Chapter 3, The Wizard Casts a Spell

I sneered, "Are you afraid that I will draw a scar like a sword on your face?" The Black Widow laughed, her ample bosom rising and falling dramatically, causing even me, as her enemy, to involuntarily swallow.

I was unable to react in time. A strong wind suddenly struck me, originating from the position where Xiqi was lying. My mind went blank, and I could not comprehend what had happened. Qibei pushed me away with a single palm.

Close your eyes and remain completely still. The vulture swooped down and then ascended again, the dust stirred up by its wings made me feel quite uncomfortable

I was so astonished that I couldn't close my mouth, exclaiming: "What? Isn't the map the last page of the Book of Wisdom? Since my father obtained it from the witch, she must have seen it."

Such a night, such a forest, is a highly advantageous environment for swordsmen of my and Qi Bei's caliber

The Black Widow coldly remarked: "Do you really think you are attractive? Hmph! You are not even worthy of carrying my shoes."

As I weaved through the dense forest, a dark figure suddenly collided with me. Just as I was about to swing my sword, the other party shouted, "Stop!"

The wizard laughed heartily and said: "As long as you swear an oath by the soul of your father, Lanling, I will release this girl. If you find her satisfactory after your inspection, I will immediately return the Black Widow, and this transaction will be deemed successful. What do you think of this arrangement?"

I felt a stir in my heart and asked, "Where is the Black Widow?" Qi Bei pointed to a tree and said, "Right behind that tree." I stood up and walked in the direction Qi Bei indicated. Qi Bei called out sharply, "What are you doing?"

I took a deep breath of the antidote in my nostrils, and I was immediately engulfed in the intoxicating fragrance. With a swift motion, my sword struck out like lightning, causing two black-helmeted warriors to fall backward in response. I leaped onto one of the vacant horses, and as soon as I unleashed the momentum of my sword, I charged fiercely towards the wagon in the middle of the formation

In a hurry, my foot kicked a large stone, causing me to lose my balance and tumble forward. Coincidentally, it was a slope, and with such momentum, how could I stop? I rolled down like a stone, finally coming to a halt in a thicket of trees. The vile vulture circled under the bright moon, observing my situation. I steeled my heart and decided to take a gamble; if I could not kill this beast, I would not be able to escape tonight.

Her towering bosom rose and fell continuously, a strange look shot from her eyes as she fixed her gaze on me, biting her lip and remaining silent. Such a demeanor indeed stirred a man's heart, and I hoped that on this account, the sorcerer would be willing to exchange her for Xiqi. Qi Bei, with a leisurely demeanor, approached the Black Widow from behind and suddenly struck her neck with a palm. The Black Widow let out a soft moan and fell towards me. I quickly sheathed my sword with my right hand and embraced her with my left, the warmth and fragrance enveloping me. I glanced around and saw that the ground was densely covered with people.

It was too late to evade; as I turned to the side, my thigh took the full force of her push, and in the midst of the excruciating pain, I fell away, rolling onto the ground, and immediately sprang back up using the strength of my waist

Qi Bei's face showed a hint of worry as she looked at me and said, "The wizard's treasure is nothing but poison combined with sorcery. Although Qi Er does not seem to be poisoned, it is still a cause for concern." Xi Qi had her long hair tied up in a bun on her head, secured with a hairpin, and appeared to be in high spirits, showing no signs of any issues.

The Black Widow urgently thrusts eleven swords, clanging and clattering, but the momentum of the swords suddenly slows down, indicating a lack of follow-through. In fact, had she been able to launch a few more aggressive attacks, I would almost certainly have been struck by her.

The team was immediately plunged into extreme chaos, as we charged down from the top of the slope. In the face of our overwhelming offensive, those who stood in our way were swept aside.

