My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult

Chapter 242: Chapter 242: The Great Eunuch’s Fierce Battle with the Sword Demon (10,000-word update, please subscribe for Monthly Ticket)

Hao Tian stared straight into An Jing’s eyes and said, “You are one of the only two swordsmen in the world who practice the Holy Dao Sword, and I want to see the Holy Dao Sword of rumors.”

Upon hearing this, An Jing raised an eyebrow and calmly said, “The elder might have found the wrong person, as the sword I practice is not the Holy Dao Sword.”

The “Sword Dao Tao General Outline” features some sparse introductions, not explicitly mentioning the Holy Dao Sword, but the true top swordsmen know that it speaks of the Holy Dao Sword.

Heavenly Dao operates without accumulation, hence all things are formed; Imperial Dao operates without accumulation, hence the world unites; Holy Dao operates without accumulation, hence the whole country submits.

Every Dao is in constant operation, while the Holy Dao emphasizes tranquillity and clearness, serving as the clear mirror for heaven and earth, and for all things.

The state of tranquillity and indifference, the spirit of loneliness and inaction, this is the essence of heaven and earth.

Only saints and real emperors can reach this realm.

The Holy Dao Sword does not demand a person to reach this realm, but demands the sword in hand to pursue this realm.

An Jing once thought what he practiced was the rare Holy Dao Sword, but his mindset was not so; he lacked the transcendent and natural demeanor of a saint, and his heart still harbored the carefree and uninhibited spirit of the Human Dao Sword, yet he could also kill decisively like the Heavenly Dao Sword.

This type of swordsmanship had no introduction or explanation in the “Sword Dao Tao General Outline,” indicating that his swordsmanship had extended beyond these various sword types.

Therefore, he named it himself, the Immortal Sword.

Lacking the persistence of the Human Dao Sword, the tranquility of the Holy Dao Sword, the submission of the four seas by the King Sword, and the ruthless killing of the Heavenly Dao Sword.

What existed was only etherealness, transcending the mundane and no longer adhering to any form, but following the true heart’s will.

“Whether it is or isn’t important.”

Hao Tian’s expression was indifferent, “I just want to see your swordsmanship.”

An Jing smiled coldly at the corner of his mouth, “Just want to see my swordsmanship?”

He did not believe that this black-clothed elder, merely wanted to witness his swordsmanship; a top expert hidden in Yujing City, simply for such a straightforward purpose, appeared again.

Hao Tian’s voice was somewhat cold as he walked a few steps forward and said, “I have always felt that if two swordsmen duel, there are only two outcomes; one is life or death, the other is the death of both. This is the destiny of the sword and of the swordsman.”

Under the moonlight, it was clear that the elder in front was exceptionally tall, roughly nine feet, and half a head taller than An Jing.

An Jing felt a deeper chill in his heart, “So you’re saying you’re here to kill me, while taking a look at my swordsmanship?”

“No, I’m here to see your swordsmanship and incidentally to kill you.”

Having said that, Hao Tian’s body moved and instantly disappeared from the spot.

Fast!

Even with An Jing’s Second Qi Grandmaster cultivation, he could not fully capture the movements of the black-clothed elder, indicating just how high this elder’s cultivation was.

“Zing!”

The Evil Suppressing Sword was drawn without the slightest hesitation, three cold lights manifesting on the icy blade.

Yin! Yin!

The sound of the sword humming arose as the two charged towards each other like lightning.

Clang!

The swords clashed together, and sparks scattered like blossoms thrown by celestial maidens, unusually mesmerizing in the night.

Using the strong recoil, An Jing flew backward, his white garment fluttering. He landed with his feet and, at a faster pace than before, charged forward again, thrusting the Evil Suppressing Sword forward.

Hao Tian’s reaction was as fast as An Jing’s; his body slightly shook, dodging the lightning-fast sword strike from An Jing, and his ancient longsword slanted up, aiming straight for An Jing’s face.

Chih!

This sword strike was incredibly fast.

At a critical moment, An Jing tilted his head, and the longsword grazed past his cheek, severing a strand of black hair.

Seemingly without any True Qi impact, without any grandiose and bizarre flourishes, but more perilous than the great battle at Heavenly Martial Sect.

Because with only a slight misstep, it would result in death and soul dissipation.

In just one exchange, the two swordsmen revealed extreme danger.

“Such a strong swordsman, his cultivation must be around Fourth Qi, and his sword dao might very well have reached the Sixth Realm.”

