Cheng Yunpao looked coldly at Wanyu Yuedan, who slowly continued, "He is someone who values feelings deeply, so—he wants to save the martial world—because his past good friend hoped he would be a good person… The reason is just that simple."
Cheng Yunpao said calmly, "You seem to understand him well?"
Wanyu Yuedan slowly turned around to face the cliff from where the flute sounds came. "He and I… are like mirrors to each other, both able to see the other very clearly."
Cheng Yunpao said coldly, "Could the purpose of tonight's conversation with me be to tell me that Tang Lici is a great man who values feelings and righteousness, hoping to make our sword assembly look at him with new eyes?"
Wanyu Yuedan smiled. "Sometimes when people do things and speak, they don't necessarily need a purpose. It's just that when something is on one's mind and one encounters the right person and the right place, it naturally comes out."
Cheng Yunpao gave a cold laugh and didn't respond.
The mountain wind suddenly intensified, becoming even more fierce. The flute sounds in the wind were drowned out, and both men heard only the boundless howling, accompanied by the sounds of withered branches and dead leaves breaking and cracking below the cliff.
After listening for a while, Wanyu Yuedan said, "Tonight is a night of howling winds. The climate on high mountain snow peaks changes unpredictably. Tell him to come up."
After slowly finishing these words, he turned and walked into the woods. Though his vision was unclear, he had become familiar with the paths and walked like an ordinary person.
This gentle-looking young Palace Master, though lacking commanding presence and not knowing martial arts, held his own completely in conversation—truly a rare talent.
Cheng Yunpao stepped forward several paces to the cliff's edge. As mountain wind swept past him, he immediately felt his breathing become obstructed and his heart slightly alarmed. This mountain wind was extraordinary—an ordinary person would likely be swept up into the sky immediately. With his internal injuries barely healed and his true qi not yet restored, standing at the cliff's edge, he actually felt unsteady.
Looking down, he saw Tang Lici had already stood up from the withered tree. But rather than preparing to return, he stepped onto the top of the dead tree, standing at the wind's mouth with his feet at the edge of a ten-thousand-zhang abyss. He stared fixedly at the unpredictable glacial sea of clouds beneath his feet. The withered tree under his feet creaked and groaned, liable to snap in the fierce wind at any moment. His silver hair flew loose, his robes nearly torn apart in the wind. Suddenly he closed his eyes, raised the broken flute in his hand, and gently turned around, as if dancing.
Suddenly a sword qi struck, white light flashing, breaking through the mountain wind and clouds, directly attacking the withered tree beneath Tang Lici's feet. Hearing the sound, Tang Lici swung his flute to block it. With a "ding" of metal striking metal, what he held was actually half a copper flute. Under the force of this sword strike, the withered tree beneath his feet snapped with a sound and plummeted into the ten-thousand-zhang abyss. He leaped up lightly and landed gracefully on the clifftop, smiling slightly at the one who had drawn the sword. "You're up?"
"Weren't you about to jump down? I severed your foothold—why didn't you jump?" Cheng Yunpao said coldly. "What did you come up for?"
Tang Lici said, "How would I dare? My life was saved by Brother Cheng. If I had jumped down, wouldn't that betray Brother Cheng's kind intentions? The body, hair, and skin are received from one's parents and must not be damaged."
His clothing was slightly torn by the fierce wind, his hair completely disheveled. The cold wind blowing up from the snowy peaks had turned his cheeks bright red, with peach and plum colors, faintly showing a layer of gorgeous beauty.
"In the middle of the night, at a hundred-zhang cliff—what is there to see?" Cheng Yunpao turned around with his hands behind his back. "Or are you reflecting on how to clean up the martial world that you've thrown into chaos?"
Tang Lici smiled slightly. "In the middle of the night, atop a hundred-zhang cliff, with fierce winds—this is beautiful scenery at a wonderful time. Though you didn't see it, surely you smelled it?"
Cheng Yunpao paused slightly. "Smelled?"
Tang Lici swept his sleeve. "Smelled the fragrance in this wind—osmanthus, orchids, roses, jasmine, and so on, all present. How lively."
"Fragrance?" Cheng Yunpao suddenly realized. "Could it be—"
Tang Lici slowly put his left hand behind his back. "Whoever severely injured you is probably the same person coming up the mountain now."
Cheng Yunpao's eyes suddenly opened wide as he stepped onto the boulder at the cliff's edge and gazed intently downward. "Masked black pipa, thousand-flower white-robed woman."
