Chapter 384: So Steady!

Thunder roared and lightning flashed, the sudden rain pouring like a waterfall.

Yan Yan Chunyang, whose Qi had long since guarded his whole body against wind and rain, shivered, feeling as though a cold wind had seeped into his very bones; even through the heavy curtain of rain, he sensed the surging killing intent.

"So those are the Dragon Shadow Guards?"

Li Yuan walked at the very back, studying Yan Yan Chunyang with keen interest, along with the two black shadows before and behind him.

He had heard of the Dragon Shadow Guards' reputation — supposedly, they were all Grandmaster-level martial artists who had died beneath Wan Wan Zhuliu's blade.

After death, they were bound by the Dragon God Visage, retaining a fraction of their memories and reason. Though their Wu Gong could not compare to when they were alive, being neither alive nor dead meant they feared neither life nor death; in groups of three or five, even Grandmasters had to give them a wide berth.

"Long Xi Xiang!"

At the sight of the newcomer, Ying Xin's expression changed drastically. Ying Hu couldn't help but grip his short blade tighter, staring fixedly at Long Xi Xiang as he approached slowly, feeling a chill run down his spine.

"Hmph!"

Seeing how the few of them regarded Long Xi Xiang as though facing a great enemy, Nie Xianshan's face twitched. Behind him, sword Qi wove together; the Pure Yang Sword-shaped force tore through wind and rain, humming and ringing with tremendous momentum, immediately drawing everyone's sidelong glances.

That move came so abruptly that not only Li Yuan and his master failed to anticipate it, but Yan Yan Chunyang and the others were also startled, treating it as a grave threat.

"Sect Leader Nie, Sect Leader Long..."

Ying Xin steeled himself and stepped forward, not quite daring to meet Long Xi Xiang's eyes:

"We came tonight only for the Marquis. We absolutely did not collude with those two old ghosts of the Xieshen Sect. We beg the two of you to see this clearly!"

"Is that so?"

Nie Xianshan gave a cold laugh: "If there was no collusion, how do you know it was two old ghosts, and not one?"

"I won't hide it from the two Sect Leaders."

Ying Xin said quite frankly: "Before nightfall, the two of us saw those two old ghosts sneak into Longhu Temple, and only then took it upon ourselves to follow them, to escort the Marquis down the mountain."

"Escort him down the mountain?"

Nie Xianshan cut him off: "What kind of thing are you, to dare come and snatch away a prisoner I have detained?"

"You—"

Before Ying Xin could retort, Ying Hu was already flying into a rage, but Yan Yan Chunyang held him back.

After a brief moment of panic, this Marquis Xiaojing of the Great Fortune Dynasty regained his composure. He did not argue, only looking at the three opposite him:

"The two of you have come — is it to kill this Marquis?"

"Marquis!"

Ying Xin felt his scalp prickle, and hurriedly cupped his fists: "Sect Leader Long, if the Marquis is guilty, it is for the imperial court to deal with. Your Majesty's decree has already reached Mount Hengshan..."

"The pardon document?"

This time, Long Xi Xiang cut him off. His gaze fell on Ying Hu, his eyes darkening:

"Since you've come, you might as well show yourself." if

"Hmm?"

Only when Long Xi Xiang spoke did Nie Xianshan sense something was wrong. His gaze sharpened, but he saw only the burly Dragon Shadow Guard's body begin to tremble violently.

Streams of black Qi spread out from within him, like an unprecedented great demon being born into the world.

"This is... True Qi taking form..."

Li Yuan's heart stirred. Within that surging black Qi, he detected the aura of the first blade of Demon-Slaying.

Under the gazes of the few of them, the Dragon Shadow Guard's tall and burly body suddenly collapsed inward, as though a pair of invisible great hands were kneading it. In the blink of an eye—

The Dragon Shadow Guard had vanished completely.

In his place stood a youth shrouded in a black robe, his complexion cold and sinister.

"Wan Wan Zhuliu?!"

Looking at the black dragon mark between the youth's brows, Li Yuan was inwardly horrified. Though the face and stature were different, this aura... was far too similar.

"Lord Ink Dragon!"

At the sight of this youth, Ying Xin dropped to his knees in prostration, and Yan Yan Chunyang likewise knelt on the ground.

