"You must be the gallant heroes of Plum Blossom Mountain, truly spirited and extraordinary." Tang Lici smiled slightly as he raised his sleeve. "If you've come solely for Chi Yun, I would never dream of obstructing you. However, Chi Yun is still recovering from his injuries and cannot receive guests at the moment..." Upon hearing these words, the Sword Association disciples who had been initially alarmed relaxed—these visitors were not enemies.
Yet then came a voice, cultured and refined, yet laced with a bloodthirsty venom: "I heard the Central Plains Sword Association forcibly detained our stronghold leader for the sake of the Blood Oath Ghost Crystal Goblet—and that this was your scheme, Tang Lici. Tell me, is this true?" Though phrased as a question, the speaker had already made up his mind.
"As it happens, I possess countless treasures far surpassing the Blood Oath Ghost Crystal Goblet," Tang Lici replied, his welcoming sleeve slowly lowering behind his back. "Torturing Chi Yun to extort the goblet? If it could grant immortality, perhaps I might consider it."
The refined speaker was none other than Xuan Yuanlong, the "Elegant Qilin," master of Gazing Sun Pavilion. His brows twitched slightly at Tang Lici's words. "Yet the truth remains—wasn't our stronghold leader locked in a room by Shao Yanping, stripped of his freedom? Did he not risk life and limb to aid you, only for you to abandon him in the midst of battle, leaving him severely wounded? Our leader holds you in high regard—is this how you repay him? I refuse to believe anyone could be so heartless. The Blood Oath Ghost Crystal Goblet provides a convenient excuse."
"If you have the patience, you may ask Chi Yun yourself when he wakes—whether I deliberately sent him into peril, then took advantage of his injuries to imprison him and extort the goblet." Tang Lici's lips curved, not in a smile, but in a cold, crimson-edged line. "However, he is currently resting and should not be disturbed. If you would honor me, Master Xuan, perhaps you would join me inside, where the Central Plains Sword Association may offer you tea?"
Faced with the murderous aura of Plum Blossom Mountain's mounted warriors, Tang Lici remained unshaken. Behind him, the Sword Association disciples found themselves inexplicably admiring his composure, silently acknowledging that Young Master Tang truly possessed remarkable poise in the face of danger.
Xuan Yuanlong glanced back at Yin Dongchuan, who gave a slow, indifferent nod. With that, Xuan Yuanlong replied coolly, "Since our stronghold leader is recuperating within, we shall not disturb him. We will wait until he awakens." The unspoken implication was clear—if Chi Yun voiced even the slightest grievance against Tang Lici upon waking, Blazing Cloud Stronghold's two hundred cavalry would raze the Central Plains Sword Association to the ground.
"Please, this way." Tang Lici raised his sleeve in invitation, turning his back without hesitation as he led the way.
The mounted warriors dismounted in unison, their movements smooth and practiced—a testament to Blazing Cloud Stronghold's discipline. The two hundred men seated themselves where they stood, while Xuan Yuanlong, Yin Dongchuan, and Jin Qiufu followed Tang Lici toward the guest hall of the Hall of Sharp Virtue.Autumn deepened, and the damp, shadowy terrain of Good Cloud Mountain made the chill seep into one's bones. Jin Qiufu couldn't help but feel puzzled—this place was overgrown with moss, prone to miasma, a far cry from the clear waters and lush fruits of Plum Blossom Mountain. For the prestigious Central Plains Sword Association to settle here was truly a matter of peculiar taste and questionable judgment. Meanwhile, Xuan Yuanlong and Yin Dongchuan remained vigilant, scanning every corner and turn for potential ambushes.
After walking no more than a few dozen steps, a sudden bang echoed from the west, startling them all—it was the sound of clashing palm strikes. Tang Lici's brow furrowed slightly as a gray shadow flashed past, darting westward. Without hesitation, Xuan Yuanlong and the other two gave chase. Passing through several courtyards, they saw a black figure vault over the outer wall, pursued closely by someone who burst out from a nearby building. With a sweep of his hand, a streak of white light shot forth as the pursuer roared, "Where do you think you're going?" His presence was nothing short of imposing.
"Chief!" Jin Qiufu blurted out. Xuan Yuanlong and Yin Dongchuan also lit up with excitement, all three dropping to one knee in unison. "The brothers of Blazing Cloud Stronghold humbly request the Chief's return!"
