Chapter 83 Fragrance and Snow Vanished "Of course, call me."...
A night breeze suddenly swept by.
They remained two fingers apart. The action wasn't even an embrace; although they were close, it wasn't intimate. His palm brushed against her back, yet it inexplicably gave Lin Feiran the feeling of being soothed by having his nape licked, while simultaneously making her feel as if she would become his meal at any moment.
For a moment, a strange sense of unease swept over me, but more than that, I felt a strange sense of relief.
This comforting gesture was reminiscent of the tender care her father showed when she scraped her knee as a child, and her mother gently applied medicine to it. Yet, it went beyond that; his touch held a hint of possessiveness and destructiveness…
Lin Feiran was unaware that when some people see something too pitiful and adorable, they feel joy but have nowhere to express it, so they can't help but let out these fluctuating emotions, which is like a kind of aggressive desire.
Although she didn't understand, she could clearly feel that his fingertips were getting colder and colder, and his breathing was gradually slowing down.
Lin Feiran was extremely sensitive to such plundering intent. Almost instantly, the bewilderment in her eyes vanished, replaced by alarm. Her back tensed up instinctively, and she looked up.
Actually, I've felt this inexplicable sense of urgency many times.
Such reactions occurred during the grand banquet, when the bond was formed, in the wardrobe, and when we were alone together. However, before, they were always fleeting, never as intimate and real as they were now.
But at the same time, he said he would leave her a way out. He wouldn't make promises lightly. If he didn't consider her a close person, why would he say such a thing?
Ru Xian's gaze remained calm, but it was unlike his usual self. Seeing her looking at him, he parted his lips slightly: "As a cultivator, it is normal to have different paths in mind. Since you have already paved the way for yourself, whichever path you choose in the end, it is all in accordance with your true heart."
At least for me, killing or saving makes no difference, but you are different from me, and different from others. You have your own convictions, and we will soon know the outcome.
Lin Feiran didn't quite understand his thoughts, but still took a deep breath and said, "Thank you for your understanding, Your Excellency."
It must be said that Ru Xian is really good at shifting the blame. For example, right now, she can no longer care about the wrong path and only has the growing desire to resist in her heart.
He knew perfectly well why he had straightened his back, but his hand, which had been resting on the back of her neck, insisted on moving downwards to touch her slightly tense back before lowering his palm: "So tense, are you about to draw your sword?"
He did it on purpose, as expected.
Lin Feiran was almost certain in her heart. She sighed slightly, forcing herself to calm down her fighting spirit. The taut string suddenly relaxed, and her mood became much more comfortable. The confusion and self-torture that had enveloped her earlier could no longer be gathered.
As Xue said, even if there are only two paths in front of her, both of them are what she wants. No matter where she ends up, it is her choice. Once she has made her choice, she has no need to regret it. Even if it is wrong, can't she change it?
There's no need to regret it, but there's also no need to be afraid to start over.
Having thought this through, Shen Tai suddenly became clear-headed, and his gaze toward Ru Xian was no longer as tense as before: "It was just that the atmosphere was strange just now, and I couldn't help myself for a moment. I have no reason to draw my sword against the Lord."
He didn't explain why the atmosphere was strange, but his hand fell on the back of her neck again. It wasn't warm, and even after touching it for a long time, it only felt slightly warm, with a cool, jade-like feel inside, which was very different from hers.
Lin Feiran's gaze paused slightly, and the corners of her lips, which had been pursed, suddenly lifted. She looked at Ru Xian and said earnestly, "Okay."
She added, “Your Majesty, it’s no wonder that Xun Feifei and the others are willing to follow you. It is truly rare for someone in such a high position to still have such a compassionate heart.”
Her eyes held undisguised admiration and respect.
Ru Xie: "..."
Only then did he realize that Lin Feiran had a very strong sense of order. It seemed that she had treated him as a senior from the beginning. In her eyes, he was no different from Xie Kanhua and the others.
