Chapter 102: Turning Point
He was finished.
The guard disciples thought, touching their empty lower bodies, their faces contorted with despair and fear as they looked at Qiao Wan.
This was all instructed by Senior Ye. It was Ye Xiyuan who told him to handle Cen Qingyou in this way! It was Ye Xiyuan who told him the more vicious and malicious, the better! If they didn't do this, they couldn't force out the people from the Great Hall of Light!
But now he regretted it.
He was finished.
In these past few days, he had only kicked Cen Qingyou a few times, and never thought of using the "looking at the sky" technique against him.
The guard disciples glanced at the two bloodied and muddy legs on the ground, feeling sudden confusion in their hearts.
They shouldn't have kicked him.
Is a cultivator still considered a cultivator if they have lost their legs? Can they still survive? Can they keep going on this path?!
No one told him the answer.
Watching as a sudden flash of blood soared into the sky, Ye Xiyuan's expression remained unchanged, showing no signs of panic. He stepped in front of Cen Qingyou and calmly gave an order.
"Attack!"
On the narrow mountain path, it was like entering the depths of hell!
Qiao Wan took the lead, sword in hand, launching a fierce attack. She swiftly stabbed the remaining two disciples guarding them, the blood on her sword spreading in ripples.
Glancing at the disciples from the Shandao sect who had taken defensive positions, Qiao Wan quickly rolled on the ground, narrowly avoiding a black pawn that was aimed at her. Her expression suddenly changed.
She fell into their trap!
This wasn't just a delay tactic, it was a way to divide and conquer!
The battlefield was instantly split into pieces!
Qiao Wan quickly made a decision and took out the mosquito that Jianwen had given her before leaving. Just as she released the mosquito, a chess piece brushed against her forehead.
Qiao Wan swiftly blocked it with her sword, and as she looked up, she met Ye Xiyuan's astonished gaze.
How could this be possible?
The young man in front of her was still at the Foundation Building stage of cultivation, but he seemed like a completely different person. In their brief exchange of moves, he was faster and more agile! With his back straightened and his punches and kicks accompanied by the flashing of his sword, his muscles were strong and resilient, as if he were a snow leopard traversing the bloody path.
Coordinating well with the other disciples of the Bright Hall, who were dealing with the black chess pieces, Qiao Wan approached him with her sword, delivering strikes directly to his face.
In a fight, fairness and justice were not important. If she couldn't defeat him alone, could she not defeat him with all these people?!
One movement, ye xiyuan was not paying attention and almost had a piece of his face cut off. Ye Xiyuan, who was startled, managed to dodge the sword swipe just in time. He looked a bit concerned and wondered what kind of special training she had been through.
But even if she had gone through some training, it seemed unlikely for her to improve this much in such a short time. Besides, even if she had some special training or experiences, it wouldn't make a difference now.
The young man glanced at Qiao Wan, and his expression softened slightly. Even if she had made progress, it wouldn't change the fact that they were about to face the disciples from the Great Hall of Light, who had come to capture them on this mountain road.
Elder Lu's plan proved to be correct. The disciples from the Great Hall of Light didn't dare to come openly for them. Instead, they would likely disguise themselves to sneak in, falling right into Lu Dechang's trap.
Since the disciples from the Great Hall of Light didn't come to capture them openly, even if they killed them all here, the Great Hall of Light wouldn't have a reason for revenge.
Ye Xiyuan closed his eyes.
They had been waiting for such a long time, and finally the time had come for the Great Hall of Light to get a taste of "the inability to seek revenge"! As the mosquito staggered through the rain curtain, successfully flying over the mountain, Qiao Wan didn't feel relieved at all.
Even if this mosquito could deliver a message to Jianwen and the others, it wouldn't be in time. There were only a few of them, and now they were surrounded by Sun Tao College. It was difficult for any group to break out and offer support.
Now, the most important thing was to save Cen Qingyou.
The situation of the battle was not optimistic.
