Chapter 383: Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion, Tang Clan
Late at night, in the desolate desert.
On the hill where the camp was set, several large bonfires blazed brightly, casting light across the entire area. Around the fires, groups of men sat with jars of wine in hand, laughing heartily as they clinked their drinks together and downed them in one go amidst cheers from those around them.
Mo Yu sat by one of the fires, smiling as he observed the red-faced men drinking. This lively atmosphere was something he rarely experienced.
After a while, Mo Yu turned his head slightly, looking in the direction of the tent where Lan Bingbing had entered. His silver eyes showed a thoughtful expression.
He had finally realized why the young lady of the Lan family seemed vaguely familiar. Her name, Lan Bingbing, along with her somewhat familiar face, reminded him of his senior sister, Lan Yingying, whom he had met under confusing circumstances.
It was likely that Lan Bingbing and Lan Yingying were from the same family, though the exact relationship between them was beyond Mo Yu's knowledge.
"Heh, what's the matter? Captivated by the young lady?" Just as Mo Yu was staring after Lan Bingbing, Lan Lie came over, teasing him in a low voice.
Hearing this, Mo Yu was momentarily stunned, then smiled and shook his head, not bothering to explain.
"Miss Bingbing is one of the 'Twin Beauties' of our Lan family. Not only is she stunning, but she's also already reached the Dou Wang level at a young age. In the family, only the eldest young lady, her sister, surpasses her," Lan Lie said with a grin.
"The eldest young lady…" Mo Yu's silver eyes narrowed slightly at this mention.
After Lan Bingbing entered the tent, the lively bonfire party gradually wound down as the group began preparing for the next day's journey.
…
Over the next few days of travel, Mo Yu's strength gradually returned to about seventy or eighty percent. His internal injuries healed rapidly thanks to his Dou Qi and the Devouring Elemental Thunder. Judging by his recovery, he would likely heal even sooner than he expected.
However, despite his recovery, Mo Yu kept a low profile. After learning that the Soul Clan had attempted to assassinate him, he decided to stay under the radar for the time being.
But despite his efforts to remain inconspicuous, he noticed that Lan Bingbing's attitude toward him had softened somewhat. After she had instructed Lan Lie to take care of him, no one had asked Mo Yu to do any manual labor. Mo Yu couldn't help but smile wryly at this special treatment.
Could a woman's intuition really be so terrifying? Mo Yu was confident that he hadn't revealed any clues about himself, yet Lan Bingbing seemed to have sensed something. Occasionally, when she glanced at him, her eyes would show a trace of curiosity and contemplation.
Furthermore, Lan Bingbing often found excuses to chat with Mo Yu whenever she had free time. However, her casual conversations were thinly veiled attempts to pry into his identity and background.
Naturally, with Mo Yu's experience, there was no way he would slip up. His vague and ambiguous answers left Lan Bingbing empty-handed every time, much to her frustration.
What Mo Yu didn't realize was that, despite his efforts to conceal his true nature, his striking looks and unique demeanor made him stand out, like a brilliant moon among stars. While Lan Lie and the others, due to their limited exposure, didn't pay much attention, Lan Bingbing, who had seen much of the world, was intensely curious about Mo Yu's origins.
The days passed quickly, with Lan Bingbing's constant probing and guessing. On the fifth day, as the camp was being set up, a messenger bird bearing the Lan family crest flew in from the direction of West Barren City.
After retrieving the message from the bird, Lan Bingbing unfolded the letter. Her delicate face gradually turned cold as she read, and a trace of anger flashed in her eyes.
Seeing Lan Bingbing's sudden change in expression, the camp, which had been filled with laughter, fell silent. Everyone stood up and looked toward her.
"Miss, what's happened?" Lan Lie asked in a low voice.
"It's a message from the family. The Tang Clan is planning to make a move against us. We've been told to stay alert," Lan Bingbing said coldly, her jade-like hands tightening into fists.
