chapter 40

"You're wrong, I'm perfectly clear-headed," she said.

The mask seller removed his mask, and the boatman's bamboo pole turned into a sword. Even the acrobat, whose flames in his hands dispersed, now held transparent talismans, all preparing to take action against Yue Zhiheng.

Zhan Yunwei finally realized this wasn't an illusion—people from the Immortal Sect were lying in ambush all around them.

Yue Zhiheng glanced around and said with a faint smile, "Since everyone's here, there's no reason to leave today."

As soon as his words fell, a golden Bagua formation spread out beneath their feet, with Zhan Yunwei trapped in the center.

Yue Zhiheng said, "Watch her."

Fang Huai, who seemed to have appeared from nowhere, responded, "Don't worry."

In the dim lantern light, the shadows gradually solidified, and the people from the Immortal Sect saw that these were no mere shadows, but countless masked guards from the Chitianfu, including the Black Armor Guard of the Spirit Emperor.

The green-faced ghost cranes flew down from the sky, their eyes cold and cruel, ready to strike. Even the water was brimming with murder formations.

It seemed there was no way to retreat without dying.

The Senior Brother from Penglai felt a heavy unease in his heart. "Junior Brother, we've fallen into that bastard's trap. He's been waiting for us here, setting up this ambush."

Pei Yujing didn't reply. His huge sword had long disappeared, replaced by a slender, simple sword.

The blade was light, but once it was drawn, it shimmered with flowing light, its pure golden color clear and flawless.

Fang Huai stepped into the formation and couldn't help but remind, "Brother Yue, be careful of the sword in his hand; that's an ancient divine weapon."

They never expected Pei Yujing would really bind himself to the divine sword.

Zhan Yunwei took a few steps forward, and the formation seemed like a copper wall, trapping her inside.

"Lord Fang!"

Fang Huai rubbed his nose and said, "Miss Zhan, don't blame me. I am also following orders."

Zhan Yunwei had no hope that he would let her go; the Fang family had been court officials for generations. She withdrew her gaze, anxiously watching the battle unfold.

The commoners had already realized something was wrong and scattered to escape.

As an array master, it was Fang Huai's first time seeing two cultivators with Ninefold Spirit Veins fighting. What was even more terrifying was that both were clearly in an abnormal state.

Logically speaking, the higher the cultivation level, the more cautious one should be in battle. Unless the opponent forced their hand, a fight could drag on for days and nights.

But right now, whether it was Pei Yujing or Yue Zhiheng, they were clearly using lethal strikes.

Pei Yujing's divine sword, which was usually gentle in nature, was now overflowing with killing intent, its blade aimed directly at Yue Zhiheng's neck.

Yue Zhiheng's ice-blue whip had been seen by Fang Huai before. Capable of splitting mountains and seas, when all twenty-four pieces were unleashed, it was clearly intended to tear the opponent apart.

At the point where the golden and ice-blue lights collided, the trees beneath their feet withered in an instant, the lanterns exploded, and even the river roared as it surged onto the shore.

Fang Huai quickly raised his sleeve to shield himself and Zhan Yunwei from the water.

When he lowered his sleeve, the formation shifted slightly, and Zhan Yunwei finally saw the battlefield clearly.

Both men were injured, blood staining their faces and bodies. For a moment, it was impossible to tell who was in worse condition.

However, this was the dynasty's territory. Delaying would only benefit Yue Zhiheng, even though Pei Yujing, due to the divine sword, still seemed to have the upper hand.

Pei Yujing clearly knew this as well and had no intention of dragging the fight on with Yue Zhiheng.

Once again, seizing an opening, he pushed through a wound caused by an ice shard, and dozens of sword auras shot toward Fang Huai.

Fang Huai, who was an array master and not skilled in combat, didn't have any defensive formations under his feet. Pei Yujing, despite a whip wound on his shoulder, was determined to take his life. For a moment, Fang Huai felt a chill run down his spine.

Fortunately, a whip came in just in time to pull him out of the way, and the sword aura missed.

However, the golden halo seemed like a feint, swiftly finding a gap and shattering the formation in front of Zhan Yunwei.

Fang Huai was frustrated but couldn't correct the formation in time.

Zhan Yunwei knew this was her chance to quickly move toward the Immortal Sect's side. She had barely taken two steps when the weapon spirit, as if aware of its master's intent, rushed to her side despite the agony of losing part of its form to the sword spirit. It enveloped her and sent her straight to Yue Zhiheng.

A hand wrapped around her neck.

Zhan Yunwei was locked into his embrace from behind.

The weapon spirit had suffered severe injuries, and so had its master. She couldn't help but say, "Yue Zhiheng, are you crazy?"

Once the weapon spirit was damaged, it might never advance again.

