Chi Yun gazed at the bed's gauzy curtains, thoughts drifting to Bai Suche, and suddenly felt an unexpected calm. He barely knew this woman—before Bai Yuming proposed marrying his daughter to him, he hadn’t even been aware that the Bai household had a daughter. The first time he noticed her existence was when he heard she had fled the marriage. Damn it, he couldn’t fathom why. A man like him—with the vast estate of Plum Blossom Mountain, decent looks, formidable martial skills—what woman wouldn’t want him? Why did she run? Was he not good enough for her? This humiliation, this burning resentment, demanded retribution. So he scoured the martial world for Bai Suche, even vowing to kill the woman who had shamed him.
The first time he truly saw her face was during the battle between Azure Fall Palace and Dissolute Shop at Green Peak Cliff. On the towering ice peak, where the wind cut like knives, he flicked off a woman’s veil. Her skin was like white jade, her eyes phoenix-shaped, delicate and refined—exactly his type.
She looked fragile, the kind who needed protection, the kind he’d always favored. Women ought to look like that.
Yet she wielded the Severing Precepts Saber, leading dozens of women in white, ambushing Azure Fall Palace at Green Peak Cliff. Masked, she fought him without mercy, her blade work as ruthless and precise as any opponent he’d ever faced. Even if her eyes brimmed with apology, even if she seemed to have something to say—he had no patience for a woman who betrayed her parents, the martial world, and him.
The second time he saw her clearly was when he was captured by Liu Yan, bound tightly to a bed. She entered to humiliate him, torment him, slap him, poison him, and use him as leverage against that white-haired fox. Though not of noble birth, no one had ever dared treat him this way. As her palm struck his face, he swore to tear her limb from limb, to repay her a hundredfold for his suffering. But after that, he never saw her again.
Twice. He had only truly met Bai Suche twice, both times as an enemy. A woman who killed without hesitation, cunning and ruthless—by no means a good woman.
So why couldn’t he forget her? That delicate yet coldly vicious face, those eyes that seemed to hold unspoken words, that deep, complex gaze reminiscent of Tang Lici—why had she betrayed the Bai family? Could joining Dissolute Shop really give her what she wanted? What was so bad about marrying him, Chi Yun? As the lady of Blazing Cloud Stronghold on Plum Blossom Mountain, she would wield power and influence, a queen of the northern reaches.
What on earth was she thinking?Chi Yun stared blankly at the canopy above, suddenly feeling a pang of bitterness. An indescribable emotion twisted in his chest, making him unbearably uncomfortable. If she were just the young mistress of the Bai family, wouldn’t that be fine? But if she were truly just a delicate, ignorant woman, would he feel this wretched? With a low groan, he turned over in bed, his head burning—neither quite in pain nor fully dazed, his entire body wracked with discomfort. His thoughts kept circling back to Bai Suche, growing wilder and more chaotic until they condensed into a single, relentless question— What part of me isn’t good enough for you? What part? What part?
A soft click sounded as Jin Qiufu and Yu Furen reached the door. Before they could enter, a strange, cloying scent wafted out from within. Yu Furen’s expression shifted—it was identical to the odor of the Gu Spider from the depths of Camellia Prison. Seeing Jin Qiufu reach to push the door open, Chi Yun’s labored breathing audible even through the wood, Yu Furen swiftly raised a hand to stop him. "Wait—" Jin Qiufu twisted his wrist, evading the obstruction, and snapped, "What are you doing?"”
“There may be trouble inside. We should proceed with caution—”
Jin Qiufu scoffed. “This is Central Plains Sword Association territory, surrounded by fifty of my Blazing Cloud Stronghold brothers. What could possibly go wrong? Move!” He barged forward.
Yu Furen inhaled sharply as the scent thickened, Chi Yun’s terrifying, frenzied state from that day flashing before his eyes. He lifted the hilt of Azure Jade. “Hold on!”
