No one expected Lu Chengsha to draw his sword directly.
Even Yu Ye was momentarily stunned as he stared at Lu Chengsha’s long sword. Then, clutching his chest, he laughed and said, “Young Hero Lu truly abhors the Demon Sect.”
Yu Ye was already injured and weak; he wouldn’t last a few moves against Lu Chengsha before losing his life.
He was currently working on an antidote, so he couldn’t afford to die just yet.
The physician from the Cixin Valley beside him quickly said, “Young Hero Lu, please wait. This person cannot die just yet.”
“Young Hero Lu, don’t act impulsively!”
However, Lu Chengsha continued to approach step by step. When he was filled with killing intent, the surrounding air seemed to suddenly turn cold. At this moment, the physician had no choice but to stand in Lu Chengsha’s way, “Young Hero Lu, spare him!”
“Move aside,” Lu Chengsha said.
With just these two words, the physician’s knees almost gave way.
Only Yu Ye remained calm, with a faint smile on his lips as if indifferent to life and death. The long needle in his chest was still there, and his moon-white robe was stained with blood. His face was pale, but his eyes were fixed on Hua Yan.
The look in his eyes made Lu Chengsha very uncomfortable.
Lu Chengsha raised his sword and struck directly. Before the sword reached him, the sword energy had already forced the physician to retreat. Yu Ye raised his chained hands to block, and the clash between the sword and the chains produced an ear-piercing sound. Lu Chengsha’s strength was immense, causing the wound on Yu Ye’s chest, which had just stopped bleeding, to burst open, staining him with blood.
Yet, Lu Chengsha immediately drew his sword, aiming straight for Yu Ye’s throat.
Yu Ye raised his chains again, and Lu Chengsha’s sword struck the iron rings on his wrists. The force did not diminish, and the iron rings pressed against Yu Ye’s collarbone, accompanied by the sound of it breaking. He hunched over and spat out a mouthful of blood.
It was clear that Yu Ye had good reflexes, but his strength was still far inferior.
If this continued, he would indeed be dead in no more than a couple of moves.
At this moment, the crowd parted like a tide, and a commanding male voice called out loudly, “Chengsha, stop.”
Lu Chengsha paused upon hearing this.
Lu Huitian was striding over, having been notified by someone.
The physician from the Cixin Valley quickly seized the opportunity to stop Yu Ye’s bleeding again and dragged him out from under Lu Chengsha’s sword. Yu Ye’s lips were colorless, yet he managed a faint smile and whispered a thank you.
Hua Yan was also somewhat dazed at this moment.
She heard Lu Chengsha say, “You are from the Demon Sect, aren’t you?” and felt a shiver in her heart.
Yu Ye was, and so was she!
As she was momentarily stunned, she snapped back to reality only to see Lu Chengsha already drawing his sword and walking over.
There was no need to think about it—Yu Ye definitely couldn’t defeat him. When they were at the Zhengyi Sect, she always wondered if Yu Ye could even hold his own against her. Yet, if Yu Ye were really to be killed by Lu Chengsha like this… she might still feel sad.
But she wasn’t really inclined to stop Lu Chengsha.
She felt that if she intervened now, Lu Chengsha might be deeply hurt.
In an instant, she saw Yu Ye look at her again with that gentle and handsome face, his eyes misty and full of words he seemed unable to say, as if he had some bitter secret he couldn’t reveal at the moment.
This contradictory expression conveyed a different meaning to Lu Chengsha.
Lu Chengsha did not lower his sword as Lu Huitian walked up to him. After a brief consideration, he still raised his sword and attacked Yu Ye, even though Lu Huitian was already close by.
The physician from Cixin Valley, who was applying medicine to Yu Ye, was so frightened that he fell to the side.
Lu Chengsha’s sword always aimed for vital points. Fortunately, the needle in Yu Ye’s chest had already been removed. In his panic, Yu Ye could only raise his chains to block, but his arm strength was no match for Lu Chengsha. The chains pressed into his chest, embedding deeply.
