*.·:·.☽✧    ✦    ✧☾.·:·.*

CHAPTER 81: Close the Mountain for Three Days

As he was deep in thoughts, he heard some laughter from outside. He raised his head and saw Feng Qing Ge holding onto Feng Xiao affectionately and walking towards him.

Looking at how close they were, he became unsure. This father and daughter pair had always been close. How could such affection and intimacy be faked? If she was not the real Feng Qing Ge, how could Feng Xiao not notice?

However, he did not know, to Feng Xiao, he held his family with high regard. If he were to ever suspect anyone, it would never be his own family, not to mention his own daughter whom he doted heavily on.

Even if he did notice that she was a little different, he would never ever think of something so ridiculous as an imposter who had taken on the same appearance as his daughter.

Moreover, to him, no matter how wayward she was, she would always be the apple of his eyes. No matter what she did, he would always stand on her side. Unconditional love, that was what it was. He would never doubt her.

"Big Brother Murong!"

Feng Qing Ge loosened her grip and let go of Feng Xiao's hand and happily skipped over to his side, her eyes were bright and sparkled with affection as she cheerfully asked, "Have you waited for a long time?"

As he gathered his thoughts and calmed himself, he distractedly put down the teacup in his hand. He then looked up and smiled, " No, I've just arrived not too long ago."

He looked over at Feng Xiao and ceremoniously called out, "Uncle Xiao."

In the Feng Household, his identity was not of the Third Prince but the future son-in-law and they had watched them grow up together, therefore he paid his respects as a younger generation would.

"Oh, it's Yi Xuan! Since you are here, help me bring this girl out. With you around, I feel more assured."

Feng Xiao laughed heartily: "The journey to Peach Blossom Monastery takes around two hours, this girl has already dawdled on for so long, don't waste anymore time and head over as soon as you can!"

"Father, you really don't want to go together with us? Since you'll be idling about at home, why don't you just join us? Then I can accompany you and we can admire the beautiful blooms together. The scenery is breathtaking! She hooked her arms around Feng Xiao's arms and asked in a coquettish tone.

When he heard this, Feng Xiao laughed out heartily once more. "Ha ha ha, no..no... with Yi Xuan around, I'll just be a light bulb. Go on and enjoy yourselves. No need to rush back!"

He looked over to Murng Yi Xuan and said, "Yi Xuan, I will have to trouble you to take care of this little girl of mine."

Towards this future son-in-law of his, he was very satisfied. The two of them had grown up together and had mutual affection towards each other, tying the knot was just a matter of time, all that's left was to pick a date.

"Uncle Xiao, please rest assured, I will take good care of Qing Ge."

He looked at the shy Feng Qing Ge who had on a slight blush. He flashed a resplendent smile to cover up the tangled feeling he harboured in his heart.

Feng Xiao walked them to their horse carriage and until the carriage was out of sight did he turn back and walk back to the Feng Mansion.

-At the Peach Blossom Monastery-

As she strolled along the small path inside the Peach Blossom Monastery, the scenery was beautiful and the more she looked, the happier Feng Jiu felt. With every step she took, she felt more satisfied with what she saw, without a doubt, this place was the best location! It was beneficial for both cultivation as well as recuperation.

Peach Blossom Monastery was located in the the southern region of Cloudy Moon City. There was actually an entire mountain that was full of various colours and variety of Peach Blossoms. There was simply no end to the splendour!

The Peach Blossom Monastery was built in the inner perimeter of this paradise and it was a forbidden place, no outsiders were allowed to set foot in here.

Every year, during the month of march when the peach blossoms were in full bloom, this was a scenic spot that attracted many visitors. Many people would come by this Peach Blossom Mountain to enjoy the spectacular sight as they admired the beauty of nature in the outer perimeter of this Peach Blossom Mountain. Many would also try to catch a glimpse of the Peach Blossom Monastery. Now, the right to enter this paradise belonged entirely to her.

After she explored her new abode, she came to a stop. "Leng Shuang, didn't the Black Market send some guards over? Go and inform them to head over to the foot of the mountain and close the mountain for three days.

CHAPTER 82: Troubled Hear

"Yes."

Without question, and without a moment's hesitation, Leng Shuang answered respectfully and immediately turned around to relay the orders to the Black Guards.

Upon receiving the orders, the Black Guards immediately carried it out. As Elder Yan had instructed them, that they were to unconditionally comply to that person's arrangements, and to not show the slightest disrespect to him.

Once the order to seal the mountain was issued, several travelers who were presently within the mountain come to admire the blossoms would naturally have to be driven away. Afterall, the Peach Blossom Monastery was on land that was privately owned and it was up to the owner whether he chose to allow people to come view the blossoms at the peach blossom forest, and if he refused, they would just have to leave.

As it was still rather early in the day, there hadn't been too many people in the peach blossom forest and it had only taken less than an hour to drive all the travelers out from the Peach Blossom Monastery's boundaries.

At that moment, Feng Jiu came to a pavilion yard within the Peach Blossom Monastery and she saw an elderly person dressed in grey robes sweeping the ground in the yard. She stopped in her tracks and asked: "All the servants here have left, why are you still here?"

The grey robed old man turned around holding the broom and looked at the red figure standing with his hands behind his back under the peach blossom tree in the yard to say: "I've swept these grounds for more than ten years and cannot bear to leave this place anymore."

Hearing that, Feng Jiu revealed a smile, her gaze falling upon the figure of the grey robed old man and a indiscernible glint flashed in her eyes before she said: "If you can't bear to leave, then continue to remain here then!"

The old man was surprised momentarily, he cast her a thoughtful glance before he continued to sweep the ground, no longer speaking.

Feng Jiu did not care about that and she turned away. After she left, the old man stopped and looked in the direction she left, and slowly retracted his gaze and continued to sweep the floor.

The grey robed old man was surprised as he glanced at the red figure and then went back to sweeping the floor, not saying another word.

Feng Jiu was unbothered as she turned and left. After she left, the old man paused and gazed in the direction the figure had disappeared before turning back to continue with his sweeping once again.

When Murong Yi Xuan who was accompanying Feng Qing Ge arrived at the Peach Blossom Monastery, they discovered that the Peach Blossom Monastery's new owner had ordered for the entire mountain to be sealed for three days.

Upon finding that out, he turned to Feng Qing Ge beside him and said: "We came at the wrong time. The place has been sealed for three days. We can only come back three days later."

As the mountain was sealed, Feng Qing Ge was feeling rather unhappy as she said: "Will you come with me three days later? What if you tell me you are busy at that time?"

Hearing that, Murong Yi Xuan smiled slightly and said in a gentle voice: "I won't. Since I promised you, I will definitely keep my word."

"That won't do, since we are already here, even if we can't go up the mountain, should we at least tour around the surrounding areas?" Saying that, she held onto Murong Yi Xuan's arm and continued on: "Big Brother Murong, walk around with me!"

"Alright." He nodded his head in agreement.

Hearing that, Feng Qing Ge's face lit up and she said happily: "Big Brother Murong, you're the best!"

Murong Yi Xuan smiled but did not say anything, but just accompanied her to stroll around as they took in the surrounding scenery.

Maybe it was because she detected his cold indifference, Feng Qing Ge was feeling slightly distraught. Her steps came to a stop suddenly as she looked at the person beside her. Biting on her lower lip gently, her voice tinged with a little aggrievement, she asked: "Big Brother Murong, do you not like me anymore?"

Murong Yi Xuan was startled and said: "What makes you say that?"

"Recently, I have been feeling that you seem rather indifferent towards me and unenthusiastic when you're with me." She glanced at him and then lowered her gaze: "In the past, you were not like this. Do you not like me anymore?"

"Silly girl, that's not true." He smiled as he stroked her head. "It's just that my heart is slightly troubled that's all."

"Huh?" She raised her eyes up to look at him inquiringly.

Murong Yi Xuan laughed and said: "The Ancient Sacred Beast descended in the Nine Entrapment Woods and till now, there has still been no news on who has gotten it. That incident had even attracted many powerful pugilist from other countries to come here and it is a matter that is of great importance to the Imperial Family. My heart has been rather troubled by this recently and my mood has in turn been affected, which must be what led to your imagination running wild."

CHAPTER 83: Peach Blossom Ridge

After hearing what was said, Feng Qing Ge was finally relieved and she beamed brightly to say: "We already came all the way here so you should forget all of that for awhile. This mountain of peach blossoms has such beautiful scenery and that should be able to let you relax."

"Mmm." Murong Yi Xuan agreed and walked with Feng Qing Ge along a small path in the mountain.

Those three days, were enough for Feng Jiu to reorganize the Peach Blossom Monastery.

First, she changed the Peach Blossom Monastery into the Peach Blossom Ridge and she used everything within her knowledge to lay a spell around the Peach Blossom Ridge, separating the outer circle from the inner boundary. In this way, she would not have to worry about people mistakenly stumbling within the Peach Blossom Ridge, disturbing her peace.

The Peach Blossom Forest would still be available for travelers to admire and enjoy, but she set one rule, that a fee would be collected to enter the Peach Blossom Forest.

Three days later, quite a number of travelers came to the peach blossom mountain once again. When they found out that there was a fee to go into the Peach Blossom Forest, many of them were highly shocked.

"Just going up the mountain to admire flowers and we have to pay? What kind of a rule is that?"

"Exactly, we all didn't have to in the past! With such a huge plot of big peach tree forest, shouldn't it be opened up? Why is there a need to charge?"

Some people were indignant as they stared angrily at the several Black Guards standing guard at the entryway, feeling that it was highly unreasonable for them to be collecting money and it was entirely unacceptable.

