Chapter 102: Shocking Change in Qionghua (2)

Qie Lan walked forward, stopped when passing by him, her battle robe fluttering in the wind, and turned her head with a smile. "Is it the Jiuyi Tribe or the Di Du, does it matter to the Third Young Master?"

Ye Xuanshang's gaze stopped in her eyes. After a moment of eye contact, he suddenly laughed. "Haha, it really doesn't matter, Xuanshang asked a redundant question!"

The Helian Hou Mansion rebelled and killed the King. Following the Shao Yuan Jun's order, the Duqi Forbidden Guards set up defenses in the East and West cities of Shangying. The nine gates and eighteen workshops were dotted with torches, and the sound of hooves was constant. Forbidden troops kept riding past, and the entire Chu capital was shrouded in fire and slaughter.

Ye Xuanshang and Qie Lan cleverly avoided the guards, and after half a quarter of an hour, they reached the entrance of the secret passage.

The secret passage of the Chu Palace still had mechanism defenses, but with Qie Lan's guidance, it was incomparable to Yan Ling's step-by-step exploration last time. The two of them sneaked in smoothly without much trouble. Qie Lan said to Ye Xuanshang, "After you broke into the Hengyuan Hall that night, Huang Fei personally set up a sword formation. His formation mechanisms are deeply passed down by his master, and I am not sure I can break them, so we can only bypass the secret passage in the arsenal to the Hengyuan Hall, but we must find a way to hide from the guards inside."

Ye Xuanshang said, "I paid attention to the investigation on the way. With the troops mobilized by the Shao Yuan Jun Mansion to quell the rebellion this time, the number of troops left in the arsenal will not exceed five hundred. We have a ninety percent chance of success."

In the darkness, snow gauze covered her face, only to see Qie Lan's eyes ripple, and there was a faint smile in her eyes. "It seems you know the distribution of Chu troops very well. Tonight, there are exactly five hundred guards in the arsenal. Third Young Master, do you want to break in hard, or take it wisely?"

Ye Xuanshang flashed forward, turned his head and smiled, "Whether it is breaking in hard or taking it wisely, please let Xuanshang go first."

Approaching the direction of the Jun Mansion, the cold air became heavier. This time, entering the secret passage was not as hurried as last time. Ye Xuanshang carefully checked along the way and found that the stone walls were covered with moisture, and the sound of water could be heard from time to time. Only then did he know that this arsenal was built under the inner lake connected to the Jun Mansion and the Chu Palace, cleverly borrowing the terrain to cover up all the abnormalities in the secret passage. The stationed troops were unknown to anyone, which could be called carefully arranged and secret.

Under Qie Lan's guidance, the two went deep into the secret passage, and soon firelight appeared, and the entrance to the arsenal appeared in front of them.

Unlike the day when the furnace fire was raging and soldiers were coming and going, tonight the huge arsenal was quiet, with only a huge furnace in the middle burning, illuminating the surrounding sword stones and armor. Eight red-clothed guards stood on both sides, guarding the passage to the Jun Mansion and the secret prison behind the arsenal.

Qie Lan and Ye Xuanshang sneaked in quietly. The Guili and Fuxuan swords came out together. A pair of sharp edges, several blood lights, the eight guards didn't even see the figures, and they fell down, with no sound.

"Good sword technique!" Ye Xuanshang praised in a low voice. "I only heard before that the women of the Jiuyi Tribe are good at using bows and arrows, and the Yanfeng Bow is unparalleled in the world, but I didn't know the Highness's sword technique was also so exquisite."

Qie Lan returned the sword to its sheath. Living together in the Xi Ma Gu, nine sword moves taught by mouth, the low cough by her side, the cold temperature of the fingertips, green clothes and snow sleeves, orchid fragrance... a moment of memory turned into thousands of waves in her eyes. Just as she was about to speak, she heard a roar in her ear, "Who is it!"

The two were shocked at the same time. The sound of wind breaking came from the front, followed by a slight sound of mechanism, Qie Lan recognized it as the sign of the arrow crossbow mechanism in the secret prison, her face changed suddenly, and she saw three figures flying past the entrance of the secret prison, and the sound of arrows followed!

Cold light appeared in the secret passage, and countless crossbow edges shot violently, shooting towards them.

