Chapter 2, The Secret of the Witch

I gazed at the dark, branch-like object he held in his hand and wondered, "What is this?"

Xiqi seems like a delicate little bird, nestling beside me, sharing laughter and conversation with great joy

I said: "I also know that Ge Zhan deliberately allowed me to enter the prison room, and then followed me in an attempt to obtain the map. Little did they know that after I left the prison room, I immediately rode swiftly out of the city. This move was completely unexpected by Ge Zhan and the others. By the time they caught up with me, I had already left Richu City. After several bloody battles, I finally encountered Xiqi and you along the way."

Ge Zhan shouted, "Where is the map?"

Ah! A scream escaped my lips, reverberating throughout the entire magic seal. A tremendous force, at least that of more than ten black-helmeted warriors, pulled at me from my feet, causing me to helplessly fall to the ground, and everything was over.

A thought crossed my mind, and I broke off a branch from a tree, quickly sketching the map in the mud.

I do not blame him for taking advantage of others' misfortunes; on the edge of a blade, there is only life and death, victors and vanquished, with no place for justice or treachery. Meanwhile, my longsword has parried more than ten heavy strikes from the opponent, yet I have never found an opening to sever the binding ropes around my feet, which has become the key to my defeat

When both Xi Qi and I thought he would no longer speak, Qi Bei suddenly said: "Both I and your father, Lan Ling, are the best warriors in the empire, no one can compare to us, and no one ever will."

Blood splattered before my eyes, my body healed. If it were just me, I would have confidence in my chance to escape, but I have to take care of Xiqi. "Ah!" Xiqi's scream came through.

Qi Bei was taken aback, followed by a raspy sound from his throat, which soon turned into wild laughter. He coughed and said: "Good Lanling, in reality, it is a facade, placing the most significant secret in plain sight, yet it has managed to deceive the Supreme Leader."

The sounds of chaos echoed from both the front and back of the horse-drawn carriage, causing the horses to startle and become restless, leading the carriage to spin wildly in place

I was taken aback due to my complete lack of preparation. Indeed, the princess is the most beautiful woman in the empire. Compared to Xiqi, the princess resembles a blooming rose, while Xiqi is like an orchid in a secluded valley. I am astonished! It has been over ten years since Qibei rebelled and left the empire, so why does he care about the princess's beauty?

Ge Zhan let out a furious roar and pushed Xi Qi, causing her to crash against the wall

The carriage slowly set off, and sparks and ash flew in through the carriage window. I lay across the carriage alone, just in time to see the blazing fire. Only a seasoned warrior like Qi Bei, with such rich experience, could have ignited such a great fire without anyone noticing. Furthermore, Ge Zhan was too careless and negligent; he should not have camped in the woods

Qibeidao: "The Great Leader received information through a secret channel, which is that every time the witch undergoes a transformation, she has thirty days to become very weak. We must take advantage of this period to kill her"

As we turned onto the small path in front of the house, I suddenly felt something was amiss and stopped. Xiqi wanted to continue forward, but I pulled her back, and she exclaimed in surprise, "What is it?" I replied in a low voice, "There are people! I can hear many heartbeats."

I let out a low grunt, leaning forward as my long sword extended from beneath his blade, aiming at him with a swift strike. Ge Zhan let out a cold snort, countering with his sword to block mine. In an instant, our swords clashed over a dozen times. I was at a disadvantage due to my old injury not having healed, and the previous round of fierce fighting had drained my stamina, leaving me in a weaker position. Although the black-helmeted warriors around us had ceased their attacks, they formed a tight circle, surrounding us and creating an unbearable psychological burden and sense of helplessness.

I want to stand up, but my two feet are locked together, and as I attempt to rise, I fall back to the ground.

The chest of the brother rose and fell continuously; if he could find the map on me, he would immediately torture me to death to satisfy his personal vendetta. However, for now, I can only wait until the map is found

The front and back of the carriage were filled with black-helmeted warriors, and it would not be an easy task for Qi Bei to rescue me. Before this thought could fully form, there were two loud explosions, as if two burning trees had fallen in front of and behind the carriage

The cold blades, axes, spears, and guns are pointed at every vital part of me

Ge Zhan laughed wildly and said: "Interesting, interesting. I love struggling daughters the most, especially such beautiful ones"

I threw it to the ground, and it rolled to the wall before finally coming to a stop, while hatred surged like a tidal wave within my heart

The excitement sparkled in Qi Bei's eyes as he continued to speak! "The grandeur and beauty of the Witch City and the Witch Palace surpass any architecture in the Empire. The Sunrise Palace pales in comparison, like a minor sorcerer before a great one. That place can only be described as heavenly, with not a single man inside, only enchanting maidens. Lan Ling and I have separately dived through the Guardian River, entering the core of the Witch Palace through the underground waterway as instructed by the Supreme Leader."

