Cheng Yunpao and Shao Yanping were utterly shocked—what kind of saber was this? How could it injure the black-clad figure from such a distance? After Xifang Tao broke free, a strange, gleaming weapon fell from midair with a clang, landing right in front of Tang Lici. Cheng Yunpao and Shao Yanping exclaimed in unison, "The Imperial Plum Blossom Saber!"
The blade rippled like waves, its edge splitting into twin plum blossoms. Cold as snow and sharp enough to startle gods and ghosts, it was none other than the legendary "Imperial Plum Blossom Saber," renowned in the martial world for over thirty years! Under their astonished gazes, a white-clad, masked figure darted in through the door, lifting Tang Lici from the torn bed curtains. "Are you alright?"
Tang Lici's lashes fluttered slightly as he murmured vaguely, "I'm fine..." The white-clad man picked up the Imperial Plum Blossom Saber and turned to face Shao Yanping. Shao Yanping stared at him in surprise—he had assumed the master of Plum Blossom Control would be an old man, but though his face was hidden, his voice sounded remarkably young. "Master Shao," the man said, "A-Li's injuries aren't serious. Just let him rest for a couple of days, and he'll recover. I'll pursue the one who fled—leave this place to you." Before the words had fully left his mouth, the white-clad figure flashed through the doorway and vanished in an instant.
Such incredible speed! Shao Yanping and Cheng Yunpao exchanged bewildered glances, their confusion only deepening. The master of Plum Blossom Control had called Tang Lici "A-Li"—could there be some connection between them? Turning back to Tang Lici, they saw him leaning against the shattered bed frame, slowly standing up. Though his complexion was pale, his mind remained clear, and he wore an elegant, gentle smile. "I... don't feel well."
Shao Yanping let out a bitter laugh. He had countless questions, but Tang Lici had effortlessly deflected them with that faint smile and a simple "I don't feel well." "I'll prepare a room for Young Master Tang to rest immediately," he said. Tang Lici leaned lightly against the bedpost and gave a slight nod. His fair fingers brushed the wood, a few strands of black hair falling loose. His demeanor was both languid and refined, as if the one who had just narrowly escaped death wasn't him at all.
Cheng Yunpao frowned, watching him. He, too, was brimming with questions, but Tang Lici didn't spare him a single glance. After a long moment of hesitation, he ultimately didn't voice a single inquiry.
Outside the Hall of Sharp Virtue.
Clad in black, Xifang Tao fled swiftly. The wound on her hand wasn't severe, but the strike from the Imperial Saber had infuriated her beyond measure. It had been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—she had seen Tang Lici's unusual expression clearly—yet the moment had slipped away, and the situation had reversed, forcing her to retreat. That damned saber strike had come at the worst possible time! After running over two li, she suddenly turned around. Fifty zhang behind her, a figure in white stood silently, his masked face veiled by the wind, a chilling aura radiating from him like autumn water.
How bold. Xifang Tao straightened, her cold gaze fixed on her opponent. In an instant, her fury and resentment gave way to icy calm as she assessed him. That earlier saber strike had indeed been extraordinary, but that didn't mean she couldn't handle it. Based on that single attack alone, she was determined to kill this meddlesome fool.The sunlight was warm, and the mountains and waters beneath Good Cloud Mountain were lush and green, with white clouds sweeping across the sky. The black and white figures did not face each other for long before a sudden burst of brilliance erupted. A dazzling saber light eclipsed the daylight, followed by a thunderous boom that shook the trees and sent dust flying. When the dust settled, the black-clad figure had vanished without a trace like a ghost. The white-clad figure, gripping the Imperial Plum Blossom Saber, stood alone amidst the swirling dust. Flecks of dirt and powder drifted down, staining his white robes yellow. After a long while, he sighed.
What a formidable opponent! This was the strongest adversary he had encountered in decades, one who had emerged unscathed from his saber strike and retreated unharmed. After Tang Lici killed Fang Zhou, he had left Tang Lici and Liu Yan behind, embarking on a strange journey that led him through the gaps of time to arrive thirty years in the past. This was the reason the legend of Yu Mei Zhu had persisted for thirty years. However, his repeated travels through time had caused Fu Zhumei to detach from the normal flow of time, leaving his appearance unchanged—now even looking a year or two younger than Tang Lici.
Ah... Fu Zhumei removed his white veil and rubbed his hair, gazing blankly at the azure sky. What should he do now? Stay at Good Cloud Mountain to help A-Li? Or pursue that black-clad figure? But if he stayed, A-Li would surely be displeased; if he chased the black-clad figure, where would he even begin to look? He hadn’t gotten a clear look at the man’s face, and even if he had, he probably wouldn’t remember it.
Where should he go? Back? He asked himself, staring dazedly at the sky. After a long while, a bird flitted past and landed on a nearby branch to build its nest. He watched for a while before suddenly realizing he had been lost in thought all this time. He sighed again. What to do? Maybe he should ask someone. Fu Zhumei glanced at the midday sun, hesitated as he looked back at Good Cloud Mountain, then slowly headed north.
OpenNovel