Love and Sword [Complete] - 21

Volume 8, Cold Sword, Chapter 5: Becoming a Teacher for the First Time.

Han Xue gripped the bedsheets tightly, her flushed face showing a hint of pain. Her slender, petite body struggled to withstand Hua Ruoxu's gentle yet passionate advances. Occasionally, she let out a soft moan that sounded like a mixture of pain and pleasure, and her naked body gradually became covered in sweat.
"Xiao Xue, why are you crying?" After the storm, Hua Ruoxu, still holding her tightly, suddenly noticed a few tears in Han Xue's eyes and asked with a slight urgency.
"Young Master, Xiao Xue, Xiao Xue is just too happy." Han Xue buried her head in Hua Ruoxu's chest and whispered, "Xiao Xue has finally given everything to Young Master."
"Xiao Xue, you're such a silly girl." Hua Ruoxu sighed softly, holding her even tighter.
"He's clearly very smart," Hanxue said, a little dissatisfied, but her voice trailed off as she spoke, "Young Master, I'm really tired. I need to sleep now, I can't stay with you any longer." With that, she fell into a deep sleep.
*** *** ***
The sun was high in the sky when Hua Ruoxu finally brought Hanxue into the hall. Hanxue appeared nonchalant, but a closer look revealed a slight limp in her steps.
"Her, is Ruoxu good to you?" Hua Feimeng approached, smiling as she asked Hanxue. Hua Ruoxu looked somewhat embarrassed and glared at Hua Feimeng with a hint of annoyance, but Hua Feimeng pretended not to notice and continued to press her for an answer.
"Of course the Young Master is good to me," Hanxue replied, her face slightly flushed. It turned out this little girl could be shy too.
"And how was he good to you last night?" Hua Feimeng asked, her own face also turning red.
"I... I can't say it," Hanxue stammered for a while before suddenly blurting out, "Just like how Young Master treats you at night." Hua Feimeng's face immediately flushed red, and she hurriedly ran away, no longer pursuing the matter. Hua Ruoxu secretly chuckled; she had brought this upon herself.
"Alliance Leader, there's a young man outside who wants to see you." Zhao Changkong hurriedly walked in from outside, finally breaking the somewhat awkward and amusing scene.
"Xiaoxue, wait a moment, I'll go see him." Hua Ruoxu couldn't stand the strange looks he was getting from so many people, especially the women including the Three Beauties of Dongting, and couldn't wait to leave.
"Young Master, I want to go too!" Hanxue continued her clingy style, pouting and acting coquettishly.
"Alright then, let's go out and see together." Hua Ruoxu readily agreed.
"But Young Master, I really don't feel well, can you carry me?" Hanxue didn't want to walk anymore.
"It's all your fault, young master, last night you were so..." Hanxue continued, but immediately realized something was wrong and stopped, shyly burying her head in Hua Ruoxu's arms.
Hua Feimeng chuckled, while the other girls tried their best to hold it in, their faces turning bright red.
Hua Ruoxu was extremely embarrassed and quickly picked up Hanxue and walked out, only putting her down at the door, but still letting her lean against him.
*** *** ***
"Sima Lie greets Master." Suddenly, a young man ran up to Hua Ruoxu and knelt down with a thud.
"You, this, young brother, are you mistaken?" Hua Ruoxu had never been called Master before and was startled.
"Master, don't you recognize me? We met once before. I saw your great power then, and I vowed to become your disciple. Today I've finally found you, please accept me as your disciple!" Sima Lie raised his head, his eyes filled with hope. Hua Ruoxu looked closely and finally remembered. He had indeed seen this young man before, but it had been almost a year ago, when he was still a newcomer to the martial world.
"Brother Sima, please get up." Hua Ruoxu seemed a little at a loss. "I am still a young man, and I have accomplished nothing. I am truly unworthy to be a teacher. If Brother Sima doesn't mind, we can be friends."
"I won't get up unless Master accepts me as your disciple!" Sima Lie seemed determined, a resolute expression appearing on his somewhat simple face.
"This, Brother Sima, what virtue or ability do I, Hua Ruoxu, possess to deserve your insistence?" Hua Ruoxu sighed softly.
"My mother taught me from a young age that if I believe something is right, I must do it. I don't care who others think of me; I only know that I admire you, Master. To become your disciple is my honor and my greatest wish. I hope you will grant my request." Sima Lie was truly determined.
Hua Ruoxu hesitated. He had never imagined such a thing. He was not yet twenty years old, yet he was to become the master of someone his own age. This was something he found hard to accept, especially since he knew almost nothing about Sima Lie.
"Ruoxu, do you want him to keep kneeling?" A gentle voice came from behind him. Without turning around, he knew it was Ximen Lin.
"Sister Lin, how can I become someone else's master?" Hua Ruoxu sighed softly.
"There's a saying that those who are accomplished come first. With your current martial arts skills and status, you are fully qualified to be a good master. Since he is determined to become your disciple, why go against his wishes?" Ximen Lin said softly, her eyes full of encouragement as she looked at Hua Ruoxu.
"Well, Brother Sima, please get up." Hua Ruoxu was still somewhat hesitant.
Sima Lie didn't speak, nor did he get up, remaining kneeling on the ground.
"Alright, I'll agree to temporarily accept you as my disciple, but I have a condition." Hua Ruoxu finally nodded helplessly.
"Disciple greets Master, please tell me what you need!" Sima Lie was overjoyed.
"I only agree to temporarily accept you as my disciple, but I need to give you three months to observe. After three months, if you still insist that I be your master, and I think your performance during these three months is satisfactory, I will formally accept you as my apprentice, and we will hold an initiation ceremony for you then." Hua Ruoxu thought for a moment and said. In his opinion, Sima Lie might be acting on impulse. In addition, he vaguely remembered that Sima Lie seemed to be a lay disciple of Wudang. He didn't know if Wudang's rules restricted disciples from joining other sects, so he didn't rule out the possibility for now. Of course, there was another reason: he couldn't help but be suspicious of everyone who suddenly came here. He needed time to investigate Sima Lie's background.
"Master, please rest assured, this disciple will definitely strive to meet your requirements!" Sima Lie said respectfully, his words and actions already identifying him as Hua Ruoxu's disciple.
Han Xue blinked her beautiful eyes, looking at Sima Lie with curiosity, then suddenly a mischievous smile appeared on her face.
"Sister Lin, please arrange his accommodation first. If there's no place, he can stay with the Shaolin disciples for now," Hua Ruoxu said to Ximen Lin after a slight pause.
"Don't worry, I know what to do," Ximen Lin nodded gently, her voice soft, her eyes filled with tenderness as she looked at Hua Ruoxu.
"Feng'er, what do you think of this matter?" Hua Ruoxu went to Hua Yufeng's room, while Han Xue was pushed to Hua Feimeng's side, and Sima Lie naturally followed Ximen Lin.
"It's hard to say right now. Let me investigate his background first," Hua Yufeng said softly. "Also, I think it's best if you don't go to Nangong Feiyun right now. According to the information from my disciples, Nangong Feiyun has been acting strangely lately and seems to be planning something. However, the information is not accurate enough yet, so you'd better wait a while."
"I'm just a little worried about Xiaoyue. I haven't seen her in a long time," Hua Ruoxu sighed softly. Actually, what he was most concerned about was what had happened between him and Jiang Xiaoyue that night.
"Don't worry too much. Besides, worrying is useless. If something really was going to happen to her, it would have happened long ago, not just a few days ago," Hua Yufeng gently comforted him.
"I hope so," Hua Ruoxu thought for a moment, Hua Yufeng's words seemed to make sense.
"Sister Meng, shall we go see the young master's disciple?" Hanxue and Hua Feimeng whispered to each other.
"Why don't you go see your precious young master, but his disciple?" Hua Feimeng said, somewhat puzzled.
"The young master is so mean, he abandoned me again and ran away. I'm not going to see him," Hanxue pouted, looking very dissatisfied.
"Really?" Hua Feimeng lowered her voice, leaning close to Hanxue's ear. "Was Ruoxu mean to you last night?"

