"Oh?" Meng Fuyao didn't seem to notice the murderous aura. She lifted her head and smiled. "Who's your Senior Brother Yan? Why haven't I heard of it? "
The crowd was in an uproar again. They all felt that this lad was either reckless or acting dumb. The Twin Paragons of the Upper Abyss had recently risen to fame. They were of noble birth, with a talented man and a beautiful woman. They were the best couple in the martial arts world. Moreover, Yan Jingchen was the new Sect Leader of the Xuanyuan Sect, one of the Three Major Sword Sects of the Xuanyuan Sect. How could they not have heard of him?
She only smiled warmly and innocently. The young man thought that she was afraid of him and could not help but feel proud. He sneered, "That's because you're ignorant and inexperienced. Who in the world has not heard of us, the Twin Paragons of the Upper Abyss? Today, you humiliated my Senior Brother Yan and Senior Sister Pei, which means that you have offended my Profound Essence Sect. We are magnanimous and will not bicker with you. Just kneel down and kowtow. "
"Spit!"
A brittle bone was spat out, splashing onto the young man's face and smearing his greasy face.
She gave the arrogant youth a simple answer.
She then turned around and smiled at Ya Lanzhu and Yun Hen. "Let's go. I'm in a good mood. I don't want to fight."
Since Yun Hen heard Yan Jingchen's name, he was silent. A dark light flashed in his eyes and he stood up silently.
"Stop!"
The young man did not expect anyone to be so impudent to the Xuanyuan Sect. His face froze for a moment before he reacted. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, he was seething with anger. Without another word, his long sword flashed and the sound of wind and thunder could be heard as it pierced towards Fuyao's back.
His swordplay was extremely swift and fierce. When he brandished his sword, there was a slight sound of thunder. With a flick of his wrist, several sword flowers appeared, dazzling the eyes. The people in the restaurant cheered loudly.
Someone shouted, "Thunder Surge Art! As expected of one of the world's top martial arts mental cultivation methods! "
Some kind-hearted drinkers screamed, "Be careful! Run!"
Amidst the clamor, the swift and fierce sword light reached Fuyao's back in an instant. The wind howled fiercely, determined to pierce through her heart.
She continued walking forward as if she hadn't seen or heard anything.
Some people's sighs were about to escape from their throats.
However, they only sighed halfway before they suddenly stopped and slowly widened their eyes.
Ahead.
The sound of the wind suddenly died down.
The sword light withered like a falling flower.
Unbeknownst to her, the long sword that had been tempered a hundred times was firmly gripped in her palm. She gripped the sword as if it was a piece of soft mud, nonchalant and nonchalant.
The wind blew at her long hair. She approached the tip of the sword and looked at it carefully as if she was short-sighted. Then, she wiped it lightly.
The longsword made of fine steel was suddenly pinched into a thin steel wire. Then, she twirled it into the shape of an animal. She squinted at it and nodded in satisfaction.
Everyone in the restaurant took in a deep breath. Some of the sharper ones vaguely recalled the moment when the sword light had been inches away from her back. She had suddenly raised her hand, and with a flash of her black sleeves, a shadow untraceable to the naked eye, had caught the tip of the young man's sword.
To be able to catch a swift sword imbued with the mental cultivation method of the Thundering Incantation, what kind of eyesight and inner strength did one need to do this?
Since when did such a young expert appear in the Jianghu?
The few martial artists from the Upper Abyss, who had been very ostentatious just a moment ago, were now speechless. They looked at each other in fear. They had thought that with the Xuanyuan Sect's swift and decisive style and the new sect leader's unparalleled Thundering Incantation, the True Martial Arts Meet would be a piece of cake. Who would have thought that an inconspicuous young man in the restaurant would be able to defeat the Xuanyuan Sect's most famous disciple with just a lift of his hand?
The rest of the customers were excited. It seemed that this year's True Martial Arts Meet was not as suspenseful as they had imagined.
