Chapter 405: Offended the Abbot and Still Want to Run?

Tang Luo and his group certainly never intended to deliberately trap Qin Xu'ao and the others.

However, since they had gained fame, bearing the consequences was inevitable.

The people of the Black Heaven Divine Palace showing up at their door so quickly was a "pleasant surprise."

Of course, for Qin Xu'ao, it was certainly not pleasant at all.

He was very angry, and most of that anger was directed at Tang Luo and his group.

"Qingyun Fortress has brought disaster upon the region; it was fated to suffer this calamity. If not us, others would have stepped in to enact heavenly justice. Do you Black Heaven Palace still plan to hunt them down one by one?"

After a long exhale, Qin Xu'ao, the "kind-hearted" one taking the blame, said.

"How so?" Zhu Qian sneered, "Are you afraid?"

"Do I need to be afraid?" Qin Xu'ao said, "Losing as an individual but not as a formation—under the watchful eyes of all, I cannot retreat."

"Not being afraid is enough." Zhu Qian said, "Come, let's fight."

"Oh?"

"When we truly go to war with your White Feather Sword Manor will be decided by my father." Zhu Qian said, "So today, I only seek your White Feather Three Swords. If you can defeat me, the matter of Qingyun Fortress will be settled. Otherwise, if you lose, you will leave your lives behind!"

Zhu Qian's behavior seemed extremely arrogant and reckless.

Yet, walking the fine line, he grasped the limits perfectly.

First, he chose to attack when Zhou Yu was absent. Second, he did not choose this moment to launch a full-scale war against White Feather Sword Manor, but merely sought a "life-and-death duel" with the White Feather Three Swords.

With both sides evenly matched, such a duel leaves no room for Qin Xu'ao and his group to refuse.

Once they refuse, their reputation and standing with White Feather Sword Manor will plummet.

As the Black Heaven Divine Palace expands, the stubborn obstacles in their path will not be so hard.

Qin Xu'ao was instantly pushed to the edge of the cliff.

Upon hearing Zhu Qian wanted a one-on-three, the disciples of White Feather Sword Manor began shouting and cursing.

"What audacity!"

"Senior Brother could kill you with one hand!"

"Senior Brother, give this guy a good lesson—let them experience the might of our White Feather Sword Manor!"

"If you can, go up there!" Qin Xu'ao roared inwardly, wishing he could drag out that bunch of clueless troublemakers and hack them to death, chop them into eighteen pieces.

Who was Zhu Qian before the ******? The sole son of the Black Heaven Divine Palace's master; during the Black Heaven Divine Palace's assassin organization era, he was already being groomed as heir, with countless lives on his hands.

Highly skilled in martial arts, rich in combat experience.

Qin Xu'ao and the other two are no match for him—especially when injured.

The three can move normally under ordinary circumstances, but once they engage in combat, the consequences will be severe.

"Come." Zhu Qian hooked his finger at Qin Xu'ao and the others, a provocative gesture.

He truly had confidence in his own strength.

"Hahahaha!"

Qin Xu'ao fell silent for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter, "Zhu Qian, do you even deserve to fight our three senior brothers and sisters? Knowing we are injured, you picked a fine time."

"I could beat you, but I won't, because I am injured—reasonable and justified."

Qin Xu'ao and the others had sustained some injuries, and everyone was aware of it.

After all, sometimes appearing sluggish in movement is normal when fighting Qingyun Fortress.

"Whether you deserve it or not, you'll know once you draw your sword." Zhu Qian also remained unfazed—he had once been an assassin, very calm, very patient.

He was not the sort to fly into a rage over a few words.

"That day at Qingyun Fortress." Qin Xu'ao spoke, "Besides us three, there was also another young hero who fought alongside us, of great help."

He paused.

Qin Xu'ao turned his head toward Tang Luo: "Young Hero Xuanzang, you once told me that the Black Heaven Divine Palace is your arch-enemy, and that upon encountering it, you must inform me. Today, fate has brought us together, and we three senior brothers and sisters are injured—why not entrust this scoundrel to you to handle?"

Passing the buck, passing the buck!

