Qi sent off broken bricks into all eight cardinal directions, drawing large and tiny scars all over spectators of the fight that could not block them out in time.
However, qi protected the bodies of those two people inside the battle ring, so they were instead unharmed.
This didn't mean that their pressure was any lesser than the spectators'.
Feng Xiao did not know what Xiao Lu felt now, but he knew there was only one thing he felt:
Going against the currents, and to not advance is to go back.
The last time they fought, Xiao Lu kept his identity at bay and feigned weakness to stop Feng Xiao from delivering a proper judgement of his true abilities.
Even if this time he was prepared, he was still inwardly taken aback by the abilities that the other displayed.
Xiao Lu, who had absorbed the Jade of Heaven's Lake completely, would have a depthless amount of inner strength. With such strength, his martial arts would also be a step above.
Presently, Feng Xiao truly did not have the confidence to really win him.
However, even if his chances of winning are slim, he couldn't lose.
The Stormy Tavern has thoroughly been reduced into a wasteland. Both of them fought three moves above it, clashing three palms. Xiao Lu was hit on the shoulder, and Feng Xiao was injured on his waist. Both of them took three steps back, but one could see the differences between them.
Xiao Lu's three steps were smaller than Feng Xiao's.
But Xiao Lu withdrew at the chance; he hadn't pressed on for victory.
Because he was waiting. Waiting for the enemy to err.
Feng Xiao didn't force himself to return the attacks, because he was also taking breathes inwardly.
Qi originated from the dantian and once it reached the Baihui acupoint1 it would split into two streams, flowing into all parts of his body. Before, the meridian Feng Xiao was injured in before felt better, feeling like it had been slightly healed.
But this wasn't enough. Xiao Lu would not give him enough time to heal himself. The reason he hadn't moved was because he was waiting for an opportunity.
Qi swirled around them, as if it were winds that came from different directions, testing one another as it flowed in gentle currents, but once they realized the opposition had taken a step back, they would immediately tear down its warm and gentle facade, roaring ferociously all of a sudden.
The dark clouds on top of their heads were getting thicker. It was unknown since when raindrops as large as beans began falling continuously.
Both of them hadn't noticed it, allowing the rain to dampen their robes.
Feng Xiao closed his eyes, and that light shadow went off all of a sudden, turning into an endless expanse of darkness.
The qi around his body weakened, similar to wild winds that pursued dark clouds and knowing there was no hope, yet had to gather in a single place in futility.
Xiao Lu finally attacked!
A long sword appeared in his hand. The sword's sheath had already been lost; his figure was as quick as the sword's glare itself, dazzling in the rain and dashing at Feng Xiao like starshard!
Feng Xiao didn't move, as if he had already given up struggling. The sword's glare was drawing close, and yet he only placed a hand over the wounded side of his stomach as if he didn't realize the impending attack.
Qin Miaoyu couldn't help letting out an "Ah,". The sweat that originally oozed out of her palms had already turned cold. She had even forgotten that she was still sitting in a mire filled with rainwater.
For the sake of this moment, Feng Xiao was already their only hope. Once Feng Xiao lost, Cui Buqu might still be kept alive, but Xiao Lu would never pity either one of them here. Moreover, she was from the Fuyu Sect from the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai to begin with. To Xiao Lu, she was a traitor.
Although Qin Miaoyu joined the Jiejian Bureau at first for the sake of her own life, as days carried on she gradually got used to it. Missions done by the members of the Fuyu Sect could never be exposed in the light. The Jiejian Bureau too required accomplishing secret missions, but it was different from the cold and strict atmosphere of the Fuyu Sect. At the very least, she had a gentle superior like Ming Yue, and even though Pei Jingzhe was a little dumb, he was a very fun-to-bully colleague...
But if she couldn't live through tonight, then nothing was hers to decide.
Qin Miaoyu could only hope that Feng Xiao, who usually praised himself as number one beneath the Heavens, could unleash his martial prowess today. At least pitying these little lives of theirs who often go running about without much wage.
She couldn't help turning her head to look at the person next to her.
Cui Buqu was also watching the battle. Qin Miaoyu has tapped his acupoints to stop the bleeding on his shoulder, but even though the bleeding had stopped, it didn't mean the pain did as well. His shoulder blades still hurt.