In the instant of the clash, An Jing sized up some details of the approaching swordsman and was even more shaken in his heart.

A Fourth Qi Grandmaster is a top expert in the world, not to mention a Sixth Realm swordsman.

Either of these alone would be an extremely formidable existence, so how alarming would it be if both combined?

At that moment, An Jing clearly felt it.

Clang, clang, clang!

In the blink of an eye, the swords in their hands continuously swung and clashed hundreds of times, creating countless sounds of metal striking metal, producing fireworks that were dazzlingly brilliant.

The swords moved faster and faster, initially leaving afterimages, but eventually, only the piercing sound could be heard.

An Jing could feel that he was gradually being overpowered, every move and form of the black-robed elder was flawless, and what was crucial was that his cultivation far exceeded his own, subtly suppressing him.

“Clang!”

The two clashed once again.

An Jing used the force to retreat, suddenly pointing with his left hand like a sword towards the approaching Hao Tian.

Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss!

In mid-air, spiraling rainbow lights shot out like flying swords.

As his Sword Dao cultivation improved, An Jing’s understanding of the sword had also deepened, no longer confined to mere techniques.

This sword was not only substituting the finger for the sword but also contained the intricacies of Sword Control Technique.

Hao Tian’s expression was as indifferent as water, and the long sword in his hand seemed to flow with a streak of blood light, directly scattering the flying sword that shot towards him.

An Jing’s heart tightened, the pressure from the black-robed elder in front of him completely surpassed that of the Exalted Vajra; in fact, after his Sword Dao had reached the Sixth Realm, he knew that his chances of winning against the Exalted Vajra were very high unless the Exalted Vajra reached the Four Qi Realm.

But breaking through in cultivation wasn’t something one could achieve just by wanting to, and very few people in the world could break through in realm during battle.

Unless one had been capable of reaching that realm for years and had been suppressing it, waiting to unleash it all at once, otherwise, attempting to break through during battle was not only hazardous but could also backfire, putting oneself in jeopardy.

Especially at the Grandmaster Realm, every breakthrough in realm and rise in cultivation was a huge test, and advancing during a fight was almost impossible.

Facing Exalted Vajra, he chose to fight because he had a great chance of winning.

An Jing originally cherished his life and disliked taking risks.

Hao Tian stomped his foot, extended his body, and soared into the air like a black dragon, swiftly flying towards An Jing, with fierce sword qi piercing through the air before him.

In that moment, the sword intent was pushed to its limit, and that mountainous pressure weighed heavily on An Jing’s heart.

Sixth Realm!

The black-robed elder before him was indeed a swordsman of the Sixth Realm!

Hao Tian’s sword technique was not only fast, fierce, and accurate but also carried an immense oppressive force, ruthlessly decisive without a trace of sentiment.

Heavenly Dao Sword!

With one swing of Hao Tian’s sword, the blustering winds transformed into sword qi, assaulting An Jing furiously.

An Jing’s expression grew stern, not daring to be negligent, his heart also reached its utmost tension.

A strange scene ensued, where An Jing seemed to have his soul leave his body, stepping out from his original shell, and swung his sword towards the sweeping sword qi; then, changing his step, another An Jing stepped out, also swinging his sword towards the sky.

Three!

Five!

Seven!

In that instant, An Jing took seven steps, creating seven An Jings. Although they swung their swords in sequence, it felt as if seven An Jings were swinging their swords simultaneously.

Puff, puff, puff!

The sky full of sword qi dissipated towards the distance.

One Sword Annihilation!

Hao Tian’s eyes flashed coldly as the True Qi within him surged explosively, all pouring into the Blood Tears Sword.

The piercing longsword displayed a bizarre motion, like a rotating arc of light, stabbing towards An Jing’s throat.

Pop!

This sword pierced out, directly breaking through the True Qi barrier in front of An Jing.

An Jing slapped the Evil Suppressing Sword in his hand, spared no effort, and behind him appeared a brilliant Milky Way, with the cold sword qi fading into twinkling stars, sweeping down overwhelmingly.

Unity Sword Technique! Sword Control Flying Immortal!

Then, a giant sword pierced the night sky, charging forward.

“Such a powerful Sword Dao, it was not suppressed by the Heavenly Dao Sword.”

Seeing the giant sword approaching, Hao Tian was secretly alarmed.

If one were to say that the Heavenly Dao Sword is decisive and ruthless, bearing a heavy pressure, then An Jing’s Sword Dao is even more vast and heavy, yet it carries a trace of enigmatic and indeterminate quality.

