Chapter 113: The Chess Game Changes

Dozens of experts from the Jun Mansion surrounded everyone heavily, but when they saw Zi Rao, they were exceptionally respectful. Yi Qingqing withdrew her Emerald Shadow Tracking Technique, moved forward, and bowed, "Your subordinates are ordered by the Lord to invite the Madam back to the mansion."

Zi Rao raised her brows slightly, the light at her fingertips flowing with the wind, turning into light ink butterflies decorating the night sky. Under the light, she turned her face slightly, and smiled coldly, "The Shao Yuan Jun Mansion has such a big scene. Is this inviting someone, or coming to die?"

Yi Qingqing and Zhan Xing intercepted the retreat separately, smiling, "Madam, please calm your anger. The Lord is very worried about Madam's safety, so he ordered us to bring more people to search everywhere. As long as Madam returns to the mansion safely, the Lord will naturally apologize and explain everything to Madam."

Surrounded by enemies on all sides, and with heavy troops blocking the front, it was a net of heaven and earth. Almost at the same time, Zi Rao and Ye Xuanshang raised their eyes, their eyes colliding in the air, as if flame light flashed.

Clothes flying and mist swirling, ghostly light crystal clear, Zi Rao curled her lips coldly and said in a long voice, "So that's it. Very well, since he has the heart to apologize, I should naturally go back to see him." While speaking, her eyes swept to the side, "Then what are you still stunned for? Why don't you hurry up and capture the real murderer who killed the Queen!"

A piece of flame butterfly flew and bloomed in the wind, suddenly spreading between Ye Xuanshang and Bai Shu'er.

Zi Rao followed her will, suddenly attacking Ye Xuanshang like lightning. Bai Shu'er didn't have time to make a move, sword light flashed in front of her eyes, Yi Qingqing and Zhan Xing attacked from left and right, while Yan Ling was besieged by the three envoys of the Zizai Tang, instantly unable to take care of himself.

The palms met, the True Qi exploded, golden light burst, Ye Xuanshang was seriously injured and couldn't resist, and was actually restrained by Zi Rao in one move, blood coughing out of his mouth.

"Third Young Master!" Bai Shu'er used her moves to attack repeatedly. Although her martial arts were high, she was besieged by two top experts, Zhan Xing and Yi Qingqing, with all their strength. For a while, it was difficult to find a gap. In her shock and anxiety, her long sleeves flew and turned, and double swords appeared in her hands. Two sharp lights were dazzling, and the murderous aura opened and swirled in the wind.

Ye Xuanshang was restrained by Zi Rao's acupoints and stumbled a step, falling to the ground. A gentle True Qi, like water, suddenly rushed into his meridians from his shoulder.

The Jun Mansion experts joined one after another, and the battle became more intense. Bai Shu'er and Yan Ling were both good at lightness skills. Although they were in danger frequently, they were more than enough to protect themselves. In the enemy formation, two figures were as fast as lightning, and opponents were frequently splashed with blood and fell away.

Zi Rao's jade face was cold, watching coldly from outside the battle circle, controlling Ye Xuanshang's actions, making him unable to intervene in the battle.

Clang, clang, clang, the sound was intense. Bai Shu'er connected Yi Qingqing's nine sword moves, suddenly retreated, double swords circling her sleeves, light blooming, one sword pointing to the sky, one sword to the ground, it was already the ultimate move of the Great Freedom Sumeru Method to defend against the enemy.

At this time, Zi Rao raised her eyes, suddenly moved her figure rapidly, a palm of clear light carrying life-taking True Qi, taking Bai Shu'er's back heart directly!

Ye Xuanshang sat on the ground, his body spinning with the trend, but he always closed his eyes and observed his heart, as if an old monk was meditating, indifferent to everything.

Zi Rao's palm wind arrived, a soft force breaking through the air. Bai Shu'er swayed like a slender willow in the wind. But under the night, black and white figures spun and danced. Sword Qi and palm power actually merged into one. True Qi and sharp light illuminated the night sky, hitting the strong enemy in front!

"Boom!" The True Qi collided, Yi Qingqing and Zhan Xing were shaken and flew back, both injured in one move. At this moment, Yan Ling frequently encountered dangerous moves. He landed and flipped, his thin knife sweeping horizontally. Three weapons pressed down on his head! In the crisis, only a long whistle was heard. Ye Xuanshang, whose acupoints were restrained, suddenly pushed out both palms. His majestic True Power was like a wild wave. The three envoys of the Zizai Tang groaned and vomited blood, flying away!