I sighed and said, "Of course, it is to use Xiqi as bait to lure us into falling for it again"

I trembled all over and said: "Did you not save her?"

Qi Bei sighed, setting down the wooden bowl, as if confronted with an insurmountable problem

The colonel exclaimed in astonishment: "What is going on?"

A surge of passion welled up within me, and I thought: "Perhaps I have not yet reached your level, but in the future, I will surely surpass you."

I embraced Xiqi and rolled again, just managing to escape from the net.

Does he know that the map is with me? As long as he finds the ruins marked on the map, he can grasp the power to destroy the empire

"Hiss!" A large piece of Xiqi's clothing was torn off, exposing her snow-white and tender back muscles. She cried out in despair. I suppressed the burning anger within me and said calmly, "Put her down!"

At this moment, a mutation has occurred

I pointed to my head! "Here, that map has been hanging in my father's bedroom since its inception, and I can redraw it."

Qi Bei was very silent, yet had an excellent appetite. Xi Qi and I did not dare to break this oppressive atmosphere and focused on eating.

Qi Bei shook his head and changed the subject: "The urgent matter at hand is to rescue Xi Qi."

I nodded and said, "Even if I die, I must ensure that Xiqi safely escapes from the sea of suffering"

I am about to stab the warrior who has pinned Xiqi to the ground, when a strong wind suddenly strikes my back; the opponent's expert has finally appeared

Looking into the gentle expression in his eyes, I already know what has happened without him having to say a word

I pondered for a moment and said, "It is still for that map."

Xiqi asked with a hint of jealousy: "Is it really that beautiful?"

Xiqi looked at me in confusion

Qi Beidao: "Our chances of success are indeed very slim. There are only two paths into the Empire. One is to pass through the Shuyulin, follow the Tianhe River through the Valley of the Gods, and proceed across the Great Plain to the City of Sunrise. That is also the route that Ge Zhan would take you. The other path goes over the Southern Mountain, bypasses the Cannibal Swamp, and then follows the Fengwu Mountain Trail, cutting into the southern part of the Great Plain. If Ge Zhan intends to escort Xiqi to the City of Sunrise, there is no other way. Assuming we set off on horseback immediately, we might catch up with the convoy escorting Xiqi before dusk tomorrow, taking them by surprise." I stood up and said, "There is no time to lose..." Qi Bei looked at me appreciatively, unfastened another sword from behind, and handed it to me. I gripped the hilt of the sword, and confidence surged back into my body

Xi Qi screamed; although she practiced swordsmanship every day, this was the first time she had witnessed someone being murdered, and in such a despicable manner.

According to my father, he became irresistibly enamored with the witch, forgetting even the Führer's mission and betraying the empire

A flash of sharpness flickered in Qi Bei's eyes as he coldly retorted, "This is what your father assumes. I have not even laid a hand on the witch, but during those two months, I indeed learned a great deal from her. The most important point is that I have come to realize that the Supreme Leader is a tyrant, extracting the marrow and sweat of the people to satisfy his own desires"

I said: "I did not bring it out; it remains in the Empire."

I looked at Xiqi with pity; her face was full of tears, and her body twisted in anguish. In that moment, I understood that Ge Zhan had deliberately killed the colonel in front of us to exert psychological pressure on us

The colonel timidly said, "My lord, you promised that after the matter is accomplished, you would give me that woman."