The young man, whose sword had been twisted into a flower by Meng Fuyao, froze on the spot. He stared in disbelief at Meng Fuyao, who was leisurely knitting the steel wire. Meng Fuyao weighed the knitted dog in her palm and threw it into his arms. "The Xuanyuan Sect only knows how to stab people in the back. Next time, please do something more presentable. Also, help me bring this pair of dogs to your sect leader as a congratulatory gift for the couple," she said.
She clapped her hands and turned to leave. Suddenly, an angry roar came from behind, followed by a flash of black needles shot out from the young man's sleeves, heading straight for the three of them. Meng Fuyao ignored him.
Ya Lanzhu snorted and was about to make a move when she was pulled back by Meng Fuyao. Yun Hen, who was walking at the back, flung out his sleeves like a steel plate, and the needles fell to the ground silently. The color of the needles was cyan, and one look was enough to tell that they were poisonous. Yun Hen looked back coldly without saying a word. His cold Spectral Eyes stared at the young man who had once again launched a sneak attack from behind. His eyes were filled with starfire, and the cold light was terrifying. The young man shuddered and could not help but take a step back.
As he retreated, he suddenly realized that Meng Fuyao, who had been standing at the door in front of him, was now standing silently behind him.
He was shocked and jumped away, but it was too late. Meng Fuyao, who was behind him, said coldly, "Those who don't accept a lesson must be taught a heavier one."
She raised her hand and flicked her fingers. Her movements did not seem fast, but the young man stared at her hand and realized that it was an all-encompassing gesture. No matter which direction he ran in, he would not be able to avoid her next move. His eyes widened in fear, and a chill seeped into his heart.
"Crack."
There was a slight cracking sound, and blood splattered, followed by a miserable howl.
Meng Fuyao's attack had pierced through the young man's shoulder blade.
She retracted her hand and looked down at the young man who was rolling on the floor, clutching his shoulder. "You shouldn't be punished like this for offending me. However, you're not only arrogant, but also vicious and willfully kill the innocent. Sooner or later, more people will suffer because of someone like you who knows martial arts. In that case, I'll have to work hard to get rid of you."
The floor was stained with fresh blood, like a blood-colored painting. Meng Fuyao stood on top of it, her voice calm but murderous. Everyone in the restaurant held their breath. It was so quiet that even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard. Only then did they pay attention to Meng Fuyao. Only then did they realize that this inconspicuous young man was filled with a murderous aura once he made a move. He was an elite who had fought his way through mountains of corpses, seas of blood, and piles of bones.
A few of the boastful Upper Abyss martial artists had already slipped away, and the young man's companions cowered over to help him up. The young man was also strong-willed. He did not groan even though he was rolling on the floor in pain. His forehead was beaded with sweat, and he stared at Meng Fuyao with a sallow face. He gritted his teeth and hissed, "… Xuanyuan … Sect's dignity cannot be … insulted. Leave your … name … Sect Master Yan … will definitely … repay you!"
'Leave your name.'
Meng Fuyao raised her head slightly and looked at the bright sun outside the restaurant. The brilliant sunlight spread out before her eyes like water, revealing the warmth of the young man who bowed his head and smiled when it was raining cats and dogs. She saw the night she broke up with him on Mount Xuanyuan with her sword. She saw Lin Xuanyuan's sneak attack in the martial arts arena. She saw Pei Yuan pushing her down the cliff in the back cave.
Those were the past, but they also represented the beginning of the time when she had to hide her identity.
In those days, she, Meng Fuyao, was a pawn that anyone could look down on. She was a piece of trash that was despised by men she liked. She was the target of humiliation from the entire Xuanyuan Sword Sect.
Time flowed by, and fate changed. It was time for the entire Xuanyuan Sword Sect, and even the entire world, to hear the name of the wretched and useless ugly girl.
Meng Fuyao smiled brightly, brightly, and brightly.
She looked down at the young man and said in a clear voice, "Tell Yan Jingchen that I, Meng Fuyao, accept your challenge and am determined to trample on the dignity of your Xuanyuan Sword Sect. He better pack his bags and leave Tiansha. Otherwise, I will make sure that there is no Xuanyuan Sword Sect in the history of the martial arts world."
