Chapter 25 025[VIP]

No one expected someone to strike again today.

Clearly, the turmoil caused by Tang Ling hadn't yet subsided, and no one should have resorted to such an act, testing the prowess of the Misty Heaven Alliance's experts again. Yet, someone did just that!

Sang Xiao'e's background made it easy for her to enter the Misty Heaven Alliance under such circumstances. But when those two sword beams slashed down, most of the Misty Heaven Alliance members were incapable of intercepting them. The

only one capable of responding was Bai Choufei himself!

Bai Choufei's brow trembled, and he hastily retreated.

When Fang Juxia and his wife, Sang Xiao'e, returned to Beijing, he and Wang Xiaoshi were on a business trip under orders from Shi Qingruo. He had never seen Sang Xiao'e before, but he already had a suspicion. Now, when he faintly heard the words "Madam Sang" shouted from the crowd, he immediately guessed her identity.

He realized that even if he could block that sword move, he couldn't.

"What do you mean, Madam Sang?"

Bai Chou flew like a white crane, dodging the sword's blows sideways. His fingers flicked with sword energy, designed for defense, not offense. However, Sang Xiao'e's uncanny swordplay severed half his sleeve, and a

look of anger immediately crossed his face. Amidst the clanging of sword strikes, Bai Chou roared, "You are a disciple of the Three Ordinary and Four Wonderful Sects, and backed by the Tianyu Sword Sect. You shouldn't be bullying the Mi Tian Alliance!"

"So what?" Sang Xiao'e responded with a resounding voice.

How could she not know that her coming directly to their door today was not only an act of elder bullying the younger, but also a direct provocation against the Mi Tian Alliance. But she had been pampered by her elders since childhood, and after entering the martial arts world, she met Fang Geyin, a young prodigy. Following him on his journey to suppress evil sects, she was naturally quick to avenge her enemies without regard for their own interests.

The Changkong Gang murders had remained unsolved for a long time, and with the deaths of family members and elders, revenge was unwavering.

Now that she had heard the news about the most suspicious person from Fang Yingkan, how could she retreat even a single step?

Hearing Bai Choufei's question, she didn't stop her swords, but slashed down with even greater ferocity, using the "Pointing to the Sky" sword, the opening move from Tianyu's Twenty-Four Uncanny Swords.

The next moment, this sword move transformed into a golden-red rising sun, aiming straight for Bai Choufei's throat.

Bai Choufei cursed inwardly, leaping up and tapping his fingers with a force like lingering rain and mist, trying to contain Sang Xiao'e's sword moves.

But the blazing sun pierced through the sky unhindered, the two swords swishing past Bai Choufei's cheeks.

Had Bai Choufei been even slightly slower to dodge, the two swords would have pierced his head.

These were all lethal moves.

If Bai Choufei tried to hide his abilities again, he would be dead!

He quickly scanned the area, seeing no sign of Wang Xiaoshi, and a bitter taste in his mouth lingered.

Yes, Wang Xiaoshi had previously stated that he had learned from the Tianyi Lay Buddhist Xu Xiaoyi. So, in terms of the Zizai Sect's lineage, he and the Four Great Constables were half-fellows, with Zhuge Shenhou being his uncle.

Now, Wang Xiaoshi wanted to establish a firm foothold in Bianjing City, and he wanted to invite his uncle to witness the ceremony.

While this didn't mean the Shenhou Mansion was demarcating a position, it clearly held significant significance for Wang Xiaoshi.

He had gone to fetch someone, so why would he be here?

If Wang Xiaoshi were still around, he could have helped Bai Choufei block the attack.

Now...

his only advantage was that he had guessed Sang Xiaoe's reason for coming, allowing him to better conceal the moves he'd learned from the Changkong Divine Finger.

By not using his full strength, he could have considered it a sign of respect for his "elders."

Bai Choufei's mind raced, his attention inevitably momentarily distracted. He sensed the cold, charged flash of Sang Xiao'e's sword bearing down upon him, a chilling sensation that sent a shudder through his throat.

He gritted his teeth and leaped, thrusting his finger into the

air. It was the "Jingzhe" technique from his "Jingshen Finger." A sudden surge of energy shot down, meeting not Sang Xiao'e, the sword-wielding warrior, but a thrown dagger.

Amidst the clash of metal, the hand that should have held the sword gathered its strength, and the Sky Divine Finger darted towards Bai Choufei's vital point!