For the next three days, I was treated like cargo, placed on a cart, with my hands and feet shackled in the heavy chains of an imperial repeat offender. I had no idea where Xiqi was, whether she was imprisoned in another cart or perhaps not traveling with the group at all. All around me were the black-clad imperial soldiers, and I could not even see Ge Zhan. They provided me with only enough food and clean water to sustain life. After three days, I felt very weak; fortunately, I had a strong constitution and had undergone rigorous training, so despite the harsh conditions, my injuries healed quickly. My only hope rested on Qi Bei. I found it strange that Ge Zhan did not mention him at all. Perhaps the colonel had not informed him of the details, or perhaps the arrogant and violent Ge Zhan did not care about a mere mountain villager. Assuming he knew that Xiqi was the granddaughter of Qi Bei, one of the most outstanding swordsmen in the history of the empire, he would likely find it difficult to sleep peacefully in the future. Qi Bei, where are you? That night, the convoy camped in the woods. By midnight, chaotic sounds emerged from all around.

Her delicate face flushed slightly, and she did not push me away gently. I was not someone who had rolled in the flowers, unable to enjoy the pleasures of intimacy between men and women, yet I did not know how to proceed. After sitting in sweet silence for a while, we picked up our catch and hurried home before the sun set.

Brother War! The supreme leader of the Black Helmet Warriors, the loyal dog of the Führer, the most terrifying figure in the Empire besides the sorcerers and the Black Widow

A trace of guilt and shame flickered in his eyes

The person that Ge Zhan hates the most is me, for he believes that if it were not for me, the princess would be his possession.

That evening, the three of us gathered in the house to enjoy the dinner prepared by Xiqi, which included venison and mutton, as well as a thin soup made from wheat. This area is located far from the imperial capital, Sunrise City, in a remote border region. With the mountains high and the emperor distant, as long as one works diligently, the land can provide all the necessary food. This is in stark contrast to the villages near Sunrise City, where most resources have been plundered by the empire, leaving the people to live in poverty and hunger.

Qi Bei displayed a strange smile on his face and said: "Look!"

Xi Qi said: "Grandfather! You have never spoken so hesitantly as you have tonight, just speak up!"

However, the suffering is just beginning

He raised the object in his hand and said: "This is the charm given to me by the wizard back in the day, and it will come in handy for the current situation"

I mournfully said: "Although he dedicated the wisdom map to the Grand Duke, he had torn the map beforehand. This secret remained unknown until a little over a month ago, when the Grand Duke somehow learned of it and immediately sent someone to invite my father to the palace. Little did we know it was a trap; my father never returned. I had no choice but to hide, but my two sisters and brother were all killed by the Grand Duke. Therefore, by all means, I must kill the Grand Duke." Qi Bei asked, "Where is the map?" I had no choice but to hide, but my two sisters and brother were all killed by the Grand Duke. Therefore, by all means, I must kill the Grand Duke." Qi Bei asked, "Where is the map?"

Ge's gaze shifted to Xiqi, and for the first time, he deliberately scrutinized her. A strange light flickered in his eyes, clearly captivated by Xiqi's beauty, and I inwardly exclaimed that it was not good.

He turned to me and said, "I have heard that the princess of the Grand Duke is also very beautiful, is that so?"

Qi Bei seemed unable to hear my words, and voluntarily and distressingly said: "This terrain feels very familiar to me, but I can't recall where I have seen it before."

Xiqi and I listened intently; the Witch, the Witch Palace, the Witch City, and the Witch Kingdom have always been the most mysterious legends within the empire's territory. However, due to the great river separating the Witch Kingdom from the empire, even the empire's army does not dare to easily cross it

I couldn't help but ask: "Where are your parents"

At that moment, Xiqi said, "Grandfather! Why do you never mention the Witch Kingdom to me?" Qi Bei glanced at his granddaughter, a strange expression of shame and apology flashing in his eyes. He sighed but remained silent.

Ge Zhanshen's cold gaze interrupted his words, saying: "Come here"

We sat down to rest on a hillside

Qi Bei looked up to the sky and laughed, "Of course! It was I who told him, but at that time he did not believe me. He sneaked into the Witch's Palace again, and this time he was very fortunate, as it happened that the Witch was out on a tour. He took the opportunity to steal six volumes of the Book of Wisdom, including one that contained a map. I tracked him down and only caught up with him after entering the Empire. However, I was outmatched and ultimately could not stop him, but I did convey to him what the Witch had said to me."

Qi Bei sighed and said: "Your father encountered a warrior from the Witch Kingdom and was forced to flee the palace. For the next three months, we lost contact."

