Chen Ping's Sword

"Let’s go, Mr. Situ. The Demoness is the most alert. Since she’s already made a move, she definitely won’t stay here again. There’s no point waiting any longer.

However, during the battle at the Soul-Breaking Pass, she single-handedly held off Yuwen Zhao’s three thousand Rushing Wolf Cavalry, and was hit by Murong Xue’s three arrows from the Sun-Shooting Bow. Her injuries probably haven’t healed yet. Now is the best time to capture her."

"This woman is truly incredible. Yuwen Zhao is the younger brother of the Emperor of Beizhou, Yuwen Mu. He practices the Immortal Vajra Body, making him extremely difficult to fight, ranked fifth on the Wind and Cloud List’s Earth List;

Murong Xue practices the Esoteric Sect Heart Scripture of the Great Sun, and although she ranks thirteenth on the Earth List, her destructive power enters the top three. Her Sun-Shooting Divine Arrow is unstoppable by even ghosts and gods...

For Fairy Fubo to take them on alone and still retreat safely is truly terrifying and awe-inspiring." Mr. Situ’s face turned somewhat grim upon hearing this news.

"What are you afraid of? It’s not just Yuwen Zhao and Murong Xue. The Beizhou elite have come south for great schemes and could very well be carrying the personal magical artifact of Divine Master Duran of the Celestial Witchcraft Sect...

In my view, if the Demoness is still half-alive, that’s already quite good. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have left so hastily on the Great River a while ago."

"But, but..."

Even though Mr. Situ had experienced many ups and downs in his life, reaching the age of sixty, he couldn’t help feeling a bit flustered and secretly regretted it.

Clearly, Beizhou is invading...You say, you Brocade Guard representing the legitimate court, rather than think about repelling the Hu Cavalry, you’re focused on pursuing the Demoness, Fairy Fubo.

Fairy Fubo has been resisting the cruel massacre by the Beizhou Hu Cavalry, saving hundreds of thousands of refugees fleeing south...

You can’t even distinguish who’s the enemy and who’s the friend.

Isn’t this nonsense?

No wonder recent astrological signs show indications of the convergence of the three stars: Seven Kills, Breaking Army, and Greed Wolf.

The heavens are setting the stage for slaughter, moving stars and changing constellations...

The master made an early bet this time, but who knows if it’s truly a mistake.

"Don’t overthink it." White Crow laughed whimsically, "Heaven’s might is unpredictable. These things are all calculated by His Holiness, and it’s not our concern.

The world is like a chessboard, and in the end, we’re all insignificant pawns that can’t see clearly."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and the shadows receded like a tide.

At this time, the east was already turning a fish-belly white.

Dawn was approaching.

Even after these people left for a long time, including the white crow that perched on the treetop, Chen Ping remained motionless.

Just like wild grass in the mountains, he disguised himself as a lifeless object, devoid of thoughts and awareness.

He waited quietly for about half an hour until the sun rose three yards high. The golden-red light shone in the forest, and the mist shimmered with a light that stung the eyes.

Through the slits of his eyelids that covered his eyes, he saw that another figure had appeared on the hillside.

This person was wearing a tattered iron armor, with a sharp chin and monkey-like cheeks, a slim and small figure, making it difficult to discern the age.

He carried two black-red hammers in his hands, exuding an imposing aura, scanning the surroundings with eyes like flames, sweeping over the dense forest.

When this person looked over, Chen Ping immediately closed his eyes tightly, not daring to glance again.

Being swept by his gaze, he felt his skin slightly tingle.

From the experience of the Straw Hat Man, it’s known that true masters can not only respond to Qi Mechanism but also have a mysterious sense of intuition.

Once he directly looked at the other party, he might be discovered.

This person’s appearance was unique and unforgettable at first sight.

Originally, Chen Ping wouldn’t have known.

But he happened to have heard about it.

He remembered that day when Hua Lian’er talked about the masters of the Brocade Guard, aside from the name of Commander Xu Jing’an with the Soul Cutting Saber being terrifying,

there was another person with a notorious reputation, strong in his killing intent, and with his "Purple Flame True Gang Hammer" swept through Jiangbei, silencing the Jianghu. He was the Left Commander of the Brocade Guard, Cao Lie.