= = =
When Meng Fuyao returned to her house from the inn, she was shocked to find that Tie Cheng had already returned with his guards. In the main hall sat a man who was leisurely drinking tea.
The man's clothes were as white as snow, and he had a clean temperament. He used his own teacup and drank his tea leaves. Not even a fly dared to come within three feet of him, let alone a human.
Zong Yue.
The moment Meng Fuyao saw him, she instinctively wanted to take a detour. She had only turned halfway when she heard the sharp-tongued man say, "I haven't seen you for a while. General Meng's ability to attract women has improved. You will never lack men by your side."
Yun Hen's eyebrows twitched, and his eyes flashed with anger. Meng Fuyao tugged at his sleeve and said in a low voice, "That's how he is. Ignore him. He's a physician, after all. He's useful." She turned around and giggled. "Yeah, see? Aren't you here to make up the numbers?"
Zong Yue slowly sipped his tea. "I'm a physician, after all. He's useful."
Meng Fuyao smiled sheepishly and walked back and forth in front of him with a determined smile. Zong Yue pretended not to see her and sat down to drink his tea. After a while, he suddenly realized something. "Eh? You've put on new makeup? You're so extraordinary and transcendent. You stand out from the rest of the world. "
Meng Fuyao touched her broken tooth and sighed. "That's how a person's personality is built …"
Physician Zong was finally done with his sharp-tongued words. He dragged Meng Fuyao into the inner chamber to see her broken tooth and ordered people to prepare the materials. Filling teeth was considered a technical job in ancient times, but it was not a problem for Zong Yue, who was born with dexterous hands. He used white tin, silver foil, and mercury to create an "amalgam", which was the fake tooth of today. He was afraid that the silver tooth would affect the appearance, so he skillfully carved a small jade cover. Meng Fuyao held the almost real tooth in her hands and clicked her tongue in admiration. She really did not know how he made it.
Physician Zong then dragged her into the inner chamber to have her tooth extracted. It was not easy to fix half a tooth, so he simply extracted it and replaced it with a whole tooth. As a result, Ya Lanzhu, Yun Hen, and Lord Ingot heard a cry that sounded like a pig being slaughtered. "Ouch! It hurts! Ouch!"
Ya Lanzhu asked Yun Hen in a daze. "She didn't even frown when she was injured. Why is she crying like this after having her tooth extracted?"
Yun Hen could not figure out Fuyao's behavior either, so he cast a questioning gaze at Lord Ingot, who had spent the longest time with her.
Lord Ingot was hugging a fruit and munching on it. He could not be bothered to answer such a retarded question. When one was fighting for their lives, no one cared about their cries of pain. Now that someone cared, it was only natural for her to cry out in pain.
Sure enough, when Meng Fuyao requested a Manchu-Han Imperial Feast to soothe her injured gums, Zong Yue coldly replied, "The tooth has not solidified yet. You can only drink porridge."
Meng Fuyao frowned and sighed as she drank the porridge. Zong Yue ignored her and counted the medicine in his pouch. Suddenly, he sighed.
"What's wrong?" Meng Fuyao asked curiously.
"I'm still missing one antidote," Zong Yue answered.
"Really?" Meng Fuyao rejoiced. "I've asked around. Only the Vault of Evergreen Temple has the antidote. I can't get in."
Meng Fuyao's eyes glazed over as she drank the porridge. After a while, she sighed sadly.
It seemed that she was fated with the Vault of Evergreen in her past life. Everything was bound to happen there.
She recalled the bead given by the Moon Spirit and took it out for Zong Yue to see. His expression changed immediately. After listening to Meng Fuyao's explanation, he sighed. "Good people don't live long, but bad people get lucky. It seems like this is true."
Meng Fuyao pretended not to hear him. "Good stuff?"
Zong Yue took the bead and carefully broke it into two. He soaked it in snow lotus and wine and placed it in a cool place. "Take it at midnight and circulate your Qi three times. In the future, adjust your breathing at night when the moon is the brightest. I guarantee that you'll reach a higher level and enjoy endless benefits."
