Chapter 6, Extermination of the Literary Star

Chu Tianquan smiled amiably and said, "Not at all, Your Highness Kang's words carry weight. More than twenty years ago, the Nine Provinces were still one family. My ancestors were from Yongzhou. Thanks to the Emperor's benevolence, I was allowed to return south to visit my relatives. I happened to see the excitement here on the way. But if I had known that it would involve so many grudges and enmities among you heroes, hehe, even if I were given a mountain of gold, I would not have come."

Zhou Fei just chased fearlessly, but this scene was too bizarre. She belatedly remembered the necessary caution and stopped three steps away from Chu Tianquan, staring at each other. Suddenly, Chu Tianquan's face turned dark, and the wrinkles at the corners of his mouth were pressed down. His body trembled violently, and the fat on his cheeks began to shake—then, his whole body started to tremble like a sieve.

On this day, he first took a blow from Mu Xiao Qiao head-on, and then protected Zhao Ming Chen as they fled. The toxicity grew increasingly fierce as he recklessly exerted his full strength time and again. Xie Yun could almost feel the pervasive chill gradually seeping into his heart.

She has seen the cunningness of Kou Dan, the deceitfulness of Zheng Luosheng, and the strength of Shen Tianshu, but none of them compare to the plump and chubby eunuch standing before her.

After she finished speaking, she reached out to Zhao Mingchen and said, "Can I borrow some weapons?"

Once she has taken a couple of laps and her mood improves, she will emerge from various unexpected places to launch a surprise attack on herself. However, Chu Tianquan is at a loss when it comes to her, as Zhou Fei only has a group of panting "pugs" on her side, while he faces a formidable opponent in Xie Yun, leaving no room for carelessness. She can run, but Chu Tianquan cannot.

Chu Tianquan did not expect that there are still people in the world who have mastered the "断刀术". A small part of his temple was shaved off, and it took three palm strikes to knock the blade off. At this moment, with a "click", Zhou Fei had already seized the opportunity to put the remaining two keys into the heavenly gate lock, unlocking the chain that bound the two people.

Zhou Fei looked at Chu Tianquan with an amazed look, feeling that Wen Qu was truly a talented person. He could tear apart the Double Demons of Ape and Monkey with martial arts, and negotiate and sell flowers and sticks with literary skills. Not only did he take the Huo family's seal, but he also planned to buy one after another and then accompany Kang Wang back!

Chu Tianquan scrutinized Xie Yun's expression and chuckled, "Alright, then let's accompany His Highness to give it a try."

Luckily, Zhou Fei is skilled in wielding knives and fighting in group battles.

In this way, Zhao Mingchen's situation as a young boy becomes quite delicate.

A few months later, the Northern Dynasty went from being aggressive to being indecisive. At such a sensitive time, it would be good if Zhao Mingchen died, but it would be highly inappropriate to capture him and take him to the north. When the founding emperor of the Southern Dynasty crossed the river, he was just a child of about ten years old. With the country invaded and no support nearby, he had no choice but to navigate among the old forces of the Southern Dynasty, marrying into several prominent families in the court, and struggling to maintain a delicate balance. Only then did the Zhao Dynasty take root in Jinling. However, it would be highly inappropriate to capture him and take him to the north. When the founding emperor of the Southern Dynasty crossed the river, he was just a child of about ten years old. With the country invaded and no support nearby, he had no choice but to navigate among the old forces of the Southern Dynasty, marrying into several prominent families in the court, and struggling to maintain a delicate balance. Now, twenty years have passed, and the founding emperor's wings have grown stronger. He has resumed the policies of his predecessor and has shown his fangs to those who once supported him. He refuses to appoint any of his sons as the crown prince, and the tensions between the ruler and his subjects are growing. Zhao Mingchen's death at the hands of the Northern Constellation will naturally ignite the desire for the Southern Dynasty to launch a northern expedition. However, if he is captured, the crown prince and his maternal relatives will undoubtedly prioritize his life, and even if they originally intended to fight, they will now become advocates for peace. Zhao Mingchen's death at the hands of the Northern Constellation will naturally ignite the desire for the Southern Dynasty to launch a northern expedition. However, if he is captured, the crown prince and his maternal relatives will undoubtedly prioritize his life, and even if they originally intended to fight, they will now become advocates for peace.