"I'm not talking to you anymore. Are you going or not? If you're not going, I'll go by myself." Hanxue's face flushed slightly, and she glared at Hua Feimeng angrily.
"Fine, I'll go. I'm bored anyway. That bad guy Ruoxu never spends time with me." Hua Feimeng said, sounding a little dissatisfied.
"Xiaoxue, Feimeng, what are you doing here?" Ximen Lin had just finished arranging Sima Lie's room and was about to leave when she noticed Hanxue and Hua Feimeng approaching. She was somewhat surprised.
"Sister Lin, Xiaoxue said she wanted to see Ruoxu's new disciple, so I came with her." Hua Feimeng quickly said, instantly betraying Hanxue.
While the two were talking, Hanxue had already entered the room. Sima Lie saw someone come in and quickly came over to greet them.
"Excuse me, young lady..." Sima Lie was very respectful, because he had just seen Hanxue nestled beside Hua Ruoxu.
"Hehe, come and pay your respects to Master's wife." Hanxue giggled, looking at Sima Lie with interest.
"Master's wife?" Sima Lie was taken aback. "Are you Miss Hua from Mount Hua?" Sima Lie only knew that Hua Ruoxu's wife was Hua Yuluan, hence the name "Si".
"Why do you care so much? Just call me Master's wife. Let me tell you, the young master dotes on me the most." Hanxue accidentally let slip that Hua Ruoxu was her young master.
"But, but, you are Master's maid. If I call you Master's wife, will Master scold me?" Sima Lie's honest face showed some difficulty. "What if Master gets angry and doesn't accept me as a disciple?"
"You, I'm telling you, if you don't call me Master's wife, I'll tell the young master not to accept you as a disciple!" Hanxue wrinkled her nose and snorted angrily.
"But, but..." Sima Lie was still hesitant.
"Ah Lie, I think you should call Xiaoxue Master's wife, and then try to curry favor with your little Master's wife. Then your master will teach you martial arts." Ximen Lin smiled.
"Xiaoxue, you're already thinking of marrying Ruoxu? Looks like he treated you very well last night." Hua Feimeng ran to Hanxue's side and whispered in her ear.
"Disciple greets, greets Little, Little Master's Wife!" Sima Lie didn't seem too willing, but he still obediently gave a deep bow.
"Master's Wife is Master's Wife, why call me Little Master's Wife?" Hanxue looked quite dissatisfied.
"Little, Little Master's Wife, disciple, disciple just thinks you're quite young, that's why I call you Little Master's Wife." Sima Lie couldn't lie after all, he hesitated for a moment and then answered honestly.
"Xiaoxue, I think calling me Little Master's Wife is not bad, so people won't think you're an old woman." Hua Feimeng said with a grin.
"No way, calling me Little Master's Wife is just telling people I'm a concubine." Hanxue muttered, her cheeks puffed out.
"What's there to be afraid of? People say a concubine is better than a wife, a concubine is the best, look how much Ruoxu dotes on you!" Hua Feimeng looked a little envious of Hanxue.
"Aren't you a concubine too?" Hanxue pouted. "I don't want to be a concubine. Young Master has so many concubines, I'll just be a maid."
"Xiaoxue, Feimeng, you two shouldn't play here anymore. Alie has come all this way, let him rest first." Ximen Lin was a little amused and exasperated. Hua Feimeng and Hanxue looked like a pair of lovable goofballs together.
"I'm going to find Young Master." Hanxue said, a sweet smile appearing on her face. Thinking of her beloved Young Master always made her happy.
"Remember to call me Master's Wife when you see me in the future." Before leaving, Hanxue reminded Sima Lie again.
"Yes, Master's Wife!" Sima Lie still called Hanxue Master's Wife. "
I wonder if anyone else wants me to call her Master's Wife." Watching Hanxue and the others' backs, Sima Lie scratched his head, looking a little troubled. He couldn't understand why a beautiful girl younger than him insisted on being his Master's Wife. However, he didn't realize that this was his own doing; who told him to come and become Hua Ruoxu's disciple?
Hua Ruoxu was about to go to Hua Yuluan's place for his daily routine visit, and also to ask Hua Yuluan's opinion on his taking on a disciple, but after taking only a few steps, he was blocked by someone. Fei Xu appeared in front of him, looking at him with a strange expression.

Volume 8, Cold Sword, Chapter 6, Shocking Change in the Divine Palace

"Young Master, where did you go last night?" Fei Xu asked with a resentful expression.
"None of your business!" Hua Ruoxu said irritably, turning away and continuing to walk forward.
"What does Han Xue have that I don't? Is she prettier than me?" Fei Xu called out behind him.
Hua Ruoxu paused slightly, then continued walking forward, without answering Fei Xu's question.
**** *** ***
After leaving Hua Yuluan's place and returning to the main hall, Hua Ruoxu couldn't help but smile bitterly. Liu Yun was in the main hall; he knew without asking that Su Dai'er had sent her.
"Young Master, Miss wants you to go." Sure enough, as soon as Hua Ruoxu came out, Liu Yun spoke up.
"Young Master." Hanxue's pitiful voice rang out as she grabbed Hua Ruoxu's hand, clearly unwilling for him to leave.
"Meng'er, you stay with Xiaoxue for now, I'll be back as soon as possible." Hua Ruoxu said helplessly. He knew he couldn't not go, and he also longed to see Su Dai'er.
*** *** ***
Su Dai'er sat on Hua Ruoxu's lap, her slender hands gently gliding across the strings of the zither. The melodious music, her sweet smile, her soft, delicate body—all of this captivated Hua Ruoxu.
The sun gradually set, and the afterglow of the sunset shone through the window onto Su Dai'er's beautiful face, revealing a holy radiance and breathtaking charm.
As the lanterns were lit, they sat facing each other, sipping wine. A blush gradually spread across her pink cheeks, and her two brimming eyes shone with boundless tenderness.
Passionate kisses, a deep embrace, a wild night until the third watch.
Su Dai'er slowly sat up, quickly dressed, and jumped out of bed.
"Elder Sun, come in," Su Dai'er said softly. As soon as she finished speaking, Sun Yunyan appeared in the room like a ghost.
Sun Yunyan glanced quickly at Hua Ruoxu, who was fast asleep on the bed, a strange expression flashing across her face.
"Elder Sun, you and Liuyun take care of Brother Ruoxu for me. I should go now; it should be about time." Su Dai'er leaned down and gently kissed Hua Ruoxu, looking at him with some reluctance. Then, in a flash of white, she disappeared from the room.
At that moment, Liuyun entered.
At the second watch of
the night, Gong Yaqian, accompanied by the two elders of the Divine Palace, hurried through the wilderness. Not far behind them, almost all the disciples of the Divine Palace appeared.
All around were endless grasslands. Although spring had only recently passed, the place did not give off a sense of vibrant life; instead, it felt exceptionally desolate and cold.
A cool breeze of early summer made Gong Yaqian shiver involuntarily. A sudden unease arose in her heart, a feeling she had never experienced before.
"Elder Yun, Elder Lei, wait a moment," Gong Yaqian frowned and whispered.
"Who goes there? Show yourself!" Gong Yaqian shouted.
"Young Palace Master, it's been a long time." A sinister voice came from a distance. About ten feet in front of Gong Yaqian appeared an old man in a green robe, tall and imposing, with gleaming eyes, a square face, and a long beard reaching his chest. He looked extremely dignified.
Gong Yaqian's eyes flashed with a cold light as she glared at the newcomer, her teeth grinding as if she wanted to skin
him alive. "It's been a long time. Now that you've delivered yourself to my doorstep, all the better," Gong Yaqian said coldly, taking a deep breath.
"Little Palace Master, do you know? You and the Palace Master share the same flaw." The old man in the green robe sighed softly, looking at Gong Yaqian with pity. "You always think you're the most powerful, always because everything is under your control. It's a pity, a pity. The Palace Master died because of this flaw, and you, Little Palace Master, will follow in her footsteps."
"Elder Feng, have you already forgotten how you fled in such a sorry state last time?" Gong Yaqian's expression returned to calm, the surging anger in her heart suppressed. She smiled mockingly and continued, "Has Elder Feng undergone a complete transformation in just one year?"
"But I'm afraid even if you wanted to flee in a sorry state this time, it would be impossible for you, Little Palace Master." Elder Feng smiled slightly, but as soon as he finished speaking, things suddenly changed.

