A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - 3

Volume 3: The Four Heroes of the Martial World Emerge in Succession, Chapter 10: Unbridled Audacity.

"Alas, do you know why Tingyu Pavilion is so famous throughout the world and renowned across the four seas?" Nangong Bubai asked in return.
"Of course, it's because it's incredibly wealthy and controls the economic lifeline of the entire Song Dynasty," Ren Xiaoyao replied without hesitation.
Nangong Bubai slowly shook his head, and Ren Xiaoyao immediately changed his tune, saying, "Or it's because Tingyuxuan has produced heroes throughout the ages, ranking first among the four great families."
"No, the real reason is: for over a hundred years, Tingyuxuan has nurtured one beautiful young lady after another, admired by the world." Nangong Bubai revealed a thoughtful and insightful expression, slowly saying, "Fengyi and Fengzi are not only the apple of Ruorong's and my eye, but also the soul and spirit of Tingyuxuan."
"I understand." Ren Xiaoyao suddenly realized, "If my two... sisters leave with me, the united and determined atmosphere within and outside Tingyuxuan will inevitably be broken, and the consequences will be unimaginable." "
Yes, it's best that you understand my good intentions." Nangong Bubai nodded happily. "
Sect Master's foresight is truly admirable." Ren Xiaoyao said with heartfelt admiration.
"By the way, when do you plan to leave?" Nangong Bubai asked with a smile.
"Tonight." Ren Xiaoyao was in high spirits and said in a long voice.
"Alright, I'll host a farewell banquet for you at Wuyou Pavilion," Nangong Bubai said with a calm smile.
"At the latest, three years; at the earliest, one year, this junior will surely return to Tingyu Pavilion to marry both young ladies," Ren Xiaoyao said with a deep bow and solemn expression.
"Sect... Sect Master, something terrible has happened!" Early in the morning, Nangong Wushang rushed into Nangong Bubai's room, panting heavily.
"What happened?" Nangong Bubai asked in a deep voice as he got out of bed.
"The... the eldest young lady has run away from home and her whereabouts are unknown," Nangong Wushang exclaimed.
"What? Fengyi!" Nangong Bubai was shocked and stamped his feet in surprise. At last night's farewell banquet, both women showed their reluctance to part with Ren Xiaoyao. Although he had considered the possibility of an "accident" and had indeed arranged for many guards to keep watch outside the Immortal Abode, not only Nangong Wushang and Nangong Lin, but even Zhuge Wenjie insisted on focusing most of the manpower on Feng Zi. He never expected that the usually well-behaved and quiet Feng Yi would "run away."
"The young lady must have gone to chase after Young Hero Ren." Zhuge Wenjie came up one after another, anxiously apologizing, "Wenjie was negligent last night, I hope the sect leader will forgive me."
"It's none of your business, I, as her father, didn't even... sigh—" Nangong Bubai said halfway, then sighed and decisively said, "Wushang, immediately take men out of the city to chase after her. Remember, bring the young lady back to me no matter what!"
"Yes!" Nangong Wushang agreed and then left.
"Young master, the food is here." Inside the "Jade Incense" restaurant on the banks of the Grand Canal, Ren Xiaoyao sat alone at a table, savoring the vegetarian dishes meticulously prepared by the chef. After leaving Tingyuxuan, he hadn't rushed out of the city, but planned to travel north along the canal to Jiangning. Unfortunately, it was already late last night, and he couldn't hire a boat. This morning, he went to the North Market to buy some fine Longjing tea, which delayed him until noon.
"Waiter, the bill." After finishing his meal, Ren Xiaoyao paid the bill and went downstairs.
"Young master—." Just as he stepped out of the door, a childish voice came from behind him.
Ren Xiaoyao turned around and saw a handsome young man in plain clothes calling him, and he was taken aback.
"Young master, don't you remember me?" The young man approached and smiled, "That night at Beiguan..."
"Oh, you're that little thief." Ren Xiaoyao looked enlightened and said softly.
"Thank you so much for your money, young master. Now I have a small shop and I no longer have to live a life of petty theft," the young man in plain clothes said gratefully.
"Hehe, no need to thank me. You should thank yourself the most for being able to support yourself," Ren Xiaoyao patted the young man's shoulder like an older brother and smiled.
"Young master, you're so fast! You were just drinking with the elder sister at the West Gate, and now you're here in the blink of an eye," the young man in plain clothes said admiringly.
"West Gate? Elder sister?" Ren Xiaoyao was startled.
"Yes, it was too dark last time, so I didn't see clearly. But now that I'm closer, elder sister is really beautiful," the young man exclaimed.
"I only went to the North Market this morning and have never been to the West Gate," Ren Xiaoyao said solemnly, enunciating each word clearly.
"No way! Half an hour ago, I clearly saw you and elder sister..." the young man said in surprise.
"Are you sure you're not mistaken?" Ren Xiaoyao questioned loudly.
"Those of us in this line of work have the best eyesight..." Before the boy could finish speaking, Ren Xiaoyao had already pressed down hard on his shoulders and roared, "Quickly, tell me, where is Ximen?"
"Wang...Wangjiang Tower," the boy in plain clothes answered truthfully. Before he could finish speaking, a wisp of wind suddenly brushed past his ear, and when he looked closely, Ren Xiaoyao had disappeared.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Tables and chairs were askew, cups and plates were scattered everywhere, and it was clear that a fierce fight had just taken place in Lanzhu Pavilion on the second floor of Wangjiang Tower. Ren Xiaoyao's heart sank. If the older sister the boy in plain clothes mentioned was really one of Nangong Fengyi or Nangong Fengzi, then she had most likely been kidnapped.
"You...you damned thing." The white-bearded old man who looked like the manager behind him kept cursing, a bloody bruise on his face particularly noticeable.
"Old sir, may I ask..." Ren Xiaoyao vaguely guessed: most likely someone had impersonated him and lured one of the Nangong sisters here, only to be exposed and cause a fierce fight. Therefore, he was eager to know the specific situation at that time.
"You...you don't come any closer." The white-bearded old man was so frightened that he retreated repeatedly, and the waiters beside him also showed extremely horrified expressions.
"This person is really vicious. He beat Manager Li up just now, and now he comes to attack again."
"That's right, he smashed up a perfectly good Wangjiang Tower. He has no law at all."
"Hey, this...this person seems to be a guest of Tingyu Pavilion."
"Yes, yes, I saw him having dinner with Sect Leader Nangong last time."
The crowd watching the commotion began to discuss among themselves. Ren Xiaoyao couldn't help but feel angry. Who was so audacious as to impersonate him and even dare to kidnap Nangong Bubai's daughter?

Volume 3 The Four Heroes of the Martial World Appear One After Another Chapter 11 The Deadly Kill Reappears

"People from Tingyu Pavilion are here—" Someone shouted, and the crowd dispersed. Ren Xiaoyao looked in the direction of the voice and saw Nangong Wushang, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, rushing towards them from the street corner with more than a dozen expert guests.
"Young Master Ren, have you seen Miss Fengyi?" Nangong Wushang gestured for his men to disperse the crowd, looking at Ren Xiaoyao with slight surprise, and asked in a low voice.
"Oh no, it's Fengyi." Ren Xiaoyao's eyes blurred, as if struck by lightning, and he momentarily forgot to answer.
"Chief Steward—" A retainer walked up to Nangong Wushang and whispered a few words in his ear. Ren Xiaoyao knew without a doubt that he was talking about "himself" fighting at Lanzhu Pavilion and forcibly abducting Nangong Fengyi. Otherwise, given his relationship with Tingyu Pavilion, what wouldn't he know?
"Young Master Ren, may I speak to you in private?" Nangong Bubai's sharp eyes suddenly flashed with surprise and suspicion as he coldly asked.
"Chief Steward, do you really believe that what happened at Wangjiang Tower was my doing?" The two walked to a secluded corner, and Ren Xiaoyao got straight to the point.
"Of course I don't believe it!" Nangong Wushang blinked secretly and whispered. Then, he deliberately feigned indignation and roared, "Tell me, why?" Given the relationship between Ren Xiaoyao and Nangong Fengyi, whether he was persuading her to go back or taking her away, there was no need for such a commotion, let alone a fight in a restaurant.
Ren Xiaoyao secretly praised his quick thinking and shrewdness, and loudly agreed, "Hmph, I, the dashing thief, never need a reason to do things." He secretly added, "I've only been here a short time; you'll have to ask the old manager for details." Before he finished speaking, a cold voice suddenly rang in his ears: "You brat, stop acting. Our men made a mistake just now; we knew we couldn't hide it from this old fox, Nangong Wushang."
Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with unprecedented sharpness. He looked around but found nothing amiss, immediately realizing that the other party must be hiding in the crowd, using a secret telepathic technique to mock him.
"Come back to the manor with me and explain this to the sect leader." Nangong Wushang, unaware of this, continued his act, drawing out his words.
Ren Xiaoyao's lips twitched, about to speak, when the voice beside him threatened, "If you want Nangong Fengyi to live, immediately strike Nangong Wushang with a palm. Remember, strike hard, or I'll make sure that little brat dies a horrible death."
Ren Xiaoyao wasn't stupid; he knew that if he struck, the charge of kidnapping and vandalizing the shop would be confirmed, potentially creating an irreconcilable feud with Tingyuxuan. Hesitating, the voice urged, "Hurry up, or I'll have someone defile her. See if you regret it then."
"Bang!" Without further hesitation, Ren Xiaoyao delivered a powerful blow, "Tide Rises, Moon Rises," striking Nangong Wushang's vital point, "Zhongting," right on the navel. He coughed up blood and collapsed backward.
"Master Steward!" Upon seeing this, the retainers shouted and rushed towards Ren Xiaoyao, but he swayed and instantly broke through the encirclement, heading straight out of the city.
"Reach Jiuxi within half an hour." — This was the last instruction given to him by that voice, and also his only hope of finding Nangong Fengyi.
Jiuxi, commonly known as "Nine Streams and Eighteen Ravines," is located at the foot of Jiguanlong in the mountains west of West Lake. It connects to Longjing in the north and flows into the Qiantang River in the south. Originating from Yangmeiling at the foot of Wengjia Mountain, it joins Qingwan, Hongfa, Tangjia, Xiaokang, Foshi, Baizhang, Yunqi, Qingtou, and Fangjia streams, winding and hidden before flowing into the Qiantang River. The "Eighteen Ravines" refers to the numerous small streams and babbling brooks. Jiuxi and the Eighteen Ravines converge in front of the Xizhongxi Restaurant at the foot of Bajue Mountain. Along the way, there are overlapping mountains, scattered tea gardens, winding paths, clear streams, and chirping mountain birds. On a sunny day, the scenery is
breathtaking; on a cloudy day, mist and clouds drift by. "Spring mountains, misty clouds, low-hanging white clouds; ten thousand ravines rush down to the Nine Streams." Gazing at the beautiful scenery before him, shaded by verdant bamboo and surrounded by lush water, Ren Xiaoyao
, overwhelmed with sorrow, couldn't help but recite the poem. "Hahaha, the dashing thief lives up to his name! His beloved woman is in our hands, and he still has the mood to compose poetry." A tall, thin, masked man strode out from the dense forest, sneering.
"Where's Fengyi?" Ren Xiaoyao turned around, glaring at him, his eyes blazing with murderous intent, and demanded sharply.
"Don't worry, she's in a very safe place, her life is not in danger for now," the masked man said calmly.
"For now? Hmph, I'm afraid that as long as I refuse to agree to your conditions, Fengyi will..." Ren Xiaoyao sneered.
"Clever!" the masked man interrupted. "My condition is simple. If you agree to one thing, I guarantee I'll return her to Nangong Bubai unharmed."
"You're quite arrogant. Aren't you afraid I'll capture you and exchange you for Fengyi?" Ren Xiaoyao's eyes shone with unfathomable wisdom as he spoke with nonchalant ease.
"Ren Xiaoyao alone is no match for my Soul-Stealing Technique," the masked man said arrogantly.
"Soul-Stealing Technique?! You…you're already dead, aren't you?" Ren Xiaoyao exclaimed in shock. Burning Sun, Absolute Moon, Soul-Stealing Technique, Soul-Seizing Technique, and Life-Chasing Technique were the most skilled assassins under Hentian's command, collectively known as the "Five Great Assassins," who had murdered countless heroes of the martial world using despicable methods. The battle at Wuyun Mountain was a crushing defeat for Juesha, with Soul Stealer, Spirit Seizer, and Life Chaser dying on the spot. How
could they be like this today…? “Soul Stealer is just a code name. If it existed twenty years ago, it can still exist twenty years later,” the masked man said swiftly, his eyes gleaming. Ren Xiaoyao’s keen intuition immediately told him that with his current strength, he couldn’t possibly capture them alive, let alone win a one-on-one fight.
“Your condition isn’t that I join Juesha and pledge allegiance to Hentian?” Ren Xiaoyao asked in a deep voice.
“Yes, after releasing Nangong Fengyi, you’ll have to become the leader,” the masked man laughed. Clearly, Ren Xiaoyao’s guess was spot on.
“Back then, in the great battle between good and evil at Wuyun Mountain, Juesha suffered heavy losses and was later wiped out by Tang Yunhe’s forces. I’m curious to know, how much power do you still have now?” Ren Xiaoyao asked casually. He knew perfectly well that Juesha's return to the martial world wasn't just about recruiting him; they likely wanted to use Nangong Fengyi to crush Tingyuxuan in one fell swoop. Therefore, he tried his best to extract information about Juesha from them, so he wouldn't be caught off guard if things turned sour.
"You only need to answer yes or no. There's no need to know anything else," Duohun said coldly.
"What a joke!" Ren Xiaoyao revealed a cunning and hateful smile, saying seriously, "If I nod in agreement, only to find that Juesha only has me left besides Hentian and the five assassins, wouldn't I be at a huge loss?"
"To tell you the truth..." Duohun realized he'd fallen for the trap, but the cold voice outside Wangjiang Tower sounded again: "Stop talking, he's trying to trick you."
"Jueyue, why did you take so long?" Duohun immediately realized, glaring fiercely at Ren Xiaoyao, and let out a long howl.
"That brat's rushing towards Jiuxi like a madman. My lightness skill is no match for his." Amidst the sneer, a tall, thin, long-faced, and sinister-looking middle-aged scholar appeared at a corner not far away.

Chapter Four: The Sword's Ultimate Skill Appears in the Deep Valley Chapter One: Exorbitant Price

"It...it's you!" Ren Xiaoyao was shocked. The lecherous rogue he encountered at the pavilion in the middle of West Lake with the Nangong sisters that day, who had the desire but not the courage to steal, was actually Jueyue.
"Hahaha, you remember now, right?" Jueyue laughed loudly, "To tell you the truth, we've been preparing for today's operation for over two months. To be able to openly kidnap Nangong Fengyi in broad daylight, Jueyue's strength is self-evident." His words were not untrue. Nearly 60% of the shops in Hangzhou belonged to Tingyuxuan, some openly, and some secretly acquired by Nangong Lin and Nangong Tiankuo. The latter was an extremely important business secret, and it would be absolutely impossible to investigate it thoroughly without a great deal of effort. Otherwise, if they were to lure Nangong Fengyi to one of their own shops, that would be disastrous. Even if Wangjiang Tower were secretly controlled by Juesha, they still had to ensure that there weren't too many Tingyuxuan properties nearby. Otherwise, if someone recognized the kidnapping of the young lady, laborers and strongmen from all directions, along with Tingyuxuan's spies and retainers, would all swarm over, and no matter how good your martial arts were, you wouldn't be able to escape.
"Since you want to recruit me, you should be very clear about my character." Ren Xiaoyao deliberately adopted a relaxed and carefree demeanor, making it impossible for them to see through his inner turmoil, and said arrogantly, "A chivalrous and romantic thief will never be content to be subservient to anyone. Without conditions that move me, there's no point in even discussing it."
While the two were taken aback, Ren Xiaoyao continued, "Back then, Nangong Bubai personally promised that as long as I was willing to submit to Tingyuxuan, he would not only give me Nangong Fengyi and Nangong Fengzi in marriage, but also, after his death, all of his family's assets would be under my control. I wonder..." He stared intently at Jueyue, saying each word clearly, "I wonder what Hentian and Juesha can offer me?" Right now, the longer it dragged on, the more advantageous it would be for him. Perhaps while they were negotiating, Nangong Bubai would have already rescued his daughter, so Ren Xiaoyao could only pretend to be greedy and profit-driven, engaging in a feigned negotiation with them.
After a moment's thought, Duohun replied, "Nangong Bubai gives you wealth and beauty, but Juesha can give you fame, fortune, wealth, and beauty all at once."
"All four? Tell me about it," Ren Xiaoyao blurted out, feigning interest.
"If we're willing, we can not only elevate you to the status of a great hero, but also guarantee you an endless supply of beautiful concubines and boundless wealth and luxury," Duohun said without hesitation.
"Power? What about power?" Ren Xiaoyao suddenly raised his voice, shouting.
"Power?" Duohun was taken aback.
"Yes, without power, everything is just empty talk," Ren Xiaoyao said firmly. "I can't be a great hero in front of outsiders, but obedient and subservient to you all."
"What kind of power do you want?" Duohun asked.
"I want Hentian to grant me a position second only to the leader of Juesha, above all others!" Ren Xiaoyao smiled gently, calmly stating. He had now firmly grasped the upper hand in the negotiations, naturally demanding an exorbitant price.
"Wishful thinking!" Jueyue, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. No one could have guessed that Ren Xiaoyao's "appetite" was so great.
"What? You won't agree?" Ren Xiaoyao smiled sinisterly.
Duo Hun and Jue Yue exchanged a glance, both sensing something was amiss. After eighteen years of recuperation, Jue Sha had grown stronger, showing signs of returning to its peak. However, the organization was severely lacking in young talent, and for long-term planning, it had to recruit promising young people to bolster its ranks. Ren Xiaoyao was a "good seedling" handpicked by Hen Tian, who had personally stated that he would bring him under his command no matter the cost. Had the other party already seen through this, hence his brazenly discussing conditions?
In truth, Ren Xiaoyao's deliberate statement that he wanted to become the second-in-command of Jue Sha was simply a way of gauging that Duo Hun and Jue Yue couldn't make the decision themselves and would have to consult Hen Tian. This way, Nangong Fengyi wouldn't be in mortal danger until they received a reply.
"Your demands are too high; we can't give you an answer in a short time," Duo Hun said, shaking his head as expected.
"Do you expect me to wait?" Ren Xiaoyao frowned.
“Yes,” Jueyue said shyly, “Ten days, just ten days, and the leader’s reply will arrive.”
“Alright, I’ll wait ten days,” Ren Xiaoyao said loudly, “However—hmph, you must guarantee Fengyi’s safety. If anything happens to her, forget it!”
“Don’t worry, we’ll send people to keep an eye on her,” the two replied in unison.
After agreeing on their communication methods, Ren Xiaoyao returned to the city alone. From the conversation, he had deduced at least three things: First, Hentian was not in Hangzhou and wouldn’t be able to get here anytime soon; second, Jueyue and Duohun were very likely to return to report to him personally, and the people left to guard Nangong Fengyi wouldn’t be very skilled; third, Juesha did indeed intend to win him over, and shouldn’t harm her within ten days.
What to do now? Ren Xiaoyao pondered to himself. Should he
return to Haotian Pavilion and ask Nangong Bubai for help? Definitely not. Leaving aside the fact that he had beaten Nangong Wushang to the point of vomiting blood, thus creating a grudge, the fact that the other party was so familiar with the situation at Tingyu Pavilion meant there must be a traitor among the servants and retainers. He feared that before he even left the gate, the news would reach Jueyue and Duohun's ears.
Searching for Nangong Fengyi alone? That wouldn't work either. In such a vast city as Hangzhou, who knew where Juesha had hidden her?
As he passed the city gate, Ren Xiaoyao suddenly had a flash of inspiration. Since he couldn't find Nangong Bubai, why not go find Nangong Fengzi? After 7 PM, there wouldn't be a single maidservant in Shenxian Youzhu. No matter how skilled Juesha was, he couldn't possibly have arranged for anyone there.
As night deepened, Ren Xiaoyao quietly appeared near Huaxiang Garden. To prevent Jueyue and Duohun from secretly sending assassins to follow him, he disguised himself as an old man with a white beard.
After Nangong Fengyi's disappearance, the defenses of Tingyu Pavilion were greatly strengthened, especially Cuiwei Garden, where there were guards every three steps and sentries every five steps. This was even more stringent than when he first entered Tingyu Pavilion, when the defenses around Wuyou Pavilion were as if facing a formidable enemy.
Of course, no matter how meticulous the deployment, it was no match for our dashing thief. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Ren Xiaoyao successfully infiltrated the Immortal Abode and arrived outside Nangong Fengzi's boudoir.
"Brother Xiaoyao!" came Nangong Fengzi's joyful, tearful cheers from inside.

