As these words were spoken, Chi Yun's eyes widened, and the gleam of his blade suddenly erupted. With a resounding "clang," it was as if a firework had exploded. In Yu Furen's eyes, the flashes of the blades were like streaks of lightning, igniting a dazzling brilliance in the pitch-black cave. Tang Lici, without his copper flute, stepped forward, employing bare-handed techniques to seize the blade. A sharp "snap" echoed as fingers met palm, followed by four consecutive "clangs" of weapons hitting the ground. The cave suddenly fell into dead silence. Yu Furen's heart pounded wildly as he saw splatters of blood staining the cave walls—someone had been lightly wounded. Chi Yun's hands were now firmly restrained by Tang Lici.
Earlier, Tang Lici had disarmed Chi Yun with his first move, tossing the blade aside. Chi Yun immediately drew another, only for Tang Lici to disarm him again. This repeated four times until Chi Yun had no more blades to draw, and Tang Lici swiftly restrained his hands.
Chi Yun's blade techniques were domineering, and the best way to counter them was to prevent him from drawing his weapon at all. Tang Lici's subduing move was surprisingly smooth, executed with effortless precision. In that brief moment, Yu Furen felt dizzy, leaning against the cave wall as if struggling to stay upright.
With an unhealed sword wound on his chest, Tang Lici had run thirty miles at night, fought four masters alone—killing one, wounding another, and forcing the remaining two to retreat—saving Yu Furen's life. And now, facing Chi Yun, a Gu Human in the Camellia Prison, he subdued him in mere moves. Was this... was this even human?
In the hundred-year history of the martial world, among countless legends, no one had ever heard of such ferocious bravery. And yet, this man's appearance was gentle and refined, bearing no resemblance to a desperate fugitive.
Where exactly were Tang Lici's limits?
Was there anyone in this world who could push him to his limits?
"Yu Furen, help me tie him up with the red silk," Tang Lici said softly, his voice as calm and composed as ever, even leisurely. "Be careful not to touch his skin. The poison on Chi Yun isn't strong, but it's still best to be cautious." His hands firmly gripped Chi Yun's wrists. Chi Yun tried to knee him, but Tang Lici countered by pressing his ankle and knee down with his right foot, leaving Chi Yun with only one leg to stand on—rendering him immobile. Yu Furen picked up the red silk and carefully bound Chi Yun, then used Little Peach Red's scabbard to seal several of his major acupoints. "You can let go now."
Tang Lici slowly released his grip. Chi Yun gnashed his teeth, glaring furiously, while Tang Lici watched with amusement, even reaching out to pat Chi Yun's head. "Let's head back. There will likely be trouble at Good Cloud Mountain tonight."
"Trouble?" Yu Furen suddenly understood. "Right. Someone captured Chi Yun alive to lure you here—a diversion." Tang Lici nodded. "Let's return. With Cheng Yunpao, Shao Yanping, and Pu Zhu at the Hall of Sharp Virtue, they should be able to handle any trouble." Yu Furen relaxed slightly, offering a faint smile. "You have great confidence in Cheng Daxia." Tang Lici smiled. "He's a cautious man, unlike some who are utterly guileless." Yu Furen flushed with embarrassment. "I..." Tang Lici supported Chi Yun under the ribs. "Let's go."The two turned back toward the cave entrance, looking up at the narrow slit of light filtering down from above. The funnel-shaped opening held the lives of hundreds trapped below, but how could they possibly climb out? Tang Lici merely glanced at the opening, picked up a stone from the ground, and tied it to the other end of the red silk before tossing it upward. Yu Furen was startled when a distant, muffled "thud" sounded—the stone had pierced through the hole and struck something outside, embedding itself deeply. "Let's go up." The Floating Red Silk was twenty to thirty zhang long. Even after binding Chi Yun, there was still about twenty zhang left, making it perfect as a rope. Yu Furen climbed up and soon reached the opening, stepping onto the grassy ground outside. He took a deep breath of the crisp night air, feeling as though this single night had lasted an eternity, as if lifetimes had passed.
Behind him, Tang Lici floated up effortlessly before pulling Chi Yun up after him. Still supporting Chi Yun, the three swiftly made their way back to Good Cloud Mountain.
