Jianghu Demolition Squad

Between Buddha and Demon (Part Fifteen)

The elders, however, were unwilling to leave. Having dedicated their lives to Xuhuai Valley, they vowed to share its fate, whether in life or death.

At Yu’er’s command, several young disciples were forced to carry the elders away.

Yu’er unsheathed her Qiushui Sword, tracing a flourish that mirrored the arc of a crescent moon in the sky. The two disciples blocking the path watched as the walking corpses they confronted had their heads severed, their bodies rapidly shriveling and falling silent.

Seeing this, Yu’er breathed a sigh of relief. At least her divine weapon could handle these creatures.

When Bai Sang approached, she saw the two disciples handling the undying walking corpses without panic. However, seeing that Bai Sang had not evacuated, they grew anxious, “Valley Master, why haven’t you left yet! Didn’t the elders find you? This is bad…”

Bai Sang crouched before the walking corpse, ignoring its grotesque appearance, and began examining it with a silver needle.

“Valley Master, this thing is filthy and evil. It’s best to be cautious.”

Bai Sang, unconcerned, asked, “What happened to the disciples at the medical hall?”

The two disciples gritted their teeth. One of them said, “Today, some patients arrived in the valley, and the elders were teaching. Many disciples gathered there and were almost all trapped. The senior martial brothers who could fight resisted but were all killed by the walking corpses…”

“How many of them are there?”

“Far too many, at least a hundred, not just walking corpses but also some martial arts experts.”

Yu’er said, “Valley Master Bai, Wu Chang has fully prepared to take down Xuhuai Valley. We do not have enough forces, and continuing to confront him will only result in pointless deaths. If he captures us and uses us as hostages to blackmail jianghu, the situation will deteriorate further. We should retreat now, gather more support, and then retake Xuhuai Valley. Xuhuai Valley still needs your leadership. You must not let your momentary emotions get the better of you!”

Bai Sang stood up and looked towards the medical hall. She could see flames rising in several locations, the north wind whipping through the withered grass, adding to the sense of desolation. Her white robes billowed around her, her slender frame standing tall and proud, rivaling the towering mountains that surrounded them.

Her expression was one of deep sorrow as she spoke, “Young Mistress, you are right. I was shortsighted.”

The group quickly made their way toward the back of the valley. Along the way, their resentment grew, and Jun Sixue angrily said, “This Wu Chang is going too far! Xuhuai Valley is a sacred place in jianghu, a sanctuary for healing and peace. They’ve shown kindness to the entire wulin. How dare he attack them?! Isn’t he afraid of facing the wrath of all the wulin heroes?!”

Yu’er stated, “Wu Chang’s attack on Xuhuai Valley is deliberate.”

“What could his motive be…?” Hua Lian wondered aloud.

He paused, noticing Yu’er’s knowing gaze. His eyes widened in realization. “If he’s planning a full-scale invasion from the Miaojiang,” he said, his voice grim, “Xuhuai Valley, situated on the border between Miaojiang and the rest of the wulin, would be his first target. Or perhaps…”

Jun Sixue asked, “Or what?”

“If there is war, there will be casualties. The most skilled healers in the entire world are gathered in the Xuhuai Valley. They’re essential for treating the wounded and finding ways to defeat these corpses. By attacking the Xuhuai Valley first, Wu Chang has effectively crippled the wulin’s most vital support system!”

“That’s despicable!” Jun Sixue exclaimed. “It’s an unwritten rule in the jianghu that healers are not to be targeted during conflicts!”

As they moved, the rustling of dry leaves under the somber woods intensified, and Yu’er glanced back sharply, her face hardening. “They’ve caught up.”

In an instant, Yu’er and Hua Lian fell to the rear. The sound of arrows breaking through the air grew closer. With a turn of their bodies, they used folding fans and the light touch of Qiushui Sword to deflect the crossbow bolts.

The pursuers quickly closed the distance, the leader with protruding cheekbones and sunken eyes, his gaze sinister, “Where’s the Living Gu?”

Feigning ignorance, Yu’er responded, “What Living Gu?”

Wu Chang’s voice, dark and grim, echoed, “Little girl, don’t play dumb with me.”

Behind Wu Chang, a voice declared, “Wu Chang, don’t waste time with them. The path ahead is blocked; they can only escape this way. Send the walking corpses after them, they’ll catch up eventually. Capture Bai Sang first, and the living Gu will follow.”

The speaker stepped forward, dressed in a long purple robe, with white hair and a youthful face, looking dignified.

Hua Lian’s face contorted with rage, his eyes bloodshot as if she were facing a sworn enemy.