He let out a long sigh, and a look of reminiscence shot from his eyes

Qi Bei calmly said: "The son of Lanling, impulsiveness only leads to trouble. First, tell me why Brother Zhan is pursuing you"

Stand resolutely against the powerful evil forces of the empire; even if I die in battle, I must not tarnish the name of the swordsman, nor can I sully the reputation of my father who met a tragic end

I gazed at him without any reservations. Qi Bei suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed heartily, his joy evident. After a while, he finally ceased his laughter and said: "Good! I thought your father, Lan Ling, was stubborn and only understood unwavering loyalty to the Great Yuan Sovereign. It seems he did not hand over that map to the Great Yuan Sovereign; instead, he only delivered the Book of Wisdom, and only six out of the twelve volumes at that."

Xi Qi said: "Are you afraid of the Colonel and the others?"

Qi Bei shouted, "Stand up!"

A large net filled with barbed hooks was thrown above our heads, descending upon us like a vast canopy, and it was evident that Xiqi did not know how to cope with it

I said: "I secretly sneaked into the palace's torture chamber, saw my father, and before he took his last breath, he told me where the map was."

I trembled all over and exclaimed in disbelief, "What?"

The colonel also sensed that something was amiss and humbly said: "My lord! The..."

The sound of rustling

Qi Bei snorted and said: "Colonel, they are not worth a sneer in my eyes. I am only concerned about the people of the Empire. The Black Widow, the Sorcerer, and the Black Helmet Commander are all formidable figures who should not be underestimated. This concerns the rise and fall of the Empire. If the Führer personally takes action, we will be in even greater danger. We must escape to the Witch Kingdom before the Führer makes his move."

In the distance, the frenzied neighing of a herd of horses could be heard, followed by chaotic shouts.

Ge Zhan revealed a smile at the corner of his mouth and said, "If you don't come over, how can I reward you?"

Having undergone rigorous training since childhood, my body has quickly recovered, even earlier than Qi Bei had anticipated, and I easily hunted a small spotted deer

I say: "Yet you indulge in tenderness, do you not?"

The black-armored warriors, completely enveloped in thick black leather, left only their eyes, ears, mouths, and noses exposed, surged forth like wasps from various concealed locations, attacking us frantically with knives, axes, spears, and guns in hand. I shouted, "Stay right behind me!" as I desperately fought my way toward the woods to the south, where the chances of escape would be significantly greater.

Qi Bei said softly, "That place is a cliff." I was taken aback; in the darkness, I could only see the glimmering of Qi Bei's eye sockets. The past bravado flowed once more in the blood of this once-mighty swordsman. Qi Bei continued, "Follow me, son of Lanling."

A tremor ran through my heart; what exactly does "it concerns the rise and fall of the empire" mean, as stated by Qi Bei

Qi Bei was taken aback, and a fierce expression shot from his eyes

On that day, I helped Xiqi pack her luggage, preparing to set off at any moment. I then went hunting with Xiqi on a nearby hill, taking the opportunity to stretch our muscles.

Xiqi and I wanted to protest, but seeing his resolute expression, I knew he would not speak any further

The car door swung open

Praying North raised his head to look at the sky and sighed: "Brother Zhan is just an old fox. That day on my way home, I encountered the convoy escorting you. I sensed something was wrong and thought that Xiqi was also imprisoned in the same vehicle as you."

Qibei said: "Is the execution chamber such an easy place to enter?"

I sat down in despair. It is not that my swordsmanship is exceptional; rather, I find it difficult to cope with the hundreds of fierce and battle-hardened black-helmeted warriors. Moreover, the imperial forces that have pursued us from the City of Sunrise must consist of more than one team. When they converge, it is uncertain whether I can save anyone, let alone escape with my life.

The scene in the Witch Kingdom must have opened his eyes, for whenever I inquired about the Witch Kingdom from my father, he would display a similar expression, yet he never revealed anything to me about the Witch Kingdom

Qi Beidao: "Then they will deeply regret it, for this time the one lured is a fierce tiger that cannot be trapped by any pitfall."

Xiqi blinked her beautiful eyes, displaying a look of confusion as she said, "I don't know, and my grandfather never speaks of it either"

A flash of divine light flickered in Qi Bei's eyes as he coldly remarked: "You have also heard the legends about the witch. Indeed, she never ages; every so often, she can undergo a transformation, donning another beautiful form. Alas! Her innate beauty is astonishing, and no one can resist it. Even if she were an ugly woman, her power and wisdom would still be unmatched by anyone."

