Chapter 334 The City Lord's Complete Defeat, the Lady's Peerless Beauty, Five Swords Surrounding the Lake, Dense Bell Tolls
Wen Caishang's appearance here has a significant reason. Long ago, Wen Caishang used the "Eight Absolute Seals," instantly weaving a cocoon to envelop Li Xian here, within which were barriers of heaven, earth, water, and fire…
She was certain that even with Li Xian's many schemes, he would find it difficult to escape this cocoon. She would simply wait for the right time, then break free and see him again. If he hadn't gouged out his eyes, she would stab him mercilessly, causing him unbearable pain, and gradually force him to cooperate, never allowing him to play tricks. If he had already goneuged out his eyes, she would forgive all past grievances, serve him for the rest of her life, willingly becoming his eyes and ears, remaining by his side, never to be separated again.
She suddenly felt the long night was unbearable and longed to break free of her cocoon and see that Li Xian had obediently submitted. When the night was filled with stars, she suddenly remembered something: "That's it, that little slut from the Gu family has an ambiguous relationship with Li Lang. She should have already gone to the north of Flying Dragon City to look for him. I'll go and kill her. The area north of the city is always dangerous; it would be suitable for her to die there and be eaten by wild beasts."
She was extremely jealous and vicious. Others found her difficult to handle. The north of Flying Dragon City was notoriously dangerous; everyone in the city knew this, and over the years, commoners, martial artists, and scions of noble families had all been rumored to have disappeared in perilous places. Wen Caishang harbored murderous intent, but considering Gu Nianjun's distinguished family and the inevitable business dealings between them, she felt she needed to settle things cleanly. Therefore, she first lured Gu Nianjun to the dangerous northern region, then followed and killed her.
She entrusted Xiao Tuan with some tasks, instructing her to take good care of Bi Xiang Shui Pavilion. She then boarded a carriage and headed north outside the city. Gu Nianjun, unaware that she possessed silkworm threads, searched aimlessly north of the city.
While the north side of Flying Dragon City is indeed treacherous, it contains the "Nine Aperture Dragon Heart Cave." Here lies a sheer cliff called Dragon Roar Gorge, from which the roar of dragons is often heard—a rare and wondrous sight. Throughout history, scholars and literati have risked their lives to witness this perilous spectacle, with some spectacleing the existence of a real dragon within. However, ordinary people and wandering martial artists dare not approach this place, fearing only for their lives.
Therefore, the surrounding area is gloomy and desolate, with few people around, and guarded by soldiers and generals from Flying Dragon City in the shadows. Outside the Dragon Roar Gorge, strange trees are densely packed, and there are many strange beasts.
Within the gorge lies a hole known as the "Nine-Aperture Dragon Heart Cave." A sudden gust of wind emerges from this hole, blowing across the gorge walls and producing a sound resembling a dragon's roar. This is how this wondrous sight came about. Gu Nianjun originally intended to search for Li Xian, but upon reaching the north, she subtly sensed something amiss. She had previously obtained a map of the "Snow Dragon Mountains," vaguely recognizing that Flying Dragon City possessed a unique atmosphere, with the aura of a dragon hidden in snow.
They naturally noticed the unusual things happening inside the gorge.
She entered the tomb first, then led Wen Caishang inside. Wen Caishang was extremely knowledgeable; upon arriving, she recognized the "Nine Aperture Dragon Heart Cave." This tomb had nine apertures, each leading in but never out. She also knew that this place had been transformed into a burial palace, containing countless mysteries.
Although she was determined to kill, she didn't really take Gu Nianjun seriously. Upon seeing the unusual tomb, she thought to herself, "This is the layout of a hidden dragon lying in the snow, ready to leap over the chasm. Such a tomb is rare indeed. He Wentian has been enjoying all the benefits of this place. Now that I've seen it, how can I not explore it? Li Lang is trapped in the cocoon, so he shouldn't be in any danger."
She stepped into the tomb and entered. Her extensive knowledge and profound martial arts skills allowed her to navigate the tomb with ease. Moreover, He Wentian had gradually explored the outer perimeter of the tomb, reducing the number of dangerous traps, although there were hidden military patrols. Wen Caishang easily dealt with these obstacles and gradually ventured deeper inside.
She recognized the tomb's owner and guessed it was a "fake emperor's tomb." She visited several key locations but found no pilgrimage hall. She realized that He Wentian had possessed this tomb for many years, yet had only "lingered" outside, truly wasting its resources and utterly foolish.
