Chapter 9

Ji Yao Hua smiled lightly, her right hand gently brushed, unlocking the acupuncture point on the back of the young Marquis's heart. She deftly returned the carved jade dagger to his waist and swiftly retreated to a distance of over ten feet before the young Marquis could raise his hand to move.

Ji Yaoguang turned her gaze to Ma Yunlong

Xiao Wenhou turned around to look at her

Throughout history, the disciples of Wushan have been exceptionally talented and gifted individuals. However, while they are capable of defeating others in the world, they are unable to conquer their own vanity and narrow-minded competitive spirit. The rivals that the disciples of Wushan find most displeasing and are most resentful of are those fellow disciples who can compete with them.

An ordinary iron rod, in the hands of Shi Qingquan, moves with the speed of a galloping horse, seemingly even surpassing the Qitian Staff in the hands of Shi Tou, not to mention that he is situated within the chaotic stone formation he has personally arranged

The questions posed by Shi Qingquan and the responses from Ji Yaohua were indeed astonishing, as if the heavens had been shattered.

But now he is completely disillusioned

With the addition of the stone, Ji Yao Hua has already turned the tide of defeat

Ji Yaoguang then smiled and said, "In fact, I am not afraid of what you might do to me, because the hypnotic suggestion I have placed is not limited to that one whistle, and I am not the only one who knows about it"

Thus, the internal strife within Wushan persists, and despite the presence of generations of exceptionally talented disciples, they have never been able to truly emerge from that corner of Wushan.

Shi Qingquan stared in astonishment as her graceful figure flew away, and after a long while, he muttered in a daze: "The person she mentioned, could it be that crazy girl Ji Shuangshuang? Back then, I simply couldn't be bothered to deal with that troublesome girl, and I had turned her away numerous times. I never expected that she would hold such a grudge, even sending her disciple to frame me after her death"

As he exerted all his strength to block Shi Qingquan, Ji Yaohua unexpectedly launched a surprise attack from behind, pressing her left palm against the vital point on his back, while her right hand slightly opened, resembling a gentle breeze. In an instant, she struck seven major acupoints on his back and then swiftly drew the carved jade dagger from his waist, aiming it at his lower back.

As for the grievances between her and Shi Qingquan...

Turning back, he saw that Ji Yaoguang had been captured by Shi Qingquan's disciple, Shi Tou, at some point. He secretly breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he had this kid in his grasp, he was not worried that Ji Yaohua would not bow her head in defeat and obediently hand over that Taihu stone.

Ji Yaoguang gasped for a moment before saying: "I merely tried the hypnosis technique that I had just learned on him. " He glanced at the young marquis with a teasing look and continued: "If it weren't for that day when the young marquis defeated that foolish boy outside Tongbai Mountain Villa, leaving him exhausted and in a daze all night with weakened will, how could I have had the opportunity to take advantage of the situation? I should really thank the young marquis for this."

Shi Qingquan was taken aback. Had Ji Yaohua gone too far in her demands?

He is somewhat skeptical that, apart from Shi Qingquan, there is another person who can handle an ordinary stone with such skill.

Xiao Wenhou was the first to awaken, and he galloped over on horseback, with Ma Yulong closely following behind.

Xiao Wenhou, in a moment of realization, understood the reason behind it. Although he was filled with concerns, he couldn't help but smile slightly and said, "The ancients spoke of playing the lute to a cow, but this is the first time I've heard of playing the lute to a stone. No wonder that lady Ji Shuangshuang holds a grudge."

How many years has it been since he last looked at a woman so carefully

To the astonishment of Xiao Wenhou and almost everyone else, Shi Qingquan was oblivious to Ji Yaohua's astonishing beauty, merely noting that she was the only woman among the group, undoubtedly the person he was looking for. He then strode directly towards Ji Yaohua, scrutinizing her from head to toe, unable to conceal the disdain in his tone: "What is your ulterior motive, you inexplicable woman, in deceiving others like this?"

Shi Qingquan turned to look at the unusually expressioned Young Lord Wen. Even someone as dull and indifferent to worldly matters as he was could guess the feelings in his heart at this moment. Shi Qingquan felt a surge of warmth in his heart, patted his shoulder firmly, and said in a low voice: "Hold on, Young Lord. Grit your teeth and get through this. There are plenty of good women in the world for you to choose from! Just watch how I teach this wild fox a lesson and relieve your pent-up frustration!"

Xiao Wenhou's entire body trembled

Upon seeing him being restrained, Shi Qingquan instinctively took a step forward, but quickly regained his composure and said through gritted teeth, "What exactly do you want?"

Shi Qingquan's fury compelled him to strike mercilessly with his staff against Shi Tou's left calf. However, Shi Tou's lower body technique was quite solid; he swayed slightly but quickly steadied himself, countering with a staff to deflect the large stone that Shi Qingquan had hurled towards Ji Yaohua.

