The two exchanged dozens of blows in a flash.
The remaining lotus flowers in the pond were all reduced to powder, leaving only scales and traces of blood floating on the surface of the water, the innocent fish.
The stones on the bank were also blasted apart. If Xie Jiang hadn't dodged quickly enough, she would have been hit on the head by a piece of debris.
After getting up from the ground, Xie Jiang's first instinct was to retreat further away.
Yi Yanheng was like a maddened lion, each strike aimed at taking Xu Hengyan's life, sparing no mercy even to the flowers and plants underfoot.
Where he passed, clumps of grass flew, and the ground was gouged into uneven pits.
Seeing him like this, Xie Jiang couldn't help but wonder if, after killing Xu Hengyan, he wouldn't be satisfied and would turn to twist her neck.
Yi Yanheng was driven mad, his reason long gone. It wouldn't be strange for him to kill anyone.
Xie Jiang nimbly retreated to a safe distance to watch the spectacle.
Initially, Xu Hengyan hadn't understood the situation, not knowing why Yi Yanheng had suddenly attacked him with moves intended to kill. Yi Yanheng was a distinguished guest attending the birthday celebration, and his attitude prior to this had been perfectly amicable, showing no hostility towards the Duke of Wei's mansion.
Perhaps there was some misunderstanding? Xu Hengyan did not wish to escalate the situation, and thus was forced to retreat repeatedly, with no intention of retaliating.
However, under Yi Yanheng's relentless, dense barrage of killing moves, Xu Hengyan gradually began to understand.
Yi Yanheng had shown no unusual behavior during the banquet. The sudden frenzy to kill him must have been because he had witnessed Xu Hengyan's closeness with young Xie just moments ago.
Lu Zhiheng's earlier conjecture was correct.
Yi Yanheng harbored inappropriate feelings for young Xie! Thinking of this, Xu Hengyan's heart suddenly filled with immense anger, and his gaze towards Yi Yanheng also flashed with killing intent.
Xu Hengyan set aside his concerns and finally struck back.
Yi Yanheng's attacks became even more frenzied.
Suspecting a connection between Xu Hengyan and Xie Jiang was one thing; witnessing their intimacy firsthand was another.
Xie Jiang's eyes were irritated by the flying sand and stones, and she silently retreated further.
The commotion by the lotus pond was so great that it was inevitable it would alert those in Linzhang Hall.
Wen Feng and Guang Bai, each leading a team of guards, rushed over.
Guang Bai looked at the scene before him with disbelief, "May I ask what has happened, Marquis Xie? Why is my young master fighting with the Regent?"
"You ask me, who do I ask?"
A whistling force of energy flew past, and both of them ducked to the ground in unison.
"Hasn't Marquis Xie always been with the young master?"
"Is it possible they are exchanging martial arts skills out of mutual admiration?"
"Ah? I can't tell."
Guang Bai rubbed his eyes and watched intently for a moment, feeling that even if he gouged his eyeballs out, he wouldn't see any mutual admiration between the two.
It looked more like they harbored deep hatred for each other.
The Regent's attacks were both fierce and wild, and the young master was also unusually sharp.
He had only been gone for a short while, how did things escalate to this point?
Wen Feng had already found the correct answer from their conversation.
Young Master Xu had been with Young Master Xie all along.
Perhaps the two of them were more than just together.
It was no wonder their master had gone mad.
Wen Feng was confident that his master would not suffer at the hands of Young Master Xu, although the young master's fluid movements were somewhat unexpected.
If it weren't for the fact that his master's fundamental injuries had not fully recovered, it would have been easy to cripple Young Master Xu today.
Wen Feng frowned and watched for a while, worried that his master might aggravate his old injuries. Young Master Xu also carried a heavy killing intent.
Wen Feng approached Xie Jiang. As Xie Jiang was squatting, he dared not stand, "Marquis Xie, your words always carry weight. Why don't you persuade the master and Young Master Xu to stop? Martial arts exchanges should be stopped at the right moment."
Guang Bai nodded in agreement.