Sang Xiao'e, though a sword-wielder, possessed unwavering precision in her Sky Divine Finger.

Decades of mastery were unparalleled.

In that split second, Bai Choufei took a desperate risk and leaped forward. One of his finger blasts suddenly pierced his shoulder, sending a spray of blood flying. His "Great Cold" finger wind was already bearing down on Sang Xiao'e's face.

However, he dared to risk his life in a desperate attempt to break the impasse. Sang Xiao'e, filled with indignation, was too intimidated to shy away.

A sudden burst of sword energy, so intense it was hard to tell whether it emanated from the remaining dagger or from her fingertips, coalesced into a single, lightning-like streak.

Bai Choufei's pupils shrank.

He twisted mid-air, launching himself diagonally five feet with exceptional skill.

If he had seized the opportunity, he might have had a chance to seize one of Sang Xiao'e's energizing hands.

But the sharp light swung so suddenly, there was no escape.

He had to…

"Puff!"

A mouthful of blood splattered across his cheek.

Sang Xiao'e's energy was interrupted, a blow that backfired like a blow. The palm strike sent her flying several feet, and she spat out a mouthful of blood.

A fierce palm strike appeared silently, intercepting Bai Choufei's counterattack just as he was about to unleash his energy, striking Sang Xiao'e before him.

The body that had launched the palm strike suddenly placed itself between Bai Choufei and Sang Xiao'e.

"Seventh Master," Bai Choufei exclaimed in shock.

He had completely unexpectedly been struck by Guan Qi's usual indifference to matters and people, as if Shi Qingruo was the only one who could communicate with him normally, and who would actually stand before him.

"Take care of the madam," Guan Qi declared coldly, leaping several steps and grasping the dagger thrown by Sang Xiao'e.

The sword, capable of slicing through metal and jade, landed in Guan Qi's hands. With a soft chime, it was steered towards the second, identical sword.

Sang Xiao'e hastily drew back her sword to defend herself, but struggled to steady herself mid-air.

The clashing sword force swept her back, sending her flying again.

Sang Xiao'e's eyes widened in disbelief as the dagger in her hand seemed coated with autumn frost, then shattered inch by inch.

However, Guan Qi's seemingly effortless strike, before its remaining force had dissipated, struck her squarely in the heart.

When Fang Geyin and Fang Yingkan arrived, they saw Sang Xiao'e plummeting from the sky like a kite with a broken string.

"Stop!" Fang Geyin roared in anger.

He unsheathed his golden-red sword, pointing it directly at Guan Qi.

The sword's light, initially a mere inch in diameter, suddenly transformed into a raging wave, weaving its way between Guan Qi and Sang Xiao'e.

Guan Qi's expression remained frozen, seemingly stirred only by the terrifying sword energy, the two wisps of white hair at his temples. He

met Fang Geyin's "Heaven-shattering Stone" attack head-on with the sword move he hadn't used to his full potential before!

The surging sword energy startled the Martial Arts practitioners near the edge of the arena, causing them to retreat in panic.

Only one figure leaped forward.

"Foster mother," Fang Yingkan caught Sang Xiao'e's falling form, then retreated several steps before finally landing on the ground.

Sang Xiao'e spat out another mouthful of blood, but her injuries were not serious. She was able to break free from Fang Yingkan's support and stand on her own.

She glanced worriedly at Fang Geyin's position. Seeing that the golden-red sword in his hand was as powerful as ever, and that he had fought Guan Qi to a draw, she breathed a sigh of relief.

But then she looked again, and she felt anger welling up in her heart.

Bai Choufei, who was about to reveal his weakness, had retreated, relying on Guan Qi to block him, and even retreated to the side of the Holy Lord's wife of the Misty Heaven Alliance.

Sang Xiao'e had not yet received a result, so how could she tolerate such a scene?

In her opinion, Bai Choufei hadn't agreed to Guan Qi's request to protect the Holy Lord's wife. Instead, he'd chosen the safest place for himself within the Misty Heaven Alliance.

However, before Sang Xiao'e could raise another attack, she was met with a loud question: "Madam Sang, Bai Choufei's previous questioning was useless. I'll ask again—"

"How did the Misty Heaven Alliance offend this virtuous couple that they chose today to disrupt their relationship? May I ask, is this the proper etiquette of Hero Fang and Madam Sang?"