Tang Lici sighed softly. "So it really is him…"
Below the cliff, mountain clouds rolled and cold air rose. Apart from the extremely faint elegant fragrance rising from halfway up the mountain, nothing could be seen.
"Biluo Palace is under attack." Cheng Yunpao said calmly. "It's you—bringing disaster to the door, destroying this pure place beyond the world. Tonight there will surely be rivers of blood."
Tang Lici flicked and shook his sleeves, suddenly turning around. "I want to eliminate the disaster of the Scarlet Ghost Nine Hearts Pills. Isn't this the best method?"
Cheng Yunpao's face showed mockery. "Haha, borrowing Biluo Palace's reputation to resist the Central Plains Sword Assembly, drawing out Fengliu Shop, then leaving a trail of markers to lure Fengliu Shop to attack Biluo Palace. You sacrifice Wanyu Yuedan's entire sect to have a decisive battle here with the master of the Scarlet Ghost Nine Hearts Pills. But Tang Lici, when you borrowed strength from Wanyu Yuedan, where was your conscience? Does he know what intentions you harbor? Even if you win this battle, how will you face the heroic spirits who will be sacrificed tonight?"
"Wanyu Yuedan also hopes to use victory in this battle to make Biluo Palace the king of the Central Plains, ending the suffering of wandering in foreign lands. One willing to fight, one willing to take the beating—after years of preparation, doesn't Biluo Palace have the strength for one battle?" Tang Lici spoke with his back to Cheng Yunpao. "You've wasted twenty-some years roaming the martial world. People want achievements, success, reputation, fairness, justice—how can there be no sacrifice? When you save people and eliminate evil, have you never been injured yourself, or never owed others favors?"
Cheng Yunpao laughed coldly. "Being injured while saving people is natural and proper, but you're not sacrificing yourself—you're sacrificing others instead. Do you expect me to praise your brilliant wisdom?"
"How do you know that sacrificing others leaves me unmoved?" Tang Lici said in a low voice. "Before blaming others, have you prepared better strategies?"
Cheng Yunpao was startled.
Tang Lici slowly walked to his side, his torn robes dancing in the strong mountain wind, gradually ripping apart. "Without better strategies, your accusations are all empty talk, absurd…" His hand lightly pushed Cheng Yunpao's back, saying in a low voice, "…ridiculous."
Caught off guard, Cheng Yunpao was pushed off the cliff by that push. He hastily gathered his qi to float and fly, barely managing to land on the rocky platform. Looking up, Tang Lici had already vanished. His heart was both shocked and angry, with mixed feelings.
Was this revenge for his earlier sword strike that severed the tree? Or retaliation for his earlier accusations? Even though there was a rocky platform below the cliff, how could he be certain that he would definitely land on the platform and not fall into the ten-thousand-zhang abyss?
Tang Lici—a man as venomous as snakes and scorpions, with poisonous qi swirling around him, poison penetrating to his very bones.
Not to mention Cheng Yunpao couldn't understand—even Tang Lici himself might not understand the true meaning behind that light push. Was it hatred for an enemy with different positions? Revenge for verbal accusations? A light punishment to establish authority? Or simply dissatisfaction with Cheng Yunpao?
Pursuing martial justice through any means necessary, eliminating the disaster of forbidden drugs—was this because he believed that good is rewarded with good and evil with evil, that fairness and justice must triumph over evil delusion and selfishness, that the human world would surely achieve freedom and peace? Or was he pursuing the promise of a word to a good friend, chasing the shadow of past friendship, willing to stain Cat Tooth Peak with blood to satisfy the deep deficiency in his heart, having nothing to do with fairness and justice?
No one but Tang Lici could answer this, and even if it were Tang Lici, could he really answer everything?
"Reporting to the Palace Master, Moon-Gazing Platform reports that thirty-six unidentified white-robed women have climbed Cat Tooth Peak. Our palace has abandoned defense of the Crystal Cave, and the ice stones at the cave entrance were also shattered by Cheng Yunpao. By this calculation, in no more than an hour, they will be able to find the passage and storm into our palace."
The urgent news from Tie Jing's mouth didn't sound particularly urgent. Wanyu Yuedan had just returned from the cliff top and, hearing this, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes slightly relaxed. "With enemies attacking, sound the drums. Those with insufficient ability should retreat via the ice path; everyone else remains to resist the enemy."