Chapter Four: The Sword's Ultimate Skill Appears in the Deep Valley Chapter Two:

A Plan to Turn the Tide "Hmm, when did this little girl become so perceptive?" Ren Xiaoyao's heart stirred. Just as he was about to push open the door, a gentle voice suddenly sounded from inside: "I had a conflict with the head steward at Wangjiang Tower at noon, and I've come to apologize tonight."
"It's...it's that bastard who impersonated me and deceived Fengyi." Ren Xiaoyao glanced inside and immediately realized. Standing beside Nangong Fengzi was a boy who looked almost exactly like her. While this boy's disguise wasn't as refined as hers, it still had only three or four minor flaws. No wonder he had managed to deceive Nangong Fengyi and lure her to Wangjiang Tower.
"What a brilliant move! They've actually targeted Fengzi!" Ren Xiaoyao was furious, almost rushing in to expose the deception. But then he thought, if he acted now, he could only save Fengzi at best. By the time he could extract Fengyi's whereabouts from the boy, Jueyue and Duohun would likely have already moved her. Rather than rashly entering, it was better to wait a moment and see what tricks he was up to.
"You... why did you severely injure Uncle Wushang?" Nangong Fengzi sobbed, tears streaming down her face.
"Alas, you don't know..." "Ren Xiaoyao" sighed, "Feng...Fengyi wanted to elope with me, but the head steward wanted to take her back. I...I had no choice but to...I had to resort to violence."
"Then...then why did you fight with my sister in Wangjiang Tower?" Nangong Fengzi asked, half-believing.
"Your father is extremely concerned about his reputation. How could he let people know that his daughter eloped with me? The destruction of Wangjiang Tower was entirely to cover up this matter. Otherwise, how could the sect leader explain to the world?" "Ren Xiaoyao" lied blatantly.
"Good heavens, impersonating me is one thing, but daring to slander Fengyi's innocence." Ren Xiaoyao cursed inwardly.
"Where is my sister?" Nangong Fengzi sat down on the edge of the bed, looking pitiful and resentful.
"Don't worry, Fengyi is safe now," "Ren Xiaoyao" reassured her, seemingly unrelated to her question. "By the way, she asked me to ask you whether you want to stay at Tingyu Pavilion or come with us." "
The fox's tail has finally been revealed. What apology and forgiveness? They clearly want to take Fengzi with them... Oh no!" Ren Xiaoyao was startled. "If they were just trying to blackmail me, Fengyi would be enough. Why are they even targeting Fengzi? Do they have other motives?"
Just as he was pondering this, he heard Nangong Fengzi say happily, "Of course we'll go together! I'm so tired of staying at home."
"But..." Nangong Fengzi's beautiful eyes were filled with sorrow, a bitter smile playing on her lips. She lowered her head and said, "Father won't let me leave."
"Silly girl, just elope like your sister, that'll do it." A fleeting look of joy crossed "Ren Xiaoyao's" face as he spoke softly.
“Yes!” Nangong Fengzi clapped her hands and exclaimed sweetly, then added worriedly, “There are many guards outside; they can’t get out.”
“With me here, what’s there to be afraid of?” Ren Xiaoyao said casually with a smile.
“If we just leave, won’t Father and Mother worry?” Nangong Fengzi sat up straight and asked with some concern.
Ren Xiaoyao’s eyes darted around, and he whispered, “Later, leave a note explaining the whole thing to the Sect Master, and he’ll understand.”
“Damn it, pushing it onto me again.” Ren Xiaoyao cursed inwardly.
“Okay, wait a minute, I’ll go write it.” Nangong Fengzi said, then turned and went into the inner room. A short while later, she came out with a short note.
“Father, I’m leaving with Brother Xiaoyao. I’ll come back in a few days.” Ren Xiaoyao read the contents of the note and said in a deep voice, “Add ‘and Sister’ to avoid the Sect Master misunderstanding.”
“Alright.” Nangong Fengzi smiled sweetly and changed it as instructed.
“No one will come over later, right?” "Ren Xiaoyao" asked with a smile.
"No, no," Nangong Fengzi nodded hurriedly, giggling. The thought of leaving Tingyu Pavilion soon filled her with both nervousness and excitement.
"Then... let's go now," "Ren Xiaoyao" suggested.
Everything went as Ren Xiaoyao had predicted. Jue Sha had indeed planted many spies within Tingyu Pavilion. When "Ren Xiaoyao" and Nangong Fengzi slipped out of Shenxian Youzhu, it was thanks to these people finding ways to distract the guards and clear the way for them; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to pass through so many checkpoints and reach the outside of the manor smoothly. Ren Xiaoyao
held his breath, cautiously following behind. He knew perfectly well that they were heading to where Nangong Fengyi was hidden. Whether he could successfully rescue the two sisters and clear his name depended entirely on this.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
The two went straight out of the city, mounted the prepared steeds, and galloped south. After traveling about twenty li, they arrived at Wuyun Mountain.
Wuyun Mountain, situated between the Qiantang River and West Lake, boasts stunningly beautiful hills and secluded valleys. Legend has it that five-colored auspicious clouds often swirl above its summit, hence its name. The mountain is majestic and imposing, featuring five peaks: Paishi, Dawan, Gaoli, Yunwu, and Ma'an. Winding paths lead deep into the mountains, where lush vegetation abounds, with verdant trees and bamboo groves creating a picturesque scene. Gentle breezes and clouds often accompany the mountain, and clear streams occasionally cascade down its slopes, while melodious birdsong echoes from the forests, adding to its wild charm. Unfortunately, the darkness prevented a full view.
Twenty years ago, a horrific battle between good and evil took place here. The Yunqi Bamboo Path on the south side of the mountain is where Guiming Shenjun, Hentian, Ximen Wulei, and others clashed with eight of the Central Plains martial arts masters.
Ren Xiaoyao chuckled inwardly: "Those ruthless assassins dare to hide Nangong Fengyi here! I'll wipe them all out later, making those arrogant Jueyue and Duohun suffer the same fate!"
"Brother Xiaoyao, why did you bring me to Wuyun Mountain?" Nangong Fengzi asked timidly, seeing that it was pitch black all around.
"Your sister was afraid of being discovered if she stayed in the city, so she asked us to meet at the top of the mountain," "Ren Xiaoyao" explained.
Nangong Fengzi no longer doubted him and let him lead her up the mountain by the hand. Ren Xiaoyao, seeing this from behind, was furious, thinking: When I find Fengyi, I will tear you to pieces.
After crossing a suspension bridge, they finally arrived at the top of Yunwu Peak. Under the moonlight, the place appeared even more secluded and tranquil, with lush pine and hazel trees, a breathtaking sight. "Ren Xiaoyao" pointed to a cave partially hidden by grass and trees in the distance and smiled, "Fengzi, Fengyi is inside." "
Sister—" Nangong Fengzi cried out and rushed inside like a whirlwind. "Ren Xiaoyao" turned around abruptly, glanced around briefly, and seeing that everything was normal, a wicked and smug smile crept onto his lips.
The interior was indeed a hidden world. Upon entering, there was a wide passageway lined with torches, illuminating the surroundings. Nangong Fengzi, unaware of the deception, boldly followed the path and soon arrived at a stone door. She was quite skilled in mechanisms and easily opened it without Ren Xiaoyao's help.
Inside the stone door was a spacious cave, several dozen feet in length and width, with a circular, arched ceiling, roughly square in size. Not only were the tables and chairs neatly arranged and spotless, but the furnishings were also extremely luxurious, with ancient bronzes and jade artifacts, almost rivaling Nangong Bubai's residence. To the left of the cave was an exquisitely carved wooden bed, where Nangong Fengzi lay asleep fully clothed, her posture indescribably beautiful and captivating.

Chapter Four: The Sword's Ultimate Skill Appears in the Deep Valley Chapter Three: Successful Escape

"Sister, sister," Nangong Fengzi whispered softly as she approached.
"Ah... Fengzi!" Nangong Fengyi slowly woke up, glanced at her younger sister, and immediately exclaimed in shock.
"Sister, what's wrong?" Nangong Fengzi had never seen her so distraught before, and asked blankly.
"You...you even lied to Fengzi." Nangong Fengyi's delicate body trembled, she grabbed her younger sister, pointed at the "Ren Xiaoyao" who had followed her in, and scolded angrily.
"Oh dear, it was someone who asked Brother Xiaoyao to bring me here, I want to go with you all." Nangong Fengzi didn't understand her older sister's meaning at all, and said with a smile.
"He's not Brother Ren!" Nangong Fengyi's beautiful eyes shot out a resolute look, and she said coldly.
"Sister—" Nangong Fengzi giggled and said with a slight reproach, "You're not trying to trick me into going back so you can stay with Brother Xiaoyao yourself, are you?" "
Qin Shang, how long are you going to keep up this act?" Nangong Fengyi struggled to stand up, but suddenly felt dizzy, and had to sit down again, cursing under her breath.
"Oh, little pump girl, you know who I am now?" "Ren Xiaoyao" laughed, removing the human skin mask to reveal his true face.
"You...you really aren't Brother Xiaoyao!" Nangong Fengzi stared incredulously at the withered, emaciated, and ferocious face before her, exclaiming in disbelief.
"He is the world's number one lecher, 'Flower-Picking Demon' Qin Shang," Nangong Fengyi said, enunciating each word clearly.
"Lecher? Waaah—" Nangong Fengzi burst into tears, clinging tightly to her sister, sobbing uncontrollably. She hadn't encountered Brother Xiaoyao, but instead had run into a lecher; how could a young girl like her not be afraid?
"Little pump girl, how did you guess who I am?" Qin Shang grinned, showing his teeth.
"Among the thieves of the Lower Five Gates, who else but you could be skilled in disguise and adept at using sleeping potions?" Nangong Fengyi's beautiful eyes shone with wisdom as she spoke calmly.
"What a clever little darling, I really want to taste the pleasure of breaking your body." Qin Shang leered, then revealed a regretful expression, "Alas, it's a pity, the leader won't let me touch a single hair on your head in order to subdue Ren Xiaoyao, otherwise... hehe, I would let you know the wonderful feeling of being a woman."
"Shameless!" Nangong Fengyi had never heard such vulgar words before, her face immediately turned red, and she angrily rebuked.
"Little pump girl, do you know why I tricked your sister into coming here?" Qin Shang stared at Nangong Fengyi's curvaceous body with lustful eyes, and said coldly.
"You bad guy, what do you want to do?" Nangong Fengyi's body trembled, and she asked while crying.
"Hahaha, the higher-ups only said not to touch your sister, they didn't say not to play with you." Qin Shang walked forward with a lewd smile.
"Don't touch my sister." Nangong Fengyi shouted and tried to stop him, but she was powerless, and Qin Shang pushed her aside.
"Don't come any closer...don't come any closer...please!" Nangong Fengzi trembled with fear, cowering against the headboard, completely forgetting that she knew martial arts.
Qin Shang laughed heartily, basking in the moment, "Nangong Bubai's two daughters, the younger sister was pinned down on the bed and fucked hard by me, the older sister..." Before he could finish, Ren Xiaoyao, who had been waiting at the door for a long time, rushed in instantly, striking Qin Shang with a single blow, rendering him immobile.
"You...who are you, daring to ruin my plans?" Staring at the proud white-bearded old man standing before him, Qin Shang asked angrily.
"You've impersonated me twice already, and you still have the nerve to ask?" Ren Xiaoyao smiled slightly, dropping his disguise.
"Ren...Ren Xiaoyao!" Qin Shang exclaimed, dumbfounded and horrified.
"You dare touch my woman? You're really asking for trouble." Ren Xiaoyao said coldly.
"Brother Xiaoyao—" Nangong Fengzi cried tears of joy, about to throw herself into Ren Xiaoyao's arms, but Nangong Fengyi pulled her back, asking seriously, "Are you really Brother Ren?"
Ren Xiaoyao knew she was observant and afraid of being deceived again, so he reached into his robes and took out the jade pendant that the two of them had given as a token of their love, smiling, "This is something that someone impersonating me can't produce."
Nangong Fengyi felt relieved, her eyes brimming with tears as she gazed at Ren Xiaoyao, and said softly, "Brother Ren, I knew you would come to save me."
"Save you, humph." Qin Shang said disdainfully, "Once you enter this Tongtian Cave, no one can leave alive."
"Qin Shang, Qin Shang, you don't expect those traps you activated when you entered to hold us back, do you?" Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with sharp light as he stared at the other man.
"What? Could it be...could it be that you..." Qin Shang was surprised when Ren Xiaoyao saw through him.
"I followed you all the way here. Why didn't you make a move earlier? Why did you have to wait until now?" Ren Xiaoyao wiped away Nangong Fengzi's tears and said sternly.
"You dismantled the trap!" Qin Shang suddenly realized and exclaimed.
"That's right. I'm very proficient in traps and mechanisms. Your petty tricks are nothing." Ren Xiaoyao said, extending his right hand and said sharply, "Give it to me."
"What are you doing?" Qin Shang was startled.
"The antidote! Fengyi's antidote!" Ren Xiaoyao said coldly. He could tell at a glance that Nangong Fengyi had been drugged with some kind of bone-softening powder, and she couldn't use her strength. Otherwise, she would have run away on her own long ago if Qin Shang hadn't been watching her.
"No." Qin Shang was stubborn and refused. "Even if you kill me, I won't get it."
"Hahaha, hahaha." Ren Xiaoyao laughed loudly after hearing this.
"What are you laughing at?" Qin Shang was stunned and asked in confusion.
"I laugh at your stupidity." Ren Xiaoyao said casually, as if he had done something insignificant. "You're facing a major disaster, and you don't even know how to find a way out."
"What major disaster? Are you kidding me?" Although Qin Shang couldn't move, his words were sharp.
"The plan to kill was originally flawless. If it weren't for someone's incorrigible lust and his infiltration of Tingyu Pavilion, which I happened to catch, it wouldn't have failed at the last minute." Ren Xiaoyao chuckled. "Even without the antidote, I can still save him. Then... hmph, do
you think Jueyue and Duohun will let you off?" Ordinary methods are ineffective against such desperate people. Coercion and threats are necessary to force them to comply. "Give... give you the antidote, and what then?" Qin Shang shuddered at the thought of the organization's cruel punishments and asked tremblingly.
“Then I’ll let you shift the blame to the mole planted in Tingyu Pavilion,” Ren Xiaoyao said with a smile. “As long as Fengyi, Fengzi, and I keep quiet about tonight’s events, you can go back and spread rumors.”
“If you don’t give it to me, I’ll have Father send people everywhere to spread the word that Qin Shang brought us to rescue my sister,” Nangong Fengzi said playfully, clinging tightly to Ren Xiaoyao.
“The antidote is in my arms. Take the red one first, then the blue one,” Qin Shang’s defenses finally crumbled, and he confessed honestly.
Ren Xiaoyao assumed he wouldn’t dare to cheat, so he took out the antidote as instructed and gave it to Nangong Fengyi in order. Before long, she regained her strength and said happily, “Brother Ren, let’s go.”
“Okay.” Ren Xiaoyao nodded slightly, then flicked a black pill into Qin Shang's throat, whispered a few words in his ear, and then pulled the two women away, heading straight out the door.

