Chapter 227 Trapped in a Desperate Situation! Li Xian Rises Up (Please Subscribe)

Wen Caishang hesitated for a moment before saying, "Enter the city."

Li Xian drove the carriage onto the main road, and after traveling for seven or eight li, he saw a towering city wall. Several zhang high, a plaque read "Grey Cloud City".

This place is still within the "Yunan Road·Huashui Mansion".

The city was bustling with activity, its high-rise buildings standing tall. Night had fallen, and the lights were dim.

The inn was clean and tidy.

When Li Xian was preparing to check in, he discovered that he had run out of money and only had a few taels of loose silver left. He thought to himself, "Traveling in the martial world is really expensive. I've only been traveling for a few days and I've already burned through more than ten taels of silver."

"We need to ask the lady for it; there are money shops in this city. Getting some money will make our journey much easier."

Wen Caishang's face was gloomy, as if she had something on her mind. She tried to speak several times, but hesitated to utter a sound.

Living as a guest.

Wen Caishang possessed a vast Qi Lake. She was exceptionally talented and skilled in martial arts, having mastered numerous techniques. Over time, the amount of Qi in her Qi Lake far surpassed that of others. However, due to the entanglement with the Qi-Eating Gu, her internal Qi had been reduced by twenty percent.

Qi and strength complement each other.

When the Qi Lake is empty, one often feels physically weak and lacks energy. Wen Caishang, having traveled by boat and carriage, already felt quite exhausted. It was mid-to-late February; although winter had passed and spring had arrived, the lingering cold still remained.

A slight chill seeped into her heart. Wen Caishang sat cross-legged, her brows furrowed, pondering a solution:

“In this situation, getting angry is useless. My internal energy is exhausted and will be difficult to recover. This Qi-eating Gu is not insurmountable, but I do not have the means to resolve it at the moment.”

"Furthermore, my internal energy is depleted, and my injuries are bound to worsen. Those five major sects set up an ambush to kill me near the Dragon Appreciation Banquet. This shows that they don't know the location of Yihe Manor. I must escape their ambush while also keeping my purpose a secret."

"Otherwise, they might take the lead and occupy my estate. Without my treasure to help, it will be very troublesome."

"I'll walk along the city now, kill a few more groups of people as a deterrent. Then I'll hide myself and avoid their sharp edge. I, Wen Caishang, have never been so pathetic since I started studying. To plot the theft of the land has brought me such misfortune; it's truly not just empty talk."

After clearing my thoughts, my mind calmed down a bit.

Suddenly there was a knock at the door: "Madam, there's a bowl of hot soup here, would you like to try some?"

Wen Caishang frowned slightly, gazing at the reflection on the door. "Although I know Li Xian's background and his temperament, he has never truly fallen into dire straits in his life. How can we speculate about his true thoughts? This matter must be kept from him."

He sat up straight and said, "Bring me the hot soup."

Li Xian brought in the hot soup. Wen Caishang nodded slightly, signaling Li Xian to leave. Li Xian wanted to bring up the matter of "silver," but found it difficult to speak, so he immediately left the room.

Wen Caishang sat cross-legged in the room, the window slightly open, feeling a chill all around her and suddenly feeling extremely lonely.

Throughout her life, she had many admirers and loyal followers... but no one ever truly entered her heart. She had previously been intimate with Li Xian, even developing slight feelings for him, but these were mostly just her admiring possessions.

Although there are feelings and desires, they are by no means irreplaceable.

Having suffered a setback in his strength and been imprisoned, a sense of estrangement began to creep in. Schemes and calculations surfaced in his mind. Now, in this perilous situation, he felt truly helpless. This feeling was even more pronounced.

Li Xian already sensed something and guessed that the lady must be facing a great problem and had something important to hide from him.

After a moment, he smiled with relief, thinking to himself, "My relationship with you is like that of the Jiang-sinking sword to me. I admire the sword's sharpness, but if it breaks when it's used, I won't be saddened."