He said in a low voice, "Convey my order: today's battle, as I said two days ago, is for martial justice, for Biluo Palace's return to the Central Plains, and to leave a viable path for future generations. For these three causes, everyone must give their utmost effort."
Tie Jing received the order and withdrew. Wanyu Yuedan sat quietly in his room. All around was completely silent, without any sound, as if nothing existed in all directions and everything had died.
With a "creak," the room door was slowly pushed open. Someone stepped into the room but didn't close the door.
"Someone is attacking up the cliff?" The cold, proud tone contained killing intent—it was Cheng Yunpao's voice.
Wanyu Yuedan stood up, walked to the table, and slowly poured a cup of tea, smiling. "Master Cheng is an honored guest. Please have some tea."
Cheng Yunpao said calmly, "Oh, you already know about the attack from below?"
Wanyu Yuedan said, "I know."
Cheng Yunpao reached out to take the hot tea and drained it in one gulp. "What do you plan to do?"
Wanyu Yuedan still smiled. "Fight to the death."
Cheng Yunpao glanced at him and slammed the teacup back on the table with a "snap." "Living in seclusion beyond the world, untainted by martial dust—what's wrong with that? Young people with great ambitions, involving themselves in royal schemes and hegemonic enterprises, wanting to dominate the world—doesn't the fresh blood shed on the path to dominance mean nothing in your eyes?"
"Biluo Palace's roots are in the Central Plains." Wanyu Yuedan paused quietly, then said in a low voice, "Master Cheng, I want to return to the Luo River."
Cheng Yunpao's eyebrows moved.
Wanyu Yuedan cut him off, saying, "Fallen leaves return to their roots. Biluo Palace has no intention of lording over any sect, but we need the authority of this battle to return to the Luo River." He stepped forward, turning his back to Cheng Yunpao. "We want to go home."
Cheng Yunpao's moving eyebrows gradually calmed down as he looked coldly at Wanyu Yuedan. "The price of going home is a path of blood."
Wanyu Yuedan turned around, his pale, gentle face showing a mild smile. "I have always walked the same path."
Cheng Yunpao reached out to pick up the teapot from the table and drank a large mouthful of hot tea from the spout. "Haha, impractical fantasies, iron-blooded and heartless young man—it's because the martial world has so many hot-blooded people like you that it's so troubled."
Wanyu Yuedan smiled. "I wouldn't dare. But Master Cheng, can you now tell me who injured you? Who in the world has such great ability to severely injure Master Cheng to this extent?"
"Masked black pipa, thousand-flower white-robed woman." Cheng Yunpao's hand gripped his sword hilt. Speaking these ten words, his palm still seemed to burn, just like that stiffness, tension, and excitement he felt when he first drew his sword to face a strong enemy at age fourteen. "A black-clothed person with black gauze covering face and black cloth over head, holding crosswise a black pipa painted with bright moon and red plum blossoms, with thirty-six white gauze-masked women following behind, blocking my way."
Wanyu Yuedan made a soft sound of admiration, seeming both praising and sighing. "What a grand formation. And then?"
Cheng Yunpao flicked his robes and turned his back. "Then, it was the two young Wudang Taoists Shaoxuan and Shaoqi attacking from behind. Those two claimed they had encountered the murder-crazed demon Wei Beiyin in the extremely cold lands of ice and snow, and came to the Sword-Questioning Pavilion to ask me to go there. The result was leading me into a trap."
Wanyu Yuedan's distinct black and white eyes seemed both innocent and surprised as they lifted upward. "Oh?"
Cheng Yunpao laughed coldly. "I shook off the two ignorant young Taoists, the white-robed women attacked in encirclement, and at the moment they had me restrained, the black-clothed person struck the strings. I hadn't expected anyone in the world could practice such sonic killing methods. Under one string…"
Wanyu Yuedan interrupted, "I understand."
Cheng Yunpao stopped speaking, not continuing with the details of his crushing defeat. "Afterward, I was forced up Cat Tooth Peak. When I awoke, I was already here."
"Sonic killing methods—if no one can resist them, then only a deaf person with high martial arts could deal with this black-clothed masked guest." Wanyu Yuedan said, "Unfortunately…"
Cheng Yunpao gave a cold laugh. "Unfortunately, there's no deaf person with high martial arts in Biluo Palace. Even in the entire martial world, I've never heard of such a person."