Xie Yun quickly got rid of all the black people who were entangled around him. Upon closer inspection, Zhou Fei unexpectedly took a shortcut through the woods and caught up with Chu Tianquan. She had a dozen swords by her side, so she boldly drew Zhao Mingchen's sword from her waist and threw it at Chu Tianquan as a hidden weapon.

Mr. Bai caught a glimpse of the group of black-clad men behind Eunuch Chu, his eyes dimming slightly.

She is not under my control," Xie Yundao said, "and she won't leave either. Since you insist on not leaving, Lord Chu, then stay.

He thought that even if these "able men" couldn't defeat the Poxue Blade, as long as they relied on their numbers and rushed forward, they would be enough to teach that ignorant little girl a lesson. But it turned out that things were not as he expected at all! These "able men" who relied on their numbers were too useless, and they were running around like walking their dogs in front of Zhou Fei.

Chu Tianquan's face was covered by a terrifying black aura, almost losing his human appearance, looking particularly frightening.

The orphan of Crown Prince Yide grew up in the midst of the political struggles and family feuds of two dynasties. He endured countless hardships and was tempered like gold, while North Star Wenqu, who was born into poverty and even sold himself into the palace, rose from obscurity with an incredible mindset and unparalleled ruthlessness, betraying his lord and defecting to the enemy, step by step, through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, to where he is today.

At that moment, it was difficult for the two to distinguish themselves from one another, but unfortunately...

"Oh, can't hear anything." He looked at it for a moment, sighed, "The problem with the deadly poison is that it's not good. There's no time to settle old scores with enemies, which is unsatisfactory."

Chu Tianquan's martial arts attainments have reached such a high level, yet he still has no intention of showing off his heroism by fighting alone. Instead, he immediately orders others to gang up on his opponents, showing a lack of self-esteem as a master. However, this is probably why the Shan Chuan Sword and the North-South Knife are no longer in existence, while he continues to live a prosperous life to this day.

With a quick thought, he glanced at Xie Yun again and saw that there was not even a drop of blood flowing from his injured palm. He then thought to himself, "Seeing that he won't live much longer, I don't need to rush back to the north. As long as I can escape today and delay for three to five days, I will be able to capture this girl. When the time comes, I will silence her and claim that I have captured the Prince of Duan in the south. Let's see how Zhao Yuan, who always talks about 'returning power,' will handle it."

Why is there a bright red little snake wrapped around the wrist? He affectionately touched the snake's head, stood three feet away from Chu Tianquan, and said softly, "This is called 'Ninglu', a kind of snake venom made into powder. When it touches water vapor, it turns into a colorless and odorless poisonous mist. In the morning and evening, the mist in the mountains and forests is clear, which is the time of Ninglu. The deeper the internal strength, the faster the onset. It seems that Master Chu's kung fu is truly extraordinary, as expected."

At this moment, Xie Yun, the most loquacious prince in history, had no time to speak. The sound of the heavenly gate chains in his hands was becoming increasingly crisp, as the cold air could no longer be suppressed and was emanating outward. The cold iron had become somewhat brittle, and it was hard to imagine how his mortal body was managing to endure it.

Chutian Quan looked at him with great interest, then glanced at Xie Yun, and said: "Your Highness, the Duke, has such a grand demeanor; why not invite this young lady to join us as well"

Zhao Mingchen is most adept at clever tricks, possessing a certain skill in reading between the lines and discerning subtle cues. He immediately understood from Chu Tianquan's smooth talk that the old eunuch was clearly aware of someone using the Beidou knife to commit murder. In an instant, Zhao Mingchen's mind became active again; he rolled his eyes and tentatively said, "Well..."

