I had worked so hard to write 6666 words in the last chapter, but it was 6660. Speechless … PS: I want a monthly vote.
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When Thirteenth Wang's palm cut through the willow tree and Fan Xian turned into a butterfly, Lang Tiao and Yun Zhilan did not even look at each other. They could feel the regret and fear in each other's hearts.
Only now did they understand why Fan Xian had not thought about retreating after being discovered in the mountain residence. Instead, he had fled toward the Sword Hut. That was why he had coincidentally subdued the Northern Qi Emperor. From the beginning, Fan Xian's goal had been the Sword Hut. He had come today to enter the Sword Hut and see Sigu Jian.
In midair, Lang Tiao let out a wild howl. The metal chains on his wrists clanked. The two curved knives sliced toward Fan Xian's back like two pieces of golden light. He knew that he could not allow Fan Xian to take the Emperor hostage and enter the depths of the Sword Hut. Once he left his sight, no one knew what kind of terrifying conclusion Northern Qi would meet.
Furthermore, he believed the Emperor, who was subdued by Fan Xian. Although the Emperor was young, his experiences these years had proven that he had insight and wisdom that far exceeded that of mortals. Since the Emperor calculated that Fan Xian would not harm him, then Lang Tiao was going to bet on this. He was going to attack where Fan Xian had to save him and force him to withdraw his hand.
The two pieces of golden light sliced toward Fan Xian's opening. The long sword in Yun Zhilan's hand was incomparably quiet. It calmly and evenly passed through the gap between the two pieces of golden light and pierced toward the back of Fan Xian's neck. The sword light spat out like a silver snake spitting out its tongue. The sword intent was swift and fierce.
The sword intent of this strike was actually very similar to the sword intent Thirteenth Wang had used earlier with the willow in his arms. They were both Sigu Jian's most focused attacks that only cared about the front and not the back. Yun Zhilan's reason for taking the risk to attack was different from Lang Tiao's. He cared about the Northern Qi Emperor's life and death, but he didn't believe in the Northern Qi Emperor's judgment. However, he had a great reason not to let Fan Xian enter the Sword Hut because his teacher was inside.
Due to different reasons, the two superior ninth-level aces made the same decision. At the same time, they used their trump cards. Regardless of the cost and even risking the risk of Fan Xian killing the Northern Qi Emperor, they sliced toward the large opening behind Fan Xian.
At this time, the four people in the air were like birds flying above a stone plain in the front yard of the Sword Hut. Time seemed to have stopped at this moment.
Fan Xian held the Northern Qi Emperor in his hand. Although his right hand held the black dagger, he was unable to stop the chill from behind him.
Behind him, Lang Tiao and Yun Zhilan floated in midair. Their swords and sabers sliced through the air soundlessly, but their auras interfered with each other, giving off a chilling creaking sound.
At this moment, if Fan Xian did not abandon her and turn back to save himself, only death awaited him. If he turned around to save himself, he would probably be heavily injured. Furthermore, the Northern Qi Emperor would certainly break free of his control.
So, Fan Xian chose to do nothing. He continued to follow his fixed flight path and rushed toward the second door of the grass hut, completely ignoring the curved knife and straight sword behind him.
He had left Jingdou, come to Dongyi, entered the mountain residence, and charged straight into the Sword Hut. It was all based on one judgment and one confidence. He did not believe that after the other party had shown so much sincerity, they would just watch as all this happened.
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This matter had nothing to do with luck. It was completely based on Fan Xian's judgment of the situation in the world, his insight into people's hearts, and his confidence in that strange old creature.
Things happened as he wished. When the knives and swords were still half a foot from his back, the door three feet in front of him creaked open. The second door of the Sword Hut opened wide in front of the fleeing Fan Xian, welcoming his arrival.
Fan Xian carried the Northern Qi Emperor and threw himself in. Then, the door closed with a bang, firmly shutting Lang Tiao and Yun Zhilan outside, as well as the two curved knives and the long sword outside.
The door of the grass hut was often only a symbolic separation. It was mostly made of hay and wood. Such a weak door had, in that instant, blocked between Fan Xian and the two aces behind him.