Zi Rao was like a ghost, killing the enemy at will, forcing the battle circle to expand suddenly. Bai Shu'er danced, and a piece of red clouds scattered under her sleeves. Mist suddenly filled the surroundings.

Ink butterfly flame light flew into the mist, "Retreat!" Zi Rao and Bai Shu'er drifted back instantly. The four figures flashed and disappeared into the sky-filling mist amidst the flashing light.

After nightfall, the heavy courtyards of Xishan Temple were submerged in the deep night. Except for the lights in the room where Su Ling was, everything was dark.

The hermitage where the Eastern Emperor was temporarily staying was devoid of human sound. Moonlight poured into the darkness, emitting a secluded and dim light. The figure sitting motionless on the couch was dressed in white like snow, with a clear countenance like snow. The faint, clear light of obsidian enveloped Zi Hao's entire body. The spiritual power within was guided by him through the Nine Nether Mysterious Penetrating Method, constantly flowing and circulating through his body, finally slowly converging into the Crimson Palace to nourish his heart meridians.

One day had passed, Zi Hao's True Power had recovered more than half, and the poison running through his meridians had been absorbed by the Mysterious Penetrating Heart Method, again used for his own use. Just as he was about to return the spirit stone power to its origin, he suddenly heard a burst of weapons clashing, and the iron hooves of the battlefield stepped through his heart.

Zi Hao was slightly shocked, and screams rose in his ears. A piece of raging fire burned from the palace to the sky. The woman's ghostly figure in front of the Xuan Tower instantly turned into a head hanging high on the Yong Gate. The unclosed eyes, blood dripping down, dyed into the tragic scene of snakes and scorpions tossing in the deep pit of the Chichi.

Blood spread like flowers, as if ten thousand poisons were devouring his heart. The spiritual power in the obsidian suddenly lost control, pouring back like a giant wave. Zi Hao groaned, spat out a mouthful of blood, and suddenly opened his eyes.

A wisp of faint flute sound, light as a thread, light as smoke and willow, I don't know where it came from, only drifted to his heart, as if it had a seductive ghostly softness, which could make all pain disappear, leading people to sink here, sinking into the vast blankness.

Zi Hao listened coldly to this familiar rhythm, a strange light flashed in his eyes, suddenly leaped up, shook his sleeves to break through the room door, and followed the flute sound toward the main hall of the temple.

Zi Rao and the four took advantage of the river mist to board the Yue Ma Gang seat boat. Yin Xiyu had already been alarmed on the shore and immediately ordered the activation of the mechanisms on the boat, saying to Zi Rao, "Princess and Third Young Master, please avoid it for a while, leave the pursuers to me."

Zi Rao nodded and said "Be careful", and the four went down into the cabin through a secret door.

All the way down, a long and narrow passage appeared in front of them. The sound of mechanisms could be heard faintly around. The boat body shook slightly, and at the end of the passage was a secret room. Several people stopped one after another. This place looked quite secret, and it was extremely difficult for pursuers to find it. Bai Shu'er looked around and speculated, "The distance we have traveled far exceeds the length of the boat. I heard that the Yue Ma Gang has a set of water warfare mechanisms, which can secretly dispatch combat power and support each other, called the Piercing Dragon Mechanism..." Before she finished speaking, a warning sign suddenly rose in her heart, and a palm wind actually attacked from behind.

In the darkness, clear light appeared under Zi Rao's sleeves, and she hit her back with a palm without warning. Bai Shu'er was caught off guard and flew back several steps, blood spilling from her lips. Countless emerald tiny lights splashed and flew from her clothes, and then disappeared without a trace.

Butterfly flame ghostly light illuminated the space. Under the flowing light, the fairy-like woman looked coldly. Bai Shu'er couldn't help but be angry, "Sneak attack from behind, a villain's act, what does the Nine Princess count as!"

Zi Rao raised her eyes lazily, her lips containing a cold smile, "Why use a gentleman's means to deal with a villain? I didn't take your life in front of Ye Xuanshang, which is already showing mercy."

"You..." Bai Shu'er was angry, horrified to find that there were actually six strands of Mysterious Yin True Qi locked into her meridians. She couldn't help but change her color slightly.

