Chapter 238 In dire straits, barely clothed
The sea of fire raged, and the scorching waves were overwhelming.
Zhao Zhiyuan, Qian Jingpeng, Xi Kairen, Su Qiuwu, and Li Quan joined forces to resist the arrows, concentrating their energy. Hearing the screams and rising flames around them, and thinking about how they had come with great momentum and were determined to win, only to be surrounded by a mere brat and suffer heavy casualties, they felt extremely annoyed and frustrated.
Li Quan cursed, "If you four hadn't been so afraid of death and hadn't acted quickly with me to capture that kid, none of this would have happened!"
The four men remained silent, their expressions indignant, but it was indeed the truth. It was all because of their mutual scheming and feigned compliance, each afraid of being taken advantage of, that they had lost their composure. Li Quan said with satisfaction, "Su Qiuwu, you said my brother and I were foolish, tricked by a courtesan. Now that you've personally taken action, do you think you can capture him easily?"
Su Qiuwu was embarrassed and furious, glaring at him but unable to reply. Zhao Zhiyuan cursed, "That damned little beast! All the disciples I brought have fallen into his hands!"
"He's quite patient! He's determined to test his patience with us!" Xi Kairen said angrily, "To be held back like this by a little beast is utterly shameful!"
After the sea of flowers exploded, a raging fire erupted. Thick smoke billowed, obscuring visibility. The cliffs were far apart, only faintly visible. To protect their lives, the five focused on the nearest point, concentrating on their surroundings. They would wait until the arrows were close before unleashing their counterattack.
Intermittently, arrows were shot at each other. The stalemate lasted for half an hour, the sky darkened, and thunder rumbled. Then, a downpour began.
A cool breeze gently caressed everyone.
The scorching waves finally began to subside. The soaking water felt incredibly refreshing. Su Qiuwu calmed down, his mind regaining some composure. He glanced at the cliff face and said, "That boy is still hanging there. The cliff is extremely high and smooth. Given his average lightness skill and the fact that he's carrying someone, he'll have a hard time escaping. Let's take a detour, avoiding the range of arrows, and capture him at the summit!"
Zhao Zhiyuan and Li Quan, seeing that eighty percent of their disciples had been killed, felt heartache, regret, and furious resentment. Unwilling to let Li Xian go, they both said, "This heartless little beast who kills without blinking an eye, I must tear him apart alive!"
They then bypassed the flower sea and climbed the mountain path. The mountain was steep and extremely dangerous. The five of them possessed superb lightness skills, their figures flashing and leaping. They were all afraid that Li Xian would escape again, so they moved with incredible speed.
The mountain was towering, and a heavy rain had just fallen, leaving a hazy mist. At a height of several tens of meters, water vapor gradually condensed. A cool breeze blew across the mountaintop, carrying a rich concentration of moisture.
The group reached the cliff top and saw the mountains rising in a staggered pattern. It was already evening, and the golden light bathed the landscape in a myriad of colors. Despite the breathtaking scenery, they had no heart to admire it. They all looked down. Through the hazy mist, two figures became faintly visible. Li Quan was overjoyed and exclaimed, "It really was true!"
"Quick, bring them up here!"
Qian Jingpeng, holding a soft whip, said, "I'll do it!" He was skilled in the "Soaring Eagle Technique," and the higher he went, the more at ease he became. He was also extremely adept at "leaping," and none of the people present could match him.
Su Qiuwu said, "Alright, we'll help you out!" The four of them stood on the cliff top, holding stones, darts, and other such items. If an arrow was shot at them, they would knock it away.
Qian Jingpeng leaped out, arms outstretched, like a soaring eagle. A strong wind swirled around him, and as he descended several dozen feet, he lashed out his whip, ensnaring the two men. Overjoyed, Qian Jingpeng swung it forcefully, sending them crashing to the top of the cliff. He then used his lightness skill to climb back up.
Su Qiuwu, Li Quan, Xi Kairen, and Zhao Zhiyuan saw Li Xian and Wen Caishang fly down from the cliff and land on the ground with a "thud." They were all excited. Su Qiuwu, while celebrating, couldn't help but wonder: "Was it really that easy? That little beast is so cunning, yet he was completely helpless?"
They all surrounded him, slowly approaching. Zhao Zhiyuan, holding his long sword, made a light thrust, but it missed. Everyone thought, "Oh no! It's a case of escaping unscathed!" They immediately moved closer and tore off their clothes.