Meng Fuyao peevishly looked at the remaining half. "What about the other half?"
"You can't use so much now. Keep the other half," Zong Yue answered. "Use it when you reach the next two levels. It'll be twice as effective."
Meng Fuyao thought for a while and took out the box given by Yun Hun. "Doctor Mongolian, you've treated me so many times, but I've never paid you any fees. You can have this box."
"So you still remember that you owe me fees." Zong Yue mocked her out of habit. He took the box and looked at it, but couldn't see anything. "This thing can be dissolved with medicine. I'll keep it first. It's not easy to get it back."
Meng Fuyao waved her hand and yawned for days, wanting to sleep. Zong Yue sat upright and did not leave. The shadow of the willow tree outside the house cast a strange smile on his face. He suddenly said, "I passed by the Xuanji border on my way back and happened to meet the imperial carriage of the Xuanji Kingdom that came to welcome Princess Fo Lian back to the country."
Meng Fuyao's heart skipped a beat. She narrowed her eyes. "What does that have to do with me?"
Zong Yue's eyes flashed, and he forced a smile. "So you've met her. Otherwise, you would've asked who she is."
Meng Fuyao immediately yawned. "I just met her on the road. She has a unique personality, and her outlook on life, the world, and morals are extraordinary. I wouldn't dare to be interested in her."
"It's useless even if you're not interested," Zong Yue said leisurely. "Rumor has it that Princess Fu Lian was suddenly guided by Buddha on her way back to her country. She said that a Buddhist disciple would be born in Tiansha. As a famous Saintess born in the Five Continents, the Princess is very devout. She must personally witness the birth of a Buddhist disciple and pay her respects."
Meng Fuyao sighed. "Poor Buddha. When will he be able to escape the tragic fate of being used as a shield by her?"
Zong Yue looked at her meaningfully. "Since you're not interested in this news, I'll be leaving."
He left casually, leaving Meng Fuyao in a meditative state on the bed. After a while, she whispered to Lord Ingot, "Hey, Haozi, what were you trying to say to me in the Vast Jungle?"
Lord Ingot lay down calmly, crossing his legs and shaking them, ignoring Meng Fuyao.
'Who asked you to not listen to my explanation and cause me to lose four strands of hair? Even if you want to hear it now, I won't tell you.
Since you're coming, I'll let you guys cause a scene. Ahahahaha. '
Haozi fell asleep with satisfaction, leaving a certain someone squatting on the bed. His eyes shone in the dark, like two bright searchlights.
= = =
The next day, Meng Fuyao went to the Tiansha Martial Arts Department to register. All martial artists participating in the Tiansha True Martial Arts Meet had to register their names at the Martial Arts Department. Meng Fuyao wrote down her name on the register. The official in charge of recording stared at her name for a long time. Meng Fuyao was worried that her identity had been exposed. "Meng Fuyao? The loyal general of the Limitless Nation, Meng Fuyao? "
The moment he said that, all the officials in the room rushed over and looked at her curiously. "You're the legendary general of the Limitless Nation, Meng Fuyao?"
"You're the Meng Fuyao who broke into the military camp alone and killed the seven generals?"
"I heard that you tried to protect Yao City, but were almost forced to commit suicide at the city gates?"
"I heard that the Limitless Nation's rebel King De was defeated because you were hiding in the camp?"
"I heard that you were the one who killed King De?"
"I heard that before he died, he shouted, 'I hate that I was born at the same time as you!' Is that true? "
"I heard that the Limitless Nation's crown prince thinks highly of you and even hosted a banquet for you at Shangyang Palace?"
…
The more she heard, the more miraculous it became. Meng Fuyao listened with her mouth agape. "F * ck, who's that awesome? It can't be me, right? "
She had always been used to being a nobody and could not stand the feeling of becoming famous overnight. The curious gazes of the crowd, as well as the envious gazes of the other applicants behind her, made her feel uneasy. She simply turned around and walked out. Before she could take a few steps, the curtain of the inner room behind her lifted and someone said coldly, "He's just a lowly commoner who clung to the imperial family to achieve his meteoric rise. How dare you, as officials of Tiansha, boost the morale of others and belittle your own!"