Without any constraints or rules, it wanders through the Sword Dao that is known and transcends beyond the understood Sword Dao.

“Buzz!” “Buzz!”

As the giant sword surged forward, the air on both sides crazily dispersed, like the rolling waves of a river creating endless surges.

The giant sword and the arc light collided and compressed, disappearing into nothingness in an instant.

Two sword tips erupted from the middle, rippling out true Qi waves from the center where they touched.

“Clang!”

At the moment of the sword tips’ collision, An Jing immediately felt an astonishing vibration in his arm, causing his internal organs to shudder, followed by a burst of sword Qi rushing into his arm.

“Not good!”

An Jing instantly sensed something amiss and hurriedly operated the “Nameless Heart Scripture” to erase the invading sword Qi.

“Huh!?”

Hao Tian, seeing this, was about to step forward, but his heart began to beat irregularly, completely beyond his control, which faintly gave him a sensation of extreme danger.

“What’s going on!?”

Hao Tian quickly operated his spell to forcibly suppress the agitation in his heartbeat.

Suddenly, a white figure flashed across from afar, and an elderly voice rang out.

“Was it Your Excellency who made a move last time at the Honglu Institute?”

An Jing and Hao Tian both looked towards the distance, only to see an old eunuch dressed in a long robe standing in the street, his figure not tall but emanating a sense of solid and substantial presence.

White Eyebrow Chamberlain Fan Daoji!

One of the three great eunuchs of the Inner Palace, Sword Holding Eunuch Zhong Binru served the Human Emperor by wielding the Emperor’s Sword, Pen Holding Eunuch Zhao Tianyi, a scholar who entered the Inner Palace, also served the Human Emperor. In contrast, White Eyebrow Chamberlain Fan Daoji, known as the Chamberlain, held the Imperial Jade Seal for the Human Emperor.

White Eyebrow Chamberlain had been stationed in the Imperial Palace for seventy or eighty years, and it was because of him that countless Jianghu masters hesitated before approaching the Imperial Palace.

Several masters, including the very famed ‘Shadow’ of Zhao Country, a Four Qi Grandmaster and the top master of the Black Ice Platform, had died by his hand, which attested to the prowess of this White Eyebrow Chamberlain.

Hao Tian raised his eyes, “Chamberlain?”

The White Eyebrow Chamberlain lazily said, “If I’m not mistaken, the sword in your hand is the Blood Tears Sword, and you are the Sword Demon, Hao Tian, correct?”

Seeing the White Eyebrow Chamberlain, An Jing slightly relaxed, then couldn’t help feeling a bit surprised.

The swordsman in front of him was the very one who killed Zongzheng Yuan and Mu Jin Dharma King!?

Moreover, he was a top-level master from the same era as Jun Qinglin, the Sword Demon.

The Sword Demon and the Sword God were the top swordsmen fifty years ago, known as the two absolute talents of that time, standing atop the mountain peak among many swordsmen of the world.

Both were peak Fifth Realm swordsmen then, but they had sequentially reached the Sixth Realm. Just when the world thought that the Sword God and Sword Demon would have a great fight upon reaching the Sixth Realm, both suddenly disappeared from Jianghu.

That the two great swordsmen did not duel was considered a regret by many in the world.

It was rumored that the Sword Demon once appeared on the grasslands of Houjin and then completely vanished after that. There were also rumors of his demise in Jianghu, which over time most people came to believe.

After all, the Sword Demon was over a hundred years old, and without reaching Great Grandmaster status, it was generally believed he would have passed away.

If people knew that the Sword Demon was still alive and free in the world, it would indeed be a great surprise.

With the Blood Tears Sword in his hand, Hao Tian spoke indifferently, “It seems you’ve been seeking me for quite a while.”

As he raised the sword, a faint crying sound emerged, sending a chill deep into one’s heart.

Blood Tears Sword, so named because it was said to emit a crying sound from the sword body when it killed someone.

“Indeed.”

The White Eyebrow Chamberlain stepped forward, and though he only took one step, his figure instantaneously arrived in front of the Sword Demon.

True Qi thundered within him, and the White Eyebrow Chamberlain stretched out five fingers, then hurled them out one by one.

Bang!

A grey-gold handprint burst forth, containing a powerful True Qi storm, striking fiercely towards Hao Tian like a meteor.