This tomb is ingeniously designed, with its main "black hall" hidden within a "heart chamber." This heart chamber, however, is tightly closed, thus concealing its presence. Wen Caishang must first transform the "dead heart" into a "living heart" to open the heart chamber, causing the "Nine Apertures Dragon Heart Acupoint" to begin pulsating. At that moment, the heart chamber will open by itself, revealing the main hall.
This was not something one person could accomplish alone. She deliberately revealed her presence, immediately attracting the attention of soldiers who came to surround and kill her. Wen Caishang killed some and released others; the news naturally spread, and He Wentian learned that his greatest secret had been infiltrated by someone. He was immediately terrified and panicked, rushing into the tomb to search for her.
Because of this matter, he was unable to oversee the "suppression of the woman" and left it to Yang Xinqiang to handle. He wanted to find a way to get rid of this woman.
Deep within the tomb, He Wentian finally met Wen Caishang. The lady was charming and graceful, always gentle and kind, yet subtly aloof and indifferent. She laughed and said, "Lord He, you've tricked me so badly. I didn't know there was such a secret hidden beneath Flying Dragon City."
Her beautiful expression made He Wentian feel ashamed and his spirits faltered, as if he had truly done something wrong and hurt the beauty. He quickly suppressed his anger and said, "Madam Wang, why are you here..."
Wen Caishang said, "I had nothing to do, so I went for a stroll in the north of the city. Unexpectedly, I fell into a big pit and wandered around aimlessly until I arrived here. Alas, I was just getting stuck here and had no idea how long I had been trapped. Fortunately, I met soldier He Wentian and Lord He came down to rescue me. I am extremely grateful."
He Wentian thought to himself, "Not a single word this woman says can be trusted. She arrived here silently, so she must be very familiar with the tomb! I don't know what her purpose is, but it's definitely not a good thing." He forced a smile and pondered whether he could win if he tried to sabotage the tomb.
Wen Caishang strolled casually, a gentle breeze carrying her fragrance, and said leisurely, "Does City Lord He harbor ambitions of domination?" He Wentian shuddered and chuckled awkwardly, "How could I, a mere city lord from a remote area, dare to harbor such ambitions? Why...why...why does Madam Wang say such a thing?"
Wen Caishang lightly patted her skirt, shaking off a little dust, and said indifferently, "Just out of curiosity. When I came here, I saw a corpse storage site with tens of thousands of corpse soldiers inside, nourished by yin blood, ready for battle. If it were a battlefield, it would be fierce and invincible, no small matter."
He Wentian's kind face turned cold as he thought, "Things have come to this point. No matter how many troops or how much cost, the only thing I can do is keep this woman here. Otherwise, if my deeds are exposed, I will be doomed. However, this woman is extremely mysterious. If we really fight, am I a match for her? Or should I first try to appease and deceive her with words, and then secretly harm her?" His expression was grim as he pondered deeply.
Wen Caishang smiled and said, "Lord He, there's no need to be nervous. I have no ill intentions towards you. Whether you become a king or a hegemon, you're just causing trouble for the Great Wu Dynasty, which won't harm me. In fact, I'm here to help you."
He Wentian said, "Since that's the case, please be frank, Madam, and at least tell me your name." Wen Caishang bowed and said, "I am truly sorry for concealing my name before. My surname is Wen and my given name is Caishang. Caishang greets Lord He."
He Wentian's heart skipped a beat, and he returned the greeting, saying, "He Wentian of Flying Dragon City greets Madam Wen." He then pressed on, "Madam Wen just said that she wanted to help me. Do you also have ambitions to dominate the world? Do you wish to join forces with me?"
Wen Caishang said, "I am not willing to offer my blood to help you nurture your corpse soldiers." He Wentian chuckled and said, "If Madam Wen were willing to help, she would certainly treat you with great courtesy. How could she treat you like this?"
Wen Caishang said meaningfully, "I don't think so." He Wentian said, "If Madam doesn't believe me, I, Wentian, will swear an oath here."
Wen Caishang said, "There's no need for an oath. You have a lot of scheming ideas, but no real strategy. I saw through your schemes back when Fu Haoran lived in Cuizhu Residence. Do you know that you hold a great treasure without even realizing it?"
He Wentian nodded and bowed obsequiously, saying, "Madam is right, Madam is right. According to Madam... does this tomb containing corpse soldiers not represent the most important treasure?"
Wen Caishang nodded and said, "Of course. These mere corpse soldiers are nothing more than vassals. They're not even worthy of being called high-class. Only you would treat them like treasures."