"I owe my wife a debt of gratitude, but I have no regrets about my feelings for her."

"Very well, I had expected this journey to be fraught with difficulties. Let's proceed and see what happens."

Li Xian was an open-minded person. He went back to his room to practice martial arts for half an hour to improve his skills, and then went to bed to rest and recharge.

The next day.

Li Xian opened the window and observed the surroundings. He exclaimed in surprise, "How strange! Today, no one is surrounding us, and they are all cursing 'witch' and 'beast'." The "witch" was a curse directed at Wen Caishang, and the "beast" was a curse directed at Li Xian.

The wind and waves are calm.

Knowing his situation was precarious, Li Xian, being a magnanimous person, decided to make the best of it since he was already there.

Seeing nothing amiss, they ordered two bowls of hot porridge and some pickled vegetables and dried tofu to experience the local customs and culture. After eating and drinking their fill, the streets were already full of pedestrians.

There is a lot of coming and going, it is very lively.

Li Xian lamented, "We were chased along the way, and every time we arrived in a city, we only scratched the surface. After staying at an inn for one night, we left immediately. We missed out on so much of the scenery in those places."

After preparing the carriage, Li Xian went upstairs to call Wen Caishang. When she opened the door, she saw a hint of fatigue in Wen Caishang's eyes, as if she hadn't slept at all last night.

Li Xian asked, "Madam, did you not rest well last night?"

Wen Caishang stared at her, her gaze slightly cold, and said, "Don't ask any more questions." She then boarded the carriage.

Looking inward, she saw that her Qi Lake had decreased by another 20%. This momentum was becoming increasingly difficult to control and seemed to be accelerating. Wen Caishang rubbed her brow bone, suppressing her fatigue, and said softly, "Little Immortal, go."

Li Xian, holding the reins, let out a shout and drove towards the south gate.

Take the main road; the waterways here are convenient, and the area is bustling with activity. Several cities are connected, and after traveling about several dozen miles outside the city, the outline of a large city can be faintly seen again.

Whenever Li Xian saw the vast expanse of the world, he couldn't help but feel a sense of longing. But seeing Wen Caishang's worries, he couldn't help but be affected by her, and his heart sank slightly.

That evening.

As the sun sets, the outline of the city gradually becomes clear.

Li Xian propped himself up on a straw mat and gazed at the magnificent city gate. Suddenly, he frowned and saw four figures standing high on the city gate. He stared intently at them and thought to himself, "It's those four heroes of Taixin again. They were defeated by the madam last time and fled in a sorry state. How come they've come back to kill us so quickly?"

Li Xian informed Wen Caishang. Wen Caishang frowned, her eyes flashing coldly, and her palms slightly sweaty.

When they were still several miles away.

The tiger-like figure shouted, "That vixen, we meet again!" Though they were far apart, his voice echoed across the surrounding area.

Wen Caishang's eyes flashed with murderous intent. She lifted the carriage curtain and said, channeling her inner energy, "I spared the lives of four of you last time, yet you come here seeking death again. Do you think I'm easy to talk to?"

The snake-man stood on the python's head, its chin severed, making it a terrifying sight. His throat bobbed, and he said in a hoarse voice, "If we don't kill you today, we have no intention of leaving alive!"

The tiger, deer, python, and dog, driven by their reputations, were already prepared to die. Wen Caishang, sensing her inner energy dissipating, didn't want to waste any more words and energy. She angrily said, "Fine, then die!"

She used her light-footed skill to leap up gracefully, thinking about her current situation. She was injured, her internal energy was depleted, and she was in a bad state. Although she had many powerful martial arts skills, she could not use them.

The White Snake Sword was drawn from its sleeve.

His gaze swept across the area and settled on the deer on the city wall. Knowing that the deer was the most intelligent of the Four Heroes of Taixin, he immediately launched a killing blow, intending to take the deer's life first.

The deer's eyes held a deep sorrow. Though he managed to dodge the deadly sword strike, Wen Caishang's subsequent blows would surely take his life. He thought to himself, "My four brothers have suffered terribly at the hands of this poisonous woman. Your boast of injuring you before was indeed true. But today… as the eldest brother, I must prove you right!"

