Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio 

  Looking at the empress’s body on the ground and puddle of flesh and blood, everyone was shocked and unable to speak. Ye Zhong gave a few orders in a low voice. He then turned his horse away and headed toward the city gates in pursuit. The Qin family’s chances of survival were still good, so he had to quickly contact all the soldiers around to finish everything in one go. Additionally, the empress had died in front of him. For the sake of his own safety, it was best for him to get as far away as possible. Matters relating to the imperial family were best to leave to the Great Prince and Duke of Danbo to handle. 

  The empress’s swan dive off the palace walls surprised many people. Although the Crown Prince’s army had been defeated and the empress’s future would not be particularly good, no one would have thought that the outwardly gentle and inwardly weak empress would, in the last moments of her life, have such courage. 

  At this time, the killing on the walls had not ended. The Qin family’s rebel soldiers were still fighting back and resisting. Fan Xian and the Great Prince’s trusted aides were concerned with the empress dowager and officials’ safety. They did not neglect the empress’s existence, but they didn’t have the extra energy to guard against the distress of her actions. 

  The Second Prince stared like a fool at her body. He suddenly began to tremble from the top of his head to the tips of his toes. His entire body was enveloped by a chill. He shivered endlessly, not sure what future he would meet. Unconsciously, he raised his head to confirm his birth mother, Lady Shu’s, safety before collapsing to the ground. 

  There had long been Dingzhou soldiers at his side to help him up and respectfully and cautiously encircle him in the middle. They were worried that something else would go wrong. The Second Prince’s expression was blank, but his gaze was scattered and bright. He thought to himself that having already reached this point, if someone wanted to kill themselves, who would be able to stop them? ……

  The Qin family army had already retreated. The Dingzhou army was in full pursuit. Sounds of killing rang out everywhere in Jingdou. The rebel army group with the dragon banner, in particular, moved with remarkable speed through the long streets and Zhengyang Gate, which was personally watched by Zhang Deqing, and headed away from Jingdou. 

  Zhang Deqing watched the scene in front of him with an ashen expression. No one knew what he was feeling. With something like loyalty, it needed a lifetime of conviction. Even if you swayed at the very end, your loyalty from the previous half of your life would become the foundation of treachery. 

  He knew that he had no chance to turn things around for himself. He didn’t have the courage to use the 3,000 city gate guards and nine city gates to help the Qin family stall the Dingzhou army’s speed. 

  The city gate would only defend against those outside the city. How could it defend against a betrayal inside? Zhang Deqing sighed long and sad. He took one last glance at Zhengyang Gate, which seemed to flash with golden light under the bright sunlight, and led his own troops behind the dragon banner, fleeing with the main portion of the rebel army. 

  There wasn’t even time for Zhengyang Gate to close before the Dingzhou troops, led by Gong Dian, arrived. Becoming a yellow dragon, they pursued them out of the city. ……

  The Crown Prince, who was cutting and running, used the dragon banner as a smokescreen. He had been escorted by the few remaining Qin family generals to Donghua Gate. The old Qin master and Qin Heng had died. The rebel army was a dragon without a head. Fortunately, the generals the old Qin Master had sent to protect the Crown Prince were still alive. At such a critical juncture, they had thought of this escape plan in an attempt to leave the capital and go North to meet up with the Northern Expedition camp in Cangzhou. 

  However, the Crown Prince’s heart had long become dim. Since there was foreshadowing in the capital, Governor Yan had perhaps already died. Where would he escape to? He didn’t know of the news that his mother had fallen from the Palace walls and died. He took a deep breath. A moment later, he forced himself to raise his spirits. He thought to himself, If father was truly dead, with aunt’s help, there may still be a chance to rise again. 

  After all, he was the Crown Prince. This world belonged to the Li family, not to the Fan family. Even if Fan Xian controlled Jingdou, it didn’t mean he would be able to control the world. 

  The glimmer of fighting spirit he had raised with difficulty was abruptly shattered into dust by the two tightly closed city gates in front of them. With an ashen face, the Crown Prince looked at the two city gate guards, who had their bows nocked and ready on the stone steps on either side of Donghua Gate, and at the white-clothed official beside the general. His heart tightened. 

  The Crown Prince recognized the white-clothed official. He was the third-ranking figure in the Overwatch Council and someone his father had a great appreciation for, Yan Bingyun. However, he had received news that Yan Bingyun had been captured by people under his aunt’s command when he had gone to persuade Zhang Deqing and then had been rescued under difficult and dangerous circumstances. How did he get here? 

  “Crown Prince, please stop.” 

  There were still blood stains on Yan Bingyun’s white clothes left by the morning attack. He coughed a few times. His expression was serious. 

  After the black-clothed man rescued him and left him somewhere safe, he had disappeared without a trace. Yan Bingyun was unable to personally participate in the events that happened in Jingdou. Through one remaining channel, he had tensely watched everything. When something strange had happened in the square, he had come ahead of time to Donghua Gate. 

  No yamen was all of the same heart. Even though Zhang Deqing had been Commander of the city gate guards for 20 years, it was impossible to order all his subordinates to be of the same mind as him, even though the rebel army had lost. 

  Yan Bingyun knew he was taking a risk, but he liked the feeling of being risky. Furthermore, he felt that after he had made a mistake, he should make up for it and help Sir Fan junior do something. 

  Fortunately, he succeeded this time. The city gate guards had successfully blocked the Crown Prince at Donghua Gate. The Emperor’s super strict control of the city gate guards made them determined to stand on Fan Xian’s side after the Donghua Gate Commander learned of the specific situation—to stand on the side of his wealth and status. If the Crown Prince led his troops out of Jingdou and connected with the soldiers outside, no one knew what other changes would happen in the world ……

  The rebel soldiers were solely focused on breaking out of the city and did not give Yan Bingyun much time to negotiate. The Qin family general did not ask the Crown Prince before beginning to make preparations for battle. With a military order, the rebel soldiers charged courageously toward Donghua Gate. Arrows flew from both sides. Many were killed and wounded. 

  The battle had not raged on for long when the Crown Prince’s face turned white. He heard a thunderous roar coming from behind him. It was the Dingzhou army’s cavalry. 

  A banner flapped in the wind through Jingdou’s streets. It moved with remarkable speed toward Donghua gate. There was a large “Ye” character written on the banner. 

  Ye Zhong personally led the troops here. He unexpectedly found that Donghua Gate was closed and the rebel army, which included the Crown Prince, had been blocked in front of this narrow city gate. Packed in densely, they took up half a street. 

