Chapter 424

Xie family, inside Hongjing Courtyard of the Grand View Garden.

Outside the carved nanmu porch, the young descendants of the Nine Great Surnames were gathered in groups of two or three.

The laughter of the elders could be vaguely heard from the inner hall, mixed with sandalwood incense circulating in the hall.

"Xie Yuan, why hasn't Young Master Guan arrived yet?" Zhang Yunzhi had already refilled the water in her cup of Jiangnan Longjing for the third time, "The auspicious time is almost here."

After Zhang Yunzhi went to see Xie Guan with her father last time, she followed him back to the Zhang family.

She was not a weak woman and confessed her feelings to her father.

Her father did not stop her and even said, "If you, Yunzhi, truly want to marry him, don't bully him just because you have the Zhang family's status."

"This Xie Guan is definitely not a thing in a pond; you cannot look down on him just because he is in a low position now. The caged bird still waits to fly to the sky; how can the sick dragon not have a time to bring rain?"

Zhang Yunzhi said, "Daughter does not admire his future; even if Xie Guan is just an ordinary student for the rest of his life, I am willing, and I will be happy to be his wife."

She could be a Zhang family young lady, and she could also be a wife who wears simple clothes and teaches her children.

Her father and mother laughed after hearing this and actually supported her.

Today, Zhang Yunzhi made up her mind to pour out the feelings she had hidden in her heart for these years to Xie Guan.

There is not only the Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix in the world, but also picking orchids and giving peonies.

She felt both nervous and expectant in her heart.

Xie Yuan had just returned from the Old Matriarch's Songhe Hall; this was a favor that many Xie family descendants did not have, and he could even enter and exit the Grand View Garden freely without asking the Old Matriarch.

"Should be soon!"

"Yingjie is getting married, Guan-di will definitely come."

Xie Yuan was just saying this when he suddenly clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Not good—"

Xie Qiyue said impatiently, "Xie Yuan, what are you doing? Are you having a fit, being startled and shouting?"

Xie Yuan said hurriedly, "Guan-di recently injured Xie Renfeng, and the courtyard has been peaceful, Lady Zhao must be unable to swallow her anger."

"Won't she make a fuss today, blocking Guan-di outside the Grand View Garden."

Zhang Yunzhi frowned after hearing this, thinking it was very likely, and feared there was even more.

Xie Qiyue also nodded; regarding the eldest aunt, ever since her father left the Xie Fu, she had always been a bit crazy, and her methods were probably more than that.

Li Shuwan, who came with them today, was holding a celadon teacup, and looked up in surprise upon hearing this: "Young Master Guan would actually take action to injure someone?"

In her impression, that young master who was always reading under the parasol tree was clearly the most gentle and jade-like.

Xie Yuan explained the reason for this matter.

Li Shuwan was a bit surprised; when did Xie Guan have martial arts cultivation.

Sima Muqing, who was beside Li Shuwan, knew much more; Xie Guan had fought with Zhu Ziqian in the carriage pavilion of the Qunfang Banquet and killed him.

After saying this!

Xie Yuan and his party had just stepped out of the vermilion threshold of the outer hall of Hongjing Courtyard when they bumped into the dusty Xue Hong.

"Strange!", Xie Yuan said strangely, "Xue Hong, why did you only arrive today!"

Xue Hong patted the fallen flowers on his brocade robe and said with a wry smile: "My second brother, who has been away from home for five years, suddenly returned to the mansion, originally saying he would come together..."

He looked toward the distant lake surface, "As a result, I haven't seen him until now, and I don't know where he went."

After the few met, Xue Hong still followed Xie Qiyue.

The party walked out in a hurry, which attracted quite a few gazes.

Behind the inner hall of Hongjing Courtyard.

A slender jade hand parted the bead curtain, and her cold gaze watched the backs of Xie Yuan and his party leaving.

A beautiful woman in gold walked in, her temperament dignified and elegant; she was none other than Lady Zhao of the second courtyard.

Behind her were several personal maids.

"The Xie family's evil seed, who implicated the master in disaster, should have been sunk in the pond to feed the fish long ago."

"Today can be considered a good death!"