The magnificent pavilions and towers, resembling a cage, along the banks of the Jinling River from the Six Dynasties and Qinhuai, all sent shivers down his spine. Each gust of willow wind and each drizzle of apricot blossoms carried with it a heavy aura of murderous intent and various ambitions, turning everyone into a state of confusion and trapping them within. Zhao Mingchen suddenly felt that it was an unbearable place, struggling with all his might, yet how could his meager skills allow him to escape from the clutches of Mr. Bai and the others?

Zhao Mingchen's eyes suddenly turned red, leaving him speechless

"Do not labor..." Xie Yun quickly separated his hand, which was aimed at Zhou Fei's head, and frost rapidly condensed in his palm. Gritting his teeth, he squeezed out the remaining two words, "trouble yourself."

The schemer ultimately met his demise due to scheming

Chu Tianquan suddenly tilted his head to evade: "The Broken Snow Blade? Quite interesting."

The power at the point where the palms of these two people meet is not to be underestimated. It almost leaves people breathless. The pressure that Chu Tianquan gives is even greater than that of Shen Tianshu, who was at Huarong that day. His hands are as white and tender as a young girl's, with no visible wrinkles. The blood vessels on the back of his hand seem to be drawn on, and his nails have a cold metallic sheen. With a smooth motion, he half-circles his hand and grabs towards Zhou Fei on one side.

Chu Tianquan interrupted Zhou Fei, who was trying to pick the lock, once again. He was not relaxed, his breath was slightly heavy, but he still managed to say to Xie Yun with some effort, "It is said that the Pushing Cloud Palm is unparalleled in the world, but I think it is just the skill of fools. Your teacher has misled you and taught you the mercy of women. Do you want to fight me with such weak skills and borrowed internal strength?"

Chutian Quanxin thought: If all these useless people were to die cleanly, wouldn't it be even more troublesome later when this girl has no one to restrain her

During the conversation, Chu Tianquan suddenly exerted force on his arm and parted ways. Xie Yun's wrist made a sound. As the piercing pain became more and more intense, he found it difficult to sustain a prolonged battle. Cold sweat appeared on his forehead, and quickly condensed into a layer of frost.

Thank you for catching a glimpse of the bloodstains, his heart sank slightlyーthis does not indicate that he is invulnerable, but rather that his flesh is gradually losing sensation. He knows that with the loss of pain sensation, joint stiffness and meridian blockage will soon follow, and then... ...

Chu Tianquan's eye twitched a few times. He squinted and said to Zhou Fei, "I haven't heard of your name."

When one has not yet entered the mountains, gazing into the distance at the spring mountains, one can only feel the peaks stretching endlessly, gentle as the back of a beautiful woman. Although the path is long, it does not obstruct; the way ahead seems to descend, making it easy to reach. However, only after a long and arduous journey, having first endured the torment of 'looking at the mountains and exhausting the horse,' can one arrive at the foot of the mountain and glimpse the true form of the towering peaks reaching into the clouds.

Zhao Mingchen wanted to say more, but he was forcibly restrained by Mr. Bai and a guard, who pulled him away. With the orphan of the late Prince Xianyi here, Chu Tianquan lost interest in Zhao Mingchen and did not intervene. Suddenly, Zhao Mingchen turned around and shouted hoarsely: "Third Brother, what should I return to Jinling for—let me go! What's wrong with wandering the world like you, I..."

Xie Yun and Chu Tianquan were both too preoccupied to pay attention to anything else. By the time Xie Yun wanted to stop him, it was already too late. The Breaking Snow Blade emerged from behind him like a force that could shake mountains and seas, directly presented to Chu Tianquan. The blade's light was extremely fierce, vaguely reminiscent of Li Jinrong's "matchless" intent. The iron chain of the Heavenly Gate Lock was taut, and Xie Yun had no choice but to sidestep half a step. Taking advantage of Chu Tianquan's momentary lapse, he slipped out.

Chutian Quan smiled and said, "Ah, still a lovesick fool."