The Black Widow stretched and bounced her body, her bound legs pushing against my lower abdomen like springs. Not only was her waist strength astonishing, but the most formidable aspect was the tenderness in her eyes, which revealed nothing as she launched a lethal attack against me

The call of the Black Widow rang out ahead, commanding her subordinates to turn back and attack. A signal firework shot up into the sky, summoning reinforcements from at least ten miles away. Last time, she had failed to launch the firework due to being incapacitated by a sedative, and this time, although she released the firework, it was unlikely that anyone would arrive in time to save her

We surged forward like arrows, drawing our long swords, and charged towards the rear of the enemy ranks. Before they could react, more than ten black-helmeted warriors had already fallen under our blades, caught completely off guard and unaware of what was happening.

She has truly gone mad. Her eyes shimmered with a strange blue light, and with each hairpin, she ruthlessly thrust at me, completely transformed into another person

The opponent's relentless sword techniques surged forth like the mighty Yangtze River, appearing under the dim moonlight as a writhing and turbulent venomous snake. I not only had to exert all my visual acuity but also needed to discern the sounds carried by the wind.

I was unable to draw my sword in time to block the strike, and with a somersault, I flipped backward, distancing myself further from the Black Widow

I angrily said: "I'll kill you!" The Black Widow chuckled and said: "Lant, you are truly majestic and handsome, no wonder the princess has taken a liking to you"

I remained silent, following closely behind the thorny enchantress, the Black Widow. Earlier, in my haste to escape, I had not noticed anything unusual, but now I could clearly feel the Black Widow's hot, voluptuous, and elastic body, possessing an explosive seductive power. Qi Bei stopped and turned to me, saying: "You stay here; I will go down to set up a trap to lead them into a dead end."

Qi Beidao: "Quickly! They are coming." The next morning, I climbed to a hilltop, which provided a perfect vantage point overlooking the camp of the wizards and Ge Zhan and others, with at least a thousand black-helmeted warriors beneath me.

A sharp and unpleasant voice said: "If you find them for me, I will ensure they are torn to pieces!"

A jolt ran through my heart, and I already knew who she was. Qi Bei shouted loudly at the front of the carriage, and as the carriage started moving, I lost my focus and lost my balance, crashing against the rear wall of the carriage with a loud "bang"

Clang! The long sword was drawn. The drumbeat suddenly changed. Xiqi trembled all over, turned around, and walked out of the cave. I shouted wildly and chased after her, but she had already disappeared into the pitch-black woods

The forces that were dispersed last night have regrouped, but I already possess the bargaining chips in my hands

I glanced at Qi Bei with a hint of embarrassment, but Qi Bei was completely focused, gazing into the distance, seemingly not paying any attention to what we were saying. I reached out and embraced Xi Qi for a moment, whispering in her ear: "No matter where I go, I will take you with me"

A thought flashed through my mind; I did not cover her small mouth. If she were to scream, would it not expose our whereabouts

I was utterly perplexed; why had we not taken the opportunity to escape? After hiding well in the tree, Qi Bei leaned closer and whispered in my ear: "This is our only chance to turn the tables. The sorcerer must think we have fled far away and will disperse his men to pursue us, which is advantageous for us and poses no harm."

I emerged from my hiding place and shouted loudly: "Wizard! Wizard!" The black-helmeted warriors of the camp all looked up in astonishment.

After a while, she finally stopped laughing and said: "That little girl is still in the hands of the elder brother. You can only take me in exchange. How could you bear to harm me? That is why I do not call out for help. When someone truly treats you well, why do you not believe them?"

She shyly pulled out a small gold medal attached to a gold chain from her collar and handed it to me. The small gold medal was engraved with a creature that had a human head and a serpent's body, intricately crafted and lifelike. After observing it for a while, I asked, "Who gave this to you?"