Meng Fuyao found the voice familiar. She turned around and her pupils constricted.
Gu Lingfeng, the leader of the Heaven's Fiend Metal.
That stormy night at Chang Han Mountain was right before her eyes. Meng Fuyao could almost hear the deafening sound of rain and smell the faint metallic scent of arrows. It was that night that Gu Lingfeng had led the Heaven's Fiend Metal to surround and force her and Zhan Beiye to enter the Chang Han Forest. They had to accept the test of life and death, which directly led to the chain of events that followed.
'That cold-hearted fellow who stepped on his subordinates to escape the trap isn't dead yet?
'Looks like he's going to participate in the True Martial Arts Meet too?'
She smiled happily and bowed to Gu Lingfeng, saying, "Commander Gu, are you sure you're happy to see me? Nice to meet you. It's an honor to meet you. "
Gu Lingfeng looked at her disdainfully. "You know me too?"
'I know you're dying …' Meng Fuyao smiled. "Of course. Commander Gu, you're resolute and decisive. I've long heard of your reputation."
"General Meng knows when to advance and when to retreat." Gu Lingfeng gave her a sidelong glance. "I'll spare your life during the True Martial Arts Meet."
"Thank you, thank you." Meng Fuyao bowed again. 'You really deserve my gratitude. I didn't even intend to spare your life, yet you still want to spare mine. You're too noble.'
She bowed as she walked out. Her posture was too flattering and she did not notice that she bumped into someone. That person gave way and raised his hand. "Brother, be careful."
His voice was gentle and his manners were appropriate.
Meng Fuyao's body stiffened. Then, she smiled and said in a low voice, "Brother, be careful too."
From the corner of her eyes, she saw a red robe embroidered with dancing golden phoenixes. It was gorgeous and noble, and the color was eye-catching enough. There was also a golden belt with silk tassels. There was no such thing as the most ostentatious, only more ostentatious.
Meng Fuyao's eyes quickly swept past and stopped in front of a crimson veil. Then, she quickly looked away in satisfaction.
Some people beside her were greeting her politely and with a little hostility. "Sect Leader Yan and his wife are here too? This year's True Martial Arts Meet is going to be interesting. "
Someone said resentfully, "Yeah, Sect Leader Yan has been so awe-inspiring in recent years. He swept away the eighteen sects of the Upper Abyss, and his reputation is unparalleled. Now, he's here to fight for the True Martial Arts Meet too?"
Someone said, "Commander Tiansha Gu, General Wuji Guo, Young Master Xuanyuan Yun, Princess Fufengya, Traceless Taiyuan Sword, Little Prince Hua of Xuanji Pearl … Now, with the rising stars of Shangyuan Twin Paragons, there's going to be a good show in this year's Zhenwu Champion Battle."
That person only smiled and modestly cupped his hands. "I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare …"
Beside her, Yun Hen snorted coldly. Meng Fuyao pulled him and quickly walked out. The person who was socializing suddenly turned around and looked at her with a probing gaze.
Meng Fuyao had already taken big strides out of the door, leaving the 'virtuous couple' far behind.
During dinner, Meng Fuyao held a pair of chopsticks in her mouth and asked Zong Yue, "What should I do? Why didn't I know that my reputation has spread to Tiansha? Now it's going to be difficult for me to stir up trouble there. Zhan Nancheng won't allow generals from other countries to enter the court. "
Zong Yue focused on eating. He only ate the food in front of him and refused others to put their chopsticks in it. He also refused people talking to him while eating. However, Meng Fuyao had always been shameless. She never cared about Zong Yue's expression when she wanted to say something. Seeing that his food was in danger of being splashed by her saliva, Zong Yue quickly moved his bowl away and answered, "That's easy. You just have to break off relations with Limitless."
Meng Fuyao stared blankly at him. "How?"