On one side were the rugged mountain walls, on the other side was a towering cliff. On this narrow mountain path, the two groups were fighting for their lives.
Delaying any further would not be beneficial for them.
Qiao Wan understood this.
Either retreat, or they would have to take a desperate gamble.
Through the method of transmitting sound secretly, Qiao Wan turned to the Bright Hall disciples beside her and had a simple conversation. After the Bright Hall disciples who were still fighting understood what she wanted to do, they gathered around her to assist.
Can we bring the person back by taking a gamble?
Qiao Wan looked at the dark cloak.
The cloak didn't speak, and the lower hem revealed a hint of white robe.
Qiao Wan gripped the sword in her hand and took a breath.
Martial Brother Cen is waiting for her.
Noticing the change in the formation on the opposite side, Ye Xiyuan raised his hand and shouted. Sun Tao College quickly responded.
In the tense standoff, a figure rushed out like lightning!
Qiao Wan's muscles were in their best state, her eyes shining brightly, focused only on the humanoid cloak.
"Charge!"
At the moment when all the weapons were aimed at Qiao Wan, the disciples of Bright Hall also moved, aiming for Cen Qingyou!
Charge! Rescue Martial Brother Cen!
As a living target, Qiao Wan dodged the chaotic weapons and sword lights with agility.
Qiao Wan watched as one of the disciples from the Bright Hall touched the corner of the cloak, and the broadsword from Sun Tao College moved to block.
On the mountain path, a sudden burst of Buddha's light attacked.
Qiao Wan and the others immediately looked up.
Then, a group of disciples from Fanxin Temple, dressed in robes, stood high above on the mountain cliff.
Ye Xiyuan glanced up without surprise and said, "You're late."
"Better late than never," one of the disciples from Fanxin Temple, who was leading them, gracefully jumped down from the cliff and said with a smile, "Ye immortal friend, wouldn't you agree?"
Damn it.
They still have reinforcements and backup!
Qiao Wan and the disciples from the Bright Hall all felt their hearts sink, as clear words formed in their minds.
They were done for.
Sun Tao College has gone crazy! They have set a trap, luring us in like flies!
The rain formed a line, pouring down from the sky and crashing onto the mountain path.
A group of people from Fanxin Temple, their robes were soaked by rain, sticking to their bodies. They all looked proud and haughty as they stared at Qiao Wan and her group, as if they were looking at the dead.
"To kill or not to kill?" Fanxin Temple glanced at the disheartened disciple from Guangming Hall.
With a casual glance, Ye Xiyuan said, "Since it has come to this point, we must eliminate the problem from its roots."
With a simple statement, the fate of the people before them was decided.
The tide of battle turned once again.
Zen staffs, cudgels, and swords were all in action.
With a swift motion, this time it was a one-sided massacre.
No one wanted to be treated like a fish on a chopping block, to be slaughtered at will. As Fanxin Temple and Sun Tao College began to fight, Qiao Wan and the disciples of Guangming Hall also took action.
They resisted!
This time, the fighting on the mountain road became more intense.
The rain fell harder and fiercer.
At that moment, Ye Xiyuan suddenly took a step back and pulled open his dark cloak. "Don't you want to take a look?"
Take a look at these fellow cultivators of yours and see what they've sacrificed to save you.
Under the cloak, a familiar face appeared.
Qiao Wan pulled out her sword with effort, turned her head, and her gaze pierced through the rain, landing on Cen Qingyou.
The young man, dressed in tattered clothes, had a few drops of blood splattered on his white plum blossom robe. That fair and handsome face no longer seemed beautiful in any way.
In his dark eyes, Qiao Wan and her companions struggling on the edge of life and death were reflected.
The rain fell along Cen Qingyou's long eyelashes, blurring his vision.
Just as Qiao Wan was caught off guard and kicked to the ground, after a brief pause, Cen Qingyou finally spoke.
Ye Xiyuan was a bit surprised. This was the first time he had spoken in these past few days.
During this time, he had been observing the world with his eyes, measuring everything with his gaze, rather than speaking.
