Chapter 2, The Black Ice Snow Prison
Liao Feng halted his movements and replied, "Is it Xiao Dan? It's nothing serious. A few blind thieves attempted to cause trouble at night and have already been surrounded outside the Zizhu Building. It won't take long to deal with them completely."
The Nianzu Tower is separated from the Luo Mansion by only a narrow alley. In recent days, Xiaodan has become thoroughly familiar with the terrain of Tianlei Mountain Villa. He skillfully navigated his way, avoiding the obvious and hidden sentries within the villa, and entered a bell tower outside the Nianzu Tower.
After spending a considerable amount of time with the people of the Luo family, Xiao Dan discovered that everyone, except for Gu Zhi, was easy to get along with. In particular, Madam Luo treated him with warmth and kindness, regarding him as if he were her own nephew. The siblings Luo Yushan and Luo Hushan were innocent and carefree, inviting him to play and have fun every day, making him oblivious to the monotony and boredom of life.
Unable to provoke, can I still hide? In a flash, Xiao Dan made a crucial decision regarding life and death, turning to flee. Little did he know that Xiao Hei's speed far exceeded that of an ordinary wild dog. With a soft "whoosh," sharp claws had already torn off a strip of cloth from the back of Xiao Dan's rear.
Xiao Dan felt a stir in his heart and said, "So the second volume of 'Tian Dao' is not hidden within our Luo residence."
At that moment, Luo Yushan covered her eyes with her delicate hand, her charming face flushed with shyness, and she whispered, "You, you there—"
The elderly man with the surname Duan is also a prominent figure in the demonic path of Tianlu Liaozhou. To have Lei Peng, like a small chick, taken to the front yard in front of everyone undoubtedly brings him great shame. His face turned ashen as he glanced at his three precious disciples, some of whom were dejected while others were gravely injured and unconscious, and he let out an angry snort.
Xiao Dan extended his left hand to gauge the direction and strength of the wind. After waiting for about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, he lazily smiled and swiftly took out a bronze sparrow with its head held high and wings folded from his bosom. With a soft "click" at the tail of the sparrow, a puff of deep purple smoke was ejected from its beak, which quickly lightened and spread before Xiao Dan, forming a mist that was almost indistinguishable to the naked eye and sense of smell, resembling the cold mist that rises on an early spring night.
Little Egg drooped his eyes, looking as if he had not woken up, and nodded slightly, saying: "Godfather has arrived, I will leave now"
Gu Zhi was engaged in a fierce battle with a burly man in black, who wielded a pair of triangular golden hammers. Gu Zhi clearly had the upper hand. The man in black roared like thunder, swinging the hammers with dazzling cold light, tightly guarding his vital points, yet he still struggled to cope, unable to manage both offense and defense.
Little Black seems to have developed an interest in tearing at his pants, completely ignoring Little Egg's persistent calls and relentless pursuit. It does not harm Little Egg, but instead, like a mischievous child, it playfully uses its front paws and teeth to tug at the clothes behind him
Without a moment's hesitation, he twisted a seemingly ordinary tungsten wire and inserted it into the keyhole. With a deft touch, his fingers skillfully turned and pressed, producing a faint yet crisp sound of "pop," and the copper lock was already opened
Little Dan held his breath, fearing that even a single cough would disturb Little Black, and he slowly retreated step by step towards the direction of the room where he was staying
Little Dan leaped into the air, lying horizontally in the space less than a foot from the ceiling. With remarkable speed, he deftly removed the roof tiles and the green tiles covering them using only his hands, his movements clean and efficient, resembling those of a seasoned expert in this craft. The removed tiles were skillfully stacked on the beam beneath him, and in an instant, a hole large enough for a person to pass through comfortably appeared above his head.
The following night passed without a word. The next morning, after breakfast, Xiao Hu began to pester Xiao Dan to recount the story of Duan Feng's humiliation at the manor the previous night. At the time of the incident, both he and Luo Yushan were being guarded by Madam Luo and could not leave the room even a step. They could hear the commotion outside but could see nothing, which truly made them restless with anticipation.