Facing the ferocious palm of the White Eyebrow Chamberlain, Hao Tian raised the Blood Tears Sword, intending to directly decapitate the Chamberlain.

The clash of two Four Qi Grandmasters involved fewer preliminaries, directly seeking a quick resolution and envisioning life and death in a few moves.

In fact, ordinary people have a misconception that high-level Jianghu masters are not afraid of death.

The wealthier and higher one’s status in this world, the more they fear death.

Therefore, a true master wouldn’t easily venture alone into danger, nor would they readily reveal their ace in the hole during a duel, nor use their full strength right off the bat.

Once full force is employed, it clearly signifies that this battle is extraordinary.

Like a ghost, the Great Eunuch Bai Mei swiftly dodged the sword light in an instant and in the next moment, he had already reached behind Hao Tian and struck out with another palm.

Boom!

A blue qi force seemed to rise from Hao Tian’s body surface, and the firm impact of the palm hit on the bluish light of Hao Tian’s body, causing the ground itself to quake violently at that moment.

Hao Tian stood unmoved, solid as a rock.

At this instant, the three formed a straight line with Hao Tian standing between An Jing and the Great Eunuch Bai Mei, his expression calm and serene.

Great Eunuch Bai Mei nodded, saying, “He indeed has the strength, worthy of being a contemporary figure to Jun Qinglin and You Gai.”

He had met and crossed swords with Jun Qinglin and You Gai, the Sword Demon’s whereabouts were erratic, and he never really visited Yujing City, so he only knew of him by reputation.

An Jing exhaled, watching the duel between two of the top masters of the present age.

As for who was stronger or weaker among the two Four Qi Grandmasters, An Jing was also very curious.

But Hao Tian said nothing, only lifting the Blood Tears Sword in his hand, and a blood-red, icy tornado roared down, its frightening momentum sweeping across the cobblestones of the street.

Boom! Boom!

The awe-inspiring blood qi storm descended from the sky, rapidly enlarging in the pupils of Great Eunuch Bai Mei as he slightly tilted his head, then slowly clenched his fingers.

Great Eunuch Bai Mei’s eyes gradually flared with a light gold sheen and then, that clenched fist casually unleashed a punch.

That punch was very plain, as if done without effort, yet as the Great Eunuch Bai Mei threw his punch, it seemed as if thunder began to burst forth from it.

Booming! Booming!

It was like a furious dragon stirring wildly, lighting up the night.

Countless bolts of lightning seemed to surge out from that fist shadow, causing even An Jing’s scalp to tingle.

If one’s mental resolve was slightly weak, they would probably lose all fighting spirit upon facing this punch.

Hao Tian’s eyes filled with a cold light as he swung the Blood Tears Sword again, his strongest strike, the red tornado storm, colliding heavily with the roaring fist shadow.

An Jing channeled his True Qi to barely block the incoming air wave, preventing it from destroying all the houses around.

But the impact of the two Four Qi Grandmasters was terrifying, instantly causing the qi and blood in his body to surge and blood streamed from the corner of his mouth.

Hao Tian’s face changed slightly, for he could feel that his Sword Qi was being dissolved at an alarming rate, vanishing like a clay ox into the ocean.

Great Eunuch Bai Mei, his expressionless face now bore a strange arc and a cold gleam. He clenched his hand tightly and punched out once again.

Bang!

A huge True Qi mass exploded in the night sky, the massive blood-red icy tornado storm violently exploded at that moment.

Under the massive impact of True Qi, a gray fist shadow tore through the tornado storm with an invincible manner, then bolted toward Hao Tian in the distant sky like lightning.

Hao Tian welcomed it with his sword, leveraging the ultimate potential of the Heavenly Dao Sword.

Great Eunuch Bai Mei did not dodge or retreat but directly met it with another punch.

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

The two collided again, and a terrifying wave of air burst open in the air.

In just a few breaths of time, they had exchanged dozens of moves.

Evenly matched, neither showing the slightest sign of retreating.

Hao Tian gathered all his True Qi into his right palm, then lifted the Blood Tears Sword once again.

The sword light was blood-like, soul-stirring, with the sound of ghosts wailing and wolves howling emanating from it.

Great Eunuch Bai Mei, Fan Daoji, could no longer suppress the True Qi within his body, and immediately, a surge of True Qi burst forth, with a golden glow rising on the surface.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The golden light shield was pierced by the blood-colored Sword Qi, and Great Eunuch Bai Mei staggered back three steps, each step imprinting a horrifying mark on the ground.