Lady Zhao had tears in the corners of her eyes, "My Feng'er, venting his anger for his father, was injured and bedridden, and at this time the Xie family actually starts talking about rules."

"Saying what will ruin the Xie family's reputation, it's all bullshit."

She shook off the maid who was supporting her, her gold-threaded skirt hem sweeping across the floor, "Since the Xie family wants face..."

Her vermilion lips curled into a cold smile, "Then this villain, let me be it."

"The master is not in the Xie Fu, let's see who dares to bully our orphans and widows."

Lady Zhao also walked out of Hongjing Courtyard, preparing to go to the lakeside to see how Xie Guan died in the lake.

Suddenly!

Her face turned ashen, her slender hand violently covering her vermilion lips, and a suppressed retching sound came from her throat—

"Madam!", the personal maid beside her asked with concern, "Did you eat something unclean for breakfast? Shall I go and summon the imperial physician?"

After Lady Zhao forcefully swallowed the sour and bitter water in her throat, "It's fine, nothing."

When her gold-threaded skirt hem brushed against the threshold, no one noticed her subtle posture of holding her waist.

Under the waist that was originally tied to a slender grip, a curve that was beginning to show could be vaguely seen.

Lady Zhao's originally flat lower abdomen was slightly bulging.

【Xue Huaian's expression changed from tension to relief, and then to a look of determination.】

【He looked at Liu Zixin's tightly closed, pained cheeks and said gently, "I truly have an unavoidable hardship; I didn't intend to hide it from you."】

【The jade talisman in Xue Huaian's hand lit up, wrapping Liu Zixin and Zhou Zhirou like water ripples.】

【Mei Qingsu saw this, his throat rolled, and it finally turned into a light sigh.】

【He knew that this Second Young Master who had not been in the Xue family for many years, having run away from home for four or five years, had his own ideas since childhood, and others could not persuade him.】

【The jade talisman in Xue Huaian's hand had the ability to teleport, able to move anywhere in Bianjing out of thin air.】

【This was a protective talisman left by the eldest master of the Xue family for his second son; who would have thought it would be given away like this at a time of crisis.】

【Second Young Master, he is indeed a person of deep affection!】

【Mei Qingsu shouted at the male and female twin corpses: "Does the White Bone Temple really want to forge a deadly feud with the Xue family?"】

【He knew in his heart—only by bringing out the name of the Nine Great Surnames could there be a glimmer of hope for survival.】

【"Nine Great Surnames?" The female corpse covered her mouth and laughed, a silver-bell-like sound coming from under the veil, "Wait until I take that object..."】

【"Even if the Master of the Academy comes, or a Xuan Dan of the ninth realm of martial arts comes, so what?"】

【Xue Huaian, "What do you want? The Xue family can..."】

【The female corpse laughed, "I want your life, I want the lives of everyone on this boat!"】

【Mei Qingsu looked at the blood-colored giant waves raised by the Tricky Bride, and ice crystals reflected in his pupils—that was actually the evil energy of the female corpse freezing the water vapor directly into ice flowers!】

【This Yaksha did not intend to leave them alive.】

【"Are we really going to die here?" Mei Qingsu bit the tip of his tongue, the rust taste mixed with severe pain making his mind clear.】

【The faces of thousands of brothers of the Giant Whale Gang flashed before his eyes—if he were to die here today, those newly tamed canal transport forces would be carved up and exhausted by the Nine Great Surnames in the blink of an eye!】

【The foundation he had worked hard for half his life would be handed over to others.】

【Then let's fight for our lives!】

【Mei Qingsu still had a trump card flying knife in his hand, a killing move that would kill a thousand enemies and damage himself by eight hundred.】

【When the three-inch flying knife slid out of his sleeve, the knife body actually glowed with a strange blood-red color.】

【At this moment, the true essence in his dantian was like boiling water, all poured into the knife body, and the blade immediately lit up with blinding blood light.】

【On the other side, Luo Su Su had already torn off the corner of her sleeve to wrap her wound tightly. Although she had lost her sword, this Jinxiu Tower manager pulled a gold thread from her hair—looking closely, it was actually a soft sword made of thousand-forged flexible steel!】