Chapter Four: The Sword Technique Appears in the Deep Valley Chapter Four: The Woman in Black

"Brother Xiaoyao, what did you feed that scoundrel?" Upon arriving outside the cave, Nangong Fengzi pouted and asked curiously.
Ren Xiaoyao, in high spirits after rescuing the beauties, replied with a smile, "Just ordinary licorice pills, but I lied and said he ate a Hundred Saliva Pill. If he doesn't come to me for the antidote within seven days, his whole body will rot and turn into a pool of pus and blood."
"Since we're already out of danger, why lie to him?" Nangong Fengyi, kind-hearted, asked softly.
"First, Qin Shang was disrespectful to my two sisters, so I had to punish him; second, there are many spies planted by Jue Sha in Tingyu Pavilion, so I made him bring the list to exchange for the antidote." Ren Xiaoyao explained solemnly.
"Brother Xiaoyao is so clever." "Nangong Fengzi covered her mouth and giggled, her expression charming, speaking in a coquettish tone like a little girl.
The three of them walked onto the suspension bridge, looking down into the distance. The entire valley was bathed in the hazy moonlight, with flowing clouds and misty haze, the fresh air invigorating. Suddenly, an indescribable feeling welled up in their hearts. Ren Xiaoyao couldn't quite explain what he sensed, only that he felt an invisible pressure assailing him from directly in front of him.
Ren Xiaoyao's spirit instantly rose to its limit, his meridians overflowing, and without hesitation, he raised his palms to protect the Nangong sisters.
A figure, seemingly filled with boundless explosive power, rushed onto the suspension bridge like a ghost. Her entire body was covered in black clothing, only revealing a pair of sharp, clear eyes, like an elf in the night, wielding a sword.
The opponent's speed was extremely astonishing. By the time the Nangong sisters reacted, they had already..." A sense of illusion and unreality arose within him, as if the other party had no physical form, but was merely a phantom shadow.
Ren Xiaoyao was instantly drawn into an almost irresistible vortex of energy, surrounded by countless strange forces, some pulling him forward, some pressing him directly in, and even a few strange forces moving horizontally and rotating. An ordinary person would have long since lost control by now, but fortunately, Ren Xiaoyao had sensed it in time, and his Xiaoyao Wuji Palm blocked it in time.
Sword light burst forth, and all around were unpredictable, chilling shadows and light. Ren Xiaoyao clearly felt that his opponent's deadly attack was rapidly approaching his lower abdomen. If the Nangong sisters hadn't been behind him, he would have unhesitatingly leaped into the air and easily dodged with his exquisite and agile movements. But to protect them from any harm, he had no other choice. "Boom!" "The swords clashed, and in a flash, the dark figure thrust seven swords at him, to which he responded with fourteen palm strikes.
The two clashed and separated in an instant; the dark figure used the force to land horizontally on the bridgehead, its long sword pointing at the three. Ren Xiaoyao held his hands outstretched, staring intently at his opponent.
In the moonlight, it wasn't hard to discern that the person was a beautiful young woman. Although a black veil covered her cherry lips and delicate nose, her arched eyebrows and shimmering eyes revealed a beauty Ren Xiaoyao had never seen before. She stood gracefully, her slender figure elegant and graceful; her long, flowing hair, like a waterfall, shone brightly, transforming the ordinary black veil into a dazzling and mysterious radiance.
'Who are you?' both asked simultaneously. The woman in black spoke in a tone as melodious as a nightingale's song, the last syllable slightly drawn out, carrying a captivating charm.
'I am Ren Xiaoyao.'" Ren Xiaoyao withdrew his attention from her soft, fragrant body and answered casually.
"'The Romantic Thief Ren Xiaoyao'?" The woman in black's beautiful eyes flashed, and after a moment of eye contact, she asked incredulously.
"The real deal, no fakes." Ren Xiaoyao's answer was exactly the same as when he first entered the Immortal's Abode, then a leisurely smile appeared on his face as he said lightly, "Miss, you haven't told me who you are yet."
"You don't need to know that." The woman in black's phoenix eyes turned cold as she said coldly.
Since his debut, Ren Xiaoyao had never seen a woman who could resist answering his questions. His interest was piqued, and he adopted a composed posture, saying loudly, "May I ask, miss, are you a member of the Absolute Killing Clan?"
"No!" the woman in black said decisively.
"Then, miss, could you allow the three of us to pass?" Ren Xiaoyao returned to his usual nonchalant manner, cupping his hands in greeting.
"No." The woman in black's icy reply bore a striking resemblance to that of the former Nangong Fengyi, except that the latter's proud and aloof heart had long been melted by Ren Xiaoyao's chivalrous tenderness.
"You can leave, but the two of them must stay." After a moment's thought, the woman in black turned her gaze to the Nangong sisters, speaking casually. Judging from her attitude, she seemed certain that Nangong Fengyi and Nangong Fengzi couldn't leave Yunwu Peak.
"Hahaha, how long do you think you can hold me back, young lady?" Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with intense killing intent, yet his tone remained unusually calm and gentle. He had just fought her head-on without being at a disadvantage. As long as the Nangong sisters recovered and did their best to protect themselves, allowing him to fully unleash his Flying Immortal Transformation technique, victory shouldn't be difficult. The reason he had pleaded with the woman in black to let him pass was simply because he didn't want to offend this stunningly beautiful woman.
Upon hearing this, the woman in black first chuckled, then resumed her indifferent demeanor, staring at Nangong Fengyi and saying nonchalantly, "She has been poisoned by Qin Shang's Soul-Separating Powder. Even if she takes the antidote, she won't be able to circulate her true energy for twelve hours. As for the one next to her, he's probably terrified and doesn't dare to make a move."
Ren Xiaoyao glanced back at Nangong Fengzi and saw that her eyes were indeed glazed over, and her delicate body was trembling slightly. He knew she was still terrified by what had happened in the Tongtian Cave, and the disturbance from the black-clad woman's sword energy during the sneak attack had greatly damaged her mental state. It would indeed be difficult for her to recover her fighting strength in a short time.
"If I told you that I only used seventy percent of my strength when we fought, would you be scared?" the black-clad woman said with a smile as she approached the three of them step by step.
Ren Xiaoyao trembled violently, and his high fighting spirit plummeted instantly.
"Leave them behind, and you can leave," the black-clad woman said gracefully. She had been using psychological tactics to try to break down her opponent's will. If she pressed too hard now, it might provoke Ren Xiaoyao's frenzied fighting spirit. It was better to give him a glimmer of hope and completely destroy his fighting spirit.
Ren Xiaoyao began to retreat, and the Nangong sisters also showed expressions of utter shock on their faces.
The distance between the four was getting closer and closer. The woman in black felt victory was in sight, and her beautiful eyes involuntarily brightened, a smug smile spreading across her lips.
Suddenly, Ren Xiaoyao's face began to contort, his eyes staring incredulously at what was behind the woman in black, as if he had seen something extremely terrifying. He hissed, "Ghost... Ghost... Ghost Lord of the Underworld."
"Master?!" The woman in black turned around abruptly, but all she saw was an empty suspension bridge, not a single person in sight.
"You—" The woman in black instantly realized that the other party had tricked her, and tried to retreat quickly, but Ren Xiaoyao grabbed her and held her pulse point tightly.

Chapter Four: The Ultimate Sword Technique Appears in the Deep Valley Chapter Five: Fragrance Fades and Jade Falls

"Didn't expect that, did you... Huff... Huff." Ren Xiaoyao said breathlessly, covered in sweat. Just now, he had been thrown off balance by the other party and almost lost his life. Fortunately, he had a flash of inspiration and retaliated in kind, which made his attack effective.
"You...how did you know I was..." The woman in black looked up, her face cold as she asked.
"Under heaven and earth, apart from the Absolute Kill and the Asura Sect, no one dares to block my path, Ren Xiaoyao. Since you are not a member of the Absolute Kill, you must be a member of the Asura Sect." Ren Xiaoyao exclaimed, panting. In truth, he was only guessing and had no certainty whatsoever, but the situation was too urgent at the time, leaving no room for further thought. He had no choice but to take a gamble and risk his life.
"You...what do you want to do...let me go!" the woman in black said angrily. Ren Xiaoyao's hands were firmly holding her soft hands, his strong and broad arms pressed tightly against her delicate and exquisite back. An unsuspecting person would think that the two were lovers having a secret rendezvous under the moon, never imagining that they had just gone through a life-or-death struggle.
"Are you the disciple of the Ghost Netherworld God?" Ren Xiaoyao held the soft, fragrant woman in his arms, feeling her skin as smooth as jade, her skin cool and smooth, truly a beautiful sight, fragrant and warm, snow-white and beautiful. How could he bear to let go?
"Let go—" The woman in black didn't answer, but instead shouted angrily.
"Are you the disciple of the Ghostly Lord?" Ren Xiaoyao turned the woman in black around, lifted her curvaceous chin, and asked again. He wasn't taking advantage of her; it was just that this woman was too cunning, and he could easily be taken advantage of if he wasn't careful.
The woman in black still didn't answer, but her beautiful eyes became slightly moist, and two crystal tears slowly dripped onto the black veil covering her face.
Ren Xiaoyao wasn't afraid of anything else, but he was afraid of women crying. Seeing this, he quickly sealed several of her vital points and retreated to the side.
From a distance, the woman in black's figure was perfect. The tight-fitting night clothes bound her full and alluring body, and her two long, crystal-clear legs were deliberately kept together, further arousing the most primal desires in his heart. Coupled with her tearful and pitiful expression, it was likely that any normal man would lose control.
Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. He knew perfectly well that he had to keep a clear head at all times; one wrong move and he would fall into an abyss of no return.
"Ren Xiaoyao, tonight... tonight I've lost. You can go now," the woman in black said sadly, her face streaked with tears.
Ren Xiaoyao felt a pang of guilt for his abruptness towards the beautiful woman and bowed deeply, saying, "Miss, I was forced by circumstances just now, and I have offended you greatly. I hope..."
Before he could finish the word "atone," the woman in black burst into laughter through her tears, "Alright, alright, I don't blame you. Can you release my pressure points first?" The allure of her voice was truly unparalleled; even with Ren Xiaoyao's exceptional self-control, he almost lost his composure.
"Fengyi, Fengzi, don't be afraid, let's go." Ren Xiaoyao secretly channeled his inner energy, maintaining a clear mind, and walked past the woman in black without looking to the side, taking the hands of the Nangong sisters and comforting them with utmost concern.
"Please, let me go!" the woman in black pleaded coquettishly. But Ren Xiaoyao's eyes were filled with the cruel and loving images of Nangong Fengyi and Nangong Fengzi, and he was no longer fooled.
"You think you can get down the mountain?" The woman in black, having failed with her first move, tried again. Her beautiful eyes shone like the endless stars in the sky, and she revealed a languid expression as she coldly rebuked him.
"You're not trying to stall for time, are you? Waiting for Qin Shang from Tongtian Cave to come out and help you?" Ren Xiaoyao said nonchalantly. He was almost certain that none of the five assassins under Hentian were on Wuyun Mountain, and the four Venerable Envoys of the Asura Sect, Tianjue and Dimie, could not have infiltrated the Central Plains. Even if he encountered other members of the Assassins, he thought he could handle them.
The woman in black, exposed by him, could only awkwardly pause. But a moment later, she stared intently ahead, crying out with delighted joy, "Yixi, save me!"
"Miss, you learned that 'feint' trick too quickly," Ren Xiaoyao chuckled without turning around. The woman in black was indeed naive; in her desperation, she had used the same trick he had just used to deceive her.
"Brother Xiaoyao, ignore her, let's go home," Nangong Fengzi said gracefully, her face blooming with a sweet smile.
"Miss, don't think every man is so easily fooled," Ren Xiaoyao said, annoyed by the woman's cunning. He reached out and embraced her slender waist, giving her a shameless kiss on the cheek, speaking with a tender, almost paternal air.
"You—" The woman in black glared at Ren Xiaoyao, then lowered her head, ignoring him completely. Her alluring, shy expression left even the Nangong sisters speechless.
"Beast!" A roar echoed through the mountains and fields. Thousands of dazzling points of light, accompanied by a fierce and suffocating surge of true energy, swept over Ren Xiaoyao like a storm, crashing down on him like a raging torrent.
Even a well-prepared Ren Xiaoyao would have struggled to avoid such a terrifying and awe-inspiring attack, let alone someone completely unprepared. Indeed, who could have imagined that the black-clad woman's strategy was so brilliant? If someone were to launch a surprise attack, even Zhuge Wenjie would likely be unable to detect it. With nowhere to retreat and nowhere
to dodge, Ren Xiaoyao had no choice but to meet the attack head-on with a force that seemed to overwhelm everything.
"Bang!" Like a meteor striking the earth, the suspension bridge trembled violently, the wooden planks on the chains shattered inch by inch, and the chilling, deadly sword energy converged into a highly concentrated point, directly clashing with the dense, powerful winds of Ren Xiaoyao's Limitless Palm.
In the chaos, Ren Xiaoyao only had time to muster seventy percent of his strength, how could he withstand the overwhelming onslaught?
Just as his life seemed to be hanging by a thread, Nangong Fengzi's delicate white hand quietly pressed against Ren Xiaoyao's shoulder, a surge of yin-like internal energy instantly filling his meridians. A warm feeling welled up in Ren Xiaoyao's chest; he hadn't expected Fengzi to overcome her fear and help him at this crucial moment.
His qi flowed freely, his internal energy shooting forth, instantly penetrating his arm and merging into his palm strike.
Three feet… two feet… one foot—the sharp sword blade drew ever closer to Ren Xiaoyao, the wind howling, the danger extreme. A moment's delay would surely mean certain death on the bridge. "Hun—Yuan—Wu—Ji!" Ren Xiaoyao roared like thunder, finally unleashing his ultimate move.
An indescribable, strange force instantly seized the attacker. It was no ordinary airflow or internal energy, but a perfect fusion of true feeling and deep affection. The attacker's gripping arm felt as if it were submerged in a vast, raging sea; besides the oppressive feeling of the raging waves, he felt trapped in a force field from which he could never escape, completely at Ren Xiaoyao's mercy.
The earth-shattering, awe-inspiring power of the Xiaoyao Wuji Palm erupted completely. The attacker's longsword instantly changed direction, deviating from its original target and thrusting towards the black-clad woman beside him.
"Ah!" Two simultaneous exclamations followed. The black-clad woman had never expected Ren Xiaoyao to possess such a skill, and Ren Xiaoyao, in his life-or-death moment, had completely forgotten about her immobility.
"Junior sister, get out of the way!" the attacker cried out in regret, but they were too close, and his junior sister's acupoints were sealed; all his efforts were in vain.
The woman in black slowly closed her beautiful eyes, preparing to accept her tragic end…

Chapter Four: The Ultimate Sword Technique Appears in the Deep Valley Volume Six: Falling Off a Cliff

“Sizzle.” Blood spurted out, splashing onto her black veil, but the excruciating pain she expected did not occur.
“Am I already dead?” The woman in black opened her eyes, filled with doubt. What she saw was a long sword less than half an inch from her chest and a hand gripping the sword, a blood-soaked hand.
The hand belonged to Ren Xiaoyao…
“Why? Why did you save me?” The woman in black’s beautiful eyes were clouded with sorrow, and her heavenly voice reached Ren Xiaoyao’s ears.
“Because I am the dashing thief Ren—Xiao—Yao.” Before she finished speaking, Nangong Fengzi rushed forward, crying, “Brother Xiaoyao, are you alright?”
“A small…small injury, it’s nothing.” Ren Xiaoyao gave a bitter smile and said in a deep voice.
"Ren Xiaoyao, you can go now. Consider it repaying a favor." The woman in black's eyes suddenly became incredibly complex, seemingly containing countless emotions hidden deep within her heart. She sighed softly and said in a low voice.
"Junior sister, let's go first." The attack was sudden, and both sides had lost their will to fight. The attacker, seeing the woman in black's expression, staggered back three steps as if struck by a powerful punch to the chest, his face drained of color. He said coldly.
The woman in black nodded, glaring fiercely at Ren Xiaoyao with her beautiful eyes, and turned to leave.
"You just wait." The attacker snorted venomously and followed closely behind without another word.
"Does it still hurt?" Nangong Fengyi walked to Ren Xiaoyao's side, her eyes sparkling with a captivating smile, and spoke softly in her gentle, sweet voice.
"It hurts!" Ren Xiaoyao feigned pain, pulling off a piece of his robe to bandage his wound as he replied, "But thinking about rescuing you two makes the pain disappear."
"Stop being so glib," Nangong Fengyi said softly, a slight blush rising to her fair cheeks.
The three of them supported each other as they walked step by step toward the bridgehead.
"Die!" The attacker suddenly turned around, letting out a piercing laugh. With two swift strokes, he severed the iron chains securing the suspension bridge.
A sudden change occurred! The woman in black tried to stop him, but it was too late; the suspension bridge collapsed instantly.
Ren Xiaoyao reacted with lightning speed, grabbing the Nangong sisters with both hands. Before the bridge planks beneath their feet could fall, he used the momentum to leap up, miraculously changing direction and hurtling back toward the other end of the bridge with lightning speed. Although the three of them were relatively close to the bridgehead, the attacker wouldn't allow them to reach it easily, so retreating was the only option they had.
The "flying immortal" technique was indeed divine. With five graceful leaps into the air, the end of the bridge drew ever closer to the three. It seemed that seven leaps wouldn't be needed to reach the opposite cliff.
The attacker could never have imagined such exquisite lightness skill existed, but he was narrow-minded and vindictive. Seeing Ren Xiaoyao's disrespect towards his junior sister, he was determined to kill him. Gritting his teeth and hardening his heart, he used his sword as a hidden weapon, launching it forward.
His method was truly vicious; the sword wasn't aimed at Ren Xiaoyao, nor at the Nangong sisters, but at the very end of the bridge the three were about to cross.
At this moment, if Ren Xiaoyao didn't change his direction, he, Nangong Fengyi, or Nangong Fengzi would all be in danger of being pierced through the chest by the sword. But if they abandoned their attempt to reach the bridge, everyone would fall into the bottomless abyss of Yunwu Peak.
Would Ren Xiaoyao give up? No! In the instant the sword struck, he mustered all his strength and leaped upwards twice. Nangong Fengzi gasped in horror, wondering if her brother, Xiaoyao, was willing to forgo even the cliff face to avoid the sword.
After seven leaps, the three began their descent.
At the critical moment, Ren Xiaoyao's feet landed precisely on the incoming sword!
With a graceful, swift movement, Ren Xiaoyao lightly braced himself on his toes and soared away, successfully averting the crisis.
As they drew closer to the cliff, the Nangong sisters finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Suddenly, Ren Xiaoyao felt dizzy and weak all over. The verbal battle with the woman in black, the fierce struggle against the attacker, and the arduous journey of following Qin Shang for over twenty miles had finally exhausted his once abundant energy. He didn't give up; he persisted, but his right hand, wracked with excruciating pain from the sword wound, completely lost sensation.
"Sister—" Nangong Fengzi, now without protection, cried out and fell off the cliff.
Ren Xiaoyao's vision went black; he could no longer muster the will to live. He clung
tightly to Nangong Fengyi's delicate body, vanishing instantly beside the misty cliff. "Hahaha, hahaha, Ren Xiaoyao, I'll make sure you die a horrible death!" The attacker's arrogant shouts echoed through the valley.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Inside the Shura Sect's headquarters in the bitterly cold Northwest, a meeting chaired by Ximen Wulei was underway. Tianjue, Dimie, the Four Shura Envoys, and seven or eight elders of the Shura Sect were all present, but the once-powerful and arrogant Ghost Netherworld God was conspicuously absent.
Over sixty years old, with a weathered face, Ximen Wulei spoke first: "Twenty years, twenty years! Thanks to everyone's hard work, the Holy Sect has been restored to its former glory, with numerous followers and countless experts. I, Ximen Wulei, thank you all today."
"Vice Sect Leader, you flatter me. As members of the Holy Sect, this is what we should do," Feng Lei Shi said loudly. Having endured twenty years of hardship, his temples were slightly gray, but the sharp light in his eyes still highlighted his profound cultivation.
"Normally, everyone is scattered in various places, training their subordinates. Today, the Vice Sect Leader has summoned us to the headquarters. What important matter is it?" Shuang Xue Shi asked directly.
"Last month, the Hentian Sect's Fen Ri contacted the Sect Leader, agreeing to invade the Central Plains again," Ximen Wulei said coldly. "I would like to hear everyone's opinions on this."
"Invade the Central Plains again? Excellent!" Di Mie said enthusiastically.
"The blood debt of twenty years ago should be repaid," Tian Jue coldly echoed.
"What do the four envoys think?" Ximen Wulei turned to the four Asura envoys and asked in a deep voice.
"Vice Leader, my brothers are already impatient," Yunyu Envoy said happily.
Shuangxue Envoy and Wulu Envoy also nodded in agreement, only Fenglei Envoy remained silent for a long time.
Everyone knew that he had a deep-seated enmity with the Central Plains martial arts world, and when Ximen Wulei offered to help with the decisive battle, he should have been the first to agree, but his reaction now greatly surprised everyone. Chapter

