Chapter Six, A Five-Year Pact

After a long while, Mei Yunqing gently pushed Yang Fei away and said softly, "It is getting late, you should head back."

Mei Yunqing slowly articulated, "Within five years, become the number one person in the world"

Yang Fei felt quite pleased and, feigning mystery, said: "There is another very significant reason; the young lady must not kill him."

Mei Yunqing, with her beautiful eyes and gentle autumn waves, softly asked: "Is it because I am good-looking that you like me?"

Mei Yunqing did not respond, but her delicate jade-like hand suddenly reached towards his face, smiling as she asked, "Why do you cover your face?"

Nangong Bo brought the jade flute to his lips and suddenly began to play a tune. The sound of the flute was haunting and desolate, filled with deep emotion, as if a secluded woman was lamenting why her lover had not yet arrived. Although Yang Fei found it pleasant to listen to, he was greatly puzzled, thinking to himself that this fellow, with a great enemy before him, still had the leisure and inclination to play a little tune.

Yang Fei, seeing the lively scene, was in no hurry to return home. He strolled over, watching from a distance, almost as if he were about to pour himself a cup of hot tea, find a chair, and sit down to enjoy it slowly

Yang Fei said with a mischievous smile: "By then, if you are already married, I will still snatch you away."

Chang'an, the ancient capital of the previous dynasty, features an exceptionally long avenue named Zhuque, which runs north to south and is approximately forty zhang wide. One end leads directly to the old imperial city at Zhuque Gate, while the other end reaches Mingde Gate in the south of the city. This street divides Chang'an into two halves from south to north. Although it is already the time for lanterns to be lit, the streets are still brightly illuminated, bustling with the flow of vehicles and pedestrians, creating a lively atmosphere.

Meilan paused for a moment before nodding slightly, then with a "thud" fell to her knees on the ground, pleading in tears: "Miss, please do not make me do such a thing"

Ge Tianpeng, seeing an opportunity to step down, chuckled and said: "Indeed, indeed, Young Master Nangong is a guest of our gang. When a guest encounters trouble, our gang naturally must lend a hand"

Yang Fei was still unaware of Mei Yunqing's given name, yet at this moment, he heard it spoken so affectionately by a stranger. When he also heard Mei Yunqing kindly refer to him as "big brother," his heart felt both sour and bittersweet, wondering when he might have the opportunity to share such a brotherly bond with her

The other four riders, however, did not possess his abilities. They passed by him, saw that he had stopped, and then turned back.

Upon hearing these words, Yang Fei felt great joy in his heart and said, "I was never handsome to begin with, so having a few more scars on my face is of no consequence." Yet he thought to himself, as long as you can be like this every day, it would matter little to me if I were to be stabbed once a day.

Ah," Yang Fei responded, suddenly realizing that this was the first time Mei Yunqing had called him by his full name, and he couldn't help but feel both surprised and delighted.

Mei Yunqing looked at the oddly behaving Yang Fei with a half-smile and said, "You have driven away my guests; how should this account be settled?"

Li Mengrou coldly snorted: "How could they possibly do anything to me? Our Nanhai Illusion Sword Sect is not afraid of the Nangong family either"

The person in the middle employs the Autumn Water Sword Technique of the Nangong family. This sword technique is derived from the meaning of longing through the autumn waters and was created by a predecessor of the Nangong family. This predecessor infused his deep affection for his deceased wife into the sword technique, hence it is also known as the Heartless Sword Technique. The technique combines softness with strength, embodying an irreversible essence, which is why each strike is lethal, leaving no room for retreat

Mei Yunqing said: "Xiao Lan's lifelong affairs must be decided by herself; as her elder sister, it is not appropriate for me to say too much." Her words were not heartfelt, and a wave of regret washed over her; had she not already taken the liberty of deciding for her by promising her to Yang Fei

The sound was extremely faint, yet distinctly audible. Nangong Bo was greatly alarmed, and the four individuals beside him had already drawn their weapons, nervously scanning their surroundings.

Mei Yunqing applied the medicine and then took a towel to wipe the bloodstains from his face, sighing as she said, "It is best not to leave any scars." She suddenly recalled that Yang Fei had also said this when he bandaged her last night, and her jade-like cheeks involuntarily flushed with a faint blush

Yang Fei reluctantly released the hands that were wrapped around her waist, got off the bed, and couldn't help but sneakily touch her delicate hand again, then said: "I am leaving now"

In a flash, Yang Fei found that before him stood a person he had not yet clearly seen; unexpectedly, it was a charming young girl in green, barely nineteen years old, full of grace and allure.

Nangong Bo spoke in a hushed voice: "Spectral Reflections."

Mei Yunqing's delicate cheeks were tinged with a faint blush, appearing even more beautiful under the light. Yang Fei felt a stir in his heart, and with great courage, he stood up and tightly embraced her.

There was a considerable implication of confession in his words. Mei Yunqing was not in a position to respond, but she had already noticed someone outside the door and knew that it was Yang Fei. Therefore, she pretended to speak loudly: "Elder brother, among men, you are a dragon among phoenixes, truly the best of the best." Her words were, of course, meant for Yang Fei.