【The sword body reflected her cold eyes, like a new moon coming out of the clouds.】

【She was stimulating it with a life-risking method, the meridians in her body burning like fierce flames; every sect that had been struggling in the Jianghu for many years had secret techniques to seek life through death.】

【At this moment, the secret method of the Jinxiu Tower was running wildly in her body, stimulating every acupuncture point and squeezing every drop of essence blood in her body.】

【Luo Su Su gripped the soft sword in her hand tightly; the life-and-death struggle made her sword intent rise to a higher level.】

【When meeting on a narrow road, the brave one wins!】

【Xue Huaian let go of the two women, and all six or seven green jade talismans in his hand burned.】

【"I will protect the boat."】

【"You all just take action."】

【Seven talisman lights shot out, all condensing into shields, appearing unbreakable, protecting in front of everyone.】

【Xue Huaian was exhausted after using them, his eyes full of bloodshot veins.】

【However, he saw that the ripples on the two women, Liu Zixin and the other, were about to cover them completely; only two or three breaths away, they could escape from here.】

【"Hehe—"】

【A delicate voice sounded, "Don't know what is good for you."】

【"My current realm has already exceeded that of a corpse puppet; I am a Yaksha that has never been born in the White Bone Temple, and even a corpse talisman is difficult to control me."】

【"As long as there is blood food, one can be immortal."】

【A red-clad figure instantly broke through the green light shield and arrived in front of everyone.】

【Mei Qingsu's flying knife shot out, but it hung in mid-air, trembling and humming, the blood patterns on the knife body already eroded by the evil energy until they were dim and lusterless.】

【He was horrified to find that this Yaksha's cultivation was even more powerful than he had imagined.】

【Luo Su Su slashed with her sword, the sword light like a half-moon, slashing at the red-clad woman's shoulder but unable to advance an inch.】

【The female corpse just brushed her red wedding dress, and Luo Su Su flew backward like a broken kite, smashing the wooden frame of the boat shed.】

【A mouthful of blood sprayed into the lake, blooming with shocking red plum blossoms.】

【The corpse evil energy rolled like ink, and one could not distinguish five fingers within three zhang.】

【The female corpse's pair of embroidered shoes stepped onto the deck.】

【Xue Huaian and the others had withered auras, the light in their eyes gradually dimming—they were already at the end of their rope.】

【The female corpse saw that the woman beside Xue Huaian seemed to be about to be teleported away.】

【She opened her mouth, and a foul-smelling black blood shot out like an arrow! Xue Huaian jumped to block it, but saw that the filthy blood had already splashed on the talisman light wrapping the two women, making a "chi chi" corrosive sound.】

【The talisman array that was about to teleport was stained with blood, its light gradually dimming, and finally gradually disappeared, the teleportation talisman failing.】

【"Not good!"】

【Xue Huaian's face was ashen—it was rumored that the Yaksha's heart blood could stain all laws; seeing it with his own eyes today, the clear green teleportation talisman light was like residual snow meeting boiling soup, dissolving completely in an instant.】

【The female corpse laughed, "I said, you all must die today."】

【The voice carried a bit of softness and gentleness, but it made Xue Huaian and the others feel hair-raising.】

【At this time!】

【This female corpse's footsteps paused, and her brows under the veil furrowed.】

【This corpse puppet that had been cultivated for hundreds of years revealed a look of surprise for the first time.】

【At the stern of the boat ten steps away, stood a youth holding an umbrella.】

【She and the Jade Corpse had completely ignored this person's existence!】

【If it weren't for the distance being too close, the female corpse would not have caught a trace of almost imperceptible breathing, and only then did she suddenly raise her head.】

【This youth was like the blank space melted into a landscape painting, seemingly empty, yet cleverly fused between heaven and earth.】

【In the blood fog, the youth stood quietly as before, not even a corner of his clothes stained with dust.】

【The female corpse's reaction made Luo Su Su and the others notice the stern of the boat.】

【It seemed that from beginning to end, there was still one person on the boat.】

【The female corpse just frowned and sized him up; she had long since understood intelligence and knew that she could not drag it out too long in this Xie Fu, otherwise she would be seeking her own death.】