“Mountains don’t turn, water turns, we shall meet again.”

Seizing this gap, Hao Tian leaped away, vanishing instantly from the street.

Although An Jing knew Hao Tian was preparing to leave, and knew he could not stop him, he did not make a move.

“He really left quickly.”

The Great Eunuch Bai Mei frowned slightly as he gazed upon Hao Tian’s retreating silhouette.

Having reached the Four Qi Grandmaster level, their cultivation was nearing the prowess of a Demi Immortal, each one of them no mere simpleton, mostly possessing some trump cards.

The two seemed to have engaged fiercely but were certainly holding back their cards, and even Bai Mei the Great Eunuch wouldn’t dare claim victory with certainty.

Bai Mei the Great Eunuch turned to glance at An Jing and said, “After this, Hao Tian will likely not trouble you anymore.”

An Jing clenched his fists and said, “Thank you, senior, for intervening.”

“It’s unnecessary.”

Bai Mei the Great Eunuch’s expression was indifferent as he waved his hand. “Even if I hadn’t intervened, he wouldn’t have been able to kill you.”

He had watched the two exchange a few moves just now. Although the Sword Demon had the upper hand, to directly defeat this young man in front of him would likely require some tricks.

This is Yujing City, after all; should the commotion escalate too much, how could the Great Yan Royal Family simply ignore it?

An Jing furrowed his brows. “Was it Hao Tian who personally intervened last time at the Honglu Institute?”

The deaths of Zongzheng Yuan and Mu Jin Dharma King caused quite an uproar, which also led to the battle between Houjin and Yan Country.

Watching Hao Tian’s silhouette, Bai Mei the Great Eunuch murmured softly, “Eight or nine out of ten, this man has been lurking in Yujing City, first killing the envoy from Houjin, then targeting you, clearly harboring malicious intentions.”

“My intervention this time was firstly to prevent his scheme from succeeding and secondly to repay the favor from when you saved Princess An Le.”

An Jing fell silent, offering no reply.

Regarding the coincidence of his saving Princess An Le, he had never thought of seeking any reward.

Great Eunuch Bai Mei looked deeply at An Jing, “To have such cultivation at your age is quite rare.”

He had only heard about the battle at Heavenly Martial Sect but hadn’t witnessed it, so he was unfamiliar with An Jing’s true strength; however, having seen today’s combat, it stirred a sense of admiration within him.

An Jing clenched his fists and said, “Senior flatters me, the world is full of geniuses, and I am but one among them.”

Bai Mei the Great Eunuch smiled broadly and said, “You are now a tributor of the Demon Sect, but the Great Yan Royal Family likewise has a practice of enlisting tributors. I wonder if you would be interested?”

A Royal Family tributor!?

Upon hearing this, An Jing’s heart skipped a beat—not due to the Great Eunuch Bai Mei’s blatant recruiting pitch, but because from his words, he learned that the Great Yan Royal Family also utilized tributors.

The tributors for the Great Yan Royal Family, undoubtedly, must be experts of extraordinary caliber.

An Jing pondered for a moment and said, “Senior should be aware of my relationship with Xiao Qianqiu from the Zhenyi Sect, and I also have my compelling reasons for being in the Demon Sect.”

Bai Mei the Great Eunuch, Fan Daoji, chuckled lightly, as this invitation was merely a casual remark.

Given that Jiang Shang’s disciple and the young man in front of him were married, how could he possibly betray the Demon Sect to become a tributor for Yan Country?

Besides showing goodwill, another purpose was to demonstrate some of the Royal Family’s strength to the young man and the Demon Sect behind him.

Showcasing some power openly is much better than always keeping it concealed.

Something came to Bai Mei the Great Eunuch’s mind, and he casually asked, “The one who severely wounded Mu Jin Dharma King was surely the expert from the Demon Sect’s Sealing Demon Platform, wasn’t it?”

An Jing smiled but remained silent.

The enigmatic identity of the King, he couldn’t explain himself and saw no benefit in fanning speculations; he would let the old eunuch guess on his own.

Bai Mei the Great Eunuch shook his head, “The night grows deep, and this old servant should return to report.”

As he spoke, Bai Mei the Great Eunuch turned and walked towards the distant imperial palace.

“Farewell, senior.”

An Jing folded his hands towards Bai Mei the Great Eunuch’s silhouette.

Soon, that figure vanished from sight.

“What force lies behind Hao Tian? Never mind, let the Great Yan Emperor and that old eunuch worry about it.”