  He took a deep breath. He knew Donghua Gate would not be able to hold out for long. Raising his right arm, he prepared to carry out the bloodiest part of the events in Jingdou. Unexpectedly, the rebel army’s fierce attack on Donghua Gate gradually subsided. 

  After Ye Zhong caught up, the Crown Prince’s head had rested on his chest, thinking about something. He slowly raised it and said, with his eyes full sadness and relief, “Surrender.” 

  \r \r \r 

  Everyone fell silent and gazed at the Crown Prince with disbelief, anger, sorrow, hopelessness, and confusion. They didn’t understand why he would suddenly lose all of his will to fight. 

  The Crown Prince’s gaze slowly passed over the faces of these soldiers, who had followed him loyally. He knew if they fought desperately now, there was a chance they could still get out of the city. However, having gotten to here, the Crown Prince was tired and hopeless. Even if they could get out of the city, then what? Jingdou was thousands of li away from Cangzhou. 

  Was he going to allow these thousands of soldiers to die one by one while being pursued? Was he going to allow the army to fight, kill, and burn the Qing people’s fertile land? 

  The Crown Prince turned his horse and looked at Ye Zhong in the distance across the street full of soldiers and a forest of spears. “General Ye, I don’t want to go anymore.” 

  Ye Zhong furrowed his brows slightly. He didn’t understand the reason for this scene in front of him. No matter what, he would not be able to guess the changes in the Crown Prince’s heart. He thought that the Crown Prince had other ideas. Since the Crown Prince had said this, it seemed there was a chance. Ye Zhong also didn’t want the Dingzhou army to pay an even heftier price. 

  “Your Highness is wise.” 

  At this time, Li Chengqian’s Crown Prince status had already been removed by Fan Xian according to the edict. Ye Zhong still habitually used it. 

  Li Chengqian laughed bitterly and said, “I have a condition.” 

  “Please, speak.” 

  “I want to see Fan Xian. He has to promise me one thing.” 

  Li Chengqian’s face immediately became cold. It was not because he understood something. Rather, as a son of the Li family, as the Crown Prince that had been raised as the next Emperor for many years, he faintly knew what kind of fate the hand in heaven wanted to create in Jingdou. However, he didn’t want to surrender to this fate. He wanted a small stone to press painfully into the hand as it formed its mud people. 

  Ye Zhong was silent for a moment and said, “I don’t know where Duke Fan is right now.” 

  A strange light flashed through Li Chengqian’s eyes. He immediately guessed something. His expression became ugly. He began to worry about the safety of a certain person. He thought to himself that his condition hadn’t even landed in Fan Xian’s ear yet, so would it be in time? 

  Ye Zhong was lying. He could guess where Fan Xian was. 

  Regardless of whether it was the rebel army or people who accepted Fan Xian’s power as regent, they had all lost track of him. After the old Qin Master was stabbed to death, Duke Fan, who had organized the Jingdou incident, could not be found again. 

  The Crown Prince, who had made up his mind in front of Donghua Gate, guessed, like Ye Zhong, where Fan Xian had gone. Ye Zhong was able to guess it because he had personally given that address to Fan Xian. The Crown Prince could guess it because he was concerned with everything and the people there. ……

  Fan Xian was in Taiping Courtyard. 

  Dressed in black, he stood on the bank of Liujing River and looked at the scenery on the other side. He melded with the shadows of the trees. If one did not look closely, it was impossible to tell them apart. He was on the outskirts of the city. After he killed Qin Ye, he had taken advantage of the chaos in Jingdou, surpassed the tall city walls, and come here as fast as he could. 

  In this royal family courtyard was his wife, whom he cared the most about, Lin Wan’er, and Da Bao. There was also the Eldest Princess, who had orchestrated the Dong Mountain incident and rebellion in Jingdou. 

  Fan Xian was not a stranger to Taiping Courtyard. Twenty years ago, this country estate was the property of his family. It was where his mother, Ye Qingmei, had lived after coming to Qing Kingdom. 

  After the Ye family fell, this country estate was taken by the royal family. However, the Emperor had always kept Taiping Courtyard sealed with internal guards standing watch. He had strictly prohibited any member of the royal family from entering. Only then was its reputation gradually buried. 

  In the fourth year of the Qing calendar, between summer and autumn, Fan Xian had once brought his sister to see it from across the river. Now, the river wind stroked across his skin. He couldn’t help but sigh. 

  Fan Xian didn’t understand why the Eldest Princess would choose Taiping Courtyard as her headquarters for directing the events in Jingdou. But, he didn’t have time to consider this. The most important matter was how to rescue Wan’er and Da Bao. 

  Although Wan’er was the Eldest Princess’s trueborn daughter, Fan Xian couldn’t promise that the crazy woman would know her family after she personally saw the dismal conclusion to her plan of many years. 

  Over these dozen days, he knew what kind of situation Wan’er was in, but he was unable to resolve it. He didn’t reveal any of his worries to those beside him. Only he knew how Wan’er and Da Bao’s safety affected his mood. 

  Standing on the other side of the river, Fan Xian’s heart twisted slightly in pain. It was only now that he realized that Wan’er was more important to him than he could have imagined. 

  Wu Zhu had once told him about the structure of the rooms in Taiping Courtyard. Furthermore, Wu Zhu had once entered the courtyard to retrieve an object. After Fan Xian came to the bank across from the courtyard, he carefully observed the defensive power of the quiet and secluded courtyard. The defenses were much weaker than he had imagined. It looked like his and the Overwatch Council’s endless attacks on Xinyang’s action did indeed have some effects. The Eldest Princess’s aces had been reduced a great deal. 

  The sounds of killing within Jingdou shook the heavens, yet Taiping Courtyard was completely quiet. This clear discrepancy made it clear that Fan Xian could not act without thought. 

  The site where Taiping Courtyard was built was special. It was built on a peninsula in Liujing River. There was only one way into the courtyard. The banks around it were relatively shallow. Fan Xian observed from the top of the branches for a long time. He found that his line of vision was blocked by the courtyard walls, so he couldn’t see the situation inside. 

  The courtyard wall was cleverly designed. It wasn’t very high, but it just happened to block all lines of sight going in. 

  Fan Xian’s lips tasted bitter. He knew that even if he brought out the assault rifle, it wouldn’t be of any use. Thinking of this, his heart gave an involuntary thud. He wondered if his mother had once thought about defending against the attack of assault rifles when she designed this courtyard. 

  However, there was no such thing as an invulnerable courtyard in the world. Otherwise, 20 years ago, the woman surnamed Ye would not have disappeared from Qing Kingdom. 

