Chapter 4

Just like that, everything happened in the blink of an eye. The strong wind caused her wide robe to billow, and she knew she was falling. Gongsun Zhi did not dare to look at her, but what was there to be afraid of?

Wang Yun felt a slight doubt in his heart as he saw the Seventh Young Master move violently again

A sharp pain gripped her heart, and her head throbbed as if it would split apart, yet she still held her breath and forced herself to stand up

She gently shook, fearing that he would continue with a lengthy discourse, and quickly ceased her motion of caressing the jade flute. How could she not think of the worst? If she did not think, she did not know how many times she had died; if she did not think, how could she be on guard?

She had long known that one day she would be abandoned. When asked why, knowing that he would return to Tianhe Manor to see his old father off and would inevitably be captured by the Master, she still chose to do so

I brought seven disciples, have they all left? The seventh young master had just reached his coming of age, his energy was weak like a wisp of smoke, his eyes devoid of spirit, yet he forced himself to lock onto Gongsun Yun.

She did not respond, no longer paying attention to the corpses on the ground, but instead observed the surrounding terrain. This place is situated on a cliff, with steep cliff faces, which should have been a place of mist and dew, but the impending rain had dispersed the fog. She stood at the edge of the cliff and looked down; this cliff was far less towering and difficult to ascend than Tianbi Cliff, but a fall from here would likely result in death or serious injury.

At this moment, she noticed that things had changed

There were three hidden weapons in total, and Gongsun Yun turned around to pursue again, but it was already too late

The mad cult leader used this method to make her realize this point, to help her understand her own loneliness. Alas, is it a bit too intense? If you speak to her properly, she would have understood it long ago

She gritted her teeth and stumbled out from the cliff face, each step causing her swaying left arm to feel as if it were connected to her heart, bringing immense sorrow.

Although the impact was mitigated just now, the force of hitting the ground was considerable, resulting in a bleeding head and a tingling sensation coursing through her spine. She took a deep breath, and her internal organs suddenly ached as a result.

Her skin was trembling uncontrollably. She looked down at her left arm and discovered that the elbow bone had protruded from the flesh, and the forearm was nearly severed. No wonder the pain was so intense that it felt as if her heart was being twisted.

Wang Yun was almost ready to prostrate himself before him. It is said that the Yun family is extremely protective of their own; when one of their own was injured or killed, he did not confront her and Che Yanyan on the spot. She was overwhelmed with gratitude, truly a remarkable person.

Wang Yunqi gave him a strange glance. "Do you know what I am thinking?"

Gongsun Yun squinted his eyes and replied without turning his head: "You follow the two guardians."

Of course! Gongsun Zhi certainly said.

She has said that her survival until now is largely due to the luck bestowed upon her by fate, and that her sixth sense is quite strong. There is a sense of danger in the air, yet she cannot predict what will happen next

Gongsun Yun wanted to pull her out of the White Ming Sect and was willing to provide her with a place of refuge. Unfortunately, when disaster struck, he still chose his own family first. This is human nature; she harbors no resentment, only a sense of relief that comes with the realization of "Ah, it has finally happened"

She got up again, challenging her own limits of endurance, step by step, slowly moving forward

Now that she is dead, where will the mad leader find a successor? Che Yanyan is absolutely impossible; I fear that once the new leader ascends, Che Yanyan will not have much time left to live.

Isn't this how the world is? Everyone has important people in their hearts, and naturally, they will eliminate those who cannot be saved

She thought that from now on she could feel somewhat at ease, as she had gained an additional family member with a commitment

Leisurely clouds, fireworks

In the midst of the chaotic battle, she gently bent her body and asked Gongsun Zhi, who was protecting Young Master Qi:

Gongsun Zhi gently caressed his eyelids and whispered in his ear

At the moment he turned around, she had already missed the opportunity to be rescued

She helped support the person, retreating all the way to the edge of the cliff. The Seventh Young Master moved slightly, suddenly opened his eyes, and made an effort to stare wide-eyed at Huangfu Yan

And she indeed left

Unbeknownst to her, at some point, the young master of Tianhe Manor suddenly sprang out from the forest. She was taken aback, and an overwhelming chill coursed through her body. Realizing that the situation was dire, she shouted:

