Chapter 218: Predicament

On the meditation cushion.

Chen Heng slightly bent two fingers, withdrawing the sword qi that whirled around him, flowing with endless power.

The room's mournful, cold light instantly extinguished, returning to its former appearance.

"I beg my senior to instruct me."

He cupped his hands and spoke.

Dun Dun Jiesuo coughed twice, thought for a moment, then pulled over a low stool from beside him; only after sitting down did he speak slowly:

"As you know, my greatest skill is shifting through void; if my magic power were sufficient, as it was in years past, even taking you out of Xudu Heaven and into a nearby Yi Fang Xiao Zhi Jie in the sky would not be impossible.

Just now, I sensed subtle disturbances in heaven and earth; fearing that members of those aristocratic clans had come to seek revenge against you, I quietly went to take a look.

Heh!"

At this point in the speech.

My muscles suddenly tensed in an instant, giving rise to an extremely sharp sensation.

But where exactly Master Qiao Zhenjun Ying had fled, even the two True Persons of the Master Qiao Zhenjun Rui clan found difficult to explain, with no means to track his whereabouts.

You are all people of the same clan; do not make things too unsightly. As for him, given his background, even the two True Persons could easily capture him, so quickly surrender! Do not forget, he is no match for his elder brother!"

"Shameless rogue! He deserves to die!"

These people colluding inside and out, wanting to stir up some trouble, would indeed find it difficult."

Dun Dun Jiesuo rubbed his hands, answered affirmatively, whereupon a cluster of shimmering blue light instantly shot forth from the crown of his head, enveloping both the Master Qiao Zhenjun family and himself; as it rippled, it vanished like a water tide.

Above this flower-and-plant crown lay a pair of eyes clear as water, bright then dim, seeming within and without to hold dots of green waves, with misty light swirling and lingering...

"The two True Persons have not yet arrived on their way. Qiao Shimei, since we both studied the Dao under True Person Master Qiao Zhenjun, you may call her 'Qiao Shimei.'

I originally thought capturing another Master Qiao Zhenjun Ying would be a matter of taking it straight from the hand, easy as anything.

The pink-robed man covered his mouth and said.

At the narrow python head stood eight cultivators; the leader wore a black robe, possessed a remarkable appearance, and around his body flowed surging clear light like heavy water, making a rushing sound, his imposing manner extraordinary, showing at a glance he was no ordinary figure.

The blue-robed woman shouted loudly, pointed a finger, and immediately a flying shuttle shot out, bursting forth a beam of brilliant light that dazzled the eyes and bewildered the mind, making it nearly impossible to see.

Although both were inner disciples of the White Commerce Upper Academy, Shi Ke was older than Shi Ke by birth and deeper in cultivation, so naturally he felt little fear.

A crimson cape, a lake-green shimmering long skirt, skin brighter than snow, and a jade hairpin swaying among her tresses, its radiance glistening.

"Who could hunt you down? That is quite a story; do not forget, Little Master Qiao Zhenjun's grandfather often disagreed with Clan Master Master Qiao Zhenjun Rui, and the two have been discordant for many years.

Through prior collusion inside and out, with calculated intent against unguarded hearts.

They say... is it merely coincidence?"

"As for why you became separated from True Person Master Qiao Zhenjun's people, that is not hard to guess; are you not traveling alone now?

He waved Shou Zhong Zhong heavily, and just as he was about to order the two beside him to capture Master Qiao Zhenjun Ying.

Amidst the vast, misty green mountains, two trails of fleeing light were currently chasing and being chased.

As if driving wild beasts, merely keeping him dangling neither too fast nor too slow.

Master Qiao Zhenjun Ying silently raised his head, gripped a golden talisman within his sleeve, his expression unreadable:

This talisman's defensive capability is indeed formidable; once any method strikes it, whether talismanic artifact or Daoist technique, all will vanish like snow before the blazing sun, completely dissolved, ceasing to exist.

In an instant, the light flashed.

Flames surged upward, thick smoke scattered in all directions, turning several zhang around into a murky white expanse!

Nearly ten breaths later.