Yet even so, Yue Zhiheng didn't let her go. Was he really planning to kill Pei Yujing? Was the command from the Spirit Emperor of the dynasty truly that important?

Hearing her call him crazy, no one behind him responded. His hand was cold. Zhan Yunwei couldn't turn around to see his expression, but she could smell the blood on him. The scent of the Ice Lotus was so strong that it nearly made her dizzy.

"You're wrong, I'm perfectly clear-headed," Yue Zhiheng smiled. His grip tightened, forcing her chin upward.

"Step back, Pei Yujing," Yue Zhiheng said coldly. "If you take one more step…"

His hand paused for a moment.

Zhan Yunwei couldn't help but wonder, what would happen? Would Yue Zhiheng kill her?

For the first time, she couldn't read Yue Zhiheng's thoughts, and she didn't know whether he would act.

Pei Yujing furrowed his brow, gripping the divine sword tightly. The situation froze.

Fang Huai walked over to Yue Zhiheng's side. He knew that today, Pei Yujing could not be allowed to leave like this. The Black Armor Guards of the dynasty were here, and the mute woman was still in the Dan Pavilion.

The Spirit Emperor knew very well Yue Zhiheng's power. In fact, the Spirit Emperor had assigned the Black Armor Guards to Yue Zhiheng precisely because he wanted Pei Yujing dead.

If the people from the Immortal Sect really left today, both he and Yue Zhiheng would likely face severe punishment.

The situation became even more terrifying—what about the mute girl? The Spirit Emperor's temper was well-known. Even if he didn't want to take the mute girl's life, he certainly wouldn't allow her to leave the Dan Pavilion unharmed.

Zhan Yunwei was drowning in the scent of Ice Lotus, nearly unable to breathe.

She coughed twice, and the hand on her neck paused for a moment. Pei Yujing couldn't help but take a couple of steps forward. "Yangyang!" he called.

The hand tightened again, and Yue Zhiheng's voice grew colder as he said to Pei Yujing, "I said step back. Are you deaf?"

Twenty-four shards of ice silently rose, each one pointed at Zhan Yunwei's head.

Yue Zhiheng's expression was indifferent, not sparing her a single glance.

Pei Yujing remained silent, stepping back two paces.

"Throw the divine sword away."

Zhan Yunwei struggled to pry Yue Zhiheng's hand off, furious. "Don't..."

Yue Zhiheng was already cunning, and if Pei Yujing truly discarded his divine sword, none of them would be able to leave today. Pei Yujing would end up dead.

Yue Zhiheng pulled her closer into his embrace, not allowing a sound to escape her.

But Pei Yujing also knew he couldn't throw the sword away. The tension in the air between them became a standoff, with swords drawn and no one willing to back down.

At that moment, a cloud boat appeared in the distance. Zhan Shujing had arrived.

Zhan Shujing raised an eyebrow. "It seems I've arrived just in time."

He glanced at the bound Zhan Yunwei and spoke to Yue Zhiheng, "Release her, Master Yue. Otherwise, you'll soon have to deal with the death of your Crown Prince."

Fang Huai couldn't help but look up, a bad feeling stirring in his chest. Sure enough, from the cloud boat, the elders of the Immortal Sect pushed a man out, tightly bound.

Who else could it be but the Crown Prince?

As if that wasn't enough, they pushed out another woman—none other than the Crown Prince's consort.

Both of them were disheveled, their clothes in disarray. Fang Huai winced. He realized that today, on the Qixi Festival, the Crown Prince and his consort had likely been pulled from their bed in a hurry. His headache was worsening.

He hadn't expected that the Immortal Sect would stoop so low.

It was more difficult to deal with Yue Zhiheng, but the unguarded Crown Prince was clearly an easier target.

Zhan Shujing spoke, "The Crown Prince and his consort will die, unless you release our Immortal Sect members and exchange them for them. Make your choice."

They had already used the Crown Prince's life to threaten many of the dynasty's nobles, forcing them to release the captured Immortal Sect spirit cultivators.

Now, all the players were aboard the cloud boat, leaving only Zhan Yunwei to be taken away.

Zhan Shujing showed no decorum, placing his sword at the Crown Prince's consort's throat. She paled, casting a pitiful glance at the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince's face darkened, but since he had been outmaneuvered, there was nothing he could do. He had already lost face countless times during the journey, and in the face of his life being threatened, pride was secondary. Furthermore, he did care for his consort and couldn't bear to see her harmed.

Reluctantly, he said, "Master Yue, I order you to release her."

Fang Huai couldn't help but glance at Yue Zhiheng's expression, and as expected, Yue Zhiheng looked cold and terrifying.

It seemed they were about to succeed, and the Crown Prince's interference was causing trouble.