Even the chains, forged from refined steel, began to show cracks, which was truly terrifying.
Yu Ye couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Even though he was wearing a protective golden silk armor to guard his vital organs, he couldn’t withstand Lu Chengsha’s assault.
He certainly didn’t want to die and absolutely couldn’t afford to die.
With Lu Chengsha close enough, Yu Ye endured the intense pain in his chest and transmitted his voice, “Do you like her that much? But do you understand her? Do you know her past, how she grew up, and how she became who she is now… I know all of this. If you kill me, do you really think she will be happy?”
Only Lu Chengsha could hear these words, and almost with each word Yu Ye transmitted, the weight on the sword began to subtly change.
It was even more effective than he had imagined.
“She wavers for me, she suffers for me. If you kill me, she won’t forgive you. I understand her joys and sorrows better than anyone else—after all, I am the one who nurtured her and raised her like a cherished flower.”
Yu Ye saw a subtle confusion appear on Lu Chengsha’s face.
Like a crack appearing on a perfect weapon, a crack that presented an opportunity. Yu Ye almost laughed in his heart as he suddenly used all his strength to push Lu Chengsha’s sword away and rolled to the ground.
Though he was in a sorry state, Yu Ye finally had a moment to catch his breath.
His silly Yan’er was indeed remarkable. Even without knowing much, she had become his weakness in such a short time.
In that instant, a flash of pride even crossed Yu Ye’s mind. He understood Hua Yan better than anyone.
At this moment, he even knew what Hua Yan was thinking.
How long had Lu Chengsha known her?
It’s a pity that if it weren’t for Shui Se ruining his plans, he wouldn’t have needed to put on this act.
Lu Chengsha seemed to react and thrust his sword again.
While dodging, Yu Ye heard Lu Huitian behind him repeat, “Chengsha, stop.”
But Lu Chengsha had no intention of stopping.
Yu Ye felt a metallic taste in his throat and without hesitation, spat out blood. With blood at the corners of his mouth, he continued transmitting his voice, “If you don’t believe me, you can ask her yourself—what am I to her?”
His sword was wavering—was his heart wavering too?
Yu Ye couldn’t help but wonder.
***
In the end, Lu Chengsha’s sword didn’t come down because someone stopped it.
Lu Huitian raised his sword hilt and blocked in front of Lu Chengsha, his face dark with anger, visible to everyone.
“Chengsha, did you not hear what I said?”
The disciples of Tingjian Manor and the Dangshan Sect were known for their strict adherence to orders. Disobeying a master’s command or insubordination was considered a grave offense. In other sects like Qingcheng, there might be some leniency, but not in these two sects, where punishments were severe and could even result in expulsion.
Lu Chengsha remained expressionless, but his lips were tightly pressed.
Lu Huitian used his sword hilt to push Lu Chengsha’s sword aside and said coldly, “Speak.”
After a long silence, Lu Chengsha said, “Yes.”
In the past, when Lu Chengsha killed members of the Demon Sect, he was ruthless but emotionally detached. This time, it was clear to everyone that his killing intent was driven by personal feelings.
Lu Huitian could hardly believe it. He had heard upon his return that Lu Chengsha had attacked Chu Jun because of that woman.
And now, he was witnessing Lu Chengsha defying his master’s orders out of jealousy. It was truly unbelievable.
Lu Huitian glanced at the beautiful young woman nearby. Indeed, she was a pretty girl, but the more beautiful she was, the more likely she was a femme fatale. He even remembered the first day she appeared, Lu Chengsha had drawn his sword against Lu Chengzhao because of her.
She would ruin Lu Chengsha.
“Sheathe your sword and come back with me.”
Lu Chengsha held his sword, seemingly still struggling.
Lu Huitian sternly said, “Do you want to disgrace your grandfather here?”
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Chengsha stopped struggling. He sheathed his sword, as if all the emotions from before had been drained away.
Hua Yan, having regained her senses, heard Lu Huitian’s voice and saw Lu Chengsha’s state. She couldn’t help but say, “Stop scolding him!”
