Chapter 54
As soon as she landed, Qiao Wan ran all the way!
Just before heading towards the tunnel, a flash of sword light came close!
Qiao Wan took a step back in a hurry.
The mysterious black iron sword was deeply embedded in the huge rock next to her feet. If Qiao Wan hadn't reacted quickly, she would have been split in half by the sword.
It's over.
When Qiao Wan saw the black iron sword, she felt a chill in her heart.
She looked up and indeed saw a man following closely behind the black iron sword.
It was Xie Xingzhi.
They say Xie Xingzhi is clear about what he likes and dislikes, hates evil, loves face, and is petty.
The man's expression was cold and filled with hatred. "How dare you, thief?"
Without saying a word, Qiao Wan quickly made her move. "I'm in a hurry."
After a few moves, Xie Xingzhi raised his hand and a strong sword energy sent Qiao Wan flying far away.
Caught off guard and thrown into the mud, Qiao Wan spat out some blood and felt a surge of energy in her chest. Her head was ringing but steady.
Qiao Wan wiped the blood from the corner of her lips with her hand.
"Oh no."
His cultivation is so terrifying.
This is bad.
With only her second level of Qi cultivation, going against Xie Xingzhi is like delivering herself to be destroyed. Knowing the current situation, Qiao Wan thought for a moment, then took the initiative to lower her head and respectfully bowed.
"Please forgive me, senior! I admit that I acted poorly today, and I apologize. But I had my reasons for doing what I did. Please hear me out."
Xie Xingzhi frowned. "Do you think I will listen to your explanations?!"
With that, he attacked again with powerful sword energy, sending Qiao Wan flying once more.
Just as she was getting up, another wave of sword intent came crashing down.
"Damn it!"
The negotiations fell apart, so Qiao Wan quickly got up, leaped over a high wall, and ran as fast as she could.
Just as Qiao Wan jumped down from the wall, the wall was directly sliced through by a beam of sword light.
Qiao Wan trembled and ran even faster.
The night market in Youxian Town was brightly lit, with people bustling and laughing.
Qiao Wan ran desperately while Xie Xingzhi relentlessly pursued her with his sword.
As she ran, Qiao Wan crouched, dodging the sword energy coming from all directions. At the same time, she slapped the Sound Passing Talisman and shouted angrily, "Help!!!"
"Someone!! Xie Xingzhi is trying to kill me!"
Hiding in the surroundings of the Eight Treasures Pavilion, Yao Guang, Bai Jingmen, and Yu Sanniang looked at each other in shock. Yao Guang held the Sound Passing Talisman, dumbfounded. "Did I hear correctly? Xie Xingzhi woke up?!"
Bai Jingmen twitched his mustache under his chin. "I didn't mishear, I heard Miss Lu's side also had the sound of a sword."
Thinking about what they had just done to Xie Xingzhi, Bai Jingmen, Yu Sanniang, Yao Guang, and the others shivered in unison.
Meanwhile, the angry roar of Qiao Wan continued to echo.
Yao Guang gritted his teeth. "Lu Wan, hold on! We'll be there soon!"
In the street, Qiao Wan plunged into the crowd, leaped onto the roof of a passing carriage, and shouted in anger, "I can't hold on!"
In just a second, the sword light caught up with her. Qiao Wan quickly dodged, but a handful of her hair and one of her sleeves were sliced off halfway.
The scene was very tragic.
Qiao Wan jumped off the carriage and accidentally landed on the roof. She walked on the roof of the tall building, with the tiles under her feet making a loud noise.
Behind her, Xie Xingzhi rushed towards her in a threatening manner.
Qiao Wan looked down at the brightly lit street below.
There was no way forward.
Qiao Wan turned her head and looked at Xie Xingzhi.
The man had already caught up to her on the building.
"You have nowhere to escape," Xie Xingzhi's face chilled. "The will of heaven is clear. It's your fate to meet me now. Surrender quickly!"
Feeling trapped, Qiao Wan struggled desperately. "Xie... sir."
Xie Xingzhi didn't even listen to Qiao Wan's explanation.
"No need for mercy towards you!"
With those words, his sword struck again. His unmatched sword intent surged like waves, purging evil.
Unfortunately,
Qiao Wan was the target of his attack.