  Fan Xian didn’t want to attack forcefully in case he hurt the innocent. He knew that this move of Li Yunrui’s had indeed grasped his weakness. 

  He didn’t think for long on this riverbank before his expression calmed. Taking a deep breath, Fan Xian turned toward the platform he had passed in the bamboo trees and walked toward Taiping Courtyard’s front gate as if he was taking a stroll. 

  Many people abruptly appeared on the wall behind the bamboo forest and surrounded him between them. The Eldest Princess’s personal guards and aces looked at him with faces full of shock. They had long recognized him and didn’t understand how he could show himself like this at such a time. 

  Fan Xian’s gaze was as calm as the slowly flowing water in the Liujing River. He said, “I want to see her.”


  Chapter 566: A Tree Of Flowers, A Thousand Notes For The Qin, A Single Person

  Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio 

  Fan Xian stood in the doorway of the Taiping Courtyard and glanced sideways at the faint green inside. After he said those words, he said nothing more. The dozen Xinyan aces looked at him with faces full of astonishment. They didn’t know what had happened in Jingdou. How could this Overwatch Council Commissioner, who should have been trapped in the Royal Palace, suddenly appear in front of Taiping Courtyard’s door? 

  A gust of wind breezed through the bamboo woods and slowly removed some of the heat around everyone’s bodies. The Xinyang aces gave a low roar and charged toward Fan Xian, who furrowed his brows and retreated. His left arm seemed to twist and stretch out. His fist suddenly opened when extended to the extreme and, like an old flowering bulrush, he slapped it against the ace’s face. 

  Although it wasn’t a solid slap, it still caused the ace to lose half his teeth and blood flow freely. He fell to the ground and fainted. 

  Fan Xian rose to his toes. Tyrannical zhenqi surged out of his body as he shrunk. Like a faint shadow, he charged out of the circle. Looking at the people gnashing their teeth and charging toward him, his eyes became more bloodshot. His fists trembled slightly. 

  Just as Sir Yan junior had said when they first made the plan, present-day Jingdou was like an empty city to Fan Xian. The people who were the greatest threat to him had all been drawn by the Emperor to Dong Mountain. Regardless of whether they were aces from Northern Qi or the numbing ninth-level sword masters from Dongyi, they were all drawn to the jade-like mountain like magnets. 

  There were only three people who were of the ninth-rank in Jingdou. The old Qin Master had already died, and Ye Zhong was on his side. Fan Xian had the confidence that as long as he didn’t sink into the rebel army, who would be able to kill him? 

  However, he had no way of knowing where Wan’er and Da Bao were, so he didn’t dare to attack. Thus, he took another gamble and knocked on the door outside Taiping Courtyard. Perhaps it was somewhat arrogant, but it was actually a form of helplessness. When it came to the Eldest Princess’s tricks, the sinister and surly Fan Xian could only temporarily shed his tyrannical behavior and seek a different path. 

  The Xinyang aces did not know that Sir Fan junior was preparing to attack them verbally. In their shock, they attacked with all their strength. When they came face to face, someone became heavily injured. No one knew what kind of bloody battle would follow. 

  The aces charging toward Fan Xian abruptly stopped their steps. The bows and arrows extending out of the walls of Taiping Courtyard also raised the heads of their arrows. They were no longer aimed at Fan Xian. His eyes narrowed as he looked at the bows and arrows. Involuntarily, his heart felt cold. However, life was full of too many helpless things. If he wanted Wan’er and Da Bao to be safe, then he had to go around this tiger-infested mountain. 

  No one else stopped Fan Xian entering the courtyard. Countless eyes, whether in the open or in secret, watched his every move. If he made any unusual movements, probably only then would the killing truly start. 

  The elegant and faint sound of a guqin traveled throughout Taiping Courtyard. The sound was as flowing as water, cleansing and calming, making the listener feel at ease and comfortable. ……

  Since the Eldest Princess had already used the sound of the guqin to give an order, then the aces across Taiping Courtyard would not obstruct his entry. There was boundless confusion in their hearts. Why was Her Highness allowing Fan Xian to go in? Did she not know how terrifying he was? Why didn’t she take advantage of his solo approach to kill him? 

  The dozen people slowly escorted, or watched, Fan Xian through Taiping Courtyard’s main gate. They then stopped in front of the second platform, which was prohibited land. Without the Eldest Princess’s personally command, no one was to enter. 

  Fan Xian stood in front of the wooden platform and looked at the wooden planks with his head down. There were gaps between them. He could see the clear river water below. At this part in Taiping Courtyard, the Liujing River was separated by a stone path from the upper island. It formed a puddle of slow-moving water. As flat as a lake, the surface of the water seemed to always be calm and unable to flow. 

  The quiet and even guqin sounds coming from the internal courtyard across from the platform entered his ears. He lowered his head to look at the flowing water and cocked his ear to hear the sound of the guqin. It was as if he wanted to determine the current mood of the person playing. 

  A moment later, he carefully tidied his clothes and stepped onto the bridge. He walked calmly to the island and pushed open the wooden doors to the internal courtyard. He raised his eyes to the woman gently stroking the strings on the guqin in the pavilion in the center of the lake. Wrapping his hand around his fist, he lifted it and bowed respectfully, “Greetings, Your Highness.” 

  There was not the slightest pause from the guqin because of this abrupt greeting. The slender and pale hands moved across the instrument just as calmly as before. 

  Li Yunrui had her head down and seemed to be putting all her attention on the seven strings of the guqin. Only her wrists were slightly weighted. Her fingertip slid to the right. Compared to the faint music earlier, it appeared more restrained and elegant. 

  An autumn wind blew across the little lake, creating ripples in the water. The green rocks by the lake and low hill were reflected beautifully in the water. The pavilion was on a hill. The person and guqin were not in the pavilion. Instead, they were among the flowers and trees. On the trees, the stamens were light and powdery. The autumn wind blew across the clear water and stroked across the tip of the flowering branches. The water moved. The petals fell like rain, landing on the Eldest Princess’ wide-sleeved clothing like they were adorned with a slightly darker flower shadow. 

  Fan Xian calmly watched that spot and saw Li Yunrui’s calm and quiet appearance, which still could not hide her charm. The Eldest Princess had not put on thick makeup. She had only lightly outlined the tips of her curving brows, yet her natural aura filled the courtyard. A head full of beautiful and long black hair was spread out behind her shoulders, tied back with a silk scarf. It looked beautiful and relaxed. 