Some others were more understanding as the Peach Blossom Forest was afterall private property and as they were entering the private property of others to tour inside, it was reasonable that they had to pay for it. Putting themselves in the owner's shoes, if it was a place of their family's, they wouldn't allow other people to come in to tour as they wished, or admire the sights whenever they wanted.

And the Black Guards were not that patient to explain it to the people and one of them swung his gaze upon the man who was shouting and said in a deep voice: "Pay if you want to enter, if you can't bear to part with money then just stand aside!"

The complainants having been called out like that, would naturally not want to admit that they were to stingy to spend money. Hence, they took out their money all red faced and then stomped into the Peach Blossom Forest fuming.

Not far away, Feng Qing Ge was holding Murong Yi Xuan's hand as she watched the scene in front, and she asked in puzzlement: "Did the owner of the Peach Blossom Monastery change? Isn't it said that this place is private property and it's not for sale? Who could be so capable that is able to buy over this place?"

Meanwhile, Murong Yi Xuan's gaze was fixed on the three Chinese characters with its wilful and uninhibited strokes that read Peach Blossom Ridge and his eyes were shining faintly as he could not help but say in praise: "Excellent writing!"

That wanton and liberal strokes in the characters were filled with a sharply uninhibited willfulness and just by looking at the characters, it could be seen that the person behind was free and unrestrained. When he thought about it, the person who wrote these three characters that read Peach Blossom Ridge, must be the new owner of this place.

Moreover, according to the news, it seemed that the new owner of this Peach Blossom Ridge was the recently often heard of but never seen, highly mysterious Ghost Doctor.

Hearing that heartfelt word of praise, Feng Qing Ge turned her gaze up with Murong Yi Xuan's and upon seeing the three highly flamboyant and boldly written characters, even as a complete amatuer with calligraphy, she had to admit that those three characters were extremely well written as well.

"Let's get a move on!"

Murong Yi Xuan smiled as he said to Feng Qing Ge beside him. He had initially not been too enthusiastic about admiring flowers, but his mood was now much improved.

"Mmm." Feng Qing Ge acknowledged and moved forward beside Murong Yi Xuan.

Under a little structure within the Peach Blossom Ridge, Feng Jiu was sitting under a Peach Blossom Tree and brewing some tea as she admired the flowers while Leng Shuang stood watch not too far away.

A light breeze blew, which shook off a shower of red and white petals off the tree to cascade down.....

CHAPTER 84: Excited Palpitating Hear

"Leng Shuang."

"Mistress." Leng Shuang walked over from behind.

"Make a trip back, and tell my brother that I will only be back when he returns to the Guan Family's Young Chief selections and ask him to not get distracted but focus on his cultivation. Leng Hua will remain behind and accompany him and we can all come here together at that time!"

"Yes."

Leng Shuang acknowledged, but her feet did not move. She hesitated a moment before she asked: "Mistress, if I go back, you wouldn't have anyone to stay by your side to protect you!"

Upon hearing that, Feng Jiu could not help herself but to laugh and she arched up an eyebrow to look at Leng Shuang teasingly: "You really see your Mistress as a completely defenceless weakling that needs someone to stick by my side to protect me?"

Without waiting for her to answer, Feng Jiu waved her hand dismissively and said: "Go! You don't need to worry about me here."

In the three days she had been here, she had gone into the space in the Spatial Ring to practice her cultivation and her powers had improved tremendously. But she had concealed her cultivated powers so that people were not able to detect it.

Afterall, her fame as the Ghost Doctor cum Medicine Concocter were already highly attention grabbing and if people she her powers were growing so exponentially by the day, that would definitely cause people to feel threatened. Moreover, she also has an Ancient Sacred Beast with her within the Spatial Ring and although he was just in his infancy, he was not to be overlooked as well.

Leng Shuang left and Feng Jiu stood up lazily, taking light fleeting steps as she walked out from under the little structure under the peach blossom tree.

She was dress in a full suit of red and was not disguised as a boy. Her hair draped loosely over her back, lightly secured by a red silk ribbon. She was not wearing any shoes and her red dress did not cover her exquisite pair of fair tiny little feet.

She stepped lightly along the windy windy meandering smooth pebbled path, her alluring tiny little toenails painted red peeking out from under her red dress, and without realizing it, she had come out quite a distance when she could suddenly faintly hear melodious music from a zither floating in from outside.

"Huh?"

Her gaze turned slightly and her eyes glinted with surprise. Following that, she pulled out a red face veil from within her sleeve to conceal her countenance and she tapped lightly on the ground with the point of her foot, to glide through the air, like a sprite traversing among the peach blossoms, before quickly stepping out through the mystifying spell she laid.

And with a single leap, the red figure sat lightly upon a branch of a peach tree, filled with beautiful peach blossoms in full bloom. Her snowy white pair of exquisite feet hanging off in midair, swinging leisurely, portraying a highly carefree and unconstrained sight.

She leaned back languidly against the trunk behind her, as a hand stretched out to pick off a stem of peach blossom blooms, which she toyed with nonchalantly as she listened to the playing of the strings sounding from not too far away, and the corners of her mouth beneath the veil curled up involuntarily.

A tune beautiful and elegant, highly pleasing to the ear, the clear pick of the strings, like the flow of water within the mountains, at times fast, at times slow, endearing and lovely.....

Such a classic piece for zithers, she wouldn't think would exist in this mystical world that practised cultivation of Immortality.

"Su Ruo Yun, Su Ruo Yun, I have not even gone to seek you, why are you always running to come appear before me instead?"

Feng Jiu mumbled softly to herself, her slightly narrowed beautiful set of eyes glinted suddenly, as a strange smile lit within them. She was just about to get up and leap to the front when she felt a gaze she could not ignore fixed upon her.

She tilted her head slightly as she pushed away the peach blossoms in front of her and looked. With that one look, the eyes immediately filled with smiles, sparkling brilliantly, overflowing with joy, like stars were twinkling within, suddenly mesmerized without a person knowing.....

[It's her!]

Murong Yi Xuan stared dazedly at her, his eyes suddenly showing surprise and anxiety that even he himself wasn't aware of.

He stared at the figure in red sitting among the peach blossoms looking just like a sprite, looking at the snowy white pair of delicate and dainty feet dangling playfully in the air, seeing the little head peeking out from behind the peach blossom blooms and that pair of eyes which seemed to be speaking to him, filled with such an enchanting smile.....

He felt his heart pound and leap around, a kind of surprise tinged with an excitement that made his heart palpitate eagerly within his chest, the feeling slowly spreading throughout his body, unable to pull himself away as he got lost within.

CHAPTER 85: Attracting Butterflies and Bees

"Big Brother Murong? What are you doing here?"

Hearing the voice behind him, he snapped back to his senses and instinctively turned his head to look back towards the voice. "Qing Ge? Why have you come here?"

Immediately upon finishing saying that, he seemed to remember something and turned his head back again towards the peach tree.

The sprite like figure of the girl was already gone, like what he had seen earlier had just been an illusion. He stared as the flower petals was shaken off by a light breeze, scattering in a enchanting shower of falling petals, his heart suddenly feeling a faint twinge of unexplainable disappointment.....

"You still have the cheek to ask me! I had thought to play the zither for you but who knew you had instead come here to admire the flowers instead." She followed his gaze and looked, only seeing the falling flower petals scattering all over the ground.

"The peach blossoms here hold a high contrast of red and white blooms and I had unknowingly lost myself looking at them." Murong Yi Xuan said gently, with a faint smile on his lips, looking still slightly distracted.

She was just about to say that the peach blossoms in the surrounding areas were all like this when Feng Qing Ge's expression suddenly perked up and she asked: "Big Brother Murong, do you smell a strange fragrance?"

"Fragrance? The air is filled with the fragrance of the peach blossoms."

"Not that." Feng Qing Ge shook her head and said: "There seems to be another smell."

As she spoke, she suddenly heard a buzzing sound from a distance away. She turned towards the sound and saw a large black swarm of bees fast approaching towards them. Her face immediately changed and she could not hold back a terrified yelp.

"Bees!"

The expression on Murong Yi Xuan's face immediately changed as well when he saw the huge swarm of bees. He immediately pulled on Feng Qing Ge hand and ran. The tens of thousands of bees surged towards them and they were not what one or two pairs of hands would be able to ward off.

And, by all reasons, even if there were bees here to collect the nectar, there shouldn't be such a huge swam all of a sudden that would charge right at them!

"Argh!"

Feng Qi Ge yelped in pain as she felt her arm being stung, quickly followed by another ten over bees landing on her, terrifying her so badly that she began swatting herself all over.

"Go away! Just get away from me!"

Seeing that the surrounding swarm of bees were only stinging her alone, Murong Yi Xuan was shocked a moment, before quickly removing his outer robe to go wrap around her. But before he could even reach her, he heard her scream while swatting herself heavily as she leapt several steps away to avoid the pursuing bees.

"Big Brother Murong! Many bees are stinging me Big Brother Murong, eeek!"

She screamed as she ran, and those bees followed behind her closely. Especially when she was passing through the area with the most number of travelers in front, she shocked all of them into squatting down and holding their heads to scream in terror, but they all soon discovered that those bees were only chasing after Feng Qing Ge alone.

"Did she touch something she shouldn't have? How did she draw so many bees to her?"

"When she ran past here earlier, there was a scent of fragrance on her, maybe she applied too much scented powder."

"Stung by so many bees, that face would definitely swell up to become just like a pig's head"

All the other travelers in the surrounding areas regardless whether they were male or female all stood watching as they saw Feng Qing Ge running all over the peach tree forest, and a few ladies even watched on with a gloating look in their eyes.