【This young master who could use talisman paper was obviously of extraordinary origin, and the order she received was to kill everyone on this boat.】

【Only by leaving no survivors could she get that object.】

【Clearly, this youth whose depth could not be seen was also among them.】

【A harsh silver bell sound suddenly came from the lakeside.】

【A look of impatience flashed across the white-bone face under the female corpse's veil: "Noisy, what are you urging!"】

【She did not hesitate, pointing with her hand, and the male corpse behind her rushed toward Xie Guan at the stern of the boat as if it had received an order.】

【The female corpse's evil energy rolled, and countless blood-colored ghost mists turned into hundreds or thousands of ghost hands surging toward Luo Su Su and the others.】

【Xue Huaian secretly thought it was a pity; if this Xie Guan had dragged it out for a few more breaths, it would have been good.】

【Only ten breaths away and his uncle would arrive!】

【Alas, it was too late.】

【Xue Huaian protected the two women, shattering three ghost hands, but was strangled by the fourth and lifted high.】

【Uh... nine more breaths! Just need to hold on for nine more breaths!】

【"Pu!"】

【Blood flowers exploded on Luo Su Su's back, and a ghost hand pierced through her chest. She stumbled to her knees, the soft sword in her hand breaking inch by inch, like her gradually dissipating consciousness... exhausted.】

【A look of despair appeared on her face, her eyes full of unwillingness.】

【Mei Qingsu was also pressed on the forehead by a ghost hand, unable to resist, leaving only a pair of eyes staring fixedly at the female corpse.】

【You looked at the tragic state of the few people on the boat, almost about to lose their lives.】

【Fortunately!】

【A smile appeared on the corner of your mouth; this Ziwei Constant Realm was finally set up.】

【From your perspective, within this ten-zhang radius, an illusory Ziwei Palace had emerged from your heart sea, quietly projecting into reality, silently shrouding the entire boat within.】

【This is also the reason why you stood at the stern of the boat, and why the two fierce corpses subconsciously ignored you.】

【Everything within the Ziwei Constant Realm is like looking at patterns on one's palm. Everyone's heartbeat, the flow of true essence in their meridians, and even the trembling of their eyelashes were all clearly visible.】

【Within the Ziwei Dao field, the power of all your arts and sword intent will skyrocket!】

【Even, you can control the flow of vital energy and spiritual energy in this area.】

【This is the mystery of the Ziwei Constant Realm—within this Dao field, you are like a "master".】

【Since you discovered that there was this female corpse at the bottom of the lake, you began to set it up.】

【Otherwise, it would be difficult for you to keep this corpse puppet that had already been cultivated into a Yaksha for a while.】

【Under the edge of the umbrella, you slowly raised your eyes.】

【The "Yang Talisman Scripture" in your body circulated; this supreme Yang and supreme rigid Sun power is the most restraining to ghost-house Yin bodies.】

【Your gaze was indifferent, your right hand placed at your lips, your palm spread forward, and you blew a breath toward the male corpse and blood fog rushing over.】

【Everyone felt a hot wind rush toward them, and for a moment it was like going to the Flaming Mountain.】

【A moment later, the Jade Corpse bore the brunt. Its body instantly turned red, scorching white flames erupted from its seven orifices, and the whole person burned violently, like a fireball, letting out a shrill scream, and burned into ashes.】

【The sky full of blood fog was all blown away.】

【With just one breath, all the surrounding blood hands dissipated.】

【The two women in Xue Huaian's arms were both blown awake by the warm airflow.】

【Luo Su Su and the others were stunned, their faces still a bit dazed, all the restraints on their bodies gone, not just this male corpse but even the female corpse Yaksha.】

【Also burned into ashes within it!】

【The entire lake surface was cleared, everything returned to calm, and it was again lake light and mountain colors, continuing to rain misty small rain.】

【The boat stern slowly docked at the shore!】

【You held an umbrella, a plain-clothed figure unstained by dust, stepped onto the shore with the breeze and fine rain, and turned back to say softly.】

【"Thanks for the ride."】

【"Xie Guan, farewell."】

【(End of chapter)】