An Jing muttered to himself softly, then also hurriedly disappeared into the streets, leaving the mess to be naturally cleaned by others.

……

The next day, the sky was somewhat gloomy, densely covered with dark clouds that made it oppressive and stifling.

In the courtyard of the Lv Mansion,

Zhou Xianming was looking at the letter in his hands; even though he had read it dozens of times, he still kept it perfectly intact, with not a single crease.

“Xianming, Xianming.”

Just then, a hurried voice called out.

Lv Jingchun was holding a wooden sword and quickly ran over.

Zhou Xianming asked, “What’s the matter?”

Panting heavily, Lv Jingchun leaned on his knees and said, “There’s… there’s a lady looking for you.”

“Looking for me?”

Zhou Xianming was somewhat surprised to hear this.

Lv Jingchun nodded and said, “Yes, the lady is very beautiful and said she came from Yu State City….”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Xianming’s heart was suddenly shaken, and he rushed outside the courtyard.

Running along the corridor and through the courtyard, he quickly arrived at the guest hall.

In the hall, a woman in red was gently placing a teacup to her red lips, as if sensing something, she set down the cup and stood up.

Their eyes met, and time seemed to freeze for a moment before both of them smiled.

Zhou Xianming entered and joyfully said, “Miss Lin, it’s been a long time.”

Li Yue looked at the scholar in front of her and said, “Nine months.”

The last farewell was during a heavy snowfall, yet now it was already autumn.

Seeing Zhou Xianming again, Li Yue’s heart was incredibly complex.

She had originally thought Zhou Xianming was just an ordinary scholar, but never imagined he had such talent, becoming a student of Lv Guoyong, which could be considered as leaping through the ranks like a dragon.

Among the five factions, the intelligence of Wind and Rain Tower was the swiftest and most accurate.

It was rumored that if he could achieve the title of top scholar this time, the royal family planned to betroth Princess An Le to him, firstly to win him over and secondly to divide the power of the Lv Sect.

After much thought, she still embarked on the journey northward.

“Nine months, time really flies.”

Cautiously, Zhou Xianming asked, “By the way, Miss Lin, did you come to Yujing City specifically to find me?”

Seeing Zhou Xianming’s somewhat hopeful eyes, Li Yue took a deep breath and said, “This time, I came to Yujing City mainly to resolve a matter in my heart.”

Hearing this, Zhou Xianming was a bit disappointed, “I don’t know what it is, but maybe I could help.”

Suddenly, he felt a certain unease in his heart.

“No need, I can resolve it myself.”

Li Yue shook her head, smiling lightly, “After settling this matter, I might leave Yan Country, so consider this a farewell to Mr. Zhou.”

“Farewell!?”

Zhou Xianming was stunned for a moment, then hastily asked, “Where are you going? Why are you suddenly saying farewell?”

Li Yue looked at the thick clouds outside the house, her voice somewhat low, “To a faraway place.”

Zhou Xianming’s mouth hung open, “Then when will you return?”

Li Yue said, “I won’t be coming back.”

As the words of Li Yue fell, the whole hall turned quiet.

At that moment, Zhou Xianming’s mind went blank.

With a slight sigh in her heart, yet still looking serene, Li Yue said, “Mr. Zhou, to see you one last time, I am already without regrets, let us part here.”

Saying so, Li Yue walked towards the outside of the hall.

Zhou Xianming, snapping back to reality, shouted, “Didn’t you say you would wait till I returned?”

Li Yue paused, her voice trembling slightly, “You shouldn’t waste a great future because of me.”

Zhou Xianming muttered to himself, “A great future…..”

Hadn’t he traveled the world and studied intensively in Yu State City, precisely to fulfill his ambitions one day?

With her eyes closed, Li Yue slowly said, “You are a talented and ambitious man, you should use your talents to pursue your ambitions.”

Zhou Xianming shook his head, his expression earnest, “If one must make a choice in this world, in my heart, Miss Lin is more important than my future.”

Li Yue, with her back turned, upon hearing this, felt her eyes fill with tears, “Don’t speak foolishly, there is no one in this world more important than oneself, and even if you gave up your future, I would still leave.”

Zhou Xianming felt an inexplicable urgency in his heart, “Why do you have to leave, can’t you stay for me?”

He believed he could change the present circumstances, regardless of the difficulties he might face; he wanted to try his best.

As long as Lin Wanhong was willing, as long as she nodded.