With a fierce roar, my long sword transformed into a long rainbow, cutting through the enemy's blood as I charged past numerous warriors. In an instant, I reached Xi Qi, where my shoulder and thigh were simultaneously pierced by the sword; this was the price.

The black-helmeted warriors shouted in unison to cheer for him. Taking advantage of the retreat of Ge, I was about to turn around to look for Xiqi when suddenly, I felt a tightness around my left ankle; a flying rope had ensnared it. A strong force pulled me, nearly causing me to fall to the ground

Qi Bei pounced on me, and the two of us immediately rolled into the nearby grass. The cold dew soaked us to the skin. The cavalry of Ge Zhan rushed over, fiercely pursuing the retreating horse-drawn carriage, the sound of hooves like thunder, and my heart rose to my throat. Over a hundred black-helmeted warriors galloped past us, one of their horses' hooves nearly stepping on me. The danger was not yet over; if the horse-drawn carriage collided with a tree, it would overturn. If Ge Zhan's men turned back, we would be in grave peril.

Qi Beiling's gaze shifted to my face, and with a proud smile, he said: "Back in the day, your father and I received a secret order from the Grand Chancellor to infiltrate the Witch Kingdom and steal the Book of Wisdom. We disguised ourselves as herbal merchants from the Berlai tribe and managed to enter the Witch City, alas..."

The colonel let out a wild scream and fell back, the longsword slipping out with the gushing blood. The colonel rushed out the door, and with a loud thud, he fell to the ground, unable to move again

I stood up abruptly and declared, "We must find Brother Zhan; only by defeating him can we uncover Xi Qi's whereabouts"

That night, as usual, I slept in the woodshed, my back resting against the dry wheat straw. Outside, the mountains and fields were filled with the sounds of insects and birds, and my heart was filled with a sense of tranquility. Since a month ago, when my father was placed under house arrest by the Supreme Leader in the torture chamber beneath the Sunrise Palace, to the moment I stormed into the room and witnessed my father take his last breath, and then escaped from Sunrise City, I have never experienced such calmness as I do now

As Xi Qi struggled on the ground, she happened to look at me, her eyes filled with despair and panic. My heart ached intensely, and with a silent sigh, I abandoned the thought of rescuing Xi Qi. I swung my sword back, just in time to parry the sword that was attacking from behind. The incoming strike was heavy, and I could not deflect it.

As I just raised my hand, Qibei's sword had already arrived, and with another metallic clang, my handcuffs broke into two pieces, falling to the ground. Under his sword, the sturdy handcuffs resembled withered branches.

Clang

Xiqi was taken aback and said, "Grandfather! What is it that weighs on your mind?"

I did not dare to interrupt Qi Bei's train of thought, although I felt frustrated that he had not yet freely spoken about everything concerning the Witch Kingdom, I still held back and remained silent

Praying for the northern eyes to shine brightly, until I have drawn the entire map, still the wrinkled shield remains silent

Bang! The carriage suddenly came to a stop

Rage burned in Ge's eyes as he suddenly bent his knee and struck heavily at my lower region, causing me to convulse in pain.

With a flash of the sword, Qi Bei struck down with his sword, directly hitting the foot shackles, which immediately broke apart with a sound. The speed and precision of this moment left me feeling inferior.

I was tossed about, rolling east and west, crashing mercilessly against the walls of the carriage, yet I was filled with immense joy, for I knew that Qi Bei was driving the carriage, carrying me away from the clutches of Ge Zhan.

Ge Zhan was about to continue with the extrajudicial punishment when a voice came from outside the door: "Commander! The hunter wishes to see you." I suppressed the pain in my chest and opened my eyes, just in time to see the colonel timidly walking in. I understood that the colonel was the informant

A deep sense of compassion arose within me as I reached out to embrace her shoulders and let out a sigh

The colonel gazed in disbelief at the sword embedded in his chest; the blade was sharp, and for a moment, he did not feel the pain

Qi Bei seemed to see through my thoughts, breaking into a strange and gentle smile, making me feel that his words were more of an encouragement than an expression of arrogance

Xiqi screamed: "No!"

