Chapter 08: Water Cloud

With two loud thuds, two more individuals attempting to provoke were thrown out by the young man, landing heavily on the bluestone pavement outside the door, unconscious.

Several attendants in the store were originally dozing off, but were disturbed by the sudden commotion, taking a long time to regain their senses

"Waiter, why are you so slow? Do you still want to do business?"

Thank you, Brother Xie!" Li Tong blinked twice, exclaiming in disbelief.

After a group of them swaggered away, the young attendant, emboldened, picked up the silver and took a bite, his face lighting up with joy: "Shopkeeper, this is pure silver!"

Coming to my senses, I found Princess Zhao Hua angrily kicking the guards who had been knocked to the ground and were groaning in pain. Looking around, I was surprised to discover that the strange man and two women had vanished without my noticing, and even the severely injured Ou Bixian and the more than twenty people at the entrance had all disappeared.

We are leaving!" She grabbed Li Tong's hand and hurriedly circled around the battlefield. Just as they were about to reach the door, a shadow rushed towards them, crashing with a "bang" onto a square table near the entrance, smashing it to pieces.

Li Yue did not even lift her head, while Li Tong reached out to take it, repeatedly expressing her gratitude

Do not look back, pretend to be unaware. Tong'er, just drink your tea.

Ten doses of medicine and two bowls of tea, which is lighter and which is heavier? She could not distinguish between the two, her hesitant gaze turned towards Li Yue, only to find the other person equally bewildered.

Princess! Her subordinates flatteringly presented the ointment, but she angrily swatted it away, only to aggravate her wound, nearly causing her to faint from the pain

What? There isn't even any wine? What kind of ... ... " A fat man was about to slam the table when someone next to him nudged him with an elbow, gesturing towards Li Yue and her table. The fat man immediately fell silent.

Water Master—Water Master—

Indeed! It is all because my sister is too beautiful by nature that they... hee! In fact, she had already noticed a group of lecherous individuals following her while shopping.

It turned out that Li Yue was infuriated by her reckless and unrestrained behavior. In an instant, she separated herself from the obstructing water cloud with a single palm strike, and without mercy, she unleashed two slaps with her right hand. Due to the severity of the blows, the young princess's cheeks immediately swelled up, turning a deep red, and the stinging pain caused her tears to stream down uncontrollably; she found it impossible to hold back her cries.

"A bunch of insignificant mice dare to call themselves heroes!" A derisive laugh came from the corner, clearly dismissing the earlier discussions of the crowd. "Just a Cold Fragrance Valley has frightened you all to this extent; Master Guangwu's martial arts invitation was truly sent to the wrong people!"

He is a person who has studied the Four Books and Five Classics, and naturally his speech appears more refined than that of others. However, this scholarly demeanor is infused with the boldness of a martial artist from the rivers and lakes, and his words carry a sharpness that is more lethal than those of anyone else.

Ah?

The four brothers came to Henan to participate in the Martial Arts Conference, showing little interest in the so-called "demon-slaying". Their true purpose was to take advantage of this Martial Arts Conference to showcase their skills in front of the heroes and elevate the reputation of the "Four Talents of Shu". Shui Xiao, being well-informed and knowledgeable, recognized them at a glance, and how could they not be pleased? Thus, their fondness for Shui Xiao greatly increased

The guards were immediately stunned by this innate aura, momentarily forgetting to take any action. Li Tong stood beside Li Yue, and the two simply dressed young girls seemed to radiate circles of dazzling light.

Ah—" Li Tong screamed in shock, tightly gripping Li Yue's arm, not daring to let go

Everything is so calm

"Brother Xia, my hand hurts so much!" The young princess leaned softly against Shui Xiao, saying, "That wicked person truly deserves to be killed. Brother Xia, you are the world's number one expert; please help me kill him..."

You may have heard that the entire family of the Nangong clan was exterminated half a month ago

Li Tong was so stunned that when Li Yue tried to pull her away, she was unable to move her. As the whip came down, even if Li Yue could dodge it, Li Tong would still be unable to escape the deadly grasp.

The fat man pointed at him and said: "I must have misjudged you just now; it turns out you are a high official of the court, hey..."