So this is it! The Sword Association is up to no good! All I want is to check on our leader, and you’re blocking me? What’s your game? Seeing Yu Furen draw his weapon, Jin Qiufu roared and struck at his face with a palm strike.
Yu Furen frowned. “Master Jin, this is a misunderstanding. There’s much to explain—”
Jin Qiufu noted his agile evasion with grudging admiration, then pivoted, driving a dual-palm strike— Breeze Through Autumn Dew —toward Yu Furen’s ribs.
Yu Furen, with Azure Jade still sheathed, had no choice but to parry with the scabbard, retreating three steps. Suddenly, a gust of wind whistled behind him—Blazing Cloud Stronghold men stationed outside, seeing their leader under attack, charged in with blades raised, shouting.
Yu Furen flicked his wrist, deflecting three rapid slashes in succession. Jin Qiufu laughed aloud, his palm already aimed at the fatal point between Yu Furen’s shoulders.
“Protect the leader!” Jin Qiufu bellowed.
The Stronghold men echoed the cry. Yu Furen’s heart pounded—the situation was spiraling out of control. What now?
“Master Jin, stop! Chi Yun is—” Before he could finish, Jin Qiufu’s strike landed, forcing him to block hastily.
Several Stronghold men had already rushed inside to check on Chi Yun. Seeing this, Yu Furen swung Azure Jade wildly. Ignoring Jin Qiufu’s overwhelming palm force, he shouted, “Don’t go in—!”With a dull "thud," the figure who had just stepped into the room was sent flying backward like a shooting star, crashing motionless onto the ground. The crowd turned in shock, feeling a sudden sting of heat on their cheeks. When they reached up to touch it, their hands came away covered in blood. Jin Qiufu was horrified. "What's happening?" In an instant, a series of loud bangs erupted as those who had entered the room were violently flung outward, collapsing limp as mud—all killed by a single palm strike! Jin Qiufu stormed into the room and saw the bed in disarray. Chi Yun sat atop it, his cheeks flushed, breathing ragged, his eyes fierce and savage as he glared at him. "Chief?" Jin Qiufu called out. In a flash, Chi Yun moved, and the Moon Crossing Ring shot through the air. Caught off guard, Jin Qiufu barely dodged, but the silver blade still pierced his right shoulder, sending blood spraying three feet high. At the sight of blood, Chi Yun burst into wild laughter. "Hahaha—HAHAHA—" He swept past Jin Qiufu, yanking the silver blade from his shoulder before darting out the door. Yu Furen, standing at the entrance, drew his sword in haste to block him. With a flick of his sleeve, Chi Yun sent Yu Furen's Azure Jade flying from his grip—his wounded hand unable to hold it—and vanished in a blur. Yu Furen turned and rushed to support Jin Qiufu. "You—"
Blood gushed like a spring from Jin Qiufu's right shoulder. He shoved Yu Furen aside, teeth clenched, and with a sweep of his sleeve, a pillar of fire shot skyward. Drawing a sharp breath, he roared, "Clouds bow to the soul's rainbow, the warrior's spirit weeps blood—" The thunderous cry shook the mountains. Outside the guest hall, Xuan Yuanlong and Yin Dongchuan paled in alarm. The disciples of Blazing Cloud Stronghold, who had been waiting quietly outside the Hall of Sharp Virtue, sprang to their feet at the sound. Amid deafening battle cries, countless figures vaulted over the hall's walls.
The war drums boomed like pounding rain as the men of Blazing Cloud Stronghold sang their customary raiding chant: "Clouds bow to the soul's rainbow, the warrior's spirit weeps blood, staining rivers and peaks, heaven and earth bow to our might..." The earth-shaking roar seemed to make Good Cloud Mountain tremble. Winds gathered, trees swayed, and the Sword Association disciples exchanged terrified glances as burly, fierce warriors stormed in like wolves, leaving them momentarily at a loss for how to respond.