Gong Yaqian felt two strong gusts of wind attacking her, and the attackers were someone she never expected—the two elders, Yun Lei and Da Ling, standing beside her.
Gong Yaqian's delicate body flew out like a kite with a broken string, her two palms landing solidly on her body.
With a muffled thud, Gong Yaqian fell to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood. Her beautiful face instantly turned deathly pale, almost devoid of any color.
Disbelief flashed in Gong Yaqian's eyes, then turned to fury, an overwhelming rage.
"You two actually betrayed me too!" Gong Yaqian stared at Elder Yun and Elder Lei, spitting out each word with a cold, icy tone, as if she had just emerged from an ice cellar.
“Young Palace Master, aside from martial arts, you are far inferior to the Palace Master in everything else. How can you expect your subordinates to be loyal to you?” Elder Feng shook his head. “In truth, no matter how high one’s martial arts skills are, it is ultimately useless. Moreover, Young Palace Master, you are already seriously injured. Anyone behind you could probably kill you. I think you should end it all yourself. You can die with some dignity.”
Gong Yaqian barely managed to sit up and slowly glanced at all the Divine Palace disciples behind her. A chill ran through her heart. In fact, after she was seriously injured by Elder Yun and Elder Lei, no one attacked the two of them. She had already vaguely sensed something was wrong. And now, looking at the eyes of those people, she could finally confirm that she had become all alone, and everyone around her had betrayed her.
"Elder Feng, it seems you've been plotting this for a long time." A barely perceptible gleam of joy suddenly appeared in Gong Yaqian's eyes, and her tone softened considerably. "But what I don't understand is, since the disciples of the Divine Palace can betray me, aren't you afraid they'll betray you too?"
"Little Palace Master, I didn't expect that even now you still wouldn't let them go. It's a pity your attempts to sow discord are useless. The reason they betrayed you is because you couldn't give them what they wanted, while I could." Elder Feng's tone was somewhat smug. "Little Palace Master, do you know? The Divine Palace is not suitable for a woman to lead. In the future, my Immortal Palace will surely carry on the glory of the Divine Palace. Little Palace Master, you and the Palace Master can rest in peace in the afterlife, hahaha..." At the end, Elder Feng finally burst into wild laughter.
Gong Yaqian supported herself with one hand on the ground and the other on her chest, barely managing to stand up. Her body swayed precariously, feeling somewhat unsteady. She coldly stared at Elder Yun and Elder Lei, then slowly swept her gaze over the numerous disciples of the Divine Palace. Although she was severely injured, her gaze still made it difficult for the disciples to meet her eyes directly. They all involuntarily lowered their heads, and Elder Yun and Elder Lei even involuntarily took a half-step back.
"Elder Feng, even without you, I, Gong Yaqian, can still make the Divine Palace a force to be reckoned with in the martial world. These people are nothing but a bunch of trash." Gong Yaqian looked at Elder Feng with some disdain, her tone full of confidence. At this moment, she could still be so confident, which was truly admirable.
"I'd like to see how a dead person can still awe the martial world!" Elder Feng coldly snorted, glancing at Elder Yun and Elder Lei. The two immediately understood and pounced on Gong Yaqian, each striking out with both palms, determined to kill her.
A series of screams rang out, not just once, but twice. The screams didn't belong to Gong Yaqian, but to Elder Yun and Elder Lei. Their massive bodies flew backward, crashing to the ground, then lay motionless, seemingly unconscious.
Gong Yaqian's face flushed crimson, then paled further. Looking at the two men on the ground, her eyes blazed with boundless hatred.
"Little Palace Master, it seems you truly are a martial arts genius. Even in this situation, you could still severely injure them. It's just a pity you're now at your last gasp." Elder Feng seemed somewhat surprised, yet also somewhat expectant, that Gong Yaqian could still injure Elder Yun and Elder Lei at this moment. He slowly walked towards Gong Yaqian, his eyes holding a mixture of pity and malice. With a slight flick of his wrist, he raised his palm.
A whirlwind arose from the ground as Elder Feng's single palm struck Gong Yaqian with the force of a thunderbolt. Gong Yaqian, however, showed no panic, and actually raised her own palm to meet the attack.
Elder Feng felt a growing unease, sensing something amiss. Just as their palms were about to meet, a white blur flashed, and a pair of crystal-clear, white hands appeared before him. One hand met his squarely, while the other struck his chest with lightning speed. At that moment, Gong Yaqian's delicate body shifted slightly. The hand that seemed destined to clash with Elder Feng had changed direction, striking him from another angle towards his back. Elder Feng suddenly felt attacked from both sides.
The clash of palms unleashed a tremendous shockwave, kicking up clouds of dust. Elder Feng let out a muffled groan and leaped to the side. He dodged the palm strike to his chest, but ultimately couldn't avoid the one from behind. Unfortunately, Gong Yaqian's injuries were too severe; this strike was far from fatal.
"Junior Sister, let's go!" A white-clad, masked girl appeared on the field. After knocking Elder Feng back with a single palm strike, she immediately flashed to Gong Yaqian's side, picked her up, and whispered.
"Stop them!" Elder Feng shouted in a deep voice. Seeing that the disciples of the Divine Palace seemed hesitant, he added coldly, "Once she recovers, the first person she'll kill is you. What are you hesitating for?"
"Senior Sister, if we can't leave, you go first. Remember to avenge my mother." Gong Yaqian's voice was weak. After being seriously injured, she had also severely wounded Elder Yun and Elder Lei, and then, together with the white-clad, masked girl, injured Elder Feng. She was truly at her limit.
"Junior Sister, don't worry, everything will be alright." The white-clad, masked girl glanced at the surrounding disciples of the Divine Palace, a cold glint in her eyes.
A silvery laugh rang out, and suddenly a beautiful girl dressed in emerald green appeared on the field.
"Sister Youyou?" Gong Yaqian's face showed a mixture of joy and guilt.
"Junior Sister, hurry up and heal your injuries. Don't worry, these traitors will be dealt with naturally." The white-clad, masked girl said softly, finally relieved to see Xue Youyou appear.
Xue Youyou's beautiful eyes darted left and right, radiating a captivating light. Every gesture she made exuded an irresistible charm. She suddenly smiled sweetly, and the dark night sky seemed to be illuminated. The disciples of the Divine Palace who were watching gradually fell into a daze. They forgot what they were supposed to do and only knew to stare at Xue Youyou.
A slender black shadow suddenly appeared, flying through the disciples of the Divine Palace at an astonishing speed. Screams rose and fell one after another. Without any resistance, they fell to the ground.
Elder Feng was awakened by the screams. Looking at the desolate scene around him, a chill ran through him. It was terrifying. Hundreds of Divine Palace disciples had been slaughtered in an instant by one person, not a single one left, and they hadn't offered any resistance.
He involuntarily retreated, and retreated further. Even he, a ruthless killer, had never witnessed such a massacre.
"Gentle Envoy and Sword Envoy greet the Palace Master and Holy Maiden." Xue Youyou and the black-clad girl who had just appeared, Jiang Qingyue, came forward to bow to Gong Yaqian and the other woman.
"Youyou, Sister Yue, at a time like this, there's no need for so much formality." The white-clad, veiled girl, the Holy Maiden, sighed softly, her tone slightly wistful. "I never imagined that the Divine Palace would now be reduced to just us sisters."
"Hidden Envoy greets the Palace Master and Holy Maiden!" Suddenly, a white-clad youth appeared on the field, tall and elegant, none other than Nangong Feiyun.
"Hidden Envoy, no need for formalities!" The Holy Maiden seemed to frown slightly, appearing somewhat displeased. The Hidden Envoy was meant to be hidden, but now Nangong Feiyun was openly paying his respects, which was tantamount to revealing his identity. It was understandable that she was unhappy. However, these were extraordinary times, and she couldn't say too much.
"Elder Feng, this is the end for you, you traitor." The Holy Maiden looked coldly at Elder Feng, but she didn't notice that the previously somewhat panicked Elder Feng had now regained his composure, and a hint of barely perceptible smugness appeared in his eyes.
With a painful groan, Xue Youyou's cherry lips parted slightly, spitting out a mouthful of blood. The Holy Maiden's lithe body flashed, swiftly bringing Xue Youyou to her side, and then looked at the person who had just attacked Xue Youyou with an incredulous gaze—it was none other than Nangong Feiyun.
"Even you betrayed me!" The Holy Maiden glared hatefully at Nangong Feiyun, while Elder Feng let out another triumphant laugh. At the same time, dozens of people appeared behind him, including Elder Dian, who hadn't appeared until now.

Volume 8, Cold Sword, Chapter 7: A Alluring and Devastating Slaughter.