He Wentian was even more excited, but also slightly suspicious. He hurriedly asked, "Madam... are you... are you serious? But... I have already explored most of the tombs here. There are some dangerous places that are not easy to enter, but there may not be any great treasures there. Even if there are great treasures... would they make tens of thousands of corpse soldiers look so insignificant?"
Wen Caishang said, "There is a tomb in this Nine-Aperture Dragon Heart Cave. Do you know who was buried there? Do you know where the remains are? If you don't know these two things, how can you say that you have explored most of the tomb?" He Wentian was speechless and asked, "Madam is very knowledgeable. Please answer my questions."
Wen Caishang smiled and said, "So you need to cooperate with me. The one buried here is 'King Dugu Boyuan of Nan Kui'. During the Nanyang period, the situation was chaotic, with many small kingdoms. King Dugu Boyuan of Nan Kui was the last ruler of a small kingdom in the south. Speaking of this Dugu Boyuan..."
He Wentian listened intently, not daring to slack off for even a moment. Wen Caishang, however, waved her hand and laughed, "Enough, enough, I suppose you have no interest in these things." She was truly impatient to explain in detail.
If Li Xian were present, she could speak softly for a long time.
He Wentian hurriedly said, "Madam Wen, I am but a humble scholar, and I am extremely interested. I beg you to explain in detail." Wen Caishang said, "You are the lord of a city; you can certainly consult books yourself. Why ask me? A fine man should be self-reliant and strong. What kind of manners are you to constantly ask a weak woman like me for advice?"
He Wentian wiped his sweat with his sleeve and said awkwardly, "I'm ashamed, I'm ashamed." Wen Caishang said, "I'll give you one day to check the historical records and confirm the truth of what I said. Then you can decide whether or not to cooperate with me."
He Wentian said, "Alright, alright, please rest, Madam." However, he didn't leave Wen Caishang's side for even a moment, and sent people to search through historical records for any mention of "King Nan Kui, Gu Du Boyuan." Upon learning of his existence, He Wentian was even more convinced.
Wen Caishang asked, "How is it?" He Wentian had already lost his rhythm, "What Madam said is indeed true. But... but how should we cooperate?"
Wen Caishang smiled and said, "Before we cooperate, there is one thing I must say first." He Wentian said, "Please speak, Madam."
Wen Caishang said, "I need to take 50% of the profits." He Wentian thought to himself, "Since it's about making a profit and having some ulterior motive, that's understandable. But 50% is far too much. I've been guarding the tomb in Flying Dragon City for many years, and this woman wants to take 50% with just a few words..." He hesitated, unable to make a decision.
Then he thought, "The division of profits is a minor matter. I should first appease this woman before considering anything else. Besides... this woman is very knowledgeable, and her talents are unheard of. If I could use this to win her favor and get her to stay and help me with my ambitions, that would be an excellent thing!"
My heart pounded.
Wen Caishang calmly asked, "Lord He, have you made up your mind?" He Wentian laughed heartily, "Madam Wen is right. Let's split the profits fifty-fifty. Let's work together for a great cause and achieve mutual benefit. I am deeply honored!"
He added, "Madam Wen, please speak frankly about how you wish to cooperate. Wentian will obey your every command."
Wen Caishang smiled and said, "This matter... requires Lord He's efforts and manpower. The reason why the main hall is difficult to find is because it is hidden in the heart chamber. The heart chamber is closed, just like being encased in a thick wall. Only by activating the Nine Apertures Dragon Heart Acupoint and opening the heart chamber can the true treasures hidden in the tomb see the light of day."
He Wentian exclaimed in surprise, "So that's how it is, so that's how it is, no wonder... no wonder Madam Wen said that I was guarding a great treasure without realizing it."
Wen Caishang said, "The tombs here are arranged according to the layout of the imperial palace. Those soldiers waiting for the corpses should be the city guards. If word gets out that you are ignoring the imperial palace and only focusing on guarding the city guards, won't people laugh at you?"
He Wentian said awkwardly, "Madam Wen is absolutely right. I am so stupid. But then again, if I weren't so stupid, how could I have met... met you, Madam, to help me?"
