Chapter 162: Effortless Release and Restraint, Subtle Control

He shouted "Enough!", and before anyone could react, a cold flash flashed in Li Gonggong's eyes; his whole body instantly turned into a violet phantom, slipped past Huang Lao Xie, and rushed again toward the bamboo forest.

He came to Xiangyang this time on orders to eliminate Niu Dingtian! This little thief had long been marked on the royal docket.

Breaking into the palace at night and abducting Imperial Physician Yan was one crime; a year ago assassinating the imperial envoy and seizing the strategic stronghold of Xiangyang was another.

For a year, envoys and elite palace agents dispatched from Lin'an City, both openly and covertly, to Xiangyang to enforce the imperial decree have either died violently or vanished.

Seeing that, apart from the army pressing in and issuing proclamations, there was no way to deal with this guy at the moment, so only he, the Grand Internal Overseer and royal attendant, could personally intervene.

In fact, according to the traditional practice of the Great Song dynasty, one should first grant an official post to issue a decree of pacification, and later look for a chance to kill with a borrowed sword and eliminate the disaster.

That has been the basic procedure for years.

Li Gonggong broke free of his restraints and, instead of retreating, advanced; amid a cold sneer his right hand transformed from palm to finger, and in an instant he condensed an invisible cold air and blasted it toward Chen Jin'er's snow‑white forehead!

It was the signature move of his Dragon‑Subduing Eighteen Palms: "Arrogant Dragon's Regret."

Just as Li Gonggong thought, even with ten thousand chances he wouldn't dare fire an arrow that way; fortunately, when Hu Zai Xing waved his banner, the poised crossbow bolts were instantly withdrawn.

"Hoo~"

"We want you dead!!"

The two palms that had been tightly clasped were blasted apart with a thunderous crack by a massive force.

He suddenly ripped off his brocade robe, and the next moment a violet barrier, riding the wind, crackled between his hands and began to spin rapidly.

"Let go quickly!"

Seeing the rare opportunity, Niu Kui's eyes flashed with murderous intent without hesitation, and he shouted toward Hu Zai Xing.

After steadying himself, he saw a dense scattering of broken arrow shafts littering the ground before him.

"Continue the onslaught!!"

It's the Eight‑Bull Crossbow Cart!!

Li Gonggong was startled.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

"Puff~"

In the split second when Chen Jin'er's mind dulled, a fierce light flashed in Li Gonggong's eyes, and he wildly gathered internal force to hammer his right palm forward at full strength.

With such a creditor alive, he could not sleep soundly in the palace.

Miss Huang and Han Xiao Ying withdrew their sword techniques and instinctively stepped back two paces.

Just as Niu Kui had thought, once the external barrier was gone, he had no confidence he could catch the second wave of blows bare‑handed.

"Eight‑Bull Crossbow Cart?"

Clearly, at this moment Li Gonggong's hatred toward Chen Jin'er had reached its peak, but to prevent being drawn in again, he turned his void into substance and formed this fierce killing technique!

Then a murderous intent spread across the sky, shooting out from the bamboo forest, a dazzling sword light that seemed to bridge heaven and earth, and in an instant it slashed toward the fierce cold air.

In the end,

Back then, the poisoning of Niu Gao was carried out with Emperor Gaozong's authorization; otherwise even Qin Gui, given ten chances, would not dare to murder the border‑frontier general who had already risen to the rank of attendant.

The next moment—

Seeing the cold air closing in on her face with no chance to dodge, Chen Jin'er felt an inexplicable pain in her heart, instantly shut her eyes tightly and prepared to die.

"Sister Jin'er!!"

"Bang!"

"Stop the crossbow!!" Niu Kui shouted urgently.

Three years ago he took a big hit with this skill, and today his mother's— he uses this move again!

But when he broke free from this technique three years ago it was already difficult; after three years of no progress and having just been besieged for a while, his body was already exhausted.

Opposite, feeling despair rising in his heart, Li Gonggong fought to the death to guard the gate, his face growing ever more ferocious.

Seeing this, Huang Lao Xie no longer dared to delay; his stern eyes turned icy in an instant, and with a roar he swiftly stepped forward with his Spirit Tortoise Steps.

In an instant,

Whether the crossbow bolts came straight on or at an angle, they all struck in an instant against the faint violet veil before Li Gonggong.

But the next moment—

This eunuch's martial skill is truly terrifying, but now without his outer garment, he doesn't believe the opponent can still strip in front of everyone!

"Again?"

The massive crossbow bolts filled the sky, whistling as they surged in a surrounding formation, all hammering toward the violet figure that had already charged to the edge of the bamboo forest.

"Sister Jin'er!"

"Let go quickly!" Li Gonggong shouted again fiercely, his hands still struggling.

Jue Xing's gaunt face turned expressionless again, he let out a deep shout, raised his palm and struck; the wounds inside his body seemed unnoticed, yet it seemed he was suppressing something.

But when it came to Niu Dingtian, Emperor Zhao Kuo, seated in Lin'an City, seemed a bit cowardly.