Li Mengrou let out a huff, her face flushed, and scolded, "Nonsense." However, upon hearing him say she was beautiful, her heart secretly rejoiced.

However, the girl in green seemed to have misjudged him. It was not that Yang Fei lacked martial arts skills; rather, he did not possess any martial arts at all. Noticing that the girl in green had a favorable impression of him, he took the opportunity to say, "May I ask for your esteemed surname and name, so that I may mention you to others in the future"

The girl in the green dress let out a hum, lightly striking with her jade-like palm. From a nearby house, seven more girls swept in. Observing their figures, appearances, and postures, they were remarkably identical, differing only in the colors of their clothing. Yang Fei carefully counted; they were in red, yellow, orange, green, cyan, blue, and purple, each carrying a long sword of the same color on their backs, and holding an identical long sword in their hands.

The sound of the flute suddenly ceased, and Nangong Bo's face turned pale, a sweet taste rising in his throat as he spat out a mouthful of blood mist. The girl in green, wielding a blue sword, had already arrived. He had no time to think; he countered with the jade flute, producing three crisp sounds. Although the jade flute was intercepted three times by the blue sword, it did not break. By the time Nangong Bo countered the fourth strike, the tip of the girl's sword was already pointed at his throat.

The young master let out a soft "Eh," and said to Yang Feiqi, "I feel like I have seen you somewhere before"

Mei Yunqing affirmed, "I can assure you that I will never casually marry someone just to avoid you"

Yang Fei held her tightly, and Mei Yunqing struggled for a moment. Suddenly, she felt weak and powerless all over, and had no choice but to give up. Moreover, there was a certain expectation in her heart.

Nangong Yi deliberately sighed and said: "My disciple has a good character and decent martial skills, but he is not very good at winning women's hearts. If Yun Qing could speak a few good words for him, then his prospects would greatly improve."

Nangong Yi was filled with excitement, forgetting himself as he took Mei Yunqing's delicate hand and sincerely said, "If I could unite with Yunqing in matrimony, I would have no regrets even in death"

You. The girl in the green dress did not expect Yang Fei to be such a lazy person. Although she felt a bit annoyed, there was a hint of sweetness in her tone as she huffed and said: "Your martial arts are not that high, how do you know what it means to be the best in the world?"

Yang Fei said: "He is the young master of the Nangong family. If the young lady were to kill him with a single sword, I fear..."

I... Yang Fei was so overjoyed that he almost jumped out of bed. Mei Yunqing actually knew that he liked her, but he had never told her. Upon further reflection, it was clear that even a fool could see his feelings for her; there was no need to say more.

Nangong Bodao: "May I ask what relation he has to the young lady?"

The girl in the green dress, with a smile that seemed both genuine and teasing, asked: "Are you going back to see the master or not?"

Mei Yunqing uttered a soft "Hmm," and suddenly recalled something, saying: "I will find someone to redeem that little butterfly from Ruoxiangju."

The girl in the green dress snorted coldly and said, "It is not that Xiao is not good, but rather that the people are too lacking."

Yang Fei felt the sound of the xiao was extremely sharp, causing great discomfort in his ears. He had no choice but to tightly stuff his ears with cloth strips. He thought that the two of them playing the xiao and listening to music was much less interesting than before, yet he was unaware that the current situation was even more perilous than before; a single misstep could endanger his life.

Li Mengrou's charming smile grew even more radiant, and she did not interrupt him with words, seemingly enjoying his nonsensical chatter.

Although Yang Fei stood at a distance, he still felt a stir in his heart and unconsciously walked closer, wanting to see the beauty more clearly. Yet, he could not help but say, "No matter how well a portrait is painted, it cannot compare to the real person in the slightest."

Yang Fei was slightly taken aback and asked, "What is it?" He thought to himself, regardless of whether it is one matter, ten thousand matters, or one hundred million matters, it must be accomplished.

Li Mengrou snorted and said, "Are you saying that if I kill him, the authorities will capture me? Am I afraid of being captured by the authorities?" She was, after all, new to the martial world and did not understand that the authorities rarely intervened in matters of vendetta among martial artists. Even when they did, they tended to downplay serious issues and trivialize minor ones, which is why she was intimidated by Yang Fei.

Li Mengrou, upon hearing him misquote the idioms, couldn't help but smile with a charming expression on her face

Mei Yunqing felt a wave of sweetness in her heart as she leaned against the headboard, watching him slowly disappear from the doorway

The girl in the green dress indeed stopped her sword, coldly gazing at Yang Fei and asked, "Who are you?"

Yang Fei looked at Mei Yunqing with a mix of surprise and joy, quickly getting up and saying, "Miss Mei, what I just said was utter nonsense; please do not take it to heart."

Nangong Yi suddenly sighed again and said, "Yun Qing, what do you think of me?"

The man's voice was heard again: "Yun He has some feelings for Xiao Lan, but Xiao Lan is somewhat distant towards him and is not very willing to get close to him"

Mei Yunqing gazed at her lonely figure and murmured, "Xiao Lan, I have always regarded you as my own sister. You must not hate me; I am left with no choice."

