Chapter 42 Under the moonlit sky, amidst wind and rain, a long street stained with blood…

"A bunch of idiots!"

Wuming cursed angrily at the few dazed, closed-eyed cultivators, then turned to look at the scholar reading in the pavilion.

In an instant, the man swung his sword, and a ruthless and frenzied red sword aura shot towards the pavilion!

A flash of light came, two streams of spiritual energy collided, and amidst the flashing blades, the double blades cut through the continuous drizzle, and the killing intent soared fiercely in the cold night!

Wuming laughed, "Young Master Zhang is also here to join in the fun?"

Their silver lights clashed, and the boy's eyes filled with a calm fighting spirit. "Enough nonsense—"

Amidst the wind and rain, Wuming unconsciously licked his lips, his eyes brimming with excitement. Cultivating the Great Dao meant he didn't care about bullying the weak. He had already trampled over countless corpses to become Wuming of this generation.

If we could use Young Master Zhang's blood to consecrate his sword, his path would surely reach an even higher level!

While they were pondering, Wuming and Zhang Xuan clashed with swords, flipping and turning, their killing intent rising as the rain and mist blurred their vision. They leaped into the air, swinging their blades, then thrusting their daggers, dodging danger in a split second, fighting again and retreating again!

They fought fiercely!

As one of the three masters of the Demon Suppression Pavilion, Wuming's strength and experience surpassed Zhang Xuan's.

Half a moment later, Zhang Xuan gripped the Blood Moon sword, and blood gradually flowed from his wrist. The drizzle blurred their vision. The boy's tiger's mouth trembled, but he refused to let go, fighting against Wuming's sword energy!

Lin Fanxiang held a peony flower. As a medical cultivator, she could only try her best not to disturb them in this battle situation. The girl avoided everyone and walked out of the Jianmu Platform step by step.

Outside the Jianmu Platform, cultivators were everywhere, all of them having had their tendons severed by Qingyu and unable to move.

Some cultivators also saw Lin Fanxiang and tried their best to get close to the girl, using their spiritual energy to control her.

When the spiritual energy touched Lin Fanxiang's surroundings, an ancient blue array suddenly appeared around the girl!

Countless spiritual energies emanated from the peony flower, gradually transforming into the spiritual source of the array. The intricate patterns swirled, instantly forming a complete protective barrier that safely protected the girl holding the flower.

Lin Fanxiang knew she had to be quick. The girl held the flowers, her eyes sweeping over Qing Yu, who was fighting a group of cultivators not far away, Qin Tianshu, who was flipping through a book inside the Jianmu Platform, and Zhang Xuan, who was fighting with Wuming.

It was all for her, Lin Fanxiang thought.

The girl's figure disappeared faster and faster until, at the end of the long street, Wen Chuan quickly appeared driving a carriage.

The horse was incredibly fast; almost the instant Wen Chuan and Lin Fanxiang's eyes met, Lin Fanxiang switched places with Wen Chuan.

The girl in white sat in the driver's seat, whipping the horse to start it, while the boy in blue robes instantly stepped into the battle on the long street. For a moment, the wind and rain were dark and the moonlight was gentle.

The battle gradually reached its climax.

Five or six Heavenly Realm cultivators surrounded Qingyu, all attacking the girl's vital points. The girl in red waved her umbrella to defend herself, and rain and flowers danced together, making it impossible to tell whose blood it was for a moment.

As the rain gradually fell and the moonlight faded, the woman, in a single leap and twist, was already fighting off the attacks of several people with the power of a demon!

The wind and rain soaked the girl's dress, and a flash of crimson light illuminated her eyes. Amidst the onslaught of spiritual energy, Qingyu turned and raised her white umbrella, forcing the girl to retreat repeatedly to avoid the attack.

Upon closer inspection, one could see blood seeping from the corner of the woman's mouth, and specks of red plum blossoms already adorned the plain umbrella in her hand!

"Leave this to me. Go and bring Zhang Xuan and the Heavenly Book out."

Almost instantly, the boy's warm hand appeared behind her. Qingyu stopped, and heard Wen Chuan's gentle and calm voice in her ear.

Qingyu twirled her umbrella in the back of her hand, the girl turned to face Wen Chuan, and a smile played on her lips amidst the blood-red light.

"good."

...