  She played the guqin with her head down. Her eyelids were slightly lowered. Her long eyelashes gently lay on her jade-like skin. It made Fan Xian involuntarily think of the eyes his wife had inherited from her. 

  If one did not think about who she was or her age, then any man would have to acknowledge this woman’s charm. 

  Fan Xian followed stones on the bank of the lake and walked over. Narrowing his eyes slightly at the music, he suddenly said, “Yan Xiaoyi is dead.” 

  The guqin continued to buzz lowly and occasionally jumped. It made a few trembling sounds, indicating that she already knew of this matter and there was no need to speak more about it. 

  “Qin Heng has died.” Fan Xian stared at her hands and said quietly. 

  Two fingers on Li Yunrui’s right hand slid past the fourth string and pressed down twice. The guqin below her fingers made a leisurely sound. 

  Fan Xian didn’t hesitate at all. Forging ahead in a plain but forceful tone, he said “Qin Ye has also died. 

  Li Yunrui still did not raise her head. However, the speed at which the seven strings moved became slower and slower, gradually becoming a sorrowful sound. The guqin was elegant. It had sorrow but no pain. A faint sense of yearning was plainly visible. One could grasp the Eldest Princess’ emotions through the faint trembling of her wide sleeves behind her hands. 

  Suddenly, the sound of the instrument reverberated again. The tips of her fingers flicked quickly, but the range of sounds were still constrained to one region. The speed gave the piece, which should have been filled with vicious currents, a completely different sense of slowness. It pledged a sense of pureness. 

  Only someone filled with confidence could play the correct sound. 

  Fan Xian had already walked into the trees and flowers to her side. He lowered his head and looked at the strings that rose and felt like waves. Suddenly, he said, “Everyone says that I am a genius, but I actually know nothing about musical theory. For me, the thoughts you are putting into this is probably like that saying of playing guqin to a cow.” 

  Li Yunrui probably had heard that phrase, but her head remained lowered as she stroked over the strings, intoxicated and with no ties to her heart. No one knew which soul mate she was playing this piece to. It was only a coincidence that Fan Xian had come to Taiping at this time. 

  Fan Xian had thick skin and never knew what shyness was. Seeing that she was ignoring him, he smiled self-mockingly and plunked himself down next to her. Then, he turned to her profile and said, very naturally, “Ye Zhong defected.” 

  Abruptly, a chaotic buzzing sound came from the guqin, spiraling across the lake, hills, and flowers. The string on the guqin struggled for a moment, then three of them snapped. 

  The Eldest Princess slowly raised her head and looked into Fan Xian’s eyes. In only an instant, she had recovered her calm. “Every time I see you, it seems that I never hear any good news.” 

  Through these few years, the Eldest Princess and Fan Xian had each stood on their own sides, competed and clashed endlessly. The struggle between them linked together the major events these years in Qing court. It was quite remarkable that Fan Xian and her had not met many times. This pair had each become the other’s greatest enemy, yet they were not very familiar with each other. 

  “If you wish to hear good news, my head should follow behind the good news,” Fan Xian said quietly. His gaze casually scanned his surroundings. Unfortunately, he didn’t make any discoveries, so his gaze dimmed for an instant. 

  The Eldest Princess’s hands were gently resting on the guqin with the broken strings. Both her eyes were slightly closed. Her already pale skin seemed even paler, like it was going to become translucent. The usually alluring red blush was nowhere to be found. 

  She had indeed not expected Fan Xian’s sudden appearance at Taiping Courtyard. Fan Xian had moved too quickly. The people she had left in the rebel army didn’t have time to report on the situation in Jingdou yet. However, she already faintly felt that there was a problem. She had not taken action against him at the first instance. Instead, she had let him come in to see how the second half of the story would happen. 

  Furthermore, she held Fan Xian’s life in her hands. She did not care about what remarkable powers her son-in-law had. 

  Fan Xian’s four truths, one after another, had caused the Eldest Princess’s heart to finally loosen. Although she had already guessed Yan Xiaoyi’s death after Fan Xian appeared in Jingdou, her heart still dimmed involuntarily as she heard the confirmation from one who was there. After all, this Governor had long been her trusted confidant, promoted by her hand and absolutely loyal to her. 

  Qin Heng and Qin Ye’s death made the Eldest Princess slightly fearful. She had not thought that the situation in Jingdou would become like this. Fan Xian’s last sentence made clear all the answers and had finally made her angry. 

  She was only angry for a moment before she became calm again. Opening her eyes, she pouted as she expelled her breath and was somewhat mournful. “However, you still have to come beg me.” 

  “Since I am here, you can guess what has happened in Jingdou.” Fan Xian lowered his head slightly. He and the Eldest Princess both knew the reason he dared to come alone into the courtyard and the reason she had let him in was because they each held the other’s life in their hands. Neither of them wanted to end all of the possibilities in the first instance. 

  The Eldest Princess had Wan’er and Da Bao. Fan Xian had obtained an irreversible advantage in Jingdou. 

  Li Yunrui suddenly lowered her head. Her wide sleeves hid the broken guqin. Her light-colored clothing at her shoulders trembled with her movements. She appeared pitiful. 

  “I have come to ask you,” Fan Xian sincerely said, “to let go.” 

  Li Yunrui heard his words and suddenly raised her head. She stared at Fan Xian with an apathetic look and didn’t speak. Although her eyes were apathetic, Fan Xian could see a marrow-deep resentment in them. This resentment was clearly not aimed at him. Instead, it went through him and pierced those who were not present. 

  “Let go? What right do you have to say those two words to me?” Li Yunrui laughed mockingly and lifted a light petal from her shoulder. “Ye Zhong’s betrayal…… That is indeed beyond my expectations. However, since you have come, what do I need to worry about? Perhaps many people fear your martial ability, brains, and the Overwatch Council, only I have never worried about your existence from the beginning.” 

  Fan Xian remained silent. 

  “Everyone thinks that you are ruthless and vicious under your bright exterior.” The Eldest Princess looked at him mockingly. “I have to admit, you’ve faked it quite well these years in the Overwatch Council. Everyone thinks that in the face of great personal interest, you would become someone who wouldn’t acknowledge those closest to you. However, I know you have never been that way.” 

  \r \r \r 

  “That is why you have Wan’er and Da Bao.” Fan Xian cut across her words. 

  “Two years ago, I had said that you appeared powerful but actually could not stand up to a single strike,” Li Yunrui slowly said. “You care about too many people in this world. You have weaknesses all over your body. I can grab any one of them, and you would be unable to turn over. Otherwise, why would you not be in Jingdou right now? Why would you sneak your way here?” 