Little Tiger, without any ulterior motives and in high spirits, casually remarked: "Of course. The Black Ice Snow Prison was originally a place for imprisoning criminals, but it has been abandoned and left empty for a long time. Within the Snow Prison, there is a cold pool, where a water spirit magic tiger that has cultivated for a thousand years resides. With it guarding the star map day and night, and the treasure being hidden in such a secretive location, isn't it safer and more secure than placing the items in our own home?"
Little Dan escaped through a moon gate and had already emerged into the vast expanse of the sea. Suddenly, a soft gasp came from ahead, and he nearly collided with that person. Fortunately, the newcomer swiftly sidestepped just in time to avoid the encounter
Little Dan took a deep breath, his heart still pounding as if he had just escaped a life-and-death chase
Luo Niu shook his head and said, "Mr. Duan has misunderstood. As long as you are willing, you can leave at any time with your three disciples."
Luo Niu handed the jade hook into his hand and said with a smile: "In fact, there is no enmity between us. If Mr. Duan has any matters that require my assistance, please feel free to visit. I will certainly prepare to receive you. Why go through the trouble of sending your disciple to my residence at night? Fortunately, no one was harmed on the way to the manor; otherwise, I would have difficulty explaining it to Master Lei."
Little Tiger joyfully said: "Great! Little Egg Brother, I will take you to see the magical eagle raised by Uncle Lei, it's going to be so much fun!"
At the moment he was caught in a dilemma, he suddenly heard someone outside calling loudly: "Thank you for your hard work, Brother Gu!" The owner of Tianlei Mountain Villa, Lei Peng, was walking out of the Purple Bamboo Pavilion, with a person tucked under his arm, side by side with Luo Niu.
If the renowned thief Bi Hu, known for his expertise in night raids, were to witness the techniques employed by Xiao Dan, he would undoubtedly express great admiration. It is important to note that releasing the mesmerizing purple smoke is not difficult; the challenge lies in ensuring that the guards at the tower do not detect any unusual activity. Xiao Dan harnesses the wind and uses his palm strength to send out the purple smoke, so that even if the guards feel the cold wind blowing towards them, they would not suspect any hidden trickery.
Mr. Duan scoffed and said: "Your words sound pleasant. If I were to cultivate to the realm of the Immortal Heart, where nothing could confuse me, what need would I have for the second volume of 'Tao of Heaven'? You need not use such a ridiculous excuse to brush me off!"
After half a cup of tea, the four guards fell into a deep slumber, collapsing to the ground. Little Egg flew out of the clock tower and gracefully landed in front of the Ancestor Tower. The heavy black door was tightly shut, secured by a thick brass lock shaped like a tiger's head. Little Egg raised his hand and took out a palm-sized deerskin pouch from his bosom. Upon opening it, he found it filled to the brim with nearly a hundred various tools of all kinds.
Even so, he wandered through every corner of the Luo residence, yet still could not find the place his godfather had mentioned. As the days passed one by one, and with no news from his godfather, he truly felt a headache coming on
Mr. Duan, with his hands clasped behind his back, did not accept the pair of "Jade Hooks" presented by Luo Niu. He looked up at the sky and said, "I, an old man, have no words to say since my skills are inferior to yours. Since I have fallen into your hands, whether to kill or to spare, I leave it entirely to your discretion"
Unexpectedly, human calculations are not as reliable as the heavens' arrangements. As soon as he approached the back courtyard of the Purple Bamboo Pavilion, he was detected by Luo Niu, who swiftly disarmed and captured him without any suspense, and was then taken to the front of the building under the arm of Lei Peng.
Little did he know that not only did the stranger remain still, but when he took a step back, it only heightened Xiao Hei's suspicion of this unfamiliar figure. With a low growl, he lunged forward like a bolt of black lightning, extending his front claws to grasp at Xiao Dan's shoulders on either side.
