#170 - Battle of Yanyun Mountain (Part 1)
Chapter 170: The Battle of Yan Yun Mountain (Part 1)
The first watch of Zi Shi, the summit of Yan Yun Mountain.
Xiao Feng stood tall on a spacious clearing. The mountain wind blew, his white hair danced, and his robes fluttered.
Yang Liu Shi leaned against a large rock, paralyzed with her acupoints sealed, but her eyes were open, filled with unease and nervousness.
She vaguely guessed what Xiao Feng was about to do.
“You don’t need to look at me like that.”
Xiao Feng looked up at the night sky and said calmly, “I just want to know what he will choose.”
“You should know Lu Jingyao.”
“Back then, he used Yao’er as bait to lure me into the Wei residence, then forced me to choose between myself and Yao’er to live.”
“I chose myself back then.”
“Alas.”
Xiao Feng sighed deeply. Entangled together were not only the corners of his robes blown by the wind, but also the hazy shadows on the ground.
“After that... I always looked down on myself, but I never regretted it, nor did I ever think I did wrong.”
“But strangely, there is always a hurdle in my heart that I can’t overcome.”
“So, I want to know what he will choose.”
Saying this again, Xiao Feng withdrew his gaze and turned to look at Yang Liu Shi, whose eyes were somewhat complicated.
“To know this answer, I paid sixty years of my life. In fact, even if I kill him tonight, I won’t have many years left to live.”
“But this answer is really important to me...”
“I’m sorry for using you.”
“Back then, he didn’t kill Yao’er, so tonight, no matter what he chooses, I won’t kill you either.”
“If you want to seek revenge from me in the future, I will accompany you at any time.”
“If I die, then it doesn’t matter.”
The wind blows through the ancient trees, Xiao Xiang departs, the moon sets, the stars fade, and the world turns cold.
Xiao Feng stopped talking and turned to look at the only path up the mountain, standing as still as a stone sculpture.
He didn’t tell Yang Liu Shi about his blood feud with the Wei family, nor did he mention Wei Changtian’s “broken promises” back then.
These were meaningless.
Whether it was the wedding robbery at the Wei residence or the time at the foot of Yudu Mountain during the Double Ninth Festival... losing was losing.
But this time, he must win.
This belief was stronger than ever before, but perhaps even Xiao Feng himself didn’t notice... that his reasons for killing Wei Changtian were no longer the same as they were at the beginning.
Or rather, they were no longer as pure as they were at the beginning.
The crescent moon grew higher and higher, and the mountain wind grew stronger and stronger.
Yang Liu Shi, who was paralyzed on the side, was also in a complicated mood at this time.
She could see Xiao Feng’s confidence, which made her even more worried about Wei Changtian’s safety.
This courtesan, who had been regarded as a celestial maiden by countless men, kept praying in her heart that Wei Changtian would not come, but she also knew that with Wei Changtian’s personality, he should not miss this opportunity to kill Xiao Feng.
Then, what would Young Master choose?
Although she was trying her best to avoid it, Yang Liu Shi still thought of this question.
From the most heartfelt perspective, she naturally hoped that Wei Changtian would live and she would die.
And she also felt that Wei Changtian would definitely choose this way.
But...
This contradictory psychology was unavoidable. Yang Liu Shi didn’t know what kind of mood she would be in if she really heard Wei Changtian’s answer, but she probably wouldn’t be so calm.
The sound of her heartbeat was rapid and clear, but it became blurred after being mixed with the sound of the wind.
Suddenly, a figure appeared on the mountain road not far away.
“Xiao Feng, we meet again.”
According to the routine of wuxia novels, a duel between experts must be chosen in some places with commemorative significance or beautiful scenery.
For example, Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng at the top of the Forbidden City.
For example, Guo Jing and Yang Kang at the Misty Rain Tower in Jiaxing.
For example, Hong Qigong and Ouyang Feng at the top of Mount Hua.
Comparing it this way, Yan Yun Mountain is really a bit lacking. Perhaps replacing it with the leader of the Hundred Thousand Mountains, “Tongtian Peak,” or the Nine Pinnacle Mountain where the Tianluo Sect is located would be more suitable in terms of atmosphere.
Of course, this is from the perspective of a bystander.
For Wei Changtian and Xiao Feng, the two protagonists of the duel, as long as they can kill each other, fighting in the latrine would probably be fine.
“...”
The cold wind was still blowing, causing the corners of their robes to flutter.
Seeing Wei Changtian again after half a year, Xiao Feng didn’t actually have much of a feeling, because he had already seen this man across from him too many times in the “Dream Dao.”
Although the two had never fought, the Dream Dao could not simulate battles.