It is testing my reaction. A faint voice comes from the direction I just passed, indicating that the wizard and the brother have likely joined forces with the Black Widow. The next step is to pursue me with full force. The three most terrifying individuals under the Grand Chancellor of the Empire are all mobilized, and I cannot say whether I feel honored or afraid. The evil vulture swoops down again

Ge Zhan let out a grunt and said: "Anyone who opposes the Empire, what good outcome can they expect? The only result for a traitor is death"

I pondered that Qi Bei, who is beside me, is the most famous traitor of the Empire, yet he lives quite well, doesn't he? This signifies that the strong prevail. Although Qi Bei cannot confront the Empire directly, with his wisdom and swordsmanship, he still manages to manipulate the situation. As I thought of this, my mind inevitably drifted to the ruins on the map; could there truly be a force capable of overturning the Empire? However, the Empire's territory spans thousands of miles, with elite black-clad warriors numbering in the hundreds of thousands, and with the support of peasant hunters, it could mobilize over five hundred thousand if necessary. This is an unmatched power. Yet, why is it that they cannot eliminate a small witch kingdom in the West?

I halted my steps and said: "So the wizard has arrived; you deliberately provoked me into speaking, just to buy some time for this beast to come to your rescue"

Qi Bei unexpectedly let out a long laugh and called out, "Xiao! If it really is her, it is as good as finding Xi Qi. Quickly bind her up!"

I said: "Only truth and justice are the winners, good! I accept this deal." At that moment, a temporary agreement was established

Qi Bei said in a deep voice: "Do you know? Wizards possess a kind of tracking secret technique, and it is said that no one can shake them off. If it were he who tracked me back then, I might not have been able to escape." I pondered in silence for a while before speaking: "All the way here, I have always had a feeling of being watched in the shadows." Qi Bei sighed towards the sky: "With a child of Lanling like this, death should come with closed eyes. You have begun to cultivate the swordmaster's intuition! This will be of decisive help to you in defeating the Grand Leader in the future. I am old, and my days are few!"

At that moment, her eyelashes fluttered slightly; had I not been paying close attention to her, I would have surely overlooked it

An ominous premonition arose within me. Since meeting Qi Bei, it is the first time I have seen him so despondent. I wonder if the closer we get to the Witch Kingdom, the more it stirs his emotions. The events of that year must not be as few as he claims, and the origins of Xi Qi are also a mystery. Even the necklace she wears must have a significant background; otherwise, why would Ge Zhan have stopped short at the cliff and not violated her

Qi Bei sighed and said: "If you take the map to see the witch, she will surely do her utmost to protect you, for she also wishes to go to the ruins"

This time the sound was a bit louder, clearly the sound of drums. "Be careful!" Qi Bei shouted loudly

Xi Qi said: "I have had it since I was young." I knew that to find the answer, I had to ask Qi Bei. Supporting her to stand up, I asked: "Can you walk?"

I knelt on the ground, completely overwhelmed by disappointment. What I thought was victory turned out to be a total defeat. The sorcerer had already cast a spell on Xiqi, turning her into a formidable pawn, and now Xiqi has fallen into his hands once again; our demise is imminent. The sound of Qibei's moans echoed in the cave.

I said: "Tell them to stand still, or I will escape immediately, and you will never get Black Widow back."

How could I dare to hesitate? I jumped off the horse, pulled open the car door, and rushed inside. A long-haired woman was lying on the floor of the car, dressed in a black samurai outfit, her face down, preventing me from seeing her features, but I knew she was not Xiqi. My heart sank as I turned her over, and I was struck by a stunningly beautiful face, her eyes tightly closed, her skin snow-white and smooth. The only flaw was her high, slightly curved nose, which gave the impression of a strong and ruthless person. My gaze shifted to her left hand, which still tightly gripped a cylindrical object, something akin to a firework signal, indicating that she had fainted before launching it. Beside her lay a long sword, the hilt adorned with the emblem of a human-faced spider.

At this moment, Black Widow's team had just climbed over a hill and was descending. Qi Bei whispered, "Up!"

The wizard then instructed to track our route, of course relaying everything into our ears. At that moment, I couldn't help but admire Qi Bei even more; if we had rashly fled, we would surely have fallen into the wizard's calculations. Sounds of movement came from under the tree, and after a while, the voices faded away. Fortunately, in the mountainous and wild areas, we could not ride horses; otherwise, even with our extraordinary abilities, it would have been difficult to catch up with the other party.