Shi Qingruo glanced at the two engaged in battle, and was reassured to see that Fang Geyin's Heavenly Feather Sword was truly astonishing, his inner strength far surpassing that of ordinary men, placing his swordsmanship on a different level. However, Guan Qi, who was fighting him, had also reached a level unimaginable to ordinary martial artists, and had actually withstood his attacks with his instinctive, innate sword energy.

Compared to the two at the center of the battle, it was the others who truly needed to worry about their safety.

This also gave Shi Qingruo time to question. "Madam Sang, please give me an answer."

Before Sang Xiao'e could even begin to reply, Fang Yingkan, braving a surge of fear, spoke before her: "My stepmother isn't being unreasonable. Madam Saint, why don't you ask Bai Choufei beside you why he changed his name from Bai Yicheng to his current one? Why did he steal the Changkong Gang's peerless martial art, the Changkong Divine Finger, and transform it into the Jingshen Finger? And why did he disregard Gang Leader Mei's training and slaughter everyone in the Changkong Gang?"

Fang Yingkan's words sent the entire crowd into an uproar.

If Fang Yingkan's words were true, then Bai Choufei was nothing short of a treacherous, murderous beast. Then, Sang Xiao'e's sudden attack couldn't be considered a fault at all, but rather a vindictive act fueled by righteous indignation.

Shi Qingruo's eyes suddenly sharpened. "May I ask, Young Marquis Fang, do you have any evidence to support your claims? If I remember correctly, this isn't the first time Young Marquis Fang has come to our Mi Tian Alliance. If so, you should have spoken up sooner rather than later to prevent the escapee from escaping. Since joining the Mi Tian Alliance, I, Shi Qingruo, have been responsible for coordinating and establishing the rules. If such a scum were to appear within the organization, we would certainly not tolerate

it. Why would you choose to bring shame upon our Mi Tian Alliance by vandalizing it?" "If you can't provide reliable evidence to support your provocative actions today, you are an enemy of our Mi Tian Alliance. Even the Shentong Marquisate and the Tianyu Sword Sect must abide by this rule!"

Shi Qingruo's words were powerful.

Her beauty was already stunning, and today, dressed in a crimson dress, she looked even more like a blazing, blazing fire.

Cheers erupted from the Mi Tian Alliance members below.

"Madam is right!"

"If Young Marquis Fang wishes to hold someone accountable, have someone produce evidence."

"..."

Fang Yingkan scowled. "Bai Choufei wiped out the Changkong Gang precisely to eliminate the evidence, but his martial arts are the best evidence. Liang He, who was with him, had assisted him in the Changkong massacre and is also a witness."

Bai Choufei had already recovered from the situation when Guan Qi and Shi Qingruo took over, and now, facing Fang Yingkan's questioning, he showed no sign of panic.

Instead, as everyone turned their gazes on him, he suddenly sighed. "Young Marquis Fang, martial arts techniques all have some similarities. Miss Huang, who's staying with my Misty Heaven Alliance, is from Peach Blossom Island in the East China Sea. Her finger-snapping technique is similar to my Shocking Spirit Finger. As for who Liang He is, I don't know. If Young Marquis Fang truly believes he's involved in the Changkong Gang massacre, why didn't he confront him?"

Bai Choufei sneered inwardly.

Ever since he confirmed to Wen Xue'an that Fang Yingkan was probing him, Liang He had been sentenced to death.

It was true that he, Liang He, and Wen Xue'an were all accomplices in the Hubei tragedy, and he was more willing to "trust" someone who shared the same secret. He had previously decided that if he could gain power within the Misty Heaven Alliance, he would establish his own team, with Liang He as its leader.

However, all of this presupposed his own safety was protected!

If the secret leaked, the root of the problem would be eradicated.

Fearing alerting the enemy, Fang Yingkan didn't dare to take Liang He away directly, which was his biggest mistake. Bai Choufei had already taken advantage of the Misty Heaven Alliance's mixed bag and had Liang He murdered and mutilated his body.

Consequently, Fang Yingkan had no way of locating his hostage.

Although Bai Choufei didn't expect Fang Yingkan to attack so quickly, he was quick to retaliate: "These two doubts are completely unfounded. It's just that Young Marquis Fang wanted to frame us because I discovered his dirty business in the suburbs of Beijing and the Holy Lord's wife rescued the suffering woman in your garden of rare and exotic animals!"