Zi Rao glanced at the side, and Yan Ling immediately retreated two steps and waved his hands repeatedly, "Don't bother the Princess to do it, I solved that Emerald Shadow Tracking Technique as soon as I found it." He retreated to Ye Xuanshang's side and whispered, "Hey! You guy who values sex over friends, at least say something."

Inches apart, clear light filling her face, Ye Xuanshang raised his head and smiled lightly, "Thank you, Zi Rao."

Yan Ling almost rolled his eyes. Zi Rao hummed coldly, and raised her hand, butterfly light falling, "Humph, a mere Zizai Tang is not worth me risking a life-and-death friendship. Please flash faster next time, so as not to really die in my hands, I won't be responsible!"

A life-and-death friendship, can entrust life, can accompany family and property. The life-taking palm in anger, the tacit look when the pursuers arrived, the responsibilities under the identity, the understanding of each other without words—people who have entrusted their backs to each other are worthy of these four words.

The smile in Ye Xuanshang's eyes seemed deep, and the strands of smile followed the light of the flame butterflies drifting and spinning, rising and falling, flickering and extinguishing. If there was a little teasing, a little pleasure, there was more of a distinct certainty and confidence. In the pitch-black depths that never changed, it flickered with a brightness that captured people's hearts. Zi Rao's angry expression fell into it, as if light snow melted into the star lake, wave after wave, finally turning into heavy, light-rippling ripples.

He watched her for a moment, shook his head and sighed, "You used the Six-Pulse Locking Acupoint Method on Shu'er, so half of her life is in your hands. Does this count as a small punishment?"

Zi Rao glanced to the side, her voice as cold as flowing jade, "It doesn't mean I will spare her life in the future just because I look at your face now. I have always repaid grievances with grievances and kindness with kindness. If you can protect her for a lifetime, then try it."

A faint light flashed in Bai Shu'er's charming eyes, disappearing in an instant. At this time, two light sounds suddenly came from above the secret room, and a secret grid slid open silently, and Yin Xiyu's pleasant voice came, "The Jun Mansion people have left, you can come up."

The lamps lit up. Zi Rao and the others leaped out of the secret room one after another, only to find that the place they were in was no longer the seat boat that had been parked on the riverbank before. Only then did they know that the Yue Ma Gang warships were all connected by such mechanism secret passages, allowing people to travel back and forth quickly without anyone knowing.

Yan Ling praised "Wonderful" and leaped onto the deck first. As soon as Zi Rao landed, she saw a white shadow flash to her, and a small beast leaped into her arms, turned around and rubbed twice, pulling her sleeve and whimpering.

Zi Rao called "Xue Zhan" and reached out to hold it. Xue Zhan was very intimate, licking her palm, and then turned back to pull her sleeve. Zi Rao naturally knew what it meant and patted it gently to signal it to be calm. Yin Xiyu laughed, "So this little beast is the Nine Princess's spiritual object. I just saw it on the boat, it's hard for it to find this place."

Zi Rao stroked Xue Zhan and said, "My brother must be anxious to find me now. I must meet them as soon as possible, otherwise I'm afraid the Jun Mansion will take the opportunity to set up a layout."

Yin Xiyu nodded, "Since the King has decided to mobilize troops, there is no need to worry about victory or defeat. Huang Fei occupies the geographical advantage in Chu, but if the Xuan army attacks at the right time, does the leader still think the Di Du has no chance of winning?"

Zi Rao smiled slightly, "As long as my brother decides to mobilize troops, there is no need to worry about victory or defeat."

Yin Xiyu was secretly surprised and immediately understood the layout the East Emperor had once made in the Seven Cities. The speculation of Ye Xuanshang and Yan Ling about the situation was also confirmed at the same time. Among the people, Bai Shu'er knew the movements of the Xuan King best. She moved her pretty steps and walked to Ye Xuanshang's side, "But according to what I know, the Xuan King's advance may be slightly later than expected, just because of the heavy rain recently, which caused the flooding of the three valleys of Dafei Chuan, and the water level rose sharply, hindering the Xuan King's marching speed. If so, a difference of one day might be a loss of a thousand miles."