Fortunately, they had contingency measures; now producing a "Young Hero Xuanzang" does not seem too abrupt.

"Pfft!"

Ao Yulie burst out laughing, "Can't fight? Then can't fight. Coward? Then coward. You're pretending to be your great-grandfather!"

Now you know "I can't bear it alone"?

What were you doing earlier?

"Young Hero Xuanzang?" Qin Xu'ao ignored Ao Yulie's mockery, emphasizing the words "Young Hero."

Reminding Tang Luo, your identity is something I need to keep confidential.

Help me get through this crisis, and it will be good for you, good for me, good for everyone.

If you refuse to act, then there's no choice—we'll die together!

The threatening intent is obvious.

The people of White Feather Sword Manor and the onlookers may not understand, but Tang Luo and his group are very clear.

"Are you threatening us?" Ao Yulie sneered.

Qin Xu'ao laughed: "How could I? That day at Qingyun Fortress, fighting side by side with Young Hero Xuanzang also counts as a bond of life and death—how could I threaten him? Moreover, what is there worth threatening?"

He knew many people were now doubtful in their hearts, but there was nothing to be done.

This is the best solution he could think of on the spot to minimize loss.

As long as this Tang Xuanzang is willing to act, help him withstand Zhu Qian, future matters can be discussed later.

"Young Hero Xuanzang!" Xiuyue Yue walked to Tang Luo's side and said, "Frankly speaking, that day my senior brother was injured while saving me from bandits, his wounds are serious, and he is truly unfit to fight. My brother and I are shallow in learning, likely no match for this scoundrel—please, Young Hero, lend your aid!"

"Do you know where the Black Heaven Divine Palace is?" Tang Luo's gaze fell upon Zhu Qian.

The troublesome Lin Qinglong couldn't even give a clear address—actually, it's not Lin Qinglong's fault, unless he had the talent to draw detailed maps.

Otherwise, based on just a few words of description, finding the Black Heaven Divine Palace would truly be no easy task.

After all, its predecessor was an assassin organization, the kind that hid in the darkness.

Zhu Qian glanced at Tang Luo and said, "You come receive death as well."

Just one more person, no problem.

"He is the sole son of the Black Heaven Divine Palace Master," Wen Xiuyue said in a low voice, the implication being that he would certainly know.

"Then leave this one behind." Tang Luo nodded.

Everyone around froze; leave this one behind, what did that mean?

"Good, Master." Ao Yulie said, walking toward Zhu Qian, "Come at me together, I'm in a hurry."

"..."

The surrounding people were struck speechless; it sounded like "I alone will fight you all."

But what about those eight people who followed behind you?

In the end, after all that fuss, a duel turned into a group beating?

But no one spoke; an outsider bearing the pressure of the Black Heaven Divine Palace was clearly something the White Feather Sword Manor was happy to see.

Moreover, judging from Qin Xuao's words, it was obvious these people had also participated in the Green Cloud Stronghold battle.

Now that the Black Heaven Divine Palace had come knocking, sharing the burden was what good brothers did.

"Overestimating yourself." Zhu Qian stepped forward, meeting the approaching Ao Yulie; his sharp sword left its scabbard.

Sword light flashed, unexpectedly extremely dazzling, making it impossible to look at directly.

Thousand Rainbow Sword!

A special sword blade combined with Zhu Qian's martial arts moves, forming a unique martial art.

As he swung his sword, he brought forth gorgeous radiance; in the moment the enemy lost focus, one sword killed the enemy.

"The one overestimating themselves is you!" A sharp glint flashed through Ao Yulie's eyes; completely unaffected by the mysterious light, he reached out and grabbed the Thousand Rainbow Sword stabbing at his throat.

Immense power firmly locked the Thousand Rainbow Sword, making Zhu Qian utterly unable to pull his sword free.

As an assassin, Zhu Qian struck fast as lightning, one strike certain kill.

This was also why he was so confident he could solo Qin Xuao and the other two; because he was confident he could instantly kill all three.

There was simply no need to entangle with them.

But now, the mysterious light was useless, and he actually had his sword blade caught in a bare flesh palm; his fast sword was crippled, equivalent to a venomous snake's two fangs being forcibly torn out.