She took a few steps forward and stood in front of Lu Chengsha.
The surroundings fell silent, with no one daring to breathe heavily. No one wanted to attract the ire of Tingjian Manor at this moment, yet she fearlessly stood up, making the atmosphere even more tense.
Lu Chengsha’s dark eyes moved slightly as he glanced at her.
Lu Huitian’s voice was icy, “Young lady, this seems to have nothing to do with you.”
He spoke politely, but anyone who heard his tone would shudder.
Hua Yan seemed unaware of the coldness in his voice and righteously said, “He’s my friend. How could it have nothing to do with me?”
She didn’t like seeing Lu Chengsha like this, as if he had suddenly become another person, one devoid of emotions.
“Friend?” Lu Huitian repeated the word, a hint of mockery in his voice.
The young girl in front of him was a head shorter than Lu Chengsha, delicate and fragile, as if she could be broken at any moment. Standing in front of him was like a mantis trying to stop a chariot. Where did she get such courage? From Lu Chengsha?
Lu Huitian’s voice became even colder, “Chengsha, let’s go.” His patience was wearing thin, “I don’t think you want me to be unkind to your friend.”
Lu Chengsha placed his hand on Hua Yan’s shoulder.
Hua Yan turned to look at him, about to speak, when Lu Chengsha softly said, “Don’t worry about me.”
“But…”
Lu Chengsha had already stepped past her, following Lu Huitian.
Hua Yan instinctively wanted to follow, but after a few steps, she was stopped by another disciple with a yellow sword tassel who had accompanied Lu Huitian.
“Young lady, please stay.”
The disciple was skilled, and Hua Yan couldn’t draw her sword and fight him in the street. After dodging left and right, she could only watch as Lu Chengsha’s figure gradually receded.
Worried, Hua Yan asked the disciple with the yellow sword tassel, “Will he… be scolded when he gets back?” She recalled how Lu Huitian had scolded Lu Chengzhao.
The disciple hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, “I don’t know.”
Hua Yan felt an emptiness settle in her chest.
Lu Chengsha’s final demeanor made her inexplicably sad.
Yu Ye’s bleeding had been stopped, but his condition was still terrible. The Cixin Valley physician tending to him was frantically applying medicine and bandaging him, while Yu Ye remained remarkably calm. He gritted his teeth through the pain, sweating but silent, and politely thanked the physician afterward, making the physician feel a bit embarrassed.
The murmurs around them had not ceased since Lu Chengsha and Lu Huitian left.
By the next day, everyone in the streets would likely know what had happened that morning.
Yu Ye could already hear people around them calling his Yan’er a femme fatale, saying that even a hero like Lu Chengsha had fallen for her beauty. Despite the fact that this Miss Zhou was indeed beautiful…
But Hua Yan herself seemed oblivious, standing there in a daze, her figure appearing fragile.
Silly girl, Yu Ye sighed inwardly. If he could, he would never want her to grow up in such a harsh environment.
***
For the next two days, Hua Yan didn’t see Lu Chengsha again.
She had tried sneaking into the courtyard of Tingjian Manor, but was stopped from afar, unable to see even a glimpse of Lu Chengsha on the rooftops. It seemed that Lu Huitian had issued strict orders to keep her away.
Moreover, wherever she went in the past few days, people would whisper about her, which was quite annoying.
Senior Sister Tao, knowing this, came to comfort her, “That’s just how Tingjian Manor is. They’re very strict and controlling. Miss Zhou, don’t pay too much attention to what others are saying. By the way, do you really know that traitor from the Demon Sect?”
Hua Yan, looking at her gossiping face, lowered her head and said, “Don’t ask. I don’t want to talk about him.” Feeling she sounded too ambiguous, she added, “I have nothing to do with him now. I really dislike him; he’s not a good person!”
Senior Sister Tao patted her shoulder, “Don’t worry! I definitely support Young Hero Lu! I was just curious. You can’t judge a book by its cover. He looked so… but turned out to be…”
Hua Yan had not seen Lu Chengsha for two days.