In the urgent moment, Li Gonggong said nothing and leapt up, lunging toward the three—Chen Jin'er, Miss Huang, and Han Xiao Ying—who were pressing on Ouyang Feng with relentless attacks, and pounced on them.

"We are the Grand Internal Overseer eunuchs sent to proclaim the decree! If we die here the court will surely send troops to subjugate Xiangyang! You, a woman, know nothing of the greater picture! Let go quickly!!"

The surrounding Huang Lao Xie and Hong Qi Gong and others, seeing such a terrifying scene, halted their rushing figures, standing far away three zhang beyond, and no one's heart was without a chill.

"It's even more than in the imperial city!!"

"This finger is full of resentment and poison!"

Therefore, even though her body was gradually feeling bloated, Chen Jin'er dared not let the cultivation in her hands loosen at all.

This was also the surrender condition Zhao Kuo had prepared for the worst outcome; in the end, Zhao Kuo's greatest worry was that Niu Dingtian might survive a single strike, and, cornered, would invite the Jin troops to march south.

"Am I going to die?"

Chen Jin'er was startled; at that moment she felt a sudden flutter in her heart, unwilling to leave like this.

"Ding!"

With a casual toss, three bone‑attaching needles whizzed out, arriving in an instant, while the Splitting Sky Palm in his hand was even more fierce and pressing.

But Li Gonggong had never from beginning to end considered revealing this thing; doing so would not only dim the court's face, but his dignified royal tribute would look even more futile.

When the shout ended, dozens of eight‑ox crossbow carts on the left and right seemed to fire a myriad of arrows simultaneously, and the angry dragon roared.

At this moment, Li Gonggong seemed to become a lone hero, forging ahead; the sole white inner robe on him, under the outward‑eroding surge of his internal force, emitted a booming, explosive sound.

But compared with the unrivaled might of the dozens of crossbow carts firing together, that earlier killing power was simply a minor sorcerer facing a great one.

"Sister!"

When Hong Qi released his palm, its speed was extreme; though he was still fifteen or sixteen zhang from Li Gonggong, the moment he spoke, the distance was already only six or seven zhang.

Is it a divine artifact?

Such a world‑shaking move left everyone present in awe; then they all abruptly turned, stunned, and gazed silently toward the bamboo forest.

Hearing Li Gonggong's words, Chen Jin'er's hand paused instinctively.

Feeling the crushing air currents pressing from the left, right, and behind, Li Gonggong was greatly shocked.

At the brink of life and death, Li Gonggong, panicking, threw out his trump card.

Everyone says that when masters spar, life and death appear in a hair's breadth; this rookie Chen Jin'er didn't know, but Li Gonggong knew it well, especially since he was a grandmaster‑level master.

There are indeed martial arts in the jianghu that can steal another's internal energy!!!

Seeing the emaciated eunuch's frail body pulse repeatedly, like waves surging, converging toward his right arm and then toward Chen Jin'er.

"Hong, benefactor, why don't you act now!"

"I'm leaving!!"

Ouyang Feng rejoiced, seized the chance, swept his snake staff down, and in an instant broke through the three‑person encirclement.

The force of the violent thrust directly bombed Li Gonggong, making his arms numb; his emaciated body staggered backward repeatedly.

Seeing Li Gonggong rush forward at lightning speed, his whole body surrounded by a whistling wind, the attacking Chen Jin'er's eyes narrowed, a sword flashed out, and as she gathered her stance and turned, she executed a counter‑thrust.

Does anyone still not understand what kind of martial art Chen Jin'er is using now!

Huang Lao Xie showed no hint of urgency in his eyes, whether intentional or not; he had not managed to stop the advancing Li Gonggong.

Knowing how terrifying this skill is, he dared not delay a moment, and poured all his strength to try to break free from the violent suction on his right hand.

Boom~

When the two palms met, everyone heard a deep boom, but the expected surge of violent qi did not disperse.

You little dog‑born scoundrel! If you have the guts, fire at us together!

Li Gonggong was furious, but now he could only use these three little girls as a shield, so he lunged while shouting in his thin voice, "Mr. Ouyang, why don't you join us to capture the thief together!"

Only Yang Kang, operating the distant crossbow carts, saw the scene and his eyes flashed repeatedly; nearby Niu Ben, relieved, could only sigh in speechlessness.

The next moment,

Chen Jin'er instinctively activated that familiar inner‑power manual, then swiftly met the oncoming withered hand with a palm.

At this time, not only him, but everyone present turned pale; they finally truly witnessed the real power contained in those arrowheads the size of fists!

The earlier sight of several crossbow carts firing together, slaughtering those who broke into the forest, had already terrified them.

At this moment—

"Sister!!"

He never expected that, under the siege of several attackers, he would still stand firm, only to fall at the hands of a ragged little girl who had only trained ten years.

No one expected that this scoundrel would be the legitimate grandson of former Yue Family Army deputy commander Niu Gao, a surviving scion of the Niu Clan that had been secretly wiped out.