How could such a door stop the red-eyed Lang Tiao and Yun Zhilan?
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The scene outside the Sword Hut was in chaos. A dozen streaks of flowing light scattered, avoiding the willow tree. Thirteenth Wang had abandoned the willow tree and stood alone. No one paid attention to him. They only turned their nervous gazes toward the door of the Sword Hut. They all clearly saw Lang Tiao and Yun Zhilan, these two powerful warriors, chasing Fan Xian into the grass hut.
However, after a moment, everyone was shocked speechless by the scene that followed.
With two muffled grunts, two figures flew back wretchedly. It was Lang Tiao and Yun Zhilan. When they had charged into the Sword Hut, they had been imposing. Now, they had retreated at an even faster speed. Their situation was wretched.
Lang Tiao somersaulted a few times in the air. The power in his body rose to the limit. His two curved knives protected his body like rain. A golden light enveloped the area in front of him. No one knew what invisible power he was resisting.
On the other hand, Yun Zhilan lowered his head and restrained his breathing. One knee was raised slightly, and the other was extended horizontally behind him. His sword was held horizontally to his brow. He was very respectful and didn't dare to use his Qi. He only used the pure zhenqi in his body to barely resist. He retreated quickly, not daring to stop at all.
Lang Tiao spun faster and faster in the air. His two knives also sped faster and faster. In the end, they became two streaks of flowing light. With a loud cry, his two knives chopped down. After a muffled thud, his body stopped.
A tree branch was cut in half by him and fell weakly to the ground. Lang Tiao pushed back with one foot and raised his brows. He forced himself not to retreat, but his chest felt heavy. In the end, the boundless killing intent contained in the tree branch had shattered his meridians. He spat out a mouthful of blood.
Yun Zhilan retreated even faster than Lang Tiao, more completely, and more respectfully. He had no intention of using the sword in his hand to resist anything. He was forced back 150 feet. He then knelt on one knee on the ground and raised his sword with trembling hands.
A verdant leaf was attached to the blade of his sword.
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Everyone present was shocked. They watched as these two warriors were about to capture Fan Xian. Who would have thought that the person in the Sword Hut would only use a branch and a leaf to force these two warriors back?
There were only a few people in this world who had such an unfathomable realm. The master of the Sword Hut was clearly one of them. It looked like the ruckus outside the Sword Hut had finally startled the ruthless sword saint.
Sigu Jian had chopped off a branch and picked up a leaf to force back the two ninth-level aces at the very top of the human world. The realm of a Great Grandmaster was indeed far beyond the mortal realm.
However, in the end, this Great Grandmaster was still biased. So, he had thrown a leaf at his eldest disciple and a branch at Lang Tiao.
When he saw the green leaf fly out of the second door, Yun Zhilan could only retreat in fear. Lang Tiao, on the other hand, was filled with an endless desire to fight. He forcefully took on the branch — that was why Lang Tiao was injured and vomited blood. In the time it took for a spark to fly off a flint, this was what happened.
Sigu Jian, who had been silent for almost three years and had hidden in the Sword Hut and not seen visitors for three years, finally made his move. It would have been fine if he hadn't made his move. Once he did, it was world-shaking and shocked the surroundings.
Outside the Grass Door, all of the disciples of the Sword Hut knelt on the ground in unison and kowtowed in the direction of the Sword Hut. The disciples who had participated in the matter of controlling Thirteenth Wang felt fear and a powerful sense of unease. Unconsciously, they began to search with their gazes for their eldest disciple brother's figure. Just like what was written in many novels, among the groups that were best at taking the blame, the eldest disciple brother would definitely take the most blame, such as the monkey.
Yun Zhilan half-knelt on the ground. His expression was calm, but the sleeve on his forearm trembled gently like it had been blown by the wind, revealing the true emotions in the depths of his heart. He didn't know when his teacher had come to the front of the Sword Hut. He also didn't know what his teacher thought of his actions. He only knew that he had to do this, even if his teacher did not allow it.
Friar He supported the injured Lang Tiao. The Northern Qi aces looked in shock at the tightly closed door of the Sword Hut. They didn't know what was happening inside or what was about to happen. Why would Sigu Jian help Fan Xian hold the Emperor hostage? Was the Emperor still safe? Their hearts were burning with anxiety. Under Sigu Jian's might, they did not dare charge in to save him.
