The assassin looked at the young man before him.
At Li Guanyi's age, he was in the phase of rapid growth. In the past month, with ample food and diligent cultivation of martial arts, Li Guanyi had grown significantly taller, exuding a fierce and heroic aura.
His sword-like brows and starry eyes were complemented by a mole at the corner of his eye.
If it were on a woman, it would be a standard beauty mark, but on him, it somewhat diluted the sharpness of his youthful vigor.
The assassin's pupils constricted violently, and dusty images resurfaced in his mind: the burning palace, the man who maintained his dignity until the very end, and that blade, sharp and fierce, just like himself...
"You, you..."
His voice trembled.
Li Guanyi stepped forward, pressing for answers: "Who issued the order?! Who is pursuing them, and why?! Who are my parents? Where are they?!"
"My parents, my aunt, and I!"
"What have we gotten involved in?!"
The barrage of questions cornered the assassin, causing sweat to bead on his forehead.
Reluctant to answer, the assassin attempted to resist the techniques of the Eastern Land Star-Gazing Sect. At that moment, he resembled the professional assassin Li Guanyi had in mind, his face contorted in agony, veins bulging on his forehead, teeth clenched tightly, blood oozing from the corners of his mouth, refusing to utter a word.
Li Guanyi demanded, "What is the answer?"
"Speak!"
The assassin's mind buzzed.
It seemed that when Li Guanyi shouted, he heard the roar of dragons and tigers.
His mental defenses shattered, his lips trembled, and he instinctively blurted out the name that resonated most strongly with his series of questions:
"Regent..."
His voice froze, the bulging veins on his forehead stilled, then throbbed violently a few times.
Then it shattered!
His heart and throat exploded.
A torrent of blood gushed forth like a waterfall, and within the blood, a shadow lunged toward Li Guanyi and Yaoguang. The moment Li Guanyi saw this, his body reacted instinctively.
The long cry of the Azure Dragon rose in his ears.
The young man's hair flew as he stepped forward, shielding Yaoguang behind him.
The firelight of dragon scales danced visibly before him, swirling around Li Guanyi.
Using the technique of Canglang Guard, he blocked the oncoming blood.
The intense heat of the flames surged to an extreme, turning the incoming blood into crimson mist, which then slowly dissipated. The thing that had lunged out was also burned to ashes. Yaoguang crouched low, her fingers pinching a curled-up insect, saying:
"...The opponent has someone like me."
"He has been placed under a special curse."
"Once he touches certain information, the heart's insect will awaken."
"To eliminate those who receive the information."
In Yaoguang's palm, the curled insect began to disperse into smoke, gathered by starlight. She said, "Let me handle this."
Li Guanyi asked, "What is this?"
Yaoguang replied, "A Gu."
"But it is not the insect Gu that is rumored in the mountainous regions southwest of Chen Kingdom."
"It is a witch Gu."
"In the Central Plains, there are martial artists and the various schools of thought, but beyond them, there are the three sects of the outside world: Star-Gazing, Fate-Reading, and Witch Gu, which have diverged from Daoism, Yin-Yang studies, and medicine, walking different paths."
"Star-Gazing often wanders in the mountains and forests of the outside world, while Fate-Reading traverses the mortal realm. The gathering place for Witch Gu is either the palace or the aristocratic families. From this, it can be inferred that your enemies should be figures within the court."
The Canglang Guard, formed naturally by the manifestation of the law, or rather the Chi Long Guard, slowly dissipated.
Li Guanyi felt the uniqueness of the supreme foundation of entry as described by General Xue.
There was no need for him to actively mobilize it.
His body instinctively unleashed the corresponding technique.
This was the most adept body for the complex slaughter of the battlefield. Compared to before entering the realm, when he could only resist the impact of weapons and mitigate his injuries with Canglang Guard, this law's ultimate skill had evidently undergone a qualitative improvement after entering the realm, becoming a means of both offense and defense, even burning away the schemes of the Witch Gu lineage.
However, the consumption was also significantly greater.
At this moment, with the internal energy of the "Breaking Formation Song," Li Guanyi could only unleash it to its fullest three times before exhausting his internal energy.
Li Guanyi understood.
The "Breaking Formation Song" could not keep up with the current consumption of techniques.
He needed to obtain a more advanced martial art.
The aura of the Chi Long spread out, and Li Guanyi looked at the assassin before him. The bulging veins on the assassin's forehead burst, and there were holes in his heart and throat, blood splattering grotesquely in the corner. Li Guanyi recalled the assassin's struggles and fears, as well as the name he had uttered at the end:
"Regent..."
Who is the Regent?!
What does the Regent have to do with my pursuit?
Which kingdom's Regent? What is the identity of the Regent?
Thoughts surged in Li Guanyi's mind.
