Chapter 19: Apricot Forest Shallow Wind (1)

At noon, the carriage stopped outside an apricot forest.

Qie Lan sized up this area and found that there was a tavern in sight not far away. It was close to a town, and the pedestrians on the road were mostly wearing narrow-sleeved long clothes, waist-tied with gorgeous belts, and deer-skin long boots on their feet. It was actually already within the territory of the former state.

Zi Hao bowed and got off the carriage. As the wind passed, flying flowers fell lightly. The cloud-colored fox fur was whiter than snow, setting off his cold jade-like face. One didn't know which was whiter or which was colder. Mo Heng stepped forward to ask for the itinerary. Amidst the coughing, he only heard him order indifferently, "Go to the front and sit for a while, let Su Ling come to see me. We won't enter the city, go directly to Xi Ma Valley."

Hearing him mention "Xi Ma Valley," Qie Lan knew the purpose of this trip. Thinking of the safety of her tribe, she couldn't help but look at him. Zi Hao seemed to be able to see through her thoughts. "Don't worry, the former state is now the safest place in the Nine Domains. No one will risk offending Su Ling to be unfavorable to the Jiu Yi tribe."

Qie Lan pursed her lips and said nothing, lost in thought.

Several people chose a table by the window in the tavern. Just as they ordered wine and dishes, they heard a burst of rapid horse hoof sounds from outside. Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw a group of white-clad warriors galloping and raising dust. When they arrived in front of the tavern, the two in the lead suddenly pulled the reins, and the people behind them immediately reined in their horses. More than a dozen fast horses stopped as soon as they were told. This horsemanship alone was extraordinary. Looking at them again, they were all wearing the same soft armor and tight-fitting martial arts suits, everyone wearing long swords at their waists, obviously all people from the Jianghu.

The group dismounted and also came into this tavern, finding tables to sit down, shouting for wine and dishes. The shopkeeper saw that these people were not easy to mess with, so he let them be arrogant and served them carefully. The shop was suddenly filled with human voices and horse neighing, noisy.

On this side, Li Si looked through the hanging curtain for a while and said softly, "Master, it's the people from the Helian Martial Arts Hall."

Zi Hao nodded lightly and looked over there. "Helian Wenren?"

Li Si said, "The man in front is Helian Qi, the son of their sect leader Helian Yiren. Since he called that gray-clad man uncle, he must be Helian Wenren, known as 'Urgent Thunder and Startling Electricity' in the Jianghu."

At this time, someone outside said, "Big Senior Brother, what kind of people did Third Senior Brother and the others encounter this time, actually losing their lives?"

That Helian Qi had the appearance of a family young master, born with a handsome appearance. Under the lining of the decent martial arts suit, he looked tall and straight. At first glance, he had a bit of heroic spirit, but his attitude was unusually arrogant. He sneered, "A bunch of useless waste, failing to deal with one person with so many people, and we have to rush thousands of miles to clean up the mess. The Helian Martial Arts Hall has lost all its face!"

Someone beside him said, "Could it be that the other party is really from the Mingyi Tower? I heard that several junior brothers died under the Witch Clan's unique skill 'Lie Bing,' which is truly suspicious."

Helian Qi said, "What is the Mingyi Tower? Since Father has an agreement with Mu State, we just need to take that person's life, regardless of..."

Before he could finish speaking, that Helian Wenren coughed low. "Qi'er!"

Helian Qi knew he had slipped his tongue, raised his wine and smiled, "Thank you, Uncle, for the reminder, nephew understands."

Hearing their conversation, Li Si frowned and said, "I heard that this Helian Qi is very frivolous. Relying on his superior martial arts and his father being the Minister of Chu State, he does evil everywhere and ruins many good women. I don't know what kind of evil deeds he is going to do by rushing so fast today."

Zi Hao had already guessed the general idea based on Zi Rao's letter and knew that this group from the Helian Martial Arts Hall must be rushing to Feng Shui Ferry. He pondered for a moment. "As far as I know, the Helian family and the Shao Yuan Jun Mansion seem to be at odds."

When he spoke, he looked at Qie Lan. Because of Huang Fei, Qie Lan was quite familiar with the affairs of Chu State and explained, "The Helian Marquis Mansion and the Shao Yuan Jun Mansion are rivals, and the two families have long-standing grievances. A few days ago, this Helian Qi even boasted that he wanted to seize the position of the first swordsman of Chu State. Everyone knows it is aimed at Huang Fei. However, Huang Fei has made great military achievements, has great influence in the Chu court, and has high martial arts. How can ordinary people compare? Although Helian Yiren holds great power, he has always been suppressed by him. The only person who can call for wind and rain in Chu State is Huang Fei."