Good Cloud Mountain.
Hall of Sharp Virtue.
Shao Yanping faced the unknown black-clad, black-hatted expert, his heart in turmoil, utterly uncertain.
The man shifted slightly, as if listening intently to his surroundings. Shao Yanping knew that as soon as the man confirmed no one else was nearby, he would strike to kill in a single move—and whether Shao Yanping could withstand that strike was a serious question.
Anyone bold enough to kill masked at the Sword Association must have absolute confidence in their skill. The thought chilled Shao Yanping to the bone.
Suddenly, the black-clad man moved. A flash of killing intent flickered and vanished as he abruptly retreated, disappearing in the blink of an eye. Shao Yanping was baffled—why would the man, who had every advantage, suddenly withdraw? Just as he was puzzling over this, a sharp "thunk" sounded from the roof. He jerked his head up to see the clear moonlit sky, where Cheng Yunpao sat alone on Tang Lici’s rooftop, his sword hanging at his side. In his right hand, he held a wine gourd, its stopper removed as he tilted his head back for a drink.
One man, one sword, one moon, one drink—cold, sharp, and frost-laden, yet brimming with indomitable spirit.
Shao Yanping was overjoyed. "Cheng Daxia!"
Cheng Yunpao gave him a cold look. "Lucky for you I wasn’t leaving until tomorrow." He took another swig.
Shao Yanping leaped onto the roof, grinning from ear to ear. "If you hadn’t shown up in time, Old Shao would’ve been reduced to a puddle of blood and brains! How did you know someone was after me?"
"I just happened to be passing by. Honestly, if he hadn’t been worried about alerting others and had just charged in to attack, I wouldn’t have had any confidence at all." Cheng Yunpao’s voice was icy. "I spotted his back at the hall entrance, yet it took me this long to get here. The difference in skill is obvious." Shao Yanping gave a dry laugh. "If you’d followed too closely and he’d noticed, one palm strike would’ve finished you—that would’ve been worse." Cheng Yunpao sneered. "Killing Cheng Yunpao with one palm strike? Unlikely." Shao Yanping nodded along, though inwardly he thought that given the man’s earlier killing intent, it seemed he could kill anyone in the world with a single strike.
Just then, three figures glided into view.
Cheng Yunpao made a surprised sound. "Tang—"
Tang Lici and the others had returned. Shao Yanping’s eyes widened at the sight of Chi Yun bound tightly. "What happened? What’s going on?"
Tang Lici supported Chi Yun, quickly heading toward his quarters. "It’s nothing. For the next few days, no one is to approach Chi Yun." Yu Furen stopped, exhaling deeply. "Chi Yun was captured and poisoned with the Ape-Demon Nine Heart Pill."Cheng Yunpao and Shao Yanping exchanged glances, their expressions changing. Both leaped down simultaneously. "What exactly happened?" Yu Furen then explained how someone had captured Chi Yun alive, set up the Gu Human trap, along with the decoy strategy, and so on. The more Shao Yanping listened, the more alarmed he became, while Cheng Yunpao's face gradually darkened. The depth and scope of the schemer's conspiracy were truly terrifying. Shao Yanping paled and said, "How could he act alone on such a major matter without consulting anyone? He knew it was a trap. If he failed to rescue Chi Yun tonight and instead died in that Camellia Prison, what would become of the martial world and the common people? This is... this is..." Yu Furen gave a bitter smile. "But... he did rescue Chi Yun." Shao Yanping and Cheng Yunpao exchanged another glance, their hearts filled with shock—Tang Lici had actually faced Lin Shuangshuang, Yu Qifeng, Wei Beiyin, and that black-clad man alone, killing one, wounding another, and forcing the remaining two to retreat, all without a scratch. Such a feat was practically mythical.
Had Tang Lici been present earlier, that black-clad man would never have dared to roam freely at the Sword Association! Shao Yanping gradually calmed down, exhaling a long breath before smiling bitterly. "This young master is omnipotent, acts arbitrarily, yet somehow always does the right thing. I don’t know whether to admire him or fear him." Cheng Yunpao said coolly, "You just need to trust him."