Everyone just watched as the swarm of bees pursued Feng Qing Ge relentlessly, a few faster flying ones stinging her upon the face, eliciting several screams to erupt out of her. And when they thought about the pain if that had happened on their own bodies, they could not help but cringe from the thought.

"Argh! Big Brother Murong..... Big Brother Murong, save me....."

Murong Yi Xuan at that moment had been rather stunned by the sudden and abrupt attack and was helplessly flustered.

When he suddenly remembered that bees were afraid of fire, he quickly took out his stick of glowing ember intending to use fire to drive them away when he saw Feng Qing Ge run screaming about a hundred meters away, to jump with a loud splash into vast pool that was used to provide water for the peach trees....

CHAPTER 86: Shattering the Tranquility

"Ouch!"

The crowd of people gasped, staring with incredulity at the scene before them.

Murong Yi Xuan regained his senses and saw the buzzing bees circle for a while more above before flying away. He hurried forward and pulled Feng Qing Ge out from the water, quickly draping his outer robe over her tightly.

"Qing Ge, how are you feeling?" Murong Yi Xuan was rather flustered when he saw her hands and face had swollen up and he could not help but feel pained and guilty at the same time.

Before they came out, he had promised Uncle Xiao that he would protect her but he had allowed her to be pursued and stung by bees. Having nowhere else to hide, she had been forced to leap into the water pond to end up becoming such a sorry sight.

Feng Qing Ge did not reply and only lowered her head as she stood there shivering.

[Someone had targeted her!]

[It was that strange fragrance! Who! ? Who was targeting her?]

Thinking about how she had been so wretchedly been chased by bees to run all over the peach forest and had had to jump into the water to escape them, she became so infuriated that her entire body was shaking.

Murong Yi Xuan thought that she was shivering because she was soaked through so he quickly carried her up and sped towards the direction of the horse carriage.

Seeing that Murong Yi Xuan had carried Feng Qing Ge away, the surrounding travelers who came to admire the peach blossoms started discussing fervently.

None of them had noticed, atop one of the peach trees not too far away, a red figure was lying across a branch smiling happily to herself.....

The next moment, the red figure leapt, passing through the blossoms like a fairy through the peach forest, disappearing all of a sudden.

Returning back into the inner boundary, Feng Jiu removed her veil, her mood joyous as she hummed a little tune. Skipping upon the stones shaped like goose eggs, she came inside and saw the old man still sweeping the grounds. She stopped in her tracks and glanced at him a moment before she continued on her way inside over the stones.

After the red figure went inside, the old man sweeping the ground lifted his head and looked over in her direction. His eyes glinted, but his gaze did not change and he went back to sweeping the floor with his head lowered.

Leng Shuang came back in the afternoon, seemingly worried about leaving Feng Jiu alone within the Peach Blossom Ridge. Hence, she had rushed back almost immediately after relaying the news.

Feng Jiu tossed a swordplay manual to her and asked her to work hard on cultivation while she moved some herbs inside before shutting the doors behind her. When those doors shut, sometimes it was for an entire day where she wouldn't even come out to eat.

Days in the Peach Blossom Ridge passed peacefully and comfortably. Feng Jiu sometimes tinkered around with herbs, and at other times worked on cultivation, her days well spent, busy and fulfilling.

No one knew it, but in less than a month after arriving here at the Peach Blossom Ridge, her cultivation had leapt up to reach the mid levels of the Mystical Warrior stage.

A state that others would take ten years or more to cultivate before they would be able to achieve had taken her less than a month's time, where she had advanced through several levels in one go.

Meanwhile, Feng Jiu was not aware that at that moment, in the courtyard back in the city that Guan Xi Lin and Leng Hua were in, a massacre had broken the tranquility that pervaded that place.....

"Who are you people! Why have you broken into our courtyard! ?"

Dressed only in his plain white underclothes, Guan Xi Lin gripped his sword in his hand as he stared at the black robed men, numbering more than ten, who had suddenly burst in forcibly. The boundary barrier around the yard had been broken by these guys and that had awoken them from their sound sleep.

Leng Hua hurriedly draped his clothes over himself and came out. When he saw so many men holding long swords gripped in their hands outside, he jumped in shock. Afterall, he had never faced such a scene and when he saw that the black robed men had the two of them surrounded, their cold swords pointed at them, his heart was immediately terrified.

A figure dressed in a full black long robe walked out from the back, his hands held behind his back, his malicious gaze fixed upon Guan Xi Lin, laughing chillingly.

"People who have murdered members of my Xu Family, you think you can hide from me?"

While a grey robed old man following behind swept his gaze over Guan Xi Lin and Leng Hua and his face creased up into a frown as he asked: "Who is the person who put up the barrier?"

CHAPTER 87: Whole Bunch of Useless Trash

"So it is the Head of the Xu Family."

After hearing the black robed man's words, Guan Xi Lin then managed to remember who he was. The Xu Family was like the Guan Family, both families could only be considered as medium leveled family clans in the Cloudy Moon City. But the Xu Family did not have much dealings with the Guan Family and although Guan Xi Lin had never met the Xu Family's Head, among the families named Xu within the Cloudy Moon City who commanded considerable clout, would only be that one Xu Family.

"What does the Head of the Xu Family mean by murdering your people? Could there be a misunderstanding behind all this?"

Although that was what he said with words, his mind was whirring at top speed. He was guessing that the matter must be somehow linked to Feng Jiu but he did not dare admit it straight up at that moment.

As for the grey robed old man, Guan Xi Lin found him to be even stranger. He had never seen the man before but he had been able to unravel Little Jiu's barrier and it seemed that that was no ordinary old man.

When he thought of that, he moved neared to Leng Hua behind him and said in a low voice: "You find a chance to escape! Don't let them catch you."

Although Leng Hua had been rather flustered, he had managed to compose himself somewhat at that moment.

Over the recent period, his body had been nursed to a complete recovery and his build had filled out rather well. But, he had never practised any cultivation and was completely unable to cross swords with these people. If he remained behind, he would only distract the Young Master and he might as well find a way to inform the Mistress and his elder sister about this.

Having decided on that, he moved himself back slightly.

"Misunderstanding? Hahahaha! What a great claim of misunderstanding!"

The Xu Family's Head laughed out loudly before it stopped abruptly and his bloodthirsty and malicious gaze fell on Guan Xi Lin. "My son, my second brother, with two Elders of my Xu Family murdered by the hands of that wretched lass and you think that could be resolved by merely claiming it to be an misunderstanding? Aren't you being too naive! ?"

As expected!

Guan Xi Lin's heart sank. It was Little Jiu who killed the people from the Xu Family. But when did this happen? How come he knew nothing about it?

"Where is that wretched lass? Get her out here to receive death!" The Head of the Xu Family shouted in a deep bellow, his gaze looking all around. Even after kicking up such a big ruckus, besides Guan Xi Lin in the courtyard, he only saw another youth who did not possess any cultivation at all.

"Head Xu, we've both agreed to this. To not kill them first upon capturing them, this old man here would like to ask where she learnt to set up a barrier like this!" The grey robed old man's voice was heavy, and he seemed to have come targeting on the barrier Feng Jiu had put up over the place.

"What I have promised Sire, I will definitely deliver. In the current situation, it is most important that we seek for answers on that wretched lass' location." Immediately after saying that, he ordered: "Capture them both!"

"Run!" Guan Xi Lin shouted and pushed Leng Hua behind him, while he blocked off the attack coming from the front.

'Clang! Clunk!'

'Swish!'

The clashing of sword blades rang out clearly in the night air, as sharp arcs of energy swooshed past him. Guan Xi Lin held his sword before him to hold back the attack from the black robed men, fighting in a desperate attempt to gain another moment for Leng Hua to make his escape.

However, he was not Feng Jiu afterall. Although his combat abilities had been increased, but against these men who were carefully picked out and brought here by the Head of the Xu Family, it was becoming obvious he outmatched. Moreover, it was one against ten and after just a while, his white underclothes was already well stained with blood.

But for the black robed men to capture him without risking having to take his life, was proving to be an arduous feat for them. Hence, the Xu Family's Head had after watching them for awhile, shouted out.

"Whole bunch of useless trash!"

He leapt out flying through the air as thick and intense mystical power gathered within his palm before he struck out.

'Bam!'

'Whoosh!'

Guan Xi Lin was sent flying by his palm strike, and at the same time that his body flew back, a mouthful of blood spurted out from him and before he could even stand up after crashing onto the ground, close to ten long swords were already pressed against his throat, not allowing him to move in the slightest.

CHAPTER 88: Saved by Tai Chi

At that moment, a black robed guard came running to his side. "Family Head, we've searched the place inside out and did not find anyone else. Only the youth had ran out from the back but we have two of our brothers in pursuit."

At that same moment, Leng Hua who had run out through the back door found his way blocked by two black robed guards. When the two black robed guards saw that Leng Hua was a commoner without any cultivation, they looked down on him completely.

"You won't be able to escape! Just give yourself up!"

As he spoke, the black robed man rushed up reaching towards Leng Hua's to grab his at his wrist, thinking to capture him and bring him back to the front of the courtyard. Who would have thought the hand he reached to in a grab would in turn be grabbed instead, and in that momentary slip, he felt his entire body being pulled and then pushed, to crash into the other black robed man.

"Tsk! What the hell are you doing! ?"

The other man was bumped in the head and he let out a curse reflexively. He pushed the man who had fallen onto him and saw that the youth had taken the chance to run further out. He summoned his Qi and swung the sword in his hand, sending a wave of energy flying out from his sword.

"Asking for death!"

"Argh!"

