Notwithstanding the embattled vegetation’s valiant defence, a lot of them had succumbed to the bitter gales and indiscriminate energy. The only thing that withstood the clash was the anti-dragon diagram consisting of forty-nine circular bits of fengqi shenmu, with the Yanhui’s scale as a trigger. The reinforced formation was what drew a target on them.
Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Tianfeng Xuanyuan worked on recalibrating his breathing – bloodstains still visible around his mouth. Lian Zhuiyue, sword involuntarily cast far off, had only just sealed his main accupoints to prevent further damage. Ming Xiaolou mouth was agape, tongue visible. Sima Huai, requiring a tree trunk to support his torso, silently meditated. Ming Suwen was the only one still standing… for now.
Appearing and sounding as though she hadn’t even started her warm-up despite single-handedly defeating four Mount Daluo direct disciples, the armour-clad maiden cast aside Ming Xiaolou’s sword. While the sword wasn’t a renowned sword, the maiden disarmed Ming Xiaolou effortlessly. “I won’t kill you. We have no reason to fight you. Sky Palace and Mount Daluo have maintained peace for nearly thirty years. There is no reason to start another dispute. That being said, Mount Daluo is impeding our operation. As you have lost, please depart from Nanjiang. I insist on dismantling the formation posterior to you. The fengqi shenmu must go, too.”
She extended her arm out in front, thwarting Sima Huai’s attempt to catch her off guard so perfectly that one might think he deliberately let her catch his arm. Sima Huai disengaged immediately before she could add a squeeze, but his arm had gone cold and bereft of feeling no matter how he tried to restore homeostasis.
“Your qingong is incredible. I would not have a chance against you in a racewalk, so I need to circumvent you from causing me problems.”
“Third, pry open your sealed accupoint with 80% of your full capacity,” Ming Suwen instructed.
Face as white as a sheet, Sima Huai bitterly smiled. “I tried… but failed to open it.”
“You don’t have the strength to open it. Just keep it up. Once the pain becomes unbearable, reverse your flow of qi, and you’ll get rid of the barricade. Leverage true qi’s opposition to usher your true qi in another direction. You can’t let the cold qi stay inside you, though, so make sure you expel it from your feet all at once.”
Sima Huai immediately did as he was taught.
“Sky Palace and Mount Daluo are both sects outside of the secular world. As one of Demon Realm’s Stone Pillars, why make things difficult for the kids?” Ming Suwen dimpled. “Why not speak directly to me?”
“I already said what needs to be said.”
“You need to ask me for permission.”
“… Leave Nanjiang and move aside.”
“As you have made a request, I shall give my response: I refuse.” Ming Suwen rubbed away the red at the corner of her lips. “It’s about time. All of you get going. All of you. When you meet up with your first brother, tell him to come save me.”
“We cannot all leave,” argued Tianfeng Xuanyuan. “I shall stay to protect you.”
Sima Huai immediately took off at full speed once he excreted the cold qi plaguing him. Ming Xiaolou looked back and forth between their opponent and Ming Suwen prior to her departure.
“You two also need to get moving. This isn’t just about me. If they continue raising dragons here, what will become of Mount Daluo’s duty? Go now.”
“… Uhm. W-we’ll be back before you know it. Take care, Grandaunt.” Tianfeng Xuanyuan reluctantly left.
Lian Zhuiyue got up, though it was to search for his sword instead of leaving. He dusted off his sword, then spun around. “Fight without reservations, Grandaunt. I shall support you.”
Tianfeng Xuanyuan personified cute honesty. Sima Huai embodied the decisiveness of a general. Xia’er inherited her mother’s easy-going sense of heroism as well as her father’s attention to detail. Lian Zhuiyue was born a gentleman.
Ming Suwen gave Lian Zhuiyue a smile. “Back me up, then.” She then turned back to the threat. “I thought you would’ve stopped them from leaving.”
“I wanted to, but I can’t. You have locked on to me. If I want to go after them, I need to get past you first.”
“Now that’s even more perplexing. What’s wrong with fighting me? It’s not like I can beat you.”
“… I have weighed the consequences of fighting you; however, I’m not confident I can subdue without killing you. If I kill you, though, we will not be able to bear the consequences.”
“You sound confident to me. You sure you can kill me?”
“Yes. I am more skilled than you. Although you’re slippery, I can kill you within a hundred exchanges without a doubt.”
“I like that you’re candid. Indeed, you are more skilled. As a matter fact, even I reckon I’ll die. How about we play a game? If I can’t survive a hundred exchanges, lose in one exchange or get hurt, I’ll piss off back to Beiping, and you can do whatever you want. You can have the wood to construct a house. If I survive, on the other hand,” Ming Suwen brought her upwardly curved lips down to neutral, “you have to answer a question of mine.”
The armoured maiden didn’t respond for whatever reason.
“You’re running out of time. Once my help arrives, it’ll be too late to accept my offer.”
The maiden visualised a match with Ming Suwen three times before gaining the confidence to incapacitate Ming Suwen within seventy exchanges. “Deal.”
