"I thought who I was, turns out I'm one of the two mad dogs by Lu Qingyun's side."
Zi Baihe sneered and glanced at Caiyun, "Where is your master? Let her come out, otherwise, I, Zi Baihe, will pluck out her claws today."
Caiyun ignored Zi Baihe and instead turned her gaze to Lu Zhuxian, "Thirteenth Young Master, do you intend to join forces with outsiders to deal with us Snow Eagle Swordsmen?"
"I am just seeking justice for my subordinates! I am not bothered about your life and death, but Lu Qinghe must be handed over to me for disposal!"
Lu Zhuxian fully understood the conflict between Zi Baihe and Lu Qingyun, and he naturally did not want to miss this opportunity.
"Thirteenth Young Master, you have become more skilled at striking a man when he's down."
Caiyun said, but quietly told her assistant, "Xuanyin, today's matter is difficult to resolve. At that time, you will lead Lu Qinghe in a breakout and notify the young lady to leave quickly, as it's clear that Zi Baihe has come for her."
"But captain, you..."
"Someone must stay behind."
Caiyun said, her eyes already filled with determination.
This scene, seen by Lu Qinghe, made him take notice.
Undeniably, this Snow Eagle swordsman's actions and demeanor were quite ruthless, but she was unwaveringly loyal to Lu Qingyun.
Even at this moment, she could choose to abandon herself, temporarily stabilize Lu Zhuxian, and find a way to break out. This might not help the overall situation, but it could ensure her own safety.
"You wretch, do you think you can escape?"
Zi Baihe noticed Caiyun's change in expression and sneered coldly.
Then, she turned to a dense thicket in another direction.
"Brother Qiu."
"Swoosh."
A light sound, and three figures, one in front and two behind, emerged from the thicket.
These three figures appeared in a perfect position, forming a triangle with Lu Zhuxian and Zi Baihe, completely cutting off their retreat.
Though the last three to appear were the fewest in number, when he appeared here, everyone present, including Lu Zhuxian, showed the same expression.
Even Lu Qinghe.
"Qiu Long!"
Caiyun's heart went cold.
Qiu Long! Ranked sixty-first on the Third Peak and a top Lianzhen Eighth Level expert, he had once had an outstanding record of a hundred moves against a Lianzhen Ninth Level strong.
Although Lu Zhuxian's cultivation was also at the Lianzhen Eighth Level, he was still inferior to Qiu Long.
"Brother Qiu Long."
Caiyun looked at the suddenly appearing Qiu Long, feeling that the situation was not good, but still greeted him, "I wonder why Brother Qiu Long is here..."
"I am here for him."
Qiu Long's expression was indifferent as he looked at the crowd and at Lu Qinghe, protected by the Snow Eagle swordsman, with a high and mighty look.
It seemed that Lu Qinghe's life and death were entirely under his control.
"Young master!?"
Caiyun was slightly startled.
"Hmph, Caiyun, don't you know? Two months ago, when I was away, he, Lu Qinghe, used despicable means to attack my attendant Liu Zhenghua. He really has the audacity."
Upon seeing Qiu Long's arrival, Lu Zhuxian clearly understood what was going on and sneered.
"Lu Qinghe... killed Qiu Long's attendant..."
A heart of Caiyun's instantly turned cold.
Facing the encirclement by Lu Zhuxian and Zi Baihe, the Snow Eagle swordsman would face consequences, and there might still be hope of making a breakout; now with Qiu Long added to the mix...
Even if Lu Qingyun arrived, she would probably be helpless.
"Lu Qinghe, I'll give you a chance in this matter."
Qiu Long coldly looked at Lu Qinghe.
For such a minor character, if it weren't for the matter of Liu Zhenghua, he wouldn't have had any interaction with him. His master, Lu Qingyun, was the only one he would regard.
"Defeat Wang Wei, and I will spare your life."
After Qiu Long spoke, a man in black clothing behind him stepped forward.
This black-clothed man, also at the Lianzhen Sixth Level, exuded a cold and sharp aura all over his body, causing the Lianzhen Fifth Level disciples of the Snow Eagle swordsman to feel a piercing pain when they met his gaze.
"Wang Wei!"
This name shocked not only Caiyun but even Longge, who had experienced numerous life and death battles, and his pupils constricted.
"Wang Wei has actually become Qiu Long's attendant!"
Lu Zhuxian looked towards Wang Wei with a hint of wariness.
Wang Wei, a renowned swordsman from the second peak of the outer sect, once broke into the top ten of the second peak, almost becoming a true disciple.
At one point, he even challenged a disciple of the Inner Sect who was at the seventh level of refining, and the final result was a draw.
He did not defeat the Inner Sect disciple, and the Inner Sect disciple did not harm him. However, this person, showing his sharp edge and being obsessed with the sword, offended a powerful disciple of the Inner Sect, was severely injured by that Inner Sect disciple, and his cultivation was disabled. He disappeared without a trace for a year. Unexpectedly, now he reappeared with not only his cultivation restored but also under the guidance of Qiu Long.
Seeing Qiu Long let Wang Wei step forward, Lu Zhuxian immediately sneered and remained silent.
Lu Qinghe, at the fourth level of refining, against Wang Wei...
Certain death.
"No hope, no chance at all. Wang Wei is a talented swordsman at the sixth level of refining, comparable to a seventh-level refining expert. As a non-Inner Sect disciple, no one can match him," Caiyun said, glancing at Lu Qinghe.