I was pondering her words when a strong gust of wind struck from behind. I was startled and fell to the ground, then rolled away. Despite this, my back was still torn, leaving ten streaks of blood, burning with intense pain

I detest the authenticity: "Shut up! I understand, you are stalling for time." The Black Widow's expression darkened, her seductive demeanor replaced by a cold and proud look, making it difficult to connect the provocative woman from moments ago with her current self

Watching his figure disappear into the somber mountains and forests after dusk, I couldn't help but admire this renowned swordsman of the empire from the bottom of my heart. He will greatly inspire my future achievements. A swordsman must possess wisdom, strategy, principles, and ideals like him in order to truly unleash astonishing potential

I called out, "Wizard! Come out!" I believe this must be the first time someone dared to shout at him like this. The wizard and Ge Zhan emerged from one of the tents, looking up at me.

I find it somewhat difficult to articulate: "You... are you okay? Did they..."

I exclaimed in surprise, "It's you!" Qi Bei said, "Follow me!" I followed him into the dense forest. We arrived at the base of a thick tree, and Qi Bei climbed up first, signaling for me to follow him up.

I turned back and said, "The wizard has released Xiqi, so I naturally have to release the Black Widow." Qi Bei stared at me for a while before finally saying, "Perhaps you are right." As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and walked towards Xiqi. I approached the Black Widow, gently woke her up, and untied her bindings, saying, "You can leave now." The Black Widow rubbed her numb hands and feet, but her big, shiny eyes were fixed on my face. Suddenly, she whispered, "I have never seen anyone more heroic than you." After giving me one last deep look, she disappeared into the depths of the forest.

I did not get angry; instead, I laughed and said: "Then why don't you shout loudly, so that I can come to your rescue."

I shook off my spirits, pushed her seduction out of my thoughts, and said in a deep voice: "Hmph! It seems you truly love me to the point of madness, otherwise you wouldn't have kicked me just now."

As I turned my heart, I suddenly spun around and darted towards the dense woods. I had already lost the opportunity to capture her, and the only thing I could do now was to escape far away before the wizard and Ge Zhan arrived. At the same time, I also understood why Qi Bei had not returned for so long; one reason was that he had encountered the wizard, and another possibility was that he was hiding in the forest, afraid to move, in order to avoid the watchful eyes of this evil vulture

I said: "Shut up!" The Black Widow cast a sidelong glance with a flirtatious look and softly replied: "All men love to hear my voice; if you close your ears, it is your loss"

Qi Bei and I were almost startled enough to fall from the tree, as it turned out that the Supreme Leader personally led the army westward. This truly shows a high regard for me, and it also proves that even the Supreme Leader firmly believes that I possess the power to subvert the empire

The car came to a stop, and I hoisted the Black Widow onto my shoulder, jumping out of the vehicle. Qi Bei approached, reaching out to support the delicate face of the Black Widow, examining her closely. After a moment, he remarked, "Indeed, she possesses an innate charm; no wonder she can captivate a sorcerer." A sudden sound of galloping hooves echoed from behind. Qi Bei sneered, "Ge Zhan has finally come to his senses; we must leave." He was the first to climb up the nearby hillside, his movements agile, surpassing even those of a young man. However, Xi Qi mentioned that his health was not very good, perhaps he was just 'old at heart.' Qi Bei sneered, "Ge Zhan has finally come to his senses; we must leave." He was the first to climb up the nearby hillside, his movements agile, surpassing even those of a young man. However, Xi Qi mentioned that his health was not very good, perhaps he was just 'old at heart.'