Suddenly, a hissing sound rang out. Several colorful venomous snakes lunged at him. Zhao Zhiyuan coldly snorted, "Beasts." He grabbed the snakes by the inch of their bodies and twisted them off.
With a loud "bang," the snake's body suddenly exploded, its fine bones piercing his face and two venomous fangs sinking into his abdomen. Zhao Zhiyuan screamed, his face covered in blood, utterly disheveled. He stomped his feet on the ground, his whole body jolting, sending the snake bones and fangs flying. Though the injury wasn't severe, the embarrassment was considerable, and he trembled with rage.
"You little beast! You damned little beast!" Zhao Zhiyuan stabbed repeatedly with his sword, filled with extreme hatred and anger. Su Qiuwu's face was ashen. He prided himself on his wisdom and resourcefulness, but today he had suffered a setback and been mocked, feeling utterly defeated.
The five men harbored a greater grudge against Li Xian than against Wen Caishang. Xi Kairen cursed, "As expected of someone from the same lineage, he's damn hard to deal with. He actually managed to escape from this desperate situation!"
Li Quan, harboring resentment, immediately retorted sarcastically, "While we're huddling together for warmth in this sea of flowers, those two lovebirds have long since flown away hand in hand, enjoying the freedom of the world. We really have to thank that unparalleled strategist and brilliant thinker for his guidance."
Su Qiuwu's face flushed red, twitching, and he let out a heavy, cold snort. Zhao Zhiyuan noticed a note in the lining of his clothes and said, "There's a note!"
He raised his longsword and unfolded the paper to read: "It is impolite not to reciprocate."
Zhao Zhiyuan was extremely frustrated. He knew what it referred to was the "sacrifice oneself for righteousness" technique. Wen Caishang, with her profound understanding of martial arts, had achieved a similar effect through a different approach with just a glance.
He later wrote: "Nothing special."
Everyone felt ashamed, realizing the comment referred to themselves. Below, it read: "Shameless."
The meaning is twofold: the sea of flowers exploded, and the yang fire scorched them. All five people suffered burns to their skin, their faces unrecognizable, hence the phrase "shameless"; even with everyone surrounding them, they couldn't capture Li Xian, or even inflict any damage. Having lost all face, they were thus "shameless".
Li Quan, Su Qiuwu, Zhao Zhiyuan, Xi Kairen, and Qian Jinghao all shouted angrily, "You brat, how arrogant!"
...
...
turn out to be……
Li Xian's arrows were limited, so how could he maintain a stalemate? Following Wen Caishang's instructions, he fired dozens of arrows in succession, terrifying the five men. At this moment, smoke billowed and flames engulfed the area.
Li Xian slowed his pace, occasionally launching sneak attacks with arrows. At the same time, he pondered a plan to escape. The cliff face was smooth, but rock snakes were present.
Li Xian caught the rock snake and collected it. He then said, "Madam, we need to take off our clothes." Wen Caishang knew Li Xian had another ingenious plan and said, "You want to slip away like a cicada shedding its shell?"
Li Xian said, "Yes, the longer we can hold them off, the better." Wen Caishang was very experienced and possessed the poise and grace of a woman from the martial world, but she still couldn't hide her embarrassment. She said, "Given the current situation, then you may do it."
They used the black smoke as cover. Li Xian reached out and loosened the rope around her waist, untying her jade belt, sachet, jade pendant, and other accessories, gradually revealing delicate, soft jade. In this perilous place, the scene was made all the more enchanting.
Wen Caishang's desires flickered, and she inexplicably thought, "If I were here..." Fortunately, the situation was chaotic, and Li Xian did not notice.
He wrapped the removed clothing around the rock snake, making it full, and hung it on the silk. Li Xian thought, "I don't know how sharp their eyesight is. If they notice something amiss, it will be terrible." He used the Azure Palm technique, employing what he had learned from the "Strange Man with the Back of the Cauldron." He swirled his hands, gathering water mist in the air.
The veiled concealment ensured absolute safety! Wen Caishang couldn't help but admire his meticulous planning, "His intelligence and strategic thinking surpass mine."
After doing much, Li Xian spotted the river in the distance and, at the opportune moment, jumped in.
This was the most dangerous moment. Falling into the water from a height would inevitably result in a huge splash, and if discovered, all previous plans would be in vain. Li Xian used the "Lightness Technique" and "Seven Star Steps" in mid-air to slow his descent and make his landing as light as possible.