Four: The Ultimate Sword Technique Appears in the Deep Valley Chapter Seven: The Asura Secret Meeting

"Our problem isn't whether to fight, but how to fight," Feng Lei Shi said coldly after a long pause, his eyes
filled with resentment. Everyone suddenly realized that the passage of time hadn't cleansed his hatred; instead, it had made the once reckless, arrogant, and fiery-tempered Feng Lei Shi even more ruthless and composed.
"Well said. I think everyone agrees on the matter of invading the Central Plains again," Ximen Wulei said, casting an approving glance at Feng Lei Shi. "As for the timing and strategy, I hope everyone will speak freely and offer their suggestions."
"May I ask, Vice Leader, what is the current strength of Jue Sha..." Di Mie asked frankly. Compared to the Shura Sect, which reigned supreme in the Northwest, Jue Sha, situated within the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance, faced significant limitations in both its scale of development and manpower recruitment. It was crucial to understand their current situation.
“As Ju Fenri said, Jue Sha has established branches throughout the seven southern and sixty-three northern provinces under the jurisdiction of the Song Dynasty, and has even planted many assassins and spies in the Western Xia and Dali territories. In short, compared with twenty years ago, everything is even worse,” Ximen Wulei said solemnly.
“Then, what is the situation of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance?” Tian Jue asked.
"Of the so-called eight great masters of the past, some have either secluded themselves overseas or retired from the martial world. Adding to this the already deceased Xiao Yusun and Xiong Lei, only Xiao Chen and Lin Feifan remain," Ximen Wulei replied solemnly. "I'm not entirely clear on the rest; we'll have to wait for Chen Yixi and the princess to return."
"In that case, we absolutely cannot act rashly," Feng Lei Shi said, his eyes gleaming. "Putting aside everything else, the 100,000 followers of the Tianji Sect alone are beyond the combined strength of the Holy Sect and Juesha."
Ximen Wulei sighed. "Yes, considering all aspects of strength, we are indeed inferior to the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance. Simply gathering our forces for a fight will hardly lead to victory."
"We'll inflict heavy losses on ourselves, even if we win by chance, we probably won't be able to hold out for long," Yun Yu Shi said, frowning.
"You mean…" Shuang Xue Shi asked, puzzled.
"The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind," Yun Yu Shi smiled slightly, slowly uttering eight words.
"The Tibetan Maitreya Sect, the Western Xia Tangut Society, and the Goryeo Ghost Sorrow Prefecture are all eyeing the Song territory covetously. Who can guarantee that they won't interfere once war breaks out with the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance?" Yunyu Shi explained.
"Why not consider joining forces?" Tianjue suggested.
"Yes, multiple forces attacking simultaneously, let's see how the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance copes," Dimie
said confidently with a smile. "No way," Fenglei Shi objected.
"Why not?" Wulu Shi asked firmly.
"Since we can ally with Juesha, can't we also borrow the power of the Maitreya Sect, the Tangut Society, and the Ghost Sorrow Prefecture?" Shuangxue Shi echoed loudly.
"Juesha and the Holy Sect have no major conflicts, but they do," Fenglei Shi said solemnly, enunciating each word clearly.
"What do you mean?" Ximen Wulei asked with great interest and a solemn expression.
"Hate Heaven's demand is: after the Great Cause is accomplished, it will divide and rule the Holy Church along the Yangtze River; but what about the Maitreya Sect, the Tangut Society, and the Ghost Sorrow Prefecture?" Wind and Thunder Envoy said nonchalantly, "Tibet, Western Xia, and Liao are adjacent to each other, and who wouldn't covet control the northwestern border of the Song Dynasty? As for Goryeo, they could directly cross the sea and seize Shandong."
"That...that's all the area north of the Yangtze River that was designated as part of the Holy Church!" Cloud and Rain Envoy exclaimed.
“That’s right.” Feng Lei Shi said with a wry smile, “After being divided among these four, how much will we have left? Are we really going to have to travel thousands of miles across the Yangtze River to fight Jue Sha for territory?”
“Leaving that aside, the allocation of personnel and resources is also a big problem.” Xi Men Wu Lei was silent for a while, then said in a deep voice, “Think about it, after the war starts, which faction doesn’t want to preserve its strength? Which faction doesn’t want to take the opportunity to grow stronger? And who is willing to really put their heart into competing with the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance?”
“Twenty years ago, in the great war between good and evil, Jue Sha was in charge of internal affairs, and the Holy Sect was in charge of external affairs. Everything was natural and orderly. If it weren’t for Ren… that dog Ren Qiao Cui, we would have already unified the martial arts world.” Tian Jue nodded slowly and added, “Back then, the reason we were able to sweep across most of Song territory like an autumn wind was because the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance was full of gangs and factions, and they were scheming against each other. Are we going to repeat the same mistakes today, twenty years later?”
“We must not forget the lessons of the past.” Di Mie sighed.
"In the end, we still have no choice but to join forces with Absolute Kill," Frost and Snow Envoy said helplessly.
"No, Protector Tianjue's words reminded me. Since we have no external support, why not try to weaken the power of the Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance?" Wind and Thunder Envoy said calmly.
"Good suggestion. As long as we send people to secretly sow discord, it will be easy to cause many gangs and sects to fight each other openly and secretly." Frost and Snow Envoy said happily.
"It's useless." Wind and Thunder Envoy shook his head. "As long as Shaolin, Beggars' Sect, Tianji Sect, the Four Great Families, the Five Great Sword Sects, Tang Clan of Sichuan, and the Green Forest Alliance of the Thirteen Provinces stand firm, even if all those small gangs and sects surrender to the Holy Sect, it will all be in vain."
"At worst, we can sow discord among them..." Cloud and Rain Envoy stopped abruptly halfway through his sentence. Shaolin Temple is indifferent to fame and fortune and does not contend with the world; Beggars' Sect has produced many heroes and is respected; Tianji Sect has power over the court and enjoys a good reputation in the martial arts world. How can they be so easily sown? Furthermore, the four great families have Zhuge Wenjie, a strategist of unparalleled wisdom and infallible plans; the five great sword sects have Dugu Yu, who holds sway in the center; and the Tang Clan dominates Sichuan, reigning supreme over the two provinces—none of them can be shaken in a short time. The only one that is easy to deal with, the Thirteen Provinces Green Forest Alliance, is too fragmented; even if they were "mobilized," it wouldn't be of much use.
"Then... then what should we do?" Mist Dew Envoy asked in surprise.
"Four words—internal division," Wind Thunder Envoy said with a sinister smile.
"We can learn from Absolute Kill, cultivating our own power within the Beggar Clan, the Heavenly Extreme Sect, and the Thirteen Provinces Green Forest Alliance, and even... even directly infiltrating their followers," Tian Jue said loudly.
"As for the four great families, the five great sword sects, and other strictly hierarchical organizations, we can secretly support some ambitious and snobbish individuals within them who are unwilling to be subordinate to others, and stir up internal strife for them." Di Mie chuckled, speaking with an air
of nonchalance. "You all remember the tumultuous Tang Clan rebellion of yesteryear, don't you?" "Well said!" The cold and composed voice of Gui Ming Shenjun echoed from the back hall through the solid walls. He didn't intentionally raise his voice; each word was clear and resonant, as if speaking directly into everyone's ears. It was evident that the cultivation of Wu Wang Xue Zhou had indeed reached its pinnacle, an unparalleled realm.
"Master!" Everyone rose to their feet.
Gui Ming Shenjun, one hand behind his back and the other stroking his beard, stroked into the hall with an air of nonchalance. Although his expression was full of approval, his entire being exuded an indescribable and awe-inspiring aura, as if a god or demon who ruled the underworld had suddenly appeared in the mortal realm.
He was nearing fifty, yet looked only thirty-five or thirty-six, possessing a robust physique that could withstand the harsh winds of the northern frontier, seemingly with inexhaustible energy. His bronze skin shimmered with a dazzling luster, lending his imposing and upright figure a strange, composed quality. His fiery red shawl billowed freely, as if concealing the most terrifying power in the world. His entire being was like a vast, turbulent ocean, dynamic yet still, still yet dynamic, making him elusive. His short, wiry beard extended to his lips, and a pair of deep, captivating eyes, full of eerie charm and radiant spirit, were set atop a high, straight nose. Yet, they revealed no inner emotions or feelings, giving the impression that he could destroy anyone or anything at any moment without the slightest remorse.
"Gentlemen, I heard your conversation just now." Ghost Lord smiled with satisfaction, gesturing for everyone to sit down, and said loudly, "I am very pleased, because you are no longer the simple-minded brutes who only knew how to fight and kill twenty years ago. Especially the Wind and Thunder Envoy, his composure and meticulous analysis are evident to all."
"Thank you for your praise, Master." Cloud and Rain Envoy stood up again and cupped his hands in thanks.
"Wu Lei, do you have any news about Yi Xi and the others?" Ghost Lord's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he turned to Ximen Wu Lei and asked in a deep voice.
"Yi Xi and the princess have already met with Hen Tian and are currently on their way to Hangzhou to assist Jue Sha in completing a certain mission."
"What mission?" Gui Ming Shen Jun pressed.
"It's an operation targeting Ting Yu Xuan. The princess didn't specify in her letter." Xi Men Wu Lei stepped forward and answered respectfully.
"Immediately send a message by carrier pigeon, informing them to return to the main headquarters immediately after completing the mission. At the same time, as you just mentioned, quickly deploy the plans to invade the Central Plains." Gui Ming Shen Jun revealed an arrogant and domineering demeanor, and said solemnly, "One day, I will become the king who unifies the martial arts world!"

Chapter Four: The Ultimate Sword Technique Appears in the Deep Valley Chapter Eight: A Kiss Seals the Deal

The wind howled in his ears, stinging his cheeks. Ren Xiaoyao closed his tiger eyes in despair, awaiting his impending death.
With a soft cry from Nangong Fengyi, Ren Xiaoyao threw himself into a cold, clear curtain of water while holding her. The two fell from a height of several hundred meters, the impact was so fierce, they plummeted straight down, instantly falling to the bottom of the deep pool.
Ren Xiaoyao, a long-time resident of Coconut Island and an expert swimmer, quickly adapted to the underwater conditions. He saw Nangong Fengyi swim overhead like a mermaid, her beautiful eyes blinking tenderly at him, her allure intoxicating.
Nangong Fengyi, unfamiliar with diving, could only close her eyes tightly, hold her breath, and cling firmly to Ren Xiaoyao's neck. The water's impact on Ren Xiaoyao's right hand gradually restored feeling; he gripped her slender waist tightly, while his right hand supported her full buttocks, trying his best to float upwards.
Suddenly, Nangong Fengyi's body trembled slightly, as if unable to withstand the bone-chilling cold of the underwater environment, and she coughed violently, choking on a mouthful of water.
At this point, the two were still quite a distance from the surface, and Nangong Fengyi couldn't use her internal energy; she certainly wouldn't last that long. Thinking of this, Ren Xiaoyao immediately sealed her cherry lips with his own, continuously channeling his inner energy into her. At first, Nangong Fengyi didn't understand and struggled symbolically, but she quickly realized what was happening and began to cooperate.
Unbeknownst to them, Ren Xiaoyao's act of rescuing her turned into a kiss. Nangong Fengyi's body trembled, and two blushes rose on her pretty face. Then, she half-heartedly opened her pearly teeth, allowing Ren Xiaoyao's tongue to explore her moist and fragrant mouth. Her soft, slippery tongue shyly avoided his teasing tongue.
A hazy, gentle moonlight, like mist and water, rose in Nangong Fengyi's clear eyes. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly, and her cheeks flushed, making her extremely alluring. Soon, their initial restraint gradually turned into passion. Their lips and tongues intertwined tenderly, lingering for a long time, and they could both feel each other's body temperature rising.
"Ah," with a poignant and melodious moan from Nangong Fengyi, they finally surfaced.
"You...you...you're bullying me." Their lips parted abruptly, and Nangong Fengyi, nestled in Ren Xiaoyao's arms, coughed violently. It took her a long time to catch her breath. She glared at him, a slightly embarrassed look on her face, her expression both reproachful and charming, her head bowed slightly.
Seeing the once icy Nangong Fengyi display such a shy and bashful demeanor, Ren Xiaoyao's heart fluttered. He longed to shower her with affection on the spot.
The two helped each other ashore, only to see Nangong Fengzi flutter over like a butterfly, grabbing their sleeves, her face puffed out in anger. "What were you doing in the water?" she demanded. It turned out she had witnessed the entire scene of Ren Xiaoyao and Nangong Fengyi's passionate kiss.
This time, surprisingly, Nangong Fengyi's pretty face didn't flush. Her jade-like expression remained calm and still as she stared at her for a long while without any fluctuation. Then she smiled and said, "It's nothing, just doing what you two often do when you hide in Haotian Pavilion."
"Sister—" Nangong Fengzi stamped her foot and said coquettishly.
"Cough...cough..." Ren Xiaoyao looked embarrassed and changed the subject, "I didn't expect there to be such a hidden paradise under Yunwu Peak." The two women's hair was dripping wet, their clothes were soaked, and their full breasts were faintly visible. It was fortunate that he had profound cultivation and superb self-control, otherwise he would not have been able to control himself.
"Yes, not only are we not dead, but we are also safe and sound." Seeing her younger sister's unusual embarrassment, Nangong Fengyi did not want to make things difficult for her again and said softly.
Just then, a breeze came, and although it was summer, it made everyone feel cool. Ren Xiaoyao knew that Nangong Fengyi couldn't withstand the cold, so he gestured for her to sit cross-legged. He placed his hands on her Shentang acupoint on her back and continuously channeled his internal energy to help her dispel the chill.
Nangong Fengyi followed suit.
Before long, the three of them finished their practice. Ren Xiaoyao looked up at the Nangong sisters and saw that their eyes were hazy and their cheeks were flushed. He assumed they had been frightened in the Tongtian Cave. Little did he know that it was because he had risked his life to save them that the two women's feelings for him had deepened.
A red sun slowly rose, and the three of them looked around. They saw towering peaks all around, steep and precipitous, with cliffs facing each other as if carved by an axe. The layers of rocks were covered with lush greenery, with withered wild grass. The cliffs on both sides were covered with maple trees. In the height of summer, the maple leaves were turning from ochre to crimson, the red, yellow, and green colors reflecting each other, interspersed with ginkgo, cypress, paulownia, and spruce trees, creating a beautiful scene.
Seven or eight pools of varying sizes are connected by waterfalls, arranged according to the terrain. The valley's structure resembles a series of steps, with waterfalls cascading and overflowing. The water either plunges down in torrents or plunges in stages, like spray of fine wine, swirling and splashing, creating a sense of mystery and wonder.
The pool where the three fell—no, it should be more accurately described as a small lake—was formed by the convergence of hundreds of clear streams. Its tranquil and serene waters added boundless vitality to this secluded valley.
"What a beautiful place," Nangong Fengyi sighed softly, her beautiful eyes gazing intently.
"Look! Macaques! Wow, and deer too!" Nangong Fengzi exclaimed excitedly, pointing to a grove of trees in the distance.
Ren Xiaoyao was also greatly astonished. Regardless of anything else, the lake alone was enough to leave him speechless. The sword wound on his right hand was deeply embedded in his flesh, yet soaking in the water earlier caused no pain; instead, it felt cool and comfortable. Even more unbelievable was that the wounds, which would normally take two or three months to heal, had already begun to scab over, and would likely be completely healed in a few days.
"It seems we're really trapped in this valley." Ren Xiaoyao focused his eyes, straining to see into the distance, and discovered that the small lake, the woods, and the waterfall on the other side were all clinging to the rock face, with no way out.
"Since we're here, we might as well stay for a few days and wait for Father to send someone to rescue us," Nangong Fengzi said innocently.
"With your personality, you probably want to stay here forever," Nangong Fengyi said sweetly amidst the beautiful natural music of the waterfall.
"Yes," Nangong Fengzi said playfully, making a face, "but someone is also thinking of spending their remaining years here with Brother Xiaoyao."
"You—"
"Anyway, we can't get out anytime soon, so why don't we look for a place nearby where we can stay temporarily?" Ren Xiaoyao hurriedly suggested, afraid that they would go too far.
"Alright, everyone split up. Each person is responsible for one section, except for the small lake to the west," Nangong Fengyi said calmly and composedly.