Whooosh~

As an invisible pressure spread outward, the great rain driven by the night wind seemed to halt in an instant.

"Long Hu Longhu Dadan truly is a fine thing — over forty years of sediment swept clean in a single morning, without the slightest trace."

The youth's gaze settled on Long Xi Xiang, carrying curiosity and scrutiny:

"Your nerve,

is still as great as ever. Knowing I'm here, you still dare show yourself."

"Ink Dragon!"

The Pure Yang Sword behind Nie Xianshan shrank to an ordinary size, held in his palm.

"Even if Wan Wan Zhuliu himself were here, this old man would not fear him, let alone a wisp of True Gang differentiated from a Spirit Visage."

Long Xi Xiang's countenance was calm, neither pleased nor angry, appearing perfectly composed.

Spirit Visage...

"Is this the Demon-Slaying Dragon God Visage?"

Li Yuan suddenly understood, yet felt shocked. From what Old Long Tou had said, he was clearly treating this Dragon God Visage as another person entirely.

"A wisp of True Gang?"

The youth laughed despite himself, yet did not grow angry, only saying lightly:

"Your Majesty has decreed a pardon for Yan Yan Chunyang's crimes, stripping him of his title and office. This is the Prince offsetting it with his merits — it conforms to Wang Fa and the rules. Do you have an objection?"

"A pardon?"

Li Yuan was inwardly startled.

As the nominal lord of all under heaven, Emperor Qian naturally had the standing to issue pardons. Let alone pardoning a single person, even a general amnesty throughout the realm would conform to Wang Fa and the rules.

But this Yan Yan Chunyang raped and killed several women, and made such a stir that everyone knows—yet under these circumstances, they still want to grant a special pardon?

Could it be that he's the Emperor's illegitimate son?

"Hmph!"

Nie Xianshan's longsword trembled lightly, his face dark as still water: "This man raped and killed several women at my Mount Hengshan—his crimes cannot be pardoned!"

"Oh?"

The young man raised an eyebrow slightly: "Is Longhu Temple defying the imperial decree, or shall we say, showing contempt for the laws of the imperial court?"

Li Yuan's expression shifted slightly, sensing a deep malice.

The imperial court is the common lord of all under heaven; no matter what goes on in private, the laws and rules on the surface still come from the imperial court. When the Qian Emperor issues a decree, all sects under heaven must obey.

At least on the surface, one cannot defy the imperial decree.

But if they accept the decree and release Yan Yan Chunyang, then the face of Longhu Temple will be thoroughly trampled underfoot—what face would they have left to lead the Hengshan Dao?

Especially now, with sects from all under heaven gathered at Hengshan Dao...

"My Longhu Temple has always abided by the laws and rules, and naturally will not defy the imperial decree."

Long Xi Xiang spoke:

"I wonder, the new—?"

Silence!

As Long Xi Xiang spoke, the wind, rain, and thunder all seemed to vanish.

At this moment, not only Yan Yan Chunyang kneeling opposite, but Li Yuan as well could feel the killing intent of the old dragon-head, and only then understood in his heart.

The Dragon Dao Lord coming down the mountain was not only to fish—it was also to take the opportunity to deal with Yan Yan Chunyang.

Li Yuan sensed the Dragon Dao Lord's will.

The Dragon Dao Lord perhaps hadn't expected the imperial court to actually issue a special pardon document, but his will was also very clear—

"Not openly defying the decree, but Yan Yan Chunyang must die!"

Not only Li Yuan, but the few people opposite clearly felt this as well. Yan Yan Chunyang's heart turned cold—this was the killing intent of a Grandmaster.

Crack!

In the night curtain, lightning serpents rolled away.

In the mountains within the curtain of rain, there were scattered points of firelight; the sound of footsteps came from all around—the earlier tremendous noise had finally alarmed some disciples.

"Good, very good."

The smile also vanished from the young man's face. He looked around—regardless of the distance, anyone who met his gaze felt a chill in their hearts, as if in a daze they had fallen into an abyss:

"Since that's the case, there's nothing more to say..."

Hum~

As he spoke, black tides surged around his body, and an invisible aura rose up, like great waves crashing against the shore, spreading out layer by layer.

From a great distance, Li Yuan could feel the gale rushing at his face.

