Chapter 180 Framing Trap.
Not many people came last night. After the fireworks were delivered, Tang Huairou suggested that they be set off after the competition. Lin Yuxian volunteered to stay by her side to prevent any accidents.
Lu Changqing and Wu Zhuyue returned to their residences first, looking preoccupied. Shen Lixia could guess what was going on—the atmosphere was so subtle when they were together, if they couldn't see that, they must be blind.
But Lin Yuqian was puzzled by this: "They didn't look this tired just now."
Shen Lixia listened in silence for a while.
...On the other hand, they are actually quite reserved, so it's only natural that you wouldn't be able to tell.
Upon closer inspection, she realized that only she and Qiao Yanshen were left in the small house, giving her a feeling of being alone in an empty room.
The next day, the students gathered on the Four Spirits Peak.
There were fewer people today; perhaps they had gone home, or perhaps they were wandering around elsewhere. It wasn't as crowded as yesterday. Shen Lixia stood below the stage, not paying attention to the competition above, but instead recalling the strangeness of yesterday.
After the incident, she inquired about Luo You's whereabouts, only to learn that she had already been punished, was no longer qualified to participate in the competition, and had already left the rogue cultivator camp.
Because the injury wasn't fundamental, just like Chu Mingxin's, the punishment wasn't severe. However, the way Tang Huairou fell after being stabbed yesterday was horrifying; it didn't look like just a "flesh and blood wound." Even if her protective spiritual energy was broken, she shouldn't have lost her ability to move instantly.
What exactly went wrong...?
As she was pondering this, the competition ended, and it was her turn. Shen Lixia had no choice but to put aside her chaotic thoughts and step into the teleportation array.
Time flew by amidst the clanging sounds of clashing swords.
Soon, it was Qiao Yanshen's turn.
There weren't many people competing today, so it was easy to see who stepped forward. A moment of silence followed, then a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted from the crowd.
"Senior Sister Jinyu!"
...It's such a coincidence that it's almost unbelievable.
Qiao Yanshen pursed her lips, her hands clenching tightly beneath her sleeves. She hadn't been nervous in the previous competitions, partly because she was naturally calm and collected, and partly because she had confidence in her abilities. She had reached this point step by step, and wasn't worried about failing.
Therefore, my current anxiety is definitely not due to fear of defeat, but rather...
She couldn't quite describe the feeling; a subtle coolness flowed through her body, as if drawn by something, about to burst forth. This feeling lingered even as she stepped into the ring.
Tang Huairou's face was still somewhat pale. She bowed slightly to her and said with a smile, "I never thought we would have the chance to fight again in the competition. It has also been a long time since I have experienced my junior sister's swordsmanship. Please do not go easy on me just because we are classmates."
After a moment of silence, Qiao Yanshen smiled gently, "Senior Sister is joking."
She had seen what happened to those who looked down on medical practitioners. Tang Huairou was always like this: humble, gentle, and approachable, like a cup of light tea, with the verdant leaves unfolding beneath, without any pretense, pure and clean.
Clearly, she was loved wholeheartedly by the elders who taught her, and thus she possessed a pure and clear mind.
Her lips often curved into a smile, and her voice possessed a dignified and elegant beauty.
And then, just like that, they gently beat someone half to death...
Stop.
Qiao Yanshen raised his eyebrows almost imperceptibly, thinking to himself that she was starting to unconsciously say nonsense. His thoughts suddenly shifted, and this sentence came to mind.
They were all taught by my junior sister.
In the distant stands, Shen Lixia suddenly sneezed.
However, upon thinking this, the heavy unease that had been weighing on his heart suddenly faded considerably. In no time, spiritual energy emanated from Tang Huairou's body, and Qiao Yanshen gripped the Rain Blade tightly.
With a crisp sound of swords clashing, the two colors of spiritual energy intertwined, the somber azure and the vibrant green clashing sharply. Healers are not unskilled in weapons; on the contrary, they actually practice using a weapon for offense, combining it with their understanding of medicine to complement each other in battle.
At the same time, they are also skilled in movement techniques.
Therefore, Qiao Yanshen was naturally not careless and had released his sword intent from the very beginning. The light rain submerged that pale blue shadow in the boundless silver light and water ripples.
A chill crept up unnoticed, and suddenly a faint, cracking sound, as if something were splitting, echoed in my mind's sea of consciousness—
Qiao Yanshen's hand paused for a moment.
The sword flashed, avoiding Tang Huairou who was right in front of him. The other woman, somewhat startled, raised her hand to her chest, as if to say something.
But the next moment, she bit her lip in pain, her brows furrowed.
Where she pressed down, black mist suddenly surged forth, billowing and dissipating, quickly transforming into a long serpent that coiled tightly around her. With each breath, Qiao Yanshen clearly saw wisps of azure spiritual energy dissipating, evaporating rapidly and disappearing without a trace.
These black mists then took their place, frantically invading the internally disintegrating meridians.
No one knows what is happening right now better than her.
Fallen demon.
Although everything seemed slow to Qiao Yanshen, he could already hear the violent pounding in his chest, and his temples were throbbing incessantly. Cold sweat instantly broke out, but his thoughts were incredibly clear.
But to outsiders, it seems too fast, and there's no time left.
No one could stop this process. Even if the immortal on the stage could arrive in an instant, the demonic energy had already clearly corrupted Tang Huairou. The current outburst was only because she suddenly used her spiritual power, like silt at the bottom of a pond, which would pollute the entire pond with a little stirring.
It was clearly premeditated, just like...