But this did not prevent Xiao Feng from reminding himself in his “dreams” every night not to forget Wei Changtian’s appearance.
On the other side, Wei Changtian’s mood was a little different at this moment.
After all, Xiao Feng’s white hair was too obvious.
Did he really trade with the remnant soul in the Xuantian Sword?
Looking at the black long sword behind Xiao Feng, he slowly took a deep breath.
“Xiao Feng, you killed my subordinates ten days ago and left a blood letter.”
“Now I have come as agreed. Shouldn’t you release the person?”
“...”
From just now until now, Wei Changtian had never glanced at Yang Liu Shi, who was not far away, even though the latter had been looking at him.
It wasn’t that he deliberately wanted to show a cold and heartless attitude. The main reason was that he was afraid that Xiao Feng would sneak attack him after he looked away.
And the facts proved that the real “protagonist” would not have such crooked ideas like him.
Xiao Feng took a deep look at Wei Changtian and replied calmly, “Wei Changtian, I never said that I would release the person when you came.”
“If you really want to save her, you still need to answer me one more question.”
“A question that you once asked me...”
“Clang!!”
Before he finished speaking, the black long sword with its icy killing intent was suddenly unsheathed.
Wei Changtian’s expression changed, and he subconsciously prepared to draw his sword.
But when he saw the direction the Xuantian Sword was pointing, he slowly put the half-drawn Dragon’s Roar back into its scabbard.
“Wei Changtian, today you and she can only live one.”
Holding the sword in one hand, the tip of the sword was only a few inches away from Yang Liu Shi.
Xiao Feng tried his best to control his emotions, but at this moment, his voice was still a bit hoarse.
“Who lives and who dies, you choose.”
Whether Xiao Feng did it intentionally or unintentionally, his sentence was exactly the same as what Wei Changtian had said that day.
The same question.
But Wei Changtian’s answer was completely different.
As if it were a child’s play, he only thought for a short breath, and then gave the answer casually in the unbelievable gazes of Xiao Feng and Yang Liu Shi.
“I choose to let her live.”
I choose to let her live...
Let her live...
These words were like a heavy hammer, hitting Xiao Feng’s chest hard.
“No, impossible...”
Staggering back half a step, the Xuantian Sword also hung down weakly.
Xiao Feng hadn’t imagined this answer, he just didn’t understand why Wei Changtian hadn’t even hesitated.
Could it be that I was really wrong...
Why...
An unprecedented wave of self-doubt instantly flooded his mind, and the suppressed violence in his heart began to stir again.
But at this moment, a fleeting thought suddenly made Xiao Feng understand everything.
“Wei Changtian!”
His body gradually stopped swaying, and the Xuantian Sword was raised again.
However, this time, the tip of the sword pointed straight ahead.
Xiao Feng slowly raised his head, and said slowly and coldly:
“You think I can’t kill you, so you chose this, right?”
“...”
Damn, he actually figured it out.
Wei Changtian cursed inwardly, but of course he couldn't admit it.
“You’re overthinking it. As long as you release the person first, I’ll stand here and let you kill me.”
“...”
“Hahaha! Hahahahaha!!!”
As if he had heard a great joke, Xiao Feng suddenly looked up and laughed, instantly startling countless birds in the forest.
“Hahahaha! Wei Changtian! Then I’ll show you! Whether I can kill you or not!”
The maniacal laughter stopped abruptly, Xiao Feng stared at Wei Changtian with red eyes, and said in a hoarse voice:
“Seniors! Come out!”
“...”
“Swish swish swish~”
Like a breeze passing through the treetops, there was a sudden rustling of leaves behind Xiao Feng, and then five people walked out of the forest.
But their expressions were not relaxed.
Because almost at the same time, a group of figures flickered behind Wei Changtian, and eight figures also appeared.
Five on one side, eight on the other.
The two groups stopped behind Xiao Feng and Wei Changtian at the same time, silently watching each other.
The top of Yanyun Mountain fell into a deathly silence for a time.
Damn it.
Although they all had a rough estimate of each other’s preparations, both Wei Changtian and Xiao Feng, who were at the center of the storm, felt a sinking in their hearts at this moment.
Wei Changtian didn’t expect that the wisp of remnant soul would directly bring five experts to Xiao Feng this time.
Xiao Feng was the same.
However, the two quickly suppressed the unease and anxiety in their hearts, because they both knew—
That there was no way to retreat now.
One breath, two breaths, three breaths...
Time passed bit by bit, and the short three breaths seemed like three hours.
In fact, looking at this scene alone, it was quite like two gang leaders confronting each other with their underlings.
But if one were really in the scene, I'm afraid no one would have such an idea.
Leaving aside Yang Liushi, there were a total of fifteen people on both sides.