She turned around gracefully and left without looking back

Wang Yun smiled faintly and interjected

The ones who followed were merely some impetuous young ruffians, showing little respect for the Yun family estate. She had long noticed that Gongsun Yun had recklessly expended more than half of his true energy to save the Seventh Young Master, just to preserve a trace of his breath

Gongsun Zhi also wore a shocked expression, staring at the young man in Gongsun Yun's arms

"Young Master of the Idle Clouds, we witnessed it with our own eyes!" A young hero from a certain sect said with hatred, "Although we arrived a step late, the bodies of the Yun family disciples are neither cut by swords nor pierced by knives; they died purely from their organs being shattered. The right protector of the White Ming Sect wielded a whip, the left protector wielded a sword, and the sect leader could take a person's life with empty hands from a distance. Such wicked martial arts can only be attributed to the White Ming Sect"

In the blink of an eye, more than half of the people in the martial world are left empty-handed

"Miss Huangfu!" Gongsun Zhi shouted, lunging forward to grab her.

Che Yanyan enjoys seeking opportunities to kill; she is not one to be trifled with. It is important to distinguish clearly between the two.

Bastard, it hurts so much... She can definitely endure it? In ancient times, Gou Jian could endure humiliation and even taste feces, what does this count as? Just endure the pain, even if her hand is broken, she just needs to endure a little longer and it will pass.

The fierce wind caused her crimson sash to dance wildly, resembling bright red blood swirling before her eyes. In a daze, she stared and noticed that the end of the sash had inexplicably wrapped around the treetops below the cliff

Elder brother

He immediately retreated to her side

From now on, she will travel freely on her own, and the mad master will indeed lend her a helping hand, no longer needing to ponder over the reasons.

It is better to be without companionship. Without companionship, no one will ever know her whereabouts: without companionship, she does not have to think about when this person will betray her or when she will betray this person, how wonderful it is

No way! How could such a coincidence exist in the world? Her gaze suddenly changed, filled with disbelief. Was it caused by explosives? She had only seen explosives used once in her life, when she was young, and it had blown the stones into the air, more dangerous than a sudden awakening of the earth dragon. She noticed the ground starting to crack and immediately helped the Seventh Young Master up, allowing Gongsun Zhi to carry him on his back.

"Huangfu Yun, dodge to the side!" he shouted immediately

Her throat was constantly constricted, and as soon as she opened her mouth, blood would spurt out; she had to endure it. She caught sight of the Tannu ring still clasped on her left wrist

The young lady has just passed away not long ago, He Zai said softly

At that moment of thought, the tightening around his waist unexpectedly pulled Gongsun Zhi up. Gongsun Zhi felt a chill in his heart, realizing that Xianyun had made a decisive decision. He averted his gaze, not daring to look at Wang Jun any longer

Wang Yun followed closely behind, his steps slightly unsteady, prompting He Zai to lend her a hand. "Miss, be careful!" she warned, just in time to avoid the collapsing rocks.

She thought and thought, yet could not discern the true intentions of the leader

The girl is looking at me

Gongsun Zhi smiled and said: "When you think, you always play the flute. There is a sword within this flute, which must be very important to the protector. However, one should not always think negatively. Constantly thinking negatively can easily affect the heart's pulse, and over time, it can lead to heart ailments and a multitude of illnesses."

It is certainly possible. What else could she have? However, the people of Yun Family Village are truly loyal and righteous; even though the life of the Seventh Young Master is difficult to save, they still do not give up.

Gongsun nodded lightly. "I apologize for the trouble, Miss Huangfu."

The intense pain in her arm spread throughout her entire body, and as she opened her mouth, she coughed up blood several times, the blood splattering across the sky in her view and completely staining her face

"Demoness, your time has come! The White Ming Sect has turned my younger brother into a heavenly slave, causing him to die in shame and anger, leaving my father unable to face the various sects. Today, I will make you taste the bitterness of being a heavenly slave, parading you through the streets like dogs for all to see"

Gongsun Zhi tried to keep his tone full of laughter and said

The mountain rain is about to arrive, and the strong wind causes everyone's garments to dance wildly. He follows closely beside her, shielding her from part of the fierce wind. On such a day, with such a wind, a touch of coolness is brought amidst the sweltering heat; however, she always feels a sense of unease.