Chu Tianquan was taken aback for a moment, and the next instant, he suddenly heard the sound of a sharp blade slicing through the air behind him. He took a deep breath, turned around, and with a swift motion of his hand, deflected the knife that was aimed at him from behind.

The dagger left to her by Mr. Bai was longer than Wangchun Mountain. Zhou Fei leaped over Xie Yun, and with a swing of her long knife, executed a move called "Sea," creating a swift and expansive arc of blade wind. She skillfully charged straight into the midst of the black-clad men, as if she were a human magnet, effortlessly drawing the attention of this group of black-clad individuals to herself. It seems that during the battle at the Forty-Eighth Stockade, Zhou Fei's mayfly formation had been honed to perfection.

Zhou Fei felt a violent tremor in the Tianmen lock in her hand, causing her to stagger. Had it not been for the seven keys being firmly lodged in the lock, she would have nearly lost her grip.

Zhou Fei felt all the hair on her body stand on end, and she instinctively reached for the Wangchun Mountain tucked at her waist. However, Xie Yun suddenly interposed a palm, blocking Chu Tianquan's tiger mouth in mid-air, pressing downwards. With a misstep, he pushed and sidestepped, pulling Zhou Fei back behind him. The exchanges between the two were neither fast nor flashy; at first glance, it seemed like two scholars practicing push hands in the morning, merely posturing, and they released each other almost immediately upon contact, lacking any sense of urgency. Yet, after just four or five moves back and forth, Zhou Fei was already drenched in cold sweat.

Wangchun Mountain crumbled under the clash of two forces, shattering into several pieces. However, Zhou Fei seemed to have anticipated this situation; even as the blade broke, she remained unperturbed. The edge did not disperse; the sharp fragments were stirred by the solitary hilt, as if scattered into a hurricane. She unexpectedly executed a move called "Wind" with the broken blade.

Chutianquan realized that the situation was perilous, and he feared he had fallen into someone else's trap. He decisively abandoned his large entourage, taking only a small group of elite fighters with him, and relying on his superior martial skills, he fought his way out of the mountain villa, carving a bloody path to escape into the mountains. At that moment, he unexpectedly encountered Zhao Mingchen, who was in an even more dire situation than himself. The seasoned Chutianquan understood the situation clearly—this was likely an internal matter among the southern faction. Someone wanted to eliminate the troublesome Little King Kang and simultaneously pin the blame on him, creating a false narrative that the Northern Dipper was plotting against King Kang. He looked at Zhao Mingchen's still youthful face and smiled broadly, saying, "Ah, I have met His Highness King Kang. I hope you are well. What a coincidence to meet here in life."

Zhou Fei was taken aback, just as she was about to reach out, she heard a sound like a frozen door hinge from Xie Yun's arm, "creak," and he fell straight down.

However, Xie Yun and Chu Tianquan have already engaged in close combat

Chutian Quan was merely feigning a pursuit of Zhou Fei, whistling a long note, and did not engage with Xie Yun at all. He pushed forward with a palm strike and then retreated in response, quickly stepping back to the edge of the forest. At that moment, the remaining members of the Beidou in black clothing in the forest immediately gathered upon hearing the sound, surrounding Xie Yun as if they were marching to their deaths. It was unclear whether their lives or something else was in the hands of the Chu family, but they fought recklessly, seemingly willing to die in order to hold back Xie Yun and provide cover for that old eunuch.

Xie Yun turned his back to him and said, "Go away, don't be a hindrance."

Chutianquan made a sudden move, his five fingers curling into claws, aiming directly at Xie Yun's fingers. In a critical moment, Xie Yun swiftly moved a few steps as if gliding on water, while Chutianquan quickly retracted his palm. The two narrowly brushed past each other, and Xie Yun stepped back two paces to stand firm, while Chutianquan clasped his palms together in front of his chest

Xie Yun subtly gave Mr. Bai a glance, and Mr. Bai immediately understood, stepping forward to negotiate with Chu Tianquan and others on behalf of Zhao Mingchen: "There is no need to trouble Lord Chu. Although we are not very capable, we can still escort His Highness back to Jinling."

