Chapter 372: Guarding Jianchi

Seeing Taba Yu'er's state, Zhang Lie suddenly felt a sense of relief in his heart.

Both of them had already resolved the grudges in their hearts.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Yang Su, Ning Ke, Shuxiang, and the others had already arrived at Taba.

The purpose of their trip was none other than Yuwen Tuo.

Ning Ke wanted Jianchi to recover his true identity as Yuwen Tuo to prevent him from being led astray by Duan Fengyun.

Yang Su, however, wanted to take this opportunity to seize Yuwen Tuo's Xuanyuan Sword so that he could seek revenge on Duan Fengyun.

Duan Fengyun, who was meditating in the inn, suddenly opened his eyes because he sensed that uninvited guests had arrived at Taba.

It seemed that because of his interference, the plot had indeed begun to change.

However, at this stage, Duan Fengyun would not allow anyone to disrupt the plot.

Without experiencing the Shennong Cauldron incident, Chen Jingchou and the others would not go to search for the Kongtong Seal, and the Xuanyuan Sword would not be reborn on the Sword Wall.

The Shennong Cauldron plot was crucial and would directly determine the future direction; Duan Fengyun would not let anyone with ulterior motives ruin this part of the story.

Duan Fengyun closed his eyes, and in an instant, he transformed into a streak of firelight and vanished from the room.

At this moment, Yang Su and his Twelve Immortal Dao Army were standing outside Taba City, and Yang Su spoke up:

"After we enter Taba later, I don't care what methods you use, you must take that Jianchi, who is Yuwen Tuo, away.

He cannot be allowed to remain outside any longer; I must obtain his Xuanyuan Sword to take my revenge."

"Yes, Grand Secretary!"

The Twelve Immortal Dao Army replied in unison.

Just then, Yang Su suddenly had an ominous feeling; after he took a large step backward, a streak of firelight suddenly appeared in the spot where he had been standing.

Under the puzzled gazes of Yang Su and the Twelve Immortal Dao Army, Duan Fengyun's figure slowly manifested.

Duan Fengyun laughed:

"Grand Secretary Yang, your reflexes are quite fast!"

Seeing the suddenly appearing Duan Fengyun, Yang Su gritted his teeth in hatred:

"Qin Shuang, it's you!

Why are you everywhere I go? Why must you follow me!"

Duan Fengyun waved his hand and sneered:

"Grand Secretary Yang, you are mistaken with that statement.

It was clearly I who arrived at Taba first, and then you appeared.

This is a question I should be asking you!"

Yang Su shouted angrily:

"I have come today to find my beloved disciple Yuwen Tuo; I believe that with the Xuanyuan Sword in his hand, he will surely be able to avenge me."

Duan Fengyun looked at Yang Su with a mocking expression:

"If you said that about someone else, perhaps I would believe it.

Do you think I would believe that Yuwen Tuo would avenge you?

Your 'good disciple' wishes he could kill you every single day, yet you still count on him to avenge you.

Yang Su, you must be daydreaming.

Let me think, you old fox couldn't possibly be unaware of Yuwen Tuo's hatred for you; you brought the Twelve Immortal Dao Army all the way to Taba, so you must have other motives."

Duan Fengyun pretended to think for a long time, then said with an evil grin:

"Oh, I've figured it out.

You must be coveting Yuwen Tuo's Xuanyuan Sword, wanting to take advantage of the fact that he is currently an Incarnation of Jianchi to seize his Xuanyuan Sword.

Yang Su, you really are a despicable villain through and through."

Yang Su gave a cold snort:

"Divine weapons have always belonged to those capable of wielding them.

Yuwen Tuo only relied on his good luck to gain the recognition of the Xuanyuan Sword, but the Xuanyuan Sword is only fit for the strong; Yuwen Tuo is simply not worthy of using it.

Qin Shuang, you approached Yuwen Tuo and have now come to Taba; if I am not mistaken, you must also have your eyes on the Xuanyuan Sword. We are all of the same kind, so why make things difficult for each other?"

Yang Su simply assumed that Duan Fengyun had deliberately approached Yuwen Tuo eighteen years ago under the guise of a tutor, and that his arrival in Taba to approach Jianchi was all for the sake of the Xuanyuan Sword.

Seeing this, Duan Fengyun waved his hand in rebuttal:

"You old fellow, don't you misunderstand.

I am not like you; I have no designs on Yuwen Tuo's Xuanyuan Sword.

My relationship with Yuwen Tuo is just that of brothers who get along well, which is why I help him.

With my strength, do you think I need the Xuanyuan Sword?

Without this Xuanyuan Sword, I can still defeat you all the same.

So, to me, the Xuanyuan Sword is just an optional thing."

Yang Su laughed heartily:

"Qin Shuang, do you think I would believe that?

Who in this world would refuse the Xuanyuan Sword? Your strength is at most enough to dominate the Human Realm.

But there are so many powerhouses in the Human Realm, Demon Realm, and God Realm; what does your little bit of strength count for?

But the Xuanyuan Sword is different; with it, your strength will increase several times over. I don't believe you can resist the temptation of the Xuanyuan Sword."

Duan Fengyun shook his head; why wouldn't this Yang Su believe him?

To make Yang Su believe him, Duan Fengyun formed a seal with one hand and grabbed toward the Void.

Instantly, the golden, flashing Xuanyuan Sword flew directly out from the magic seal and landed in Duan Fengyun's hand.

Duan Fengyun brandished the Xuanyuan Sword and said:

"Yang Su, take a look at this Xuanyuan Sword in my hand and tell me what you think."

It was thanks to Guyue removing the external seal on the Xuanyuan Sword for Duan Fengyun that the sword was able to return to its original appearance.

