Chapter 471: Desert, Grassland

On this day, the scorching sun hung in the sky, transforming into a giant fireball that roasted all living things on the earth.

The air was so hot it warped; if one's cultivation had not reached a certain realm, walking in the desert was like being inside a furnace, and even breathing felt like drinking boiling tea.

Three figures—yellow, black, and white—advanced through the desert; one man and two women, all of them peerless beauties of the human world.

The girl in yellow kept her lips tightly pressed, her hands moving nimbly as she gestured continuously, using signs to tell the man in black beside her about the situation nearby.

These three were naturally Yu Liancheng, Murong Tonghuang, and Luoyang—no, it should be Huang Baozhuang now.

Within that body, besides Luoyang, the other woman was the Chess Sword Music Mansion disciple, Huang Baozhuang.

The Beimang martial arts world was far from being as diverse as the Liyang Dynasty; eighty or ninety percent of the human resources and connections were monopolized by some thirty high-ranking, major sects, while the remaining gangs were merely gasping for breath, scraping a living from the scraps left between their fingers.

Among them, the Chess Sword Music Mansion was a powerful force that sat in the top five and contended for the top three among these behemoths, with talented people emerging in succession. They accepted disciples according to the number of Ci-poetry titles, never taking one extra. Only when a literary master created a new Ci-poetry title and had a famous work passed down would they add a new quota.

Of course, the Chess Sword Music Mansion's recruitment of disciples was extremely strict; although there were currently six hundred and twelve Ci-poetry titles, the total number of disciples did not exceed five hundred even when fully counted.

And Huang Baozhuang was precisely one of the genius disciples within the Chess Sword Music Mansion.

Huang Baozhuang had a soft and kind personality, an existence diametrically opposed to Luoyang. It was for this reason that even with the help of the Li Pearl, she often could not suppress Luoyang.

"Sister Baozhuang, we have been walking in the desert for the better part of the day, when will we reach the grasslands?" said Murong Wuzhu.

Huang Baozhuang shrank her head, revealing a timid expression, appearing somewhat afraid of Murong Wuzhu, which left Murong Wuzhu between laughter and tears, and she fiercely pinched the soft flesh on Yu Liancheng's waist—it was all this guy's fault for framing her.

Fortunately, although Huang Baozhuang was afraid of Murong Wuzhu, she still made a gesture, the gist of which was that at their current speed, they would be near the grasslands in two days at most.

"Come to think of it, after entering the hinterland of Beimang, the horse bandits have suddenly decreased," Yu Liancheng laughed.

Murong Wuzhu giggled: "Tonghuang, you don't even understand this; Beimang can be considered a peaceful world, and unless forced by circumstances, who would want to tie their head to their belt?"

"I don't think so; no matter the time, there are always people who will take risks." Yu Liancheng's expression shifted, and he led the two to a barren sand dune: "Look."

With a casual point, one could vaguely see two blurry figures riding over in the scorching light. Seeming to have spotted the three, their trajectory changed abruptly as they galloped toward them.

"What kind of formation is this?"

After the two, who were clearly dressed as horse bandits, approached, they paused.

In this wilderness, three figures more beautiful than celestial beings had suddenly appeared, spotless and untainted, and they showed no signs of surprise or fear upon seeing the two horse bandits.

Could it be they had encountered tough opponents?

"Forget what kind of formation it is; it's not easy to run into some goods, if we don't rob them, it would be a disservice to the sweat on our brows."

"Tsk, I think we should be a bit more cautious."

While the two horse bandits were at a stalemate, suddenly the woman in yellow among the three opened her mouth and spat out a red bead, which bloomed with ten thousand rays of light.

The red bead carried boundless might as it struck toward the man in white; the two horse bandits could vaguely see the red light flashing like lightning.

But the gusts of hurricane wind it stirred up were enough to almost knock them both off their horses.

Yu Liancheng raised his arm, splayed his five fingers, and caught the Li Pearl, letting it spin nimbly in his palm while emitting rays of light as sharp as Sword Qi.

"Luoyang, you're awake, good morning."

Yu Liancheng smiled slightly, looking at the girl in yellow whose appearance had not changed in the slightest, but who seemed like a different person.

After more than ten days of recovery, Luoyang had returned to her peak, her beautiful eyes revealing murderous intent without any concealment, her whole body radiating a cold aura.

"MU—RONG—TONG—HUANG!!" Luoyang gritted her teeth, enunciating each word.

"I'm here." Yu Liancheng wore a smile.

The next moment, the girl in yellow turned into an afterimage, her hands unfolding a thunderous offensive that was as continuous and unending as the tide. The force of her Qi exploded repeatedly, kicking up a sky full of yellow sand.

Yu Liancheng dealt with it calmly, extending his five fingers, each movement firmly restraining the opponent. The clash of palms in such a small space was more terrifying than the clash of blades.

"I will count to three; if you make another move, our previous agreement will be void. One, two..."

Just as he was about to count to three, Luoyang's storm-like offensive stopped abruptly. Her nearly perfect face was still filled with murderous intent, and she said through gritted teeth: "Fine, I hope you keep your word."

However, the moment she finished speaking, Yu Liancheng's palm had already arrived before her.

Bang!

He flicked his finger, striking the girl's smooth, fair forehead.

The girl in yellow flew sideways for over ten yards, crashing heavily into the yellow sand.

Yu Liancheng blew on his finger: "But breaking the rules requires punishment. Considering this is your first offense, it won't be so easy next time."

He then turned his head to look at the two dumbstruck horse bandits and chuckled: "What were you two just discussing?"

"We... we were just..." The two horse bandits forced a smile; clearly in the desert, they felt a chill all over, as if they had fallen into an ice cellar.

"I'll send you each a flick to the head as well. Don't worry, it definitely won't be heavier than the woman's just now; men and women are treated equally."

Yu Liancheng had Murong Wuzhu turn around, then smilingly bent his finger and flicked twice.

Bang! Bang!

And so, in the sky full of yellow sand, there were two more headless corpses.

Two days later, the three of them had left the desert and arrived in a grassland.

The three traveled together, and in their brief time together, they gained a better understanding of each other. Only, Huang Baozhuang would occasionally cast resentful glances at Murong Wuzhu.

This Sister Wuzhu looked gentle and cute, but she didn't hold back at all when she struck; her forehead was still throbbing faintly. Wuwu.

Murong Wuzhu glared fiercely at Yu Liancheng several times.

This guy, every time he pretends to be the good person and makes her take the blame.

Is he plotting something else for Sister Baozhuang?

Not knowing how much time had passed, they suddenly heard the sound of a Qiang flute drifting in the air.

Looking into the distance, there was a group of herdsmen who followed the water and grass, setting up black and white tents and felt yurts of various sizes.

Whenever the ice and snow melted, the grassland herdsmen would drive their livestock to find new pastures; after the fourth month, the climate was warm, the water and grass were lush, and it was the golden season for grazing.

However, the migration of tribes on the grasslands had to follow the rules of the various chieftains and could not be done at will. Otherwise, it could trigger a war and spark a slaughter.

Murong Wuzhu pulled the timid Huang Baozhuang along to communicate with the herdsmen, intending to ask for lodging for the night.

Following the melodious sound of a Qiang flute, Yu Liancheng saw a graceful figure standing by the lake, playing the flute with their back turned to him.

"Is it her?"

Yu Liancheng felt a stir in his heart.

----------Author's Note----------

A new month, asking for monthly votes.