"Roar!"

Heaven and earth at this moment became incomparably deep and dark. Within the darkness came the sound of dragon scales scraping the ground, and a pair of crimson dragon eyes slowly lit up.

Savage and ferocious killing intent descended along with it.

"There was never anything to say in the first place."

Long Xi Xiang pressed his palms together. Li Yuan only felt a wave of heat spread out, pushing him far away. He raised his eyes to look—the Dragon Elephant Vajra Heaven appeared once more.

Between gold and white intertwined—

The azure dragon and white elephant stepped out from the void, confronting the dragon god within the darkness.

"Everyone get far away!"

Nie Xianshan raised his hand in a sword strike, tearing apart the curtain of rain; the light was dazzling, illuminating the gloom of this place.

"Wait!"

Just at this moment, a voice came—not loud, not soft, but perfectly timed.

"Mm?"

Li Yuan followed the sound and looked, only to see an old monk stroll out leisurely from within the curtain of rain. He pinched a pair of long brows, seeming to have been standing there for quite some time.

"The Dragon Dao Lord truly has a contingency prepared."

The young man seemed to have anticipated this long ago and was not surprised. He merely patted Yan Yan Chunyang's shoulder, and the latter let out a long breath and slowly rose to his feet.

"This old man is by nature an honest man, but alas, there are too many treacherous folk in this world—I cannot help but be on my guard."

Long Long Yingchan paced over:

"You openly invited me to meet, yet in secret you split off true qi to enter my mountain gate by night—truly..."

The old monk slowly raised his head:

"Truly vile!"

Crack!

Heaven and earth suddenly blazed bright, but what cut across the curtain of rain was not lightning, but a white azure dragon woven from clouds and mist.

The azure dragon swam among the falling rain: like the legendary flower of wind and rain—

"True body?"

The Ink Dragon's face darkened—this old fellow was too shameless. His true body had come to meet him, yet the other had only sent a wisp of true qi down the mountain?!

"Caution avoids great mistakes."

Long Long Yingchan slowly raised his hand; the azure dragon within the night curtain dove down. Separated by who knew how many zhang, the wind and rain in the mountains had already been swept clean away.

Far too steady!

Li Yuan, who had retreated from the battle circle, marveled in his heart, and at once felt he had learned something new.

"This, this......"

Yan Yan Chunyang's face was utterly ugly.

At this moment, in the night sky, a Azure Dragon soared; upon the earth, dragon and elephant circled; Nie Xianshan held his fingers together like a sword, sword-light surging like a tide; and farther still, that Dragon-Tiger Pagoda flickered with brilliant radiance.

Wind, rain, thunder, and lightning all seemed utterly insignificant.

Yingxin's body trembled; he felt a chill in his heart, truly sensing what was meant by a dragon's pool and tiger's den.

He had previously despised those two old ghosts for not daring to descend in their true forms.

But now it seemed, if those two old ghosts truly dared descend in their true forms, they would likely fall here as well, and even my lord Mo Long......

"Huff!"

The Cang Long looked down from above, the white elephant trumpeted long, and the darkness behind Mo Long churned several times, yet actually subsided. He let out a long breath:

"Dao Master Long, must he be killed?"

"Can he not be killed?"

Long Long Yingchan countered.

"The Prince's personally transmitted disciple is only this one person."

Mo Long felt a bit of a headache; he simply did not wish to clash head-on with Long Long Yingchan, which was why he had thought to take the person away privately, but unexpectedly still ran into him.

He of course did not fear Long Long Yingchan, but in this situation, wanting to protect Yan Yan Chunyang......

"Then let him take another one!"

Long Xi Xiang radiated murderous aura.

"The face of the Town Martial Prince and the imperial court still must be given; releasing the person is naturally impossible, however......"

Long Long Yingchan's tone instead softened,

One played the bad cop, the other the good cop; watching this, Mo Long's heart blazed with fury, but he still had to hold his nose and ask:

"However what?"

"The Town Martial Prince's Wu Gong is unmatched under heaven; his disciple's Wu Gong must surely not be poor either......"

Long Long Yingchan paced in the rain, appearing composed and unhurried:

"How about this—I shall pick a disciple from my sect. If he can win, then it is his fate that he should not die; if he loses......"