Inside Jianmu Terrace, Qin Tianshu flipped through the book in his hands faster and faster, as if the wind was eager to finish reading the moonlight of this night.

"Smack."

The soft sound of the book closing rang out. In the wind and rain, the scholar in blue robes finally stood up, while the several Heavenly Realm cultivators around him instantly collapsed to the ground—falling into a dark dream.

Not far away, Zhang Xuan was still fighting with Wuming when, in an instant, the girl in red flew over, and several sharp red petals silently stained a patch of silver light.

"Zhang Xuan, let's go!"

Accompanied by Qingyu's voice, the girl and Zhang Xuan gradually retreated outside the Jianmu Platform.

They retreated step by step, and Qin Tianshu was already waiting for them at the door. Not far away, Lin Fanxiang was driving towards them in a carriage. Wen Chuan had already dealt with all the cultivators on the long street.

An unexpected event occurred at that moment!

A chilling and terrifying sword intent rushed towards Lin Fanxiang. With just one strike, the cyan protective barrier instantly shattered into fragments!

"puff!"

Qingyu clutched her chest as the shattered spiritual energy from the broken formation surged wildly within her body!

What a powerful sword aura!

Without any hesitation, Qingyu lightly touched the ground as the rain fell, skimmed over the carriage shaft, and climbed straight onto the carriage.

The girl in red tilted her head and reached out her hand. As the white umbrella spun, one bright red flower after another bloomed on it. Despite being weathered by wind and rain, the crimson petals remained slender and curled, attracting attention.

The flower of the other shore is captivating, and her murderous intent is fully revealed.

On a rooftop not far away, a woman in black, wearing a mask and holding a long sword, exuded a chilling aura. Seeing this, she spoke to the young girl…

"The Demon Suppression Pavilion is ruthless."

Qing Yu laughed. The three leaders of the Demon Suppression Pavilion—Wuxin, Wuqing, and Wuming—had already seen two of them today.

The girl in red looked up. "Qishan, Qingyu."

The atmosphere became tense for a moment. Wuming was still fighting fiercely with Zhang Xuan when Wen Chuan raised his hand to help Zhang Xuan. Wuming's hand trembled and he lost his sword, spitting blood and collapsing to the ground in an instant!

Zhang Xuan clutched his chest and retreated to their side. Looking up at the standoff between Qing Yu and Wu Qing, the young man spoke weakly.

"What are they doing...?"

Qin Tianshu: "You've swapped names."

When the strong clash, life and death are determined by fate. To show respect, they exchange names, and the following year, the living send off the deceased with a cup of wine from their hometown.

Wen Chuan paused for a moment. Since Qing Yu wanted to fight, they couldn't interfere. Amidst the wind and rain, the young man spoke.

"Wait a minute, they'll be done soon."

It's not a friendly spar, and there's no fear of killing; the duel between the two will end quickly.

In the cold night, filled with murderous intent, Qingyu and Wuqing faced off. Almost simultaneously, their figures intertwined, one in black and one in red, and a vast spiritual energy spread out!

Zhang Xuan watched the two figures fighting in mid-air. The young man suppressed the surging spiritual energy in his chest and couldn't help but recall that day in the Ten Mile Orchid Forest, when Qing Yu was truly training his combat abilities.

Lin Fanxiang also got out of the car at this moment. Amidst the cries of the cultivators, she helped Zhang Xuan regulate his breathing.

Qin Tianshu was disgusted by the groans of the cultivators everywhere. The scholar snapped his fan shut, deciding to sleep as many as he could.

He approached Wen Chuan, fanning himself, and said, "Tell me, who will win?"

Wen Chuan glanced at him. Qin Tianshu had created a grand illusion using the Mid-Autumn Moonlight at Jianmu Platform, and now he was doing it again, making his face even paler.

Cultivators have better bodies than mortals. If their tendons are severed, as long as they are reconnected in time, there will be no major problems, only pain. Qin Tianshu's decision to have them "sleep" is actually for their own good.

He sighed softly, then turned his gaze back to Qingyu and Wuqing, who were locked in fierce combat in mid-air.

The boy's voice was calm, yet resolute, "Qingyu."

Half a quarter of an hour later.

The flowers of the other shore gathered on the green fishing umbrella at some unknown time, eventually turning into an ordinary wooden sword, still stained with specks of blood.