Leng Hua cried out in pain, and he stumbled a step as he felt the hot and burning pain across his back. He felt a warm liquid flowing down his back and his face immediately turned pale.

But his steps did not stop as he continued to run forward. However, a black figure leapt up and easily passed over him to stand before his path.

"Go on running! Why have you stopped? If we are not able to even capture you, wouldn't we be seen as a joke when we go back to them?"

The black robed man gave a chill smile and tightening his grip on the sword, he struck, aiming to stab at Leng Hua on his left leg. But the figure of the youth that had been before him suddenly flashed and dodged his attack. Before he could even react, he found that his hand that was holding the sword had been grabbed by two hands and swung towards his neck.

'Swish'

"Argh!"

The black robed guard only had time to gasp out in disbelief as he saw the sword in his own hand swung around arcing towards his own neck. The speed that it happened at was too quick for the other man to even jump in to stop it.

'Thump!'

With a heavy crash, the black robed guard fell to the ground, his eyes staring, looking highly aggrieved. Around his throat, the sliced open wound was gushing out a geyser of blood, quickly staining the ground a bright red.

Leng Hua was shocked at his own abilities. He had never practised any cultivation and possessed only the Tai Chi he had learnt from the Mistress. He had been practicing it daily in the mornings and nights all this time and the strokes and movements have been deeply entrenched into his bones. At the moment of danger, his body had instinctively used Tai Chi to in self defense.

Leng Hua knew that if he did not kill the other black robed man, he would still not be able to escape and hence, he gave up on running away, but turned around to face the other black robed guard who was staring at him completely astounded. Leng Hua slowly lowered his body in a half squat and he raised his hands slightly, reciting the Tai Chi mantra in his heart.

[Ease up the neck as the back straightens, wings loosely spread. Chest relaxed and the stance lowered, completes the form.....] *Note from Cloud: I tried, best attempt from me to translate the mantra with minimal and little google research..... Don't smack me on the head~

"I must have seen a ghost!"

The black robed guard saw that his companion was killed and realised that the kid was no longer running but was executing some soft and wispy form of martial arts. He immediately charged in with his sword and attacked.....

-Meanwhile, at the courtyard in front-

"Speak! What is that wretched lass hiding?"

He had a foot stepping on Guan Xi Lin's chest which caused a trickle of blood to spill out from the corner of Guan Xi Lin's mouth. He let out a muffled groan but refused to say a word, and just stared fiercely at the Head of the Xu Family.

"Bring him back with us! I do not believe I will be unable to pry open that mouth!"

The Xu Family's Head said in a sinister voice. Seeing that the two guards who had gone in pursuit of the youth had still not returned, his brows creased up together in a frown as he said: "What happened? They couldn't even capture a little commoner who did not possess any cultivation? If they can't capture him then just kill him! No need to keep that one alive!"

CHAPTER 89: Escape

At this moment, a black robed guard came running to his side. "Family Head, two of our comrades have been killed and that kid escaped!"

"What! They've been killed by a commoner kid who has no cultivation?!"

He bellowed in rage as he strode out in big steps and looked out the back door. His eyes swept through the surroundings and true enough, he saw two of his guards lying motionlessly on the ground. One had a red line gashed across his bloodied neck, another had a sword stabbed in the chest.

When he saw that, he gnashed his teeth in anger and clenched his fist tightly. "Hmph! Very good, to think that a kid with no cultivation had actually killed two of my men!"

The elderly old man who arrived later stroked his long beard thoughtfully.

[A person obviously without any cultivation, but was able to kill a pugilist with cultivation. On top of that, there's even a Barrier Master here in this place. It looks like that girl is withholding some secrets!]

Thinking this, a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

"What is the relationship between the man that we've caught and that girl?" His gaze rested on the Xu Family's head and asked.

When he heard this, the Xu Family's Head immediately turned back and replied: "That man we caught belongs to the Guan Family, a middle class family in Cloudy Moon City. However, word has it that he had died in the Nine Entrapment Woods. My guess is that that lass had saved him and they became close like siblings."

"So you're saying that if she knows that he had been caught she will step out and save him?"

"Yes." Xu Family's Head nodded as he let out a twisted smile. "It's also good that the kid had escaped, he can bring news to her that we've caught Guan Xi Lin. I don't believe that she won't move once she's received the news."

The old man furrowed his brows slightly and asked in a calm voice. "If the Guan Family knows that he's been caught, will they interfere?"

"Hah! That is something you do not have to worry about. The kid we've caught is an abandoned son. Even his own fiancee has been snatched away by his own cousin. Do you think they are willing to thread these muddy waters and care whether he lived or die? Afterall he's a person who has been cast away."

"That's good. Before we've lured that girl out, we need him alive. We also can't afford to have any unnecessary trouble." The old man said solemnly.

Hearing this, Xu Family's Head was inwardly shocked and looked at the old man, baffled. "Senior, you're already an expert in boundary barriers, why would you be interested in the barrier set up by a little trashy lass?

The old man glanced at him, and scoffed coldly. "This is my own business, Xu Family's Head, curiousity is not a good thing, knowing too much isn't good, the more one knows, the faster one dies."

Being warned so curtly jolted Xu Family's head awake and he did not press further. After all, the identity of this old man was one whom he could not afford to offend.

-As for the other side-

Leng Hua was panting heavily as he crouched closely in a corner after he had managed to escape. He was currently hiding at a back alley, gasping for breath, his whole body was soaked with blood, some his, some belonged to the two Guards he had killed earlier.

This was the first time he had killed anyone. The situation before did not give him anytime to think and he could only act instinctively then. Now that it was over, he was feeling scared and his whole body was trembling. His heart was beating erratically the fear lingered on and his heart would not calm down.

After hiding in the alley for awhile, only after he saw that there was no further movements and confirmed that there were no pursuers, he then clenched his teeth together and stood up. Taking advantage of the dark night, he stealthily hid under the veil of the night and escaped towards the direction of the Peach Blossom Ridge.

He knew that the Mistress had another identity as the Ghost Doctor and also had a good relationship with the black market. However, he could not go to the black market to seek help because his sister had always been the one who had accompanied the Mistress so no one could recognise him. Even if he managed to convince them to let him in, he was afraid that things might get out of hand and in turn, the identity of his Mistress might get exposed.

He could not reach his back and it was entirely soaked with his blood. He couldn't stop the bleeding but he still pushed on, every step he took was riddled with excruciating pain as his wounds tormented him. He always had a weak constitution and coupled with the blood loss, his face was getting paler and paler with each step he took. Despite all these, he gritted his teeth and forced himself to keep moving forward...

CHAPTER 90: Seeking Help

At the break of dawn, as the sun slowly peeked out while the sky was still tinged in darkness, the Black Guards who were making their rounds were chatting as they patrolled the mountain. Suddenly, they saw a shadow from the side and a few of them rushed forward in alarm.

"Who's there!"

Leng Hua had forcefully pushed himself all this way and his body felt heavy and sluggish as he continued on forward as he stumbled on step by step in difficulty. He fell down and struggled back up countless times. His back was completely soaked in his own blood, he had long became numb from the pain. His vision was also groggy as everything was now a blur.

When he saw the Black Guards who were on patrol, he wanted to rush forward but his legs gave way and he could only helplessly call out in a cracking voice as his hands reached out towards them. "Help me...to see Leng Shuang... she's.. my Sister..."

His voice was very weak but nevertheless, those Black Guards had heard it clearly.

Leng Shuang's brother?

Their eyes had a hint of surprise when they heard that, one came forward to check on his wounds while another rushed towards the inner region, whether it was true or false, they still had to inform Leng Shuang on this matter.

"What did you say? My brother?"

When she had came out to check on the barrier, she heard the Black Guard report the matter to the captain, her heart leapt up in fright. "Where's he now? Where? Bring me to him, quick!"

Leng Hua should have been with the Young Master in the courtyard. Why did he come here? Did something happen?

When Leng Shuang rushed over in a flurry and saw the unconscious Leng Hua drenched in blood, his blue robes completely dyed in red and his face was as white as sheet. She was flustered and her heart jolted in shock. She cried out: "Leng Hua!"

She started screaming hysterically and wanted to rush forward to hold him but didn't know where to hold onto. She could only anxiously cry out, "Faster! Bring him in quickly!"

Supporting him was the Black Guard captain and another guard who was following her from behind. When they were reaching the Peach Blossom Boundary barrier, the two were inwardly ecstatic and thought that they could finally go in and have a look. However, just as they were about to reach, she stopped in her tracks.

"Bring him over to me."

She came forward and carefully leaned over as she supported Leng Hua and brought him in step by step into the Peach Blossom Barrier. Very soon, the two silhouettes could no longer be seen as they disappeared into the Peach Blossoms.

"How mysterious... we've been here for almost a month yet we've never been inside before. Just thinking about it makes me feel rather stifled."

That black guard was muttering to himself, his heart was overwhelmed with curiosity, especially on the identity of the person living inside.

The Black Guard Captain looked thoughtfully ahead and looked back at that Black Guard and said in a heavy tone. "It's not as if you've just started working as a Black Guard, with regards to our rules, you should jolly well know it by heart by now. Things that are not meant to be known - don't ask, don't be curious. There's nothing good in knowing these things."

"Yes Sir." After being warned by his captain, the Black Guard quickly lowered his head in shame.

Leng Shuang had brought the unconscious Leng Hua to the room and checked his wounds. She quickly dressed his wound simply and quickly went to Feng Jiu's door and knocked.

"Mistress, Mistress." Urgency could be heard in her strained voice and there was also a hint of panic in it.

Feng Jiu who had been sleeping stirred and woke up when she heard Leng Shuang's call. She draped on a robe and opened the door. "What happened?"