Therefore, she could huddle together with Xuanzhen and the others and whisper amongst herself, but she would never overstep any boundaries with him.
If others held him in such high esteem, Ru Xian would simply take it for granted.
The demon race does not follow etiquette and only relies on strength. With his level of cultivation, even if a much older cultivator like Zhang Chunhe bows to him, he can accept it without hesitation because he is strong enough.
But when the respectful person was replaced by Lin Feiran, it suddenly felt awkward.
He turned slightly to look at Lin Feiran, growing increasingly displeased. His thin lips parted several times before he finally spoke: "Now you've called back the Venerable One? Wasn't it 'Ru Xian' just now?"
Lin Feiran paused slightly, thinking that he was displeased, and said, "Just now, many emotions welled up in my heart, and I was careless and offended you..."
She stopped speaking before she could finish, and looked at the person opposite her with a puzzled expression.
Ru Xian simply looked at her quietly, as if pondering something, before asking, "Do you want to call me by my first name?"
Lin Feiran immediately shook his head, faster than a rattle-drum.
Ignoring her actions, he concluded, "You want to, but you can't. Because you feel that you and I are already quite familiar, but it's improper to call me by my first name. The reason you called me just now was simply because you inadvertently revealed your feelings in your emotions."
Lin Feiran stopped shaking his head and was instead somewhat surprised that he would say such a thing.
Like a haze standing against the light, her dark green hair revealed a few white streaks under the moonlight, her beautiful face hidden in the shadows, with only her eyes and thin lips gleaming slightly.
He raised his hand, his fingertips glowing, and then gently touched her brow. The temperature and force were like a drop of rain, a snowflake, or a wisp of cloud.
He parted his lips slightly and spoke a long sentence. Then, a faint spiritual light came from all directions and flowed into her brow. In an instant, her mind was relaxed and even her previous low mood eased a bit.
"You are permitted to call me by my name, and I bestow upon you the blessings of your people. From now on, you will be favored by them."
His hand had already left, but the coolness hadn't faded. Yet, a slight heat rose from the coldness on the back of her neck, causing Lin Feiran to shift her shoulders involuntarily.
She knew that names held profound meaning for the demon race, but why was it taken so seriously? Why had she never heard Biqing and the others mention it?
"Does 'they' refer to the Peacock Clan?"
“No, but they’re not important. What’s important is that you’re the first human to be allowed to call me by my first name. Remember that, don’t forget.” Ru Xian spoke casually, then looked down at her. “How about it?”
Lin Feiran raised his hand and touched the space between his eyebrows, where there was still a faint itch: "What do you mean, how?"
Ru Xian stared at her intently for a long while before finally asking, "Aren't you happy that you can call me by my name as you truly feel?"
Lin Feiran was stunned for a moment before realizing that Ru Xian had gone around in circles because she had seen that Lin Feiran was feeling down and sad, so she had granted her a "wish" to help her temporarily put aside her worries about the "difficult road ahead".
She chuckled and said, "I was already very happy when you said you were willing to spar with me."
Who says Lin Feiran can't speak properly?
Ru Xian's lips curled slightly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, as she turned to look at the wooden railing behind her: "Your handwriting is beautiful, upright and righteous, but what you are writing now is somewhat wild and unrestrained, quite different from before."
He turned the page on what had just happened, and Lin Feiran naturally didn't say anything more.
She felt much better at this point, so she continued to finish her writing and explained, "I learned this from my mother. She usually likes to practice calligraphy, but she doesn't like seal script or regular script. She only likes to practice the unrestrained cursive script. So I followed her and imitated her. But later, when I went up the mountain to learn the craft, I went back to writing regular script. Now, when I write quickly, that unrestrained feeling comes out again."
Ru Xian read it carefully: "It's like this. After you finish writing down the method to break through the barrier, what are you going to do? Search for the Plum Blossom Order?"
Lin Feiran would not wait idly; her words at the clock tower just now meant that she must have a backup plan.