But it was these fifteen people who actually produced a strong sense of oppression that would only appear when two armies were facing each other.
Black clouds pressing down on the city, the city is about to be destroyed.
But this time, the black clouds were not pressing down on the city, but on this small Yanyun Mountain.
In the illusory and real neighing of horses, war drums, and the sound of drawing bows, the mountain wind that had been howling and sobbing all night stopped.
The path of cultivation is divided into nine ranks.
Seven, eight, and nine are the lower three ranks, four, five, and six are the middle three ranks, and one, two, and three are the upper three ranks.
There is a reason for this division.
The lower three ranks practice "strength". Internal force cannot penetrate the body and can only circulate within the cultivator’s body. In the eyes of ordinary people, it seems that they are just stronger.
The middle three ranks practice "qi". Internal force can penetrate the body and can derive many wonderful uses.
And the upper three ranks practice "momentum."
Whether it is the third rank’s “using momentum as a blade” or the second rank’s “momentum pressing down on mountains and rivers”, it is not difficult to see from the names that it is related to “momentum”.
Before Wei Changtian traveled through time, he only felt that momentum was similar to temperament, and belonged to a person’s comprehensive sensory impression.
But in fact, this invisible and intangible thing really exists, and even in this world, it can really achieve "momentum pressing down on mountains and rivers".
Just like Yanyun Mountain at this moment, as if it was covered with a huge transparent罩子.
No wind, no sound, grass leaves lying on the ground, all beasts hiding in their nests.
Perhaps in the entire Yanyun Mountain, apart from the fifteen people present, the only one who can still move is Li Huaizhong.
“Wei Zhaohai, Qin Zhengqiu, Liang Zhen...”
On an old tree in the forest not far away, the old eunuch’s turbid pupils were almost shrinking to the size of soybeans.
On the way here, he had imagined many situations.
But even the most exaggerated expectation was not half of what he saw before him.
Familiar names flashed through his mind, but that was secondary.
What shocked Li Huaizhong even more were the people on Xiao Feng’s side.
Wu Tianqing, Chang Shu’an, Li Mingchun...
Could it really be them?
How is this possible???!
If he hadn’t seen it with his own eyes, Li Huaizhong would never have believed that these hidden masters scattered all over the world would appear here at the same time, and actually follow the lead of a white-haired young man he had never seen before.
Who is this person?!
Li Huaizhong stared at Xiao Feng, guessing in his heart what kind of grievances Wei Changtian had with this person.
And at this moment, someone moved.
“Da!”
“Da!”
Footsteps sounded on the east and west sides at the same time, very light.
“Changtian, five second-rank.”
“Young Master Xiao, three second-rank, five third-rank.”
“...”
The two sentences were respectively transmitted to the ears of Wei Changtian and Xiao Feng, and the reactions of the two were naturally different.
Although the gap between the second rank and the third rank cannot be regarded as "the difference between clouds and mud", it is definitely not small.
After all, fighting beyond the ranks can only be the privilege of the “protagonist”, and ordinary people can never do it.
Therefore, Liang Zhen and the other five third-ranks can at most only hold back one second-rank.
Then the extra one...
“Grandpa, can you fight two?”
Wei Changtian suddenly asked Qin Zhengqiu beside him in a low voice.
As the person with the highest combat power on the surface of the entire Da Ning, the leader of the Tianluo Sect, Wei Changtian can only pin his hopes on this.
However—
“Two second-ranks can’t do anything to me, but I’m afraid I won’t be able to take care of more... Changtian, let’s go.”
Qin Zhengqiu narrowed his eyes slightly, his expression very serious.
Wei Changtian sighed lightly, understanding why Qin Zhengqiu would say this.
In the final analysis, there is no life-and-death grievance between these second-rank and third-rank masters, and the only goal of both sides is to kill himself and Xiao Feng.
And the sixth-rank realm is not much different from an ordinary person in the eyes of the upper three ranks, basically just a matter of one move.
In this case, even if Qin Zhengqiu can deal with two second-ranks, as long as the other party takes the time to give himself a blow, then he will most likely die on the spot.
So the current situation is already extremely unfavorable.
Even if he escapes, whether he can escape is another matter.
“...”
Wei Changtian fell into a long silence, and Xiao Feng naturally already knew his huge advantage.
However, he didn’t show any signs of being a villain, just took a small step forward and gently pointed to Yang Liushi.
“Wei Changtian, you can choose again now.”
“You and her, who lives and who dies.”
“...”
The same question, completely different circumstances.
However, Wei Changtian still said the same answer without hesitation.
“Are you f**king done? I’ve already said it, let her live!”
The final battle will be in the next few chapters.
