(One)
Huo Xiao Di listened carefully, his expression easing as he said, "It's not Little Shao coming."
Zhan Ri Fei asked, "How do you know?"
Huo Xiao Di explained, "Little Shao's subordinates are all imperial guards from Xiangyang Royal Mansion. The horses from Xiangyang Royal Mansion are all well-trained warhorses, with a distinct rhythm in their galloping and control that sets them apart. Listen to these hoofbeats—though powerful, they lack the unique cadence of military steeds. So, it's definitely not someone from Xiangyang Royal Mansion."
—The youth in yellow robes now revealed the extraordinary skill of Exquisite Mountain Villa's "A Night's Flower Language in the Small Tower," along with his sharp and sound judgment. Zhan Ri Fei's eyes already showed appreciation.
Huo Xiao Di pondered further, "Why have the night travelers from miles away suddenly gone silent? Could they have vanished?"
Zhan Ri Fei replied, "Perhaps they haven't vanished, but simply stopped, so we can no longer hear their movements."
Huo Xiao Di's eyes lit up, "Exactly!" Then he quickly furrowed his brow, "Huh, why are they retreating now? How strange."
Zhan Ri Fei glanced at him and smiled, "Do you really wish for both groups to arrive at the same time?"
Huo Xiao Di said indifferently, "As long as it's not Little Shao or anyone from Xiangyang Royal Mansion, anyone else is fine." He seemed both defiant and deeply fearful of Shao Jizu, whom he referred to as Little Shao.
Meanwhile, Zhan Ri Fei's gaze grew distant. He murmured, "Perhaps this time, we've both miscalculated."
As he spoke, the hoofbeats on the mountain path drew closer and closer.
Chang Hong Bi's face had turned deathly pale. He glanced alternately at Zhan Ri Fei and Huo Xiao Di, his lips trembling slightly, unsure what to do.
—The two before him remained utterly composed. Zhan Ri Fei's only movement was to slowly drape his black cloak over his shoulders. The black cloak instantly concealed the wound left by Chang Xiang Si and covered his back.
Huo Xiao Di said, "Later, when chaos breaks out, you protect Chang Hong Bi and escape first. I'll handle them."
His dark, intense eyes fixed deeply on Zhan Ri Fei as he added, "Don't get any clever ideas about taking Chang Hong Bi and slipping away. Otherwise, I'll catch up to you sooner or later!"
A faint smile touched Zhan Ri Fei's lips, "I was just wondering—not long ago you wanted to kill me, yet now you suddenly trust me?"
No sooner had he spoken than rapid hoofbeats arrived right outside the temple gate.
With a loud "bang," the old, dilapidated temple door, long in disrepair, was sent flying by a single palm strike. The cloud of dust that erupted danced like specters in the torchlight held by the riders outside.
The moment the dust rose, Huo Xiao Di was already outside.
—Since a fight was inevitable, the space outside the temple was far more open and flexible than inside. The training of Exquisite Mountain Villa was truly exceptional. Even with limited experience in the martial world, Huo Xiao Di knew that having room to maneuver would always benefit the lightness skill of Exquisite Mountain Villa.The soaring temple door, carried by a fierce gust, flew straight into the temple, and the first to bear the brunt was Chang Hong Bi! The massive door panel, swift as a thunderbolt, instantly petrified the frail young man, his feet as if nailed to the ground, unable to move an inch!
In that split second, Chang Hong Bi already felt the wind from the dust cutting his face like a blade. The immense and heavy momentum pressed down on him, making it hard to breathe.
Just then, a hand, swift as lightning, struck the spinning door panel. With the force of that strike, another hand followed with a push and a shove, and in that critical moment, sent Chang Hong Bi’s slender body flying several steps before he tumbled to the ground!
With a “thud,” Chang Hong Bi felt as if his internal organs had been jolted out of place. Then, with a “clang,” a long sword landed right in front of him.
Chang Hong Bi instinctively ducked his head. The cold aura of the sword made him sneeze uncontrollably. Yet, the moment he saw this sword, his breath suddenly caught—it was Zhan Ri Fei’s long sword!
Looking up, he saw Zhan Ri Fei swaying unsteadily, finally unable to hold back as he spat out a mouthful of blood. The blood had already taken on a faint black hue.
The effects of "Like Old Friends at First Sight" had just subsided in him. Forced to resist the flying door panel moments earlier, he hadn’t expected the internal strength of the person who struck the door to be so formidable. The shock caused the long sword in his hand to fly out uncontrollably.
Already severely injured, he had forcibly reversed his internal energy, using "Iron Chain" to resist the poison of "Like Old Friends at First Sight." But now, shaken by this powerful external force, his internal energy scattered, and the poison could no longer be suppressed. Stars danced before his eyes, his legs gave way, and he knelt on the ground, struggling repeatedly but unable to get up.
Chang Hong Bi rushed to his side and saw that the blood he had spat out seemed to shimmer with a black fluorescence, clearly indicating that "Like Old Friends at First Sight" had been reactivated. At a loss, he wanted to cry out but didn’t dare.
(Two)
Outside the temple, the moonlight had dimmed somewhat, as if unwilling to witness what was about to unfold. The air suddenly filled with the scent of blood and killing intent.
Huo Xiao Di stood with his hands casually clasped behind his back. Before him were twelve people, all mounted on swift horses.
The horses were uniformly black steeds, each branded on the hindquarters with a cloud spreading its wings. The riders wore tight-fitting crimson outfits and remained silent. Only the torches in their hands crackled incessantly.
Their faces showed no expression, as if carved from stone.
Except for one person.
A short yet imposing figure.
This short yet imposing man sat astride the central horse. Though small in stature, he always held his chest high, making others see his presence rather than his shortness.
The hilt of the long sword he carried was inlaid with pearls. The profound and towering killing intent complemented his square-jawed face, exuding an unparalleled aura of dominance and pressure.
Huo Xiao Di smiled. It was the smile of someone greeting an old acquaintance. When he smiled, his adorable rabbit teeth showed once more.
—The familiar face belonged to none other than the master of Prosperous Cloud Manor, known in the martial world as "Silver Xingyun," Jiao Chao Gui.
Huo Xiao Di’s words did little to conceal his surprise and admiration."You've arrived quite swiftly, Manor Lord Jiao!"
It hadn't been long since Jiao Chao Gui suffered a setback at the inn on Little Hammer Mountain and returned in defeat, losing both Mu Xiu Quan and Ge Yun Fei.
Yet he had managed to regroup his men so quickly and track them down—this in itself was no small feat.
Huo Xiao Di's gaze then settled on a strange figure behind Jiao Chao Gui.
This peculiar figure seemed to have ridden on the same horse as Jiao Chao Gui, yet it had a pair of flat, cruel eyes.
"I wonder who the friend behind Manor Lord Jiao might be? He looks quite unfamiliar."
A cold sneer escaped Jiao Chao Gui's face, which was brimming with arrogance. Strangely, his sneer carried a hint of smugness.
He tilted his head slightly, and the person behind him was revealed.
The smile instantly vanished from Huo Xiao Di's face.
That was no human shadow!
What lingered behind Jiao Chao Gui was actually a massive black eagle.
The eagle's head was unusually large, making its eyes stand out with a beastly, cruel, and eerie glare, accentuating the menacing aura of this proud, strange bird.
Suddenly, everything became clear to Huo Xiao Di. The reason Jiao Chao Gui had discovered their trail so swiftly was due to an unusual connection with this mysterious bird.
No wonder he had noticed night birds continuously startled into flight earlier, and even with his mastery of "A Night's Flower Language in the Small Tower," he couldn't detect any movement of night travelers within several miles!