Qin Miaoyu knew this type of pain. She had once brushed her arm when she was fighting, and it was impossible to put the pain into words. She could only vent her paint through crying and shouting. But let alone crying, Cui Buqu did not even groan. He was just focusing silently as he watched the progress of the battle, as if the one injured wasn't himself.
What sort of willpower would one need to have, only could they ignore the pain of shattered bones on their bodies? Qin Miaoyu couldn't imagine it.
The thundering clash of qi reached them. She immediately turned around to look again, and realized that Xiao Lu's sword glare stopped two inches away from Feng Xiao. The hand Feng Xiao had over his stomach turned around and with a flicker of fingers, the string of a zither shot out.
The loud thundering clash just now was the aftersound of a zither string infused with qi and the force of a sword!
Both of them separated, their figures like light feathers, landing on two different sides of the roof. They stuck fast on top of the roof like steady mountains.
After a while, fresh blood spilled from the corner of Feng Xiao's lips.
Yet Xiao Lu lightly held his sword, his other hand behind his back.
Qin Miaoyu starred in terror. In her heart, she said: It's finished. Her superior is obviously more inferior in skill.
Yet the strangest thing was that Xiao Lu didn't press on to push Feng Xiao to his death. When the sword's glare and zither string fought again, both of them seemed to have shared some synchronization, for each of them saved themselves some amount of strength. They walked in circles around each other, testing the enemy. Sword glares clashed with the curtain of rain, exploding into an upsurge of qi. Even though it was dazzling and blinding and heart-stirring, it lacked the exciting resolve of killing an enemy.
Could it be that Xiao Lu turned kind all of a sudden? Or had he fallen for the charms of her superior and convinced into having a tender heart for him?
No. It was impossible. According to what she had seen just now, Xiao Lu might have felt sympathetic for Cui Buqu, but he would never show mercy to Feng Xiao.
With Feng Xiao's pride, it was also impossible to make him kneel and beg for mercy.
There must be something she missed!
Qin Miaoyu watched in confusion from the side, yet Feng Xiao knew clearly in his heart.
Because he had used a deceit; he had weaved three zither strings into one, but allowed them to spread back out into three once they were launched. Under the cover of the curtain of rain, one of them injured Xiao Lu's stomach.
The other was also injured now, so at least they were on fairer grounds. Feng Xiao laughed soundlessly.
Xiao Lu pivoted his wrist, and the sword's glare was like the rising of ocean waves, coming forth as high as mountains, like the falling of boulders from mountain cliffs, the collapsing of Mount Tai, and the bursting of waters from the Yellow River. The mountains and grounds shook, the waters surged and the boulders crumpled.
It caused the gods and demons to panic as all things on earth manifested. Feng Xiao felt like he was walking alone beneath a crumpling mountain while the currents against it froze. An enormous energy pressed down from all eight cardinal directions, pushing him backwards as if it was forcing him to kneel against his will, to beg this merciless way of the world to spare him so he may retain his life.
How would Feng Xiao be willing to?
He snorted a cold laugh!
For as long as he remembered, Feng Xiao had neither begged the Heavens nor the Earth, so let along begging for mercy.
All along, there were only people who begged him, but never he who begged others.
He came as he pleased and left as he pleased. As for the so-called privileges of the wealthy, the peaks of the martial world, the Heaven's decree of the mortals on earth, he desired none of them!
If he couldn't win tonight, that ailing man would be taken away. Without his permission, since when could anyone decide whether Cui Buqu should live or die?
Not the Gods, not those in power high above, and not Xiao Lu!
As if Feng Xiao had freed himself from some form of shackles at this moment. From being subjected to human rules, he was suddenly aware of something: who cared about the natural ways of the world? Since one had to destroy their bonds first to break through, why couldn't he break through first then destroy his bonds?
Since absorbing two Śarīras, his martial arts have immensely improved, but it was also because of this he had paused at a certain stage; like a foggy screen was before him and he could no longer advance. Until this moment, when he was left with no alternatives to escape from and had to fight for his life, the fog receded to reveal a blue sky. As the steady stream of war surged continuously, his heart, mind, and soul was clear.
There was no enemy in front of him, no Xiao Lu, and no surging glare of the sword. All it had was a mountain.
Since this is the case, then he would split the mountains he finds, and break the rivers he meets.