She is merely unfortunate, classified among those who can be saved if possible, and abandoned if not; it is nothing of great significance

"Xiao Qi, do not say anything more. We will talk when you are better!" Gong Sun Zhi said in a trembling voice

The ground cracked severely, and Gongsun Yun's footing was extremely unstable. Nevertheless, he managed to pull out his belt with one hand and tightly wrapped it around Gongsun Zhi's waist.

Wang Yun watched as the figure in white swiftly vanished from sight, unable to suppress his astonishment at the extraordinary lightness of this person's martial arts skills

She stared at the jade flute for a while. What significance does this flute hold? She loosened her grip, allowing it to roll onto the ground

Her suspicion deepened as she caught sight of the faint smile at the blood-red corners of the Seventh Young Master's mouth, which was quite startling. He trembled slightly, and after a moment of hesitation, she confirmed that he posed no threat, and only then did she reach out to grasp his cold palm.

What is the purpose of the leader? It is certainly not as simple as wanting to create a rift between the White Ming Sect and the martial arts world. The leader's target must be her, but what benefit does killing the people of the Yun family village bring to her

Her gaze was cold as she forcefully unfastened the slave ring, disdainfully casting it aside. The slave ring had no key and could not be undone for a lifetime; this had indeed been the case. However, she had known how to unlock this ring since she was fourteen, a fact even He Zai was unaware of

At this moment, if the two of you take action, it would mean that you are not giving any face to Xianyun" he said sternly

Wang Yun habitually caressed the jade flute. On the muddy ground lay several corpses, all dressed in the garments of the Yun family estate. She ignored the young heroes from various sects who had surrounded her and squatted beside the deceased, observing for a while

An earthquake!

Gongsun Yunzheng sealed several major acupoints of the Seventh Young Master, while Gongsun Zhi's hands trembled as he attempted to perform preliminary treatment

The cuffs were slightly heavy, and she remembered that the sleeve pockets were made of two pieces of broken jade, but unfortunately, she did not have the extra strength to pull them off

From childhood to adulthood, she has endured injuries, but none have been as life-threatening as today. She is somewhat surprised that she has managed to endure to this extent, not even letting out a cry of pain. She wants to wipe away the blood rolling down her cheek, yet she realizes that her right hand is still tightly gripping the jade flute

Suddenly, colorful fireworks erupted in the distant sky, their sound resembling thunder. The crowd looked up, and Gongsun Zhi exclaimed in surprise:

"Leave quickly!" Her expression darkened suddenly, no longer showing the usual timidity.

The sky in the early morning has a hint of orange, and the air is filled with the fragrance of damp earth

She was overjoyed, but hoped that this long belt would not break midway. She hurriedly wrapped it around her wrist again and again. The moment her body fell into the dense forest, she barely managed to stop herself. With a loud snap, the belt was torn apart again, and her entire body fell hard to the ground

If it were the master of our sect who acted, none of you would be alive today, and I fear someone would be framed for it

Because she is waiting for He Zai to betray her. Even if he does not betray her now, he will eventually betray her in the future, and she has indeed anticipated this.

Gongsun Zhi suddenly looked up and made eye contact with her

She let out a sigh, but beneath her feet was once again emptiness. With a stumble, she could not avoid it and unexpectedly slid down the cliff

At that time, if no one could be found, one would think that she had left

After worrying for more than ten years, today, the conclusion has unexpectedly arrived early

Originally, heavy rain was about to fall, and Yunjiacun had already prepared a place to take shelter from the rain ahead. However, given the current situation, one can only use lightness skills to follow Gongsun Yun to prevent drawing the tiger away from its mountain. It is a joke; Gongsun Yun is the treasure of the mountain and must not be too far away.

His expression changed drastically, and just as he was about to lunge forward to seize her waist, he was caught off guard by a hidden weapon in the woods. This time, the silver light was aimed directly at He Ronghua. If he disregarded everything to save her, He Ronghua would undoubtedly meet her demise.

Little Seven, I can no longer care! You are not delivering your last words! Gongsun Zhi pressed his mute acupoint, gritting his teeth and glaring, saying: "We will talk when you are better!"