She missed him.
Knowing that Lu Chengsha might be punished made her even more unhappy.
“If crying and throwing a tantrum would work, it would be great,” Hua Yan pouted. “Will Tingjian Manor mistreat him?”
Senior Sister Tao was stunned for a moment, then said, “I don’t think so.”
Hua Yan asked, “Like not giving him food?”
Senior Sister Tao replied, “That shouldn’t happen.”
Hua Yan muttered, “Locked in a dungeon.”
Senior Sister Tao replied, “It won’t be that bad…”
Hua Yan continued, “Beatings, finger presses, canings…”
Sweat began to form on Senior Sister Tao’s forehead. “That’s really unlikely…”
But then, she wasn’t so sure. Who knew how Tingjian Manor punished their disciples? In Qingcheng Sect, they usually punished by making the offender clean latrines or carry out chamber pots…
The more Hua Yan thought about it, the more depressed she became. Although Lu Chengsha had told her not to worry about him, she couldn’t shake the feeling that his eyes were saying, “Don’t leave me.”
Even Ning Chang, the young Dangshan Sect disciple who wanted to become Lu Chengsha’s disciple, had come looking for her. With a complex expression, he said, “Do you really know someone from the Demon Sect?”
Hua Yan, feeling frustrated, didn’t have the energy to respond.
Ning Chang said, “You disappoint me so much!”
Hua Yan was puzzled, “?”
Ning Chang, full of indignation, said, “Anyone from the Demon Sect is guilty and should be treated like my master treats them—with utter hatred! Senior Sister, you need to reflect on this. I’m going to follow my master!”
Hua Yan quickly grabbed him, “Follow where?”
Ning Chang replied, “To Tingjian Manor, of course!”
Hua Yan asked, “Huh? He went back?”
Ning Chang was also confused, “You didn’t know? He left yesterday with Uncle Ling… They asked the sect leader for leave and returned early.”
So that was it. No wonder she got no response when she called.
Although Lu Chengsha promised he would come out as soon as possible, his return meant it could be a long time before they saw each other again, and they hadn’t arranged a place to meet.
The more Hua Yan thought about it, the more worried she became.
Waiting in Lishan City for ten days or more would be unbearable for her.
So… she decided to go to Tingjian Manor to find him!
As soon as she made up her mind, everything seemed clear.
She immediately went to Dongfeng Buye Tower to buy a map, studied the route to Tingjian Manor, bought a horse, prepared provisions, and was ready to set off.
The Sword-seeking Tournament was about to conclude, and leaving the city was straightforward. Hua Yan easily left the city, checking the map as she went. However, she quickly realized she had forgotten something.
—Once out of the city, she no longer had protection and was still being pursued by Yu Ye.
Barely three or four miles out of the city, she noticed someone chasing after her. The sound of horse hooves was getting closer. Hua Yan had to urge her horse to go faster, feeling the wind whip past her, but the sound of hooves behind her was drawing nearer and nearer.
Hua Yan glanced back and saw the green and purple clothes emblematic of the Demon Sect.
It was too late to regret now. How could she have forgotten that just a few days ago, it was reported that Demon Sect disciples had caused numerous casualties outside Lishan City?
It was all Yu Ye’s fault!
She almost forgot about this after seeing him in person.
Moreover, she had heard rumors over the past couple of days that Lu Chengsha had nearly killed Yu Ye. As a result, they had kept him at the medical pavilion. Yu Ye had quickly prepared the antidote and sent it to the disciples of various sects that morning. His current image was that of a righteous man who had reformed and become a devoted healer. Although many people still harbored deep hatred for the Demon Sect and called for his execution, most had come to see him as an exception. His appearance was too deceiving, and his pitiable state during Lu Chengsha’s attack had left a lasting impression on everyone.
Now, this seemingly gentle and harmless young man had sent his subordinates to chase Hua Yan, making her scalp tingle.