"The Tang Clan? Damn it, those bastards again!" As soon as the name "Tang Clan" was mentioned, curses erupted from those nearby.
"What are they planning this time?" Lan Lie asked, frowning.
Lan Bingbing blinked her long eyelashes, then said coldly, "The old master of the Tang Clan wants me to marry Tang San. But their real goal is to swallow up the Lan family and become the true rulers of West Barren City."
Upon hearing this, the young men in the caravan grew visibly angry. The Tang Clan's proposal filled them with disgust.
"Damn them! Do they think our Lan family is something they can just crush underfoot? Making such a ridiculous demand!" Lan Lie shouted in fury.
While Lan Lie fumed, Lan Bingbing's cold eyes moved slightly and landed on the silver-eyed young man sitting by the fire. Mo Yu, however, seemed oblivious to the conversation, calmly poking at the fire. Seeing this, Lan Bingbing frowned and then turned her gaze away, saying coldly, "Tomorrow, we'll be entering the territory of West Barren City. Everyone, be on high alert."
"Yes!"
The group answered in unison.
After Lan Bingbing disappeared into her tent, the camp resumed its quiet preparation. The faces of the men glowed darkly in the firelight. The mention of the Tang Clan had put them all on edge.
"Brother Lan, is the Tang Clan really that powerful?" Mo Yu finally spoke, standing up from where he had been tending the fire and stretching lazily.
"To be honest, the Tang Clan is likely the strongest family in West Barren City. Even the Lan family is slightly weaker than them. But the key is their connection to the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion. Tang Ying, the most outstanding disciple of the pavilion's current generation, comes from the Tang Clan. If not for the influence of our eldest young lady, they wouldn't dare be so arrogant," Lan Lie explained with a sigh. "The Tang Clan has been riding the coattails of the pavilion for years, and their prestige and influence have grown significantly because of it. After all, the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion is one of the top sects in the western region of the Central Plains. Compared to them, the Lan family is still far behind."
"The Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion?" Mo Yu's eyes gleamed with recognition. He hadn't expected to hear of one of the Four Great Pavilions so soon after arriving in the Central Plains.
"Hmph, the Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion doesn't scare me! If the Tang Clan dares to make a move, I'll take down as many of them as I can, even if I die trying!" one of the younger guards shouted angrily by the fire.
Lan Lie didn't pay much attention to the young man's boastful words. He patted Mo Yu's shoulder and said, "Brother Mo Yu, it looks like trouble is brewing for the Lan family. Once we reach West Barren City, I'll ask the young lady to give you some travel money. You should leave on your own to avoid getting dragged into this mess."
Mo Yu smiled but said nothing in response.
"Alright, everyone, get some rest. Double the guard tonight, and be extra vigilant tomorrow. Once we reach the city, we should be safe." Lan Lie sighed and waved his hand, then turned and left. The others, still fuming, sat around the fire to vent their frustrations.
Watching Lan Lie's tired figure disappear into the night, Mo Yu dusted off his hands and bid the others goodnight before heading to his own tent. As he entered, he muttered to himself, "The Ten Thousand Sword Pavilion... favors can really weigh heavy."
…
The next day, the sun blazed in a cloudless sky.
A caravan of horses galloped furiously down a wide road, kicking up a massive cloud of dust.
"Everyone, stay alert! We're about to enter the territory of West Barren City!" someone shouted from within the caravan, and everyone tensed. As they neared a stone signpost at the end of the road, hands reached for the weapons strapped to their backs, and palms began to sweat as they held the reins tighter.
The caravan charged forward like a herd of stampeding buffalo, and in just a few minutes, they had neared the signpost.
Suddenly, the sound of arrows cutting through the air rang out. Countless arrows shot from the trees on both sides of the road, raining down on the caravan.
Though caught by surprise, the guards had been prepared. Bursts of Dou Qi flared up, deflecting the arrows before they could hit their targets.
