Fairy Qionghua Du Mengyan was one of the three heroes of the Yuncang Sword Sect and a direct disciple of the Profound Sun Taoist. Not only was she born with an Immortal Bone, but she was also extraordinarily compatible with the "Yimu Heaven-Reaching Scripture" of Cyan Cloud Peak.

More importantly, she had a mystical encounter as a child, obtaining the Cyan Sky Marrow Spirit Liquid, which allowed her inner strength cultivation to advance rapidly, never lacking in Treasure Medicine resources.

With such a combination of internal and external skills, plus the dedicated guidance and tutelage from the Profound Sun Taoist, by the age of thirty, she had already cultivated the "Yimu Heaven-Reaching Scripture" to the Twenty-Fourth Layer.

Her martial path cultivation was profound, rivalling Yuncang Elders and renowned figures of the Martial World. Even within the Central Capital, she could rank in the top three of the Wind and Cloud List.

This Fairy Qionghua wore a white gauze dress, her skin as fair as snow, with a clear and beautiful face. Particularly striking was the cyan mark between her brows, which shone with a halo, resembling an Exiled Immortal.

She carried an ancient sword on her back, with the hilt engraved with ancient seals, outlining the characters "Profound Sun."

This sword was the divine weapon that made the Profound Sun Taoist famous. This time, as Du Mengyan descended the mountain, the Profound Sun Taoist gifted her this sword for protection. It was a rare divine weapon, capable of slicing through iron like mud and had a unique flair when used with the Cyan Cloud Lineage's cultivation techniques.

The Yuncang Sect sent her out, accompanied by the two prodigies Tan Xiong and Du Xiaoyue. Ostensibly, it was to liaise with the Celestial Patrol Department to jointly counter You State. However, the Profound Sun Taoist had other plans, though the intricacies were not meant for outsiders to know.

Upon hearing the words of her junior brothers and sisters, Du Mengyan shook her head, and the cyan mark between her brows seemed to emit a radiant light, "This matter is not that simple. The Handsome Yama cannot represent Youdu, and the Li Family has already made preparations in advance, leaving no excuse for Youdu to attack."

"The Central State's Celestial Patrol Department will not simply ally with the sect to jointly confront Youdu over this matter. If they do, it would mean a full-scale war and trigger a chain reaction."

Du Xiaoyue pouted a bit discontentedly, "But we can't just sit around and wait to die. We've been out for so long and haven't gained anything."

"We can't even see the Heaven-Suppressing King in person, and the old guys at the Celestial Patrol Department keep shirking responsibility. Staying in the Central Capital feels utterly pointless."

"Even if it achieves nothing, it's better than doing nothing at all. If the Handsome Yama dies in Central Capital, at least there'd be some catalyst for hostility between the two sides, and we could seek other solutions afterward."

Tan Xiong nodded in agreement, "Junior Sister Xiaoyue is right. We've been stalled in Central Capital, but time is running out for us."

"It's already April, and in just over three months, the Lord of Youdu will personally come to Yuncang."

"If we continue to wait passively like this, everything will be over."

"Since the sect has tasked us with such an important duty, concerning the rise and fall of the sect, we must complete the mission at all costs."

Du Mengyan looked at her junior brothers and sisters and could only sigh in her heart. She knew that the higher-ups in the sect hadn't pinned their hopes on them.

The so-called alliance was nothing but a facade, meant to allow the sect's seeds to leave, and they had backup plans to ensure the sect's legacy could continue in the future.

"Enough, since you insist, let's at least make an attempt. Be sure to keep your identities hidden, and under no circumstances expose yourselves."

Upon hearing this, Tan Xiong showed a look of joy, "Rest assured, Senior Sister."

Du Xiaoyue was even more lively, "In my opinion, even if they discover us, it won't matter much. Both the Celestial Patrol Department and Youdu know our purpose. Once the deed is done, everything will be set in stone..."

But before she could finish, Du Mengyan gave her a look, and she promptly closed her mouth, sticking out her tongue and daring not to speak further.

With their opinions unified, the three quickly set their plans into motion. However, at that moment, they heard an aged voice near their ears.

"Three young friends, Central Capital is not very peaceful tonight. I'm worried about your safety, so I've come to invite you to my residence for tea." Not far ahead at a corner, an old woman with a hunched back slowly emerged from the alley.

Du Xiaoyue grimaced as if she had swallowed a fly, muttering, "This old hag really knows how to pick her moments."

Du Mengyan, however, was not so naive. The opponent's timely appearance clearly indicated that they had been monitoring their movements all along, stepping in to prevent tonight's plan from going awry once their actions were detected.

Even though she had cultivated the Heaven-Reaching Sword Intent to the Sixth Layer, she still hadn't sensed her. This veteran of the Celestial Patrol Department was indeed terrifyingly powerful.

"Since you invite us, elder, we juniors should respectfully comply."

With her present, their previous plans naturally fell through. All they could do now was sigh and follow obediently. Otherwise, even if the three of them joined forces, they would still be suppressed by her.

...

The Zhao Family's ancestral residence was originally outside Central Capital, built by the river. To leave the Central Capital's territory, crossing the river was the first step.

The nearest crossing for Lu Chengfeng and his group was Jingyun Crossing. This place, on the first and fifteenth of each month, experienced strong winds and waves raging up to the sky, appearing from afar as if ready to shatter the clouds.

Lu Chengfeng and his group hurried their horses, and before long, they arrived at the crossing. By then, it was night, and with only a few travelers and tradesmen moving through Jingyun Crossing, only the small boats of some fishermen remained.

"Boatman, take us across to the other side."

Lu Chengfeng called out, and soon three small boats approached.

