Chapter 490 - 295: What Gives You the Confidence to Kill Me?
Chapter 490: Chapter 295: What Gives You the Confidence to Kill Me?
Chen Yi had no desire to deal with the wandering martial artists in the city.
But nor would he lead them to Puyin Temple.
Thus, the moment he left the North City Gate, he immediately channeled the Heaven and Earth’s Spiritual Mechanism through his Martial Arts: Step Realm to empower his Meteor Butterfly Step.
In an instant, he vanished over the horizon.
The many wandering martial artists who had hoped to follow him and watch the spectacle exchanged glances, swallowing involuntarily.
"A Body Technique like that... My eyes aren’t deceiving me, are they?"
"No mistake."
"What ’Dragon Spear’ used was indeed a Body Technique at the Dao Realm—a path in Martial Arts that is easy to learn but difficult to master. Even if his cultivation is only in the Middle Three Grades, a Body Technique at the Great Success Realm is comparable to the very best of the Upper Three Grades."
"But... but..."
"Don’t say it. You’ll just make us all envious."
Despite their awe, many were unwilling to miss the show. They left the North City Gate and gave chase in the direction Chen Yi had gone.
"I just heard that the young lady of the Dingyuan Marquis’s Mansion was kidnapped. ’Dragon Spear’ leaving the city right now must have something to do with it."
Amid the commotion, Shen Huatang arrived on Kangning Street with Xie Tingyun. Upon hearing the news, they followed the other wandering martial artists without a moment’s hesitation.
"Tingyun, if anything happens to the Young Lady, I... I... I’ll never forgive you!"
"I... I didn’t think this would happen either, Huatang..."
"Hmph!"
Though Shen Huatang said this, in her heart, she mostly blamed herself.
As Xiao Wan’er’s personal maid, she had failed in her duty to protect her.
Wasn’t blaming Xie Tingyun just a way to ease her own conscience?
Xie Tingyun blamed herself as well.
If she hadn’t used "visiting a friend" as an excuse to sneak out and have fun today, none of this would have happened.
’No matter what, and no matter who’s behind this, I’ll risk my life to bring the Young Lady back.’
Everyone makes mistakes. Some can be fixed, others cannot.
Risking one’s life was just a way to suffer a little less when it came time to atone.
Such was the case for Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang in this moment.
So too was it for the White Tiger Guard General, Lady Tiger Lou Yuxue, Simurgh Phoenix Cui Qingwu, and others who received the news.
...and for Chen Yunfan, after he heard the news.
"Young Master, the Governor’s Office has issued a warning. You must remain in the Government Office and await orders."
Chun Ying looked at Chen Yunfan’s cold expression and forced herself to continue her admonishment. "The Xiao Family’s incident has already thrown the Prefecture City into chaos. You... you..."
"It’s truly not the right time for you to get involved. You... you cannot go."
Chen Yunfan was unmoved. As he fastened a long sword to his waist, he gestured to Ning Yu.
"Ready the horses! Forget everyone else—we follow ’Dragon Spear’!"
Ning Yu glanced at Chun Ying but dared not hesitate. He went to the stables and brought back three fine horses.
Chen Yunfan vaulted onto his horse, and with a sharp tug on the reins, galloped toward the North City.
His stern voice drifted back. "Chun Ying, this is the last time I’m warning you—don’t try to restrain me with the White-robed Minister’s doctrines!"
"In this world, where can I not go?!"
Ning Yu and Niu Mountain followed close behind him.
Chun Ying stared blankly at their retreating figures, a bitter look on her face.
She had been with Chen Yunfan for some time and knew his temperament well.
But in some matters, her hands were tied.
Chun Ying sighed. Just as she was about to return to the study to help Chen Yunfan with his unfinished work, she heard a soft voice nearby.
"Young Master... is he going to help the Xiao Family?"
Chun Ying looked at the speaker and nodded lightly. "The Young Master has changed a lot recently."
Despite the gloomy, rainy weather, the man wore only a bamboo hat, a light tunic, and a pair of straw sandals on his skinny calves.
In the dim light, he looked up slightly, revealing the face of a middle-aged man with thick hair and a dense beard. His two coarse eyebrows were particularly striking.
He looked at Chun Ying and asked with a smile, "When did the Young Master start to change?"
"It must have been... right after he arrived in Shu State."
"Oh?"
Chun Ying recalled, "Ever since the Young Master met Young Master Yi, he... seems much happier than before."
"But because of that, he’s also become more invested in the Xiao Family’s affairs."
"Young Master Yi?"
The man stroked his full beard, thought for a moment, and shook his head with a smile. "They are brothers, after all. It’s only natural that the Young Master wants to help Young Master Yi."
He paused, then began to walk away.
"Just focus on the tasks the master assigned you. I’ll go have a look."
"Be careful..."
At that moment, Shu State City was in an uproar.
The Governor’s Office, Inspectorate Office, Prefectural Magistrate’s Office, Imprisonment Department, and City Guard Army had all mobilized to search the city for suspicious individuals.
The garrison outside the city, on Duke Dingyuan’s orders, sealed off all major roads, stopping and inspecting everyone who passed.
All this left many citizens deeply unsettled.
"The Xiao Family is still the Xiao Family. Once the Old Marquis gives an order, it doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks. They all have to fall in line."
"That’s the truth... The Old Marquis, sigh..."
"Let’s just hope the heavens are watching over the Xiao family’s young lady..."
...
Three hundred li northwest of Shu State Prefecture City, a dilapidated temple lay hidden among the barren mountains and untamed wilderness.
Its walls were crumbling, and the grounds were choked with weeds.
Thunder boomed, and lightning tore through the rainy night.
Barely visible through the thick cobwebs next to a pillar near the entrance was a battered plaque: Puyin Temple.
Yet deep within, in a Buddhist Hall, a fire flickered.
It cast several silhouettes onto two toppled Buddha statues. At a glance, the stone statues, with their mouths and noses broken off, looked particularly sinister.
Du Cang stood with his hands clasped behind his back, watching the violent storm outside the window. The gloomy look on his face was gone, replaced by a hint of a smile.
Behind him, Uncle Gui and a young swordsman dressed in the attire of one of Liu Hong’s guards stood watch over a woman, their faces devoid of expression.
It was none other than Xiao Wan’er, tied to a roof beam.
She stared around in bewilderment, still unable to understand why these people had brought her here.
Especially since among them was Uncle Gui from the Marquis’s Mansion, as well as two burly men with the distinct features of barbarians.