But Fang Huai knew that the Third Prince was already dead. If the Crown Prince met with another mishap, it would be disastrous. He coughed lightly and leaned closer, saying, "Master Yue, enough. In the current situation, let's first exchange the Crown Prince."

Yue Zhiheng sneered, "A change in appearance pill is easy to make. The Crown Prince's identity is unclear. I'm afraid I can't comply with your request."

Upon hearing Yue Zhiheng's words, the Crown Prince's face turned even darker. He recalled how, just a few days ago, Yue Zhiheng had arrogantly captured his people. He feared that Yue Zhiheng might actually disregard his life. He gritted his teeth and said, "I carry a jade token as proof. The Black Armor Guard can vouch for it. If my consort and I return safely, I'll plead with Father to pardon you and Lord Fang, and explain that today's events were not your fault."

Thinking about how he had sent his subordinates to the Dan Pavilion yesterday, he had no choice but to add, "Yesterday, I had someone put something in that mute girl's medicine. If you save me, I'll give you the antidote."

Fang Huai cursed inwardly, disgusted by the Crown Prince's viciousness.

Zhan Yunwei frowned. So, it turned out that if today's events hadn't occurred, the Crown Prince still planned to use the mute girl to blackmail Yue Zhiheng.

Yue Zhiheng remained silent.

"Please let go of me, Master Yue." This time, Zhan Yunwei pried his hand off. He didn't resist. His hand, perhaps from the weapon spirit's severe injuries, was almost deathly pale.

Yue Zhiheng looked up and watched as Zhan Yunwei walked toward Pei Yujing and Zhan Shujing.

At that moment, a loud sound echoed in the sky. The fireworks that had been prepared by the dynasty for the Qixi Festival finally burst into the air.

The sky was ablaze with dazzling, beautiful colors.

Zhan Yunwei paused in her steps and turned back to look at Yue Zhiheng.

He stared at her for a long time without speaking.

The Crown Prince and his consort were returned, and Zhan Yunwei boarded the cloud boat. She didn't know whether Yue Zhiheng, who had risked his life to save her, was truly trying to protect her, or if the man who had threatened to kill her today would carry through with his threat.

But through all these times, Yue Zhiheng had never truly killed her, though he had saved her life several times. She thought to herself, that the paths they walked were different, and sometimes one had no choice.

She would leave here, and for the time being, wish him well, Master Yue. She was going to find the Lord of Changya Mountain and pursue the life she wanted.

More than anything that hadn't happened, Zhan Yunwei trusted her own feelings. Even if Pei Yujing didn't throw down his sword today, Yue Zhiheng wouldn't truly kill her.

Once she found the flower nectar and summoned the red butterfly, she would have it delivered to him by spirit birds. She could leave, and Yue Zhiheng wouldn't be punished for it. This was probably the best outcome.

The Crown Prince also knew he had caused trouble but didn't have the heart to face Yue Zhiheng. He could only say, "I'll tell Father and ask him to reward you. After all, we didn't suffer much loss."

Yue Zhiheng coldly stared at him, and the weapon spirit let out an angry growl toward the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince hadn't expected the weapon spirit, despite being injured, to still be so terrifying. His expression soured, and he stepped back, retreating into the midst of the Black Armor Guard.

Fang Huai glanced at Yue Zhiheng and said, "Let's go back."

There was nothing else they could do. They couldn't chase after them anymore. Yue Zhiheng was better than him at reading the situation, and if they pursued now, it wouldn't be a show of strength—it would be courting death.

Furthermore, Yue Zhiheng was badly wounded, and the weapon spirit needed rest and recovery.

On the way back to the dynasty, Fang Huai didn't ask Yue Zhiheng if he had truly intended to harm Zhan Yunwei earlier. There was no point in asking such a question.

Everyone knew the truth: as long as Pei Yujing didn't die, Zhan Yunwei would never return.

The hustle and bustle of the dynasty felt out of place to them now. The mute girl was still at the Dan Pavilion, and they needed to rescue her.

The lingering heat of the Qixi Festival hadn't yet faded. Many street vendors were still shouting their wares—rouge, jade hairpins—but none dared to approach them.

Yue Zhiheng's body was covered in blood and wounds, some of his own, some from Pei Yujing.

Something fell from his arms, and he paused for a moment.

Fang Huai turned around and saw that it was an ice-blue sachet.

It was covered in dust, but surprisingly, there wasn't a single trace of blood on it.

Fang Huai was momentarily stunned. If it hadn't been kept close to him, this wouldn't have happened.

Yue Zhiheng lowered his eyes but didn't pick it up. Instead, he took a step forward and walked away.

Fang Huai asked, "Aren't you going to keep it?"

This was something that even cultivators at the Ninth Level of Spiritual Pulse would go to great lengths to protect during battle. Now, he was truly going to discard it?

"It's meaningless."

After all, there was no longer any future.