Chapter 295 Where do you get the confidence to kill me? (Seeking monthly votes)

Chen Yi was unwilling to pay attention to the martial arts practitioners in the city.

However, they would not lead these people to Puyin Temple.

Therefore, the moment he left the North Gate, he directly used the Martial Arts Step Intent to connect with the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to enhance the Meteor Butterfly Step.

It vanished into the horizon in an instant.

Many martial arts practitioners who wanted to follow him and see the excitement looked at each other, unconsciously swallowing hard.

"Such movement technique... I'm not seeing things, am I?"

"That's right."

"That 'Dragon Spear' technique is indeed a movement method that is easy to learn but difficult to master in martial arts—even though his cultivation is only at the middle third rank, his movement method at the great completion level is comparable to the best of the upper third rank."

"cocoa……"

"Don't say it out loud, or we'll all be envious."

While admiring the performance, many others, not wanting to miss out on the excitement, left the north gate and chased after Chen Yi in the direction he had previously departed.

"I just heard that the eldest daughter of the Marquis of Dingyuan's mansion was kidnapped by villains. The fact that the 'Dragon Spear' is out of the city now may be related to this matter."

Amidst the noise and chaos.

Shen Huatang also brought Xie Tingyun to Kangning Street. Upon hearing the news, they followed the martial arts practitioners without hesitation.

"Senior sister, if anything happens to the young lady, I...I...I will not let you go!"

"Junior sister, I didn't expect this either..."

"snort!"

Although Shen Huatang said this, she felt more self-reproach in her heart.

As Xiao Wan'er's personal maid, it was her responsibility to fail to protect Xiao Wan'er.

Her complaints about Xie Tingyun were also a way for her to ease her mind.

Xie Tingyun also felt guilty.

If she hadn't slipped out under the guise of "visiting" today, this wouldn't have happened.

"In short, no matter who it is, I will risk my life to bring the young lady back."

Everyone makes mistakes; some mistakes can be corrected, while others cannot.

They risked their lives so that they could suffer less when they were atoning for their sins.

Just like Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang at this moment.

Just like the White Tiger Guard generals, the female tiger Lou Yuxue, and the phoenix Cui Qingwu, who all learned of the news.

...and Chen Yunfan after learning the news.

"Young master, the Provincial Administration Commission has issued a warning, instructing you to remain inside the yamen and await further orders."

Chunying looked at Chen Yunfan's cold face and forced a smile, admonishing him, "The Xiao family's troubles have already thrown the city into chaos, you, you..."

"You are really not suited to be involved at this time. You cannot go."

Chen Yunfan remained unmoved, hanging his longsword at his waist while beckoning to Ning Yu:

"Prepare the horses! Everyone else, ignore them and follow 'Dragon Spear'!"

Ning Yu glanced at Chunying, not daring to delay, and went to the stable to fetch three fine horses.

Chen Yunfan leaped onto the horse, pulled the reins, and headed north of the city.

His cold voice could be faintly heard: "Chunying, this is my last warning to you—don't try to control me with your white-robed persona!"

"In this world, where can't I go?!"

Ning Yu and Niu Shan followed closely behind.

Chunying stared blankly at the three people's backs, a bitter look on her face.

She had been with Chen Yunfan for quite some time and naturally knew his temperament well.

But there are some things she has no control over.

Chunying sighed, intending to return to the study to continue helping Chen Yunfan with his unfinished official duties, when she heard a faint sound from nearby:

"Young Master, is he going to help the Xiao family?"

Chunying looked at the person who came and nodded slightly, "Young Master has changed a lot lately."

In this gloomy, rainy weather, the person who came was wearing a straw hat, a light short-sleeved shirt, and straw sandals on his thin calves.

In the dim light, he slightly raised his head, revealing a middle-aged man with thick hair and beard, and two striking thick eyebrows.

He looked at Chunying and asked with a smile, "When did the young master begin to change?"

"It should be... when I first came to Shuzhou."

"oh?"

Chunying recalled, "Ever since the young master met Young Master Yi, he... seems much happier than before."

"But because of this, the young master has become increasingly concerned about the affairs of the Xiao family."

"Young Master Yi?"

The man stroked his beard for a moment, then shook his head and smiled, "After all, we are brothers. It is only reasonable for the young master to want to help Young Master Yi."

He paused for a moment, then walked away.

"Just focus on doing what the master told you to do. I'll go and take a look."

"Please take care..."