She didn't say it directly, keeping it a secret: "We are indeed going to play a flower game, but not with plum blossoms, but with peonies."
After saying that, she stopped explaining, and Ru Xian didn't ask any more questions. The two of them just stood together, recalling the methods of breaking through various levels, and occasionally talking about a few interesting things.
Lin Feiran wrote faster and faster, as if all her dissatisfaction was poured out onto the tip of her pen. When she finally stopped writing, she looked at the ink stains all over the wooden railing and her feelings were complicated.
She looked at it several times, then suddenly smiled, made a few strokes on the lower right side of the wooden railing, and then put the pen away.
As Xue looked up, she saw that there was no signature at the bottom, but a few strokes depicting a cluster of beautiful flowers. It was not detailed, but it was enough to express the spirit of the painting.
She must have looked at the flowers very carefully just now, otherwise they wouldn't have been so captivating.
He felt a slight stirring in his heart and a faint smile appeared on his lips, but Lin Feiran was completely unaware. She simply looked at the pages of ink and turned to him, saying, "Let's go, let's go to the next place."
As soon as he finished speaking, a tiny spark of electricity condensed at his fingertip, then circled around his finger and disappeared in an instant. He raised his hand, glanced at it, and looked quite satisfied.
"Let's go."
Before Lin Feiran could set off, he took the lead and headed towards the West Market, walking at a leisurely pace, completely ignoring the bewildered Lin Feiran.
She caught up with him in a few strides and walked alongside him, unable to resist asking, "That arc of light just now, could it generate electricity by calling your names?"
Ru Xian glanced at her sideways, her eyes slightly raised: "You can try it yourself."
Can she also generate electric shocks with both hands without forming hand seals?
In this way, if we face each other on the battlefield in the future, wouldn't we have another way to save our lives?
Lin Feiran, being a young man, immediately suppressed his sentimental thoughts, put away his brush, spread his hands, and eagerly asked, "How do I try?"
Ru Xian said, "Of course, call me."
His hands were perfectly normal, without a trace of arc.
She turned her head and saw Ru Xian raise her hand, her fingers, which were swirling with purple lightning and blue light, touch her brow. A delicate tingling sensation then entered her. It was actually a little painful, but it was quickly overwhelmed by an indescribable numbness and itchiness, leaving only a slight tremor.
What a wonderful feeling.
Ru Xian withdrew her hand and said with a smile, "Let's go."
...
Wen Ran's bold words and deeds were like a stone breaking the ice, shattering the stagnant atmosphere in Chuncheng and triggering a mutiny. But after shedding this boulder, she disappeared without a trace like a night breeze, and then silently rose to second place.
She must have a shortcut she hasn't told us about!
Where is Wenran?
The crowd hurriedly gathered in front of the notice boards in the four markets, searching for her.
Suddenly, a commotion erupted from the usually quiet North City, instantly attracting the attention of cultivators from both the East and West Markets. They hurriedly headed north, their astonishment growing as they drew closer.
On a wooden fence where notices were posted, the methods for breaking through each barrier were written in a neat and orderly manner, in such detail that even one's own master might not have such patience.
The cultivators had excellent eyesight, and in no time, the area in front of the wooden railing, on the wall, along the roof, and even on the broad tree next to them was crowded with people. Some were reciting, some were copying, and some were analyzing.
Those who had just broken through the barrier, in particular, were enlightened upon seeing this method, exclaiming repeatedly, "So that's how it is! So that's how it can be done..."
No matter who it was or what their previous attitude was, no one could find fault with Wen Ran at this moment. Even those who doubted her blushed and frantically copied down her notes.
"So she genuinely wanted to help us break through the barrier, but what was her motive?"
"Really for the flower farmers? Are there really cultivators like this in the world?"
"I did resort to violence earlier, and I do feel somewhat ashamed..."
The crowd was filled with mixed feelings; some sighed, some regretted, and some chuckled to themselves.