The man who had just rushed out of the building paused, taken aback. "You got here so fast? All of you, get the hell up." That tone and demeanor could belong to none other than Chi Yun.
"Chief!" Jin Qiufu pushed forward, his voice thick with emotion. "Damn it, someone sent a letter to our stronghold saying you were grievously wounded by Tang Lici and locked up by Shao Yanping! The three of us discussed it and immediately marched south to rescue you. Thank heavens you're unharmed!" His straightforward nature had him nearly in tears, his excitement palpable.
Xuan Yuanlong, however, was far more cautious, his mind swirling with suspicion. "Of course we're relieved to see you safe, Chief. But who was that just now? How could someone infiltrate the Central Plains Sword Association?"
Chi Yun glanced at Tang Lici before pointing westward, his expression grave. "Just as you predicted—the moment Blazing Cloud Stronghold arrived at the gates, a masked intruder tried to kill me. Luckily, you left that kid surnamed Yu on guard inside. Between the two of us, we managed to counter his strike, but he got away."
Tang Lici smiled faintly. "As expected, he couldn’t hold back. A pity Cheng Daxia was lured away—otherwise, with three of us lying in ambush, we might have captured him."
Chi Yun grinned, licking his dry lips. "In the blink of an eye, he thought he could kill me? Not that easy."
Xuan Yuanlong grew increasingly bewildered. It seemed Chi Yun hadn’t been harmed by Tang Lici at all—someone else was behind this. "Then that person just now...""That guy just now was the bastard who set me up, hiring a bunch of masked martial arts experts to ambush me, leaving me severely injured, and then tried to silence me to frame Tang Lici," Chi Yun said coldly. "Taking advantage of my injuries, he sent you letters claiming Shao Yanping had imprisoned me to lure your forces into a rescue mission. His plan was to kill me before you arrived and pin it on that white-haired fox. Killing two birds with one stone—inciting a bloody conflict between Blazing Cloud Stronghold and the Central Plains Sword Association, leaving both sides weakened while he reaped the benefits. What he didn’t know was that the white-haired fox and I had already anticipated this move. Today, I wasn’t meditating—just pretending. The white-haired fox left Yu Furen to guard me. No matter how skilled an opponent is, there’s no way they could defeat both Chi Yun and Yu Furen in the time it takes you to walk down a few corridors. Naturally, he couldn’t take my life. It’s just a shame that while we lured him out and let you witness the show firsthand, we couldn’t capture him and expose his true identity."
"As long as the Stronghold Leader is unharmed, it is Blazing Cloud Stronghold’s fortune," Xuan Yuanlong said, inwardly shaken. From Chi Yun’s words, it was clear they were dealing with a cunning and deeply scheming mastermind. He knew exactly how skilled Chi Yun was—if even Chi Yun had to join forces with someone just to withstand a single strike, this opponent’s martial prowess was truly unimaginable. "Who exactly is that person?"
"One—" Chi Yun nearly blurted out "One Peach Three Colors" without thinking, but then he remembered his blood oath with Tang Lici. If he leaked even a whisper of this, he’d have to hand over his entire Plum Blossom Mountain estate, including the Blood Oath Ghost Crystal Goblet, to Tang Lici. Absolutely not. He quickly changed his answer, "A sneaky, backstabbing devil."
Yu Furen stepped out slowly from the room. Just moments ago, someone had suddenly burst in and struck a heavy blow at Chi Yun. To his shock, Chi Yun had leapt up and exchanged a palm strike with the intruder, forcing Yu Furen to draw his sword in aid. Now, Azure Jade was sheathed again, his hand bleeding from the force of that clash—he had given it his all in that moment.
The group gradually made their way toward the guest hall. Far off in the courtyard, a shadowy figure stood still, watching their retreating backs. Along the corridor leading to the hall, ants began to gather, followed by two small centipedes crawling slowly in the direction the group had taken. Before long, the centipedes stiffened and died on the path.
