Shan Chao slowly shook his head. He stared straight at Xie Yun's eyes and retreated step by step.
Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks. In the nick of time, he moved forward and tried to go around Xie Yun to the palace gate.
Clang!
For a moment, he almost succeeded. But then, the Tai Ah Sword came down with great force and blocked his way.
Shan Chao didn't say a word. He put the Long Yuan back into its sheath and faced the Tai Ah Sword with its scabbard.
He didn't dare to meet force with force. He could only use his skills to neutralize the power of the Tai Ah Sword and wait for an opportunity to go around Xie Yun.
But Xie Yun wasn't someone he could suppress without using his full strength. In the blink of an eye, she forced him to retreat more than ten steps and slashed at Shan Chao's arm.
If the Tai Ah Sword hit its target, it was enough to cut an adult man in half from the shoulder. There was no way he would survive.
At that moment, time seemed to slow down. Shan Chao pulled his sword back and the Long Yuan came out of its scabbard. Clang!
The wind blade suddenly froze. The blades of the swords collided and created fierce sparks.
The Long Yuan came out of its scabbard and blocked the Tai Ah Sword that came down from the sky.
"I can't fight with you …" Shan Chao panted violently. His eyes fell on the left side of Xie Yun's chest, "I can't …"
The scene that was deliberately suppressed deep in his memory suddenly surged in the wind. It overlapped with the scene in front of him and flashed in front of his eyes.
It was the nightmare of his beloved being stabbed in the heart on Mount Tai eight years ago.
"Then step back," Xie Yun said lightly, "No one will know that this has anything to do with you. The Empress also won't know that you were here today."
Shan Chao swallowed hard and said in despair, "Must it be like this?
Is there no way to go back? "
"Go back?"
Xie Yun pointed at the tightly closed red carved palace doors on the white marble steps in the distance. She smiled and asked, "The soup that the Empress bestowed has already been sent in. How do you want to redeem it?"
Shan Chao's expression changed drastically. He couldn't care less. Long Yuan flung Tai Ah away heavily. The sound of metal scraping against each other was ear-piercing. He was about to force his way in again!
Xie Yun flew forward, her white deerskin boots stepping on the line drawn by the Tai-Ah Sword. Her longsword was like a dragon emerging from the sea, once again blocking in front of Shan Chao!
The battle between the two ancient divine swords was like a rainstorm hitting pear blossoms, and also like a myriad of pearls falling onto a jade plate, slicing the myriad of airflows into swift and fierce rotating fragments.
Shan Chao knew that his life was at stake right now, but facing Xie Yun, his hands could not be firm no matter what. In just a few dozen moves, he was already struggling left and right. If it were not for the fact that he was so anxious to rush into the palace gates, he would have already thrown his sword down and admitted defeat.
"Your martial arts have deteriorated a lot in the past eight years, you evil disciple."
Xie Yun raised half of her slender black eyebrows. Her expression seemed to carry a trace of ridicule and disdain. It was like a needle piercing straight into Shan Chao's heart.
An indescribable fury surged in Shan Chao's heart. He suddenly changed his move. The scabbard suddenly pressed down on Tai Ah, firmly sticking to it, and pierced towards Xie Yun!
This move could be said to be an exquisite swordsmanship. However, he used the scabbard and not the sword tip. In addition, he withdrew all of his inner strength in an instant. Even if it was a direct hit, there would not be any serious consequences.
Xie Yun's eyes flashed with an amused smile. The Dark Clan's assassination skills that he had cultivated since he was young allowed him to move like a ghost. In the blink of an eye, he had dodged the Long Yuan.
His sleeves fluttered and his belt fluttered. His posture could be said to be graceful, but his killing intent was as swift as lightning.
Tai Ah seized the opportunity to entangle the scabbard of the White Shark Scabbard and threw the entire Long Yuan far away!
It streaked across the sky in a smooth arc. Then, with a bang, the Long Yuan flew out and landed in the peony garden in front of He Bi Palace not far away.
This move of Seizing the White Blade was so clean and efficient that it could be written into a sword manual. In a split second, Dan Chao's heart was filled with indescribable annoyance. He leaped into the garden, and Xie Yun followed closely behind.
Both of them landed at the same time. Shan Chao reached out to grab the sword hilt, but his wrist was grabbed by Xie Yun.