Mei Yunqing gently nodded and said: "Not only that, you must also earn the respect of all the heroes in the world, so that they will heed your commands"

As the horse galloped to Yang Fei's side, it noticed that he did not move aside, and thus had no choice but to come to a sudden stop. The horse was pure white in color, with black hooves, and was exceptionally majestic. The rider's ability to halt the horse abruptly while at such high speed demonstrated remarkable equestrian skills

Nangong Bo, however, did not respond; instead, he closed his eyes, presenting an attitude of indifference as if to say, "If you want to kill me, then do so. After eighteen years, I will still emerge as a hero."

The Sanjiang Gang has always had secret dealings with the Nangong family. Under the command of Nangong Bo, it is indeed true that they are the foremost gang in Chang'an. It is unreasonable to publicly label them as subordinates of the Nangong family. Ge Tianpeng felt embarrassed, and coupled with old grievances, he knew full well that his martial arts were far inferior to that of the girl in green. Nevertheless, he had to muster the courage to confront her. Just as he was about to shout angrily and advance with his blade, he heard Nangong Bo calmly say, "Miss, the leader of the Ge Gang is my friend. During my stay in Chang'an, he has been very hospitable to me. If the leader of the Ge Gang sees someone causing me trouble, he will naturally come forward to inquire. How can it be said that he is my subordinate?" Although he had always been proud, he understood that managing subordinates required a balance of firmness and leniency, and he certainly could not make Ge Tianpeng look too bad.

The girl in the green dress, her jade-like face covered in frost, said: "Do you know who that scoundrel is?"

His other three attendants could no longer bear to watch; disregarding any notions of martial ethics, they shouted in unison and charged towards the young girl.

Mei Lan quietly stood up, fiercely staring at Mei Yunqing, her gaze unexpectedly filled with resentment and malice

Hearing these words, Nangong Yi felt a significant portion of his anger dissipate. He turned to Mei Yunqing and gently said, "Do not forget to take the medicine I brought for you"

Meilan nodded slightly, then suddenly shook her head vigorously.

Mei Yunqing's heart was originally soft, but upon catching a glimpse of the handkerchief still stained with Yang Fei's blood from the corner of her eye, she steeled herself and declared loudly: "From now on, I, in the capacity of the owner of the Plum Blossom Villa, expel you from the villa. Until the day you bring Yang Fei to see me, I will uphold this decree."

Yang Fei could no longer resist and peeked through the door crack. He saw Mei Yunqing sitting by the bed with her head slightly bowed, while a young man sat with his back to him, facing the window. Although he did not recognize this person, just the sight of that back made him feel ashamed of himself.

The sound of the flute grew increasingly sharp, as the green-clad girl’s sword arc was barely halfway through. The sound of metal clashing echoed with a clang as the green sword struck. Yang Fei covered his ears, yet he could still faintly hear it, feeling an inexplicable astonishment in his heart. He hurriedly tore off the cloth from his ears, and suddenly, a resounding clang filled the air, incessantly ringing. With each sound, a flash of brilliance emanated from the green sword. As the arc was completed, the sword's body shone with a vibrant green light, appearing exceptionally striking against the night sky.

Mei Yunqing further stated: "From now on, you shall go find him, until he agrees to marry you."

Nangong Bowen, upon hearing these words, became extremely angry and said: "Although your martial arts skills surpass mine, I cannot deny that, but I absolutely cannot allow you to insult me."

Nangong Yi was taken aback; although he was extremely angry that his good deed had been disrupted, he still smiled and cupped his fists towards Yang Fei, saying: "I am Nangong Yi. May I ask your esteemed name?"

Mei Yunqing said: We are not very familiar with each other, so how can you question me in such an ambiguous tone? Wouldn't that lead others to misunderstand? However, there was a sense of deep sorrow in Yang Fei's words, which made it difficult for her to reprimand him.

Nangong Yi noticed that he did not respond, and said, "Do you dare not even say your name?" He observed Yang Fei, who was dressed in simple cloth, with a rather comical white bandage on his left cheek, giving him a somewhat furtive appearance. As he walked, his steps were unsteady, clearly indicating a lack of martial skills, presenting himself as nothing more than a common rogue. However, he wondered why Mei Yunqing seemed to care for him so much. To avoid tarnishing the good image she held of him in her heart, Nangong Yi refrained from being too presumptuous, though his words were rather impolite.

Yang Fei saw that Mei Yunqing didn't even glance at him, and he was already in a state of despair, so how could he possibly hear Nangong Yi's nonsense

Nangong Bo had never felt so constrained by others as he did at this moment, and could only force a smile as he said, "No matter how good this Xiao is, it still cannot compare to the power of the Seven-Colored Sword of the young lady."

On the couch, the faint fragrance of Mei Yunqing lingered in the air. As Yang Fei inhaled it, his soul had already floated up to the heavens. Seeing his self-absorbed expression, Mei Yunqing couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.