Ye Xuanshang had also seen the power of this mechanism, and felt it was not good, but saw the last masked woman among the three suddenly turn around when she was flying, raised her hand and flicked, a piece of mist scattered from her hand, as if it were real, sealing the exit of the secret prison, spinning in mid-air, and the arrows in the sky fell one after another, actually being completely blocked by a fine silk net.

"Small tricks! Send you some return gifts to taste!" The woman laughed and flicked her hand again. The silk net flew into the air, and I don't know how it turned into countless golden needles, covering the exit like a dense rain. The guards chasing from behind were caught off guard, and there was a scream. The woman succeeded in one move, and didn't linger, saying: "Cheap you!" and withdrew.

Unexpectedly, at this time, several gates fell without warning at the four entrances, and with a loud bang, all the exits were completely sealed, and the huge arsenal became a dungeon.

The woman "ah" stamped her feet, and the hidden weapons shot out again, blocking the pursuers in the secret prison. Another masked woman also turned around and killed back, a long sword flexible and sharp, ever-changing, every move, there must be guards who were in pain and retreated.

This Jun Mansion secret prison was connected to the arsenal. To prevent heavy criminals from escaping and secrets from leaking, there were mechanisms everywhere, and one move affected the whole body. These interlocking mechanisms from the "Secret Record of Ye Zi" were rare in the world, making people unable to avoid them even if they knew them.

In this moment, guards poured into the arsenal, dragging Qie Lan and Ye Xuanshang into the melee. With their martial arts, the mere guards naturally couldn't do anything to them, but Qie Lan knew it was very troublesome. You know, once the mechanism in the arsenal was activated, it would alert the Jun Mansion, immediately attracting heavy troops to pursue. Even though most of the Jun Mansion's troops were in the Chu Palace tonight, the remaining three thousand Liefeng Cavalry had enough strength to deal with any changes.

At this time, more and more guards entered the arsenal, forcing the few people who were originally divided into two places to gradually lean together. The masked woman on the left used golden needles to force her opponents to retreat, shouting: "Leave these people to us, brother, go break the mechanism quickly!"

Ye Xuanshang had recognized her as Kou Shiniang. The sword light in his hand suddenly flourished, blocking the opponent for her, and shouted: "Go protect Su Ying and open the lock!"

The two women nearby looked at each other and jumped up, just blocking the guards attacking Su Ying. Qie Lan also turned her sword into a rainbow, joining forces with Ye Xuanshang, and her power increased greatly, killing the guards until they couldn't move forward.

Su Ying was a proud disciple of Kou Qi, and the mechanisms in the secret record were easy for him. He bent down for only a moment, and the four iron gates shook and rose at the same time.

"Go!" The strange light in Ye Xuanshang's sword exploded, the opponent in front of him splashed blood and fell, took Qie Lan and retreated like lightning, and at the same time struck with a palm. The furnace burning in the arsenal was struck by his thick palm strength from the air, and with a loud bang, it flew up, and the sparks and charcoal scattered in the sky, turning into a rain of fire and smashing towards the pursuers. The two took the opportunity to flash into the secret passage, Su Ying immediately activated the mechanism, the iron gate fell again, and several people disappeared into the darkness in an instant.

A rapid run in the secret passage, the space in front suddenly widened, and eight forks appeared. Qie Lan stopped everyone and said, "All secret passages here lead to the Wanxiang Digong, don't break in randomly, so as not to fall into it."

The gate mechanism had just been broken by Su Ying, blocking all pursuers in the arsenal. Su Ying shook the shackles on his hands and clasped his fists. "Thanks to the Highness's timely help today, Su Ying can regain his freedom, I am very grateful!"

Qie Lan said, "Mr. Su, no need to thank me, the Jun Mansion guards will soon come around to pursue, now we only have one exit in the Hengyuan Hall, I am afraid we have to break into the sword formation in the secret passage."

"The arsenal of the Shao Yuan Jun Mansion is indeed well-deserved, and we almost fell into the trap. However, the mechanisms of the entire Jun Mansion are mostly from the hands of the senior brother, how can a mere sword formation stop us?" Shi Niang stepped forward, still with that smiling and charming appearance. Another woman also pulled down her veil, it was the Eastern Emperor's personal maid Li Si, her wonderful eyes looking at Ye Xuanshang, asking hesitantly, "Third Young Master Ye?"