The sounds of people below the tower became faintly audible, as the commotion on the rooftop had caught their attention. They looked up.
Qiao Wan spoke, "Is that so?"
With that, she leaped down and swiftly grabbed a rope hanging on the street with lanterns attached to it.
The lanterns on the rope swayed and emitted a dim yellow light that scattered onto the ground.
Qiao Wan clenched the rope tightly in her hand and dangled from it. With a forceful kick, she swung upwards, flipping like a kite, and landed on the rope.
Just as she was about to continue running, Xie Xingzhi's cold expression raised his hand for another sword strike.
Without blinking, he viciously cut the rope!
Qiao Wan stumbled but managed to avoid falling down.
Thankfully, her quick reflexes allowed her to spring onto the opposite rooftop.
As the rope fell, the lanterns also dropped, and their flames ignited the thin lantern paper.
Watching this, Qiao Wan broke out in a cold sweat.
It seemed that Xie Xingzhi not only intended to kill her but also wanted to burn her alive.
Both of them stood on the rooftop, staring at each other.
There was commotion in the street.
"There's a fire!"
"A fire!!"
Xie Xingzhi raised his hand, and with a swift motion, his sword extinguished the flames, leaving behind a cold frost.
The people on the street stared in disbelief.
"Wait!"
As Xie Xingzhi prepared for a quick resolution, Qiao Wan stood on the opposite rooftop and bowed.
"Please, listen to my explanation, Senior Xie!"
"With your sweet words, I won't listen to your lies anymore today."
"If you are truly the Lone Sword, do you really not care about right and wrong?"
At that moment, Bai Jingmen, holding a ruler, Yu Sanniang swinging earrings, and Yao Guang and his gang brandishing weapons, finally rushed over in a hurry.
Qiao Wan took out the remaining Sound Passing Talismans from her pocket.
"Did you see these Sound Passing Talismans?"
"I will expose your true identity as the Lone Sword to everyone. I will reveal how you tried to take advantage of me and then became angry and wanted to kill me. I will use the mole on your buttock as proof!"
Bai Jingmen and his companions stumbled and abruptly stopped their approach.
Who slept?
Who slept with who?
Did they hear some incredible news?
Yao Guang was shocked: "Could it be that Taoist Friend Lu sacrificed himself to deceive Xie Xingzhi?"
Bai Jingmen swung the ruler and hit Yao Guang on the head, saying, "Don't talk nonsense!"
The man held a mysterious iron sword, filled with a murderous aura.
He had never seen such a shameless villain before!
But regardless, at least he had given her a chance to speak.
Qiao Wan asked, "Did that man with the surname Xiao give you this key?"
"Have you ever considered what he did with this key?"
Things have changed now, and the situation is no longer just about saving Jiang Kai. The sacrifices in the Bodhisattva Society's private storage room are becoming burdensome.
Xie Xingzhi went ahead, and Qiao Wan could only take a gamble on whether he knew about these sacrifices.
Xie Xingzhi replied coldly, "I am entrusted with a task that requires loyalty, and it's none of my concern about the rest."
Qiao Wan interjected, "Sacrifices."
Xie Xingzhi's sword intent visibly halted.
"What did you say?"
"Sacrifices! Xiao Boyu has a bunch of sacrifices in the private storage room!"
Qiao Wan spoke quickly, "If you don't believe it, why don't you come with me to the Eight Treasures Pavilion's private storage room and see for yourself!"
"This is Xiao Boyu's territory. Even if I were to deceive you, I wouldn't lead you to Xiao Boyu's lair."
Qiao Wan's dark eyes reflected a hint of alluring light as she spoke calmly and clearly, "Let's put our grievances aside for now. You and I will go to the private storage room and see what's below. You can still kill me later if you want."
"Then, we can settle our disputes once and for all."
After speaking, Qiao Wan anxiously looked at Xie Xingzhi, waiting for his reaction.
Sacrifices.
Xie Xingzhi fell silent for a moment.
To everyone's surprise, he actually believed what she said.
He had known Xiao Boyu for a long time and had some understanding of his character.
If he really did something like this...
Yao Guang shivered and said, "I feel like the murderous intent has become even stronger."