The girl in the green dress had not yet unleashed her sword technique, but Yang Fei already felt a wave of pressure rushing towards him. He involuntarily retreated repeatedly until his back collided with a wooden pillar, at which point he finally stopped. Taking a breath, he said: "Miss, your martial arts are unparalleled, far surpassing those of the leaders of Wudang and Shaolin. Today, I am fortunate to witness your divine skills. In the years to come, when my children ask about it, I can proudly mention that I once saw the world's number one seven-colored sword technique performed by you."

Mei Yunqing said: "What are you looking at? Are you afraid there are ghosts behind you?"

Nangong Yi could no longer hold back, gently pushing Yang Fei's shoulder with his left palm, and exclaimed: "Are you leaving or not?"

Meilan shook her head

Yang Fei hurriedly said: "The young lady is certainly not afraid, but if the authorities issue a wanted notice, making it known throughout the world, I fear the young lady's life will become even more difficult."

Mei Yunqing saw Yang Fei lost in thought and not responding, and her heart sank with disappointment

Mei Yunqing gently covered his lips with her delicate hand and said softly, "I can agree to marry you." These eight words struck Yang Fei like a bolt from the blue, leaving his mind blank. When he regained his senses, he was filled with overwhelming joy, only to hear Mei Yunqing's celestial voice say, "However, you must promise me to do one thing."

Meilan's eyes revealed an indescribable expression, yet she remained silent.

Yang Fei Da Qi, could it be that these seven swords are wielded by a single person? How could they possibly be obtained?

He had just spoken these words when a faint voice of Mei Lan reached his ears: "You are clever, not reporting to the young lady." He was unaware that this was a subtle skill known in the martial world, and without thinking, he turned to look, but did not see Mei Lan's figure.

If Nangong Boxin follows you back, then how could I possibly survive? He slowly drew the ancient sword from his waist, his expression grave, and said in a deep voice, "I beg your pardon for my rudeness." After speaking, a sound of the sword echoed, and the long sword transformed into a myriad of stars attacking the girl in green, which was precisely the "Myriad Stars" technique from the Wudang swordsmanship. His martial arts were extensive, and when he executed this move, it was not inferior to that of the direct disciples of the Wudang sect leader.

Once the girl in green steadied herself, the three of them simultaneously let out a scream and flew far away from the scene. Only the sound of the girl in green, smiling gently, could be heard as she looked at Nangong Bo: "Nangong Bo, at this moment you have no more allies, so you can return with me now"

The three attendants are all disciples of the Nangong family, brought from Jiangnan by Nangong Bo. Their martial arts skills are not weak; although they do not boast of being proficient in all martial arts like Nangong Bo, they have mastered their family's techniques to a high degree. The combined strength of the three is also on par with that of Nangong Bo.

Nangong Bo only hoped to block the green-clad girl for a few moves, allowing Ge Tianpeng to go summon reinforcements. He wanted to convey that a strong dragon cannot suppress a local snake; no matter how high her martial arts skills were, she could not withstand the siege of the masters from the Sanjiang Gang. However, unexpectedly, with a wave of the green-clad girl's jade hand, a red sword appeared out of nowhere. A brilliant red light filled the sky, not only breaking her move "Myriad Stars in the Sky," but also sealing Ge Tianpeng's acupoints with the sword's energy.

The person on the right employs the Tianyang Palm of the Nangong family. At first glance, this palm technique appears to belong to the category of masculine martial arts; however, this is not the case. When ordinary martial artists witness this palm technique being executed, they often fall for its fierce wind and overwhelming energy. Only when the fists and palms collide do they realize it is a feint. By the time they come to this realization, the counterattack has already arrived, and even those with significantly higher martial skills often find themselves defeated. Therefore, practitioners in the martial world humorously refer to this technique as the 'Deceptive Palm Technique'.

As the three individuals launched their fist, palm, and sword techniques towards those figures, all their efforts fell short. Although they were astonished, they continued to attack with all their might. Suddenly, they heard the green-clad young girl softly chant: "Phoenix dances in the nine heavens." Her figure seemed to transform into a colorful phoenix soaring through the sky, chasing a point of orange light. The scene erupted in brilliance, and the three were like floating reeds in the rain, struggling to hold on.

Yang Fei would not dare to let her misunderstand, and quickly explained: "This belongs to Miss Xiao Lan. She accidentally injured me while practicing her swordsmanship just now, and gave me this handkerchief to bandage the wound."

Nangong Bo realized that even the combined strength of his three subordinates could not withstand three moves from this woman. Although he possessed the ability to fight, how many moves could he endure? He looked up at the sky, feeling that despite the many passersby on the street, he was so lonely and helpless. Reflecting on his past arrogance, he had always believed his martial arts were among the best in the world. However, after witnessing this woman's skills, he understood that he was like a frog at the bottom of a well. He thought to himself that if he could escape this predicament, he would certainly practice martial arts diligently upon his return.