“Mr. Zhou, I will not stay for anyone; Lin Mianhong has left.”

Li Yue was silent for a long while before she walked toward the entrance of the mansion. Her steps were neither hurried nor slow, seemingly masking her inner turmoil.

By the time she left the Lv Mansion, her cheeks were already wet with tears.

Li Yue gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, “Someone like me should not dare to hope. Having once felt an inexplicable palpitation was already the best I could have.”

No one had ever been able to answer such a question — whether having had and then lost is more painful, or never having had is more unbearable.

For, it is a paradox in itself.

And most people in the world only experience it once, always comforting themselves with the opposite notion, numbing themselves in hopes it will ease their hearts.

This story is not long, nor is it hard to tell; it’s merely about meeting and loving without attaining.

……

“Swoosh!”

“Swoosh!”

“This sword practice is too exhausting, it’s better to read some books inside the house instead.”

After wielding a wooden sword a few times, imitating the stance An Jing had once used at the Heavenly Martial Sect, Lv Jingchun soon felt covered in sweat, parched and exhausted.

“I’m dead tired. I wonder how Xianming and that lady are getting along?”

Thinking this, he stealthily made his way toward the Guest Hall.

Just as he approached the entrance, he saw Zhou Xianming sitting dispiritedly in a chair, his eyes devoid of their usual sparkle.

Lv Jingchun hurried forward and asked, “Xianming, what’s the matter with you, are you bewitched by ghosts or something?”

He had never seen Zhou Xianming like this before, as if he had lost his soul.

Zhou Xianming didn’t speak, but gazed at the fading figure.

Just then, the heavy clouds gradually dispersed, and the sun emerged in the sky, casting scorching sunlight onto the ground.

Zhou Xianming muttered, “Perhaps Doctor An had been right in what he once said.”

Bathed in the sunlight, the world seemed very warm.

The clouds of that morning had dispersed, and not just the morning’s clouds.

……

Time flew rapidly, and several days had passed in the blink of an eye.

An Jing, apart from practicing and studying the “Nameless Heart Scripture” at the hostel, had not gone out again. The dispute over Buddhism in Yujing City had now spread all over the world, and the storm it created continued to ferment.

Early in the morning, a ray of sunshine shone down.

Unaware, it had turned to autumn, and the leaves on the branches started to yellow, the weather growing somewhat cooler.

An Jing opened the door of the house and took a deep breath of fresh air.

Qian Cishan ran over like a lackey, smiling, “Tributor An, the princess’s pastries have arrived; today it’s candied golden dates and almond Buddha’s hands.”

Ever since their last meeting, Princess An Le had been sending over pastries and delicacies she made herself nearly every day, never repeating the same item, clearly showing meticulous preparation.

“Didn’t I already instruct a few days ago?”

Just then, Yu Qiurong came over, glaring at Qian Cishan, “Those things sent by the princess might be poisoned. You others eat them; the master will not.”

Upon hearing this, Qian Cishan grumbled internally: I was only asking out of routine, besides, if they were poisoned, we would die if we ate them too.

Yu Qiurong turned to An Jing and smiled, “Master, I have made breakfast.”

“Cough cough…”

An Jing cleared his throat lightly, “As for the princess’s pastry, it’s fine if you others eat it, just don’t ask me about this matter again in the future.”

If he ate those pastries from Zhao Xuening today, who could guarantee that in a few days this news wouldn’t reach Zhao Qingmei’s ears?

Qian Cishan’s heart leapt for joy, yet he sighed outwardly, “Then I can only reluctantly accept it.”

The pastries were not the issue, after all, they were made by the princess.

Those maids were all delicate and pretty, and it was said the princess herself had inherited the beauty of Zuo Linglong, the number one beauty in Yan Country.

Those tender hands, sweaty from making such delicious pastries, would melt one’s heart just by tasting them.

Qian Cishan finished speaking and scuttled away.

An Jing followed Yu Qiurong to the dining hall.

Yu Qiurong served a bowl of porridge and said, “Son-in-law, this is medicinal porridge. The Sect Hierarch specifically sent a secret letter to me to prepare it.”

An Jing glanced at the porridge. “Right now, drinking this is still beyond reach.”

Yu Qiurong’s face turned slightly red, her eyes like autumn water, “The Sect Hierarch said it could be used upon returning.”

Although she was still a virgin, that did not hinder her understanding of sexual matters.

An Jing sat down and took a sip of porridge. “Have the other locations where the Evil Suppressing Sword is suppressed been cleared up?”

