Zhan Zhao Adventures

(One)

The morning wind howled.

At some unknown time, a faint layer of dark clouds had gathered at the horizon. Just moments ago, the sky was filled with sunlight, but now even heaven and earth seemed to have darkened.

The wind carried the scent of rain, like an invisible enchantress playing a melody that unsettled the heart. It chilled the souls of those parting, scattered the spirits of passersby, and stirred the blood of the young.

The departed had gone far, the travelers had left—where were the youths now?

Grandma Han Shui’s carriage had long vanished without a trace, and Chang Hong Bi’s figure had long dispersed to the ends of the earth. Yet Huo Xiao Di kept turning back, gazing at the distant road of no return that stretched farther and farther away.

From now on, they would be separated by vast distances in this boundless world. Who knew when they would meet again? And when they did, would that youth still remember him? Remember this passerby in yellow who once held a bamboo umbrella and helped him up in the rain?

The road ahead had become flat and straight, seemingly endless, stretching all the way to the horizon. On either side, towering cliffs rose steeply into the clouds, as sheer as iron.

The black steeds of the Flying Cloud Cavalry, having galloped for so long, were now snorting white mist from their nostrils.

The pain in his left leg began to ache faintly again. Suddenly, Huo Xiao Di’s eyes welled with tears.

But whenever he turned his head, he would meet Zhan Ri Fei’s silent gaze.

Though this young man in black was as pale as a corpse, and even on horseback, his injuries prevented him from sitting upright, his dark eyes—like the depths of night—seemed to see through everything, comprehend everything, yet were filled with understanding and warmth.

Huo Xiao Di turned away, quickly wiping his eyes with his sleeve, and said softly, “After taking the Exquisite Honey, are you feeling better?”

Zhan Ri Fei replied, “Don’t worry, I’m not so easy to kill. Haven’t you heard that even cats have nine lives? If I died, how could I live up to the miraculous medicine of Exquisite Mountain Villa?”

Huo Xiao Di finally smiled, though his smile was tinged with an irrepressible gloom. “I’ve only heard that good people die young, while the wicked live for a thousand years.”

Zhan Ri Fei sighed ruefully. “This is the first time someone has called me a wicked man.”

Huo Xiao Di said, “Are you a good man, then? Don’t forget, just yesterday you nearly became a ghost under my sword—”

Before he could finish, his expression changed.

Soon, sounds echoed from afar—the rapid hoofbeats of horses, and not just from one rider.

—Who were these newcomers? Why had they come?

Huo Xiao Di let out a soft sigh. The farther they traveled from Xiangyang, the more troubles seemed to arise.

There was nowhere to hide on either side of this road. The flat, straight highway would allow the approaching riders to spot him and Zhan Ri Fei from afar. By now, it was already too late to steer their horses aside.

Indeed, over ten riders approached. Their horses were fine steeds, and the men were valiant warriors.

The riders were robust, fierce, and agile, their spirited demeanor impossible for anyone to suppress.

They were clearly battle-hardened, exceptionally calm and composed.

Huo Xiao Di breathed a sigh of relief. These men were definitely not ordinary Song dynasty soldiers, yet judging by their attire, they were not imperial guards from Xiangyang Royal Mansion either.

He knew the bloodstains on his clothes would arouse suspicion, but with no way to avoid this encounter on such a narrow path, he decided to take his chances.The dozen or so soldiers observed Huo Xiao Di and Zhan Ri Fei from afar, clearly harboring suspicions. One of them, seemingly the leader, appeared to pull out a scroll from his robe, scrutinizing it repeatedly in Huo Xiao Di’s direction.

“It’s him! The very person in the portrait sent by the prince!”

Tucking away the scroll casually, he waved his hand and shouted. In an instant, the dozen men spurred their horses forward, encircling them.

Trouble had indeed arrived. Huo Xiao Di sighed inwardly. Ever since leaving Xiangyang Royal Mansion, his troubles had never ceased.

He nudged his horse’s flank, and the black steed let out a long neigh, its hooves flying as it charged toward the approaching men. A dark radiance suddenly illuminated the sky and earth, as if altering their very hues—Huo Xiao Di’s “Yin Yang An” was already in his hand!

This peerless divine weapon of Exquisite Mountain Villa, having tasted blood repeatedly over the past days, seemed to have awakened the demon entwined around its black blade. It now emitted a faint, eerie chuckle.

Zhan Ri Fei was about to draw his sword as well, but as he raised his hand, a stifling sensation gripped his chest. The surging blood and energy within him stirred a sharp, lightning-like pain beneath his left rib, followed by a roaring in his ears. Then, darkness clouded his vision, and he plummeted headfirst from his horse, blood spurting from the wound on his back.

The riders besieging Huo Xiao Di were clearly elite, well-trained cavalry. The moment Zhan Ri Fei fell, several broke away from Huo Xiao Di and charged toward him. Their spears and broadswords instantly wove into a frenzied, fierce net of light, descending upon him like lightning.

Huo Xiao Di glanced back and couldn’t help but cry out in alarm!

In his desperation, his hand trembled, and “Yin Yang An” let out a sharp, piercing shriek in the morning breeze.

The soldier leading the charge, the most formidable and ferocious of the riders, had already raised his broadsword. It gleamed coldly in the sunlight as he leaped from his saddle, using the momentum of his gallop to strike down from above.

But while still mid-air, a sharp pain pierced his chest, as if bitten by something. Looking down, he saw the tip of a black sword flash past his heart.

Then, he suddenly noticed a sliver of sunlight piercing through his own shadow on the ground, near where his heart should be.

—How could sunlight penetrate his broad, solid shadow?

In that moment, all strength drained from his body. When he fell, it was like an empty sack collapsing.

Until his last breath, he never understood how he died. From start to finish, he never saw any blood—the sword that had pierced his back left no trace of bloodstains.

Nor did he have time to witness how those behind him crumpled and yielded beneath a malevolent black radiance.

In no time, Huo Xiao Di was back in his saddle, as if he hadn’t been the one to run through the sword-wielding soldier with a single thrust. The faces of his assailants were frozen in stunned disbelief; they had likely never seen such ghostly, unpredictable movements in their lives.

—Huo Xiao Di relished such expressions.

Yet these knights were evidently well-drilled. Realizing their opponent’s martial prowess far exceeded expectations, they let out a whistle, and the remaining forces began an orderly retreat.

The leader’s face contorted, his words stumbling out: “You—you are—”How could Huo Xiao Di let them retreat unscathed? The corner of his mouth twitched slightly as his body soared into the air, lunging toward the man clutching the scroll who appeared to be their leader!

At that very moment, Zhan Ri Fei urgently shouted, "Don't let them fire the arrows!"

But in his severely wounded state, his voice was unbearably faint.

In that moment of hesitation from Huo Xiao Di, it was already too late!

Two whistling arrows, carrying a peculiar and sharp whistling sound, soared into the sky!

Huo Xiao Di's expression changed: these were clearly signal arrows for communication. Once the arrows were released, pursuers would quickly follow their trail!

Turning back, he saw a sinister smile appear on the leader's face, who spoke word by word: "Even if you kill us—you—can no longer—escape!"

A chill ran through Huo Xiao Di's heart. He had been far too confident in the martial arts of his Exquisite Mountain Villa.

—So this man, who appeared to be the leader, had deliberately feigned panic to attract his attention, allowing the hidden rider behind him to fire the signal arrow while he was off guard.

—What kind of soldiers could possess such cunning and courage?

But at this moment, Huo Xiao Di knew well that he could not afford to show any mercy.

As faint splatters of blood rose, it seemed even the sun sought refuge behind the clouds. The once arrogant and formidable riders now lay fallen on the ground.

Huo Xiao Di limped past the soldiers strewn haphazardly across the ground.

Suddenly, his foot stepped on something hard. Looking down, he saw it was the secret portrait from Xiangyang Royal Mansion. It must have fallen from the leader's embrace when he was struck down by the sword.

Hesitating, Huo Xiao Di used his sword to flick the scroll from the muddy water into his hand. Without examining it closely, he tucked it into his robe and helped Zhan Ri Fei up.

Zhan Ri Fei shook his head and said, "Go quickly. They won't catch up to you."

Huo Xiao Di replied, "It was I who dragged you into this. How could I abandon you now?"

Zhan Ri Fei said, "It wasn't you who dragged me into this. You don't know—they're not actually chasing—"

Before he could finish, a surge of energy rushed upward, causing dizziness, and he could no longer speak.

Without another word, Huo Xiao Di hauled Zhan Ri Fei onto the horse. Zhan Ri Fei, dazed and weak, had no strength left to resist.

(2)

The sky grew bright. The sun rose higher, piercing through the low-hanging clouds and dispersing the bone-chilling morning wind.

The intense sunlight beat down on Huo Xiao Di's face, and sweat seeped from his pores.

"Even if you kill us—you—can no longer—escape!"

Those sinister words still echoed in his ears.

—Whose soldiers were these, after all?

Huo Xiao Di's eyes widened with frenzy. The warhorse galloped wildly under his command.

Finally, the horse let out a mournful whinny, collapsing to the ground, frothing at the mouth, unable to rise again. The beast's eyes seemed to well up with tears as it looked at him.

Soon after, Zhan Ri Fei's horse also fell to the ground, refusing to move another step no matter how hard Huo Xiao Di urged it.

Huo Xiao Di now felt deep regret.

—When they left the main road in the canyon, he should have switched to the horses of those iron-blooded riders. Why hadn't he thought of it sooner?Looking back, the flat, endless road clearly revealed their trail to any pursuers.

Huo Xiao Di's eyes already showed terror. Summoning strength from somewhere, he dragged Zhan Ri Fei and fled blindly along the path.

The wind howled, the sunlight stung their eyes unbearably.

Huo Xiao Di's chest ached faintly, his vital energy surged as he pushed the "A Startling Glance" lightness skill to its limits while circulating his inner breath.

Now he finally understood the taste of escape: Zhan Ri Fei's body seemed to grow heavier with each step, while the pain in his own leg struck like lightning through his heart.

Yet he dared not stop.

—Under broad daylight, after the whistling arrows, enemies would soon catch up.

As the road curved, a small farm appeared ahead, with an old granary standing outside.

At the sight of this granary, Huo Xiao Di's legs suddenly turned leaden and stiff, refusing to take another step.

He had no choice but to stop.

Gritting his teeth, he supported Zhan Ri Fei and dashed into the granary.

The tall granary stood old and disorderly, seemingly abandoned for years without use. Even its door had split open with wide cracks.

Once inside, Zhan Ri Fei—leaning against Huo Xiao Di—could hold on no longer and collapsed softly to the ground. The wound on his back, likely aggravated by Grandma Han Shui's palm strike and the journey's jolts, bled incessantly.

Huo Xiao Di's own right leg had gone numb from the Han Shui Palm and their frantic run. But now, he paid it no mind.

Tearing a strip from his yellow robe, he frantically applied pressure points to stop the bleeding and bandaged the wound.

Zhan Ri Fei had no strength left.

Struggling, he said, "Leave me. Go quickly."

But Huo Xiao Di acted as if he hadn't heard.