This person has a slender build and is dressed in a black robe, with hawk-like eyes and a hawk-like nose. Beneath his chin, he has a slight silver beard, and his face is covered in wrinkles, indicating advanced age
Xiao Dan briefly recounted the events, but Xiao Hu, feeling unsatisfied, relentlessly pressed for more details. When Xiao Dan mentioned that Duan Feng mocked Luo Niu for being hypocritical and unwilling to lend out the second volume of "Tian Dao," Xiao Hu disdainfully curled his lip and said, "This old fellow is truly detestable. He might as well go take a look at those Tian Dao star maps in the Black Ice Snow Prison beneath the Ancestor Tower. If he loses control and goes mad, he has no one to blame but himself"
Thinking of the task assigned by his godfather, Xiao Dan felt a growing anxiety in his heart. Although he had free access to the Luo residence and even Tianlei Mountain Manor during the day, there was always a pair of vigilant eyes secretly watching him from behind. There was no need to ask; it was most likely someone sent by Gu Zhi to keep an eye on him.
In the evening, several renowned friends from the magical realm in Hanzhou came together to visit Tianlei Mountain Villa. Lei Peng set up a banquet in the villa and also invited Luo Niu to join.
He held his breath, gently extending his left palm. The thin mist drifted with the wind towards the ancestral tower, about ten zhang away, maintaining its initial form without dispersing.
Luo Yushan was about to respond with a smile when she suddenly noticed the holes and tears in the back of Xiaodan's pants, revealing several bare patches. As a young lady, she had never seen anything like this before; she was momentarily stunned before she instinctively gasped in surprise.
This is a blind spot; the sentry stationed in the backyard is completely obstructed from seeing by the dense branches and leaves of an ancient evergreen tree outside the house. Xiaodan clings to the eaves with both hands like a bat, patiently lying in wait until the moment the sentry leisurely yawns, at which point he suddenly darts out into the vast night.
Little Dan turned his head back and saw Luo Yushan looking at him with a hint of surprise. Xiao Hei chased up close, and upon seeing Luo Yushan, immediately released Little Dan, barking affectionately a couple of times as he circled around her, occasionally nudging her with his head.
Luo Niu saw two disciples in black, severely injured and in a state of utter exhaustion. He intended to inquire with Mr. Duan whether they should seek treatment nearby at the manor. However, upon hearing the other party's words, he felt that expressing his thoughts might lead to misunderstandings. Thus, he nodded with a sigh and said, "Mr. Duan, please take care, and forgive Luo for not seeing you off"
"Mao Zai?" Little Dan's heart trembled. Could it be that his godfather has arrived? He pleaded, "Uncle Liao, could you take me along to have a look?"
Lying flat on the bed, feeling anxious and lost in thought, I suddenly heard the alarm signals from the manor, rapidly approaching from a distance towards the Luo residence. It was evident that someone had attempted a night raid and had been discovered by the guards of the manor, prompting them to raise the alarm.
He turned his head and saw a giant dog, entirely black with eyes gleaming in a vivid yellow-green light, crouching in the corner of the wall, barking loudly at him, its tail raised like an iron whip
His statement reflects a deeper level of consideration than that of Xiao Hu, as he hopes to temporarily take care of this child before Xiao Dan's father arrives. In case any unusual occurrences similar to last night arise, he would be able to provide timely assistance
Xiao Dan immediately felt a tingling sensation on his scalp, and his complexion changed. He was not afraid of anything in the world, but he was particularly afraid of dogs. Especially when it came to a wolfhound that was almost as big as a small tiger, he would feel his legs go weak at the sight of it
Luo Niu smiled and said, "It's nothing to worry about; as long as you enjoy it, you can stay at our home for as long as you like"
Upon arriving at the lakeside where he rescued the little egg yesterday, he searched in the snow for quite a while but could not find the mark left by his godfather. He felt a sense of loss and was at a loss as to what to do next
Xiao Dan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said with a bitter smile: "There’s nothing I can do; I was bitten by a wild dog when I was a child"
Xiao Dan was momentarily taken aback, then turned to look at Gu Zhi, whose expression was stern, and quietly uttered an indifferent "oh".