During the clash with the Sword Demon’s Blood Tears Sword, he felt that the incomplete Evil Suppressing Sword was indeed suppressed by the Blood Tears Sword. At that moment, his Sword Dao Cultivation had reached the Sixth Realm, and it was difficult to improve his cultivation in a short time. However, gathering the Evil Suppressing Sword could enhance his strength again.

The complete Evil Suppressing Sword was ranked third on the Famous Sword List, even higher than the Blood Tears Sword.

Out of the six Sealing Locations, two were rather hidden, unknown to ordinary people in the Jianghu, hence it required the Demon Sect’s spies to investigate.

Yu Qiurong took a piece of white paper from her waist, “It has been cleared.”

An Jing took it and glanced at it, his eyebrows slightly raised, “One of them is actually in Lengping?”

Lengping? That was nearby the capital of the Great Zhou Dynasty, not far from Jiangnan Dao. However, that place was extremely dangerous. Not to mention the dense death qi, there were also ghost soldiers appearing, and some even said it was connected to the underground Fengdu where one could see fierce ghosts.

Profound and mysterious, it sent shivers down one’s spine, but its credibility was not high.

“Yes.”

Yu Qiurong nodded, then her expression grew more serious, “I also found some news about Jiang Shang.”

An Jing paused with the porridge in hand, “Where is he?”

Compared to the Sword Demon Hao Tian, an old monster like Jiang Shang was undoubtedly more dangerous, and more frightening.

Yu Qiurong said, “He’s in the Snow Mountain clan north of Houjin. Jiang Shang has entered the secret grounds of the Snow Mountain clan. It is said that the elders of the Snow Mountain clan are waiting for him outside the secret grounds.”

An Jing’s eyebrows raised. Jiang Shang entering the secret grounds of the Snow Mountain clan, could he be searching for the Undying Blood?

Jiang Shang’s purpose for hiding in Yu State City was also for that Undying Blood, a matter that Jiang Shang had once told An Jing personally.

“How strong is this elder of the Snow Mountain clan?”

Yu Qiurong spoke gravely, “Very strong. Since the Snow Mountain clan belongs to a hidden clan, they are much stronger than the Russell Clan. It is said to have been passed down from the Qin Dynasty, never involving themselves in the contention for world supremacy. Even Houjin had not been able to subdue them previously, only reaching some agreements. This elder of the Snow Mountain clan is also the strongest master of the clan, on par with the Great Dharma King of Houjin, having fought each other for a hundred moves without a decisive winner.”

The Mu Jin Dharma King was of Second Qi Grandmaster Cultivation, and the Great Dharma King, known as Houjin’s second strongest, must be of either Fifth Qi or Fourth Qi Cultivation. This elder of the Snow Mountain clan must not be far off, undoubtedly one of the world’s great masters.

An Jing nodded slightly, “Keep a close eye on the movements in the secret grounds of the Snow Mountain clan, and report to me immediately if there is anything unusual.”

“Understood,”

Yu Qiurong nodded.

She understood the gravity of this matter. If Jiang Shang returned to the Demon Sect, things would become troublesome.

Although Jun Qinglin had not made things difficult for An Jing and Zhao Qingmei, he might not help them against Jiang Shang. After all, Jiang Shang was his elder brother’s disciple and, logically, he should be closer to him.

An Jing took a sip of the medicinal porridge and couldn’t help but praise, “The taste is quite good.”

“You flatter me, son-in-law. I simply followed the Sect Hierarch’s instructions.”

Yu Qiurong revealed a slight smile, feeling joyful in her heart as she discovered the pleasure of cooking.

Anyone would feel happy after being praised, and she was no exception.

“Tat-tat-tat-tat…”

At this moment, Qian Cishan hurried in, “An Tributor, the Exalted Vajra and Universal Literary Vajra from the Buddhist Sect have arrived and wish to see you.”

Yu Qiurong frowned, “Tomorrow is the day the Human Emperor summons the son-in-law. Their arrival a day early, could there be some reason?”

An Jing asked, “Where are they now?”

Qian Cishan replied, “They are in the guest hall.”

“Then let’s meet the two Vajras from the Buddhist Sect.”

An Jing stood up and walked toward the guest hall.

Now, with the Demon Sect amassing numerous enemies, forming a connection with the Buddhist Sect could also be considered a good thing.

…….

PS: Asking for monthly tickets, aiming to get it done before eight tomorrow.