His lips pressed tight, his face anxious and grave, his hands soon stained with Zhan Ri Fei's blood.

As he bent to tighten the bandage, a soft "thud" sounded—the scroll of painting fell from his embrace, rolling to a corner of the granary and unfurling.

Huo Xiao Di's expression changed: That was his painting, something he absolutely couldn't let Zhan Ri Fei see!

—If it was his painting, and he had been by Zhan Ri Fei's side all along, with Zhan Ri Fei already having seen him, why didn't he want Zhan Ri Fei to see this painting?

Stealing a glance at Zhan Ri Fei, he saw his eyes barely open, breathing labored, seemingly unaware of the fallen painting. Relieved, Huo Xiao Di darted to the corner, reaching to retrieve it.

The scroll on the ground had half-unrolled.

The white paper, having fallen into muddy water, was now stained and soaked through.

Huo Xiao Di snatched up the painting, about to roll it back up. But his gaze froze!

—The painting wasn't what he had always believed, his own artwork.

—The painting depicted Zhan Ri Fei's face!

(3)

Zhan Ri Fei, collapsed in the granary corner, coughed again.

Huo Xiao Di hurriedly hid the painting behind his back.

Yet before Zhan Ri Fei, it felt as if he could conceal nothing. Zhan Ri Fei's eyes watched him, their gaze seeming to see right through everything.Huo Xiao Di finally slowly withdrew his hand from behind his back. In his hand, he tightly clutched the rolled-up painting.

Though the painting was rolled into a scroll, Zhan Ri Fei seemed to have long known the secret within it.

Glancing faintly at Huo Xiao Di, he said softly, "Was it drawn very accurately?"

Huo Xiao Di still hadn't recovered from his shock. He murmured, "So it turns out they weren't looking for me after all."

His emotions, however, grew agitated.

—"So that phrase the soldiers shouted when we crossed paths today was referring to you, not me."

—"So the imperial fugitive the Xiangyang Royal Mansion is hunting is you! Blocking the relay stations, cutting off the roads out of the city, halting all horse markets—it's all because of you!"

He stared at him and said, word by word, "Just who are you?"

This was a question he had asked several times.

It was also a question he had never had the chance to answer before.

This time, would he answer him?

Zhan Ri Fei said calmly, "Who I am is no longer important now. It seems if we continue to the capital together, I will only drag you down. The pursuers will arrive soon—you should leave quickly."

—Only, though his voice was calm, it could no longer conceal his exhaustion and weakness.

Huo Xiao Di rasped, "You want me to go alone?"

Zhan Ri Fei said, "Without me, they won't catch up to you."

Huo Xiao Di said, "Why should I leave? I—I refuse to go. I'll wait right here, and we'll fight them to the death!"

The corners of Zhan Ri Fei's mouth were already stained with blood, his chapped lips utterly devoid of color. He gave a weak smile and said, "You're talking nonsense again. When did I say we should wait here and fight them? Besides, if anything were to happen to you, I'm afraid someone in the Eastern Capital would truly be heartbroken."

He sighed and continued, "I only meant that if we split up, we'll move faster."

Huo Xiao Di looked at him as if he hadn't heard his words.

—Right now, he could barely even stand—how could he possibly travel?

Zhan Ri Fei seemed to sense his doubt and said with a faint smile, "You have your peerless lightness skill, and I have my own methods. But if you reach the Eastern Capital before I do, could I ask you for a favor?"

Huo Xiao Di, however, was only half-convinced and hesitated before saying, "Go on."

Zhan Ri Fei said, "Please take something to the capital for me."

Huo Xiao Di said, "That's the favor you want me to do?"

Zhan Ri Fei said, "Yes."

He sighed softly and added, "Though this matter is important, I shouldn't have involved you. But given the circumstances, I have no choice but to ask for your help."

His smile had grown very faint: "At least the favors I owe you are already too many to count."

For some reason, Huo Xiao Di's large eyes were already shimmering with unshed tears. Something seemed to be stuck in his throat, and he couldn't speak.

Zhan Ri Fei said, "Who would have thought someone from the renowned Exquisite Mountain Villa would act like a little girl, crying at the drop of a hat?"

Huo Xiao Di hesitated and said, "Brother Zhan, I—I—I've actually been deceiving you all along. My name isn't really Huo Xiao Di. Actually, I am—"Zhan Ri Fei gazed at him and slowly interrupted, "Brother Huo, you haven't been deceiving me. Didn't you tell me from the very beginning that Huo Xiao Di wasn't your real name? Whether it's your true name or not hardly matters. All I know is that I've entrusted my faith to the wrong person—that's enough."

Tears finally streamed down Huo Xiao Di's cheeks as he choked back sobs. "You must have guessed long ago—"

Zhan Ri Fei smiled faintly. "I only know that I befriended a young, chivalrous hero from Exquisite Mountain Villa. Since Brother Huo prefers the name Huo Xiao Di, I'll naturally still call you Xiao Di."

Huo Xiao Di looked over, his vision already blurred. Tears had long since welled up and dripped onto his clothes.

"Brother Zhan, whatever you ask, Xiao Di will surely accomplish it for you!"

Zhan Ri Fei reached into his robe, retrieved a piece of yellow silk, and placed it in Huo Xiao Di's hand.

"Then I must trouble Brother Huo to deliver this to the Southern Pure Palace in Bianliang, the Eastern Capital. You must hand it personally to the Eighth Prince."

The yellow silk was densely covered with countless names, soaked through with blood that had turned a dark, blackish red.

His blood.

Huo Xiao Di felt that this light piece of yellow silk had suddenly become indescribably heavy.

—How much blood had he shed for this piece of yellow silk? How many hardships had he endured?

He murmured, "They've been hunting you down all this way, trying to reclaim this very piece of yellow silk?"

Zhan Ri Fei nodded weakly, feeling his strength gradually fading. "Exactly."

As he spoke these words, a sharp pain shot through his chest, and a layer of sweat broke out on his skin.

"Brother Huo, this item concerns whether the people of the Great Song can be spared from the ravages of war. You must deliver it face-to-face to the Eighth Prince. Even Young Prince Zhao cannot be told."

Huo Xiao Di was somewhat surprised to hear this. "Not even him? He's the Eighth Prince's own flesh and blood. Do you not even trust him?"

Zhan Ri Fei shook his head with difficulty. "It's not that I don't trust him. You know Young Prince Zhao's temperament well enough. I don't want him to know because I don't wish for him to recklessly put himself in danger."

At this point, he began coughing violently, seeming unable to catch his breath for a moment.

Huo Xiao Di said anxiously, "It's my fault. I shouldn't have asked you these trivial questions."

Zhan Ri Fei forced a weak smile. "If you didn't ask, you'd probably burst from curiosity. How could a lively person from Exquisite Mountain Villa be stifled by such a small matter?"

Seeing that he still had the heart to joke at this life-and-death moment, Huo Xiao Di couldn't help but smile through his tears. Yet this smile was filled with endless sorrow and bitterness.

But then he suddenly remembered something else.

"If you don't want Little Zhao to know, and if the Eighth Prince doesn't believe me when I see him, what should I do then?"

Zhan Ri Fei took out a token from his robe and placed it in his hand. "Give this token along with the yellow silk to the Eighth Prince. He will understand and believe your words."

The square token had a bright blue background with golden trim, adorned with bright yellow tassels. Carved upon it were four characters in brilliant yellow: "Imperial Attendant."

Huo Xiao Di froze!

Bright yellow was exclusively used by the Son of Heaven. This token was clearly an imperial bestowal, a palace pass.

—Could it be that Zhan Ri Fei was actually connected to the royal family?!Zhan Ri Fei discerned his thoughts and said solemnly, "Brother Huo, who I am is not important. What matters is that this matter concerns whether the people of our Great Song can avoid a calamity and whether lives can be spared from devastation. At this critical juncture of life and death, I hope you can lend me a hand."

Huo Xiao Di looked into his eyes, which for the first time were filled with urgency.

He gritted his teeth.

Although he still did not know who this black-clad youth before him was, he had already made his decision.

"Alright, no matter who you are, I trust you. I will definitely deliver these two items to the Eighth Prince!"

Zhan Ri Fei let out a long sigh. Only now did he feel so weak he had no strength left.

"With Brother Huo's lightness skill, they won't be able to trap you. It's just that from now on, I'll be nothing but a burden to you. I truly—"

This time, it was Huo Xiao Di who interrupted him.

"Brother Zhan, despite being severely injured yourself, you've saved my life multiple times. Have I ever uttered a single word of thanks? Why are you speaking so formally now? Since this matter concerns the people of the Great Song, I will naturally give it my all!"

Zhan Ri Fei's eyes suddenly brightened.

He said slowly, "I truly haven't misjudged you."

(IV)

The old barn fell into silence once again.

The entrustment of life and trust made the two people in the barn—who still hadn't exchanged their real names—unsure of how to break the silence.

This silence felt somewhat unfamiliar.

Huo Xiao Di's left leg was throbbing with piercing pain again. Grandma Han Shui's unavoidable palm strike had left him with an indescribable, lingering pain and endless trouble.

Zhan Ri Fei said, "Brother Huo, the injury on your leg—"

Although Huo Xiao Di's brows were furrowed in pain, he forced himself to maintain a careless expression and said nonchalantly, "With just three hours of rest, it should return to normal. But we don't have three hours to spare right now."

Zhan Ri Fei glanced up at the massive beam across the barn roof and had a sudden inspiration. He pondered and said, "Since we need to split up, and you're injured, we might as well take a gamble."

He looked at Huo Xiao Di, a hint of cunning flashing in his eyes. "Do you still have the strength to leap up to that beam?"

Huo Xiao Di glanced at the beam's height from the ground and said, "Even if it were higher, it wouldn't be a problem for me."

Zhan Ri Fei said, "In that case, why don't you hide on the beam for a while? After you're hidden, I'll leave this place immediately. Even if the pursuers arrive and find the barn empty, they'll naturally chase after me and won't search carefully."

Huo Xiao Di said, "But won't you be drawing all the pursuers away?"

Zhan Ri Fei smiled and said, "Since they're after me, they won't pay much attention to you. Besides, playing hide-and-seek with these people doesn't require exceptional lightness skill."

His voice was filled with determination and confidence, as if he had already devised a perfect plan, making Huo Xiao Di unable to doubt him—after all, he was indeed much more shrewd.

So the words Huo Xiao Di kept to himself hesitated and remained unspoken: "Why don't we both hide up here?"

—Zhan Ri Fei must have his reasons for doing all this.

As Huo Xiao Di thought this, his body relaxed. He executed the A Startling Glance lightness skill and floated up to the beam.

Looking down at Zhan Ri Fei, who still stood there seemingly unhurried, Huo Xiao Di couldn't help but say, "Since we're splitting up, you should leave quickly—"

But his words abruptly cut off.

As if snipped in half by scissors!

—He couldn't finish his sentence because a sudden numbness struck the mute acupoint on his neck, rendering him speechless.Then, a sharp pain struck his back, and his entire body instantly became immobile!

With two soft "tap" sounds, two small pebbles fell back to the ground.

—Who had secretly immobilized him?

Huo Xiao Di's entire body turned cold in an instant.