"Leave it to Zhangsun Wuji to worry about. He has a thousand ways to make Zhan Nancheng believe that you're all brawn and no brains. You despise Limitless Nation's poor treatment and want to seek refuge with Tiansha." It was rare for Zong Yue to speak without getting tangled up. "But the prerequisite is that you get first place. Only then will Tiansha, who is in dire need of talent, be willing to win you over."
"Oh." Meng Fuyao found a pen and paper to write a letter with a drumstick in her mouth. "Your Highness, please think of a way to make Zhan Nancheng think that I'm all brawn and no brains. I despise Limitless Nation's poor treatment and want to seek refuge with Tiansha …"
It would be great if he died from reading this.
"I think it's going to be difficult to get first place this year," said Yun Hen. Yun Hen was the one who spoke. He was only eating vegetables and even had to slowly pick out the ginger and garlic. "Fuyao, have you noticed that something is wrong with Yan Jingchen and his wife?"
Meng Fuyao was silent. Of course she had noticed it. With just a glance, she could tell that not only was Yan Jingchen's martial arts improving rapidly, but even his inner force seemed to have changed. The change did not seem to be entirely due to the Vigorous Thunder Technique, but rather some other kind of evil martial arts. There was a faint green aura around his eyes. As for Pei Yuan, even though Meng Fuyao could not see her face, she remembered that Zhan Beiye had crippled her of her martial arts. Today, however, Pei Yuan's gait was clear that she had recovered. What was going on?
Furthermore, Yan Jingchen had refused to save Pei Yuan because of her during the coup at Taiyuan Palace. Pei Yuan had been so angry that she had vomited blood on the spot. After that, how could she still marry him? Did she really love him so much that she did not care about anything else?
Or was she so despicable that she felt that he was the only man in the world?
Meng Fuyao's mind was in a knot. After pondering for a while, she felt that Yan Jingchen and his wife were strange people and not people that a normal person like her could figure out. She could only give up and ask Yun Hen with a smile, "The Traceless Sword is yours, isn't it? That's a good name. It's much more awesome than the Winged Sword. Zhan Beiye said that you had another fortuitous encounter. What kind of fortuitous encounter? "
"After Taiyuan split apart, I led an army to fight against Shangyuan," Yun Hen said concisely. "My pursuers chased me for too long and I got separated from my subordinates. I accidentally entered the deep mountains and met an old Daoist with ulcers on the soles of his feet. I carried him out of the valley. Before we parted, he patted me on the back and said, 'Good temperament, good foundation. This old Daoist will give you a gift of gratitude.' I did not think much of it at that time, but when I returned home, someone had written a set of sword techniques and inner force techniques on my back. The sword technique only had three moves, but it had endless variations. I have yet to fully comprehend it. "
Meng Fuyao spat out the drumstick she was chewing, causing Lord Ingot to glare at her angrily. Zong Yue had already grabbed his bowl and dodged to the side, instructing the butler, "Please prepare another meal for me in my room. I can't eat properly like this."
Meng Fuyao did not have the time to care about him. She grabbed Yun Hen's sleeve and asked, "A sloppy old Daoist? One look and you can tell he looks wretched? Ulcers on his head and pus on the soles of his feet? Lice crawling all over his body? "
Yun Hen thought for a while and said, "I didn't notice lice." He basically admitted that the Daoist was indeed wretched.
Meng Fuyao let out a long sigh and threw the drumstick away. She stared at the ceiling listlessly and muttered, "He's here to harm people again …"
Yun Hen turned to look at her. "Do you know him?"
"Yes, very much," Meng Fuyao answered through gritted teeth. She then patted Yun Hen and said, "It doesn't matter if your luck is good or bad. Anyway, if you see this old man again, you must avoid him. He's always pretending to be a cripple or a madman and flirting with people by the roadside. If you like him, something good might happen. If you don't like him, bad luck will befall you. You can't have good luck every time, so stay away from him."
Yun Hen looked at her, his Spectral Eye flashing. "I think he's my benefactor. Otherwise, how would I be able to catch up to your … progress?"
