Chapter 106: The Estrangement Plan is Full of Lies
The threadlike ghostly fire hung in the sky, shimmering and flickering, its light shimmering. Qing Guiyu turned his gaze. Outside the courtyard, on the long street, a clear sword clang suddenly rang out.
The sword roared like a dragon's roar, piercing the clouds and splitting the rocks. Immediately afterwards, there were several shrill screams.
Both of them were startled and looked towards the gate almost at the same time.
In the dark night, the gate of the inn creaked and was pushed open from the outside.
A white figure, carrying a murderous aura, stepped into the courtyard.
It’s Lu Guiyan.
He was no longer in the room. He was still dressed in snow-white clothes, but there were a few spots of blood that had not yet dried on the hem of his clothes. In his hand, the Wuwang sword, which was as thin as autumn water, was dripping with blood, drop by drop, along the cold sword spine, and dripped onto the steps under his feet.
He had obviously been through a brutal fight, but his expression remained calm, as if he had killed several people but just brushed off a few dead leaves.
Lu Guiyan's gaze first swept across the dim lantern in the courtyard, and then fell on the two people at the door of the west wing.
When his eyes fell on the new wound on Qing Guiyu's lower abdomen, his expression suddenly darkened.
"Junior sister," he said in a cold voice, "This place is dangerous, come behind me."
As he spoke, he was about to step forward and pull Qing Guiyu away from Chen Juansheng.
"Brother Lu," Shen Juansheng took the lead and hid the Qing Guiyu behind him, "You are late."
"You evil creature who has taken a thief as your father," Lu Guiyan said coldly, pointing the tip of his sword at the ground. "If you hadn't insisted on dragging her into this danger, how could she have ended up like this?"
Shen Juansheng's body stiffened, his face drained of blood, and then he turned his head away, his long hair hanging down, his face dark and unclear.
He was uncharacteristically silent, just biting his lip.
It was already late. Qing Guiyu covered his wound and was about to say something.
There was a sound of footsteps at the gate of the courtyard.
Dozens of black-clad assassins rushed in silently, each holding a weapon in their hands, and surrounded the small courtyard tightly.
They did not take action immediately, but just silently dispersed and made way.
An old man in a green robe, a jade crown on his head, and with a gentle face, slowly walked out of the passage.
He was about fifty years old, but his hair and beard were all white, and he was thin. If it weren't for the solemn atmosphere around him, he really looked like a teacher who came out of the library for a night outing.
But the moment Qing Guiyu saw him, all the blood in his body seemed to freeze.
He was probably somewhat similar to Shen Juansheng, a sinister and cruel person dug out from the bottom of the cold pond and iron prison.
It was the old master of Tianji Pavilion, Shen Yan.
At Shen Yan's side, there was a woman. She was dressed in Northern Dynasty court attire, approximately forty or fifty years old, with a stern face and a tall stature. She said nothing, simply standing quietly with her hands hanging down. However, the chilling aura emanating from her was more intense than that of any of the deceased assassins in the courtyard.
"Jian Sheng." Chen Yan's gaze passed Lu Guiyan and fell on Chen Jian Sheng.
He smiled faintly, and surprisingly stopped calling him a beast. His smile was gentle and loving, as if he was looking at one of his most proud works. "After all these years, you are still so cautious."
He shook his head, as if feeling a bit regretful and helpless. "I just wanted to invite you, a young lady, to visit my home. Why did you kill all the messengers I sent?"
messenger?
He casually described those assassins who had "a ray of hope" and could kill with every move as messengers.
"Father," Shen Jiansheng smiled, his smile also gentle and sharp. He deliberately pronounced the word "father" very lightly and clearly. "Your invitation is too valuable. I'm afraid of angering her, so I have to decline it on her behalf."
The father and son were talking and laughing, but their words were full of bloodless swordplay.
"Forget it," Chen Yan sighed, as if he didn't want to bother with him any more. He turned his gaze to the white-robed swordsman, and his eyes finally revealed undisguised greed.
"Ice Creek Meridian Cleansing Technique."
"Good boy of the Snow Mountain Sect, you've finally returned." He chuckled, "I've been searching for this secret manual for twenty years. Today, I can finally return it to its rightful owner."
He said it as if it was a matter of course, as if this secret book that caused the destruction of the entire Snow Mountain Sect should have been in his pocket.
The woman in palace dress beside him also slowly took a step forward at this moment.
"Mr. Lu," she began, her voice clear and emotionless. "The Queen Mother has decreed that Mr. Lu, please accompany us back to the palace. As long as you are willing to hand over the Ice Creek Meridian Cleansing Technique, the Northern Dynasty will ensure that your Snow Mountain Sect continues to flourish. We can even rebuild the sect for you."
Lu Guiyan sneered, and the sword energy flowed on the Wuwang Sword, shaking the blood beads off.
