Song of Adolescence

Chapter 146 Cloud Step and One Sword

Now that the Hidden River’s Thousand-Faced Ghost had reappeared, then other members of Hidden River may also have appeared. The Su House’s Su Ziyi and Su Hongxi, and the Mu House’s Mu Liangyue. And if new assassins were joining them, then they were going to be very difficult to deal with. Tang Lian searched their surroundings, sensing for any sign of breaths from others, and his eyes landed on the old pine tree beside Mu Ying.

"There is a person hidden in that pine tree," Tang Lian said softly.

Lei Wujie smiled and said, "Are they trying to ambush us when we attack him? This Thousand-Faced Ghost only knows how to use trickery." After saying that, he stepped out and struck a palm at the old pine tree. The trunk exploded in an instant, revealing the figure hidden in it, which was actually Sikong Qianluo. Sikong Qianluo had obviously suffered a lot of injuries, her mouth was stained with blood, and she was tied up within the tree. She opened her eyes with difficulty and looked at everyone.

Mu Ying sneered, and was about to speak, but Xiao Se interjected, "Were you going to say that we only have two choices, one is to put down our weapons and surrender, and second, we can choose not to put down our weapons, but Sikong Qianluo will die?"

Mu Ying, who was robbed of his lines, snapped angrily, "Then, make your choice."

"I choose." Xiao Se took a step forward. "Your death!"

Cloud Step. In one step, he jumped right in front of Mu Ying. Xiao Se reached out his hand and snatched Sikong Qianluo who was tied to the tree. Mu Ying\'s face changed into anger immediately, and he came at Xiao Se with his palm. "You’re seeking death!"

But a sword struck!

Right behind Xiao Se, streaked through the sky, a long and slender sword - the Heart sword.

Mu Ying retreated, his palms dancing wildly, palms crossing with sword, and he was forced by the sword to retreat fourteen paces. Lei Wujie caught up immediately, gripped the Heart sword, and stabbed thirteen times! Mu Ying continuously changed his figure, using his Art of Puppet Killing, but each one was shredded by Lei Wujie.

"How many faces have you hidden under that skin? And how many puppets are there under your robe?" Lei Wujie smiled. "I’m going to cut them all up with one sword, can I?"

On the other side, Xiao Se had already untied the ropes around Sikong Qianluo, held her in his arms, and walked back slowly.

"What if you were too late just now? Would I really have died?" Sikong Qianluo whispered.

"No, you wouldn’t," Xiao Se said calmly, his expression mild. "I won’t be too late. I said I would save you, that means I can definitely save you."

Sitting on her horse, Ye Ruoyi watched Xiao Se walking over slowly, finally showing an expression that she was familiar with. Yes, this was the Xiao Se she knew. As long as he’d decided on something, then he could definitely do it.

Xiao Se slowly carried Sikong Qianluo onto his horse, and Sikong Qianluo spoke again, "I don\'t want to return to Snow Moon City. I want to go to Lei Clan Fort with all of you."

"Alright. After we’re finished at Lei Clan Fort, we will return to Snow Moon City together," Xiao Se replied.

Next to him, Tang Lian exhaled a sigh. "You just agreed to her so easily. When the time comes, you’re going to have a headache."

Xiao Se shook his head. "It’d be better than how things are now."

Tang Lian frowned, and suddenly shouted, "Luo Mingxuan!"

"Aye, present!" Knowing that he’d made a big mistake, Luo Mingxuan could only lower his head with a sheepish smile, kicked his horse and trod over slowly. "What are da-shixiong’s orders?"

"Get lost!" Tang Lian stepped onto his horse, jumped across to Luo Mingxuan\'s side, and kicked him off his horse.

Luo Mingxuan fell face first to the ground, and frantically got up again. When the pearl in the palm of every single person in Snow Moon City was lying there seriously injured and close to death, what else could he do? He suffered a kick and a fall and didn’t dare to protest at all. He could only lower his head and didn’t dare to face Tang Lian.