I pressed my advantage, leveraging the strengths that men possess over women, with a sword technique that opened and closed with great force, each strike more fierce than the last, sweeping towards the retreating and struggling Black Widow like a gale scattering fallen leaves

The team was writhing like a long snake on the mountain path. I felt a gentle breeze brush against my face and thought that this was indeed the best direction to release the intoxicating fragrance. I quickly took out the small vial that Qibei had given me, poured some of the powder from the vial onto my fingertip, and applied it to my nostrils. This was the antidote to the intoxicating fragrance. A sharp sensation surged from my nostrils straight to my brain; although I was mentally prepared, I almost couldn't help but cough. At that moment, wisps of thin, almost invisible smoke drifted toward the front of the team. The movement of the smoke was very slow, almost coalescing in the path ahead, not dissipating in the wind, nor rising upward. I couldn't help but admire how the sorcerer could create such an invisible weapon, a substance that could harm without the need for combat, truly a remarkable skill. This shows that the sorcerer, being the foremost among the three most trusted generals of the Great Leader, is indeed deserving of that position. I had only seen the sorcerer twice. His cold, sinister gaze could send shivers down one's spine. It is said that he is an extremely depraved person, who delights in torturing innocent maidens. According to my father, the sorcerer hails from a distant, malevolent land, where the ruler is the 'Sorcerer Emperor,' a figure even the Great Leader fears.

Xiqi was taken aback, her eyes wide open, and she said in confusion: "Strange, why do I not have any memory at all?"

A beam of sword light shot forth, and the Black Widow arrived. I employed all my skills to fend off her flurry of rapid attacks, each block infused with full sword energy, overcoming finesse with clumsiness.

She said proudly: "Yes! I am stalling for time, and you, you fool, have only just realized it, but it is already too late"

A tightness gripped my heart as I recognized the voice of the sorcerer. His hatred only intensified my pleasure. The cold voice of the Black Widow echoed, saying: "This kid unexpectedly has some skills."

She deliberately twisted her enchanting body twice, reminding me of the sensation of holding her in my arms

After enduring humiliation for many days, the act of killing became particularly exhilarating. At the front of the convoy, screams of agony echoed, and Qi Bei also commenced the attack. Before him, there were fewer than twenty black-helmeted warriors who could maintain their position, and the carriage was now less than ten steps away.

Qi Bei cautiously waited a little longer before signaling me to climb down to the tree. In the hazy moonlight, we pursued the team of the Black Widow.

The opportunity has arrived, and I silently drew my long sword, sweeping it out mercilessly. Thinking of the bloodshed among thousands of horses and troops on the battlefield, a feeling of intense sorrow surged within me. The Black Widow was indeed intimidated by my momentum, retreating in panic, unwilling to confront this sword head-on.

I was astonished and enlightened; experience is the best teacher, and I must study diligently. The Black Widow is a favored general of the Führer and also the mistress of the sorcerer. By obtaining her, one can naturally exchange for Xiqi. I promptly acted according to Qi Bei's intentions. The carriage sped along the mountain road. The sky began to darken.

The sharp voice of the wizard echoed again beneath the tree: "We three shall split into three paths, driving them towards the vast plain to rendezvous with the Grand Commander’s army. At that point, we need not fear that they will fly away into the sky."

I heard the sound of it extending its claws, a strong wind pressing against my face. It is time.

In two days, we caught up with what appeared to be the convoy escorting Xiqi. A horse-drawn carriage with a low-hanging curtain was slowly making its way along the winding mountain road, guarded by over eighty strong horsemen in black helmets, yet there was no sign of Ge Zhan. Qi Bei said in a deep voice, "If my estimation is correct, we might be a step ahead of Ge Zhan."

Qi Bei's plan was utterly unreasonable. In an instant, the surroundings were filled with the sounds of voices and the thudding of military boots trampling on the grass and trees. We did not even dare to stretch our heads down to look, fearing that the rustling of the leaves would awaken the enemy below, who were as fierce as wolves and tigers

Black Widow said with a sigh: "That is to test whether you have true skills, and whether you are worthy of my devotion and body"

I composed myself and swiftly moved to the rear of the formation. A few black-helmeted warriors, who were only slightly poisoned, turned back to meet me; however, seeing their unsteady bodies, it was evident that they were barely holding on.