Chapter Four: The Ultimate Sword Technique Appears in the Deep Valley Chapter Nine: Peerless Divine Weapon

Ren Xiaoyao hadn't gone far when he suddenly noticed the longsword the attacker had used to stab him lying across a pile of rocks not far away. He thought, "When I saved the woman in black, I gripped it with the true power of 'Flicking Finger Flame,' yet my right hand was still slashed and bleeding profusely. This is clearly no ordinary weapon. It would be a pity if it were buried in the valley." He immediately pulled it out.
"Brother Xiaoyao, come quick!" Nangong Fengyi's joyful shouts rang out from afar.
Ren Xiaoyao transferred the sword to his left hand and swiftly rushed over. He saw a cave hidden among the overgrown weeds and trees.
"Won't there be any poisonous snakes or ferocious beasts inside?" Nangong Fengyi arrived shortly after, saying with concern.
"You all wait outside, I'll go in and take a look first," Ren Xiaoyao said, handing the sword to Nangong Fengzi.
“Brother Xiaoyao, you should take it…” Nangong Fengzi’s words were cut short by Ren Xiaoyao’s smile. “I know nothing about swordsmanship, so it’s better to go empty-handed.” With that, he bent down and entered the cave.
The cave was pitch black, and Ren Xiaoyao couldn’t see anything. His tinderbox was also damp. Just as he was feeling helpless, he suddenly remembered the luminous pearl that Qin Huaiqing had given him when he left Coconut Island, so he took it out.
The luminous pearl emitted a faint blue light, and although the brightness was not strong, it was enough to make him see as if it were daytime.
“Come in,” Ren Xiaoyao called out loudly after checking it briefly and finding nothing amiss.
The Nangong sisters, hand in hand, walked side by side to his side. Ren Xiaoyao, revealing his dashing nature, smiled and nestled the luminous pearl into Nangong Fengyi's long, flowing hair, saying with delight, "A pearl for Fengyi, a sword for Fengzi. Have I treated you two well?"
Nangong Fengyi was slightly taken aback, her beautiful eyes sparkling with a look of infatuation. She leaned in and lightly kissed his cheek, saying, "This is the most precious gift I've ever received."
"More precious than the score for 'High Mountains and Flowing Water'?" Nangong Fengzi asked with a hint of jealousy.
"Yes," Nangong Fengyi replied softly, lowering her head and stealing a glance at Ren Xiaoyao. The tender, lingering kiss in the lake, the passionate kiss, had given her the joy of mutual affection. This luminous pearl, like the jade pendant she had given him that night, was a token of their love.
"Brother Xiaoyao, there's another path this way," Nangong Fengzi said softly, pointing to the stone wall on the left.
Passing through the narrow passage, the three arrived at a much wider cave. Under the dim, eerie light of the luminous pearl in Nangong Fengyi's hair, an inexplicable sense of mystery filled the air, especially her celestial beauty and radiant face, which added an indescribable allure to the cave.
"Ah—" Nangong Fengzi exclaimed, suddenly throwing herself into Ren Xiaoyao's arms, utterly terrified, "There...there's a ghost!"
Ren Xiaoyao was greatly surprised and stared intently in the direction she was standing.
Beside a stalagmite at the end of the cave, leaned a skeleton, its clothes tattered, but still recognizable as a human shape. The Nangong sisters were both horrified at the sight, their hearts pounding wildly.
Ren Xiaoyao, a seasoned veteran of the martial world,
was naturally unafraid. He gestured for Nangong Fengyi to look after Nangong Fengzi for the time being, while he stepped forward to examine her closely. "Brother Xiao... let's go out quickly, I... I'm scared," Nangong Fengzi whispered
, still shaken. "Alas... we're both in the same boat," Ren Xiaoyao sighed, seemingly oblivious.
"Brother Ren, he... he..." Although Nangong Fengyi was braver than her sister, she couldn't bear to look any longer.
"Don't be afraid. This senior, like us, was persecuted by villains and fell into the valley," Ren Xiaoyao comforted her softly. "I think his ghost won't bother us." "
You... how do you know?" Nangong Fengyi gently touched her chest, suppressing her nervousness, and asked softly.
"His collarbone, ribs, and shinbone all show signs of fracture. He must have been seriously injured before falling from the peak," Ren Xiaoyao said, taking the sword from Nangong Fengzi's hand and walking to the remains to begin digging. “
Brother Xiaoyao, are you going to bury him?” Nangong Fengzi wiped away the tears that welled up in her eyes from the shock, her voice trembling slightly.
“Yes, this senior must have been a great hero in life. I wonder why he met his end in this desolate mountain, dying in this hidden cave. We, as his juniors, should at least bury his remains and do our duty.” Ren Xiaoyao said solemnly.
“Could he be a hero who sacrificed himself in the battle between good and evil at Wuyun Mountain twenty years ago?” Nangong Fengyi asked quietly.
“Very likely.” Ren Xiaoyao said as he dug the soil. “Judging from the degree of decay of the bones, they were probably left behind fifteen to twenty years ago. If I’m not mistaken, after he fell into the valley, he must have lived here for several years, otherwise the cracks in his bones wouldn’t have shown such obvious signs of healing.” "
Ding!" As he dug, the sword suddenly struck a hard object. Ren Xiaoyao brushed away the soil and saw it was a piece of clear, azure-blue ice jade.
"Is it a jade pendant? No, no." Ren Xiaoyao pinched the ice jade, but felt a chill to the touch. He pulled hard, but it didn't budge, as if it were cast into stone. "
Let's dig a little deeper, maybe there's something else inside," Nangong Fengyi suggested.
Ren Xiaoyao did as she suggested and dug down, only to find that it was a sword hilt made of ice jade. He became very interested and laughed, "Hehe, could it be another sword that can cut through iron like mud?"
"We'll know once we pull it out," Nangong Fengyi said with a charming smile.
Ren Xiaoyao handed the sword to Nangong Fengyi, gripped the ice jade hilt with both hands, and pulled with all his might.
"Bang!" The hilt remained in the soil, but his legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground.
"This... this jade is terrifyingly cold. " "Ren Xiaoyao frowned and exclaimed. He then stood up again, gripping the sword hilt with his right hand and resting his left hand on his right wrist, slowly gathering his true energy.
With a hiss, the longsword burst from the ground, its bright blue light instantly filling the entire cave.

Chapter Four: The Ultimate Sword Technique Appears in the Deep Valley Chapter Ten: The Soaring Sky Sword

Technique This was a peerless sword with a chilling light and a blade as white as frost and snow. Its entire body was made of ice jade, like a lotus emerging from the water, elegant and pure, ethereal and profound. The hilt was carved with a lifelike flying dragon, with a shimmering gemstone inlaid on the dragon's head; the blade and the blue light were perfectly integrated, exuding a chilling killing intent; the blade was like a thousand-foot cliff, lofty and majestic yet noble.
"I wonder which of these two swords is sharper." Nangong Fengzi looked at the sword in her hand, then glanced at the jade sword, her cherry lips uttering a soft laugh.
"Let's try them out." "Ren Xiaoyao raised his jade sword and nodded.
"Take this—" Nangong Fengzi lightly flicked her wrist, and the precious sword rushed towards her chest.
Ren Xiaoyao raised his sword to block, and with a crisp "clang," the precious sword in Nangong Fengzi's hand was instantly reduced to half. The flying blade struck the stone wall, unexpectedly stirring up clouds of dust.
"The world...the world actually has such a divine weapon." Nangong Fengzi's pretty face turned pale as she murmured.
Ren Xiaoyao laughed loudly, "If Sister Fengzi likes it, then..."
Before he could finish the word "take it," Nangong Fengyi suddenly exclaimed, "Quick...look!"
As stone chips continued to peel away, several lines of vigorous, upright, and elegant characters gradually appeared on the cave wall: "I have roamed the martial world all my life, enjoying life's pleasures and grudges. Thirty years have passed, and the vicissitudes of life have passed in an instant. At first, I had indifferent feelings and did not seek a divine couple, but I was fortunate enough to be blessed by heaven." Like a lone moon in the sky, surrounded by stars; like a solitary mountain standing alone, adorned by a hundred grasses. Yet, I was devoted to martial arts, using cunning to overcome all obstacles, ultimately causing all the beauties to wither, making it impossible to find a suitable partner. The plum blossom alone stands, shunned by all other flowers; the pine tree stands proudly, its branches unable to support each other; marriage failed, and the way of the sword was abandoned. Yet, fate is fickle, and the cycle of reincarnation is unpredictable; of all rivers flowing into the sea, one branch flows back. Fortunately, I met my wife, Ruoxue, and we finally achieved our marriage, with double blessings following. I then comprehended the Lingxiao Sword Technique, reaching the state of perfect harmony between love and sword. My swordsmanship reached its pinnacle, yet I sought only defeat. In the battle of Wuyun, I suffered at the hands of treacherous officials. I perished in the valley, knowing my life was nearing its end. I hid the Ice Soul Frost Sword at my feet and inscribed the Eighteen Forms of the Sword Technique on a stone wall, hoping a destined person would find it. He had once told me two things: "I have no regrets in life, only my wife and children. I hope someone will kindly pass on these final words to me, and instruct them not to worry. The Lingxiao Sword Technique is also a righteous sword; I hope to use it to sweep away the wicked and petty villains, and the treacherous and wicked in the world. Then I can die with a smile on my face." With these thoughts, the images of his wife and children floated before his eyes. Overwhelmed with grief, tears streamed down his face, and he could not control himself. "I am dying, and I am utterly worn out."
"It seems our guess was correct." Nangong Fengyi said solemnly, her face full of reverence.
"Senior Ren is truly a man of great courage, even on the verge of death, he did not forget his wife and children," Nangong Fengzi sighed.
"My heart is filled with sorrow, the images of my wife and children float before my eyes, my heart aches terribly, tears stream down my face, I cannot help myself." Ren Xiaoyao stared blankly at the stone wall, a thousand thoughts surging in his mind, and murmured to himself. He did not know that Ren Qiaocui was his father, but he felt a deep sense of kinship, especially the last sentence, which reminded him of the time he lost his parents at a young age and was left all alone.
"According to Senior Ren's last words, these hundreds of densely packed human figures on the left side of the stone wall must be the Lingxiao Sword Manual." Nangong Fengyi's beautiful eyes lit up with joy.
"But... but the Lingxiao Sword Manual was created by Senior Ren after he and his beloved wife comprehended the essence of 'the unity of love and sword,' so it should... it shouldn't be very suitable for us women to practice." Nangong Fengzi bit her cherry lips and said with regret.
"If we can't practice it, we can let Brother Xiaoyao practice it." Nangong Fengyi smiled sweetly.
"I know absolutely nothing about swordsmanship, how could I possibly master such exquisite moves? You two should try practicing first," Ren Xiaoyao said with a
wry smile. Hearing this, the Nangong sisters began to study the sword manual on the stone wall carefully. They found it completely different from what they had learned before. It wasn't just a different approach; it was downright fanciful. Every move contradicted the principles of martial arts, and even the methods for regulating breathing were unheard of and unseen.
"Alas, this kind of swordsmanship, let alone us sisters, even if Father himself came… he couldn't possibly learn it," Nangong Fengyi sighed softly.
"No, no, just looking at it gives me a headache," Nangong Fengzi said with a hint of dejection and helplessness.
"Let me see," Ren Xiaoyao said, his interest piqued by their words, his eyes fixed on the stone wall.
The Lingxiao Sword Technique was created by Ren Qiaocui using his life's work. It was so powerful that even the notorious "Number One Evil Master Under Heaven," Guiming Shenjun, suffered repeated defeats. Unlike ordinary sword techniques, which progress from easy to difficult, this technique progresses from difficult to easy. If one cannot pass the initial hurdle, even decades of effort will not suffice to master it. Conversely, once one grasps its essence, progress is rapid and effortless.
Nangong Fengyi and Nangong Fengzi, having studied swordsmanship since childhood, have developed ingrained, unchangeable mindsets regarding sword techniques. Suddenly switching their focus to a completely different style would be incredibly difficult for them to adapt to. Furthermore, given the unparalleled power of the Lingxiao Sword Technique, it is beyond the comprehension of ordinary people. In the current Central Plains martial arts world, aside from the reclusive Dugu Yu of Hengshan and the hermit Fu Longyuan overseas, there is likely no one else who can truly understand it.
Logically, with Ren Xiaoyao's current cultivation level, he certainly cannot learn it. But he possessed extraordinary talent, exceptional physique, and unparalleled aptitude, making him a martial arts prodigy rarely seen in a century. Furthermore, the four masters of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting had performed acupuncture and bone-refining rituals for him since childhood, ensuring his meridians and acupoints were fully formed. Most importantly, he had never practiced any swordsmanship, like a rough, unpolished jade, perfectly suited to have the Lingxiao Sword Manual inscribed within him.
Ren Xiaoyao slowly raised the Ice Soul Frost Sword in his hand and, following the sword manual's instructions, began to wield it on his own. At first, it seemed unremarkable, but soon the movements became fluid and dynamic, with twists, turns, and slashes, each strike and parry unleashing a flurry of exquisite techniques. The Nangong sisters, watching from the side, were dumbfounded and filled with amazement.
After a long… long time…
Ren Xiaoyao stopped his movements and stood still, his eyes gleaming with a divine light, exuding an aura of supreme heroism.
"Brother Ren, you...you've mastered it?" Nangong Fengyi gazed at him intently, her expression a mixture of surprise and joy, and asked breathlessly.
"No, I just copied the first ten moves of the Lingxiao Sword Technique. As for...as for the remaining eight moves, I...I still don't understand them yet." Ren Xiaoyao seemed still immersed in the moment, and after a long while, he finally
replied with a sigh.
"Anyway, we'll be staying in the valley for a while, so Brother Ren, you don't need to rush things." Nangong Fengyi noticed the slight regret and frustration in his expression and words, and gently comforted him.
"'The ultimate swordsmanship seeks only defeat.' I wonder when I can reach that level." Ren Xiaoyao gave her a grateful look and murmured.

