"Someone actually came." Shangguan Jin watched the person approaching with a rope. At first, it was just a blurry shadow, but as they got closer, she realized it was a person, carrying another person in their hand. When the person landed in front of them, Shangguan Jin quickly looked at Xiao Man. What a coincidence, why did this guy show up!
Xiao Man’s gaze fell on Yan Chi, who was bound and tied and being held. Yan Chi was motionless, as if dead. "Is he dead?"
Nangong Yu threw the person onto the ground, creating a pit in the sand. "He's alive."
Xiao Man nodded. "How did you catch him?"
"I chased him all the way and caught him ahead. It took a lot of effort." Nangong Yu stared at Xiao Man. "The murderer is caught for you. You should clear my name now."
Xiao Man turned to leave. Nangong Yu stepped forward and grabbed her arm. "I am innocent."
"Does it matter?" Xiao Man asked coldly.
"Of course it matters!" Nangong Yu replied without hesitation. "I didn't kill your father, nor did I injure him. The one who injured him was him, and the one who killed him was his master behind him."
"So what?"
"So I am innocent! You can’t blame your father’s death on me." Nangong Yu said calmly. Heaven knew how flustered he was, especially when he saw Xiao Man’s cold expression. He was so panicked that he didn't know what to do.
"If I truly blamed your father’s death on you, do you think you would still be standing here talking to me?" Xiao Man asked faintly. This person was usually as shrewd as a fox, why had he become so foolish recently?
A smile appeared on Nangong Yu’s face. "I've asked Wuxiang to wait over there. Let's go first, lest things change if we're late."
"A'jin, go notify the others. We'll cross the quicksand area tonight."
"Yes." Shangguan Jin immediately headed towards the camp.
Xiao Man looked at Yan Chi, who was pretending to be dead on the ground, feeling a bit confused. She looked at Nangong Yu. "Are you injured?"
"No." Nangong Yu replied with a smile. "Man'er, are you concerned about me?"
"You caught him that easily?" Xiao Man asked in surprise.
"It wasn't too easy. We had a good fight before capturing him." Nangong Yu looked at Yan Chi. "This person is a high-ranking member of Yaoyue Tower. His identity is not low."
"His name is Yan Chi."
"Yan Chi? Isn't he one of your men?" Nangong Yu asked in surprise. Yan Chi and Zhan Tianque were both renowned figures in the Four Kingdoms, after all, they were known as the Twin Pillars of Yusheng, both skilled in warfare. "Is this a case of the dragon king's temple being flooded by its own water?"
"He defected to Yaoyue Tower." Xiao Man said slowly. "To be precise, he defected to Feng Moran."
"So he's a traitor." A murderous glint flashed in Nangong Yu's eyes. "Are you going to kill him?"
"Killing him might not be easy," Xiao Man said faintly. "How long are you going to keep pretending?"
Upon hearing this, the person who was bound and tied on the ground immediately sat up. The ropes had been untied. Nangong Yu took a step forward, but Xiao Man stopped him.
Yan Chi stared at Xiao Man for a long time before asking in a hoarse voice, "Who exactly are you?"
Xiao Man took a golden token from her waist. Yan Chi's pupils contracted. "How did this thing end up in your hands?"
Xiao Man put the golden token away. "What's so surprising about this thing being with me?"
"No wonder you could make Zhan Tianque obey you. So you have the golden token." Yan Chi sneered. "I am not Zhan Tianque, who can be deceived by you."
"Did you kill my father?" Xiao Man asked calmly. Having experienced too many betrayals, she could face those who betrayed her with a poker face.
"Yes." Yan Chi did not deny it. "Do you want to avenge your father?"
Xiao Man looked at Yan Chi in front of her. His face was covered by bandages, as if he couldn't see the light. He was clearly a dashing young man full of masculine energy before, why had he degenerated into this state?
However, Xiao Man was no longer inclined to dwell on why he had fallen so low. Murdering her father was enough reason for her to kill him.
"Since that is the case, from today onwards, you no longer belong to the Chiyu Army." Xiao Man said word by word. "From this moment on, you are our enemy!"
Xiao Man struck down with her sword, carrying a powerful killing aura, carving a沟壑 in the ground. Yan Chi looked at Xiao Man under the moonlight, her gaze arrogant and confident. Something flashed in his mind, but he couldn't grasp it.
"Draw your sword," Xiao Man said slowly. "I never thought that one day, my sword would be aimed at you."
Yan Chi did not move, but Xiao Man did. Stab, thrust, slash. Each sword strike looked casual, yet each was profound. Even though Yan Chi knew what Xiao Man's next move would be, he couldn't react in time.
Xiao Man's sword techniques were broad and powerful, without any fancy flourishes. The moves should have been easy to break, but when wielded by Xiao Man, they seemed to have no flaws.
Nangong Yu watched Xiao Man, who seemed to be toying with a child, and sighed. In the end, she was too soft-hearted. With such a soft heart, how could she possibly be Feng Moran's opponent?
Yet, Nangong Yu also hoped Xiao Man would be softer. The softer she was, the less resolute she would be towards him. The softer she was, the more likely he would have a chance to win back her wavering heart.
Yan Chi was also a master. The last time he was beaten without being able to retaliate was many years ago. He was young and fearless then. He encountered Du Gu Man, who was traveling incognito, and was defeated by Du Gu Man with a tree branch, leaving him no room to fight back.
"Who exactly are you?"
"Who I am is not important, what's important is what you have done." Xiao Man's expression was indifferent, her tone icy. There was no warmth in her gaze towards Yan Chi. She could accept enemies plotting against her and harming her, after all, they were enemies. But it was precisely the people around her who conspired with the enemies to harm her, and that was something she could not forgive!
Xiao Man's sword pierced Yan Chi's shoulder, tracing a beautiful arc in the air. Accompanied by Yan Chi's scream, an arm fell to the ground, and blood splattered everywhere. Yan Chi clutched his wound and fell to the ground, groaning incessantly.
"Harming family is an unforgivable sin," Xiao Man said coldly. "I've severed one of your arms as a warning. From now on, we go our separate ways, with no further ties."
Yan Chi curled up in pain, his eyes bloodshot. For some reason, at that moment, he seemed to have a hallucination and actually saw Du Gu Man. Perhaps it was the intense pain that caused him to have such a delusion.
When Shangguan Jin returned with the others, Yan Chi had already fainted from the pain. Xiao Man stood with her back to everyone. "Below is the quicksand area with no place to stand. You'll cross using the ropes. I'll cover the rear."
"Yes." Everyone crossed one by one. Shangguan Jin looked at the profusely bleeding Yan Chi and, in the end, couldn't bear it. He reached out and pressed a few vital points on him, stopping the bleeding. Even if Yan Chi wanted to kill him, he still wanted to retaliate.