The voice of Ge Zhan echoed beneath the tree: "They cannot escape far; let us split into three routes to pursue them."

I gazed in admiration, and as Xiqi approached me, she nestled against me and asked, "Will you take me with you?"

The sorcerer and Ge Zhan's eyes blazed with fury. The sorcerer said ominously, "But you will never get your woman back." I was only about a hundred yards away from the sorcerer, looking down from a height, and I saw that every deep wrinkle on his face seemed to be sneering, with his narrow eyes flashing with a fierce light, as if he was plotting something sinister again

This matter has gone too smoothly, and I am rather hesitant. Brother Zhan interjected, "From now on, we will play the game of soldiers catching thieves again and see who the winner is"

My heart trembled, as this indicated the wisdom of the sorcerer, who had anticipated my arrival to request a change of personnel, thus making such arrangements to put me at a psychological disadvantage. I nonchalantly replied, "How do I know what tricks you have played on her? If I were to exchange her for a useless person, it would be better to part ways completely."

I know that the evil vulture is doomed. My sword strike was precise, just enough to cut its throat without severing its neck. If I am not mistaken, it should be able to fly back to the sorcerer before it takes its last breath. On the day I burst into the torture chamber, my father's eyes were gouged out, a deed of this evil vulture's claws. This grudge has finally been avenged, albeit slightly. I rolled with force and continued to roll down the slope, this time intentionally. Despite the pain throughout my body, I was not seriously harmed. Upon reaching the bottom of the slope, I jumped up and continued to flee. On the day I burst into the torture chamber, my father's eyes were gouged out, a deed of this evil vulture's claws. This grudge has finally been avenged, albeit slightly. I rolled with force and continued to roll down the slope, this time intentionally. Despite the pain throughout my body, I was not seriously harmed. Upon reaching the bottom of the slope, I jumped up and continued to flee

She laughed recklessly, her delicate figure trembling as she said: "Come! Release these ropes and let me show you the greatest pleasures a man can experience."

This black widow is as cunning as a fox, leaving me quite confused as well; however, after much contemplation, I still cannot think of a reason for her silence

Qi Beidao: "Let's go!" We walked down the mountain, the sky gradually darkening. We did not speak along the way, stopping only at midnight to start a wild fire in a cave, eating the rabbit meat we had hunted two days ago. Xiqi leaned against me and fell asleep, hoping that after enduring so much suffering, she would have a good dream

Xi Qi nodded. Two hours later, I met Qi Bei at a secluded spot in the mountains and recounted in detail the entire process of retrieving Xi Qi. Qi Bei listened patiently, asking several questions repeatedly, and finally furrowed his brows, deep in thought

When Xiqi saw her grandfather, her emotions stabilized considerably. Qibei looked at Xiqi and said with infinite affection: "Qier! Do you remember what happened the last time you fainted?"

I rushed into the cave, and Qi Bei sat leaning against the cave wall, his face a shade of grayish black, his gaze vacant.

The drumbeats coming from outside grew more urgent. I clumsily dodged left and right, and the most painful part was that I could not retaliate against her.

I cried out in despair: "What is wrong with you?" Qi Bei shook his head and said: "I have been poisoned by the deadly iron hairpin, and there is no hope for recovery. Do not concern yourself with Xi Qi any longer; go immediately to the Witch Kingdom. Once you arrive there, you will understand... Hurry! They will never let you go." As soon as he finished speaking, he tilted his head, and the legendary swordsman departed from this world

I cannot fathom such a turn of events; my mind is filled with many thoughts, yet it seems I cannot grasp anything. Suddenly, a strange sound echoed from afar. Qi Bei and I exchanged bewildered glances, feeling a sense of unease, as it resembled the sound of a drum being struck. In this desolate wilderness, who would be beating a drum in the dead of night

Xiqi rests her head on me, sleeping soundly, her breathing steady. I can feel her body warmth and the subtle fragrance of a woman, filling my heart with happiness and authenticity. It is a feeling I have never experienced before, and I am willing to do everything in my power to protect her

I struck silently with all my strength, the long sword slicing through the air. Blood splattered from the vulture's neck as it shot upwards, in an instant transforming into a small black dot, crying out in despair.