Not only does he occupy the gates of the Great Song, his martial skill is absurdly high; perhaps one day, upon learning the secret, he'll be hot‑blooded enough to storm the palace for revenge.

Hoo~

Meanwhile, Chen Jin'er's aura kept soaring, her breath grew increasingly violent, and even her once slender body began to visibly bloat.

Han Xiao Ying and Miss Huang saw her complexion change drastically, and the two steps they had retreated earlier now prevented them from swinging swords; otherwise, whether the old ghost's right hand exists is another story.

A light sound, the cold air dissipated into nothing; this sword aura, released and gathered at will, had already reached the utmost subtlety of control!

Indeed, to him, Chen Jin'er was just a ragged little girl!

But it was even more humiliating!

"Die!!" Li Gonggong's eyes turned blood‑red, his face twisted grotesquely, utterly mad; disregarding the sword blade still embedded in his left shoulder, he unleashed a massive, fierce palm.

Boom!

Seeing the situation, Hong Qi took a great stride forward, his momentum grand, and with a right‑hand palm, a dragon‑like roar erupted as he rapidly flew his strike toward Li Gonggong.

Li Gonggong's snarling face froze for an instant; after regaining his senses, a startled, horrified scream burst out.

But Chen Jin'er dared not release his grip; gritting her teeth, she kept cultivating, knowing her power was far inferior to the old eunuch's; at such close range, letting go could mean a lethal palm from him.

Thus, no matter how he strained his internal force, the suction on his hand remained unrelenting, growing tighter; he could only watch his internal power gush out, as if a mud ox entering the sea, being sucked away by this ragged little girl.

Li Gonggong felt deeply weakened, his eyes filled with despair; in his panic he shouted, "Your little brother‑in‑law is a descendant of the Song Marquis Wenhou! We still have the imperial decree posthumously awarding his grandfather Niu Gao!"

North Darkness Divine Skill!!

It's not that she is indecisive or gullible; she merely worries that this old eunuch might still be useful to Niu Dingtian, or that his death here could cause trouble for Xiangyang.

Moreover, later Emperors Xiaozong and Guangzong, in secret, never ceased the hunt for Niu Clan descendants, until the young son of Niu Gao—namely Niu Dingtian's cheap old man—died, finally ending their pursuit.

A huge crash, the purple robe shattered with a boom.

As the bone‑attaching needles brushed past his face, Li Gonggong unleashed three chilling palm forces at once; after three sharp bangs, one strike flew outward, another dispersed Hong Qi, and a third blocked Huang Lao Xie,

A sudden torrent of sword‑like wailing surged, like the sound of the nine heavens, shaking souls, making everything around seem to freeze instantly.

Hoo~

"Old thief, how dare you!"

Just as Li Gonggong was still stunned by the scene before him, he felt a chilling sensation instantly envelop his whole body, a dead soul rising to his heart.

Snarl!

Only felt a white light flash past, then severe pain hit the left shoulder, and saw a trembling, wave-like flexible sword body drift over; in the blink of an eye it had pierced straight into his body.

After all, she didn't know that this eunuch had long been an old enemy whom Niu Dingtian wanted to get rid of as soon as possible.

"Boom~"

Han Xiao Ying and Miss Huang's faces changed drastically; they raised their swords to thrust forward, but Chen Jin'er stood straight in between the three of them, and the two still didn't have time to turn sideways for a flanking attack.

At the critical moment, one could also step forward to deal with those jianghu ruffians who disregard imperial law.

Now that he learned Niu Dingtian's identity, Zhao Kuo thought that this kid surnamed Niu deserved to die even more!

People of the jianghu speak of repaying gratitude and vengeance with swift righteousness, unlike scholars who uphold loyalty to the sovereign and patriotism, emphasizing the three bonds and five constants.

"Let go!" Eunuch Li shouted angrily.

"Clang!"

Like firefly light vying with the bright moon—how can they be compared?

"Traitor, you truly have no martial virtue!" Eunuch Li's visage turned ferocious; he cursed furiously in his heart, yet dared not hesitate in the slightest with his hand.

Just as the cold air shooting out from Eunuch Li was still less than three inches from Chen Jin'er's forehead.

Seeing the old eunuch dart like lightning, about to rush into the bamboo grove under Juexing's angry glare, a deep shout suddenly came from behind: it was Commander Hu Zaixing of the Divine Machine Battalion!

"Push all the ballistae forward!"

Here,

The next moment——

Eunuch Li shrieked sharply, his face ferocious, resembling a vengeful ghost.

How many years? I haven't felt this stabbing pain for how long? It seems ages.

Imperial Attendants, by definition, are the top experts specially maintained by the Great Song imperial household, tasked with guarding inner court order and protecting the emperor's safety.

"Target the old geezer! Fire!"

Only hearing the swords in the forest humming fiercely, then seeing sword light like spikes filling the sky, flashing toward us.

In an instant,

The sword light condensed into an invisible blade, slicing straight toward his outstretched, withered right hand! (End of chapter)