Xiqi and I exchanged a glance, and also ceased our eating. Qibei looked at Xiqi, and a strange expression flickered in his eyes, resembling both affection and embarrassment

Ge Zhan lifted me off the ground with a swift motion and shouted, "Where is it?"

The colonel was overjoyed, taking two steps forward, ready to kneel and accept the gift, when Ge Zhan's hand moved, a flash of brilliance appeared, and the long sword had already pierced through his chest

The man in front of me, with an expressionless face, coldly asked, "Where is the map?" A wave of fear surged within me; no one could withstand his interrogation without revealing the truth, yet my father was an exception. I still remember him in the torture chamber, unrecognizable as a human, where hatred replaced fear. Gritting my teeth, I said, "Use the same tortures on me that you inflicted on my father! But I fear you will achieve the same result."

I let out a cry of anguish, fell backward, and struck the back of my head against the wall, immediately seeing stars and nearly unable to breathe

Qibei, shining with brilliance, eagerly asked: "Where is the map?"

Qi Beidan said: "That time, Lanling and I split up to infiltrate the Witch's Hall. I encountered the witch. Originally, the Supreme Leader's order was for us to kill the witch on sight, but I couldn't bring myself to do it, and... and..."

Ge Zhan gradually suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice: "Alright! I will take you back to the Empire and see what fate awaits you."

The brother pressed down on my sword and sneered, "Little beast, your strength is only half of what it usually is. Let’s see how you escape from my grasp"

I believe he is well-informed; if he does not know where the ruins are, I am even more like searching for a needle in a haystack, filled with a sense of despair.

Suddenly, the carriage moved again, and it was racing forward with violent jolts.

At that time, we endured countless hardships, which need not be mentioned one by one. We infiltrated the Witch's Hall and encountered the witch.

I suddenly opened my eyes, my ears filled with a series of strange crackling sounds, and for a moment, I did not know what had happened

This place, compared to the magnificent mansion in Sunrise City of the past, is indeed not on the same level; however, the feeling of being close to nature is far beyond what luxurious cities can offer

I scoffed, "Even if I were to reveal the location, would you believe it without hesitation?"

I said: "Since that is the case, your only purpose is to steal the Twelve Volumes of Wisdom. Why not avoid her, yet choose to meet with her?"

Qi Bei did not directly answer my question, but instead said: "If you were Ge Zhan, since you have lost track of us, what would you do?"

Another voice responded: "If someone is so bold, I guarantee he won't escape." Ge Zhan let out a muffled grunt, clearly in a state of great anger

Ge stared at the colonel

Qi Bei, with eyes filled with the traces of time, gazed out at the lonely night beyond the window, and spoke in a voice so low that only he could hear: "Ten days later, when Lante has recovered, we will go to the 'Witch Kingdom.'" As he uttered the words 'Witch Kingdom,' a look of excitement flickered in his eyes. These three words evoked the most poignant moments of his life, as well as that legendary and mysterious realm, which brought about a tremendous transformation in him, turning him from a loyal general of the Grand Chancellor into a warrior opposing the Empire, and the only traitor at that time daring to openly resist the Empire. These three words evoked the most poignant moments of his life, as well as that legendary and mysterious realm, which brought about a tremendous transformation in him, turning him from a loyal general of the Grand Chancellor into a warrior opposing the Empire, and the only traitor at that time daring to openly resist the Empire

At first, I was still thinking about Qi Bei and the matters of the Witch's Hall, but soon my mind merged with the rhythm of nature. Although I could not rise to practice swordsmanship, I silently contemplated the way of the sword in my heart. Many aspects that I had previously been unable to comprehend surged to the forefront of my mind like a tide, and it was not until before dawn that I finally fell into a deep sleep

This time it was my turn to call out, saying: "What?"

However, I am still here now

Qi Bei looked towards Xi Qi, his eyes radiating infinite tenderness and affection, and said: "You are also a rare beauty, but the witch is different; her beauty is magical, capable of turning any man or woman into a dumbfounded fool, able to transform hardened steel into something as soft as a gentle caress."

In the following days, Qi Bei frequently went out, and I knew he was gathering information about the activities of the Empire, in order to plan a route for fleeing to the Witch Kingdom. Although our time together was brief and his expression was emotionless, I always sensed an undeniable excitement in his eyes. Could it be that the witches, who can maintain their youth forever, possess such great allure? Is the Witch Palace truly a paradise on earth? The Empire has flourished due to the acquisition of the Book of Wisdom, yet why is it still unable to annex the Witch Kingdom? I had heard that the Supreme Leader has a singular goal: to take the witch as his personal concubine, or perhaps this is the dream of every man within the Empire.