Facing the deadly sword, he neither dodged nor evaded, but instead met it head-on. At the same time, he shrugged his shoulders, using his sleeves to strike from the open spaces on both sides.

Trading death for injury!

Although Wen Caishang had much experience in combat, she wasn't entirely calm at this moment. She didn't want this deer-like creature to risk its life to injure her. She said coldly, "So, you think you can touch my sleeve like this?"

With a light flick of the left palm, a profound power was revealed. This is the "Palm Strike the Universe" move from the "Universe Hand" technique.

He caught both sleeves and sent them out to the left and right. He struck the tiger and dog warriors who were attacking him. They were caught off guard and hit in the chest with the sleeves. With a "crack", their chests dented and they spurted out blood. They were seriously injured.

The deer-like figure's pupils nearly burst, overwhelmed by despair. His desperate attack was easily neutralized. Wen Caishang seized the opportunity to thrust her sword out, piercing the deer's heart meridian. With a slight flick of her wrist, a burst of Qi energy erupted, instantly killing him.

Martial artists engage in combat, their hearts filled with murderous intent.

The killer moves are often simple and unrelated.

Wen Caishang was in dire straits and had to conserve her internal energy, relying entirely on basic martial arts techniques to cope, but she controlled the rhythm and intentionally restrained her opponent. Although her opponent possessed considerable strength, he was unable to fully utilize it and was extremely frustrated.

Seeing that the two interceptions were progressing in the same way.

Numerous preparations and plans, yet not a single one has been put to use. The remaining three, filled with despair, lamented in unison, "This woman is so formidable, who can possibly subdue her?"

Wen Caishang's sword flashed and intertwined, her figure hazy, as if shrouded in a phantom, stirring up old memories.

This is the "Dream-Stirring Sword." This sword aims to draw upon one's own thoughts, striking from the fragments of the past. Its swordsmanship transcends the framework of moves, making it unpredictable and extremely powerful.

Originally, it was a "love sword" technique, imbued with tender emotions, inspiring sorrow in the sword's strokes. However, Wen Caishang was currently devoid of such emotions, contradicting the essence of the swordplay. Yet, possessing extraordinary talent, she managed to master the technique, making its execution entirely contrary to its original intent.

Transforming into a series of flashing sword strikes, the sword moves with incredible speed, its dazzling light stirring up the opponent's emotions and past memories.

When the python saw Wen Caishang's graceful figure, he was momentarily dazzled. He recalled his pursuit of her when he was young, and a bitter feeling welled up in his heart.

Suddenly regaining his senses, he recalled years of hatred, his blood boiled, and he thrust out with both arms, his inner energy surging wildly, like a roaring python. This was the ultimate form of "Python's Tail Whip," his arms suddenly becoming several times stronger, resembling a snake's body.

Wen Caishang snorted coldly, sheathed her sword, raised her palm, and gently struck with her "Bone-Melting Palm." The three palms met, and the python-like creature was instantly covered in blood, its aura weakened, and its bones gradually dissolved.

Of the four outstanding men of Taixin, only two remain.

The tiger and the dog had dents in their chests, both wounded, yet they still couldn't find Wen Caishang's clothes. The tiger laughed bitterly, "What a Wen Caishang, what a broken sword lady! My four brothers and I are going to die by your hand."

Wen Caishang frowned, suddenly feeling her internal energy draining more rapidly. She thought, "Those Qi-eating Gu are causing trouble. I need to finish them off quickly!" and slashed with her sword.

The tiger rider was already in despair, but the strange tiger beneath him seemed to possess a spirit and leaped to dodge. Wen Caishang's swordsmanship was superb; how could a mere monstrous beast evade her? However, her internal energy was scattered, her mind was agitated, and her strength was diverted, causing her sword strikes to lose their chilling edge, and she was indeed evaded.

"not good!"