Fang Yingkan raised his sword and shouted angrily: "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"Why are you angry, Young Marquis?" Bai Choufei said slowly, "You know the good things you have done. In order to place someone in the Zhizheng Palace and to cover up for you in the future, you had someone framed you, resulting in Li Huangfang's tragic death and Li Wenhua being demoted to slavery. Since then, the bureaucrats in Beijing have covered up for you and lent money in the suburbs of Beijing. Isn't that a fact?"

"If Brother Luo hadn't happened to be passing by and rescued the Qiao family, I'm afraid you, Young Marquis Fang, would have murdered the entire family again." Fang Yingkan's

face darkened. "What Brother Luo?"

His question caused Sang Xiao'e's brows to furrow.

If Fang Yingkan hadn't done these things, he wouldn't have been asking about Brother Luo, but about Li Wenhua, Li Huangfang, and the Qiao family.

But before Sang Xiao'e could figure it out, a voice from the crowd responded, "The Brother Luo he's talking about is me."

Fang Yingkan looked and suddenly saw a black screen.

A nondescript young man in the crowd suddenly opened his eyes.

When he closed his eyes, pretending to sleep, his small stature made him look unremarkable.

But the moment he opened his eyes, a terrifying sword aura surged around him, and a name suddenly popped into Fang Yingkan's mind:

the Seven Absolute Swords.

He was Luo Shui, the junior apprentice of the Seven Absolute Swords!

Such a person can be regarded as a leader among the top masters in the martial arts world, and he has no connection with any forces in the capital. As a witness, he is much more reliable than "Liang He", who Fang Yingkan only mentioned by name.

However, Fang Yingkan had learned from Mi Youqiao that Fu Zongshu had been trying to win over the Seven Absolute Swordsmen over the past two years, hoping to have them serve him in his mansion, and he might have succeeded.

Luo Shuishui's presence here couldn't simply be a reaction to injustice; it could only be Fu Zongshu's orders.

Fang Yingkan had no time to consider whether Fu Zongshu couldn't stand his outward flattery while secretly gathering experts, or whether he didn't want to see another unknown force enter Bianjing after the fall of the Six and a Half Hall. He quickly replied, "This matter has nothing to do with me. Don't digress. We're clearly talking about Bai Choufei."

He stepped forward and said, "Whether this is a personal vendetta, I beg you to demonstrate your Three Finger Sky-Filling Technique and you'll see."

Bai Choufei sneered and replied bluntly, "Young Marquis Fang, do you really think this is your Shentong Marquisate's territory?"

With Guan Qi providing the most effective shield, Shi Qingruo arguing, and Luo Shuishui, sent by Wen Xue'an, as a witness against Fang Yingkan, Bai Choufei felt incredibly confident.

He wasn't wrong either. Sang Xiao'e, who had previously been calling for war and killing, now hinted at hesitation and doubt.

Only Fang Geyin and Guan Qi were locked in a fierce battle. This wasn't because Fang Geyin was desperate to avenge his wife's injuries, but because Guan Qi, the martial arts fanatic, had finally met a worthy opponent, and with his fighting spirit high, he was holding Fang Geyin's hands and feet.

He felt even more dignified: "If Young Marquis Fang thinks I'm talking nonsense, why not take me to court?"

What did he mean by court? With Fang Geyin here, if all the trouble Fang Yingkan had caused was exposed, his case wouldn't be the first to be dealt with.

But what he received first wasn't Fang Yingkan's response, but a cold, thunderous snort: "We need to see who you are first."

Bai Choufei raised his eyes, his pupils suddenly trembling.

The weather wasn't particularly good to begin with, the thin sunlight largely obscured by clouds.

The clash between Fang Geyin and Guan Qi over there added to the whirlwind of sand and rocks.

And now... a fierce wind suddenly struck them.

Bai Choufei tried to retreat, but the approaching force was far faster than he had imagined.

He could barely make out a pair of bright blue eyes before he saw a gust of wind sweep down from a staff.

If Sang Xiao'e's previous sword moves had been merely aggressive, this one was filled with ferocity.

Bai Choufei had never seen such a bizarre staff before.

Not only was it longer than an ordinary staff, but one end was also significantly thinner than the other. As it swung, the tapering tip emitted a chilling, sharp sound, like the roar of a lion and the roar of a dragon.

Even more astonishing, Bai Choufei's repeated finger strikes seemed to disappear into a haze, leaving only the undiminished wind of the staff, carrying a deadly force.

Damn it!

Enveloped by the swirling dragons and serpents, the threat of imminent death forced Bai Choufei to instinctively send a finger skyward, attempting to block the downward thrust of the staff.

