Chapter 53: Spring Literary Gathering·6

Zhang Yirong's expression was solemn, and she said little.

Zhang Xungui, while running, gradually felt his strength waning, looked at the Commandery Princess before him, and said dejectedly:

"Princess, you should have handed me over, and there's no need for Xiaodie to be cut off afterwards…"

"You think too simply. Given my status and what he did today, anyone I handed over to just now would not have survived. If he truly came alone without aid, then those inside the valley might still have a chance to live, because his target is you." Zhang Yirong said.

Zhang Xungui gritted his teeth, thinking that it seemed to be just that.

Since that person stared at him relentlessly, it was impossible that after catching him he would leave; he would certainly cleanse the area, leaving no survivors.

But Xiaodie isn't…

Zhang Xungui felt deep sorrow in his heart.

"Why? I don't even know him. Why on earth is he after me?!" Zhang Xungui couldn't help but nearly cry. Which person who has lived half a life in peace could imagine that one day they would be relentlessly pursued and battered by a killing star?

If the crucial thing truly fell into his hands, Zhang Xungui didn't think he could survive!

What should be done?

Even after two lifetimes, Zhang Xungui had never lived in such a treacherous environment; the main reason is that he had never truly felt that martial force could shake the terrifying power of authority and status, and such power he only experienced in the palace as the benefits of authority.

It was actually similar to his circumstances in his previous life.

But he forgot that this is a world different from his previous life.

Ignorant, ferocious, cruel, and straightforward!

If I also possessed power, I wouldn't be chased like a dog, and I wouldn't have endangered Dage and Xiaodie's lives!

Zhang Xungui gritted his teeth, clenched his fists, and at this moment finally realized what he should do.

He only hoped it wouldn't be too late.

【9】 "It's here! Xiaodie… I'm sorry." Zhang Yirong suddenly halted, closed her eyes, and sighed.

"Here! Xiaodie.... sorry." Zhang Yirong suddenly stopped, closed their eyes and sighed.

Still waiting for the offering to arrive?

Yan Buji landed on the ground three meters away from the two, stood firm, and slowly walked over.

"Sir, why are you staring deathly at Zhang Xungui?"

"You'll have to ask him, but I suppose you won't see each other again." Yan Buji chuckled and stepped in front of them.

Zhang Xungui felt a chill run through his body, widened his eyes in terror, and watched the towering, imposing black‑clad man slowly extend a large hand and press it onto his shoulder.

Zhang Yirong's complexion changed instantly; she drew a dagger from her bosom and thrust it fiercely at Yan Buji's neck!

Thud!

Yan Buji neither flinched nor dodged; just as Zhang Yirong could not believe that her razor‑sharp dagger failed to pierce even a fraction of his skin, a forearm swung toward her!

Bang!

"Princess!!"

"Didn't expect it, Zhang Xungui. Even the Princess favors you, yet in this situation you still dare to strike at me." Yan Buji laughed, glancing at Zhang Yirong, who had been knocked far away and lay on the ground, uncertain if alive.

Zhang Xungui clenched his fists, glaring at him with anger: "Why exactly are you looking for me?!"

"You should be a dead man, Zhang Xungui. Yet you stand alive before my eyes. Tell me why I came to find you?" Yan Buji said calmly.

"You!" Zhang Xungui's eyes filled with terror, his mind swirling in an instant.

"Alright, time is short; come with me now!!"

Yan Buji grabbed Zhang Xungui's shoulder and floated away.

Soon after.

A thousand‑strong army sealed off the entire Yingchun Gu inside and out; the injured, unconscious Zhang Yirong awoke in the camp tent, her face flushed as she groaned:

"Cough cough! Gui Gui, Gui Gui?!"

"Princess, do not move violently. What exactly happened?"

Seeing the white‑haired elder speak, Zhang Yirong quickly clasped her hands and said: "Chang Song Zhenren, you finally came! Please save Zhang Xungui and avenge those who died miserably in the valley!"

Chang Song Zhenren frowned: "First, tell me the situation."

"Alright, the matter is as follows…" Zhang Yirong bit her teeth, recounted what happened in the valley, after which Chang Song Zhenren grew even more puzzled.

"Since that thief doesn't know Zhang Xungui and didn't strike you down, there are too many doubts in this case!"

"The urgent priority is to find that thief…"

"It's difficult, but there are many cultivators wandering nearby; let me go ask around first." Chang Song Zhenren said.

"Then that's a trouble for the Zhenren!" Zhang Yirong's heart was in turmoil.

Outside the tent, several people suddenly entered: "Princess, Zhenren, the person who led that thief into Yingchun Gu has been found!"

Ling Yan and Zhong Shifu entered, quickly kneeling before Zhang Yirong: "I, the young lady Ling Yan, have seen the Princess! Have seen the Zhenren!"

Zhang Yirong frowned: "Ling Yan? Are you of the Ling family?"

"Yes, I am the accomplice who brought that thief into Yingchun Gu, but there's another hidden story. Before the Princess sentences me, allow me to report!" Ling Yan's face turned pale, she said anxiously.

"Hmph, knowing you're guilty is enough; I'll let you not deceive me, speak!"

"Yes, that thief was originally the great‑wealthy Yan Buji of Lin Shan Cheng…"

Ling Yan recounted Yan Buji's affairs, also mentioning the deaths of the Iron Tiger Guard, the Kūn Gate Master, and her own father; Zhang Yirong's pupils contracted.

"So it's the Blood Flow Sect Remnant Faction? No wonder they're so audacious, daring to snatch and kill people before me!"

Chang Song Zhenren frowned: "You say that person's martial power is already at the Tianren realm? Yet I know Liu Feng is also someone comparable to Tianren; how could he die so easily at his hands?"

"This… this I don't know."

Zhang Yirong whispered back: "Zhenren, Liu Feng is merely a lone cultivator who happened upon a method, and hasn't yet…"

Chang Song Zhenren frowned: "Even so, magical protection of the body isn't something ordinary martial internal energy can break; what inner skill did he practice?"

"It should be the Blood Essence Skill, reputed as the number one demonic cultivation of the Kūn Dao region. Yet when he acted, there was also a kind of demonic internal energy appearing, truly abnormal."

Chang Song Zhenren looked bewildered, evidently not very familiar with mundane martial arts.

The sect master guard at the side was taken aback, exclaiming: 'Impossible! This Blood Essence Skill internal art relies on strong internal energy to invigorate qi and blood—it's an evil path internal art. How could there still be internal energy?!'

Zhang Yirong asked doubtfully: 'Bao Shifu, do you know?'

'When we previously besieged and exterminated the Blood Flow Sect Remnant Faction, we discovered some fragmentary internal arts, which we studied.'

Bao Shifu is quite straightforward, daring to say that he researches evil-path internal arts.

'Then what do you think, why does Yan Buji bear two internal arts?'

'I... just don't know.' Bao Shifu's face turned embarrassed as he stepped aside.

Chang Song Zhenren rolled his eyes: 'Forget it, I'll first go ask the nearby cultivators around.'

'Then I'll trouble you.'

'Commandery Princess, you're being polite.'

After Chang Song Zhenren left, Zhang Yirong gazed at Ling Yan and took a deep breath:

'Tell me everything you know!'

'Yes, Commandery Princess.'