"Hehe, it seems you were ready for us... but it won't be enough."
A mocking voice echoed from the forest, and a large group of black-clad figures emerged, blocking the road ahead. At the front of the group were two elderly men, drawing most of Lan Lie's attention.
Both elders wore pale yellow robes, each adorned with the same yellow insignia on their chests.
"They're from the Tang Clan," Lan Lie muttered, his eyes narrowing as he recognized the emblem.
"Hehe, Miss Lan Bingbing, please come out. We're here for you." Ignoring the guards, the two elders kept their eyes fixed on the carriage where Lan Bingbing was seated, speaking with a smile.
The door creaked open, and Lan Bingbing gracefully stepped down, her cold gaze fixed on the two elders. With a sneer, she said, "I didn't expect that capturing me would require the esteemed Tang Mu and Tang Huo, two elders of the Tang Clan. I'm truly honored."
Despite her words, Lan Bingbing's heart sank. Both of these Tang Clan elders were around the five-star Dou Wang level, and with the two of them working together, her chances of escaping were slim.
"Enough with the pleasantries. We're just following orders. You're coming with us," Tang Mu said, his face expressionless as he glanced at Lan Bingbing.
"In your dreams!" Lan Bingbing's eyes flashed coldly as she clenched her jade-like hand. A sword covered in scales, like those of a serpent, appeared in her grip.
"Oh, the Serpent Scale Sword. The Lan family's weapon-crafting skills are indeed impressive. It's a pity that you're too stubborn to see reason," Tang Mu said with a shake of his head, a flicker of impatience in his eyes. Stepping forward, he instantly appeared before Lan Bingbing.
With a casual wave of his hand, a surge of powerful green Dou Qi erupted, enveloping Lan Bingbing and cutting off all escape routes.
Facing the full force of Tang Mu's attack, Lan Bingbing's face paled. She clenched her teeth and unleashed her own attack with a palm strike.
"Boom!"
When their palms collided, the resulting shockwave forced everyone nearby to retreat. Lan Bingbing's body, however, was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, only stopping after retreating more than a dozen steps.
"To take one of my strikes, you have some skill. No wonder the young master has taken a liking to you," Tang Mu said, his body unmoving as he glanced at the retreating Lan Bingbing. Without hesitation, he stepped forward again, his palm ready to strike once more.
As Tang Mu's second, even fiercer attack approached, a look of despair flashed across Lan Bingbing's face. Against a Dou Wang, she had no chance.
But just as the palm was about to hit, an invisible force suddenly emerged, easily deflecting Tang Mu's strike and pushing him back several steps.
The sudden turn of events left everyone stunned, including Lan Bingbing, who quickly turned her gaze toward Mo Yu's carriage.
"Sigh. Bullying the weak while boasting of your strength... Old man, it seems your years of cultivation have only thickened your skin."
As the crowd stood in shock, a mocking voice rang out.
The unexpected change left the situation in a state of tension. Tang Mu and Tang Huo glanced around cautiously before Tang Mu spoke in a low voice, "Friend, this is a matter between the Tang and Lan families. Please, show us some respect and stay out of it."
As Tang Mu and Tang Huo scanned the surroundings, Lan Lie and the others frantically searched as well. They knew that the Lan family couldn't possibly have sent reinforcements, so this mysterious helper was both a surprise and a mystery.
Unlike the others, Lan Bingbing kept her gaze locked on Mo Yu's carriage. As a careful observer, she was certain that the voice she had just heard was strikingly similar to Mo Yu's.
And besides, she had always felt that the silver-eyed young man carried a heavy shroud of mystery.
"Creak."
As everyone's thoughts raced, a soft creak broke the silence. All eyes turned to see a young man with silver eyes, dressed in plain linen clothes, stepping out of the carriage.
"Mo Yu?!"
(End of Chapter)
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