Luo Niu clapped his hands to release the elder's constricted meridians, and with a pleasant demeanor said: "Mr. Duan, I sincerely apologize for any offense I may have caused earlier, and I hope you can be magnanimous in your understanding"
As the two spoke and walked, it was inconvenient to use the Wind Control Technique for flying within the Luo residence, so they hurried along at a speed no less than that of galloping horses. Upon passing through the Vast Sea Pavilion, they saw dozens of burly men, including the guards from the Tianlei Mountain Villa, surrounding the three night attackers in the open area outside the Purple Bamboo Pavilion, holding torches high and leaving no room for escape.
Upon seeing the old man captured by Lei Peng, the man in black immediately turned ashen, and the last vestige of his fighting spirit vanished completely
Xiao Hei was solely focused on enjoying Luo Yushan's caresses, making a soft sound without knowing whether he understood or not
Mr. Duan put away the jade hook and said, "I have long heard of your esteemed reputation for benevolence, and today I see it is indeed true. However, the second volume of 'The Way of Heaven' is a precious gift from the heavens, and all of us in this world should share in it. Yet, the master of the Luo residence treasures his own possessions so much that he is unwilling to lend even a copy of 'The Way of Heaven' that he keeps in his house for a glance to friends in the Dao? The praise of chivalry seems somewhat exaggerated and *misleading* in your case!"
It turns out that this person is the master of the three of them. Tonight, they have devised a strategy of feigning an attack in the east while striking in the west, with three men in black launching a frontal assault to divert the attention of the guards at Tianlei Villa, while the old man quietly sneaks in from the back.
In a moment of shock, Xiao Dan suddenly felt a chilling breeze on his backside, as if he were wearing nothing at all. He immediately exclaimed "Ouch!" and hurriedly turned around, covering his rear with both hands.
Recalling Luo Yushan's teasing, he also guessed that this wolfdog must be Xiaohong. As the name suggests, it is deadly; how can it be called "Xiao" (small) Hong? If it were to stand upright, it would probably be half a head taller than himself
Not long after changing his pants at home, Luo Niu invited Xiao Dan to the "Xi Xiang Zhai" for a bath and a change of clothes. After having breakfast, he took him out of the estate to look for someone. Accompanying them were Xiao Hu and Gu Zhi, but Luo Yu Shan did not come.
Mr. Luo sincerely stated: "I have learned from Mr. Duan's words. However, the latter volume of 'The Way of Heaven' is obscure and profound, unlike anything ordinary. If one's cultivation is insufficient or one's intentions are misguided, attempting to comprehend it may not only fail to grasp its true meaning but also easily give rise to inner demons, leading to harm. Therefore, I must keep it properly and cannot lend it out lightly. If one day, when Mr. Duan's celestial heart reaches great accomplishment and there is nothing to confuse him, he visits my humble abode to seek guidance, how could I possibly refuse?"
Xiao Dan secretly noted down Xiao Hu's unintentional words, and after chatting for a while longer, he got up to search for the marks left by his godfather at the lakeside outside the manor. However, this time he still found nothing. Counting on his fingers, he realized that the agreed meeting date between the two had already passed by nearly ten days, and he couldn't help but start to worry about his godfather.
That night, Xiao Dan was unable to fall asleep, and in fact, he had been falling asleep only in the early hours of the morning for many days. Every night, he felt as if Luo Niu was steadfastly guarding outside the house. It seemed unnecessary for him to personally keep watch over Xiao Dan. However, regardless of the reason, with him outside, Xiao Dan felt he could not go anywhere.