The night birds' alarm must have been caused by this vicious black eagle circling high above. And because the eagle's feathers blended with the dark night and flowing clouds, flying amidst the overcast sky, not a trace of the bird could be seen under the moonlight.
Huo Xiao Di said, "So Manor Lord Jiao has not only come prepared but also intends to overwhelm us with numbers."
Jiao Chao Gui replied, "Anyone who offends Prosperous Cloud Manor will meet a grim fate. Moreover, what belongs to Prosperous Cloud Manor must be returned to its rightful owner!"
Huo Xiao Di remarked, "How strange that something from Cold Water Palace has suddenly become the property of Prosperous Cloud Manor? Aren't you afraid that Cold Water Palace might come knocking, Manor Lord Jiao?"
A sharp glint, fierce as blades, flashed in Jiao Chao Gui's eyes. His arrogance was fully unveiled in that instant. He spoke word by word, "By the time Cold Water Palace comes knocking, it will be too late. Tell me, where exactly is the item from Prosperous Cloud Manor?"
Huo Xiao Di laughed, "I haven't seen anything from Prosperous Cloud Manor; however, I have seen one item from Cold Water Palace."
Staring straight into Jiao Chao Gui's eyes, his tone dripping with sarcasm, he added, "Could Manor Lord Jiao be referring to Cold Water Palace's Chang Hong Bi?"
At the mention of "Chang Hong Bi," Jiao Chao Gui's expression shifted.
"Correct, where is it exactly?"
Huo Xiao Di blinked, as if pondering for a long time, then raised his head, baring his adorable rabbit teeth, and slowly drawled, "I—just—won't—tell—you!"
Jiao Chao Gui's face instantly turned ashen.
It had been a long time since anyone dared to act so insolently in his presence!
He said slowly, "It's too late for regrets now!"
He spoke deliberately, for as the lord of Prosperous Cloud Manor, he took responsibility for every word he uttered.
Then, his hand slowly rose and swept through the air.In the blink of an eye, the obviously long-galloped steed no longer bore riders—only the torches they had held moments before were now inserted into one side of the saddle.
The riders had dismounted, standing in peculiar positions, encircling Huo Xiao Di.
Eleven men.
All eleven wore deep purple martial attire, with a winged cloud embroidered in gold thread on the front of their robes.
Reflected in Huo Xiao Di’s eyes were the flickering flames of the torches, along with a mix of excitement and tension. For he had already recognized the newcomers—the Flying Cloud Cavalry of Prosperous Cloud Manor!
Every part of Huo Xiao Di’s body was on high alert. His gaze fixed solely on the swords in the hands of these eleven men.
The swords were as wide as sabers, yet their lengths varied oddly—the shortest being only two feet, the longest a full six feet.
Such peculiar long swords surely had unique techniques to match. The murderous aura emanating from the blades grew heavier by the moment, making anything trapped within their circle seem unable to move an inch.
In the night wind, the hair of every member of the Flying Cloud Cavalry was tousled. Their eyes, however, gleamed with a wolf-like intensity, unblinkingly fixed on the figure within the circle.
They were waiting for one person.
Waiting for this person’s command.
The wind howled fiercely, and the night birds had fallen silent. The earlier restless clamor in the air began to quiet. Within this stillness brewed unknown peril and danger. Even Huo Xiao Di could not predict what techniques would emerge from these eleven swords of varying lengths.
Jiao Chao Gui finally spoke.
—His decision was clearly directed at Huo Xiao Di. He had discerned that behind the yellow-robed youth, inside the temple hall, there were two others. However, one spoke without any sign of martial skill, while the other clearly lacked vigor, as if severely injured. The one he needed to deal with, naturally, was the reckless youth before him.
His voice had turned gloomy and weighty.
“Leave no survivors.”
Suddenly, all sound ceased. Between heaven and earth, a desolate and murderous intent filled the air.
Eleven streaks of sword light interwove into a dense, seamless net, striking toward Huo Xiao Di like a cascading silken ribbon. The brilliant glare dimmed even the crescent mountain moon in the sky.
The swift sword light had already woven a curtain of radiance around Huo Xiao Di. Within this curtain pulsed an indescribable madness, unstoppable by anyone in this world.
Pressed by this frenzied net of sword light, the Yin Yang An in Huo Xiao Di’s hand emitted a piercing, drawn-out shriek—like a startled beast or a devil freshly released from hell.
Without a moment’s thought, he dodged and leaped, striving to evade the endless sword light. His toes touched the ground, his body soared, and in one breath, he thrust eleven strikes toward the eleven men.
His A Startling Glance movement technique softened once more, and it seemed he was about to soar straight into the clouds.
But mid-air, someone was already waiting for him.
No—two people!
The eagle swooped down precipitously, but as it neared Huo Xiao Di, it abruptly soared upward. Hidden behind its long, black wings was the Flowing Cloud Swift Palm.
The fierce wind cut like a blade, swift as a startling dream, sweeping down to strike head-on.
—Jiao Chao Gui’s Flowing Cloud Swift Palm!But no matter how swift this Flowing Cloud Swift Palm might be, how could it surpass the supreme lightness skill of Exquisite Mountain Villa! Huo Xiao Di abruptly became alert, his body moving with his intent, already drifting downward like a feather. Though his movement appeared as light and slow as a swan's feather, it was somehow faster than the speed of the Flowing Cloud Palm!
Yet the purpose of this palm strike was ultimately achieved: Huo Xiao Di could only land, falling back into the center of that frenzied net of light!
The terror in his heart was beyond words.
——Could it be that Jiao Chao Gui had actually seen through his ghost-like movement technique, anticipated his opponent's moves, and seized the upper hand?
But the terror in Jiao Chao Gui's heart far exceeded his!
——Despite the speed and power of his Flowing Cloud Palm, backed by decades of cultivated strength, launching a prepared strike from an elevated position, he had still missed, still unable to match the speed of this youth from Exquisite Mountain Villa.
Once again trapped within this curtain of sword light, Huo Xiao Di realized he seemed to have no way out.
——Every Flying Cloud Cavalry knight stood in ingeniously calculated positions, moving in unexpectedly interwoven rapid leaps, perfectly sealing off every possible escape route!
——Their interlocking long and short swords flowed like an endless river, never ceasing. Though the Yin Yang An in his hand was a divine weapon of unparalleled quality, complemented by the A Startling Glance lightness skill,
it seemed utterly incapable of clashing with the enemies' weapons.
——Even when contact occurred, he could only break one opponent's sword in an instant, while the remaining blades would immediately advance in succession, thrusting toward his body.
Amid the flashing sword shadows, Huo Xiao Di's incredible footwork and movement techniques of A Startling Glance were now fully displayed! These lightning-fast sword rays couldn't even touch a single hair on his head. Yet all his offensive moves were completely sealed by his opponents. Within their relentless sword light, Huo Xiao Di finally understood the purpose of these eleven long and short swords. Not only were they using speed against speed driven by internal energy, but because the swords varied in length, his timing and precision couldn't be instantly accurate.
Huo Xiao Di's heart suddenly sank. He had recognized that this sword formation of the Flying Cloud Cavalry was specifically designed to counter the Huo family's A Startling Glance lightness skill!
His mind couldn't help but stir.
——Though the Flying Cloud Cavalry enjoyed great reputation in the martial world, they had always fought individually. Never had he heard that they practiced such a sword formation.
——The creator of this formation must have spent far more than a day's effort, and must have personally witnessed the Yin Yang An in action before, understanding the dark curse attached to this sword. Only then could they use these peculiar long and short swords and strange sword techniques to completely seal off all possible attack paths of the Yin Yang An.