Halfway through his sentence, Meng Fuyao's heart skipped a beat. After she finished speaking, she immediately felt relieved and happily patted his shoulder. "Hey, it's okay. We're family. We can't fight."
Yun Hen looked at her, his eyes darkening. After a while, he said, "Miss Meng, the Yan couple is very strange. Don't let your guard down."
"Yes." Meng Fuyao squatted on the chair and rolled up her sleeves. "If one comes, I'll kill one. If two comes, I'll kill both!"
= = =
The True Martial Arts Meet was held as scheduled. There were four rounds. The first round was the preliminary round, in which 40 people would be selected to participate in the second round. Another 20 people would be selected to participate in the third round. The last round would be decided by drawing lots.
Due to the large number of people, the first round was held at the training stage of the Qingyuan Temple in the West Shang Mountain of Pandu City. The second and third rounds would be held at the Tianjie Plaza. The last round would be held at the Tiansha Imperial Palace's Zhengyi Hall.
Meng Fuyao used a third of her strength to successfully pass the first and second rounds. Similarly, the most elite martial artists from various countries were naturally among them. The Yan couple was not in the same group as her, so she could not compete with them. However, Meng Fuyao specially went to take a look. Indeed, the two of them had made great progress in their martial arts. Their inner force was strange, and when they displayed their sword techniques, there was not only the sound of thunder, but also faint smoke.
In these two rounds, Meng Fuyao's reputation rose. Originally, all martial artists had their eyes on Gu Lingfeng, Guo Pingrong, Xuanyuan Yun, Ya Lanzhu, Yun Hen, and Yan Jingchen. But now, they were paying more attention to Meng Fuyao. However, Meng Fuyao had purposely hidden her strength, and her results in the second round were mediocre — seventeen or eighteen. Everyone felt that this young general from Limitless Nation was not bad. Her cultivation at such a young age was rather impressive. Apart from a few sharp-eyed people, most people did not associate her with the others, nor did they associate her with the title of champion of Zhenwu.
The third round would be held three days after the second round. When Meng Fuyao left the arena, she heard a few noble ladies of Tiansha whispering excitedly. "We must watch the last round …"
"Yeah, but it's in the palace's main hall. How do we get an invitation?"
"Let's think of a way. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Apart from this, what else can we do to see him?"
"I heard that he didn't have the time to come, but somehow accepted the invitation. The Five Continents Continent's True Martial Arts Meet has always invited the royal family to be the judges. In the past, the Taiyuan Kingdom's King and the Fufeng Clan Leader served as judges, but he has never attended …"
"Oh no, no, no, I have to hurry back and think of a way. My grandaunt knows the Great Elder Princess. I have to get her to plead for me …"
"Wait for me, I'll go too …"
The group left in a hurry. Meng Fuyao shook her head and smiled. Indeed, there were idol-seekers in every generation, but she did not know what kind of valiant character had attracted the hearts of these budding young ladies.
She was not in the same group as Yun Hen and Ya Lanzhu. Just as she was about to find them, someone called out from behind, "Fuyao."
Meng Fuyao stood still and took a deep breath.
'Why does this person's voice sound so unpleasant when he's annoyed?'
She circulated her true Qi and prepared herself before turning around and raising her eyebrows. "Sect Leader Yan, has your Junior Brother finally conveyed my message to you?"
Yan Jingchen was standing in front of a poplar tree behind him. He was still warm and amiable, handsome and tall, but his face was a little ashy and he was a little skinnier, which made him seem a little more elegant. However, this elegance was a little less natural compared to Yun Hen's elegant and cool temperament. Nonetheless, he was still an outstanding man. His posture as he stood under the tree gave off the vibe of 'leaning on a horse's slanting bridge', attracting the attention of many women who passed by.
He looked at Fuyao, his gaze deep and concealing some uncontrollable pain. Although the girl in front of him was dressed as a teenager, she was tall, confident, and had an air of arrogance between her brows. If she had been a piece of unpolished jade when she had concealed her true appearance in the past, she was now a brilliant, resplendent, and dazzling enough to illuminate the mountains and rivers.