The lush forest swept by before her eyes, and she always followed Che Yanyan and her attendants at a distance of three steps, while Gongsun Zhi was by her side

At the same time as the loud shout, he swiftly moved forward and timely supported He Ronghua, who had been struck at the acupoint. Hidden weapons once again entered and exited the forest, heading straight towards this location

The sound of the wind howling was incessant in her ears. Suddenly, she opened her eyes and gazed at the sky of an unknown color. In an instant, she gritted her teeth and attempted to kick out with the soles of her boots, managing to kick against the cliff wall several times in mid-air. Her reaction was extremely quick, and she used the force to flip over, using the jade flute in her hand to brace against the cliff.

They all left without pain. Gongsun Yun infused him with true energy

She wiped her face and found not only blood but also wet tears. What is she crying about? What is there to cry deceitfully about?

Uncertain of where the first strike originated, the light of the long sword flashed suddenly and swiftly approached. He immediately stepped in front of her to block it. Che Yanyan, with her beautiful eyes narrowed, let out a cold laugh

Can you catch up?

Injuring is permissible, but do not kill

She clenched her teeth, tore off the long belt from her waist, and leaped into the air, aiming for the giant rock on the wall. Unexpectedly, the wind blew her belt away, and she stared blankly for a moment before bursting into laughter

Gongsun Yun now has an astonishingly pale complexion. Although his brows and eyes appear cold and stern, these young individuals are still quite bold. One person made a move, followed by another, then a third...

Her consciousness was ethereal. The mountain wind blew incessantly, giving her the illusion that it was going to lift her into the sky. The extremely cool breath brushed past her nose, and although she knew that life and death could change in an instant, it felt to her like eternity

Gongsun Yun swiftly brushed his sleeves, sending the long whip and sharp sword flying. His handsome face was slightly pale, yet his brows were exceptionally stern

Is that so... Idle Cloud, I do not know who that is, but their skills are terrifying, or perhaps this person is two or three people..." Young Master Qi said in a hoarse voice, blood continuously oozing from the corner of his mouth

What a pity, what a pity! Such a shame, she remains outside that door, her name not included on the list of those treated with deep affection and loyalty

What a sight it is, with the right hand bearing He Ronghua and the left hand wielding a sword to firmly block a hidden weapon, while Gongsun Yun elegantly sweeps his robe sleeves to ensnare another hidden weapon

It is too late to speak now... I cannot even see him or their shadows. If it weren't for the lightness of step taught to me by Xianyun, I would have barely escaped that blow... Otherwise, I would also be..." Blood surged violently in my throat

The red figure gradually disappeared into the heavy rain

There were already traces of people ahead; her figure floated down to the ground with the crowd, and then she was taken aback

With every few steps, the pain causes her to kneel on the ground. How wonderful it would be if she could lose the sense of pain! But she cannot. Losing the sense of pain would mean she is not far from fainting.

Her heart skipped a beat; this person’s eyes were already clouded, likely not far from death. Looking at her like this, she was not an enemy; do not remember her so deeply, for she does not believe in retribution in the next life

She always observed coldly from the sidelines. Gongsun Yun could not possibly strike with lethal force; with a wave of his sleeve, he swiftly moved through the crowd, disarming them of their weapons

She slowly turned her head to look at the place where she had fallen. A considerable amount of rubble had fallen from the mountain, but it would not completely cover a corpse. There were also bloodstains on the ground. If someone were to come down to search for her body, it would likely have to wait until after the heavy rain.

Upon entering the court, she made her move without raising her head. Why did she draw her sword from the jade flute to confront her opponent? She merely said:

Wang Yun was quick-witted and agile, stepping back to the side and using her jade flute to block. With a resounding clang, she slid back two steps, but ultimately managed to secure the hidden weapon.

She laughed and laughed. "Hahaha..." The laughter was unending.

She stared wide-eyed as the figure on the cliff was quickly enveloped by the white mist, and finally burst into laughter

She appeared to be deep in thought, surveying her surroundings. She always felt that the situation was not as simple as it seemed, and there would surely be further developments.

Gongsun Yun evidently also sensed something unusual, and a sharp voice echoed against the cliff. "Hurry down the mountain!"

Unfortunately, her strength was insufficient; the jade flute, without a sword, could only be considered a useless sheath. Despite her efforts, the flute slipped straight through, unable to find a stable point to embed itself. Although her body did not seem to be falling as quickly as before, it was still descending.