Wen Caishang calmed her mind and focused her energy, but she sensed that the Qi-eating Gu was unusually active, frantically consuming her inner energy. In that instant, a few more succeeded. This was all because the battle earlier, with its surging Qi waves, had aroused the Gu worm's ferocity.

Suddenly, it felt half-cool.

Tiger was taken aback. Seeing the strange expression on Wen Caishang's face, he exclaimed with delight, "This woman's strength is weakening!"

Wen Caishang said coldly, "Even if only one in ten survives, I can still kill you!" She swung her sword, each strike weakened, but her martial arts prowess remained. Tiger continued to be injured one after another.

The dog-like creature suddenly attacked. The two joined forces and were unable to gain the upper hand against Wen Caishang.

Li Xian frowned: "Why has Madam's strength suddenly dropped so much? There have been countless powerful enemies blocking our way. Given Madam's current condition, she is in great danger. If I... if I leave, they will target Madam, and I may be able to use this opportunity to escape far away."

Li Xian knew that Wen Caishang had undergone countless tests throughout her life, and that true feelings were often masked by self-interest. But this moment, fraught with danger, was no mere pretense.

Tiger, his mouth full of blood, though severely wounded, still laughed loudly: "Hahaha, Wen Caishang... you're nothing special, nothing special at all! Your internal energy is draining away! Good! Excellent! I'll capture you alive and see how I humiliate you!"

Wen Caishang was already injured. She supported herself with her longsword, her Qi was almost empty, and she was running out of strength. She had been struck in the shoulder by Hu Zhe's palm, and her right leg had been hit by a hidden weapon, from which blood was flowing.

Wen Caishang's face turned pale, and she said coldly, "Shameless scoundrel, even if I am weak, killing you is still not difficult!" She unleashed three sword strikes in quick succession, which seemed extremely slow, but were actually incredibly powerful.

The tiger-like man couldn't grasp the crucial point. Relying on his remaining internal energy, he attempted to take the blow head-on. When he caught the first sword, his tiger's mouth trembled violently, and the joints of his hands dislocated. As the second sword thrust at him, his face filled with terror, he cried out, "My life is over!"

However, Wen Caishang's injuries aggravated her condition, causing her to cough up blood. Her first sword strike missed, piercing his lower abdomen but avoiding a fatal point. With her third strike, Wen Caishang overexerted herself, resulting in severe injury.

"Hahaha." Tiger laughed heartily, "Didn't manage to kill her, didn't manage to kill her. Lady Broken Sword...tsk tsk tsk, what a beautiful woman, to fall into my hands like this, wonderful, wonderful!"

"Tiger Brother," the dog-man staggered to his feet, "What should we do about her?"

The tiger said, “Such a beauty, it would be bad to break her arms and legs. I’ll enjoy her first, and then let my tiger and dog brothers have their turn.”

The dog-man, his hatred fully unleashed, exclaimed gleefully, "What a brilliant plan! What a brilliant plan!"

"You dare!" Wen Caishang said coldly.

She gritted her teeth, for she had truly exhausted all her tricks. Her white robes, once ethereal and graceful, were now stained with blood and mud, fallen to the mortal realm.

"How could I not dare?" the tiger-man cursed. "You venomous woman, do you think this place is over? Now that you're in my hands, let's see how I slowly torture you!"

Seeing that Wen Caishang was no longer the same as before, Li Xian was in a standoff with the three of them, each with their own feelings of triumph, relief, resentment, and anger, and no one paid any attention to him.

He took advantage of the chaos to hide, and seeing the current situation, he couldn't help but ponder:

"Madam Wen is imprisoned and there seems to be no way out. I cannot bear to leave her and let her suffer such a miserable end. Moreover, I have not yet repaid the debt of gratitude. By repaying it, I can leave with a clear conscience after my release!"

"Both of them are seriously injured and exhausted, so I have an opportunity to take advantage of them."

(P.S.: Li Xian has been lying low for a long time, and is finally starting to rise again. Please vote for me and subscribe!)

(End of this chapter)