"Why should I need you, the bandits who massacred my entire family, to continue the legacy of my Snow Mountain Sect?"
"It seems that if you don't accept the toast, you will have to drink the penalty wine." The woman in palace dress said no more, stepped back and waved her hand.
"Do it."
At the command, those black-clad warriors rushed towards the three people in the yard like a tide.
Lu Guiyan's gaze turned indifferently, and the sword flashed across his face, shining like a streak of silk. His ethereal and freehand swordsmanship was imbued with a bloody determination in every strike.
But those warriors were fearless and brave, and they fought bravely. When one fell, two more would take his place. They worked in perfect harmony, and their control was so strict that even with the unpredictable sword intent, they were unable to break out.
"Junior sister!" Lu Guiyan took a moment out of his busy schedule to shout, "Let's go!"
Qing Guiyu was extremely anxious, but felt that if he left now, he would regret it later. He hesitated for a moment when a cold hand gripped his wrist tightly.
"Miss Qing," a deep and clear voice lingered in her ears, "Don't go."
"If you go, you'll just die in vain."
Qing Guiyu had not been on guard against him these days. He struggled a little but failed to break free. He then realized that he was only staring at Lu Guiyan and didn't know when he was held hostage by him.
She was so angry that she cursed herself in her heart.
Young Master Jin Sheng held her and took two steps back, all the way to the eaves of the west wing. His clear eyes calmly watched the melee before him.
"Look," he pointed at the field, "Brother Lu's swordsmanship is at its weakest. Every time he strikes, he's sapping his lifespan. These people don't even need to kill him; they can wear him down to death simply by wearing him down."
Qing Guiyu's heart sank to the bottom of the valley.
Junior Brother's swordsmanship is fierce, but also dangerous, as it involves risking one's life.
"Chen Juansheng," she turned her head and stared at him, "If you still remember who you are, you should..."
"I remember."
He interrupted her, his voice calm,
"From the moment he took me away from the dead, I remember it."
He turned his head and looked at Shen Yan, who was standing in the yard with his hands behind his back, looking gentle, as if he was enjoying a wonderful drama.
"I am a poisonous snake raised by him." Shen Juansheng said softly, but a gorgeous and strange smile suddenly bloomed on his face.
Before he finished speaking, the hand that he was holding her suddenly tightened.
Several golden threads silently escaped from his wrists and swam quietly towards the center of the field, sticking to the ground like living things.
Chen Yan seemed to have noticed something, his brows furrowed slightly, and he glanced over here, but he didn't seem to care much. In his eyes, this "son" who he had trained and raised, no matter how much he struggled, he could not escape his control.
The golden thread silently sneaked into the battle circle and wrapped around the ankle of a black-clad assassin like smoke.
The assassin was swinging his sword towards Lu Guiyan when he suddenly felt his feet tighten, and he staggered, with the door wide open.
Lu Guiyan's sword pierced through his heart without any hesitation.
The courtyard was suddenly filled with sword energy, flowing blades, and murderous intent.
Shen Yan's face finally darkened.
The woman in palace dress beside him snorted coldly and her figure swayed.
If he didn't move, it would be fine. But once he moved, he was like an arrow shot from a bow. His target was not Lu Guiyan holding a sword, nor was it Chen Juansheng, the leader of the pavilion, but Qing Guiyu, who was protected behind them.
To catch a thief, first catch the leader; to kill someone, first destroy his heart.
This woman was obviously well aware of this. The real weapon in this courtyard was neither the murderous Wuwang Sword nor the unpredictable golden blade, but the girl in green who looked the most harmless.
She moved incredibly fast, bringing up a gust of cold wind. Her five fingers turned into claws, with dark blue nails, as she tried to grab her.
Lu Guiyan's face changed, and he drew his sword to help. The sword light was like snow, but it was blocked by the two fearless warriors with their bodies. The sword passed through their bodies, and blood splattered, but it was delayed by a little bit.
The line between life and death is just a breath.
Qing Guiyu was horrified. One of his hands was held by Chen Jiansheng, and the wound on his abdomen was in great pain. He was already a step slower.
But just as the nails were about to touch her clothes, a dark shadow appeared in front of her.
Shen Juansheng protected her behind his back, raised his hand, and several golden threads stretched out, transforming into Mars and Ziwei guarding the wall, meeting the hostage claw.
bite--
The woman's nails collided with the gold wire, and sparks flew.
Her body paused, and she flipped over using the force, landing three feet away, her eyes fixed on Chen Juansheng.
"Master Jinsheng, your reputation is well-deserved." The palace maid said coldly.
Chen Yan stood with his hands behind his back, his face still smiling gently, even quite proudly. "Cold Marrow Skill."
"Father, you're too kind." Chen Juansheng embraced Qing Guiyu without looking back, but his voice was also filled with smiles. "These are just some trivial tricks to save my life. They don't deserve your praise."