After traveling for a long time and having no water to drink, Cen Qingyou had a raspiness in his voice, but he still spoke softly, like the gentle flowing water outside the mountain temple.
"I want to say something to her."
The "her" he referred to was Qiao Wan.
Looking at Cen Qingyou, Ye Xiyuan's heart skipped a beat. Before he could gather his thoughts, his body quickly reacted and nodded in agreement.
Realizing this, Ye Xiyuan furrowed his brows. Suddenly, an unsettling feeling arose in his heart, as if something had been opened and let loose by them.
The young boy walked cautiously towards Qiao Wan and knelt before her. After a moment of silence, he took off the Buddhist beaded ornament from his forehead and placed it in Qiao Wan's hand.
The Buddhist beaded ornament felt cool.
Cen Qingyou reached out to touch Qiao Wan's hand.
Their fingertips touched and it felt shockingly cold.
Qiao Wan looked up at him and immediately understood what he wanted to do. With great effort, she squeezed out a hoarse word from her throat and firmly held onto Cen Qingyou's finger.
"No."
With their fingers intertwined, the young boy stayed silent, gripping her hand tightly. A faint warmth seeped through her cold skin, slowly spreading.
Cen Qingyou gently reached out, touching Qiao Wan's icy face.
"Xin Yi, that's enough. You're my friend."
Just getting this far was already enough.
He lowered his head to look at Qiao Wan's face, silently observing every detail, as if etching her appearance deep into his heart.
You see, in this world, you don't have the power to decide your own fate. It's determined by others.
Qiao Wan took a deep breath and reached out, tightly grasping the wrist of the young man in front of her.
She didn't want to be friends with the Blue-eyed Evil Buddha!
Even if she didn't care, Elder Martial Brother definitely wouldn't be pleased!
But Cen Qingyou gently brushed her hand away, lightly tapping her body a couple of times. Spiritual energy surged and collided within her, causing Qiao Wan to suddenly black out.
Then, the young boy slowly stood up. Rain fell on his eyelashes, and a green light flickered in his dark eyes, like ghostly fire.
He glanced at Qiao Wan, and in that moment of eye contact, his presence seemed to change. His eyes became calm like a deep green pool, beneath which lay countless white bones, obediently submitting to the young boy's authority, filled with resentment, hostility, and obedience.
The rain started to fall.
It was cold and icy, each drop hitting Qiao Wan and sliding down her eyelashes, seeping into her collar.
The young boy turned and walked away.
In a daze, it felt as if a sword had stabbed her heart, and opposing spiritual forces gathered in her chest, protecting her lifeline securely.
She couldn't bring Cen Er back for Mrs. Cen.
She was still too weak, being toyed with by Sun Tao College, going around in circles.
Facing life and death, Qiao Wan remained expressionless, gritting her teeth and thinking.
Damn.
She truly was a complete idiot.
A little bit of blood flowed down, warm blood, just flowing out, immediately being scattered by the rain, floating towards the distance, spreading a thin red on the ground.
Qiao Wan slowly became cold all over her body, and there was only one thought left in her drowsy mind.
Why is she suffering so much?
Just as her consciousness was about to fade away, it seemed like a voice came from a far distance.
A soft and crisp female voice.
"Master Uncle! It's all your fault for saying to wait! Look, she's dying!"
The voice was answered by a steady and powerful male voice.
"Not late, arrived just in time."
A faint sound of "pitter-patter" came from above, someone opened an umbrella over her head.
Qiao Wan struggled to open her eyelids, and could only see a corner of a blue cloth.
Looking up, there was a pale and bony big hand tightly gripping the umbrella handle.
"Do you want to live?" A man's voice was soft, "If you agree to a request of mine, I will save you. Not only that, I can also help you get rid of the demonic energy."
Without waiting for Qiao Wan to speak, or even think, since Qiao Wan had no way of speaking at the moment.spoke each word clearly and forcefully, stating his request.
"I will save you, and in return, you will become the head of our academy. How does that sound?"