  Fan Xian lowered his head and said faintly, “I have to admit that you are very good at reading people. I care about too many people. This has caused great inconvenience when I am doing things.” 

  “Take Wan’er, for example. You can use your own daughter’s life to threaten your son-in-law, but I could not do this. On the contrary, I am willing to sacrifice my own life for Wan’er’s life. I have been tortured by this every night these 10 days. in the end, I have to admit this.” 

  Hearing these words, a faint light rose below the Eldest Princess’ slightly hooded eyes. 

  Fan Xian flatly watched the smooth surface of the lake and the petals moving slowly with the ripples. Calmly, he said, “But, being willing to sacrifice my life and being threatened by someone else are two different things. If Wan’er was sick and needed my head to cure her, perhaps I would cut it off. If my death does not do anything for Wan’er’s safety, why would I do such a thing?” 

  He turned his head to look at her and said, “I am here today to let you know that threatening me won’t do anything. Of course, we could chat about what kind of good conclusion this matter could have.” 

  “I care about many people, I am full of weaknesses.” Before the Eldest Princess opened her mouth, Fan Xian blocked up the last opening. “But because there are many weaknesses, they are no longer weaknesses. I cannot turn back and attack because of Wan’er. Otherwise, what about my father? What about my brothers the Great Prince and Third Prince? They are all family. No one is more important than another. Presumably, Wan’er would agree with my perspective and actions.” 

  The Eldest Princess couldn’t help but smile slightly and shake her head. Fan Xian’s words had already blocked all her threats. Although she could try, her thoughts had long floated to another place. Faintly, she sighed and said, “Your eldest brother and third brother, looks like you have finally acknowledged your identity. The men of the Li family are always so hypocritical and shameless. You’ve said a lot, but what benefit was it to the situation? It was for no other reason than to force me to rise in revolt then you could comfort yourself with the fact that Lin’er and Da Bao’s death had nothing to do with you. You had no other choice. For the greater good, you could only stand aside and watch. The one devoid of a conscience would be me. The person who would be sad afterward and receive the comfort of thousands would be you.” 

  She gazed at Fan Xian’s face and smiled slightly. “Do you not think you are very shameless?” She paused then laughed self-mockingly. “You are very similar to your father in this.” 

  The father she spoke of referred to the Emperor. Fan Xian was silent for a moment and then said, “To have the intention to do evil yet hide it is to be shameless. I have been forced to the end of my choices by you. In the depths of my heart, I don’t want any harm to come to Wan’er.” 

  The two people’s negotiations sank into a stalemate. Fan Xian could easily kill the Eldest Princess at any moment. However, he had yet to see a trace of Wan’er and Da Bao. They were probably being watched by Xinyang aces in some corner. If Fan Xian acted, the first to die would probably be Wan’er. 

  Fan Xian’s face was calm, but he began to worry in the depths of his heart. Faced with such a hopeless woman, he was unable to give her anything she wanted. What could he do next? 

  The Eldest Princess’ expression becomes serious, completely at odds with her pretty appearance and light makeup. She stared in a daze at the surface of the lake and said, “Earlier, I said that the men of the old Li family were shameless. This is not wrong. Last time in Xinyang Palace, the Emperor did not kill me because he wanted to give a chance. The action soothed his heart. He could have killed me justifiably and wouldn’t have had to worry about how the history books would describe this portion of history.” 

  She looked at Fan Xian. “He had never truly cared for me as a sister. Since he had so confidently given me this opportunity, I had to return him a great surprise.” 

  In Fan Xian’s eyes, the Emperor’s worship of heaven at Dong Mountain was taking a huge risk and completely underestimated the Eldest Princess’s capabilities. To be able to invite out the Great Grandmasters of two foreign countries and move the rebel troops into surrounding the capital required powerful persuasive powers and organizational powers. It was truly difficult to imagine that a weak woman had shouldered such a massive plan. 

  Ye Zhong’s strike had allowed Fan Xian to understand one thing. The Eldest Princess had laid down a large plan. However, the Emperor had laid down an even larger plan. The only people who could completely destroy the Eldest Princess were her elder brother and old cripple. 

  “An Zhi, I want to ask you a question.” The Eldest Princess suddenly said. “In the past, I have tried to repair our relationship. Why have you always pulled your hand back?” 

  Before Fan Xian answered, Li Yunrui faintly said ahead of him, “Don’t say it is because I have once tried to kill you, and don’t say it’s because you’ve had trusted confidants die by my hands. You and I both know what kind of person you are. Perhaps you have feelings and loyalty toward your family and friends, but it doesn’t mean that you’re truly a warm-blooded man.” 

  Fan Xian was silent for a moment and then said, “It is very simple, you wouldn’t back down, and the Emperor would not accept you and I becoming close.” In reality, he did not wish to speak with the Eldest Princess about the past. In order to deal with her having a stranglehold on his lifeline, he could only pretend to compromise. 

  The Eldest Princess did not seem to be vacantly thinking about the past because her major plan had failed. Fan Xian’s heart jumped. He stared at the Eldest Princess’ eyes, only to see her lower her head slightly. “Don’t misunderstand. I have no desire to once again join hands. Regardless of whether the Emperor is dead or alive, I no longer have much interest in this world.” 

  Fan Xian suddenly realized that her expression was very melancholy. 

  “My brother was indeed the most powerful person in the world.” Li Yunrui suddenly smiled slightly and said. “I made a big mistake. I thought he only wanted to use the heaven worship at Dong Mountain to draw out an attack from Uncle Liuyun. I didn’t think that he would have such powerful ambitions. It looks like these dozen years of subdued endurance made him unable to tolerate loneliness.” 

  Given the her planning ability, she had guessed the truth of Dong Mountain in the shortest possible time and Emperor’s intention. She understood why there hadn’t been any news from Dongsheng Road after five days. 

  “Don’t think that a lack of news from Dongsheng Road means that the Emperor is still alive.” The Eldest Princess slightly closed her eyes. “That old cripple could also accomplish this. The situation on Dong Mountain is probably not what you’re hoping.” 

  “Since Ye Zhong took action, naturally, Grandmaster Liuyun would also take action.” Fan Xian lowered his head and said. 

  An expression of complete understanding rose to the Eldest Princess face. She lightly said, “Although Sigu Jian and Ku He believed that Ye Liuyun was my man, how could those two strange creatures so easily trust a Qing person?” 

  Li Yunrui’s eyes narrowed. There was no sense of coldness or murder in them. There was only indifference and aloofness. “You and the Emperor both seem to have misunderstood one thing. I am, after all, a Qing person. My entire life has been spent in helping the Emperor unify the world. How could I not include Qing Kingdom’s future danger in my calculations before I went?” 