As this thought occurred to him, for some reason, a chill ran down his spine!
——"This Yin Yang An has always been a sacred artifact enshrined in the ancestral hall. For decades, except when the Huo family's eldest daughter married, it never left the ancestral hall, let alone been shown to others. Even I don't know the extent of its dark power—how could an outsider possibly understand its mysteries?"
Suddenly, Zhan Ri Fei's words from their first meeting echoed in his ears: "The hidden conflict between Exquisite Mountain Villa and Prosperous Cloud Manor—Brother Huo must understand it better than I do." The doubts in his heart now spread like rolling dark clouds, obscuring everything.Although Cold Water Palace was located in a remote area, its ruthless methods and formidable martial arts made few dare to oppose its might. Yet Prosperous Cloud Manor had dared to claim Cold Water Palace's rare treasure, Chang Hong Bi, as their own. How had they managed to steal Chang Hong Bi from the heavily guarded Cold Water Palace completely unscathed?
The Tang Sect of Sichuan had always been an organization few dared to provoke. Upon learning that Chang Hong Bi had fallen into the hands of Prosperous Cloud Manor, were they really going to dispatch three assassins from "Wuning Hall" just to deal with Ge Yun Fei, the third in command of Prosperous Cloud Manor?
The reputation and influence of the Huo Family's Exquisite Mountain Villa were widely known. Aside from the Ding Family of Flying Flower Island in Songjiang, few in the martial world could rival them. Over the past century, through marriages of the Huo family's eldest daughter, they had either formed alliances with or absorbed many renowned sects. The rise of Prosperous Cloud Manor, however, had only occurred in recent decades. By what means could they secretly contend with the Huo Family?
Could it be that behind Prosperous Cloud Manor lay undisclosed secrets, greater ambitions, and unknown backing?
His concentration wavered, and his movements slowed imperceptibly. In that split second, a soft "shhh" sound was heard as a short sword grazed his right arm, drawing blood. Immediately mixed with this was a child's startled cry.
Despite scoring a hit, not a single expression appeared on the faces of the eleven attackers. Only the wolf-like ferocity in their eyes grew more rampant with the splatter of blood.
Amidst the flashing swords, Huo Xiao Di glanced sideways and saw Chang Hong Bi's pale face and concerned gaze at the temple entrance. The startled cry just now had come from this child.
His heart stirred: "This child truly cares for me."
But then his heart sank again: "Why is he still here? Where is Zhan Ri Fei?"
—Earlier, when he was fully focused on battling the Flying Cloud Cavalry of Prosperous Cloud Manor, his mastery of "A Night's Flower Language in the Small Tower" had made him deaf to everything around him except his enemies. Now, hearing Chang Hong Bi's cry, he realized that the two people in the temple hadn't taken the opportunity to escape during the chaos!
—What had happened to Zhan Ri Fei?
(3)
Thinking of him, Huo Xiao Di's mind grew even more disordered. This confusion caused his sword techniques to diminish abruptly.
Yet his opponents' killing intent showed no signs of weakening!
This strange and frenzied sword formation employed an unchanging method to counter all variables, seamlessly blocking Huo Xiao Di's every advance and retreat—sometimes pressing close, sometimes striking from afar, sparse yet impenetrable.
Huo Xiao Di's only way out was upward. But now, waiting above were even more formidable enemies—calm and composed enemies who were well-rested and waiting to tire him out.
Jiao Chao Gui's short stature stood on a branch of a tall, ancient tree, calmly observing every movement of the sword formation below. His figure rose and fell with the gentle swaying of the branch, like a large owl roosting under the moonlight.
His strange flying eagle perched beside him. Whenever Huo Xiao Di tried to rely on his ghostly movement technique to leap into the air, the eagle would swoop down, attacking in coordination with Jiao Chao Gui from front and back.
—This animal's instinct could actually anticipate the enemy's moves! No matter how fast Huo Xiao Di's qinggong was, it couldn't surpass this monster's instinct!
After resisting for a while longer, the severe pain from the wound on his right arm made it almost impossible for Huo Xiao Di to lift his sword, and the struggle grew even more difficult.
In the temple, Chang Hong Bi's eyes had begun to show a trace of fear.He gritted his teeth, the motion strained with force.
Behind him, Zhan Ri Fei's panting was already clearly audible. This youth in black, fully aware that Huo Xiao Di outside the door was in dire peril, could not manage to stand up no matter how hard he tried. His hand trembled as he attempted to reach for the sword lying on the ground, yet it remained unsteady, unable to fully extend.
The effects of the "Like Old Friends at First Sight" poison had not yet fully receded from his body, leaving him with no strength to move even a muscle.
After a few more moments of fighting, Huo Xiao Di outside the door had no choice but to switch his sword to his left hand. He was barely holding on, parrying left and right, with danger closing in from all sides!
Chang Hong Bi suddenly rushed to the corner of the room and picked up the long sword that had fallen to the ground.
He drew the sword.
With a clear, ringing sound, the blade left its sheath.
The cold steel gleamed ominously under the moonlight, like a strange eye coldly observing everything.
The blade reflected Chang Hong Bi’s pale face and the despair written across it, flickering as if mocking him from the heavens.
Chang Hong Bi gritted his teeth and raised the sword in his hand.
A flash of steel, and blood splattered!
The blood bloomed like brilliant fireworks, scattering before his eyes.
Amid the swirling crimson, for whom was this young, lonely heart still enchanted?
Blood flowed ceaselessly from his thin, scarred arm. Strangely, the blood carried a faint, phosphorescent green hue!
Chang Hong Bi ran to Zhan Ri Fei’s side, lifted his arm, and pressed the wound against Zhan Ri Fei’s lips.
In an instant, the blood dripped onto his chapped lips. Within the green-tinged blood, there seemed to flow a burning passion.
Chang Hong Bi lowered his voice and commanded, "Drink it!"
In his dazed state, Zhan Ri Fei faintly sensed something amiss and murmured as if in delirium, "You... you can’t—"
But no one could make out what he was saying.
Chang Hong Bi grew even more frantic, feeling as though every drop of blood he lost drained a portion of his strength. Watching Zhan Ri Fei’s lips tremble, he saw that nearly half of the blood was spilling over his colorless lips—there was no time to wait! He raised his uninjured hand, gripped Zhan Ri Fei’s jaw, forced his mouth open, and let the blood from his frail body flow unceasingly into Zhan Ri Fei’s mouth.
Zhan Ri Fei slowly opened his eyes, tasting the metallic tang of blood in his mouth and a sweetness in his throat. He shuddered involuntarily, lifted his head, and saw Chang Hong Bi’s freckled face and those cold yet urgent eyes.
For a moment, those eyes seemed strangely familiar, as if he had seen them somewhere before.
Blood still flowed from Chang Hong Bi’s arm.
In that instant, he understood everything.
—This frail youth had actually cut his own arm and was feeding him his blood.
He had always been extremely wary of anyone who tried to cut him open to drink his blood. But now, he had cut himself to save him.
—Why?
Zhan Ri Fei said, "You—, you—"
He broke into a fit of coughing, but even as he coughed, he managed to struggle upright, intending to press the acupoints on Chang Hong Bi’s arm to stop the bleeding.
But Chang Hong Bi pulled his hand away and whispered, "Save him!"
Zhan Ri Fei followed his gaze and saw Huo Xiao Di barely holding his ground, fending off attacks left and right in a perilous situation.
Chang Hong Bi repeated, "Save him!"