At this moment, the city of Shuzhou was filled with an atmosphere of panic and unease.

The provincial administration commissioner, the provincial judicial commissioner, the prefectural government, the judicial commissioner, and the city guards all mobilized to search for suspicious persons within the city.

The troops stationed outside the city, following the orders of the Marquis of Dingyuan, sealed off all major roads and intercepted and screened those entering and leaving.

This has left many people feeling bewildered.

“The Xiao family is still the same Xiao family. Once the old Marquis gives the order, no matter what others think, they have to obey.”

"That's right... Old Marquis, sigh..."

"I just hope that Miss Xiao will be blessed with good fortune..."

...

Three hundred miles northwest of Shuzhou Prefecture, nestled among desolate mountains and wilderness, lies a dilapidated temple.

Broken walls and ruins, overgrown with weeds.

Thunder roared and lightning flashed across the rainy night.

A tattered plaque—Puyin Temple—can be faintly seen through the cobwebs covering the main pillar at the entrance.

Inside a Buddhist temple deep inside, however, firelight flickered.

Several figures were projected onto the two collapsed Buddha statues, making the stone Buddha statues, missing their mouths and noses, appear even more ferocious at first glance.

Du Cang stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the fierce wind and rain outside the window. His face no longer had the gloomy look before, but a smile appeared on his face.

Behind him, Uncle Gui and the young swordsman dressed as Liu Hong's bodyguards stood guard over a woman with expressionless faces.

—It was Xiao Wan'er, who was tied to the roof beam.

At this moment, she looked around in bewilderment, still not understanding why these people had kidnapped her.

Among these people were a noble uncle from the Marquis's mansion, and two burly men with obvious barbarian features.

"Could it be that the barbarians want to capture me and force my grandfather to submit?"

Xiao Wan'er bit her lip, "If that's the case, I... I will never let them have their way!"

But amidst this resolute decision, a figure quietly surfaced in her mind.

A handsome young man dressed in brocade robes, holding a calligraphy brush and a book, looked at her with a peaceful smile.

She could almost hear his voice, comforting her.

"Big sister, don't rush things. Perhaps things will take a turn for the better soon."

A turning point...

Xiao Wan'er lowered her head, and her beautiful face gradually hardened with determination.

If my brother-in-law were here, he certainly wouldn't be doing nothing like I am.

Thinking of this, Xiao Wan'er took a deep breath, forced herself to calm down, and said:

"Who are you? Why did you abduct me here?"

Upon hearing the sound, Du Cang turned around and glanced at it, a hint of mockery appearing on his thin, bark-like face.

"Miss Xiao, please be patient, you will find out soon."

After saying that, he ignored Xiao Wan'er and turned to look at the two barbarians at the door—Asutai and Yuan Jingxuan, who came from the barbarian tribe.

"It is said that Puyin Temple was built before the chaos of the Ganyang Dynasty, when the barbarian tribes were still the masters of Shuzhou."

Now that you're revisiting this place, what are your thoughts?

Yuan Jingxuan was a head taller than Asutai, and his rugged face had a hideous scar running across his cheek.

He was wearing a thick, oversized fur coat with the collar wide open, revealing half of a bear head tattoo.

Upon hearing this, he lowered his head slightly and looked down at Du Cang, speaking in a rough and gruff voice in the broken Mandarin of the Great Wei Dynasty.

"My people will return sooner or later."

"Of course, of course, with the ambition of the Left King, he will surely conquer Mengshui Pass one day."

After Du Cang finished his compliments with a smile, he turned to Asutai and cupped his hands, saying, "I have offended you greatly before, and I hope Your Highness will not take offense."

Asutai glanced at him, ignored him, and turned back to look at Xiao Wan'er with a strange look in his eyes.

Having been here for a while, he naturally knew Xiao Wan'er's identity and could also see that her appearance was somewhat similar to Mr. Fu in the tribe.

He wanted to strike up a conversation, but standing next to Yuan Jingxuan, he dared not say a word.

Du Cang felt embarrassed and annoyed, but there was nothing he could do about Asutai.

Yuan Jingxuan's visit to the Tea Horse Road represents, to some extent, the attitude of the barbarians.

If he still doesn't know what's good for him, the Peacock King Banner and several other bandit groups will likely face annihilation.

Even the barbarians didn't need to send a large army; a few masters from the Wenkla lineage were enough to destroy the Tea Horse Road.