Chapter Four: The Precious Sword Technique Appears in the Deep Valley Chapter Eleven: Diligent Practice Day and

Night The three found a secluded and peaceful burial site in the valley and carefully laid Ren's emaciated remains to rest. Covering the grave with the last layer of soil, Ren Xiaoyao knelt before the tomb, reverently performing the three bows and nine kowtows, and declared loudly, "Disciple Ren Xiaoyao, today I have the opportunity to learn the Lingxiao Sword Technique. I will practice diligently day and night, without ceasing, and will never fail my senior's trust."
"Senior Ren mentioned his wife and children many times in his last words. After returning home, I will definitely have my father send people to help you find them," Nangong Fengyi said softly.
"I hope... I hope they are still alive in this world," Ren Xiaoyao said solemnly, a sense of foreboding rising in his heart.
Days passed, and before they knew it, Ren Xiaoyao and the Nangong sisters had been staying in the valley for almost half a month. Although there was no food, wild fruits were everywhere, and the white fish in the lake were especially delicious, fatty, and tender.
The facts proved the solemn promise made to Meng Fei by the Four Sages of Qin, Chess, Calligraphy, and Painting. In less than half a month, Ren Xiaoyao had mastered the first ten moves of the Lingxiao Sword Technique with ease and complete understanding. The speed of his progress was something that even Ren Qiaocui in the afterlife could not have imagined. The Nangong sisters were naturally not idle either. They practiced alone from time to time and sparred with each other from time to time. Their cultivation of the Snow Reflecting Red Dust Sword and the Blazing Fire Supporting the Sky Sword had both made considerable progress.
Every martial arts mastery inevitably encounters bottlenecks. The Lingxiao Sword Manual emphasizes that the sword moves with intention, and intention arises from emotion. Although Ren Xiaoyao's dashing and romantic nature is no less than his father's, his understanding of true love is far inferior. Therefore, although he has mastered the sword forms of the remaining seven moves—"Spring Heart Should Not Compete with Flowers in Bloom," "Meeting is Difficult, Parting is Difficult," "Only Longing is Like the Color of Spring," "Passionate Yet Seemingly Heartless," "In Heaven, We Wish to Be Birds Flying Together," "Having Seen the Vast Ocean, Other Waters Are Insignificant," and "Though I Have No Colorful Phoenix Wings to Fly With You"—he is completely ignorant of the sword intent and thus cannot apply it in actual combat. As for the last move, "A Thousand Years of Elegance Amidst Laughter," it is not even recorded in terms of illustrations, except for the name, leaving only the eight-character explanation: "Where Love is Devoted, Until Death is Unwavering."
Don't underestimate these few moves of the Soaring Sky Sword Technique. When the three sparred, Ren Xiaoyao stood still, easily deflecting the combined attacks of Nangong Fengyi and Nangong Fengzi with just a willow branch. If they were to combine their attacks with the Flying Immortal Transformation technique, the sisters would be forced to surrender within ten moves.
That morning, the three began discussing their escape from the valley.
"My sister and I haven't been home for so long. Father must be worried sick," Nangong Fengzi said softly, her brows furrowed and her eyes filled with complex sadness.
"Don't worry, as long as we can successfully climb the cliff, getting out of the valley won't be difficult," Ren Xiaoyao comforted her.
"Brother Ren, the southern slope is relatively flat. With your lightness skill, could you give it a try?" Nangong Fengyi asked calmly and gently.
"The cliff is over a hundred feet high. It's not just about the Flying Immortal Transformation technique..." Ren Xiaoyao said, then sighed dejectedly.
"Are we really going to stay here forever?" Nangong Fengzi said, tears welling in her eyes. The little girl was still a little girl; just a few days ago she said, "Since I'm here, I'll make the best of it," but now, after only a few days, she's already thinking about going home.
"Don't rush, I didn't say we couldn't go back," Ren Xiaoyao said casually, his expression relaxed and composed.
"Oh, you lied to me earlier!" Nangong Fengzi laughed through her tears, feigning anger. As she spoke, a pair of delicate hands reached out and pinched his arm hard.
"Brother Ren, you've come up with a plan?" Nangong Fengzi asked, her eyes gleaming with surprise as she scrutinized him.
Ren Xiaoyao nodded slightly and said mysteriously, "As long as we tie three ten-zhang-long ropes together with vines, I guarantee that everyone can reach the summit in less than two hours."
"Really?" Nangong Fengzi asked excitedly.
"Hahaha, when has your Brother Xiaoyao ever broken his promise?" Ren Xiaoyao's eyes shone brightly, and he smiled confidently, saying leisurely, "Anyway, let's prepare the ropes first, and I'll make arrangements accordingly."
The next day, at Tingyu Pavilion.
"Sect Master! Sect Master!" Nangong Tiankuo rushed into the Forget-Worry Pavilion, shouting.
"Any clues?" Nangong Bubai suddenly stood up and asked impatiently.
"Xian...Xianzhong sent a secret letter, saying...saying that someone in the Five Clouds Mountain area...someone has seen the Second Miss." Nangong Tiankuo said breathlessly.
"Who else was with Fengzi?" Nangong Bubai asked in a deep voice.
After Nangong Fengyi and Nangong Fengzi disappeared, the news quickly spread throughout the martial arts world. Because of their fight in Wangjiang Tower and the sneak attack that severely injured Nangong Wushang, all the suspicion pointed to Ren Xiaoyao, who had also disappeared.
Some said that he had been rejected by Tingyuxuan and, in a fit of anger, forcibly kidnapped the Nangong sisters; others said that he had secretly pledged his life to the Nangong sisters and conceived a child, but was opposed by Nangong Bubai, so he eloped; still others said that he coveted Tingyuxuan's immense wealth and therefore took the Nangong sisters away to extort them.
Public opinion can be devastating, and slander can destroy even the most innocent. Not only Nangong Wushang, Nangong Lin, and Nangong Tiankuo, but even Nangong Bubai and Murong Ruorong began to have doubts. Apart from Zhuge Wenjie, no one else in the entire manor consistently upheld Ren Xiaoyao's innocence.
"The secret...the secret letter didn't mention it," Nangong Tiankuo replied.
"Have Xianzhong bring him here. I want to interrogate him personally!" Nangong Bubai slammed his hand heavily on the tea table, as if venting his anger, and said sharply.
In less than half an hour, the messenger was brought in.
"This...this humble servant greets the Sect Master," the dark-skinned, emaciated messenger prostrated himself in obeisance.
"What's your name?" Nangong Bubai asked.
"Liu...Xianzhong."
"Liu San, did you really see my daughter?" Nangong Bubai asked in a deep voice.
"Yes...yes, on the third night, when I was gathering firewood on Wuyun Mountain, I saw...saw..."
"Saw what?" Nangong Bubai asked loudly.
"I saw the Second Miss... she and a young gentleman went up Yunwu Peak together."
"Are you sure you didn't mistake her for someone else?" Nangong Bubai asked again.
"No... I didn't mistake her for someone else. The Second... the Second Miss looks like a celestial being, how... how could I be mistaken?"
"Tiankuo, immediately take people... wait, I'll go myself!" Nangong Bubai suddenly stood up and ordered.
"Sect Master, should we inform Mr. Zhuge?" Nangong Tiankuo asked.
"No need, Mr. Zhuge just went to the western warehouse to pick up goods this morning and won't be back for a while." Nangong Bubai said loudly.

Chapter Four: The Sword Technique Appears

in the Deep Valley Chapter Twelve: Trapped in the Encirclement At the beginning of the hour of Si (9-11 AM), Nangong Bubai, Nangong Tiankuo, Liu Xianzong, and fourteen retainers arrived at the top of Yunwu Peak under Liu San's guidance. Crossing the newly repaired suspension bridge, the group easily found the Tongtian Cave.
"You guys, come in with me." Liu Xianzong waved his hand and led three retainers inside first.
"Ah! Ah! Ah!" A series of screams rang out as a disheveled Liu Xianzong fled as if by magic, exclaiming, "There...there are traps inside!"
"Where are the others?" Nangong Tiankuo asked in surprise.
"They're all dead." The eerie reply didn't come from Liu Xianzong, but from Liu San, who was standing at the end of the group.
"Liu San, you..." A look of shock flashed across Nangong Bubai's face, which he masked with a smile as he said in a
deep voice. "Hahaha, hahaha, I thought 'Martial Mengchang' Nangong Bubai was nothing special. I didn't expect that as soon as Zhuge Wenjie left, he would fall for our trap." Amidst the loud laughter, Jueyue and Zhuihun stepped out of the cave.
"Who are you?" Nangong Bubai asked loudly.
"The ones who want your lives!" Jueyue replied coldly.
"Hmph, you overestimate yourselves!" Nangong Tiankuo shouted. With that, he gestured, and the remaining eleven retainers immediately surrounded Jueyue, Zhuihun, and Liu San.
"Is my daughter in your hands?" Nangong Bubai's eyes flashed with murderous intent as he asked in a deep voice.
"So what if she is, and so what if she isn't?" Jueyue said nonchalantly.
"If she is, as long as you are willing to return them, everything can be forgiven." Nangong Bubai leaned forward slightly and said solemnly.
"Nangong Bubai, how naive you are." A sinister laugh sounded from behind.
Everyone turned around in astonishment and saw a masked man and woman who had appeared at the head of the suspension bridge. The laughter came from the man.
"Sect Master, what should we do?" Nangong Tiankuo asked in a low voice, seeing that the situation was not good.
"Fight and retreat, kill our way back." Nangong Bubai said decisively.
"Do you think you can get away?" The masked woman shouted, and more than twenty black-clad assassins immediately poured out from the dense forest on both sides of Tongtian Cave, trapping the Tingyuxuan group in the center.
Nangong Bubai's imposing figure trembled, sweat beading on his forehead. The opponent's strategy was indeed extremely clever: first, using traps to instantly kill three, thus diminishing their morale; then, having masked men guard the only path down the mountain, turning Yunwu Peak into a dead end; finally, deploying their elite forces to completely control the situation.
"It seems Tingyuxuan is truly doomed today," Nangong Bubai sighed, dropping his longsword.
"Kill!" Just as Jueyue, Zhuihun, and the others were wondering why he had surrendered so easily, Nangong Bubai suddenly roared to the sky, kicking a fist-sized rock beside him with his left foot. A burst of white light erupted, striking Jueyue head-on. With a surge of energy in his right palm, his longsword returned to his hand, transforming into a dazzling azure light, aiming straight for Duohun's vital chest. All his movements were fluid and ruthless, truly befitting of the name "Martial Mengchang."
Jueyue and Zhuihun were caught off guard by their opponent's cunning. One retreated hastily, the other brandishing his sword to protect his chest. Though their movements were somewhat flustered, their footwork and positioning remained those of a master.
The members of Tingyuxuan also launched their attack simultaneously. Nangong Tiankuo and Liu Xianzong each reached into their robes and fired a red and a yellow firework bomb into the air. The other members, armed with their weapons, charged towards the black-clad assassin.
The masked man and woman exchanged a glance, then leaped into the air, unleashing a wave of energy that sent the firework bombs flying. Before they could explode, the masked man and woman were blasted into a shower of spray.
"Want reinforcements? No way!" the masked man sneered, charging forward with his sword. The four were instantly locked in combat.
"Bang!" Jueyue shattered a rock with her fist, preparing to rush to Zhuihun's aid, but Nangong Bubai bent his knees slightly, flipping sideways in mid-air. His sword, seemingly capable of penetrating any opening, launched a relentless attack.
Jue Yue shouted "Good!" His clothes billowed instantly as he charged forward with lightning speed, both palms striking the sword's edge. A highly concentrated palm force instantly pierced through Nangong Bubai's true energy, penetrating his meridians.
Nangong Bubai felt as if struck by lightning, his blood surging, and he was thrown backward, colliding head-on with Duo Hun, who was close behind.
It turned out that Nangong Bubai knew he was no match for two opponents, so he deliberately allowed Jue Yue to "take advantage of the situation," intending to use Jue Yue's icy palm force to combine with his own scorching true energy to deliver a fatal blow to Duo Hun. Duo
Hun's skill was comparable to his own, and suddenly combined with Jue Yue's palm force, he couldn't withstand it. It was as if he had been struck in the chest by a ten-thousand-pound iron awl. He groaned and was thrown back like a kite, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
Jue Yue realized she had fallen into a trap. She slightly pushed off the ground with both feet, using the momentum to leap up. From her elevated position, she launched a powerful, chilling attack with both fists, aiming straight at Nangong Bubai.
Nangong Bubai let out a long roar and counterattacked with all his might. With a "whoosh," he slashed at Jue Yue with his sword. His moves were simple and unpretentious, yet they possessed the domineering aura of a king who could sweep away a thousand armies.
Two figures moved swiftly and agilely, their clashing energies echoing incessantly. Jueyue leaped and swooped above Nangong Bubai's head, unleashing a barrage of attacks, while Nangong Bubai countered with all his might.
Jueyue was one of the few remaining elders from the Five Clouds Mountain battle, having faced countless sword masters throughout his life, including Feichen, the former sect leader of Tingyuxuan, yet he had never encountered anyone with a style similar to or even close to Nangong Bubai's.
Nangong Bubai launched his first offensive with the Fiery Sky-Piercing Sword, employing ghostly, swift, and unpredictable footwork, combined with sharp, overwhelming techniques, like a mountain crashing down or a raging torrent, launching a relentless and penetrating attack. Wherever the sword's edge struck, it stirred up clouds of dust, like molten lava from a volcanic eruption, assaulting every inch of his opponent's skin.
Jueyue unleashed his Myriad Manifestations Flowing Clouds Palm, closing in and employing his most proficient close-quarters combat technique. However, after only a few exchanges, he felt the space around him boiling over, as if he were in a vast, boundless, and terrifying desert, enduring the scorching sun.
The raging inferno truly lived up to its name.
Jueyue channeled his inner energy to resist his opponent's true qi, suppressing the ever-increasing heat around him. In the blink of an eye, he forcefully blocked over ten attacks from Nangong Bubai, each imbued with immense true qi, heavy as a thousand pounds, fierce and unparalleled, wide and sweeping.
Then, Nangong Bubai transformed his powerful and unrestrained style into unpredictable and versatile attacks, switching to the Snow Reflecting Red Dust Sword for a long-range assault. Suddenly, Jueyue felt his body lighten; the pressure from his qi vanished completely, leaving him feeling weightless and adrift, almost causing him to bleed.
As the opponent's longsword attacked, a chilling surge of true energy suddenly rushed in, causing Jue Yue to shiver violently, her heart filled with indescribable horror.
Nangong Bubai's internal energy cultivation method was so strange, able to switch back and forth between cold and heat, and had already reached the level of a grandmaster. His energy flowed freely, varying in intensity, making it truly impossible to defend against.
Jue Yue's internal energy was almost depleted from the alternating attacks of cold and heat, and each of her opponent's attacks sealed off her counterattacks, leaving her with powerful skills but unable to unleash them. She immediately fell into a disadvantageous position and struggled to hold on.
At this moment, Duohun arrived with his sword. As one of the five great assassins under Hentian, he was no ordinary man. Although his body was sore and numb, and his blood was surging, his fighting strength remained. After a brief meditation to regulate his breathing, he rejoined the battle.

Chapter Four: The Ultimate Sword Technique Appears in the Deep Valley Chapter Thirteen: The Battle of Yunwu Nangong Bubai

secretly sensed danger. He leaped into the air, his longsword transforming into countless rays of light, striking downwards at the back of the Soul-Stealing Sword.
The Soul-Stealing Sword swung, first trembling in the air like a snake's tongue, then straightening, its blade transforming into a point of lightning, traversing half a zhang of space, directly meeting the attack.
The two swords clashed, freezing in mid-air. The Soul-Stealing Sword generated a powerful magnetic attraction, attempting to firmly "stick" to the opponent's weapon.
Nangong Bubai, unaware that he was trying to stall for time, would not allow such a treacherous scheme to succeed. Without hesitation, he channeled his energy into his sword, flung away the Soul-Stealing Sword, man and sword becoming one, transforming into a rainbow, traversing a distance of two zhang, directly towards Jueyue.
Just as Jue Yue caught her breath, leaning against a large tree and panting heavily, she suddenly spun around, her clothes fluttering in the wind. Powerful vortexes of energy surged towards Nangong Bubai with each rapid turn, like tidal waves. Her subsequent palm strikes were like surging, turbulent waves within those waves, possessing an unstoppable, world-destroying force.
Nangong Bubai roared, setting up five layers of energy nets along his path, preventing Duo Hun from returning to help for a short time. Then, facing Jue Yue directly, he launched his third wave of attack.
Leaping into the air, using the momentum to accelerate, Nangong Bubai transformed into a shooting star, plunging into his opponent's palm strike. His longsword transformed into a blue light, emitting a hissing sound, piercing straight into the core of the raging waves. The chilling aura condensed from the blade, like a torrent breaking through layers of obstacles, forced Jue Yue's vortex of energy to tumble to either side.
At this moment, his swordplay was no longer conventional. The Blazing Sky-Piercing Sword and the Snow-Reflecting Red Dust Sword alternated, like a celestial horse galloping across the sky, flashing past in an instant, like a gazelle hanging by its horns, leaving no trace. Every move was aimed at Jueyue, completely putting him on the defensive.
"Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The sounds of clashing energy rang out continuously, dust flying everywhere. Duohun rushed to his aid, but was blocked by Nangong Bubai's invisible yet tangible sword energy, his momentum completely extinguished.
"Whoosh!" Nangong Bubai shifted slightly to the side, his longsword flashing downwards. The highly concentrated, scorching sword energy pierced through Jueyue's protective true energy, striking him squarely in the chest.
Jueyue was thrown backwards like a kite with a broken string, spitting out blood with a "whoosh," and slumped to the ground.
In terms of pure cultivation, his martial arts were no less than his opponent's. However, Nangong Bubai's strategy was too brilliant, and his fighting spirit was high in this desperate situation. In addition, Jueyue had never experienced his strange and unpredictable technique of combining two swords in one, blending cold and heat, which caught him off guard and led to his defeat.
Nangong Tiankuo and Liu Xianzong were clearly no match for the masked man and woman. Coupled with their requests for help being blocked, their minds were thrown into chaos, and they could only barely hold on for a few dozen moves before they collapsed.
At the critical moment, Nangong Bubai leaped in, his longsword transforming into points of silver light, whistling as it met his opponents. It was focused yet orderly, numerous yet cohesive, giving people an unpredictable and agile feeling. Compared to his previous duel with Jueyue, it had a different kind of power.
The masked man changed his previous carefree and relaxed demeanor. His eyes flashed with ferocity as he thrust his sword forward.
This seemingly simple move, in Nangong Bubai's eyes, contained profound and subtle skill. It was neither exploitable nor traceable; no matter how his swordplay changed, he would ultimately be forced into a direct confrontation.
The masked woman let out a sharp cry, her sword transforming into a flurry of light and shadow, flickering and shifting unpredictably, giving the impression of being ready to expand at any moment, silently meeting Nangong Bubai's attack.
Nangong Bubai used stillness to control movement, softness to overcome hardness, relying on the graceful lightness of the Snow Reflecting Red Dust Sword to defend against the masked woman's advance; he used slowness to counter speed, clumsiness to overcome skill, relying on the fierce power of the Blazing Sky-Supporting Sword to engage the masked woman in a counterattack.
Three figures leaped and darted across the suspension bridge, locked in a fierce battle, both sides using speed to counter speed, exchanging blows and countering attacks, the sounds of clashing blades incessant.
Nangong Tiankuo and Liu Xianzong found an opening and rushed towards Duohun, attacking from both sides with a single strike and two palms.
Duohun's face turned utterly cold. He slammed his feet into the ground and shot straight up like an arrow.
This move caught the two completely off guard. Being in the air significantly reduces flexibility in changing moves or defending, especially when outnumbered. Without extremely refined footwork, one should never leap rashly; otherwise, once one's inner energy is exhausted and one falls to the ground, one's entire body will be exposed, becoming a target for the opponent's attacks.
Nangong Tiankuo was not about to let go of this golden opportunity to defeat his enemy. His thick-backed broadsword followed a swirling arc, creating a rolling wave of energy as it slashed towards Duohun.
Liu Xianzong also coordinated his attack, sweeping out both palms simultaneously, creating a thousand palm shadows. In the midst of the dazzling chaos, his right hand suddenly retracted into his sleeve, striking the sword's edge with it, while his left palm continued its trajectory, striking straight at the chest—a completely unreserved offensive move.
The Soul-Snatching Sword spun around, seemingly meeting Nangong Tiankuo's blade wave head-on. Suddenly, it shifted sideways, using a light, fleeting step, landing precisely on the back of the blade.
Nangong Tiankuo immediately felt a strange, pungent true energy travel along the blade, penetrating his hand and threatening his heart. He hurriedly tried to resist, but the Soul-Snatching Sword used the recoil to dart to Liu Xianzong's left, sweeping across the air.
Liu Xianzong immediately withdrew his attack, feigning a blocking stance, his palms flashing. Only when the sword was about to strike did he swiftly shift half a step. The Soul-Snatching Sword watched helplessly as the sword grazed past his opponent's forehead, narrowly missing cleaving him in two, and sighed deeply.
At the same time, Nangong Tiankuo attacked again.
The Soul-Snatching Sword assumed Liu Xianzong was exhausted, abandoning the following blade's force, and launched a full-force attack, attempting to kill him first. Unexpectedly, Liu Xianzong's hesitation was merely a ploy to lure the enemy. He took a slight step back, stood proudly in the deep pavilion, spread his ten fingers wide, and then slowly closed them together. His true energy poured out like flowing water, forming a torrent in the three-foot-wide area in front of him. Although he did not launch an attack, it was enough to neutralize the opponent's offensive.
Duohun cried out in alarm and retreated.
Nangong Tiankuo's thick-backed broadsword drew a swirling, wave-like trajectory behind him, "swirling" towards him with an extremely profound and strange technique.
Duohun was surrounded by the two of them, and layers of air surged around him, trapping him and making it difficult for him to extricate himself.
At the same time, Liu Xianzong stepped forward, his hands pressing down in the air, releasing two spiraling palm forces that attacked Duohun's back.
Despite being in danger, Duohun remained calm. He suddenly pushed off the ground with his toes, soaring into the sky and instantly breaking free from the air waves. He then let out a long roar, flashing forward like lightning, dodging the spiraling palm forces, raising his elbow to strike back, his longsword first curving inward and then slashing upward, directly meeting Nangong Tiankuo's attack.
"Clang!" The sword and blade clashed, producing a sound like lightning and thunder.
Nangong Tiankuo was sent flying by the blade, falling like a kite with a broken string more than two zhang away. He staggered slightly upon landing before regaining his footing.
Duohun, though only slightly swaying in the upper body, was in no better condition. Not only were his hands and feet trembling, but his chest and abdomen were also churning with blood and qi.
In the midst of the chaos, Liu Xianzong glanced to the side and discovered that the guests of Tingyuxuan had been almost entirely killed or wounded by the black-clad assassins. Enraged, he leaped to Duohun's left and slashed out with his hand.
This palm strike was the culmination of his life's work. It seemed ordinary, but Duohun clearly felt the ferocity of the opponent's palm force, possessing a world-destroying and irresistible momentum.
Seeing that Duohun's life was hanging by a thread, two figures suddenly appeared, revealing themselves to be Jueyue and Liu San.