"Oh?" Zi Hao raised his eyes indifferently. "What about the King of Chu?"

Qie Lan thought for a while and said, "The King of Chu values both of them very much." Speaking of this, she suddenly paused and looked outside. "Eh?"

Several fast horses galloped again outside the shop. Four women in riding clothes flew off their horses. One of them was Qie Lan's personal deputy general, Qing Ming.

The four women were all heroic, riding together, quite eye-catching. Before they walked into the tavern, Helian Qi and the others had already noticed them, their gazes wantonly sizing them up, quite unkind. When they passed by, Helian Qi suddenly flicked his toes outward, and Qing Ming was tripped by him without paying attention.

But Qing Ming's reaction was extremely fast. She turned her body lightly and barely avoided Helian Qi's obstruction. Unexpectedly, Helian Qi deliberately teased her, stretching his elbow without a trace, just hitting her. More than half of a full cup of wine was spilled on her body.

The people from the Helian Martial Arts Hall immediately followed suit, and Helian Qi smiled wickedly, "This girl is too careless, isn't she?"

Qing Ming was stunned, then saw that Helian Qi was deliberately looking for trouble. They were out to inquire about news and were rushing back to Xi Ma Valley at this time, not wanting to provoke right and wrong, so she bowed and said, "I didn't pay attention and dirtied the Young Master's clothes. It was unintentional, I hope the Young Master will forgive me."

Helian Qi stood up and flicked his clothes deliberately, his tone frivolous, "If the clothes are dirty, they are dirty. This young master doesn't care about these things. You come over and accompany my junior brothers for a drink, and this matter will be over."

Qing Ming's brows and eyes were cold. "Young Master, please respect yourself."

Helian Qi smiled, "Born so beautiful, this young master will definitely love you well, why are you shy?" As he spoke, he reached out to pull Qing Ming's shoulder.

Qing Ming dodged sideways and hit his arm with her palm. Helian Qi suddenly changed from hugging to grabbing, suddenly buckling toward her wrist. His martial arts were much higher than Qing Ming's, and he originally thought he would definitely catch her. Unexpectedly, Qing Ming suddenly flicked her fingers back, and a sharp force shot toward his palm, actually forcing him to let go and retreat.

Qing Ming forced Helian Qi back and retreated rapidly. Several women who followed all pressed their hands on the sword hilts without a trace. Helian Qi narrowed his eyes and sized them up. He laughed, "I said that such delicate women are rare in the former state. It turns out they are people of the Jiu Yi tribe. Your Queen and Emperor Xiang made things unclear, almost exterminated the tribe, and now I heard that the Princess was kidnapped by the Eastern Emperor, and now she might even be sealed as a lady. Since I have taken a fancy to you, why pretend to be chaste?"

Qing Ming and the others shouted angrily in unison, "What are you talking about!"

At this moment, Qie Lan could no longer bear it and was about to attack. Zi Hao put down the teacup and said indifferently, "Li Si, you go over and ask, see how to go to Zhongshi Shan."

Qie Lan turned her head in surprise, only to see his eyes as clear as water, unchanging and unfathomable.

On this side, Helian Qi was deliberately entangled with Qing Ming and the others, when he suddenly heard a gentle voice ask, "Young Master, do you know how to go to Zhongshi Shan from here?"

In the apricot blossom shadow, only a woman in green clothes stood beautifully, her brows were rippling, her eyes were rippling, her person was rippling, and her smile was rippling, clear, delicate, and beautiful. Compared with her, Qing Ming and the others actually became vulgar. Helian Qi's eyes lit up, "Does the Miss want to go to Zhongshi Shan? Zhongshi Shan is not far from here, why don't I..." Halfway through the words, his face suddenly changed, he raised his hand to hold his throat, opened his mouth, and actually couldn't say a word.

"Eh?" Li Si smiled and said, "It turns out the Young Master doesn't want to tell me, then I'll ask someone else." As she spoke, she turned to the people of the Helian Martial Arts Hall. "May I ask if these big brothers know the way to Zhongshi Shan?"

Qing Ming heard her mention Zhongshi Shan and paid attention, but saw her flick her fingers lightly when she turned, as if a layer of transparent things flew onto the table, instantly falling into several wine cups. Someone was taking a cup to drink, when he suddenly heard Helian Wenren shout, "Be careful, there is poison!" When he spoke, he drew his sword, and a light light brushed across several people's palms. Three cups of wine flew into the air and attacked Li Si's face. The speed and force were fierce, actually not hesitating to take her life.