Simultaneously, a stream of sword energy pierced through the air, meeting Mi Youqiao's upward thrust.

A staff to the sky!

Bai Choufei gritted his teeth, watching as the sword energy emanating from Luo Shuishui also vanished like a drop of water. He no longer cared about his appearance. Several fingers flashed with cold light, and he used the momentum to retreat quickly, rolling to the ground and avoiding the cudgel wind that smashed into the stands.

This desperate burst of sword energy not only revived Bai Choufei's injuries, which had not yet fully healed, but also left him no time to consider whether he was using the Sky Divine Finger or his modified Shocking Divine Finger.

The hissing cudgel wind also drew blood from his ears and nose.

No, there was more blood.

The stands were shattered by the cudgel wind, and the splinters of wood swept across his cheek, leaving blood streaks.

Bai Choufei had no time to wipe them away.

In this life-or-death situation, he had no time to pay attention.

What frightened him even more was that at this critical moment, he heard a cry of surprise, "It's him!"

It was him.

Sang Xiao'e stared at the direction where the fight suddenly broke out, and her attention, which had been distracted to her adopted son, was pulled back in an instant.

She didn't know why Mi Youqiao, a master of the Imperial Palace, would suddenly seek justice and attack Bai Choufei.

But she knew that Mi Youqiao's stick to the sky was indeed worthy of the full cultivation of Huaiyin Zhang Hou for this disciple, and there was no room for any disguise or escape.

Bai Choufei couldn't hide and was exposed.

The finger technique he used to counter Mi Cangqiong's stick was not a martial art he created at all. It was the Changkong Divine Finger, and it could only be the Changkong Divine Finger!

Then he was naturally the real culprit of the Changkong Gang's massacre.

Boundless rage surged within her once again. Seeing Bai Choufei's predicament, Sang Xiao'e, unconcerned with her own injuries, charged directly at him.

Supporting Sang Xiao'e's action was the fact that, at the same moment Mi Youqiao arrived, the forces of the Marquis of Shentong and Fang Geyin had already arrived too late, charging into the Mi Tian Alliance's base.

"Seventh Brother!" Shi Qingruo steadied herself, brushing away the hand that Su Mengzhen had used to pull her off the stage. Her face was filled with worry, and she even considered taking a few steps toward the center of the storm.

Had Su Mengzhen, who was already below the stage, not restrained her, everyone in the Mi Tian Alliance would have witnessed the Saint Lord's wife attempting to force her way into the middle with her modest martial arts skills.

"You're crazy! Mi Youqiao's earlier blow wasn't just aimed at Bai Choufei."

"But..." Shi Qingruo frowned.

Guan Qi clearly couldn't understand what Sang Xiao'e meant by "it's you." He could only understand that a stranger had suddenly appeared, ready to attack one of his members.

As the Holy Leader of the Mi Tian Alliance, how could he tolerate such a challenge?

From the outside, it seemed that the moment Sang Xiao'e said "it's him," Guan Qi had reversed his technique, using his feet instead of his hands to push back Fang Geyin and attack Mi Youqiao's back.

Fang Geyin, the great hero, had initially been reluctant to engage Guan Qi, but upon hearing Sang Xiao'e's resolute judgment, he immediately gave chase.

It should have been Mi Youqiao and Sang Xiao'e teaming up to attack Bai Choufei, while Guan Qi and Fang Geyin continued their sparring.

But Shi Qingruo clearly saw that the moment Guan Qi turned around, two others also changed their direction of attack.

Luo Shuishui, the Seven Absolute Sword, attacked Guan Qi with his legs instead of his sword.

Wen Xue'an had told him that if Fang Yingkan couldn't be convicted of his crimes, he would have to eliminate another major threat for the Prime Minister: Guan Qi, the most unruly member of the Mitian Alliance.

Mi Youqiao's staff swept across with a swift force, and his counterattack was equally astonishing!

He didn't like exposing himself to the public, which was why he and Fang Yingkan had reached an agreement to join forces. But if Fang Yingkan got into trouble, all his efforts would be wasted.

So he had no choice but to take action.

Rather than immediately executing the outspoken Bai Choufei, it would be wiser to eliminate Guan Qi at this opportune moment.

Without Guan Qi, the Mi Tian Alliance was like a tiger without its claws.

Now that he had taken action, he had to… maximize his profits!

Fang Yingkan shared this sentiment.