Nangong Feiyun looked at the white-clad, veiled girl with a strange gaze, his eyes flashing with a deep-seated hatred, yet simultaneously tinged with a subtle tenderness.
"Elder Feng is right, the Divine Palace is indeed unsuitable for two women to preside over it," Nangong Feiyun said with a faint smile, his face devoid of any remorse.
The white-clad, veiled girl's eyes gleamed with a cold, fierce light. If she could barely accept the betrayals of Elder Yun and Elder Lei, Nangong Feiyun's betrayal was something she had never anticipated. Her heart was filled with disbelief and rage; she wished she could kill them all on the spot. However, she also understood that the current situation was extremely unfavorable for them.
Gong Yaqian was severely injured and almost completely incapable of fighting. Her greatest hopes, placed on Xue Youyou and Jiang Qingyue, had crumbled when Xue Youyou was attacked by Nangong Feiyun, causing their teamwork to collapse. Without Xue Youyou, Jiang Qingyue was left to rely solely on her martial arts. Even with her exceptional swordsmanship, she was likely powerless against the dozens of experts from the Immortal Palace. More importantly, their side only had four people, two of whom were seriously injured, requiring at least one person to care for them. This meant that only one person on their side could effectively withstand the enemy's attacks.
She knew the strength of their opponents: the four elders of the Divine Palace plus a hidden envoy. She was confident she could handle one of them, but facing five simultaneously was a different story, even though three of them already had minor injuries. Moreover, they weren't just five; dozens of Immortal Palace disciples were also watching them intently.
"Sister Yue, take Youyou with you, we're about to leave," the masked girl transmitted her voice to Jiang Qingyue. Jiang Qingyue nodded slightly and took Xue Youyou's petite body.
The white-clad masked girl carefully looked around, trying to find the most advantageous escape route. At this moment, Elder Feng, Nangong Feiyun, and the others also began to slowly move, subtly forming an encirclement.
She couldn't help but feel anxious. If she were alone, leaving wouldn't be difficult, but with an injured person in her arms, it wouldn't be so simple.
"Senior Sister, don't worry about me, you go alone. Remember, avenge my mother someday," Gong Yaqian's weak voice suddenly came from her arms.
"Junior Sister, don't worry, we'll be alright, and I won't abandon you." A feeling of sadness welled up in the white-clad girl's heart. She felt guilty, hating herself for misjudging people, which had caused her such great harm.
"Senior sister, really, really don't worry about me. If, if Sister Youyou is alright, please remember to apologize to her for me. And Sister Yue and Sister Meng, I, I'm so sorry to them!" Two lines of clear tears streamed down Gong Yaqian's beautiful eyes. She had been forcing them to do things they didn't want to do, and using them as bargaining chips to deal with Hua Ruoxu. However, in the end, she found that they were still the most loyal.
"Palace Master." Suddenly, a low voice came.
"Youyou, you're awake?" Jiang Qingyue looked at Xue Youyou in her arms with some joy. There was still a trace of blood at the corner of her mouth, and her face was a little pale.
"Sister Yue, put me down." Xue Youyou said softly. Jiang Qingyue hesitated slightly, wanting to say something but stopping herself. She looked at Xue Youyou and saw her firm eyes. Finally, she silently let go of her and put her on the ground. Xue Youyou staggered slightly and almost fell to the ground. Jiang Qingyue quickly reached out to support her.
"Holy Maiden, you take the Palace Master and prepare to leave. Sister Yue, you prepare yourself. Deal with the Immortal Palace disciples first, then deal with the injured Elder Yun and Elder Lei." Xue Youyou's voice was very weak, so weak that only Jiang Qingyue and the white-clad, veiled girl, the Holy Maiden of the Divine Palace, could hear her clearly.
"Youyou, you..." The Holy Maiden opened her mouth, uttered a few words, but then stopped, a look of unspeakable difficulty appearing in her eyes.
"If, if I die today, please tell Brother Hua for me, just say, just say that he can only take care of Youyou in the next life." Xue Youyou's voice was filled with a resolute tone, and even more so with reluctance to leave this mortal world, and reluctance to leave her lover.
"Youyou, don't worry, you won't die, and we'll all be fine. Don't fret." A few tears welled in the saintess's eyes. Sisters of many years, yet unable to be honest with each other for various reasons, constantly scheming against one another, now faced a life-or-death separation. Only now did she realize how precious the sisterly bond she had always overlooked was!
"Sister Yue, you can let go of me now. Prepare to break through. Don't worry about me." Xue Youyou gently pulled away from Jiang Qingyue's support and took a few unsteady steps.
She walked step by step toward the disciples of the Immortal Palace. Her steps were so heavy, as if she had no strength to lift them, making each step so difficult; yet her steps were also so light, so light that no sound could be heard. Her petite body was so frail that even the gentle night breeze was enough to move her, and one could vaguely see her delicate body trembling slightly. Her face was so pale, so pitiful, that anyone who saw her couldn't help but feel immense pity. Not only everyone in the Immortal Palace, including Nangong Feiyun, but even the Holy Maiden of the Divine Palace seemed to be affected, each of them slightly dazed, and resenting themselves for not having properly cherished this frail girl. The killing intent in their hearts had vanished, and they had forgotten that this girl was their enemy. Only Jiang Qingyue knew that her moment to strike was approaching. She gripped the hilt of her sword tightly, her body gradually tensing.
Suddenly, a soft groan escaped her lips. Xue Youyou parted her cherry lips and spat out a mouthful of bright red blood mist. Her body swayed precariously, seemingly about to collapse at any moment, her face deathly pale, a stark contrast to the blood mist.
"How can we just stand by and watch her get injured? No, I must make sure she recovers." Almost everyone was thinking similar thoughts, and they all rushed towards Xue Youyou's direction. At that moment, Jiang Qingyue finally moved. Her longsword flashed, and she plunged into the midst of the Immortal Palace disciples. Her sword moved with effortless grace, and in an instant, dozens of disciples lay on the ground, not even having time to scream.
The Holy Maiden finally reacted. Seeing that almost all the Immortal Palace disciples were gone, and Jiang Qingyue seemed poised to continue the slaughter, while Xue Youyou was already on the verge of collapse,
she quickly dodged to Xue Youyou's side, scooping her up in her arms. "Sister Yue, run!" she cried, retreating rapidly. Jiang Qingyue, however, was slightly taken aback, momentarily stunned.
"Sister Yue, don't worry about the rest of them, saving Junior Sister and Youyou is the priority, hurry up and leave!" The Holy Maiden was anxious and quickly transmitted her voice to Jiang Qingyue. Jiang Qingyue reacted quickly this time, sheathing her sword and rushing in the direction the Holy Maiden had retreated.
"You think you can just leave like that?" A charming voice came, and at the same time, a girl in white appeared in front of the Holy Maiden, blocking her way.
The girl in white was holding a zither, and behind her were Nangong Xuanyuan and Lu Yunchang.
The Holy Maiden felt a chill in her heart. Was today really her inescapable fate?
*** *** ***
"Miss Liuyun, I'm going outside. Please call me if you need anything." Sun Yunyan glanced at Hua Ruoxu on the bed and found it difficult to face this man. She felt uncomfortable all over and finally couldn't bear it any longer and wanted to go out.
"Elder Sun, just call me Liuyun." Liuyun chuckled. Although she was just a maid, she was Su Dai'er's maid, so everyone in the Demon Palace treated her with great respect, and Sun Yunyan naturally understood this.
"But Elder Sun, Miss asked you to stay here and watch over the young master. How could you go outside?" Liuyun added, her tone slightly teasing.
Sun Yunyan sighed slightly, feeling somewhat helpless, and remained standing in the room, turning away from Hua Ruoxu.
"Dai'er!" Hua Ruoxu woke up at this moment. He could still faintly smell Su Dai'er's familiar fragrance, but obviously she was no longer by his side. Hua Ruoxu sat up anxiously, but upon seeing the two people in the room, he sensed something was wrong and quickly lay back down.

"Young master, Miss had some business to attend to and went out first. Please rest assured, Miss will be back soon." Liuyun said, her face slightly flushed.
"Madam Ge, you, how come you're here?" Hua Ruoxu was very surprised to see Sun Yunyan and asked after a slight hesitation.
“Young Master Hua, I am no longer Madam Ge, please don’t address me like that.” Sun Yunyan said softly without turning around. “I am now the Third Elder of the Demon Palace, here to take care of Young Master Hua on the orders of the Palace Master. Does Young Master Hua have any instructions?”
Hearing this, Hua Ruoxu was completely surprised. He never expected that Sun Yunyan would become the Third Elder of the Demon Palace, and become Su Dai’er’s subordinate. However, he didn’t have time to ask why, and he didn’t seem to have the right to ask.
“Miss Ge, oh Miss Sun, would you and Liu Yun please go out for a moment?” Hua Ruoxu hesitated for a moment before saying. He remembered that he couldn’t bring himself to dress in front of two women with whom he had no close relationship.
“Young Master, Miss will be back soon, you don’t need to get up.” Liu Yun said softly, seemingly reluctant to go out.
"Liuyun, you can go out now," Hua Ruoxu continued. Liuyun, seeing Hua Ruoxu's insistence, had no choice but to leave, as she ultimately had to obey his orders. Sun Yunyan, who was eager to leave, was naturally more than happy to oblige.
"Liuyun, where did Dai'er go?" Hua Ruoxu quickly dressed and got ready, then called Liuyun in.
"Young Master, I don't know either. Miss said she'd be back soon," Liuyun said softly, head bowed.
Hua Ruoxu frowned slightly. Liuyun didn't seem to be lying, but he felt that Su Dai'er wouldn't go out at this time unless it was something urgent.
"Did anyone come looking for Dai'er before she left?" Hua Ruoxu pondered for a moment before asking again.
"Young Master, when you were here, Miss wouldn't allow anyone to disturb her," Liuyun shook her head.
Hua Ruoxu fell into deep thought again, a vague unease creeping into his heart. He sensed that Su Dai'er seemed to be deliberately keeping her plans from him, perhaps worried that he would find out. If that were the case, then this matter was clearly related to him. But what exactly was it? And where had she gone?
"Miss Sun, do you know where Dai'er went?" Hua Ruoxu glanced at Sun Yunyan at the door and asked in a low voice.
"The Palace Master didn't mention it to me." Sun Yunyan was somewhat uneasy, avoiding Hua Ruoxu's gaze, and said with her head down.
"Liuyun, I'll go back first. If Dai'er returns, please tell her for me." Hua Ruoxu thought for a moment but still felt something was amiss, and then hurriedly walked out.
"Young Master, you can't leave." Liuyun's delicate body flashed, blocking Hua Ruoxu's path, and she said urgently.
"Why?" Hua Ruoxu frowned. "Liuyun, tell me honestly, do you know where Dai'er went? Did Dai'er tell you not to tell her?"
"Young Master, I... I really don't know. It's just that Miss said you must wait for her to return." Liuyun hurriedly shook her head as she spoke. "If Miss doesn't see you when she returns, she will definitely blame me."
"You really don't know?" Hua Ruoxu stared intently at Liuyun. Liuyun seemed unable to withstand his gaze and lowered her head, her small hands twisting the hem of her clothes, showing her extreme unease.
"Young Master, I... I really don't know." Liuyun said timidly, her voice low and lacking confidence.
Hua Ruoxu was silent for a moment, then sighed softly, turned and walked out. Liuyun was stunned for a moment, then chased after him, and Sun Yunyan had no choice but to follow.
"Liuyun, since you are unwilling to tell me, then I will have to go find Dai'er myself. You don't need to come along." Hua Ruoxu's tone was clearly displeased. "
Young Master, I... I really..." Liuyun still wanted to explain.
"No need to say anything more. If anything happens to Dai'er, you'll regret it!" Hua Ruoxu glanced coldly at Liu Yun and quickened his pace. He knew Liu Yun was too loyal to Su Dai'er, and it would be difficult for her to disobey him, so he had to be direct. If Liu Yun was also worried about Su Dai'er's safety, she might tell him what she knew. Moreover, in fact, Hua Ruoxu was indeed worried that something might happen to Su Dai'er, because he had a very ominous feeling in his heart, a feeling that made him very uneasy.

Volume 8, Cold Sword, Chapter 8: Two Women Clash.