There had been no one else in this barn to begin with.

He had still ended up ambushing him after all.

—Why had he ambushed him?

—Was he a friend or an enemy after all?

Huo Xiao Di's heart was already filled with sorrow, pain, anger, and humiliation.

—Had he still trusted the wrong person?!

Yet Zhan Ri Fei's voice remained as calm as ever: "Brother Huo, my apologies. Your acupoints will release on their own in three hours."

He was already breathing slightly heavily, as if even a surprise attack had further weakened his severely injured body.

Huo Xiao Di on the beam couldn't move, yet Zhan Ri Fei beneath the beam surprisingly hadn't left either.

Zhan Ri Fei was waiting, as if waiting for someone.

—Why hadn't he left yet? Had he already secured certain victory?

—He hadn't even seen the pursuing enemies, so how could he be confident of victory?

—He clearly said they would head to the capital separately and even gave Huo Xiao Di this yellow silk ribbon, so why was he still waiting here himself?

Zhan Ri Fei had stopped speaking. It seemed speaking had exhausted all his strength.

He leaned against one wall of the barn as if in meditation. Only his intermittent, faint gasps revealed he was still breathing.

Huo Xiao Di suddenly noticed his breathing was peculiar—sometimes long, sometimes short; sometimes sparse, sometimes dense.

Just this breathing suddenly sent a chill through his heart. A thought that had been vaguely tormenting him abruptly surfaced and could no longer be suppressed.

—Could it be that his true energy was truly depleted, and his severe injuries had flared up, leaving him unable to move?

—If so, why had he waited until Huo Xiao Di reached the beam before expending his remaining energy to suddenly strike and immobilize him?

An unknown amount of time passed—both Huo Xiao Di on the beam and the man below felt as if they had waited an entire century.

Huo Xiao Di wondered inwardly: Who exactly was he waiting for?

Finally, faintly, from afar, came the sound of hoofbeats, shaking the very earth.

Amid the hoofbeats were mixed whistles and the sharp whine of signal arrows. Judging by the unique, piercing whistle of those arrows, they clearly belonged to the same group of riders they had encountered earlier.

The pursuers had arrived so quickly!

But which faction were these pursuers from?

—If they were the imperial guards of Xiangyang Royal Mansion, their uniforms should naturally bear the guards' insignia.

—If they weren't the imperial guards of Xiangyang Royal Mansion, how could they have the secret portraits issued by the mansion?

Before long, the hoofbeats had reached outside the barn.

In an instant, the surrounding whistles and sharp arrow cries abruptly ceased. The horses stopped moving, and only the sounds of footsteps and clashing blades grew nearer, yet no human voices were heard.

Those arriving were clearly well-trained soldiers.

Then, all sounds completely stopped.

In the tense silence, Huo Xiao Di heard only the "clomp, clomp, clomp" of leather boots approaching from outside.

The person walked very slowly, each heavy footstep seeming to tread directly on Huo Xiao Di's heart.

Judging by the rhythm and sound of the footsteps, the newcomer should be tall and large. Yet as the footsteps drew closer, the shadow that finally pierced through the worn barn door was short.The sun outside the granary must have risen high by now.

The sound of leather boots stopped abruptly just outside the granary.

Then came silence again.

After a long pause, a voice spoke up: "Guard Zhan, renowned as the Southern Hero, truly lives up to his reputation with extraordinary abilities. The Copper Net Formation's intricate traps failed to hold you; the Prince's thousands of elite cavalry and half the elite forces of Jinshi Hall, with your portrait in hand, pursued you for five days, yet all returned empty-handed!"

His voice was deep, resonant, and pleasant to the ear, yet carried an indescribable authority and pressure.

But when these words reached Huo Xiao Di's ears, it was like a sudden clap of thunder out of nowhere! His heart gave a violent thump.

Though his entire body was immobilized, his face twisted involuntarily in shock, and for a moment, he couldn't even catch his breath.

—So it was him after all!

Who would have thought that this young man in black was none other than the famed Southern Hero, Zhan Zhao, the imperial blade-bearing guard before His Majesty the Emperor!

His heart quickly sank again.

Throughout this journey, his voice and smile, his words and actions, his astonishing talent and wisdom, his peerless martial skills—scene after scene seemed to flash before his eyes.

How could such a person not be him?

—If it wasn't him, then who else could it be!

(5)

Zhan Ri Fei only snorted in response, offering no reply.

The man continued, "Now that Guard Zhan has been afflicted with 'Like Old Friends at First Sight,' without the antidote from the Asura Sect, I'm afraid not even a deity could save you. If Guard Zhan is willing to hand over that item, I will personally take full responsibility with the Prince and present you with the antidote."

Amid the silence, Zhan Zhao spoke slowly, "Since this item has fallen into Zhan Zhao's hands, how could I easily relinquish it? I have long admired Fortress Master Zhong as a hero of his generation, with unparalleled martial prowess. If Fortress Master Zhong wishes to engage in a fight, Zhan Zhao will surely give his all to accompany you."

Fortress Master Zhong laughed heartily, "Though Zhong Xiong has been secluded on Jun Mountain, I have heard daily of Lord Zhan's heroic youth and fame that spans the world. Meeting you today, I never expected you to be so lacking in self-awareness. With your severe injuries and at the end of your strength, even if you wish to display reckless courage, I wonder how many of my moves you can withstand?"

Only then did Huo Xiao Di realize that this Fortress Master Zhong was none other than the renowned Flying Trident Guardian Zhong Xiong under the Prince of Xiangyang. No wonder the soldiers they encountered in the canyon resembled neither the Song Dynasty's official troops nor the Xiangyang Royal Mansion's imperial guards—they were actually the Iron Blood Guards from Jun Mountain under the Prince of Xiangyang's jurisdiction!

Yet, he still didn't know what exactly Zhan Zhao had taken from the Xiangyang Royal Mansion that would compel them to dispatch Shao Jizu and the forces of Jinshi Hall in relentless pursuit, and now even draw out the Prince's top general!

At this thought, the yellow silk brocade tucked in his bosom suddenly felt as if it were burning hot.

—What secrets did this yellow silk brocade hold?

The moment the word "secret" crossed his mind, a sudden realization struck him: "Five days ago, five days ago... Could he have been in Xiangyang five days ago? Could it be—"

A vague notion inexplicably surfaced. Though he couldn't grasp it fully at the moment, it inexplicably filled him with an indescribable fear.

His train of thought vanished as quickly as it came, immediately interrupted by the dialogue between the two below.

Then they heard Zhan Zhao say, "Why doesn't Fortress Master Zhong try for himself and find out?"Upon hearing these words, Huo Xiao Di's mind conjured that calm and composed face once more, as if he could almost see the faint smile accompanying those words.

His own heart couldn't help but ache—in his current condition, how could he possibly engage in combat again?

At this thought, he silently cursed himself: "He ambushed you, yet you're still worrying about him!"

But why had his own heart become tangled like hemp?

After speaking, Zhan Zhao seemed to close his mouth.

When paths diverge, words reach their end.

At the end of words, only the sword remains!

In the awkward silence, Zhong Xiong spoke without turning his head: "All of you, withdraw and guard outside the granary."

His subordinates responded in unison. This was not only due to the strict military discipline of Junshan and Zhong Xiong's effective command, but also because they had long been by his side through life-and-death situations, well aware of the power of his steel fork. No matter how large this granary might be, once his Flying Sky Fork was unleashed, neither man nor object would likely escape being shattered to pieces.

The sound of footsteps gradually faded away, and the spacious granary returned to tranquility.

Surprisingly, Zhong Xiong did not strike immediately. He actually sighed: "I, Zhong Xiong, pride myself as a hero and have long yearned for this day to cross blades with Guardian Zhan. But now that Guardian Zhan is severely injured, even if I were to win, it would be an unfair victory."

Zhan Zhao replied: "Chief Zhong need not be so modest."

Zhong Xiong continued: "However, I have received great kindness from the Prince with no way to repay it. My personal reputation pales in comparison to the Prince's recognition! Therefore, our battle today is not a martial contest, but rather my fulfillment of the Prince's strict order to retrieve what Guardian Zhan took from Chongxiao Tower. Regardless of the outcome, only the two of us will know the result."

Zhan Zhao said calmly: "Chief Zhong's heartfelt words resonate deeply with me."

Zhong Xiong declared: "In that case, I must offend!"

As these words fell, his Flying Sky Fork was already in motion!

This steel Flying Fork weighed at least seventy or eighty pounds, yet in Zhong Xiong's hands, it became light as a goose feather, soft as spring breeze, producing not the slightest whisper of wind. The moves were executed with such ethereal grace and cunning precision, like a Jiangnan weaver embroidering the finest brocade, yet each stance concealed endless, subtly shifting lethal techniques.

An immense pressure gradually filled the granary with every movement, much like the weaver casually weaving an invisible net while crafting the brocade.

Huo Xiao Di's heart sank.

Only then did he realize that Zhong Xiong, nicknamed Flying Fork Guardian, was actually such a deeply concealed master. While external rumors praised his military strategies as first-rate, it appeared his martial skills might far surpass his tactical prowess!

But why couldn't he hear Zhan Zhao moving?

The only sound he could detect was the sudden "shriek" of Zhan Zhao's sword cutting through the boundless net, the tearing wind revealing the fierce sharpness of this technique.

—Given his current condition, how could he possibly execute such swift and fierce moves?

Stranger still, within that "shriek" seemed to linger faint traces of his labored breathing.Huo Xiao Di, possessing the supreme cultivation of "A Night's Flower Language in the Small Tower" from Exquisite Mountain Villa, could detect even the faintest sounds around him despite being completely immobilized. Suddenly, he sensed an extremely weak breath within the gasping sounds.

—He had heard this breathing earlier—sometimes long, sometimes short, sometimes sparse, sometimes dense. Could it be that Zhan Zhao’s inner energy had become disordered?

—If his inner energy was in disarray, how could he possibly withstand the endless power of Zhong Xiong’s flying trident?

Huo Xiao Di couldn’t help but feel frantic with anxiety!

If he weren’t completely immobilized, unable to move or speak, he would have long since drawn his sword and joined the fray.

But as this thought crossed his mind, a flash of insight struck him like a flood, rapidly filling his entire consciousness. The sheer horror of this idea struck him as if he had been hit by lightning. For a moment, it felt as though countless voices echoed in his heart, roaring deafeningly over and over again.

—“He sealed my acupoints, rendering me immobile, and sealed my mute acupoint so I couldn’t speak. Did he anticipate that if he hadn’t restrained me, I would have been unable to resist joining the fight?”

—“Could it be that he did this for my sake?!”

The moment this thought occurred to him, his mind grew dizzy and unsettled, his thoughts in turmoil, rising and falling chaotically. So absorbed was he that he failed to notice for a long time that the battle beneath the beam had changed—Zhong Xiong’s moves had shifted!

Suddenly, the sound of wind erupted as Zhong Xiong’s techniques became swift, fierce, powerful, and overwhelming.

The howling wind instantly filled the entire granary.

—Was this the true face of the Flying Sky Trident?

The sharp metallic whistling of the steel trident and the clashing sounds of trident and sword colliding shook the granary, making it seem as if it might collapse at any moment.