Even the most powerful of them, Sir Lang Tiao, could not defeat a branch casually thrown by Sigu Jian. This kind of difference in power could not be made up for with determination and courage.
Lang Tiao slowly wiped away the blood at the corner of his lips and looked coldly into the depths of the Sword Hut. A complicated emotion flashed through his eyes. It was as if he felt that some things were beyond his expectations.
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Landing heavily on the hard stone ground, the tip of Fan Xian's foot pulled back in the moment of impact. Using the momentum, he bounced up. His palm had long let go of the little Emperor's hand. Raising it, he held the black dagger upside down in his right hand. Half crouching on the ground, he stared at the wooden door behind him.
In such a short amount of time, he had forcefully changed his position, prepared his killing move, and assumed the posture of a tiger fighting a rabbit. It had to be said that Fan Xian's present strength was indeed valiant.
If Yun Zhilan and Lang Tiao had broken in at this moment, at least Fan Xian would not be as wretched as he was earlier. On the contrary, he would have been able to give them a lightning-fast attack.
It was just that after a long time, that seemingly fragile grass door was still quietly closed. No one broke through the door, and even the sound outside the door gradually became weaker. This overly ordinary grass door seemed to be able to shut out all the wind, rain, and blood outside. It allowed the people inside to form their own unity and live peacefully in the Sword Hut, seeking their own happiness in seclusion.
After a long time, Fan Xian slowly rose and looked at the door with narrowed eyes. He knew that since Yun Zhilan and Lang Tiao had not charged in earlier, they would not have the courage to make a second attempt, at least in a short period of time.
Without even thinking, he knew why. Although the Sword Hut was a martial holy land, for Yun Zhilan, the only person who could drive him out was the master of the Sword Hut, that strange and ruthless Great Grandmaster.
Fan Xian was not surprised. The reason he had chosen to forcefully break into the Sword Hut earlier was because he had guessed that Sigu Jian would not just watch as he was taken advantage of. He was only curious as to what method Sigu Jian had used to express his attitude.
It was completely silent inside the Sword Hut. Fan Xian turned around and found that the little Northern Qi Emperor was half-sitting on the stone floor, holding his foot. It seemed that the collision earlier had injured him. Fan Xian was not in the mood to pay attention to him. He only calmly looked around. However, he did not see any trace of anyone.
He did not see that branch or leaf. In the instant before he turned around, he faintly caught a familiar figure out of the corner of his eye. It was this figure that made him feel strange. Coming to the Sword Hut today, he did not bring the Shadow. Who was that figure? If it was Sigu Jian, why did he feel it was familiar?
On the stone floor, bits of grass slowly moved with the wind. The clamor outside the Sword Hut seemed to be a story from many years ago. Fan Xian walked to the Northern Qi Emperor's side and stretched out a hand to help him up. He then walked toward the third door in the Sword Hut.
Just as the two of them were less than three steps away from the door, it was slowly pulled open from the inside. A child stuck out his head. His lively eyes moved endlessly, sweeping a few times between Fan Xian and the Northern Qi Emperor. With a chuckle, he said, "Which of you is surnamed Fan? Which is surnamed Zhan? "
"I am the Northern Qi Emperor." The Northern Qi Emperor's face was deathly white. It looked like the injury to his ankle made him unable to endure the pain. Inside the Sword Hut, he still habitually opened his mouth to speak first.
Fan Xian felt very strange. He didn't know what he would encounter in the Sword Hut. With a slightly mocking smile, he said, "Then, I can only be surnamed Fan."
Hearing the two of them announce their surnames, the child smiled happily and pulled the grass door completely open. Bowing respectfully, he said, "Please follow me. The room is still inside."
The child turned to lead the way. In Fan Xian's arms, the Northern Qi Emperor furrowed his brows. He had been in Dongyi for a number of days and had entered the Sword Hut many times. He was not unfamiliar with the roads, but he had never seen Sigu Jian in person. Fan Xian had broken through his and Yun Zhilan's obstruction and forcefully entered the Sword Hut. It looked like Sigu Jian was not angry. On the contrary, he had the intention of meeting the two of them.