Yang Fei said with a bitter smile: "Am I supposed to go down and bring him back? And the books"

Meilan hesitated for a moment, then Fang nodded slightly

The girl in green slowly sheathed the orange sword she held into the scabbard of the sword-wielding woman behind her, and then drew out a green sword. At that moment, both of them wielded weapons of a vibrant green hue, and with the girl also dressed in green, it appeared quite intriguing from a distance

Meilan nodded again

Yang Fei suddenly said in an unwavering voice: "What I like is your person, not your face. Even if one day in the future you become an ugly monster, I will still like you just as I do now."

Seeing that the wounds on his face had begun to scab over but were still oozing blood, Mei Yunqing said, "You close the door and lie down on the couch, I will help you apply some wound ointment"

"What do you think, Brother Nangong?" Surprisingly, it was Mei Yunqing who responded.

Yang Fei finally came to his senses, staring in astonishment at the person who had stopped. He saw that the individual was dressed in a splendid robe, with bright eyes and star-like brows, exuding an air of arrogance. Yang Fei felt as if he recognized him, yet he could not recall where he had seen him before.

Nangong Bo couldn't help but smile wryly, wondering when the Nangong family had transformed into a rogue sect that only knew how to engage in reckless brawling.

Yang Fei said: "This is Chang'an, the ancient capital of the Six Dynasties, where there is the rule of law."

"Good, good, very good." The girl in the green dress repeated the word 'good' three times, her beautiful eyes filled with a fierce killing intent as she coldly snorted, "Do you think I dare not kill you?"

Mei Yunqing said softly: "What if I were to ask you in the capacity of a young lady?"

Ge Tianpeng glared at him fiercely, and Yang Fei hurriedly lowered his head, pretending not to see. He thought to himself, you are a local tyrant, and I am merely a commoner at this moment. I cannot compete with you now, but one day in the future, I will make you feel the same way.

The girl in the green dress hesitated for a moment and softly said, "Li Mengrou." Suddenly recalling that she had spoken too much with this person, her expression turned cold, and she said icily, "Step aside first; let me deal with this ungrateful fellow."

In the blink of an eye, it was already the time when lamps were lit. Yang Fei gazed at the faint light emanating from the east wing of the backyard, torn between leaving and staying. After a moment of hesitation, he finally made up his mind and knocked on the door to enter

Yang Fei shook his head and said: "Your master may be the greatest in the martial world, but he is not the greatest in the world. The greatest in the world is none other than the current emperor."

Nangong Bo furrowed his brow and said, "The Nangong family has no ties with the Nanhai Illusory Sword Sect; why go to such lengths for a rogue?" Last month, he had witnessed a scoundrel harassing a respectable woman in Yangzhou. As a self-proclaimed member of a reputable sect, he could not stand idly by, so he stepped in to intervene. However, he did not expect that the scoundrel possessed exceptional martial arts skills. After much effort, he finally subdued him and stripped him of his martial abilities as punishment. To his surprise, he later learned that the man was actually a member of the Nanhai Illusory Sword Sect, which is renowned for its bizarre sword techniques. Its disciples rarely roam the martial world, yet the sect is known far and wide. Thirty years ago, the legendary swordsman Zhao Duxing fought against its leader, Li Wanjian, in a battle that lasted for a thousand moves before Li Wanjian was defeated. At that time, he wielded the Seven-Colored Sword, and since then, the sect's reputation has soared, rivaling that of the Seven Great Sects. Nangong Bo was aware that he had stirred up significant trouble. This time, he had traveled thousands of miles to Chang'an not only to conduct business but also to evade disaster. He never expected that this woman would pursue him so relentlessly, following him all the way here.

Li Mengrou asked in surprise: "How is it inappropriate?"

Yang Fei chuckled and said, "Just passing by." He secretly glanced at Nangong Bo, only to find his eyes filled with gratitude. He thought to himself, today I find you pleasing to the eye, risking my life to save you, but it is not because of your surname Nangong

Yang Fei's flattery inadvertently landed on the horse's leg, causing his old face to flush with embarrassment. Fortunately, the lighting in his surroundings was rather dim, making it hard to see clearly. He chuckled twice and said, "Miss, you are indeed the first in my heart."

The girl in the green dress turned pale and said, "You dare to call me an actress." After saying this, she pointed her blue sword and was about to draw it to attack him

Meilan did not respond; instead, she turned and slowly walked out.

The door was not tightly closed; with a push, Yang Fei opened it. Although Mei Yunqing already knew it was him, a feeling akin to being caught in an affair surged within her heart. She hurriedly broke free from Nangong Yi's grasp, turned her head, and found herself unable to look at Yang Fei.

Within his grasp, it was inevitable that there was an underlying force; with a slight increase in strength, Yang Fei let out a rather unrefined "Ouch" and stumbled, falling to the ground. Mei Yunqing finally turned her head back, glanced at Yang Fei, and whispered to Nangong Yi: "I have something to say to him alone"

Yang Fei remained silent, gazing intently at Mei Yunqing, and softly said: "You, are you really unwilling to even turn around and look at me?" His words carried an air reminiscent of a quarrel between lovers.