Although he didn't know why the young master and the Regent were fighting so fiercely, it was the Grand Madam's birthday today, and it would be difficult to resolve if the matter escalated.
Xie Jiang looked at the two and said, "Are you sure you want me to persuade them?"
Wen Feng and Guang Bai were certainly sure.
They knew very well the status of Young Master Xie in the hearts of their master and the young master.
With that, Xie Jiang stood up and shouted at the two who were locked in a fierce battle, "Yi Yanheng, Xu Hengyan, stop fighting! Can't you sit down and talk things through?"
Yi Yanheng felt as if a raging inferno was burning in his eyes. He wished he could burn Xu Hengyan to ashes!
See how he would dare to want her!
See how she would dare to kiss him!
Sit down and talk! What did she want to talk about with him! Talk about how much she liked someone else!
Xu Hengyan was only slightly at a disadvantage, and she couldn't wait for him to stop, afraid he would hurt her precious one!
Xu Hengyan also saw no need to talk with Yi Yanheng. When had Yi Yanheng started harboring feelings for her? He had previously thought Yi Yanheng's constant protection was just ordinary!
He admitted his own dark, hidden thoughts.
And what a beast in human clothing Yi Yanheng was!
Wen Feng and Guang Bai eagerly awaited their master and the young master to stop fighting, only to see them attack even more recklessly after hearing Xie Jiang's persuasion.
"Stop fighting, stop fighting, stop fighting..."
"Can you two calm down? You're almost fifty combined! Why do you fight at the slightest disagreement!"
Xie Jiang stood far away, shouting and hopping.
"Yi Yanheng, stop fighting! As the Regent, shouldn't you have some dignity!"
"Yi Yanheng—"
Yi Yanheng's heart ached as if it were bleeding. She cared so much about Xu Hengyan!
Wen Feng suspected that Young Master Xie wasn't trying to break up the fight, but was instead fanning the flames, and doing so with organization and purpose. Did she want her master to kill Young Master Xu?
Wen Feng looked at her bouncing back, waving her arms, and it looked like she was cheering them on.
"No, no, no, Marquis Xie, please stop persuading, please stop!"
Guang Bai felt that if Marquis Xie continued to persuade, his young master might suffer.
Half of the treetop canopy was shaved off by the fierce winds from their fight. With a crack, it fell before the three of them. Xie Jiang calmly retreated again to the safety zone behind her.
Wen Feng felt that this kind of fighting was not sustainable. Doctor Lou had explicitly instructed him to cultivate his temperament. "Why doesn't Marquis Xie persuade Young Master Xu to stop first?"
Xie Jiang said, "With your master's current madness, if Xu Hengyan stops first, he'll only have death waiting for him."
Hearing this, Guang Bai felt very gratified. At this critical moment, Marquis Xie was on their master's side, which was not in vain for his sincerity towards Marquis Xie.
"Perhaps if Marquis Xie persuades Young Master Xu to stop first, our master won't pursue him relentlessly."
Wen Feng felt that Young Master Xie was biased. Even if he was biased, he shouldn't be so obvious. This would hurt his master's feelings!
Guang Bai thought Wen Feng's words were too harsh. What did he mean by the Regent wouldn't pursue relentlessly? Although his young master wasn't gaining the upper hand, had he ever been chased by the Regent?
If it weren't for the Grand Madam's birthday today, he would definitely argue with the people from the Regent's mansion!
Xie Jiang looked at Wen Feng and nodded agreeably, "If you put it that way, I don't mind trying again."
It had only just begun, and if it ended so quickly, it would be too regrettable.
"Xu Hengyan! Stop fighting! Xu Hengyan—"
"Xu Hengyan, be obedient! Don't fight anymore! There must be a misunderstanding!"
"Are you two ever going to stop! You're going to tear down the roof! Today is Grand Madam Xu's birthday, can you behave yourselves!"
"Xu Hengyan, you're not even listening to me anymore, are you? If you two keep fighting like this, I'm going to get angry!"
"Xu Hengyan—"