He had already secretly cheered Mi Youqiao on when he made his move. Now that he saw his adoptive father had confirmed the facts and was intent on killing Bai Choufei, he knew he had to capture Guan Qi. Without hesitation, he drew his sword and charged forward, his blood-red movements reminiscent of both spear and swordplay.

His target—the sworn enemy Guan Qi.

With the exception of Sang Xiao'e, who clearly aimed for Bai Choufei, the others were all targeting Guan Qi!

Unfortunately, the Mi Tian Alliance was struggling to muster support for Guan Qi.

With Fang Geyin and Fang Yingkan's men intruding, Yan Hefa had to quickly organize his forces to expel them. As the highly respected Grand Saint Lord of the Misty Heaven Alliance, he also had to evacuate the Martial Arts practitioners present.

Zhu Xiaoyao wanted to come to support, but as soon as she made a move, she was stopped by one of Fang Geyin's disciples.

Three or four Saint Lords were not in the capital, leaving only Bai Choufei and Wang Xiaoshi.

But when Shi Qingruo turned to search the crowd for Wang Xiaoshi's whereabouts, she saw him standing with Zhuge Shenhou. The massive hand resting on Wang Xiaoshi's shoulder, renowned in the capital for its stunning spear strike, now held immense power, forcing Wang Xiaoshi to stand still, unable to move an inch.

"...It seems the Shenhou Mansion doesn't want to get involved in this matter." "

So even his own nephew is being held back by him."

"That's right. Wang Xiaoshi isn't yet considered the Saint Lord of the Misty Heaven Alliance. Even if he stands by and watches today, with the Shenhou Mansion backing him up, no one dares to criticize him."

But if he didn't intervene, Guan Qi would be in trouble.

Bai Choufei no longer held back. Facing Sang Xiao'e's increasingly murderous sword moves, he could only fight with all his might.

Sang Xiao'e had long since abandoned the sword in favor of her fingers, and the two sides engaged in a finger-based duel.

Anyone with even the slightest understanding of martial arts could discern the intricate connection between the two finger techniques, which meant...

Fang Yingkan's accusations against Bai Choufei were not without merit.

This suspicion deterred even those present who could have infiltrated the center of the fray from engaging in any rash action.

Guan Qi, however, had to face the onslaught of four experts alone, including peerless masters like Fang Geyin and Mi Youqiao.

Shi Qingruo's face strained.

The subjugation of the Golden Wind and Drizzle Tower's men had given her inner energy, allowing her to barely discern the clash at the center of the turmoil.

Mi Youqiao's strange long staff seemed to suddenly increase in length as it swung, wrapping around Guan Qi like a venomous snake.

Guan Qi's eyes widened in anger, and with a roar, the long staff froze from its nimble state as if struck by electricity.

Yet, at the same instant, a gust of wind far more terrifying than the staff itself descended from Mi Youqiao's raised finger, slashing through the air.

It was as if that finger itself was the true force—a cudgel to the heavens!

In the instant the cudgel struck Fang Geyin's head, his form faltered, as if about to take flight. The golden-red sword in his hand unleashed a powerful blow.

It's said that a sword strikes a song, but now, amidst a resounding cry, the golden-red sword curved like a longbow, swung backhanded, and sang a tragic, life-threatening melody.

The Twenty-Four Wonderful Swords of Heavenly Feather, a bow bent to shoot down the sun!

Mixed in with these two moves, like the sun rising in the sky, the swords of Luo Shuiyi and Fang Yingkan seemed insignificant, yet in the realm of the martial arts world, they were truly among the finest.

Everyone knows that even a single flake of snow under heavy pressure can become a weight that breaks branches.

"Master Su!" Shi Qingruo spoke hastily, grabbing Su Mengzhen's wrist.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Su Mengzhen suppressed her expression, trying not to let the familiar feeling overwhelm her again. She also had to remember that, despite the unexpected events of today, she could still proceed according to Shi Qingruo's instructions.

"I'll have someone investigate Bai Choufei's case thoroughly later, and I'll give you all an explanation. If he's truly the culprit behind the murders of the Changkong Gang, I'll definitely hand him over to the authorities. Zhuge Shenhou is here, and he won't tolerate his crimes, but—"

She pointed at the youthful face, her expression stern. "That party is certainly guilty of evil, but they've also joined forces with Imperial Palace masters, martial arts masters, and his capable adoptive father to take advantage of the situation and attack my seventh brother. How can that be a manly act?"