Hearing the words of the girl in green, he could not help but smile bitterly. Setting aside whether he could survive by going back with her, just the act of returning with her would be enough to bring shame upon him and disgrace the Nangong family. Nangong Bo dropped the broken sword in his hand and slowly took out a jade flute, glistening all over, from his bosom, and said in a deep voice: "Miss, please receive my challenge"

Nangong Bo felt a sudden reduction in pressure, his footing unsteady, and he fell to the ground, unable to stand up for a long time

The seven sword-bearing maidens stood in a line behind the girl in green. If it were not for the different colors of their clothing, it would indeed be difficult to distinguish them.

Yang Fei hurriedly said: "Of course, one must watch the entire performance. This young master Nangong has long told me that there is a good show to see today, so I have been waiting here for a while." He was well aware that the city of Chang'an was filled with informants from the Sanjiang Gang. All he needed to do was to delay a little, and the members of the Sanjiang Gang would arrive. No matter how skilled the girl in green was, she would be outnumbered, so he pulled and tugged, buying time.

Mei Yunqing said: "I will never marry him within five years"

Yang Fei shook his head repeatedly, his eyes filled with deep affection, and said: "As long as I can be with you, I wouldn't even want to be an emperor." After a pause, he added: "Are you referring to the world's number one expert?"

"Just passing by," the girl in green spat. "I saw you standing here a long time ago, how could you be just passing by?"

The girl in the green dress let out a cold snort, and the sword in her hand had inexplicably transformed into a yellow sword. With a swift flick of her jade wrist, she seemed to have struck seven times in rapid succession. Although the movement was quick, it paradoxically felt exceedingly slow to the onlookers. As the two swords clashed, a series of seven light sounds echoed, "clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang, clang." Nangong Bo staggered backward, retreating more than ten steps before finally stabilizing his stance. His complexion had turned pale, and his vital energy surged chaotically. Just as he was astonished by the girl's formidable skill, he suddenly felt a lightness in his hand; the ancient renowned sword forged by a master craftsman from a previous dynasty had shattered into seven pieces, leaving only the hilt in his grasp.

Make way! Make way! Five riders came galloping from the direction of the Vermilion Bird Gate, and the pedestrians on the street hurriedly moved aside. The Vermilion Bird Avenue is quite wide, and although the five riders were moving swiftly, they did not collide with a single person.

Upon hearing this, Yang Fei immediately recalled that this person was Nangong Bo, who had visited the Zhenwei Escort Agency the previous day. With the emergence of his rival Nangong Yi, he felt a deep-seated resentment, extending his hatred indiscriminately to all members of the Nangong family, despite not knowing that Nangong Yi was indeed the brother of the person before him. Thus, he snorted and coldly remarked, "I have never seen you before"

Yang Fei still felt uneasy and said, "What about that Nangong Yi just now..."

Mei Yunqing, with a joyful expression on her delicate face, said: "Swear an oath for me to hear."

The hemostatic and skin-regenerating powder that Mei Yunqing used was the same as the one from last night. Yang Fei felt as if the delicate hand of his beloved was gently caressing his face. The powder had a pungent aroma, and when applied to the wound, it provided a refreshing sensation.

"The number one person in the world." Yang Fei asked in confusion, "Is it to be an emperor?"

Nangong Yi was momentarily taken aback; could it be that he was actually inferior to a petty thug? However, Mei Yunqing had already issued an order for him to leave, and he felt it inappropriate to linger any longer. His heart was filled with jealousy as he cupped his fist towards Mei Yunqing and said loudly, "Master Mei, I shall take my leave now." After saying this, he intended to turn and depart.

Yang Fei said with satisfaction: "Then you must not marry anyone else within these five years"

On the way home, Yang Fei was so happy that he danced with joy, almost flipping over in public. When he arrived at Zhuque Street, he was still unaware of his surroundings, completely oblivious to the horse charging up behind him. This drew the attention of passersby, who pointed and whispered as if they had seen a monster.

The square-faced middle-aged man shouted, "You impudent yellow-haired girl, how dare you be so disrespectful to Young Master Nangong? I am Ge Tianpeng, the leader of the Sanjiang Gang, and you..." Before he could finish his sentence, his vision blurred, and he felt a sharp slap on his face, leaving a clear handprint.

Li Mengrou unconsciously lowered her delicate head, her heart agreeing.

The girl in the green dress had a delicate face that slightly changed, her left hand forming a sword gesture while her right hand held an orange sword pointed diagonally at the ground, her posture exceedingly graceful

Meilan slowly entered from outside, greeted Meiyun with a bow, but remained silent.

Mei Yunqing's delicate face showed a hint of displeasure: "What if I command you in the capacity of the owner?"

The person on the left is employing the Great Illusion Fist technique of the Nangong family. This fist technique is characterized by its expansive and vigorous movements, exuding a strong masculine energy. Its numerous variations have earned it the title of the foremost fist technique in the world. With a loud shout, countless fist shadows appeared in the void, yet not a single punch was feigned; all were directed with precision towards the girl in the green dress.

Mei Yunqing reproached, "Do you still desire the three palaces and seventy-two concubines?"