"Be quick, abandon the horses and board the boats immediately." Lu Chengfeng instructed, wrapping an arm around Su Wanqing's waist. Then, with a tap of his toes, he soared into the air and landed gently, precisely on the boat.

These three boats were very small, able to hold only four or five people.

Once the group split up, they quickly boarded the boats. By then, darkness had fully descended. The boatmen were rowing the boats, slowly heading across the river in the night.

The water shimmered like waves, the moon just rising. At this moment, Jingyun Crossing was calm, with only the sound of the flowing river and the oars churning the waves.

Just as the small boat left the shore, over a hundred cavalrymen chased after them on the bank, each clad in armor and wielding long swords. Their actions were well-coordinated, marking them as elite troops.

Li Xiaoyun watched as Lu Chengfeng and his companions had already sailed away, and couldn't help but furrow his brow.

Lu Chengfeng stood on the boat, gazing afar, and laughed loudly, "Thank you all for seeing us off. If fate allows, I shall present great gifts when we meet again."

Li Xiaoyun immediately ordered his subordinates, "Bring two large ships here, catch up with them as quickly as possible."

The personal guard nearby hurriedly replied, "Second Master, this Jingyun Crossing is rarely traversed, and large ships are scarce. Even if we dispatch a vessel from the nearest crossing, it would take half a two-hour cycle to go there and back; I'm afraid they've already fled to the other shore."

Li Xiaoyun glanced around and noticed some small boats docked at this crossing, but they seemed too small, likely fishing boats belonging to local fishermen.

At this moment, the people on those fishing boats seemed terrified by the fully armed cavalry on the shore, all cowering in their cabins, daring not to show their faces.

"Forget it, call those boats over, chase them immediately, we can't let them escape."

The personal guard quickly agreed, and soon more than ten cavalrymen scattered, calling for the boats, those fishing boats dutifully obeyed and approached the shore.

Over a hundred cavalrymen used more than twenty small boats, then slowly left the shore, heading towards Lu Chengfeng and his company.

Zhao Tianyou watched them chase from afar, his expression grim, "These people are truly relentless; it seems they won't give up until they've killed us."

Su Wanqing, having come out of the chaos and confusion of the day, stood beside Lu Chengfeng, gazing at the twenty-plus small boats slicing through the waves like arrows, and bit her lip lightly.

"It's all because of me that you have attracted such a formidable enemy. Maybe you should send me back, as long as they allow you a path to survival, I'll accept whatever fate awaits me."

Lu Chengfeng chuckled, "Wanqing, what are you saying? Since I've taken you back, you are my woman. I, the Handsome Yama, am not one to sacrifice my wife and concubine begging for life."

"They are nothing but petty soldiers, how could I be afraid of them?"

Zhao Tianyou saw him boasting before a woman even as crisis loomed, and could only shake his head in resignation, regretting having ever boarded this scoundrel's ship.

Now, the family's blood feud remains unresolved, yet we're hunted down by enemies; it's truly disheartening!

The Jade Belt River was wide, with Lu Chengfeng's boat pursued by the Li Family's cavalry, reflected in the moonlit waves.

"Transmit my order, have all the fishing boats speed up, make sure to land before the opponent. The first to catch up with the opponent's fishing boat will receive one thousand taels, and the last will have its boatman executed."

At his command, a personal guard shouted loudly, the rough voice echoing in the night.

"Second Master has ordered, the first to catch up with the opponent's fishing boat will receive one thousand taels, the last to arrive will have its boatman executed."

...

The voice echoed between the night and the water, and those boatmen seemed frightened, paddling furiously, their speed vastly improving, and the distance between the two groups began to close.

Soon, the small boat carrying Li Xiaoyun and Li Chengqian was only thirty yards away from Lu Chengfeng and his companions.

Li Chengqian, dressed in a white robe, with a golden crown and a jade belt, wearing soft boots, had a handsome visage that made countless well-bred young ladies swoon.

"Second Uncle, why not leave Handsome Yama to me, let me have a go at him?"

Li Xiaoyun responded, "As you wish, but mind your control, be careful not to kill him by accident."

In his mind, Li Chengqian had cultivated the Wind and Thunder Thunderbolt Palm to the Twenty-Second Layer, ranking seventh on the Wind and Cloud List, with his formidable reputation spread across the Martial World.

Although the Handsome Yama was a disciple of Youdu, his skills and potential were nowhere near Li Chengqian's level.

If it came to a fight to the death, Handsome Yama would surely not be Li Chengqian's match.

"Rest assured, Second Uncle." Li Chengqian agreed, then leapt into the air, spanning over ten yards, and his toes touched the waves as power flowed, enabling him to stride upon the broad water.

"Hahaha, Handsome Yama, you cannot escape, dare you face me, Li Chengqian, in battle?"

As he spoke, his true qi remained steady, like a waterbird skimming across the river, swiftly closing in on Lu Chengfeng.

At this moment, Lu Chengfeng wielded a folding fan and looked back at the riverbank; both sides had already reached the center of the river, the distance between the water and both banks was vast.

He opened the folding fan with a rustle, glanced at the bright moon above, and sighed, "You're seeking your own doom, what else is there to say!"

Zhao Tianyou, hearing this, felt his face darkening, gritting his teeth, "Had I known earlier, I wouldn't have boarded your pirate ship. It's a shame the Zhao Family's deep-seated hatred remains, yet I must die at the hands of scoundrels."

"I hate this!"

Su Wanqing silently snuggled closer to Lu Chengfeng, wrapping her hand around his left arm, "If you die, I won't live alone."

She spoke lowly, her face pale, her frame slim, yet carrying a fierce spirit.

Unbeknownst to them, the wind had picked up, and the calm river began to churn with waves.

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