Xiao Wan'er looked at the group, her gaze finally settling on Asutai. She gritted her teeth and spoke again:

"Are you trying to use me to blackmail the Xiao family?"

I advise you to give up on that idea!

Asutai glanced at the silent Yuan Jingxuan and said stiffly:

“Our barbarian tribe has never stooped to using ‘coercion’ tactics, not even if he is the Marquis of Dingyuan!”

Upon hearing this, Yuan Jingxuan's usually indifferent and ferocious face revealed a hint of approval. "Well said."

Du Cang looked at the two barbarians and cursed them in his heart as idiots who were tricked into revealing information and were still gloating.

He then approached Xiao Wan'er and said in a sinister tone, "Since Miss Wan'er is in such a hurry, then I won't beat around the bush with you."

“The two barbarian envoys are right. I have indeed invited you here not to threaten Xiao Yuan, but to deal with another person in your Xiao family.”

Xiao Wan'er was slightly taken aback, "Another person?"

"'Dragon Spear' Liu Wu, or rather, your brother-in-law—Chen Yi!"

The familiar name uttered by Du Cang was like a thunderclap, leaving Xiao Wan'er somewhat dazed.

She stared blankly at Du Cang, "You, who did you say? Chen Yi?"

She couldn't help but get anxious. "My brother-in-law, how could he be 'Dragon Spear' Liu Wu?"

"He, he's just a scholar with only a rudimentary understanding of martial arts. You, you must be mistaken."

"mistake?"

Du Cang snorted, "If it weren't for that, why would I bother to lay a hand on a sickly person like you?"

He paused, then said sarcastically, "However, I can understand why you don't know the reason for this."

"Xiao Yuanshang is still alive, how could he have let you know about the arrangements he made?"

"Don't worry, you'll know everything when he arrives, hehehe..."

Xiao Wan'er still didn't believe it, but hearing his certainty, she couldn't help but recall the various times she had spent with Chen Yi over the past few months.

Every little thing.

Things that make you happy, sad, or touched and grateful.

Were all those things fake, all arranged by Grandpa?

No, impossible!

Before Xiao Wan'er could continue speaking, Yuan Jingxuan, on the other side, looked at the sky and said:

"The ship is here."

"Let's go."

Asutai glanced at Xiao Wan'er, whose expression was somber, nodded, and uttered a word in a Manchu language.

Du Cang ignored Xiao Wan'er and followed her with a smile, saying, "Please take care, both of you. When you return, please give my regards to Lord Zuo."

Yuan Jingxuan kept walking, holding Asutai's hand with one hand and pointing southeast with the other, saying:

"You, take care of him."

"I don't want to be chased by someone."

Du Cang looked in the direction he pointed and saw two figures rapidly approaching under the dim clouds. He couldn't help but let out a cold snort.

"Rest assured, my lord, I have made preparations."

Yuan Jingxuan nodded slightly, took a few quick steps, picked up Asutai on his back, and suddenly jumped up.

When he looked again, he had already landed at the foot of the mountain and was running towards the distant Chishui River.

Although its speed is not as fast as martial arts footwork, it still has a fierce, reckless momentum.

Asutai obediently lay on his back, turned his head to look at the figures flying in the distance, and noticed one of them—Lü Jiunan.

Asutai reacted, his eyes widening as he looked at the man carrying Lü Jiunan, as if trying to memorize his appearance.

Seemingly sensing his unusual movement, Yuan Jingxuan asked in a foreign language without turning his head, "Do you know who it is?"

"It must be him."

"he?"

"He's the one who delivered me to Liu Hong."

Yuan Jingxuan paused, "Was it him who kidnapped you too?"

Asutai hesitated for a moment before nodding, then said, "Father, he is a member of the Xiao family. I want to deal with him personally in the future, is that alright?"

It wasn't that he was afraid Yuan Jingxuan would kill that person, but rather that the person had left too deep an impression on him on previous occasions.

Especially his eyes—wise and sharp, as if they could see right through him.

For some reason, he was inexplicably certain that the man would not die at Du Cang's hands.

Yuan Jingxuan was unaware of these things, but upon hearing this, he laughed, "The little cubs of the Black Bear tribe have grown up."

"very good."

“Your father promises you that once you have completed your training, you will be the one to kill him.”

After Yuan Jingxuan finished speaking, he turned around and looked at him, a ferocious smile spreading across his rugged face. "I'm just afraid he won't live to see that day!"

Asutai hummed in response, not bothering to explain the inexplicable feeling in his heart, and simply watched the figure land in front of Puyin Temple.