Zhan Ri Fei remained silent, as if lost in thought.
Chang Hong Bi’s eyes, filled with sorrow, grief, and anger, were now brimming with despair: "Why won’t you save him?"A complex expression flickered in Zhan Ri Fei's eyes. He said softly, "I just need to regulate my breath." Then, pointing to the aged incense on the altar, he whispered, "Please fetch that bundle of incense for me."
Huo Xiao Di was almost on the verge of giving up.
The opponents surrounding him still maintained their unhurried, original pace.
The Yin Yang An in his hand had grown indescribably heavy, and his movements had become sluggish.
Just then, a faint, secret-transmission voice sounded in his ear: "When I count to three, use your A Startling Glance to soar upward."
It was Zhan Ri Fei's voice!
Huo Xiao Di’s spirits lifted instantly. Without a second thought, he shot skyward at Zhan Ri Fei’s command.
—Had he forgotten about Jiao Chao Gui in the tall tree and that mysterious black eagle?
As he soared upward, he felt a gust of fierce wind brush past his ear.
At the same time, the eleven torches around him suddenly extinguished, plunging the surroundings into darkness.
Breaking the darkness was the shrill cry of the black giant eagle. Instead of swooping down, its black wings flapped erratically as it spiraled upward like a headless fly!
Anyone transitioning from light to darkness would experience a moment of blindness. The eleven Flying Cloud Cavalry knights were also affected by this sudden change, their movements slowing involuntarily. By the time they realized their mistake, it was too late.
—Huo Xiao Di’s figure was already outside the sword formation.
—Another, even more dazzling sword gleam soared elegantly under the moonlight!
The sudden turn of events caught even Jiao Chao Gui off guard. He looked up to find his beloved eagle, only to see the black bird circling madly in the night sky. Upon closer inspection, he realized a stick of incense was embedded in the beast’s bulging eyes. Turning back, he saw the same incense sticks neatly planted in the eleven extinguished torches under the moonlight.
Under the moonlight, the sword gleams of the Flying Cloud Cavalry were no longer visible—because no matter how bright their swords shone, they could not outshine a single, cold gleam.
The gleam of a sword in a black-clad man’s hand.
—This sword gleam was so brilliantly radiant.
Wherever the sword light reached, Flying Cloud Cavalry knights fell one after another.
With a furious roar, Jiao Chao Gui unleashed his Flowing Cloud Palms with both hands, leaping down from the tall tree to launch a series of attacks at the black-clad man.
But before he could reach his target, a flash of sword light instantly illuminated his pale face.
Jiao Chao Gui’s mind exploded with shock, as if he had seen a ghost: "You—! It’s you—!"
Zhan Ri Fei said slowly, "Yes, it’s me."
Jiao Chao Gui took a fearful step back, then stepped forward again, gritting his teeth. "So it was you!"
Without another word, he unleashed his Flowing Cloud Palms with overwhelming force.
Zhan Ri Fei watched coldly, his rock-steady gaze reflecting the icy gleam of the Zhanlu in his hand, remaining utterly motionless.
Just then, Jiao Chao Gui heard a very strange sound—one he had never heard before.
Then he felt a sharp pain in his chest. Looking down, he saw no blood, but the tip of a black sword protruding through his chest.
—His face twisted instantly, almost unable to believe his eyes!The black sword tip seemed to possess a dark demon, making his heart feel hollowed out. Even death seemed to slow its pace momentarily.
He could still see Huo Xiao Di turning around behind him, grabbing his collar and shouting, "Where did you learn this sword formation?"
Jiao Chao Gui looked at him, a strange and cruel smile already appearing in his eyes. "Whatever you want to know no longer matters! Because even your Huo family's 'Exquisite Eyes' cannot perceive this secret of mine!"
He had to finish these words before he would allow himself to fall.
(IV)
The mountain path stretched beneath the horses' hooves.
When galloping at full speed, the rain-soaked road would splatter mud under the iron hooves of the fine steeds. The mud stains on Huo Xiao Di's clothes were too numerous to count.
The black steeds of Prosperous Cloud Manor's Flying Cloud Cavalry were indeed exceptional horses, one in a thousand. Even on the rugged mountain paths, they ran remarkably steadily.
Yet Huo Xiao Di's heart could find no such steadiness. Countless tangled questions swirled in his mind, making his head ache.
—The ghostly sword formation of Prosperous Cloud Manor's Flying Cloud Cavalry, Jiao Chao Gui's malicious smile and cryptic words before death, even the thoughts of Chang Hong Bi and Zhan Ri Fei beside him remained unfathomable.
—Outside that dilapidated temple, when "Yin Yang An" was pulled from Jiao Chao Gui's body, he had asked Zhan Ri Fei: "This Jiao Chao Gui actually knows you?" And Zhan Ri Fei had simply replied "Indeed" before falling silent, as if unwilling to discuss the topic further.
The sky had turned pale gray. After galloping through most of the night, exhaustion, hunger, and the pain in his right arm now coiled around him like venomous snakes.
Yet Zhan Ri Fei wouldn't agree to even a brief stop.
Huo Xiao Di still remembered his half-smiling face: "Brother Huo is welcome to travel alone with Chang Hong Bi. If you insist on accompanying me, you must follow my arrangements for this journey."
And as if cooperating with Zhan Ri Fei's words, they hadn't encountered a single decent household along the entire route.
After galloping this far, even Huo Xiao Di had lost his way. Their only hope was that they were getting further from Xiangyang and closer to Dongjing.
At a bend in the road, a small tea house finally appeared on one side. Through the shabby window came the aroma of scallion oil fried rice. To Huo Xiao Di, it smelled more enticing than all the delicacies of Exquisite Mountain Villa. He suddenly realized it was now breakfast time.
With a cheer, Huo Xiao Di spurred his horse straight toward it. Before Zhan Ri Fei could stop him, his horse was already in the courtyard, and he leaped into the tea house.
Inside, apart from a young attendant, there was only a stooped old man keeping watch, seemingly surprised to have customers so early.
The moment Huo Xiao Di sat down, he acted like a starving ghost reincarnated, ordering a large spread of dishes and a big pot of tea, making the attendant's eyes grow wider and wider. Not only had he never heard of many dishes Huo Xiao Di requested, but he couldn't imagine how this young man in yellow could possibly fit all that food into his stomach.
Then he saw two more people enter and sit beside the youth. One of them was just a child.As soon as Zhan Ri Fei walked in, Huo Xiao Di preemptively spoke, abandoning all pretense of refinement as he hastily stuffed a steamed bun into his mouth. Mumbling indistinctly, he said, "You can't blame me for this. The more things my brain thinks about, the easier it gets hungry. Besides, there really have been too many things happening these past few days."
Zhan Ri Fei looked at him and shook his head helplessly, pretending to grit his teeth in anger as he said, "I'm just afraid you won't starve to death!"
As he spoke, a hint of laughter actually surfaced in his eyes.
Huo Xiao Di was stunned. Only then did he realize that in the light of the rising sun, Zhan Ri Fei's face was so clear and handsome, and his smile so warm.
In his daze, a mouthful of steamed bun immediately choked him, and he coughed so hard he nearly passed out.
Watching him suffer the consequences of his own actions, Zhan Ri Fei smiled faintly and said, "So it turns out that while starvation might not kill you, choking can. Next time I see Zhao Zhi'er, I must tell him this secret."
Now even Chang Hong Bi burst into laughter.
Huo Xiao Di's face flushed red for some reason. He shook his head, made a funny face, and vowed not to think about anything else, focusing solely on dealing with the food in front of him. But these past few days, it seemed as though heaven itself was deliberately working against him—just then, he suddenly heard a strange drumming sound.