Before Zhu Qian could counter or react, Ao Yulie had already smashed a heavy fist into his chest.

Zhu Qian flew backward, his chest caved in, vomiting a large mouthful of fresh blood.

Defeated this quickly, he himself had not expected it, nor had anyone else.

The Black Heaven Divine Palace people hadn't even reacted.

Ao Yulie heavily injured Zhu Qian with one punch, then directly charged at the remaining Black Heaven Divine Palace people.

Nan Taisheng and the others followed suit.

"Boundless Dharma!" Tang Luo proclaimed a Buddhist invocation, bestowing "Dharma" upon Tang Yuhan and the others, raising their combat power.

A group of people, led by Ao Yulie, were like tigers entering a flock of sheep; the remaining Black Heaven Divine Palace people, including that minor leader who looked about equal to Zhu Qian, were all killed.

Nan Taisheng's group also had some injured.

Fresh blood flowed, dyeing the White Feather Sword Manor's martial arts field red.

The White Feather Sword Manor people, including Qin Xuao and the others, had long since retreated; jianghu wanderers, their safe viewing distance control was extremely precise.

Tang Luo did not make a move, walking toward Qin Xuao and the other two.

Qin Xuao and the others couldn't help but retreat two steps; the White Feather Sword Manor people also had complex expressions.

They seemed to have seen a certain truth.

The Green Cloud Stronghold matter, it seemed it wasn't done by Qin Xuao and the other two — they might have participated, but they absolutely weren't the main force, at most just happened to be there at the right time.

The real main force was this group of jianghu people of unknown identity before them.

"What do you want to do?" Having retreated two steps, Qin Xuao and the other two could retreat no further.

"Benefactor, you have fallen into the demonic path." Tang Luo said, "That day this poor monk saved you from the Green Cloud Stronghold's prison, yet never expected you would fall to become what you are today; it is this poor monk's fault."

"Stinking monk! What nonsense are you spouting!"

Qin Xuao's face was ferocious; the Wen siblings also instinctively drew the swords in their hands.

Without turning back, all three could imagine what the expressions of the White Feather Sword Manor disciples behind them would look like.

They had even heard suppressed gasps.

The truth was even a step further than imagined.

Qin Xuao and the other two, White Feather Sword Manor's rising stars, future manor lord heirs; in the Green Cloud Stronghold battle, the role they played was actually captives?

Captives who were rescued?

That strange behavior just now, the occasional inconvenience in movement shown, all received a very good explanation.

"Since it is this poor monk's fault, then naturally it must be made up for." Tang Luo said, "This poor monk will now convert the three of you; the sea of suffering is boundless, turn back and there is the shore."

Offend the Abbot and still want to run?

"Monk?"

Everyone was shocked and uncertain; this white-haired person was actually a monk?

Buddhism still has remnants? And so openly proclaiming their identity?

Not afraid of the Hate Heaven Gate's pursuit?

"Die!" Eyes stinging certain parts, the furious Qin Xuao and the other two, disregarding their injuries, fiercely attacked.

At this very moment, they only wanted to thoroughly hack this white-haired demonic monk to death! Hack him into meat paste!

A continuous series of crisp cracks rang out; the blades of three swords snapped and spun into the sky.

The onlookers could only see the white-haired figure extend a hand, his palm tapping each of the three men on the crown of the head — the speed was so fast it made one gasp in astonishment.

"Amitabha."

Tang Luo withdrew his hand and intoned a Buddhist invocation: "Three benefactors, have you repented?"

Qin Xu'ao and the other two wore dull, stunned expressions; only after hearing Tang Luo's words did they come to their senses, whereupon they immediately dropped to their knees, weeping bitterly.

They rushed to confess their wrongdoings, vying to speak first, truly repentant from the heart.

Those three strikes just now were, naturally, the Duohun technique.

Watching Qin Xu'ao and the other two "thoroughly reform," the surrounding jianghu people each sucked in a cold breath.

How was it done?

What martial art was it?

Such a tyrannical, bizarre martial art — truly a demonic monk!