Li Si and Shi Niang left traces everywhere when they robbed the prison to save people, misleading the other side, and it was difficult for anyone to think of the Di Du afterwards. Su Ying knew the design of every part of the Jun Mansion like the back of his hand. Huang Fei once wanted to kill him to silence him, and the Eastern Emperor rescued him from prison tonight. It seemed calm, but every step was ahead of the opponent, secretly restraining the direction of the chess game.

Ye Xuanshang's eyes flashed with thought, and instantly returned to deepness, nodding slightly to Li Si, "This place should not be stayed for long, let's leave first."

Hengyuan Hall, the magnificent palace was quiet.

The moonlight penetrated through the long windows, and the entire hall was immersed in boundless quietness, with no sound.

Suddenly, a very slight movement, a secret door behind the tall golden pillars on both sides of the hall slid open quietly. Shi Niang took the lead and flashed out of the secret passage. After confirming that there were no guards around, everyone appeared in this hall where the heavy treasures of the Chu State were stored.

In the middle of the night, the entire hall was unusually quiet. Ye Xuanshang was the last to flash out of the secret passage, judging where the Purple Crystal Stone was stored. Suddenly, he felt a strange feeling in his heart. At the same time, Qie Lan, who was walking in front of him, suddenly stopped. With a strange sound, the Guili sword on Ye Xuanshang's back made a shocking sound.

Almost without thinking, Ye Xuanshang drew his sword backhand!

The wind whistled, carrying sharp and fierce energy, a chain gun fell from the sky, and the gun shadow covered the top of everyone's heads.

Ye Xuanshang shouted, and the sword edge picked upwards.

Qie Lan flew and turned, her jade hands and palms struck out, blocking the visitor not long after the Guili sword.

"Bang!"

The gun shadow exploded, and the dark hall suddenly lit up with fire, illuminating the hall pillars.

A pair of silver hooks on the left and right sides, a sharp sword, came through the air from an exquisite angle, and a silver halberd blocked the road behind, and the terrifying true energy rolled towards Su Ying's back!

In the blink of an eye, cold light appeared frequently in the field, and the sound of "ding dang" rang out one after another.

Ye Xuanshang and Qie Lan retreated at the same time to resolve the energy of the wandering gun attacking the body in the air. Li Si and the Yiyao sword met and separated, twenty-odd swords in an instant, every sword shocking the heart. Su Ying had no weapons, had to fight the silver halberd's offensive, groaned and flew back, blood spilling from the corners of his lips. Shi Niang faced the strongest person among them, Fang Feibai, and after one move, blood splashed on her shoulder.

In an instant, two of the five were injured, but the opponent only had Xiao Luchen resisting the joint attack of Ye Xuanshang and Qie Lan. When he landed, he retreated three steps, the wandering gun slammed into the ground, and the black stone under his feet shattered.

Ambushers appeared in the dark of the hall, rushing towards everyone. The long windows on both sides opened, and people jumped in at the same time. Outside the window, torches were like a forest, and figures were everywhere. For a while, I didn't know how many troops there were.

Fang Feibai laughed loudly, "It really didn't exceed the Monarch's expectation, Third Young Master dared to enter the Hengyuan Hall again, we were ordered to be here, respectfully send the Young Master on his way!"

The generals of the Jun Mansion had all learned the power of the Guili sword, and did not give everyone any chance to breathe. With an order, several long spears pierced through the air, attacking first.

The sound of wind breaking came from behind, and steel cables and soft whips struck at the same time.

At this time, Ye Xuanshang only needed to dodge slightly to avoid the long spear and deal with the whip behind him, but it would only take a moment for the spearman to completely block the hall door, making them lose the only chance to rush out of the hall.

If trapped in the hall, it must be a dead end!

Ye Xuanshang roared, his figure flashed, the long sword in his hand burst into cold light, as if man and sword were one, his speed increased sharply, and he shot towards the spearman at the hall door like lightning, ignoring the whip behind him.

His target was Xiao Luchen!

When he made a move, Qie Lan understood his intention—to suffer an injury, and take advantage of the enemy's failure to complete the encirclement, to kill a bloody path at the weakest point, so that everyone would have a chance to save their lives tonight. Xiao Luchen had just been hit by their joint attack, his breath had not recovered, which was the fleeting opportunity!