Yang Fei, upon hearing the gentle and soft words of the beauty, felt great joy in his heart. He followed her advice to close the door properly and lay down on the fragrant couch where Mei Yunqing had previously slept.

Li Mengrou initially wanted to refute, but upon reflection, she realized that no matter how powerful her master was, he could not command the people of the world like the emperor could, so she could only nod in silence

The girl in the green dress said: "I will capture you and take you back to follow the master's orders"

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Although Ge Tianpeng did not recognize the girl in the green dress, he was aware of the seven colorful swords and could not help but exclaim: "Seven-colored swords"

Li Mengrou, upon hearing his flirtatious words, cast him a shy yet reproachful glance, though her heart bore no resentment

Mei Yunqing nodded slightly. Although Nangong Yi felt reluctant in his heart, he ultimately turned and left

Nangong Bo has always been proud and arrogant, and few have ever spoken to him in such a cold manner. Upon hearing Yang Fei's words, he was filled with rage and was about to explode, when he suddenly heard a distant voice, faint yet discernible, saying: "Young Master Nangong, why are you running so fast?"

His flattery is indeed not very skillful, but the girl in the green dress finds his words amusing and can't help but let out a soft laugh, playfully saying: "You, my friend, have mediocre martial arts skills, yet your way of speaking is so slick. Others are not so boastful as to claim their martial arts are the best in the world."

Mei Yunqing said: "Did you hear everything I just discussed with Young Master Yang?"

Yang Fei said: "The young lady possesses unparalleled martial arts skills, so she has no reason to fear. However, the Nangong family has a multitude of members; for every one the young lady kills, two more will come, and for every two, ten will follow. Those insignificant minions will only increase in number, making it impossible to defeat them all."

"Spare me." The speaker was the oblivious Yang Fei. Although he harbored a deep-seated hatred for the surname Nangong, he could not help but admire Nangong Bo's proud spirit, which prevented him from developing any favorable feelings. Seeing that he was about to be too late, Nangong Bo quickly spoke up to stop the bloodshed on the spot

Yang Fei hurriedly said: "Miss Li, this is highly inappropriate"

The young lady, Nangong Bo, seemed familiar to Yang Fei, who only heard him say: "Miss, you have traveled a great distance from Jiangnan to Chang'an in pursuit of me, is it truly just for a trivial matter"

Seeing this, Nangong Bo realized that this woman’s martial arts were likely far superior to his own. Having been proud and arrogant since childhood, this setback left him somewhat disheartened, yet it ignited an even stronger desire to win within him. He drew his sword technique and unexpectedly unleashed the seventh form of the Three Absolute Gates, the Soul Pursuit.

Yang Fei, without a moment's hesitation, tightly grasped Mei Yunqing's jade-like hand resting on his face and said: "I promise you, within five years, I will definitely become the number one person in the world"

Mei Yunqing sighed and said, "Now you understand why I wanted you to get close to him, right?"

Mei Yunqing's charming face turned red, feeling embarrassed and unsure of what to do, when Yang Fei could no longer contain himself and burst through the door

Yang Fei suddenly asked: "Do you know who is the greatest person in the world?"

Under the combined efforts of the three top experts from the Nangong family, a fierce wind surged forth, causing Yang Fei, who was as far as twenty zhang away, to retreat even further. However, the girl in green remained unfazed, laughing sweetly, "It was about time we all joined forces." In her jade hand, she transformed it into an orange sword, and with a graceful wave of her jade arm, the three men suddenly saw a flurry of movement before them, as dozens of figures resembling the girl in green appeared.

The girl in the green dress laughed and said, "Is Young Master Nangong so indulgent towards his subordinates?"

Mei Yunqing said: "If you marry someone else within five years, this agreement between us will be rendered void"

The girl in the green dress looked at the jade flute in Nangong Bo's hand, lightly furrowing her delicate brows, and exclaimed, "This flute is quite special; even the Seven-Colored Sword cannot cut through it."

The man is Nangong Yi. He and Mei Yunqing spent the night talking by candlelight, which was indeed one of the happiest moments of his life. Initially, he was tending to Mei Yunqing's injuries, but as time went on, they began discussing unrelated matters. He is nicknamed "The Undying Divine Dragon," and the saying "the divine dragon shows its head but not its tail" refers to his love for travel. Out of the 365 days in a year, he is absent from the Nangong family for 360 days, making it extremely difficult for ordinary people to find him. Due to his long-term travels, he has gained extensive knowledge and shared various interesting tales from the rivers and lakes with Mei Yunqing, which often made her cover her mouth and giggle, filling her heart with joy. As they conversed, they found more and more common ground, eventually beginning to refer to each other as siblings. Later, the conversation turned to Wu Yunhe.

Mei Yunqing stared at him in a daze, and after a while, she softly called out: "Yang Fei"

Nangong Bo, with his life hanging by a thread, still shook his head and said: "I will not follow."