Her voice still sounded raspy but her eyes were alert. Because she knew that Leng Shuang would not knock at her door at the break of dawn if not for an emergency.

"Mistress, Little Hua came, but he's unconscious and soaked in blood. I'm afraid something has happened to Young Master."

When she heard this, Feng Jiu's heart sank. "Where's he? Quick! Bring me to him!"

CHAPTER 91: Not allowed to advance!

Leng Shuang had brought him over to her room and once Feng Jiu entered the room, she was overwhelmed with the stench of blood that hung heavily in the air.

She came to the bed and saw that his top had already been removed and he was lying on his tummy, his whole face was deathly pale.

Looking at the long gash across his back, her eyes stirred and she quickly reached out to take his pulse.

Leng Shuang who was standing anxiously beside her quickly report, "Little Hua's injury on the back is the worst one of all, the other injuries are all just superficial wounds and some abrasions. When I brought him in, the blood had coagulated but he was already unconscious."

Feng Jiu probed his pulse and her gaze rested on his feet. His boots were still on however they were drenched completely in blood and there were also quite a few holes in them.

She reached into her sleeves and took out a brown pill and placed it in Leng Hua's mouth. She then took another bottle of medicine and passed it to Leng Shuang. "Take off his boots and help him clean up the wounds on his feet."

"Yes!"

Leng Shuang quickly held onto the bottle of medicine preciously and carefully removed the boots. Her tears started falling when she saw that his feet was in a terrible state - broken skin, blisters all over and blood everywhere. Hot tears could not stop as she tried her best to clean up the wounds, using her sleeves to wipe off her sniffles and tears as she went along.

Seeing this, Feng Jiu comforted her: "Although the wound on his back is deep, fortunately the blood had dried up or else the journey here which takes about four hours would have already taken away his life. As for his feet, it's just some skin trauma, with the proper care and medication, he'll recover in a couple of days, there's no danger."

She was now most worried about her Brother, Leng Hua was now unconscious so she could not find out what had happened.

After listening to her words, Leng Shuang finally calmed down.

After she had finished applying the medicine and wrapping up his feet, Leng Shuang realised that her Mistress was already no longer in the room. She went out and saw Feng Jiu standing in the courtyard. She asked: "Mistress, may I go out and investigate what had happened?"

Feng Jiu shook her head, "No, we'll wait for Leng Hua to wake up first, no one knows what had happened better than him."

"Do not worry, Young Master will be fine."

"Yeah." Feng Jiu nodded absentmindedly. When Leng Hua wakes up, call me." After which she returned to her own room.

Once she entered her room, she quickly went into the Spatial Spirit Palace and with the flick of her wrist, a bottle of medicine appeared in her palm.

This was a medicine that could enhance her cultivation. However, this was the first time she had refined this medicine and she had yet to test out its efficiency and did not know whether there will be any side effects.

The little phoenix saw her staring intently at the bottle in her palm, and he could not hold in his curiosity and toddled over with his little legs and asked in a baffled tone: "What's with that bottle?"

"I want to enhance my cultivation and advance to the peak stage." She gripped the bottle tighter in determination.

Little Fire Phoenix looked at her wide eyed, bewildered.

"Have you gone mad?! You are currently at the Mid level Mystical Warrior stage, even if you want to charge up to the peak stage, even with the aid of this Spatial Spirit Palace, you'll still need at least six months to achieve it! If you're going to forcefully push through and if something crops up, completely crippling your current cultivation is one thing, what if you even lose your life along with it?! Do you know the gravity of the situation?"

Seeing that she did not have a single reaction, but only had her gaze fixated on the bottle in her hands, he quickly added: "There's more! Mystical cultivation also needs martial arts besides cultivating solely on mystical powers. Only when both aspects are joined together could a mystical Warrior be able to bring out the best qualities and exhibit the greatest power. So even if your mystical powers have increased, with little comprehension in martial arts, it's also useless. Do you know that?"

"Guan Xi Lin is in danger."

She narrowed her eyes in resolution. "He is my brother, I can not ignore this matter."

CHAPTER 92: Actually Really Awesome

"But that does not mean you should stake your life on it!"

The little Phoenix glared, his chubby little face fuming as he said: "If any accident happens during the level advancement, who would then go save him?"

"Although my current cultivation is able to take on a cultivator in the pinnacle level of the warrior stage, I am still worried that if the opponent's power turns out to be beyond that, it would definitely result in an irrecoverable situation for us."

Her voice hesitated a moment as she went deep in thought: "Moreover, I had set up a barrier on the courtyard and it would be impossible for anyone who isn't a Barrier Master to unravel it. Hence, even when Leng Hua still has not awakened to tell me everything, I know for a fact that the matter this time is definitely not ordinary, and the enemies I will be facing are also very powerful."

"Alright alright, you don't need to take that medicine. If at that time you are really unable to deal with it, revered me here will then help you."

Hearing that, Feng Jiu's gaze fell onto the little figure, her eyes not hiding the suspicions she had against those words of his.

"Little fella, although you are the Ancient Fire Phoenix, but you are afterall still in your infancy and still looking like a three year old human child. If the enemies are people that even I am unable to deal with, what would you be able to do against them?"

[There! She really feels that this pudgy little guy with his short hands and legs was just a little kid who looks just like a little prosperity doll and would not possess much battle power. Afterall, he still has not matured has he?"]

If they really encounter a powerful opponent that even she was unable to defeat, she sincerely did not believe that the kid possessed any capability to help.

However, the little Phoenix was immediately unhappy upon hearing those words. His chubby little arms folded across his chest and he plopped down to the floor on his behind, as he glared at her angrily to say: "You shouldn't despise people like that! Revered me is not even close to being as useless as a human three year old. Revered me is really very powerful!"

He reemphasized the fact, seemingly afraid that Feng Jiu did not believe him.

"Mistress, Little Hua has awoken."

From outside, Leng Shuang's voice came in.

Within the space, when Feng Jiu heard that, she glanced another time at the pill in her hand and thought about it a moment before she kept it away. She then turned her head to give a reminder: "You be good and stay inside here to cultivate." After saying that, her figure flashed as she exited the space.

Opening the door, she saw Leng Shuang standing there in glee.

"Mistress, Ah Hua has awoken."

"Mm." She nodded her head and strode towards Leng Shuang's room.

When she came into the room, she saw that Leng Hua had already opened his eyes and upon seeing her enter, he was attempting to get up but Feng Jiu pressed him down and said: "You still have injuries on you. Just remain lying down."

"Mistress, Young Master has been captured." His voice was still very weak, but still much better than before.

"You know who those people are?" She asked as she thought to herself. At least he was just captured, as long as he wasn't killed.

"That middle aged man said they were from the Xu Family, and claimed that Mistress killed his son and two of his elders. Hence, he had come to seek Mistress to settle the score."

Hearing those words, Leng Shuang was slightly taken aback. [Her Mistress killed people? How was that possible? Mistress' powers was at most considered to be as damaging as an embroidered pillow. So how was it possible she could kill someone who was of an Elder level of a family clan?

When Feng Jiu heard that, her eyes glinted, and it dawned upon her. So it's the Xu Family.

[That Second Master and all the several other people had already been killed by her, so how had they found out that she was the one that killed them? Did they find her portrait from the black market's bounty board and deduced it from there?]

"Did they bring someone who was well versed with barriers with them at that time? And how did you manage to escape? Tell me everything in detail."

"The Head of the Xu Family brought a grey robed old man with them, and he was the one who broke the barrier. As for me....."

His voice hesitated. When he thought back to the situation then, he still found it all incredibly unbelievable. He then said: "Mistress, I found out that the soft and wispy Tai Chi is actually really awesome!"

CHAPTER 93: Insufferable Torment

"At that moment, I was reacting almost completely by reflex and if not for the Tai Chi that Mistress taught me, I believe I would have died under the swords of those two men."

When he thought back about it, he was still slightly traumatised in his heart. Afterall, in all his days before this, he had always been protected by his elder sister as he had a weak constitution and was often bedridden with sickness. Incidents that happened the way it had that night was completely inconceivable to him before this.

But, after that night, a thought had formed in his mind with strong determination.

[He wanted to practice cultivation as well! Regardless even if he wouldn't be able to compare with his elder sister, he will still cultivate! With that, he will not need people to always protect him, and if anything really happened, he might be able to protect them as well.]

Hearing those words, Leng Shuang involuntarily turned to look at her Mistress, finding it all rather incredulous in her mind.

[That martial arts Mistress practiced could actually take on an enemy! ?]

She had always thought that her Mistress had practiced that just to give her body some exercise and had not thought that it would turn out to save Little Hua's life.

After hearing what Leng Hua said, Feng Jiu nodded her head and reminded him: "You should rest well and nurse yourself back to health. You do not need to think about anything else." And she turned to go outside immediately.

Leng Shuang followed right behind her and seeing Feng Jiu standing in within the yard, she asked: "Mistress, what should we do next?"

"I will be making a trip back there and you'll help me oversee the things here."

"Mistress is thinking to go save Young Master by yourself?"

Leng Shuang was rather taken aback, as she continued to say worriedly: "Those people hold powers even Young Master is unable to take on and if Mistress goes there, wouldn't it be....."

[Delivering yourself into the enemy's arms?] She did not say those words aloud. But from what she could see, even if her Mistress was highly proficient in Tai Chi, it would definitely still not be a match for a Head of a Family Clan. Moreover, she was just one person and the enemy was an entire family clan.

Even putting the disparity of their powers aside, the mere difference in terms of the number of people was already too large, so how could she allow her Mistress to go seek her own death?