Before anyone knew it, notice boards throughout Spring City were filled with methods to break through the barrier, and people were copying and studying them everywhere. At first, some people saw Wenran's figure in front of the notice boards, but after she finished writing, no one heard from her again.
Pao Tang was quite disappointed: "I wanted to wait for her to come to me and keep a close watch on the East Market, hoping to catch a glimpse of her. Who knew she would move so quickly? By the time I arrived, the writing was already full."
Shen Qi smiled without saying a word. He stood to one side and couldn't help but raise his hand to touch the characters. Suddenly he said, "The first few characters are restrained and upright, but they become more and more expansive as they are written, like a gentle breeze on the plains and tall willows by the river. Her characters are becoming more and more graceful."
Senior Qin also offered his critique: "The calligraphy seems to have the style of the Sage of Cursive Script, which suggests that he has been copying famous calligraphic works since childhood, and it has a certain artistic conception."
The other students from the Imperial Academy smiled and urged, "Senior, stop tasting now, we have important business to attend to."
After saying this, the group stopped joking and instead carefully noted down the methods to break through the barrier. Since everyone was breaking through the barrier, their gathering together would be cumbersome. After a brief discussion, the group split up and went their separate ways to find the Flower Order.
Since Shen Qi and Pao Tang both had the same flower order, they went together and hurried to the flower picking place. However, many flower shops with simple rules were already crowded and difficult to find a place to walk. After going around many times, they finally found a quiet place.
A few cultivators were scattered here. They were not in a hurry, but rather very humble. One by one, they stepped forward to break through their barriers, as if they had regained the humility of the first night.
Shen Qi suddenly laughed and said, "Isn't this another kind of 'when the granaries are full, people know etiquette; when they are well-fed and clothed, they know honor and shame'?"
A smile appeared on Pao Tang's usually aloof face, but there was still some worry beneath the smile: "Never mind, let's get the flower token first."
Although Shen Qi was physically weak, he was not unintelligent, and Pao Tang was both excellent in both areas. With this method of breaking through the barriers, the two of them could overcome any obstacle along the way, even if they avoided the congested areas and focused on the difficult ones. They were unstoppable and made progress step by step.
Not only them, but any cultivator with some strength, coupled with this method of breaking through the barrier, was as if they had divine assistance. They could obtain a flower token in almost a quarter of an hour, which was obviously faster than the previous method of slaughter.
The list of names on the sky was changing more and more rapidly, and gradually, many people who were previously at the top were pushed down.
The situation within the city changed drastically in an instant, transforming from those who broke through the barriers and those who slaughtered into a pure battle of breaking through barriers and fighting.
The conflict subsided in less than two hours before it began to escalate again.
As Shen Qi and Pao Tang were passing by, they suddenly heard the sounds of fighting coming from the courtyard. The two of them immediately went to the door and looked inside.
Several young children sat in the courtyard, their expressions obedient and their faces smiling. In front of them, several cultivators stood guard with cold faces, drawing their swords against several cultivators outside the courtyard, preventing them from taking another step.
If I remember correctly, those children were the flower farmers here, guarding the peony flower ritual.
Seeing this, Shen Qi frowned and stepped forward, saying, "Fellow Daoists, if you cannot break through the barrier, there is a method for breaking through the barrier written by Wen Ran at the corner of the East Market. Why must you resort to violence against a few children?"
Pao Tang stepped forward with her sword in hand. Although she did not speak, her eyes had become much colder.
The cultivators who were stopped looked aggrieved and repeatedly explained, "Misunderstanding! Fellow Daoist, it's all a misunderstanding! We didn't intend to fight, but came here to collect the Flower Token after seeing Wen Ran's method for breaking through the barrier. But who knew these people would be so domineering, not only preventing us from breaking through the barrier, but also drawing their swords against us. Where is justice!"