Wanyu Yuedan smiled slightly. "Since there's no deaf person with high martial arts, then only a peerless master untroubled by sonic killing could resist…"
Cheng Yunpao slowly turned around. "To be untroubled by sonic killing, one either has no internal power and isn't injured by internal qi self-shock, or… is equally proficient in sonic killing methods and unshaken by the sound."
Wanyu Yuedan's smile became increasingly gentle. "Since someone could easily heal sonic killing injuries, then perhaps he could also easily resist sonic killing techniques."
Cheng Yunpao's eyes flashed with light as he said coldly, "It seems you've already deployed troops and assigned generals in your heart. No wonder you can still drink tea here with enemies at the gates."
Wanyu Yuedan sighed softly. "Master Cheng's injuries haven't healed. Please stay here to regulate your breathing. Tonight's battle doesn't require Master Cheng's intervention."
Just then, a melodious bell sound rang out over the mountain cliff. The bell sound was clear and resonant, echoing through the surrounding mountains in moments. The continuous bell sounds were unceasing, each sound ethereal and gentle like heavenly music.
After the bell finished ringing, all was still silent, not a sound from Biluo Palace, as if even Chi Yun, Shen Langhun, and the others had completely vanished.
Cheng Yunpao stood with his hands behind his back facing the open door. The door remained unclosed, fierce wind blowing into the room from outside, lifting the gauze curtains in flight and making the pearl curtains chime.
In past battlefields of clashing weapons and blood splattering three feet, Cheng Yunpao's blade was never absent, his chivalry never lacking. But tonight's battle—for the first time, he was not the protagonist; for the first time, he didn't know if tonight's battle was worth joining.
In past martial wanderings, black and white justice were simple and clear. Raising hand and dropping sword, the sword cut down evil and upheld righteousness. But tonight's battle pitted a mysterious organization with unclear crimes against the Biluo lineage aspiring to kingship. There was no pure justice, no pure outcome…
Resisting the attack of the black-clothed masked person and eliminating hidden disasters in the martial world was certainly good, but was the side he would draw sword to help truly worth his blade? Were they future kings of the martial world, or future hidden dangers? Moreover, in the battle situation, there was still Tang Lici with his unscrupulous methods and unfathomable purposes…
For the only time in his life, Cheng Yunpao gripped his sword with his right hand, not knowing whether he should draw it or not. Perhaps if they mutually destroyed each other, or if all three sides were defeated, that would be the best outcome for the martial world. But should he save the innocent lives who would die wrongly in the battle? How could he not save them? But to save—would require drawing his sword, and what would be his position in drawing it? His reason?
Facing the wildly flying fallen leaves and withered branches outside the open door, and the rolling sand, stones, and ice fragments on the ground, Cheng Yunpao pressed his sword and pondered deeply.
On Cat Tooth Peak, before the Crystal Cave, fragrance wafted in waves. Dozens of white-robed women formed battle array and waited. Slowly climbing up from the peak's base were figures in various clothing, of different heights, but wearing identical masks—their number far exceeded the white-robed women, approximately two hundred people. After another moment, the masked figures passed through the Crystal Cave, stepped onto the sky rope, and reached Azure Mountain Cliff, only a hundred zhang from the Orchid Pavilion.
"I was wondering what kind of things were sneaking around in the middle of the night, creeping into other people's courtyards. Turns out they all look exactly the same—just a bunch of shameless little caterpillars." In the fierce wind, under the falling remnant leaves dancing through the sky, a voice came from overhead. Judging by that cool tone, he had been sitting in the tree for quite a while.
"Why little caterpillars?" Another voice came from another large tree on Azure Mountain Cliff, tone indifferent. "Why not rats?"
"Because things that crawl all over the ground but have different colors and lengths can only be little caterpillars." The person in the opposite tree said coldly. "Rats run faster than them."
"I see," said the person in this tree. "So are you killing the caterpillars, or am I?"
"I only kill people. Killing little caterpillars is your specialty." The person in the opposite tree said. "Five copper coins per bug, kill first, pay later."
"Five copper coins isn't bad. Then I'll leave those bashfully beautiful, devastatingly gorgeous beauties behind to you."
"I'm cold toward beauties."
"Even better."
As this casual chat ended, all the masked figures had crossed the sky rope. The white-robed women slowly stepped onto the rope. Though their faces couldn't be seen, from their behavior, they seemed quite surprised that no one had targeted the sky rope.