  “I have never underestimated by brother. I believed that even at the very end, he would still have a remarkable trick to turn the tables. I had not thought that this remarkable trick would be Uncle Liuyun.” 

  “I never intended for Ku He and Sigu Jian to return alive. Four Great Grandmasters met at Dong Mountain. Even if Uncle Liuyun attacked, it would still be a two on two. What kind of people are Ku He and Sigu Jian? If the Emperor wanted to kill the two Great Grandmasters, his thinking was a bit too simple.” 

  “I trust my brother, which is why I believe that even if he died, he would drag the two Great Grandmasters down with him. Otherwise, how could he be worthy of his wisdom and power?” the Eldest Princess said indifferently. “At that time, Qing Kingdom would have Uncle Liuyun, while Northern Qi and Dongyi would have no one to protect them. What difference is there to the development of the situation presently? If Uncle Liuyun attacks, all four of the Great Grandmasters would die. There is little difference to what I was thinking.” 

  She continued speaking. “Strange creatures like the Great Grandmasters should not even exist in this world. If there were not Great Grandmasters in the world, given Qing Kingdom’s national and military strength, we would have united the world long ago, what need would there be to wait until today?” 

  “Regardless of what happened on Dong Mountain, it would all be of benefit to the Qing Kingdom,” she said. “Once they all died, do you think that the Emperor would be so fortunate as to survive such a momentum?” 

  Not allowing Fan Xian to open his mouth, the Eldest Princess coldly threw out each line, making his mouth go dry. Not knowing what to say, he had no idea that the Eldest Princess had not wanted, from the beginning, for the Great Grandmasters on Dong Mountain to survive. She was not an immortal, after all, and could not account for every detail. However, the development of the present situation seemed to not be far off from her estimation. 

  The only change had, on the contrary, happened in Jingdou. It had been him leaving Dong Mountain alive and in Ye Zhong’s strike. 

  “If the four old men and the Emperor all died, do you think I care about who sits on the dragon chair? Although I am disappointed that you control Jingdou and Chengqian will not be able to take the throne, what do these little setbacks matter?” The Eldest Princess glanced at Fan Xian. “Of the Emperor’s five children, other than the Third Prince, who is still young, any of the other four, even the most useless Second Prince, would still be able to lead Qing Kingdom in conquering this world.” 

  “Having the four Great Grandmasters accompany him to the grave,” a proud and maniacal light rose to the Eldest Princess’ face, “presumably he would be very pleased to have four such guards in the afterlife. And, I’ll also give his son the world. I owe him nothing.” 

  “What about you?” Fan Xian asked with a raspy voice. It was only now that he truly understood why his father and Chen Pingping always told him this woman was crazy. After making so much trouble, she didn’t even care who could survive in the major battle in Jingdou and sit on the dragon chair. They were all children of the Li family, all children of the Emperor. 

  “Me?” The Eldest Princess looked at her son-in-law like she was looking at an idiot. “Who would you rather be, the uneven path on the ground or a brilliant falling star under the heavens? In life, one only has to emit the light that belongs to them. There is no need to fear people’s words or dread the history books. For someone like the Emperor, who likes to have face, he’ll always need me to help him.” 

  Although he had single-handedly forced the Eldest Princess and Emperor’s final break, Fan Xian still couldn’t resist asking in a raspy voice, “Why did you have to do this?” 

  He asked it quietly, but the Eldest Princess heard it clearly. Looking at the secluded and simple scenery of the Taiping Courtyard, she slowly said, “Because he turned his back on me. I wanted to prove to everyone that a woman could also change the history that stupid men have dominated for years.” 

  She slowly rose. Her hair fell down from her body. She looked very beautiful. 

  Fan Xian listened to these words in a daze, particularly the last line. He had once heard it in Xinyang Palace. It appeared particularly piercing and shocking. 

  Li Yunrui looked at the scenery in Taiping Courtyard greedily and said in a low and reluctant voice, “When I was little, I loved this courtyard. Brother would never let me come. Later, I asked my father for it and was heavily scolded by brother. At that time, the mistress of this courtyard was dominating.” 

  She smiled slightly and turned around, causing the flowers nearby to tremble. A dozen petals fell down. She looked at Fan Xian and said in a charming voice, “Tell me, have I finally surpassed your mother?” 

  Fan Xian had sunk into a strange emotion. Abruptly hearing these words, he had no idea how to answer and could only smile awkwardly. 

  The Eldest Princess stretched out her bare foot and stepped onto the green grass, slowly dancing. She carried with her a slow and relaxed mood. 

  For some reason, Fan Xian felt an incomparable anger as he looked at this scene. Yes, you have all stood higher than others and saw further than others. Regardless of whether it was the Emperor or Li Yunrui, from the very beginning, their sights had not been in Jingdou but focused on Dong Mountain and the four Great Grandmasters who should not have existed in this world. 

  How many people died? How many tragic stories of broken families are there in Jingdou? How many Qing Kingdom soldiers had lost their heads and lives because of your intention to leave your name in history? How many people have cried in pain? How many people have sorrowed? 

  “You’re not as good as her,” Fan Xian suddenly said. 

  The Eldest Princess’s bare feet abruptly stopped on the grass. She turned her head and looked at Fan Xian with a cold gaze, as if waiting for him to give an explanation. 

  Fan Xian raised his brows and remained sitting on the ground. Mockingly, he said, “When my mother came to this world, at least she managed to make the Qing people smile. You could only make them cry.” 

  Li Yunrui smiled faintly, revealing a mocking expression. She was completely unmoved. 

  Fan Xian’s next words made her angry. He shook his head and said in a tone that was inevitable and right, “I have seen paintings of my mother. I have to say, she is prettier than you.” 

  Fan Xian laughed. “Everyone loves Ye Qingmei, is that not so?” 

  He stood and dusted the grass from his bottom, not looking at Li Yunrui’s expression. He now knew that the Eldest Princess had intended to die from the very beginning for her plotting and only wished for a final glory before going to the afterlife to seek her brother. Fan Xian began to feel tired. He only wanted to provoke her and create some change to find a way to rescue Wan’er and Da Bao. 

  Of course, there was still a massive question surrounding his heart. 

  Could the Emperor actually survive the shaking of heaven and earth in the Great Grandmasters battle?

  Chapter 567: Clouds Leave The Sleeve Without Intention, The Sword Has Intention But Does Not Return

  Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio 

  The Dong Mountain incident. 

