Chapter 157: Great Success in Cultivation
The scarred man and his men were working tirelessly, some digging the pit and sweating profusely, others carrying the body in a hurry, and still others burying it with their heads down, throwing soil around. When it was Ma Pingchuan's turn to be buried, Qiuxia suddenly threw herself onto the body and cried her heart out.
“Pingchuan…I’m so sorry…I couldn’t protect you…How could you bear to…leave me…” Her face was covered in tears and snot, and she clung tightly to Ma Pingchuan’s body with both hands, her cries of grief heart-wrenching.
Xiaoyao Lang stepped forward and gently patted Qiuxia's shoulder: "Let Pingchuan... rest in peace."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Xia's sobs choked slightly. She slowly stood up, her gaze still fixed on Ma Pingchuan, filled with longing and despair. Seeing this, the scarred man gave his men a look, "Hurry up, be quick!" Two henchmen immediately stepped forward and carefully lifted Ma Pingchuan's body into the pit.
Xiaoyao Lang silently stepped forward, placed his broken black sword beside Ma Pingchuan, and buried it along with the corpse.
Qiu Xia was slightly startled upon seeing this: "...This precious sword...you..."
Xiaoyao Lang raised his hand to stop her from speaking: "This was his beloved possession when he was alive. Back then, my martial arts skills were weak, and he told me to keep it for self-defense. Now... I don't need it anymore. Let it accompany him in my place." After saying that, he looked at Ma Pingchuan one last time, his eyes filled with lingering sorrow. Then he turned around abruptly and made a burying motion for Scarface.
The scarred man understood immediately and hissed to his henchman, "Make your move!" As soon as he finished speaking, several shovels flew, and dirt fell down, gradually burying Ma Pingchuan's figure.
"Pingchuan..." Qiuxia's last cry tore through the sky, then she covered her mouth tightly, her shoulders trembling violently, leaving only suppressed sobs.
After all the corpses were buried, the scarred man forced a fawning smile and cautiously approached Xiaoyao Lang: "Young...Young hero! You see...we've done everything you asked. You promised...you'd spare us..."
"Get out!" Before he could finish speaking, a cold word struck like a heavy hammer, interrupting the scarred man's stammering.
The scarred man trembled in fright, stammering, "Yes, yes...yes!" He hurriedly turned around and gestured to his henchmen, "Go quickly, go quickly!" Dozens of people, as if granted a pardon, rushed towards the gate of the mansion, fearing that if they were a step too slow, they would be beheaded.
Watching the group of people rush away, Qiu Xia turned to Xiao Yao Lang, tears still wet in her eyes: "What are you planning to do next?" She was a year older than Xiao Yao Lang, but at this moment she inexplicably regarded the eighteen-year-old boy as her pillar of support.
A cold glint flashed in Xiaoyao Lang's eyes, and without hesitation he said, "Of course I'll go find Ouyang Longyuan! To avenge the blood debt of the Ma family! And..." He gritted his teeth and uttered three words he least wanted to mention, "Yi Mingjian!" Before he finished speaking, he had already walked out of the mansion, his cheap cloth clothes fluttering in the wind.
Qiu Xia hurriedly followed, anxiously advising, "Ouyang Longyuan's martial arts are unfathomable. How confident are you?" Although she had witnessed Xiaoyao Lang's prowess, she was still worried that he would be no match for a powerful enemy and would die in vain.
Xiaoyao Lang paused, his voice as cold as iron as he said, "Even if it means dying together with him, I will make him pay for the lives of everyone in the Ma family!"
Seeing his unwavering resolve, Qiu Xia immediately declared, "Alright! I'll go with you. Even if it costs me my life, I'll help you kill Ouyang Longyuan!"
Xiaoyao Lang glanced at her, said nothing, and strode out of the mansion. "Hush!" A clear whistle rang out, "Uh-huh..." With a high-pitched hoot, Blackie came running from the alley entrance, stopping steadily beside Xiaoyao Lang, and even affectionately swished its neck at him.
