Chapter 729 - 729: Strong Old Madam
Faced with these two experts attacking simultaneously, Old Madame Shen did not intend to dodge at all. She slowly raised the dragon head cane in her hand, directly blocking Wang Tian'an's soft sword. At the same time, with a backhand palm, she matched Han Yilong's palm exactly.
Han Yilong was sent retreating backward directly, while Wang Tian'an's soft sword tangled with Old Madame Shen's dragon head cane, but did not harm her in the slightest.
Seeing this, Wang Tian'an immediately pulled back forcefully, trying to snatch away Old Madame Shen's dragon head cane.
Old Madame Shen did not resist forcefully, instead allowing him to pull as she simultaneously pushed forward with her hand, almost handing the dragon head cane over to Wang Tian'an.
Wang Tian'an did not expect that he would be able to snatch the cane so easily. Using too much force, he pulled it toward himself, and the cane smashed directly into his chest. Startled, Wang Tian'an hurriedly stepped back while pushing his soft sword forward, trying to block the blow.
However, at that moment, Old Madame Shen suddenly slapped the tail end of the cane. The speed and force of the cane surging forward suddenly increased. Wang Tian'an had just moved back half a step when the dragon head of the cane had already smashed into his chest, making him retreat several steps continuously, his blood roiling and almost making him vomit blood.
After the dragon head cane hit Wang Tian'an's chest, it bounced back, landing precisely back in Old Madame Shen's hand. Throughout the process, Old Madame Shen had not moved a single step from where she stood, while both her opponents were forced back.
In just the first round of the fight, Wang Tian'an and Han Yilong, attacking together, had suffered a loss. This greatly shocked them both, as they knew Old Madame Shen was strong, but they had not anticipated she would be so formidable.
The two exchanged glances and charged again towards Old Madame Shen, attacking her together. Naturally, they no longer dared to be as careless as before, holding back slightly in their attacks to prepare for her counterattacks. However, this put them in a poor position, as even though they were together, they were completely suppressed by Old Madame Shen, unable to retaliate at all.
Yet, neither of them retreated, continuing to struggle with Old Madame Shen in that very spot. Both harbored thoughts that although Old Madame Shen was powerful, her age was ultimately a barrier, and her strength could not keep up. As long as they could last until she ran out of energy, they would have their chance to win.
Meanwhile, on another side of Shen Family Manor, Shen Qi was also hiding in the darkness, waiting for Huangfu Ziyu.
Before long, a charming figure passed right in front of him, it was indeed Huangfu Ziyu.
Seeing Huangfu Ziyu, Shen Qi could not help but smile slightly, as if he was seeing the young girl who used to train in martial arts beside him again. He stepped out of the darkness and hurried after Huangfu Ziyu.
With the Cold Moon Blade in her arms, Huangfu Ziyu was heading towards the hall, knowing that the people of the Sha Sect and the Shen Family were clashing there, so she wanted to check on the outcome. However, after running for a while, she suddenly felt someone chasing after her. She immediately stopped, her beautiful brows furrowed, turned her head, and said sternly, "Who is it?"
"Zi Yu, it's me." Shen Qi ran over, with a smile on his face, and said, "You've finally come back!"
Seeing Shen Qi, Huangfu Ziyu's expression changed slightly. She looked excited but even more conflicted.
After Huangfu Ziyu was brought back to Shen Family Manor by Southern Fist King Shen Tianjun, she was originally to be taught martial arts by him. However, after Shen Tianjun disappeared following a battle with Northern Fist King Li Changqing, he could no longer teach her martial arts. Since then, she had been training with Shen Qi. In terms of time, Shen Qi was her true master, one of the few in the Shen Family who treated her well.
Now, as Huangfu Ziyu came to the Shen Family seeking revenge, she had not yet encountered anyone from the Shen Family but had first met her former master and benefactor. The awkwardness in her heart can be imagined.
"It's you!" Huangfu Ziyu furrowed her brows, struggled to maintain her anger, and said, "Have you come to stop me, or to kill me?"
"None whatsoever!" Shen Qi smiled faintly, saying, "I am here to apologize on behalf of our family, Zi Yu. Regarding the incident that year, Old Madame Shen and the people of the Shen Family have recognized our mistake. We wronged you, you…"
"Stop talking!" Huangfu Ziyu exclaimed loudly, her cold gaze fixed on Shen Qi, "Sorry? Hmph, if the Shen Family hadn't fallen to this point, would you still apologize to me? Are you apologizing now to seek my forgiveness, or do you want me to come back and help you handle the crisis? Shen Qi, whatever you say now, it cannot change how I was treated by the Shen Family back then. All these years, I have still remembered that winter when I fled the Shen Family barefoot and was chased by so many people from your family. Sorry? And only now you say sorry, is it timely?"