A light breeze swept past, carrying the lifeless centipede corpses aside. The dead ants on the ground were like fine grains of dust, unnoticed by anyone.The members of Blazing Cloud Stronghold followed Chi Yun into the guest hall of the Central Plains Sword Association. The three of them each took a seat, while Tang Lici instructed the Sword Association disciples to serve tea. Chi Yun stood in the center of the hall with his hands behind his back, refusing to sit. Tang Lici's gaze lingered on Chi Yun, as if carefully observing his actions, yet his face still wore a gentle smile.
"A few days ago, during the great battle at Good Cloud Mountain, everyone knows an unexpected incident occurred—Liu Yan, the master of Dissolute Shop, was abducted by Shen Langhun, rendering the battle between the Central Plains Sword Association and Dissolute Shop inconclusive. Amid the chaos that day, when Liu Yan was suddenly taken, I acted in haste and ordered Chi Yun to pursue him, resulting in him falling alone into enemy hands. This was truly my grave mistake. Fortunately, Chi Yun's martial prowess and intellect are extraordinary. Though captured, he still managed to break through despite his injuries. These past few days, he has been recuperating at the Sword Association. I wonder who spread the false news that led to your misunderstanding?" His words were neither entirely truthful nor complete, skimming over the crucial points, yet he spoke with effortless sincerity, showing no trace of reluctance.
Xuan Yuanlong, full of suspicion, retrieved a letter from his robes. "But someone, in the name of the Central Plains Sword Association, sent a letter to Blazing Cloud Stronghold, claiming the chieftain was afflicted with a strange poison..." Before he could finish, Chi Yun exploded in anger, "Which bastard said I was poisoned? I’ve roamed the martial world undefeated—how could I be poisoned?" Xuan Yuanlong was taken aback. He knew Chi Yun had a fiery temper, but such an outburst over the mere mention of poisoning was unexpected. "Well..." He hesitated, then after a moment of contemplation, slowly handed the letter to Tang Lici. "If this wasn’t a well-intentioned warning, then it must be deliberate provocation."
Tang Lici unfolded the letter and examined the script—elegant, flowing, and richly expressive, clearly the work of someone highly literate, far from the crude handwriting of an ordinary martial artist. Though the message was brief, he studied it for a long while before smiling faintly. "As for the poisoning..." Before he could finish, Chi Yun slammed the table with a loud bang, his fury unabated. "When the hell was I poisoned?"
Tang Lici's smile remained unchanged, like a porcelain mask—precisely because it was so immovable, it exuded an eerie, hidden allure. "You did suffer a minor poisoning, but it will soon be completely purged. Just take two more doses of medicine, and—"
"Tch!" Chi Yun's anger still simmered. In front of Xuan Yuanlong and the others, he barely restrained himself, but it was clear he refused to acknowledge it a thousand times over. Xuan Yuanlong and Yin Dongchuan exchanged glances, both sensing something amiss. Why was Chi Yun so irate?
Tang Lici, however, spoke softly, "Just restrain yourself for another two or three days. Finish the two doses of medicine...""How come I don’t remember being poisoned?" Hearing Tang Lici insist that he take two doses of medicine, Chi Yun felt agitated, his blood boiling as if about to rush to his head. "Are you lying to me about something?" He hadn’t meant to act so impulsively, but for some reason, he couldn’t control himself—his heart pounded wildly, his palms grew clammy, and it felt as though he wouldn’t be at ease unless he did something to vent. Tang Lici watched him unblinkingly. "You were bitten by a venomous insect while unconscious and didn’t notice. Must someone else point it out for you?" Chi Yun froze, circulating his qi through his body. The sensation was ambiguous—not quite like poisoning, yet not normal either. "What kind of venomous insect bit me?" Tang Lici pointed outside with a slender, snow-white finger that was strikingly elegant. "A centipede." Without hesitation, Chi Yun struck out with his palm. A dull thud sounded as dirt flew up outside, several flowerpots shattered, and shards scattered several feet away. A centipede lurking beneath the flower tray was crushed to death by his strike. Tang Lici slowly withdrew his hand, his gaze shifting subtly, the depths of his eyes seeming to hold a faint, almost imperceptible smile. Yin Dongchuan’s eyes flickered with suspicion. Chi Yun’s behavior was unusual, and Tang Lici’s attitude was ambiguous—just what had happened in the past few days? Between the contents of that letter and the truth Tang Lici claimed, which was real and which was false? Turning his head, he saw Xuan Yuanlong frowning as well, clearly harboring doubts of his own.
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