Xiaoyao Lang mounted his horse, paused slightly, and turned his head to ask, "Want to come along?"
Qiu Xia hesitated for a moment, then said, "Okay!" She took a deep breath and leaped up, landing lightly behind Xiaoyao Lang.
"Giddy up!" Xiaoyao Lang spurred his horse, and Black Brother's four hooves flew, like a black whirlwind, heading straight for Longyang City and leaving a trail of dust in its wake.
Qiuxia sat on horseback, the faint scent of pine emanating from Xiaoyao Lang lingering around her nose. The clean, crisp scent stirred a strange, indescribable feeling within her! Aside from Ma Pingchuan, she had never had such intimate contact with a man before.
Standing close to the back of the boy, a year younger than herself, she felt a strange sense of security, a feeling Ma Pingchuan had never given her before. His broad shoulders and slender waist rose and fell with the galloping horse, and in the swaying motion, Qiu Xia's hands unconsciously wrapped around Xiaoyao Lang's waist.
A solid sense of power flowed through her palms, and her heart began to pound uncontrollably. Before she knew it, her body was pressed against Xiaoyao Lang's back. With each rise and fall of the horse's hooves, their breaths mingled in the wind, and the undulating motion of the horse's body made their close embrace even more pronounced.
In the Moon Lake Pavilion at the heart of Baiyun City, Zhu Ziyue, Ling Qichen, and Yi Mingzhao stood side by side facing the lake. A gentle breeze stirred, and several wild ducks swam leisurely in the center of the lake.
Zhu Ziyue casually placed her hands on her chest, her gaze falling indifferently on the wild ducks swimming in the lake. Her clear and sweet voice carried on the wind: "Have you really decided to go back to Longyang City?"
Yi Mingzhao nodded and replied, "Yes, Brother Qi and I have come to say goodbye to you, Miss."
Ling Qichen also clasped his hands and said, "Miss Ziyue, I am grateful for your guidance over the past few days, which has enabled me to make great progress in my martial arts. I will never forget this kindness."
Zhu Ziyue waved her hand dismissively: "What talk of mastering something? You're still far from that. You've only learned the first two moves of your Ling family's ultimate technique, 'Floating Rain.' The last move, 'Empty Force Slash,' is incredibly powerful, and you're leaving before you've even fully grasped it. I feel sorry for you."
Ling Qichen lowered his eyes and said, "I never intended to delve into martial arts. It was only to avenge my father that I had no choice but to focus on practicing this killing technique. Now that I have mastered the 'Shattering Hand,' I think killing Ouyang Longyuan will be a piece of cake. Even if I fail, I should be able to save my life."
Zhu Ziyue sighed helplessly, "Since you are so determined, I will not say anything more. I only wish you success on this trip, that you can avenge your father and rebuild Xiyu Manor!"
Ling Qichen bowed deeply and said nothing more. Zhu Ziyue turned to look at Yi Mingzhao and said with a light smile, "Young Master Yi, these days of exchanging skills with you in music, chess, calligraphy and painting have been the most pleasant time I've had in recent years. You are not skilled in martial arts, so please be careful when you go to Longyang City. If you really can't find a place, you can always come back to Xinyue Lake. There will always be a place for you here."
Yi Mingzhao bowed deeply: "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Ziyue! I am traveling with Brother Ling. If he succeeds in avenging his family, my Yi family can rest easy. If things don't go well, I can also inquire about the safety of my younger sister and elder brother. If they are well, I will be at ease! If... if something unforeseen happens, I will come back to you for help."
Zhu Ziyue nodded slightly: "Very well then. Please take care, both of you!"
"Take care, Miss Ziyue!" Ling and Yi returned the greeting with clasped hands.
Immediately, the two mounted their horses, turned the reins, spurred their horses, and sped off along the lakeside road toward Longyang City.
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