Dressed in the same white robes, equally stunningly beautiful, under the dark sky, in the desolate wilderness, two graceful and slender figures stood proudly, coldly staring at each other.
A strong smell of blood permeated the air. At this moment, in this place, there were these few seemingly otherworldly girls, giving a rather strange feeling at first glance.
The four elders of the Divine Palace, Fengyun, Leidian, and Nangong Feiyun, were slowly approaching the Holy Maiden and Jiang Qingyue, but they didn't make a move, maintaining a considerable distance. It seemed they intended to watch the conflict unfold.
A few months ago, when Su Daier was nearly at her wit's end, the women of the Divine Palace attempted a final blow against her. Now, a few months later, the women of the Divine Palace are nearing their end, while Su Daier is beginning to play the role of those women from months ago. The wheel of fortune turns; perhaps it was all predetermined.
"It's said that the most mysterious person in the Divine Palace isn't the Palace Master, but the Holy Maiden. I wonder if this Holy Maiden sister could let Daier see your true face today?" Su Daier suddenly smiled sweetly at the Holy Maiden. Even though she herself was a woman, the Holy Maiden was still dazzled by Su Daier's charm.
"Palace Master Su's request is perfectly reasonable, but unfortunately, I am ugly and dare not show my face to the world. I can only disappoint you, Palace Master," the Holy Maiden's voice was melodious and gentle.
"What a pity. I've always believed that one can only see the most beautiful things while alive. It seems I'll have to wait until this sister dies to see them properly." Su Dai'er sighed softly, her voice still sweet, her face still natural, but her words sent a chill down one's spine. "I wonder if this sister has anything to say? If it's not too troublesome, perhaps Dai'er can help you with your funeral arrangements."
"Palace Master Su, are you so sure we have no way out?" The Holy Maiden asked calmly, though she was worried.
"Without Gong Yaqian's 'Song of Longing,' who can stop me?" Su Dai'er smiled sweetly.
The Holy Maiden's body trembled, and she fell silent.
For many years, the Divine Palace has been the only sect capable of rivaling the Demon Palace, not only because of the exceptional martial arts skills of its members, but also because of another crucial reason: each Palace Master of the Divine Palace possesses a technique to counter the Demon Palace's demonic zither, called "Acacia Melody." Gong Yaqian had already used it a few months ago, which is why Su Daier immediately fled upon seeing Gong Yaqian.
However, Acacia Melody only works against the demonic zither's music, and its sole function is to counteract the zither's power; it seems to exist solely because of the zither's existence, offering no other benefit.
"Palace Master Su, could you promise me something?" After a long silence, the Holy Maiden spoke again.
"Dair has already said that as long as it's not too troublesome, I'll agree. So, sister, why don't you tell me what it is?" Su Daier maintained her smiling demeanor.
"I would like to ask Palace Master Su to spare Youyou," the Holy Maiden said after a slight pause, her gaze falling on Xue Youyou, her eyes filled with guilt and pity.
Su Dai'er's expression changed slightly, but she didn't answer immediately.
"Little girl, I think you shouldn't be so naive. A few months ago, did you ever consider letting my Palace Master go?" Nangong Xuanyuan looked coldly at the Holy Maiden of the Divine Palace, his tone carrying a hint of mockery and malice.
"Elder Nangong, whether or not to agree to my request is for Palace Master Su to decide. Does Elder Nangong think you can decide on behalf of Palace Master Su?" The Holy Maiden chuckled lightly. Nangong Xuanyuan was about to lash out when Su Dai'er gave him a cold look. That indifferent gaze startled Nangong Xuanyuan, and he quickly suppressed his anger, took a step back, and stopped speaking. However, he still glared at the women of the Divine Palace with hatred, as if he wished he could kill them all at once.

Lu Yunchang looked at Su Daier with some nervousness. Not only him, but Nangong Feiyun and the four elders of the Divine Palace also seemed somewhat tense. Just now, hundreds of disciples of the Divine Palace and Immortal Palace had been wiped out in an instant, almost entirely because of Xue Youyou. Such a person remaining in the world was a great threat to them.
"Tell me, what reason do I have to let her go?" Su Daier finally spoke, her sweet smile gone, replaced by a coldness that made her unapproachable.
"From the perspective of the Demon Palace, Palace Master Su indeed has no reason to let Youyou go. However, I only hope that Palace Master Su can spare her for your other personal identity." The Holy Maiden sighed softly. "Perhaps my request is a bit excessive, but Youyou has sacrificed too much for my Divine Palace. I only hope that she can fulfill her wish."
"She hopes that one day, she can happily be a pampered little girl." The Holy Maiden was silent for a moment before speaking softly.
Su Dai'er remained silent. She understood the Holy Maiden's meaning. The "private identity" she referred to was common knowledge in the martial world: she was Hua Ruoxu's lover, and so was Xue Youyou. Perhaps, in a sense, she and Xue Youyou shared the same identity.
"Brother Ruoxu, if I really kill her, will you blame me?" Su Dai'er whispered in her heart.
"Mother, if I let her go, will you blame your unfilial daughter in the afterlife?" Su Dai'er thought of her deceased mother again.
*** *** ***
Hua Ruoxu hurried home. He still didn't know where Su Dai'er had gone, and Liu Yun still hadn't revealed her whereabouts, only following closely behind him with Sun Yunyan.
"Young Master, Miss, is Miss really in danger?" Liu Yun's expression shifted constantly. After walking with Hua Ruoxu for a while, she finally couldn't help but ask.
"What do you think?" Hua Ruoxu countered. Actually, he wasn't sure himself, and didn't know how to make Liu Yun believe him, so he decided to remain vague and let Liu Yun worry.
"Young Master, how...how would I know? Please tell me quickly, is Miss really in danger?" Liu Yun was indeed quite anxious.
"Dai'er has been gone for quite some time now, and hasn't returned yet. How can one not worry?" Hua Ruoxu stopped and sighed softly. Actually, Su Dai'er hadn't been gone long, but hearing Hua Ruoxu's words, Liu Yun seemed to think it was indeed true. Sun Yunyan opened her mouth, wanting to say something but then held back. "
Young Master, actually...actually, I don't really know where Miss went, but yesterday, before Miss asked me to go find you, Elder Nangong went to see Miss," Liu Yun hesitated for a long time before stammering.
“Nangong Xuanyuan?” Hua Ruoxu frowned. “Do you know what he and Dai’er talked about?”
“I don’t know. He only said it was news from the Divine Palace, a secret letter. Miss read it and then destroyed it, so all I know is that it’s related to the River God Palace.” Liu Yun shook her head, her eyes also showing some confusion.
“The Divine Palace?” Hua Ruoxu’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. Since it was related to the Divine Palace and Dai’er was clearly deliberately hiding it from him, there was only one possibility: this matter must be related to Xue Youyou or Jiang Qingyue. Could it be… He suddenly thought of a terrifying possibility, and his expression changed drastically. He sprang to his feet and quickly ran out of the city, heading straight for the Divine Palace.
"Young Master, wait for me!" Liu Yun hurriedly called out, chasing after her. Sun Yunyan shook her head, her delicate body twitching slightly before disappearing from her spot.
*** *** ***
"Alright, hand Xue Youyou over to me!" Su Dai'er's expression shifted constantly before she finally spoke. Hearing this, everyone's feelings were different. Lu Yunchang sighed inwardly; he seemed to have already anticipated this outcome. Nangong Xuanyuan, on the other hand, looked angry and resentful.
The Holy Maiden breathed a slight sigh of relief, while Nangong Feiyun and the others were secretly furious. They hadn't expected Su Dai'er to actually agree to the Holy Maiden's request. Although they secretly cursed the Holy Maiden for being despicable, they didn't know what to do. However, thinking about it, they seemed even more despicable than the Holy Maiden, and this time they had wronged her. She had indeed acted this way because she felt guilty towards Xue Youyou.
"How can a vixen like Xue Youyou be allowed to live? Just because Palace Master Su is willing to let her go doesn't mean our Justice League will!" Suddenly, a voice rang out, and several more people appeared on the scene. They were Ye Bu'er, Ge Yunxiang, and Ouyang Jianping, the leader of the Snow Mountain Sword Sect. Surprisingly, it wasn't Ye Bu'er who spoke, but Ouyang Jianping.
Ye Bu'er glanced at Ouyang Jianping with some displeasure. If he hadn't spoken up without permission, they could have continued watching the show.
Seeing Ouyang Jianping appear, the Holy Maiden trembled slightly, a flash of joy crossing her eyes.
"Brother Ouyang is right! Our Justice League absolutely will not allow such a vixen who plagues the martial world to live!" This time, it wasn't Ye Bu'er who spoke, but Ge Yunxiang. Judging from his righteous and stern expression, he seemed like a true chivalrous hero.
Ye Bu'er looked at the two beside him, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes. Their behavior today surprised him; they hadn't consulted him at all.
"Your Justice League has no right to change my decision, Su Dai'er. Since I said I'd let Xue Youyou go, no one can mess with her today!" Su Dai'er said coldly, suddenly plucking a few strings of her zither. The stirring music pierced the night sky, stirring up a chilling aura.
"Su Dai'er, you are a witch yourself, and you and Xue Youyou, this vixen, are birds of a feather. Naturally, you want to let her go," Ouyang Jianping quickly interjected. "However, with my Justice League here, we will absolutely not tolerate this vixen remaining in the world!" Ouyang Jianping's tone was unbelievably forceful. Logically speaking, the Justice League's influence had waned recently, and of the original seven major sects, only Snow Mountain and Kunlun remained. Normally, the Justice League couldn't possibly contend with the Demon Palace, so why was Ouyang Jianping so aggressive?
"The Divine Palace's massacre of the martial world deserves no mercy!" Nangong Feiyun chimed in, his voice filled with righteous indignation. Having just witnessed Xue Youyou's terrifying abilities, he naturally didn't want her to leave alive. Moreover, he knew very well that once Xue Youyou was handed over to Su Dai'er, the chances of the other three from the Divine Palace escaping would be much greater. Although all the disciples of the Divine Palace were dead, Gong Yaqian and the Holy Maiden alone would be enough to give him headaches in the future.
"Nangong Feiyun, don't forget that you were once a member of the Divine Palace. Everything the Divine Palace has done has your share of the credit!" The Holy Maiden appeared somewhat angry, but secretly she felt a surge of joy; she had already seen a glimmer of hope for escape.
"I, Nangong Feiyun, cannot tolerate the actions of the Divine Palace, which is why I have abandoned darkness for light. I also believe that the Justice League and Master Ye will uphold justice for those who died unjustly at your hands!" Nangong Feiyun said this without batting an eye, but he was clearly not a fool. He quickly brought up Ye Bu'er, trying to make Ye Bu'er the scapegoat while he continued to sit back and watch the fight, reaping the benefits.
"Palace Master, they are deliberately trying to incite conflict between us and Ye Bu'er. You must be careful!" Su Dai'er frowned slightly, hearing Lu Yunchang's telepathic message in her ear.
Su Dai'er remained silent for a long time, harboring a bad premonition. She felt that something was strange about tonight's events. She had received news that the Divine Palace and the Immortal Palace would have a decisive battle here, and she could come and wipe them out in one fell swoop. But how could Ye Bu'er have arrived here so coincidentally? Could it be that they had also received the same news? If so, who leaked the news? And what was their purpose?
She wanted to leave this place now, but she didn't want to let go of such a good opportunity. This was the best chance she had ever had to kill the Divine Palace, but because of Xue Youyou and Hua Ruoxu, she had to be hesitant. For a moment, she was in a difficult situation.
"Brother Ruoxu, what should I do?" Su Dai'er said softly to herself. Thinking of Hua Ruoxu, a wave of tenderness and a touch of shyness welled up in her heart. The sweet intimacy between the two of them not long ago still lingered in her mind.
*** *** ***
As Hua Ruoxu was about to reach the Divine Palace, he suddenly heard several stirring notes of a zither.
"Dai'er!" Hua Ruoxu suddenly changed direction and rushed towards the direction from which the zither music came.