Under this storm-like pressure and the relentless onslaught of techniques, Zhan Zhao resembled a small boat tossed in turbulent waves—unsteady and fragile.

How could Zhan Zhao, who moments ago could barely stand, possibly endure this?

Only then did Huo Xiao Di jolt to awareness!

Immobilized and unable to lift his head, he couldn’t see the movements of the two combatants, yet beads of sweat had already densely formed on his forehead.

Out of the corner of his eye, he suddenly caught sight of two shadows cast on the wall. It turned out that as the two beneath the beam fought, their steps had momentarily shifted toward the granary entrance, and the sunlight streaming in projected their shadows onto the opposite wall.

Huo Xiao Di was stunned: Zhan Zhao’s figure moved with the speed of a shooting star or a flash of lightning, not at all like someone severely injured!

—How was this possible?

Just as he tried to observe more closely, the shadows on the wall vanished abruptly as the two shifted positions.

Gradually, the wind sounds slowed, and Zhong Xiong’s panting grew heavier and more labored.

Yet Huo Xiao Di couldn’t hear any sound from Zhan Zhao.

However, as long as the wind hadn’t ceased, it meant Zhan Zhao was still holding on.

After a while longer, the wind finally died down. Once again, the shadows of the two appeared on the wall.

—Motionless shadows.

After a long silence, Zhong Xiong’s voice rang out once more: “Admirable, truly admirable! The Southern Hero’s reputation is well-deserved. I never expected you to withstand so many of my moves. If you hadn’t been gravely injured beforehand, I would be no match for you. But if you continue fighting, your injuries and poison will aggravate each other, and I’ll be unable to fulfill the prince’s instructions.”Only Zhan Zhao’s calm voice was heard saying, “How dare I? The Prince of Xiangyang surely wishes to capture Zhan Zhao alive. For Your Highness to hold me in such high regard—I, a mere fourth-rank imperial guard, am truly unworthy of such honor.”

Zhong Xiong suddenly laughed heartily. “Who in the martial world doesn’t know that although Great Hero Zhan holds only a fourth-rank official position, you enjoy the emperor’s deep favor? Whether in the Southern Pure Palace or Kaifeng Prefecture, you are regarded as a right-hand man. Yet here you are, fighting so exhaustively—could it be that you are stalling for time to aid your escaped friend?”

Zhan Zhao smiled. “Officer Zhong is astute and perceptive, naturally seeing through everything.”

—At such a critical moment, he could still smile!

Huo Xiao Di’s heart finally thumped. He had felt that something was off about Zhan Zhao ever since Zhong Xiong arrived.

With that smile, his thoughts suddenly became clear:

—Why did Zhan Zhao’s voice gradually regain its usual coherence?

He strained to look at the blurry figure against the wall and saw Zhan Zhao seemingly leaning against it. Zhong Xiong’s long trident appeared to be aimed directly at his chest, while Zhan Zhao’s long sword pointed toward Zhong Xiong’s abdomen. Yet, judging by their conversation, it was clear that Zhong Xiong had gained the upper hand.

Zhong Xiong’s trident remained poised without striking, his voice now chillingly cold. “But since you are now under my control, escaping is as difficult as climbing to the heavens. Why not trouble yourself to accompany me back to Xiangyang? As for your friend, to be frank, this matter is of great importance. Even if he flees to the ends of the earth, he will never escape the grasp of the Prince of Xiangyang.”

Though restrained beneath the beam, Zhan Zhao raised his eyebrows slightly, a faint smile appearing on his pale lips. “However, since Chief Zhong is a hero of his generation, you must know that the ways of the world are unpredictable, and the will of heaven is ever-changing—”

His words abruptly cut off.

He did not finish, for it seemed as though a faint breeze stirred within the granary.

—Was it the wind that moved, or the human heart?

How long does a heart’s stirring last?

Is it a speck of dust in the desert of time and space? A grain of sand in the eternal Ganges?

Or is it the transformation of oceans into mulberry fields in an instant, the fading of youthful beauty in the blink of an eye, the distance of the horizon within a mere step?

Had time frozen?

For when time began to flow again, everything had changed!

Zhan Zhao’s long sword was now at Zhong Xiong’s throat!

He was already behind Zhong Xiong!

Zhong Xiong’s Flying Sky steel trident had flown out of the granary!

At the same time, Huo Xiao Di caught a glimpse of an icy sword flash streaking through the granary.

No one could describe the speed of this sword, nor could anyone capture its marvel. Its speed was like the sunlight outside—the moment the door opened, the light had already reached every corner of the granary.

The marvel of this sword was like a masterpiece crafted by the heavens since time immemorial, untouched by any worldly influence.

The beauty of this sword was akin to the blazing flames of a phoenix’s rebirth or the triumphant song of a thornbird’s revival.

The shock in Huo Xiao Di’s heart left him breathless. He could hardly believe his eyes.

—What a move, Blood Twin Flight, Crane Soaring Sky!

In an instant, everything became as clear and transparent as crystal.

Zhan Zhao’s strange breathing earlier, that unusual rhythm, the sharp, resonant hum of his sword when he first engaged Zhong Xiong—

—So it was Crane Soaring Sky!

(6)

Both Zhong Xiong inside the granary and Huo Xiao Di on the beam were momentarily stunned by this sudden, dramatic turn of events.Zhong Xiong's spine suddenly trembled, as if gathering momentum to strike, but the chilling aura from Zhan Zhao's Zhanlu sword had already seeped into his pores like embedded nails. The slightest movement would surely send the long blade piercing through his throat. Then his body went limp, all strength draining from his limbs.

In that lightning-fast moment, the restrained had become the restrainer, while the former restrainer now found himself restrained!

Zhong Xiong suddenly threw his head back and laughed heartily. "What a brilliant move—Soaring Crane! To witness such a peerless martial technique in this lifetime, I have no regrets! If Guard Zhan wishes to take my life, why hesitate any longer?"

Zhan Zhao remained perfectly composed, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Chief Zhong, as the right-hand man of the Prince of Xiangyang, you truly live up to the saying 'unshaken even with mountains collapsing before you.' I admire your courage! Yet I only managed to subdue you by catching you off guard—how could I possibly resort to ruthless measures against you now?"

Zhong Xiong demanded, "Then what do you intend to do?"

Zhan Zhao replied candidly, "To be frank, beyond the next small town lies West Bridge Crossing, where the river is at its narrowest. Once we cross that river, we will leave the jurisdiction of the Xiangyang Royal Mansion and enter territory directly governed by the Great Song court. Even more fortuitously, not far from the ferry on the opposite shore is an imperial courier station for urgent dispatches. With fresh horses from there, one could reach the capital within two days."

Huo Xiao Di’s heart stirred upon hearing this, sensing that Zhan Zhao’s words seemed to carry a hidden message meant for him.

Zhong Xiong’s face had turned ashen. "Are you implying you intend to take me hostage, Guard Zhan?"

Zhan Zhao stated calmly, "I merely request that Chief Zhong accompany me to the ferry."

Zhong Xiong retorted coldly, "And if I refuse? You should know that I, Zhong Xiong, have never yielded to threats in my life! Even if you kill me, do you truly believe you can escape the siege by the masters of Jinshi Hall?"

Zhan Zhao countered, "Why speak so rashly, Chief Zhong? If you insist on a momentary act of defiance, emulating the foolhardy courage of 'shedding blood within five steps,' would that truly repay the Prince of Xiangyang’s recognition and trust? You are a hero of your time, yet your ambitions remain unfulfilled, your great cause unfinished. Would you truly rest content if you were to die here and now?"

Zhong Xiong fell silent.

Zhan Zhao’s words pierced his heart like a sharp sword.

—Was it because, from the very beginning, those eyes had seen through his heart and ambitions?

A deathly stillness fell over the granary.

After a long pause, Zhong Xiong slowly said, "Very well. I agree."

He turned and called out toward the granary entrance, "Attendants, prepare the horses!"

When he turned back, his gaze toward Zhan Zhao held a strange intensity. Though his voice remained low and mellifluous, Huo Xiao Di felt an inexplicable chill listening to it.

—"I cannot die. If I die, how would I witness how long your Soaring Crane can endure?"

Zhan Zhao’s sword had already been sheathed.

Yet his eyes remained unfathomably calm and steady.

—"Had Chief Zhong arrived half an hour earlier, I would not have had time to execute Soaring Crane. As for how long it can last... I fear the outcome may disappoint you in the end."

With that, he and Zhong Xiong strode leisurely out of the granary.

—Stepping outside, the brilliant sunlight was momentarily blinding.

After days of overcast rain, the sudden emergence of the sun was invigorating.

Yet the gloom on the faces of over a dozen Iron Blood Guards outside the granary could not be dispelled, no matter how fiercely the sun shone.

Zhan Zhao’s voice continued, "Since Chief Zhong recognizes the power of Soaring Crane, you may inform your subordinates not to act recklessly along the way. A single misstep could spoil your enjoyment of the spectacle."Though Zhong Xiong was ever alert and resourceful, with his entire body restrained, he could not immediately devise an escape. His subordinates had always regarded him as a god; seeing their commander subdued, though each was eager to act, they feared harming him in the process.

For a moment, outside the granary, silence fell as deep as a tomb, heavy and oppressive.

Zhan Zhao smiled faintly. "It is my honor to have crossed paths with Fortress Master Zhong. I only hope to find time in the future to learn more of your martial skills."

He glanced toward the horizon and added slowly, "This place is not far from West Bridge Ferry after all. Fortress Master Zhong’s escort will not last long."

(7)

The rushing river churned with dazzling, scale-like glimmers under the sunlight, reflecting the fluttering banners at the ferry, the sparse dozen or so figures gathered there, and the glinting blades and spears in the hands of the Xiangyang Royal Mansion’s imperial guards.

Under the sun, at the ferry’s edge, there were faces of all kinds—young and old, male and female.

Young children cried and clung to their mothers’ embrace, while elderly men and women sat or lay about, the sunlight deepening the wrinkles on their faces.

The only thing they shared was the indescribable fear, exhaustion, and weariness etched upon their expressions.

They had never seen soldiers so fierce and menacing.

They had been forced to leave their homes. Their homes lay in the farming village just ahead.

The arrogant soldiers of the Prince of Xiangyang had driven these generations of townsfolk from their small town to this ferry landing outside.

They had no choice but to abandon their homes.

Under such brute force, they were powerless to resist and utterly helpless.

They were too kind-hearted and too weak.

—Is it always the case that kind people are weak?

To this day, they did not know why these soldiers had driven them from their homes to this place.

The leader of these fierce soldiers was actually a Taoist priest in blue robes.

This priest seemed perpetually silent, yet even standing in the warm sunlight, he sent chills down one’s spine.

The wind tousled his long beard, making it flutter in the sun. His eyes narrowed as he stared fixedly toward the end of the road.

Yan Ziqing stood silently by his side, hands at his sides.

—They were waiting for someone.

—They would not have to wait long.

Everyone at the ferry guessed that something shocking was about to happen, and they all knew it would not be anything pleasant.

