Chapter 158: Showing Off Some Skill
At the gates of Longyang City, Xiaoyao Lang and Qiuxia rode their horses, but were stopped by the city guards.
"You must show your identification to enter the city on horseback," a soldier stepped forward and shouted at Xiaoyao Lang in a deep voice.
As Xiaoyao Lang gazed at the city gate, a wave of melancholy washed over him, a sense of things having changed. Back then, which of the city's guards didn't recognize him, and who dared to stop him? But now, Yi Yunke was gone, and Longyang City had a new master; it was no longer the carefree place where he could come and go as he pleased.
After a long silence, he gripped the reins tightly and said coldly, "This city belongs to the people of Longyang. I don't need any damned waist token to come and go as I please."
The soldier flew into a rage: "You scoundrel! How dare you speak so disrespectfully! Men, seize them!"
Before the words were even finished, dozens of guards drew their swords and instantly surrounded the two of them.
"You're courting death!" Qiu Xia roared and was about to draw her sword, but Xiao Yaolang grabbed the hilt with his hand. He said softly, "Why do you need to do it yourself to deal with these people?"
As soon as he finished speaking, he gathered a powerful inner force in his right palm, flipped it over, and slammed it down onto the ground. With a loud "bang," the force swept outwards like a giant wave, and dozens of guards screamed as they were thrown backwards to the ground, whereupon they remained motionless.
"Impressive skills!" Qiu Xia exclaimed.
Xiaoyao Lang didn't respond and was about to urge his horse into the city when a sharp shout suddenly came from his side: "Who's causing trouble here? Are you tired of living?"
He turned his head and glanced over, his gaze suddenly turning cold—the newcomer was none other than Xiong Ba. Xiong Ba, recognizing his face, was also startled: "Xiao Yao Lang?!"
Xiong Ba strode forward and said sternly, "Xiaoyao Lang, how dare you set foot in Longyang City? Do you know that we are searching for you everywhere!"
"Oh? So you've betrayed Lord Yi and become Ouyang Longyuan's watchdog?" Xiaoyao Lang's tone was full of disdain.
Xiong Ba was furious upon hearing this and pointed at Xiao Yao Lang, saying, "Xiao Yao Lang, I originally intended to let you go, but you are so arrogant! Then don't blame me for being ruthless and taking you to the Brahma Emperor to claim credit!" With that, he struck Xiao Yao Lang with a palm.
At this moment, Xiaoyao Lang was burning with rage! All those who betrayed Yi Yunke deserved to die! Seeing Xiong Ba's palm wind approaching, he countered with a palm strike. With a deafening boom, unparalleled energy erupted like a wall, not only blocking Xiong Ba's palm force but also sending him flying several feet away. Xiong Ba crashed heavily to the ground, stammering, "Why..." His head lolled to the side, and he fell silent.
A gentle breeze blew by, and Xiaoyao Lang remained calm, not even glancing at the corpse. "Tch!" he scoffed, urging his horse forward towards the Longyang Palace.
“…Ah…” A scream pierced the air as two soldiers were sent flying and crashed heavily onto the bluestone pavement in the square outside the Longyang Palace.
"Stop him!" The leading soldier pointed his sword at Xiaoyao Lang and shouted sharply.
Suddenly, a series of neat and solemn footsteps echoed, “clack clack clack clack…” In the several passageways, soldiers in full armor, holding shields in their left hands and spears in their right, formed square formations, completely surrounding the square.
"So many people!" Qiu Xia exclaimed in surprise at the sight before her. No sooner had she spoken than a series of light footsteps echoed, "Pat-pat-pat-pat-pat..." and a line of archers weaved through the armored infantry formation. Looking around, it was a dense, dark mass; a rough estimate suggested there were four or five thousand men.
A moment later, a shout of "Ha!" echoed through the sky, and the three rows of armored soldiers in the front suddenly crouched down, revealing archers behind them. From all directions, hundreds of archers had already drawn their bows and nocked their arrows, all aimed at the two figures in the arena.