Shen Qi's face showed a trace of embarrassment as he sighed softly and said, "We knew nothing about that incident until you escaped from the Shen Family and killed those few people of ours. People in the family have different views about that matter. But, Zi Yu, I personally trained you, and I totally believe you would never kill people indiscriminately. Actually, many in the family know about this, and they don't blame you."
"They don't blame me? If they don't blame me, why did they issue an order stopping me from entering Western Province even half a step? If they bear no grudge, why have there been Shen Family people who want to seek vengeance against me? If they don't blame me, why did they sell off the Huangfu Family's properties?" Huangfu Ziyu said angrily: "Shen Qi, I am no longer the teenager I was back then, and you cannot deceive me like this. Now that I have returned, then everything the Shen Family did to me back then, I will repay. Whatever you took from our Huangfu Family, I will take it all back!"
"Zi Yu, listen to me. The order issued back then was also a decision made by Old Madame Shen in a moment of anger. Think about it, you killed your senior brother without communicating with the family and then you ran away, having killed so many people from the Shen Family. Who wouldn't be angered by that?" Shen Qi said, "Moreover, Old Madame Shen has already acknowledged that she was wrong about the matter back then. Therefore, she specifically sent me to tell you. From today onward, you can freely come and go in Xi Hang. If you want to revive the Huangfu Family, we, the Shen Family, will help you with all our might. As for the properties and belongings of the Huangfu Family, we haven't touched any of them—see for yourself."
Shen Qi took out the document bag and said, "Inside here are all the family assets and property deeds left by your Huangfu Family. That house of yours, because it was in the range of a governmental development area, had to be demolished, hence Old Madame Shen decided to sell it. However, the money from selling the property, Old Madame Shen saved it all under your name, it's all here. She has always wanted to give it to you but never had the chance. Today, since you have returned, she instructed me to return all these things to you. After all, to revive the Huangfu Family, you still need money, don't you?"
Looking at the document bag in Shen Qi's hand, Huangfu Ziyu's expression softened slightly, her heart of vengeance somehow beginning to waver. For so many years, this was the first time she heard someone from the Shen Family apologize to her, the first time she understood how the Shen Family truly felt about her. After so many years, she learned that Old Madame Shen actually still cared about her and was not trying to completely destroy her!
"You... do you think I would believe all this?" Huangfu Ziyu said indignantly, her voice tinged with doubt, her emotions starting to shake.
After all, twenty years ago, it had been the Southern Fist King Shen Tianjun who had rescued her and brought her back to the Shen Family. Moreover, she had lived in the Shen Family for so many years and still harbored affections for it. Tonight, although she came seeking revenge, in reality, she herself did not know exactly whom to take revenge on. She came here, perhaps just to see how the Shen Family would meet their demise. After all, only once the Shen Family had crumbled could she rebuild the Huangfu Family in Xi Hang!
Now, the words of Shen Qi left her emotions profoundly unstable. The Shen Family, whether it was as Shen Qi described or as she remembered, even she herself was somewhat unclear!
Meanwhile, as Huangfu Ziyu wavered inwardly. On the other side, Han Yilong and Wang Tian'an had been battling Old Madame Shen for a long time, but were still unable to gain any advantage. On the contrary, both were significantly injured, while Old Madame Shen's movements remained as nimble as ever, her strength seemingly inexhaustible. At this rate, the two of them certainly would not be able to gain the upper hand against Old Madame Shen; they might even end up falling themselves.
Han Yilong had a tear on his left shoulder, his left arm soaked in bloodwater, as he panted heavily, saying in a low voice, "Wang Tian'an, this tough old lady isn't easy to deal with. Where are your men, aren't they coming to help quickly?"
Wang Tian'an had originally intended for his subordinates to wait outside, to enter only after Sha Men and the Shen Family had weakened each other, as this would allow him to reap greater benefits. But at this point, he had no other option.
After gritting his teeth, Wang Tian'an pulled out a firework from his pocket, directly pulled the detonator at the bottom, and a firework shot into the sky, sparkling dazzlingly in midair.
In the grove outside, Xu Cunxiao and others were waiting. Seeing the firework, Xu Cunxiao immediately perked up, stood up, and shouted loudly, "The boss has sent the signal, quick, grab your tools, and rush in!"
Xu Cunxiao and the fifty or sixty men behind him immediately grabbed their tools and ran toward Shen Family Manor.
In the nearby pile of huge rocks, the white-clothed Wuhua Monk was sitting on one of the stones. Cui Yulong was also sitting cross-legged across from him, his expression more serene than ever before, evidently rid of the previous murderous intent.
The footsteps outside made Cui Yulong somewhat restless, but Wuhua Monk softly chanted a Buddhist phrase, saying, "Bodhi is originally without any tree, the mirror is also not a stand. Originally there is not a single thing—where can the dust alight!"
The voice of Wuhua Monk sounded like a chant from heaven, gradually calming the initially restless Cui Yulong, as everything outside became inaudible to him.