Shopkeeper! He tapped his middle finger on the counter

In the martial arts world, practitioners emphasize righteousness and look down upon those inner court experts who serve the imperial court for wealth and glory. Moreover, with Empress Wu currently in power, a large number of martial artists have risen in rebellion, taking it upon themselves to overthrow her autocratic rule and preserve the legitimate lineage of the Li family of the Tang dynasty.

Sister?" Li Tong's face was filled with curiosity as she reluctantly said, "Can't we take a look for a while longer..."

The guards looked at me, I looked at you, we examined each other, gently nodded, and simultaneously drew our steel blades to surround Li Yue and Li Tong—at least they had the self-awareness not to provoke Xie Jun Kai

Xie Junkai was acutely aware that Li Yue's physical strength could not be sustained for long, and his anxiety was fully evident on his face. He exerted all his strength, his palms creating a gust of wind as he charged into the crowd. The guards, who had just engaged him in combat, were all knocked down by him. Occasionally, when he encountered a stubborn opponent who refused to back down, they were brutally beaten until they spat blood.

Her voice was both delicate and charming, as a pair of small hands helplessly clutched his arm and gently shook it. No matter how tough a man you are, you would still melt at this.

Who dares to be presumptuous? Li Yue raised an eyebrow, her stunning beauty exuding an air of nobility, a demeanor that only someone accustomed to being in a position of authority would possess

"The world's number one—" A sharp and piercing voice suddenly rang out from the corner, startling everyone and making them realize that the four peculiar individuals in the small tea shop had not yet left. "Hehe... to aspire to be the world's number one is rather overestimating oneself, isn't it? Young lady, I advise you to refrain from boasting; be careful lest the wind blows and you trip over your own tongue! Hahaha—"

Li Tong was horrified, her eyes filled with tears, and she covered half of her face with a sense of deep grievance

Li Yue saw that the seemingly lifeless body of Ou Bixian had begun to show some signs of movement, so she approached to help her up and asked, "Where are you injured?"

Li Tong nervously tugged at Li Yue's sleeve, for she had already seen the young man defeat everyone and was now gazing at them with a peculiar expression.

Li Yue felt a sense of chest tightness and shortness of breath early in the morning

Shopkeeper, bring me two jin of Huadiao wine

"Your Excellency, spare my life! Your Excellency, spare my life..." The shopkeeper cowered and trembled beneath the counter, shouting for mercy while covering his head.

Startled, she did not have time to think carefully and casually picked up a piece of broken wood from the ground to throw at the other person

The Nangong family was exterminated? How is that possible

His voice was calm yet seemed indifferent, as if a bucket of cold water had been splashed down. She called out aggrievedly: "Alright! Brother Xiao, are you still angry with me?"

I apologize, esteemed guest, but this establishment only sells tea and does not sell alcohol

His words subtly hinted at pride, the four brothers seldom traveled far. In Sichuan, when speaking of the "Four Talents of Shu," their reputation is resounding, but outside the borders of Sichuan, it holds little significance

The young princess, feeling quite pleased with herself, curled her lips into a hint of sarcasm: "A worthless person who does not know what is good for them!"

Ah! Li Tong beside me suddenly exclaimed, her voice trembling noticeably

Oubixian's eyes were vacant, her lips moved slightly as she murmured, but Li Yue could not hear what she was saying at all

Her remarks were entirely aimed at regaining some face in front of everyone; in reality, she understood better than anyone else that if it had not been for the mercy shown by that young man just now, she would have likely been having tea with the King of Hell by now

The burly man was the last to leave. Upon hearing this, he turned back and spat at Shui Xiao, giving them a fierce glare.

The little princess's face was flushed red, and the heat emanating from the continuous flow of profound internal energy at the end of the soft whip scorched her delicate little hands

Standing before them, the one who timely resolved the crisis was none other than the person she had been longing for, Xie Junkai

"Good lad," the chubby man laughed, "You have quite an eye. The four of us brothers have come to Henan this time, specifically to avoid speaking Sichuan dialect in order to spare ourselves some unnecessary trouble. Who would have thought, you can recognize it like this?"

Li Yue turned her head away, unwilling to look any longer. She was truly disgusted to the extreme by all this violence and killing, and she did not want to witness Ou Bixian's tragic death on the spot

"That should be enough!" Li Tong chuckled lightly, waving her delicate hand as she took out a silver ingot and slammed it heavily on the table.