As Xie Xingzhi sheathed his sword, he sneered proudly, "I will accompany you, but if there is any more deception, I absolutely won't show mercy."
Qiao Wan agreed, "Yes, absolutely no mercy."
Xie Xingzhi glared at her.
Qiao Wan led the way, with Xie Xingzhi following behind.
Yao Guang, Bai Jingmen, and Yu Sanniang hurriedly followed.
On the way, feeling the man's overwhelming murderous intent, Yao Guang felt like he couldn't breathe.
Finally, they arrived at the Eight Treasures Pavilion. Qiao Wan stopped in front of the treasure vault and said, "We're here, please follow me, elder."
The guards here clearly recognized Xie Xingzhi and exchanged glances but dared not approach.
"If you deceive me again, I..."
Qiao Wan added, "Absolutely no mercy."
Xie Xingzhi brushed his sleeve coldly.
The group walked through the underground passage.
Qiao Wan pushed open the doors of the private storage room.
The large iron cages once again came into view.
The blood-soaked bricks smelled awful, and the iron cage held people like pigs or dogs.
In the nearby pool of blood, floated rotting and mutilated corpses.
Yao Guang had never seen this before, and when he saw this scene, his heart skipped a beat and he was startled.
What are all these things?
Qiao Wan looked at Xie Xingzhi and asked, "Senior Xie, did I say something wrong?"
Xie Xingzhi's face was as cold as a lonely mountain, silent and expressionless.
"Taoist friend, you're back?!"
Seeing Qiao Wan return to the private vault, the entire vault was in an uproar!
"Taoist friend is back!"
"Taoist friend, did you get the key?!"
White lotus saw Qiao Wan return with the key and also rushed to the front of the iron cage, "Quick! Set me free!"
Qiao Wan walked up to the front of the iron cage and opened the door for Jiang Kai.
Yu Sanniang held back her nausea and dragged the unconscious Jiang Kai out.
Qiao Wan put away the key and turned to look at Xie Xingzhi.
The man stood in the blood water without speaking.
Qiao Wan saw it and understood most of it in her heart.
Xie Xingzhi really didn't know.
The man's gaze shifted and met Qiao Wan's eyes.
After a while, he said coldly, "I wrongly accused you."
Just then, a man's voice interrupted.
"Taoist Friend Lu, you're here."
It was Feng Dai.
Seeing the middle-aged man in the iron cage.
Qiao Wan glanced over and walked up, "Yes, I'm here."
Feng Dai looked at Qiao Wan's right hand and said, "Taoist Friend Lu, you're quick. In just half an incense stick's time, you've obtained the key."
Qiao Wan replied, "News."
Feng Dai looked away and smiled, "Go to the South Huo State's Cen family in the Southern Thirteen States and find Mrs. Cen. She can help you repair your meridians."
Upon receiving the news, Qiao Wan didn't hesitate. She unlocked the cage and threw the storage bag into Feng Dai's arms, "Here you go."
Feng Dai took the storage bag and pulled out a compass from it, "This is my payment."
Qiao Wan asked, "What is this?"
Feng Dai smiled, "Taoist Friend Lu is a body cultivator, right?"
"This is a thunder compass. It can provoke heavenly and earthly thunder to temper the body."
"I think Taoist Friend Lu needs it at this moment."
Seeing Feng Dai walking out as well, Bai Hehua squeezed the railing and anxiously said, "Let me out!! You don't want the spirit stone anymore?"
Qiao Wan approached the cage with the key.
Bai Hehua arrogantly glanced at her and said, "Later. One of my family's servants will bring the spirit stone."
Qiao Wan, holding the key, unlocked one door after another. The people in the cage had been trapped for too long, and when the cage door opened, their limbs were weak and they all fell to the ground.
The middle-aged man with only half of his body left was held by his companions, and he solemnly bowed to Qiao Wan, "Thank you, Taoist Friend Xie, for saving our lives."
Blood flowed down their bodies.
Qiao Wan inexplicably felt her eyes sting.
Witnessing this scene, Xie Xingzhi and Yao Guang were also speechless, standing in their original spots, deeply moved.
Qiao Wan's voice felt a bit choked.
"It's just a small favor."
This gesture was too heavy, she couldn't bear it.