"Ah! So much wine, I can't drink it!" Li Si smiled and retreated backward, her clothes fluttering as she turned, and two cups of wine were copied by her hands. Seeing the third cup of wine fall, she suddenly floated forward again, and the cup fell steadily on the top of her head. "Why is there poison in this wine? I don't think so. If you don't believe it, I'll drink it for you to see." As she spoke, she shook lightly, the wine cup on her head fell, and she bit it in her teeth and drank it, then raised her head, and the wine cup fell to her shoulder. "Look, where is the poison? I just asked for directions, why are you so fierce, sir?"

Helian Wenren hit the cup with his sword, each containing three different internal True Essences, and the speed and direction of the wine cups were different, which was originally extremely difficult to deal with. Unexpectedly, they were easily caught by Li Si, and he became vigilant. But he relied on his status and didn't want to easily attack a young woman again, coldly saying, "Where did this little girl come from? Actually daring to go against my Helian Martial Arts Hall, if you don't hand over the antidote, don't blame me for being ruthless under the sword!"

Li Si smiled and said, "There is clearly no poison in the wine, where can I find the antidote? This young master looks a bit bad, why don't you apologize to the two girls, maybe it will be fine."

Helian Qi felt a piece of insects and ants crawling and biting in his throat, itching unbearably. Although he couldn't speak, his mind was clear, knowing that it must be some trick Li Si had done just now. He tried to raise his True Essence to signal. The disciples of the Helian Martial Arts Hall were used to being arrogant, so they drew their swords and rushed toward Li Si regardless of right or wrong.

Qing Ming saw this and shouted, "Miss, be careful!"

Li Si waved her hand and sent out the wine cup on her body. The True Essence penetrated, and the nectar splashed, scaring everyone to dodge. She turned to Qing Ming and smiled, "Borrow a sword from my sister!" Taking the sword in her hand, she flashed into the sword light with her toes.

Helian Wenren saw this and was shocked. In the white clothes, the green shadow flashed. Li Si controlled the sword like the wind, the flowing light in her hand galloped, the stars burst, and she actually used the Thousand-Character Heart-Piercing Sword of the Helian Martial Arts Hall.

But she used the east to strike the west under the siege of the sword formation, advancing and retreating freely, and did not forget to smile and say, "This move 'Thousand Autumns and Ten Thousand Generations' is not used correctly, it is missing the changes in the back, it should be changed to 'Thousand Holes and Hundred Sores'!"

"Is this 'Thousand Charms and Hundred Charms'? It looks like 'Thousand Strange and Hundred Monsters,' so ugly, it's really hard for you!"

"'Thousand Armies and Ten Thousand Horses' is not like this, let me teach you!" A sword flew out, the posture was wonderful, the moves were exquisite, actually far above the disciples of the Helian Martial Arts Hall. In the small tavern, sword light danced for a while, making people dazzled. Helian Wenren was more and more shocked as he watched. Although Li Si used the Thousand-Character Heart-Piercing Sword, the changes and advances and retreats were unimaginable. The flaws in the original sword technique became seamless in her hands, thus greatly increasing the power, making the disciples unable to deal with it.

"Stop!" He gave an order, and the people of the Helian Martial Arts Hall stopped one after another. Li Si did not pursue, standing with a sword in the siege of the crowd, smiling.

Helian Wenren said in a deep voice, "You are not a person of my Helian Martial Arts Hall, where did you steal this sword technique?"

Li Si pursed her lips and smiled, "What is rare about this sword technique, is it worth stealing? My master said, this kind of sword technique is just for fun. Thousand characters, ten thousand characters, actually one character can break it. My master has many sword manuals in his hand, this is really nothing."

"What a big tone!" Helian Wenren said, "I don't think your master has seen all the sword manuals in the world, daring to say such big words!"

"Yes!" Li Si said as a matter of course, "We have ten thousand books in our house. My master has all the books in the world, and my master also has books that the world doesn't have. Secret manuals and sword manuals are just leisure books for my master to pass the time. As for this Thousand-Character Heart-Piercing Sword, my master had nothing to read recently, so he asked me to find it and flip through it. After reading it, I felt it was meaningless, as if I burned it casually."

Helian Wenren was furious when he heard her slander the sect's sword technique, and shouted, "How bold! In that case, I would like to learn, and see how you break my thousand characters with one character." He took a step forward, and the disciples beside him immediately sheathed their swords and retreated. The field suddenly became audible.

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 20 =====

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