While on Mount Hua, my mind is at peace!

Chapter 76 Murderous Intent in the Forest

A hazy figure emerged silently from the forest mist and approached Xiong Zhaozhao and Yue Lingshan. It was the middle-aged beauty from the teahouse. Upon hearing the woman mention the words "bewitching mist," Xiong Zhaozhao suddenly thought of someone:

"You are Madam Canghua! I never expected that the Six Doors could not catch you despite their extensive warrants throughout the martial world, and that you would actually hide in Huayin County."

Lady Canghua giggled sweetly:

"As expected of the young lady of the Weihe Gang, you recognized me at a glance. Why don't you run? With Miss Xiong's knowledge, you should know that my bewitching mist needs some time to take effect. If you just take that girl and run out of this forest, we won't be able to do anything to you, will we?"

While trying to suppress the poison in her body, Xiong Zhaozhao coldly said to Madam Canghua, "If I run away, the poison will only take effect faster. Wouldn't that be exactly what you want? It's better to take this opportunity to capture you. I'm not afraid you won't be able to produce the antidote."

Lady Canghua patted her ample chest and exclaimed in a affected tone, "Oh dear~ I'm so scared! What are you waiting for? Hurry up and do it!"

Xiong Zhaozhao inwardly groaned. She had wanted to kill Madam Canghua with a single sword stroke and then search her corpse for the antidote. However, the poison of the Bewitching Mist had taken effect far faster and more violently than she had anticipated. At this moment, she was caught in an extremely awkward situation, unsure whether to run or not.

Madam Canghua seemed to know everything about Xiong Zhaozhao's situation, and calmly clapped her hands twice. Four men in black emerged from the thick white fog and surrounded Xiong Zhaozhao and Yue Lingshan.

These men in black looked exactly like the four "flower thieves" from the restaurant, only they had removed their outer hemp clothing. Xiong Zhaozhao suddenly realized, "Madam Canghua, you've actually sided with the Xie family!"

Madam Canghua covered her mouth and chuckled: "Look at what you're saying. I've always been a retainer of the Xie family. Nine out of ten of the cases I handled were for the Xie family."

"Miss Xiong, you shouldn't have offended the Xie family. The old patriarch has already ordered me to take you back. As for your little lover... I'll go find him after I've got you. My body hasn't had any fresh touch in a long time..."

Enraged, Xiong Zhaozhao drew her sword, forcing one of the black-clad assassins back several steps, and shoved Yue Lingshan aside: "Run! Go find Feng Yue!"

Yue Lingshan, who had already drawn her sword, was pushed by Xiong Zhaozhao and rolled down a long slope. A man in black leaped down the slope, but was stopped by Xiong Zhaozhao's sword. At the same time, three other men in black attacked Xiong Zhaozhao.

Yue Lingshan rolled involuntarily to the bottom of the long slope, rolled over and got up, and a pair of brand-new shoes suddenly caught her eye.

She looked up in utter astonishment and saw a young man of average appearance but exceptional temperament. He had a jade flute tucked into his waistband and two strings of candied hawthorns in his hand. He calmly looked at her and asked, "Where is Xiong Zhaozhao?"

Yue Lingshan pointed sharply to the top of the long slope: "Up there!"

The boy nodded and handed her the two strings of bright red candied hawthorns, saying, "Hold these for me and wait here."

Yue Lingshan subconsciously took the candied hawthorn, a strange feeling suddenly rising in her heart. She had just opened her mouth when she felt a gentle breeze on her face, and the mysterious young man had already vanished without a trace.

Using the superior swordsmanship of the Heavenly Sword Sect, Xiong Zhaozhao managed to hold off the four men in black with all her might. Madam Canghua did not make a move, but simply watched with a smile and advised, "Miss Xiong, why are you doing this? We will not kill you, nor will we kill the girl traveling with you."

"Once you're in the Xie family, you'll have many men serving you every day. That's a blessing that many women dream of. I advise you to surrender obediently, otherwise you'll hurt your delicate skin. Even I feel sorry for you."

Xiong Zhaozhao realized that her internal energy had been almost completely consumed by the poison of the bewitching mist. Suddenly, she turned her sword around and slashed at her own neck.

Lady Canghua leaned closer and flicked Xiong Zhaozhao's sword with her finger. Xiong Zhaozhao's inner energy was exhausted, and the sword slipped from her grasp, spinning into the night sky. Lady Canghua began sealing Xiong Zhaozhao's pressure points while simultaneously ordering the four men in black, "Go and bring that little brat back!"

Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her fingertip, as if she had struck a rock or an iron gate instead of Xiong Zhaozhao's soft body. Realizing something was wrong, she leaped backward without hesitation, only to see that Xiong Zhaozhao had somehow been replaced by a refined and otherworldly young man.

The young man entered the arena, switched places, and countered in an instant. Madam Canghua only noticed him at the very end, and she couldn't help but feel deeply wary of him. She ordered the four men in black, "Ignore that little girl, kill him first!"

Four men in black unleashed their unique skills, simultaneously attacking the newcomer. The young man, with one arm around the exhausted Xiong Zhaozhao, drew his jade flute from his waist with the other, calmly meeting the attack.

Lady Canghua noticed from the side that the young man used a flute as a sword, and his swordsmanship, while seemingly elegant, concealed a deadly intent. It was truly a first-rate martial art in the martial arts world, yet she had never heard of it before.

As she was feeling cautious and fearful, the four men in black, seeing the boy's skillful swordsmanship, realized they were no match for him in terms of technique. They changed their tactics and used all their strength, trying to defeat the boy by brute force.

Lady Canghua's expression changed drastically, and she shouted, "Retreat quickly!" Just then, the young man's jade flute trembled slightly, and a foot-long green light suddenly appeared from the tip of the flute. The four men in black, whether with their fists, feet, or weapons, were all split in two upon contact with the flickering green light.

In the blink of an eye, all four men in black were crippled. The young man twirled his jade flute, and four heads shot into the sky, landing around him. The young man tucked the jade flute back into his belt, held Xiong Zhaozhao in his arms, and gazed indifferently at Madam Canghua.

Even with her countless evil deeds, Madam Canghua felt a chill run down her spine when faced with the boy's indifferent gaze. The boy was not only highly skilled in martial arts, but also decisive and ruthless in his actions. Knowing she couldn't escape or defeat him, Madam Canghua's eyes darted around, and she said to the boy:

"Miss Xiong and the other girl have both been poisoned by my 'Bewitching Mist,' and only I can cure this poison. If you spare me, I will immediately prepare the antidote and ensure they suffer no harm whatsoever."

"After the detoxification, if you think highly of me, I am willing to serve you at your beck and call."

Yue Feng activated his fully realized Giant Spirit Golden Body technique, instantly expelling all the poison from Xiong Zhaozhao's body. His tone was slightly mocking: "Oh? Is that so?"

Lady Canghua watched helplessly as Xiong Zhaozhao straightened up. Although she didn't know what methods Yue Feng had used, she could tell that Xiong Zhaozhao's poison had been cured, and she had lost her only bargaining chip.

Lady Canghua suddenly smiled shyly, spread her arms wide, and her clothes fell off in a flurry. To be fair, what she concealed under her clothes was indeed a near-perfect body.

"Young master... I am right here. Are you willing to... kill me?"