Feng Xiao waved his hand and five strings of the zither shot out like spears, shooting towards the burst of torrential floods!
Xiao Lu's attack was perfect in his eyes, as if it had reached a perfect state no one in this world could counter.
The only flaw was the direction of the attack and the other's qi and his sword clash. But top-tier martial artists often live on the verge of death, they cannot anticipate everything that comes. These flaws should not be a threat.
He refused to waste more strength fighting with Feng Xiao. Although the other's martial arts were excellent, he was still a little inferior, and this time it was enough to determine the victor and loser.
The sword's glare was like a passing rainbow, lighting up the sky in the middle of the night. Five zither strings shot back from different directions, and one which deflected the sword from its direction.
Precisely!
Xiao Lu was surprised. He hadn't thought Feng Xiao would have such an unexpected counter, and thus he became even more determined to kill the other where he stood.
In the blink of an eye, the other made the first move. Using the zither strings to hinder the sword's chance to attack, he flew into his direction, infusing nearly his qi into his palm so that Xiao Lu could not avoid it.
Qin Miaoyu's eyes opened wide and saw two shadows like smoke suddenly separated. Light coughs ensued; it was unknown who it belonged to.
Just as she was clueless about how to judge it, Ming Yue responded more swiftly than her. He must have been saving his energy enough, for he abruptly rose to his feet and lunged himself at Xiao Lu with a wave of attack!
When Xiao Lu and Ming Yue's waves of attack clashed, the latter fell to the ground like a broken paper crane, but Xiao Lu too took a few steps back.
There was no longer a smile on his face, only a callous determination to kill.
With only a single look from him, Qin Miaoyu already felt cold.
But Xiao Lu's gaze didn't stay on Qin Miaoyu for long. He looked past her and fell onto Cui Buqu.
It was only for a moment.
Xiao Lu's cold voice came, but he has already leapt far away.
"It seems like I could only pay Brother Cui a visit another day. The shame of Linbo Villa's destruction will not be forgotten!"
Qin Miaoyu was stunned for a moment. She blankly asked: "He just left like that?"
Ming Yue spitted out blood as he knelt on the ground. There were even pieces of flesh in them. He had probably received quite a heavy damage from the wave of attack just now.
"He was heavily injured. Although he still has strength left, Feng Xiao too has it. Xiao Lu cannot guarantee a victory for himself, so he left." Cui Buqu lightly said.
Feng Xiao gave a look of disbelief. "Obviously I was the reason he suffered a setback, but why does he only remember you before he left?"
Cui Buqu looked dispirited, but his eyes were sharp, even smiling. He softened his words when he spoke, that even the raindrops seemed to have turned into a drizzle.
"Perhaps, it was because the only enemy he takes seriously, was me?"
Feng Xiao snorted coldly.
"Both of you really are attached to each other, then why didn't you just follow him off?"
Step by step he walked towards Cui Buqu, carrying a heavy scent of blood on him. The killing aura about him hasn't receded like an evil spirit, the ruler of the Yellow Spring.
Qin Miaoyu raised her gaze and saw Feng Xiao's emotionless eyes, similar to how she saw Xiao Lu just now. She felt her blood freeze, shouting for her to stay away, yet her body couldn't move.
Yet Cui Buqu still has the breath to say regrettably: "He left too quickly, I couldn't catch up in time."
Feng Xiao walked up to his side and knelt, all for the sake for looking at the other from a taller perspective.
"You could originally sit back and wait to reel in the benefits. You could sit inside of the Governor's Residence waiting as we both destroy ourselves. Why did you come all the way here on purpose?"
Cui Buqu: "I was just passing by."
Feng Xiao: "I saw you said I was worth it."
Cui Buqu: "Then you are blind."
Feng Xiao squinted his eyes: "You said you could entrust your back to me."
Cui Buqu said expressionlessly: "I say I would assume the Jiejian Bureau after you are dead. There is no need to thank me, to help another is my honour. After all, both of us have come a long way."
He denied everything in an instant! Feng Xiao laughed furiously. Refusing to say any more nonsense, he immediately grabbed the other's jaw roughly, lowering his head to swallow all those words that were never spoken.
====
Author's Notes:
Cui *inserts cuss word*: I am not. I did not. Don't ramble blindly.
Feng-er: When facing these types of people, don't waste your breath, just get into the action.
[1]百会穴: The tip of the head.