The men in black brought out by Chu Tianquan are all his "capable subordinates"—the useless ones have been abandoned by him at the villa

Chutianquan chuckled softly and said, "I must sincerely thank Brother Lianzhen, otherwise today I would not fare well at the hands of His Highness."

Chutian Quan possessed exceptional lightness of body skills, not even glancing at the subordinates who were sending themselves to their deaths, and without turning his head, he soared away, already several zhang distant in the blink of an eye

Zhou Fei was fully focused on exploring the subtle differences in the teeth of the nine keys, quickly matching several locks one by one, until seven keys had already been inserted into the locks. Chu Tianquan, sensing something, had only spoken half a sentence when he suddenly leaped into the air, launching an unexpected attack on Xie Yun

The origin of the technique "Tuiyunzhang" remains unknown, yet the creator must have been a person of broad-mindedness, kindness, and compassion. Although it is exceptionally exquisite, the practitioner always leaves a margin of three parts when executing it, which is why it has been disparaged by Chu Tianquan as "the kindness of a woman." At this moment, Xie Yun, wielding a long sword, shows no intention of holding back. His swordsmanship is evidently devoid of any established form, extremely primitive, and even rudimentary, yet it proves to be highly effective, imbued with a heavy aura of hostility, resembling the methods employed in a battlefield skirmish.

Chu Tianquan had made up his mind. Suddenly, he let out a long howl, twisting in mid-air to evade Zhou Fei's strike. He then seized one of his subordinates dressed in black, showing no regard for the man's life, and pushed him towards Xie Yun, while he himself took the opportunity to step forward, charging directly at Zhou Fei. Xie Yun furrowed his brow, once again channeling his vital energy, enduring the excruciating pain as he forced open his already somewhat obstructed meridians, catching up to Chu Tianquan and positioning himself between the old eunuch and Zhou Fei, extending his hand to block Chu Tianquan's path.

Chutianquan is deeply devoted to orthodox martial arts, considering techniques such as Qimen Dunjia to be mere sidetracks. However, today he unexpectedly suffered losses from these "sidetracks" at the hands of two juniors. He could discern that there was a hidden mystery in Zhou Fei's footwork, yet he could not pinpoint where the mystery lay. Several times, he found himself in a predicament due to the combined efforts of the two, and a glance around revealed that more than half of the people he had brought with him were actually missing.

Zhou Fei tightened her grip on the Miao knife, just about to take a step forward, when suddenly she heard a voice say: "Don't move"

The schemer ultimately met his demise due to his own schemes

It felt as if there was a leaky cup in his heart, with hot air flowing out like sand through fingers, ceaselessly escaping. Along with this, a sense of warmth began to dissipate, and he started to feel stiffness in his joints, which even the most profound internal energy could not prevent. His body gradually began to lag in response, and in a duel with a master, a slight miscalculation could lead to a significant error. In a moment of carelessness, he failed to dodge in time, and the inner energy of Chu Tianquan, akin to "leaves that can sever heads," left a narrow, bloody cut on his palm, yet he surprisingly did not feel any pain at that moment.

Zhou Fei did not hesitate to draw her sword and pursue, how could Xie Yun allow her to chase the fleeing enemy alone? In a moment of urgency, he snatched a long sword from Bei Dou's hand

Zhou Fei had just broken a sword on Wangchun Mountain, and this time it seemed she had learned her lesson. She did not resist at all, but instead followed the direction of Chu Tianquan's palm wind, simply using the force to propel herself forward. Her blade was sharp, and her body light; with just a little "tailwind," she could soar upwards. Without even glancing at Chu Tianquan, she directly pounced on several Beidou men in black who were pursuing her, her knife moving three points faster than usual, piercing through the nearest Beidou men in black in a single line.

