The Baihu in blue robes and a large cloak had a pair of hawk-like, wolf-like eyes, and at this moment his gaze directly pierced the window frame of Xue Ren’s small room in the courtyard, as if to see through it completely.
After a quick glance, he withdrew his gaze and said in a deep voice, “This is simply preposterous! Fighting and killing in the military camp—why don’t you show such bravery on the battlefield?!”
Having said that, he turned his gaze to Ning Yue and said, “A Xiaoqi officer committing insubordination, Ning Yue, you have great audacity!”
“Do you really intend to fight to the death with your superior?”
Ning Yue bowed with cupped hands and immediately said, “This humble subordinate’s position is low and his words carry little weight, and he is unyielding, truly deserving of death. However—”,
“You jest, there’s no talk of fighting to the death. If you hadn’t stopped us just now, only he would have died, and I would have lived.”
“Pfft!” Xiao Wenjie spat out a large mouthful of fresh blood, staining the broken bluestone beneath his feet red.
Everyone in the courtyard covered their mouths and snickered. Zhao Silu quietly walked to Ning Yue’s side, supporting his tottering body.
“Boom!”
The small courtyard shook as if the world had changed color, and a unique aura of the Marrow Cleansing Realm swept across the scene, making everyone’s face change.
The blue-robed Baihu’s raised eyebrows were like towering mountains, his entire aura emanating outwards, making people feel as if they were suffocating.
He said with an indifferent expression, “Commander Zhao, this is a place of right and wrong; you should leave. Abandoning your post is a serious crime!”
With that, he flicked his sleeve, and a sudden whirlwind erupted in the courtyard, instantly carrying Zhao Silu out of the courtyard gate.
Zhao Silu, who was in the Yijin (Tendon Changing) Realm, couldn’t even utter a single word.
Meanwhile, Ning Yue’s bones creaked, and his back felt as if a mountain was pressing down on it. His already fatigued body became even more hunched, yet he stubbornly refused to fall.
The Baihu’s lips curled into a sneer. He looked at Ning Yue and said indifferently, “Hmph, you have quite the stubborn bones, but your sharp tongue is useless!”
From Xiaoqi officer to Zongqi, and then from Zongqi to Baihu, it seemed like only two ranks, but each rank could be an insurmountable chasm for an ordinary person in their entire life.
Martial arts cultivation and accumulated military merits were both indispensable, and even so, without the support of a noble, it would be extremely difficult.
The blue-robed Baihu watched at his leisure as Ning Yue’s back was bent bit by bit, irreversible even with all his strength. He then said, “If I were to enter this door, would you, Ning Yue, still dare to block me?”
“Bang!” An even more massive pressure directly crushed Ning Yue’s resistance, pinning him firmly to the ground.
The bluestone slab was violently pressed downwards, forming a deep human-shaped indentation.
Wei Xian’s voice echoed from outside the courtyard, yet it sounded as if it came from far away, “Ning-ge, I beg you, just give up, don’t guard it anymore, we can’t guard it......”
The sound had become barely audible.
“Hahahahaha......” Ning Yue lay on the ground, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, still laughing heartily.
The powerful martial pressure of the Marrow Cleansing Realm could not stop his laughter. Although Ning Yue’s blood vessels were bursting all over his body, there was an indescribable smugness on his face.
“Sir, Xue Zongqi already gave orders that if you, Baihu, were to come in person, you could proceed as you wish.”
“Oh?” The blue-robed Baihu froze on the spot.
Is this a trap?!
He looked uncertainly at the tightly shut door.
Inside the room, it was dim, as if a thick fog enveloped all the arrangements and furnishings within, including the severely ill person.
The Baihu couldn’t see clearly.
He recalled past events: Mo Yingshuo and the other two were still unharmed, and no one cared; Xu Mu returned home, and no one stopped him; Feng Hai and Chen Ye were still bedridden, but no one sent for questioning, though Xiao Wenjie made an issue of it.
And... and ever since Xue Ren fell seriously ill, after Xue Zhenfu left, he never came to this small courtyard again, instead selling off his family property and currying favor with aristocratic families.
Xiao Wenjie and Ning Yue had fought for so long, yet no one came to check.
Everything, all signs, indicated that Xue Ren was severely injured and beyond recovery, at least his martial arts were completely crippled, and his future ruined.
But the Baihu’s eyes were still hesitant. When this small courtyard lay wide open before him, he felt an inexplicable panic, as if heavy traps were lying in wait for him.
He’s bluffing me?!
Xiao Wenjie looked at Ning Yue on the ground, a meaningful smile on his face.