"Thump—thump—"
Each beat was slow and heavy, sounding elusive and uncertain. At first, it seemed to come from the edge of the forest, then suddenly it appeared to shift to the west side of the mountain path. Soon, the drumming seemed to echo from all directions.
Huo Xiao Di glanced at the food on the table and sighed.
"They're here. Another group looking for trouble."
Though he pretended not to care, his heart was already pounding wildly.
—After yesterday's battle between Zhan Ri Fei and the Cold Water Palace, he had heard this strange drumming before. He had thought he had shaken off its haunting presence.
Stealing a glance at Zhan Ri Fei, he saw that the young man in black remained as calm as ever, as if he hadn't heard anything at all.
A strange fragrance suddenly wafted in.
With a "clatter," the teacup in Chang Hong Bi's hand fell to the ground and shattered to pieces. Then, Huo Xiao Di suddenly felt someone tugging at his sleeve. Looking down, he saw Chang Hong Bi trembling with fear, hiding behind him, her teeth chattering uncontrollably.
He had never seen Chang Hong Bi so terrified—the fear on her face was as if she had fallen into a nightmare from which she could never wake.
What kind of person could this be?
Huo Xiao Di, of course, had no idea.
Suddenly, with a "bang," the main door was flung open. The light of the rising sun instantly flooded every corner of the teahouse.
Two young women in white, carrying large flower baskets, walked into the courtyard, scattering a peculiar type of flower as they came. The strange, subtle fragrance was emanating from the flower baskets in their hands.
Huo Xiao Di seemed intoxicated by the scent. Upon closer inspection, the petals of these unusual flowers appeared to be made of frozen ice.
A spacious carriage had silently come to a stop outside the courtyard. Four graceful women, their long skirts sweeping the ground, approached gracefully, holding translucent jade swords.
The teahouse staff and owner were utterly dumbfounded.
Huo Xiao Di's curiosity grew even stronger.
It definitely wasn't Shao Jizu who had arrived, so who could it be?
But he didn't have to wonder for long.He soon spotted two figures who had appeared in the courtyard as if out of nowhere.
—And these two were actually familiar faces! Huo Xiao Di suddenly felt he had been running into acquaintances a lot lately. Yet each familiar face seemed more troublesome than the last. He hoped this time would be an exception, but quickly realized he was daydreaming.
The newcomers were dressed in blue robes.
One was a tall man who appeared quite amiable but had eyes as lifeless as a corpse. This gave him the appearance of wearing a mask.
The other was actually a woman. She seemed to keep her head perpetually lowered, yet her delicate beauty could capture anyone's attention.
Strangely, the mere sight of her filled Huo Xiao Di with indescribable disgust. There were very few people in this world who could provoke such intense dislike in him.
—Beneath the courtyard sunlight, the collar of her blue robe was embroidered with a small crescent moon.
—Naturally, these were the Sun-Grasping Envoy and Moon-Grasping Envoy of Cold Water Palace.
The Moon-Grasping Envoy's flowing gaze settled on Zhan Ri Fei from afar, her soft voice melting into one's very bones: "Young Master Zhan, we meet again."
Zhan Ri Fei's voice remained remarkably calm: "What brings the Moon-Grasping Envoy here?"
Huo Xiao Di felt Chang Hong Bi's tightly gripping hand suddenly turn ice-cold. Only then did he notice the thin boy's terrified eyes weren't fixed on the man and woman, but were instead staring intently at the carriage.
—What secrets lay hidden within that carriage?
The Moon-Grasping Envoy spoke: "Someone as intelligent as yourself, young master, surely knows why we've come. This envoy's presence is naturally due to the person by your side."
Her enchanting eyes shifted as she added with a delicate laugh: "Besides, Grandma also wishes to meet the one who could withstand both 'Chang Xiang Si' and the 'Thousand-Jin Dragon-Slaying Coil'."
No sooner had her words faded than four towering Kunlun slaves—shirtless, with curly beards and green eyes—emerged from the carriage carrying an enormous foreign-style couch.
Reclining on the couch was an old woman with crane-like white hair and chicken-like features, dressed in magnificent robes and holding a purple dragon-headed cane. Despite her indescribable ugliness, her face radiated benevolence and kindness.
Yet Huo Xiao Di suddenly drew a sharp breath.
The old woman's eyes were completely blank. Profoundly empty.
This kindly-faced old woman was actually blind!
His gaze shifted to see the scattered flower maidens and jade sword-wielding maidens surrounding them, along with the Moon-Grasping and Sun-Grasping Envoys, all kneeling in reverence.
Huo Xiao Di sighed softly.
—No one would believe this kind, blind old woman was the formidable leader of Cold Water Palace, Grandma Han Shui, whose name shook the martial world.
But then, this world was already full of unbelievable things.
The dignified, amiable old woman sat on the foreign couch, her blind eyes still "looking" toward the teahouse. After a long while, she slowly said: "Grandma hasn't traveled the martial world for many years. I no longer recognize the outstanding heroes of this generation."
It was unclear whom her lament was directed toward.
The veins on Zhan Ri Fei's sword hand bulged slightly.
Grandma Han Shui changed the subject: "Chang Hong Bi, you've made Grandma search so hard. Since you're already here, why not come to Grandma's side?"The moment the name "Chang Hong Bi" was uttered, the frail boy's face turned deathly pale. Then, without any warning, completely unexpected by anyone, a dazzling blade light flashed forth, instantly blinding Huo Xiao Di! Almost simultaneously, he sensed Zhan Ri Fei beside him had also drawn his sword abruptly.
——Why did he draw his sword?
Soon, Huo Xiao Di caught the scent of blood.
A white silk handkerchief gently wiped the circular blade before being discarded on the ground.
The Moon-Grasping Envoy’s body seemed as if it had never moved from its spot. No one could tell that the lightning-fast strike had come from the peculiar circular blade in his hand.
The only difference was on his chest.
——A stain of blood had already appeared on his chest.
——"You still wounded me!"
Yet, for the first time, Zhan Ri Fei’s voice carried anger: "I only regret I was a step too slow."
Only then did Huo Xiao Di see that the kitchen helper and the hunched old man had been decapitated in that instant. He couldn’t help but shout sharply, "These two had no martial skills and hadn’t offended you. As the chief of the Cold Water Palace’s four envoys, how could you slaughter the innocent?!"
The Moon-Grasping Envoy held his head high, as if disdaining to reply.
Beside him, the Moon-Grasping Envoy giggled coquettishly, "Why not ask your companion?"
Huo Xiao Di turned to Zhan Ri Fei and saw a trace of sorrow in his eyes. Slowly, Zhan Ri Fei said, "Because the old granny’s earlier remark exposed Chang Hong Bi’s true identity, so you had to silence the witnesses."
——"I should have realized sooner. How could the Cold Water Palace allow outsiders to learn the secret they’ve schemed so hard to conceal?"
——"But I was still too late!"
A ferocity incongruous with his kindly face suddenly surfaced on the Moon-Grasping Envoy’s features: "Anyone who learns Chang Hong Bi’s secret must die!"
He then turned his gaze to Chang Hong Bi, who sat frozen in the teahouse, and said slowly, "Won’t you come out on your own?"
Huo Xiao Di declared loudly, "We also know Chang Hong Bi’s secret. Does that mean we must die too?"
The Moon-Grasping Envoy did not deny it.
Huo Xiao Di sneered, "If you want Chang Hong Bi, you’ll have to kill me first!"