"Master Su, please help me capture this man and stop this fight!"

Su Mengzhen didn't have time to hesitate, and besides, this wasn't something she needed to hesitate about.

Just as Guan Qi, using his fingers as swords, instinctively launched a powerful blow towards the sky, only to be blocked by Fang Geyin's "One Qi Piercing the Sun and the Moon," Su Mengzhen quickly responded, "I'll help you."

Fang Yingkan suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

It wasn't an illusion.

With his adoptive father charging ahead and Mi Youqiao's impressive attack, he faced no direct pressure from Guan Qi and was practically safe.

Suddenly, a burst of intense color swept from behind.

It wasn't Guan Qi returning his attack, but

Su Mengzhen's Red Sleeve Blade.

Fang Ying misjudged it and quickly retreated, fearing that being stained by the red would cost him his life.

Watching from the sidelines, Fang Ying knew the power of this seemingly gentle blade.

While the Red Sleeve Blade clearly held no murderous aura, he used the Eternal Blue Sky Feather technique, passed down by his adoptive father, to swipe several feet away, narrowly avoiding the blade's edge.

He slapped forward several times, finally pushing him a distance further.

Unexpectedly, under the gloomy sky, the blade, like a blade inlaid with crimson glass, curved in a startling arc, heading straight for Fang Yingkan.

"Master Su, what are you doing..."

Fang Yingkan shouted angrily, but the swift and fierce swordplay kept him from asking the full question.

The flash of the sword was like a dream, but it wasn't a beautiful dream!

He could never understand how someone with Su Mengzhen's physique could wield such a sword. But facing an attack that only showed the shadow, not the blade itself, Fang Yingkan had no time to question or ponder.

In the process of retreating several steps, he was inevitably separated from the battle group.

His peripheral vision flashed, and he saw another cold light coming towards him.

This was also an attack he had never expected.

It was a short-handled scimitar, held in Shi Qingruo's hand, pointed at his throat. It was as if he was relying on Su Mengzhen's help to capture him as a hostage.

Seeing this scene, Fang Yingkan didn't even need to ask Su Mengzhen's intentions. He just felt angry and amused.

"Master's wife is so brave!"

He possessed a remarkable talent for martial arts. Though he had rarely engaged in combat since arriving in Bianjing, the martial arts community was perceptive and would have heard of his training with his adoptive father at the Tianyu Sword Sect.

He was unable to defeat Su Mengzhen for a moment, and could be considered at a disadvantage. However, this did not mean that even a martial artist as skilled as Shi Qingruo could pose a threat to him.

Seeing Shi Qingruo's blade approaching, Fang Yingkan's gaze shifted, and he immediately turned away from meeting Su Mengzhen's attack, instead targeting the Holy Master's wife of the Misty Heaven Alliance.

She wanted to capture him so that her adoptive father and mother would stop.

So, why couldn't Fang Yingkan take the Master's wife hostage?

Regardless of whether Guan Qi would surrender to their will,

Fang Yingkan suddenly smiled a slyly.

He could see that Su Mengzhen was overly concerned about the Master's wife!

So, why not kill two birds with one stone?

"Ding—"

the crimson blade flashing from behind sent a chill through his bones. But just before Fang Yingkan's back could be struck, the Blood River Divine Sword in Fang Yingkan's hand reached Shi Qingruo.

However, the moment the swords clashed, Fang Yingkan was startled.

The Blood River Divine Sword was a rare divine weapon. As the heirloom of the Blood River Sect, even his adoptive father's golden-red sword wasn't necessarily stronger, its only advantage being its flexibility, making it more suited to the Heavenly Feather Sword Technique.

Yet, even such a sword, when it collided with the short knife in Shi Qingruo's hand, failed to gain the upper hand.

Though a flush of blood swelled across Shi Qingruo's cheeks, the clash of swords was a match made in heaven.

"...Did you lend her the Acacia Blade?" Zhuge Shenhou asked, his perceptive gaze unwavering.

Wang Xiaoshi scratched his hair and replied, "Yes."

His magical sword, meant to retain the enemy, was composed of the Acacia Blade and the Soul-Stirring Sword. Normally, the

Acacia Blade, serving as the hilt, was rarely used, but now it appeared in Shi Qingruo's hands. It was precisely the Acacia Blade's toughness and sharpness that prevented her from falling into an initial disadvantage.