Then, Xie Yun casually swung her hand and threw the Tai Ah sword out as well!
"Xie Yun …" Shan Chao said in a hoarse voice in disbelief.
However, Xie Yun hooked her finger and did not hide her mockery.
"Come, I'll let you have three moves."
·
He Bi Palace.
"Lotus Seed Lily Soup?" The Crown Prince asked curiously.
Zhao Daosheng bowed and answered submissively, "Yes, Your Imperial Highness.
This lowly one saw that Your Imperial Highness's irritation had accumulated and that the fire in your heart was flourishing. Thinking that you had drunk too many cups at the banquet, this lowly one boldly ordered someone to make lotus seed lily soup to clear the fire and dispel the alcohol. Your Imperial Highness, please have two sips. "
The Crown Prince took the bowl of soup. Suddenly, his gaze fell on Zhao Daosheng's face and he wrinkled his brows in confusion.
The hall was silent. The Prince of Yong, Li Xian, gradually felt uneasy. "… Big brother?"
"What is your name?" the Crown Prince asked.
"This lowly one's surname is Zhao."
"Where are you from?"
Zhao Daosheng seemed to pause for a moment, but it was only for an extremely quick instant.
"… Reporting to the Crown Prince, this lowly one was sold as a child. I do not know where my hometown is, but I vaguely feel that it should be from Shaozhou."
The Crown Prince nodded thoughtfully. "Shaozhou."
The breathing of several people rose and fell in the hall. Apart from this, there was not the slightest sound. Even the air gradually froze.
After a long time, the Crown Prince suddenly laughed.
"Your voice seems familiar, but I can't remember where I've heard it …"
"… Your Mandarin is quite accurate."
Li Xian's complexion paled.
"Reporting to the Crown Prince." Zhao Daosheng dropped to his knees, both hands pressing against the golden bricks. Because he had used too much strength, his fingers were trembling slightly. However, his voice was unexpectedly steady.
"After His Imperial Highness, the Prince of Yong, took in this lowly one, this lowly one is grateful and only wishes to serve His Imperial Highness well. As a result, this lowly one has painstakingly practiced my Mandarin accent. I only wish to not lose face for His Imperial Highness, the Prince of Yong …"
The Crown Prince absent-mindedly nodded his head. "Oh, it is good that you have such intentions."
He used a jade spoon to stir the soup. Just as he was about to lower his head, his heart suddenly began to palpitate for no apparent reason.
This feeling was inexplicably familiar, as if it had happened not long ago.
That was the last time he had stood together with Miss Yang. The woman in his heart had smiled sweetly and beautifully, her flower-like face within reach. If he extended his hand, he would be able to touch her lively face.
However, all of this was like a flower in the mirror, the moon in the water. Suddenly, his heart palpitated and he woke up, discovering that the world was nothing more than a dream. After waking up from the dream, everything remained the same, but the people had changed.
Was Miss Yang doing well in Heaven?
Why would he think of her at this time?
The Crown Prince pressed his hand against his chest, as if to hide his momentary melancholy. He raised his head and drank the soup in one gulp.
"Big Brother …" Li Xian said in a daze.
The Crown Prince put down the bowl and picked up the black jade chess piece in front of him. He forced a smile and said, "What was the move just now? It should be my turn now, right?"
Li Xian's whole body trembled as he hurriedly got up. His eyes were filled with extreme fear, but he could not say a word.
"What's wrong with you?" The Crown Prince asked curiously. Suddenly, a warm liquid gushed out from his mouth and landed on the chessboard.
It was dark red blood.
The Crown Prince stood up in shock, but before he could completely stand up, he fell down and knocked over the chessboard. The blood-stained chess pieces rolled in all directions.
"Big … Big Brother." Li Xian screamed at the top of his lungs, "Big Brother — —!"
·
The energy was like an invisible knife that cut through the void. The peony bushes soared into the sky, countless broken petals fluttering in the air.
The tip of Xie Yun's foot touched the branches of the flowers. She was as light as a feather and as fast as an arrow. Her palm made Shan Chao spit out a large mouthful of blood!
Shan Chao staggered and fell to the ground. He did not have any strength to fight back. He stepped on the broken branches and the fallen flowers as he retreated. He barely managed to block Xie Yun's attack.
But in the next moment, Xie Yun raised her leg and kicked Shan Chao out of the way!