Volume 8 Sword Cold Chapter 9 Chaotic Battle in the Wilderness

Hua Ruoxu hurried along, feeling as if countless eyes were watching him from the shadows. He also heard faint breathing sounds by the roadside, indicating that many people were hiding deep in the grass. His heart grew increasingly uneasy.
Su Dai'er suddenly felt a jolt, as if sensing something, and raised her head, her gaze fixed on the distance. There, three figures, one in front and two behind, were rapidly approaching. The first one was dressed in white, and although her face wasn't clearly visible, she was certain it was Hua Ruoxu.
"Since Brother Ruoxu is here, I'll leave it to him." Su Dai'er sighed softly to herself. She hadn't wanted Hua Ruoxu to interfere, but now that she saw him arrive, she felt a sense of relief, perhaps a kind of escapism and helplessness.
Hua Ruoxu had already seen Su Dai'er and the Holy Maiden of the Divine Palace; among the crowd, they stood out. He then quickly glanced at the others, feeling puzzled, for he truly didn't understand the situation.
A gentle breeze carried a strong stench of blood. As Hua Ruoxu approached, he finally saw the corpses strewn across the ground. A chill ran down his spine; not out of fear, of course—he had witnessed similar gruesome scenes before, and had even orchestrated them himself—but the sight of the carnage filled him with unease.
Jiang Qingyue gazed intently at her approaching lover, a strange mix of excitement and vulnerability washing over her. She had just killed the traitorous disciple of the Hundred Gods Palace without hesitation, but seeing her lover after so many days made her feel utterly weak.
Ye Bu'er coldly watched Hua Ruoxu approach, inwardly furious. He had a premonition that Hua Ruoxu would ruin his plans once again. Ouyang Jianping, however, flashed a fleeting look of joy. Ge Yunxiang, seeing Sun Yunyan not far behind Hua Ruoxu, was first startled, then glared angrily at Hua Ruoxu, though Hua Ruoxu remained oblivious.
Hua Ruoxu had already arrived at the scene, followed by Liu Yun and Sun Yunyan.
"Dai'er, Sister Qing," Hua Ruoxu greeted the two women softly, his expression suddenly changing drastically. "Youyou, Youyou!" He saw Xue Youyou, who had fallen into a coma.
"Give Youyou to me!" Hua Ruoxu reached out and snatched Xue Youyou from the Holy Maiden's arms, holding her tightly with one arm and placing the other on her back, continuously channeling his true energy into her.
"Sister Qing, how did Youyou get like this?" Hua Ruoxu asked Jiang Qingyue while healing Xue Youyou.
"Nangong Feiyun betrayed us; Youyou was ambushed and injured by him." It wasn't Jiang Qingyue who answered, but the Holy Maiden.
Hua Ruoxu didn't ask any more questions, his cold gaze falling on Nangong Feiyun not far away. Nangong Feiyun felt as if two sharp blades had pierced his heart, and he couldn't help but tremble slightly.
"Brother Hua, is Youyou dead?" Xue Youyou's delicate voice came from his arms, somewhat weak, yet unintentionally exuding a thousand charms.
"Silly girl, you're alive and well, how could you be dead? If you were dead, how could you see me?" Hua Ruoxu's cold expression instantly softened. He looked down at Xue Youyou in his arms; her face was still very pale, and he couldn't help but feel another pang of sorrow.
"Brother Hua, Youyou thought, thought she would never see you again." A few glimmers of joy appeared in Xue Youyou's eyes, and her face suddenly regained some color. Suddenly, she coughed a few times and spat out a mouthful of bright red blood.
"Youyou, Youyou!" Hua Ruoxu was shocked, but Xue Youyou couldn't hear his voice; she had fainted again.
"No, I must take Youyou to find Xiaoxue. Xiaoxue will definitely have a way," Hua Ruoxu thought to himself, tightening his embrace around the delicate body in his arms, and preparing to leave.
He was extremely anxious; at this moment, he had even ignored Su Daier and Jiang Qingyue, his heart seemingly only occupied by Xue Youyou.
"Is Young Master Hua just leaving like this?" Ye Bu'er finally couldn't help but ask. Not only him, but Nangong Feiyun and the Fourth Elder of the Divine Palace also stopped him. Before Hua Ruoxu arrived, these people all wanted to stand by and watch, hoping to reap the benefits. But now it was different. Everyone could imagine that once Xue Youyou returned to Hua Ruoxu's side, she would obviously become Hua Ruoxu's powerful assistant, posing a great threat to everyone.
Hua Ruoxu's Heavenly Star Alliance had already been growing stronger recently, and if Xue Youyou joined, it would be even more powerful. This was a result that Ye Bu'er and Nangong Feiyun did not want to see, so they were particularly in sync this time.
"Get out of the way!" Hua Ruoxu shouted coldly. With a clang, the Sword of Love was drawn. Hua Ruoxu held Xue Youyou tightly in his left arm, his right hand gripping the sword, ready to strike at any moment.
"Hua Lang, I'm here to help you!" Jiang Qingyue flashed to Hua Ruoxu's side and whispered. The Holy Maiden also came to Hua Ruoxu's side, carrying Gong Yaqian, seemingly intending to break through with him.
"Hua Ruoxu, these corpses scattered on the ground are the work of that vixen Xue Youyou. If you truly intend to protect this vixen, we will have no choice but to be ruthless." Ge Yunxiang spoke righteously, though he stood behind Ye Bu'er. Although he harbored deep resentment towards Hua Ruoxu, he wasn't stupid. He knew he was no match for Hua Ruoxu, and besides, he didn't want to be a target.
The Sword of Love, Youyou. Hua Ruoxu stopped talking nonsense, swiftly drawing his sword, the dazzling blade illuminating the dark night sky. A light yet incredibly swift sword strike simultaneously swept towards Nangong Feiyun and Ye Bu'er. The heartache for Youyou, the hatred for Nangong Feiyun, and the resentment towards Ye Bu'er were all vividly displayed in this single strike!
The Holy Maiden of the Divine Palace also launched her attack at the same time, her delicate hand rising lightly, unleashing a sharp palm strike towards the four elders of the original Divine Palace.
Seeing Hua Ruoxu's sword strike approaching, Nangong Feiyun's expression changed slightly. His hands suddenly drew semi-circles, and Hua Ruoxu's sword strike abruptly turned entirely towards Ye Bu'er. Su Dai'er's expression changed as she turned to look at Nangong Xuanyuan, only to find that his expression was also unnatural.
Ye Bu'er cursed Nangong Feiyun inwardly, but remained calm. He struck out horizontally with both palms, aiming at Hua Ruoxu's Love Sword. Using the rebound force of the Love Sword, Ye Bu'er shifted his body diagonally a good ten feet away, dodging Hua Ruoxu's attack. He then stood there, looking completely composed. The contrast between the two clearly showed the difference in their abilities. Although Nangong Feiyun had skillfully deflected Hua Ruoxu's sword strike, it was obvious that he was struggling, with beads of sweat appearing on his face. Ye Bu'er, on the other hand, seemed to have it all done effortlessly.
The Holy Maiden of the Divine Palace, carrying one person in her arms, was fighting four opponents with ease. Although three of the four elders of the Divine Palace had already suffered serious injuries, her martial arts skills were still evident. Dressed in flowing white robes, she moved among the four elders, frequently unleashing deadly attacks. Without Nangong Feiyun, it seemed that dealing with these few people would be no problem for her.
Hua Ruoxu, his attack failing, grew increasingly anxious. Xue Youyou's injuries were severe, and he couldn't afford to waste any more time. He suddenly let out a long howl, unleashing three swift sword strikes: Love Sword of Leisure, Love Sword of Awakening, and Love Sword of Drunken Moon. The swords hummed, creating a whirlwind that blossomed into dazzling sword flowers in the night sky, radiating a magnificent light.
Ye Bu'er's expression finally changed, while Nangong Feiyun's grew even more grave. Ouyang Jianping, who had been so eager just moments before, now stood by, watching the spectacle. Ge Yunxiang seemed to hesitate for a moment, then suddenly gripped his sword hilt and took a step forward, his target Jiang Qingyue beside Hua Ruoxu.
Jiang Qingyue had wanted to help Hua Ruoxu but found herself unable to intervene, so she could only watch from the sidelines, observing her surroundings. Seeing Ge Yunxiang's restless movements, she also became secretly wary.
"Ge Yunxiang, I'll show you the true Kunlun Sword Technique!" Suddenly, a clear, cold voice rang in everyone's ears. To Ge Yunxiang's surprise, Sun Yunyan was holding a pair of short swords, pointing them at him.
"Sun Yunyan, what's your relationship with Hua Ruoxu?" Ge Yunxiang's eyes blazed with anger. Recalling the ambiguous words Baili Hu had spoken, and seeing her with Hua Ruoxu just now, he couldn't help but suspect that something was really going on between Sun Yunyan and Hua Ruoxu.
Although Ge Yunxiang had publicly announced his divorce from Sun Yunyan, she had still been his wife just a few months ago. Ge Yunxiang was a man, and a very jealous one at that. If he were truly certain that Hua Ruoxu had cheated on him, he would definitely go berserk.
“Ge Yunxiang, you have no right to interfere in my affairs. All I can tell you now is that I am the Third Elder of the Demon Palace, here on the orders of my Palace Master to assist Young Master Hua, and also to learn a few moves from you, the so-called Kunlun Sect Leader,” Sun Yunyan said calmly. On the surface, she appeared composed, but inside, she felt a mix of emotions, a complex mix of feelings. After all, she had once deeply loved Ge Yunxiang, and they had shared several years of marriage—things that couldn't be easily discarded. Although she had gradually come to understand Ge Yunxiang's despicable true nature, she still couldn't treat him as a true enemy. When Su Daier asked her to help Hua Ruoxu, she felt at a loss.
However, after the recent upheaval, Sun Yunyan had become much stronger. She understood that Ge Yunxiang was her greatest inner demon, and only by overcoming this demon could she truly become strong. Therefore, after a moment's hesitation, she resolutely chose Ge Yunxiang as her first opponent after joining the Demon Palace.
"Sun Yunyan, I never imagined you'd not only be promiscuous but also willingly degenerate into associating with the demons of the Demon Palace. Fortunately, I, Ge Yunxiang, had the foresight to divorce you long ago!" Ge Yunxiang was genuinely surprised when Sun Yunyan claimed to be an elder of the Demon Palace, and after a moment of stunned silence, he spoke.
"Enough nonsense, let's fight!" Sun Yunyan felt a pang of pain in her heart, her lips twitched slightly, and she suddenly let out a delicate shout, seemingly venting her dissatisfaction. With both hands moving simultaneously, she brandished two swords and lunged at Ge Yunxiang.
*** *** ***
Hua Ruoxu casually wielded his sword of passion, but Nangong Feiyun and Ye Bu'er, working together, began to feel overwhelmed. Ye Bu'er's expression grew increasingly grim, while Nangong Feiyun's face was covered in sweat, and his steps gradually slowed. Su Dai'er's eyes never left them, but her expression grew increasingly cold, while Lu Yunchang's face also displayed a strange expression, occasionally glancing at Nangong Xuanyuan.
"Miss, look, what's that?" Liu Yun exclaimed suddenly, pointing to the distant sky.
The distant horizon was ablaze with crimson, the faint light illuminating half the sky. Then it became clear that not only in that direction, but from all directions, raging flames suddenly erupted. Even more astonishingly, these enormous clusters of flames seemed to be rapidly moving towards them.
A rumbling sound began to echo, and the earth seemed to tremble.
The sudden change startled Nangong Feiyun and Ye Bu'er, but it didn't affect Hua Ruoxu. At that moment, he had only one thought in his mind: to leave with Xue Youyou. Nangong Feiyun
let out a painful groan and retreated several feet at lightning speed. Hua Ruoxu stabbed him in the arm with his sword, then with a swift motion, slashed at Ye Bu'er. Ye Bu'er's body swayed slightly, and Hua Ruoxu suddenly accelerated, charging straight forward.
At the same time, as if she and Hua Ruoxu had a tacit understanding, the Holy Maiden also managed to shake off the four elders of the Divine Palace and followed Hua Ruoxu. Jiang Qingyue was slightly stunned, but naturally followed as well. Ye Bu'er did not chase after them; a cruel smile appeared on his face, and a small horn-like object suddenly appeared in his hand, which he brought to his lips.
However, no sound came out, because he didn't blow it at all. He was stunned. Not only him, but everyone was stunned, because they were gradually able to see clearly what the approaching flames were.
*** *** ***
"Hua Lang, be careful!" Jiang Qingyue cried out. In fact, just as she shouted, Hua Ruoxu had already stopped, and the Holy Maiden of the Divine Palace had also stopped beside him. Their expressions had changed.
"My God, what is this?" Jiang Qingyue exclaimed softly. The rumbling sound grew louder, and clusters of flames surrounded them from all directions at an alarming speed.
"Iron Horse Chain Formation!" The Holy Maiden's expression changed drastically, and she murmured, "How is this possible? How could this be?" The astonishment in her heart could no longer be described with ordinary words.