Pao Tang frowned slightly, turned to look at the people opposite him, and walked straight toward the children, but was stopped by a long sword halfway there.
She glanced sideways and said calmly, "Gentlemen, do you really intend to prevent people from participating in the flower-guessing game?"
The group remained silent, but the cultivator behind them shouted, "See? We're not lying to you; they are just that domineering!"
"This isn't being domineering, this is being a scoundrel! I hate people like that the most!"
Without saying a word, Pao Tang drew his sword. The blade flashed and then, like waves crashing, twisted three times. In a daze, it seemed as if a giant dragon was surging through the waves, instantly knocking all the swords that the men had thrust at him to the ground.
Her gaze sharpened slightly, and without hesitation, the sword flashed forward. In an instant, a faint fragrance wafted by, and a large peony fell among them, its overlapping and intricate petals unfolding layer by layer. With each petal that opened, it pushed her back half a meter. In less than a breath, the woman from Paotang was already outside the courtyard.
The peony blooms, its national beauty captivating, layer upon layer, its fragrance hidden in the snow.
The peony flower formation doesn't harm people, but it's impenetrable, making it impossible for anyone to break through and get close.
The cultivators nearby immediately stepped forward, complaining, "That's exactly how it is. They guard the peony flower tokens to prevent others from taking them, but they themselves keep breaking through the barriers, so they have an inexhaustible supply of flower tokens, effectively cutting off our path!"
Shen Qi asked again, "Is every peony flower garden guarded in this way?"
Another monk replied, "It wasn't like that originally."
Shen Qi frowned slightly, his already round doe eyes filled with confusion: "Why are you scolding her? What does it have to do with her?"
The monk sighed, "It's definitely not her fault. They're just using this to vent their anger and cover up their own incompetence."
Pao Tang had already stood up, dusted off his clothes, and said coldly, "The original intention of the Flying Flower Society was to select eighty-one people from among many cultivators to enter the valley, and then select ten of these eighty-one people to go up Sword Mountain. It was originally a matter of the capable taking the place."
Now that Wenran has provided a method to break through the barrier, it has narrowed the gap between many people, which is already an effort. Does she really expect her to guide them step by step?
Even without Wenran's method for breaking through the barrier, capable individuals can still break through, albeit at a slower pace. However, with this method, those who were originally unable to break through can still obtain many flower tokens. Therefore, Paotang truly cannot understand what their dissatisfaction is.
If you are truly dissatisfied, why not simply seize the wandering Holy Spirits throughout the city and question them why not everyone can enter? They might say they are simply too afraid, and then vent your anger on one person.
The cultivator, having witnessed her previous swordsmanship, felt a pang of sympathy and readily agreed, saying, "Fellow Daoist is right, but the situation is tense right now, and many people are searching for the Peony Flower Token, so naturally there is no time to exonerate Wen Ran."
Shen Qi asked in confusion, "Why?"
With a continuous supply of Danruo flowers, it would be as easy as taking candy from a baby for them to seize the flower tokens from us. Only the peony here could defend against it, but they guarded both the Danruo and the peony, and in just a few hours, they'd become local tyrants!
Pao Tang couldn't help but find it absurd: "Holding the spear and the shield, one can control the life and death of others... Who came up with such a wicked method?"
Shen Qi looked over in confusion, only to see the cultivator muttering to himself for a long time, clearly knowing something: "The ones who made the move were a group of rogue cultivators, but they are nothing special. How could they have thought of such a bloodless method? It must have been guided by a master."
Shen Qi had never heard of Ding Ming before, so he asked, "Who is this master?"
The man refused to tell her, only covering his mouth and saying, "This person is notoriously ruthless, a top ten on the Qingyun Ranking. Even if I told you, you wouldn't dare to provoke him."
Pao Tang said slowly, "I am Pao Tang, a disciple of the Taiji Immortal Sect, and I am ranked fifth on the Azure Cloud Ranking."