He dares to bluff me?!
“Bang!”
The Baihu didn’t seem to move, yet Ning Yue was embedded even deeper into the earth!
Only it was Xiaoqi Ning Yue who was embedded in the ground, but the blue-robed Baihu felt that he himself was unable to move a single inch.
He didn’t know when, but he had long since lost his retreat. If this matter failed, he would be ruined!
Enough, enough, it’s come to this, hesitation is useless.
He narrowed his eyes, stared directly at the door, and strode forward.
One step... two steps... twenty-three steps. He counted his steps, steadily walking to the door. Without further hesitation, he reached out and pushed inward!
“Creak!”
The door opened.
The blue-robed Baihu saw a face with a gentle smile, a smile warmer than the spring breeze, yet it made his hands and feet cold, his back weak, and instantly his soul flew beyond the three realms.
Then he heard Xue Chengwu’s soft whisper in his ear, “Duan Baihu, do you know, I’ve been waiting for you for so long.”
“Bang!” Duan Baihu fell to the ground, prostrating himself completely.
Large beads of cold sweat uncontrollably broke out on his forehead, yet not a single one could drip onto the ground.
His limbs were pressed down by an indescribable power unique to the Acquired Realm, making it difficult for him to move. Even his very thoughts seemed to freeze, and his five senses and six consciousnesses lost their function.
He didn’t know how long it was before he gradually regained his hearing. A faint sound of footsteps slowly tapped at his ears, drawing closer and closer.
“Slap!”
The Cold Light Blade scabbard slapped him across the face at that moment.
Duan Tao, who was in the Marrow Cleansing Realm, had a bright red right cheek, as if a thick layer of heavy makeup had been applied!
Ning Yue staggered to Duan Baihu’s front, squatted down, and bent over.
He whispered, “Tell me, why are you so impatient?”
“Clumsy in speech and even dumber, un—fit—for—great—use!”
“Slap!” The scabbard hit his left cheek, and this time the rouge was applied evenly.
A tremendous sense of humiliation made Duan Tao’s eyes split with rage. His body struggled with all its might, his trembling body like an old man on the verge of death, wanting to carry a mountain!
But a sudden large hand gently brushed his shoulder.
“Hiss—” Like a tire deflating, the pressure unique to the Acquired Realm dissipated completely.
Only Duan Tao, like a pile of mud, remained on the ground, his wolf-like eyes already lifeless.
...
“Someone!” Xue Ren roared, donning his armor and wielding his blade, he was the first to walk out of the room.
After sleeping for a long time, as soon as he stepped out, he felt the world expand!
“Rumble rumble rumble!”
Outside the small courtyard, weapons clanged and armor rattled. The thousand-plus soldiers who were supposed to drill at noon had, unbeknownst to anyone, already been lurking outside the courtyard. Now, they all moved at the sound, sharpening their weapons and preparing for military orders.
Xue Youwei was among them, full of vigor!
And the dozens of Xiaoqi officers from the Judicial Inquiry Division in the courtyard were surrounded by the newly arrived armored soldiers, all disarmed and pressed to the side!
Only Wei Xian and the others, who had been untied, still stood stunned, unable to understand what play this was?!
A disappearing act?!
The severely injured Xue Zongqi stood before them, hale and hearty, yet everyone was too stunned to recognize him.
Xue Zhenfu carried Duan Tao, who was now like a dead dog, slowly walking behind Xue Ren. No one was not shocked by this scene.
And the two, as if no one else was present, stepped out of the courtyard gate, one after the other.
Duan Tao, who had just been so arrogant and invincible before everyone, had transformed into this state in the blink of an eye. Xiao Wenjie’s heart had long turned to ashes; he closed his eyes, unwilling to look any further.
And outside the courtyard, five thousand soldiers were already standing by, fully assembled here.
The wide path within the guard station was packed with soldiers ready for departure.
Chu Qianhu strode forward and exclaimed with emotion, “Zhenfu-daren has put on quite a show! If your people hadn’t informed me today, I would still be in the dark!”
Xue Chengwu simply waved his hand and said, “Now is not the time for reminiscing. Without further ado, Chu Qianhu, come with me.”
Chu Qianhu clasped his fists and bowed, delightedly saying, “I dare not disobey.”
The two led the way, heading out together.
A thousand soldiers followed behind them, also heading out.
Ning Yue picked up the Cold Light Blade from the ground and sheathed it.
Then, with a shift of his feet, he climbed onto the eaves. After surveying the guard station, he fixed his gaze on one spot.
Star trails flashed beneath his feet, instantly drawing a straight line of stars!