Li Yue was unwilling to witness such street brawls and killings any longer, turned her head away, and softly said: "Tong'er, let's go..."

Li Yue's face lost its color in an instant, and her pair of bright, watery eyes stared in shock at Oubixian, who lay curled up on the ground. She was covered in wounds, with slashes and cuts that had torn her gray robe into tatters. Each strike had only grazed her skin, and although she was bleeding profusely, Li Yue knew that these were not her fatal injuries

The one speaking is the thinnest among the four people.

After taking a good look at Shui Xiao, a sudden inspiration struck him, and he stepped forward to bow, saying: "So it is the 'Four Talents of Shu' from the Tang Sect of Sichuan. I have long admired your esteemed names, what a pleasure to meet you!"

In the small Yipin Pavilion, apart from a table of four who remained seated steadily, leisurely savoring their tea, the rest of the people hurriedly picked up their weapons to besiege the young man

"Sister... it's all my fault..." Li Tong, who had been subjected to too much fright, wept in silence for her own helplessness

As early as four years ago, he had already realized that as a third-rank personal guard commander of the imperial court's armed escort, it was nearly impossible to receive the same level of respect in the martial world.

Miss Li! Li Yue was gasping repeatedly, her body swaying, and Xie Junkai promptly supported her. "Are you alright?"

Brother Xiao

The young man glanced at them upon hearing the sound

Li Yue looked around with a face full of curiosity, followed closely by Li Tong. As the two exceptionally graceful beauties appeared on the street, they immediately attracted a series of unusual gazes trailing behind them

More and more people were thrown out of the shop by him, leaving the small store in disarray, with the sounds of clattering and crashing incessantly filling the air. The shopkeeper and the attendant were so frightened that they hid under the counter, trembling in fear, only hoping to save their lives, with no regard for anything else

"Oh? Is that her?" Li Yue had excellent eyesight and an even more remarkable memory

"Little brother, your martial arts skills are quite impressive! Are you a disciple of the Shaolin Temple?" the fat man asked

How long are you useless bunch going to lie on the ground

Brother Xiao

Under such a gaze, Oubixian could not help but shiver, her long sword tightly gripped in her hand, unsure whether to advance or not

Four individuals walked past Shui Xiao in turn, and as the thin, dark-skinned man passed by him, he let out a cold grunt with force

No one knows where he came from, how he got in, or when he arrived. Even Shui Xiao was secretly astonished; despite being fully focused on the conflict among the three women, he should not have been so oblivious.

Everyone thinks it is not wrong, but they do not know who Lingxiang Valley will deal with next. For a moment, they are all filled with lingering fears and are anxious.

"Why must this gentleman bicker with a woman?" Shui Xiao smiled gently as she reached out to rest her hand on the whip, but felt a jolt beneath her hand, nearly losing her grip.

Shuixiao was quite surprised; this man was clearly a top expert with exceptional skills. Who could he be? After searching through all the memories in his mind, he still could not recall any such figure existing in the martial arts world.

The young man's expression was inscrutable, revealing neither anger nor joy, yet the sharpness in his eyes gradually betrayed a hint of murderous intent

Wow—seeing the humiliation, she was so angry that she stomped her feet repeatedly and cried out loud. Her cries startled the guards waiting outside, who hurriedly entered the room.

Shui Xiao smiled faintly, his expression somewhat desolate

However, this whip miraculously did not fall.

"Hehe, with the return of Lengxiang Valley, the first deal is such a grand gesture, truly remarkable!" Someone hoarsely sighed.

I wonder if Elder Ou is aware that Master Guangwu has issued a martial arts invitation to gather us at Shaolin, for what purpose is it?

"What Shaolin Temple? My brother Xiaoxiao is definitely not one! Don't you have eyes? The Shaolin Temple is full of bald monks, and my brother Xiaoxiao is not a monk!" The young princess couldn't help but interject, her tone somewhat sharp as she was annoyed that the fat man referred to Shui Xiao as a monk. She was unaware that there are also lay disciples in the Shaolin Temple.