He covered Qing Guiyu behind him again, then turned his head and looked at the woman in palace dress.
"Sister," Young Master Jinsheng said with a smile, his peach blossom eyes shimmering in the night, "Why rush into action? Why don't you and I discuss a deal?"
The woman in palace dress was stopped by him, a cold light flashed in her eyes, "What is there to talk about with a wicked person like you who betrayed your father?"
"Father?" Shen Juansheng's smile deepened. "Sister, what you said is not right."
He turned sideways, glanced at the figure in the courtyard with a green robe and a loose belt, and said leisurely,
"My life was originally rescued from the snowy mountains and seas of fire. Now, I just want to change my way of living. As for the word father, how can I even talk about it?"
"I only know that what the Empress Dowager wants most right now is an elixir that can prolong her life. While the Bingxi Meridian Cleansing Technique is indeed ingenious, it's not a way to save a life."
The palace-dressed woman's expression changed, and Shen Jiansheng knew that he had hit the vital point. He continued with a smile,
"The Ice Stream Meridian Cleansing Technique is the Snow Mountain Sect's ultimate cold-energy technique. Those who haven't practiced cold-energy techniques will find it useless and harmful. The Empress Dowager's body is as precious as a phoenix. Could it be that she too is practicing such a technique that would shorten her lifespan?"
These words were like a sharp knife, piercing directly between the fragile alliance between Shen Yan and the Northern Dynasty.
Chen Yan's expression finally changed slightly. He looked at the woman in palace attire and said gently, "Madam Wei, don't listen to this little bastard's nonsense. Once I obtain the secret manual, I'll find a way to use it for my own benefit and extend the life of the Queen Mother."
"Is that so?" Shen Jiansheng chuckled. "Father's 'method' is to soak his son in a cold pond to test the cold poison?" He paused, then turned his gaze to the palace maid. "Sister, are you seeking immortality, or a way to stay alive?"
"You beast!" Shen Yan finally shouted angrily, and a crack appeared on his gentle and elegant expression.
"Sister," Shen Yansheng ignored him and just looked at the woman in palace dress. Her voice was sincere and bewitching.
"Chen Yan is a man of deep scheming. All he wants from you is to borrow the power of the Northern Dynasty to regain control of the Tianji Pavilion and unify the martial arts world. As for the Queen Mother's illness...how could he really care?"
Chen Juansheng changed his hand, embraced Qing Guiyu, completely protected her by his side, and then took half a step forward.
"You have protected my wife well, and I will fight with my father myself. Otherwise, if you join forces with him to kill me now, do you think he will share the real secret method with your Northern Dynasty?"
These words were heartbreaking. The palace maid's expression changed, clearly moved. She had been in the palace for a long time, accustomed to the intrigues and deceptions, and naturally understood that an ally who had already succeeded was far less reliable than an ally who needed help.
"Why should I believe you?" She finally spoke, her voice cautious.
Shen engraved the voice and smiled.
"Who in the world doesn't know that I've been poisoned by a love poison?" He lowered his head, looking at the girl in green in his arms, his voice as soft as if he were whispering to a lover, "I don't want her to worry about me anymore."
He raised his eyes and looked at the woman in palace dress. The tenderness in his eyes suddenly disappeared, leaving only a resolute madness.
"My life was given by her. Now, I am using it as collateral."
Young Master Jin Sheng raised his hands, without using any golden threads or any spiritual energy. He simply used his slender, beautiful hands to slowly and gracefully untie the ties of his intricate black robe.
Beneath the wide sleeves was a moon-white undershirt. He pulled the lapels open to the sides, revealing his pale yet defined chest.
Everyone present was stunned. Qing Guiyu's heart tightened, and she subconsciously wanted to pull at his collar. She was afraid that he was going to use some kind of trick to please her.
But he just looked at her sadly, and then calmly pulled the fabric on his chest open a little more.
Three slender golden needles were buried in the vital part of the heart in a strange formation.
It was she who had forcibly set up the acupuncture array to keep him alive. Using three golden needles, they managed to control the cold poison in his body, but it also left him emotionally disturbed and restless.
Ever since they first met in Jiangshen Temple, even when he was on the verge of death, Chen Juansheng never showed her the retrograde needle array again.
She just thought that he was paranoid, but at this moment, she saw clearly that the needle array was hanging well above, suppressing the three gates of the heart, and had not moved backwards at all.
"The Yellow Emperor's unique acupuncture technique can help to understand the confusion in people's hearts," he said with a gentle smile, "... and save lives and restore the world."
The three needles were steady. It turned out that the upward and backward momentum was temporarily faked by him using his strong internal energy.
Shen Juansheng is a man whose bones and blood are full of lies.
All of this was a means for him to seduce her.
From the beginning to the end, this Young Master Jin Sheng was not about to die at all.
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