The girl held her sword to the neck of the woman in black, her voice soft.

"I have been in the human world for more than six years, and you are the one I have fought the most."

She gave a cold, indifferent laugh as blood gushed uncontrollably from all parts of her body. Her body was covered in wounds from Qingyu's Other Shore Flower Sword, but her black clothes remained indifferent, unwilling to be stained by the blood.

"I lost."

Qingyu smiled, the rain blurring their faces, flowing down to moisten the large and small wounds on their bodies, and revealing the murderous intent in their hearts.

The woman in black looked at Qingyu, and a different emotion finally appeared in her usually indifferent eyes. She smiled softly.

"Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival, the chrysanthemums in Gengsheng City must be blooming beautifully."

She hasn't been home for over a decade.

Qingyu drew his sword, and in an instant, blood spurted from the black-clad woman's neck.

Her blood splattered onto the girl's cheek, and in the flash of the sword, it was as if a cluster of beautiful chrysanthemums was blooming in the air.

It's so beautiful.

Ruthless slowly closed her eyes, and before losing consciousness, she heard the girl's voice for the last time.

“Rebirth City? Next year, I will be there to give you a bouquet of real chrysanthemums.”

Flowers from one's hometown are the best gift for those who have left.

...

"puff--"

Qingyu supported the carriage. The girl was dressed in red, but her whole body was already stained with dark red blood, both her own and others', even her face and eyes, which were filled with endless blood and weakness.

Inside and outside Jianmu Platform, dozens of cultivators lay sprawled on the ground, blood flowed down the long street, and rain gradually fell, while the moonlight remained unchanged.

Wen Chuan helped Qing Yu up. "Let's go."

Qin Tianshu nodded. The fight ended, and everyone had suffered injuries, some minor and some major.

Lin Fanxiang and Zhang Xuan walked towards them. The girl in white turned back one last time and looked up at the pavilion.

"Whoosh—"

A sword light flashed, and Zhang Xuan, holding Lin Fanxiang, turned around and took the blow head-on!

It was a fatal blow! He braced himself, wanting to deliver a fatal blow to the weakest of them all, Lin Fanxiang!

"puff!"

Zhang Xuan coughed up a mouthful of blood, and Lin Fanxiang was shocked for a moment. She tried to help the boy with trembling hands, but Zhang Xuan waved his hand and refused her help.

Lin Fanxiang stood there, watching Zhang Xuan walk forward.

Qingyu leaned on Wenchuan's shoulder. Seeing this scene, the girl forced a smile, which was somewhat helpless and bitter. Wenchuan patted her shoulder, and Qin Tianshu remained silent.

To be honest, Zhang Xuan has never killed a human or a demon.

The person he hurt the most with his knife was himself.

But today, as the young man watches the battle, he should understand that the Great Dao is ruthless, and true powerhouses are not afraid of death, much less of being killed.

On the windy and rainy street, Zhang Xuan, trembling, gripped his knife and walked towards Wuming.

The boy was covered in blood, rain soaked his eyes, and his killing intent was ever-present.

At this moment, Wuming finally felt fear. He staggered to his feet, about to swing his knife—

Zhang Xuan's previously slow and trembling steps suddenly quickened!

The young man was as swift as the wind; in an instant, his Blood Moon Blade fiercely and relentlessly pierced the man's chest!

A light rain fell, blood spurted wildly, and the boy's face was covered in blood.

Wuming's mouth hung open; he wanted to struggle, to speak, to breathe, but he saw Zhang Xuan grinning at him, a blood-red smile spreading across his face—a strange yet calm smile from the young man.

“The previous generation also died by this blade, so your death was not in vain.”

Sixteen years ago, a fire broke out at the Zhang family's residence. His mother risked her life to protect him, and his brother died in his place. Amidst the raging flames, his family forged a knife for him with their blood.

For sixteen years, his father showered him with wealth and love, hoping he would live a peaceful life. His father's silence was both a shackle on the young man and a scabbard for a sharp blade.

“My son, if you want to go out and make your way in the world, then go ahead.”

"Father is in Shengjing, at home."

"Come back when you're tired, Dad will be here."

Amidst wind, rain, and moonlight, the young man knelt and wept blood. From this day forward, he would truly walk his own path.