Dun Dun Jiesuo seemed to guess what the Master Qiao Zhenjun family wished to ask, spread his hands, and said:

The pink-robed man moved without the slightest delay, took a silver bottle from his sleeve pouch, injected true qi into it, tilted it backward, and immediately a drop of clear water the size of a fingertip appeared.

The Master Qiao Zhenjun family did not hurry to answer, merely frowning slightly, dark light flickering in the depths of his eyes.

A hint of mockery appeared on the black-robed woman's face, and she stamped her foot hard.

"Oh?"

"Guess, what did this old man see?"

"If we capture Master Qiao Zhenjun Ying and deliver him to the two True Persons of the clan, once this matter spreads back to the clan, Seventeenth Brother will truly catch the eye of a noble patron! From then on, endless benefits will await!"

The blue-robed woman hastily chimed in:

"Seventeenth Brother," called Chen Heng, was an inner disciple selected by True Person Master Qiao Zhenjun this time, fortunate enough to enter the Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua Fan Fan Dongtian for cultivation,

"Seventeenth Brother, that must be the last Fiery Jin Jin Guang Talisman, correct?

The man on the right still looked like a young girl, his cultivation mediocre with nothing noteworthy, his face deathly pale, traces of blood visible at the corner of his lips, clearly indicating severe injury.

The Master Qiao Zhenjun family suddenly interrupted.

"Years ago, Chen Chen Yushu secretly attacked Bai Xue with a strand of divine sand, nearly ruining the Dao fruit of the White Commerce Academy; it was only because Master Qiao Zhenjun Ying's grandfather produced the 'Moon Yellow Great Elixir,' a treasured heirloom of his lineage, that the injury did not worsen, and later, combined with the methods of the Zhongyi Sword Sect itself, the Dao fruit was finally preserved.

On the spot, the whereabouts of the two were revealed.

Dun Dun Jiesuo slowly shook his head and said:

"Then let us go, to save her once."

Seeing the flying boat swift as flowing fire, its flames spreading, making the surrounding several li of territory glow with brilliant shimmer.

Due to a moment of carelessness, he suffered a great loss.

Only later did he suddenly become alert, changing his strategy, urging the great python beneath his feet to neither advance nor retreat excessively.

Dun Dun Jiesuo felt as though he had punched empty air, giving him the illusion of strength with nowhere to apply it.

"It seems I must still wade into that murky water after all?" the Escape Realm Shuttle laughed.

"Such a talisman treasure is rare even beneath your feet."

Some unforeseen changes had indeed occurred.

Moreover, since Master Qiao Zhenjun Ying had been tricked out of her sleeve pouch, she had lost her last resort.

Looking toward the flying boat behind, that cloud of gold and crimson light was gradually fading, revealing the vessel's original form indistinctly.

Only a muffled boom was heard.

That pink-robed youth and the blue-robed maiden, like Chen Heng, were all members of the Master Qiao Zhenjun Rui clan cultivating under Shi Ke.

After gazing deeply for several moments, he finally sighed inexplicably and spoke with genuine praise:

The few exchanged glances, all breaking into laughter that shook the clouds and sky.

The Master Qiao Zhenjun family head shook his head: "Both the Left and Right Abyssal Void Demon-Suppressing Sword Talismans originate from the Master Qiao Zhenjun Rui of Mishan; if the time comes when we cannot avoid it, then let them go... so be it."

The team accompanying True Person Master Qiao Zhenjun to the Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua Fan Fan Dongtian was, of course, utterly routed in one strike.

"To speak plainly, this old man has seen through the people of the White Commerce Academy!"

Chen Heng shook his head, finding this highly agreeable.

"Among True Person Master Qiao Zhenjun's people, I know only that one individual; as for 'old friends,' that term is not quite fitting—it was merely a few brief encounters."

Hearing this, Chen Heng only gave a faint smile but made no reply.

Beneath its feet, the giant python, displaying its ferocity and seeming eager to swallow the flying boat ahead in one gulp, let out an unwilling, resentful hiss as if receiving an order, instantly slowing its pace.