Xie Yun could only manage a bitter smile

"Forget everything I just told you when you go back. Holding onto pointless grudges will not change anything," Xie Yun said to Chu Tianquan, not turning his head as he spoke to Ming Chen, "You should focus on studying proper classics and historical strategies, and there is no need to indulge in these chaotic and heretical ideas to please your father the emperor—you will not win his favor that way. Moreover, you need not spend your days listening to your mother and her associates' alarmist rhetoric. You are a prince, not a tool for their power struggles. Preserve some dignity for yourself"

Zhou Fei's knife is the soul of the Broken Snow Knife, but she learns from everything she sees. Over time, her flesh and blood have mixed with many other influences. Unless she occasionally uses the standard Broken Snow Nine Styles with utmost seriousness, she often leaves people puzzled, making it difficult to discern her style. However, despite the fact that what she just used was not the standard Broken Snow techniques, as soon as she made a move, Chu Tianquan immediately recognized its origin. This shows how profound the old eunuch's skills are, truly remarkable. If he were not the infamous Beidou, he might have already reached the threshold of a master.

Zhou Fei was originally weighing the swords and blades left to her by Mr. Bai and the others, intending to select the most suitable one among them. However, she was caught off guard by Xie Yun's words, and she was momentarily stunned, suddenly feeling an inexplicable surge of emotion in her nose.

In the heart of a young girl lies a slender dark river. It is said that some people possess a heart that is a soft forest and meadow, where gentle streams flow, producing clear and melodious sounds, with the fragrance of flowers permeating the air, audible to both themselves and others. In contrast, there are those whose hearts resemble the unyielding northern lands, perpetually accompanied by cold winds and blizzards. When the strong yet fragile glaciers collide, they can shake the earth and mountains at any moment, rendering even hidden hot springs completely silent and unremarkable. Moreover, some individuals' hearts are akin to these unyielding northern lands, constantly beset by cold winds and blizzards, where the powerful yet delicate glaciers clash, capable of causing tremors in the earth and mountains, thus keeping the underground hot springs entirely unperturbed.

Xie Yun smiled slightly, pretending not to have heard.

Some individuals may fall into despair, even giving rise to a sense of hopelessness that makes it seem impossible to take another step in this life.

However, it seemed that Zhou Fei had just experienced a cataclysmic upheaval. Upon hearing Chu Tianquan's words, her expression remained utterly unchanged, and she swiftly returned to the Broken Snow Nine Styles, launching a strike with the character "Zhan" aimed directly at Chu Tianquan. The old eunuch let out a hearty laugh, as if he found this girl to possess a certain fearless spirit of a young calf facing a tiger. His palms radiated a purple aura, and the profound inner strength accumulated over decades burst forth like a dam breaking, colliding with the back of Zhou Fei's blade, and then entwining around the blade of Wangchun Mountain.

But who would have thought that human plans are not as good as those of heaven? Who could have anticipated that Xie Yun would emerge midway, allowing Zhao Mingchen to escape from such a predicament? And just as he managed to flee, he unfortunately encountered the calamity that is Chu Tianquan all alone.

The confrontation between Chu Tianquan and Xie Yun resembled a game of chess filled with perilous traps, where every contest seemed silent yet omnipresent in its subtlety. The slightest lapse in vigilance could be fatal, even the gentle breeze passing by could pose a threat. In comparison, the impermanence and capriciousness she thought she had grasped that day at the Forty-Eighth Stockade appeared utterly crude, akin to a child's toy.

She hurriedly looked up and saw a person walking slowly out of the forest with a bamboo basket on his back; it was the poison doctor Ying Hecong. At that moment, Xie Yun rushed up from behind her, reached out to grab Zhou Fei's arm, and pulled her back, saying: "Don't go over there"

Chutian Quan had no time to pursue her, for she had just left when Tuiyun Palm arrived before him. Taking advantage of Xie Yun's sudden attack, he had managed to control the rhythm with great difficulty, and before he could feel pleased, he was disrupted by that mischievous girl, Zhou Fei, which ignited his anger. However, he soon realized that what was truly provoking his ire was yet to come.

