell. Liu Yan's voice, now unrestrained, climbed higher and higher, the raw power behind the line "this is an unjust world" piercingly tragic, vibrating through their eardrums and causing their inner energy to rebel, leaving them severely injured. Qi Xing retreated seven steps, his face deathly pale, while Wen Baiqiu, Xu Qingbu, Gu Xitan, and the others also looked ashen. Just as everyone was about to be overwhelmed, a sharp "snap" silenced the flute. Liu Yan's singing halted abruptly as he lifted his head to see Tang Lici's copper flute split in two. He froze, taking a moment to realize: A-Li's emotions had also surged violently. The flute, already broken, had been barely held together by sheer inner energy. Unable to withstand even a slight tremor of agitation, it snapped again under the slightest pressure from his hands.
With the flute broken, the others narrowly escaped death. Yu Konghou chuckled, "Young Master Tang, you and Liu Yan truly share a deep bond. What a magnificent song—it nearly brought us all to ruin under your sound assassination. A pity the heavens don't favor you. You might as well surrender now." Tang Lici tossed the two broken flute pieces at Liu Yan's feet, then suddenly blurred forward, closing the distance to Yu Furen in an instant. A loud "thud" echoed as Yu Furen was sent flying three steps back. Tang Lici retreated just as swiftly, now holding Azure Jade, his sleeves fluttering slightly as he returned to his original position.
To seize a sword from Yu Furen so effortlessly! Wen Baiqiu, Gu Xitan, and the others were stunned. Cheng Yunpao's gaze flickered, noting that Yu Furen's acupoints had been sealed, yet he showed no anger—clearly, he had yielded willingly. Had Yu Furen resisted, taking the sword wouldn't have been so easy. The situation was dire. With Tang Lici's flute broken, relying on a single sword to buy time until Hong Guniang's return was nothing short of delusional.
Since the dawn of martial arts, no one had ever entertained such a mad idea—to fight alone against over a dozen opponents for days on end, without rest or defeat. Cheng Yunpao's heart burned with anxiety. With Yu Konghou watching, he couldn't afford to show leniency, nor did he know how to help.
The flute was broken, his martial arts ruined—his sound assassination technique could no longer aid in defense. Liu Yan sat on the ground, his anxiety even greater than Cheng Yunpao's. While Cheng Yunpao worried only about the Central Plains Sword Association's siege on the Dissolute Shop failing, Liu Yan cared only for the wounds on Tang Lici's body.But in front of others, unless he reached a point of complete loss of control, it was impossible to see any trace of pain or exhaustion on Tang Lici's face, or any behavior that was improper or out of place.
"Don't think holding Azure Jade will make any difference." Zhang Hemo and the others had already escorted Wenxiu Shitai and her group back to the Hall of Sharp Virtue. Upon their return, seeing Tang Lici holding Azure Jade, Zhang Hemo roared and unleashed the Songshan Wind-Severing Fist, striking toward Tang Lici. Wen Baiqiu, Xu Qingbu, and others quickly raised their swords and blades, all attacking Tang Lici at once.
With a sharp clang of steel, Tang Lici's sword light flickered as he parried each of their moves. Azure Jade emitted a faint blue sword radiance, neither aggressive nor passive, still prolonging the fight. Yu Konghou's mind raced as he picked up Qingxuzi's damaged sword from the ground and thrust it toward Tang Lici. Midway, he feigned weakness, tilting the blade to suddenly stab at Liu Yan instead.
A crisp "clang" rang out—the Blue Steel Sword snapped, and Yu Konghou retreated gracefully. Tang Lici swung his sword to block, the edge of Azure Jade far surpassing ordinary steel, cleanly severing the broken blade. But in the instant he swung his sword, Huo Chunfeng's Mountain-Splitting Saber broke through the defense, leaving a shallow but bloody gash on Tang Lici's back.
Zhang Hemo's spirits lifted, and Xu Qingbu twisted his blade—both followed suit, attacking Liu Yan together. By this point, any notions of martial arts chivalry or righteousness had long been forgotten. As long as it harmed Tang Lici, any method could be employed without hesitation. In the past, they had trained in swordplay techniques that emphasized grandeur and power, but now they only regretted not being vicious or ruthless enough.
Another "clang" sounded as Azure Jade forced Huo Chunfeng's saber back. Tang Lici flicked his sleeve and countered with a palm strike, repelling Zhang Hemo. But Gu Xitan and Cheng Yunpao attacked in unison, their swords moving as one, their sword Qi surging violently. The sword light suddenly flared, and Tang Lici, unable to block in time, grabbed Liu Yan and lunged forward. At the same time, he flicked his wrist, and the Floating Red Silk unfurled with a tearing sound—once again, the silk was torn. The two swords left fresh gashes on Tang Lici's back as he shielded Liu Yan.
Landing, releasing Liu Yan, and turning—Tang Lici was drenched in blood, yet his expression remained unshaken. Faced with an irreversible situation, he still showed no intention of retreating.
Cheng Yunpao's sword had wounded Tang Lici, but inwardly, he smiled bitterly—this strike was not what he had wanted, yet he had no choice. Gu Xitan's blade was stained with blood, but his mind was clouded with doubt. He wasn't sure if Tang Lici truly deserved death, and after wounding him, he hesitated to strike again. But Xu Qingbu and Zhang Hemo were ecstatic, their attacks growing fiercer. The situation descended into chaos. Seizing the moment, Yu Konghou swung his palm, aiming straight for the crown of Liu Yan's head.