Volume 8, Cold Sword, Chapter 10, Iron Horse Chain Formation.

"What is the Iron Horse Chain Formation?" Hua Ruoxu finally couldn't help but ask. He had vaguely seen that the moving flames were actually steeds with torches tied to their bodies, but these horses seemed to be somewhat different from ordinary horses, though he hadn't yet figured out what the difference was.
"The so-called Iron Horses are horses clad in armor forged from fine steel. These horses are virtually impervious to ordinary swords and spears. The Iron Horse Linked Formation is a formation that links these horses together with chains also made of fine steel. This formation sounds simple, but it's quite complicated to implement. The armored horses are much slower, and they can only run on flat ground, not uphill or downhill. Furthermore, forging so many pieces of fine steel armor is no easy task. The Iron Horse Linked Formation is mostly used on the battlefield, and now it's being used against martial artists. I just can't understand it." The Holy Maiden's voice was melodious, but clearly tinged with anxiety.
"If we could use our lightness skill to fly over the herd of horses, wouldn't we be safe?" Hua Ruoxu pondered for a moment. At this moment, he hadn't expected that he and the Holy Maiden, who were originally enemies, would start discussing countermeasures with her.
“If it were just a chain of iron horses used on the battlefield, perhaps we could use light footwork, but look at this. There are so many iron horses that it’s impossible to pass through them with light footwork. Clearly, this is a modified formation specifically designed to deal with martial arts masters.” The Holy Maiden shook her head, her tone growing increasingly anxious as she watched the approaching herd of horses. “The torches tied to the horses are almost burned to the bottom, and there’s so much dry grass tied to them. Once that grass is ignited, the horses will likely go berserk from the heat, and then we’ll probably all be trampled to death by their hooves!”
As soon as she finished speaking, the flames suddenly intensified, and the herd of horses was less than a hundred feet away from them. Just as she had said, the fire on the horses was already raging, and a wave of heat swept through the air, making everyone even more anxious.
Hua Ruoxu's expression changed. Countless horses suddenly accelerated and charged from all sides, their neighing echoing. Short, painful screams also began to rang out. Hua Ruoxu knew that those who had been hiding in the bushes had been trampled to death by the iron hooves.
"Sister Qing, watch over Youyou, and don't let her leave my side!" Hua Ruoxu handed Xue Youyou to Jiang Qingyue and turned to say something. Su Daier seemed to understand his meaning and led the Demon Palace members to his side.
"Young Master Hua, it's clear someone wants to wipe us all out. I think we should work together to deal with these iron horses. What do you think, Young Master Hua?" Ye Bu'er said in a deep voice. "
Mr. Ye is absolutely right. I had the same idea. However, I ask that you follow my command for now." Hua Ruoxu agreed almost without hesitation, because if Ye Bu'er and the others took the opportunity to cause trouble, he wouldn't have time to deal with them.
"Elder Lu, Dai'er, be wary of Ye Bu'er and Nangong Feiyun. Don't let them take advantage of the chaos," Hua Ruoxu transmitted to the two. Lu Yunchang nodded, while Su Dai'er smiled sweetly and came to Hua Ruoxu's side.
"Time is running out, so I won't say much more. You use your palm strikes to kill the horses, and I'll cut the chains between them. We'll fight our way out together. Please put aside your grudges for now, otherwise none of us will leave alive!" Hua Ruoxu said quickly. As soon as she finished speaking, the innermost circle of iron horses charged forward. "
Sister, please bless me to get through this ordeal!" Hua Ruoxu silently prayed. Suddenly, she let out a long roar, rose into the air, and channeled her true energy into the Love Sword, unleashing a sword beam over a foot long, slashing at the gaps between the iron horses. The sharpness of the Love Sword combined with its power was indeed invincible. Even the chains made of fine steel were easily cut by Hua Ruoxu.
The iron horses, now freed from the iron cavalry formation, charged recklessly like wild horses.