"Those are not things that you should be worrying about. You just have to do what I have asked and that will do."

She turned around and went back to her room, changed into men's clothes, and put on the golden mask with the madara flowers, and the air around her immediately transformed with her change.

The air that surrounded her was sharp, her demeanor indolent, feeling as dangerous as the Lord of Darkness, mysterious. The aura she had always suppressed and hid all this time, was released at that moment, one that people would not be able to overlook.

She went out of the yard, and swept through the peach tree forest, her mystical powers surging, and with her queer mystifying steps, she moved so fast like a ghost, leaving not a single trace of her passing behind.....

-Xu Family Dungeon-

'Swoosh! Piak!'

"Ungh!"

The sound of the cracking whip brought about swooshing sounds as its tip tore through the air, every single crack of the whip accompanied by a muffled groan, the air hung heavily with the thick stench of blood in that dim and damp underground dungeon.

Upon the crossbeam wooden stake, Guan Xi Lin was lashed, his body all covered in wounds, the whip lashes crisscrossed over each other, blood flowing down together with his sweat, soaking completely into the hopelessly tattered clothes hanging from his body.

From the moment he had been captured and brought in here, the lashing from the whip had not stopped at all. He was so drained and exhausted that he did not even have the energy to shout out in agony, and he felt as if he was detached from his body, so numb he could not really feel the pain. He did not even have the strength to lift his head anymore but the person waving the whip did not relent in the slightest as he cursed while he cracked the whip continuously.

"Who let you kill me son!"

"Who let you kill my second brother!"

"Who let you annihilate two of my Elders!"

"Who let you make yourself an enemy of my Xu Family!"

The guard standing at the side saw that Guan Xi Lin was already on his last vestiges of consciousness as his head finally drooped when he fainted and he said in a highly cautious tone: "Family Head, the man has already fainted."

"Bring me the red hot branding iron! Burn him awake!

CHAPTER 94: Visiting the Xu Mansion by Night

The guard was startled but he quickly acknowledged the order and went to the back to bring a burning red hot branding iron, before he carefully handed it over the the Family Head.

"I would like to see just how strong willed you are!"

Family Head Xu said that in a chilling voice as the branding iron in his hand was about to pushed onto Guan Xi Lin's body. The red hot branding iron was still sizzling with steam and even the guard could not continue to watch.

"Hold it!"

A dominating voice filled with power reached him, which caused Family Head Xu who was just about to press the branding iron suddenly hold his hand, to turn with a frown on his face to look at the person who had just come in.

The grey robed old man came striding in. Detecting the strong stench of blood within the dungeon and seeing the already unconscious Guan Xi Lin, his brows creased up together while his face darkened, looking highly displeased as he stared at Family Head Xu.

"This person is still of use to us. If you torture him to death and the girl does not come, who should this old man here look for?"

Hearing those words, Family Head Xu did not say anything but just handed the branding iron over to the guard at the side and said: "There is no need for Senior to worry about that. That wretched lass will definitely come!"

[If she does not turn up, even if he has to turn the Cloudy Moon City upside down, he will definitely find her!]

Night fell, and the Xu Mansion was lit with lanterns bright as day. Many teams of guards crawled inside and outside of the place, setting up an inescapable net, just to capture the prey that might just appear here tonight.

Hidden within the shadows to observe them for an entire day just to await nightfall, Feng Jiu suddenly saw a familiar figure in black. Her brows creased up and with a flourish of red, she shot towards that figure.

Leng Shuang had just leapt up upon the wall at the main doors when a hand suddenly closed over her shoulder, and another clasped over her mouth as she was pulled into the shadows. She was just about to retaliate when a familiar voice said softly.

"It's me."

At the same moment she spoke, Feng Jiu released her hand, and stared with a frown at Leng Shuang who had turned around, before she said: "Didn't I ask you to oversee the things at Peach Blossom Ridge? Why are you here instead?"

"Mistress?"

Leng Shuang's eyes lit up as she replied: "I was worried about you, and so I came here." Letting her Mistress come conduct the rescue alone, she would not be at ease, hence, after she told Leng Hua to look after himself, she immediately came here following Feng Jiu.

"Foolishness!"

She spoke in a hushed tone: "If I had not stopped you, you would have messed up my plans tonight."

Upon hearing that, Leng Shuang quickly lowered her head and replied: "I'm sorry, Mistress."

"Go back now!"

Against those words, she quickly raised her head up and shook her head obstinately to say: "I will not go back! I will help Mistress rescue the Young Master!"

"Going in there, you might really be killed!"

Leng Shuang's gaze was determined as she looked at Feng Jiu and she said: "Leng Shuang's life belongs to Mistress and even if I have to die for it, I will not allow Mistress to go take the risk herself!"

Feng Jiu stared at the young girl for a long while before she turned her gaze away. "Since you are not afraid of death, then follow me!"

"Yes!" Leng Shuang's heart was delighted and her eyes lit up.

Feng Jiu led her to quietly around to leap onto the wall over the doors at the back. Hiding within the shadows, Feng Jiu immediately saw that areas in the outer perimeter without any guards on patrols had boundary barriers set up, and if she wanted to go in, she would have to pass through those barriers.

"There are boundary barriers inside. Follow me very closely, you cannot take even one step wrong." The moment her voice fell, she leapt down and led Leng Shuang into the boundary barrier.

Meanwhile, inside the Xu Mansion, within a courtyard.

Family Head Xu was sipping on tea as he asked in a slightly worried voice: "Senior, can that boundary barrier really trap a person inside? Could it be that she is actually already here but just that we do not know it?"

"It won't"

The old man shook his head and said confidently: "Against this old man's barriers, no one within the entire Sun Glory Country will be able to break through. As long as she dares to come, we will not need to lift a finger and she will definitely be trapped within the barrier, unable to escape!"

CHAPTER 95: Setting the Xu Mansion Ablaze

However, the two of them did not know that the person they were talking about had already walked out from the boundary barrier safe and sound.....

Once out of the barrier, they were immediately confronted with an approaching team of night patrol guards. Just as Leng Shuang was thinking that it was too late to hide, she was whisked away by Feng Jiu to the other side, quick as a flash of lightning as they moved, completely undetected by the night patrol.

Once they came to a stop, Leng Shuang found herself stunned, her eyes wide with incredulity as she stared at her Mistress beside her. Movements like that, would still be beyond her even if she cultivated for another ten years.

"Go!"

Feng Jiu whispered in a hushed tone, leading her towards the side. Along the way, although they occasionally encountered the Xu Family's night patrols, they managed to avoid them and the guards were not alerted.

Leng Shuang finally understood what her Mistress' words earlier meant.

In here, the outer ring was set up with a boundary barrier, while the inner ring was crawling with night patrolling guards. If she had come in on her own, she would surely have been discovered by now.

"Wait here."

Leaving her curt instructions, Feng Jiu leapt out and clasped her hand over the last guard who brought up the rear and pulled him into the shadows. When the patrol had moved far away, she then asked in a low tone: "Where is Guan Xi Lin?"

The guard's eyes were widened in terror. Pleading with his eyes, he stretched out a finger and pointed out the direction. He kicked out, trying to struggle free and upon seeing that, Feng Jiu's eyes glinted chillingly and she broke his neck with a snap of her wrist, before dragging him deeper into the shadows to dispose of his body.

The duo moved out once again, towards the direction pointed out by the guard. They avoided all the patrols they encountered and Feng Jiu only stopped when they came near an area filled with rock formations of miniature mountains further inside.

Leng Shuang looked at Feng Jiu questioningly, not understanding why they had suddenly stopped.

Feng Jiu eyes scanned the entire area before her and spotted four guards standing before a particular cluster of rock formation further up and noticed that there were several more people hidden within the shadows in the surrounding area.

Her eyes showed she was deep in thought. She knew she would be unable to dispose of all the guards both exposed in the open and those who were hidden quickly enough without alerting them and she concluded she could only use drugs.

She flipped her palm and pulled out a medicine bottle from the spatial ring and silently slipped upwind. She dispersed the suds from the medicine in her hand as she scattered them into the night breeze and waited quietly. Until all the guards who were hidden and in the open had fallen to the ground, Feng Jiu then signaled for Leng Shuang to come out.

"You stand guard here. I'll go inside and see." Immediately after her voice dropped, she swung the rock door panel open and went inside.

Once inside, the damp and dank stench assaulted her, and the thick stench of blood mixed within made her brows creased up together. Especially when she saw the badly bloodied and mangled person tied to the crossbeam stake, her heart winced and a murderous aura of massacre spilled forth.

"Big Brother!"

She called out in a hushed voice, but Guan Xi Lin had lost consciousness and there was no reaction.

Immediately after that, she quickly stuffed a pill into his mouth and cut the ropes before bring him outside.

"I'll draw the guards and you find a chance to bring him out of here."

Leng Shuang who was carrying Guan Xi Lin nodded and reminded Feng Jiu worriedly: "Mistress, please be careful."

"Mm, go quickly."

Leng Shuang acknowledged and seeing them leaving in another direction, Feng Jiu turned her gaze upon the main building in the inner perimeter, her eyes filled with sinister and bloodthirsty murder and a low voice rumbled out from her mouth.

"I will make you realise, that there are some people you cannot afford to antagonize!"

"Fire! Fire! Put out the fire!"

Family Head Xu and the old man who were chatting in the yard had upon hearing the shouts of fire coming from outside, immediately shot to their feet and roared: "What happened?"

A guard came running in looking highly flustered: "Family Head. Bad news. Many places within the mansion has caught fire and the flames are highly intense. The flames are spreading quickly and will reach here soon!"

