Chapter Thirty-Five: Leaving Seclusion (2)

Senior Brother Hongshun’s mind raced. Seeing the two about to leave, he shouted loudly, “Come and go as you please—do you think the Xuanqing Sect is your own home? What do you take this place for?” His gaze darted restlessly. “Are you two spies from the Eastern Sect, pretending to treat the young lady but actually here to harm her? What a vicious plot! Brothers, seize them alive—I will interrogate them thoroughly!”

No sooner had Hongshun finished speaking than a dozen or so disciples sprang out from the surroundings, encircling Che and Liu in the center.

Liu Lanzhi, seeing the man so unreasonable, grew pale with anger. She tugged the reins, circling on horseback several times, and scrutinized the group surrounding them. “Are you all fools? My name is Liu Lanzhi, I am the young mistress of Miao Manor, and he is my junior brother, Che Wuyou. We are here at our master’s behest to treat your young lady. How dare you surround us?”

The men encircling Che and Liu glanced at each other, noting Liu Lanzhi’s proud bearing and dignified demeanor—she seemed every inch a daughter of a great family, not the Eastern Sect spy Hongshun had accused her of being.

Uncertainty clouded their faces. If this girl truly was Miao Manor’s young mistress and they detained her, the consequences would be more than they could bear. One of them hesitated, then shouted to Hongshun, “Senior Brother Hongshun, this girl says her name is Liu Lanzhi and claims to be Miao Manor’s young mistress. Perhaps we’ve made a mistake.”

Hongshun, versed in Daoist arts, had already heard Liu Lanzhi’s words. Her remark—“Are you all fools?”—clearly referred to him as well. Naturally hot-tempered and proud, he now found himself insulted before his peers, and his anger burned.

When he heard his subordinate plead on Liu Lanzhi’s behalf, his fury erupted. “Are you a fool? Miao Manor’s young mistress is Yang Cheng, not Liu Lanzhi. Do you think Master Miao is senile, letting a child manage the household? She’s obviously lying, plotting something. Seize them now! Must I act myself?”

His words seemed reasonable, and the others no longer hesitated, shouting as they pressed in on Che and Liu. Seeing their irrationality, Liu Lanzhi was incensed—if they showed no mercy, she would do likewise. Sword in hand, her aura soared. With swift, sharp movements, she struck out, her blade flashing. Those who rushed forward saw only a blur of swordlight before collapsing, felled before they could react.

Everyone was stunned. No one had expected the young girl to be so formidable, dispatching several skilled men in less than a round. Seizing their momentary shock, Liu Lanzhi called out to Che Wuyou, “Hurry, go!” She vaulted onto her horse and fled, with Che Wuyou mounting and following close behind.

Hongshun, seeing them escape, sneered, “You injure my men and think you’ll get away so easily? Not a chance. Stop them!” With a gesture, he signaled his men to release their arrows. Hundreds of bowmen drew and loosed, sending a storm of arrows, darkening the sky as they rained down upon Che and Liu.

Che and Liu had barely gotten far when the ominous hum of bowstrings sounded behind them, followed by the piercing rush of arrows through the air. At first sporadic, the sound swiftly swelled into a torrent, roaring toward them like a flood of steel.

Hearing the ferocious volley behind them, their faces paled. Hongshun’s ruthlessness was clear—he meant to kill, showing no mercy. Escaping so many Starbreaker arrows alive would be tremendously difficult.

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Looking ahead at the wide, open road, the two silently despaired. Liu Lanzhi, never before exposed to such peril, felt anxious; beads of sweat broke out on her forehead. It was her first time leaving Miao Manor—would this be her grave?

As Liu Lanzhi was lost in panic, Che Wuyou suddenly shouted, “Hide beneath the horse!” So familiar—like the games they played as children. Instinctively, Liu Lanzhi flipped and ducked under her horse’s belly.