Qi Bei sighed and said, "It is night! Let us sleep."

With a single kick, he struck right at the core of my heart

I am greatly alarmed in my heart; how can I stop at this moment

I was momentarily stunned, and a spark of hope rose from my heart, much like a drowning person grasping onto a piece of driftwood

I turned back to look, and she was surrounded by several fierce black-helmeted warriors, having fallen back more than ten steps. All around me were dark, flashing crowds. I summoned my spirit and swung my long sword, striking downwards around me, fighting my way back towards Xiqi. Xiqi shouted once more, her long sword falling to the ground, and then she collapsed.

I exclaimed in astonishment: "My father once said this as well"

I sank my waist and sat firmly on the horse, my feet instantly felt as if they had taken root in the ground, resisting the tremendous force of the flying rope that was pulling at me. My right hand was about to sever the entangling rope with my sword, when the sword of my opponent swept towards my throat like a venomous dragon from the right side

Qi Bei continued: "Lan Ling and I parted ways to enter the hall, igniting the incense given to me by the sorcerer, which caused those inside the hall to fall into a trance. While searching recklessly, I unexpectedly saw a sorceress emerging from a large pool. The moment I laid eyes on her, I knew who she was; her beauty surpassed that of the most beautiful women in the empire by a thousandfold. Alas!"

Qibeidao: "Raise your hand!"

I looked towards the person, encountering a piercing gaze.

Qibeidao: "Where is Xiqi?"

Ge Zhan let out a furious roar, his long sword gleaming with brilliance. With a series of exquisite sword techniques, I felt a chill on my forehead, having been cut by him, leaving a blood mark. Instead of being startled, I became enraged, letting out a wild shout as I swept my long sword horizontally at Ge Zhan. This strike was flawless in both timing and angle, leaving Ge Zhan with no way to evade, resulting in blood splattering from his shoulder

Qi Bei rushed in like a whirlwind, pulling me out of the carriage. As I was laid horizontally on the ground, Qi Bei let out a loud shout, and amidst the whinnying of the horses, the carriage sped away. Qi Bei stabbed the horse's flank with his sword, and how could the horse not go wild, desperately galloping forward

I said: "There are many place names on the map. My father said they must belong to a very ancient era, and now these place names are no longer applicable." I pointed to a square in the center of the map and said: "Next to this square are the two large characters 'Ruins'. Within the ruins is a red dot labeled 'Foreign Object', and there is another line of text that notes: 'The peak of power that humanity can create.' My father said that as long as we can find this foreign object, we would possess the most powerful force in the world, enough to overthrow the entire empire."

I embraced Xiqi's slender waist, rolled sideways on the spot, and came to a tree. A dark shadow flashed, and a net had already descended. Just as the net was about to touch the ground beside the tree, my long sword was in my hand. With a forward thrust, "Clang!" the corner of the net responded and lifted.

The sounds of pursuit and scolding gradually approached from behind, and of course, Ge Zhan was unwilling to let me go

Ge Zhan stood up as if nothing had happened, his body splattered with the colonel's blood, his appearance grotesque. He slowly walked up to Xiqi and suddenly grabbed her, who was curled up on the ground, pulling her into his embrace. Although Xiqi's hands and feet were bound, she still cried out and struggled desperately.

I was roughly bound and placed in a corner of the room alongside Xiqi. Ge Zhan sat in a chair, examining my sword, his expression dark as the moment before a storm.

Bang

At dawn, we distanced ourselves from the woods and rested by a clear stream. I lay by the stream, my head submerged in the water, savoring the precious taste of freedom

Having endured so much torment and suffering, I stand up once again as a swordsman

"Fire!" It is a fire disaster, and my heart immediately turns to Qi Bei. He must be trailing behind the main group, waiting until Ge Zhan sets up camp in the forest before using fire to create chaos. I hear Ge Zhan's voice coming from outside the carriage! "First, drive the carriage away, be careful. I suspect this fire was deliberately set; otherwise, how could it ignite simultaneously in the southeast and southwest, leaving only the northern escape route."