Inside his room, Tang Lici suddenly heard the furious cry. His fingers clenched, and with a sharp crack, the Crystal Cup in his hand shattered. Shards of crystal, mixed with half-coagulated blood, dug deep into his palm, staining half his sleeve crimson. As the war drums of Blazing Cloud Stronghold pounded, he flicked his sleeve and rose to leave—only to find a figure in peach robes smiling faintly in his path. "Young Master Tang," she said, "after much thought, I believe it's necessary for us to have a proper discussion."
Tang Lici's injured right hand hung at his side, while his left still rested casually on the chair's back. Both hands were wounded, and bright red blood trickled down his slender fingers, dripping from their sharp, almond-like tips onto the floor and chair, silently blooming into dark crimson flowers. He said nothing, merely gazing quietly at Xifang Tao. In the dim, opulent room—amid shattered crystal, bloodstains like blossoms, and a man with bloodied hands—everything formed a surreal, eerie tableau, pregnant with a sinister sense of danger..."Oh..." Xifang Tao's gaze shifted from Tang Lici's face to the ground, then to his bloodstained hands, her lips curling slightly. "So Young Master Tang has been busy practicing demonic arts... While your brother kills outside, what are you doing here?" Her gentle voice carried an indescribable tone of mockery. "You—can't save him anymore... His fate was sealed the moment you let him chase after someone alone—it was beyond cure when he jumped into Camellia Prison. Shouldn't you know when to stop... and give up?" Her robe fluttered slightly, her posture exuding an indescribable allure. "This round with Chi Yun, I've won. And—I'll make you listen and watch from this very room—hear the screams of those he kills, witness his murderous frenzy, yet you can't save him... nor anyone from the Central Plains Sword Association." She murmured softly, "Shouldn't you submit to me? Have you begun to regret—opposing me?"
Tang Lici's eyes narrowed slightly, his long lashes lifting before he opened them again, his voice calm. "You—are certain you can keep me here?" His left hand, resting on the chair back, slowly rose, bloodstained fingers pointing at Xifang Tao. Blood dripped smoothly down his fingers, making the crimson nails gleam with an eerie, captivating beauty, like the fingers of a hellish reaper capable of stealing souls.
Xifang Tao's rosy lips held a cruel smile. "You... you've revealed a weakness to me..." Before she could finish, Tang Lici's fingers shot out like the wind, instantly closing around her throat, as if he couldn't care less about what she had to say. Xifang Tao raised her wrist, blocking his grip, and the two engaged in a swift exchange of blows. Their figures darted around the room without a sound, not even disturbing the wisps of incense smoke curling from the table.
The two had been locked in a stalemate within the Central Plains Sword Association for a long time. The reasons for not confronting each other directly were many, but the most crucial was their mutual uncertainty about each other's strength. Acting rashly was unwise, even if Tang Lici had threatened to kill—but only after securing absolute advantage. Now, with Chi Yun poisoned and rampaging, Xifang Tao blocking the door, and Tang Lici fighting to break free, conflict was inevitable.
Outside, the forces of Blazing Cloud Stronghold had swiftly overrun most of the Hall of Sharp Virtue. Yu Furen rallied over sixty Sword Association disciples, making a desperate stand at Sword Inquiry Pavilion. Faced with the enraged Blazing Cloud warriors, the Central Plains Sword Association hesitated, unable to fight with full resolve. Yu Furen stood firm with his sword, locked in a standoff with Xuan Yuanlong, while elsewhere, corpses littered the ground. The frenzied Chi Yun wielded both blade and palm, laughing maniacally as he left a trail of death and destruction—whether it was Sword Association disciples or Blazing Cloud fighters, none were spared.
Could it be that the Central Plains Sword Association, having survived the Dissolute Shop's assault, would now fall to Blazing Cloud's iron cavalry? Yu Furen listened to the roars and cries of the Blazing Cloud warriors, saw the shock and fury on Xuan Yuanlong and Yin Dongchuan's faces, and looked at Jin Qiufu, unconscious and drenched in blood. A chill ran through his heart—where was Tang Lici? At such a critical moment, where had he gone?
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