It went unnoticed.
Adding to the turmoil, the five were terrified of hidden arrows. None dared to look elsewhere. Li Xian, shirtless and naked, carrying the fair and soft jade, slipped away into the river.
Though slow, the movement was silent. By the time Su Qiuwu and the others realized something was wrong, it was too late; Li Xian had already escaped far away, breaking free of the encirclement and fleeing for his life.
The river water was icy cold. But Li Xian felt the warmth of Wen Caishang's clothes, as if she were holding a "warm jade." Young and vigorous, full of youthful energy, she couldn't help but feel a sense of romance.
Wen Caishang was in the same situation. She had been swimming in hiding for a long time, and the distance was already considerable. But to be on the safe side, Li Xian dared not show himself, worried that Wen Caishang would suffocate. So he brought his mouth close and passed the Azure Water Pearl to her.
After swimming underwater for half an hour, Li Xian teetered on the surface, not knowing where he had arrived. Seeing that he was still in the middle of nowhere, and that it was already night, he murmured, "Su Qiuwu is meticulous, but he's nothing special. While he shouldn't be underestimated, he shouldn't be thought too highly of either. He probably wouldn't have guessed I escaped here." He then climbed out of the riverbed and lay down, panting heavily.
I'm lucky to be alive.
Take a short break.
Li Xian carried Wen Caishang into the forest. It was dark and snakes and insects roamed freely. Unable to find another cave, they found a "fragrant screen tree" and decided to spend the night there.
Wen Caishang was completely out of sorts. Although she had been close to Li Xian before, Li Xian possessed great strength and held herself in a superior position. Now, having escaped in such a sorry state, barely clothed and wandering in the wilderness, she couldn't help but blush.
"I, Wen Caishang, have fallen into ruin time and again. I've lost all my strength, but now... now I've even lost my clothes. If Li Xian suddenly decides to act, how can I possibly resist?"
Her mind was in turmoil, yet she felt comforted by the broad back of Li Xianhou. Having been poisoned by the "Qi-Eating Gu," her internal energy was completely depleted, leaving her body icy cold. She felt a profound sense of vastness and immensity, yet nowhere to turn, causing her distress and irritability. Whether the situation would improve or worsen in the coming days remained to be seen. But the feeling of having someone to rely on, amidst her coldness and ruthlessness, a growing tenderness and dependence crept in.
The fragrant barrier tree is over four zhang tall.
The sap of the Fragrant Barrier Tree has a unique fragrance that repels mosquitoes, insects, and rodents. Li Xian knew this from childhood, and with a series of swift slashes, the tree trunk oozed sap. He collected the sap with the Sunken River Sword and then ignited it with his "Yangtze Blade."
A pleasant fragrance wafted out, and mosquitoes scattered.
Sitting on the ground, recalling the dangers of the day, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and exclaim, "At least there's always a way out."
Wen Caishang said shyly, "You... help me get my clothes and help me put them on."
Li Xian laughed and said, "Okay!" He took out his backpack, rummaged through it, and exclaimed in surprise, "Ah! Madam, you have no clothes."
Wen Caishang's cheeks flushed red, both anxious and embarrassed, and she said, "How can this be? I... I don't have any clothes, what will this look like?"
Li Xian found it amusing that the dignified Lady Zhejian was worrying about such a trivial matter. Suddenly, he thought, "Even the most skilled martial artist is still just a human being. Human nature is to be human, and one cannot escape the mundane."
Li Xian said, "Then Madam, wait here. I'll go steal something for you." As he spoke, he dressed himself neatly.
Wen Caishang said, "That's the only way." Li Xian said, "Then Madam, please wait. We don't know if there are any villages nearby. It may take some time to go out and look."
Wen Caishang said, "Wait...you're leaving me here?" Li Xian replied, "Of course."
Wen Caishang said urgently, "Li Xian, no... I can't move at all. What kind of behavior would it be to leave me in the countryside?"
Li Xian laughed and said, "Then I'll carry you on my back?"
Wen Caishang thought about it carefully and also felt it was inappropriate. What if someone saw her? Even if she wasn't seen, she would still be unhappy. If she could move her hands and feet, she would definitely gouge out the eyes of all the men nearby. But now she couldn't command Li Xian, and he probably wouldn't help her gouge out their eyes.
They were suddenly in a great predicament and in a very awkward situation.
(End of this chapter)
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