Hearing these words, Chang Hong Bi, who had been terrified out of his wits, suddenly shuddered, his eyes lighting up. For the first time, the extraordinarily gifted child straightened his back.
Before the words faded, Huo Xiao Di had already reached the nomadic bed—his movement was even faster than his speech!
Under the sunlight, his "Yin Yang An" gleamed with a dark radiance, like black lightning.
The towering Kunlun slave remained motionless, not even blinking. The blind old woman on the nomadic bed still wore her kindly smile.
Even Zhan Ri Fei did not see how the blind old woman on the bed had struck. He only saw a figure suddenly flung upward beneath the flickering black light.
Without a sound, Huo Xiao Di’s body was sent flying back into the teahouse like a kite with its string cut. Before he hit the ground, blood gushed from his mouth.
The fresh morning breeze stirred the golden thread embroidery on the old woman’s lavish robes, making it shimmer and ripple in the sunlight. The elegantly dressed old woman remained leisurely reclined on the nomadic bed, as if she had never moved at all.Zhan Ri Fei rushed to Huo Xiao Di's side, grasping his left hand with his right, forcibly channeling his inner energy as a continuous stream of vital force flowed into him. Chang Hong Bi threw herself over as well, seizing Huo Xiao Di's hand, yet unable to utter even half a word.
For some unknown reason, Huo Xiao Di shook off their hands. Coughing violently, he struggled to sit up.
—Even with his left leg injured, he still insisted on sitting upright.
Perhaps the noble blood flowing through his veins gave him a pride unmatched by others.
The old woman's voice sounded much calmer than her words: "If you weren't the heir of the Huo family, you'd be a corpse right now."
The yellow-robed youth, proud to his very bones, surprisingly offered no rebuttal. Perhaps only he understood the true meaning behind Grandma Han Shui's words: when one dies, they naturally lose their name. Perhaps only he knew how terrifyingly formidable Grandma Han Shui's martial arts truly were.
—This granny's attacks were so swift they defied comprehension. Had it not been for his mastery of the "A Startling Glance" lightness skill and the "A Night's Flower Language in the Small Tower" internal energy, allowing him to react with a speed unimaginable to ordinary people, the injury wouldn't have been limited to his left leg.
By now, no one could believe that this kindly old woman on the nomadic-style bed was blind; no one dared to treat her as blind anymore!
Grandma Han Shui continued, "Even if you are the heir of the Huo family from Exquisite Mountain Villa, you shouldn't possess the 'Yin Yang An.' How did the 'Yin Yang An' end up in your hands?"
Struggling, Huo Xiao Di curled his lip and said, "Since I'm the Huo family heir, why can't the 'Yin Yang An' be in my possession?"
Grandma Han Shui replied, "The 'Yin Yang An' is the Huo family's ancestral treasure. Without it, the Exquisite Eyes of the Huo family's eldest daughter cannot be awakened. Thus, this weapon has never left Exquisite Mountain Villa!"
Huo Xiao Di sneered, "You certainly know a lot about our Exquisite Mountain Villa's affairs."
Grandma Han Shui said with a smile, "There's just one thing this old granny still doesn't know."
Huo Xiao Di asked, "What is it?"
Grandma Han Shui said lightly, "Have your Huo family's Exquisite Eyes long foreseen that today, you would die by my hand?"
(5)
Suddenly, a cane appeared before Huo Xiao Di! Without seeing how the granny on the nomadic-style bed moved, the dragon-headed cane abruptly shot toward Huo Xiao Di, aiming straight for his heart.
The nomadic-style bed was clearly still outside the courtyard, and Grandma Han Shui had clearly not left it. No matter how long the cane was, it couldn't span the dozens of feet from outside the courtyard to inside the room. Could it be that Grandma Han Shui's attacks were faster than what the eye could perceive?
Yet, when the cane reached Huo Xiao Di's heart, it did not pierce through!
With a "clang," the cane struck something. In a flash, a long sword had interposed itself in front of Huo Xiao Di's heart.
—Zhan Ri Fei's long sword.
The fierce cane shadow vanished the moment it met the sword. Yet, Zhan Ri Fei's long sword was forced aside by the cane's shadow.
Only then did Huo Xiao Di realize he was drenched in cold sweat. Had it not been for Zhan Ri Fei's perfectly timed block, that cane would have pierced straight through his chest.
A hard-to-describe expression suddenly surfaced in Grandma Han Shui's dry, white eyes.
She exclaimed softly, "Moon-Grasping Envoy, is this the person you spoke of?"
The Moon-Grasping Envoy bowed and said, "Your discernment is clear, Grandma. It is indeed him."
Grandma Han Shui asked, "Who is he, to be faster than this old granny's cane?"
The Moon-Grasping Envoy replied, "I fear he may not be faster than your cane, Grandma, but he anticipated the direction of your strike and thus luckily managed to block your move, 'Summoning the Ghosts.'"Grandma Han Shui murmured, "Anticipating the enemy's moves, heh heh, anticipating the enemy's moves—truly extraordinary."
Then she fell silent. Her hand slowly beckoned.
Suddenly, a staff shadow appeared before Chang Hong Bi. By the time Chang Hong Bi sensed something approaching, his body was already involuntarily flung outward.
In his dazed state, it seemed another sword light flashed. This sword light was actually ice-colored. Then the staff shadow retracted, and he immediately fell to the ground.
Before he fell, he only had time to see a dazzling silver light rushing toward him. His chest suddenly felt an unprecedented, incomparable pressure and impact, as if all the surrounding mountains were collapsing onto him. And before his eyes, a familiar figure had already blocked his view—the ice-colored sword light seemed to be resisting this boundless force.
Suddenly, Huo Xiao Di's terrified scream echoed in his ears: "No—!"
Chang Hong Bi only felt a sweet taste in his throat, and stars danced before his eyes. The fall from mid-air left him dizzy and disoriented; it took him a long while to recover. Just as he tried to get up, his legs gave way, and he stumbled onto someone.
His heart sank inexplicably. A heavy premonition momentarily suffocated him. Turning the person's face over, Chang Hong Bi's hands were already trembling—it was indeed Zhan Ri Fei!
His disheveled hair clung tightly to his pale face, cold sweat dripping profusely. His teeth were clenched, his eyes shut tightly, as if resisting something.
Chang Hong Bi hurriedly grabbed his arm, trying to lift him with force. Huo Xiao Di also crawled over, anxiously asking, "How are you? How are you?"
Grandma Han Shui's words, cold and clear, were spoken word by word.
"I never expected that, despite your severe injuries, you could still withstand my palm strike. In thirty years, you are the first to withstand my palm strike. For someone so young to possess such skill is already remarkable. No wonder even Palm Moon and Palm Sun were defeated by you. With your skill and intellect, you are certainly no unknown figure in the martial world. It's just a pity, a pity!"
Zhan Ri Fei gritted his teeth, unable to speak. A bloody taste surged up his throat, rushing straight to his head.
At that moment, Chang Hong Bi suddenly felt Zhan Ri Fei's body trembling slightly in his embrace. Then, a mouthful of blood sprayed out, splattering his chest with a crimson stain.
Within that crimson stain—
Chang Hong Bi's vision suddenly blurred, his mind growing hazy. He thought he had seen wrong, so he blinked hard.
Then, his body suddenly stiffened. From head to toe, it was as if he had been frozen into stone in an instant.
The only sign of life left was in his eyes, now wide open, filled with indescribable disbelief.
—Within that crimson stain, there was clearly a faint layer of black!
Suddenly, as if remembering something, he lifted a hand and tore open Zhan Ri Fei's black cloak.