He felt that his background and past were shrouded in thick fog; having just glimpsed a part, more mysteries emerged. However, at least he now knew some things, realizing that those who pursued him and his aunt back then were not just the Night Rider Cavalry of the Ministry of War.
There were disciples from the Mo family branches.
There were people within the court.
But with such intensity, how did he and his aunt survive and escape for ten years?
Aunt...
Hmm? My aunt does not understand martial arts.
His aunt's response seemed to flash before his eyes.
Li Guanyi rubbed his temples.
I need to go back, back to the Xue family to clarify things with my aunt, to search through the Xue family's library for records from recent years, to obtain higher-level martial arts. Otherwise, my internal energy cannot keep up with the consumption— the law techniques I am currently cultivating are domineering, far exceeding ordinary entry-level means.
But the consumption is also extremely high.
Li Guanyi organized the many thoughts in his mind and looked at Yaoguang, saying, "I must return; otherwise, those two elders will not know what to do."
Yaoguang nodded, her voice calm:
"I will wait here; you can come find me anytime."
Li Guanyi glanced at the dead assassin and said, "He died here, and with so much blood spilled, it may not be suitable for living."
Yaoguang replied, "Disciples of the Star-Gazing Sect live simply; they only need a place to shelter from the wind and rain and simple food. You need not worry about me."
"Take his corpse away; I can naturally handle the rest."
"When you have cultivated the entry-level martial arts, come here with me to the secret realm."
During this time of contact, and with the abilities Yaoguang had just displayed, which were different from ordinary martial artists, there was a sense of calm and detachment, an ethereal feeling. Li Guanyi believed in this Star-Gazing practitioner with silver hair; she possessed various mysterious abilities, unlike those of martial artists.
Handling the traces left by this blood was not a difficult task.
Li Guanyi nodded, lifting the corpse.
With a step forward, his internal energy flowed.
Even without changing techniques or practicing the lightness skill of entry, relying solely on the transformation of internal energy, his speed had increased by at least thirty percent compared to before.
Li Guanyi nearly crashed into the rock wall, quickly turning to avoid it.
Yaoguang watched Li Guanyi depart, then turned to look at the bloodstains left by the assassin. She rummaged through her pack and found a wooden bucket.
Lifting the bucket, she walked to the stream to fetch water.
Her wide sleeves accidentally got wet.
Yaoguang's face showed no ripples; she extended her hand to roll up her sleeves.
Lifting the water bucket, her wide sleeves slipped down again.
The silver-haired Star-Gazing practitioner quietly folded her sleeves back up.
Lifting the water bucket.
The sleeves fell again.
Yaoguang steadied herself, sighed, pinched off a strand of her long hair, then rolled up her sleeves again, using her silver hair to tie it, revealing her fair palm and wrist, finally nodding.
Lifting the water, she turned around.
Because it was too heavy, she walked a bit unsteadily.
The water sloshed in the bucket, causing Yaoguang's body to sway, the swaying becoming more pronounced. The girl's expression remained emotionless as she stood firm, took a deep breath, and made an effort to fling her arm, splashing the water from the bucket onto the wall and the bloodstains in the corner.
The water washed away the bloodstains.
Yaoguang pulled out a straight stick used for roasting buns, with a rag tied to it, soaked it in water, and began to seriously mop the floor.
Mopping, fetching water.
Splash!
Mop!
Finally, Yaoguang looked at the difficult-to-handle area, pursed her lips.
She chose to cover this place with a rag, then moved her books to another corner, sighed, patted her clothes, lit a bonfire, and knelt in front of it, quietly reading.
Giving up.
...
The literary meeting in Guan Yi City had not yet concluded. When Master Zhu, the foremost scholar in the realm, arrived, many renowned scholars at the meeting completed their duties and did not leave.
The various schools of thought were not without combat capability, but when two martial artists fought fiercely, they truly could not intervene. Before the battle, they had various means to weaken their opponents and the ability to subdue without fighting.
But when it came to real combat, they could only retreat and curse the crude martial artists.
Changsun Wuchou stepped out and saw the girl standing quietly over there. "Miss Xue."
Xue Shuangtao turned around, a scratch on her neck. Although the bleeding had stopped, it still seeped slightly. Her previous bravery and her later persuasion of the renowned scholars to question the city guard general Lu Youxian about why he did not immediately go out to assist showed decisiveness, which Changsun Wuchou greatly appreciated.
The chaotic tiger of the Xue family was not like those young ladies from aristocratic families.
Changsun Wuchou comforted her:
"The confrontation has ended. I saw that the White Tiger Law did not suffer severe damage."
"Old Xue should be fine."
"If Old Xue is safe, then Li Xiaoyou should also be fine."
"The recent conflict would have a strong suppressive effect on the surrounding vital energy. Although he possesses bravery, it would be difficult for him to break through; he should not have entered the core area of the battle..."