Hua Yan didn’t dare head back to the city. She couldn’t even spare a glance at her map, galloping her horse wildly through the wilderness while scattering poison mist. Unfortunately, her pursuers were Demon Sect disciples, well-prepared for such tactics. Only a few who reacted too slowly were affected, while the rest pulled out masks from their robes, shielding their faces from the poison.
“Holy Maiden, stop running. We won’t harm you, we just need to take you back.”
“Holy Maiden, we really don’t want to hurt you. Please come back with us.”
Hua Yan didn’t look back and continued her desperate escape.
“Holy Maiden, if you don’t stop, don’t blame us for being rough.”
One of the disciples had already drawn his bow, aiming not at Hua Yan but at her horse.
Arrows began to fall beside her legs, almost hitting her. Hua Yan shouted, “He’s still being held by the righteous sects. What if the cult leader is still Xie Yingxian when we return?”
The Demon Sect disciple laughed, “Holy Maiden, it doesn’t matter who the leader is. We have to take you back today.”
So frustrating.
Could they not be flexible?
As she spoke, Hua Yan threw poison needles, hitting the horses of the disciples closest to her. The horses collapsed immediately.
However, her own horse was hit in the leg, causing it to stumble and slow down.
Hua Yan sensed trouble.
Another arrow hit.
The horse, in pain, began to kick wildly. Hua Yan decided to abandon the horse, and as she flipped off, someone with extremely fast reflexes appeared beside her and caught her.
The newcomer had striking blonde hair casually tied behind his head, and his green eyes sparkled like spring waves. After catching Hua Yan, he nonchalantly set her aside.
Before Hua Yan could speak, the pursuers panicked.
“Left-Left Protector…”
Recognizing the situation, the pursuers quickly turned their horses and fled.
In a way, Xiusi’s reputation was quite formidable.
Hua Yan stood up, dusted off her skirt, and straightened herself. “Protector Xi, long time no see!”
Xiusi, another protector of the Zhengyi Sect, stood there with a stern expression on his beautiful face. He wore a gray robe, exuding the demeanor of a supreme master. He was a genuine Persian, but his rigid nature and bad temper ruined his otherwise charming appearance.
“The Sect Leader sent me to rescue you. Let’s go.”
Hua Yan asked, “Where to?”
Xiusi replied, “To a safe place.”
Hua Yan hesitated, “Uh… can I not go?”
Xiusi finally turned to look at her, “Where else do you want to go?”
Feeling a bit embarrassed, Hua Yan said, “Uh… Tingjian Manor…”
Xiusi responded, “Do you want to get yourself killed?”
Hua Yan thought about it and realized it was indeed absurd. A Demon Sect member heading to Tingjian Manor was like a pig running to the slaughterhouse—it was beyond reason, but still…
“I just really want to go! You can tell the Sect Leader you’ve already rescued me, and I’ll go on my own!”
A vein throbbed on Xiusi’s forehead as he said, “Do you want me to fail the Sect Leader’s task?” His gaze sharpened, “You don’t even have any internal strength now. Do you think you can make it to Tingjian Manor alive?”
Hua Yan clutched her head, “What should I do then!”
Xiusi replied, “Come with me.”
Hua Yan protested, “No way!” Then, she sniffled and started wailing, “I’m so miserable! I’ve been chased all the way, faced traps during the sect battles, and got bullied by Yu Ye. No one cares about me. Now I just want to see someone, but I can’t! I waited for days and got blocked. Now that I finally can go, you’re stopping me too! Is there no justice?” Tears streamed down her face.
Xiusi’s face turned green.
However, throwing a tantrum actually worked this time.
Xiusi remained silent for a moment, then finally gave in. “Who do you want to see? I’ll take you.”
Hua Yan instantly stopped crying, her eyes lighting up. “Tingjian Manor, Lu Chengsha.”
Xiusi couldn’t help but say, “Fine, you’re really rushing towards your own death.”
Why did he care!
At this point, not even the King of Heaven could stop her from seeing Lu Chengsha!