’That’s right, with Liang Qi not around, I was wondering how this White Crow and those Brocade Guards dared to face Fairy Fubo?

Even if she is severely injured... yet I didn’t expect there were various ambushes in the dark.’

Chen Ping felt both heavy-hearted and somewhat relieved.

He knew that since Cao Lie had shown up, those people should have truly left.

Next, he should look for clues and fight if needed. In any case, it wouldn’t involve a small minnow like him.

Would it truly not affect him?

Thinking of the shocking secrets he had heard earlier.

Thinking of the "variables" White Crow mentioned, Chen Ping’s heart sank.

He finally understood the weight of what Fairy Fubo said that day when he first met her, "Whatever you do, don’t expose your identity."

...

To be on the safe side.

Chen Ping stayed in the earthen hole for another half an hour.

Until it was broad daylight and the sun was high in the sky.

There was no more movement outside.

Only then did he quietly come out.

Even more cautiously, he left no trace behind.

He stealthily advanced, restrained his breath, and hid, like a ghost, exiting the forest, determining the direction, heading towards Xingqing Prefecture City.

Upon reaching the East City Gate.

He saw a continuous flow of villagers lining up to enter.

These were the people who came out early to make a living.

Among them were some Jianghu people carrying swords, bustling into the city.

There were also some people yawning, sitting on carriages, heading out of the city.

The majority of these people were dressed in luxurious clothes, probably tired from the night festivities, heading out for a journey, who knows where they were going.

Xingqing Prefecture, with its thirteen counties, was prosperous with commerce, with many guests coming from the north and south. During the day, the checks were not very strict.

At least, when Chen Ping entered the city with a long sword, those City Guards only gave him a brief glance and didn’t pay further attention.

Not to mention searching for travel documents or the like.

’That’s just as well.’

Chen Ping had no expectations for the City Guards of Xingqing Prefecture.

Can you expect City Guards who open gates at night to be of any use?

By now, he had regained his physique, neither too fat nor too thin, slightly taller than the average person...

Left leg stepping long strides, right leg taking short steps, restraining Qi and Blood, transforming back into the ordinary Tian Qi.

People tend to underestimate those with disabilities.

This appearance made him seem a bit safer.

And more suitable for disguising his identity.

He had a premonition.

The identity of "Tian Qi", maybe, perhaps, wouldn’t last much longer.

Walking a little further inside.

Chen Ping slowed his pace, squinting his eyes slightly, scanning the street corners, the dirty spots at the base of the walls, looking to see if there were any Cyan Bird Marks appearing there.

This was the communication method agreed upon by a few people after exiting the tunnel the previous day...

If it was Zuo Duanshou, it would be a star added to the left side, with the bird’s beak pointing, indicating that there was something major.

If it was Hua Lian’er, a star would be added to the right side, with the bird’s beak elongated, indicating danger, urging caution... The same applied to Little Table and Little Stool.

Having walked all the way, not finding any marks, Chen Ping felt a little reassured.

Yet he still felt slightly uneasy.

The reason was simple: he was seeing more constables than usual.

Coming and going, their eyes sharp as hawks, sweeping like they were searching for thieves.

However, no passerby was mentioning even a bit about the abduction of women last night.

It was as if the incident never happened.

’Could it be that Zuo Duanshou didn’t send those women back to the city? Or were they sent back only for the news to be quietly suppressed by some people?’

Turning these thoughts over in his mind, Chen Ping decided to first go to Brocade Street... to meet up with Hua Lian’er and the others, to ask for news.

Not having returned to the city for a night, they’re probably getting anxious.

After turning two streets.

He suddenly paused.

His eyes narrowed slightly, staring at the Cyan Bird Mark on a street corner, with a star on the left, and the bird’s beak elongated on the right, like an arrow.

From the lines, one could discern the anxiety of the person who made the mark.

"Something happened to Zuo Duanshou."

Chen Ping’s heart stirred, and he quickened his pace, hurrying in the direction the arrow pointed.