Luan Wencheng stood on the second-floor corridor, looking down at the man entering the inn, his brow furrowed slightly.
“What are you looking at?”
A door opened behind Luan Wencheng, and the question circled from behind his head to his ear. He turned and saw Zhuge Qingfeng walking beside him. As Zhuge Qingfeng asked, he looked down. The person below seemed to sense something and looked up.
The three men met each other’s gazes, their eyes crossing in mid-air.
“Who is that?”
Zhuge Qingfeng’s brow rose, and his hand subconsciously gripped the hilt of the long saber behind him.
“Xuan Xiao, the Vice Commander of Wan Ku Lou!”
“Wan Ku Lou?”
Zhuge Qingfeng had indeed heard of this organization. Wan Ku Lou was not like their proper sects. They had no fixed cultivation methods or martial arts manuals, nor did they operate on a disciple model. Therefore, to them, Wan Ku Lou was merely an organization, unworthy of being called a sect.
Wan Ku Lou was a mixed bag, with its members, from the Commander down to the disciples, all being vicious villains. If classified by righteousness and evil, Wan Ku Lou and Gui Sha Men would both be categorized as cults.
Belonging to the same camp of demonic outsiders.
As for Xuan Xiao.
It was rumored that this man was a pervert who enjoyed toying with people until they died.
Zhuge Qingfeng had always thought such a pervert would look monstrous, but unexpectedly, this one looked quite presentable.
A faint blush tinged the corners of Xuan Xiao’s eyes. His lips curled upwards, and the muscles around his tear mole shifted upwards, giving him a devilishly charming and sinister appearance.
His gaze swept over the necks of Luan Wencheng and the other man, his killing intent undisguised. Zhuge Qingfeng slightly drew his saber, but Luan Wencheng grabbed his wrist and pushed the saber back.
“I heard your Wan Ku Lou’s old Commander issued an order that whoever can take Feng Luan’s head will become the next Commander. Vice Commander Xuan Xiao, have you come for that?”
Everyone knew that this was Medicine King Valley’s territory. Wan Ku Lou had animosity with the Medical Immortals of Medicine King Valley. To pursue them all the way here, let alone seek revenge, if those seeking medical treatment knew that such a significant ‘experience point’ like Xuan Xiao was here, who wouldn’t want to kill him to curry favor with Feng Luan?
Luan Wencheng’s lips curved slightly, his clear voice betraying no malice, yet his words were enough to make him an enemy to all.
The innkeeper, who had been leaning against the counter, slowly straightened up. The waiter stopped wiping the table and paused slightly. Everyone in the main hall on the first floor looked up, their gazes fixed on Xuan Xiao.
Xuan Xiao nonchalantly tidied his sleeves, his eyes slightly upturned, making him appear even more wickedly charming. “Naturally, I have not.”
Young Master Xun was a fool, and his death was his own doing. He would not trouble Feng Luan for that fool. Not to mention the Medicine King Valley behind Feng Luan, even Ji Jinmo’s Demon Hunting Army was enough to level their Wan Ku Lou. In this martial world, the forces one absolutely could not offend were the imperial court and Medicine King Valley.
Feng Luan possessed both. Even if he coveted the position of Commander, he wouldn’t be foolish enough to be a pawn in the old Commander’s hands.
“Is that so? That is for the best then!” Luan Wencheng’s face was adorned with a smile, but the smile did not reach his eyes.
Xuan Xiao tilted his head, his gaze falling on Luan Wencheng’s face. He was contemplating what kind of knife and with what force he could peel off this face intact. A thick, abyssal aura seeped from his body. Luan Wencheng felt as if he were instantly enveloped in cold, every inch of his skin caressed by frost. The cold permeated his flesh and bone, even his blood seemed to freeze into ice.
Zhuge Qingfeng instantly drew the saber from his back, pointing its tip at Xuan Xiao’s nose, his hand tightening its grip on the hilt.
Xuan Xiao let out a scoff, then withdrew his gaze. He glanced at the attendant following him. The attendant quickly walked to the table, took a handkerchief from his embrace, and meticulously wiped down the table and stools before Xuan Xiao slowly took his seat.
Xuan Xiao of Wan Ku Lou, if he wasn’t here for revenge, then what was he here for?
…
Several horses had died. The wind and frost etched ice shards onto the faces of those galloping on horseback.
“Halt~”
A jade hand pulled the reins. As the horse’s hooves lifted, the horse let out a neigh. The rider, cloaked in a fur coat with only half their face exposed, leaped off the horse and hurried towards the sentry post, raising a jade pendant.
At the sentry outpost, a scout waved the flag in his hand. He swung it left and right twice, signaling: friendlies, permission to pass.
The camp gate opened wide, and the deputy general rushed forward.
“My Princess!”
Yu Cheng Huan nodded at him and continued towards the main camp without pausing. The deputy general followed closely. The leg armor tied to his calves and the scabbard of the sword around his waist clinked together, creating an increasingly rapid and crisp sound.
The military camp was filled with a murderous aura. Yu Cheng Huan, wrapped in wind and frost, quickly lifted the tent flap.
Yu Wen Ji, the Prince of Ruyang of Da Li, sat before the border map, his head bowed, concentrating on the scroll spread on the desk.
“Father!”
Yu Cheng Huan took off her coat and walked towards Yu Wen Ji.
Hearing the voice, Yu Wen Ji finally looked up. The moment he saw Yu Cheng Huan, he seemed to sigh with relief. He got up to meet her, took the coat she had taken off himself, and a hint of joy appeared in his imposing eyes. “Why has Huan’er come to see your father? Have you quarreled with your mother again?”
Yu Cheng Huan put her arm around Yu Wen Ji’s arm and said with a smile, “Father is talking nonsense. Your daughter just misses you…”
The deputy general turned and lowered the tent flap. He first walked to the side and pressed his ear against the tent, listening carefully. After confirming that no one was monitoring them, he walked back to the two of them.
He first glanced at Yu Cheng Huan, then shook his head at her.
Yu Cheng Huan and Yu Wen Ji walked behind the table. Yu Wen Ji lightly tapped the location of the Bei Li army camp on the border defense map. With a soft “click,” a secret passage appeared at their feet.
The deputy general handed a lamp to Yu Cheng Huan. Yu Cheng Huan released Yu Wen Ji’s arm, took the lamp, and stepped into the secret passage.
The passage led downwards. Yu Cheng Huan descended a dozen steps, and a corridor appeared before her. Oil lamps hung on both sides of the corridor. She took out the candle from the lamp and lit the oil lamp.
After passing through this narrow passage, the view suddenly opened up.
“Huan’er?”
A call came from within. Yu Cheng Huan hurried her steps, almost running towards the room inside.
Her father, the true Prince of Ruyang of Da Li, Yu Wen Ji, lay on the bed with a pale face, attended by only one hidden guard.
Yu Cheng Huan’s eyes reddened as she quickly went forward and supported Yu Wen Ji, who was trying to get up.
“Father, I have obtained the medicine.”
She took out the medicine and held it out to Yu Wen Ji with both hands.
Faint scars that were almost healed could be seen on her fair hands. Yu Wen Ji’s gaze sharpened, and a murderous aura filled his eyes. What he cared about most at this moment was not the medicine that could cure him, but who had injured his daughter.
“Huan’er, who injured you?”