It is indeed Huangfu Yan. If Idle Cloud has not guessed incorrectly, it is she.

She recalled Gongsun Yun's intimate smile, a smile that was reserved solely for those he referred to as his own family

She closed her eyes, allowing the wind to guide her body as it fell. Shouldn't one take a last look at the world before dying? Why, then, did the words spoken by He Zai last night, promising to be with her for a lifetime, surface in her mind?

It is chaotic here, and the Seventh Young Master cannot endure any harm at all. Let us move him a bit. By the way, this is also an opportunity to maintain friendly relations.

The sea is vast and the sky is limitless

She recalled that he once said he hoped his family could live long and prosper. Just for this reason, she smiled and said

Now she is not only bleeding and crying, but also sweating

She faintly sensed that something was amiss. Ever since arriving at Tianhe Manor, it seemed as though she had been drawn by an invisible thread, step by step making her way here. The heavens collapsed and the earth shattered; who did the Master want dead? ... It was all too easy for him to decide who should die, yet...

A great melee

Endure, she endures... gritting her teeth in silence. As long as she can walk out of here, as long as she does not lose her breath midway, as long as she can hold her breath, the future will be vast and boundless

Can the Seventh Young Master still survive

Wang Yun gazed blankly at everything

Gongsun Yun turned swiftly, shouldering the Seventh Young Master, glanced back at her, and asked

"The idle clouds, the earth dragon has awakened!" Gongsun Zhi shouted

What else needs to be done with this ring

Alright! Let's see who will meet a gruesome end today!" With that, she brandished her whip

It is easy to speak of knowledge, but difficult to act on it... The speed of the falling body did not decrease; she saw a fierce intent flash in He Zai's eyes. Immediately, he withdrew his hand and turned to protect He Ronghua, abandoning the effort to save her

The heavy rain began to fall, erasing every step of her presence. This is for the best, to wipe out her existence without leaving a trace, regardless of what He Zai or Gongsun Yun may say, she does not care for anyone!

The thunder is rumbling, and it is likely that a heavy rain will soon follow. This is just the right moment; once the heavy rain falls, all traces will vanish.

Gongsun Zhi desperately tried to grasp her robe, but he was unable to match her speed as she fell. The falling debris struck him several times, and he realized that Xianyun could not hold on much longer. No matter how skilled Xianyun was in lightness skills, she still needed a solid footing. Moreover, he was also carrying Lao Qi; how long could he hold on?

The wind by the mountain is extremely strong, almost blowing a person into the sky. Faintly, she seems to hear some sound

Old Seven! he shouted, rushing forward

So that is how it is! She suddenly understood what the leader had meticulously planned

From this point on, at the ends of the earth, there is only her alone, with no one else to accompany her

Beneath her feet lies another void, and it is He Zai who timely grasps her. The speed at which the cliff crumbles is astonishingly fast; before she has taken two steps, the debris collapses again. Her left foot slips, and it is again He Zai who steadies her.

"Just as Idle Cloud thought. You volunteered to take care of our food and accommodation, isn't it just to see her? Once you recover, you can take a good look at her." Although this was said, Gongsun Zhi's tears silently fell.

The Young Master of the Idle Clouds has killed the people of the Yun family estate

It is unclear whether fate is toying with her or granting her luck, as it compelled her to choose between severe injury and death, ultimately opting for the former. Her fingers trembled incessantly as she staggered forward a step, uncontrollably kneeling down.

She barely suppressed the urge to vomit, forcing herself to get up, but her left arm was once again gripped by intense pain. Her face twitched uncontrollably, and her back felt a wave of numbness, yet she knew that if she did not get up now, she would never be able to stand again in the future

From now on, there is no need to worry about when the people she considers close will leave, which can be regarded as a stroke of good luck from heaven for her

She came to Gongsun Yun's side again

You need not worry, for few dare to disturb the Yun family in the Central Plains. Those who truly dare to act are mostly mountain bandits or lowly figures from the rivers and lakes. Gongsun Zhi said softly, "The presence of fireworks likely indicates an unresolved issue. Judging by this direction, it seems that the disciples who were previously assigned to avoid the two locations have encountered the young members of various sects who were persuaded to withdraw, and a conflict may have arisen between them.

She stared for a long time and, upon realizing that she could still see the clouds in the sky, confirmed that she was still alive