With a "thud," Tang Lici predictably intercepted the strike with his own palm. Yu Konghou smirked, channeling his full True Power into his palm. The two locked hands, their Internal Forces now locked in a contest of strength. Zhang Hemo and the others were stunned—how could someone as delicate as Peach Girl possibly match Tang Lici in a battle of Internal Force? Yu Konghou's bitten tongue was still bleeding, and he deliberately feigned pallor, blood trickling from his lips, his body swaying unsteadily. The others roared and swung their weapons at Tang Lici. Liu Yan's face turned deathly pale as dull thuds echoed—
Blood sprayed like mist.
The sandy ground bloomed with crimson flowers.Tang Lici raised his right hand to meet the palm strike, casting aside the Azure Jade, while his left hand seized the blades of Wen Baiqiu and Xu Qingbu. Gripping the swords barehanded, the twisted edges carved deep wounds into his palm, blood streaming down the steel. Huo Chunfeng’s saber slashed into his right arm—the same arm locked in a palm clash with Yu Konghou—staining his white robes crimson. Cheng Yunpao and Gu Xitan held their twin swords at the ready, their blades barely grazing Tang Lici’s robes. Meng Qinglei, Dong Hubi, and Qi Xing, who had initially moved to strike, now hesitated and withdrew their momentum.
Wen Baiqiu and Xu Qingbu, their swords ruined, strained to pull back their weapons. Tang Lici released his grip, allowing them to retreat. Yu Konghou feigned unsteadiness, yet the force behind her palm strike was overwhelming. Meng Qinglei, Cheng Yunpao, and the others sensed something amiss but found themselves powerless to intervene. Liu Yan’s ghastly face grew even paler, his expression more horrifying than ever. Moments later, Yu Konghou let out a delicate cry and staggered backward. A faint trace of blood appeared at the corner of Tang Lici’s lips. Though covered in wounds, he remained indifferent. Earlier, locked in the palm duel, he had been forced to abandon his sword, unable to fend off close-range attacks single-handedly. Now the Azure Jade lay discarded on the ground, gleaming brilliantly—discarded without a second thought.
Who would have thought such a villain still possessed such unyielding pride? Wen Baiqiu’s heart stirred with sudden doubt: This man had not once resorted to lethal techniques. Had he unleashed his full killing intent from the start, their side would surely have been littered with corpses. If he truly wasn’t the traitor Abbot Puzhu claimed him to be, then their relentless assault would be a grave injustice. But if he wasn’t the traitor, why had he killed Qingxuzi? Why admit to it? And most baffling of all—why save Liu Yan?
The standoff froze momentarily. Tang Lici, now battered and bleeding, stood encircled by his opponents, all too proud to strike again. They watched as his wounds bled freely, silently willing him to surrender.
“A-Li…” Liu Yan rasped, “Give up…” He understood Tang Lici cared little for his injuries—they would heal swiftly. He always believed he could never be defeated, that no matter how grievously wounded, he would never die.
Give up…
Why go to such lengths?
Who is your enemy? Yu Konghou? The entire martial world? Or is it just yourself?
“Surrender!” Yu Konghou leaned against a nearby tree, her voice soft. “You can’t save anyone—not Liu Yan, not yourself. You won’t leave this place alive. Give up and yield. Until the full truth is uncovered, I trust Abbot Puzhu and Wenxiu Shitai won’t kill you outright. You still have some time left.”
Tang Lici’s wounds had gradually stopped bleeding. At her words, he smiled faintly but had no chance to reply before a distant voice declared, “Indeed, surrender now!”
The speaker’s tone was precise and scholarly, devoid of martial bravado. Liu Yan stiffened. Tang Lici lifted his gaze to see a group of riders emerging from the forest. At their head was a man in black scholar’s robes—Jiao Shiqiao.
Yu Konghou’s expression shifted. The newcomers numbered in the hundreds, with Hong Guniang at their center, resplendent in embroidered silks, her face icy. She raised a hand, pointing at Tang Lici. “Seize this vile criminal!”
“Hong Guniang?” Zhang Hemo and the others gasped in shock.Hong Guniang smiled faintly as Jiao Shiqiao stood before her horse. "This is Her Highness, the Princess of Langya, who, by the Emperor's decree, leads one hundred eighty imperial guards with full authority to investigate the Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pill case." He displayed his token. "I am Jiao Shiqiao, appointed as the leader of this guard unit. The capture of Tang Lici shall now be our responsibility. You have all fought hard and may stand down."
The crowd exchanged glances. Cheng Yunpao let out a long sigh and was the first to step back, followed by the others. They watched as the imperial guards encircled Tang Lici and Liu Yan.
Tang Lici observed the sudden shift in the situation without blinking, then suddenly smiled at Yu Konghou. In a flash, he grabbed Liu Yan, and like a white shadow, two guards at the front groaned and collapsed before anyone could react. He had already broken through the encirclement and fled. "After them!" Hong Guniang commanded.
Jiao Shiqiao and Yang Guihua spurred their horses in pursuit. Hong Guniang turned back and addressed the crowd with a calm smile. "Tang Lici's schemes have been exposed, leaving him no place to hide. He is no longer a major threat. Let us return to the Hall of Sharp Virtue to discuss the matter of the Dissolute Shop."
Cheng Yunpao cupped his hands in acknowledgment. With that, Hong Guniang's forces and the rest of the group slowly made their way back to the Hall of Sharp Virtue.
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