The shopkeeper and the assistant crawled up from under the counter, staring blankly at the ten taels of silver on the table, unable to believe their eyes—could there really be such a good official in the world

He was taken aback, clearly not expecting that the delicate and frail-looking girl before him possessed such agile skills. In a hurry, he turned his head to avoid her, but still had a lock of hair from his temple sliced off by the wooden piece.

Shuixiao was taken aback

"Tong'er, what are they doing?" Li Yue disliked how those noisy men disturbed her peace

We should return early. This is not a place for us to stay..." After a pause, she glanced around and said, "Let's leave quietly, so they don't discover us!" Just as she was about to stand up, she suddenly frowned, "I almost forgot, in the folk customs, we need to pay for food. Do you know how much this bowl of tea costs?"

Four bamboo chopsticks suddenly slowed down in force when they touched the garment of Oubixian, gently tapping on her body before falling to the ground

The young man, instead of being angry, smiled and gently brushed his hair at the temples, his tone becoming much more refined: "I apologize for my rashness; I must have frightened you two young ladies!" As he spoke, he even performed a deep bow to the sisters.

At the forefront was a young maiden, approximately eighteen or nineteen years of age, possessing a notably beautiful appearance. Behind her followed a large group of strong men, all dressed in the attire of palace guards

She is of noble birth, accustomed to giving orders since childhood, how could she endure such humiliation today? Stamping her foot, she cried out: "You bunch of worthless dogs, if you don't take them down today, don't expect to keep your lives!"

Miss Li

Hmph... The middle-aged scholar lowered his eyelids, picked up a cup of clear tea from the table, took a sip, and set it down. "The young lady has quite the background. I hear she is referred to as a county princess. I, Tang, am rather dull-eyed and failed to see any resemblance to a county princess from head to toe! Could it be that she is an imposter?"

"Youngster, let me teach you a lesson; quickly kneel down and bow your head eighteen times..."

A curious shop assistant wondered why there was suddenly no noise, and stealthily peeked out from behind the counter, revealing only a pair of eyes. Just then, with a loud "bang," the purple clay teapot placed on the counter suddenly exploded, and shards nearly struck his eyes

At this moment, a cacophony of shouts came from the street, and a figure at the entrance stirred slightly as someone stepped into the store

Go away! He was truly fed up with dealing with this overbearing and aggressive princess.

If it were not for the chaotic mess throughout the room and the dark red bloodstains remaining on the floor, it would be hard to believe that a thrilling fight had taken place here

She is the niece of the King of Luling, Wei, who was exiled by Empress Wu. Among many relatives, the Wei family cherished this niece the most, treating her as their own. During Li Xian's reign, she was granted the title of "Princess Zhaohua." Now that Li Xian has been forced to abdicate, the Empress has not made things difficult for her maternal relatives, so the title of "Princess Zhaohua" remains and has not been abolished; in reality, it is merely a nominal title.

A glimmer of cruelty flashed in Xie Junkao's eyes. He had once promised his mother that no matter how reckless he became, indifferent to human life, he would never kill anyone without just cause, unless it was for self-preservation. However, at this moment, he suddenly felt a strong urge to kill— even if the other party was a woman

No," she lowered her voice, "I only recognize the old woman in the gray clothes; she attacked us outside the city of Chang'an!

Princess Zhao Hua was overjoyed, clapping her hands and laughing, "Brother Xiao, you are truly impressive; they are all afraid of you now!"

Li Yue was taken aback.

Shuixiao understood that what he meant was that he was a lackey and a dog of the court, feeling a slight bitterness in his heart, yet unable to express it

The "Twin Heroes of the Enchanted Sword" are renowned masters in the martial world. The couple, when united, has found almost no rivals in the Jianghu. Furthermore, the Nangong family has extensive connections and numerous disciples, making it truly hard to believe that they could be completely annihilated overnight. However, the facts are undeniable, and one cannot help but believe it; all one hundred and four members of the Nangong family were killed without a single survivor.

Good skill! Xie Junkai praised with a remark, and with a flick of his wrist, a series of cracking sounds erupted as a soft whip made of black gold snapped into seven or eight pieces, falling to the ground

Indeed, the young princess was furious, stomping her feet and exclaiming: "Me? Am I an imposter? Do I need to impersonate anyone? Let me tell you, listen carefully: my uncle is none other than the great and holy Emperor Da Zhaoxiao, and I am the officially conferred 'Princess Zhaohua'. How could there be any question of impersonation?"