Immediately, she moved sideways, the Fuxuan sword appeared in the clear chant, like a snow rainbow rolling towards the whip behind Ye Xuanshang. Li Si had practiced sword technique with Qie Lan under the Eastern Emperor's order in the Xi Ma Gu, and her actions were exceptionally tacit, simultaneously drawing her sword to help.

Double swords crossed the sky, forming a sword formation, the whip in mid-air was shaken away, and the opponent vomited blood and fell back. The two shouted in unison, retreated rapidly, sword light flashed, blocking the two enemies attacking Ye Xuanshang on the left and right. Sword energy spat, blood splashed on the opponent's chest, and they died screaming. Fang Feibai and others also jumped out, but they attacked Su Ying and Shi Niang who were already injured. At this moment, both sides had made the best strategic judgment, and the victory or defeat was decided in an instant!

Several long spears snapped, the Guili sword's strange light flashed, Xiao Luchen gave a low drink, held the gun to meet the attack, but heard a hoarse muffled sound, blood light burst out in the sword light, Xiao Luchen's tiger mouth shook and cracked, the chain gun fell off, seeing the sword energy pointing directly at his eyebrows, he couldn't care about the blood and energy in his chest, and flew back with all his strength.

The Guili sword was like a galloping thunder, shooting straight into the enemy formation!

Suddenly a knife and a sword intercepted from both sides in front. Amidst the delicate reprimand, Yi Qingqing appeared in mid-air with colorful clothes fluttering, and Southern Chu experts swarmed behind her.

Ye Xuanshang's heart flashed, knowing that it was absolutely impossible to block the fierce offensive from both sides at the same time before the knife and spear touched his body. And if he moved to resolve the killing move, one of Li Si and Qie Lan behind him would suffer. He snorted angrily, the long sword picked up like lightning, but his left shoulder used unloading energy, shrinking and straightening.

"Clang!" Sword energy pierced the air, Yi Qingqing's long sword trembled suddenly, muffled groans, and she was flown out by the wild true energy transmitted from the sword. Ye Xuanshang splashed blood on his shoulder at the same time, and the person holding the knife was also shocked to the side by him, vomiting blood and dying.

Ye Xuanshang roared and rushed forward, actually breaking into the enemy formation at the moment Xiao Luchen retreated into the protection of the long spears! Spear light surged, sword and palm intersected, Xiao Luchen gave a miserable groan, fell out of the hall, and blood sprayed from his mouth!

"Clang!" Sword Qi pierced the air. Yi Qingqing's long sword trembled abruptly, and amidst a muffled groan, she was sent flying through the air by the violent True Qi transmitted from the blade. At the same time, blood splattered from Ye Xuanshang's shoulder; the man holding the saber was also violently knocked aside by him, vomiting blood and dying on the spot.

Shi Niang was in the most dangerous situation, rolled on the ground, blocked Fang Feibai's head-on strike, held the long spear stabbed from nearby, waved her hand and sent it into the abdomen of an enemy, just about to send out golden needles, but when she touched it, she found the bag was empty.

In this moment of intersection, Fang Feibai's double hooks arrived again! Shi Niang gritted her teeth, used light work to soar into the air, her toes pointed on the hook tip, countless long spears missed, and she borrowed the momentum to turn over, the silk net in her hand spun and scattered, covering Fang Feibai in the air.

Fang Feibai retreated abruptly, his toes picked up a long spear, and shouted, "Go!" The long spear whistled through the air, straight to the center of the silk net!

The powerful true energy penetrated thousands of threads, its speed was fast, faster than lightning, Shi Niang didn't even have time to close the net to block, the spear light shot straight to her chest. A pair of feathered arrows whistled in mid-air, but it was too late, the long spear pierced the net shadow, and a splash of blood fell towards the outside of the hall in the knife, spear, and sword formation.

Su Ying roared, his palm wind swept out, the enemy retreated in waves, Qie Lan's Yanfeng arrows arrived again, shooting continuously, blocking Fang Feibai's pursuit.

Shi Niang fell into Su Ying's arms covered in blood, and everyone finally killed their way out of the hall, coming to the open square.

Layers of torches illuminated the Hengyuan Hall inside and out, dense archers, sharp arrowheads reflecting in the firelight, emitting a chilling murderous aura.

Heavy siege, heaven-covering net, blocking all retreat.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 103 =====

Heavily besieged, a net of heaven and earth, sealing off all paths of retreat.

(End of Chapter)