But even he seemed to know that this action was utterly redundant.
—On Zhan Ri Fei's back, the three green marks left by "Like Old Friends at First Sight" were deeper and more glaring than when he had seen them yesterday, as if embedded into his skin. At that moment, they resembled three mocking eyes, coldly staring at him.
Chang Hong Bi collapsed to the ground, unable to speak for a long time.
The horror on his face looked almost terrifying."The 'Like Old Friends at First Sight' on you—has—no—cure?"
Slowly, with great difficulty, he uttered these words, then suddenly erupted like a madman: "I don't believe it!"
His voice, from this moment on, had become indescribably hoarse and cracked.
"Could it be that even my blood cannot cure the 'Like Old Friends at First Sight' on you? I absolutely refuse to believe it!"
Zhan Ri Fei slightly opened his eyes and saw Chang Hong Bi's distorted face. In that instant, he understood—this child had learned the truth.
Finally able to speak, he forced out his words with great effort: "You once cut your wrist and offered your blood to save me. Whether it can cure the poison or not—what does it matter?"
He no longer dared to look at Huo Xiao Di's expression—how could Huo Xiao Di's expression be anything but terrible! Had he remained silent all this time because he could no longer speak?
Chang Hong Bi's eyes, however, instantly turned deathly still. In that fleeting moment, the heart of this innately gifted youth seemed to become as transparent as crystal.
—"It's not that my blood cannot cure this 'Like Old Friends at First Sight,' but that the medicinal properties in my blood have already vanished, isn't it?"
He stared at Zhan Ri Fei, his voice rasping: "You knew all along, didn't you?!"
Zhan Ri Fei finally let out a sigh. Huo Xiao Di, beside him, spoke for him.
"Because you haven't drunk the 'Azure Flame Three Lives Water' for a long time."
"You were originally mute and unable to speak, but gradually, you gained the ability to talk."
"The medicinal scent on you has also grown fainter day by day."
Chang Hong Bi seemed not to hear Huo Xiao Di's words, still fixated on Zhan Ri Fei, his voice hoarse: "Since you knew all along, why didn't you say anything? Were you afraid I would be heartbroken and disappointed, is that it? I hate you! I hate you!"
Perhaps a faint hope in this child's young heart was that he could still be of use. But now, this cruel fate had mercilessly stripped away even that sole expectation in his heart.
Huo Xiao Di, however, stared at Zhan Ri Fei and said, "You clearly knew you were no match for that old hag, so why didn't you leave? Why did you still block her palm strike? Why do you always think of others—when will you ever think of yourself?"
Zhan Ri Fei forced a faint smile and said, "Because your favors seem to be the kind one can't afford to owe."
Even at a time like this, he still had the heart to joke. But as soon as he finished speaking, his vision darkened, and he fainted.
Chang Hong Bi no longer spoke. His eyes were fixed on him, yet it was as if he didn't see him at all. This frail, lonely boy seemed to have transformed into an adult in an instant.
Outside the courtyard, Grandma Han Shui had lost her patience. Yet her tone remained gentle: "Moon-Grasping Envoy, kill these two and bring Chang Hong Bi with you."
Her voice was still perfectly calm, her ugly face still devoid of any expression. However, her words were the command of the Cold Water Palace's master.
The Moon-Grasping Envoy hesitated for a moment but still replied, "Yes."
Grandma Han Shui's eyes, filled with whites, seemed to "see" through everything about her: "Are you growing soft-hearted?"
The Moon-Grasping Envoy glanced at the two collapsed on the ground and said, "Grandma, this humble one was thinking—"
Grandma Han Shui interrupted, "You've taken a liking to that boy. He must be quite handsome, isn't he?"
Her tone remained amiable, but the Moon-Grasping Envoy was so frightened she immediately knelt on the ground: "This humble one wouldn't dare."Grandma Han Shui said, "It's good that you know your place."
—Her voice carried no trace of sternness, so why was the Moon-Grasping Envoy too terrified to utter another word?
Grandma Han Shui smiled kindly, yet appeared thoroughly satisfied: "Then what are you waiting for?"
(VI)
The Moon-Grasping Envoy still couldn't move. Because a child's voice suddenly rang out from the teahouse: "Stop!"
It was Chang Hong Bi's voice. A resolute voice.
Chang Hong Bi stood at the entrance of the teahouse. In his hand, he held a gleaming short blade. The tip of the blade was pressed tightly against his ribs.
Grandma Han Shui's expression actually shifted.
—She was blind, so how could she perceive Chang Hong Bi's movement?
Chang Hong Bi spoke slowly: "Grandma, I beg you to spare them both. If you let them go, I will return with you."
His voice, under Grandma Han Shui's intense "gaze," initially trembled uncontrollably.
Grandma Han Shui's calm tone now sent chills down one's spine.
—"And if I refuse?"
Chang Hong Bi said, "With just a flick of my finger, if this blade pierces the fatal point even slightly, drawing a drop of blood, there will be no saving me. If Grandma insists on taking their lives, then I will die with them. And Grandma will lose Chang Hong Bi forever."
Grandma Han Shui said, "Are you threatening me?"
Chang Hong Bi replied, "After all, you raised me—how would I dare threaten you! I only beg for your mercy."
Grandma Han Shui asked, "How did you learn of your own fatal point?"
Chang Hong Bi said, "Has Grandma forgotten the words of Master Su three months ago? Master Su predicted I would die on my fifteenth birthday. Whether I could be revived after death would depend entirely on you."
His carefree tone carried a trace of bitter laughter: "Master Su was wrong this time. He foretold my death at fifteen, but he didn't know there are still months until my fifteenth birthday."
Grandma Han Shui said, "Though Su Yi Zhou accurately divined your death point, he likely miscalculated more than just that. At the very least, he failed to foresee the consequences of being bribed to deceive the Cold Water Palace."
Chang Hong Bi showed no surprise: "Grandma must have found Master Su, and you've probably spared his life?"
Grandma Han Shui said, "Death would be too easy for him. Though he now pleads bitterly, wishing I would grant him a swift death, once dead, how would he understand the price of his mistakes?"
As she spoke these words with utter composure, Huo Xiao Di suddenly shuddered.
Then Grandma Han Shui added, "Was it upon hearing Su Yi Zhou's words that you left the palace without permission?"
Chang Hong Bi said, "When one knows that no matter how much they endure humiliation to survive, their life will still be short, why not see the outside world—a rare sight in their lifetime—before dying? Only now do I realize that every word Master Su spoke was meant to trick me into leaving the Cold Water Palace."
He looked at Grandma Han Shui and said word by word: "Though his scheme deceived me, I have at least learned that the one who bribed Su Yi Zhou was Prosperous Cloud Manor."
Grandma Han Shui asked, "How did you know?"Chang Hong Bi said, "Because shortly after I reached the foot of the mountain, I discovered that Ge Yun Fei from Prosperous Cloud Manor was already waiting for me there. If he hadn’t known in advance that I had left Cold Water Palace, why would he be waiting for me? And at that time, only Master Su knew I had left Cold Water Palace."
"So, the mind-bewitching curse was also passed down to you by that Su fellow?"
Chang Hong Bi replied leisurely, "Grandma was in seclusion, with the Sun, Moon, Wind, and Cloud Envoys guarding her. Everyone else thought I was just a child, so the ambush went quite smoothly."
Grandma Han Shui sneered, "So, is this outside world you were so eager to see truly as wonderful as you imagined?"
Chang Hong Bi shook his head. "The villains in this world are far more treacherous and malicious than the hearts of those in Cold Water Palace."