This is a small town, yet it has become exceptionally prosperous due to its reliance on Mount Shaoshi. The small vendors in the market are energetically calling out, while the signs of taverns, inns, and gambling houses flutter in the wind. The courtesans in the brothels are busy welcoming and sending off guests, creating a lively atmosphere

The two sisters entered a tea shop named "Yipinxuan" at the street corner, only to find a large number of men of varying ages rushing in right behind them. In an instant, the previously quiet tea shop became bustling with activity.

However, Shui Xiao remained unmoved, discreetly shaking off her clingy little hand.

Li Yue coldly said: "If I had known that it would require such a precious elixir to save her, why would I have gone to such lengths to harm her? Having already injured her, why should I now trouble myself to save her?"

"You ... ... you ... ..." She repeated the word "you" several times, yet ultimately failed to convey any meaning.

It is ! ''

The group that entered with Oubixian began to make a commotion, resorting to threats and intimidation; there were also those with discerning eyes who recognized the situation and remained silent. As for the group that followed Li Yue and her companions, who had ulterior motives but lacked the courage to act, they had already sensed that the situation was amiss and had quietly slipped away before the conflict began

"Who is it?" Oubixian was the first to jump up, scanning the table where Li Yue was seated. Her gaze paused for a moment before sharply landing on the table in the eastern corner. "You little brat! It was you who let out that foul smell just now, wasn't it?" Her voice was piercing, resembling that of an old hen being grabbed by the neck and squawking.

Obisian, the old woman referred to by Li Yue, coldly glared at the person who asked the question: "Is there any need to ask? What has been the most sensational event in the martial arts world over the past month?"

Li Yue's heart suddenly skipped a beat. Li Tong leaned in and asked in a low voice, "Sister, are they talking about you?" She had not practiced martial arts, so her hearing was naturally not as sharp as Li Yue's; she only vaguely heard the words "Imperial Phoenix."

Li Yue turned her head at the sound, only to find that the young man had somehow appeared in front of her, his sharp gaze fixed upon her.

The commoner will not disturb the esteemed official's duties any longer, so I take my leave, hoping for an endless regret!" The middle-aged scholar stood up, clasped his fists and bowed, "Brother, let us depart!

Shuixiao was both angry and amused, as he took out a ten-tael silver ingot from his sleeve and tossed it onto the counter: "Here, take this as compensation for the tables, chairs, and teacups in the shop!"

However, no matter how others scorn him, and no matter how much his friends and family try to dissuade him, he will not waver in the slightest from his original intention

This ... ... should be enough, right?" She took out a silver ingot weighing five taels from her bosom. Yesterday, she had gone to the pharmacy to pick up ten sets of tonics and had given the shopkeeper such an ingot! Later, she found it quite troublesome for the shopkeeper to fumble around looking for change in silver and copper coins, so she simply told him not to bother with the change, nearly making him burst with joy!

As soon as Oubixian's words fell, a bamboo chopstick shot towards her face. Startled, she tilted her head just in time to avoid it. However, she then heard a hissing sound of six more bamboo chopsticks coming at her from three directions: upper, middle, and lower. In a panic, she took a few steps back, tripped over a long bench behind her, and stumbled, narrowly avoiding the two chopsticks above her, which grazed her scalp as they flew past. Yet, this delay meant that the remaining four chopsticks were now unavoidable.

Although her wound is not deep, if left to bleed without dressing, she will eventually bleed to death. Li Yue sighed and gently brushed her fingers around her body, pressing several acupoints. Initially, she approached this with a mindset of trying to save a dead horse as if it were alive, but unexpectedly, the bleeding gradually stopped.

"Fools! What are you standing there for? Come at me all at once!" The young princess swiftly unsheathed the soft whip from her waist, flicked her wrist, and aimed it directly at the two sisters.

A sudden sound emerged in the tense atmosphere, startling Oubixian, whose first instinct was to assume that the young man had made a move. With a loud shout, he thrust his sword forward in a move called "The Great Roc Spreads Its Wings" towards him

Oh—Emperor Xia was deposed? Hmph, hmph, Emperor Xia has long been sent to Luling! The great and holy Emperor Xia, haha... haha... ha..." The dark, thin man laughed loudly towards the sky, his voice grating. Princess Zhaohua's face turned pale, then flushed.