If he dies, then I will go and kill Liu Hong!

Chen Yi seemed to sense something, and glanced at the two tall figures running away. He already understood.

—Asutai was taken away by barbarian people.

Knowing this is one thing, but right now he has more important things to do.

Chen Yi then carried Lü Jiunan into the Buddhist hall, his eyes scanning the scene before settling on Xiao Wan'er.

Seeing that she was alright, Chen Yi felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders.

Xiao Wan'er looked at him with a complicated expression. She examined him carefully and couldn't help but feel a little bitter.

In terms of physique, appearance, and eyes, she is very different from her brother-in-law.

Is this the kind of person who is still considered a brother-in-law?

Chen Yi, unaware of these matters, followed his previous plan and bowed respectfully to Xiao Wan'er:

"Please wait a moment, Miss. I will take you back to the manor immediately."

After speaking, before Xiao Wan'er could reply, he looked at Du Cang, a hint of seriousness appearing on his handsome face:

"I've brought the person you wanted. Let's make a deal."

Du Cang glanced at him. "Is this what you really look like? You look quite presentable, don't you?"

He made a sarcastic remark, then looked at Lü Jiunan, scrutinized him for a moment, and his face immediately darkened.

"You crippled his martial arts cultivation?"

Before he finished speaking, "Uncle Gui," the young swordsman, flashed behind Chen Yi.

They formed a triangular formation, surrounding Chen Yi in the middle.

Chen Yi remained unmoved, his eyes fixed on Xiao Wan'er. Seeing her sad and confused expression, he vaguely guessed what was going on.

Looks like we're still too late...

Then there's no need for him to continue acting alongside Du Cang!

"Just in case, I have no choice but to resort to this measure. If General Du and King Lando are willing, they can find a medical sage to save him."

Du Cang looked at him with a sinister expression, and after a long while, he suddenly laughed.

"Since that's the case, I'll leave some little trinkets on this sickly fellow as well..."

Before the word "ba" had even finished, Chen Yi had already moved first!

Even with Du Cang blocking his way, he still rushed forward like a ghost, so fast that he was almost just a black shadow.

Du Cang flew into a rage and roared, "How dare you attack me like this in front of me?"

He had previously been able to severely injure Chen Yi with a puppet, so he naturally did not consider it a threat to him.

Seeing Chen Yi rushing towards him, he showed no mercy.

A flash of crimson light appeared in his arms, and the surrounding spiritual energy surged instantly, forming two crimson pillars of light that connected him with Uncle Gui and the swordsman.

It crashed down with overwhelming force, like a mountain—

A small world, just like the Spring Lotus Garden half a day ago, unfolded before Chen Yi.

This time, however, the chilling and icy atmosphere was even stronger and more real.

Black, feather-like snowflakes filled the sky, swirling and dancing, tearing through the air with sharp gusts of wind.

Countless towering trees rose from the ground, surrounding Chen Yi in front of and behind him.

The ground churned and shook, and thorns burst forth from the earth.

Chen Yi looked at the scene before him, but his eyes were fixed on the figure in the deepest part of the room—Xiao Wan'er, who was tied to the top of a giant tree.

"Actually, there's something I don't understand..."

He spoke softly, his momentum unabated as he charged forward.

While using the "Dragon and Phoenix Playful Movement" technique to evade the attack of the sorcery, his aura underwent a slight change.

A powerful aura, unlike the fierce and ruthless martial arts, suddenly appeared in this small world.

In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a gigantic, boundless chessboard, descending as if pressing down on the entire small world.

Then, to Du Cang's astonished and disbelieving gaze, the giant trees, snowflakes, and thorns in this small world all became chess pieces on a chessboard.

Or rather, a hater.

The only white piece was in Chen Yi's hand.

He ignored Du Cang and smiled at Xiao Wan'er, who was shouting something in the distance.

Press down with your hand.

*Smack*

The white piece suddenly landed in the very center of the chessboard.

With a single move, it gained momentum, forming a five-clawed white dragon—lifelike, with each scale gleaming and exuding astonishing power.

It raised its head and roared out a dragon's cry.

It then began to devour those black spots.

Wherever it went, it swallowed every black stone.

Chen Yi stood atop the long white dragon, passing through layers of black dots to reach the depths of this world.

He came to Xiao Wan'er's side.

Only now did Chen Yi mock:

"I don't understand, where do you get the confidence to kill me?"

(End of this chapter)