Qiu Xia frowned and said in a low voice, "With such a force... just dealing with them will probably exhaust us. How easy would it be to kill Ouyang Fanhuang?! Do you want to die here with me today?"
After she finished speaking, she saw Xiaoyao Lang calmly looking at her. Qiu Xia nervously avoided his gaze, thinking to herself: "Xiaoyao Lang looks at me like that, he must think I'm a coward, right? I failed to protect Ma Pingchuan before, and now I'm so discouraged, he must be utterly disappointed in me..."
Thinking of this, she gazed at Xiaoyao Lang with deep affection, then pondered to herself: It's not that I'm afraid of death, it's just that dying like this is not worthwhile. I only want to find an opportunity for revenge and ensure that nothing goes wrong, but you... Never mind! Even if I cannot escape death today, I will do everything in my power to protect you, so that I can have an explanation to Pingchuan in the afterlife.
Just then, Xiaoyao Lang's gentle voice came: "Miss Qiuxia, thank you for everything you have done for Pingchuan. If it weren't for your help, Pingchuan and I would have died on Mianzhu Road long ago. We have implicated you."
He gazed at Qiu Xia with earnest eyes: "Don't worry, even if I can't kill Ouyang Longyuan today, I will definitely protect you and get you out of here unharmed." A gentle breeze brushed his cheeks, his black hair swayed, and his handsome eighteen-year-old face revealed an unusual maturity and composure.
Qiu Xia was stunned, her eyes filled with disbelief. Not only did he not blame her at all, but he was even thinking of protecting her? A warm feeling welled up in her heart!
She murmured immediately, "Let's fight with all our might today! If... if there really is no chance, we'll fight our way out. As long as we're alive, we can always fight again. We'll seek revenge when our cultivation has improved!" With that, she looked at Xiaoyao Lang with affection in her eyes, afraid that this "fool" would act recklessly and cause them both to perish.
As Xiaoyao Lang gazed into her bright eyes, he was momentarily reminded of Murong Hanchan. He thought that if the person before him were Murong Hanchan, he would surely obey whatever she said... He then replied gently, "Alright."
Upon hearing this, Qiu Xia smiled faintly, secretly delighted: Great! As long as he listens to advice, with our skills, escaping won't be difficult. But... why was he staring at me like that just now? As she pondered this, she couldn't help but bite her lip and steal a glance at Xiao Yao Lang.
Xiaoyao Lang turned to the densely packed soldiers around him, channeling his inner strength as he proclaimed loudly, "Fellow soldiers of Longyang City, today I, Xiaoyao Lang, am here only to take Ouyang Longyuan's head and avenge the death of Lord Yi! You all have elderly parents and young children. Lord Yi treated the people of Longyang well; you surely know this in your hearts. Now that Ouyang Longyuan has usurped the throne, are the people of Longyang still safe and sound?!"
His voice resounded across the square like a booming bell. Upon hearing this, the soldiers hesitated, whispering amongst themselves and secretly judging whether Yi Yunke or Ouyang Longyuan was more suitable to be the city lord. Of course, some of Ouyang Longyuan's confidants scoffed at his words; they didn't distinguish right from wrong, only knowing to be loyal to their new master.
Seeing this, Xiaoyao Lang became even more impassioned: "If you have forgotten the kindness of Lord Yi and insist on serving Ouyang Longyuan, then today you are my enemy! Although I am benevolent, I will show no mercy!"
Having said that, he casually stretched out his right hand, and Qiu Xia's longsword suddenly sensed his movement, sheathing itself with a "sizzle" and landing in his hand in the blink of an eye. Xiaoyao Lang, sword in hand, leaped into the air, wielding his sword with incredible speed. Several sharp "whoosh" sounds pierced the air as the sword flashed like lightning and unleashed its power like the wind.
As he spoke, he landed gracefully, his longsword slashing upwards as he looked up. A murmur of astonishment rippled through the crowd: "...Ah...this..." "How could this be..." "...How is this possible..." "How did he do that..."
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