Trust? Trusting someone as enigmatic, complex, and autocratic as him was difficult! Shao Yanping’s bitter smile deepened as he gazed in the direction Tang Lici had left. Trust, indeed...
In Chi Yun’s room.
Tang Lici lit an oil lamp and tightly bound Chi Yun to the bed. Chi Yun’s face was filled with venomous hatred, his eyes screaming his desire to struggle—yet he couldn’t. Tang Lici sat in a chair by the bed, resting his chin on his hand as he watched Chi Yun, whose fury only intensified, his gaze boiling with rage.
"If I killed you now, you’d probably thank me when you woke up..." Tang Lici studied Chi Yun for a long while before suddenly speaking in a soft, slow voice. "But if I killed you, how could you ever wake up? Reduced to this state, you don’t want to live—I know." His crimson lips glistened vividly under the lamplight. Chi Yun glared as those lips parted slightly. "The mighty 'Heavenly Cloud,' who in his life has never committed worse crimes than robbery and cursing, now ends up like this... You don’t want to live, but I refuse to accept it..." His tone was peculiar, drifting lightly yet laced with a bone-deep venom that pricked the ears like needles. Tang Lici reached out and gently stroked Chi Yun’s head, murmuring tenderly, "Be strong. Failure is no big deal. Killing a hundred people is no big deal. Being poisoned is nothing. Only by staying alive can things change. So what if you’re irredeemably evil? Even the worst of sinners... are still human, and they can still live. Besides, you’re not irredeemable. You simply..." His gaze softened, shimmering with a deep, rippling light. "You simply followed your instincts. As long as you’re still breathing, you haven’t lost."Chi Yun on the bed suddenly let out a piercing scream. Tang Lici pressed a hand to his abdomen and gently patted his cheek. "Endure until I figure out the antidote for the Gu Spider and the Ape-Demon Nine Hearts Pill." Having rushed about all night, battling formidable foes and deadly poisons, he had shown no signs of fatigue until now, when a faint trace of pain flickered between his brows. He stood up. "Rest well... ugh..." Suddenly covering his mouth, he bent over and vomited, emptying his stomach completely in moments. Chi Yun on the bed stared blankly, his screams ceasing. Tang Lici slowly straightened, leaning on the table as his entire body ached with weakness. Attempting to regulate his inner energy, he found his breath uneven. After leaning against the table for a long while, he fetched a cloth to clean the mess on the floor before finally leaving.
Chi Yun watched his every move unblinkingly, his vacant eyes wide open—whether he truly saw anything or not was unclear.
Returning to his own room, Tang Lici bathed and changed. The warm steam made his body feel increasingly comfortable while his head grew dizzier. His constitution was extraordinary—he almost never fell ill, and even injuries healed swiftly. The sword wound on his chest, which might take an ordinary person one or two months to recover from, had healed in just seven or eight days. He had once gone five days and nights without sleep, feeling no exhaustion at all. But tonight, after consecutive battles and not being in peak condition, his inner energy was severely depleted. The heart of Fang Zhou and its connected blood vessels, which he had been sustaining with his internal force, began to experience poor circulation. Pressing his abdomen, he could feel Fang Zhou's heart still beating slowly inside, but something felt subtly different—though he couldn’t pinpoint what. The longer he soaked in the hot water, the dizzier he became. His usually sharp mind gradually blurred, and he had no idea when he finally lost consciousness.
The lamp in Tang Lici’s room burned all night. Shao Yanping, worried the black-clad intruder might return, had sent patrols to guard the area. Late into the night, a disciple hesitantly reported that Young Master Tang had requested hot water but never had it removed. Shao Yanping initially paid no mind, casually instructing a maid to check on him.
At dawn.
"Young Master Tang?" The maid Ziyun knocked on Tang Lici’s door.
The door was bolted, and no sound came from within.
"Young Master Tang?" Ziyun grew slightly puzzled. Tang Lici was always courteous and polite to the servants—he would never ignore a call. She caught the scent of soapberries from inside. Was he still bathing? How could someone bathe all night? What was he washing? "Young Master Tang? Young Master Tang! Are you still in there?"
Still, there was no response.
Ziyun circled to the window, hesitating for a long while before lightly tapping on it. "Young Master Tang?"