“Qianqiu!” The name was practically bitten off his tongue.

Qianqiu…

Yu’er’s gaze turned as cold as lightning, glaring at the man.

Lingyun appeared calm, with a gentle smile, “So, it’s Hua Lian. After all these years, you haven’t changed much, but Si’er…”

Hua Lian roared, “Shut your mouth! Don’t you dare use your filthy mouth to call her by her childhood name.”

He added with extreme disdain, “You are not worthy!”

Yet, Lingyun’s smile remained gentle, completely unfazed by Hua Lian’s harsh words. He looked around casually and noted, “Si’er isn’t here. It seems she left with the living Gu. Let me guess, you went to Miaojiang to visit the Gu Emperor, looking for a way to cure her poison. From your expression, it seems you succeeded. But since she’s not here, she hasn’t recovered yet?”

At this moment, Yu’er truly witnessed this man’s skill at deception and his cunning mind. If she had never heard Hua Lian mention the tragedy that befell the Lin family, she might have mistaken this person for a refined and scholarly man, but knowing his true nature, she only felt a chilling coldness pierce her heart.

Lingyun chuckled, “She always surprises me. Just when I think she’s about to die, she stubbornly survives…”

Before he finished speaking, a sword flashed like lightning toward his face, accompanied by a mournful wind like a wailing ghost.

Lingyun raised his sword to block the attack, but was met with a pair of cold, fierce eyes. In a moment of shock, his sword sheath clicked and shattered, revealing the crimson blade within.

Pushed back by the profound force of the strike, Lingyun retreated two steps. Yu’er’s sword sliced through the air, producing a faint whining sound as it compressed the air around it.

She stared at the sword, recognizing it as the Aihong Sword she had thrown into the abyss of the Tomb of King Cheng, and frowned deeply.

Lingyun laughed lightly, gripping the sword hilt and flinging the sword sheath aside, “Qiushui, Third Miss Jun. Si’er sure picked a good dog.”

Jun Sixue and two others drew their swords. Jun Sixue shouted angrily, “You scum, watch your mouth!”

Yu’er was seething with rage but kept her composure. She said, “Second Sister, take Valley Master and go.”

Jun Sixue responded, “But you…”

Wu Chang sneered, “You think you can escape? None of you are getting away!”

Wu Chang gestured, and a sound of insects chirping rose. Immediately, ten walking corpses attacked from down the slope. Yu’er’s sword moved like a dragon and serpent, instantly killing two.

Hua Lian drew his dagger, moving gracefully and swiftly, beheading another walking corpse nearby.

Jun Sixue and Jun Jimo guarded Bai Sang, retreating step by step. Yu’er turned her sword toward Lingyun again.

She held nothing back in her strikes, each sword strike aimed for Lingyun’s vital points, clearly intent on ending his life.

Lingyun parried each strike with his sword, but Yu’er’s attacks grew increasingly fierce, each strike more powerful than the last.

Initially, Lingyun was composed, having heard of Yu’er’s renowned talents and knowing his extraordinary abilities were to be expected. Yet, as the battle wore on, his surprise grew.

He realized that Yu’er was employing the legendary Sword Saint’s techniques, and the internal energy she wielded was far beyond what a woman in her twenties could typically master.

He no longer held back. As they battled among the trees, their powerful sword energies wreaked havoc, felling trees and tearing up the earth wherever they clashed.

After about a hundred moves, they were still evenly matched. Lingyun narrowed his eyes, no longer wanting to waste time with her. He was about to unleash the full power of Aihong Sword when a shout rang out, “Valley Master Bai!”

Yu’er’s concentration wavered for a moment; she dodged Lingyun’s sword and leapt backward, turning to see Jun Sixue collapsed on the ground, injured, while Wu Chang handed the unconscious Bai Sang to one of his men.

Hua Lian and Yu’er rushed to help, but were immediately surrounded by walking corpses. Seeing the man taking Bai Sang back toward Xuhuai Valley, the two fought fiercely, cutting down seven walking corpses in quick succession.

Suddenly, a figure flashed overhead, causing Hua Lian’s face to pale as he exclaimed, “Feixu!”

Yu’er’s expression changed as she looked toward the retreat path, the direction Xin Chou and the others had taken.

Though she had never fought Feixu, she had heard of his skills and knew he was at least stronger than Tang Linzhi. The group of elderly, sick, and injured behind them would stand no chance against Feixu.

Yu’er glanced at Bai Sang being taken away, hesitated for just a moment, then resolutely said, “Hua Lian, we need to retreat!”