The cultivator had clearly heard of her name. He looked at her seriously and said, "So you're a disciple of True Immortal Yin Hai. Then you must be unafraid of retaliation..."
He looked around and whispered, "Actually, many people have seen it. The person behind those rogue cultivators is Pei Yu. Now, almost all those in the city who are unwilling to break through their cultivation have joined her."
Upon hearing this name, Pao Tang's expression hardened. Pei Yu was proud and arrogant, and had always disdained associating with the weak. Why would she travel with them? But if it were true, why would she be willing to offer advice?
As the two pondered, the cultivator took a few more steps forward, but was blocked by the peony and could not get closer. His expression gradually became anxious: "On my way here, many people have had their charts stolen and have lost everything. If I don't get the peony soon, I'm afraid all my efforts will be in vain."
Pao Tang's expression turned grave, and then he suddenly asked, "They only guarded these two places?"
The cultivator said indignantly, "Of course! I've only just realized that these two are actually the most useful of the Twelve Flower Orders. How come I didn't think of that before!"
As the group was talking, they heard some uneven footsteps coming from the end of the street. Turning around, they saw a dozen or so cultivators dressed in different styles. They glanced at the three of them briefly, then looked away and quickly left.
Shen Qi frowned: "What are they looking for?"
The cultivator hiding behind the two peeked out and clicked his tongue, saying, "Of course they're looking for Wen Ran and Chen Feng! With the Danruo Flower Token in hand, no matter how strong Wen Ran is, he still has to let them mold him and obediently hand over the Flower Token."
Look closely, now only the two of them are in front of the line!
The two were busy breaking through their barriers, and when they occasionally looked up, they only looked at their own positions and rarely paid attention to those ahead of them. Only when they looked at them now did they realize that below Wen Ran, who was second, were the words "Pei Yu".
Thanks to her role in guarding Danruo and Mudan, she has risen from fifteenth to third place.
The cultivator said with certainty, "Currently, none of the flower farmers in the city have any plum blossoms. Therefore, everyone is convinced that one of Chen Feng and Wen Ran must have obtained the plum blossom token. They are searching for this person in order to seize the plum blossom."
Shen Qi and the other man frowned and remained silent, while the cultivator continued to chatter: "Nowadays, many people are afraid of having their charts stolen, so they have all gone into hiding. Seeing that they are up to no good, I also need to lay low for a while. You two can talk for now."
After speaking, he furtively climbed over into another courtyard, seemingly looking for a place to hide.
Shen Qi and the other man thought even deeper. Pao Tang remained silent for a moment, then said, "Many people are limited by their own talents and cannot break through the barrier. They will probably continue with the Blood and Flesh Blossoming Method. Moreover, there are those people wandering outside right now. Everyone is in danger, so they will not spend so much time breaking through the barrier. In the end, they will still..."
Shen Qi frowned. Wen Ran's actions were originally intended to protect the flower farmers and quell her anger, but she was taken advantage of and set up a trap, which ended up trapping her.
In this way, the cultivators who originally accepted her kindness will instead harbor resentment because she handed them knives. If this continues, those people will probably turn back and seize the opportunity to steal the Flower Token.
He knew that this was the solution Wen Ran had found for him. It was fine that this path was naturally blocked, but someone was deliberately obstructing it, and there was also the hunting down of Pei Yu and Ding Ming. If they found Wen Ran first, the consequences would be unimaginable.
“Fellow Daoist Paotang, I must go and find Wenran to inform him of this matter. We shall part ways here.”
Paotang grabbed him: "I'll go with you."
The two hit it off immediately and then scaled the wall to break into the courtyard, searching for Lin Feiran's whereabouts.
At some point, Xie Kanhua returned to the Heavenly Pillar. He listened intently to tune the strings and suddenly plucked a note, which was the Yu note from the Gong, Shang, Jiao, Zheng, and Yu musical scales.
Feather belongs to the water element. In just a moment, the damp air in the city trembled in response, and many cultivators also felt a tremor in their hearts. A moment later, starting from the pillar beneath his feet, a thin layer of mist spread out.