Li Mengrou said proudly: "Of course it is my master"

"Brother Nangong," Mei Yunqing called out, causing Nangong Yi to stop. She then softly said, "Thank you for helping me with my injuries"

Mei Yunqing smiled lightly and said, "There is one more condition"

The sound of the flute suddenly rose in pitch, resembling two armies clashing, as if thousands of troops were engaged in fierce battle. Although Yang Fei felt his blood boiling upon hearing it, there was nothing particularly remarkable about it. In contrast, the young girl in green trembled slightly, and her orange sword emitted a resonant hum that echoed for several miles.

Mei Yunqing felt a chill in her heart and said softly: "I know you must hate me for being so selfish, sacrificing your happiness for my own."

The young girl, with skin as smooth as jade and bright eyes like pearls, was extraordinarily beautiful, almost comparable to Mei Yunqing. She smiled charmingly and said: "Young Master Nangong, you have harmed someone from our faction. Do you think this is a trivial matter that can be easily resolved?"

Yang Fei gazed at Mei Yunqing with tender affection and softly said: "If I, Yang Fei, were to let down Miss Mei due to her ill health in the future, may I be struck by lightning and meet a terrible end." Although his voice was low, it conveyed an unwavering determination.

Mei Yunqing certainly understood the reason behind it, but it was not appropriate for her to disclose it; she merely smiled faintly.

Li Mengrou smiled and asked, "What is the reason?"

Nangong Yi certainly could not tolerate this and said loudly, "Yun Qing does not wish to see you; it would be best for you to leave on your own."

"Yunqing, what do you think of Xiaolan and Yunhe?" A man's voice came from the room

The girl in the green dress said coldly: "My master's only son is also my fiancé"

One of the four riders behind, a middle-aged man, respectfully asked, "Young master, why have you stopped?"

Yang Fei couldn't help but chuckle softly. The Sanjiang Gang is the largest gang in Chang'an, and even the Zhenwei Escort Agency has always acted according to their wishes. Today, seeing their leader make a fool of himself, it was only natural for them to applaud and cheer.

The sound of the flute changed again, and the faint sounds of blades clashing could be heard. The young girl in green wore a serious expression as she slowly drew her green sword in a long arc from above, while the sword-wielding maid behind her leaped back at a distance.

Mei Yunqing's beautiful eyes were filled with confusion. After pondering for a while, she said: "What happened between him and me last night truly makes it difficult for me to refuse him, so I came to find you..."

Yang Fei nodded and said, "Thank you, Yunqing." This was the first time he had addressed Mei Yunqing by her given name. After speaking, he slowly walked out the door.

Yang Fei was about to speak again when the purple-clad sword-wielding maid behind Li Mengrou stepped forward and whispered a few words in her ear. Li Mengrou's expression changed dramatically, and she swiftly thrust her green sword at Yang Fei, exclaiming in a delicate voice: "Dare to deceive me? You seek death."

Yang Fei certainly did not dare to reveal that it was Mei Lan, repeatedly saying, "No, nothing."

At this moment, it is not as if three people are besieging the young girl; rather, it seems that the young girl has transformed into the one besieging the three.

She had never shown such intimate behavior towards Yang Fei before. Yang Fei was taken aback, thinking she was going to slap him again, and instinctively shrank back slightly. However, he could not react faster than Mei Yunqing, who ultimately revealed it. Mei Yunqing looked at the handkerchief and frowned slightly, saying, "Why does it look like a woman's item?"

Ah. Nangong Bo was taken aback, feeling as if a beautiful flower had been placed in a pile of cow dung. It was truly regrettable that such a beautiful woman would marry a man as timid and unremarkable as that young master. However, he also realized that his troubles were only increasing. He was in the wrong from the start and had no idea about the depth of the young lady's martial arts skills. He could only suppress his pride and, with a face full of smiles, asked, "I wonder how the young lady intends to deal with me?"

After a long while, Mei Yunqing finally came to her senses and called out loudly to the door, "Xiao Lan, come in."

The girl in green, her face covered in frost, slowly thrust her blue sword forward. With each inch she advanced, Nangong Bojun's face grew increasingly pale, and large beads of sweat dripped down from his forehead.

Yang Fei spoke more and more fluently: "Although those little pests cannot harm the young lady, having these pesky followers behind her every day must be quite distressing."

Ge Tianpeng heard Nangong Yi's voice transmitting: "Leader Ge, quickly return to gather the experts from the gang for reinforcement." Just as Ge Tianpeng was about to take off and rush away, he suddenly saw a flash of red light before him. He barely managed to exchange a palm strike with that person, but felt a chill in his chest and found himself unable to move.

It is often said that a man does not easily shed tears, but only when he reaches a point of deep sorrow. Yet, Yang Fei's eyes unexpectedly glimmered with a faint sheen of tears as he softly said: "You still find me so detestable."

Yang Fei was even more pleased and excitedly said: "If the current emperor were to see the lady's portrait, which captures the beauty of a fish sinking and a goose falling, as well as her national beauty and fragrant grace, he would be astonished and would want to take her into the palace as his bride"

Yang Fei said with a bitter smile: "There are still conditions; this is already difficult enough. Alright, what are the conditions? Even if there are ten thousand conditions, I will agree to you."