Following behind was a small python seventy zhang in length, its entire body resembling black jade.

Shrouded in a dim haze, its facial features and expression were indistinct.

"The White Commerce Academy... has that branch academy also departed? It seems the day when the four academies gather at Heming Mountain is not far off."

Ahead was a flying boat radiating intense brilliance, wreathed in clouds of gold and crimson that coiled around its hull, as if enveloped by a divine flame.

"That person of True Person Master Qiao Zhenjun—is it Master Qiao Zhenjun Ying?"

Yet Shi Ke merely turned a deaf ear, still wearing a smile on his face without showing any anger.

The young male attendant beside Master Qiao Zhenjun Ying flew into a rage, jumping up and down while cursing bitterly.

Since Chen Heng's lineage had always been supporters of the Master Qiao Zhenjun Rui clan head, they naturally enjoyed deep trust; thus, two True Persons under Shi Ke informed him of the truth and ordered him to provide assistance.

"However, you are of the Master Qiao Zhenjun Rui; with your status and position, who could possibly hunt you down? Are you alone, having become separated from True Person Master Qiao Zhenjun's team?"

He had intended to say something, but seeing the situation, he held back and fell silent.

Observing his manner of not engaging in the conversation at all.

And at that moment.

Facing the flattery and ingratiating words of these two, Chen Heng's expression barely changed; he merely smiled and remarked with emotion:

Before Chen Heng could offer any hint, the two Master Qiao Zhenjun Rui clansmen beside him understood immediately and almost simultaneously struck out without prior agreement.

After Master Qiao Zhenjun Ying and her female attendant fled using a Small Teleportation Talisman, the two True Persons of the Master Qiao Zhenjun Rui unleashed all their methods, conducting a thorough search of the mountains and seas.

"Such a favor is truly not light..."

"Meeting this maiden today was indeed fortunate; although we schemed to trick away her Qiankun bag and deceive her of her protective means, we truly did not expect that even one of Master Qiao Zhenjun Ying's maidservants would possess such immense wealth—Small Teleportation Talismans, Fiery Jin Jin Guang Talismans..."

And in the corner of his eye.

Ultimately, this came down to.

As it passed through the void, it emitted a thunderous rumble, sweeping away all violent winds and flowing clouds.

Chen Heng raised his eyes; a trace of deliberation flashed in his dark pupils, and his spirit unconsciously concentrated.

The flying boat ahead was instantly blown apart!

"You lad are utterly boring; whoever becomes your Dao companion in the future will surely die of suffocation..."

And at the same time.

"Your sleeve pouch has already been tricked away by us, leaving you without any means to save your life or turn the tables; as for your young male attendant, the talisman treasure beneath him has also been exhausted. In such a state, what can you do?"

"Quick to perceive the situation, indeed, but merely prolonging your agony."

"Senior Brother advises you: do not resist in vain; if you suffer injury, would it not be a pity?"

Seeing this, Chen Heng gave a faint smile.

By sheer chance, after several hours, Chen Heng actually stumbled upon Shi Ke's whereabouts, leading to the current situation.

The moment its form appeared, that drop of clear water surged violently with the wind, expanding into a white river dozens of zhang long, forcefully parting the clouds and mist along its path, and striking fiercely at the flying boat with the momentum of splitting stone and piercing the sky.

Yet he had never expected.

"Moreover, that person of True Person Master Qiao Zhenjun is an old acquaintance of yours; however, your current circumstances can hardly be considered good, being hunted down all the way; I fear—"

"Little Master Qiao Zhenjun's Small Teleportation Talismans are already exhausted; thus, this Xiao Gong will likely fall to Seventeenth Brother! Congratulations! Congratulations!"

"Little Sister has heard that among the two True Persons rushing over, one is highly valued by the clan head and serves as his trusted heart... In this regard, Little Sister must offer her early congratulations to Seventeenth Brother."

The Escape Realm Shuttle did not speak directly but suddenly created suspense, saying meaningfully:

The Escape Realm Shuttle continued:

Immediately, blood gushed forth violently!

"This old man discussed the true details of this matter with you several times during that Hushang Dharma Assembly."