Birds accustomed to flitting about in the tumultuous winds, frequent storms, and the flashes of lightning and rumble of thunder in the Wuxia Gorge must be no different

Ji Yao Hua smiled: "I am the Goddess Peak. My esteemed teacher, Ji Shuangshuang."

It is evident that Shi Qingquan does not think so; he snorted coldly and said, "With a sister like you, that brat is already unfortunate enough. There is no need for anyone else to deal with him; he will eventually meet his end."

In the dim twilight, the people at the foot of the mountain have already lit torches, awaiting the arrival of Shi Qingquan and his two companions.

Xiao Wenhou anxiously watched this scene, then turned to Ji Yaoguang and said: "What exactly do you want in order to restore the stone's rationality?"

As he whistled sharply again, the stone stopped in confusion, hesitated for a moment, and then hurried back with large strides

Ji Yao Hua chuckled lightly: "If I truly had such thoughts, would I be foolish enough to turn Xiao Wen Hou into an enemy? Whatever I desire, I have my reasons for it, which you people could never comprehend. I only ask you, will you give it or not?"

This seems to be beyond even the control of the young Marquis Wen

No one expected that Ji Yao Hua would dare to threaten Young Lord Wen in front of everyone, leaving everyone momentarily stunned in silence.

That seemingly weak young man always makes them feel that he cannot be ignored for some reason

Ji Yaohua gazed at him and slowly said: "Mr. Shi, you have known Young Master Wen for less than two hours. I wonder if this brief acquaintance holds enough weight for you to exchange the martial arts techniques of Sacred Spring Peak for Young Master Wen himself"

Shi Qingquan pressed further, asking: "So you mean to say that all these matters were orchestrated by you to frame me?"

Ji Yao Hua's eyes sparkled as she smiled and replied, "Those two people are actually one person. As long as we find a skilled practitioner of hidden weapons who is adept at using locust stones and boomerangs, and let me and Yao Guang offer some guidance, it would be more than sufficient to impersonate Mr. Shi in front of someone who has never faced him before."

Shi Qingquan's face flushed red and then purple. He had not been this angry in many years. The woman before him, with her charming smile, truly had the ability to infuriate him. He felt a tightness in his chest, and suddenly let out a roar, swinging a stick down towards the culprit standing in front of him

However, as the rubble became denser and more chaotic, the space left for Ji Yaohua to maneuver was already very limited

Ji Yao Hua's expression suddenly became one of playful laughter, her eyes sparkling as she gently said: "Since you have already given me this, Mr. Shi wouldn't mind lending me the stone for three years, would he? After three years, I will return it to you without a scratch."

Ji Yaohua raised her hand to the sky, her expression solemn, and declared in a loud voice: "I swear by the spirits of the disciples of the Divine Maiden Peak throughout the ages that I will never pass on the sacred techniques of the Sacred Spring Peak to anyone other than the disciples of the Sacred Spring Peak"

He stared in astonishment at the young marquis.

Ji Yao Hua smiled without speaking

Shi Qingquan, filled with rage, laughed bitterly: "Good, good, good strategy! With such means and such intentions to frame me, there are probably not many in the world. Among the Twelve Peaks of Wushan, which peak are you?"

Miss Ji Yao smiled gently: "It seems that Mr. Shi is not angry because someone has framed you, but rather because someone has deceived the Young Marquis. I did not expect that Mr. Shi, having only met the Young Marquis today, would break his usual indifference and show such concern for him."

Ji Yaoguang gasped in pain, and Xiao Wenhou realized that he could not speak, prompting his subordinates to relax slightly.

Her words seem to have implicitly confirmed Shi Qingquan's speculation

With a sweep of her long sleeves, Ji Yao Hua wrapped around the long staff, also dissipating the chilling sound of the wind stirred by the staff's tip

Ji Yaoguang raised an eyebrow: "As a younger brother, how can one stand by and watch when one's sister's life is in danger?"

Ji Yao's smile deepened: "I merely find you displeasing. Why is it that for all these years, while others have fought to the death, you remain carefree? I simply cannot accept it!"

Ji Yao Hua's figure danced among the chaotic stones and shadows of sticks, as light and agile as a flying swallow

Ma Yunlong could not help but say, "The thief who broke into the restricted area to steal the Taihu stone is quite skilled in using stones as hidden weapons. The thief that the young lord encountered also employed the same technique. Could it be that those two individuals were also arranged by you?"

Ji Yaohua's gaze was as clear as the azure sky, and after a moment of hesitation, Shi Qingquan said with a sense of generosity: "Since you have promised not to disclose it, what harm is there in giving it to you!"