Meanwhile, during the exchange between Zhuge Shenhou and Wang Xiaoshi, the situation on the field shifted dramatically.

Fang Yingkan, worthy of being Fang Geyin's disciple, hadn't given up on his all-out attack against Shi Qingruo even after his initial strike failed.

But his speed was so great that Shi Qingruo, daring enough to advance, couldn't be slow.

She launched a flurry of palm strikes, dodging Fang Yingkan's attempts to snatch the sword and striking the ring beneath them.

A resounding bang rang out, and it was unclear where Shi Qingruo's strikes had landed.

Fang Yingkan suddenly felt his feet go empty, and the ring suddenly crumbled, sending him plummeting.

He should have leaped straight up, but the Red Sleeve Blade approaching from behind made the most appropriate option, at this moment, a direct fall, a reversal of his plan.

Even though the crumbling wooden planks and the curtain above him briefly obscured his vision, it clearly didn't affect his movements.

In the darkness, he keenly heard the sound of a mechanical bearing closing.

Recalling the previous lesson from Lei Sun, and coupled with his preconceived goal, Fang Yingkan lunged almost without hesitation in the direction of the sound.

Su Mengzhen leaped down in pursuit, only to be followed by the Red Sleeve Blade's momentum.

The greater threat lay in front of him, the Peacock Feather!

At this crucial moment, Fang Yingkan even forgot about the fight on the other side, calmly calculating the distance between the two sides—or rather, three sides.

Confirming he could defeat the hidden weapon before the Red Sleeve Blade, Fang Yingkan's face involuntarily brightened with joy.

The hidden weapons piercing the air failed to capture his nimble form, instead acting as obstacles to his own attack.

Even the Red Sleeves' blade seemed to be stalled.

Or was it him—

he…

Fang Yingkan's movements froze on the spot.

The smugness on his face slowly faded, giving way to a look of disbelief and astonishment.

A short knife, held in Shi Qingruo's hand, had already stabbed into his chest from behind.

He couldn't understand why, amidst the mighty rain of Red Sleeves' blades, a completely silent and invisible blade energy suddenly emerged, as if emanating from the same source.

Only its speed was a fraction faster than the Red Sleeves'.

Like a predator waiting for Fang Yingkan to pass by her, it then delivered this astonishing blow, piercing his body with a strange internal force that froze him in place.

But… but this wasn't right!

Fang Yingkan's eyes widened.

If Shi Qingruo was behind him, then who was in front of him?

Thinking of the strange aura of the wife of the Saint Leader of the Misty Heaven Alliance, he was clearly following that faint fragrance!

The crackling wooden planks above him finally broke completely, crashing to the ground as he froze in his tracks, bringing the sunlight back to him.

He looked forward and saw someone he hadn't expected.

"You..." "

I underestimated you!" Fang Geyin exclaimed, turning back.

The commotion over there had nearly landed him under Guan Qi's palm strike. He'd only managed to dodge briefly, but the sight of him nearly landed him in another blow.

Fang Yingkan's gaze was fixed on the person before him, and Fang Geyin was taken aback.

Wait, he... he seemed to have seen that person before.

When he had just declined the Emperor's offer to allow Fang Yingkan to go to the capital to attend the Conferred Divine Marquisate, he and Sang Xiao'e hadn't entered Bianjing. Instead, they had selected several maids in the suburbs to care for Fang Yingkan.

One of them was the woman Fang Yingkan had seen.

But now, she was completely different from before.

It wasn't just because, when daylight returned to that end, her eyes were still hazy and lifeless, completely unable to see anything. Nor was it because her complexion had lost its former vibrant radiance. It was because the golden tube in her hand was gripped by ten fingers forged from fine iron.

She "gazed" at Fang Yingkan's position, her expression a mixture of sorrow and laughter, even a hint of indescribable madness.

It was this expression that made it impossible for Fang Geyin to move, as if he had no right to stop her.

All he could hear was the woman's loud laughter, "Young Marquis Fang, you cut off my ten fingers that day. Now, I'm seeking retribution."

— using the opportunity Madam Master had granted her.

The previous move might have missed, but this one definitely wouldn't!

She had to kill Fang Yingkan!

With a flick of her fingers, the peacock feather's brilliant light suddenly burst forth before Fang Yingkan's eyes.

Before Fang Yingkan could recover, a cold flash within the brilliant light, like an arrow, pierced his head.

He couldn't avoid it.

...

The Blood River Sword clattered to the ground with a clang.