Xie Yun suddenly leaped into the air, using his lightness skill to glide two feet forward. With a swift motion, he struck out a palm, sweeping aside a black-clad figure from the North Dipper. Taking advantage of the cover of the trees in the mountains, he spiraled around the ancient tree like a butterfly, swiftly circling to the other side and striking down towards Chu Tianquan's head. Chu Tianquan let out a low shout and raised his hands to block, but unexpectedly, Xie Yun merely feigned a move, his figure flashing as he landed behind him, aiming a strike at the back of Chu Tianquan's heart.

Although Chu Tianquan lacked self-esteem, he had a temper and angrily said: "What audacity! Since you insist on seeking death..."

Little did anyone know that Zhou Fei's blade suddenly accelerated in an instant, changing its trajectory out of thin air, grazing the fingertips of Chu Tianquan. The tip of the blade approached the space between Chu Tianquan's eyes like a venomous snake ready to strike—this was the entangling silk of Ji Yuncheng

Without the constraints of the Heavenly Gate Lock, Xie Yun and Chu Tianquan need not be distracted by Zhou Fei. When the two engaged in combat once more, they coincidentally abandoned their previous intense and tumultuous style, captivating the audience. If one disregards positions and differentiates between good and evil, this battle could be considered one of the most spectacular contests in nearly twenty years.

How astute is Chu Tianquan, who immediately reacted. Zhao Mingchen is also someone who can be deceived; he dares to deceive even King Kang. What kind of background must he have in the south

Taking advantage of the two middle-aged men engaging in a subtle battle of wits, Zhou Fei quietly stepped back half a pace, using Xie Yun as a shield. She discreetly retrieved the nine keys from her sleeve and began to work on the lock without drawing attention. Chu Tianquan was not the weakened Mu Xiaoqiao; although it was merely a fleeting glance, Zhou Fei could tell that his martial arts were superior to those of Gu Tianxuan and Lu Yaoguang, making it impossible for Xie Yun to handle him with just one hand.

Then, Chu Tianquan suddenly extended two fingers, skillfully pinching towards the blade of Wangchun Mountain.

Zhao Mingchen said hesitantly: "Third brother"

Zhao Mingchen, in a dazed manner, took off his sword and handed it over

In recent years, Chu Tianquan has often been at the North Emperor Palace, rarely leaving the old capital. At first, he did not discern the identities of Xie Yun and Zhou Fei. Although he was speaking to Zhao Mingchen, his attention remained focused on Xie Yun, this unknown expert. Hearing Xie Yun rudely interrupt Zhao Mingchen, Chu Tianquan's assessment of him became even more cautious. He cast a meaningful glance at Xie Yun and said: "When people in the martial world cause trouble, it is truly unacceptable. It seems that His Highness Prince Kang's current situation is not very safe either. The young prince, being of noble birth, would not fare well if these ruffians were to cause him harm. Since we have met by chance, I suggest that we travel together for the time being. Once we reach a safe place, I can send a few reliable individuals to escort you back to Jinling."

Zhao Mingchen was in a state of turmoil, yet he still straightened his back, striving to uphold the dignity of the Zhao royal family. He parted the guards and stepped forward, coldly addressing Chu Tianquan: "Three years ago, we established a border between the North and the South, agreeing not to invade each other. Yet today, Lord Chu has openly entered Yongzhou, seizing and plundering, killing my people. Are you intending to start a war?"

Xie Yun interjected from the side, saying: "In that case, please feel free, Master Chu, to leave this place of disputes as soon as possible, to avoid bringing disaster upon yourself and causing our sovereign to lose such a capable aide as you."

The mountain roads of Yongzhou are winding, and the dense forests are intricate. Once he slips into the depths of the forest, even the Celestial Hound would be unable to track his whereabouts.

At this point, his voice suddenly came to an abrupt halt, and Zhou Fei looked at him in confusion, her entire being stiffening as she stood there motionless.