Liu

Xianzong immediately withdrew his attack, feigning a blocking stance, and then, just as the enemy's sword was about to strike, he swiftly shifted half a step. Duohun watched helplessly as the long sword grazed past his opponent's forehead, narrowly missing the chance to cleave him in two, and couldn't help but sigh.
At the same time, Nangong Tiankuo attacked again.
Duohun assumed Liu Xianzong was at his last gasp, his strength waning, and disregarded the approaching blade strike, launching a full-force attack, attempting to kill him first. Unexpectedly, Liu Xianzong's hesitation was merely a feint. He took a slight step back, standing proudly like a towering pavilion, his ten fingers first spread wide, then slowly closing into a palm. True energy poured out like flowing water, converging into a torrent within a three-foot radius in front of him. Although he didn't launch an attack, it was enough to neutralize the opponent's offensive.
Duohun cried out in alarm and retreated.
Nangong Tiankuo's thick-backed broadsword drew a swirling, wave-like trajectory behind him, "swirling" towards him with an extremely profound and strange technique.
Duohun was surrounded by the two of them, and layers of air waves surged around him, trapping him and making it difficult for him to extricate himself.
At the same time, Liu Xianzong stepped forward, his hands pressing down in the air, unleashing two spiraling palm forces that attacked Duohun's back.
Despite being in danger, Duohun remained calm. He suddenly touched the ground with his toes, soaring into the sky, instantly breaking free from the air waves' confinement. With a long howl, he darted forward like lightning, dodging the swirling palm strike. He raised his elbow and countered, his longsword first curving inward before slashing upward, directly meeting Nangong Tiankuo's attack.
"Clang!" The clash of swords produced a sound like lightning and thunder.
Nangong Tiankuo was sent flying by the blow, falling like a broken kite two zhang away. He landed slightly unsteadily before regaining his footing.
Although Duohun only swayed slightly in the upper body, his condition was not much better. Not only were his hands and feet trembling, but his chest and abdomen were also churning with blood.
In the midst of the chaos, Liu Xianzong glanced to the side and discovered that the guests of Tingyuxuan had been almost entirely killed or wounded by the black-clad assassins. Enraged, he leaped to Duohun's left and slashed out with his hand.
This palm strike was the culmination of his life's work. It seemed ordinary, but Duohun clearly felt the fierceness of the opponent's palm force, which possessed a world-destroying and irresistible momentum.
Seeing that Soul-Stealing was on the verge of death, two figures suddenly appeared, none other than Jue Yue and Liu San.
Jue Yue was the second-in-command under Hen Tian, and his internal strength far exceeded Nangong Bubai's expectations.
Although the sword strike had severely injured him and caused him to vomit blood, it had not affected his internal organs, and he recovered his strength in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea. Liu San was not Liu San, but Qin Shang, the "Flower-Picking Demon," who was skilled in disguise . He was proficient in lightness skills, hidden weapons, and close combat techniques. The heavy casualties among the guests
of Tingyu Pavilion were not unrelated to his strange and insidious methods. Liu Xianzong cursed inwardly, knowing that he was no match for him. He quickly rushed to Nangong Tiankuo's side. In mid-air, the two exchanged a glance and simultaneously attacked the bridgehead.
Jue Yue laughed and blocked their path first. Soul-Stealing and Qin Shang followed, forming a "品"-shaped encirclement.
Nangong Bubai, unwilling to allow them to be trapped, swiftly abandoned the masked man and woman, leaping over three zhang with unpredictable speed, attacking Jueyue like an arrow released from a bow. His movements were fluid and natural, filled with an unwavering determination. His
sword pointed into the void, its blade as sharp as snow, its chilling aura sweeping in relentlessly with its ever-changing sword techniques. Knowing Jueyue was still recovering from serious injuries, he intended to finish him off with overwhelming force.
Jueyue, however, neither moved nor dodged, his eyes blazing with purple light as he thrust his palm forward.
An ordinary master's palm strike would have created a powerful gust of wind, rushing straight at the opponent. But Jueyue's palm strike stirred the surrounding air, drawing it from top to bottom and left to right, all converging on Nangong Bubai.
A deafening boom echoed as their palms and swords clashed, creating a vortex that rippled outwards from Nangong Bubai. The weaker black-clad assassins nearby were swept away like fallen leaves.
"Is this your true strength?" Nangong Bubai, sword held horizontally in front of his chest, shielded Nangong Tiankuo and Liu Xianzong. His deep eyes gleamed with a sharp light as he spoke slowly, each word distinct.
Jueyue's palms also met Nangong Bubai's, his clothes billowing, his eyes flashing with an unprecedentedly cold light. He said menacingly, "That's right, you are the most outstanding swordsman I have encountered in the last twenty years. Unfortunately, you still cannot escape your fate today."
"Sect Master, we'll cover the rear, you…" Nangong Tiankuo and Liu Xianzong cried out in unison. It was impossible to fight their way back to Tingyu Pavilion together now; their only option was to sacrifice their own lives to protect their Sect Master.
"No, we go together!" Nangong Bubai interrupted in a commanding tone. Having said that, he stepped forward, placing Nangong Tiankuo and Liu Xianzong on his left and right, naturally forming a triangular formation.
"Hmph, no one will leave Yunwu Peak," the masked man sneered.
As soon as he finished speaking, another fierce battle erupted. Duohun wielded his sword like the wind, swiftly sweeping away Nangong Tiankuo; Qin Shang firmly entangled Liu Xianzong; the masked man and woman, along with Jueyue, surrounded Nangong Bubai from three sides, instantly trapping him in the center.
"Take this!" Nangong Bubai roared, moving forward with lightning speed. His incomparably sharp sword energy surged like giant waves, its power increasing relentlessly, becoming terrifyingly formidable.
The masked man's expression changed slightly as he parried with his sword. His moves were simple and unadorned, yet they had reached the realm of profound skill appearing clumsy.
The masked woman's sword trembled, transforming into three points of light that swirled in a triangular pattern towards Nangong Bubai. Simultaneously, she shifted her position, her movements abruptly changing, and she suddenly appeared behind Nangong Bubai, striking down with lightning speed.
Jueyue laughed, transforming her palm into a finger, seizing the only opening in the swordplay, and with masterful skill, aimed for Nangong Bubai's brow.
Nangong Bubai, assessing the situation, immediately realized that the masked woman was the weakest of the three. He feinted an attack, forcing the masked man away; simultaneously, he leaped into the air, channeling three-tenths of his true power into his feet, circling and raising his sword towards Duohun; his true killing move, however, was aimed at the masked woman.
Before the sword even arrived, the chilling sword energy completely enveloped and locked onto the masked woman. Terrified, the masked woman had no choice but to switch from offense to defense, retreating swiftly.
"Clang!" The masked man hurriedly raised his sword to save her, and the two clashed, exchanging a fierce blow.
Nangong Bubai's internal strength was profound. The masked man felt a tightness in his chest and was thrown aside like a kite with a broken string. Nangong Bubai seized the opportunity to leap up, his longsword flashing as he continued to press the masked woman.
His strategy was to relentlessly pursue her, defeating her one by one, and never allowing her to form an encirclement.

(Volume 5: The Daughter Protects Her Father, Suffers a Strange Poison, Chapter 2: Invincible Ultimately Defeated)

In fact, the masked woman's martial arts were not much inferior to Nangong Bubai's. It was simply that she lacked combat experience, couldn't see through her opponent's true intentions, and was intimidated by his sword aura, which caused her to fall short of her usual standard.
Jue Yue, a seasoned veteran, instantly discerned Nangong Bubai's thoughts. She swiftly moved sideways, rushing to the path the masked woman was about to take, and before Nangong Bubai's longsword could reach her, she used her aerial powers to unleash three consecutive palm strikes.
The power of the Fiery Sky-Piercing Sword lies in its ability to unleash scorching true energy from any angle in a circular motion. Jueyue's three palm strikes, seemingly landing on seemingly ineffective targets, actually severed his energy, defusing the impending crisis for the masked woman.
The masked man was initially stunned, but quickly recovered, his longsword tracing a perfect arc, creating a dazzling display of light, before hurtling towards Nangong Bubai.
Nangong Bubai roared to the sky, turning and striking the center of the circle with his sword. A powerful, earth-shattering force erupted, sending him staggering back several feet.
In the blink of an eye, he unleashed a rain of sword strikes, flawlessly attacking both Jueyue and the masked woman. Through the interplay of his soft and hard sword techniques, each of his attacks was not only incredibly powerful but also strangely angled,
leaving no the majority of his offensive, primarily powered by the Fiery Sky-Piercing Sword, relentlessly pursued the masked woman, forcing her to retreat step by step, barely able to defend herself.
With a furious roar, the masked man launched a second attack with his unpredictable and agile swordsmanship. Three swift moves followed, each targeting Nangong Bubai's weaknesses. The timing and angles were perfectly precise, clearly demonstrating his mastery of the Fiery Sky-Piercing Sword's essence.
Anyone who dared to wield such power would find themselves overwhelmed, yet Nangong Bubai swiftly parried each strike, the swirling sword light dazzling and unpredictable.
Undeterred, the masked man abruptly withdrew his sword, using the hilt to forcefully strike back, ultimately stabbing at his opponent in the final moments of being forced back.
Simultaneously, Jueyue seized the opportunity, blocking Nangong Bubai's path. Her hands blossomed like flowers, her fists, fingers, and palms striking repeatedly with the force of a mountain-shattering attack, making it impossible for anyone to meet her head-on. Even with Nangong Bubai's thirty years of martial arts training, he was greatly surprised to see such a seemingly unrestrained yet profound and subtle technique. He barely managed to deflect the masked man's sword hilt, but he was powerless against Jueyue's impenetrable and dense palm winds. He could only watch helplessly as the masked woman dodged to the side, completely powerless.
"Whoosh!" The masked woman was quite formidable. After calming herself slightly, she rejoined the battle. Her longsword generated surging true energy, spreading outwards like ripples. The energy waves encountered Nangong Bubai and clashed with his own true energy, gradually weakening his will to resist.
The situation on the side was also not optimistic. Liu Xianzong leaned against a tree, barely managing to fight Qin Shang to a draw, while Nangong Tiankuo was mentally and physically exhausted, no longer able to withstand his opponent's fierce attacks.
"Clang! Clang! Clang!" A series of metallic clangs rang out between him and Duohun. After the seventh exchange, Nangong Tiankuo let out a miserable groan as his thick-backed broadsword was snatched away by his opponent. Duohun struck with lightning speed, without hesitation, delivering another blow. Nangong Tiankuo spun around like a top suddenly losing its balance, blood gushing from his ribs as he rolled on the ground.
"Tiankuo—" Liu Xianzong cried out in anguish, his palms raining down on Qin Shang like a storm. Unexpectedly, Duohun seized the opportunity, attacking from behind with an extremely unpredictable sword technique, "Whoosh!" and felling him to the ground.
Seeing his beloved general, whom he considered his right-hand man, about to die, Nangong Bubai's heart was torn apart. He desperately defended against the opponent's palm strike and two sword blows, using the force to shift three zhang to the side, taking the fatal blow that Duohun was about to deliver to Liu Xianzong's chest.
"Sect Master… I…" Liu Xianzong choked out. He knew perfectly well that with Nangong Bubai's astonishing skills, storming down the mountain wouldn't be difficult. Yet, to rescue him, the sect leader was willing to forgo their chance to escape. Now, all three were severely injured, and it seemed none of them would make it.
"Everyone in Tingyuxuan is my brother. I can't abandon you," Nangong Bubai said solemnly, putting his arm around his shoulder. With Nangong Tiankuo and Liu Xianzong down, he knew he couldn't withstand the combined attack of the five. Defeat was inevitable; it was better to die together, master and servant, at least in a glorious way.
"Come on," Nangong Tiankuo struggled to his feet, declaring righteously.
The three were fearless in the face of death.
"Nangong Bubai, today you've finally lost, hahaha!" The masked man grinned as he stepped forward, his eyes flashing with murderous intent, his gaze fixed on the wound he had inflicted on Nangong Bubai's abdomen. He spoke calmly, almost coldly.
"Who...who exactly are you people?" Nangong Bubai clutched his chest, enduring the pain, and asked in a hoarse voice.
"Go ask the King of Hell," Jueyue sneered smugly. Nangong Bubai had been stabbed in the back, and besides being at their mercy, he had no chance of resistance.
"Soul Stealer, tell him to die knowing why," the masked woman said in a low voice, a hint of pity flashing in her eyes.
"Soul Stealer! You...who are..." Nangong Bubai instantly realized.
"Absolute—Kill—" A nonchalant, leisurely voice, as if from another world, answered casually.
"Who?" Soul Stealer looked around, seeing no one, and shouted.
"Planting traitors, kidnapping the young lady, setting up an ambush, do you think these petty tricks can really fool Mr. Zhuge?" The voice echoed across the peak, carrying a certain arrogance.
"The suspension bridge!" Jueyue roared, judging the direction of the voice, and the masked man and Soul Stealer immediately rushed over.
"Jueyue, there's no one here." The masked man glanced around and announced loudly.
"Impossible." Jueyue was startled and lunged forward, sweeping her palm across the sparse bushes on either side of the suspension bridge.
"Crack!" Two small trees fell down, but still no one was in sight.
"Who are you?" The masked woman stepped forward and demanded sharply.
Only Qin Shang and seven or eight bewildered black-clad assassins remained beside Nangong Bubai, Nangong Tiankuo, and Liu Xianzong.
"The dashing thief Ren Xiaoyao!" A soft whistle echoed through the sky.

Volume 5: The Beloved Daughter Protects Her Father, Suffers from a Strange Poison, Chapter 3: A Night of Passion.