With a bang, Shan Chao's back hit the palace wall. That kick, which contained strong internal energy, almost broke a few of his ribs.
"How was it?"
Xie Yun grabbed his collar and looked down at him, "Did I really let you have three moves just now?"
Shan Chao could not say a single word. He knew that if it were not for Xie Yun's weak body and lack of internal energy, he would have broken many of his bones.
"Are you thinking," Xie Yun's expression had a trace of malice. She whispered in Shan Chao's ear, "… Master is already old. She overused herself in her early years. Now, she is like a piece of rotten wood that can't even withstand a single blow. I can only be at the mercy of others …"
Shan Chao panted and shook his head, "Xie Yun, listen to me."
He raised his hand, but it was gently pressed down by Xie Yun.
Their palms were pressed together and their fingers were interlocked. There was not a single gap between them.
"Maybe you don't remember, but when you were in the North of Mo, you were never beaten. Even when you were practicing martial arts, you were never beaten by me …"
Xie Yun paused and said slowly, "Maybe it's because I didn't beat you that you became the rebellious disciple you are today."
Shan Chao's hand suddenly tightened. His muscles and bones suddenly bulged as he held tightly onto Xie Yun's slender white hand.
At the same time, he turned his face towards Xie Yun's neck. His voice was trembling uncontrollably,
"I'm not a good disciple. Master, I still … I still love you."
He seemed to be choking as he said, "Why don't you just kill me?"
Xie Yun was about to slap him, but he grabbed her hand.
Shan Chao gently pushed Xie Yun away. He stared into his eyes and stepped forward.
It was a completely defenseless posture. Xie Yun swung his arm and gave him a heavy and ruthless punch, causing Dan Chao to spit out a mouthful of blood and saliva.
"Do you really want to die here?" Xie Yun asked.
Shan Chao looked straight into his eyes. His gaze was calm and determined.
Xie Yun laughed coldly. He bent down and picked up the two swords. He threw the Long Yuan out of its scabbard and threw it to Shan Chao. Then, he chopped down with his sword!
The sword was only a few inches away from his neck. His skin was already bleeding from the strong sword energy.
In the blink of an eye, his head was about to fall to the ground. Shan Chao finally raised his hand and blocked the Tai Ah Sword.
"Don't you want to die?" Xie Yun sneered. He suddenly swung his sword!
Xie Yun was always frivolous. However, in reality, she had been training since she was young. Her internal and external martial arts were extremely solid.
Shan Chao did not attack. He only defended. After a few moves, the Long Yuan was unable to withstand the weight of the Tai Ah Sword. It was about to crack.
Xie Yun frowned slightly. Dan Chao's words just now had made him vaguely irritated, and this passive resistance made him extremely impatient. At the moment when the weapons clashed, he simply stabbed his sword towards Dan Chao's heart!
The angle and timing of this sword was perfect. Shan Chao could not avoid it. It was enough to force Shan Chao to change from defense to offense.
In a flash, Shan Chao's eyes flashed with a cold light. The Long Yuan changed its angle and faced the sword head-on. However, just as the two swords were about to collide, he suddenly stopped.
The change was too sudden. The Tai Ah Sword pierced through Shan Chao's chest with a force that was enough to pierce through a person.
Xie Yun's expression finally changed. He stopped in the nick of time and pulled back his sword. His murderous aura surged out like a flood.
At that moment, Shan Chao's mouth twitched. His expression was so quick that no one could tell whether it was relief, sadness, or gratification.
He finally caught Xie Yun's fleeting flaw. The Long Yuan heavily suppressed the Tai Ah Sword that was being pulled back. He borrowed the strength of the Tai Ah Sword and soared into the air!
His solemn vow to seek death was a perfect example of the trick of injuring oneself to gain the enemy's confidence.
Xie Yun was furious. He turned around, but it was too late.
At the moment when the two passed each other, Shan Chao said in a low voice, "I know you …" However, he did not finish his sentence. He was already a few feet away.
Clang!
The door of the palace was knocked open. At the same time, the Crown Prince fell onto the cold and gorgeous golden floor.
His face was black and lifeless. His eyes were still wide open as he stared into the void. Shan Chao suddenly stopped and gasped in disbelief.
"Someone —!"
Zhao Daosheng's mournful voice pierced through the air, "The Crown Prince drank the soup given by the Empress and died of poison —!"