  Following Sigu Jian’s pointing, the sword that had been hovering in midair flew out with a whoosh. It drew a half circle around his body and pierced toward the Qing Emperor’s back. 

  At this time, Ye Liuyun had already come to the Qing Emperor’s side. He flatly stretched out his two hands, which were as white as metal. 

  The sword had broken through the air and tore through the thick vitality of Dong Mountain. In the next second, it seemed about to pierce into the Emperor’s back. Out of everyone’s expectations, that pair of pure white, even somewhat young and tender, hands pressed down toward the sword. 

  The situation of the Great Grandmasters surrounding the Qing Emperor on Dong Mountain suddenly underwent a great change. Ye Liuyun stretched out his hand toward the sword and not the Emperor. 

  The first thing to touch this sword was Ye Liuyun’s sleeve, a wide sleeve woven out of hemp. In an instant, it became soft like the clouds that periodically floated across the middle of Dong Mountain when there was no rain. Gently, layer by layer, it enveloped the quickly approaching sword. 

  The cloth broke, and the hemp sleep shattered into butterflies that danced around the summit of Dong Mountain. The sword burned through its essence in a gentle and warm embrace. The iciness and murderous intent it carried disappeared instantly. It became a chunk of waste metal, dull and dark, petty and low. 

  The power of this word was too vicious and severe. After Ye Liuyun had chanted a Buddhist verse, he had no choice but to take action to protect the Emperor’s safety. When he demonstrated his true position, he was unable to find the most crucial point to carry out an attack. How would he deal with the following situations? 

  Ye Liuyun’s white beard was soaked by the rain. His eyes remained intently on the sword in his hand. He did not underestimate the sword because of the dimness of its blade. He also didn’t feel any unease about not being able to ambush Sigu Jian because he had been forced to act early. 

  He only looked intently at the sword and held onto it. It was like countless spirits were contained within this normal sword and would come out in the next instant to devour everyone on the summit. 

  The hands that were as steady as jade formed an abstract circle. The thumb and index finger became a loop. The lightless sword stopped abruptly high in midair. 

  He was a Great Grandmaster, so he knew that all of Sigu Jian’s sword intent was contained within the sword. If he didn’t take action, the sword would wholly enter the Emperor’s body. 

  He had traveled the oceans for many years for this one moment. However, he had been forced to act early. Sigu Jian was not truly an idiot. Just as the Eldest Princess thought after the fact, although he and Ku He did not think Ye Liuyun would be on the Qing Emperor’s side, the Great Grandmasters from Northern Qi and Dongyi had a deep understanding of the Qing people’s cunning. Until the last moment, they would not allow themselves to enter dangerous ground. 

  The little body wearing the straw hat actually contained the wisdom of a Great Grandmaster, which was completely different to his reputation in history. He only used this one sword outside of his body and broke through the Qing Emperor’s setup, forcing out the true killer on Dong Mountain, Ye Liuyun. 

  Just as Ye Liuyun stood in front of the Emperor’s body like a bright sun with his hands held together forcefully fending off the vicious sword, Sigu Jian’s body began to shake. The hemp clothing on his body shook violently like it had been attacked by lightning. Suddenly, his sword flew into the sky, stopping between Ye Liuyun’s steady hands. Following his body’s trembling, an astonishing cold sword intent fluttered and pierced through the hemp clothing he wore and shot straight to the horizon. 

  Inspired by this sword’s intent, the sword Ye Liuyun’s naked hands controlled also began to tremble violently and made a buzzing sound in the air while glowing with a brilliant light. 

  The rain was still pouring down on Dong Mountain. The raindrops seemed to be using a remarkably slow speed to finely sense the ground’s attraction. They were no longer threads or a downpour. Instead, they were crystal-clear pearls. 

  After the heavy curtain of pearls, the short man wearing hemp clothing used his body as a sword. With world-shattering power, he covered 30 or so meters in a flash, reaching Ye Liuyun like a bolt of lightning. Stretching out his hands, he pressed down on the common sword he had worn by his side for dozens of years. The sword that had long integrated with his heart. 

  Sigu Jian’s hand once again grasped his own sword. The tip of the sword spat wildly, dancing like a silver snake. Its aura was imposing. 

  Just as the hemp-wearing Sigu Jian broke the frozen layers of rain, a brilliant light abruptly shot out from Ye Liuyun’s pupils like flowing clouds enveloping the sun and forcefully absorbing the sun’s power. With a muffled groan, the two fists that formed an endless circle folded together inward. 

  With a crisp clapping sound, the empty air became as solid as metal. A moment later, it was forcefully shattered by the pair of pure white hands and closed around the body of the sword. ……

  For the Great Grandmaster, there was no setup. Even though the Qing Emperor had set something up and hid Ye Liuyun until the very end, the fog of confusion was easily broken by Sigu Jian’s one strike. Immediately after, Sigu Jian used the opportunity to pour all of his sword power into the sword again. 

  The Emperor was to Ye Liuyun’s side. When this attack came, it was impossible to dodge. He could only use Cloud Hand to meet it head on. When the ultimate sword power met his flesh, Ye Liuyun’s Sanzhou movement could not be demonstrated to the extent he desired. This was the opportunity Sigu Jian was looking for. 

  In a Great Grandmasters’ battle, an occasional thought caused the heaven and earth to change. Only a slight deviation could change the entire situation. 

  Sigu Jian began to yell shrilly and maniacally. All the wild and ruthless sword intent in his body surged into the sword in his hand. The surging speed was so fast that the part of the hilt where his hand grasped it heated up. It abruptly evaporated all of the water droplets on the rope. 

  A terrifying sound of metal moving against rock rang out. The sword between Ye Liuyun’s tightly closed hands moved forward an inch. 

  Ye Liuyun’s head remained slightly lowered. The wide sleeves on his shoulders had long turned into the dancing butterflies around him. The steadiest hands in the world were locked tightly around that sword. A moment later, the skin on the hands began to crack open inch by inch like the victim of some kind of skin disease. The skin aged. The edges began to rise up. It looked like the earth during the massive drought in the fifth year of the Qing calendar cracking open. It was especially terrifying and mystical. 

  His eyes were full of a calm light. Looking at the sword between his hands inching closer toward his body, there was not a glimmer of expression on his face. He only spat out a single word. 

  “Cloud!” 

  \r \r \r 

  Following this word, the skin on the two hands, which had already been cracked open by the ultimate sword intention, abruptly became soft and gentle again. Deeper than sea water, softer than lake water, and purer than the glance of a Jiangnan woman, it was the clouds in the sky, the threads in the clouds that wrapped around the sword like worries. It forced the extremely powerful sword to unexpectedly encounter gentleness and have no choice but to rest in the middle of its journey. 