Seeing the Xuanyuan Sword appear in Duan Fengyun's hand, Yang Su said in disbelief:

"How is this possible? How could you possibly summon the Xuanyuan Sword!

How could the Xuanyuan Sword be in your hands?"

Duan Fengyun said triumphantly:

"How about it? Are you surprised to see the Xuanyuan Sword you've been longing for in my hands?

Before Yuwen Tuo took on the Incarnation of Jianchi, he was worried that someone would target his Xuanyuan Sword, so he gave it to me and made me the new master of the Xuanyuan Sword.

How about it? You must be very angry.

You never expected that after eighteen years of plotting, the Xuanyuan Sword you were aiming for would actually fall into my hands, did you?

Oh, Yang Su, Yang Su, in the end, you have only labored in vain for someone else!"

Yang Su looked at the Xuanyuan Sword in Duan Fengyun's hand; the golden, shimmering blade and the peerless Sword Intent all told Yang Su that this was the real Xuanyuan Sword, not a fake.

It was indeed as Duan Fengyun said; Yang Su was currently very angry.

He had not expected that after eighteen years of painstaking planning, Duan Fengyun would end up reaping such a huge benefit.

He was already no match for Duan Fengyun, and now that Duan Fengyun had obtained the Xuanyuan Sword, how was Yang Su supposed to play this game with him?

Knowing he was no match for Duan Fengyun, Yang Su spoke up:

"Duan Fengyun, consider yourself lucky today.

Out of consideration for Yuwen Tuo and the Xuanyuan Sword, I will not lower myself to your level today."

Yang Su shouted at the Twelve Immortal Dao Army to the side:

"What are you still standing there for?

Let's go, we're heading back.

Are we staying here to be a laughingstock for others?"

After saying this, Yang Su left directly using his Divine Fire Clone.

Yang Su believed that Duan Fengyun would not make a move against him now; after all, they were currently in Taba, and it would be bad if their battle summoned Jianchi and the others.

Unable to defeat Duan Fengyun in a fight, Yang Su had no choice but to leave in a dejected manner.

After seeing Yang Su leave, Duan Fengyun once again performed a hand seal with one hand, placing the Xuanyuan Sword back into the Void.

Duan Fengyun could not help but praise the Divine Fire Clone again; this Divine Fire Clone was truly useful.

It was fierce in a fight, fast in speed, and could even store items; it was truly an essential for traveling the world.

After sending Yang Su back home, Duan Fengyun prepared to go find the remaining people.

He knew that Ning Ke and Shuxiang had definitely arrived, and he knew that the purpose of their trip was certainly to bring Yuwen Tuo back.

But now was not the time for Yuwen Tuo to return, and he had to stop the two of them.

Duan Fengyun spread out his Spirit Sense and discovered Shuxiang and Ning Ke in an instant.

It was no small discovery, and upon finding them, a smile appeared on Duan Fengyun's face.

Because the place where Ning Ke and Shuxiang were staying was the very inn where he had checked in, and their room was right across from his.

Duan Fengyun smiled and turned into a streak of firelight, returning to the inn.

After returning to his room at the inn, Duan Fengyun went straight to the door of Ning Ke and Shuxiang's room and knocked.

Hearing the knocking, Ning Ke and Shuxiang were both very puzzled; they had only just arrived here, so who could be knocking on their door?

Ning Ke and Shuxiang exchanged a glance; Ning Ke conjured a curved blade in her hand, while Shuxiang took a blade in her left hand and cautiously walked to the door, opening it.

Looking at Shuxiang who had opened the door, Duan Fengyun greeted her warmly:

"Shuxiang, hello there.

Is Commandery Princess Ning Ke here? I heard she also came to Taba.

As a good brother of Yuwen Tuo, I certainly had to come and pay a visit to my future sister-in-law."

Seeing that it was Duan Fengyun, Shuxiang cautiously stepped back a few paces and stood with Ning Ke.

Both of them gripped their weapons tightly, looking at Duan Fengyun with a guarded expression.

Ning Ke asked with a guarded look:

"Duan Fengyun, why are you in Taba?

And how do you know I am here?"

"Oh, Duan Fengyun?

Commandery Princess Ning Ke, it is truly strange that you can call me by this name.

Let me answer your question first: I missed my brother Yuwen, so I came to Taba to see him.

As for finding you, that is a matter of fate.

Because my room is right across from yours, and I checked in half a day before you did.

I have answered your question; shouldn't you answer mine now, Commandery Princess Ning Ke?"

Duan Fengyun said with an evil grin.

Ning Ke covered her mouth; she knew that she had been too quick with her tongue and had actually revealed that she knew Duan Fengyun's true identity.

Ning Ke said righteously:

"I have known that you are called Duan Fengyun for a long time, so you don't need to keep pretending."

Duan Fengyun continued to look at Ning Ke with an evil grin; feeling creeped out by his gaze, Ning Ke turned around and prepared to leave.

Watching Ning Ke as she prepared to leave, Duan Fengyun spoke up directly:

"Commandery Princess Ning Ke, where are you going?"

"If 'Commandery Princess Ning Ke' doesn't sound good to you, I can also change the way I address you."

"For example, the Demon Lord's Daughter, or Princess Ning Ke of the Demon Realm."

"I wonder, do you like this form of address?"

Ning Ke, who had been preparing to leave, stopped in her tracks immediately after hearing Duan Fengyun's address.

Ning Ke's heart was now in complete turmoil.

Her inner self kept asking:

"How could Duan Fengyun know my identity?"

"How could he, Duan Fengyun, know my identity?"

Regarding her disguise, Ning Ke was still very confident; she was unwilling to believe that Duan Fengyun had actually discovered her identity.