She revealed important intelligence to help the Di Du, which was quite unexpected. Zi Rao raised her eyes slightly. Bai Shu'er smiled charmingly and said softly, "Nine Princess, don't be suspicious. Everything Shu'er calculates is just to get rid of Huang Fei, not to be an enemy of the Di Du. I apologize for the offense before. Now as long as it is Huang Fei's enemy, it is Shu'er's ally. If you want to break the myth of the Lie Feng Cavalry's invincibility in the Nine Domains, only the King's Master and the Red Flame Army can join forces. I think the Princess is also happy to see it happen. In the future, if the Princess has any needs, please feel free to order. The power of the Zizai Tang will be used by the Princess just like obeying the Third Young Master."

Yan Ling was stunned to hear this, and secretly called it amazing. These few words changed the stance and allied with the Royal family. Although the words were hidden, they were impeccable. Even though she was restrained by others, this beauty's heavy scheming was still impressive.

Yin Xiyu sent a signal at this time, and the warship of the gang began to gather and deploy one after another. Ye Xuanshang and Zi Rao stepped onto the top deck. The river wind blew on their faces, blowing their clothes like flying.

"Huang Fei will not give up the pursuit easily. The Chu capital is still extremely dangerous. Are you sure you want to go back?"

Zi Rao looked into the distance toward Feng Shui Du, smiled lightly, "I remember you once said that as long as you want to do something, you should let go and do it."

A river of bright moon, half-sinking waves, layers of waves seemed to rush toward her face, rushing into the deep black eyes with a smile that could not see the light. Ye Xuanshang sighed vaguely, but the smile had a bright dashing spirit, "Not bad, being able to let go and act is the greatest freedom." He raised his heroic sword eyebrows slightly, "I also have things I should do, so Zi Rao, we will meet again."

Zi Rao's eyes rippled, as if illuminated by that smile in an instant. Just as she was about to speak, she suddenly felt a heavy hammer hit her chest. A strong, sharp pain struck without warning. Her heart seemed to be shattered alive in her body, instantly turning into sharp powder and rushing into her blood vessels. Her body trembled violently, and she pressed her heart and fell forward.

Xue Zhan jumped out of Zi Rao's arms, approached her to rub her cheeks, licked her palm gently, and whimpered, seeing Zi Rao's eyes closed tightly, breathless, and then raised her head to look at Ye Xuanshang.

Bai Shu'er and Yin Xiyu were both silent. The former closed her eyes lazily, her cheeks showing a sickly paleness, obviously her blood and energy had not recovered, and the situation was not optimistic. Yan Ling walked back and forth, finally couldn't help but ask, "Hey, what's going on? Is the person dead just like that? No one speaks, at least make a decision."

Yin Xiyu looked into the depths of the lamp shadow, only to see Ye Xuanshang open his eyes, "I will take her back to Luofeng Mountain immediately."

Yan Ling opened his eyes wide, "Damn! Are you going back to die? The Heavenly Sect and Crown Prince Yu are now in the same boat. If it weren't for the Sect Master's nod, Ye Xuanjian would not have appeared in the Chu State. If you go back like this, I'm afraid you won't even step into the Luofeng Mountain headquarters before your life is in danger. Is there something wrong with your head?"

Ye Xuanshang reached out to test Zi Rao's pulse again, still without any reaction, his tone hidden with worry, "Zi Rao's situation is very tricky. At present, her vitality is cut off and her True Essence is gone, but it is not because of serious injuries, but as if her meridians are blocked by some strange True Qi. These True Qi have no origin and do not resemble any martial arts school. They are like living things. I have tried to use my power to break through several times, but every impact is absorbed by it, and it has no effect at all. If I don't find a way to unlock this imprisonment as soon as possible, then in seven days at most, she will really be incurable."

Yin Xiyu gathered her pretty brows, shocked, "This situation, could it be Witchcraft?"

Ye Xuanshang said, "It is very likely. My master knows a lot about Witchcraft and will definitely have a way to think about it. As for the agreement between the Heavenly Sect and Crown Prince Yu, since I am returning to the country, I will have to face this sooner or later. Do you think I can avoid it?"

The last sentence was said to Yan Ling. Yan Ling rolled his eyes quite unhappily and kept silent. Bai Shu'er raised her head and said, "Young Master's words are reasonable. The Young Master returning to the country is also an inevitable trend. Let me find a way to scout the path for the Young Master first and determine the Heavenly Sect's movements before talking."

Ye Xuanshang said, "Your situation is no more optimistic than Zi Rao's. Don't be brave and act rashly."