Hearing that, the two men's expression changed drastically and they rushed quickly outside.....

CHAPTER 96: Order to Kill !

But when they came outside, and Family Head Xu saw the situation, he almost fainted away.

The enormous Xu Mansion, just its guards alone, would number about a hundred of them. But before his eyes, all of them were lying upon the ground, not known whether they were still alive or dead. Only two Elders and four of the Xu Mansion's Team Leaders of the Master Warrior Grade were still conscious.

And atop the wall of a doorway, a figure in red stood standing high up there, watching everything below. The red figure looked mesmerizing with his fiery red clothes fluttering in the night wind, his golden madara flower face mask made more mysterious as it reflected the light from the raging flames all around.

But, when he saw the golden madara mask and that suit of red clothes, Family Head Xu's face turned pale as he exclaimed: "You..... You are the Ghost Doctor!"

Ghost Doctor!

A highly mysterious person who was both feared and revered. No one knew his true gender, and only knew that he was always dressed in a suit flamboyant and sinister red, with that golden mask filled with blossoms of madara flowers in full bloom!

Many major families within the Cloudy Moon City had seeked an audience, but had all been rejected!

The ruler of the Sun Glory Country had asked to meet him, and had been rejected just the same!

The black market spread throughout many countries held him in great esteem, and saw him as a highly distinguished guest!

It was rumoured that he possessed medical skills that could bring one back from the brink of death!

It was rumoured that a dose of medicine from his could instantly raise the power of warriors!

It was rumoured.....

There were many rumours, and, this entity who existed only in rumours, had come to his Xu Mansion today, and had appeared in such a manner, how could he not be expected to not fall into panic.....

That was a person whom the powers behind the black market wanted to protect. If any of the other powers around here knew about this, the Xu Family would no longer be able to maintain a foothold within the Cloudy Moon City anymore!

However, as the fear gripped at his heart, a mad and crazy thought suddenly came to his mind.

[Kill him! As long as he is dead, the powers behind the black market will not know that he was the one responsible! Once he is dead, the Xu Family will not need to fear any form reprisal from the black market!]

"Kill him! I want him killed!"

He suddenly snapped back to his senses and shouted loudly, his finger pointing at the figure in red standing high up upon the wall, his voice sounding highly malicious and almost maniacal.

"She must not be allowed to leave this place alive!"

The grey robed old man frowned and threw a glance at Family Head Xu before quickly looking away, his gaze fixed upon the red figure, his eyes dancing with a glint of excitement and anticipation.

"No! This old man here wants him alive!"

The two Elders stepped quickly to come stand beside their Family Head. Their clothes had been slightly burnt off by the fire and as they had just escaped out from the fire, their hair was also in a mess, their faces smudged, making for a rather sorry sight.

"Family Head, there's knockout drugs within the fire! Everyone below the Master Warrior grade have been knocked out!"

"Kill, him, now!"

Family Head Xu bellowed in a deep voice, spitting out the words one by one, shouting out his order for all the four Master Warriors to kill that figure in red, and then immediately turning his eyes onto the grey robed old man beside him, so overcome with rage he had slightly lost his reason as he questioned.

"Didn't you say that he wouldn't be able to get past your barrier?"

"Didn't you say that you will definitely know it once he enters your barrier?"

"He set fire to destroy my Xu Family's century old heritage! If I do not wash the Xu Mansion with his blood today, I shall not let the matter rest!"

The very moment his voice dropped, a mouthful of blood spewed forth from his mouth, as he was sent flying through the air by a single palm strike, to crash heavily into the corner of the wall before falling right into the blazing flames raging upon the ground. He did not even have the time to cry out when a loud crash sounded and the entire face of the wall collapsed, burying Family Head Xu under it.

"Family Head!"

CHAPTER 97: Night in Blood's Shade

The two Elders called out in shock and the four Team Leaders' faces turned ashen, their eyes appalled as they looked at the grey robed old man who had struck so suddenly.

The old man's eyes were narrowed slightly as a malicious aura emanated from his body, his voice contemptuous and chilling as it slowly came out from his mouth.

"Who do you think you are? You dare to question me?"

His malicious gaze turned, which startled the two Elders beside him, causing them to unconsciously retreat two steps backwards.

[One palm!]

[One palm and it had killed their Family Head who was at the pinnacle of the Warrior Master grade? One palm was all it took to not even give their Family Head the opportunity to stand up at all but had his life snatched out from him! ?]

Within the roaring blaze, under the heap of rubble, the Family Head of the century old Xu Family had suddenly and unexpectedly died such an ignoble death.....

Standing on her high vantage point, Feng Jiu raised up an eyebrow under her mask, as her eyes flashed with a momentary puzzlement.

[Aren't those two people in cahoots? But he had struck out at Family Head Xu and killed him?]

[Killed with one palm strike.....]

Her gaze fell upon the grey robed old man, staring at the mystical energy gathered around the old man's palm that was visible to the naked eye.

[Grand Warrior Master!]

The grey robed old man's powers was above a Warrior Master, a Grand Warrior Master! It has to be that. To be able to take out a Warrior Master at the pinnacle with just one single palm strike, his powers would naturally have to be of a higher level than Family Head Xu.

[But, a Grand Warrior Master.....]

The current Feng Jiu would have no issues dealing with someone who was at Family Head Xu's level. But to take on a Grand Master Warrior, and his powers were seemingly not just at the initial levels of the mystical Grand Warrior Master grade, it was thought even two of Feng Jiu would still not be a match for such an opponent.

"Go, capture her for this old man. Remember, this old man wants her alive."

The grey robed old man remained standing there and did not move from his spot, his hands crossed over each other, hidden within his sleeves. His eyes were shining with excitement and anticipation as he stared at the flamboyant and mesmerizing figure in red, his gaze feeling so strange it gave one chills.

"Yes. Yes."

No matter whether it was the two Elders, or whether it was the four Team Leaders, even when they saw their Family Head murdered by the old man, they did not dare seek revenge for their Family Head. As deep down in their hearts, they knew the opponent's power far exceeded their by too much, and if they did not comply, the next ones to die would be them!

When she saw the several men surround her in attack, Feng Jiu's eyes flashed briefly, and she drew out her dagger, flipping it over to hold it in a reverse grip. She summoned her Qi and leapt, landing upon a roof not much further off.

The men pursued behind her closely, with no weapons in their hands, almost as if they fearful of the old man and the men did not dare to use any sharp blades against her, but unknowingly making it easier for her to kill them instead.

"There's no escape!"

One of the Elders shouted, reaching a hand out to grip Feng Jiu's shoulder, with mystical energies surging, and his Warrior Master's oppressive aura pushed out in assault at that moment. The Elder was thinking pin the opponent down first, before proceeding with the capture, but unexpectedly, his hand had suddenly instead been grabbed, and twisted behind his back. His opponent's ghostly movements, and the tricky movements of her hands, made it impossible for him to avoid falling into the enemy's hands.

Before he could even try to retreat, an icy cold dagger had already been lightly pressed against his neck.

When the other captors saw that, their hearts almost stopped, overcome with shock and incredulity. They all knew the Third Elder's powers well, but he had been so easily countered and pinned? Even fallen into the enemy's hands where his life would be decided by the prey?

"Don't..... Don't kill me....."

Third Elder was in a panic, unable to believe that the scene he had visualised had manifested in a blink, but the person being held in restraint was him instead.

"Too late."

Feng Jiu's voice was cold, as she pulled the dagger within her hand. A deep wound split open at the neck, and blood gushed out.

CHAPTER 98: Impure Thoughts

"Third Elder!"

The Second Elder shouted out in shock, his voice trembling. Seeing the Third Elder who was as close to him as a brother having his throat slit, the sight of the blood gushing out drove a stabbing pain into his heart, and made his eyes burn.

His pair of hands clenched up, the knuckles on his fists making a crackling sound, as an intense hatred boiled within his chest, like sizzling hot lava, threatening to burst out from his chest.

The Family Head was dead, and among the four Elders, he was the only one left. The Xu Mansion was also burning as the blazing flames raged, and it was expected that the place would finally fall into ruin. The Xu Family, had fallen.....

And all of it, was caused by the one person before his eyes!

[She must be killed! Only by killing her, would he be able to vent out the fiery rage within him! Only by killing her, would he be able to let the spirits of the one hundred and thirty four lives in the Xu Mansion rest in peace!]

'Swish!'

With a cold steely flash, a long sword was suddenly snaked out from within his sleeve, its sharp point angled to the ground. His malicious and murderous gaze was locked upon the figure in red before him, mystical energy infused thickly with murder flaring out from his body. He was summoning out every single ounce of power within him to the surface, to commit himself to this battle to the death!

At the moment they saw the Third Elder was killed, the bodies of the four Team Leaders stiffened, and instinctively wanting to run away, but, their bodies had just readied to sprint away when several silver needles shot them in the back of their necks. The four men groaned and their bodies froze a moment, before falling limply to the ground, tumbling right into the roaring flames.

"ARRRGH! AR....."

Screams of agony came out from within the flames, as the four people rolled, their bodies on fire, struggling to stand up to escape. In the end, they were engulfed and consumed by the merciless fire.....

"This old man stakes his reputation as an Elder of the Xu Family and will hereby vow! Even if I am to die, I will drag you down along with me!"

The Second Elder's sinister voice rang out, and his mystical energy flared, as Qi of the sword shot out from his sword's point. The visible sword's Qi was like a venomous snake, flying at a blinding speed towards his opponent. The speed that he moved at, the viciousness of his strike, was led by his strong determination to send his opponent to his death!