"Dear beautiful ladies, in the middle of the night, climbing into other people's courtyards can lead to unexpected happenings, you know." Someone floated gracefully down from the opposite tree, white-robed and elegant, carrying a blade on his shoulder—it was Chi Yun. "Could you tell me your intentions for coming up the mountain in the middle of the night?"
"Our intention is to destroy Biluo Palace!" Among the masked white-robed women, someone with a clear voice spoke loudly. "Whoever dares to harbor Tang Lici and his group has no path other than death!"
"Is that so?" Chi Yun said coolly. "Then do you know my intention for sitting here blowing in the cold wind for half the night?"
The masked white-robed woman didn't answer.
Chi Yun continued coolly, "My intention is that whoever dares to step onto Biluo Palace and spout nonsense about killing people—whether beauty or ugly woman—has no path other than death."
"Arrogant brat!" Another person among the masked white-robed women cursed in response. "Sisters, kill him! Then clear Biluo Palace for our master!"
Some among the masked white-robed women responded with shouts, others nodded slightly. With a "swish" sound, all thirty-six drew their weapons.
Chi Yun was startled. He had thought this group of women must be assassins from the same organization with identical training, but when the thirty-six drew their weapons, they were completely different—sabers, swords, flutes, zithers, silk ribbons, hidden weapons, all varied. Even among the sabers, their sizes and shapes were completely unrelated, clearly not from the same teacher. Who could gather thirty-six naive young women of different backgrounds to do such unconscionable things? The "master" they spoke of was truly heinously evil and unforgivable!
"Brothers, tonight is everyone's opportunity to show loyalty, admiration, and obedience to our master. Whoever doesn't give their all tonight is disloyal to our master! Being disloyal to our master, what meaning is there in living? Whoever cannot defeat the enemy dies—" Among the white-robed women, the one who had spoken earlier declared loudly. Her voice was crisp and clear, suggesting she was quite young, yet she spoke constantly of death. Under that "master's" teaching, what exactly was human life in her heart?
The masked figures murmured agreement. As they agreed, dozens of silver lights flashed from this side's treetop, shooting into the crowd. Amid screams, over ten people staggered, pressing their chests. Someone cried out in alarm: "Shadow-shooting needles!"
The person in this tree neither spoke nor moved. Tree shadows swayed as if he had melted into the wind, completely invisible.
Chi Yun held his silver blade and grinned. "Come on up!"
Among the white-robed women, one advanced with a saber, one stood behind Chi Yun with a sword horizontal, one retreated ten steps—apparently skilled in long-range attacks—and another stood to Chi Yun's right with empty hands, seemingly quite confident in her abilities.
Chi Yun looked up at the sky and laughed. "Let me see which families you young girls belong to, what unfilial daughters you are—" He pointed at the saber-wielding woman opposite. "You're first. Watch your veil—"
The woman swung her saber and attacked. The sound of blade wind howled, blade light gleaming—her power was actually quite good. Chi Yun struck with a grappling move, his finger wind aiming directly at the white gauze on her face. The three women around him responded immediately. The distant one raised her hand, and four flying diamonds rapidly struck four major acupoints on Chi Yun's body. The sword-wielding woman swept with her blade, cold intent scraping against skin—this was yin-power cold sword technique. Finally, the empty-handed woman delivered a palm strike—Chi Yun suddenly turned to receive the palm. He didn't even look at the saber, sword, or hidden weapons, but this splitting-air palm was a supreme move combining power, angle, timing, and palm technique. With a light "snap," their palms met. Chi Yun's whole body shook, and the white-robed woman's entire body also trembled as she leaned back to retreat.
After receiving the palm, Chi Yun suddenly pressed forward again, grabbing toward her masked white gauze, saying with changed expression, "You—"
The white-robed woman, shaken by his palm force, retreated three steps. Unprepared for Chi Yun's lightning-fast move, she felt coolness on her face as the masked white gauze left her face. Her expression couldn't help but change slightly.
Chi Yun held the gauze in his hand, his face flushed with anger. "You—you—"
This white-robed woman had skin like white jade, a pointed oval face, long elegant eyebrows and eyes, extremely ethereal and clear. She was tall with a slender waist—precisely Chi Yun's unbetrothed wife, the daughter of the White mansion's Bai Yuming, "Moonlight Heavenly Garment" Bai Suche!
Having discovered it was her with one move, Chi Yun was so angry his chest nearly burst. "It's actually you!"
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