Little Dan, in a frantic escape, rushed towards the door. However, just as he entered the room, Little Black followed closely behind. With no other option, he had to leap through the window into the backyard. His movements were slightly delayed, and a piece of clothing from his backside was torn off by Little Black.
Xiao Dan was also unconcerned, comfortably acting as a guest in the Luo residence. Whenever he had some free time, he would go to the kitchen to help Old Liu fetch water and chop firewood, listening to him recount the glorious past of Luo Niu during his youth.
With a loud bang, Gu Zhi's left palm struck the left rib of the man in black, and even with only 30% of his strength retained, it caused the man to spit blood and fly backward. One of the two middle-aged men in black who were watching rushed forward to catch his companion, while the other drew a giant axe weighing over 200 pounds and charged forward.
Little Dan could not help but be pulled forward by Little Tiger for two steps, when he suddenly heard Gu Zhi's voice warning him in a low tone: "Kid, your master has taken you in with great kindness and righteousness, and I have nothing to say about that. But you better behave yourself; if you take the opportunity to cause trouble in the residence, I, Gu Zhi, was also a ruthless demon lord from the Southern Wilderness who wouldn't blink an eye at killing!"
As the saying goes, a wise man does not suffer immediate losses. Mr. Duan ignored Gu Zhi's words and clasped his fist towards Lord Luo, saying: "Lord Luo, my disciple and I are taking our leave now. You wouldn't go back on your word and keep us here, would you?"
Xiao Dan noticed that the three people surrounded in the inner circle all looked unfamiliar, and without his own godfather present, he felt a bit more at ease. He stood behind Liao Feng, secretly observing Gu Zhi's palm techniques, diligently trying to memorize the variations of offense and defense in each move.
After twelve or thirteen exchanges, Gu Zhi discovered a flaw and executed a move from the "Silken Threads Seventeen Palms," specifically the "Lotus Breaks but Threads Remain." His left palm struck with the force of a knife, compelling the man in black to defend with all his might, while his right palm, silent and swift, gently pressed against the opponent's lower abdomen.
At this moment, Xiao Dan only wanted to distance himself from Xiao Hei as much as possible. He said, "Miss Luo, thank you. I will head back to my room now." He turned around and walked back along the path he had come.
Luo Yushan bent down and gently stroked Xiaohong's head, saying softly: "Xiaohong, he is our esteemed guest, and from now on, you must not bully anyone anymore"
Liao Feng eagerly agreed, saying: "Sure, it's best to run quickly; if we arrive late, we won't be able to see any of the excitement."
Gu Zhishen appeared relaxed, dressed in blue, strolling leisurely through the arena. With each strike of his left and right hands, he executed moves that were both fierce and seasoned, keenly observing his opponent's frequent vulnerabilities. If it were not for his deep understanding that Luo Niu never wished to harm others, it is likely that just a few more moves would have sent this man in black to meet his grandmother's grandmother.
Luo Niu smiled and said: "Mr. Duan Feng is merely a bit eccentric in his actions; he is not truly a villain. His cultivation has been hard-earned, so we should be tolerant and accommodating towards him."
Little Tiger said: "Little Egg Brother, since your godfather hasn't arrived yet, why don't you stay at our house for now? From now on, I will accompany you to the lakeside every day to wait for him. What do you think?"
He ran in a panic, forgetting to use the Wind Control Technique to soar into the air and evade. While running, he turned back and shouted to Xiao Hei: "Don't chase me, I am not a thief!"
Little Dan leaped out, gliding like a serpent, nimbly and agilely sticking close to the roof ridge. Confirming that those watching him had no reaction, a faint smile inadvertently appeared at the corner of his mouth. His toes silently touched the tiles, and like an arrow, he swiftly glided down to the eaves at the eastern end of the roof.