If Lu Qinghe hadn't offered a vein of elemental stone, perhaps...
"Young Master Lu, you really know how to cause trouble," Deputy Captain Xuan Yin grumbled.
Lu Qinghe looked at Wang Wei in front of him, not showing a trace of fear in his eyes.
Challenging a seventh-level refining expert without being defeated?
The opponents at the normal sixth level of refining were no longer worthy of Lu Qinghe's attention. The only ones who could have a battle with him were the prodigious existences at this level of refining.
"After a month of practice, my cultivation has reached the pinnacle of the fourth level of refining. It is just the right time for an intense battle to break through. If I reach the fifth level of refining...with the help of the forest terrain, Lu Zhuxian, Zibaihe, Qiu Long, no one can stop me," Lu Qinghe had absolute confidence in his heart.
"Lu Qinghe, come up," said Wang Wei, standing in the field, his gaze as sharp as a sword, piercing Lu Qinghe in the crowd.
"Good!" Lu Qinghe brandished the Cold Moon and rose to the challenge.
"Very well, you, a cultivator at the fourth level of refining, can die under my sword, Wang Wei. You can laugh in your grave!" Wang Wei sneered as his precious sword was unsheathed.
However, just as Wang Wei unsheathed his sword, right at the brink of imminent action, a sharp sword light suddenly shot out from the woods.
The sword energy broke through the air, causing Wang Wei, who stepped onto the open ground, to change his expression, and his precious sword was suddenly cut off by this sword energy.
"No!" With the sword cut off, and the sword energy unstoppable, along with Wang Wei's desperate cry, it surged through his throat, carrying his head and blood, and scattered in the sky.
"Wang Wei!"
"Who is it!?"
"Who!"
The sudden change caught everyone off guard, and they all paled.
"Wang Wei? What is this thing! Daring to kill my brother, I'll kill you first!" With a crisp, cold drink, a figure stepped out from the woods.
This figure was only fifteen or sixteen years old, with long, flowing hair dancing in the wind. The well-proportioned figure exuded youthful vitality in a swordsman's attire. The seemingly very delicate and lovely face was full of coldness.
"Miss!"
"Liu Qingyun!"
Seeing this sudden figure, Snow Eagle Swordsman, Lu Zhuxian, Zibaihe, and Qiu Long all exclaimed.
Lu Qinghe also looked at Liu Qingyun in surprise, and then, with a glance at the headless Wang Wei, there was a hint of regret in his eyes...
Wang Wei...
A genius who could challenge a seventh-level refining expert at the sixth level, and a good opponent.
But now, there was nothing more to say.
"Lu Qingyun."
Lu Zhuxian looked at Zibaihe and Qiu Long next to him and remained silent.
As for Lu Qingyun, she did not even glance at Lu Zhuxian, Zibaihe, Qiu Long, and the others, she killed Wang Wei with a sword and came directly to Lu Qinghe: "Elder brother."
As she spoke, she assessed Lu Qinghe.
When he saw that there were no injuries on him, he nodded.
"Miss."
Seeing Lu Qingyun's arrival, the other Xueying swordsmen all seemed to have found their backbone, but Caiyun showed a worried expression.
Lu Zhuxian, Zi Baihe, and Qiu Long, any of these three, were not easy opponents.
"Lu Qingyun!"
At this point, Qiu Long spoke.
His gaze completely ignored the already beheaded Wang Wei.
A dead man had no value anymore.
"Killing my close attendant, are you challenging me?" Qiu Long said slowly.
In that slow tone, there was a deep oppression.
"Challenging!? If that's what you say, then it's a challenge!"
Lu Qingyun's gaze swept over Qiu Long and then moved past him, taking in a glance at Zi Baihe and Lu Zhuxian, "I didn't come to deal with you, but you came to me to die, in that case, today, I will fulfill your wish!"
Seeing herself being treated with such contempt, Qiu Long's expression immediately darkened, "Lu Qingyun! You have some nerve, do you truly think the Inner Sect is the same as the Outer Sect, where you can act recklessly and lawlessly!?"
As he spoke, he took a step forward, drawing his sword, "Today, let me teach you a lesson on how to respect your elders in the Inner Sect!"
"You three, attack together, don't waste time."
Lu Qingyun, with a cold expression, reached for the sword in his hand, his gaze scanning over Qiu Long, Lu Zhuxian, and Zi Baihe before holding the glance.
"Outrageous!"
"Lu Qingyun, you have some nerve!"
"Hmph! Qingyun, although we are both from the Xuejian Villa, you completely disregarded my elder brother. I have no choice but to teach you a lesson! So as to prevent you from causing trouble for our Xuejian Villa in the future!"
"Lesson!?"
Lu Qingyun sneered.
"Daring to humiliate my older brother, the three of you will die!"
"Blustering! Lu Qingyun, do you really think that breaking through the Eighth Level of Refining Truth means you can disregard me, Qiu Long, a veteran strongman!?"
"Kill me? Lu Qingyun, you don't have that ability."
"What is this!?"
Qiu Long, Zi Baihe, and Lu Zhuxian, each harboring anger within them.
"Clang!"
What met their response was the sound of a sword breaking the air!
In an instant, a powerful qi pressure, far beyond what should belong to the Eighth Level of Refining Truth, swept over, and a dazzling sword light shot straight into the sky!
"Die!"
...