Suddenly, amid the children’s hoarse cries, two horses galloped into view from afar. Behind them, more than a dozen riders followed at a distance—these were Junshan’s Iron Blood Guards.

At the sight of the two horses, the priest’s face instantly contorted with a terrifying murderous intent. The soldiers around him tensed, their gleaming blades and swords clinking, instantly drowning out the murmurs of the crowd and the infants’ cries.

Now, everyone knew the person the Xiangyang Royal Mansion’s troops had been waiting for had arrived.

The two horses slowed as they approached the seated and standing crowd, allowing the townspeople to see clearly just who had come.Slightly ahead, one was a tall, imposing, and majestic middle-aged man. His demeanor on horseback resembled that of a general charging into battle, leading the entire army.

The other was a young man dressed in black, with a pale yet handsome face, an ancient sword, and eyes like stars in the dark night, seemingly capable of seeing through everything.

At this moment, those eyes were fixed on the Taoist in blue robes.

The blue-robed Taoist finally spoke.

"If I were you, I wouldn’t take another step forward."

Zhan Zhao’s grip on his sword tightened. His voice was unexpectedly hoarse: "I never imagined you would plant poison on them!"

Mo Dao said leisurely, "How could the poison of the Asura Sect be wasted on these ignorant elderly, weak, women, and children? It’s just that these people already know that three zhang ahead of them lies the Eye Enchantment I set up. If they try to flee forward and step on it, their bodies will rot and they will die. Behind them lies the endless river. Unless one is strong and robust, once they fall into the water, they will never resurface alive."

His eyes glared fiercely at Zhan Zhao, a triumphant sneer already in his gaze.

"And you, to cross this ferry, must pass through this Eye Enchantment array. No matter how exceptional your lightness skill, once you approach the poison array of the Eye Enchantment, the 'Like Old Friends at First Sight' on your body will react with the poison spread all around. At that time, it will be you who kills these villagers!"

Among the crowd, frightened sobs had already begun.

Zhan Zhao’s expression changed.

—But if he didn’t advance, what then?

A trace of sorrow and pity seemed to flicker in Zhong Xiong’s eyes, but it quickly turned toward the distance.

Zhan Zhao’s eyes had become as sharp as blades. He slowly said, "What exactly do you want?"

Mo Dao no longer answered him.

It was Yan Zi Qing who replied: "Guard Zhan, your words are rather disingenuous. You ascended Chongxiao Tower at night, took the prince’s Alliance Token, and now you’re coercing Zhong Xiong, the Stronghold Leader of Junshan. Did you really think you could escape so easily?"

He looked into Zhan Zhao’s eyes but felt only disappointment. Zhan Zhao’s eyes showed no change at all.

—Could it be that every word Yan Zi Qing said was already within his expectations?

Yan Zi Qing continued, "Taoist Mo calculated that Guard Zhan would definitely take the West Bridge crossing, so he led the imperial guards of Xiangyang Royal Mansion to guard this place early on. Guard Zhan, known as the Southern Hero, would naturally be unwilling to let these innocent elderly and young get involved, let alone allow them to die here because of your escape."

A faint sneer appeared on Mo Dao’s face, while a layer of deep thought clouded Zhong Xiong’s eyes.

Just as Yan Zi Qing was about to continue speaking with flying spittle, a slight smile curled at the corner of Zhan Zhao’s lips.

—His enemy had already seized his fatal weakness. How could he still manage to smile?

Yan Zi Qing was left speechless.

But Zhan Zhao continued his words softly, saying, "Dying might not be so easy."He spun around like lightning, and with a single reach, the banner planted by the ferry was uprooted and leaped into his left hand! The long banner fluttered and unfurled, then suddenly coiled, piercing through the Enchanting Eyes Array and thrusting into the circle. Like a gust of wind, it swept up a young child and lifted them straight out of the encirclement! The child was frozen in terror, only bursting into loud sobs after landing safely on the ground.

Mo Dao’s sinister grin abruptly froze on his face.

—He had been far too overconfident.

Zhan Zhao had actually used such an unconventional method to rescue someone trapped within the Enchanting Eyes Array!

With a hearty laugh, the black-clad opponent declared, “Thank you for telling me that the Asura Sect’s poison wasn’t administered to their own people! As long as I don’t approach the circle, I won’t trigger the Enchanting Eyes, right? But there are plenty of ways to rescue those trapped in the array without ever stepping into its toxic confines!”

Mo Dao’s body shot upward, and even as he soared through the air, he viciously spat out a threat.

—“Let’s see just how many you can save!”

A faint wisp of smoke shot toward the people within the circle.

—But how could Zhan Zhao allow him to strike first again?

While still mid-air, a calm yet piercing voice echoed in his ears, striking straight to his core.

—“Don’t you think it’s a bit too late for regrets now?”

As the words rang out, Zhan Zhao’s figure moved like a ghost, shifting almost imperceptibly. In the blink of an eye, another banner was in his right hand!

Before the Asura Sect’s smoke could disperse, the wind howled and the banner fluttered, sweeping toward Mo Dao with a powerful gust. Driven by Zhan Zhao’s inner energy, the wisp of smoke reversed course, swirling back toward Mo Dao’s face!

Mo Dao had never anticipated such formidable strength. In a frantic dodge, he leaped backward. A series of sizzling sounds followed as the banner was consumed by the toxic fumes.

In that split second, Zhan Zhao flicked his right wrist, coiling the banner tightly like a rod. The poison smoke, with no time to billow, was instantly enveloped and vanished within the fabric.

Simultaneously, with a movement of his left hand, another banner coiled and propelled a young woman, sending her soaring out of the Enchanting Eyes Array.

Mo Dao’s face turned ashen. He gritted his teeth so hard they audibly creaked.

—“So you’ve mastered Crane Soaring Sky! I truly underestimated you!”

He spoke slowly, but with intense force, for the situation had now become crystal clear.

“No wonder you could withstand the Cold Water Palace’s most powerful ‘Thousand Jun Dragon-Slaying Strike’ even while severely injured!”

Zhong Xiong, standing nearby, remarked coldly, “The Ding Family’s peerless martial arts from Songjiang Prefecture were naturally passed down to their future son-in-law. I just never expected his ‘Blood Twin Flight, Crane Soaring Sky’ had reached such a level!”

Mo Dao snorted coldly and uttered a strange remark—one that echoed Zhong Xiong’s words in the granary exactly.

—“Let’s see how long your Crane Soaring Sky can hold out!”

Before the words faded, over a dozen dark figures lunged fiercely at Zhan Zhao.

These figures actually comprised three groups.

Three groups, from three directions.

A dozen or so imperial guards from the Xiangyang Royal Mansion split into two teams: one charging straight toward the child and young woman who had escaped the Enchanting Eyes Array, the other rushing directly at Zhan Zhao.

The third group was Yan Zi Qing.The assassin with exceptional lightness skill charged straight toward the banners planted by the river. With a flick of his hand, dozens of throwing knives shot toward the flagpoles like lightning.

His meticulous planning indeed proved him worthy of being ranked among the experts of Xiangyang Royal Mansion's Jinshi Hall. In that very moment, he instantly determined that to stop Zhan Zhao from breaking the Eye Charm technique, he must eliminate these banners that granted him such formidable advantage!

This was the true objective of the three groups!

How could the imperial guards of Xiangyang possibly hinder Zhan Zhao? What they sought was merely that split second of delay!

Only if Zhan Zhao were slowed for that brief moment would all the banners cease to be his weapons forever!

A satisfied expression already appeared in Mo Dao's eyes.

—By the time Zhan Zhao discovered their purpose, everything would be too late.

Yet this triumphant expression suddenly froze.

—The seven or eight imperial guards charging toward Zhan Zhao abruptly noticed what seemed like a flash of sharp light in the dark, star-like eyes of this black-clad youth! Then they heard a "crack" — the sound of something shattering.

—No, not just one sound, but over a dozen simultaneous cracks that merged into what seemed like a single noise.

What could possibly produce such a strange sound?

Zhan Zhao's right hand seemed to make a beckoning gesture.

The flagpole in his right hand had vanished!

Just as Yan Ziqing released his throwing knives, he witnessed something unbelievable.

Under the shimmering reflections on the river's surface, before the riverside banners, suddenly appeared over a dozen wooden rods of varying lengths. Though launched later, they arrived first—like deeply devoted lovers silently entwining with his lightning-fast throwing knives.

With a soft "thud," the dozen-plus throwing knives embedded themselves into these mysteriously appearing wooden rods. As if suddenly stripped of their lethal force by some demon-dispelling spell, the knives' momentum instantly vanished without a trace. The knives and rods fell to the ground simultaneously, with a coordination more precise than any pre-rehearsed performance.

At the same moment, Yan Ziqing felt a sudden tightness in his chest.

Looking down, he discovered a wooden rod protruding from his chest—the pain arriving faster than death itself.

Yan Ziqing's eyes bulged.

Only then did he hear the whistling wind brought by the wooden rod.

—Zhan Zhao's strike had actually been faster than the sound of the wind!

Then he collapsed.

Until his death, he never saw what had killed him. Until his death, he never understood how Zhan Zhao—standing several zhang away—could launch these dozens of wooden rods from behind him to intercept his never-failing throwing knives.

The one thing he failed to see was that before the sound of wind, there seemed to be a sword gleam rising behind him.

That sword light was actually ice-colored.

Only then came Zhan Zhao's calm voice.

"My Crane Soaring to the Sky will not disappoint you, Daoist."

The banner in his left hand now moved as fiercely as a spear, instantly blocking the imperial guards attacking the child and young woman who had just been freed from the Eye Charm. In his right hand was no longer the flagpole, but a sword as cold as autumn waters.

—The "Zhanlu" from his back was already in his hand!

(8)

These sudden, successive changes had left people dazzled, yet they occurred with lightning speed.Zhong Xiong stood quietly to the side, his face no longer able to maintain composure. Zhan Zhao's agility and martial prowess were not what shocked him the most. What astonished Zhong Xiong was how this young man in black could instantly discern his opponent's true intent and execute the most effective countermove in that split second!

Contemplation had already filled Zhong Xiong's eyes.

Then he heard Mo Dao's sinister laughter. For the first time, this taciturn elder of the Asura Sect's voice was brimming with hatred.

—"No one has ever escaped unscathed from my hands."

Before his words faded, a shower of golden specks blotted out the sky like a rain of flowers, shooting toward Zhan Zhao under the sunlight.

These delicate, fragile droplets appeared indescribably desolate, endlessly vivid, and intricately enchanting under the sun—like a rolling wave or a gentle breeze, ensnaring one in bewilderment as if transcending the mortal realm.

—The Asura Sect's Apricot Blossom Rain!

The child and young woman who had just escaped danger behind Zhan Zhao were already involuntarily intoxicated by the beauty of this Apricot Blossom Rain. Entranced, they seemed to even hold their breath.

Who would have known that the Apricot Blossom Rain brings not a spring dream, but a nightmare from which one never awakens?

—Does one desperately wish for the dream to shatter upon touching the Apricot Blossom Rain? Or only upon contact does one realize that shattering the dream is preferable to the torment of this nightmare?

Yet these innocent child and young woman only longed to gaze a little longer. Their dazed eyes, unknowingly immersed in this magnificent apricot blossom dream, couldn't even move their feet.