Wen Caishang sneered, too lazy to reply. She said, "Go and prepare three things: water, fire, and firewood. Make sure you have plenty. The Nine Aperture Dragon Heart Cave is a natural cave with unique feng shui. Inside, it resembles a heart, the heart of a dragon beast, with nine orifices and nine chambers... its interior is winding and complex, with intricate pathways." "Do as I say, dig in the ground to gather water, as if channeling blood to the heart orifices. Then gather firewood and start a fire, as if channeling heat to the heart orifices. With the hot blood flowing, the heart will beat on its own. Then you will be able to see the main hall!"
He Wentian clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Ah... I see, I see. Madam, please give your orders, and I will make the arrangements immediately. Dig a canal to bring water, gather firewood to start a fire, and reopen the heart meridian."
Wen Caishang followed the instructions and made the arrangements. The soldiers worked day and night to prepare. Several days passed in a row. He Wentian flattered her to the extreme, secretly determined: "This woman is hard to find. Even if I use every means, I must... I must make her fall in love with me." During these days, he displayed his charm and demeanor, showing great attentiveness and making important promises.
Making friends with beauties was his top priority, and he completely forgot about the flower-hunting activities in the city. Wen Caishang remained unmoved, but thinking of her lover's deeds, she couldn't help but feel occasional sorrow, joy, and resentment... He Wentian, handsome and confident that he was second to none, saw this and thought Wen Caishang was gradually being moved, so he became even more attentive.
By this time, all the arrangements had been completed. He Wentian said softly, "Madam Wen, I have done as you instructed. What's next?"
Wen Caishang said, "In that case, please follow me." She strolled leisurely through the tomb. He Wentian straightened his clothes and tidied his long hair, following her with an elegant air, holding a lantern.
Upon reaching a deep pit, Wen Caishang said, "This is the Nine Aperture Dragon Heart Cave. Now everything is ready, only the final step is needed. Let's see how City Lord He decides to proceed."
He Wentian asked curiously, "Is there something else?" Wen Caishang said softly, "One last step is needed. I request City Lord He to send over a hundred experts who can 'Drum Thunder Sound' into the Heart Gate pit and have them all beat their chest drums together. This is the final step, and through this thunder sound, the Heart Gate will be amplified. The Dragon Heart will come to life, and the main hall will soon appear."
He Wentian couldn't doubt it, and he genuinely admired Wen Caishang, so he gathered his best soldiers and marched into the Heart Gate Pit. The hundred men stood in formation, and sure enough, the entire area trembled. The earthen walls receded and shifted... They were clearly inanimate objects, yet they were moving subtly.
After several more tremors, the earthen walls, roof, and ground all shifted slightly. The Nine Apertures Dragon Heart Acupoint "came back to life," and Wen Caishang shook her head, saying, "Too slow. City Lord He must be someone who cultivates a strong foundation in martial arts. Why not show off your skills and shake the Thunder Sound?"
Hearing the beautiful woman's soft whispers, He Wentian felt an irresistible itch in his heart. He really wanted to take this opportunity to please Wen Caishang and strike while the iron was hot to forge a relationship. So he said loudly, "Hahaha, very well, how could I, Wentian, dare to disturb the beauty's good intentions? I'll also lend my support!"
He was very familiar with this place. Although he did not know that this was the "Gate of the Heart," he knew that there was no great danger around him. So he jumped into the pit and shouted, "All soldiers, follow my thunderous voice, rise up!" His chest trembled, and thunderous voice reverberated out.
Seeing Wen Caishang clapping lightly, he became even more excited and worked even harder. With several thunderous sounds, the Nine Apertures Dragon Heart Acupoint was activated again. The pit, which was originally without danger, became dangerous again with the activity of the "Dragon Heart." It was as if the previously dormant heart acupoint had started beating again. It pulled and accompanied many changes in the earth's veins, geology, topography...
He Wentian was still reeling from the shock when suddenly the pit abruptly closed, as if swallowing him whole, turning into a hollow stone cavity. In his astonishment, he heard a woman's voice from outside, "Lord He, if you are fortunate enough to be alive, please go to the Relief Pavilion."
"There's something I forgot to tell you: activating the Nine Apertures Dragon Heart Acupoint will change the surrounding feng shui. Your Worry-Relieving Pavilion is like a needle piercing the heart. As the dragon heart begins to beat, this needle will inevitably have a huge impact. Such a large building may be in danger of collapsing. I'm truly sorry for not informing you of this in advance. I hope you won't blame me. You helped Cai Chang complete this task, and you have no grudges against Cai Chang, so Cai Chang will not kill you with her own hands."
She has already left quietly, her figure drifting back into the distance.