The Black Widow's eyes were filled with mirth as she bit her lip and said, "I am fond of you, how could I bear to let you fall into the hands of that brute?"

Black Widow shouted: "Chase him!" Immediately, the sound of wings slicing through the air echoed from the sky, and while I remained vigilant, I hurriedly darted through the trees.

Xi Qi shook her head and said, "No!" I replied, "At least Brother Zhan has a bit of humanity." I originally thought that he would definitely take revenge on Xi Qi because the princess was infatuated with me, and I had already prepared to be the loser. Xi Qi cried out, "No! He is a beast. He originally intended to violate me, but after seeing the medal hanging on my chest, he thought for a while before letting me go."

The Black Widow is quite formidable, having blocked over forty of my strikes. "Ding!" The long sword in the Black Widow's hand was knocked away, and the tip of my sword was pressed against her throat

I confirmed that the wizard had truly retreated, and quickly came to Xi Qi's side. At that moment, I could not care less about her being a young lady, and carefully examined her. I found that apart from some old injuries, she was completely unharmed, her breathing was steady, and her pulse was normal; she had merely fainted. I gently patted her face, and she let out a moan, twisting her body, then slowly opened her eyes. Upon seeing me, she exclaimed in disbelief, "Lante! Is it really you?" Tears streamed down her face. I held her in my arms, filled with deep affection. Xi Qi trembled all over, and in her emotional turmoil, she was unable to speak through her tears. Such a pure and gentle woman had to endure such a terrifying ordeal.

I rose with great vigor, and two black-helmeted warriors guarding the carriage dismounted, splattered with blood. At this moment, Qi Bei also arrived at the front of the carriage, kicked the dazed driver off the horse, and shouted, "Get on the carriage!"

Qi Bei shook his head and said: "The map is inscribed on a peculiar material in the Book of Wisdom, and it only reveals itself when exposed to sunlight. On the day I dueled with Lan Ling, the Book of Wisdom fell to the ground and opened up, revealing the map. At that time, I was unaware of the significance of this map. When I returned and mentioned it to the witch, she informed me that she had been searching for this map all along, as the Book of Wisdom mentions its existence right from the beginning."

The Black Widow is clad in tight-fitting black leather, shimmering and glistening, reminiscent of the body of a venomous snake

I said: "We have been deceived, this is a trap, the one in the car is not Xiqi, but 'Black Widow'."

Meanwhile, the longsword in hand was raised, but it was no longer needed. The Black Widow still lay on the ground, her hands and feet heavily bound, making it difficult for her to pursue the victory.

Qi Bei walked over and said, "It is not suitable to stay here for long, let us go." We headed in the opposite direction of the retreating wizard, moving north. When we climbed a high mountain, Qi Bei stopped and pointed to the undulating mountains in the distance, saying, "That is the Lianyun Mountain Range. If we continue in that direction for over a hundred miles, we will reach Wangyue City, one of the two great cities in the Empire, alongside the City of Sunrise. Beyond Wangyue City is the Wangyue River, and beyond the river lies the Witch's Lake, where the magnificent Witch City is built by the lakeside."

Xi Qi trembled slightly and opened her eyes in confusion. "Dong!"

I was momentarily stunned; although it lasted only a few seconds, it nearly caused me a lifetime of regret

The vile vulture did not swoop down to attack me; it merely followed me from high above, which was already enough to give me a headache, completely exposing my whereabouts to the approaching wizards and others. It also kept screeching, indicating my position.