No answer came, but the window had cracked open slightly. Gathering her courage, Ziyun peeked inside. The flickering candlelight revealed the bathtub, the clothes, and a strand of silver hair still draped over the tub’s edge. Startled, she hurried off. "Master Shao, Master Shao..." She rushed toward Shao Yanping’s study.
Shao Yanping was sighing over a room full of books. The mysterious black-clad figure lurking around the Sword Association, eavesdropping at night—even with Tang Lici’s presence deterring them from acting rashly—was not a permanent solution. Who was this person? Who wanted Shao Yanping dead?"Mr. Shao, Mr. Shao, I can't knock open Young Master Tang's door... he... he seems unwell, still in the bathtub." Ziyun's face was pale. "Mr. Shao, please go check quickly. I think something might have happened."
"Hmm?" Shao Yanping rushed toward Tang Lici's chamber. Finding the door bolted, he shattered the latch with one palm. With a sharp crack, he pushed the door open.
Then an unknown amount of time passed.
"Young Master Tang? Young Master Tang?" A faint, cautious voice called near his ear. Tang Lici's heart gave a slight jolt as a spark of awareness suddenly ignited. Like a flash of lightning, he instantly realized what had occurred. Opening his eyes, he saw Shao Yanping, Yu Furen, and Cheng Yunpao standing by his bed and offered them a faint smile. "My apologies."
The men at his bedside all wore expressions of deep concern, staring at him in astonishment. Never had they seen someone wake from unconsciousness with such clarity—opening his eyes and calmly apologizing for his "indiscretion," leaving them at a loss for words. After a pause, Shao Yanping spoke: "Young Master Tang, what exactly happened during your bath yesterday? You collapsed in the tub. We and the physician examined your pulse—aside from slight arrhythmia, we detected no injury or illness. Do you know what might be the issue?" Tang Lici's pulse was steady, showing no abnormalities. For a martial artist, minor arrhythmia was perfectly normal, but this sudden fainting spell was deeply troubling.
The arrhythmia stemmed from Fang Zhou's heart beating within him—two hearts didn't always synchronize perfectly. As for why he had fainted... Tang Lici sat up, prompting Yu Furen to urge him to rest. After sitting quietly for a moment, Tang Lici said softly, "Yesterday, I was likely fatigued. The bathwater was too hot, and I lost track of time soaking—hence the sudden collapse." The three men exchanged glances. For someone of Tang Lici's martial prowess to faint from overheating in a bath was nearly unbelievable. After only that brief moment seated, Tang Lici glanced at the sky outside and smiled. "Consider it as me sleeping overnight in the bath. It's nothing serious." With that, he rose from the bed.
Sleeping overnight and fainting overnight were vastly different, but given that he had traveled dozens of miles the previous day and battled four masters consecutively, depleting his True Power to the point of exhaustion was understandable. Shao Yanping exhaled deeply. "Young Master Tang, please meditate and regulate your breathing quickly. Your life is tied to countless others—you must take care of yourself. You gave us all quite a scare this morning." Tang Lici nodded in gratitude. "My apologies for worrying everyone." After a few more concerned words, the three men left together, closing the door behind them to let Tang Lici rest.
Once they were gone, Tang Lici frowned. Why had he fainted in the bathtub? Even he didn't fully understand. But faintly, he sensed it was due to pressure—Fang Zhou's death, Liu Yan's whereabouts, Chi Yun's tragic state, the intricate situation before him, Xifang Tao lurking in the shadows, A Shui's departure for Luoyang, even the state of the capital after he'd sent that letter to the Prime Minister's residence... Each challenge, each dilemma, layer upon layer, entangled and recurring, compounded by his unyielding determination to prevail, had placed immense pressure on him. His mind remained sharp, but his psyche was nearing its limit. And above all... Fang Zhou's death still weighed heavily on him.No one forced him to win at everything, no one demanded he always have the upper hand—he was the one who drove himself.
Leaning against the door gazing into the distance, across the far courtyard amidst the drifting white mist, a peach-colored figure flashed by, seemingly offering him a radiant smile. He returned the smile—Tao of the Seven Cloud Traveling Guests, the One Peach Three Colors, was the finest opponent he'd ever encountered in his life.
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