He did not look at the crowd, but sat cross-legged and closed his eyes to compose the Feather Robe Song.
"Please don't panic, everyone. Three mice have infiltrated the city. We are currently searching for them. You can use the flower-finding game."
He was looking for the three Daoist boys, which was his unique Daoist technique. He could use the omnipresent mist to find their true forms, but by a twist of fate, it made it more difficult for the cultivators in the city to find them. Finding people at night was already difficult, and now with the added mist, their traces were even harder to find.
Many people dared not complain, but were cursing in their hearts.
Meanwhile, Pei Yu, sword in hand, half-squatted on the rooftop, gazing at the surrounding mist. He casually swung his sword, then looked at the slightly blurred list of names, still not quite satisfied.
If the top two are eliminated and one becomes number one, then it would be a decent ranking.
A tall, thin cultivator stood on the edge of the roof, turned around and smiled, slightly obsequious: "Senior Sister Pei, this move is truly brilliant. By controlling Danruo and Mudan, who wins and who loses among the cultivators in the city is entirely up to us!"
"Us?" Pei Yu glanced at him indifferently and scoffed, "Only I am in charge. Only I can turn the tables on her."
It goes without saying who this "she" refers to.
The tall, thin man was not convinced, but dared not show it. He only said, "Senior Sister Pei, you probably don't know, Wenran is not that powerful. I have seen her fight Ding Ming, and she was still a few moves behind Ding Ming!"
Pei Yu was displeased and glanced sideways. If a good-for-nothing like Ding Ming could defeat her, wouldn't that be the same as defeating herself?
“I also watched that battle. No matter what kind of runes they are, she can remember most of them after just one glance. Do you really think she can’t learn them? If she hadn’t been stalling for time to wait for the priest to enter, would Ding Ming have had a chance to get angry?”
The tall, thin man was speechless for a moment, wondering what had gotten into Pei Yu that made her so embolden others. He was slightly displeased, but he suppressed it and simply smiled and said, "Senior Sister Pei's attacks came so suddenly, how could she possibly have a way to counter them? She's probably hiding somewhere right now, too afraid to show herself!"
Pei Yu, however, was not as cheerful as him. Her gaze continued to sweep around as she asked, "Still haven't found her?"
"No, more and more people are surrendering, but they haven't met them yet." The tall, thin man paused for a moment, then asked, "Could this Wenran have a backup plan? But so far, no one has made a move against the flower farmers..."
Pei Yu didn't speak. After what seemed like a long time, she suddenly laughed: "Don't forget, her condition was that the people who were killed had to apologize to the flower farmer. Right now, not a single person has apologized."
She was like a mantis stalking a cicada, turning the tables on her own side, but where was Lin Feiran's oriole hiding?
...
The fog was thick and the night was dark. Everything was shrouded in a chaotic and indistinct darkness. Apart from the ever-burning lamps hanging under the eaves, there was nothing else to be seen.
As Shen Qi and his companion walked through the night fog, they had to slow their pace. They still hadn't seen Wen Ran, nor had they heard any news of her being captured.
The two explored the entire East Market, but eventually returned to where they started.
The streets and alleys were unusually quiet, like the calm before a storm or the gentle murmur before a raging torrent. There was no sound from any direction except for the echoing footsteps of the two people.
Shen Qi stood under the eaves, and suddenly saw something. He said softly, "Fellow Daoist Pao Tang, look, they've actually moved aside!"
Several ever-burning lamps hung in the courtyard, making the figures of the children much clearer. They were all flower farmers, still playing tirelessly. The monks guarding them sheathed their swords and went to rest by the wall.
Pao Tang looked puzzled: "Could it be that they're tired? If we go down to break through the barrier now, will they stop us again?"
Shen Qi shook his head: "I don't know. If I can break through the barrier, I would like to give it a try. With Peony, Wen Ran can protect himself once."