"Damn beasts!" Nangong Xuanyuan roared, and with a muffled thud, an iron horse fell before him. The others, all martial arts masters, followed suit, and their attempts were successful. For a moment, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Although there seemed to be an endless line of iron horses outside, they had at least seen a glimmer of hope, knowing that the iron horses were not as invincible as they had imagined.
Hua Ruoxu wielded his Love Sword with unrestrained skill, repeatedly practicing the Heavenly Star Sword Technique and the Seven Forms of Love Sword. His swordplay became increasingly refined, but the seemingly endless iron horse formation filled him with disillusionment.
"Nangong Feiyun, you're despicable!" He glanced at the crowd in the formation out of the corner of his eye and roared angrily. Nangong Feiyun had actually launched a sneak attack on the Holy Maiden of the Divine Palace at this moment, while she was currently dealing with an oncoming iron horse. At this moment, Ouyang Jianping's face showed a hint of despair. Suddenly, he let out a mournful cry, killing the iron horse in front of him. He moved rapidly towards the Holy Maiden, but unfortunately, he found that he was too far away to reach her.
Nangong Feiyun's wishful thinking was quite good. The Demon Palace had more people, and they could support each other. He wouldn't be foolish enough to deal with them first. Ye Bu'er's side also had a few people. Only the Holy Maiden not only had no one to help her, but she also had Gong Yaqian as a burden. Therefore, dealing with her first was naturally the best choice. Moreover, the person he hated the most seemed to be her.
However, things didn't go as planned. Hua Ruoxu happened to discover his treacherous intentions. Although he had no relation to the Holy Maiden of the Divine Palace and didn't have any good feelings towards her, he despised Nangong Feiyun, a despicable person who took advantage of others' misfortunes. Furthermore, Youyou was injured at Nangong Feiyun's hands, and Hua Ruoxu already harbored a burning desire to kill him.
Hua Ruoxu repelled Nangong Feiyun with a sword strike, barely saving the Holy Maiden's life. He wanted to press forward and kill Nangong Feiyun, but unexpectedly, Nangong Xuanyuan struck out with a palm, blocking Hua Ruoxu's attack.
"Hua Ruoxu, let's talk about any grudges after we're out of danger!" Nangong Xuanyuan said in a deep voice. Su Daier frowned, wanting to say something but then stopped.
"Brother Ruoxu, I'm here to help you!" Su Dai'er suddenly smiled sweetly, her slender fingers gently plucking the strings of her zither. A melodious tune filled the night sky as the demonic zither began to play once more.
The galloping iron horses suddenly let out mournful cries, then collapsed in rows. Only then did Hua Ruoxu realize that Su Dai'er's music could kill not only people but also animals. He couldn't help but smile bitterly. If Su Dai'er had used this method earlier, wouldn't everything have been much simpler? However, he vaguely understood that Su Dai'er had her own reasons for not using the demonic zither sooner.
Rows of iron horses fell, but the torches on them still burned. Fortunately, it was early summer, and the wild grass hadn't been ignited. Seeing the previously roaring herd gradually fall silent, Ye Bu'er's lips twitched incessantly. A hint of hatred flashed in his eyes as he looked at Su Dai'er, but he made no move.
"Thank you for your help, Young Master Hua!" the Holy Maiden said softly, bowing slightly.
"No need to be polite," Hua Ruoxu said calmly, suddenly remembering that Xue Youyou was still seriously injured.
"Youyou!" Hua Ruoxu quickly took Xue Youyou from Jiang Qingyue's arms, letting out a slight sigh of relief. Although Xue Youyou was still unconscious, her condition didn't seem to have changed much.
"Dair, I'll go back first. Saving Youyou is the priority." Hua Ruoxu said, already springing up. "Sister Qing, come back with me."
"Holy Maiden, come with me to Hua Lang's place," Jiang Qingyue said softly. The Holy Maiden hesitated slightly, glanced at the still unconscious Gong Yaqian in her arms, and nodded gently. The two quickly flew up and chased after Hua Ruoxu. This time, no one stopped them.
"Let's go too." Su Daier felt somewhat dejected, watching Hua Ruoxu's receding figure, and sighed softly.
*** *** ***
"Princess, they escaped!" The voice seemed very happy.
"Mei'er, our mission failed, why do you seem so happy?" the princess said irritably.
"No, Princess, I... I'm not happy at all," Mei'er stammered. "Princess, I just feel that if they all die like this, we'll have to go back to the palace, won't we? We finally got to come out and have fun, it wouldn't be fun if we went back like this." Mei'er kept defending herself.
"Alright, alright, don't think I don't know what you're thinking. You just can't bear to see your Hua Ruoxu die, can you?" the princess said irritably. "Our Mei'er has fallen for someone and wants to be someone's concubine."
"Princess, I'm not coming anymore, you're teasing me again!" Mei'er pouted and started to whine.
"Alright, Mei'er, stop fooling around. Actually, I knew it wouldn't be so easy for them to die, but I didn't expect them to break through so easily. That Su Dai'er's demonic zither is truly powerful!" The princess shook her head and said, "However, I've also witnessed the strength of these martial arts masters. My simple Iron Horse Formation was enough to defeat them like this, which shows that so-called martial arts masters are nothing special. Dealing with them isn't that difficult."
"Princess, there's a question, but I don't know if I should ask it." Mei'er hesitated for a moment before saying.
"Just ask whatever you want to ask. When have you ever been afraid to speak in front of me?" The princess glared at her.
"Princess, I've heard that people in the martial arts world rarely deal with the imperial court. Why should we, why should we deal with them?" Mei'er hesitated for a long time before finally asking.
“Mei’er, you don’t understand. While people in the martial arts world rarely interact with the imperial court, it doesn’t mean they completely avoid contact. Martial arts people are still people; everyone needs to live. They have families, and many, besides martial arts, lack any other skills to support themselves. Therefore, many enter the government for money.” The princess shook her head. “The greatest skill of martial arts people is their martial arts prowess, and what we fear most is their high level of skill. They themselves may not participate in court affairs, but they can easily become accomplices to others. Not long ago, the Emperor was assassinated by several people. Although they failed, it gave him a real fright. Later, according to the investigation by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, these people were likely from the martial arts world.”
“But Princess, those were only a few martial arts people. Why should we kill them all?” Mei’er was still puzzled.
"Because of this matter, His Majesty has become worried that the excessively powerful forces in the martial arts world will pose a threat to him, and has therefore been unable to eat or sleep for many days." The princess sighed softly. "I will not interfere in the palace intrigues, nor will His Majesty and Father allow me to. However, I will share their burdens regarding matters of the martial arts world."
"Then why don't we unify the martial arts world and make them all serve the court?" Mei'er muttered, this little girl seemed to think that killing so many people was not a good thing.
"His Majesty often says that conquering a country is easy, but maintaining it is difficult." The princess slowly took a few steps. "The same principle applies to the martial arts world. It is difficult to build a large force, but it is much easier to destroy it. Moreover, since ancient times, the martial arts world has never been truly unified. We are not true martial arts practitioners, so how can we expect to unify the martial arts world and make them work for us?"
"But, but, Princess, I always feel that what we are doing is not..." Mei'er wanted to say something more.
“Mei’er, I know what you mean. Actually, some things aren't things we want to do, but things we have to do. As royalty, we're destined from birth to face many things beyond our control. Relatively speaking, I'm already very lucky. The Emperor and Father don't force me to do anything, but how can I not do something to repay them?” The princess interrupted Mei’er, speaking softly.
“Princess, Mei’er understands. Mei’er will help you,” Mei’er said softly.
*** *** ***
Hua Mansion.
Hua Yuluan was particularly restless tonight, unable to sleep no matter what she did. Even past midnight, she couldn't fall asleep. Finally, she couldn't help but leave her room and go to Hua Yufeng's. Just as she was about to knock, she found the door already open; it seemed Hua Yufeng hadn't slept either.
“Sister, is something wrong?” Hua Yufeng's face showed some worry, her heart pounding.
“Sister, has Junior Brother returned?” Hua Yuluan asked hesitantly. Hua Yufeng shook her head.
"I... I have a feeling something's not right. No, I have to go out and check." Hua Yuluan finally couldn't hold back any longer and turned to leave.
"Sister, it's so late, and you're not feeling well. Why don't you wait? Perhaps... perhaps he's still with Su Daier." Hua Yufeng quickly grabbed Hua Yuluan and whispered comfortingly. However, she had thought she was the only one overthinking things, but now that Hua Yuluan also had this bad feeling, she couldn't help but worry even more. Could it be...? She dared not think any further.

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