"Wait..." Shui Xiao suddenly shouted from the side

At this moment, Shui Xiao carefully observed the four individuals seated around an octagonal table. At the head of the table sat a middle-aged man dressed as a Confucian scholar, with a broad forehead, long beard, rosy complexion, and a rather refined appearance. To his right was the person who had just made a sarcastic remark, a thin and dark-skinned man with a cold smile on his face. To his left was a robust man nearing forty, with well-defined muscles and a very strong build. Finally, there was a chubby man, amiable in demeanor yet oddly sporting two curled mustaches, which made him appear quite comical and elicited laughter.

The young girl glanced back at the more than twenty peculiar individuals lying outside the Yipin Pavilion. As her gaze returned, it briefly passed over Li Tong and Li Yue, revealing a hint of surprise in her eyes. However, when her gaze shifted to the young man, she couldn't help but exclaim joyfully, "Brother Xiao! You are indeed here!" She flew into his arms like a little bird, saying, "I finally found you!"

"Well done!" The young man wildly grasped the air with both hands, unexpectedly seizing all the weapons from everyone, and then, with a flick of his wrist, scattered them like hidden projectiles.

Brat! Are you tired of living? "Saiyue Chang," you dare to provoke the esteemed elder? You damn...

Li Yue furrowed her brows in discomfort and said, "Don't rest, let's go!"

Just as she was about to stand up, a large group of people surged into Yipinxuan. Among this group were both men and women, including Taoist priests and even nuns, each carrying weapons, totaling approximately thirty individuals.

Shuixiao ignored her entanglement and walked straight to Li Yue, taking out a small dark green porcelain bottle from his bosom and handing it over: "She was struck by my palm, and cannot forcibly circulate her energy to heal for one hour. This is the 'Shuiling Snow Lotus Pill'. Give her one pill every five hours, and she will be able to recover her vitality in two days!"

Shui Xiao pouted, pretending not to hear.

Are you hurt

Throughout her life, she has traversed the martial world for decades. Although her martial skills may not be at the pinnacle, she is still considered a prominent figure in the community. Who would have thought that today she would find herself in such a predicament, being toyed with like a live target by a young lad? In an instant, she felt an overwhelming sense of shame. With a swift motion, she drew the three-foot-long sword resting on the table, her wrist flicking as the sword tip trembled and formed a flower-like pattern. She shouted, "You little brat, what kind of hero ambushes from the shadows? If you have the guts, let’s fight it out again!"

Who? Does sister know them

Hey! Do you know who you are talking to? How bold of you! Do you believe I will have you arrested and sent to the authorities for strict punishment? The young princess rushed over with a heart full of hostility

You... you..." The young princess, filled with a competitive spirit, stubbornly gritted her teeth and held her ground, using all her strength to pull and tug. The two of them stood there rigidly, completely motionless.

Unaware of the situation! A faint shadow flickered before her eyes, and suddenly, Oubixian felt a sharp pain in her back. The young man had surprisingly moved to her rear and struck her spine with a palm.

Sister, after shopping for so long, are you tired?

Princess!

This undoubtedly refers to the revival of "The Imperial Phoenix Decree"

"The government?" Li Yue's tone was filled with disdain, clearly not taking her threat to heart. Even Li Tong let out a scoff, and this laughter pierced the young princess's strong sense of pride. Overcome with anger, she swiftly raised her hand and gave Li Tong a crisp slap.

Before he could finish shouting, there were two crisp sounds of "pa" and "pa". The young princess was momentarily dazzled and received two heavy slaps.

"Oh?" The four men exclaimed in surprise simultaneously

Oh... The people present gasped. Cold Fragrance Valley—"Nine Sects, One Palace, One Valley, One Family", ranked above the Nangong family, Cold Fragrance Valley!

Brother Xiao

Li Tong stared wide-eyed in astonishment. Since leaving the palace, she had never had to worry about trivial matters of gold and silver. She only knew that buying things required silver, such as going to the pharmacy to get medicine. However, if asked how much it cost to drink a bowl of tea, she could only stare blankly.