Just then, the thin mist beside them suddenly shifted a few centimeters. Before the two could react, a night breeze suddenly swept by, temporarily dispersing the surrounding mist.
Shen Qi immediately turned around and saw that the eaves of the quiet rooftops were densely packed with figures, and he didn't know how many people were hiding there or how long they had been hiding there.
Someone cast a wind spell to blow away the thin mist, while another came with a sword, only to be stopped halfway. The roof tiles rattled underfoot, and the sounds of swords and spears mingled with a piercing shriek. Suddenly, the night became noisy. Several children playing happily in the courtyard burst into laughter, their giggles echoing incessantly.
Everyone headed into the courtyard. The cultivators who were originally guarding the area remained indifferent, watching the fight as if it were a spectacle. Suddenly, a few people fell off the roof, making a dull thud.
Shen Qi suddenly snapped out of his daze and exclaimed in surprise, "How long has it been since Wen Ran made that statement?!"
Pao Tang immediately understood his meaning. She quickly calculated that it was almost four hours. The people around her were clearly going to seize this opportunity to kill and steal the flower!
"Less than fifteen minutes left!"
The situation has changed dramatically, yet it seems that nothing has changed... People's hearts are hard to discern, and hard to change!
Some cultivators had already leaped over the courtyard wall. Shen Qi and Pao Tang did not stop and attacked together. In an instant, the courtyard fell into even more shocking chaos. It was impossible to distinguish friend from foe, and the only option was to fight each other!
The flashing swords and shadows passed by, shimmering over flowers and grass, over the thin mist, and over the tearful eyes of children. They were swallowed up by the crowd, clapping and chasing each other, their laughter gradually taking on a slight tremor.
The crowd gradually drew closer, and among the many cultivators were those who, like Shen Qi, wished to stop the fighting, but they were far too insignificant and could only barely hold on.
As Chen Qi struggled to move, a beam of light suddenly flashed overhead, followed by a deafening roar. The cultivators in the courtyard were forced back by the overwhelming sword intent, and for a moment, a moment of peace was restored.
As if sensing something, Shen Qi immediately turned around and saw a dark figure standing on a tall banyan tree. His eyes suddenly lit up.
Everyone looked over and was immediately speechless.
The newcomer carried a bright moon on his back, its radiance shining behind him. It was as if he had just stopped, and his long hair, which had not yet fallen, swayed slowly and peacefully in the moonlight.
Four or five orchid-colored swords hung at her waist, their sharpness unmatched in the moonlight. She merely placed her hand on the hilts, so lightly, seemingly without any intention to attack, but the orchid-colored sword still trembling in the courtyard was enough to prove everything.
It was so quiet at that moment, but nothing could be quieter than those eyes.
She simply looked at the crowd, her previously blank eyes gradually gathering light, just as they had been at that moment.
She recalled the long sword that Gu Buhui also had hanging at his waist, and couldn't help but sigh softly: "The path ahead has been decided."
After speaking, she suddenly landed. The cultivator who had come to his senses immediately flipped over and raised his sword. The cultivator who had been guarding this place also raised his hand to send a message, as if the messenger bird was not fast enough, so he had to shout it out loud.
"Wenran is here! She has appeared! Wenran is here!"
A fierce sword wind swept past, striking everyone present. They felt their blood surging in their chests. The messenger even told her to grab her head and slam it against the wall, instantly creating fine spiderweb patterns.
She turned and leaped behind several children. With a whistle, the orchid sword immediately rose from the ground and moved around with her whistle. Wherever the sword energy swept, it opened up a path!
The dark figure vanished from the spot in the next instant.
The change was so rapid that several cultivators were caught off guard and their mouths twitched as they tried to speak. After a moment, someone shouted in disbelief, his voice hoarse.
"Wen, Wenran has stolen the flower farmer away!"
Author's Note: Lin Feiran: I just dug up the roots, hehe.
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