He Wentian's pupils trembled. In his life, he had devised countless dangerous schemes, evil plans, and tricks, but this was the first time he had suffered such a great loss. He had been cheated out of half his wealth, his heart and soul were shattered, and the treasures hidden in the tomb might even be handed over to someone else.
Overwhelmed by anxiety, he nearly fainted. Encased in the stone cavity, he was surrounded by over a hundred experts, all terrified and unsure what to do. Furthermore, with each beat of the dragon's heart, the surrounding geology underwent dramatic changes, alternating between deep and shallow, inside and outside, walls becoming ground, ground becoming ceiling… the entire Nine Aperture Dragon Heart Cave was undergoing incredibly complex transformations!
This stone cavity seems to be moving deeper into the earth. If it's buried underground, how can anyone survive?
He mustered his last bit of strength and, with all his might, frantically pounded on the stone wall, scattering shards of rock. With his remaining force, he killed dozens of his accompanying soldiers. Yet the stone cavity remained deeply embedded. He Wentian's eyes were bulging with despair, and he felt utterly hopeless, knowing that he could hardly escape this predicament by his own means.
Wen Caishang, with her venomous heart, had used him to the fullest extent of her power, so how could she let him live? By luring him into the pit, she had already sentenced him to death, with no chance of survival. But fate had other plans. The stone cavity was supposed to be buried deep underground, never to see the light of day again. But by chance, due to continuous geological changes, a crack suddenly appeared at the bottom of the pit.
He Wentian broke through the crack and crawled out of the stone cavity. He had been extremely lucky just now, barely managing to stay alive.
Seeing the drastic changes around him, and having just witnessed a geological upheaval, he knew that the Tower of Relief had collapsed. Overwhelmed with grief and anger, he cursed the woman as a "bitch" to vent his anger. Although a thousand grievances welled up in his heart, he had to deal with the aftermath of the Tower of Relief's collapse. Only then did he free his hands to attend to the affairs of the Five Mountains Sword Alliance.
He harbored deep resentment towards Wen Caishang, having never suffered such a devastating defeat. He felt a mixture of hatred, jealousy, envy, fear, and love towards her. Seeing the Five Mountains Sword Sect's utter foolishness and their unwavering trust in him, he incited them to venture deeper into the sect and deal with Wen Caishang.
Although Wen Caishang was cunning, her luck was bad. She managed to reopen the Dragon Heart and open the main path through He Wentian, but this triggered a strange sound, like a resounding bell, capable of dissolving martial arts evolution and extinguishing internal energy… Wen Caishang had never encountered such a bizarre thing before, and it was completely unexpected. She thought in surprise, “A sound that can dissipate one’s internal energy and completely nullify martial arts evolution—this is the first time I’ve ever heard of such a thing. No matter how mysterious or profound the mechanisms in the tombs I’ve passed through before, there has never been anything like this.”
She suspected it was celestial music, or something else. She tried all of them, but none of them worked. She sighed and said, "It is truly an extraordinary opportunity to finally open the main hall. But this sudden sound of the bell has added an unexpected variable to this trip. However, since there is only one tremor every ten or so breaths, the impact is still acceptable. I will explore further."
Based on her own understanding, she approached the main hall. The traps along the way were vicious, and Wen Caishang had to expend her energy to deal with them, gradually being caught up by the Five Mountains Sword Alliance, He Wentian, and others.
The clock chimed frequently at that time.
Wen Caishang found herself in a difficult position, pondering, "I truly didn't expect this situation. The Five Mountains Sword Alliance has over a dozen elders, and the five leading elders are quite old and strong. The bell here is strange; the moment it rings, all martial arts are nullified. With so many of them, I'm inevitably in danger. He Wentian is quite capable, knowing how to win over the Five Mountains Sword Alliance. If I had known to kill him myself, none of this would have happened."
She remained composed and skillfully evaded numerous pursuers. Utilizing the perilous traps, she maneuvered with ease, eliminating enemies unseen. Before they even encountered each other along the way, the various factions and Flying Dragon City had already suffered heavy losses.
But the deeper they went, the more intense the bell tolls became. This was even more disadvantageous for Wen Caishang. She kept thinking of a plan, while the disciples along the way pursued them closely. They were not stupid; they would wait until the bell tolls became loud enough to launch a joint attack.
Even without any martial arts techniques, Wen Caishang could kill with ease using only sword moves. However, the urgent sound of the bell greatly hampered her abilities. Suddenly, she saw a stone pavilion in the middle of a lake, with a stone zither in the pavilion. She thought, "They have many hands, and my lone sword cannot play, which is my disadvantage. If I borrow the sound of the zither, using its resonance to fight back, I can keep everyone away. But this is only a temporary measure."