They stopped fighting and, carrying the injured Jun Sixue between them, retreated with Jun Jimo and his brother toward the direction Qingjiu and the others had takenh.

“Chase them!”

There were several exit routes from the back of Xuhuai Valley, and even the closest was dozens of kilometers away. Choosing the wrong exit would make it difficult to catch up with the others.

Yu’er tracked the footprints on the ground and raced along the path, fearing that even a moment’s delay could be costly. Ultimately, she managed to intercept Feixu before he could catch up with the group.

She knew that aside from Xin Chou, the group ahead had no real combat ability. With only a few capable defenders, they couldn’t protect everyone. With too many to defend and the enemy relentlessly pursuing them, getting caught would be inevitable. This situation was untenable.

Yu’er quickly thought of a plan.

She and Hua Lian engaged Feixu, allowing Jun Sixue and the others to go ahead and catch up with Xin Chou.

Yu’er and Hua Lian fought and retreated, eventually leaving Xuhuai Valley and reuniting with Xin Chou. They chose a southern route to escape, but as they went, more of Lingyun and Wu Chang’s men appeared, even disguised walking corpses were sent after them.

Yu’er and her group avoided direct confrontation, disguising themselves and traveling along the main road.

Feixu, noticing that Jun Sixue and the others had disappeared, knew they had split up. He knew that most Xuhuai Valley disciples couldn’t fight and were easy prey, so abandoning burdens seemed normal.

Feixu sent some men to track them, but his main force continued to pursue Yu’er.

Xin Chou, due to his large size, couldn’t ride a horse but his long strides matched a horse’s speed, allowing him to keep up.

Yu’er and Hua Lian drove a carriage south toward Jiangnan, traveling day and night without stopping.

After ten days of pursuit, Feixu finally caught up. He hurled a short knife straight at the carriage.

Yu’er, with a tap of her foot, leapt onto the roof of the carriage, wrapped her sword sheath around the handle of the knife, and smacked it back.

However, four grappling hooks flew out, latching onto the edges of the carriage.

Yu’er called out, “Xin Chou!”

Just as the four assailants were about to dismantle the carriage, Xin Chou had already bent down, entered the carriage, and carried out two people before turning to run desperately.

A rider chased after them on horseback, but Hua Lian leapt from the driver’s seat and kicked the horse in the side with immense force, causing it to topple over and neigh in pain.

Feixu led a group of fifty to sixty people, and even with their exceptional abilities, Yu’er and Hua Lian could not hope to stop all of them simultaneously.

Taking advantage of a momentary lapse in attention from the two, Feixu, whose lightness skill was exceptional, dashed past them and swiftly caught up to Xin Chou. He shouted sternly, “Xin Chou! Stop right there!”

Xin Chou shook his head and replied, “Master won’t allow it!”

Feixu continued, “You can’t even distinguish friend from foe! The Tower Master is already furious. Return now, and he might spare your life. But if you persist in this foolish loyalty, you’ll suffer a terrible fate!”

“Master will be angry too…”

Feixu’s face darkened, and he threw a knife that, despite Xin Chou’s tough skin, embedded itself in his knee.

Xin Chou fell to his knees in pain. Feixu quickly caught up, seeing him still protecting the two people in his arms.

“Hand over the Living Gu and Lin Zigui!” demanded Feixu.

Xin Chou grunted twice and put his arms down, allowing the two people to jump lightly to the ground. Feixu, usually stoic, couldn’t hide his shock and anger as he stared at them.

Zelan snorted disdainfully, shooting him a sidelong glance, “What Living Gu? What Lin Zigui? Who are you, and why chasing after our big guy?”

Zizhi added, “Attacking a Xuhuai Valley healer? Aren’t you afraid of becoming the laughingstock of jianghu?”

“You…!”

As Yu’er and Hua Lian caught up, Feixu glared back at them, “Luring the tiger away from the mountain, you were willing to leave them with a group of weaklings?”

Hua Lian stared back at him and said, “Extreme strategies are necessary for survival.  Without taking risks, nothing can be accomplished!”

The pursuers on horseback surrounded Yu’er and her companions, Feixu’s gaze growing darker, “It makes no difference; we’ll capture you all the same.”

With many skilled fighters among them, Yu’er felt an unusual heaviness in her heart. The five of them facing so many was a bleak prospect.

Just then, the clear sound of clanking was heard, and someone from the outer circle exclaimed, “Feixu, it’s the Beggar’s Sect!”

A group of figures approached, their bamboo staffs tapping against their begging bowls. “Make way, make way!” they called out. “Beggars collecting alms! Good dogs don’t block the path!”