But this apricot blossom dream would ultimately shatter upon meeting this long sword.

—Sword energy surged, enveloping the rain mist in a dragon-like arc of icy light that instantly soared through the clouds like lightning. Simultaneously, Zhan Zhao's left hand seemed to rise. The banner in his hand, driven by his internal energy, suddenly snapped open with a "zheng," flowing with a sizzling sound as if it had turned into a solid shield.

How long is a blink of an eye?

—The child and young woman, intoxicated in the shower of apricot blossoms, blinked and found the sky filled with brilliant sunlight again. Had the hazy drizzle just been a dream?

Immediately, they noticed a banner shielding them.

The banner was charred and tattered, with faint green smoke still rising from every spot touched by the Apricot Blossom Rain.

The dream had shattered, and the foul stench of the Apricot Blossom Rain now permeated the air.

—If not for this banner that appeared from nowhere, would their bodies have ended up like it?

No sooner had this thought crossed their minds than they bent over, unable to stop themselves from vomiting!

Yet Zhan Zhao's expression abruptly changed.

He suddenly realized he had made a mistake. While he was blocking the Apricot Blossom Rain, Mo Dao had already entered the Enchanting Eyes Formation.

He was filled with hatred.

This silent man's heart swelled with indescribable fury.

—As an elder of the Asura Sect, he had never failed before, yet against this person before him, he had already failed twice.

The first time was at the Copper Net Formation, and the second was here at West Bridge Crossing.

—What he thought was a flawless plan had been disrupted by this man using such an unconventional method to break the Enchanting Eyes Formation!

—He—was—furious!His Apricot Blossom Rain was meant to ensure Zhan Zhao’s left hand, holding the banner, could no longer protect the person trapped within the Eye-Charming Array.

His right hand spread wide, reaching directly for an old man within the formation. Rage and fury had made him forget that his hidden weapon could strike without a trace, even without entering the array!

The old man’s terrified, helpless face loomed larger and larger before him—then, suddenly, he heard a rush of wind.

Something hard and unyielding appeared in Mo Dao’s hand. His Five Venoms Asura Palm had not struck the old man’s shoulder after all!

His vision blurred.

The weathered, wrinkled face of the old man before him suddenly transformed, becoming a face Mo Dao knew all too well.

The frail, elderly man who had originally occupied that position was now violently hurled out of the Charm Formation by the living person bearing this new face.

This figure flying through the air was unmistakably one of the imperial guards who had just been besieging Zhan Zhao!

Mo Dao’s heart sank abruptly.

Only then did he realize that what he held in his hand was a slender flagpole.

Under the force of his Five Venoms Asura Hand, the slender flagpole had shattered into fragments, scattering like shooting stars!

From the spot where the flag had once been attached to this slender pole, faint green smoke still curled upward.

This very flagpole had moments ago been in Zhan Zhao’s hand, shielding the child and young woman who had escaped the Charm Formation from the Southern Dream of Apricot Blossom Rain. How could it now be in his own grasp?

Mo Dao couldn’t comprehend it.

Nor did he have time to ponder.

The imperial guard before him, standing too close, had no chance to evade. The irregular fragments, propelled by the unchecked momentum of his venomous palm, embedded themselves silently into the soldier’s body.

Amid the soldier’s agonized scream, a chilling aura surged forward. The icy edge of a sword seemed to penetrate Mo Dao’s very skin, its fierce killing intent overwhelming and boundless, instantly enveloping his entire being.

A cold shiver raced down his spine.

He leaped back, retreating swiftly, putting several zhang between himself and the threat.

Only then did he realize that this devastating sword technique had forced him out of the Charm Formation’s toxic array once more.

Mo Dao could no longer trust his own eyes.

—How could a long sword reach into the heart of the formation while he was still inside?

He muttered under his breath, “Impossible! This cannot be!”

If Zhan Zhao couldn’t approach the Charm Formation, how could his sword, no matter how long, penetrate its defenses?

The remaining imperial guards retreated in an orderly fashion, forming a tight protective circle around him.

When Mo Dao turned his head, he saw that Zhan Zhao’s right hand now held another flag—the sword at the tip of the pole was wrapped within the furled banner. He had been wielding the sword via the flagpole, staying outside the Charm Formation yet unexpectedly repelling Mo Dao’s assault.

This man’s mental agility, swift adaptability, and unfathomable martial prowess had reached a truly transcendent level!

Zhong Xiong, who had been observing quietly from a distance, finally let out a deep sigh.

A leader-like figure from his Iron Blood Guard quickly approached his side.

“What are your orders, Master?”

Zhong Xiong seemed to be murmuring to himself, yet his words carried a tone of lament. “When the Prince spoke of this matter, I initially doubted it. Even a deity with three heads and six arms would find it nearly impossible to escape Chongxiao Tower. If the Copper Net Formation could kill Bai Yutang, why couldn’t it trap Zhan Zhao? Seeing it today, I realize the Prince’s words were true.”

The Iron Blood Guard leader asked, “What do you mean, Master?”

Zhong Xiong replied, “The strike Mo Zhenren just executed concentrated his entire essence and energy. Since he struck first, it would be exceedingly difficult for anyone to preempt him.”The Iron Blood Guard leader said, "But it seems Zhan Zhao has seized the initiative from him."

Zhong Xiong replied, "That's because he devised a method to make Master Mo slow down on his own."

The Iron Blood Guard leader asked, "What method?"

Zhong Xiong explained, "It was because of Master Mo's earlier grab—he had already concentrated all his inner energy. If Zhan Zhao's left-hand flagpole were passed into his grasp, he would inevitably take it without realizing. The moment he receives it, his inner energy would inevitably slow and disperse. To concentrate it again would require a moment's delay. Only in that brief moment of delay could the imperial guards arrive in time to knock the old man aside."

As he spoke, his voice grew indescribably desolate and lonely.

—"No wonder, despite the Jiangnan Murong clan's peerless mechanisms, the experts of Jinshi Hall surrounding him, and the thousands of imperial guards at Xiangyang Royal Mansion, he still managed to escape Chongxiao Tower. Even the bronze net spiral formation couldn't trap him!"

—"I just never imagined there could be such martial prowess and such intellect in this world!"

The Iron Blood Guard leader behind him couldn't help but grow more anxious. He stepped forward again and said, "Master, at this moment, Zhan Zhao is already fully occupied in his battle with the Jinshi Hall experts. Why doesn't Master take this opportunity to escape? Your subordinates are willing to risk our lives to hold him off and cover your retreat!"

Zhong Xiong glanced at him and gently shook his head. "The reason the Ding Family of Songjiang Prefecture has become the number one martial arts clan is because of their peerless divine technique, 'Soaring Crane.' For a hundred years, no one has been able to break it. The marvel of this technique is beyond what you or I can imagine. Although I am restrained by Zhan Zhao, as long as his Soaring Crane energy remains unwithdrawn, I can never break free from his control."

The Iron Blood Guard leader's brow furrowed deeply. "So, Master, how long must you remain under his restraint?"

Yet Zhong Xiong smiled.

The wind blew, causing his robes to flutter violently. He slowly spoke, word by word: "I won't have to wait long!"

His words were abruptly cut off by Mo Dao's shrill cry.

"Chief Zhong, even if you are restrained by the Soaring Crane technique, how can your subordinates stand idly by? If you ruin the prince's plans and let this Zhan escape, I'd like to see how you'll explain yourself to the prince!"

Though this proud and arrogant Taoist was unwilling to humble himself, he finally couldn't resist calling for help.

Hearing this, the Iron Blood Guard leader was already filled with anger. He glanced at Zhong Xiong but didn't dare outburst in his master's presence, forcibly swallowing the words that had reached his lips.

The Iron Blood Guards behind him, however, had already tightened their grips on their swords and blades. In that instant, the weapons seemed to emit clashing sounds.

—How could they not be furious? This elder of the Asura Sect clearly didn't understand proper conduct. The Iron Blood Guards had followed Zhong Xiong for years, battle-hardened warriors all. How could they tolerate this ugly, eccentric Taoist shouting orders at their deeply respected master?

Zhong Xiong stood there as if he hadn't heard his words at all.Bathed in sunlight, his face wore an expression of perfect composure, as if the one restrained by Zhan Zhao wasn’t him at all. His deep, melodious voice rang out: “Ironblood Guards of Junshan, hear my command: The forces of Junshan have always served as the vanguard under His Highness’s command. Among Junshan’s decrees, there is one that states: ‘Those who kill innocents indiscriminately shall die.’ This is for the sake of His Highness’s grand cause. Moreover, without His Highness’s golden token, not even the royal guards or Commander Shao of Jinshi Hall have the authority to command the men of Junshan. Naturally, the Ironblood Guards of Junshan are also forbidden from interfering with the actions of the royal guards of His Highness’s mansion!”

Behind him, the Ironblood Guards roared in unison like thunder, “Aye!” For a moment, even the rushing river and the cries of the elderly and children were drowned out.

Mo Dao’s face hardened like stone. His eyes seemed to burn with fire.

After a long silence, he finally spoke. He spoke slowly, for every word he uttered had to be accountable to himself and clear in his own mind.

—“So, the stronghold leader is determined to stand by and watch the skills of Jinshi Hall?”

Zhong Xiong, however, seemed not to notice the usually taciturn Taoist, whose beard now bristled with anger. His gaze was fixed on the turbulent river in the distance, and his voice carried a hint of disdain and contempt. He did not directly answer Mo Dao’s question, yet it seemed as if he was continuing his unfinished words, slowly adding, “Moreover, I am already restrained by Zhan Zhao’s ‘Crane Soaring to the Sky.’ Since you are forced to comply under his coercion, I will take full responsibility before His Highness.”

Behind him, the Ironblood Guards once again shouted loudly, “Aye!”

Amidst the glint of blades and shadows of swords, Zhan Zhao’s gaze grew peculiar. For an instant, their eyes seemed to meet, only to quickly avert.

—Why would this opponent, who had just been locked in a life-and-death struggle, so blatantly give up the chance to attack from both sides?

—Was he truly wary of Zhan Zhao’s “Crane Soaring to the Sky”?

—If he were to force his hand, would Zhan Zhao truly strike him down?

—In that fleeting exchange of glances, was there a mutual understanding and admiration between heroes?

How many in this world can truly fathom the human heart?

(9)

Three people had already escaped the danger. Their nerves still on edge, they heard Zhan Zhao’s voice again. His tone carried a trace of urgency: “Why are you still here? Leave now!”

By the time he uttered the last word, his voice had already fallen behind his figure!

He had reached Mo Dao in an instant. With a swift motion of his hands, the long sword, previously entangled in the banner, was freed!

As he leaped into the air, the flow of his sword gleamed like a flying rainbow and lightning, its transformations myriad and instantaneous, leaving no room for hesitation. With his right hand, his sword moved with exquisite skill, tightly entangling Mo Dao and the royal guards of Xiangyang Royal Mansion. Meanwhile, with his left hand, he wielded the long banner, repeatedly probing into the formation of the seductresses!

Zhong Xiong’s eyes reflected the crisscrossing sword energy, revealing a flicker of excitement.