Ji Yaohua let out a soft sigh: "Mr. Shi, someone once told me that your heart is as cold and hard as a stubborn stone. Aside from stones, nothing else, regardless of its nature, can capture your attention. Thus, you named your only disciple 'Shitou' to remind yourself not to forget that you have such a disciple to care for. If that person knew that in just two short hours, Xiao Wenhou shattered your stubborn stone, I wonder what she would think in her heart"

In his view, it is likely that the exceptionally intelligent and well-read Ji Yaoguang is the one behind the design of this entire conspiracy

Shi Qingquan noticed that Xiao Wenhou's expression had brightened considerably and couldn't help but laugh heartily, saying: "Women are all such incomprehensible beings; there's no need to pay them any mind. I suppose the young lord must feel the same way now, right?"

Shi Qingquan's expression changed dramatically: "I don't believe you would dare to harm Young Master Wen!"

However, they were still a step too late

What left almost everyone dumbfounded was that after the stone rushed into the pile of rocks, when the Qitian Staff was swung, it unexpectedly blocked the strike from Shi Qingquan aimed at Ji Yaohua.

Ji Yaoguang suddenly pursed her lips and whistled sharply

A slight tug was felt in Xiao Wenhou's heart

Ma Yunlong and others also experienced a change in complexion.

Xiao Wenhou firmly grasped Ji Yaoguang's left shoulder and said, "What tricks have you played to make those two master and apprentice turn against each other?"

The sharp whistle from Ji Yaoguang caused Shitou, who was standing beside him, to tremble all over. After a brief hesitation, he disregarded Ji Yaoguang, turned the Qitian Staff upside down, and strode towards the rocky formation.

Shi Qingquan stared at her for a long time before saying, "You seek martial arts techniques; do you intend to dominate not only the Wushan Sect but even the entire martial arts world?"

Ma Yunlong immediately said: "I will follow all the orders of the young lord!"

Ji Yao Hua let out a gentle sigh and said, "Young Marquis, I know that even if you, as a person of high status, do not hold grudges against the petty, your friends will not let this matter rest. I will be waiting for your esteemed presence in Wushan. However, there is one thing I hope the Young Marquis can forgive. Please do not make things difficult for Yao Guang. Since childhood, Yao Guang has been devoted to his studies, and with his intelligence, he could have had a bright future no matter which path he chose. Yet, he has been hindered by me and is unable to move forward, which fills me with deep guilt. Therefore, if anything happens to Yao Guang, I truly do not know what I might do next."

Xiao Wenhou felt an extremely bitter taste rising up, and his heart was filled with a chilling coldness

Shi Qingquan hesitated, unable to make a decision.

Ji Yao Hua waited quietly for his response

Shi Qingquan gazed up at the sky, reminiscing about the vague image of a woman from his memories. After a long while, he shook his head at himself, furrowing his brow as he fixed his gaze on Ji Yaohua and said: "What the hell, that wild girl Ji Shuangshuang actually managed to teach you, a nine-tailed fox-like disciple! For many years, Shengquan Peak and Shennv Peak have had no dealings with each other, and there are no grievances to speak of. What kind of madness has possessed you, woman, to go to such lengths to find me?"

The people around retreated, and in an instant, only Shi Qingquan, Ji Yaohua, and Xiao Wenhou remained by the stone formation.

Ji Yao Hua smiled slightly: "Unless absolutely necessary, I certainly do not wish to harm him, after all, I do not want to be enemies with the world. However, if I want to do something, perhaps no one would notice? Your precious disciple is just an example, isn't he? Hmm, let me think, what should I do? For instance, make him never want to touch that carved jade dagger again, or even forget about you entirely."

The guards of the Hou residence surged forward, surrounding the young Marquis Wen as he retreated to the outskirts of the stone formation.

Ma Yunlong murmured: "It turns out that the rumors of the disciples of Wushan being enemies with each other are indeed true"

Xiao Wenhou said without hesitation: "Alright, I will go stop Shi Qingquan"

Shi Qingquan gazed at her for a long time and finally said: "I hope I am not mistaken about you. A person like you does not care about being hated by the world, but will absolutely not tolerate being looked down upon for breaking a promise. I agree to all your demands! Now, can you release the person?"

At the moment when Xiao Wenhou was about to speak, a sudden numbness struck his back.

Shi Qingquan gazed into her eyes

Even when he discovered that Ji Yaohua had deceived him, he still harbored a faint hope in his heart, believing that perhaps Ji Yaohua had her own reasons for acting this way

Shi Qingquan swung a stick at Ji Yaohua, but it was pressed down by a long spear.

Xiao Wenhou gritted his teeth, urged his horse forward, and as he approached the chaotic rock formation, he leaped into the air, merging his dual halberds into a single Fangtian long halberd, diving down towards Shi Qingquan with the force of a thousand pounds

He pointed to the people standing aside, who were hindered by the presence of Xiao Wenhou and could not approach, yet were visibly anxious and restless, saying: "Even those Jin people are trouble you brought to me?"

Ma Yunlong suddenly realized that he had overlooked one thing, which was Ji Yaoguang