She sat serenely on the platform in the center of the lake, gently playing the stone zither, her white robes fluttering. Five elders—Xiao Wanjian, Wang Zongheng, Hou Yuande, Duan Yixin, and Hu Yueyue—led the Sword Alliance disciples, forming a vast and imposing encirclement around the lake.
Wen Caishang smiled and said, "Gentlemen heroes, what a refined taste you have! Are you so impatient to hear Caishang play the zither?"
Xiao Wanjian cursed, "You vixen, you're about to die, yet you still dare to speak so arrogantly. Now that we've surrounded you here, you'd better use whatever sorcery you want to use as soon as possible. Otherwise, we'll all kill you together, capture you, and bring you back to the sect for trial and punishment."
Wen Caishang calmly said, "I have long heard of Elder Xiao Wanjian's great name. Seeing is believing. He is indeed unable to distinguish right from wrong, and acts domineeringly, yet he claims to be a righteous person."
This man was the sword-forging elder of the Yangshan Sword Sect, a stubborn and domineering individual who believed himself to have never made a mistake in his life. However, his domineering nature meant that even if he was wrong, he would never admit it. His judgment of right and wrong was entirely based on a single thought, requiring no evidence and relying solely on his subjective opinion. Sometimes he was right, punishing a criminal. Other times, he unknowingly killed an innocent person.
Xiao Wanjian roared, "You vixen! There are no more traps here. Let's see how you deal with this!" He used his light footwork to draw his long sword and attacked without saying another word.
Wen Caishang's eyes flashed with a sharp light as she sneered, "You old thief, do you really think you're something special?" She stroked the strings of her zither, and a melody resonated forth. The sound was like a sword, aimed straight at the heart. Xiao Wanjian parried with his own sword, but was sent flying back into the crowd. His eyes were filled with shock; from their brief exchange, he already knew this woman was incredibly powerful.
Hu Yueyue, the leader of the Lake Mountain Sword Sect, was discussing alliance matters with the leaders of various sects during the Dragon and Phoenix Banquet, thus escaping capture. Seeing Xiao Wanjian blasted back through the air, she knew Wen Caishang was no ordinary person, and observing the surrounding terrain, she felt even more troubled.
Although the lake was not large, it was difficult to traverse. Only a long white jade path led to the pavilion, surrounded by the lake on all sides. Hu Yueyue's eyes flashed, and as soon as the bell rang, she immediately drew her long sword, the tip of which stirred the lake water as she pointed at Wen Caishang.
Splashes of water erupted, suddenly creating a raging torrent. Like a torrential downpour, each droplet concealed a deadly intent, capable of piercing stone walls and shattering human bodies. This was the "Falling Sand Sword," a technique she had perfected, her martial arts evolution profound, making it extremely powerful and ferocious.
Wen Caishang thought to herself, "It is impolite not to reciprocate. I will return all your little tricks." She then played a melodious zither tune, the sound of which lingered and lingered, extremely beautiful. It even drew the water droplets, making them circle around the lake and return them all to Hu Yueyue.
Hu Yueyue immediately parried. Suddenly, a series of "bell" sounds rang out, and in that instant, her internal energy and martial arts vanished. Numerous water droplets rained down on her, but she had no way to resist. Facing the deadly attack, she cried out in agony. With a "splash," Hu Yueyue's clothes were completely soaked. Yet, she was not dead.
The moment the bell rang, the killing intent and martial arts techniques contained in the water droplets dissipated instantly, turning them into ordinary water droplets that could no longer harm anyone. Hu Yueyue was drenched and felt a chill run down her spine, so she dared not test the waters again.
Wen Caishang gently stroked the stone zither, but her palms trembled slightly, and blood dripped from her fingertips.
It turned out that the strings of this zither were as sharp as swords. Before the bell tolled, she could play with great skill and without any problems. But as soon as the bell tolled, the strings scratched her fingers. She didn't show anything amiss and calmly observed the situation.
She gently stroked the strings, her injured fingertips gradually healing, and murmured, "Just a breath more, and no matter how many helpers you have, they won't be able to get close to me..." Suddenly, her brow furrowed, and the bell tolled slightly faster. Her dormant heart, awakening, began to beat faster. The bell tolled with a deep connection to this, hence its gradual acceleration.
(End of this chapter)
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