The python spirit moved through the high sky like flashing lightning; its speed was so great that it lost nothing to that small flying boat, even retaining enough strength to easily overtake it.

At this moment.

"The White Commerce Academy and Master Qiao Zhenjun Ying's grandfather were truly sworn friends; for the White Commerce Academy to cultivate to such a realm, Little Master Qiao Zhenjun's grandfather contributed greatly."

"But today you have collided with me; how truly amusing!"

Elsewhere.

Beside the woman in the black robe, a woman in blue clasped her hands and offered flattery.

Chen Heng cast his gaze outward.

The Dun Dun Jiesuo was slightly surprised.

But my luck is truly terrible.

Out here.

The Dun Dun Jiesuo saw me tapping the tea table behind me with a bent finger, my back to the dim daylight from the window.

It is indeed a fine task...

I used no technique; I merely shook my shoulders, and a small hand of true Qi, entirely azure, condensed and slammed heavily backward!

Chen Heng was still slightly dazed.

"Dream on!"

At that moment.

Chen Heng, having no other choice, could only flee with two clan relatives, aimless, hoping to stumble upon a stroke of great luck.

He muttered, shaking his head and saying:

Beside him, the pretty young man in pink clothes quickly chimed in with a smile of ingratiating intent.

"The beauty is indeed stubborn."

However, since their cultivation and status within the clan were inferior to Shi Ke's, they usually regarded Chen Heng as their leader, deferring to his commands.

And the young man on the left was born with an elegant and graceful bearing, refined and beautiful; one glance at him would make one feel scorched by his radiance.

"Shi Ke's life or death has nothing to do with you, but since you have this connection with the White Merchant Academy, ignoring it in the end would not be good."

Only the sound of "pfft" was heard.

In the previous instant, there was no time to make any move.

Master Qiao Zhenjun Shi frowned slightly, her voice pausing for a moment:

"He will kill you and take your corpse away; you certainly won't let them use you as a pawn to blackmail your grandfather!"

The flying shuttle, the white waves, the small hand...

Seeing the Xiong Xiong flame light beneath the flying boat extinguish.

"It seems now that those two sides are about to completely tear off their masks..."

Even though they had met several times before.

I shook my sleeve, smiling faintly:

I knew that this Golden Fire Great Flame Talisman was gradually fading and could no longer provide support; a smile crossed my heart, and the expression on my face grew even more gloomy.

Chen Heng merely fixed his gaze for a moment, then showed a look of warm scorn, turned his head, and looked toward the mountain stream nearby.

"Ever since the team heading to the Liuhuo Liuhuo Honghua Fan Fan Dongtian after Shi Ke's departure was deliberately scattered, you and this maid of the Master Qiao Zhenjun family have been quite clever, relying on a few Small Displacement Talismans to hide here and there, so much so that even the two True Persons of the clan could not find you."

"That is another muddy water; getting involved is troublesome. I truly do not wish to meddle in idle matters, especially affairs between noble families, but—"

At the beginning, Chen Heng had not yet recognized the true origin of this talisman.

"This is a fortune bestowed by heaven, intended to make the Seventeenth Brother's Xiong Gong succeed! If heaven offers it and you do not take it, you will suffer the consequences!"

And since you have already spent all your cunning and brought things to this state.

The clear sound from the tea table finally stopped; immediately after, I heard Master Qiao Zhenjun Shi sigh softly and say:

The senior disciple from the sect is also held up; he cannot spare a clone to come to the rescue.

"..."

Hearing this, Master Qiao Zhenjun Shi fell silent again; after a moment, she finally nodded, rose, and said:

It also seemed as if a vague figure had appeared...

"The Seven Qiaos of Mishan are indeed stunning... It is truly a pity that the Daoist Brother of the Lei Ting Mansion who made the Rouge Evaluation died; with just my eyes, few can match!"

Suddenly!

Two women were supporting each other, struggling to stand up.

I am taking a day off tomorrow to adjust my schedule; I still have real work and cannot work full-time, so taking leave is truly unavoidable... For those who find it slow, I suggest you just rest up.