The malevolent vulture swooped down but missed, instead flying towards the Black Widow. I shouted in alarm, leaped up, and rushed towards the Black Widow, but it was already too late. The supernatural vulture used one claw to tear the ropes binding the Black Widow's feet into shreds, while the other claw freed her hands as well. The Black Widow let out a delicate laugh, stood up, and the vulture circled around before landing on her shoulder, its fierce eyes eagerly watching me.

The wizard indeed acted in accordance with his words, and soon led his subordinates to retreat completely, leaving only Xiqi lying on the ground

The team entered the fragrant mist. I drew my longsword and swiftly lunged forward. "Bang!" A black-helmeted warrior was the first to fall from his horse. The entire formation was thrown into chaos, with more than ten warriors tumbling off their horses one after another, while some carts rolled down the slope beside the road, creating a cacophony of noise

A glimmering iron hairpin brushed past my face and pierced directly into Qi Bei's left shoulder. Qi Bei let out a pained groan and staggered backward. The iron hairpin spun around and lunged toward me again. I shouted, "Xi Qi! Are you out of your mind?"

I said, "Alright! Then we must seize the opportunity to rescue Xiqi." Qi Bei replied, "Remember our plan." He jumped off his horse and began to climb up the mountain. On such a mountain path, walking is faster than riding. I also dismounted and, taking advantage of the cover provided by the rocks on the mountain, stealthily followed behind the convoy. The mountain path was treacherous, with one side against the mountain and the other a steep cliff; this terrain is suitable for a smaller force to defeat a larger one. Qi Bei truly is an experienced warrior. The mountain path was treacherous, with one side against the mountain and the other a steep cliff; this terrain is suitable for a smaller force to defeat a larger one. Qi Bei truly is an experienced warrior

Half an hour later, we had caught up with their trail. We deliberately followed from a distance, waiting for Black Widow and her group to be further separated from the sorcerers before we exerted ourselves to catch up. Their numbers ranged between thirty and forty; if we were to attack from the front, we might not gain any advantage. The only method was to launch a surprise attack

The carriage continued to accelerate, and my despair grew ever more intense. Qi Bei shouted, "What is it!"

Xi Qi closed her beautiful eyes, and a drop of crystal-clear tear emerged, as if all suffering had departed with this tear

I let out a low growl, my longsword like poison | The whirlwind unleashed, each strike infused with tremendous force, in an instant I sent several resisting warriors flying. Although I bore a few wounds, they were merely superficial abrasions, having no impact on my combat effectiveness

I set the Black Widow aside, contemplated for a moment, and then took out another rope to bind her hands and feet more securely. I will never forget her terrifying aspects. This time, capturing her so easily was merely a stroke of luck due to chance. Had it not been for Qi Bei releasing the enchanting fragrance obtained from the sorcerer, I might have mistakenly taken her for Xi Qi and fallen into her trap.

Qibeidao: "Bind her well, this time do not let her escape again." I blushed slightly and complied. This time I tied the Black Widow's hands behind her back, no matter how cunning she was, it would be difficult for her to carry out her schemes again

I, having lost the sheep, mend the pen, coldly said: "I know you are awake, call out! As long as you make a sound, I will draw a beautiful scar like a sword on your tender face." The desire for beauty is inherent in all women, and the Black Widow is no exception. She trembled slightly, opened her eyes, and glared at me from below, her beautiful eyes sparkling as if she were smiling seductively at me.

The wizard clapped his hands, and four strong men emerged from one of the camps, carrying a wooden plank. Lying on it was the one I had been longing for, Xiqi, her eyes tightly shut, in a deep unconscious state

The sound of flapping wings echoed through the sky, and dust was raised. I turned around on the ground and happened to see a vulture with wings spread to a span of eight feet, pouncing down at me under the illumination of the newly risen moon, its eyes burning with a chilling ferocity.

Qi Bei shouted, "Catch the sword!" and threw the long sword that was placed in the corner. I leaped out with one foot, delivering a side kick to the right shoulder. Xi Qi nimbly dodged, and I took the opportunity to catch the long sword.