"Didn\'t you hear me! Get lost!" Tang Lian raised a hand, ready to fight.

Luo Mingxuan hurriedly pulled on his horse’s reins, flipped onto his horse and furiously waved his whip. Then, he was off as he sped towards Snow Moon City.

On the other side, Mu Ying had been retreating steadily. His name in the martial world was even more terrifying than the Great Sword Ghost Su Changli, because his thousands of faces and superb poisoning skills were too difficult to guard against. But, when it came to a direct confrontation, his martial arts were definitely inferior to Su Changli. Now that he was facing Lei Wujie, who entered the sword heart three times and whose swordsmanship had already beaten Su Changli, Mu Ying was no longer a match.

"This sword is for impersonating Tang Lian-shixiong and lying to me!

"This sword is for hurting my Qianluo-shijie!

"This sword is for attempting to sneak attack Xiao Se!"

After three sword moves in a row, Mu Ying had run out of tricks. As a last resort, Mu Ying suddenly raised his hands, one robe flew up, he raised his hands again, and another robe flew up, raised again, and the last robe flew up. The three robes fell and stood upright, and together with Mu Ying, they formed a square formation, enclosing Lei Wujie in the middle.

"Previously, I’d only used my Art of Puppetry. Now, let me show you my Art of Murder!" There was a chill in Mu Ying\'s eyes, and a thick fog flowed out between the robes.

"It\'s a poison array," Xiao Se said solemnly.

Tang Lian stepped forward and swept towards the two.

Mu Ying managed to trap Lei Wujie temporarily, but behind him was a person known as the number one expert amongst the younger generation of Snow Moon City, Tang Lian. Mu Ying was already injured and naturally would prefer to avoid fighting. He turned around and wanted to escape, but Tang Lian blocked his way. Mu Ying smiled, stretched out his hand, and a thick fog sprayed towards Tang Lian.

But Tang Lian simply stood in place and didn\'t dodge.

Mu Ying was stunned for a moment, a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.

"My surname is Tang," Tang Lian said slowly. Tang Clan of Central Shu, known as the world’s number one user of hidden weapons and poisons.

"My shifu’s surname is Baili, and his mother\'s surname is Wen," Tang Lian went on to say. The long established Wen Clan, the world\'s number one user of poison arts, even above Tang Clan.

Tang Lian\'s implication was very simple. To use poison against me, someone from the Mu House was far from qualified!

On the other side, a cold light flashed, and Lei Wujie had already broken through the thick fog with his sword. He forced his sword aura into a defensive barrier around himself, and finally he was able to break through the poison and he stood behind Mu Ying to block his escape.

"The Hidden River never kills without reason. There’s a client supporting you." Tang Lian waved his hand gently, and the fingertip blade hidden in his sleeve was already in his hand. "Reveal his identity and you can leave."

Mu Ying suddenly laughed, and his face transformed into a child with a foolish grin, but his voice was still that of an adult. "Even if you’ve defeated me, you shouldn’t underestimate the members of Hidden River." As soon as he finished, his smile froze on his face and didn’t change again.

"He’s… dead?" Lei Wujie asked in confusion.

Tang Lian reached out his hand to test Mu Ying\'s breath and nodded. "He probably swallowed the poison he’d hidden in his teeth. I’ve heard the Hidden River assassins always hide a poison in their tooth, named ‘Three Breaths’. When coerced, they will bite their tooth, and the poison within will flow into their mouth. After three breaths, they will die."

"What a terrifying organization." Lei Wujie kept his sword and walked past Mu Ying. At this time, Tang Lian glanced at Mu Ying and saw his fingers twitch. Tang Lian flicked his own fingers instantly, and a very small, almost transparent Dragon Beard Needle pierced through the air and penetrated Mu Ying\'s forehead.

"What\'s wrong?" The oblivious Lei Wujie glanced at Tang Lian, perplexed.

Tang Lian shook his head. "Nothing. Let\'s get back on the road."