Feng Guai Wu Lang Jun, however, paid no mind. He leaped from the high platform, walked before Liu Liu, and cupped his fist. "楼主, victory is mine."
"Good, take a seat," Liu Liu waved, signaling for him to rest. With four matches potentially scheduled for the afternoon, conserving energy was crucial.
Duomu, seeing his mistress and Dai Mei return with somber expressions, grew suspicious. "楼主, has something happened?" he whispered, leaning closer.
Liu Liu quickly forced a smile. She couldn't reveal this to Duomu; his personality might lead him to scold Zhan Yun on the spot, thus revealing their intentions. "Nothing. You should focus, and absolutely do not wander around Qing Lian Villa."
"I understand," Duomu replied, scratching his head. He glanced at the high platform, no longer pressing Liu Liu. Liu Liu breathed a sigh of relief.
The morning matches finally concluded, and the arena emptied. Zhan Yun exchanged pleasantries with the masters from Wudang and Shaolin before descending the platform. Liu Liu, wiping sweat, led her subordinates back to Qing Lian Villa.
The wind was cool, and the weather began to change. The vibrant green branches were now tinged with a faint yellow, and the flora had withered considerably.
Golden wind, fine and crisp, leaves fell from the phoenix trees.
Liu Liu stood on the stone steps, gazing at the sky, clear and blue. It was another transition from summer to autumn. Dai Mei approached from behind. "楼主, it is time to eat."
"Good," Liu Liu nodded and entered the inner courtyard for their meal. Tonight, she had to leave Black Wind City, lest the Liu family face disaster. She feared no harm to herself, but she dreaded her loved ones being hurt.
The afternoon matches were much more intense, but the opponents were mere trifles for Wu Lang Jun. Consequently, everyone's attention turned to Seven Star Tower. They silently mused that it would be best to provoke Seven Star Tower less in the future, and to avoid these ambiguous individuals, lest they invite disaster upon themselves.
As the afternoon matches concluded, Liu Liu and Dai Mei were preparing to depart when an unforeseen event occurred. Just as everyone watched with excitement, a crimson cloud flashed across the sky, silver threads trailing, and a bewitching figure in red appeared. In an instant, a peerlessly handsome, demonic man stood on the high platform. He cast a lecherous gaze over the arena, let out a chilling laugh, and with a sweep of his wide, crimson sleeves, slowly descended. He turned to face the blue-clad man seated in the center of the high platform.
"Zhan Yun, why have you plastered portraits of my woman everywhere?"
The seductive, alluring voice caused Liu Liu, who had extended her foot, to retract it. Her body trembled slightly. She was angered. Having one Zhan Yun was absurd enough, and now there was another. Who could this be?
Her expression turned grim as she looked over, only to hear panicked voices from outside the arena. "Hua Wu You, the great demon Hua Wu You!" She hadn't expected this man to be the great demon Hua Wu You. Liu Liu couldn't help but feel a sense of self-admiration. Merely showing her face had attracted both the Martial Alliance Leader and the great demon. It seemed her charm was truly immense. A cold smile touched her lips, devoid of any warmth.
Hua Wu You, with silver-blue eyes, enchantingly beautiful, clad in red, his demonic allure made women shriek, yet no one dared to speak. His wickedness was directly proportional to his beauty. If he were provoked, men would be reduced to ashes, and women would be defiled by thousands. Thus, no one dared to offend him lightly.
Zhan Yun, with dark eyes, radiating an aura of righteousness, his ice-lake blue attire accentuated his face, which was as clear as snow. He was righteousness itself, and righteousness was him. Noble and awe-inspiring, with sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, a cold smile played on his lips. With a raise of his hand, a precious sword appeared, pointing directly at Hua Wu You. He spoke sternly.
"Hua Wu You, what nonsense are you spouting? This is clearly provocation. You want to spar with me, don't you? Then come!" Zhan Yun had long wished to meet Hua Wu You. Now that he had finally appeared, there was no reason to let him go. With that, he moved like a breaking wave, his sword swift.
Hua Wu You's eyes darkened. He flicked his red sleeve, and a silver spherical artifact flashed out, gleaming brightly. It was a pair of linked silver rings, each chain ending in a silver ring the size of a fist. As he channeled his energy, the silver rings seemed to come alive, lunging straight for Zhan Yun's face. Controlling artifacts with qi—this skill was truly unfathomable and beyond the reach of ordinary people.
The sect leaders on the high platform exchanged glances, their hearts filled with anxiety. They hadn't expected the great demon to dare challenge them so openly, and for the Alliance Leader to accept. They should have captured him earlier; they didn't believe so many people couldn't defeat one demon. But now that the two had engaged in combat, they could only focus intently, preparing to aid the Alliance Leader.
Zhan Yun wielded a long sword, while Hua Wu You used silver chain rings, and these rings were controlled by qi, not held by hand. The silver chain rings spun faster and faster in the air. The crowd felt countless beams of light flashing on the platform, blinding the eye. Zhan Yun was trapped within the white light, his sharp sword fiercely striking the silver chain rings. The silver artifacts and the precious sword clashed, emitting sharp, deafening sounds.
Liu Liu inwardly marveled. It seemed Zhan Yun was bound to lose. She hadn't intended to meddle, but Zhan Yun was Feng Xie's subordinate, and his actions were to stabilize the empire. Therefore, she couldn't stand idly by. Just as she prepared to intervene, a clear shout echoed from the sky: "Look, shuriken!"
A five-pointed shuriken, carrying immense internal force, struck the silver chain rings. With a loud thud, the shuriken sparked, but the force of the silver chain rings diminished. Slowly, they circled back into Hua Wu You's hand. The shuriken also returned to the newcomer.
Everyone looked over. Another woman had appeared on the platform. She was as radiant as the morning glow, her face like powdered jade, her movements graceful and ethereal. She wore a flowing golden gown. The gown was embroidered with golden and silver threads depicting peonies and orioles perched on branches. The hem was adorned with thousands of pearls, exuding an air of nobility.
Dai Mei quickly asked the person beside her, "Who is this woman?"
"The Alliance Leader's wife, Lin Cai Xue," the person replied, looking somewhat surprised and then glancing at Dai Mei.
Liu Liu felt a pang of doubt. This Alliance Leader's wife was so refined and elegant, why did Zhan Yun wish to take her as a concubine? Moreover, she had lived at Qing Lian Villa for many days and hadn't seen this woman. On the platform, Zhan Yun seemed not to appreciate Lin Cai Xue's intervention, and even showed a hint of annoyance.
Lin Cai Xue clasped her hands and looked at Hua Wu You at the edge of the platform. "I am Lin Cai Xue. Please forgive my earlier intrusion, Lord Hua. I hope you will not take offense." Since she had spoken so politely, how could Hua Wu You continue to be petty? That would make him seem petty. His expression softened. "I hope Alliance Leader Zhan will immediately have those portraits taken down."
As Hua Wu You finished speaking, Lin Cai Xue's expression dimmed slightly, but she couldn't dwell on it now. Zhan Yun's stern voice came from behind her. "Hua Wu You, you are dreaming. Don't even think about it."
"You?" Hua Wu You's face turned icy, as if he were about to rage again. Lin Cai Xue quickly stepped forward, cupping her fists. "You are a guest. Qing Lian Villa is hosting tonight. I hope Palace Master Hua will honor us with his presence. As for the portraits, if they are indeed your woman's portraits, we will have them taken down."