Thinking of this, the Northern Qi Emperor's state of mind became serious. He faintly sensed that something was wrong.
Fan Xian's gaze was focused behind the child. The child carried a long sword on his back. It looked completely at odds with his thin figure.
Before long, the child brought the two of them to a room deep in the Sword Hut. A servant woman brought in hot water and food before retreating, leaving the quiet room for Fan Xian and the Northern Qi Emperor.
The host had not said anything to meet them, so the two guests could only passively accept the arrangements. Deep in the Sword Hut, the room was unusually quiet. Fan Xian and the Northern Qi Emperor were alone in the quiet room. The atmosphere immediately became strange.
Fan Xian walked to the window and pushed it open to look out. With a glance, he saw the large pit in the middle of the courtyard. His pupils constricted slightly.
The Northern Qi Emperor sat on the side of the bed behind him and stared coldly at his back. "Fan Xian, right now, it's just you and me. If you have anything to say, you can say it."
Fan Xian didn't turn his head. In a quiet voice, he replied, "I trust that Sigu Jian will be able to hear anything we say. However, I am indeed curious as to how you guessed I was hiding in Lili's room."
The Northern Qi Emperor smiled strangely and didn't explain. On the contrary, he said, "I am also curious as to how you guessed I knew your whereabouts and arranged for someone to kill you."
Fan Xian shrugged and pulled his gaze back from the various swords in the pit. Turning to look at the Northern Qi Emperor, he calmly said, "There is no need to explain this question. Actually, I am just a bit angry. Why have you become so stupid and childish?"
He slowly lowered his eyelids and said, "Have you ever thought about what kind of price the world will pay after you kill me?"
The little Emperor furrowed his brows. He didn't know if it was because of the unbearable pain in his ankle or because Fan Xian had given him such a low evaluation.
Fan Xian walked back from the window and sat on the stool in front of the bed. Calmly, he looked at the little Emperor's face. Suddenly, he said, "You are no longer young, but I still habitually think of you as a little Emperor."
Facing the Northern Qi Emperor, he spoke as if he was talking to a commoner. The attitude and emotions Fan Xian displayed truly shook the Northern Qi Emperor's heart. This was not a matter of strength. It was a sense of equality rooted in the deepest parts of one's bones and blood. Even if it was Lang Tiao or Yun Zhilan, when facing the Northern Qi Emperor, they would still be incomparably respectful. No one would be like Fan Xian, who saw the dignity of a ruler as nothing.
Fan Xian calmly looked at the little Emperor's delicate and ordinary face. His thoughts had drifted somewhere. He knew better than anyone else in the world how powerful this little Emperor was. A few years ago, he, who was still rather immature, had already taken the lead in setting up the Jiangnan area of the Qing Kingdom. Regardless of whether it was Fan Xian or the Eldest Princess who controlled the palace treasury in the future, he would receive some benefits from it. Another example was the death of Shen Zhong, the commander of the Northern Qi Brocade Guards. This little Emperor had cleverly used Shang Shanhu and killed three birds with one stone. It had to be said that the Emperor's heart was like a mirror.
However, Fan Xian still could not understand why the Emperor would want to kill him. During the Jingdou rebellion in the seventh year of the Qing calendar, the Northern Qi Emperor could have used the Eldest Princess's hand to kill him and then helped the Great Prince ascend to the throne, which would have been of great benefit to Northern Qi. Now, three years had passed. If he was killed in Dongyi, Northern Qi would not be able to stay out of it.
"Killing you in Dongyi can at least force Dongyi to be unable to surrender to the Qing Kingdom." The little Emperor looked at Fan Xian coldly. It was as if she was not afraid of explaining anything in front of him. "As for whether or not your death will anger the Qing court, that is not within my consideration. Are you saying that if you don't die, your old Emperor will not use military force against the Qi Kingdom?"
The little Emperor laughed coldly. "Since regardless of whether you live or die, you will not be able to stop the war from erupting, your death can at least have Dongyi side with me. Why wouldn't I do such a good thing? "
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