At this point, Qiao Yanshen's sea of consciousness surged violently again, and something that had been abandoned slowly rose to the surface. A strange yet cold memory flooded in, and after a moment, as the pain returned, it became incredibly familiar.
Before her memories returned, she had already guessed it—
Someone deliberately set a trap, targeting her directly.
The goal was to force Qiao Yanshen to use the demonic energy of Luochuan. If he did so, the process of falling into demonic possession could be reversed, and Tang Huairou could still be saved.
Consequently, she will immediately become the target of public criticism.
Previously, his master had harbored resentment over the infiltration of the demon race, and now all the immortal venerables must be closely watching this matter. Whether it's the guilt of murder or the long-standing feud between the two races, it will all weigh heavily on Qiao Yanshen in an instant.
Can she afford it?
Extremely cunning. On one side of the scale is a close friend, and on the other is oneself.
Qiao Yanshen raised his hand, but hesitated for a moment before turning to look at the audience.
He happened to meet Shen Lixia's gaze.
She realized it was a deliberate setup. He was now silently speaking, though she couldn't understand what he was saying, but it was likely a message telling her to stop.
Qiao Yanshen withdrew his gaze, sighed softly, and no longer hesitated. In an instant, the demonic energy churning around Tang Huairou suddenly found its direction, transforming from ferocious to docile, surging towards Qiao Yanshen's raised palm like waves merging into seawater, and being absorbed entirely into the young man's body.
This scene happened so suddenly that many students didn't have time to react and were only startled by the surging dark blue energy.
Almost the instant the demonic energy vanished, a sword was placed against her neck.
The biting frost was chilling and bone-deep, almost freezing the flowing blood. Qiao Yan closed his eyes, said nothing, and simply released Yu Feng, ignoring the sword's anxious hum.
Immediately afterwards, a wave of heat swept over her.
A wisp of sword energy intercepted the blazing arrow in mid-air. Shen Lixia was about to draw her bow again when a sudden, overwhelming pressure forced her to sit down abruptly, rendering her immobile. This action drew everyone's attention, but fortunately, the next moment, a woman's calm and stern voice drew everyone's attention back.
"Insolence!" Yan Xueya shouted coldly. "All students, stay where you are and do not make any move!"
After speaking, she turned to Qiao Yanshen, the sword still held against his neck.
Someone nearby, with a grim expression, sneered, "Colluding with the demons, they should be executed on the spot."
"Immediately reveal the whereabouts of the other spies and explain your objective!"
One call and a hundred responses followed; many cultivators and their disciples all shouted in unison.
Qiao Yan's hands, hidden deep within her sleeves, clenched slightly. The noise made her a little irritated, and her face grew even paler. She didn't want to look at anyone else's expression, and she dared not look at Shen Lixia at this moment.
An invisible pressure suddenly spread throughout the entire arena, and the noise vanished instantly, leaving the arena completely silent.
Yan Xueya raised her eyes and coldly swept her gaze over the others.
Some people were terrified, thinking she was about to rip out her own throat.
"I knew that True Lord Mingji was protective of his own, but he couldn't be so blind to right and wrong."
The sect leader of the Wuji Sword Sect smiled, his eyes crinkling, and continued:
"You want to protect a demonic cultivator—or even a demon? They killed your beloved disciple and didn't even leave a corpse behind, but they are the ones who did it."
As she spoke, she glanced at Qiao Yanshen.
"Perhaps the real her has already been usurped, leaving only an empty shell."
The Frost Sky Sword hummed at this moment, and Yan Xueya gripped it tightly to prevent the blade from moving on its own. Qiao Yanshen slightly opened his eyes, silently taking in the trembling between her fingers.
She knew, at least in Yan Xueya's eyes, that this was deception.
She betrayed her master.
The chill grew stronger, and if it weren't for the fact that the world wasn't spinning, she would have truly believed that the sword had already struck.
But a woman's voice reached her ears:
"She is a disciple of my sect. Even if that is indeed the case, it should be up to me, as the sect leader, to decide her fate. There is no need for you all to offer your opinions. This competition has been fraught with troubles, and Emperor Taihui will do his utmost to resolve them."
"Our sect has always stood on the side of the human race, and will never be biased because of personal feelings."
A slight warmth welled up inside me. To outsiders, the explanation sounded reasonable and impartial, without any hint of bias.
However, for Qiao Yanshen, she had already come to understand Yan Xueya's personality through their interactions and knew that her master was protecting her. Even with a sword held to her neck, Yan Xueya could ensure that it wouldn't get out of control in the slightest.
Just as someone was about to speak, they heard the sound of fireworks burning.
Behind Yan Xueya, Yi Xiaohan and Chi Yueying stood on either side. The former's hand was already on the hilt of his sword, and his spiritual power transformed into tangible flames that flickered brightly.
Silence returned, and no one questioned it anymore. Yan Xueya sheathed his sword and said calmly, "You come with me. Stay on Xuanxu Peak until the matter is clarified, and do not leave."
Xuanxu Peak, not far from the main peak, was a place specifically used to imprison prisoners and punish offenders.
Qiao Yanshen replied, "Yes."
She looked up again and quickly found Shen Lixia's figure.
But the boy's expression made her heart clench suddenly.
Shen Lixia didn't shed a tear. Qiao Yanshen met her eyes, but found no ripples, no surprise, not even a trace of anger. Yet Qiao Yanshen felt that he would never see a more intense and clear sadness in her eyes than at this moment.
That was a heartbroken expression.
Yes, Shen Lixia must be heartbroken again, knowing that she had no choice but to abandon herself and her.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com