Seeing that, Feng Jiu did not dare to be careless as she imbued mystical energy into the dagger she held in her hand in response. As the sword and dagger clashed, the clangor resounded, as sharp and malicious gusts of Qi spilled out from between the two, whistling loudly as it sliced through the air.

Down below, seeing that the Second Elder's attacks were vicious and fatal, the grey robed old man's eyes deepened, his face showing displeasure as he eyed the two people higher up on top.

To him, the girl was too useful to him, for her to be killed just like this.

But, when he saw that the girl was able to remain completely unharmed after receiving so many strikes from the Second Elder, the eyes that were gazing upon her unconsciously showed some surprise. Afterall, from what he had seen, since she had already shown herself to be skilled in boundary barriers and Medicine, he had thought she would undoubtedly be unable to cope with battle skills cultivation on top of that. But against all expectations, she had surprised him once more.

That's right. Surprise.

He had thought that she would not be able to unravel the boundary barrier he erected and the moment she stepped into it, she was bound to be trapped. But she had been able to pass through unscathed without even alerting him as the person who set it up, that had obviously told him, that her barrier cultivation was more profound that he had imagined.

And, he was even more certain, on her, there would definitely be ancient texts on boundary barriers that he had never researched before!

When that thought came into his mind, his eyes lit up. Boundary barrier ancient texts!

He had never thought that he would stumble across such a treasure within a measly nine grade little country like this. But since he came across it, he would never let it slip away!

Together with the girl, he wanted them all!

He concealed his excitement as his gaze fell upon the highly alluring figure, imagining the kind of flawless beauty that hid behind that mask, his heart harbouring secret intentions. After he got his hands on the boundary barrier ancient texts, this eye grabbing and flamboyant girl would then be made to become a repository source for his cultivation!

CHAPTER 99: Alarming All Sides

"Argh!"

A cry of pain sounded and it could be seen upon the roof, the long sword within the Second Elder's hand had been sent flying with a well placed kick. The long sword sailed through the air and fell within the roaring flames below.

Having been kicked hard, his hand between his thumb and second finger was suddenly feeling numb and extremely sore, feeling as if the bones in his wrist had been broken by the kick. The pain spread through his arm and he was unable to lift it as it hung limply at his side, trembling slightly, his face pale as he stared at the red figure in front of him.

Against the bright glare from the raging fire below, the red figure looked even more dazzling to the eye, the jet black hair blown up by the night's wind, as if a pair of hands had gently lifted up her hair, to fan out behind her, flying against the night. The golden mask with its flamboyant mandara flowers in full bloom, making her seem all the more mysterious, unfathomable.

A bloodthirsty and murderous aura emanated from her body, highly intense, the aura so strong that it made his heart fill with fear.

It was to be expected. If the enemy was just a nobody, the several Elders that they were would not have fallen one after another under her hands, where even their Family Head had paid with the existence of the entire Xu Family all because of her.....

When that thought came into his mind, he clenched up his jaw tightly, and gathered all his mystical energies within to have them all surge to a point just below his navel. In a quick moment, his entire body bloated up very quickly like a rubber ball filled up with air, where the robe on his body split and tore from the sudden expansion, exposing the originally skinny body underneath.

But, at that moment, that withered and skinny looking body was still continuing to swell, as the energies expanded explosively, stretching his skin to the point his veins are arteries underneath were clearly visible but looking as if he was about to explode at any moment.

"I've said it before. Even if I am to die, I will drag you down with me!"

The Second Elder shouted almost maniacally, his head of grey and white hair flying in a complete mess as the Qi surged all around him. His hands stretched wide open, and he leapt madly towards Feng Jiu, the speed that he moved at, suddenly doubling from when he had previously battled Feng Jiu.

When the old man down below saw that the Second Elder was inciting his own body to blow up to kill the girl together within the blast, the expression on his face immediately changed, and he shouted suddenly in an anxious fluster and exasperation: "Damn it! I told you I wanted her alive! Alive!"

He kicked his feet off from the ground and the grey robed figure instantly rose, his speed several times faster than the Second Elder who had every single ounce of his mystical energies drawn to a full surge.

Feng Jiu had immediately raised her guard when she had seen the maniacal look on the Second Elder's face. But, when she saw that he was going to detonate his mystical powers to bring her down together in mutual destruction, her eyes had showed shock, never having expected that the Second Elder would go this far for the Xu Family.

Immediately, she quickly retreated backwards, every single step taken trying to avoid him as quickly as possible. Afterall, the self detonation of a Master Warrior at the pinnacle level was not exactly a small joking matter and she wasn't prepared to pay for the slightest slip with her own life.

However, as she was beating a retreat, a grey robed figure leapt quick as a demon into the fray. She had not even gotten a clear glimpse of the figure before she saw him deliver a mighty kick into the Second Elder who was leaping straight towards her, sending him flying straight up into the sky.

"Argh! I refuse to concede....."

'Boom! Ka Boom!'

Resounding through the night sky, was the Second Elder's unreconciled voice filled with hatred trailing off. Before the voice ended, a loud boom of explosion was heard and the Second Elder's body exploded into smithereens high in the sky, giving out a huge earsplitting explosion. The bright flare of light that lit the skies and the loud boom completely shattered the still tranquility of the night, waking up almost the entire Cloudy Moon City in an instant.

Just as the cultivators within the Cloudy Moon City from varying regions were speeding towards this place, up upon the roof, the grey robed old man turned to face Feng Jiu, an amicable smile upon his face, but within that pair of eyes, was a gaze tinged with a kind of excitement, coupled with a strange glint, that stared at her as if those eyes were locked onto a prey.

CHAPTER 100: By My Blood

"Do not be afraid, I will be good to you."

When Feng Jiu heard those words coming out from the grey robed old man's mouth, she felt an immense chill shoot through her entire being, and goosebumps jumped all over her, the corners of her mouth suddenly developing an uncontrollable twitch.

Especially when that old man was even looking at her with a strangely excited glint in his gaze. The kind of disgust she felt, was just indescribable.

She gazed depreciating at him and rubbed her arms over the goosebumps that had appeared saying: "Old thing, shouldn't you hold up a mirror and look at that old man that looks exactly like a dried up orange before you speak? You are already a person who has one foot inside the coffin and you can still be so utterly shameless."

The sarcastic words filled with such disdain caused the grey robed old man's gaze to darken and even the smile on his face faded, whereby his body then turned to give out a malicious aura as he stared at Feng Jiu.

"The fact that this esteemed self is even willing to accept you as my cultivation respiratory is already thinking highly of you!"

"Cultivation respiratory?"

Feng Jiu screeched in mock horror and threw a measuring glance from the top of the old man's head to his toes with contempt in her eyes and said insultingly: "It wasn't immediately visible to me that such an old thing can still a such a lecher? But, you are already so old and aged, that thing down there is still working?"

"What audacity!"

His embarrassment turned to rage as he shouted, his chest heaving with anger, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets to stare at her in rage. The very next moment, the grey robed figure leapt out quick as lightning, his thin and withered hand curled up to form claws as they reached out to grab at Feng Jiu.

Feng Jiu's expression immediately changed and threw her sharp aura out into a flare. She did not dodge but had instead moved in to meet the challenge, her narrowed eyes vicious and bloodthirsty, her footwork with her strange steps bringing her body in fast. The dagger in her hand flipped, and imbued with her mystical power, she thrust it straight at the grey robed old man.

"Child's play!"

The grey robed old man snorted and reversed his hand, dodging Feng Jiu's attack easily. As that hand parried the dagger aside, his other hand reached out to grab at her once more.

Her hand grabbed by the grey robed old man, Feng Jiu immediately went along with the momentum and let herself fall to the ground. As she was freed from the old man's five fingered vice grip, she raised a foot and swept it out at the same time, hearing her mystical power infused foot making a sharp swishing sound as it whipped through the air. Just for that mere moment he was caught off guard, his shin was struck by that kick. His knee buckled and as he fell into a squat, he jumped back hastily, to put some distance away from Feng Jiu.

Feng Jiu attacked again without a moment's pause. She knew deep down that the explosion from the Second Elder's self detonation of his body had already alerted the various powers within the Cloudy Moon City and those people would surely rush here. At the present moment, what she wanted to do was to deal with this old man before those people arrive!

"Argh!"

The old man had barely just managed to regain his balance when he saw the dagger with its cold glint slashing right at his neck, shocking him into leaning his body back and kicking up with a foot at the same time. Unexpectedly, the girl had suddenly moved back and the point of the dagger that had been speeding towards his throat was turned, to be driven deep into the calf of the leg he had kicked up.

The power from the vicious downward thrust and the force from his upward kick collided brutally, driving the dagger right through his leg. He could hear it when the sharp point of the dagger sliced into his bone and flesh, and that excruciating pain that hammered into his heart made all the power within his body explode out in a surge.

"Ugh!"

A powerful blast of an Warrior Sovereign's aura shot out of the old man's body in a blast, the mad surge of the intense mystical energy viciously striking Feng Jiu to send her flying outwards.

"Ow!"

Sent flying a few meters, Feng Jiu was feeling an intense pain in her heart as blood spewed out through her mouth. Her heart meridian had been injured which made her entire body's aura suddenly turn weak.

Seeing the old man pulling the dagger out and tossing it into the fire as he approached her step by step, her eyes narrowed. She endured the intense pain wrecking at her heart and stood up neither frightened or panicked, facing into the wind.

Raising a hand, she smudged the blood from the corner of her mouth onto it and knotted her hands together to form a complicated and ancient handseal. Her cold voice at that moment then uttered a low chant that sounded highly ancient from far away, mellifluous and mysterious.....

"By my blood, I free thee from thy restraint!'

"By my name, I command thee, manifest in thy true form!"