He took a deep breath, causing his internal organs to ache faintly. This was Fuyao. She used to be his Fuyao, but he had missed out on her. That missed opportunity was like a sharp knife cutting into his heart. He regretted it again and again. Why did he despise her back then? Why did he tell her that he wanted to marry Pei Yuan? If he had kept it from her, there might have been a chance … He regretted it the moment he said those words. He did not understand Fuyao well enough. He did not understand her toughness and the indelible pride in her heart. That was why he had been wrong all his life.
But … there might still be a chance … If words could not make up for it, he was not afraid to try other methods …
He curled his fingers slightly, and his palms were sweating. He smiled warmly and said, "Fuyao, my Junior Brother was young and ignorant. He offended you, and I have already punished him. Let's not talk about a challenge again. No matter what, I will not lay a hand on you …"
"But I will make a move against you," Fuyao said coldly. "Since you've given in and are willing to rein in your disciples, I won't be so ruthless towards the Xuanyuan Sect. But we'll meet in the arena."
She turned to leave, but Yan Jingchen said bitterly, "Fuyao, do you really hate me so much that you won't even talk to me?"
"No, I don't hate you," Fuyao said, shaking her finger. Yan Jingchen's eyes lit up, but Fuyao continued, "I am disgusted by you. Talking to you makes me want to vomit."
She ignored Yan Jingchen and strode out. Suddenly, she heard Yan Jingchen say, "Fuyao, please give me another chance. And … give yourself another chance."
Meng Fuyao shook her head without turning back. "Sect Leader Yan, those who are blinded by greed do not deserve any chances."
Behind her, there was silence. Yan Jingchen seemed to be adjusting his breathing. Fuyao sneered and continued walking. 'Do you want to fight? Very well, I will make Pei Yuan a widow today. '
She quickened her pace and suddenly felt that something was wrong. Wasn't she near the martial arts arena and there were people coming and going? Why were they suddenly gone? The scenery around her changed, and the smoke became blurry. It was as if there was a mist in the mountains, a faint green and hazy mist that enveloped her like layers of mist.
Like silk being spun by a silkworm, it slowly wrapped around one's breath, limbs, consciousness, and blood. She could hear her heart beating slower and slower. Her blood flowed like an old bull in her veins. Her limbs were sore and weak, and she had no strength to lift them.
Her heart sank, and she quickly checked her internal organs, only to find that she was not poisoned at all. Rather than saying that the smoke was poisonous, it was more like a kind of martial art. It could control the human body and even nature silently. Such a martial art was not something that Yan Jingchen could have!
She had been extra cautious of Yan Jingchen. Even with her back facing him, she used all her energy to detect his movements. It was impossible for him to do anything under her scrutiny.
'What exactly happened?'
Suddenly, someone cackled in the smoke. The voice was hoarse and unpleasant to the ears, like long fingernails scraping against a hard slate. It was so abrasive that the roots of one's teeth ached.
Then, Fuyao fell to the ground.
She fell silently into Yan Jingchen's arms.
The wind blew, and the smoke blurred. The coarse voice laughed and said, "My precious disciple, I got her for you. How are you going to thank me?"
Yan Jingchen held Fuyao in his arms and bowed to the smoke. "As you wish."
He lowered his head to look at Fuyao. Her thick, long eyelashes fell quietly, her expression calm and peaceful. She lay docilely in his arms, no longer as cold and fierce as she used to be. This was the first time he had been longing to hug her in such close proximity. In the countless silent and cold nights of the past, he had reached out to her illusion countless times, only to embrace a cold void.
He smiled, satisfied and pained. His fingers lingered on Fuyao's cheeks, his posture gentle and his eyes determined.
In a low voice, he said,
"Fuyao, you once said that some mistakes are like a wound cut by a sharp knife. Nothing can be discovered at first, but after a long time, it will hurt and bleed … So, let me feel the pain. It's better than letting you brush past me and forget about me."
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