Gu Zhi sneered coldly and said: "Master, it is useless to say anything to this stubborn old bastard. Why not let me strip them of their cultivation altogether and leave them outside the manor for some peace and quiet"
Lei Peng, unable to tolerate it any longer, sneered, "What, are you still unconvinced and want to challenge Lord Luo again?"
Gu Zhi frowned as soon as he heard this, but before he could speak, Luo Niu had already agreed, saying: "Xiao Dan, if you are willing, come live with us. I will ask Master Lei to send people to take turns guarding the lakeside, and they will notify you as soon as there is any news"
He involuntarily sat up, put on his boots, and ran outside, but could not find Luo Niu. Upon reaching the courtyard gate, he happened to encounter Liao Feng leading several servants from the Luo residence rushing towards the "Purple Bamboo Pavilion" where Luo Niu and his wife lived. He hurriedly rubbed his half-awake eyes and asked, "Uncle Liao, what has happened?"
Such confidential matters were originally difficult for Xiao Hu to know. However, two years ago, Luo Niu's senior brother, who is currently the head of the Zizhu Lin lineage of the Cui Xia Sect, sent his disciple Wei Jingzhe to Tian Lei Mountain Villa to seek enlightenment on the Heavenly Path Star Map. Wei Jingzhe stayed for half a year and got along very well with Xiao Hu. As a result, Xiao Hu also vaguely learned about the secrets of the Black Ice Snow Prison.
He originally stretched his senses to explore the surroundings of his dwelling and discovered that although Luo Niu was not present, the two sentinels dispatched by Gu Zhi were still constantly monitoring from a distance, one in front and one behind. As soon as he pushed open the back window, it would inevitably alert them.
Thus, Xiao Dan settled down at the Luo residence. In the blink of an eye, five or six days had passed, yet his godfather still had not arrived. Luo Niu was not anxious and did not urge Xiao Dan to leave; instead, he quietly guarded outside the room every night to protect him. Fortunately, during these days, Xiao Dan's cultivation returned to normal, and everything was calm without any dangers arising.
After Xiaodan finished dinner, he returned to his room, tidied himself up, and rested for a moment before going to bed. However, he did not truly fall asleep. He opened his eyes wide, forcing himself to resist the drowsiness, and lay quietly for more than half an hour. As he heard the voices outside gradually diminish, he quietly got out of bed, put on his boots, and stuffed a spare blanket under the covers to create the illusion that he was sound asleep. He lay on his side under the back window, listening intently for a while before suddenly returning to the room. He opened his eyes wide, forcing himself to resist the drowsiness, and lay quietly for more than half an hour. As he heard the voices outside gradually diminish, he quietly got out of bed, put on his boots, and stuffed a spare blanket under the covers to create the illusion that he was sound asleep. He lay on his side under the back window, listening intently for a while before suddenly returning to the room.
The small egg behind Liao Feng was greatly shaken upon hearing the conversation between the two. Fortunately, he was born with a perpetually sleepy face, which made him appear dazed and confused regardless of the turmoil within his heart. Moreover, since everyone was focused on the happenings in the arena, no one noticed his unusual demeanor.
After a while, Luo Yushan finally dared to release her jade-like hand, her heart racing like a startled deer, and her earlobes felt warm. She lowered her head and pretended to be angry at Xiao Hei, saying, "You naughty fellow, this is all your doing." As she spoke, she found it amusing and couldn't help but let a hint of a smile escape from the corner of her lips. Suddenly, she heard a loud "Ouch" from outside the door, followed by the sound of someone falling to the ground. It seemed that in the process of retreating, they had become flustered and tripped.
Xiao Dan looked at Luo Niu with a sincere expression, not at all pretending, and hesitated, saying: "Would it be too much of a disturbance for Uncle Luo?"