When martial artists reach the peak of confrontation or unleash certain special techniques, the law will absorb vital energy and flames, briefly manifesting. This was also why Changsun Wuchou could not assist Li Guanyi; he was a traveling merchant with martial skills, but his main focus was on the strategies of the merchant families among the various schools of thought.
With eloquence, he maneuvered among the thirty-six tribes of the Western Regions.
Intertwining with special techniques and abilities, he interfered with the minds of those wealthy merchants and nobles.
To make it easier for him to achieve his goals was his forte.
But such close-range confrontations, within ten steps, where one could kill an enemy nation, were not something he could manage. He sighed, thinking of the second young lady's letter, feeling a bit of a headache. The second young lady had anticipated changes in Guan Yi City and instructed him to protect that young man.
But in such circumstances, he was powerless.
He could only later cooperate with Xue Shuangtao to allocate troops to assist in defending the city.
Changsun Wuchou felt that Li Guanyi's actions were somewhat foolish and impulsive, but thinking of his age, he could not say much. For a middle-aged man like him, what he perceived as a flaw might be the most brilliant aspect of youth: the recklessness and vigor of youth.
Who in their youth did not have such dreams? Everyone fears and hesitates, yet he stands against the tide.
After all, he is still a youth.
Changsun Wuchou said, "He will be fine."
Xue Shuangtao nodded, her hands clasped in front of her, standing straight, still conforming to the etiquette of a noble lady, but her palms tightened, as if Changsun Wuchou's comfort had an effect. She relaxed considerably, saying, "It was the guest who awakened me."
"My grandfather is out fighting; I should not be afraid inside. I should do what I must."
"Even if my grandfather has orders, even if he encounters danger, the guests must not act recklessly."
"I can only make such a choice."
"If it weren't for Li... if it weren't for the guest charging out on horseback, I might still be crying and scared like those girls. Although we've only spent a little over a month together, it feels like I've known him for a long time."
Changsun Wuchou understood that it was because Xue Shuangtao had no peers around her that she felt this way. The so-called childhood sweethearts were just like that; if they were ordinary people, childhood sweethearts would generally remain just that. The friendships of youth, as one grows older, would be separated by the harsh hierarchies and positions of this world.
Merging into the calls of "young master" and "young lady."
At this moment, he would not speak such disheartening words of adulthood.
He only smiled gently and said, "It is said that old friends are like new, and old acquaintances are like old."
Xue Shuangtao laughed, saying, "It's just that he has talent and ability, along with courage, always obsessed with wealth, making it hard to understand."
Noisy voices and congratulatory sounds came.
General Xue had returned.
Xue Shuangtao's eyes lit up; she finally lost her original calmness, like a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl, and quickly ran over. Changsun Wuchou breathed a sigh of relief. When Xue Shuangtao saw General Xue, her earlier emotions surged, almost to the point of tears.
It was because she was maintaining the identity of the Xue family that she had held back, but she still took two steps at a time.
Then she suddenly threw herself into the old man's arms, saying, "Grandfather!"
"You are safe, you are safe!"
General Xue patted his granddaughter's hair, saying nothing, but his expression was complex.
There were many people still around, and Xue Shuangtao suppressed the urge to cry out to this closest person. She stepped back two paces, her eyes darting around, not finding another person. "Grandfather, where is Li Guanyi? He also chased out!"
"Did he not encounter anything?"
The old man's expression was complex, and the other guests could not speak.
The old man sighed, looking at his granddaughter. He could draw the heaviest bow of the Chen Kingdom, and his arrows could pierce a range of fifty li. In his youth, he had traveled thousands of miles as a merchant. His spirit could shake the world with a mere flick.
But at this moment, he could not face his granddaughter's gaze.
He slowly raised his hand, holding the broken bow.
He placed the bow in Xue Shuangtao's hands.
Xue Shuangtao recognized this bow, and the color drained from her face.
The bow had golden threads, made from rhinoceros horn, crocodile tendons, mixed with South Sea shark glue.
Valued at one thousand five hundred and thirty guan.
The bow was broken, and there was the blood of a young man on it.
There was no need to say anything more.
Xue Shuangtao staggered back two steps, clutching the broken bow, and finally sat down on the ground. The emotions she had managed to hold back when she first saw her grandfather finally erupted at this moment, tears streaming down her face as the image of the young man riding away, embodying righteousness, burned into her heart.
The impressions left in the past surged within her at this moment.
And then, like the clear moonlight, imprinted in the form of death, it could never be erased.
That would be like a hand brushing against a sharp blade; even when old and white-haired, she would occasionally remember it, a memory that would pierce her heart.
'Since ancient times, beautiful women have gifted swords to heroes. Although I am not a beauty, I believe in what my grandfather said: the gentleman will be a hero in the future.'
'This Su Ni bow is given to the gentleman.'
The Su Ni bow fell to the ground, the broken bow and string trembling continuously.
The large drops of tears washed away the youthful spirit's blood.
(End of Chapter)