Amid the flurry of moving figures, another elderly woman was flung outside the seductresses’ formation. Though she landed with a heavy thud, she remained unharmed.

Only then did Zhong Xiong realize that the child, the young woman, and the old man beside him had not moved an inch to leave.The child and the young woman had just caught their breath when they exchanged a glance and shook their heads. Perhaps in their hearts, they truly wished to lean on each other and flee this dangerous place immediately. Yet their eyes remained fixed on the old man lying on the ground.

The old man must have been badly injured, for he struggled but failed to get up.

They were simply too weak, unable to lift the injured elder.

They could only wait!

Wait for the moment the old man could rise.

Zhong Xiong looked at the ragged child and sighed softly.

"If I were you, I would leave this place at once."

The child gazed at him timidly, unable to discern whether this person was friend or foe.

His smile was kind, his demeanor imposing, and though his voice was low, it was pleasant.

That was enough to disarm a child's wariness.

The child whispered, "I can't leave."

Zhong Xiong asked, "Why can't you leave?"

The child replied, "Because my mother and sister haven't come out yet. And Grandpa has fallen here. Our families have lived in this town for generations—we must stay together."

There was a hint of boldness in his words. This little child, weathered by the turmoil of life, seemed to have grown up.

Zhong Xiong said, "Aren't you afraid that your mother and sister might never come out?"

The child insisted, "They will come out. The young master in black will surely save them!"

His voice brimmed with confidence.

But Zhong Xiong shook his head. "You don't even know who this young master in black is. How can you be sure he will save them?"

The child tilted his head, thought for a moment, and said earnestly, "Because he is a good person!"

The innocent honesty of the child's words warmed Zhong Xiong's chest. A long-buried impulse seemed to surge within him, threatening to break through his reason and overwhelm his mind.

This soaring impulse felt both unfamiliar and familiar, leaving him momentarily speechless.

However, his thoughts were soon drawn back to the battle before him. At the sight of the sword shadows filling the sky, his reason once again took hold.

By the time two more people joined the child's side, with a "snap," the flagpole in Zhan Zhao's hand broke again!

This ordinary flagpole, though it could withstand the blades of Mo Dao and the Xiangyang Royal Mansion's imperial guards, could not endure the combined force of internal energy.

Zhan Zhao seemed to have anticipated this break. With a wave of his hand, a gust of wind swept by, and another flagpole leaped into his grasp.

The leader of the Iron Blood Guards beside Zhong Xiong watched Zhan Zhao's figure and said gravely, "This is the last flagpole."

Zhong Xiong pondered and said, "If this one breaks too, I truly cannot imagine how those trapped in the formation could escape. Master Mo's strategy was a winning plan from the start!"

The Iron Blood Guard leader asked, "What does the master mean—"Zhong Xiong said, "The brilliance of this strategy lies precisely in its design specifically for people like Zhan Zhao. These individuals value the lives of common folk more than their own. If he wishes to cross the West Bridge Ferry, he must pass through the Enchanting Eyes Array. The 'Like Old Friends at First Sight' on his person will trigger the poison within the array. Once trapped, no one will escape alive. If he retreats from the West Bridge Ferry, not to mention the additional troops arriving later, even Master Mo can use the civilians trapped in the Enchanting Eyes Array to threaten him. This strategy is indeed a clever one."

The leader of the Iron Blood Guard replied, "But Master Mo did not anticipate that Zhan Zhao would use such a method to dismantle his Enchanting Eyes Array. Once those trapped in the array are completely freed from Master Mo's control, Zhan Zhao will still cross the ferry using the Soaring Crane technique. By then, it would be no different from releasing a tiger back into the mountains."

Zhong Xiong slowly responded, "I presume Master Mo has already considered this."

A strange glint appeared in his eyes as he added, "So if Zhan Zhao wants to save everyone from the array, he cannot break this last flagpole."

His words were abruptly interrupted by a childish voice beside him: "Mom, Mom, Grandpa and the others are leaving. You should come quickly too. If that man in black can't hold on any longer, the big villain will return soon."

Beside the little girl stood a woman, her eyes still fixed tensely ahead, who replied absently, "Go with your grandfather first. I'll wait for Little Mao to come out."

Zhong Xiong looked over and only then noticed that during the chaotic fight, only one person remained in the Enchanting Eyes Array—a child too terrified to speak!

With a hearty laugh, Zhan Zhao swept his flag upward, his right-hand longsword once again forcing Mo Dao back, while his left hand lifted, using the momentum to propel himself into the air.

Figures crossed paths!

The child's body was caught by the flag and sent flying out of the Enchanting Eyes Array.

In that instant, golden sparks suddenly flashed, and the radiant glow of Apricot Blossom Rain shot straight toward the child. The child, suspended in mid-air, had no way to evade. His mother could not suppress a gasp of horror!

At this critical moment, the flagpole suddenly shattered! In the blink of an eye, the slender pole broke into dozens of fragments of varying lengths. As the force abruptly vanished, the child's body plummeted downward, but this sudden drop allowed him to evade the entire Apricot Blossom Rain.

It was the last flag.

He destroyed this flag to save the child. In the end, the final flag saved the last person.

All that remained was the sword in Zhan Zhao's hand—this gleaming, radiant Autumn Water longsword.

Just as he was about to rush forward to catch the falling child, in that split second, a fierce gust of wind struck his face!

Without any warning, without any sign.

Endlessly, like a dense rain, countless silver needles came at him—an inexhaustible stream of silver needles.

Zhan Zhao's longsword surged upward, its light blazing suddenly, scattering the myriad silver needles in all directions.

Yet the silver needles seemed endless, continuous. They wove together like a curtain of rain, a shimmering screen that enveloped him.

In an instant, this screen of light swallowed Zhan Zhao's figure!Zhong Xiong's face had completely drained of blood. After a long pause, a chilling coldness surfaced in his eyes: "So it truly is the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles of the Asura Sect. Only the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles could render anyone in this world utterly defenseless."

The leader of the Iron Blood Guard said, "I've heard that once the Rainstorm Pear Blossom is unleashed, no one in the world can evade it."

Zhong Xiong replied, "That's correct. Though the Apricot Blossom Rain is swift, one can still dodge it after it's launched. But the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles—no one can escape them."

The Iron Blood Guard leader said, "What I don't understand is, if the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles are truly unavoidable, how was Zhan Zhao able to evade them? Is his martial arts truly so divine?"

Zhong Xiong explained, "That's because he sensed the danger before the hidden weapon was even launched, and Mo Zhenren was still some distance away from him at the time."

The Iron Blood Guard leader said, "But I clearly saw that when the Rainstorm Pear Blossom was fired, there was no warning at all."

Zhong Xiong's eyes were now filled with admiration. He said slowly, "You're right. The firing of the Rainstorm Pear Blossom indeed gives no warning, but Zhan Zhao had already witnessed Mo Zhenren's moves before!"

—The first time was in Chongxiao Tower.

—The second time was with the Apricot Blossom Rain.

Zhong Xiong said thoughtfully, "For him, those two instances were enough!"

As he spoke, a series of rapid, explosive sounds mixed with the dragon-like hum of sword energy filled the air.

The Rainstorm Pear Blossom not only far surpassed the Apricot Blossom Rain in power but, due to its exquisite craftsmanship, the venomous hidden weapon could fire continuously without stopping, rather than exhausting its ammunition in one go.

The scattered silver needles vanished the moment they hit the ground.

The Iron Blood Guard was horrified: "Such a tiny silver needle can so easily pierce into the ground. If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I would never have believed it."

Zhong Xiong said, "It's precisely because of its speed that its force is so ferocious. Look, even with a sword that can slice through iron like mud, Zhan Zhao can't gain the upper hand under the Rainstorm Pear Blossom."

The Iron Blood Guard leader asked, "Does that mean one can only escape its control once all the needles in the mechanism are exhausted?"

Zhong Xiong replied, "I'm afraid by then, it would already be too late."

Sweat beaded on Zhan Zhao's forehead.

He had finally understood Mo Dao's intention.

Mo Dao's subordinates unleashed an endless stream of hidden weapons, even resorting to the Asura Sect's treasured Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles, all to entangle Zhan Zhao and prevent him from paying attention to anyone else.

Under the pressure of the Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles, his sword techniques could no longer account for the other enemies.

—The imperial guards of Xiangyang Royal Mansion who had been beside the green-robed Taoist were gone.

—Relying on Mo Dao's Rainstorm Pear Blossom, they had finally escaped the range of his sword techniques.

They were heading toward the people behind him—the ones he had just rescued from the Enchanting Eyes Formation!

Mo Dao gritted his teeth and spat out one word: "Kill!"

Blades flashed, and blood splattered.

The old man closest to the charging imperial guards groaned and collapsed. The trembling, screaming crowd, upon seeing the blood, couldn't even cry for help.

Zhan Zhao bit his lip until it bled. He no longer had the flag he had been relying on, nor any tool to launch hidden weapons and stop this slaughter.

It was already too late for everything.With a furious roar, he swiftly retreated. Without turning his head, his sword was already raised, its aura soaring to the heavens, its radiance dazzling—so brilliant that even the sun in the sky seemed to pale in comparison.

The last volley of the Storm Pear Blossoms had been exhausted. Yet his movements were even faster than those deadly projectiles!

Once again, blood splattered through the air.

The flowing sword energy that filled the sky suddenly condensed into a single blade of light. Amidst its crisscrossing dance, the imperial guards besieging the townspeople fell one after another.

(10)

The blood had ceased to flow.

The tears had dried.

Those who had escaped danger remained shaken, unable to free themselves from the nightmare before their eyes.

Perhaps among these kind yet fragile people, for the rest of their lives, day and night, they would never break free from the horror of this day.

Yet in Zhan Zhao’s heart, there was not a trace of joy.

For at that moment, a woman’s voice, torn and ragged, pierced the air—a sound no longer human, so shrill and hoarse it seemed to come from the depths of hell.

"My child! Put down my child!"

A disheveled woman came stumbling out from the circle behind him, crawling and scrambling. The girl clutching at her clothes let out a cry no child should ever have to make: "Mom! Mom! Little Mao! Little Mao!"

Even the iron-nerved Iron Blood Guards shuddered at these heart-wrenching screams.

The girl's cries had grown hoarse: "Mom, mom! Don't leave Rongrong! Don't leave Rongrong!"

Terror made her clutch desperately at her mother's clothes, tears streaming endlessly down her dirty face.

Silent bystanders had already restrained the frantic mother. Though they could stop her from charging at Mo Dao, they couldn't prevent her wild struggles and desperate screams.

Zhan Zhao's heart turned cold, his entire body seeming to freeze solid.

Without turning around, he knew that the last child to leave the Charm Formation had fallen into the hands of this blue-robed Taoist!

Had the child been frightened into silence? Why wasn't there even a whimper?

Mo Dao's voice finally returned to its normal tone.

"Before your sword reaches my heart, my Five Poison Asura Palm will strike. Would you like to test it?"

The veins on Zhan Zhao's sword hand were throbbing. His teeth were clenched tight.

Was he afraid to turn around? Was he afraid that if he did, the poor child would become a corpse?