Her heart pounded as she hid, when she heard faint, wet thuds—the sound of arrows striking flesh. She realized her beloved horse had been hit, taking the arrows meant for her. No time for grief—both horses let out anguished cries, then charged forward in a frenzy.

They hadn’t run far before both horses seemed tripped by invisible snares, tumbling to the ground in succession, sending dust flying.

Che and Liu watched their beloved mounts, now bristling with arrows, blood gushing from their wounds in streams. Gradually, crimson spread over the horses, over everything they saw.

Liu Lanzhi gazed at her red tiger colt, her mind drifting back to childhood—her master handing her the colt: “From today, this is your mount. Cherish it well; it is your most loyal companion.”

“It’s a beast of great spirit—sometimes, you’ll share a bond.”

“It knows what you’re thinking…”

“Run—why aren’t you running?” Hongshun’s mocking laughter snapped Liu Lanzhi from her reverie as he led dozens toward them.

Seeing her horse’s tragic death, Liu Lanzhi’s anger blazed. She gripped her sword, ready to strike when Hongshun approached. Che Wuyou, reading her expression, understood her intent. He fixed his gaze on her and shook his head firmly—he felt a sneak attack was unwise.

Liu Lanzhi, seeing Che Wuyou’s stance, grew even angrier, muttering, “Coward! To save yourself, you let your mount die. I was wrong about you. If you’re afraid I’ll implicate you, stand aside—after this, you’re you and I’m me.”

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Che Wuyou, hearing Liu Lanzhi’s harsh words, felt a stab of pain. Was he so contemptible in her eyes? If that was how she saw him, what had he to fear? If he could not live with her, then dying with her mattered little.

Though hundreds of archers still watched them and dozens of experts stood beside Hongshun, Che Wuyou felt a surprising calm. He gripped his sword, resolved to hold Hongshun at bay if Liu Lanzhi made a move, to buy her time.

Hongshun approached with his men, sneering as he watched the two gripping their swords, ready to strike. He felt a flicker of admiration—were they still planning to counterattack at such a moment? Such courage.

When Hongshun was about twenty meters away, he suddenly stopped, his face stern as he barked, “Bind these two spies! They tried to ambush me!” At his command, two men rushed forward with iron chains toward Che and Liu.

Liu Lanzhi, seeing Hongshun’s cunning—unwilling to approach himself—was furious. Sword in hand, she pushed off with her foot, lunging forward, then suddenly leaned back mid-charge. Her waist twisted so swiftly it seemed broken, sliding her toward Hongshun.

The two with chains sensed the danger and rushed at Liu Lanzhi. But as they closed in, she leaned back and slipped through the gap between them. They turned to pursue her, but Che Wuyou followed her example, darting after Liu Lanzhi toward Hongshun. The two chain-bearers, important figures among Hongshun’s men, were left empty-handed, cursing in frustration—the two youngsters were too sly, always avoiding direct confrontation.

Hongshun seemed prepared for this. He stood, sneering at the two charging him. “If you’re so eager to play, I’ll oblige.” Liu Lanzhi expected him to order arrows loosed, and was ready to dodge, but he seemed unconcerned, not giving the signal. She felt a surge of hope—heaven’s mischief may be survived, but man’s mischief cannot.

Liu Lanzhi pressed off the ground, body shooting upward at an angle. While still airborne, she spun, sword poised, then plunged down, blade aimed at the earth. Her body and sword formed a single, flawless image—breathtakingly beautiful, yet fraught with danger. Using her momentum and weight, she struck toward Hongshun with thunderous force.

Even as her adversary, Hongshun couldn’t help but admire her skill—such mastery at her age was rare. Yet it was not enough. Hongshun suddenly raised his palm, not dodging but striking directly at the sword’s point—meeting force with force, intending to crush her attack head-on. At the moment sword and palm collided, Liu Lanzhi’s body halted abruptly, as if meeting immense resistance—her forward drive stopped dead.

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