On that day in the inn of Yongzhou City, He Cong immediately noticed that Xie Yun was "deeply poisoned and had little time left." However, Xie Yun was accustomed to enduring pain and had never expressed anything. He always believed that crying out loudly for the world to know was of no use, as it would only make everyone uncomfortable. In terms of alleviating symptoms, it was far less effective than the travelogue that Li Sheng generously lent him.

Xie Yun revealed a barely perceptible smile on his face

It was only then that Chu Tianquan understood why Xie Yun had suddenly led him into the forest

Zhou Fei tossed aside the broken sword and said, "An unknown pawn, not worth mentioning"

Suddenly, she felt a weight on her shoulder. Zhou Fei quickly turned around, and Xie Yun was pressing on her shoulder: "Help... help me a bit..."

Zhou Fei was stunned, still unable to believe that Chu Tianquan could die from snake venom in the blink of an eye...! ... This is too absurd!

Zhou Fei regarded the entire forest as a vast mayfly formation, using stones, trees, and the eunuch Chu as her foundation. As she moved into position, she simultaneously divided and eliminated the black-clad men of Chu Tianquan. She and Xie Yun did not exchange a single glance, yet this time they surprisingly exhibited a considerable degree of tacit understanding

Xie Yun's pale lips flashed with a hint of blood; he gently pressed his lips together, drawing back the thin thread of blood, and spoke with barely moving lips: "Be careful"

Xie Yun coughed softly a few times beside him, moved his finally liberated right hand, breathed a mouthful of cold air into his palm, and said: "One sword is not enough for her to cause trouble; leave her a few more, and then you may leave."

In that fleeting moment, within Zhou Fei's heart, her already self-contained system of the Broken Snow Blade's Nine Styles suddenly collapsed, devolving into a mere dry technique. She had no choice but to force herself to regain her focus from this unprecedented confrontation, concentrating all her energy on the Heavenly Gate Lock. With only two keys remaining, every time she aimed to align one with the lock, Chu Tianquan would shamelessly and despicably create an opening for Xie Yun, simultaneously executing a "surrounding Wei to rescue Zhao" towards her direction. Xie Yun could not afford to sacrifice Zhou Fei, so he could only defend, which would inevitably hinder the Heavenly Gate Lock and interrupt Zhou Fei's attempt to unlock it. Thus, the three of them found themselves in a bizarre stalemate.

Zhou Fei hurriedly lowered her head and tightened her grip on a somewhat worn Miao knife in her hand

Chu Tianquan was the first to encounter the large troop emerging, initially thinking it was the ambush set by that little brat Zhao Mingchen, which took him by surprise. However, the next moment, he was startled by the commotion caused by Xie Yun and Zhou Fei in the waterside pavilion as they joined forces to sweep away the hidden troops in the water.

The mastery of cloud manipulation is profound and ethereal, while Chu Tianquan can be regarded as a rare talent of the ages

Unfortunately, Xie Yun bore an additional layer of translucent blue.

Zhou Fei spent the time of two incense sticks without opening a single lock, and instead, she had to ask Xie Yun to protect her in a restrained manner. In her life, when had she ever felt so helpless? The anger within her grew stronger, and she unexpectedly burned away the brief confusion and chaos she had just experienced, suddenly throwing down the heavenly gate lock and shouting: "Get out of the way!"

Chu Tianquan revealed a look of realization on his face: "I wondered who this divine being was, it turns out to be the Cloud-Pushing Palm."

Zhou Fei was completely convinced. Whatever Xie Yun spoke of, good things had never come to pass, while bad things had never been wrong. She tugged at the heavenly door lock in her hand, looked up at the darkening sky, and asked: "Is it your bad luck that is powerful, or is it the Northern Dipper that is formidable?"

Chutian Quan smiled and said: "It is not a trouble at all. Everyone here has some injuries, and if we truly encounter a tough opponent, wouldn't we suffer losses?"

Before his words had finished, the black-clad individuals behind him surged forward in a well-trained manner

The almanac roughly states that today is not suitable for moving locks, as doing so may result in them becoming inoperable