Chapter 70: Sword Edge Like Snow, Old Friend Becomes Blade

That day, Fang Duobing and Di Feisheng received a tip-off that Jiao Liqiao, armed with his newly acquired "sharp blade," was about to launch a surprise attack on a key branch of Baichuan Academy. The two of them quickly led their men to intercept this arrogant individual.

The courtyard of the branch was in shambles. Disciples of the Golden Mandarin Duck Alliance and the Myriad Saints surrounded a dark figure. Wherever they passed, the disciples of the Hundred Rivers Academy fell like grass, and no one could stop them for a moment.

Fang Duobing and Di Feisheng flew into the courtyard, just in time to meet the man in black who was putting away his sword and turning around.

Time seemed to freeze at that moment.

The anxiety and anger on Fang Duobing's face instantly froze, transforming into extreme shock and disbelief. His pupils suddenly constricted as he stared at the man—even though his white hair was glaring, his face was as pale as paper, and his eyes were terrifyingly empty...but the outline of his eyebrows, that figure...

"Li... Li Lianhua?!" Fang Duobing's voice trembled violently, almost roaring, filled with the ecstasy of finding a close friend and the great panic brought by the scene before him.

However, the black-robed figure—nameless—only raised his eyelids indifferently upon hearing the voice. His empty gaze swept over Fang Duobing, as if he were looking at a dead object, without a single ripple. Without even a moment's hesitation, he thrust his sword forward!

This sword's speed was so swift it defied all visual perception! The sword's energy wasn't simply chilling or overbearing, but rather a strange blend—it possessed the mellow, lingering quality of the "Yangzhou Slow" movement, yet laced with the devastating, all-destroying, and violent aura of the "Sad Wind White Poplar"! Two completely different internal forces were forcibly fused, multiplying their power!

"Be careful!" Di Feisheng shouted loudly, and his figure stood in front of Fang Duobing like a ghost. He slapped out with both palms, and Beifeng Baiyang's strong internal force exploded, and collided with the strange sword energy!

"boom--!"

The energies collided, creating a dull thud and shattering the stone slabs in the courtyard! Di Feisheng's body swayed slightly, dissipating the immense force. And behind him, Fang Duobing, though largely protected, was still struck in the chest by the aftermath of the sword energy!

"Puff—" Fang Duobing felt a sweet sensation in his throat, and a mouthful of blood spurted out uncontrollably. He stumbled back several steps, his face instantly pale. He clutched his chest, his eyes no longer filled with shock, but with overwhelming heartache and bewilderment.

"He...how could he..." Fang Duobing looked at the friend who had joked with him and shared life and death with him, but now he was waving a sword at him without mercy. He felt like his heart was being cut by a knife.

Di Feisheng blocked Wuming's next fatal move, his gaze like lightning, locking onto Wuming's empty, lifeless eyes. There was no hatred, no anger, not even a trace of the agility or cunning of "Li Lianhua", only a dead silence and indifference.

"He's not Li Lianhua!" Di Feisheng's voice was as cold as iron, filled with an extremely suppressed rage. "He's been controlled! His mind is gone!"

He could see clearly that Li Lianhua's soul seemed to have been sucked out of the body, leaving only a powerful and cold killing weapon controlled by Jiao Liqiao's evil magic!

At this moment, Jiaoli Qiaojiao's laughter came from behind: "Hey, isn't this the Flute Alliance Leader and Young Master Fang? What's going on? Seeing how powerful my new 'treasure' is, you feel sorry for your old friends?"

Upon hearing the voice, Wuming immediately put away his sword and obediently retreated to Jiao Liqiao's side. Like a puppet being pulled by strings, he stood with his eyes lowered, no longer reacting to anything around him.

Fang Duobing watched the scene, his nails digging deep into his palms, blood flowing without him noticing. Di Feisheng's body was filled with murderous intent. His gaze shifted from Jiao Liqiao's smug face to Li Lianhua's pale, numb face, and he uttered, word by word, between his teeth:

"Jiao Li Qiao! I will tear you into pieces!"

Jiao Liqiao's shrill laughter echoed through the blood-soaked courtyard, tinged with a sickly triumph. "Di Feisheng! You should thank me! If it weren't for my Rama Cauldron, Li Lianhua would have long been a pile of dry bones! Now, not only is his life safe, but his martial arts skills are even better than before—isn't this exactly what you've always dreamed of?"

Before she finished speaking, she had already quietly made hand gestures with her fingertips to activate the poisonous insect.

Standing quietly to the side, "Nameless" suddenly took on a fierce aura. His hollow eyes locked onto the sound of the flute. The longsword in his hand hummed, and his movements suddenly unleashed like a ghost! His sword moves were fierce and cunning, each one striking directly at the vital point. The blend of the lingering power of Yangzhou Man and the violent killing intent of Beifeng Baiyang created an extremely strange and powerful sense of oppression.

Di Feisheng was forced to accept the attack, his heart aching with scorching heat. He could clearly see that the person before him was undoubtedly Li Lianhua. Her features, her acrobatic skills, were unforgettable. But those eyes, devoid of their former warmth or sharpness, held only a deadly coldness.

How could he be so harsh on Li Lianhua?

As a result, Di Feisheng's response seemed limited and dangerous. He often used delicate footwork to evade attacks, or parried them with palm strikes. Between attack and defense, he always held back, fearing to injure his opponent in the slightest. His dark robe was repeatedly ripped by the sharp sword energy, and his arms were covered with bloodstains. However, he simply stared intently into Li Lianhua's eyes, trying to find the slightest trace of familiarity.

"Li Lianhua! Stop!" Di Feisheng launched a slashing blow and couldn't help but growl, his voice filled with suppressed pain, "Look at me! Look at who I am?!"

How he wished, even for just a moment, that his shadow could be reflected in those empty eyes, that there could be a flash of confusion or struggle.

However, in response, "Wuming" launched an even more swift attack! Li Lianhua (or rather, the power controlling him) seemed to be ignited by this question, sparking an even stronger killing intent. His sword's momentum suddenly shifted, seizing the slightest flaw left by Di Feisheng's agitation. Like a venomous snake emerging from its lair, he thrust his longsword forward without hesitation!

“Puff—”

The dull sound of a sharp blade piercing through flesh was so clear that it was heart-wrenching.

The long sword accurately pierced Di Feisheng's left shoulder, and the tip of the sword went through his body, leaving a trail of blood.

Time seemed to freeze again.

Di Feisheng paused, looking down at the longsword lodged in his shoulder. Then, slowly raising his eyes, he gazed in disbelief at the face so close. Li Lianhua's expression remained unchanged, as if the blade he had just pierced was merely a piece of dead wood. He didn't even draw his sword immediately, simply watching indifferently as blood quickly stained Di Feisheng's robes.

Severe pain exploded from my left shoulder, but what was far more piercing than the pain was the sudden desolate coldness in my heart.

"You..." Di Feisheng opened his mouth, but blood began to flow from the corners. The shock, pain, and the belief that supported him in his eyes were shattered by the sword.

Fang Duobing, watching from the side, was furious and shouted hoarsely, "Li Lianhua! Wake up! He is Di Feisheng!"

Jiao Liqiao's laughter grew louder. "Hahaha! Di Feisheng, did you see clearly? He's my 'Wuming' now, and he only obeys my orders! What does your life or death have to do with him?"

Li Lianhua (nameless) drew his sword expressionlessly, drawing more blood. Di Feisheng groaned and stumbled back a step, blood gushing from his wound, but he seemed to feel no pain. He simply stared at Li Lianhua intently, his always sharp and deep eyes now tinged with a grayness bordering on despair for the first time.