The mother's voice had grown so hoarse it was barely recognizable, repeating the same desperate plea: "Taoist Master, I beg you, let my Little Mao go! I'll be your ox, your horse, I'll worship your longevity tablet—we bear no grudge against you military men, please show mercy and spare my Little Mao."

Zhan Zhao remained silent.

He seemed to let out a long breath. His entire body appeared to relax momentarily.

Finally, he turned around. Facing it all.

His sword remained coldly held in his hand.

This peerless divine weapon seemed to have maintained this same silence since ancient times.

His Crane Soaring technique had only one move left.

Mo Dao's voice remained calm: "Take one more step, and this child's family will never see him again!"

No one doubted his words.

This strange Taoist always stood by what he said.

Was this why he rarely spoke?

The woman screamed hoarsely: "I beg you, let my child go! I beg you. Save my child!" This last plea was directed at Zhan Zhao. Any life-saving straw had become more precious than gold.

Only then did the child in Mo Dao's grasp hear his mother's voice and burst into loud wails, his voice filled with boundless terror, quickly growing hoarse and broken!

Zhan Zhao still stood there. His hand still gripped his sword.

In the sunlight, the surroundings had fallen into deathly silence. Besides the mother's desperate, mournful cries and the half-frightened-to-death child's sobs in Mo Dao's grasp, he could still hear the river's sound.

The rushing current had grown so muffled. Had even the river grown still?

This was West Bridge Crossing. The opposite shore marked the end of their escape.He was just one step away from reaching the opposite shore. Once there, Zhong Xiong and Mo Dao would not be able to catch up with him for a while.

Zhong Xiong, standing far to the side, sighed, "Your Crane Soaring Sky has reached its final form. If you use this move combined with Cloud-Stepping, you can still cross the ferry. But this child will not live to see the sun tomorrow."

He looked at him and added, "If you use this move to save the child, you will never be able to cross this ferry again."

He said leisurely, "Once the force of Crane Soaring Sky is exhausted, even I do not know what consequences the Ding Family's legendary divine technique will bring to its user."

A faint smile finally appeared at the corner of Zhan Zhao's lips.

Though his face remained unavoidably pale and haggard, illuminated by the sunlight, it seemed to carry a layer of proud, soaring spirit.

Yet his voice remained as calm and emotionless as ever, "I appreciate Chief Zhong's concern."

His eyes, like stars in the dark night, instantly regained their usual firmness.

——If you were him, what decision would you make?

Zhong Xiong's eyes grew indescribably somber. He already knew what decision this was.

Mo Dao's entire body suddenly grew hot, and before his eyes flashed an icy sword glare, dazzling and brilliant.

Zhan Zhao had finally unleashed that move—Blood Twin Flight!

——The final form of Crane Soaring Sky, Blood Twin Flight.

Upon witnessing this move, Zhong Xiong suddenly found himself unable to breathe, his face drained of all color.

What a move—Blood Twin Flight, Crane Soaring Sky! As it was executed, the daylight seemed to dim, losing its brilliance. The bright sky turned as if bathed in the crimson hues of dusk.

This move seemed to have absorbed all the splendor of heaven, earth, sun, and moon.

This move seemed to transcend the mortal realm, fleeting as a white steed's shadow, eternal as the aging of the earth!

In that instant, Mo Dao's vision suddenly went dark. His heart pounded so violently he could hardly catch his breath!

The speed of this move surpassed anyone's imagination.

An overwhelming, boundless pressure surged forth like a tidal wave, crushing his heart, not his body.

——For anyone who had witnessed this move, even if they survived by chance, their heart was already dead!

Mo Dao's hand involuntarily loosened. Under the pressure of this force, the true energy infused with the Five Poisons of Asura could no longer be summoned. His venomous palm strike could no longer be unleashed!

This overwhelming force seemed intent on crushing him to pieces.

Yet, being experienced, he retreated swiftly without a second thought.

With a "shhh" sound, his chest softened as he was struck by a sword.

The child in his hand was now in Zhan Zhao's grasp!

The shock of that lightning-fast moment lingered for a long time.

It was only much later that the terrified mother rushed forward, clutching her child tightly. Her cries began to rise in the wind.

Mo Dao suddenly coughed.

His heart was filled with indescribable fear and boundless desolation.

Zhan Zhao's long sword was now at Mo Dao's throat.

——Why had he not died?

——Why had Zhan Zhao not thrust the sword deeper?

Mo Dao's triangular eyes rolled upward. This usually taciturn Daoist, who had spoken so much earlier, now remained utterly silent.The icy, sharp aura of the Zhanlu sword seemed to have permeated his entire body, even his neck appeared stiff.

His face looked as though he were already dead.

—Even if he wasn’t dead, had his heart already died?

Zhong Xiong finally let out a long breath and said, “What a move, ‘Blood Twin Flight, Crane Soaring Sky’! But to do it for this child—I truly think it’s not worth it for you.”

A trace of loneliness and pain actually flickered in the corner of his eyes.

—He was already able to move freely, no longer restrained by Zhan Zhao. The Crane Soaring Sky had finally reached its end, so why did he feel loneliness and pain?

One of the Iron Blood Guards behind him could no longer hold back: “Master, Master Mo has fallen into his hands. Why haven’t you ordered us to rescue him?”

Zhong Xiong shook his head lightly and said calmly, “Because Master Mo doesn’t need me to save him at all.”

The Iron Blood Guard asked, “Why is that? That Zhan fellow clearly lost the Crane Soaring Sky. If it weren’t for his sword holding Master Mo at a vital point—”

Zhong Xiong cut him off: “Because I am waiting, and Master Mo is waiting too.”

“Waiting for what?”

Zhong Xiong said, word by word, “Noon.”

“Noon?”

Zhong Xiong’s eyes fixed on Zhan Zhao as he said, word by word, “Not only do I know this, but you know it too, don’t you?”

Zhan Zhao, standing beside Master Mo, remained silent.

Zhong Xiong finally nodded slowly.

—“Well, I admire you greatly! Even now, you can still smile.”

Only then did Master Mo realize that the person beside him was actually smiling.

Zhong Xiong looked up at the sun, placed his hands behind his back, and said slowly, “Alright, you know it, I know it. Ten, nine, eight, seven—” He counted down, word by word.

Just as he reached three, Master Mo felt the sword pressed against his throat tremble, tilting sideways and sliding away from the vital point.

He swiftly turned and broke free from the control of the person beside him.

As the wind blew past, he realized that his back was soaked with sweat. He was already gasping for breath!

—He himself didn’t understand why, even though he knew it was Zhan Zhao’s final move, he still didn’t dare to act. Why did he have to wait until the effects of “Like Old Friends at First Sight” took hold on Zhan Zhao?

—As a revered elder of the Asura Sect, how could he be so intimidated by the imposing presence of the man before him that he didn’t even dare to move?

Zhong Xiong’s gaze at Zhan Zhao now held a trace of pity: “You risked the final move of Crane Soaring Sky to save this child, losing your last technique. How will you escape now? Have you ever considered whether it’s truly worth it? Will you regret it later?”

—Zhan Zhao had once asked him similar questions.

In that granary, when Zhan Zhao had restrained him, he had asked him.

At the time, he hadn’t dared to answer.

—Did he know that if he answered, he would surely regret it?

—Did his heart carry too many burdens, too many concerns, too heavy a responsibility?

—Did he himself know that everything he had done lacked true righteousness, a reason that could truly win people’s hearts?

Zhan Zhao smiled and said, “Since Zhan Zhao used this move, it will always be worth it. Since I used this move, I will never regret it.”

His words, however, were never fully spoken.A surge of true energy shot upward with lightning speed.

The sun in the clear sky suddenly seemed to transform into a one-eyed demon king.

The sun hung directly overhead.

The intense sunlight, blinding as the flames of hell, unleashed all the madness and passion accumulated through countless cycles of life and death, erupting unreservedly at this very day, this very hour, this very moment.

His vision turned into a vast expanse of white, dazzling and brilliant.

The muscles on his face tightened abruptly, then relaxed just as suddenly.

Only, he could no longer see it himself.

He finally collapsed.

—Just when he was closest to success, he failed!

He could still vaguely see the Iron Blood Guards behind Zhong Xiong stepping forward slowly, drawing their swords and standing ready, pressing the blades against all his vital points.

The cold steel of swords and blades—this stinging sensation felt as if it were happening in another world. Even these Iron Blood Guards could see how superfluous their actions were. At this moment, even a child could effortlessly kill him with a single finger.

Yet, as they looked at him, their eyes held both fear and respect.

—Aside from Zhong Xiong beside them and the Prince of Xiangyang, who was currently stationed in Xiangyang, there seemed to be few in the entire world who could earn the respect of the Iron Blood Guards of Junshan.

Watching him fall, Zhong Xiong couldn’t help but murmur, “Blood Twin Flight, Crane Soaring Sky—truly a peerless martial art.” He was still immersed in that soul-stirring move. What kind of technique was this?

Did Blood Twin Flight, Crane Soaring Sky derive its name from the beauty of rebirth when wings spread wide to chase the blazing sun?

—Was this a move that transcended humanity and heaven itself? Had it exhausted all the spiritual energy and legends of the world, all the beauty and souls of past and present?

But all beauty and souls come at a price.

—Could the price of Crane Soaring Sky be life itself?

—Had he exhausted his own life?

Zhan Zhao’s face turned ashen in an instant, as pale as a corpse’s.

Blood trickled from his parched, pale lips. But this blood was no longer crimson; within the endless deep red, there was a shimmering, dark hue. A silent black, the black of death.

It seemed as if his blood had drained completely.

Is the end of blood the end of life?

—The end of his every ounce of strength, every breath, every drop of life?

His eyes remained open, but the brilliance that once shone like stars in the dark night had vanished.

Is the end of light the end of the spirit?

—The end of his every lifetime of love, every responsibility, every act of unwavering devotion?

He could hear the sound of his sword hitting the ground.

—Why did it sound so deafening?

The ear-splitting noise, like the unbearable lightness of being, was as if a soft thunder had rumbled and a butterfly had fluttered by.

The sword slipped silently and mercilessly from his grasp, just as his life faded quietly from his body.

Suddenly, he felt as if the sun above his head had been extinguished.

At this moment, time, with its eternal cold countenance, struck the evening drum and passed by the West Bridge crossing.

In another world, a mournful dirge arose, accompanied by the sound of relentless footsteps.When Zhan Zhao fell, a soft sigh seemed to ripple through the wind. This ethereal sigh struck like a heart-shattering hammer, pounding upon the lonely yet unwavering hearts in the mortal world and the fleeting, illusory dreams.

At the very moment this mournful whisper of wind arose, Ding Yuehua—lazily reclining beneath a flower trellis in Jasmine Flower Manor on Flying Flower Island, thousands of miles away by the banks of Songjiang Prefecture—suddenly felt an inexplicable pang of dread. In her daze, her embroidery needle pricked her finger, and a faint drop of blood seeped into the white silk stretched taut on the embroidery frame.

The white silk originally bore his handsome face and bright, intelligent eyes. Now, this drop of blood fell precisely upon those eyes, gazing back as if they were stained with the blood of a lover's tears.