He glanced at Zhan Ri Fei and Huo Xiao Di, who were leaning collapsed on the ground, and added, "But there are also far more good people in this world than in Cold Water Palace. Since Grandma has pardoned the Sun and Moon Envoys, why not spare them as well?"
The Moon-Grasping Envoy tittered as she stepped forward, giggling softly. "Little brother, why are you joking around so suddenly? Be good now and put down that knife."
Chang Hong Bi looked at her and said unhurriedly, "Take one more step, and I will plunge this blade in. No matter how skilled you are, you cannot move faster than my finger. With just one push of my finger, Chang Hong Bi will cease to exist in this world. When that happens, if Grandma blames you, I won’t be able to plead on your behalf."
His words sounded unnervingly clear and calm. The Moon-Grasping Envoy’s body froze as if nailed to the ground.
Grandma Han Shui said, "For many years, no one has been able to threaten Cold Water Palace. Not even those from Cold Water Palace itself!"
Chang Hong Bi smiled faintly. "If Chang Hong Bi dies now, Grandma will have to exhaust all her energy to save me. The Sun and Moon Envoys have only just recovered from their severe injuries and cannot leave Grandma’s side, so they naturally cannot pursue the enemies. If Grandma spares these two, Chang Hong Bi, at the very least, does not have to die right now, and Grandma won’t have to drain her energy. Isn’t that a win-win situation?"
Grandma Han Shui said darkly, "After you die, Grandma can always find another Chang Hong Bi!"
Chang Hong Bi replied, "Naturally. The Chang Hong Bi of Cold Water Palace is merely a title, a name passed down from generation to generation to children like me. With Grandma’s abilities and the century-old prestige of Cold Water Palace, how could you not find another Chang Hong Bi? But Chang Hong Bi knows that Grandma must drink the blood from his arm every four months. By my count, it has been over three months since the last blood-drinking. Grandma has been in seclusion for many days and has likely mastered the Luo Heaven Great Art, so there would be no need to drink blood every four months to sustain your life. If that is the case, Grandma will live a long life, and even searching for eight or ten years would be nothing. However, if the Tang Sect learns that Chang Hong Bi has been destroyed, I wonder if they would have the patience to wait eight or ten years like Grandma. The entanglement between the Tang Sect and Prosperous Cloud Manor—Grandma, with your vast experience, surely understands it far better than a child like me."He glanced at the blind old woman and continued unhurriedly, "Even if Grandma doesn't say it, Chang Hong Bi understands clearly in his heart. If Chang Hong Bi were so easy to find, Grandma wouldn't have first dispatched the Sun and Moon Envoys of Cold Water Palace, and later personally ventured out, condescending to come to the Central Plains."
Grandma Han Shui said, "Aren't you afraid that Grandma might temporarily spare them and send the Sun and Moon Envoys to hunt them down instead?"
Chang Hong Bi replied, "Grandma is the foremost figure in Cold Water Palace in a century, a person of such status! Since childhood, Chang Hong Bi has regarded you as divine. Every one of the hundred-plus members of Cold Water Palace follows such a wise leader—how could Grandma go back on your word? Moreover, the Sun and Moon Envoys are present here, both having witnessed Grandma's promise."
For some reason, the Sun and Moon Envoys had begun to tremble.
Only then did Huo Xiao Di realize how meticulous and thorough this child's thinking was—it was truly chilling. So all along the journey, he had still been deceived by him!
A strange expression flickered in Grandma Han Shui's hollow eyes: "I've always underestimated you!"
Chang Hong Bi said, "Grandma flatters me. Having wandered in the Central Plains, Chang Hong Bi has inevitably absorbed some of the cunning and scheming of the Central Plains people."
Grandma Han Shui said, "Do you know that the effects of the medicine in your body have faded? To restore yourself as Chang Hong Bi, you must endure the 'Bone and Marrow Renewal' ritual. For these two people, do you not regret it at all?"
A trace of fear flashed briefly in Chang Hong Bi's eyes before vanishing. He said indifferently, "Chang Hong Bi was already a dying man—why fear the Bone and Marrow Renewal ritual? If I can die for a worthy cause, then it would not betray the true meaning of these three characters: Chang Hong Bi."
He looked at Grandma Han Shui and added with a faint smile, "Whether to save Chang Hong Bi or not naturally rests entirely with Grandma. However, there is neither the Cold Pool of Cold Water Palace nor the Arhat Bed of Cold Water Palace here. For Grandma to perform the Bone and Marrow Renewal ritual, you would exhaust a lifetime of cultivation, unable to recover your martial arts for at least ten days to half a month. I wonder if Grandma is willing and content with that."
After a long silence, Grandma Han Shui finally said, "Very well, Grandma agrees to your request!"
Yet, there was not the slightest change in Chang Hong Bi's expression.
"Has Grandma truly thought it through? If Grandma wishes to change your mind, there is still time."
Grandma Han Shui said coldly, "There's no need for you to provoke me. The words of the Cold Water Palace Master have always carried immense weight. Moreover, this is someone else's affair, not a matter of Cold Water Palace—why should Grandma interfere?"
With a light wave of her hand, her four Kunlun slaves lifted her nomadic bed and carried it back to the carriage.
The Sun and Moon Envoys had also reached the front of the carriage.
Chang Hong Bi turned his head away, not daring to look at Huo Xiao Di's face. For even without looking, he could imagine how awful Huo Xiao Di's expression must be at this moment.
Hesitating, the slender boy said, "Hu... Huo Xiao Di, I'm leaving!"
Huo Xiao Di murmured, "Why are you doing this? Why?"
—Though he spoke these incoherent words, did he truly not understand in his heart?
Chang Hong Bi said calmly, "Since my blood cannot save people, there must be another way to save them. Just as in this world, what truly harms people is not poison."
Huo Xiao Di said, "But you—"Chang Hong Bi's eyes were fixed on the ground as he said, "After much thought, I believe it's best for me to return to Cold Water Palace. The outside world is simply too complicated, and there's so much I don't understand."
Huo Xiao Di remained silent.
In that moment, the silence suddenly felt as long as an entire lifetime.
Finally, Chang Hong Bi gritted his teeth and turned toward the carriage waiting outside the courtyard. He walked slowly, but with unwavering determination.
Huo Xiao Di couldn't help but suddenly cry out, "Chang Hong Bi, don't go—!"
Chang Hong Bi's footsteps came to a halt. Hesitating, he had already turned back and said to him, "That day in the old temple, you once asked me if I was truly Chang Hong Bi. I also told you then that I was not."
Huo Xiao Di's heart seemed to shatter, all because a heartbreaking pride had suddenly appeared in the boy's eyes.
Chang Hong Bi's gaze, however, had already drifted into the distance: "At the time, you didn't believe me. But you didn't know—I wasn't lying to you. I would never lie to you."
He pointed at the people from Cold Water Palace and said, "In their eyes, I am nothing but a tool for saving lives and healing injuries, nothing but Chang Hong Bi. But my real name is not Chang Hong Bi!"
He looked at Huo Xiao Di, his expression earnest, and said, "Actually, I've always wanted to tell you—my name is Ai Hu."
He looked at him, a trace of desolation already in his smile, and added, "You must remember from now on, my name is Ai Hu. I am just someone who wishes to be ordinary, no different from any other child."
Huo Xiao Di could no longer speak. A mist had gathered in his eyes.
Chang Hong Bi's somber eyes suddenly shone again.
For the first time, his voice was filled with boldness: "Huo Xiao Di, I'm leaving! We will definitely meet again!"
His head was held high for the first time, and his small frame seemed so proud.
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