  In this short second, the heaven’s aptly awarded a flash of lightning with a crack, lighting up the particularly dark summit of the mountain that had been covered by black clouds. 

  The lightning illuminated Sigu Jian’s face under his straw hat. His eyes were completely filled with the wildness of a savage animal. 

  He didn’t say a single word. He only roared shrilly. His roar echoed around Dong Mountain, shocking countless people into a dead faint. He was a Great Grandmaster who used a sword. He used the Sigu Sword, caring only about what was in front of him and not what was behind him, endlessly forward. 

  The power of the sword surged out with the cry and became unstoppable. Endless and boundless killing intent and an aura of ruthlessness were all contained within this one strike. 

  This was Sigu Jian’s most powerful attack in his life. His entire life, spirit, and faith had converged to form this strike. The power of the sword was vicious and ruthless. It appeared to be in defiance of the natural order. No one had ever performed such an attack before, and probably no one in the future would. 

  No one could stop it, not even Ye Liuyun. ……

  Often it was the people outside a situation, who didn’t know who was involved with the situation or what situation determined victory, that sorrowfully realized in a moment that they had calculated themselves in. 

  The development of an incident detracted further and further from the calculations of the person in control of the situation as the incident went on. If one knew everything that happened in this second that was at a standstill, perhaps from the beginning the Qing Emperor would have chosen differently. He would have had the Tiger Guards enter the Mountain and face-off against Ku He and Sigu Jian with Qing Kingdom’s two Great Grandmasters and Wu Zhu on the side. Then, he would have swung the knife down after the Tiger Guards and both sides were heavily injured. If he had done so, there would be no need for the situation appearing in front of him now. 

  On the most important day of his life, Sigu Jian perfectly demonstrated a Great Grandmaster’s wisdom and decisiveness. Using only one attack, he forced out Ye Liuyun and perfectly used the Qing Emperor’s set up and life to force Ye Liuyun into a dead end. 

  If Sigu Jian had not burned through part of his spirit when he killed over a hundred Tiger Guards with one strike as he mounted the staircase to heaven up Dong Mountain, the astonishing strike would perhaps have long pierced into Ye Liuyun’s abdomen. 

  Of course, if he hadn’t used the blood of hundreds of Qing Kingdom aces to worship this sword, to contain within it a boundless bloodlust and killing intent, perhaps Sigu Jian would not be able to execute such a heartless, emotionless, and ruthless strike. 

  Ye Liuyun had three ways of dealing with this attack. Like the last trick in that world’s 36 tricks, when things developed to an extreme, the best way was often the simplest way. 

  Given the Qing Kingdom’s Great Grandmaster’s ultimate techniques and Flowing Cloud Sanzhou, when he faced Sigu Jian’s astonishing attack, he could have chosen to retreat and escape at the beginning. He could use Sanzhou Sea of Clouds to temporarily seal the blade of the sword. Only an instant was needed for him to leave the enveloped boundary of the sword. 

  However, the Emperor was at his side. If he dodged, then the Emperor would probably be turned into shards of flesh by the sword. Thus, Ye Liuyun did not dodge. Now, he was unable to dodge. ……

  Wu Zhu, who had stood silently by the door to the ancient temple, had his head down. He had placed, at some moment, his hand back on the metal drill by his waist. The Emperor’s life was hanging on by a thread, yet he still didn’t do anything. 

  In the last moment of this second, a slight smile suddenly flashed across Ye Liuyun’s inelegant face. The timing of this smile’s appearance was particularly strange. 

  A portion of the flowing cloud-like hands was suddenly picked up by the wind on the summit and sent straight toward Sigu Jian’s face. 

  The flowing clouds did not stop there. The straw hat flew far away. A powerful wind blew over his face, heading straight for Sigu Jian’s five sense organs. 

  Since he couldn’t block the attack, then why should he block it? Ye Liuyun chose to let go of one hand, scatter a cloud, and use it to envelop Sigu Jian’s face. This was the trick, which even low-level martial artists were particularly skilled at, of rescuing an ally by attacking the aggressors. However, being used by a Great Grandmaster, it appeared unconstrained and smooth. 

  It was a cloud on the horizon that followed the sword intent, which shot into the sky ruthlessly and gently and quickly floated to Sigu Jian’s face. 

  If Sigu Jian ignored this Sanzhou, the sword would pierce into Ye Liuyun’s abdomen. Given the killing intent contained in the sword, it would churn Ye Liuyun’s internal organ into pieces in an instant. Even if he managed to survive, he would not have any battle power. 

  If he avoided this Sanzhou, his intention would sway. A gap would appear in the energy pouring into the sword. How could an imperfect and ruthless sword technique pin a Great Grandmaster under it? 

  Ye Liuyun’s choice in this instant was wise. It could even be said to be wonderful. He knew that this Flowing Cloud was unable to heavily injure Sigu Jian, but he was forcing him to make a decision in a short amount of time. 

  He was using his life to gamble on Sigu Jian’s heavy injury because he could clearly sense that Sigu Jian had already entered into a fatal realm. However, there was still Wu Zhu, Eunuch Yao, and others on the mountaintop. 

  Ye Liuyun could die, but Sigu Jian could not be heavily injured. After being heavily injured, he wouldn’t be able to ensure that he could kill the Emperor of Qing Kingdom. This kind of result was not one that Sigu Jian could accept. 

  Thus, with his Flowing Cloud moving forward, he waited for Sigu Jian to change his attack. 

  Sigu Jian did not change his attack. His eyes still shone with a savage light. His black hair danced wildly in the wind, looking like a demon-wielding a sword with a shocking aura. The sword continued to press forward inexorably toward Ye Liuyun. 

  His left hand closed over empty air and pointed in front of him to the left, completely ignoring the ball of Flowing Cloud coming toward him. 

  There were all kinds of sword techniques in the world, but there was only one technique to holding a sword. Sigu Jian’s left hand was in a perfect sword holding posture. His thumb and four fingers formed a hollow circle with nothing in it. However, there was suddenly a weak sword intent emitting from the nothing. 

  Although it was weak, it could easily kill the bright yellow shadow the empty sword in his left hand pointed toward. 

  Sigu Jian had no choice but to react to Ye Liuyun’s attack. Sigu Jian’s illusory grasp of the sword hilt broke through the air with sword intent, forcing Ye Liuyun to react to the counterattack.