It turned out that since yesterday morning, Ren Xiaoyao and the Nangong sisters had begun collecting vines to make ropes.
All three were skilled in martial arts, and with the Ice Soul Frost Sword capable of cutting through iron like mud, they had finished before nightfall.
Silver moonlight bathed every corner of the valley. Nangong Fengyi sat on the grass by the lake, her feet soaking in the clear water, her pretty face tilted back as she gazed at the crescent moon in the night sky.
Ren Xiaoyao walked to her side and sat down beside her, softly asking, "What are you thinking about?"
"I'm leaving here tomorrow. Don't you feel a little regretful?" Nangong Fengyi murmured softly. She remained gazing at the stars, her beautiful eyes serene and clear, making her words seem directed at herself, not at Ren Xiaoyao beside her.
"Regret?" Ren Xiaoyao was taken aback. The twenty-odd days he had spent in the valley had been filled with the Nangong sisters' company, both fulfilling and carefree. Her only regret was not having fully comprehended the Lingxiao Sword Technique, but was that really what she cared about?
Nangong Fengyi reached into her bosom and took out the luminous pearl that Ren Xiaoyao had given her that day. Her beautiful and refined face showed a hint of resentment, and she said in a soft voice, "Fengyi has been waiting for your words for so long."
Ren Xiaoyao's body trembled violently, and he stood there dumbfounded.
There were no vows of eternal love, no sweet nothings, yet he clearly felt the sweet taste of mutual affection and unwavering devotion. Like the shimmering lake before him, its gentle ripples reflecting the moon in the night sky, it was a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
"Foolish man, you want me to leave with regrets..." Nangong Fengyi nestled softly into his arms, her voice sweet and gentle.
In that instant, Ren Xiaoyao felt her soft, smooth skin, radiating the vibrant energy of youth, her beautiful eyes sparkling with a captivating light, and the delicate, sweet scent of her virgin body wafting into his nostrils, stirring the passion within him. "I love you." Ren Xiaoyao couldn't help but embrace Nangong Fengyi, kissing her moist lips deeply, the intense, soul-stirring sensation sending him soaring to the heavens. Nangong Fengyi, feigning resistance, weakly pressed her lips against his broad shoulders, her starry eyes half-open, her fragrant lips responding passionately. They sucked each other's saliva, their body temperatures rising.
Their lips parted, Nangong Fengyi panting heavily, her face flushed, and she murmured, "You..."
Ren Xiaoyao didn't speak, his hands freely caressing Nangong Fengyi's fair and delicate back, his tongue gently licking her translucent earlobe, then tracing the curves of her neck, lightly kissing every inch of her skin.
Nangong Fengyi, soft and boneless, her beautiful body flushed a rosy blush under Ren Xiaoyao's continued movements, her alluring breasts trembling slightly from the intense stimulation, rubbing against his strong chest muscles.
Suddenly, Ren Xiaoyao pulled her tightly, and the two tumbled off the grass and into the small lake.
A splash of crimson rose from the water, quickly merging into the warm lake. Ripples spread across the calm surface. Ren Xiaoyao's increasingly rapid breathing and Nangong Fengyi's alluring, passionate moans, accompanied by the chirping of insects and cicadas, intertwined in the silent valley, creating a lingering, enchanting melody.
At dawn, Nangong Fengzi, who had been soundly asleep in the cave, slowly awoke.
Last night, Ren Xiaoyao and Nangong Fengyi had gone out to survey the terrain and hadn't returned by midnight. Exhausted, she couldn't stay awake any longer and had gone to sleep alone.
Rubbing her eyes, she looked around. The haystack that had belonged to her sister was perfectly normal.
"Could something have happened to my sister?" Nangong Fengzi was startled and rushed out of the cave.
"Hehe, hehe." Under the bright sunlight, Nangong Fengyi and Ren Xiaoyao were holding hands, nestled under a spruce tree, whispering to each other. Nangong Fengyi lightly covered her beautiful face, occasionally letting out a silvery laugh, completely different from her former noble, elegant, quiet, and dignified self.
"Sister—" Nangong Fengzi called softly, fluttering like a butterfly to their side, her delicate brows furrowing slightly as she playfully scolded, "Where did you go last night? I was so worried!"
Nangong Fengyi looked extremely embarrassed, a blush rising on each cheek, making her appear even more alluring. She glanced at Ren Xiaoyao with deep affection, as if to say, "It's all your fault! Last night… you made it impossible for me to leave."
Ren Xiaoyao immediately understood, revealing a carefree smile that seemed to say, "It's clearly you who couldn't bear to see me go," and said softly, "We wanted to see if there was another shortcut, but we almost got lost halfway. By the time we returned, it was already past the hour of Chou (1-3 AM). Your sister was afraid of waking you, so she spent the night outside…
" "Then… did you find it?" "Nangong Fengzi patted her chest, displaying the innocent charm of a young girl, and said with sudden realization.
"No." Ren Xiaoyao shook his head regretfully, feigning seriousness, "It seems I'll have to use the method I devised yesterday." After saying this, he and Nangong Fengyi exchanged a smile, secretly relieved.
After their night of passion, they were truly in love and perfectly intertwined. Nangong Fengyi didn't want her younger sister to know about this, so Ren Xiaoyao naturally kept quiet, even helping her to deliberately conceal it.
"Do I have to force myself on her?" Nangong Fengzi asked playfully.
"Yes." Ren Xiaoyao nodded.
"But...but I'm afraid of heights." Nangong Fengzi said shyly and a little embarrassed.
"It's okay, I'll protect you." "Ren Xiaoyao shrugged casually, speaking calmly and composedly. To be honest, Yunwu Peak is hundreds of feet high, and even he himself wasn't entirely confident he could climb to the top on his own two hands and feet. However, with the rope he had spent five or six hours making yesterday, all problems were easily solved.
The three of them walked to the south side of the valley and looked up.
The stone walls stood majestically among the mountains, rugged and treacherous, shrouded in mist. On both sides, lush ancient pines and cypresses intertwined their roots along the mountainside, layer upon layer of verdant green, surrounded by clusters of wildflowers and fragrant grasses.
"Xiaoyao, it's up to you now," Nangong Fengyi said with a smile, her voice tender and gentle. Now that they had become intimate, she naturally couldn't call him "Brother Ren" anymore. "
Don't worry." Ren Xiaoyao nodded in agreement, grabbed the rope with his left hand, gripped the Ice Soul Frost Sword tightly with his right, let out a soft whistle, and soared into the sky.

(Volume 5: The Beloved Daughter Protects Her Father, Suffering from a Strange Poison, Chapter 4: Soul-Stirring and

Bone-Corroding) "Swish," "Swish," "Swish," as the Ice Soul Frost Sword continued to swing, fist-sized grooves appeared one after another on the hard stone wall. When his seven leaps were almost finished, Ren Xiaoyao swayed and landed abruptly on a green cypress tree halfway up the mountain.
"Sister, look! Brother Xiaoyao's lightness skill is amazing!" Nangong Fengzi cheered excitedly like a little girl.
As she spoke, Ren Xiaoyao had already tied the rope to the main trunk of the cypress tree. With a light touch of his feet and a flick of his clothes, he was back beside the Nangong sisters in the blink of an eye.
"Later, you two hold onto the rope, step on the grooves to climb up, and when you get tired, lean against the big tree to rest," Ren Xiaoyao explained with a slight smile.
"Good idea." "Nangong Fengzi clapped her hands. Although she and her sister's lightness skills were not as good as Ren Xiaoyao's, with ropes for leverage and grooves for footholds, climbing to the summit shouldn't be difficult.
"You've been 'paving the way' for us all this time?" Nangong Fengyi's beautiful cheeks flushed again, making her look stunningly beautiful, almost too beautiful to look at directly, yet impossible to look away from. She first gave Ren Xiaoyao a look that seemed both angry and reproachful, then lowered her head and said softly.
"Yes." Ren Xiaoyao answered happily, seeing her genuine feelings.
"Isn't it... too tiring?" Nangong Fengyi's delicate body trembled slightly as she asked with concern.
"No." A glint of light flashed in Ren Xiaoyao's eyes, and he replied with an extremely confident tone, "From a young age, my master trained my endurance and willpower. Persisting for several hours is absolutely no problem." The three began their "
operation," advancing step by step towards the summit with seamless teamwork.
Initially, the slope of the cliff was relatively gentle, and they reached the halfway point in less than half an hour.
At this point, a protruding rock blocked their path.
Ren Xiaoyao gave a wink, signaling the Nangong sisters to lean against a tree for support, and then, aiming at a waist-thick sycamore tree above the rock, "Whoosh!" With a whoosh, he soared through the air, instantly rising seven or eight zhang (approximately 33-40 meters). Seeing his momentum waning, the rope in his hand shot out like lightning, its force penetrating the end, snapping onto the main trunk and wrapping around it several times.
Using that pull, Ren Xiaoyao safely reached the top.
To prevent the rope from snapping due to friction with the rocks, Ren Xiaoyao grabbed one half and tossed the other end to Nangong Fengzi.
Because he feared the rocks wouldn't withstand the sharpness of the Ice Soul Frost, Ren Xiaoyao hadn't carved any grooves. Climbing straight to the distant paulownia tree without any foothold was indeed a considerable challenge for Nangong Fengzi.
"It's alright, you won't fall, you won't fall." "Nangong Fengzi gritted her teeth, muttering to herself, forcibly suppressing her inner fear, and slowly ascended the slippery stone wall.
Everywhere was covered with creeping thorns and moss, and occasionally a few maple leaves fell from the cracks in the rocks. A mountain breeze came, and the leaves danced merrily, as if they had met long-lost friends."
"Ah—" As the distance closed, an invisible pressure surged into her heart. With only a few steps left, Nangong Fengzi couldn't help but glance down.
The ethereal sea of clouds churned beneath her feet, and the large trees she had once stood on were now mere blades of grass, swaying incessantly amidst the colorful haze.
"So...so high." Nangong Fengzi panicked, her legs went weak, and she stumbled, nearly falling. Ren Xiaoyao was taken aback. He unleashed his inner energy, instantly filling the supple rope with true power. He pushed off straight, and the resulting recoil propelled Nangong Fengzi upwards again, leaping close like a bird.
"Snap!" Ren Xiaoyao's strong hand firmly grasped Nangong Fengzi's jade-like arm. With a gentle pull, her soft, alluring body instantly fell into his embrace.
Nangong Fengzi held him tightly with all her might, the fear in her beautiful eyes gradually replaced by an alluring, intoxicated expression. She gazed at him intently, panting, "Brother Xiaoyao, protect me."
These seven words spoke volumes, revealing the deepest emotions buried in her heart to Ren Xiaoyao. Ren Xiaoyao embraced her exquisite, shapely body tightly, feeling her gradually warming, delicate form without any barrier, inhaling her elegant and rich fragrance. His heart surged with excitement, fearing that the scene before him was merely a fleeting illusion, vanishing at any moment.
Nangong Fengzi's fragrant lips pressed against his, and Ren Xiaoyao, unable to control himself, returned the kiss with all his might, caressing her soft, boneless shoulders with all his passion and strength.
Their breaths mingled, passionately intertwined, creating a captivating and intoxicating sensation.
A strange feeling welled up in Nangong Fengyi's heart. It wasn't jealousy of her younger sister, but rather a thought: Xiaoyao, a young and dashing hero, would surely have more than just the two of them by his side in the future. Could she share his love with another woman?
"Hurry and pull your sister up," Nangong Fengzi said softly, panting, nestled in his arms like a docile lamb. She whispered in his ear,
"Mmm," Ren Xiaoyao nodded with a smile, feeling the pleasure of being favored. He tightened his embrace, found her cherry lips, and kissed them lightly, saying leisurely.
Nangong Fengzi's alluring body pressed firmly against Ren Xiaoyao's again, gazing at him tenderly, and said coquettishly, "Stop fooling around, hurry up."
Ren Xiaoyao reluctantly released her and lowered the rope again.
Nangong Fengyi carefully began to climb, her mind still preoccupied with the question she had just had.
Suddenly, a pebble the size of a teacup fell from mid-air. Distracted, she didn't notice and forgot to dodge.
The pebble struck her shoulder squarely. Nangong Fengyi gritted her teeth, intending to endure the pain, but a sharp pain shot through her lower abdomen.
"Ah!" Nangong Fengyi cried out, plummeting straight down.
In a flash, Ren Xiaoyao, without hesitation, grabbed the Ice Soul Frost Sword, channeled his inner energy, and leaped down.
Seeing herself about to plunge into the bottomless abyss, Nangong Fengyi closed her eyes in despair. She knew that what awaited her below was the solid rock face—no, it was inevitable death.
At that critical moment, Ren Xiaoyao's majestic body, like a roc, flew in and caught Nangong Fengyi tightly.
However, Nangong Fengyi's fall was too forceful, and his leap was downwards. Although both of them reached out to grab the surrounding vines, they couldn't stop their rapid descent.

Volume 5: The Beloved Daughter Protects Her Father, Poisoned by a Strange Trap, Chapter 5: After the Lovemaking.

"We can't give up like this; we must protect Fengyi." Thinking of his beloved's safety, Ren Xiaoyao's heart surged with emotion. His true energy flowed like water towards the tip of the Ice Soul Frost Sword. He unleashed a strike, "Affectionate yet seemingly heartless," and the sword's edge instantly transformed into a blue light, like the brilliant moonlight swirling in the sky amidst swirling clouds, piercing the rock wall like a shooting star.
"Whoosh!" Countless stone chips fell from the sky, and the two stopped abruptly, simultaneously letting out a sigh of relief.
"You...your hand." Nangong Fengyi looked at Ren Xiaoyao's bloodied and bruised arm and exclaimed in disbelief.
"A minor injury, nothing serious." Ren Xiaoyao smiled nonchalantly, carrying Nangong Fengyi, and dashed towards a nearby cypress tree.
As soon as she regained her footing, Nangong Fengyi's delicate brows furrowed slightly, a hint of pain appearing on her face. Ren Xiaoyao asked with concern, "What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"
"It's all your fault," Nangong Fengyi said shyly, clutching her lower abdomen and giving him a coquettish glare.
Ren Xiaoyao immediately realized that last night, in his passion, he had forgotten that Nangong Fengyi was an inexperienced young woman. She had shown her true feelings, allowing him to indulge in his lovemaking, and only today did he realize the pain that followed.
"Does it hurt a lot?" Ren Xiaoyao asked apologetically in a soft voice.
Nangong Fengyi first shook her head, then nodded shyly, a blush spreading immediately, even her jade-like ears turning red. She whispered in a low voice, "You...you don't know how to be gentler."
Ren Xiaoyao laughed heartily, saying happily, "Who could resist my alluring Fengyi?"
Nangong Fengyi turned her delicate body away, her eyes sparkling with spring-like desire, as if recalling the enchanting scenery of the previous night. She said tenderly, "Let's go up, Fengzi will be worried."
"Mm." Ren Xiaoyao knew Nangong Fengyi couldn't endure the hardship of climbing any further. He wrapped his left arm around her slender waist, his body floating like a feather, leaping and soaring.
The ten-zhang height passed in a flash. Seeing that the seven leaps were almost complete, Ren Xiaoyao raised his Ice Soul Frost Sword in his right hand, channeling his energy into a strike against the mountain wall, using the resulting recoil to continue his descent.
Nangong Fengzi, still in a state of panic, suddenly saw Ren Xiaoyao and her sister whirl around and land beside her in the blink of an eye. She exclaimed joyfully, "Brother Xiaoyao, you're amazing!" Her tone was full of delight and praise.
Ren Xiaoyao smiled mischievously and said casually, "Your sister twisted her ankle, so I had to carry her all the way up."
Nangong Fengyi's captivating eyes darted around quickly, and she gave Ren Xiaoyao a grateful look, saying softly, "Fengzi, it's my fault for being careless."
"It's alright, I can manage myself," Nangong Fengzi said innocently.
The three rested for a while before continuing their ascent to the summit. Although carrying his beloved was a heavy burden, after comprehending the sword intent of "affectionate yet seemingly indifferent," Ren Xiaoyao was often able to rely on the Ice Soul Frost Sword for assistance, combining it with his ingenious aerial attack technique to perfectly execute the Flying Immortal Transformation. His speed not only remained undiminished but was also much safer.
At this moment, Nangong Fengzi discovered a dark and narrow stone cave on the mountain wall not far away. Through the opening, which was no bigger than a millstone, she could vaguely see countless strange and layered stalactites hanging inside.
Curiosity piqued, Nangong Fengzi was about to peek inside when she suddenly heard a rustling sound, as if something was approaching the cave entrance.
"No...it can't be a snake, can it?" Nangong Fengzi pouted and murmured to herself.
"Rustle...rustle..." The sound grew louder, and her heart began to pound. Gradually, the thing drew closer, and Nangong Fengzi stared intently, instantly terrified.
A snake! A large snake, as thick as a bowl, slithered out of the cave, its forehead black, its body greenish-blue, its eyes blood-red, and its back covered with yellowish-brown stripes.
"Sizzle—sizzle." The green snake raised its head and flicked its tongue, while the red snake stretched out half a foot, its forked end looking indescribably ferocious and terrifying. Half of its body slowly rose, swaying from side to side, relentlessly closing in. In an instant, green and red mingled, swirling and flying about.
"Help!" The green snake attacked with lightning speed, and Nangong Fengzi screamed in terror, covering her head, forgetting to dodge.
"Fengzi, be careful." Amidst the shouts, Ren Xiaoyao arrived just in time, pulling her away and dodging the green snake's powerful attack.
"Brother Xiaoyao, I'm scared." Nangong Fengzi clung tightly to Ren Xiaoyao's sleeve, her voice trembling.
"Watch me deal with it." Ren Xiaoyao sneered, his Ice Soul Frost Sword bursting with light and shadow, whistling as it slashed towards the green snake.
The snake's head immediately retracted, cleaving the sword's edge, and twisted its body, leaping up from the other side, biting at Ren Xiaoyao's left arm,
its movements ever-changing and unpredictable.
Ren Xiaoyao shouted "Good!" and thrust out his sword with a backhand, pursuing relentlessly.
The green snake dodged sideways, its mouth snarling, using a short-range strike as its main attack, its incredibly sharp fangs aimed at his ribs.
Ren Xiaoyao didn't want to linger, his toes barely touching the ground as he met the attack head-on, his sword force suddenly expanding, engulfing the green snake.
"Whoosh!" The longsword pierced the air, the oppressive air currents seemingly sliced apart by a sharp blade, and the green snake let out a strange "squeak!" before being severed in two.
"See, it's alright now." Ren Xiaoyao slightly shifted his body, avoiding the splattered snake blood, and said calmly.
Before he finished speaking, a giant black python suddenly pounced out of the cave, howling like a thunderclap, heading straight for Nangong Fengzi.
Nangong Fengzi was already terrified, dumbfounded, and was about to be completely ensnared.
"Do not let your heart vie with the flowers in spring!" Ren Xiaoyao roared to the sky, and the Ice Soul Frost Sword, carrying a chilling force that made one feel as if entering an ice cellar, pierced the python's back with lightning speed. The python hissed a few times and quickly stopped moving.
"Brother Xiaoyao—" Nangong Fengzi revealed a pitiful look, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Don't be afraid, I'm here." Ren Xiaoyao swung his sword, slamming the python down to the bottom of the valley, and gently comforted her.
"Mmm...mmm..." Nangong Fengzi shyly buried her pretty face back into his clothes, which were wet with her tears, and responded in a barely audible voice.

URL 1:http://localhost:909/htmlBlog/11689.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=11689&aspx=1

Previous Page : A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - Part 2

Next Page : A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - 4

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - 3

comment Open a new window to view comments