Once Shui Xiao took hold, the pressure on the young princess significantly eased, allowing her to break free. She opened her palm to take a look; not only was her tiger's mouth cracked, but her entire right hand was red and swollen, covered in numerous blisters, burning intensely, and any touch felt like a piercing pain.

Li Yue's expression suddenly became serious

How could one afford to be distracted when masters engage in a duel? With a faint smile, Shui Xiao increased the strength of his attack, using 80% of his power to unexpectedly force Xie Jun Kai to retreat a small step.

On the other side, a dozen or so guards surrounded the two sisters tightly, with the glint of blades flashing, occasionally mixed with the crisp reprimands and screams of the young girls

They? Li Tong pursed her lips and chuckled, "This all has to be blamed on my sister!"

Li Yue glanced in the direction of her insults and noticed that at that table sat only a young man dressed in splendid attire. He appeared to be just over twenty years old, with delicate features and an extraordinary demeanor, his brows carrying an unspoken air of arrogance.

Hello

Oubixian was already stunned, his face turning pale. He had originally thought that he was doomed this time, but suddenly discovered, miraculously, that he had come back to life. With a sense of relief, he then realized that his legs were weak and trembling, and it was already a stroke of luck that he did not collapse on the spot.

I... I'm fine. She forced a smile. Her limited martial arts skills barely allowed her and her sister to survive the life-and-death crisis, but the recent fierce battle had drained too much of her energy. For someone like her, who was frail and had a congenital deficiency, it truly came close to costing her life.

Shuixiao helplessly took a step back, gently pushing her away: "Little Princess!"

"Yuck, they are so disgusting!" she pouted her red lips

She—arrest these two wretched maidservants for me

At the critical moment when Xie Junkai and Shui Xiao were competing in internal strength, he slightly changed his expression upon seeing Li Yue and Tong'er in danger

"There is a tea shop ahead, and they have some new tea to taste inside. Shall we take a break there?" Even outside the palace, Li Tong still did not dare to forget the etiquette of respecting elders and juniors, and continued to prioritize Li Yue in all matters, just as he did in the Qifeng Pavilion

"Good... so impressive..." Li Tong exclaimed in astonishment, even she, an outsider with no understanding of martial arts, could see that Ou Bixian was far from being a match for that young man

Oubixian cast a glance at the person, clearly not in agreement with his statement: "What you mentioned is merely a small part of the whole. The reappearance of the 'Imperial Phoenix Technique' in the martial world is indeed astonishing, but the series of events it has triggered is even more formidable. Do all of you present still remember the mysterious disappearance of Lengxiang Valley three years ago?"

What a move, 'a rain of flowers all around'! Among the four people sitting, a short and stout man with a pair of mustaches shouted loudly.

Sister ... ... let's go ... ...

Xie Junkai intended to make her suffer, lightly tugging at the soft whip, secretly applying a sticky force, forcing her to be unable to let go, unable to loosen, truly experiencing an indescribable pain

Li Yue raised her head, only to see that an extra person had appeared in the shop— the tip of the princess's whip firmly grasped in a man's hand, his eyes seemingly ready to burst into flames.

Despite her intelligence and cleverness, she still could not understand why those martial artists had intercepted the princess's procession and specifically aimed to abduct Princess Yufeng. Although she had later tried to probe Nangong Qing with words, he always evaded the topic, maintaining a strict silence.

Ah—! Li Tong couldn't help but exclaim

This move was both fierce and swift, entirely a surprise attack. As the tip of the sword lunged forward, the young man neither evaded nor dodged, letting out a soft grunt. It was unclear what technique he employed, but his body floated back a full foot, perfectly upright. When Ou Bixian's sword missed its target, she immediately adjusted her stance, slanting her sword to the right for a counter slash.

That is fine

"It cannot be—" Shui Xiao's expression changed drastically, and although he tried to stop it, it was ultimately too late.

Brother Xiao! Brother Xiao—where are you?

Li Yue, without a second thought, embraced her younger sister in her arms

She felt a bit at a loss, her heart racing. When she finally managed to calm down and continue listening, Oubixian had already spoken for quite a while: "... ... It is rumored in the martial world that the mastermind behind the massacre of one hundred and four members of the Nangong family in one night is none other than the Cold Fragrance Valley!"