The owner of Tianlei Mountain Villa, Master Lei, would occasionally pay visits. He showed exceptional respect towards the Luo Niu couple and was particularly fond of the Xueshan siblings. However, regarding Xiaodan, perhaps influenced by Gu Zhi, his scrutinizing gaze was always filled with suspicion
The lantern hung high in front of the tower, with four guards from the villa standing alert on either side during the night watch. Beyond the high walls surrounding the tower, there were at least a dozen skilled fighters from the villa lying in ambush, both in plain sight and hidden. Unless Xiao Dan was confident in eliminating all four individuals in front of the tower in the blink of an eye, any delay would inevitably trigger an alarm, attracting the guards outside the high walls. At that point, not only would it be difficult to enter the tower, but escaping would also become exceedingly challenging
As the figures of Master Duan and his disciple disappeared from the sight of the crowd under Gu Zhi's watch, Lei Peng sighed and said: "Ah Niu, you are too soft-hearted. That old scoundrel with the surname Duan is notorious for his tyranny in Liaozhou. It would not be unjust for us to eliminate him tonight. Every time you let someone go so easily, those who covet the 'Way of Heaven' will only become more emboldened and reckless."
Xiao Dan was unwilling for others to misunderstand him as having ulterior motives, so he merely strolled slowly around Hai Kuo Xuan, lost in thought. Suddenly, a dog barked in the distance, breaking the morning silence and jolting Xiao Dan from his reverie
Mr. Duan let out a sigh of relief and, with a wooden expression, said: "I concede!" He then picked up the unconscious disciple and strode away.
Yet, even so, the man in black found it unbearable; the true energy in his dantian surged violently as if it were about to explode, crashing uncontrollably towards his chest, and with a cry of "Ah," he was sent flying several zhang, losing consciousness in the process
Mr. Duan felt a chill; he knew that Luo Niu, with his broad-minded nature, would not make things difficult for himself. However, Gu Zhi, Liao Feng, and Lei Peng were different. These individuals had been notorious villains in Tianlu for decades. Although they could not kill on the spot due to Luo Niu's reputation, there was no guarantee they would not secretly plot against the four of them later.
Daylight has arrived, and Xiaodan, unable to sleep in any position, simply drapes on a coat and steps out into the courtyard. A slight, somewhat chilly morning breeze brushes by, enveloping Haikuo Xuan in a layer of delicate mist, creating an exceptionally tranquil and serene atmosphere
Mr. Duan lowered his head and looked at Luo Niudao: "Do you really intend to let us, master and disciple, leave the manor?"
Gu Zhilian fought fearlessly in two battles, skillfully maneuvering amidst the overwhelming shadows of axes. His palm techniques were relentless and fierce, with an internal energy that was restrained, akin to the meticulous care and concern between lovers, enveloping his opponent completely. Whenever the man in black revealed even the slightest gap, his palm strike would surge in like mercury, ruthlessly breaking through.
The lower abdomen is the location of the dantian for those who cultivate qi. Once injured, it can lead to the collapse of true qi, which will likely result in immediate death. Therefore, this strike cannot be considered anything but vicious. Fortunately, Gu Zhi showed mercy and only used thirty percent of his strength, withdrawing his hand as soon as contact was made.
Luo Yushan had already guessed part of it and smiled gently, saying: "So you are afraid of dogs. In fact, Xiao Hei won't harm you; as long as you stand still and let him sniff you for a moment, everything will be fine"
Thus, only the black-clad man wielding the whip remained. He tightly gripped the silver whip in one hand while supporting the injured black-clad man, looking around in a state of panic. Seeing his two senior brothers severely injured by Gu Zhi in just a few exchanges, he realized that it would be futile for him to join the fray. Now, trapped in a dire situation, the thought of escaping seemed as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
Xiao Dan felt utterly humiliated, wishing he could punch a hole in the ground and disappear into it. His dark face was flushed with embarrassment as he stammered, "I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I... I..." After a long pause, he still couldn't articulate a coherent thought, too afraid to turn his back on Luo Yushan. Instead, he could only cover his face with both hands and slowly retreat from the moon gate.